Apr 18
Hello, everyone! Since today is Thursday, that means it is time for our weekly Crossroads post over at Amazing Stories. Continuing with April’s humor theme, this week I look at how speculative fiction uses parody to subvert and challenge the genre, and so move the literary conversation forward.
I hope you stop by and join the conversation!
Crossroads: The Importance of Parody to the Speculative Fiction Genre
And now, for something completely different…
It’s Thursday, and that means that this week’s Crossroads post has gone live over at Amazing Stories. Continuing with April’s “humor” theme, I take a look at the most significant humorist in speculative fiction’s recent history: Douglas Adams. In particular, I explore why his work has become such a cultural touchstone and examine why maybe every humorous work shouldn’t be compared to the Hitchhiker’s Guide.
I hope you come and join the conversation!
Crossroads: Right Place, Time, and Tech – The Hitchhiker’s Guide
In case you haven’t noticed (and these things are easy to miss), today is Thursday! Not only does that mean the week is drawing to a close, but it also means that it is time for another Crossroads post at Amazing Stories.
Continuing with our western month, this week we take a look at the different approaches to world-building used in the western genre, and in science fiction, and fantasy. I hope you stop by and join the conversation!
CROSSROADS: World-building in Westerns and Speculative Fiction
With Thursday upon us, that means it is time for another Crossroads post over at Amazing Stories. This week, I look at the archetypal western hero, and the ways in which that hero shows up in science fiction and fantasy. Specifically, I explore the traditional usage of the western cowboy/outlaw and the ways in which SF/F dilutes that archetype, and discuss how contemporary western-themed SF/F (e.g. Weird West, steampunk, alternate history, etc.) subverts the archetypal western hero in fundamental ways.
You can find the whole essay here: CROSSROADS: The Western Hero in Speculative Fiction
Mar 7
So today is the first Thursday of March, which means it is time to kick off a new Crossroads series over at Amazing Stories.
This month, I’m going to be focusing on the relationship between Westerns and Speculative Fiction. There will be horses and spaceships, guns and swords and lasers, and plenty of riding into sunsets solar flares. This week’s post outlines the aesthetic dimensions of the western which I think are most relevant for speculative fiction and begins to examine whether the western’s commercial trajectory may be a valuable cautionary tale for speculative fiction.
I hope you stop by! Today’s post is: Crossroads: Riding into Space – Westerns and Speculative Fiction
Today marks the last day in the Crossroads: Romance series at Amazing Stories. To wrap up this month, I move solidly into science fiction and fantasy, and explore the (sometimes troubled) ways in which both genres incorporate elements of romance. Please be sure to come and join the conversation!
You can find today’s essay here: Crossroads: Is this a Kissing Book? SF/F’s Relationship to Romance.
(and be sure to stop by next week, when Crossroads heads into western territory!)
Feb 21
For this week’s Crossroads post at Amazing Stories, I take an in-depth look at science fiction romance, and explore how its non-literary pop culture support may contribute to it selling less than paranormal romance. There’s also an in-depth discussion of how its devices contribute or impede the sub-genre’s accessibility.
Please, stop by and take a look: CROSSROADS: Science Fiction Romance – a Niche Before Its Time?
Feb 14
Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody! Not only is today Thursday, nor merely even Valentine’s Day, but it’s also the day when another of my Crossroads essays goes live over at Amazing Stories.
This week, I’m taking a close look at paranormal romance and urban fantasy, how they work and the complicated ways in which they use metaphor and power dynamics. Come and take a look!
February is here, and that means that over on Amazing Stories, I’ll be looking at how romance and speculative fiction hook up. This week, I kick the series off by trying to get to the heart of what the romance genre is all about. And contrary to what some might think, it isn’t about sex. No, the romance genre is centrally concerned with power.
Come join the conversation here:
CROSSROADS: Romance – More Powerful Than You Could Possibly Imagine
Today on Amazing Stories, I explore how fantasy navigates its epic/local tensions with noir, and how both noir and fantasy use wainscot structures.
Please stop by and take a look: Crossroads: Tripping the Noir Fantastic
The King of Elfland's Second Cousin 