Firegrounds has been published in ANALOG for September - October 2024

 

It's a great pleasure to report that the September/October issue of ANALOG is available ... and I'm in it. My story is Firegrounds, an enormous idea condensed into a small space, the theme of which is wildfire prevention in a world that is becoming ever hotter, drier and stormier. I had a blast writing the story, and I hope it will not merely be enjoyed, but might also provide some food for thought. 

The link I can provide here -- at this time -- is to the print magazine's order page. Remember that after October 15th, this link will not take you to this issue. ANALOG's website carries only ordering information for the current issue plus subscriptions. In the future, if you want to track down this issue specifically, you'll need to Google it, specifying Sept-Oct 2024. 

Touching base ... with apologies to JRR...

 

Just a ditty to keep contact with this blog while there isn't much to talk about. Yeees, the art started its life in Bing, but I promptly cut it up, rearranged it, repainted it, did a lot of things to it. And yes, I would have painted from scratch, if I had the whole day to spend on this (I don't). And yes, I would have rendered it in CG, if I had a spare hundred bucks to spend on the props (I don't). So we'll embrace the concept of compromise: AI + digital painting.  And now the ditty --

With Apologies to J.R.R. ...

I sit beside the fire and knit
And all the sweaters that don't fit --
All the scarves that fall in mud --
Are made right here, although I could
Be off and roaming 'round the Shire!
But I'm afraid that something dire
Will happen if I leave this hill,
So here I am, and I'll be still:
Comfy by my hearth I'll sit...
And dream adventures. While I knit.