:) I remembered that I had a backup computer in storage. It often glitches but is better than nothing while I await the fate of my laptop. Fingers crossed I can get back into all my accounts.
Last time I booted it up was... two years ago? Three?
This is what popped up right away on the saved browser tabs from my last session. (Safe for work, don't worry.) What on Earth was I researching? And for what?
@MLClark
Ah! Racing Snails! Trying to find out where to mount the turbocharger no doubt. Look at that "S" car go!
I did in fact write and publish a sci-fi western about giant alien space snails with human riders. 😅 I think that piece predates this search session, but maybe not!
@MLClark I can even here the main song of the soundtrack
"🎶 Slug Riders In the Sky🎶 "😜
Ha! To be clear, it's not a joy ride. It takes place on a world humans accidentally terraformed thinking it was bereft of life. At first they slaughtered the creatures changed by terraforming, but the planet itself started to resist the terraform. Now humans are dying too.
This is the story of a guilty ex-soldier who rides one of the terraformed critters, saving wildlife and trying to honour his steed's last request.
So, a space western, but a slow one!
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/clark_02_21/
@MLClark Purchased! Will read as soon as I can.
Aw, thanks for supporting a rad magazine! Should be some other good stories in that issue!
@MLClark When I was a kid in the 70's, my brother in law would give me his well read "IF" and Galaxy" magazines. Learned about some awesome authors that still influence me today. I'm working on some short stories at the moment. Not quite ready for prime time yet. Maybe some day.
You be sure to reach out if you ever want a sense of where would be good to pitch such work today - tastes in these mags are always changing. But also, thank you so much for sharing and for pursuing your passion in prose! Even if reading my story or the others in the issue only serve to make you think, "hell, I can write better than that!", it's good motivation to finish your own work, right? :)
Rooting for you!
@MLClark
Cheers friend! You'll be the first!(after the wife of course) and if you ever end up on Vancouver Island give me a shout. I know all the cool pubs for lunch.
Here is a link to something I started years ago. It's goofy and cringe worthy but fun to write. Haven't done anything with it for quite a while
https://mister-remeat.com/
Ah, that's great fun and a wonderful bit of levity. Thank you for sharing!
It reminds me of "The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything", by George Alec Effinger (F&SF, 1984) - about some annoying aliens who have suggestions for Earthlings about everything. Comedic SF doesn't have as many homes today, but from novels like Phule's Company and Hitchhiker's Guide, to stories like this, such stories are always great fun when they do work out.
Keep at it whenever the joy strikes! :)
@MLClark I'll probably start back on it this week. I didn't have a plan when I started it so have been winging it. I know where it ends but creating the path there sometimes needs harmonious brain farts to kick start it.
Oh - quick note: anything you publish online loses First Publication Rights, which is what most mags are looking to buy.
So if you're building on the work on the site, selling it won't be feasible in its current form. If it's a different story, though, or a section of this one reconstituted for another tale, just keep it offline until ready to submit. Cheers!
@MLClark Title please! I may have to hunt that one down.