Transition is ongoing in North Korea, following the death of Kim Jong-Il two weeks ago. It is rather fascinating to watch official ceremonies unfurl, as this is one of the few times when a Stalinist country goes into full display mode. For comparison, footage from Stalin’s funeral (1953), first raw,…
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Finally done with version 3.0 of “The People Below”, a steampunk novella. Now on to the next (and hopefully final) phase — pestering people to find a few readers, and then pestering them to get comments and suggestions back. Let’s spread the love… 😉 Happy holidays to all!
Leave a CommentThales, so the story goes, because of his poverty was taunted with the uselessness of philosophy; but from his knowledge of astronomy he had observed while it was still winter that there was going to be a large crop of olives, so he raised a small sum of money and…
Leave a CommentAmusing view from Plato on how to train politicians: We must endeavour to persuade those who are prescribed to be the principal men of our State to go and learn arithmetic, not as amateurs, but they must carry on the study until they see the nature of numbers with the…
2 CommentsHaven’t posted here in a long time — I must confess it’s been a very agitated two or three months. I now find myself with a number of opportunities, including: a) taking some time off to write a novel (or three), and b) changing the scenery… drastically. I’ll be spending…
Leave a CommentBack from holidays. Didn’t do much, except progress further in Pynchon’s Against the Day. Certainly one of his most difficult books — yet still as puzzling as V. or The Crying of Lot 49. I can’t say for sure as I am only half-way through, but there is certainly something…
Leave a CommentBack in France for the year-end holidays. It shouldn’t be legal to enjoy food and drinks that much, but at the same time it’s so difficult to find the same quality in the UK that I can’t be bothered to feel guilty. Happy holidays everyone! Best wishes for 2011! May…
Leave a CommentAnd so New Scientist‘s Christmas issue should be out tomorrow, with my story (Atomic Dreams) on page 78. (Go and buy it! Buy plenty of it!!!). It feels wonderful to see one’s name in print — I’m actually going completely Gollum at the moment (“It’s miiine! Miiiiine!!! My precioussssss!!!…“). Please tell…
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