Science Fiction Sorrow and Joy!

The thing I love about writing science fiction is that I can create my own world(s)! Frankly, although I love the sheer act of writing, I love the fact that I control my world, galaxy, universe, etc. That's the joy.


As is true apparently with many writers, I use fiction in an attempt to understand myself and my relation to the world. Or perhaps it's because my "Fragger Sparks" character is a surrogate for the war action I didn't experience in my life.


I've never been in combat (but my eldest brother was killed in combat). I've never even been in a fight since I was about 15 years old (but my best friend survived Vietnam).


And yet I've very adept at writing combat action scenes and describing far-flung worlds that will never exist.


Perhaps it's all my attempt to make up for what I see as the lack of "manly activities" in my life.


And yet....although I was in the Army, I would have made a miserable combat soldier. Beyond being very nearsighted, I simply didn't have the heart for killing. Most likely, I would have been dead within days had I gone to Vietnam or any other war zone.


It always struck me as weird that I was envious of soldiers who'd faced combat. Everybody who's faced a ruthless opponent says they wouldn't wish it on their worst enemy. And yet, those of us who haven't faced death are envious of them. That's the sorrow.


It's a weird hierarchy, isn't it? Without soldiers, wars wouldn't be fought, and heroes wouldn't exist. And heroes don't exist without writers.


Life is, indeed, strange!

Happy Science Fiction Springtime!

I sat outside this morning after a long Wisconsin winter and sipped my coffee while I enjoyed the heat of the sun. I hope you were able to do the same and appreciate every molecule of fresh air!

If not, well, here a few facts (courtesy of NASA) about the solar system to make you really savor the sweetness of Earth's springtime!

On Mercury, there really aren't any seasons because its axial tilt is, essentially, zero. So,you couldn't enjoy springtime there. Well, heck, with temperatures ranging from -280F at night to +800F, you wouldn't be enjoying much anyway, would you?

On Venus, springtime is shorter than on Earth - around 50-58 days as opposed to approximately 90-98 days. Again, it wouldn't matter much for you since the surface temperature is around 865F year-round. You wouldn't have to worry about getting the lead out - it'd all be melted, and you would be too!

One more to make you appreciate Earth's springtime: On Uranus, springtime (and all seasons) last about 21 years. That's the good news. The bad news - temperatures hit -300 F, and the planet has storms the size of the U.S!

As you can, if you were on one of these planets, you'd be smashed, trashed, fricaseed, frozen and just flat out, well, flat!

So, get out there and enjoy spring right now - you're a lucky, lucky being!

And you'll be luck too if you try out one of my science fiction novels listed below, available at Amazon, Booklocker.com, Synergebooks, and many other sites!

The First Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Leads the Way
The Second Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Loses the Way

The Third Misadventure of Fragger Sparks, A Ranger Paves the Way