First Principles

First Principles

Photo by Andrew Dunn Civilized society is governed by time-tested principles. Refined over years; sometimes centuries, by trial and error, these rules have laid the foundations of luminous lives, legendary careers, and vast empires. One such venerable convention applied to rules themselves is that the most important rule comes first.…
November 17, 2015
Sad Puppies, SJWs, and Ethics

Sad Puppies, SJWs, and Ethics

The SJW cult had been going from strength to strength in recent years. From academia to the hard sciences; from SFF publishing to comics, their dominance seemed total--and not about to wane anytime soon. But like the tyrannical governor whose tightly squeezed subjects increasingly slip through his fingers, the dominant…
November 17, 20151 Comment
Star Trek Is Not a Post-Scarcity Economy

Star Trek Is Not a Post-Scarcity Economy

Robert P. Murphy points out that, not only does the post-scarcity economy portrayed in Star Trek not make sense, it's not really even post-scarcity. In reply to Brad DeLong, an economist on the Trekonomics panel at the New York City Comic Con, Murphy writes: In reality, DeLong is wrong to think…
November 5, 20154 Comments

Geek Gab: Sci Phi Journal Editor Jason Rennie

This week, Geek Gab is pleased to welcome Jason Rennie, Hugo nominated editor of Sci Phi Journal. His magazine published my first pro short story, so I twisted Daddy Warpig's arm to return the favor and get Jason on the show. Just kidding. Jason is a knowledgeable and hardworking guy…
October 10, 2015

Superversary

Today marks the first anniversary of the superversive literary movement--where writers who are tired of establishment sci-fi's obsession with repeatedly burning the motherhood statement in effigy strive to raise SF from the ashes. The redoubtable Mr. Tom Simon declares the purpose of superversive science fiction: The subversives have pulled down…
October 2, 2015
Reply to a Comment on the Previous Post

Reply to a Comment on the Previous Post

Over at Superversive SF, commenter ksterlingh offers constructive criticism of my previous post. Technical difficulties prevent me from responding in Superversive's comments section, so I'll post my reply here. Since the original reply approaches post length itself, I'll address it point-by-point. ksterlingh's comments will appear in italics. My replies will…
September 25, 20152 Comments
Middle Earth 90210: How Tolkien and Howard’s Successors Blew Their Inheritance

Middle Earth 90210: How Tolkien and Howard’s Successors Blew Their Inheritance

As this blog's subtitle implies, I write speculative fiction. So far my works include hard SF, mil-SF, weird fiction, SF/horror, and space opera. Perhaps you noticed the absence of fantasy from that list. The omission seems even stranger when you consider that I'm an incorrigible Tolkien fan. The Hobbit, The…
September 23, 2015
Transhuman and Subhuman Part III: Whistle While You Work

Transhuman and Subhuman Part III: Whistle While You Work

The third essay in John C. Wright's Hugo-nominated collection Transhuman and Subhuman: Essays on Science Fiction and Awful Truth tackles the enduring question of why small animals help Snow White with her housework. Yes. It really does. The author formulates his answer in terms of Aristotelian metaphysics. No, I'm not kidding.…
May 11, 20151 Comment

Empress Theology and Queen Philosophy

The commendable Tom Simon writes about the contempt which late Moderns have been conditioned to hold for theology and philosophy: Only the philosophers and theologians, nowadays, try to concern themselves with the entirety of any question, from first principles down to final answers. And we have taught the humans to regard…
January 12, 20152 Comments
Servile Art vs. Liberal Art

Servile Art vs. Liberal Art

First, I want to thank Daddy Warpig, Remi, and Dorrinal from Geek Gab. They made co-hosting the show one of the most entertaining and rewarding experiences of my fledgling literary career. My hat's off to their listeners for keeping me on my toes with thought-provoking questions. On to the main…
December 22, 20142 Comments