RevolutionSF Forum

[m_bey]

i wish i could think of something controversial to say about this story to spark commentary.

it's pretty sweet. i hate cute things and it sparked my 'aww' response without being saccharine or dumbed-down. the toy's struggle to overcome it's own limitations reminded me of how i feel about my Dell Inspiron.

_matthew_bey

[Shane Ivey]

I love this story, and I don't even have a Dell Inspiron.
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Shane Ivey
Editor, game designer, etc.
RevolutionSF • Arc Dream Publishing • Avalanche Press
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Scary new fun from Arc Dream: Monsters and Other Childish Things

[m_bey]

this story is part of Jayme Blashke's legacy, one of the many quality stories he was able to procure during his tenure as fiction editor. so i would like to include some of his comments:

"When I first started reading it, I feared it was one of those
wretched "Pooh on drugs" riffs. Turned out to be far more moving and
substantial than that. And the Milne knowledge and gentle touches were
spot-on: Edward is, of course, Pooh's real name.

Sincerely,

Jayme Lynn Blaschke"

[Ken Scholes]

Hey gang,

Thanks for the kind words. I remember this one started with an image of the classic Shepherd illustration juxtaposed against a spaceship in my head. I thought, "Why not?" I had also recently read "Heirs of the Perisphere" -- one of my first Waldropian Experiences. This story marked a movement in my writing away from more "traditional" stories to more "quirky" stories.

I immersed myself in Milne for this. I had read all the stories as a child...and as an adult. So I pulled down the collected stories and starting reading them again. At the time, I didn't realize I was also writing some of my own biography into it -- it was a time in my early thirties where I felt like I was being stretched into far more than my little toy brain could handle, in order to do something relatively simple.

I talk a bit in detail about what this story means to me in my LJ if anyone wants to check that out. kenscholes.livejournal.com.

I'm thrilled that you kind souls at Revolution SF have brought the silly old bear out for a spin. If folks want a print copy, it's in Suddenly Press's Best of the Rest 3, available on their website.

[Shane Ivey]

Interesting stuff, thanks Ken.

And how's Gresham? My wife grew up in Boring and went to church in Gresham as a kid. We visited the area on our honeymoon, many moons ago now. The Portland area's beautiful.
_________________
Shane Ivey
Editor, game designer, etc.
RevolutionSF • Arc Dream Publishing • Avalanche Press
--
Scary new fun from Arc Dream: Monsters and Other Childish Things

[Ken Scholes]

You married a Boring girl?!? Heh. Always wanted to say that.

Gresham is good. It's hot here this morning...never really cooled off from the heatwave yesterday. More heat expected today.

I actually love Portland. Originally, I'm from WA but moved here a few years back to marry my wife. I used to come here just for the bookstore.

[m_bey]

powell's i presume? unless there's another bookstore in portland these days.

thanks for the insights!

_matthew

[Ken Scholes]

Yep, Powell's indeed. Now, of course, I go up to Seattle to hit the Half Price Books chain.

[Tara]

Just read this and really, really liked it.

I almost gave it up at the beginning and am very glad I pushed on, the ending was more than worth it.

Very well done.

[Ken Scholes]

Thanks Tara. Glad you enjoyed it.

For interested folks, my first stand-alone project is forthcoming from Fairwood Press and available for pre-order at www.fairwoodpress.com. They're releasing (at World Fantasy) my novella, LAST FLIGHT OF THE GODDESS, as a limited edition, signed and numbered hardcover complete with an introduction by Gentleman Writer Extraordinaire Jay Lake. This will be a short run, so if you're into quirky/funny heroic postmodern fantasy, order your copy soon!

[LittlePointyEars]

I heard this one on the Escape Pod podcast-- well traveled story, or I'm apparently traveling in the right circles! I don't often get a chance to comment on a story like this with the author around

Great story, great allegory, and very playful. It doesn't take a lot of intelligence and strength to get an important job done sometimes, just persistence and bravery-- but that doesn't necessarily comfort a person! Poor Edward, such a sad end even though he did send out the warning.
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She's the amazing hobbit jedi! Like Yoda, only less green.

[m_bey]

the comments on escapepod were pretty much along the same line. people really seem to connect with this one.