Gurren Lagann

BEST. MECHA. EVER.

The Magic of Dark and Hollow Places Now Live at Beneath Ceaseless Skies

My story "The Magic of Dark and Hollow Places" was published today in Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue 96. This is probably my favorite story (as in "favorite that I've written"), and is the first time Chernyl, otherwise known as the Inked Man, makes an appearance (I have half a dozen other Inked Man stories looking for homes, fingers crossed). It is set in the same Lacunaverse as my Best Of story "Walls of Paper, Soft as Skin" and "Pulped and Bound Monsters."

Go forth and read. And if you have an extra second, leave a comment in the BCS forums or on Sensawunda. I appreciate the feedback, and I get a little kick out of knowing someone read my story, even if they didn't like it.

Even if you didn't like it? What am I saying? You're going to love this one unconditionally.

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PRL: Beneath Ceaseless Skies (7)

Well, you can't win them all, and the critiques Andrews had about this most recent Lacuna story are the same as I had. Now, however, I have some idea of what to do to fix them. This is the power of personalized rejection letters: they make the authors who submit to your magazines better. Take note you form rejectionists.

Thanks very much for sending this.  I'm very sorry it's not quite right for me.  I loved the weirdness and the paper & writing theme of this world, as always, but the language of the buddy-buddy tone between Grimshaw and Chernyl felt a bit more contemporary than I prefer.  I didn't quite buy that Grimshaw would put the second piece of skin on himself, after having been so careful to wear gloves earlier, and I didn't understand why at the end he let Chernyl take him over.  That for me may have dovetailed with the fact that the ending for me felt more focused on Chernyl and less on Grimshaw than I thought fitting for Grimshaw being the protagonist of this tale, and I wasn't certain if Chernyl's goal would have enough significance to a reader who didn't know of the Inked Man from having read some of the other stories.
As always, I appreciate your interest in our magazine!  I love the originality and tactile weirdness of this world, so I hope you will send more when you have it.

Very best,
Scott

Scott H. AndrewsPublisher and Editor-in-Chief

 

PRL: Clarkesworld (2)

This is the definition of failing upwards.

Dear Adam,

Thank you for the opportunity to read "Sate My Thirst with Ink and Blood." Unfortunately, your story was close, but not quite what we're looking for right now. I appreciate your interest in Clarkesworld Magazine and hope that you'll send us another story soon.

[Note: Definitely on the right track here. I can see us accepting a story set in this universe.]

Take care,

Neil ClarkePublisher/EditorClarkesworld Magazinewww.clarkesworldmagazine.com

This was, of course, set in the Lacuna universe, and I have plenty sitting ready right now to submit. You asked for it Clarkesworld, and I will deliver.

Surreal Saturday: Reggie Watts at TED

This is a new feature. Every Saturday, I'll post something that will make no sense until you go back and rewatch/read/listen/view/absorb/osmatize it mulitple times. And in that lies the true nature of surreality. This comes via the brilliant This is Colossal. Bonus points if you explain the true meaning of the surreal in the comments.