I am being interviewed by Jon Del Aroz, the leading Hispanic voice in science fiction, and the darkest of dark lords, Vox Day. We discuss wokeness, madness, and my new book SPACE PIRATES of ANDROMEDA.
Was podcast live at 7.00pm on Wednesday, 10/17 of 2024 AD.
From THE PHOENIX EXULTANT, vol. II of my debut trilogy.
In the far future, where men are as gods, living lives of perfect peace and prosperity, Phaethon of Rhadamanthus discovers all memory of his lifework has been hidden from him. For he is the engineer of the sole starship his civilization has ever produced: the mighty, majestic, and immense Phoenix Exultant. She is a ship to conquer the stars.
But such ambition is outlawed in utopia. Phaethon is a pariah, exiled mentally and physically, denuded of possessions, and cast down among outcasts. His life is sought by sinister agents of the Silent Oecumene: an apocalyptic menace none but he dares see. For in a world where mind or memory can be edited at will, what is truth?
The Phoenix Exultant Ep. 30: The Enemy
Photo of the Day. This is not the cover of one of the science fiction magazines of my youth. This is here, now.
Bernal Diaz, who served under Cortes, in The Conquest of New Spain, wrote:
“The dismal drum of Huichilobos [Huitzilopochtli] sounded again, accompanied by conches, horns and trumpet-like instruments. It was a terrifying sound, and when we looked at the tall cue from which it came we saw our comrades who had been captured in Cortes’ defeat being dragged up the steps to be sacrificed.
“When they had hauled them up to a small platform in front of the shrine where they kept their accursed idols, we saw them put plumes on the heads of many of them; and they made them dance with a sort of fan in front of Huichilobos.
“Then after they had danced, the papas laid them down on their backs on some narrow stones of sacrifice and, cutting open their chests, drew out their palpitating hearts, which they offered to the idols before them… ” (The Conquest of New Spain, volume II, chapter 152).
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Let me voice my vexed conclusions regarding the ongoing denigration by the self-anointed Elite of Columbus Day.
In the same way gratitude is the only attitude toward creation which makes the existence of any mortal in creation endurable, if not joyful, so ingratitude is the only attitude certain to despoil what joy one has. Even Eve was ungrateful for the blessings of Eden, or else she would not have been tempted to know more.
The ingratitude toward Columbus, however, is pitch-perfect in its archetypal self-destructiveness.
Those who hate Columbus hate themselves.
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From our own CPE Gaebler, who helped fund the writing:
Far in the future, in a galaxy not so far away…
Starquest was sold to me as a loving homage to Star Wars, but a fresh and renewed approach to the theme; as a fan of both Star Wars and the author, I had to try it.
I had high expectations, but was still blown away. The prologue alone got me hooked on the first book; Book 1 got me hooked on the series.
The theme is Space Opera more than it is Science Fiction.
Theoretically, the spaceships and supertechnology have a hand-wavey physical explanation. But the author does not waste your time explaining them, as the priority is the finer things in stories: Adventure, Romance, Revenge, Pirates, Space Princesses, and the Annihilation of Entire Planets.
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This is the future I was promised as a child.
Absolutely gargantuan. Towering almost 400 feet, the first stage alone is 240 foot tall. This is by far the most powerful rocket ever built, dwarfing even the mighty Saturn V.
Had I written this in a science fiction story, even ANALOG magazine would have scoffed. Who launches a heavy booster and catches it again with Mechagodzilla-sized chopsticks?
Because of Musk’s political support for a politician who would prevent government from stopping such efforts, the current regime has overloaded the efforts with bureaucratic red tape, in an effort to stop this effort.
Because Elon has joined MAGA, and because this is a triumph of the American spirit over the vampiric, dream-killing, progress-reversing, envy-riddled spirit of the Anti-America, i.e. Progressivism, I am listing this as NOT TIRED OF WINNING in my column.
From THE PHOENIX EXULTANT, vol. II of my debut trilogy.
In the far future, where men are as gods, living lives of perfect peace and prosperity, Phaethon of Rhadamanthus discovers all memory of his lifework has been hidden from him. For he is the engineer of the sole starship his civilization has ever produced: the mighty, majestic, and immense Phoenix Exultant. She is a ship to conquer the stars.
But such ambition is outlawed in utopia. Phaethon is a pariah, exiled mentally and physically, denuded of possessions, and cast down among outcasts. His life is sought by sinister agents of the Silent Oecumene: an apocalyptic menace none but he dares see. For in a world where mind or memory can be edited at will, what is truth?
A reprint of a Radio Play review from ten years past, presented again for any readers who may have missed it. Links and some text updated.
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It was listening to a radio play series that convinced me that Marvel Comics is science fiction and DC is fantasy.
It also convinced me to become a great fan of the Green Hornet, a relatively minor character as far as the pantheon of popular superheroes go, to whom I previously never paid much heed.
Erenow, I knew only three things about the Green Hornet. The first was that the Green Hornet television show was when the famed martial arts action star Bruce Lee was introduced to American audiences. Bruce Lee was given the role of Kato, the ju-jitsu using chauffeur of the masked vigilante — and that he was absurdly overqualified for the role.
The second thing I knew was that the same producer who made the 1966 – 68 BATMAN television show such a popular success, William Dozier, was put in charge of the GREEN HORNET television show, and it was a great failure as much as BATMAN was a great success. I have heard many people speculating about why the first was a success and the second was a failure over the years.
Indeed, I remember it being mentioned once as a bit of realistic background detail in a novel I read in my youth, whose title and author I have since forgotten, concerning a comic book artist haunted by his memories of the Hitlerian War.
But I can state that I have found an answer that satisfies me, at least. The answer was the radio play was really quite good, and suited the kind of story the Green Hornet character was created to fit. More on this below.
The third and final thing I knew about the 2011 Green Hornet was that the movie starring Seth Rogan was an abomination. More on this below as well.
So this review has three points to cover: to describe the radio play and the origins of the character; to explain the failure of the modern television version; to condemn the postmodern ultra-failure of the movie version.
And, incidentally, to explain why, by and large, Marvel Comics characters like Spider-Man are actually Science Fiction, whereas DC characters like Superman are Fantasy. Read the remainder of this entry »
John C. Wright is a guest on Geek Gab.
If you log on as of the time of this writing, you can ask questions in the chat.
Otherwise, view it later at your leisure.
May longtime readers forgive me, for this a topic previously discussed, ad nauseam. But, given recent events, perhaps a repetition is in order.
Marxism is a religion, as it has the properties all religions have in common: (1) an explanation or myth to explain the human condition (2) which imposes moral duties on its adherents (3) which, at times, are paramount above all worldly duties.
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“O Ineffable Creator, who, from the treasures of Your wisdom, have established three hierarchies of angels, have arrayed them in marvelous order above the fiery heavens, and have marshaled the regions of the universe with such artful skill. You are proclaimed the true font of light and wisdom, and the primal origin raised high beyond all things.
Pour forth a ray of Your brightness into the darkened places of my mind; disperse from my soul the twofold darkness into which I was born: sin and ignorance.
You make eloquent the tongues of infants. Refine my speech and pour forth upon my lips the goodness of Your blessing.
Grant to me keenness of mind, capacity to remember, skill in learning, subtlety to interpret, and eloquence in speech.
May You guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to completion, You who are true God and true Man, who live and reign, world without end.
Amen.”
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From THE PHOENIX EXULTANT, vol. II of my debut trilogy.
In the far future, where men are as gods, living lives of perfect peace and prosperity, Phaethon of Rhadamanthus discovers all memory of his lifework has been hidden from him. For he is the engineer of the sole starship his civilization has ever produced: the mighty, majestic, and immense Phoenix Exultant. She is a ship to conquer the stars.
But such ambition is outlawed in utopia. Phaethon is a pariah, exiled mentally and physically, denuded of possessions, and cast down among outcasts. His life is sought by sinister agents of the Silent Oecumene: an apocalyptic menace none but he dares see. For in a world where mind or memory can be edited at will, what is truth?
After a hiatus of many years, John C Wright has a new book, the first volume an ongoing series, available for preorder.
https://www.amazon.com/Starquest-Space-Pirates-Andromeda-12th-ebook/dp/B0DGYX8QPR
Space Opera must be Great! Gallant! Gigantic! Grandiose!
This tale told by a Grandmaster vows to return the glory that was lost!
Remember the days gone by, when science fiction was fun?
Now new hope is here!
If you are weary of weak, wan, woke and wasted works, your wait is ended!
Here is an epic, as grand as any tale of old — here you will hear wonders told!
Of course there is a Space Princess, and Space Pirates galore, and an Evil Galactic Empire.
Of course there is a super-weapon known only as the Great Eye of Darkness!
Here meet Athos Lone, Ace of Star Patrol, in his one-man mission of vengeance!
The Ancient Mariner, like an iron ghost, when slain, seems to rise again!
The mysterious spymaster called Nightshadow walks in dark worlds but serves the light!
An Imperial Deathtrooper must reverse his loyalties, and fight his own clone-brothers!
Fate has set these unlikely heroes against the Four Dark Overlords.
An utmost evil the unwary galaxy thinks long dead!
Can Darkness fail and Light prevail?
Read On! For All True Tales are but Part of a Greater!
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Any of my dear readers familiar with the modern state of the field, if you have advice on how to spread the word, boost the signal, and tell the fun-starved spaceoperaless world that relief is on the way, and the great tradition of Pulp Wonder-tales is about to be revived, please give your humble author your advice and good counsel.
