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Marlowe and Me: The Road Curved, and I Didn't
July 8th, 2013
My son has done a lot of things to me, some that open my mind and some that draw blood. He’s shown me how to slow down, how to see things anew, how to enjoy the simple pleasures of shoveling sand from his sandbox onto my grill. He’s also given me a black eye, left numerous teeth marks on my legs or arms and, on my first day of class last year, as I’m already running late in my newly-ironed clothes (and honestly, the only time they were ironed that semester) he grabbed ahold of his diaper and flung it, spraying a rooster-tail of toddler crap across me and the room.
Read Column →Book vs. Film: World War Z
July 5th, 2013
I’ll be honest: this is a tricky one. About two months ago, Max Brooks, author of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, publicly dissed the Hollywood adaptation now raking in the bucks at the box office, warning viewers that the film and his book had one thing in common: the title. If fans were expecting a faithful page-to-screen translation, Brooks said, they would be disappointed.
Read Column →Stop Trying To Make Me Read Game of Thrones (And Yes, I Know That's Not What They're Called)
July 5th, 2013
Above: Daenerys by Phil Noto I am a Game of Thrones superfan.
Read Column →7 Things Dungeons & Dragons Taught Me About Storytelling
July 3rd, 2013
Once upon a time (in high school), a classmate bashed on what was then my preferred hobby: Dungeons and Dragons. His main argument was that, while not harmful, playing D&D was ultimately a waste of time. He challenged me to tell him how I benefited in any practical way, and the best response I could make was that enjoyment was an end of its own.
Read Column →Storyville: What is Neo-Noir Fiction?
July 2nd, 2013
NOTE: While many of these definitions may be accepted by the writing, publishing, and literary communities, much of how I see these genres and sub-genres is strictly my opinion. So it’s subjective, and not exhaustive. I don’t consider myself an expert on much of anything, but I’d like to think that based on my writing history, the authors I’ve studied under, my MFA, and my current work as a writer, editor, teacher, and publisher that I've learned a lot about these various flavors of writing.
Read Column →Book Brawl: Lexicon vs. Snow Crash
July 1st, 2013
During the opening scenes of Lexicon, Wil Parke, abducted by mysterious attackers, almost dies when an SUV ploughs into his kidnappers’ car. As Wil struggles free, he notices that it has just begun to snow.
Read Column →The Sleeper Must Awaken: A Dune Primer
June 28th, 2013
Image via LSGG Let me start this by stating that Dune is not only one of the best science fiction novels ever written, it’s one of the best novels (period) ever written. It’s my favorite single novel and it’s a masterpiece of literature, not just the genre, and I fully believe that everyone should read it. This Primer is an attempt to show you why (though you’d be better off just picking it up).
Read Column →UPDATED WITH WINNER: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: June Edition
June 28th, 2013
Flash Fiction: A style of fictional literature marked by extreme brevity - The Gatsby/Summer Edition Welcome to LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown, a monthly bout of writing prowess. How It Works We give you inspiration in the form of a picture, poem, video, or similar. You write a flash fiction piece, using the inspiration we gave you. Put your entry in the comments section. One winner will be picked and awarded a prize.
Read Column →Anthony Bourdain: Is He A Better Chef, Writer, or TV Personality?
June 28th, 2013
"I'm Taylor Houston. I write, I (wish I could) travel, I eat... and I'm hungry... FOR MORE." Ok, so yeah, I stole that line from the opening of Anthony Bourdain’s show No Reservations. You could say that I’m a fan. I have probably seen almost every episode and I’ll read pretty much anything he has written.
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