Mario Milosevic

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long while. A woman dying of cancer visits her friend for three weeks while she gets treatment at a nearby clinic. Her friend is welcoming, at first, but the burden of caring for the woman, even for a short time, proves emotionally and physically too much for the friend, a fact she faces very reluctantly. The detail in this novel feels absolutely authentic and the emotions are real. The depiction of the pain for both parties is pitch perfect. The novel confronts real issues of love and commitment and never sidesteps any of them. The book is riveting and true. I really can’t say enough good things about it. This is my first encounter with Garner’s work. I will definitely seek out more of her books.

My latest short story, “Winding Broomcorn,” has just been published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. I’ve been published there before, but this is the first time I got my name on the cover, which is pretty cool. Yes, F&SF is one of those old fashioned print magazines (although you can get an electronic version here) with a long history of publishing excellent short fiction. I’m very happy to be part of it. You should be able to find it at your local newstand, (if you still have such a thing in your neighborhood) or you could support an excellent magazine and subscribe. Just saying.

Kim Antieau is a remarkable writer of amazing range and skill. She creates characters and stories that live beyond the page, and there is nothing else one can ask of any writer. Her latest novel is Church of the Old Mermaids. That’s all you really need to know. Buy the book. You will not be disappointed.

Okay, if that’s not enough for you, find out more about the Old Mermaids here. Then buy the book. Okay, okay, if that still isn’t enough to convince you, then explore the COTOM blog here. You still won’t be disappointed. I promise.

A guy is driving down the road with five penguins in the backseat. He gets stopped by a cop. “Sir,” says the cop, “you can’t be driving around town with penguins in your car. You get those birds to a zoo, and I mean now.”

“Yes officer,” says the guy, and drives away.

A week later the same guy is driving down the same road. He has the same five penguins in the backseat, but this time they’re all wearing sunglasses. The same cop stops him. “Sir,” says the cop, “I thought I told you to take those penguins to the zoo.”

“I did officer,” says the guy. “And today I’m taking them to the beach.”

The final issue of the Journal of Mythic Arts is now online. Editors Terri Windling and Midori Snyder have done their usual fine job in assembling a terrific mix of art, prose, and poetry. Oh, and they even reprinted one of my poems, “Lunar Fate.” Go take a look.

The good people at qarrtsiluni have posted my latest tale: “Pulling Strings: A Quantum Story Cycle.” Click on the player at the top of the post and you can hear me reading the story. Also, do take a look at some of the other posts. Lots of good stuff for your amusement and enlightenment.