The Cambias Digression

Notes and thoughts on everything from what I had for breakfast to the fate of the Universe.

  • Initiate Reading in Providence!

    This coming Friday, February 21, the Lovecraft Arts & Sciences shop will host an evening of fantasy and horror. I'll be reading from my new contemporary noir fantasy novel The Initiate, along with special guests Catherine Grant and Daphne Gem Host. The store is in the historic Providence Arcade, at 65 Weybosset Street, and the…

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  • Meta-Political Post

    No, I'm not talking about politics. I'm talking about talking about politics. I recently read a couple of interesting essays. The first, by economist Robin Hanson, is "Respectable Rants" — his standards for good political rhetoric. Note that he's not trying to limit politicians to a Rain Man style recitation of facts, nor is he…

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  • The Future of Star Wars — And An Initiate Reading!

    Andrew Liptak at Tor.com asked some science fiction writers what they'd like to see from future Star Wars projects. You can read my answer here. And if you're in or near Worcester, Mass., at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, swing by Annie's Book Stop of Worcester, at 65 James Street on the west side of Worcester (take…

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  • The Initiate Arrives Today!

    The wait is over, the stars are right, and all the necessary rituals are complete. My new modern-day noir fantasy novel The Initiate is officially released today. Pick up a copy in your local bookstore, or buy on line. Get Initiated! And if you're going to be in the neighborhood of Easthampton, Massachusetts this coming…

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  • Polygon Gets Initiated!

    Polygon's roundup of new fantasy and science fiction recommendations for February includes my new book The Initiate. Check out the article here. The official publication date is tomorrow, so get ready to hit the stores!

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  • Happy Palindrome Day! Yad Emordnilap Yppah!

    Today is, of course, 02/02/2020, so happy Palindrome Day! What makes this one rather special is that it's Palindrome Day no matter where you live and what format you use for writing dates. In the month-day-year zone based on American practice, we had Palindrome Days on January 2, 2010 (01/02/2010) and November 2, 2011 (11/02/2011);…

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  • Movie Review: Color Out Of Space

    Well, there's no "U" in "Color" so I guess it sucks. Actually, it doesn't. Color Out of Space is a sincere and competent attempt to film a completely unfilmable story. As a horror movie, it succeeds at its most basic task: scaring the audience. My wife spent about half the run time in the theater…

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  • Lewis and Lovecraft

    This post is about a common thread I've noticed in the works of two very different writers: Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Clive Staples Lewis. (One of their few similiarities is that both are known by their first two initials.) C.S. Lewis, of course, is famous as the author of the Narnia series and numerous works…

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  • Book Launch Party February 6!

    My new novel The Initiate comes out in two weeks from Baen Books. In this modern dark fantasy thriller, Samuel Arquero fights alone against the Apkallu, the ancient and secret order of wizards who rule the world. But what price must he pay? Join me and special guest Suzanne Palmer, author of the upcoming novel Driving…

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  • Great Moments In Gaming

    This table anecdote by Daniel J. Davis is one of the greatest examples I've seen of player-characters being player-characters. I love this stuff. It's why I love roleplaying games: seeing other people be clever (and, occasionally, horrifying).     For more clever, horrifying acts, check out The Initiate, from Baen Books. It will be in…

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