The Cambias Digression

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

  • Readercon After-Action Report

    This past weekend I was a participant at the 23rd annual Readercon convention in Burlington, Massachusetts. As always, I had a great time. The con (-vention) committee did their usual superb job of keeping everything running smoothly. These are fans who do this for fun, and yet manage to do a better job than many…

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  • Bilbowulf

    I recently made a minor literary discovery, which has been made by others before me, but is still interesting. A little context: a few weeks back I bought a copy of Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf — the one that was a New York Times bestseller back in 2000. It's a good read and very…

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  • Read About Readercon

    Just as I do most summers, I'm going to be a participant at this year's Readercon. If you don't know what Readercon is, and you're interested in science fiction or fantasy literature, then you're missing what is simply the best annual meeting of its kind. This year they're working me hard on Friday, then I…

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  • Ozblogging: The Emerald City of Oz, Part 6

    The final battle has arrived! The combined armies of the Nome Axis march through the tunnel toward Oz. As they march, the Nome King and General Guph do a little scheming of their own. It turns out Guph has given some thought to ways of dealing with the terrifying allies he has recruited, and he…

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  • Ozblogging: The Emerald City of Oz, Part 5

    The Grand Tour of Oz concludes with a visit to the two "Defensive Settlements" of Oz.  These are the towns inhabited by the Flutterbudgets and the Rigamaroles, respectively. Flutterbudgets are the easily-panicked people of Oz, who go into fits of terror worrying about everything bad which might happen. Their neighbors the Rigamaroles are calmer, but…

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  • Ray Bradbury

    I never met him, but that's not important. Most writers aren't especially interesting in person. The most fascinating parts of their lives happen inside their heads. Flamboyant characters are good material for writers, but seldom make good writers themselves. (Example: Christopher Marlowe had a romantic and exciting life, and got knifed to death before he…

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  • Ozblogging: The Emerald City of Oz, Part 4

    Dorothy and her traveling companions camp for the night after visiting the Fuddles, and we get to see the Wonderful Wizard do some actual wizarding. Agent Diggs is evidently a quick study, for in just a year of Glinda's tutoring he has mastered some pretty impressive magic. He's still a humbug at heart, though. His…

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  • An Old-Fashioned Science Fiction Gathering (Day 2)

    On Sunday the 27th, most of the participants rose early (since both the Hartwell and Cambias households involve young children who think that sleeping past 7:30 is "late"). We breakfasted at one of the inns in Westport called The Inn In Westport, then gathered again at the bookstore to watch David Hartwell interview Gregory Benford.…

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  • An Old-Fashioned Science Fiction Gathering (Day 1)

    Over the weekend of May 25-27 I was a guest of David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer at their bookstore in Westport, NY. The occasion was a "mini-con" devoted to Hard Science Fiction. The headliner on the card was Gregory Benford, who inspired the theme of the weekend with his famous remark about writing Hard SF…

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  • Ozblogging: The Emerald City of Oz, Part 3

    Since Aunt Em and Uncle Henry have come to Oz for good, it only makes sense for them to see some of the country. Accordingly, Dorothy, the Wizard, Em and Henry, Omby Amby (the commander of Oz's all-officer Army), Billina the Hen, and the Shaggy Man all set out aboard a wagon drawn by the…

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The Worldbuilding Index