I’m extremely pleased to report that Triangulation: Dark Glass, featuring my horror science fiction short story “Imaginal Friend,” is now on sale at lulu.com.
“Imaginal Friend” is about a group of colonists on an extinct alien world finding out that its former inhabitants don’t like trespassers — and can do something about it, a thousand years after destroying themselves.
Triangulation is the latest of a series of similarly named anthologies put out by PARSEC, Pittsburgh’s literary speculative fiction fan club. As such it’s been a bit of a sleeper in the past — no offense to previous editors, it was always good. But editor Pete Butler and crew have, in the last couple of years, kicked it up to a new league, putting it on the map nationally. I’m looking forward to reading the other stories; I’m also looking forward to the publication party tonight at Confluence, PARSEC’s annual convention.
Truth be told — I want to say this diplomatically — they did well enough that this particular rat wanted to jump onto the ship, and submitted for the first time this year. Can’t tell you how delighted I was that they took “Imaginal Friend,” which is one of my own favorites.
Look for my regular post — on the mysterious vomeronasal organ, and a newly discovered function for it — in the next couple of days. And if you’re anywhere near the Pittsburgh area, consider coming out to Confluence; I’ll see yinz there!
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About Me
- Ken Chiacchia
- I escaped a biochemistry laboratory at Harvard University in 1990, to pursue literary pretension. Since that Crazy Ivan jolted me off the tracks, I’ve developed into a tetrapartite life form: *** A science journalist, with publications in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh City Paper (though they don’t seem to have archived any of my stuff), and others. I also work as a staff PR writer at a Big Company. My professional society is the National Association of Science Writers. *** A science fiction writer with upwards of a dozen paid publications, and membership in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. *** A dog guy who does search and rescue with Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group — or a SAR guy who works with dogs, maybe. I’ve written about dogs and dog olfaction for both popular and SAR publications, somewhat blending personae 1 and 3. *** A farmer? I’m still reconciling that one — I’m from Hackensack, for Pete’s sake. First came the farm collies, on whom I dote; now the chickens, who are surprisingly charming and cheerful; next, maybe, the meat sheep. In any case, it’s growing on me in a big way.
4 comments:
Sounds like a good story. Not sure if I picked up the right scent, but your description sounds similar to plot devices in the Tommyknockers, Contact and the P K Dick story "We can remember it for you wholesale"; advanced civilization leaves ticking time bomb for other civilizations that could threaten it once they become advanced enough. Not implying anything improper at all, mind you - I have just always thought the 'booby trap' concept was a neat one. Am I wide of the mark, or are those elements in the story? I will check it out sometime. Thanks very much!
Hey guys, spring for the Dead Tree version.
Beautiful cover art, and a well-made little book.
Tony,
No offense taken -- really there aren't any new ideas, it's all about what you do with the idea you're working with right now. Another way of putting it: I have a pretty low opinion of the practice of putting together lists of tropes that are too tired to be used, the so-called "cliche" lists. In the right writer's hand, *anything* is fair game. It's all about pulling it off.
Having said all that, while I wouldn't argue against any of your comparisons (they're apt enough), what *I* think of is Pohl's Gateway series -- humanity picking at the remains of an advanced civilization, all the while not really understanding much about the Heechee who created it. I just asked the question, "What if the Heechee were mean as all hell?"
Like Heather said, check it out, and the hardcopy version is nicely done.
--Ken
I just finished the dead-tree version today. Very "interesting" concept - nice job!
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