Author: Joe Vasicek

Joe Vasicek is the author of more than twenty science fiction books, including the Star Wanderers and Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic and traveled across the Middle East and the Caucasus. He claims Utah as his home.

World Fantasy 2009 — first day

After four years, I’m back in California!  Yay! Okay, now that I’ve got that out of my system (because California is, without a doubt, the most awesome state in the union), let me just say that the first day of World Fantasy 2009 was most excellent. For Cavan, Alex and me, the day began at… Continue reading World Fantasy 2009 — first day

T minus 5:08:37…

Business cards…check. Clean clothes…check. Clean shaven…check. Soap and toiletries…check. Batteries…check. Battery recharger…check. iRiver 800…check. Music…check. Computer…check. Camera…check. Tentative convention program…check. Map and directions…check. Snacks and lunch…check. Five hours to liftoff and counting.  This time tomorrow, I’m going to be in California! Yay!  And holy cow, did I mention that I’m nervous? World Fantasy 2009, here… Continue reading T minus 5:08:37…

Convention jitters

World Fantasy starts in less than 72 hours, and I’m getting nervous about it.  Really nervous.  This is the first big-time science fiction convention I’ve ever been to, and I’m worried that it will be too intimidating, or that I’ll make a fool of myself, or that I won’t put myself out there enough, or…… Continue reading Convention jitters

Mysterium by Robert Charles Wilson

Nobody knows why the government chose the small town of Two Rivers, Michigan, as the site for a top secret military project.  Even most of the people involved in the project don’t know what it’s really about.  That’s alright, because most of the denizens of this backwoods community are used to minding their own business.… Continue reading Mysterium by Robert Charles Wilson

Why I love Robert Charles Wilson

From Mysterium, which I plan to review here soon: “Do you ever wonder, Howard, about the questions we can’t ask? “Can’t answer, you mean? “No. Can’t ask.” “I don’t understand.” Stern leaned back in his deck chair and folded his hands over his gaunt, ascetic frame. His glasses were opaque in the porch light. The… Continue reading Why I love Robert Charles Wilson

Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb

It’s that time of year! Elves, Klingons, slave women, gamers, computer geeks, aspiring writers, and superfans are converging on Rubicon, the annual science fiction convention. Mild mannered citizens beware! Newest among the motley crew is Jay Omega, a young, local computer professor and first-time author on a mission: make sure that nobody he knows in… Continue reading Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb

WOTF rejection

So a couple days ago, I got a phone call from my Mom.  A piece of mail had come in from the Writers of the Future contest. Yeah, it was a standard form rejection. Well, everyone puts in their time.  I guess this counts toward that.  A modified version of this story did well in… Continue reading WOTF rejection

Hellish week (and I’m still crossing my fingers)

Holy cow, this week was insane.  INSANE. Two papers (13 pages and 8 pages respectively) in one week, hours and hours wrestling with Sambanis’s Civil War dataset and Excel (I wish I knew STATA–it’s so much more useful for analyzing ginormous datasets), 33 tests to grade (of which I’ve only graded about 11), peer reviewing… Continue reading Hellish week (and I’m still crossing my fingers)

Jemma 7729 by Phoebe Wray

The following is a book review I wrote for The Leading Edge. It will be coming out in the November issue, along with my short story Decision LZ150207.  The editors gave me permission to post the review here.  Be sure to pick up a copy of the magazine when it comes out! Jemma is a… Continue reading Jemma 7729 by Phoebe Wray