We were about half-way done and then the guy started up again. Ugh. I swear the moderator started reaching for the guy's throat. When it was all over, I asked the moderator how he didn't kill that guy. He said it took all the restraint in his body. I then asked him why he even let him on the panel. He told me that it was because he forgot the guy's name. He assured me he would not make that mistake again!
Entry 3-352: December 13, 2015
Philcon 2015, Part 6
Previously, I had given you a brief summary of my Philcon 2015 experience. Today, I will continue my observations of the seven panels in which I participated:
Panel 6. Romance Novels with SF vs SF Novels with Romance
This panel was another nightmare. I was the only male on the podium. All the others were women who wrote urban fantasy, paranormal romances, etc. These were nothing that I could relate to.
Now anybody that reads novels like Rome's Revolution know that I am all for romance. And since I write science fiction, I am all for romance in science fiction. But I would not call my books romance novels in any way. Even my one attempt at conventional fiction, the novel entitled Future Past, I refer to as a romantic novel, not a romance novel.
Apparently, to be certified as a romance novel, there are certain rules that must be applied. Two strangers, insurmountable problems, happy ending, whatever. These women seem dedicated to their craft. I asked them about the science and none of them seem very interested in it. I don't think they deluded themselves into thinking they write hard science fiction.
However, a very rough spot for me came a little later in the discussion. I asked them if they ever had problems working with a male character. They all said no. I told them I have a very hard time writing a believable female character. I've been told multiple times by multiple females to change something Rome says or does because no woman would ever say or do such a thing.
When I brought this up, I got some glaring looks. I told them that I just did not know how to think like a woman. To even suggest that women think differently from men caused sparks to fly. One woman stood up, I think she was getting ready to storm out. However, some of the other female writers on the panel did acknowledge that there were differences between men and women and how they acted and thought. This calmed down the stander-upper and we continued.
So there you have it, one difference between men and women is that a man cannot suggest that men and women are different but a woman can.
Tomorrow: I time travel!
Entry 3-353: December 14, 2015
Philcon 2015, Part 7
Previously, I had given you a brief summary of my Philcon 2015 experience. Today, I will conclude my observations of the seven panels in which I participated:
Panel 7. The Uses of Time Travel
This panel was a lot of fun. I was considering blowing it off to go home and watch the Eagles game but I really wanted to attend. It allowed me to make a joke that I was actually traveling into the past even as the panel was proceeding. By the time I got home and flipped on my DVR, it would be 2:30PM according to the rest of the world but my subjective experience would tell me that it was really 1PM, kickoff.
I also explained that I had traveled in time just the night before. I looked at the clock, saw that it was 12 midnight, closed my eyes then suddenly it was 8AM. Is that time travel? Probably not.
The purpose of the panel was to have fun with the concept but beyond the standard travel into future to find out who wins a horse race or travel to the past to solve a crime or historical mystery, nobody on the panel had any concrete or practical suggestions on what we could actually do even if we could travel in time.
We discussed the Grandfather Paradox which is you go back into the past and murder your grandfather before your father is born. Your father is never born so you are never born. Therefore there was no "you" to go back into the past to murder your grandfather.
One of the panelists named JJ Brannon had a fascinating theory about information from the future. He said there are infinite timelines into the future at any given moment in time. So even if the people in the future could send information back to you, it would be useless because every possible outcome could come back making the information just so much noise.
Thus old Biff coming back in time from 2015 in Back to the Future to bring young Biff the Sports Almanac would not make him a rich man because he simply traveled on one single timeline and the future hasn't happened yet. For every horse race listed, the winner in one timeline might come in last in another. The same thing for college football games.
I guess this is a good thing. It means there is free will and we are not just puppets playing out a script written by a higher power. And the reason we don't see time travelers walking around now is because time travel hasn't been invented yet and may never be, DVRs notwithstanding.
Entry 3-354: December 15, 2015
This will change the world
Do you believe in global warming or do you think it is just something made up by a bunch of statisticians? Well, last Saturday night, representatives of 195 nations agreed that global warming is real and it is time to do something about it. It took them 13 days of intense bargaining in a Paris suburb but fundamentally changes the way nations will produce and consume energy, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels in favor of sustainable and clean forms of energy.
Every one of those 195 nations have committed to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions to the point where the average increase in the Earth's temperature will not exceed two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century.
This will not stave off global warming or halt the melting of the polar ice caps. But if we can at least cap off the rising temperatures, the Earth can begin to heal itself.
There are those who will not be happy with this accord. Some have gone so far as to claim it is the death knell of the fossil fuel industry. That's oil, coal and natural gas.
But as I have recounted in this blog on numerous occasions, there is more than enough renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric and solar power. Also within 50 years we will have viable fusion generators creating electricity.
In summary, you need to know about this and applaud the fact that finally, finally, governments have come to the realization that there is only one Earth and we must all do our part to keep it healthy.
Entry 3-355: December 16, 2015
Home is where the heart/h is
Everybody has heard the expression that home is where the heart is. But the real saying is that home is where the hearth is. The hearth was the central fireplace and truly the center of home life. It was used to keep the house warm and it was where food was cooked. Without a fire burning in the hearth, there was no home.
Rei tried to explain this to Rome in the latter stages of Part 3 of Rome's Revolution but even he had trouble explaining it. The problem is, in that earlier version of the book, back when it was three separate novels, I was still clinging to the Rules of Green which ended up being unsustainable (ironic) in terms of practicality.
Here is that little scene that had to be cut out because I had to toss the Rules of Green to make the story flow better:
“Gotcha,” Rei said out loud and became silent. He looked around the room. “I’m going to miss this ship,” he said, figuring that was safe to make small talk.
“Yes,” Rome replied. “We had many happy times here.”
“This was our first home,” Rei said. “You can only have one of those.”
Rome thought about what he said and smiled. “We will make a new home,” she said. “Home is wherever you and I live together.”
“Yeah,” Rei said in English. “We had an old saying on Earth…” he laughed to himself. “I mean on my Earth. I mean when I was alive.” He laughed again. “I guess I’m still alive, huh?”
“Go on,” Rome said. “I know what you mean.”
“Yeah,”
Rei said. “Anyway, we had a saying that was supposed to be home is where the hearth is.”
“What is a hearth?” Rome asked.
“It was the fireplace, the centerpiece to the house. A long time ago, people’s lives centered around something as simple as a fire. It represented warmth, where you cooked, basically, survival.”
“I understand,” Rome said. “Open fire was one of the casualties of the Rules of Green. We would no longer say that.”
“Right,” Rei said. “But even in my time, people changed it to home is where the heart is. They dropped the h at the end of the word and it took on a whole other meaning.”
“I like that one better,” Rome said. “You are my heart,” Rome said.
“And you are mine, honey,” Rei said.
There was a noise in the hallway. They saw Grus go by carrying some satchels. The pilot stepped back and allowed Binoda to enter the room carrying something large and furry in her arms. Of course, that ball of fur ended up being Rome's cat Skodla who played a reasonable role in the longer form but he had to be excised when I condensed the three books down to a single novel.
Never fear, Skodla returns in The Milk Run as an animal spirit, sitting in Heaven, waiting for his beloved Rome to join him.
Entry 3-356: December 17, 2015
A walking tour of the Flying House 1
Even though Rome and Rei spent nearly a year trapped inside the converted Vuduri space tug, called the Flying House, between Parts 1 and 2 of Rome's Revolution, we really didn't get to see much of it. This oversight was rectified after Rome's sentence of banishment. The Vuduri were using the Flying House to ferry Rome, Rei and Binoda to their new home in Hawaii. The flight required several hours so Rome took the opportunity to give her mother a walking tour of their apartment in the sky:
Grus paused for a moment then said, “The pilots inform me that we will arrive at our destination in approximately two hours.”
“In that case, may I show my mother around the ship?” Rome asked Grus.
“No,” Grus replied gruffly. “We insist you remain within visual contact at all times.”
“Then you accompany us,” Rome said, standing up.
Grus sighed and stood up but said nothing.
“Rei, will you watch Skodla for me?” Rome asked, pointing to the huge mound of fur on the floor.
“Sure,” Rei said, “but he hasn’t left very much room for me, all spread out like that.”
“Rei!” Rome said but it was clear she knew he was kidding.
“Please remain here,” Grus said to Rei. “And please do not try anything.”
“I have no intentions of doing so,” Rei replied with a sigh. “Where am I going to go?”
Grus shrugged. “Proceed,” he said and the three of them left the room.
Rome took Grus and her mother down the hallway toward the very back of the ship. “This was our recycling facilities,” she said, pointing to the right. “Rei insisted we launder rather than synthesize clothes all the time so he built me what he called a washing machine.”
Binoda looked puzzled. “That seems so inefficient on a space voyage,” she said.
“Yes,” Rome replied. “Many of Rei’s customs seem strange to me but for some things, I let him have his own way.”
“I understand. Your father also had some peculiar ideas,” Binoda replied somewhat sadly. Grus said nothing.
They turned and walked part way back up the hall. Rome pointed to her left. “In that room is storage and our life support, molecular sequencers and more.”
Grus took one step forward and placed his hand on the middle of the door.
“Do not worry,” Rome said. “I will not go in there.” Even though she and Rei had taken an inordinate amount of time to hide any evidence that Aason was in their care, she knew there was always the possibility that they could have overlooked something. To Rome, it was just safer to not go there.
Since Rome and now her mother are both Cesdiud (cast out) and can no longer communicate mentally, all interactions must be verbal. This is includes Grus, a soldier, who is clearly uncomfortable with speaking in general.
Tomorrow, the tour continues.
Entry 3-357: December 18, 2015
A walking tour of the Flying House 2
Even though Rome and Rei spend nearly a year trapped inside the converted Vuduri space tug, called the Flying House, between Parts 1 and 2 of Rome's Revolution, we really didn't get to see much of it.
This oversight was rectified after Rome's sentence of banishment. The Vuduri were using the Flying House to ferry Rome, Rei and Binoda to their new home in Hawaii. The flight required several hours so Rome took the opportunity to give her mother a walking tour of their apartment in the sky:
As if to demonstrate her good behavior, she spun in place in an attempt at drama. She pointed to the door to Binoda’s left. They moved forward and entered the doorway into their bedroom. Binoda looked around and nodded.
“The refresher is in there if you need it,” Rome said, pointing to the back of the room.
“I am fine,” Binoda replied.
Rome looked at Grus but he acted as if he did not notice. Binoda spent a bit of time, wandering around the bedroom, examining the various items. She saw the onyx case which contained the bands that allowed Rei and Rome to interchange thoughts. She picked it up and turned toward Rome, holding it out. Rome nodded. Binoda smiled and placed the case back on the dresser.
Binoda surveyed the bedroom and said, “It is very nice, Rome.”
“Thank you, Mea,” Rome said. “Come.”
Rome let them back into the hallway and towards the front. They entered the galley. Rome showed Binoda the food synthesizers and the food preparation area.
Rome pointed to the little rack of spices, mounted on the galley wall.
“Rei has taught me so many things about food,” she stated. “As you know, the Vuduri do not care about such things. But, what we ate here?” She stopped speaking and looked up to the corner of the room.
“I can only describe it using the English word Rei taught me: heavenly,” she said finally.
“I can see that you enjoyed it,” Binoda said, pointing her finger at Rome’s waist. “There is now more of my daughter to love, than before you left.”
Rome blushed but decided it was better to not mention that it was mostly baby weight. “Yes, Mea, I know,” she said. “When we are settled, I plan to reduce my weight back to its optimal. The gravity on Earth will help me with my exercises, make them more effective.”
“It is all right,” Binoda said. “You look very healthy,” she said. Then, after a moment, she added, “And happy. Married life agrees with you.”
“Yes, it does, Mea,” Rome said. “I could not ask for a more wonderful partner. I cannot even tell you how many hours we spent here, laughing, playing games. We never grew tired of each other, not once, during the entire trip.”
Do you think you could live trapped with someone else in a Flying House for a year and never get on each other's nerves? Good thing Rome and Rei were soul-mates.
More tomorrow.
Entry 3-358: December 19, 2015
A walking tour of the Flying House 3
Even though Rome and Rei spend nearly a year trapped inside the converted Vuduri space tug, called the Flying House, between Parts 1 and 2 of Rome's Revolution, we really didn't get to see much of it.
This oversight was rectified after Rome's sentence of banishment. The Vuduri were using the Flying House to ferry Rome, Rei and Binoda to their new home in Hawaii. The flight required several hours so Rome took the opportunity to give her mother a walking tour of their apartment in the sky:
Binoda looked around, trying to envision that. She stopped and stared at the dining table for a moment. “Why are there three chairs?” she asked Rome, pointing at the table.
“What?” Rome said, her eyes widening. She took a deep breath. They had purposefull
y destroyed Aason’s high chair. The thought never occurred to them to destroy Fridone’s.
“Eh, that is just the way we made it,” Rome replied finally. “The galley was built with two chairs. There came a time when we wanted another.” Subtly, she shook her head at her mother, hoping she would drop the subject.
Binoda shrugged.
“Let me show you our gymnasium,” Rome said, hurrying them out of the room. They passed the living area and Rei waved at them while they continued forward. Rome seemed to not notice and ushered them into the small gym. She showed Binoda the various pieces of exercise equipment.
“What is that one?” Binoda asked.
“Rei calls that an elliptical machine,” Rome replied. “That is the one he preferred.”
“How does it work?” Binoda asked.
“I will demonstrate,” Rome said. She stepped up onto the pedals and grasped the two lever arms, one in each hand. She pushed one of the arms forward and pulled the other back and the pedals moved along a track one going up and the other going down.
“May I try it?” Binoda asked.
“Of course,” Rome replied, stepping off.
Binoda stepped up onto the two footpads and took hold of the arm levers. She grunted but nothing happened.
“Pull the left lever toward you and push the right one forward,” Rome said. “At the same time, lift your right leg so that there is no pressure on the foot pedal.”
Binoda did this and the machine moved a little.
“When the foot pedal reaches the bottom, reverse the motion,” Rome said. “Put the pressure on your right leg and lift your left.”
Tales of the Vuduri: Year Three Page 47