On a New Edition of Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick, visionary science fiction author, is getting the Library of America treatment next summer in a one-volume hardcover containing four of Dick’s seminal novels: The Man in the High Castle, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and Ubik. From the Library of America’s website: Known in hisContinue reading “On a New Edition of Philip K. Dick”

On Remembering George Harrison

George Harrison–lead guitarist for the Beatles, songwriter, mystic–died five years ago today. What I wrote at the time: My favorite Beatle depends as much upon what day of the week it is as it does upon my mood for that day. Some days my Beatles-sense revolves wholly around John, other days Paul, sometimes George, sometimesContinue reading “On Remembering George Harrison”

On Plato

Lately, I’ve been reading Plato. I haven’t thought about Plato since college. Ten, fifteen years. Reading Plato. I’ve read the Critias, Plato’s incomplete account of Atlantis. I’ve read the Apology, his account of Socrates’ trial. For good measure, I’ve also read Xenophon’s Apology, he take on the same event. I’ve read a little bit ofContinue reading “On Plato”

On Wishlists

We’re past Thanksgiving and people are asking, “Allyn, what do you want for Christmas?” Last year my answer was, “the things I want–world peace, an end to hunger, President’s Bush impeachment, Vice President Cheney’s indictment for war crimes–no one can give me. These are unrealistic wishes.” These are still unrealistic wishes. The reality is, I’mContinue reading “On Wishlists”

On Lankhmar News

I love Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar stories. Set in the world of Nehwon, these stories follow Fafhrd, a barbarian, and the Gray Mouser, a failed wizard, as they adventure from one side of the world to the other, getting into weird scrapes in their quests for coin, cleavage, and alcohol. When asked what is my favoriteContinue reading “On Lankhmar News”

On Writing a Letter to Rick Santorum

I promised Lisa at PhilCon that I’d post about this. 🙂 In the run-up to the mid-term election Pennsylvania’s junior Senator, Rick Santorum, made a most bizarre statement: that the war in Iraq was drawing the Eye of Mordor away from the United States. No, really. He did. “As the hobbits are going up MountContinue reading “On Writing a Letter to Rick Santorum”