Sunday Surfing and I Survived Vegas

I survived Las Vegas

With my trip to Vegas consuming most of my week, I found little time to rummage through the nooks and crannies of the web looking for nuggets of priceless wisdom and guffaw-inducing entertainment.

However, I did find a few that I wanted to highlight for your ever-progressing self-enrichment.

I came across some great "How-To" articles on self-publishing here and here and this one with still more links.

And after last week's fun-poking at felines, here's a link to a canine post for your enjoyment. Writers and their canine doppelgangers.

Also from The Kill Zone is the Hunting Down The Muse post.

Scott Lukas Williams wrote a touching tribute: RIP Ray Harryhausen.

Here is part 1 and part 2 of Carissa Taylor's Write On Con Recap.

Mooderino was busy last week providing some welcome Synopsis Support. And along those lines, you may also want to check out Your Book In One Sentence part 1 and part 2.

You survived April's A-to-Z Challenge. Did you visit all the other participating blogs? No? Well then climb on board for the 2013 Post A-to-Z Road Trip.

And about that Vegas trip I took last week...

They say "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," but sometimes what happens is just too good or funny not to share.

I had my first chuckle within 90 seconds of paying for my hotel room. There I was, laptop bag in one hand, suitcase in the other. Before me stood a lovely, towering fountain.

No, he didn't fall into this

Upon this fancy fountain sat a fellow more than a little inebriated. I doubt I'd have noticed him at all had it not been for the splash.

A southern baptist preacher couldn't have dunked him any better.

Now, the brain requires a few brief moments to process such things before it thinks about rendering aid. In this, my brain was no exception. I stood there gawking just like everyone else. By the time the thought occurred to me, he'd already arisen from his self-administered baptism.

I stayed at the MGM Grand

With eyes as round as any I'd ever seen, he took in his surroundings while climbing back out of the fountain. He never spoke, but I'm fairly certain he realized he was drenched. I'm just not sure he understood how he came to be that way.

I would so love to know which questions were sloshing through his mind. His expression suggested so many possibilities.

The downside to the incident was the fact that the fountain was off and empty for the remainder of my stay. Perhaps it was due maintenance after the mishap or it needed a good cleaning. I somehow doubt it was the first baptism that fountain had seen.

But the trip was both productive and fun. The flights were at full capacity, but were all on time. I managed to get You Are My Sunshine stuck in my head during the return trip thanks to a spontaneous mother and daughter in-flight duet. (I have to admit though, the girl had a nice voice for being three or four years old.)

The weather was great the entire time I was there. I snapped some nice pictures. I posted some here and more on Facebook.

I ate at Gordon Ramsay's BurGR restaurant. (And that burger was way better than I expected!) I also had steak at Chef Emeril Lagasse's Cajun seafood restaurant. (I don't do fish.) Of course, everyone except me knew who these chefs were.

There really is something in Vegas for just about everyone--except for beaches, but they do have some nice pools. This last photo is from a pool area at MGM Grand.

Enjoy the links. And as always, write wisely.

A Conspiracy? (A-to-Z Reflections)

I entertained the idea of participating in the A-to-Z Challenge this year. But I knew April would be a demanding month at work, so I logically decided against participating.

I was at peace.

Until a certain dragon delivered mail asking if I'd do it. I again debated the pros and cons, weighing them until the balance tipped. I replied, relaying my sincere apologies.

Now I said my A B Cs...

I was again at peace--mostly.

Until a certain ninja (or a clone of one) emailed me. He pounced with his mystical power of persuasion. I heard music in the email. A guitar, I think. This masked master of omnipresence tempted me.

Was there a conspiracy afoot? Were other tempters and temptresses out there lying in wait? It quickly became obvious that resistance was futile. I caved.

And I was no longer at peace.

I fretted over theme. I fretted over time. I fretted over Xs and Zs and Qs. I garnered curious expressions from my wife as she watched me roam aimlessly throughout the house muttering my alphabet.

I chose my theme. I chose my entries. I wrote and posted, visited and commented. I found new friends, discovered great blogs, and learned a few things in the process. I do not regret participating.

I am at peace.

Z is for Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander.

Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series is one of my all-time favorite epic fantasy tales. It tells of the Seeker of Truth, the Confessor who loves him and the wizard who protects him.

Each of these characters is rich with backstory and uniqueness. Each has his own strengths, weaknesses and character arcs. Even the secondary characters are fascinating, Shota, the Mord-Sith and Darken Rahl.

But Zed is perhaps the most eccentric wizard there is. Wizard's First Rule? Take your pick. Zed quoted many rules, and not always in the same order. And Bruce Spence portrayed this aspect of Zed's character wonderfully in the two seasons of Legend of the Seeker.

In almost every tale of fantasy that has a wizard, there is a preeminent purpose for his existence. Dumbledore's was to ensure Voldermort's demise. Gandalf's was to see the One Ring and Sauron destroyed. Even the Wizard of Oz attempted to take Dorothy home.

Zed was no different. His purpose was to name the Seeker and make sure he fulfilled the prophecy.

Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

Y is for Tasha Yar

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Tasha Yar.

I really hated the turn of events in Skin of Evil. That's the Star Trek: TNG episode in which we lost Lt. Tasha Yar. Denise Crosby's character was by far my favorite, more than Picard, more than Data, more than Worf.

It took STTNG a good year before most of the characters really started settling into their roles. That settling was important because only then could the characters grow and evolve. I would have loved to see where her character could have gone.

There was something satisfying about seeing a female in the role of Chief Security Officer. She was competent. She was diligent. And she cut a much nicer figure than Worf.

It was good to see her resurface (in character) in Yesterday's Enterprise and All Good Things. I'd loved to have seen her in the movies too.

Lt. Tasha Yar is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

X is for the Professor

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Professor X.

Marvel Comics has enriched the lives of many young minds over the years. It just wouldn't be right to wrap up my A-to-Z Challenge of why I love science fiction and fantasy and not mention Stan Lee.

Without Stan Lee and Marvel, there would be no Professor X, no X-Men at all. There would be no Hulk, no Iron Man or any of the Avengers. We'd have no Fantastic Four and no Spider-Man.

And this holds true for the DC Comics universe as well. They gave us Superman, Wonder Woman and the entire Justice League. They gave us Batman, Green Lantern and awesome villains like the Joker and Lex Luthor.

These characters have given generations decades of entertainment and escape. They have employed artists, writers, printers, distributors and so many others. They've made stars out of actors and bigger stars out of other actors.

These characters have become part of our culture, part of our identity. What child hasn't dreamed of having a super hero's super power and saving the world? Of course, Professor X's mind powers are pretty cool.

All these characters are reasons why I love science fiction and fantasy.

W is for Wizards

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Wizards.

Who doesn't love a little wizardry? A flash of light. A whispered enchantment. A thrown voice. An optical illusion. So many possibilities.

Wizards are handy to have around. Questing without one isn't wise. Angering one isn't either. You never know when they might turn you into something...unnatural.

They have a way with dragons. They have a way with weather. They have a way with just about everything.

From Gandalf to Zed, from Merlin to Dumbledore, from Middle Earth to Oz, they cast their spells upon us all.

Their magic ensnares imagination, quickens the pulse and fills us with wonder.

Wizards are wondrous reasons why I love science fiction and fantasy.

V is for Vader

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Darth Vader.

Star Wars: A New Hope was the first science fiction motion picture I remember watching in the theater without parental supervision. I distinctly recall the moment I exited the building. I looked up at the night sky...and I wondered.

Was there a rebellion somewhere amongst those stars? Could there really be some kind of Force? Did a place exist where lightsabers and Tie fighters and X-wings were the tools of war? The universe became alive to me that night.  The thrills of possibilities excited me.

And Vader...what a marvelous villain. Everything about him was cool: his appearance, his voice, his...breathing.

Keep it a secret if you don't appreciate the ultimate villain. He'd find your lack of appreciation...disturbing. And that doesn't work out well for anyone.

Vader, with his bad sci-fi self, is the perhaps the coolest reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

U is for Ursula K. Le Guin

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin

There is something to be said for writers who capture the imaginations of younger readers. This author did that for me. Her Earthsea books were some of the first fantasy books I ever read.

I loved her take on dragons and still see them largely through her eyes. I remember wishing I could learn magic at the school of Roke. She added gebbeth, otak and harrekki to my fantasy lexicon.

She showed me that not all quests are over land. Some quests cross seas and delve deeply into self-discovery. And she knows the power of one's true name.

She's an author who asks simple questions that don't have simple answers. She has five Hugo and six Nebula awards to her credit, and more Locus awards (19) than any other author. I've even read that she inspired Neil Gaiman.

Ursula K. Le Guin is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

T is for Tolkien

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of J. R. R. Tolkien.

This one individual has probably inspired more creative writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers and dreamers than any other author. And perhaps most importantly, from my own narcissistic perspective, he inspired me.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Many call him the father of epic fantasy. I call him hero, for he saved me from an existence without magic.

He introduced me to the elves of Rivendell, the mines of Moria and magnificent eagles. I rode with the riders of Rohan, heard the shrill cries of Nazgûl and witnessed the wonder of wizards. He revealed the weaknesses of men and showed men rising to overcome them.

He escorted me through a world as vast and wonderful as any world can hope to be. And that world will forever be a part of me. If I could shake the hand of any author, I'd choose his.

In one way or another, directly or indirectly, J. R. R. Tolkien is why almost everyone loves science fiction and fantasy.

S is for Star Trek

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Star Trek.

The Star Trek franchise offers nearly 750^* hours of video entertainment:

Series	# of Episodes	# of Seasons
Original Series	79	3
The Next Generation	178	7
Deep Space Nine	176	7
Voyager	172	7
Enterprise	98	4
Animated Series	22	2

^* Episodes run ~40-45 minutes without commercials, 

but I rounded to an hour for simpler arithmetic.

And once Star Trek: Into Darkness is released we'll have twelve Star Trek movies.

Plus we have the couple hundred or so novels set in our favorite Federation.

I love Star Trek because of the characters and settings and richness of its portrayed reality. I love it because of its exploration of science, space and the human equation. But I love it most, I think, because of the hopeful promise it paints, its vision of humanity at its best.

Star Trek, with its immense reservoir of material exploring the final frontier, is a huge reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

R is for Ellen Ripley

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Ellen Ripley.

If ever I need a woman to come to my rescue, this is who I hope shows up.

Save me next, Ripley!

Who can forget the moment in Aliens just after she found Newt and that egg opened up. That tilt of her head that told the queen, "It's on!"

Aliens was the only movie of this type that really stayed with me for a few days after watching it the first time. The first movie (Alien) was okay and I liked Alien 3 as well, but Aliens was the best.

The creatures introduced in this series were the most unique aliens to enter the mainstream in a very long time. They were virtually unstoppable--at least until they met Ripley.

Sigourney Weaver was arguably at her best in this role. (I loved her in Galaxy Quest too, but that's a post for another time.) She's a talented actress and a credit to her profession.

Sigourney's role as Ellen Ripley is one reason I love science fiction and fantasy.

Q is for Q

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Star Trek's Q.

John de Lancie's character was named Q, not to be confused with everyone else in the Q Continuum, who were also all named Q.

Q delivers one quotable quip after another in every episode that featured him. We saw him in at least one episode every season on The Next Generation. We saw him at Deep Space Nine where Sisko punched him. We saw him in the delta quadrant with Janeway who refused to mate with him.

The guy is everywhere. All the time. He's omnipotent with an IQ of 2,005. He introduced us to the Borg. Carried us back and forth in time, not to mention other dimensions and places that don't exist.

He was an adversary we loved, looking down at the pitiful bipedal species called humans, yet endlessly curious about our quirks and oddities. He put the entire human race on trial and then gave us just a little bit of help to exonerate us.

And when this adversary shows up to do something nice for you, you'd best put the ship on high alert. Q is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

P is for Picard

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Star Trek's Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Patrick Stewart is a top-notch actor and did an excellent job of making Captain Picard a top-notch character.

Picard and Kirk were so different in so many ways, yet they both have dedicated fans and admirers. And many who admire one, admire them both.

Picard's refined sophistication was always being put to the test, whether he was dodging Lwaxana Troi, taking a holiday on Risa or bemoaning the fact that Starfleet allows children on Galaxy class starships.

As Locutus, he made a convincing borg. He was an entertaining Robin Hood and a rather cool kid in the Rascals episode.

He was quicker to talk his way out of a fight than throw a punch, but he held his own when punches were necessary. Any man who can impress a Klingon is okay in my book.

Captain Picard is one of the reasons I love science fiction and fantasy.

And a brief little clip showing what Picard loved most

O is for Orion

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Orion

Constellation Orion

I not only love science fiction and fantasy, but I love science as well--especially astronomy. And Orion is my favorite constellation. It contains the Orion nebula (M42), the stars Betelgeuse and Rigel and is one of the easiest to locate thanks to the hunter's (Orion's) belt and sword, often mistaken for the big or little dipper.

My love of fantasy began in my teens when I encountered Tolkien's work, but my love for science fiction began even earlier. The night sky has always left me in awe, whether viewing it through a telescope, binoculars or the naked eye.

As an adolescent, I would lie on the roof of our house and stare at the stars for hours on end. I'd imagine what it would be like to travel among them, praying that one day it would be possible.

But to keep true to my theme, I find myself obligated to mention the green Orion slave girls of Star Trek, of whom it's said no man can resist.

I fell in love with astronomy, in large part, due to Orion. So thanks to Orion, I fell in love with science fiction and fantasy too.

The Orion Nebula (M42)

N is for Leonard Nimoy

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Leonard Nimoy.

Before I begin, let me just state for the record that anyone claiming to be a fan of science fiction, but not a fan of Leonard Nimoy, is a heretic and should be subjected to the Vulcan nerve pinch immediately. Just sayin'.

He made his role as Spock on Star Trek one of most recognized and loved science fiction characters ever created.

This actor has one of the most distinctive voices in the industry. Scan his list of credits on IMDB and notice how many credits appear where only his voice was featured--including The Big Bang Theory. (Took them long enough!)

Having just turned eighty-two years old last month, his acting credits, starting in the early 1950s, has spanned more than sixty years. And he's still going strong.

Leonard Nimoy is the most logical reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

Mr. Nimoy, I have been, and always shall be, your fan.

M is for Merlin

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Merlin.

I can't recall ever reading or watching a depiction of Merlin that didn't fascinate or entertain me on some level. This wizard has surfaced in tales and shows I'd never have expected.  Even Stargate!

Everything about him is rooted in mystery. The source of his allegiances. The nature of his beliefs. His origins.  He's been rumored to be ageless, an alien, aging backwards, and the list goes ever on.  And no one seems to agree on how much power he really possessed.

I have to stop and wonder how much of a role the legend of Merlin played in J. R. R. Tolkien's mind when he created Gandalf.

But whether wizard, magician or merely a mysterious mortal, Merlin is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

L is for Lightsabers

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of lightsabers.

On rare occasions, a person pulls something from their imagination that fires the imagination of others. George Lucas did exactly that when he created the ultimate weapon for the ultimate warrior.

Science fiction is replete with pulses and beams of light flying across the screen--or page.  Armories 'R Us sells ray guns, blasters, lasers and phasers at deep discounts from their oversized cargo holds every time they dock at a space station.

But lightsabers?  They're the perfect weapon. Reach back in time and grab a hilt from the surest of swords.  Pull from the future a most lethal blade of glowing force to add to it.  Combine that with some cool sound effects and let the dance begin. 

That meter's worth of light attached to a hilt lets your flair for swordplay flare.  It's what the Jedi do.

Lightsabers are definitely a reason I love science fiction and fantasy.

For the civilized warrior

K is for Kirk

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Kirk, Captain James Tiberius--the only man to ever win the no-win scenario. (And in two different timelines!)

Back in the 1960s, sci-fi wasn't exactly mainstream.  Gene Roddenberry pitched the concept of Star Trek to NBC as a wagon train through the stars.  The "western" setting even surfaced in an episode or two.

William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk

But everyone knows Captain James T. Kirk. He's bested everyone from Harry Mudd to the Klingons and done so in more places and in more time periods than almost anyone.

He was a worthy competitor at chess, but poker was his game.  And he bluffed the best of them.

Roddenberry, through Kirk and his crew, opened the door for science fiction to go mainstream.  Yet another reason I love science fiction and fantasy.

J is for Robert Jordan

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Robert Jordan.

I'm indebted to James Oliver Rigney, Jr. (aka Robert Jordan) because he inspired me to write fantasy.

Robert Jordan

The man was a creative genius. Oftentimes accused of being verbose, not to mention writing huge books comprising a huge series, he possessed a priceless talent.  He had a way of grouping and arranging twenty-six little letters that fired my imagination. Paint a picture with words? Jordan was a master at it.

One would be hard-pressed to find another world so fully rounded, so intricately detailed and yet so incredibly fascinating as the world he created for Wheel of Time.

I still recall the day I read of his passing. I was eating lunch at my desk at work and literally gasped.  A titan had fallen.  And he is sorely missed.

Robert Jordan, with the entertaining characters and immense world he brought to life, is high on my list for why I love science fiction and fantasy.

I is for Immortals

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Immortals.

Whether they're Greek gods or Scottish clansmen, immortals spark intrigue. Immortals come in the form of vampires, angels and even resurrected mummies like Imhotep. They sail the seas like Davy Jones or provide guidance like Lorien from Babylon 5.

Immortals fascinate us. We're captivated by their legends and quirks: Merlin living his life backwards, Kronos the Titan god of time swallowing his children to avert a prophecy's fulfillment, and Q continually playing with the space-time continuum--and the crew of the Enterprise.

Some walk among us unnoticed like Connor MacLeod while others like Tom Bombadil are larger than life.  We marvel at their diverse beginnings.  We read or watch, with satisfaction or dismay, their final undoing.

It matters not from where the immortals hail: the highlands, the continuum or childhood storybooks. They're all reasons I love science fiction and fantasy.