tingilinde

grawlixes

Where did they come from? (I had no idea that was the name for comicstrip swearing)

tolkien comes to the US

A major J.R.R. Tolkien exhibit runs from Jan 25th to May 12th at the Morgan Library and Museum in NYC. 

It could be fun.  $20 but free on Fridays from 7 to 9pm

Then again the country sees to transforming into Mordor

 

 

fictional britain

A map of places that only exist in myth and literature

a tip of the hat to Julia

 

 

the poetry section

A few women poets, including two Native Americans, showcased in The New York Times with readings and images.

 

 

get some writing done?

Why not a residency in Switzerland where you're paid a stipend to work in neat little suspended houses?  One would imagine this is very competitive.

 

 

from the merchant of venice

 

ANTONIO Mark you this, Bassanio,
    The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
    An evil soul producing holy witness
    Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
    A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
    O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

 

a tip of the hat to Brian for remembering.

 

 

scifi flash fiction

The winners of this year's Quantum Shorts competition.

 

william kelley

A forgotten black novelist.  A fascinating piece in The New Yorker.

a tip of the hat to Sukie

 

 

time travel in fiction

when a person of letters see a total solar eclipse

Anne Dillard's essay 'Total Eclipse'

snip

...

What you see in an eclipse is entirely different from what you know. It is especially different for those of us whose grasp of astronomy is so frail that, given a flashlight, a grapefruit, two oranges, and 15 years, we still could not figure out which way to set the clocks for daylight saving time. Usually it is a bit of a trick to keep your knowledge from blinding you. But during an eclipse it is easy. What you see is much more convincing than any wild-eyed theory you may know.

...