I know, I know: most of what I write, here or elsewhere, would be considered rather “off-axis” by readers and writers with mainstream sensibilities. But I write first of all for myself. Consider it a purgative that doesn’t produce messes on the bathroom floor. And let us quickly leave that unfortunate metaphor, and proceed …
Category: fiction
Aug 27 2023
Massive Concurrence
Every now and then, an artist in some medium will come along to remind us about what really matters. Today, AoSHQ co-blogger “The James Madison” highlights one such artist: Listening to [Australian film director Peter] Weir in interviews, I find it hard not to really like the guy. He’s soft-spoken, unassuming, and very …
Jul 21 2023
Tapped Out
That’s me. Pounding these keys has used me up, at least for the moment. (Memo to me: Remember to unclench your fists next time.) I’m going to use the day for things that won’t involve me with computers. However, I dislike to leave my Gentle Readers with nothing, so have an old short story …
Jul 20 2023
Love, Possibility, And The Fatal Hesitation
Writers are constantly on the alert for other writers who can teach them something. I’m no exception. I know my descriptive skills to be sub-par, so when reading I’m especially alert for a display of exceptional power in that aspect of the fiction writer’s trade. And today, I encountered one in the work …
Jun 21 2023
Once More…
…The Big Based Book Sale is underway! A large number of ebooks of all kinds, written from a pro-freedom, pro-reality perspective, are available for $0.99 or absolutely free, and are guaranteed to remain so through June 27. (Yes, my crap is in there again.) If your reading stack is getting short, surf on over …
May 21 2023
The Strike
[A short story for you, inspired by an observation from retired World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. — FWP] *** “We’re not getting anywhere,” Percy growled. “Did you expect to?” I said. “I’d say that was rather the point.” “But why? “Don’t they have as much to lose from this as the …
May 10 2023
Inherit The Wind, 2023 Edition
If you were fascinated by the clash of issues and titans in the Scopes Monkey Trial, whether the movie version with Frederic March and Spencer Tracy or the original “starring” William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow, you can’t fail to be mesmerized by this modernization by Hidden Truth author Hans G. Schantz: I …
Mar 05 2023
Free Fiction 3/5 Through 3/11!
As of this morning (March 5) at Midnight Pacific time, all my novels are free downloads at Smashwords. If you haven’t overdosed on my fiction yet, here’s the link to what I have available there. They’re available in all the currently popular formats.
Feb 18 2023
New Fiction!
This is a day of rejoicing: Liberty’s Torch Co-Conspirator Margaret Ball has released a novel that truly has it all: magic, history, intrigue, action, and a delicately paced romance. I was privileged to be her proofreader, and I tell you, quite sincerely, that I have never read anything like it. It is simply …
Jan 29 2023
This Writer Has An Uncanny Foresight
I’ve mentioned Mackey Chandler’s April series more than once here. I liked it enough that I’m now reading his other works. Just now I’m enjoying his 2011 novel Paper or Plastic, an unusual first contact story in several ways. A moment ago I encountered this passage, in which a very human alien is explaining …
Jan 28 2023
Conditional Hypotheticals
“Say, what if there were no hypothetical questions?” – Originator unknown I found this at Ace’s place: I can’t speak to whether the figures cited are accurate. However, the suggestion that persons of below-average intelligence would have trouble understanding such propositions seems like that most uncommon of all things, “common sense.” Moreover, …
Dec 15 2022
Free Fiction!
Starting today, through January 1, all my novels without exception are free downloads at Smashwords. You can get them in any and all popular formats, suitable for reading on your handheld device or your computer. Amazon won’t allow me a giveaway promotion any more, so hie thee to Smashwords for the freebies.
Dec 05 2022
“Freedom: I Won’t!”
This will be an extremely trying day here at the Fortress, for doggie reasons: our Newf must go back under the knife yet again, this time to correct a dangerous abdominal hernia. So I doubt I’ll be posting anything much. Accordingly, I’d like to recommend that anyone who hasn’t yet read Eric Frank …
Nov 27 2022
The Adventure Of Love
A number of my fiction readers have commented that the romances I write are “different.” Well, I should hope so. Why write what everyone else is writing? Why not follow a unique path that persons bored with “the same old thing” can use for their refreshment? All the same, it raises the question of …
Fran’s Recent Novels
Margaret’s Recent Novels
