Monthly Archives: June 2011

I don’t find fantasy to be more or less suited to philosophical questions than any other genre, really. I think that the soul of fantasy—or second-world fantasy at least—is our problematic relationship with nostalgia. The impulse to return to a … Continue reading →

Nothing limits intelligence more than ignorance; nothing fosters ignorance more than one’s own opinions; nothing strengthens opinions more than refusing to look at reality. –Sheri S. Tepper, The Visitor Send to Kindle

We tell lies when we are afraid… afraid of what we don’t know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear … Continue reading →

There is nothing finer in the world than the telling of tales. Split atoms if you wish, but splitting an infinitive—and getting away with it—is far nobler. Lance boils if you wish, but pricking pretensions is often cleaner and always … Continue reading →

As far as culture and politics are concerned, the important theme is long-attention-span vs. short-attention-span thinking. I’m sure that your readers can think of any number of ways in which having a longer attention span can be useful. But I’ll … Continue reading →