Tag Archives: Science Fiction

More Praise for Beyond the Mist!

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More people have positive things to say about Beyond the Mist,

Patrick S. Baker’s 5-star review of Sci Phi Journal Issue 5 at amazon:

Could not be better! The stories are very good, of course. The excellent Beyond the Mist by Ben Zwycky continues. HMS Mangled Treasure by L. Jagi Lamplighter is also an excellent combo of tough broad straight from a film noir, whimsy and Peter Pan: “a whole can of whup on your sorry ass” might be my new signature block.

And Kevin Stuart Lee over at John C. Wright’s blog had this to say:

“Beyond the Mist” was one of the few stories out of Issue 2 I thoroughly enjoyed, and I’ve been enjoying it more as it goes along. At first blush I thought it was a cut-and-dry hell/purgatory/heaven allegory, but as the narrative goes deeper and the adventure keeps unfolding, I find myself having no actual clue what’s going on, and I love it! It’s guaranteed fun and mystery, and I look forward to each new installment.

It’s also the first serial I’ve ever had the pleasure to read in serial form, so thank you for making my first experience a most pleasant one.

Go to the Beyond the Mist page, follow the links and grab yourself a copy (or 4) of Sci Phi Journal to see for yourself.

Issue 5 of Sci Phi Journal Coming Soon!

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The next issue of Sci Phi Journal, featuring chapters 8 and 9 of Beyond the Mist as well as some excellent other stories and articles, is in the final proofreading stage and on schedule to be ready for its release at the end of this month, so here is a little sneak peak at the cover and internal art by Cat Leonard:Sciphi issue #5 cover PNGtVirs PNG GodEaters_LittleGeorgeTheSecond_LittleTheGreatTeacher_Little

On Leonard Nimoy’s Passing

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Over at SuperversiveSF, I have added my own thoughts to the many eulogies offered to the man who’s most famous role gained almost archetypal status, that of the benevolent Vulcan philosopher Mr. Spock:

For me, Leonard Nimoy always embodied the wise and self-controlled paternal figure, whose gentleness was that of a man who was well aware of his own strength and the damage it can cause, so showed restraint wherever possible, but was always prepared to use that great strength to defend the innocent and stand up to evil wherever it appeared. In that his persona was that of that greatest of ancient figures, the warrior poet, who is not only strong and skilled in the arts of war, but also possesses the moral clarity to know the proper time and place to use those arts for the good of those around him and society as a whole. He also embodied the deep thinker, the guardian to another world of wonder and mystery, into which he would allow us to peer ever so briefly and whet our appetite to begin our own search for truth and wisdom.

Read the rest

Sci Phi Journal Issue 4 is out now, and more reviewer Praise for Beyond the Mist!

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Issue 4 of the Sci Phi Journal, featuring chapters 6 and 7 of Beyond the Mist, is now available for purchase in ebook form at Amazon and Castalia House and in paperback form at Amazon and Createspace.

Patrick S.Baker, author of On the Ethics of Super Soldiers, The Crescent and the Hammer and many others, had this to say about it:

My reviews of this fine publication have become a bit redunant, I’ll admit. But sadly there are only so many synonyms for excellent and thought- provoking.
The continuation of Beyond the Mist by Ben Zwycky alone is worth the price.

 

Needless to say, upon reading his comment I was jumping about for joy like an excited three-year-old (Luckily we had one to hand for calibration purposes, all relevant parameters matched well beyond the accepted level of statistical significance)

 

Get your copy today and see if you think his embarrassingly high praise is justified.

 

 

Issue 4 of Sci Phi Journal is coming soon!

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I have just finished proofreading Issue 4 of Sci Phi Journal, which includes chapters 6 and 7 of Beyond the Mist. The final version should be off to the distributors in a couple of days and ready for you good people to enjoy in exchange for a small amount of your hard-earned local coinage before the end of the month. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the delightful cover artwork by the irrepressible Cat Leonard:

Sci Phi Journal Issue 4

Sci Phi Journal Issue 4

Sci Phi Art by Cat Leonard

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The ever awesome artist Cat Leonard has been at it again, producing evocative painting after painting to illustrate stories from the Sci Phi Journal. You can take a look at them here:

 

http://www.sciphijournal.com/teaser-art-for-issue-4/

 

Additionally, through the wonders of modern technology, you can now order all sorts of merchandise incorporating those paintings, so for example you can have a tasteful Beyond the Mist T-shirt (or even pillow or duvet cover, to help you dream about the Gravity Ring) delivered to your door:

 

http://www.redbubble.com/people/sciphijournal/works/13778414-beyond-the-mist-illustration?grid_pos=24&p=t-shirt

 

 

Spreading the Word about the Sci Phi Journal

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I trust that at least some of my fine readers and followers have taken a look at an issue or two of the Sci Phi Journal and have liked what you saw there, I certainly have. It is showing a lot of promise, but the economic realities of publishing mean that in order to be sustainable in the long term, its readership will need to keep on growing, as the editor outlines at the link below:

http://www.sciphijournal.com/how-sci-phi-is-going/

I am sure that there are plenty of other people out there who like depths to their stories and to explore the depths of the stories they like, and so would love the journal if they knew about it. The next part of Beyond the Mist will be appearing in the next issue, which is in the works, but how long it will take until it and subsequent issues appear will depend on the level of readership. So, my discerning friends, I would ask if any of you are part of a community of science fiction fans or writers, or of philosophers; or know anyone in a philosophy department, or in the media, please consider suggesting to them to take a look, every little increase in the potential audience will help.

Meet (or Hear) the Man Behind the Curtain

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Last month I was interviewed for the Sci Phi Journal in connection with my ongoing contribution in the form of the serial Beyond the Mist. Be amazed at my boring voice and semi-coherent ramblings!

http://www.sciphijournal.com/meet-the-contributor-ben-zwycky/

(This was the first audio interview I have ever given, so hopefully I will get better at it with practice, assuming there will be a next time)