A Tour of Worlds 2018 — Worlds Without Wonder

Come closer. I have a secret to tell. Yes, you must come closer if you want to know this stunning secret that will shatter your cerebellum! What could be so dangerous?

There’s more to the worlds than science fiction and fantasy.

I know! Does it shock you? It shocked me! On occasion I adventure out of my comfort zone to explore worlds that perhaps are not as wondrous but are just as entertaining to tour. But I also want to tell you about some worlds that derived from other media or perhaps became better known through other media. So come, join me on this latest tour of worlds I visited this last year! Continue reading “A Tour of Worlds 2018 — Worlds Without Wonder”

She’s Looking for Something Special

So she walks into my store, kinda timid like, but pokes her way up to the counter.

“Can I help you, miss?” I ask, tapping my ash into the shattered husk of one of my wares.

“I’m looking for a few worlds I can connect together. I’m hoping to publish a collection of stories about killer plants.” She smiles. Now that she’s talking, she’s picked up some confidence.

“Ah. You’re an editor,” I answer. “Well, we got all types of worlds here. How many you looking for?”

She considers. “I’m thinking ten to twenty, depending how big they are.”

“Right. Well, let’s see what we got here.” And I turn to gaze on the shelves behind me. See, lots of people string together words and create worlds. Not every world is great, but many are by the time they get to me. The problem isn’t the words or the creators. The problem is connecting the world with an editor just right. They’re usually looking for something specific, even though they don’t always know what they’re looking for. Continue reading “She’s Looking for Something Special”

Tour of Worlds 2018 — Adult Worlds of Wonder

Children, step away! You must be this many years old to ride the tours of these worlds! They’re aimed at adults. Boring, scheduled, gray adults! You see, adults need a little extra zip when they visit another world just to get over their bland lives and have a smidgen of excitement. But you see, that’s why I’m here! The carnies of the Midway are here to bridge the gap, so adults can act like kids and kids can display the wisdom they haven’t forgotten quite yet!

But today! This last year I toured many worlds, and some of them were adult in nature!

No, ma’am, fear not! You need not faint away! No, you do not have the vapors! Does this look like the deep south? Why, it’s merely a blog pretending to be a Midway attraction! So can it, lady! These are just books aimed at adults, and if you’re an adult, you can handle these!

Unless, of course, you left your imagination far behind you… Continue reading “Tour of Worlds 2018 — Adult Worlds of Wonder”

Three Editors Walk into the Worldstore

So she comes in, cradling the world I made. She sets it on the counter, pokes it a little bit, sticks her hands in her pockets. “Sorry. It’s a fine world. It’s just not the one I’m looking for. I hope someone else buys it.”

“So you’re not buying it?” I ask.

She looks nervous. Like she’s returning a dog to the pound, and now cause of her some puppy’s going to get her puss sent out to a farm. See, here’s the thing the worldcrafters forget all the time about editors: They’re not cruel. Well, some of them are, sure, but most of them? They just love the worlds we create, but they can only cram so many of them into their collections. And the ones that they do cram together have to play nice.

I know all that. I’ve been at this crafting business for a while. Sometimes it doesn’t matter. Most worldcrafters, they don’t tell you this, but really: We don’t love every world we cobble together the same way. Some we throw together because we’re bored, or because we think it’ll sell. Some we really do love. Some we really do nurture. But we don’t create every world equal. Continue reading “Three Editors Walk into the Worldstore”

A Tour of Worlds 2018 — Younger Worlds

Worlds for every purpose and audience! Earths designed to entice and entrance any eye! And here, as I take you on a whirlwind review of the worlds I toured this last year, let’s turn our own all-seeing orbs to that cluster of planets designed for younger tourists, especially of the teen variety, though some are designed for those a little younger. Oh, ma’am! Don’t turn to go! Don’t you know? Older folk love touring these worlds! Haven’t you ever visited the Disney galaxy since you left your school days behind? Far, far behind by the deepness of your wrinkles and the sternness of your frown? Yes! You, too, may enjoy these little slices of other worlds! Continue reading “A Tour of Worlds 2018 — Younger Worlds”