My latest publication is “Runt of the Litter” in the new anthology, Cat Ladies of the Apocalypse from Camden Park Press. There’s a travelling midwife with a pregnant Maine Coon cat as a companion–turning the usual post-apocalyptic trope of a man and his dog right on its head!
There are a bunch of other fun stories in the anthology. Just to give you a taste, we have:
– one biker story – one zombie story – two “tech” stories – two “aliens” stories – four stories about survivors (that includes mine!) – four stories centering around science – six stories dealing with some kind of magic – loads of cats and their kick-ass women throughout!
I am honored that my newest story, “Deal with the Devil” is in this Fab 4 anthology, Across the Universe, just released by Fantastic Books on December 3, 2019!
It’s the Beatles tour for which you never thought you’d get a front row seat, with speculative fiction stories examining other galaxies, worlds, professions and existences John, Paul, George and Ringo might have experienced … or maybe they did ….
Contributors: Nancy Holder, Spider Robinson, Jody Lynn Nye, Charles Barouch, Gordon Linzner, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Allen Steele, Sally Wiener Grotta, Ken Schneyer, David Gerrold, Cat Rambo, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Bev Vincent, Patrick Barb, Carol Gyzander, Pat Cadigan, Gail Z. Martin, Barbara Clough, Eric Avedissian, Alan Goldsher, R. Jean Mathieu, Beth Patterson, Christian Smith, Gregory Frost, Matthew Amati, Gregory Benford, Randee Dawn, Michael A. Ventrella
We’ve been getting some awesome reviews! Publishers Weekly says:
“Ranging from trippy fantasy to hard science fiction and zombie apocalypse mash-up, the stories in this anthology send the members of the Beatles on wild adventures through alternate timelines and universes. In Allen M. Steele’s “Come Together,” artificial intelligences named for each of the Fab Four identify so strongly with their namesakes that they jeopardize their space probe’s mission when they begin to fall out with one another, mimicking the breakup of the band. An idealistic George Harrison tries to teach transcendental meditation to Richard Nixon with disastrous geopolitical results in Sally Wiener Grotta’s “The Truth Within.” Gregory Frost’s “A Hard Day’s Night at the Opera” plugs the band members into the plot of a Marx brothers movie to hilarious effect. It’s clear that each of the 25 contributors are true fans, filling their tales with references to Beatles history and, in the case of David M. Gerrold’s “The Fabtastic Four,” so many song lyrics that readers will be tempted to sing along. Beatles aficionados and fantasy fans will enjoy this affectionate, speculative homage.”
Library Journal gave the book a starred review, saying:
“The Fab Four are reimagined as wizards, robots, hockey players, zombies, the Marx Brothers, and more in this anthology from Ventrella (Big Stick) and Dawn (Home for the Holidays). … VERDICT This anthology will be mostly of interest to Beatles fans, but even non-fans will find stories here that will move and surprise them.”
I am absolutely so tickled to read Spider Robinson’s blog post (#30) about his story in Across the Universe, the new speculative fiction anthology about the Beatles… in which I also have a story! Yeah, I just have to read that line a few times.
Also, I am absolutely so tickled to read Spider Robinson’s blog post (#30) about his story in Across the Universe… in which I also have a story! Yeah, I just have to read that line a few times. 🙂 http://www.spiderrobinson.com/blog.html
My cyberpunk novella, “Mac,” is inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth and appears in the first Writerpunk Press anthology, Sound & Fury: Shakespeare Goes Punk Volume 1.
It’s set in a near future, post-apocalyptic world where behavior and ambition are controlled by use of brain moddy chips. See what happens to Mac when his ambition is released! Note this is a standalone story that takes place in the same world as “Hank” in Volume 2.
Sound and Fury: Shakespeare Goes Punk Volume 1
Airships and sky pirates! Brain Modification chips! Technologically enhanced nymphs!
We have taken the plays that audiences have enjoyed for hundreds of years and reinvented them as cyberpunk, dieselpunk, Teslapunk and steampunk tales.
Featuring comedies and tragedies as well as a wide variety of punk genres, this collection has something for everyone. A spirit of subversive fun is strongly encouraged. Sound and Fury: Shakespeare Goes Punk is our first anthology of stories based on the Bard’s work.
This cyberpunk story, “Hank” was inspired by Shakespeare’s play, “Henry V.” It’s in the second volume of ‘punk genre stories inspired by the bard, Once More Unto the Breach: Shakespeare Goes Punk 2 from Writerpunk Press.
The first of two stories in the same dystopic, near-future world, Hank must make some tough choices as he takes over his father’s corporation. The second story is “Mac,” in Shakespeare Goes Punk Volume 1. Yeah, I know – that’s backward – but each is a stand-alone story!
Once More Unto the Breach: Shakespeare Goes Punk 2
Cover blurb:
Welcome to the world of Shakespeare Goes Punk, where the Bard is remixed and nothing is sacred. Our fearless writers are back by popular demand to give you a ride on the punk train. Five punked-up tales and three sonnets inspired by Shakespeare. All profits to charity. As You Like It The Tragedy of Livingston (Coriolanus) Blast the Past: Fae and Far Between (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) Dogs of War (Julius Caesar) Hank (Henry V) Clockpunk Sonnets (18, 105, 127)
My short story, “The Clockwork Raven,” is a clockpunk twist on Edgar Allan Poe’s classic. In Merely This and Nothing More: Poe Goes Punk, the latest anthology of ‘punk genre stories from Writerpunk Press.
Merely This and Nothing More: Poe Goes Punk (Writerpunk Press Volume 3)
Cover description:
A clockwork raven. Two sets of irresistible teeth. A house brought to life by nanobots. A heart that won’t stop beating. All this and much more in the Writerpunk Press version of the beloved suspense stories by Edgar Allan Poe.
We’ve pulled out all the stops this time around to bring you the very best punked versions of classic Poe tales, complete with shiny gears and tiny bots! In addition to the more familiar Cyberpunk and Steampunk, we’ve added Bio, Deco, and Dieselpunk genres to the mix. The resulting volume is a dynamic take on horror of which the Master of Macabre himself would be proud.
Profits are to be donated to PAWS Lynwood, an animal shelter and wildlife rescue located in the Pacific Northwest.
