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Bascomb James
Author | Scientist | Science Fiction Fan

Accepted for Publication

6/25/2016

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Cue the Rocky theme song!  Last night I got a message from Juliana Rew, the publisher at Third Flatiron Publications, telling me that my story, “TANSTAAFL” was accepted for publication.  The story will appear in the 2016 Fall Anthology entitled “Keystone Chronicles.”  The publication date for the ebook is August 15, 2016, with print version following shortly thereafter. 

The theme for the anthology is the keystone—the central stone at the summit of an arch that holds the whole thing together.  In this anthology, keystones are the critical elements that other things depend upon for support.  As you might imagine, when the keystone is removed, things fall apart, quickly and catastrophically.  Juli told us that anything could be a keystone—keystone species, pipelines, cops, beer, or ski resorts—anything at all, as long as it was speculative fiction. 

I wrote TANSTAAFL specifically for Juli’s challenge and the story came together much faster than I expected.  Yes, it required a fair amount of head scratching and doodling on a pad, but once the ending and the theme were decided, the story wrote itself.  Unfortunately the story can’t spell worth a damn and its punctuation sucks out loud, but hey, I had to contribute something to the work.   

The title?  Well, that’s a tip of the hat to Robert Heinlein who popularized the acronym in his 1966 novel, “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.”  In homage to the era, I also tried to emulate the pulp fiction writing style.  Get the anthology, read my story, and let me know if I succeeded. 

That’s all I am going to say about the story for now.  I’m looking forward to the anthology’s publication date.  I’m anxious to discover the other keystones.  Aren’t you?

OK folks, you can turn up the theme music and join me in my happy dance.  “Yo, Adrian!”
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First Call - Far Orbit Perigee

6/18/2016

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This entry is for planning purposes only.
Please submit ONLY during specified dates.

Far Orbit: Perigee
[Closed] Submission window opens January 1, 2017]
Anthologist: Bascomb James

Our journey continues… The Far Orbit anthology series has a new home here at Pushpin Books. We are once again looking for modern space adventures crafted in the pulp fiction style popular in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. No, we’re not looking for slavish imitations of past classics. Rather, we want to receive stories that establish a new tradition in this much maligned SF adventure genera — smart, modern stories built around the classic traditions.

We are looking for adventure stories that are creative, readable, and memorable. We are also looking for midnight indulgences; exciting stories that transport you from the everyday grind and leave you wondrously satisfied. All adventure-based sci-fi genera are welcome but stay away from fantasy elements unless they are genetically engineered or cybernetic. Stories can begin on Earth but the major action should happen out there, beyond the edges of our blue marble. Dystopia (Mad Max) and fantasy-like adventures (John Carter of Mars) have to be very special to be included in this anthology. Please, no fan fiction.
 
Because adventure stories often take more space to develop, Pushpin Books is accepting stories up to 12,000 words in length.  Yes, we like longer stories.

Previously published stories are acceptable but we will not publish stories that have been previously anthologized.

Want to know more about my preferences? Check out the link at the bottom of this post or pick up a copy of the previous Far Orbit volumes, Far Orbit: Speculative Space Adventures and Far Orbit Apogee.  

Rights and compensation: Payment: $0.01/word. All contributors will receive a paperback copy of the anthology. For previously unpublished works: seeking first world rights in English and exclusive rights to publish in print and electronic format for six months after publication date after which, the publisher retains nonexclusive rights to continue to publish your story in the anthology.  For reprints: seeking non-exclusive right to publish in print and electronic formats. 
 
Unpublished stories preferred; reprints will be considered. No previously anthologized stories.

Open submission period: January 1 – March 15, 2017.

Length: Under 12,000 words

Submission Information can be found on the Pushpin Books website.

Simultaneous submissions = OK. Multiple submissions = No. 
 
Hints for authors.
  1. I prefer upbeat, fun-to-read stories with a positive message. Check out my intro to the first Far Orbit volume for more information.  
  2. I’m not a fan of the “everyone dies horribly” ending unless you can really move me.
  3. I’m looking for subject diversity in the anthology.  If you’ve written something different in this genre, I want to read it.
  4. I love escapist adventures, mind candy, and thoughtful integration of technologies and aliens.
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Last Outpost Story/Author List

6/15/2016

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The Last Outpost military SF anthology is moving forward again and I thought I would share a list of story titles and authors.   The anthology will be published tin October, 2016.  

Stay tuned for more information. 

“Conscripts” by Gary Hurtubise
“Corners and Curves” by Wendy Sparrow
“Deathbeast” by H.E. Roulo
“Hashtag Whitebitch” by Shauna O’Meara
“My Letters” by George Allen Miller
“Names” by Todd C. Wilson
“Ripplers” by John Moralee
“Risk Assessment” by David Tallerman
“Swimming Stars” by Andrew Wilson
“The Copper Queen’s Bazaar” by J.B. Rockwell
“The Quarry” by Marc Ferris
“The Thorne Legacy” by J.D. Brink



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