Category: Far Orbit

Call for Authors - Last Outpost

9/2/2015

To protect from all enemies… World Weaver Press is expanding the Far Orbit anthology series with a new a new military science fiction anthology, Last Outpost. Last Outpost will be published in 2016. As the name implies, we’re looking for military adventure stories, page-turners that keep us on the edge of our seats. We’re not looking for mindless mayhem; we want compelling science fiction with a military theme.

Send us stories about grunts, space fleets, espionage, alien invasion (even if we're the aliens), hostage recovery, battle bots, drones and droids, cyber wars, special ops, inciting rebellions, or quelling them. Anything in the military action adventure genera is fair game. We’ll entertain biopunk, cyberpunk, solarpunk and other punkish motifs but the story has to be a rip-roaring adventure. Please stay away from fantasy elements (wizards, magic, gods, etc.). Fan fiction is a definite no-no. Fantasy-like adventures (John Carter of Mars) have to be really special to be included in the anthology. Gore is OK but it has to advance the plot.

Please remember that this is a science fiction anthology. The action can take place on far off worlds or on Earth, in the far future or the day after tomorrow. If you can write a military space opera in under 10,000 words, go for it. We’ll be happy to read it.

Here are some submission tips from the series anthologist.

·         I’m not a fan of the “everyone dies horribly” ending unless you can really move me.

·         I’m looking for subject diversity in the anthology. If you’ve written something different in this genera, I want to read it.

·         I love escapist adventures, mind candy, and thoughtful integration of technologies and aliens.

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

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 For previously unpublished works: Seeking first world rights in English and exclusive rights to publish in print and electronic format for twelve months after publication date after which publisher retains nonexclusive right to continue to publish for a term. For reprints: Seeking non-exclusive right to publish in print and electronic formats for a term. Previously unpublished stories preferred; reprints will be considered. No previously anthologized stories.

Open submission period: September 15 – December 15, 2015.

Length: Under 10,000 words

Submission method: Paste the story into the body of the e-mail message. Include the approximate word count. Subject line: Outpost – [Title]. Send submission to: farorbit [at] worldweaverpress [dot] com.

Simultaneous submissions = OK. Multiple submissions = No.

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FAR ORBIT APOGEE Cover Reveal

8/13/2015

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I am pleased to show off the FAR ORBIT APOGEE cover. Apogee is the second volume in the Far Orbit anthology series edited by Bascomb James. This well-received series features modern science fiction adventures crafted by a new generation of Grand Tradition SF writers.

If you’re looking for science fiction stories like they used to write, this is the book for you. Apogee takes all of the fun-to-read adventure, ingenuity, and heroism of mid-century pulp fiction and shapes it for a new generation of readers. Join us as we follow the adventures of heroic scientists, lunar detectives, space dragons, robots, interstellar pirates, gunslingers, and other memorable characters who wrestle with adversity beyond the borders of our small blue marble. It’s fun and engaging, pithy and piquant. Set course for Far Orbit Apogee. Engage!

Here’s what you’ll find between the covers…

“To Defend and Keep from Harm” by Anna Salonen

“This Story Will Win a Hugo” by James Van Pelt

“Contamination” by Jay Werkheiser

“A Most Exceptional Scholarship” by Nestor Delfino

“Masks” by Jennifer Campbell-Hicks

“Murder at Tranquility Base” by Dave Creek

“The Affairs of Dragons” by Julie Frost

“Culture Shock” by Keven R. Pittsinger

“Lost in Transmutation” by Wendy Sparrow

“N31ghb0rs” by Eric Del Carlo

“Dainty Jane” by Dominic Dulley

“Live by the Ten, Die by the Gun” by Milo James Fowler

“By The Shores of a Martian Sea” by Sam S. Kepfield

Praise for the FAR ORBIT anthology series

“Daring adventure, protagonists who think on their feet, and out of this world excitement! Welcome to FAR ORBIT, a fine collection of stories in the best SF tradition. Strap in and enjoy!”
— Julie E. Czerneda, author of Species Imperative

“Successfully captures the kinds of stories that were the gateway drugs for many of us who have been reading science fiction for a long time. Well done!”
— Tangent

“Spectacular. One anthology no sci-fi library should be without!”
— Night Owl Reviews (Five Stars)

“Need a quick fix of good old-fashioned science fiction? Far Orbit is it!”
— Sporadic Reviews

“Put aside all of your preconceived notions of what ‘sci-fi’ is—whether you think you love it or hate, it doesn’t matter—pick up this book and get to reading!”
— Good Choice Reading

RELEASE DATE: October 13, 2015

EDITOR: Bascomb James

PUBLISHER: World Weaver Press

LENGTH: 325 printed pages

FORMATS: eBook and Trade Paperback

Where Can I find it?

Official page:
http://www.worldweaverpress.com/far-orbit-apogee.html

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26074100-far-orbit-apogee

Amazon:
(US ebook) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013TFTKK8
(UK) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013TFTKK8
(CA) www.amazon.ca/dp/B013TFTKK8

Kobo:
(US) https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/far-orbit-apogee
(CA) https://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/far-orbit-apogee

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Spaceman Barbecue by Peter Wood

8/23/2014

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Spaceman Barbecue fully embraces the pulp fiction adventure stories of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. I am not talking about stories with lurid covers of scantily clad women being carried off by horrible monsters. I refer instead to stories found in Boys Life and other “Adventure” magazines. These stories usually had a softer science element and an underachieving protagonist who found new focus and confidence as the adventure progressed. I loved those stories and practically grew up on them. In “Spaceman Barbecue,” the adventure begins with the event I prayed for as a child: a crippled spaceship landing in the nearby woods.

Kevin Bayer from Sporadic Reviews said: Spaceman Barbecue, by Peter Wood, is a Twilight Zone-esque throwback with a happy ending.

Cyd Athens from Tangent Online Reviews said: Hank has withdrawn into depression since his father died several years ago. Commander Matt Brannigan of Space Command gets trapped in an alternate reality when his ship crashes behind Hank’s trailer. At first Matt doesn’t believe what has happened. Darlene, dropping off their son, Billy, for a visit with Hank, doesn’t believe what Hank tells her about Matt. The story pushes all the right emotional buttons—making the reader want to kick Hank in the butt to get him motivated, and hoping for a miracle for Matt.

Wendy Sparrow said on Goodreads: A spaceman lands on Earth with his alien accoutrements which mean nothing to him if he can’t get home. His plight inspires the man he lands near.

McKenzie Richardson said on Goodreads: There was not a single story that I did not like, some I felt were just okay, most were good, and a few were extremely amazing. Four fell into the last category and include "Compositon in Death Minor", "Spaceman Barbeque", "From a Stone", and "A Trip to Lagasy". I would strong recommend these four stories. “Spaceman Barbecue” - 4 stars- Very funny. Charming story.

Peter Wood, an attorney in Raleigh, North Carolina, lives with his surly cat and forgiving wife. Growing up in Ottawa, Canada, and Tampa, Florida, he watched Star Trek and Outer Limits episodes and listened to vintage radio shows like X Minus One. Pete’s literary heroes include Bradbury, Vonnegut, and Hemingway. His stories have appeared in Stupefying Stories, Daily Science Fiction, and Bull Spec. He hopes “Spaceman Barbecue” heralds a new genre, Southern Fried Science Fiction.

Other Far Orbit posts featured on this blog:

Musings on NASA’s Asteroid Retrieval Project and Sam Kepfield’s “Open for Business”
Bear Essentials by Julie Frost
Composition in Death Minor by K.G. Jewell
Spaceman Barbecue by Peter Wood
Far Orbit Interview on SciFi4Me.com
Great News from Sporadic Reviews!
Guest Blog on Fantasy Café (they wanted to hear about Grand Tradition SciFi
Good Choice Reading Interviews Far Orbit Authors Tracy Canfield, Jacob Drud, and Kat Otis
My intro for the Far Orbit Anthology
Launch Day!!!
Inspiration… perspiration… exhilaration…

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Bear Essentials by Julie Frost

8/17/2014

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Julie Frost’s entertaining story Bear Essentials can be found in the Far Orbit anthology. Bear Essentials is a spaceship voyage story – one of the most familiar Grand Tradition science fiction tropes. Spaceship voyage stories were a logical progression from the popular sailing ship adventures of last century that featured daring captains who visited strange locations populated by even stranger inhabitants. Bear Essentials falls within a subset of these spaceship stories; one that revolves around a small vessel crewed mostly by family members. Well known SF stories featuring family owned or operated ships include The Rolling Stones (The Family Stone in Great Britain) published in 1952 and the TV series Lost in Space (1965 -1968).

Author Julie Frost continues in this tradition by introducing us to Captain Russell Fisk and his daughter Mandy who pilot the tramp freighter the Inquisitive Tamandua from one potential catastrophe to another. The character of Captain Fisk resonates with the empathetic reader because he isn’t the aloof steelyeyed adventurer. Instead, he is a harried fallible father who worries about everything—his ship, livelihood, crew, passengers, cargo, and his daughter's changing relationship with the mechanic.

In Kevin Bayer’s review of the Far Orbit anthology (Amazon, Goodreads, and Sporadic Reviews) he tells us, “… And I think my favorite was Bear Essentials, by Julie Frost, about a small trading vessel run by a grumpy man and his adult daughter, along with their small crew. This tale has them transporting a live bear from one world to another, along with an unusual passenger, and discovering something amazing along the way. I definitely want to read more stories about this crew (especially if that bear comes back).”

Cyd Athens’ review at Tangent Online Reviews called Bear Essentials “a fun romp.”

Julie Frost lives in the beautiful Salt Lake Valley in a house full of Oaxacan carvings and anteaters, some of which intersect. Her work has appeared in Cosmos, Azure Valley, Stupefying Stories, and Plasma Frequency. She whines about writing at www.agilebrit.livejournal.com, or you can follow her on Twitter via @JulieCFrost. A prior adventure in this timeline, “Illegal Beagles,” is available for free download at the author’s website www.agilebrit.livejournal.com.

Other Far Orbit posts featured on this blog:

Musings on NASA’s Asteroid Retrieval Project and Sam Kepfield’s “Open for Business”
Bear Essentials by Julie Frost
Composition in Death Minor by K.G. Jewell
Spaceman Barbecue by Peter Wood
Far Orbit Interview on SciFi4Me.com
Great News from Sporadic Reviews!
Guest Blog on Fantasy Café (they wanted to hear about Grand Tradition SciFi
Good Choice Reading Interviews Far Orbit Authors Tracy Canfield, Jacob Drud, and Kat Otis
My intro for the Far Orbit Anthology
Launch Day!!!
Inspiration… perspiration… exhilaration…

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Composition in Death Minor by K.G. Jewell

8/13/2014

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Composition in Death Minor is a mélange of American noir fiction, dystopian fiction, and modern tech-based world building – characteristics that upon first blush, appear to be more closely associated with cyberpunk motifs than science fiction in the Grand Tradition. Noir science fiction emerged at the end of the Golden Age (1938-1950) when a number of established writers began to explore new themes and new science fiction styles. The cynical and stylized perspective of classic noir fiction became increasingly popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Jack Finney’s The Body Snatchers (1955), Harry Harrison’s Make Room! Make Room! (1966), and Phillip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) are some of the best known examples of noir science fiction from this era.

Noir science fiction had a significant impact on science fiction films and they had a formative effect on the cyberpunk movement that emerged in the early 1980s. Composition in Death Minor continues the noir tradition and author K. G. Jewell introduces us to Sophie Devine, a hard-as-nails assassin and concert cellist. She has a job to do and she does not like assholes.

K.G. Jewell lives and writes in Austin, Texas. His stories of short speculative fiction have appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show, and Unidentified Funny Objects. He's working on novel relating the further adventures of Sophie Devine, cello player and intergalactic assassin. His website, which is rarely updated, is lit.kgjewell.com.

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My Intro for the Far Orbit Anthology

7/8/2014

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It all started with a letter…

Yes, that letter. The letter from Elizabeth Bear. The one published in ClarkesWorld Issue 68 (May 2012). Her open letter to Science Fiction.

After reading her letter, we could have applauded like many others and blithely wandered off with our hands in our pockets. Instead, we decided to do something. This is the result – a new anthology that is fun to read and embodies many of the elements found in classic, Grand Tradition science fiction. In short, we decided put our money where our heart is.

So what is Grand Tradition science fiction? I am not going to give you the Wikipedia answer, I am giving my answer. Your mileage may vary.

Grand Tradition stories were full of ideas, optimism, inspiration and respect for science. Grand Tradition SF showed us that science was cool. Like many others, I chose a career in science because it was the most exciting thing in my universe. The wonder of discovery; the satisfaction that comes from building new things; and the knowledge that you can make a difference through intellect (or cleverness), hard work and perseverance, are heady of experiences. There are no magic wands, fairy godpeople, or Miracle Max inventions. Grand Tradition stories inspired many of our current technologies and it continues help scientists understand how these technologies might interact with the real world.

Grand Tradition stories were fun to read. In her open letter to SF, Elizabeth Bear asks why “[SF seems] to think that nothing fun can have value.” I obviously agree with her sentiments. I am sorry to say that a derisive public wrote off Grand Tradition SF as mere escapism - as if escapism was something unsavory. This escapist “drek” taught me about Dyson Spheres, red-shift, general relativity, and put entire cultures and belief systems under the intellectual microscope. Not too bad for escapist literature.

Grand Tradition Stories embodied a sense of adventure and expectation. I realize that adventure is a relative term. One man’s adventure may be a normal day to another. Communicating this sense of adventure is the important thing. Readers of Grand Tradition stories have a gleeful expectation that interesting things are about to happen; that “normal” events will not remain that way for long.

And finally, the best Grand Tradition stories had a strong human element. Great SF is not just about gizmos and spaceships, it’s about us and how we are shaped by, and relate to our environment. Human elements are the Velcro that make stories stick in our brain. They make them enjoyable, approachable, and memorable.

The stories in this volume embody one or more of these elements.

The Far Orbit anthology is truly a labor of love but no matter how much I express my ardor, it’s all about the stories. We endeavored to provide a broad mix of SF stories by established, award-wining authors and newly emerging authors. Their stories embody a variety of SF motifs including those from 1940s pulp-fiction, realistic hard SF, noir fiction, spaceship fiction, alien encounters, and action-adventure. The range of subjects is astonishing and includes slimy alien babysitters, an angry sentient bear, walking plants, alien bunnies, and a barbecue. If that is not enough to pique your interest, the anthology also features a cello-playing assassin, high-stakes poker emancipation, space ship crashes/rescues, an alien artifact, and fights with space pirates. We hope every SF fan can find a favorite within these pages.

So here it is, our latest creation. We obviously want the Far Orbit anthology to be successful for financial reasons but just as importantly, we know a successful approach will be emulated by more conservative publishers. The net result could be a future where there is a wider variety of Grand Tradition story choices and story markets – good things in my estimation.

This anthology isn’t just about us and our desires; it’s also about you, the new SF reader, the SF fan, the aspiring (or established) writer. Let me know what you think of this anthology and where we should go from here. I will be “listening” at: farorbit@worldweaverpress.com

Bascomb James
Anthologist, Far Orbit: Speculative Space Adventures

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Musings on NASA’s Asteroid Retrieval Mission

6/22/2014

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As I read the recent NBC News article about NASA’s proposed Asteroid Retrieval Mission, I couldn’t help but think about Sam Kepfield’s story, Open for Business, in the Far Orbit Anthology. Sam’s story about capturing an asteroid and bringing it back to earth is so timely it could have been ripped from today’s headlines. It also shows us that good science fiction doesn’t have to be about some far off future or set in the far reaches of the universe. It can happen around the corner, down the street, or in our back yard.

In addition to NASA’s plans to snag an asteroid, two companies, Deep Space Industries and Planetary Resources have announced measured initiatives to begin asteroid prospecting operations using small CubeSats and off-the-shelf technologies. Open for Business floats effortlessly on this sea of current events. The story reads like mid-century science fiction but there is a twist. Rather than following the steely-eyed lead scientist, the author gives us a more human story by making the point of view character a slightly neurotic attorney.

Anyway, these are the things that went through my mind while reading the NASA story.

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SF Authors and Editors as Agents of Change

6/21/2014

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We all know about the technological links between science fiction and invention. Technologies from submarines to cell phones to the internet were first described in science fiction stories and engineers went on to build these devices. Identity theft, once the stuff of science fiction, is not fiction in today’s interconnected world. So yes, science fiction writers and their imaginations can be agents of change in our rapidly evolving technology-driven world. In the face of these feel-good emotions about SF, William Gibson has written that SF writers can’t predict the future and they certainly don’t get it right all the time. While he certainly has a valid point, SF writers do present a number of technological possibilities that sometimes become self-fulfilling prophesies. Computer scientist Alan Kay, is quoted as saying “the best way to predict the future is to invent it."

Less has been written about the role SF writers play in shaping how we feel about science and the future. Stories are powerful things and humans are hard-wired to learn from stories and storytelling. Good storytelling creates strong emotional hash tags that anchor actions and outcomes in our brains forever. If we really are what we consume, a storytelling diet rich in decay, despair, and the evils of science will certainly influence how we, as readers, perceive the world. For this reason, I tend to agree with recent comments and editorials from Elizabeth Bear and Neil Stephenson that we need more optimism in SF. Granted, we may be facing a chicken or egg dilemma on this one. Are we reading depressing stories because we feel we live in depressing times or do we feel we live in depressing times because we read depressing stories?

John Campbell and many other editors have shown that editors too, can be agents of change in science fiction and society. In my role as volume editor and Far Orbit anthologist, I was uniquely positioned to set the tone for the anthology. Rather than writing about my preferences for more optimism, I decided to pay people for their optimistic SF stories. It seemed like a win-win solution to me. The result is Far Orbit: Speculative Space Adventures – a new anthology that’s science positive, fun to read, and embodies many of the elements found in classic, Grand Tradition science fiction. Long story short, we put our money where our heart is.

I hope Far Orbit finds a place in your heart too.

Far Orbit is available in Paperback and electronic versions from
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Goodreads
!ndigo
Kobo
Independent Bookstores

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…and general SciFi articles.
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SciFi Authors and Editors as Agents of Change
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What Were the First SciFi Stories You Read?
Earth Day – April 22, 2014

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Far Orbit Interview on SciFi4Me.com

6/12/2014

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The other night, I had a chance to talk about the Far Orbit anthology with Jason Hunt from SciFi4Me on blogtalk radio. Jason also interviewed Far Orbit author Wendy Sparrow (“A Game of Hold’em”) about her contribution and her new upcoming book. You can learn more about Wendy by listening to the interview and visiting her website: http://wendysparrow.com.

The site was having serious technical difficulties. The interview started late and Far Orbit author Eric Choi (“From a Stone”) was locked out completely. It was a pity, because I was looking forward to hearing what Eric had to say. Eric is the first winner of the Asimov Award (now the Dell Magazines Award) and he is an Aurora Award winner for his anthology “The Dragon and the Stars.” Eric is an aerospace engineer who worked on the Phoenix Mars Lander meteorology payload and he was among the final forty candidates (out of more than 5,000) vying to become the third cadre of Canadian astronauts. Eric is currently co-editing the forthcoming a hard SF anthology “Carbide Tipped Pens” with Ben Bova which will be published at end of the year by Tor books. You can find out more about Eric by visiting his website: http://www.aerospacewriter.ca/

You can listen to our abbreviated interview by following the link below. Please move ahead to the seven minute mark to skip over Jason’s exasperated and valiant efforts to vanquish the Google gremlins who were gleefully pulling wires and connection thingies from his control board. Note to self: Need to invent a better digital bug spray.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/scifi4me/2014/06/11/scifi4me-live-from-the-bunker-140610

Thanks, Jason. I enjoyed talking with you and Wendy.

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Great News from Sporadic Reviews!

5/22/2014

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A little while ago, we sent Kevin Bayer at Sporadic Book Reviews an eARC of the Far Orbit anthology. Book reviewers get so many requests so I was pleased when I heard Kevin decided to review it. His rating was….

Drum roll please……

5 of 5 stars! He also posted a 5-star review on Amazon.

His take away message:

“Need a quick fix of good old-fashioned science fiction? Far Orbit is it!”

Other terrific reviews have been posted on Good Reads, Amazon, and Tangent. My sincere thanks go out to everyone who took the time to post a review. Your feedback is invaluable!

If you would like a pleasant diversion during your holiday weekend, I suggest picking up the Kindle version of Far Orbit. It makes a great book buddy.

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Call for Authors - Last Outpost

FAR ORBIT APOGEE Cover Reveal

Spaceman Barbecue by Peter Wood

Bear Essentials by Julie Frost

Composition in Death Minor by K.G. Jewell

My Intro for the Far Orbit Anthology

Musings on NASA’s Asteroid Retrieval Mission

SF Authors and Editors as Agents of Change

Far Orbit Interview on SciFi4Me.com

Great News from Sporadic Reviews!

@BascombJ

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