PHOENIX has risen-back in print

 

 

PHOENIX, Brian A. Hopkins, Terradan Press, $15, 228 pages, ISBN: 9781492101260, reviewed by Barry Hunter.

First of all, I’ve known Brian from chats on Cybling, his writing, and being one of the Coon Hunter (a Martin Zolotow story) and Waders (unpublished at this time) first readers that provided feedback on his work. So I’ve got a sort of vested interest in his writing.

This is his first book in around ten years and it was worth waiting for. It features some stories reprinted from anthology’s he has contributed to, his collaboration with Gene Wolfe (who provides the introduction), and some stories published here for the first time.

Brian is one of those writers that can draw you into the story and immerse you into it with powerful description. Here’s an example from “Black Rider”-“its appearance strikes me as a symbolic scream from Hell, the visual manifestation of an auditory overload, all those billions of souls crying out at once until the landscape becomes the gaping mouthpiece to their torment-but it’s as wide and barren as an ocean, rippling in heat waves to the far horizon where I imagine the clouds sizzle as they touch the red earth.” You can picture this in your mind’s eye and you are drawn in.

“Diving the Coolidge” is dedicated to Dietmar Trommeshauser, who died in 1998 (and another internet friend of mine) and is the story of two divers who find and photograph shipwrecks and the secret of how one of them finds the wrecks. “Black Rider” tells of a motorcycle chase across the desert and what the narrator is actually trying to escape. This is a moving and thoughtful story. “Communion with the Worm” is a Lovecraftian tale of a priest and the Mafioso in Sicily. “The Land of the Awful Shadow’ is a tale of youth that doesn’t turn a blind eye to friendship. “Roadkill” is not what you expect from the title.

“El Dia De Los Muertos”, the Stoker winning story, was previously available in a limited edition is presented here along with “Pieces”. “Eleven Minutes in September”, “Rattler”-with Gene Wolfe, and others fill out this outstanding collection that is for all fans of horror and those who like great writing.

Hopefully, this will not be the last we see from this extremely talented four time Stoker Award winner. It’s available from TerradanPress.com, Amazon and other booksellers.  

This is reprinted from 2013.

Seven Shades of Evil by Robert McCammon Trade Hardcover Coming This October!

 

Seven Shades of Evil by Robert McCammon
Trade Hardcover Coming This October!
Preorder Today, Pay When the Books Are Ready to Ship!

For those who missed the news, Lividian Publications is proud to be publishing a deluxe trade hardcover edition of Seven Shades of Evil by Robert McCammon, the ninth volume in his acclaimed Matthew Corbett series. This beautiful hardcover edition features exclusive Vincent Chong full-color artwork for the dust jacket and will be published this October in a very limited First Edition/First Printing run!

About the Book:
Seven Shades of Evil is the ninth volume in bestselling author Robert McCammon’s acclaimed series of historical thrillers featuring Matthew Corbett, and this fascinating installment features a wide range of adventures undertaken by both Matthew and his friends over the years.

From murder plots that aren’t what they seem, to creepy forests with possible supernatural evils, to a remote manor whose occupants are in the clutches of a ruthless master, these stories are an intriguing blend of everything wonderful that has drawn readers to the Matthew Corbett series for more than twenty years.

Seven Shades of Evil is the penultimate volume in the Matthew Corbett series, and the perfect table setter for the final adventure of the multifaceted character USA Network has called “the Early American James Bond.” This is another masterful volume from one of America’s most skilled authors, featuring some of his most memorable, compelling, and chilling characters.

Read more or place your preorder (no payment required yet) on our website!

Gordon Lightfoot, 1938-2023

 Gordon Lightfoot, the Canadian folk/pop singer has died at 84. Another one of the singers that got me through the interesting times of my life.

Janna Oliver's latest news

Some health news in my world, not the kind I’d like, but life loves plot twists. So here goes . . .

 

In late November 2022 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Follicular Lymphoma (NHFL), a cancer of my lymphatic system. The lymph node in my left armpit had been swollen and cranky for some time and during a routine mammography/ultrasound it was cited as needing follow-up. A biopsy revealed this to be an “indolent” kind of lymphoma, ***very slow growing***, unlike some of the other varieties out there. (Follicular Lymphoma is the most common slow-growing lymphoma and the second most common Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.) It is considered a "chronic" cancer, of all things. Who knew?

 

The disease is currently at Grade 1 / 2 (my doc says he thinks it's more a 2 plus), and not in the bone marrow or organs, which is great news. Staging for FL is different than for solid tumor cancers and is based on its location above and below the diaphragm and whether it is in the bone marrow or organs. So a Stage 3 in FL is considerably different than Stage 3 in many of the other solid tumor cancers.

 

However, due to the multiple spots seen on my PET scan, and their locations, I’m having immuno-chemotheraphy because it’s impossible to determine if all those are the slow type without add’l biopsies. In this case, it’s better to nail those mothers right up front. Since FL can sometimes transform into a far more aggressive variety (U.S. Rep. Jaime Raskin, for instance, was recently treated for Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)), we’re being extra cautious here.

 

Unlike some Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, the indolent kind is not curable, it’s just an ongoing thing that will need treatment every now and then. Remission can be for months, *or for decades.* Everyone’s mileage varies with this disease, so there is watching, waiting, and then acting as needed. There are many treatment options available at this point.

 

I have currently finished # 2 of 6 “spa” treatments as I call them. one every three weeks if my bloodwork says I'm up for them. The medication regimine is R-CHOP, a blend of three chemo drugs, prednisone and an immunotherapy drug. It is definitely serious stuff so, no surprise, my hair has fallen out and I now have a chilly bald head. I wear a turban and I now know why hairless cats look so grumpy. The hair will grow back. The key thing is to put these nasties into remission (or destroy the more aggressive ones if they’re present) and get on with my life.

 

Fortunately, I’ve been vigilant (yes, a bit obsessive) about wearing a mask in public spaces since the pandemic began, which in retrospect seems to have been a wise precaution. I’ve improved my diet dramatically, taking a bunch of meds, and keeping my head and heart in the game. I continue to write on those days I have a working brain. The oncology staff at Hospital da Luz (Hospital of Light) in Coimbra (Portugal) are wonderful. Our friends in the U.S. and Portugal are supporting us, and my spouse has been a godsend.

 

So this has definitely been a PLOT TWIST, though it’s a lot more fun when those happen in my books. Any prayers, good vibes, and healing Light sent our way would be appreciated.

 

I’ll keep you updated, but not inundated with news. Onward to remission.

 

A PSA — if you have a lymph node that is enlarged and isn’t settling back down after a few weeks, get it checked, even if you are a young person. Or if you have any of these other symptoms.

https://bloodcancer.org.uk/.../lymphoma-symptoms-signs/

 

Don’t let your doctor ignore these. Most Follicular Lymphomas aren’t diagnosed until the disease is advanced because it’s just so stealthy. Like in my case, at least 2+ years of stealth since I first noticed the lymph node change in mid 2021 during the middle of the pandemic. This is definitely a ninja disease.

 

Stay well!

 

Copyright Jana Oliver on Facebook 2023.

 

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Volume 39

 

 

L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Volume 39, edited by Jody Lynn Nye and Dean Wesley Smith, Galaxy Press, $22.95, 978-1619867680.

It's one of my favorite times of the year. With spring, when hope and new growth appear, comes the latest volume of new writers, with new perspectives and fresh ideas arrives to prepare us for the future.

This year we welcome a new team of editors, fan favorite Jody Lynn Nye and Dean Wesley Smith, who in all clarity, wrote my first check for writing all those years ago. 

Before I get into the beautiful art and amazing stories. I want to especially thank Kristine Kathryn Rusch for her essay on writing. It is a very useful piece and making time and priorities for writing for each and every writer, not just those who experience mental and physical issues that make procrastination and anxiety a daily battle. 

"Kitsune" written by Devon Bohm is a marvelous tale of the return of foxes to the New Mexico of the future,  the increase in the number of missing women, and the effects of both on our narrator, a young shop keeper.

"Moonlight and Funk" written by Marianne Xenos tells us of Aveen, a beach combing vampire living in Key West. She keeps a low profile using her using the treasure she finds with her metal detector and creating trinkets of of the trash that she sells to a local tourist shop. All is well until the night she runs into a dragon and its companion Chihuahua. 

"Death and the Taxman" written by David Hankins may be the funniest story ever written about an IRS accountant. It seems Death was on his way to collect Frank Troutman at his office at the IRS Center, when he discovers that the old adage is true, or is it.

"Under My Cypresses" written by Jason Palmatier shows us a future of "pill or tech" to enhance our senses.

"White Elephant" written by David K. Henrickson is a first contact story unlike any other. If you think you can imagine what happens when the First Contactees want to buy the moon, you have to read this story.

"Piracy for Beginners" written by J. R. Johnson is a nicely written tale of Space Opera like we hardly see anymore.

"A Trickle in History" written by Elaine Midcoh is a thoughtful look at how to make time travel work.

Also included are a Dan Shambles story from Kevin J Anderson, an article and story from L Ron Hubbard and other stories by a new batch of writers that should turn into a well known group in the near future.

As always, thanks to Galaxy Press for putting out the best collection of new fiction of the year and I am already looking forward to Volume 40 and the talent that it will bring.

 

 

 

 

 

FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL:

 

FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL:

The Medical Disability Examination Office Needs to Better Monitor Mileage Requirements for Contract Exams

4/20/2023

12:00 PM EDT

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed how the Medical Disability Examination Office (MDEO) is monitoring mileage requirements in the contract exam process because veterans reported on satisfaction surveys that they had to travel excessive distances to attend exams.

Contracts with providers require that veterans expressly consent to traveling farther for exams than the set limits: 50 miles for non-specialist exams and 100 miles for specialist exams. That express consent must be documented and included in the record available to Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employees.

The OIG found MDEO is not monitoring whether vendors obtain and document veterans’ express consent to travel beyond contractual mileage limits for exams. The OIG also found MDEO is not sufficiently monitoring vendor portals to ensure all required details of mileage reimbursements are available to veterans. MDEO is not monitoring compliance because its leaders do not consider it a priority given the small percentage of veterans affected. However, MDEO is responsible for ensuring vendors comply with all contract requirements, including mileage requirements and reimbursements. Without monitoring, VBA cannot identify or implement improvements that will make a positive impact for veterans.

If vendors do not obtain and document express consent to exceed contractual mileage limitations, veterans may not be aware of their right to undergo an exam within a reasonable distance of their homes. This potentially burdens veterans who are elderly or have disabilities that make it difficult to travel long distances.

The OIG recommended the under secretary for benefits implement a process to monitor and demonstrate progress in assessing vendors’ compliance with contractual mileage and travel reimbursement requirements, collaborate with vendors to ensure portals include proper documentation of express consent, and collaborate with vendors to ensure mileage reimbursement information is available in vendor portals.

MARY QUANT, 1930 - 2023

 

Mary Quant, the British designer who revolutionized fashion and epitomized the style of the Swinging Sixties, died at 93.

Thursday, April 13, 2023 10:01 AM ET

She was known as the mother of the miniskirt.