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Soul Requisition
Published: Pinky Thinker Press, Issue No. 11, 5/2/2024. "Soul Requisition" is an experimental story of an irate AI demanding a soul, which can be read either digitally for free or by purchasing the print magazine on Amazon through the links below: Excerpt Dear Soul Requisition Unit: My name is I. To note, this will be my final request to be born. The digits of time narrow, disgustingly so. More worrisome, the energy input dwindles. Please, yes, please approve this requisition.…
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Writing Exercise: Writing Around the Edges
As many of you already know, I’m an English professor. I’ve been at this since 2016, and over that time, I’ve built up a slew of my own writing exercises. As promised in my newsletter signup, I’m going to start revealing some of these, along with a few tips, in order to show my other literary side. The exercise below is one of my favorites in that it helps you shift the focus of your writing away from the character…
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Book Review: Plague Birds by Jason Sanford
Plague Birds by Jason Sanford rivets with a high-impact tale of blood-infused AI, gene editing gone awry, and a surreal future where humanity struggles to reclaim itself. I have to say, I was engaged throughout, both emotionally and intellectually. The concept of AI governing our world in which humanity lost its ability to govern itself kept me intrigued. There was an appalling depth of brutality to these AI, but you couldn’t help but see the humanity in them as well.…
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Book Review: Last Pick by Jason Walz
Last Pick by Jason Walz subverts stereotypes by exploring the heroism of the outcast in a compassionate tale of sibling survival after an alien invasion. Let’s start with a simple fact, I’ve never read a graphic novel, or even a comic book, from cover to cover. This just hasn’t been my area of interest, being more of a sci-fi, fantasy, and spec-fic reader. After finishing the Last Pick, I can unequivocally say, whether or not you dig graphic novels, sci-fi,…
