Have you had your BLAM today?

Snark's Law of Genre Humor: You can't have Good Funny SF unless you start with Good SF first.
This is why Spaceballs falls flat while Galaxy Quest rocks.
Too often, particularly on the Web, people crank out "parodies" that are really just lame, second-rate stories with lame, second-rate jokes. Sometimes, they don't even to include the jokes -- "parody" is a cheap and easy way to excuse derivative drivel.

Howard Taylor's Schlock Mercenary is both Good Science Fiction and Very Funny.

If you haven't been reading it, you've been missing the single best science fiction comedy-adventure series currently on the Web. Actually, given the poor state of television space opera, it's a strong candidate for Best Ongoing SF Series in any medium.

You're about to have a rare opportunity, however. Sunday, March 9th will mark the 1,001st strip*, and the strip will start a whole new storyline -- one intended to let new readers jump in as if it were the very first strip.

*no, that link won't work until after the strip is posted -- but this one will:

Have you had your BLAM today?

Snark's Law of Genre Humor: You can't have Good Funny SF unless you start with Good SF first.
This is why Spaceballs falls flat while Galaxy Quest rocks.
Too often, particularly on the Web, people crank out "parodies" that are really just lame, second-rate stories with lame, second-rate jokes. Sometimes, they don't even to include the jokes -- "parody" is a cheap and easy way to excuse derivative drivel.

Howard Taylor's Schlock Mercenary is both Good Science Fiction and Very Funny.

If you haven't been reading it, you've been missing the single best science fiction comedy-adventure series currently on the Web. Actually, given the poor state of television space opera, it's a strong candidate for Best Ongoing SF Series in any medium.

You're about to have a rare opportunity, however. Sunday, March 9th will mark the 1,001st strip*, and the strip will start a whole new storyline -- one intended to let new readers jump in as if it were the very first strip.

*no, that link won't work until after the strip is posted -- but this one will:

Friday Five

I succumb to the meme. Yes, Rafferty, it's a meme, dammit!


1. What was the last song you heard?
"Land of Opportunity" by Chris Geith

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Daredevil and xXx

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Milk, a Lotto ticket, and 450 feet of double-braided nylon line.

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
a. Eat Dim Sum.
b. Watch quelonzia's new DVD of The Day The Earth Stood Still.
c. Catch up on sleep.
d. Outline a research procedure to determine the difference between Mean Low Low Water and the ellipsoid in the vicinity of Elkhorn Slough, California.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
a. My wife, quelonzia.
b. My stepdaughter's Significant Other.
c. My co-worker.
d. My boss.
e. foofers.

Friday Five

I succumb to the meme. Yes, Rafferty, it's a meme, dammit!


1. What was the last song you heard?
"Land of Opportunity" by Chris Geith

2. What were the last two movies you saw?
Daredevil and xXx

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Milk, a Lotto ticket, and 450 feet of double-braided nylon line.

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?
a. Eat Dim Sum.
b. Watch quelonzia's new DVD of The Day The Earth Stood Still.
c. Catch up on sleep.
d. Outline a research procedure to determine the difference between Mean Low Low Water and the ellipsoid in the vicinity of Elkhorn Slough, California.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?
a. My wife, quelonzia.
b. My stepdaughter's Significant Other.
c. My co-worker.
d. My boss.
e. foofers.