Writings

Voices of Vision: Creators of Science Fiction and Fantasy Speak: A host of authors talk to Blaschke about what it’s like to do what they do, how they work and how they started, and where they think the genre is headed. Blaschke talks to writers such as Robin Hobb, Charles de Lint, Patricia Anthony, and Elizabeth Moon; revered authors of comic books and graphic novels, including Neil Gaiman and Brad Meltzer; and icons such as Samuel R. Delany, Gene Wolfe, Harlan Ellison, and Jack Williamson. Editors such as Gardner Dozois, editor of Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine, discuss their publishing philosophies and strategies, the origins and probable directions of their magazines, and the broader influence of such ventures. For devoted reader, aspiring writer, and curious onlooker alike, these interviews open a largely hidden, endlessly engrossing world.

What others are saying:

“An expert savvy interviewer is a rare beast. Jayme Lynn Blaschke is just such a paragon. . . . Blaschke displays reverence, passion, and curiosity. He manages to elicit quotable moments from everyone, and dredges up insightful apercus."
(Asimov's Science Fiction)

"Quite likely to float the boats of SF readers of every stripe. . . . Voices of Vision involves vibrant, creative types talking about things they love (and hate), which is a pretty good way to spend an afternoon."
(Revolution SF)

"Let us hope that the University of Nebraska produces other books in the vein of Voices of Vision."
(Aaron Parrett, Science Fiction Studies)

"The quality of interviews is uniformly excellent. Blaschke asks intelligent questions and receives interesting answers, which are edited nicely for maximum impact while keeping the distinct personality of the speaker."
(Rick Klaw, LocusMag.com)

"Blaschke demonstrates that he is an insightful interviewer who is interested in asking more than just basic, run of the mill questions. . . . Blaschke’s interviews and their subjects are interesting, and while brief in length, cover a tremendous amount of ground. Voices of Vision is essential for understanding the current state of science fiction from the point of view of those who write it and publish it."
(Interzone)

"There aren’t many interview books around these days . . . nonetheless, such books should be encouraged because they give insight into the thinking of a variety of creators. . . . There has to be someone or more in [Voices of Vision] that has to take your fancy. So, go read.”
(SF Crowsnest)

"The interviewer does a very fine job of enticing interesting responses from [his] subjects."
(Science Fiction Chronicle)

"Blaschke . . . fills something of a vacuum, then, with this outstanding collection of conversations he has had with leading sf editors and authors since 1997. . . . Must reading for devotees curious to see what makes their favorite authors tick."
(Booklist)

"Jayme knows his stuff—like any good interviewer, he''s always trying to dig below the surface—and that''s where the best answers always hide."
(Brad Meltzer)

"Interviewing with Jayme Blaschke was an enjoyable experience. The questions were clear, well thought out, and not the run-of-the-mill interview questions. In short, it was an interview that allowed this writer to share thoughts rather than standardized facts with the reader."
(Robin Hobb)

"Blaschke, fiction editor at RevolutionSF and Central Texas dweller, interviews the likes of Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, and Gene Wolfe in this valuable and well rounded volume."
(Austin Chronicle)

"It supplements brief biographical entries in reference texts and, at times, may provide ‘reality checks’ for aspiring writers, artists, and perhaps editors."
(Science Fiction Research Association)

Fast Ships, Black Sails: Do you love the sound of a peg leg stomping across a quarterdeck? Or maybe you prefer a parrot on your arm, a strong wind at your back? Adventure, treasure, intrigue, humor, romance, danger--and, yes, plunder. Oh, the Devil does love a pirate--and so do readers everywhere. Fast Ships, Black Sails presents an incredibly entertaining volume of original swashbuckling stories from the past to the present and beyond. If ever you had a yearning for adventure on the high seas, now's the time to indulge it. You'll return with a sword shoved through your sash, booty in a safe harbor and beer on your breath. We promise.

What others are saying:

"The top two stories from the book, in my opinion, are the Garth Nix story, “Beyond the Sea Gate of the Scholar-Pirates of Sarsköe,” a wild conglomeration of pirates, ancient technology, clockwork robots, general steampunkery, gods, and other whatnot with a dash of humor, and Jayme Lynn Blaschke’s “The Whale Below” (also a tale of steampunkishness, but with airships, whaling, gibbering beasts, and other good stuff). Both stories give a unique perspective on pirates as well as having a great deal of world-building that’s gone into them. As a reader, I appreciate when an author has put the effort into creating a world that I feel like I could step into and experience. Both writers have done this here."
(John Klima, Tor.com)

First up is "The Whale Below" by Jayme Lynn Blaschke. I'd read about this one on Blaschke's blog, so I went for it first, and I'm glad I did. I got a big kick out of it. I don't know if it was Blaschke's intention, but I was reminded of some of the old high-adventure SF from the '50s digests like Imagination. This is a fast-action yarn with (of course) pirates, but it also has airships, whales, humor, and action galore.
(Bill Crider, Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine)

Cross Plains Universe: Texans Celebrate Robert E. Howard: The year 2006 marked the centenary of the birth of pioneering Texan pulp writer Robert E. Howard. In celebration, editors Scott A. Cupp and Joe R. Lansdale have assembled this collection of original stories by Texas writers, each paying homage to the man who blazed a trail for all who followed. Cross Plains Universe: Texans Celebrat Robert E. Howard, a limited-edited original anthology, was a co-publication of MonkeyBrain Books and the Fandom Association of Central Texas with the cooperation of Paradox Entertainment. Each attendee of the 2006 World Fantasy Convention, hosted in 2006 by the Fandom Association of Central Texas, was presented a copy.

What others are saying:

"Favorite monkey: Jayme Lynn Blaschke's smart-ass giant ape Prince Koindrindra in 'Prince Koindrindra Escapes,' from Cross Plains Universe."
(Peggy Hailey, RevolutionSF.com)

"'Prince Koindrindra Escapes' is one hell of a story and a big part of what makes Cross Plains Universe a great anthology."
(Doug Potter)

"Jayme Lynn Blaschke’s 'Prince Koindrindra Escapes' is a fun twist on King Kong, with perhaps the most tenuous connection to the anthology’s theme.
(A.T. Campbell, III)

The Ant-Men of Tibet, and Other Stories: Interzone is still Britain's best selling science fiction and fantasy short fiction magazine, and the only monthly one. The Ant-Men of Tibet and Other Stories is a collection of 10 of its most significant stories in recent years: flamboyant space opera, chilly thrillers, contemplation and comic fantasy. All are by authors who had their first or near-first sales to the magazine and every new story opens up a completely new world with new visions and ideas. This collection is a celebration of the diversity that is British science fiction.

What others are saying:

"A ship sent out to establish trading operations with the planet Niveleur nearly comes to disaster when approaching the planet. The ship’s squidlike navigator takes umbrage at having its professional capabilities questioned, but worse than that, something most peculiar has happened to the planet – there is no trace of intelligent life on the planet, nor trace of there ever having been any.... An enjoyable story, with faint echoes of Iain M. Banks, from an author of whom I am unfamiliar."
(Mark Watson, BestSF.net)

"Good stuff of its sort."
(LOCUS)

Memory: Memory is an ongoing, online experiment in serial storytelling. Wholly unplanned from the beginning, I started with no plot, no story arc, no theme and no word limit, just a couple of characters and a perilous situation. The idea was to challenge myself as a writer, and see if I could write creatively in a manner I don't normally attempt. The supposedly weekly installments have been few and far between as the Chicken Ranch project consumes most of my writing time, but Memory does indeed live.

Cyclops in B Minor: Featured online at RevolutionSF, "Cyclops in B Minor" originally appeared in Writers of the Future vol. 14. Author Kevin J. Anderson has told me I'd come up with the greatest short story title of all time on this one, a compliment I greatly appreciate. This was the first contemporary fantasy piece I ever wrote that I was wholly satisfied with upon completion.

Apostate Treasures, LTD.: A theological fantasy, musing on the nature of heaven, hell and forgiveness. A personal favorite of mine. Would it be unprofessional of me to admit the ending gives me goosebumps even all these years after writing it?

Lame Duck Christmas: A Holiday Fable: I've always considered myself a political moderate, and because of that have had people from opposite ends of the political spectrum accusing me of not believing in anything. Well, that's patently false--anyone who knows me will testify that I'm passionate about a great many beliefs. That passion was in full force on this short-short--I cranked it out in a bit of an inspired frenzy one night. Hopefully, the humor blunts some of the rough edges.

Coyote for President: Another piece of politically-inspired fiction, this one fueled by the disillusionment experienced when a leader you'd had very high hopes for turns out to have feet of clay. Yeah, I know. But my desire to believe there are still "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" types out there won't abate.

True Calling: Another short-short produced in a tight little creative frenzy. This was inspired by new image manipulation software, Cold War-era Soviet airbrushing propoganda and George Lucas' seeming inability to resist the temptation to digitally insert tons of extraneous crap in the Star Wars movies.

           John Gregory Betancourt at SFSite.com
           Frank Cho & Scott Kurtz at RevolutionSF.com
           Samuel R. Delany at SFSite.com
           Paul Dini at RevolutionSF.com
           Neil Gaiman at RevolutionSF.com
           Elizabeth Moon at SFSite.com
           Lucius Shepard at Strange Horizons
           Vernor Vinge at Strange Horizons

Jayme's More-Or-Less Complete Bibliography