A very Wise interview on Geekdom

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff, Works by Eric
When Stephen Segal tapped me to take part in writing Geek Wisdom with his team of geeks, there really wasn't any other answer but, "Yes." After all, Stephen isn't just a guy who was my editor on a previous book (Stuff Every Husband Should Know), he's also a friend. Philosophically we come from very similar places, especially with regard to creativity, the human spirit, and our inner geekness. But better to let Stephen himself explain. In this interview with Wired, he lays out the spark that became the book, the philosophy we plunged into it with, and the great geekdom…
Do Golden Age sci-fi authors still matter?

Do Golden Age sci-fi authors still matter?

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff
Science fiction is great, a genre associated with lasers and spaceships by the general populace but which historically has done a remarkable job of exploring big questions about who we are, why we're here, and what we can accomplish as a species. The "science" part of the equation can be pesky, though. As our scientific understanding of the universe advances, stories that once seemed rooted in a potential reality -- say, the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in our solar system -- can now seem dated, quaint, or downright silly. So with that in mind, this blog post poses an…
J.R.R. Tolkien is the reason why I write

J.R.R. Tolkien is the reason why I write

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff, Writing
I've no interest in writing epic fantasy, have gotten past the days when I wanted to construct a complex mythology, and hell, haven't even rolled a 20-sided die in many years. Yet I would not be writing today in any capacity were it not for the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Middle-Earth first entered my consciousness in the sixth grade or so. The Hobbit was assigned reading. Unlike most students, I didn't consider assigned reading a form of torture. (Well, except when the books sucked -- which they often did.) I liked reading, and the books we had to read were…
PLUG: The (In)Complete Adventures of Sir Chuck

PLUG: The (In)Complete Adventures of Sir Chuck

Posted inBooks & Authors, Comics & Graphic Novels, Geek Stuff
The (In)Complete Adventures of Sir Chuck I've run in some comic book circles over the years, and that means I've gotten to know a lot of people who have done their own comics. Many of these folks are far too talented for their own good, annoyingly so, and their work deserves to be seen. One of them is John Mietus. John did some excellent lettering on Pitched 1 and Pitched 2, but the fact is his quirky sense of humor doesn't come out and play until you see his own work. The (In)Complete Adventures of Sir Chuck is many things,…
Geek Wisdom

The Geeks: Stephen Segal

Posted inBooks & Authors, Geek Stuff, Works by Eric
So on Monday I announced my latest project. I also promised to introduce you to the four folks I'd be working alongside. You've met three. Last but not least in my countdown of co-geeks is our fearless leader. Multi-author projects don't come together without someone leading the way. Geek Wisdom: The Sacred Teachings of Nerd Culture is no exception. Thankfully, we've got a preeeetty good editor and coauthor heading up this project: Stephen Segal, who I've mentioned before. Stephen isn't just a Huge award-winning editor and a damn fine writer, he's also a terrifically nice guy. But let's stick to…