Sir Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘egogram’, the 23 enigma, how long should chapters be, Zoran Zivkovic interviewed…

• 1 – 23: How weird is that?

  “One of the earliest to subscribe to the 23 Enigma was beat poet William S. Burroughs.” Fnord! Fnord!

  (tags: RAW Burroughs worldview humour conspiracy twentythree coincidence synchronicity enigma 23)

• 2 – Urban encrustations

  “Called ‘Para-city’, Ray’s project is meant to take advantage of the unused yet usable space found throughout the city: the massive corridors of air between the other buildings.” Writing urban science fiction? Take notes.

  (tags: concept design structures buildings encrustation urban architecture futurism)

• 3 – 7 Reasons the 21st Century is Making You Miserable

  This guy may have a point, but I think it’s deliberately overstated – he even gives away the reason why that might be the case about two thirds through. Truth, technophobia or linkbait?

  (tags: technology society relationships psychology phenomena modern media loneliness friends community commentary culture century 21st)

• 4 – Chapter Length

  Kate Elliot discusses scenes, pacing and rhythm at DeepGenre.

  (tags: progress action scenes rhythm pace length chapter novels stories fiction writing)

• 5 – On the Spot: Zoran Zivkovic

  The humble Serbian writer interviewed. His writing sounds interesting; may have to seek some out.

  (tags: interview Serbia realism magic fantasy novels fiction speculative Zivkovic Zoran writer author)

• 6 – Second Life Sketches: Worlds Within Worlds

  “…since I’m not about to spend Real Life or Second Life dressed only in yellow leather thighboots and a length of rope knotted around my junk, you can be damn sure I stay on the boat.” Warren Ellis reports.

  (tags: roleplaying RPG SL cultue Ellis Warren journalism reportage metaverse Life Second)

• 7 – Latest Research Shows No Noticeable Impact On CD Sales From Downloads

  “This latest study, with help from a bunch of extremely well-known and well-respected economists [...] found that ‘downloads have an effect on sales that is statistically indistinguishable from zero.’”

  (tags: economics DRM sales CD downloading distribution content digital business industry music)

• 8 – Egogram 2007

  “Friends, Earthlings, ETs—lend me your sensory organs!” A message from Sir Arthur C. Clarke.

  (tags: astronauts citizen tourism exploration space address message writer author sf scifi fiction science Clarke Arthur)