Not Much to Say This Time Around
Not Much to Say This Time Around
Usually I go into each newsletter with a lot of things on my mind and it takes some significant willpower to dial back from not writing a whole freaking essay in the intro, but not this edition. I just don’t seem to have much to say, at least regarding writing or reading. I could talk about my love of South By Southwest week here in Austin and how it turns the city into this strange chimera of big corporate interests at the official SXSW events, but also there’s a huge celebration of the indie art scene at all of the many venues that are unofficially affiliated with SXSW (which is my favorite way to do SXSW as a local). But that’s pretty much I have to say about that. So instead, this edition’s going to be more of an update edition. I got two new flash fiction stories, and a book recommendation. Enjoy this brief update and I’ll see you again in two week!
Flash Fiction & Short Stories
More tales from my loosely defined Midnight Bus Universe this week! So you know that means we’re getting stories about eldritch gods and cryptids having to deal with the plights and inconveniences of modern America.
⛪ John the Conman: Or Why One Should Never Impersonate an Old God Upon His Return
The adventures of Dar’goth continue! It’s not easy coming back to the human world as an out of touch elder god of chaos. First there was the city’s code department that made it nearly impossible to construct a temple dedicated to the eldritch horror given human form, and now Dar’goth has to deal with freaking impersonators. Can’t an ancient unspeakable horror get a break? (You can also read and discuss the story on Reddit & Substack)
🥾 The Worst Trail Guide Ever
It ain’t easy being the sole human responsible for protecting America’s most famous endangered species from middle-aged-gun-touting-suburban-men, but somebody’s got to do it. That’s right, I’m talking Bigfoot and as long as I’m alive I’ll be sure to keep their existence a secret and keep would be cryptid hunters in the realm of crazy people with nothing else to do. (You can also read and discuss the story on Reddit & Substack)
Recommendations
What I’ve Read
The Library at the Center of the Earth by Harry Marks
I’m trying to read more indie, particularly self-published, books lately and have made a resolution to make sure that every other book I read is now self-published. Although The Library at the Center of the Earth by Harry Marks is far from the first indie book I’ve read since making this resolution earlier this year, it’s definitely my favorite. Inspired by classic adventure-thriller films (most notably National Treasure), The Library at the Center of the Earth is a fun ride taking you across America in search of a secret organization that holds all the world’s knowledge.
Random quote:
The thought that her life had been predetermined, that her father’s death had been planned all along enraged her. People rebelled against their bento box lives all the time. They scaled mountains and stole cars and had sex in public, all for the same reason she’d joined Adam on this journey: to break out, to spit in the faces of all the “shoulds” and “don’ts” that had been hoisted upon her in a feat of Atlassian decorum. Fuck the rules. Live in revolt. Die a revolutionary.
That’s it!
Thank you for reading this edition of Dispatches from Quadrant Nine. See you in two weeks for another edition! For more, you can follow me on Substack, Instagram, Twitter, and Reddit. I also have a small subreddit dedicated to discussing all my writing over at /r/QuadrantNine that you can subscribe to. There’s also my writing website where I post writing updates and short stories, and my personal blog where I share my own musings occasionally.
See you in two weeks!