The Book of Daria

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

This is the story that was supposed to have been published by Lakeside Circus in Year Two, Issue 1. On 18 March, 2015 to be precise. It was in the Table of Contents until yesterday. It was accepted by the editor Carrie Cuinn in June 2014. I am publishing it here on my website because the editor has pulled it from the issue. And I believe it deserves to see the light of day and be read. Continue reading →

Posted in Science fiction and fantasy, Writing | Tagged , | 12 Comments

The Last Man on the Moon

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing The Last Man on the Moon directed by Mark Craig, a documentary about Eugene Cernan,  Commander of Apollo 17, the final lunar landing. The best part? A Q&A with Capt. Eugene Cernan himself, who even at age of 82 continues to engage in outreach, sharing his experiences with millions around the world who can only dream of what he has done. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Shadowless at The Novel Fox SHORTS’ Anthology I

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

anthology-NovelFoxI’m pleased to announce that my story The Shadowless has been published by The Novel Fox SHORTS’ Anthology I. You can read samples of the eight science fiction and fantasy stories in this Anthology right here. The authors include Dominic Dulley, Gerri Leen, T.D. Edge, Shawn Scarber, Ernesto Pavan, Peter White, and Shane Halbach. (And yes, I like using the Oxford comma.) Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science fiction and fantasy, Writing | Tagged | 8 Comments

Remembering Terry Pratchett

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

light-fantasticI came to the wonderful Discworld of Terry Pratchett late. I was working in Switzerland at the time, and I picked up The Light Fantastic – the second Discworld novel – at a second-hand church sale. I loved those old church sales. They were reliable sources of marvellous fiction priced at 1 CHF (paperbacks) or 2 CHF (hardcover). In English, too. So I read The Light Fantastic and was instantly hooked.

Imagine a world that is a huge Disc, resting on the backs of four elephants, which in turn stand on the back of an enormous turtle, slowly swimming through space. The Disc is suffused with magic and has its own unique physics, as well as a vast cast of entertaining characters. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science fiction and fantasy | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Charaid Dreams now live at Apex Magazine

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

ApexMag03I’m pleased to report that my story Charaid Dreams is now live at Apex Magazine. Apex is an online magazine of dark science fiction, fantasy and horror. It’s been a Hugo-award nominee for Best Semiprozine three years running. That means you can reliably find an excellent selection of stories and poems, posted on their site every month. Today on Apex I find myself in stellar company, with original fiction by Thoraiya Dyer, Shannon Peavey, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, and  Shanna Germain. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science fiction and fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Ancillary Love in the Imperial Radch: A Review

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

ancillary-swordThose who – like me – read and loved Ann Leckie’s Hugo award-winning Ancillary Justice will no doubt want to read Ancillary Sword, the sequel. After all, Breq Mianaai is one of the most complex and beautiful characters to emerge in recent sf. Who can’t love the ship-turned-ancillary seeking revenge for her favorite officer’s death? In the author’s competent hands, Ancillary Justice is the epitome of what an sf book can be – fiercely intelligent, structurally complex, emotionally rewarding. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science fiction and fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Casserole Diplomacy and other scary-delightful stories

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

casserolediplomacyLast November at SFContario 5, I wandered into the dealers’ room and met Hugh Spencer, who was manning the On Spec table. Hugh persuaded me to pick up their 25th Anniversary Retrospective – Casserole Diplomacy and Other Stories (Thanks, Hugh – it’s a fantastic read).

I had also just subscribed to the magazine. I had some vague idea of a) supporting the oldest running Canadian speculative print magazine and b) discovering new (to me) Canadian writers. What I did not expect was to devour each issue in a single sitting. I’ve received two issues so far and you can be sure I’m going to renew my subscription. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science fiction and fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Casserole Diplomacy and other scary-delightful stories

The Economics of Writing

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

I made eight short story sales in 2014 at pro and semi-pro rates. Not all the stories are published/paid yet, but last I checked, I made around USD 1100. Riches!

What? Not enough to live on, you say? Well, it’s USD 1100 more than I’ve ever earned with my writing in any previous year. Besides, it’s all a matter of perspective. If I double my sales and move to the lowest cost-of-living country on the planet (India) I could technically survive. I couldn’t afford the big cities, of course, but I could live (very frugally) in a small town or village. Doubling my sales will not be a problem – divested of my day job, and dependent on writing for my food, I am sure to be motivated to write. A lot. Maybe about food. Continue reading →

Posted in Books and media, Science fiction and fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Between Two Rivers, a Hidden Place

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Rati Mehrotra

orchcha-mapBetween the Betwa and the Jamnia Rivers in Madhya Pradesh, is a small strip of land called Orchha, or the ‘Hidden Place’. Legend has it that the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap Singh set off in search of a new capital, and discovered this ideal place hidden from the eyes of outsiders in 1501.  He built the Orchha fort, from the top of which you can still see the remains of the old city and its walls. Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Temples, trees and turmeric: Notes from Delhi

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Rati Mehrotra

The India Gate monument in New Delhi, India, enveloped by a blanket of smogI’m in Delhi, which is having its coldest December days in eleven years. Lots of fog and smog. On the streets, at dusk, small fires cast a bit of light and warmth and a lot of smoke. Folks burn whatever they can lay their hands on to keep warm – leaves, wood, coal, trash. Night watchmen, roadside sellers in threadbare coats and mufflers – anyone whose job keeps them out on the cold night huddle around fires. The smoke further pollutes an already polluted environment – but who am I, with my thick jacket and place of privilege, to complain about this? Continue reading →

Posted in Environment Matters, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments