StanleyWheeler

  Artwork by Cedar Sanderson from interior of Space Cowboys 6: Fission Chips . It may even go with my story, "Love under a Purple Sky." There's something about the idea of the cowboy that persists in the imagination of humanity. It's a romantic notion nurtured not only in the fertile imagination but in the heart. I've often said that the western is a uniquely American genre set on the vast canvas of the the plains, prairies, deserts, canyons, and mountains of America. However, the vision of the cowhand, sheriff, drifter, and outlaw transcends the geography and lifestyle that birthed it. The dream can't be restrained and has taken to the stars. Climb aboard and touch your spurs to ride that lofty ambition. Sic itur ad astra. Space Cowboys 6: Fission Chips is out and topping the list in new sci-fi anthologies. ______________ I went on a quest this week. I didn't expect to go on a quest. I expected to make a quick trip to a gas station so that I could...

  It seems to me that I've heard it said that attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal. There may be some truth to that, but I think there's more to it than that. Go ahead. Ask me what makes me think that. I'm glad you asked. I'll tell you. I had an ordeal yesterday. It was supposed to be an adventure, but an ordeal cut short the adventure. The wounds are still red. It started when I asked Rubicon Jones (obviously a pseudonym) about a good place to fish. He gave me a location and warned me that it was about an hour and half away. I decided that wasn't too far, and riding the motorcycle (an ADVENTURE bike) to go fishing would make a fun outing--the first of what would prove to be a series of bad decisions. You may not be aware of the fact that a prior fishing companion, sometimes referred to as Big Dog, gave me a new fishing pole when I left for Byzantium--he was that excited to see me go. I needed to try out the new pole, and fishing season is w...