A New Founders House Kickstarter

[ecosophia]

The kickstarter for MYTHIC Magazine, Founders House Publishing's magazine of original fantasy and science fiction, was successful enough -- three stretch goals hit! -- that publisher Shaun Kilgore is back again with another Kickstarter project that will be of serious interest to readers here. Here's the blurb: 

"Sudden disruptions in power and other major services sends a city into chaos. In the blink of an eye, the modern technological world fails. Is it a government plot? Experiment gone wrong? A foreign cyber attack? Alien invasion? A mystical incursion from beings beyond this dimension? Who knows? Now the noise and the bustle of the city has vanished and an eerie silence settles over the urban landscape. Within, there are stories of human violence, depravity, and desperation, but also heroism, selflessness, and sacrifice. SILENCE IN THE CITY is an anthology of speculative tales asking what happens when a city—and all of modern civilization—is plunged into darkness.

 

"SILENCE IN THE CITY will contain at least fifteen original short stories spanning the science fiction, fantasy, and even horror genres that will be written by popular and best-selling writers like Gini Koch (writing as A.E. Stanton), David B. Coe, Dean Wesley Smith, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Joshua Palmatier, Kevin J. McLaughlin, Alex Shvartsman, John Michael Greer, and many others." 

Yes, I've got a story in mind for this project, one that I've been mulling over for a while now. I think the whole project is going to be well worth reading. As for the Kickstarter, Shaun's got a stack of add-ons and stretch goals in place. Check out the details here -- while you've still got electricity...

Comments

backed, and making supporting noises out to friends

[chaosadventurer]

often starting with
"a blessed silence descends on the city, and then the screams of media withdrawal begin"
(I hope you weren't already planning on using that, but given it is such a logical extension of what we talk about here, I don't see it being any of a problem. or you could redact that bit get the rest of your readers wondering)

given I'm in IT, this has the fun side effect of spinning some of my contacts in to some cognitive dissonance. Am I being mean doing so? or will they just shake their heads and just say "thats Andy at it again" as they walk away?

Now how do you protect a Solar Panel from an EMP?

Re: backed, and making supporting noises out to friends

[ecosophia]

I wasn't planning on using that, no. I have a rather different frame for my story. As for solar panels and EMPs, there I can't help you!

Re: backed, and making supporting noises out to friends

[chaosadventurer]

I am looking forward to your story, so hope we get this start kicked off and running.

I didn't expect any real answers for EMP protection of running gear, we have too little experience with real EMPs to be sure. William R. Forstchen's "One Second After" works through enough of surviving such a beast. I figure the only real way is stashing spare panels in a basic Faraday cage, but that value assumes any electronics survive. ahh the stuff we could banter about.

[ecosophian]

That's something I would like to read!

[(Anonymous)]

This sounds like Dhalgren: "Sudden disruptions in power and other major services sends a city into chaos. In the blink of an eye, the modern technological world fails. Is it a government plot? Experiment gone wrong? A foreign cyber attack? Alien invasion? A mystical incursion from beings beyond this dimension? Who knows?"

[cutekitten]

How about all of the above? THAT would be an exciting story! Not to mention a full plot!

[open_space]

I'm very happy to see this! I've got some stuff from Shaun and I'm impressed. I'll be getting this too. With some luck I would like to contribute one story of mine for one of his Mythic volumes.

By the way, thank you for your gentleness. Much appreciated, coming from someone that got sickness from the bad habits of our modern world; it proved to be essential for my own process.

[ecosophia]

You're most welcome. I had some help of the same kind back in the day, and I try to pay it forward.

[michaeliangray]

This will be fascinating to see these stories. Considering you are usually talking about what is referred to as a 'Soft Apocalypse' in some circles - It will be fun to the the sudden collapse scenarios get fleshed out a bit.

[(Anonymous)]

Conscious robots in a land of power shortages. What could go wrong?

[walt_f]

"Is it a government plot? Experiment gone wrong? A foreign cyber attack? Alien invasion? A mystical incursion from beings beyond this dimension?"

"Nah, it just hangs up now and then. Hold on a minute..." *kicks panel* "They were supposed to replace this thing eight years ago, you know." *kicks panel again* *city powers back up* "There. All set. For now."

(fin)

My entry for shortest, most realistic, and most frightening story in the collection.

[mollari]

This sent shivers down my spine. It's all too believable....

[hippieviking]

No Walt, they're going for fiction here, FICTION.

[walt_f]

Sorry, my bad!

[chaosadventurer]

I hope that gets added to the collection. Ideally as a book end, perhaps at the end.

so close to reality that it makes great horror.

[temporaryreality]

Is publishing such a barely a break even proposition that (advance/external) funding is necessary to float projects because sales won't cover them? There seem to be a fair number of such kickstarters and I wonder if that's why.

[ecosophia]

Publishing is very difficult these days because the barriers are so low. Anyone and everyone can publish a book, and reaching an audience is thus much harder than it used to be. To some extent, though, publishers are using Kickstarters because it's a great way to get extra publicity and sell some advance copies -- they don't need to, but it's to their advantage to do so.

[temporaryreality]

I see - just a tool in the toolbelt more than a sign that "that way [publishing] lies ruin". Thanks.

Tribes of Europa

[(Anonymous)]

That's the setup for the recently-released Netflix series Tribes of Europa.
On 30 Dec 2029, all power goes out, and (almost) all computer systems fail around the world. One character says, "On 31 December, poof, middle ages again."
The entire continent (probably the rest of the world) suffers instant collapse, there is massive starvation, and a period of consolidation into tribes that control the ruins.

Bruce

Kickstarter Status!

[(Anonymous)]

Down to the last week to back SILENCE IN THE CITY. We're 63% funded but need to close the gap to cross the finish line.

Shaun Kilgore
Founders House Publishing