Technically, the old man did not lie. He was simply nonspecific.

https://fables.pro/a/series/fuzzy-knights

#PennedPossibilities 754 — SC POV: Do you have children? If not, do you want to have children someday? CW: Some spoilers

Streak Carryingaton is male and day angel. I'm not going to explain the situation or how their society works; intuit it for yourself.

When arguments between my uncle and my mother made my uncle abandon us when I was 10, I had to raise my sisters, 12 and 9. My elder sister is an arrogant bully who will take over Mother's business, and my younger sister is a one-person disaster ready to happen, never studying, always in trouble. They don't like me, though they eat my cooking readily enough. Regardless, what I feel about my sisters should not color what I'll feel for future nieces or nephews. It's not their fault. I'm sure I will cherish them.

But raise them as I should?

Considering the responsibilities Thorn Rose and I have taken on [they're training to become astronauts], and how devoted she is to me, I am going to feel really bad saying no to family in the face of duty calling us. Men are looked down upon for leaving jobs to raise families, which is what made it so hard to get where I am. I'm feeling miserable about this, especially since I'd find it impossible to refuse raising Thorn's children if she asked. We already get too much ridicule for our exclusive relationship as it is.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

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that feel when you read a near-future sf novel written like 15-20 years ago and holy shit did things go better in that now-AU of our reality

#WordWeavers 2025.08.12 — On a scale from 1 to 10 — how comfortable is your MC’s life?

A question like this almost demands a discussion on cultural relativism. Projecting what we think is right, practical, ethical, or moral on another culture has often lead to religious wars or marginalization. The MCs story takes place in a world very different than ours but, through what paleontologists define as convergent evolution, it is also very familiar. It's developed, it's urban, it's modern, with cities and trains and interstellar flight, but without much utilization of electricity. Consent is far more important to them than it is to us, so when it is violated it is more of a big deal. It is not a chaste society, and for good reasons I shan't go into here.

Bolt's life from the outside is pretty reasonable. She eats regularly. She has shelter from the endemic furious heat. She has money, though she's allowed barely enough. She's in great physical condition, and occasionally has men in her life. What she lacks is agency. She has been blackmailed. She has no consent in the jobs she takes, though they're rarely onerous except when someone decides to beat up the messenger, her. Some readers might see her as being used or abused physically, but what constitutes that is fungible in her society unlike in ours, and relies on her perception of consent. What's important is that she often has no consent when she might otherwise withhold it. She knows she's where she is because of her own mistakes (her perception, at least) due to ignoring the advice of teachers and parents; she's become apathetic.

Bolt's story is about how her hobby leads to her taking more control of her life.

Her life is reasonably comfortable, except when it isn't. A 4, with 10 being exceptional.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

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Do you like classical #ScienceFiction?

The #InternetArchive has a great collection you can download!

I highly recommend A Logic Named Joe by #MurrayLeinster, one of the great unsung #SF writers.

https://archive.org/details/astoundingstories

I just binged the webcomic https://www.runawaytothestars.com/ and I really enjoyed it B)

the use of sign language reminded me of the "On Thy Knees" and "Steven *AU*niverse" series ! It's so interesting to see

#WordWeavers 2025.08.11 — Looking back at the beginning of your writing journey, what advice would you give yourself?

First thought: Don't. (My life would have been a lot different had I pursued a career in science or folklore, or at least didn't have writing as a distraction.)

Second thought: When you sell that first book in two weeks to a New York publisher, take it seriously. It's not to be expected. It really isn't that easy. You've performed a miracle, won the lottery! Write those sequels, complete the other novels—fast, tout de suite; don't get that day job immediately! Work it!

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

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#WordWeavers 2025.08.10 — SC POV: What's the worst weather you've ever experienced?

[Bolt gives you an exaggerated WTF look:] You see I am a day angel. Flying through an unexpected storm, caught at altitude near mountains, drenched in a cloud burst, feathers suddenly sodden, and you can't see what's ahead. You think you're going to DIE. What do you think!? I'm sure it's the same for any other type of angel who's flown cross-country.

[Author retains copyright (c)2025 R.S.]

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#sf #sff #sciencefiction
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#RSdiscussion