From the moment I saw a poster of a Black Dwarf lady for the new Amazon Prime series Rings of Power, I made the prediction that come late summer and into the early Fall, I’d be living off fanboy tears and lembas bread. Turns out, ain’t enough lembas bread at Costco to go with the fountain of white tears shed over Black dwarves, hobbits, mermaids and other fictional characters. It’s been a flood. And frankly, for some of you, I’m just plain embarrassed.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: The Disgruntled Haradrim
There and Back Again
A return to blogging…

He drew a deep breath. Well, I’m back he said.
Hi everyone. Been a long time since I blogged. But, I think I may be ready to return. Perhaps for real this time. A lot has happened since I last posted in February. I finished and submitted the first book in my upcoming MG series which was announced back last April. My novel A Master of Djinn was nominated for several awards, and won both a Nebula, Locus, and Ignyte award. My short story “If the Martians Have Magic” published in Uncanny Magazine, has also been nominated and won an Ignyte award. I attended a few cons, including one where I got to be a guest of honor for winning the Compton Crook. Lots has happened in genre too. We got tons of new fantasy and sci-fi books, movies and shows–a golden era of geekdom. And we got some folks losing their natural minds and acting a damn fool over Black Hobbits or Black Mermaids. (Go outside and touch grass nerds.) What a time to be alive. I have missed however being on this blog, talking about writing, my favorite TV series, issues of diversity, politics and more in SFF.
So I’m gonna try to be here more. To talk bout stuff. We’ll see how long it lasts.
Tips for Understanding Black History Month- 2022 Edition

It’s that time of year again, Black History Month. And look out white folks, cuz critical race theory is gonna eat your babies!
Every February in the United States, the country sets aside 28 (or 29 in a leap year) days to celebrate, discuss and engage Black History. Innocuous enough. And yet Feb. 1st seems to signal the beginning of a 28-day long ritual of whining. How come they get their own month? What about White History Month? It’s a cornucopia of misconceptions and endless micro-aggressive racial faux-pas.
Continue readingWheel of Time on TV: The Eye of the World
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again… It’s the season finale. And we’re all in Randland now.
Continue readingWheel of Time on TV: The Dark Along the Ways
The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again… also, The Blood Snow. They gave us the Blood Snow. Cadin’sor, check. Shoufa, check. Spears, check. Break out the oosquai. The Aiel have officially entered the chat.
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