Today's Dose of Nerdgasm

A flying car! Really!

But What If You're a Novelist *and* an Academic?

It's hard enough to offer a useful explanation of a book someone else wrote. Now, according to the Telegraph, I can't even explain myself, since apparently academic research doesn't measure up to fiction when it comes to addressing the intractable issues of the world. What am I to do? A provocative quote, from one Tom Clougherty of the Adam Smith Institute:

"There's a problem. Fiction works by appealing to people's emotions, not their intellect or rationality."

Hm. I had no idea this was true. I always thought the best fiction could appeal to both emotion and intellect. Many thanks to Clougherty for the clarification.

Literary Map of Maine, Sort of: A Rant

The Portland Press Herald's Literary Map of Maine is a pretty cool place to spend a few minutes. Sure would be nice if it included some contemporary writers who don't write autobiographical stuff about how hard it is to grow up in Maine. Also would be nice if it included writers who live in Maine but don't necessarily write about it. Not just me, either;* the woods up here are crawling with writers, but there seems to be some idea (at least on the Press Herald's part, or the part of the people who consulted on the construction of the map) that if you're not writing about lobstering or the history of Aroostook County, you're not Maine enough to be in Maine. Perhaps I am in Maine but not of Maine.

Also, how does Edwin Arlington Robinson not make the list? Winner of the first Pulitzer Prize in poetry, the Bard of Gardiner doesn't get on the map but...never mind. To name names would be churlish.

And what about Janwillem van de Wetering, who also set a few of his later books in Maine? But the list includes...never mind. Churlish.

Elaine Ford? Richard Ford? Heidi Julavits? Lew Robinson? John Crowley? Annie Proulx? Bern Porter? Nicholson Baker? Gerry Boyle? Betsy Sholl? et al.

You might look at the Waterboro Public Library's Maine Writers Index for a real sense of just how rich literary culture is up here Down East. (But they don't have me in their index, either. So the joke's on me in the end...even so, I have ranted, and feel better.)

*The Press Herald hates me because I used to write for the Phoenix and would mention it when they did things that were embarrassing to themselves and the profession of journalism.**

**I am half-joking.

This I Gotta See

If it ever happens, that is. A movie version of Midnight's Children? With Rushdie involved? Deepa Mehta (here talking to Vulture about this and other projects), don't let me down.

Flights of Martians Sing Thee to Thy Rest

Phoenix has keeled over due to lack of sunlight in the Martian arctic. Bummer. By spring, it will apparently be encased in a block of dry ice. Vale, most excellent lander!

Daredevil Noir Pages!

On Daredevil Noir

I said in a couple of interviews that it would debut in January, but I lied. It's actually going to be April.

Vertigopedia Contest at Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet is having a contest to win copies of the Vertigopedia. Enter, why don't you?

Dixville Notch!

One of my favorite quirks of American politics is that this little burg gets its results in first. After a long stretch of backing the Republican (at least since the '80s), the Notch comes in for Obamanaia: 15-6, Our Savior* over McNasty.**

* This term used with what I hope will be recognizably maximal irony.

** The nickname borrowed not for purposes of the campaign, but from McCain's fellow students at the Naval Academy. Look it up.

Things That Make You Go 'Huh'

Why White Supremacists Support Barack Obama, from Esquire.

Whatever happens in this election, a whole lot of people are going to end up having had conversations they never thought they'd have.