My back has been bothering me the past few days, which is not surprising considering how stressful school has been recently. Fortunately, my nightly exercises must be helping, since it is not nearly as bad as it has been in the past (including last year’s extravaganza!)

This week I was reading about the annual “Jack Williamson Lecture” in New Mexico, which is a gathering of science fiction professionals, mostly writers and editors, for a mini-convention honoring the 75 year career of sf writer Jack Williamson, who is still producing major works as his age creeps closer and closer to the century mark. As usual, I wish I could have been part of that gathering, hobnobbing and chatting with other people who love science fiction as seriously as I do. If there is one thing I regret, it is not having a social group to share my passion for sf with.

Currently reading: Greg Benford is a physicist at UC-Irvine whose fiction soars through space and time, always thought-provoking as well as fascinating reading. Beyond Infinity is typical Benford, which I am enjoying very much and recommend to anybody fond of the Clarke-Stapledon school of sf.

Currently listening: There are few, if any, songwriters as talented as Elton John, and the accompanying lyrics by Bernie Taupin are much more interesting than those of most popular artists. His boxed set To Be Continued... contains four cds of their best material through 1990, eliminating some of the pop stuff which dotted his career. So when is the post-1990s version going to be released?