I overlooked something I accomplished; hopefully you all did not.  Last night I finished and posted a review of James Aubuchon’s graphic novel Third Eye Shut.  You can read it if you’re interested.  It was worth reading.

–M. J. Young

Some months back, when Ubercon IX was announced, I started looking at the problems and seeking solutions. There was a transportation problem even then, as the Caravan was already off the road and not coming back, but with several months I at least hoped that something would be resolved in that time, and there was plenty of talk to that end. The other big problem was that the convention had moved south a good distance, from Secaucus to Edison. We do not make enough money at Ubercon to justify funding a hotel room and restaurants (and dealers have commented that it is a small convention with slim return on investment), but it has always been perhaps forty minutes south of my parent’s home, and I’ve stayed with them each time, covering room and board through a family visit. This move makes that drive ninety minutes, so I knew I was going to have to find another place to stay.

Where that was doesn’t matter; suffice it that someone said tentatively yes, if roommates agreed, and the roommates voiced agreement to me, so I thought that was settled. It was only a couch with a roof over my head, but that would be sufficient, considering how little “free” time I have at these events. Then, last night when I called to firm up details, it all fell through.

I have been assured that we will be able to manage this, that alternative housing is already being arranged. It was just quite shocking and not a little disruptive, given that today is devoted to finalizing the transportation arrangements (a long drive to the end of the world) and I got shorted on sleep last night in preparation. However, I have not yet given up my expectation of being there, even if I do not yet have my sermon for Sunday morning’s Christian Gamers Guild sponsored worship service which is not yet on the schedule.

In other news, over the past few days I have been poking a stick at a review of a book, Evil Star. I think I will post it today, if I have time. It’s not a very good review, perhaps, but then, I’m not certain it was worth doing, and as the inverted saying goes, anything not worth doing is not worth doing well.

In brighter news, as I was digging through all the papers and piles here yesterday evening, trying to find everything I needed for the convention (I did find it all, although I had already started printing replacements for some of it before I got that far), I came upon a stack of papers which looks very like the lost edits for The Third Book of Worlds. I’ve stuffed them in a place where I do not think I can lose them–between the glass and the screen of the window behind my desk–and hope to examine them upon my return next week.

–M. J. Young