Welcome to a new kind of tension

My friends-of list has uncharacteristically been in flux for the past several days. I can't tell if this means I'm popular or walking alienation. I suppose I should hope for the latter: I received my contributor's copies of Not One of Us #35 ("Chez Vous Soon," "Bendigeid Vran") yesterday, and I don't want to lose my membership in the out-crowd. But you know how it is . . .

I am particularly fond of this issue, and not just because it's threshold-themed.* Overall, the stories are dark, liminal and spooky: more autumnal than springlike. Jennifer Crow's "A House-Ghost," Jacqueline West's "Scarecrow," and Rich Ristow's "False Prophet" are particularly eerie and evocative poems (You frighten the murders, / boneless limbs crackling. / Each small death balks / at your gap-mouthed yell), and Patricia Russo's incredible "The Cats" and Brent Knowles' gothic science-fiction "The End of the Road" are stories that make me want to read more from both authors as soon as possible.

I'll post the link to Project Pulp (where Singing Innocence and Experience is currently the #1 overlooked title) as soon as there is one. Until then, I don't suppose you'd like to purchase a copy of Change? Right in time for the equinox, too. More or less.

*Each issue of Not One of Us has a theme. In past years, these have ranged from strange guests to the numinous, from ghosts to heads, from sports of nature to sharp edges, and I'm constantly amazed at the ways in which lesser_celery finds the links between pieces seemingly unrelated to one another, so that you read them and afterward think, "Of course. Why didn't I see that before?" I think it's just part of his amazing editor nature.

Baby, bet everything you're going to lose

Hm. I think this is, quite possibly, one hundred percent wrong:





You are the large, round, friendly d20! (You probably didn't know this, but the shape of the twenty-sided die is called an Icosahedron.) You are the friendly, outgoing, outspoken, leader of friends. You are often looked up to, even though you don't normally deserve it. Most other types secretly wish they were you, and you'd give them tips on how, if only you had a clue yourself. Your charisma is often all you need, but you have your occasional moments of brilliance as well—just never when it's actually needed. You are the all-around good guy, a dependable chum, a respectable foe, and an inspiration to those who need one. Who says you can't get by on a smile and good looks alone?

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

I think the disclaimer on the results page may be the best part.