Anthropomorphic Dreams Publishing

EscapePod the science-fiction podcast with robotic characters. Synthetic characters have always been a favorite of mine as they allow for wonderful uses of anthropomorphism and examining of the human condition.

On the Eyeball Floor has workers at a cyborg factory not only peering into but hovering over the abyss of the uncanny valley.

Harry the Crow does a wonderful job of mixing older cultures and myths with the modern world, holding onto old traditions while dealing with new technology.

Tideline has a leftover war machine trying to make a memorial to the soldiers who died in the battle, while befriending and protecting an orphaned boy.

Edward Bear and the Very Long Walk sets the task of grave importance on a small robotic bear from the ship’s nursery. Edward must take an arduous journey to save the people and the children he was built to love and care for.

These stories are all marked mature for various levels of violence and/or themes of death, but they also contain strong and moving drama and are well worth a listen.

District 9 is quite a compelling movie. The film is like Alien Nation with a more interesting, realistic and gritty plot. The fact that the disabled space ship came to rest over Johannesburg, South Africa is no accident.

The film is a study of race and the mistreatment of refugees. The social critiques are obvious but deftly handled, starting out with dark humor and building into a mounting dread. There is a fair amount of violence and gore, but it feels organic to the plot as it mounts to its conclusion.

The creature effects are wonderful. They created a race of aliens which are truly alien. The bipedal shrimp-like “Prawns” are both pathetic and unnerving as they eke out their existence in the settlement camp. It’s only later when we get to spend time with them as characters do we get to identify with them more.

The plot is brilliantly economic with the back-story, not answering all the questions, but showing enough to relate to the drama of the situation. It all adds up to a very impressive and moving film.

The Artwork of New Technicolor Dreams

Edited by Will A. Sanborn

Print Book, $11.95, available from Lulu.

This is a companion book to New Technicolor Dreams.

The illustrations from the stories of Will A. Sanborn are collected here, displayed in a larger format to showcase the beauty of the artwork. Note: This gallery contains only the illustration artwork. It is a companion to the anthology “New Technicolor Dreams,” where Will’s stories are collected. Once you’ve seen the artwork, check out the story collection, to get the full picture of the tales shown in glimpses here.

The artwork collected here is not only from the new book, but also includes select illustrations from previous editions of Will’s story anthologies. Cover artwork for this book is by Sara “Caribou” Palmer. This gallery features art from: S. M. Bittler (“Synnabar”), Heather Bruton, Steve Carter, Lonnie DiNello (“Beerhorse”), Bernard Doove, Scott Fabianek (“K-9”), Megan Giles, E.K. Goya, Tim Johnson (“Ravenwolf”), “Melskunk,” Cara Mitten, Kacey Miyagami, Sara “Caribou” Palmer, Shannon Stuart, “Sheena Was” and “Sue Deer.”

New Technicolor Dreams:
The Collected Stories of Will A. Sanborn

Print Book, $19.95, available from Amazon and Lulu.
iTunes eBook, $8.99, available from Apple.
Nook eBook, $8.99, available from Barnes & Noble.
eBooks, $8.99, available from Bad Dog Books.

Download a sample of the book here.

Spanning almost 15 years of writing, this anthology collects the stories and poetry of Will A. Sanborn in a new volume. From old favorites, to new tales, they’re all here, to be enjoyed again, or read for the first time. Will’s writing covers the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, speculative fiction, character drama, romance and free-form poetry. Most of his stories also include the meta-genre of anthropomorphic animals, using them for diverse reasons from stylistic choices to metaphors and myths.

Cover artwork for this book is by Sara “Caribou” Palmer.

This updated and expanded collection contains new illustrations, with work by the following artists: S. M. Bittler (“Synnabar”), Heather Bruton, Bernard Doove, Scott Fabianek (“K-9”), Tim Johnson (“Ravenwolf”), “Melskunk”, Cara Mitten, Kacey Miyagami, and Sara “Caribou” Palmer.

“Each one goes together alone, with a mind that’s satisfied…”
~ Devo, “The Satisfied Mind”

The Satisfied Mind by Will A. Sanborn
Read by Matthew Ebel

Music by Infinity Squared

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