Dress for the Genre You Want to Be

 

“To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter” by V.M. Ayala (Lightspeed, August 2025) https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-access-seven-obelisks-press-enter/

My notes on this one say "hot nonbinary hacker brings it all down by corrupting themselves with a memory of their father." 

This short story is probably the sexiest cyberpunk short that I've listened to in a while. Like, not in an about sex way (which this absolutely isn't) but, like, actually hot. 

Our enby protag, Zan, is a lowly tech-worker who, when the story starts, wins the lottery to attend the company's annual gala. We discover as the story progresses, that their "win" was planned as part of a great hack. Zan, we find out, is working in tandem with the mysterious "L," an upper-management mole/corporate traitor and it was L who arranged the invite as part if their heist/hack.

This story also wears the "costume" of cyberpunk very blatantly. This may sound like a complaint or a dis, but it isn't. When I was a co-host on the cyberpunk podcast Mona Lisa Overpod, Ka1iban and I talked a lot about the aesthetics of cyberpunk. There are stories that 100% are cyberpunk in terms of the questions they have, the types of heroes they have, etc.,  that just do not feel like cyberpunk because they don't dress the part. A perfect example of that, to me, is Murderbot Dairies.  We did a whole episode lying out my argument as to why Martha Wells is writing cyberpunk with that series, but conclude, as I agree we had to, that is just isn't, because it doesn't LOOK like cybperpunk.

In "To Access Seven Obelisks, Press Enter," Zan is everything you expect from a cyberpunk protag, including being, in many ways, an undiscovered digital genius. They can create a glass like no one else. "Glass," in this world, is sort of like a simulated reality. I think, and I will be honest I may have misunderstood this, but Zan seems to have cracked the code, as it were, to allow this simulated reality to bleed into our own. If I'm mistaken about this, the bleed is still critical to the hack, in part because it can cause obsessive behaviors that remove someone from the picture, permanently.

If you can't tell, the plot is very plotty in this one and so, having listened to it only, I may be misconstruing critical bits. I'm not sure that much mattered to my enjoyment, though? As I note, the story is hot--the attraction between L and Zan is ultimately the highlight, at least for me? The big revolution is kind of sideline to the question of will they or won't they get together... again, for ME. You should feel free to click the link and check the story out for yourself. I don't think you'll be disappointed, particularly, if you're in the mood for cyberpunk!

Cyberpunk Short Story Thoughts, Continued

 

I've turned into one of those women who colors. I'm not sure I like this new trend because it feels so... suburban white lady. But, my wife and I were at a Craft Swap the other day and I fell in love with a bucket of fancy markers. I do some visual art, but not so much that I actually need a huge collection of markers, so I grabbed an adult coloring book from another table on impulse. 

I have other crafting hobbies that I feel more at home in like handsewing nerdy quilts. But, it's been ridiculously hot here in Minnesota and so I have not felt like sewing a bit heavy quilt. So last night, while listening to "Charlotte Incorporated" I colored pasley-flowered swirls.

"Charlotte Incorporated," by Rachel K. Jones (Lightspeed, February 2016) https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/charlotte-incorporated/

 

I actually ended up listening to this story twice.  

I have a document file where I keep track of all of the short stories that I've listened to or read so, like with books, I won't accidentally read the same thing twice. Well, somehow "Charlotte Incorporated" evaded my notetaking!  

But that turned out to be okay because I ended up having two very different experiences with this story.

Initially, "Charlotte Incorporated" read to me as a story about not being in the right body and how expensive it is to transition. Our titualar heroine, Charlotte, is a literal brain in a jar (with what amounts to a automated wheelchair to get around in). She has been saving her pennies to be incorporated, which in this case, means having her brain put into a physical body. She puts up with fairly awful living conditions and a job where she gets shoved into a cheap "Henry" body in the meantime. 

This reasonates with me for a lot of REASONS, so it's not surprising that's what I most related to the first time through this story.

When I listened to it again last night, what struck me was the poverty. I think that this story got listed among cyberpunk short stories by the Reddit thread that I found it on because of the absolutely heart-wrenching poverty that Charlotte lives in and the fact that a couple of setbacks have utterly devestating consequences. 

Many of us are Charlotte in this last regard. Maybe not everyone can strongly relate to body dysphoria, but a shocking number of us know what it's like to 1) live with subpar equipment, etc., and 2) have the kind of financial existance where we are one car accident from total collapse. 

Right now, in fact, I'm composing this journal on a computer that I spilled coffee on several months ago. This has resulted in a glitch that--especially on humid days--causes a sticky key reaction and my keyboard will just produce a bunch of 6s all in a row. I was already using a wireless keyboard on this computer because half of the laptop's original keys are borked or missing.  And, laptops aren't even all that expensive for most people? I'm especially hard on my laptops, so I tend to be a bit cautious about just buying another one like it's no big deal, because I can not afford to replace my laptop that often. So I just live with it. And will do until money falls into my lap or the laptop finally, completely gives up the ghost.

In that way, I'm like Charlotte with her scuffed dome and wearing-out parts. 

And it's all so cyberpunk, you know? So dystopian, the way many of us have just learned to live with subpar or glitching products. Our society is so consumer-based, yet as Cory Doctorow noted there is a grand "enshitification" of the products we buy. Three years ago my Amazon Prime subscription bought me ad-free streaming. Now? Now, I just have to put up with interruptions. My once ad-free podcasts are interrupted by ads promoting AI or cars I can't afford or weightloss miracles--as are my YouTube videos, etc. There's this "what can we do?" attitude about it all, too. Like Charlotte, we just deal with the squeaky wheel because that's all we can afford, even as we hold onto this false dream of escaping our current socio-economic class, if we can just, somehow, save enough or make enough.

The ending of this one, which I will not spoil, is interesting in that it ends on a moral high note. The situation Charlotte is somewhat improved, but the real victory is a moral one. 

So, if you're intregued, check it out.

Trying Something New

 I was recently reminded that I have this blogspot blog keyed to show up on Goodreads. 

I don't really take advantage of that fact much. Heck, I barely remember to post anything at all. Part of that is where I am in my career, which is to say.. it's largely over. I'm not really writing much these days so it's not like I really need something like this for publicity's sake. 

But you know what journals like this used to be and what Goodreads often still is? Community.

And who doesn't need community? 

Lately, I've been on a short story kick. So, I'm thinking that this might be a place where I keep track of the short stories I'm reading (or, often, listening to). I might give a little review or just generally post a few thoughts on the story's theme or whatever. 

Because, why not? 

If you're interested, great. If not, this will be a nice little reference for me.

I'm going to start with a set of two that I listened to last night. 

• “RedChip BlueChip” by Effie Seiberg (Crossed Genres, June 2015) https://escapepod.org/2016/12/01/ep552-redchip-bluechip/, and
• “The Perfect Match” by Ken Liu (Lightspeed, December 2012) https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-perfect-match/

Both of these (arguably) cyberpunk stories are about The Algoritm, all caps. 

In "RedChip BlueChip" we follow fifteen year-old Mikila, on their birthday, the day that their brand loyalty is chosen for them with the insertion of a bio-wired chip (either Red or Blue). In "The Perfect Match" we follow Sai who is so plugged into a (not-so-distant) future version of Alexa that she makes all of his decisions for him, even who he might date. 

Book Club Zoom August 11 at 7 pm

North Country Gaylaxians is a local queer book club that has its meeting s online. So, you, my friends, can join this discussion with me on Tuesday, August 11th at 7 pm (Central) about Welcome to Boy. Net from anywhere in the world, if you are so inclined. The link to the Zoom is not up yet, but I will post it when I know it, or you can follow the North Country Gaylaxians on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NorthCountryGaylaxians/

It's always a little awkward as an author to drop-in on these kinds of discussions because I feel like my presence makes it somewhat difficult for the people who did not necessarily enjoy (or would like to critique some specific aspect of) the book to say so. But, maybe you have been burning to talk to me--or other fans!--about my most recent book? This is your chance! Put it on your calendar! As I note, I'll be sure to pass on the Zoom link as soon as its available. (I might recommend that if you do not want to miss this to go ahead and email David whose icloud address appears above.)

There's at least one typo on this flyer. I see that they accidentally have 2024 insteadof 2026 for their upcoming discussions. I did not design this? It's a little busier than I might have made this, but the Gaylaxians are 100% volunteer run, so I hope you will afford them a little grace. I have been to their discussions before and they're quite lively and engaging. So, there's that, if not perfect advertisement.

I am, as I'm sure it will come up in the discussion, quite stalled on the sequel. If you come, I'm sure I'll have a lot to say about all that.

Hope to see some of you there!

Minnesota NoICE

 https://www.patreon.com/posts/minnesota-noice-156554358

Naomi Kritzer, Marissa Lingen, J. R. Dawson and I talk about everything that's been happening in Minnesota to resist ICE... and, of course, our writing, too.

Pride StoryBundle

 

From my editors

THE 2025 PRIDE BUNDLE

The 2025 Pride Bundle - Curated by Catherine Lundoff and Melissa Scott

It's Pride again, and time for another queer-themed bundle! At a time when the community is once again under threat, we felt it was more important than ever to showcase the work and the writers that celebrate us. We looked for books that show queerness in all its complexity, with stories that range from pure adventure to profoundly serious, and from across the range of identities that make up our whole. We looked for stories that showcased the many and complex forms that queerness takes — the many ways that we have chosen to be. We looked for stories that engage with threats to the queer world, and for stories that imagine what we might be without threats, for stories that celebrate our joy and our resilience.

And we're pleased to say that we have found those stories, and more. If anything, the hardest part of curating this bundle was narrowing down the field: there are so many writers out there creating intelligent, nuanced, queer science fiction and fantasy that it's incredibly hard to choose among them. This is not to claim that this is a definitive LGBTQIA+ collection — given the ever-growing amount of stellar queer writing being published, we're not sure that's even possible. Instead, we thought of the bundle as a sampler, or perhaps a tasting menu. It includes novels, novellas, single author collections, and anthologies; the genres range from fantasy mysteries to cyberpunk to far future to post apocalyptic fantasy. There are newer works and writers, and some older work you may have missed when it first appeared. It's your chance to read work by some of the best writers working today.

StoryBundle has always allowed its patrons to donate part of their payment to a related charity, and this year we're once again supporting Rainbow Railroad, a NGO that helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored persecution and violence worldwide. Their work is needed now more than ever, and if you choose, you can pass on part of the bundle's price to them — a gift that can save a life. – Catherine Lundoff and Melissa Scott

* * *

For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in .epub format—WORLDWIDE.

•            The Map and the Territory by A.M. Tuomala

•            We're Here - The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2023 edited by Darcie Little Badger and series editor Charles Payseur

•            Point of Dreams by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett

•            These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart by Izzy Wasserstein

 

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $25, you get all four of the regular books, plus TEN more books, for a total of 14!

•            Be the Sea by Clara Ward

•            Fallen by Melissa Scott

•            A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert

•            Luminescent Machinations by Rhiannan Rasmussen and dave ring

•            Fairs' Point by Melissa Scott

•            So You Want to be A Robot by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor

•            Price of a Thousand Blessings by Ginn Hale

•            Reforged by Seth Haddon

•            Welcome to Boy.Net by Lyda Morehouse

•            Power to Yield by Bogi Takács

 

This bundle is available only for a limited time via http://www.storybundle.com. It allows easy reading on computers, smartphones, and tablets as well as Kindle and other ereaders via file transfer, email, and other methods. You get a DRM-free .epub for all books!

It's also super easy to give the gift of reading with StoryBundle, thanks to our gift cards – which allow you to send someone a code that they can redeem for any future StoryBundle bundle – and timed delivery, which allows you to control exactly when your recipient will get the gift of StoryBundle.

Why StoryBundle? Here are just a few benefits StoryBundle provides.

•            Get quality reads: We've chosen works from excellent authors to bundle together in one convenient package.

•            Pay what you want (minimum $5): You decide how much these fantastic books are worth. If you can only spare a little, that's fine! You'll still get access to a batch of exceptional titles.

•            Support authors who support DRM-free books: StoryBundle is a platform for authors to get exposure for their works, both for the titles featured in the bundle and for the rest of their catalog. Supporting authors who let you read their books on any device you want—restriction free—will show everyone there's nothing wrong with ditching DRM.

•            Give to worthy causes: Bundle buyers have a chance to donate a portion of their proceeds to Rainbow Railroad!

•            Receive extra books: If you beat the bonus price, you'll get the bonus books!

 

StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work, and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price. Before starting StoryBundle, Founder Jason Chen covered technology and software as an editor for Gizmodo.com and Lifehacker.com.

For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us at @storybundle and like us on Facebook

Yet Another unboxing video... YAY!

 

My alter ego, Lyda Morehouse, is having a banner year. I'd be jealous, but... you know, she's also me, so.... ANYWAY, the point is that her original series, which is now 20 years old, is being reprinted by Wizard's Tower Press. We are finally releasing the last one, Resurrection Code, on October 3 (though it is already available for pre-order.)  

Mostly, the previous books are coming out nearly identically to their original. However, Resurrection Code had previously been published by a different small press, had a different cover, and many people who were fans of my previous books may have missed it. Even if they didn't, this book is also the only one that has 100% BRAND NEW material!  

So, even if you already own Resurrection Code, you won't want to miss this version!

Cover Reveal!

As you are aware, gentle reader, my AngeLINK series turned 20 this year. (I mean, technically, given that it's a series, 20 can be counted anywhere from 2021 to 2031.) But, what is truly important is that this is the year that the books are being re-issued in print by Wizard's Tower Press. The reason that Resurrection Code has lagged behind all the others is because when it was first released by Mad Norwegian Press is was it was barely a novel in length. It might be technically novella length, but we tacked on two short stories to the original publication. Wizard's Tower really wanted the price break that comes from a regular-sized novel and so I dug up and dusted off almost 30,000 "new" words to be added to this book. To be honest, dedicated fans of my series might have found a way to read a lot of what is being touted as new material, however, as it was hidden in various places all over my ancient (if still functioning) website. But this is the first time it will all be collected in one, easily readable place.

From its inception, this book was written for my superfans, so I feel like it's really fitting that it contains what is essentially authorial fanfic.

I have no idea if there is any kind of real market for this book. It is certainly NOT the kind of book that Penguin would have ever allowed me to write, not even in my heyday. It's generally weird, very trans, and now filled with so many odd (and wonderful, I hope!) drabbles and chapters I pulled from previous books and... they would have looked at it and said, what is this garbage? Or maybe not, but they certainly would have given it a pass.

I am so grateful to Wizard Tower for giving this book not only a home, but a chance to go out into the world to anyone who needs or wants even a part of it.

WorldCON Schedule

 WorldCON will be in Glasgow this year ( Aug 8–12, 2024), but I will not. However! I will be attending virtually. My final schedule looks like this:

• Let Them Cook - Food in Anime (THURSDAY: 1 pm GMT/8:00 am CT) - hybrid
• The Immersive Possibilities of Horror Audio (SATURDAY: 7pm GMT/2:00 pm CT) 
• Everything We Love (a Little or a Lot) About Fanfiction (SATURDAY: 10pm GMT/5:00 pm CT)
• Help, I Got Reincarnated Into a Worldcon Panel! (SUNDAY: 10pm GMT/5:00 pm CT)
• If I'm Not Kira and You're Not Kira, Who is Writing in the Death Note? (MONDAY: 1pm GMT/8:00 am CT) --hybrid

That's a lot of panels for me for a WorldCON and a lot of anime/manga panels! But, I am excited to be there and cheer on the friends of mine who are up for Hugo Awards this year. Hopefully see you (virtually!) there!

Queer Cyberpunk Episode!

  My new podcast, Mona Lisa Overpod, has just dropped its second episode in time for Pride Month: queerness and cyberpunk. Co-host Ka1iban and I go deep into the idea that there is something intrinsically queer about body mods, internet anonymity, and other cyberpunk themes.

You can listen to us anywhere fine podcasts are found, but several include:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11brxmJZjf3gnzltvwXI7H

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mona-lisa-overpod/id1750537130

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mona-lisa-overpod--6195851

iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/53-mona-lisa-overpod-182995443/

New bi-weekly podcast!

 

My co-host Ka1iban and I, in conjunction with Just Enough Trope, have launched a new cyberpunk-themed podcast: Mona Lisa Over Pod. Currently, you can catch our debut/zero episode on Spreaker, but we should be available on Spotify and Apple Tunes shortly. 

We will be dropping new content every two weeks, so be sure to subscribe at your favorite podcasting site so that you don't miss an episode.

You can also follow the podcast on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @monalisaoverpod !

I am incredibly excited about this. I have remained a huge fan of cyberpunk since I first published in that genre over twenty years ago. We're going to be doing broad subject episodes, like, Queerness in Cyberpunk, etc., but also deep-dives into some of the classics (and new works!) 

"Talking Smart" an interview with My Dad

 I'll bet you didn't know that my father has a vlog. 

Yes, and he has 31 subscribers!--a number which I would mock, but is significantly more followers than I have on my Patreon. At any rate, we sat down last Sunday and had a lovely conversation (if a bit awkward when it becomes fairly clear that he's not exactly sure whether I've written about zombies or vampires as Tate Hallaway) about life, the universe, and everything in the digital age. 

Unfortunately, I can't embed this video, so if you want to watch it, you'll have to click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjSix3rLWF0 

Anyway, check it out. It's fairly entertaining.

Big Idea: Resistance

 If you're curious about what was percolating in my lizard brain as I wrote my most recent novel, here's my Big Idea: https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/04/29/the-big-idea-lyda-morehouse-2/

Official Book Birthday Day!

Today is the big day! My book Welcome to Boy. Net is official out today. This book had the working title of Lesbians in SPAAAAACE which pretty much sums up the plot. To celebrate, please enjoy this ridiculous, self-made video of the moment I unboxed my author's copies of the trade paperback edition. I do my own subtitling, so any misspellings are on me, but also this means there is a chance for me to editorialize in the subtitles, like at the very end of this video. (Yes, this is my secret ploy to get you to watch this until the end.)

If you are so inclined, please feel free to pester your local bookstore to buy a few copies to put on the shelves! 

Cover Reveal, Welcome to Boy.Net

 

My newest book from my trans owned publisher with a trans main character is out today, on Trans Visibility Day. You can pre-order it here: https://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/books-by-lyda-morehouse/welcome-to-boy-net/

Back in Paper After 20 Years

 

Hey, everybody, this is your friendly neighborhood author just popping in to tell the GOOD NEWS....

*foot goes into door quickly*

Not so fast there, friend! I can promise you this a Good Deal. *talks really fast, as you are crushing her foot trying to get the door shut in her face* SoMyAngeLINKBooksAreAvailableInPaperAgain! Including HARDCOVER!!! PleasebuythemPleasebuythem! Okay, Thanks!

Also Available Here!

*limps away to try another unsuspecting customer*

ConFABulous Schedule

 In which I will be game-mastering for the very first time!!!

FRIDAY

6: 00 pm 

The Queering of Good Omens. The second season of Good Omens had an explosion of canonically queer characters and couples. There were lesbians, nonbinary demons, and queer side characters galore. Yet our mains, Crowley and Aziraphale, couldn't seem to get it together, despite "the kiss." As we prepare for the Second Coming, let's talk about the good and the bad of the second season. 

 Lyda Morehouse, Naomi Kritzer, Don Kaiser

9:45 pm 

 Lesbian Space Opera: A Reading and Q&A by Lyda Morehouse. 

Lyda Morehouse has signed a deal for a new lesbian space opera trilogy. Come and join her for a reading and discussion about the forthcoming first novel in the trilogy.


SATURDAY

1:45 pm 

Yaoi and Yuri, the 2023 Edition. 

This panel is becoming a staple of ConFABulous, so it's time to move beyond 101 definitions of this manga genre. What's new (or new to you) and fun this year? There may be some discussion of manhwa and manhua (as well as anime and dongha,) but we're sticking with 2-D for this conversation. 

Lyda Morehouse, Jason Tucker


7:00 

Dance in the Neon-Pixelated Dark: A Thirsty Sword Lesbians Cyberpunk Homebrew. 

A rogue artificial intelligence that has escaped its corporate masters into the dark and rain-spattered streets of Neo-Toyko’s Akihabara’s “Electric Town.” A sleek, sexy agent of MegaCorp offers the thirsty lesbians gathered at the Potable Pussy Coffee Shop a hard-to-resist bounty to return this rebellious robot. Will they accept? If so, will they be able to find this runaway android before the machine-hating Luddite Cult gets their hands on it? Thirsty Sword Lesbians RPG. Simple rules will be taught. Up to 7 players.
GM: Lyda Morehouse


SUNDAY

3:30 pm 

Writing for RPGs. 

What are some best practices when designing adventures or sourcebooks for tabletop RPGs, either for publication or for your own gaming group? Discussion topics may include sources of inspiration, research and preparation, game balance, and having fun! 

James Satter, John Everett Till, Lyda Morehouse

5:00 pm 

Why Do Queer Women Write so Much M/M? 

This phenomenon has been true since the first Spock/Kirk slash was penned in the late 1960s. But this fan fiction trend has been mainstreamed lately with books like Everina Maxwell's Winter's Orbit, T. Kingfisher's Paladin's Hope, and an entire romance m/m genre (https://www.goodreads.com/genres/m-m-romance). Why aren't these queer and straight ladies writing F/F? Where are the male, gay authors? What are some concerns about this trend--are we being mainstreamed right into heteronormativity?

Lyda Morehouse, Naomi Kritzer, Lauren Crabtree

New Anthology!

 I have a short story, "Go Ask A.L.I.C.E." in the Reinvented Detective: Welcome to Tomorrow anthology, which you can pre-order right now!  Somehow I missed the cover art reveal, but I am INSANELY chuffed to discover my name listed among the featured authors. This may, in fact, be a first ever for me. Normally I'm listed among the "...and more."

Anyway, it will make a lovely holiday present! Go get yours now!

Big News! Many books forthcoming...

 I bet most of you have figured that I've dropped off the face of the earth. Turns out that I have been busily working on a science fiction book (under my given name Lyda Morehouse.) I just sold it and two more books in that trilogy to Cheryl Morgan at Wizard's Tower Press. 

https://wizardstowerpress.com/media/wizards-tower-acquires-earths-shadow-trilogy-from-lyda-morehouse/

Also, since I suspect that most readers here are more interested in my Tate Hallaway persona, GOOD NEWS FOR YOU AS WELL.  As part of the trilogy package, I have also agreed to write Alex Connor #3! (currently titled Infernal Affairs.) 

Guest on B Cube's Sunday Morning

I was a guest along with Lambda award-winner, Deborah J. Ross, on this very special Pride Month episodes. I had great fun--although my microphone decided to play hooky near the end of the broadcast, alas.  We did, at least, have a great conversation up until that moment.