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Zany Humor and Absolute Seriousness
Meteor Mags: Permanent Crescent and Other Tales follows a space pirate on a mission to save a dying moon that she may have had a part in destroying. What was the inspiration for this collection of stories?
The main idea in Permanent Crescent is Mags’ ongoing evolution from a rogue pirate on the fringes of society into a leader who can advance social change and affect the course of human history. Given her reckless nature and obvious anger-management problems, that’s not something that comes easily to her. So we see how she brings new people into her crew to help her advance her idealistic and seemingly unrealistic goals—and all the challenges that come along with that, especially since some of those people were once her enemies and rivals.
Although I like for every “episode” to feel like a self-contained story with a fast-paced adventure that confronts some new kind of science-fiction madness, mystery, or horrifying monster, I also think of myself as Mags’ biographer and want all the stories to connect in a larger narrative about her unique and interesting life.
And, as you point out, we explore how some of her problems are ones she created or are unintended consequences of her existence. That theme will continue in the next book.
Tell us a little about how you developed the character of Mags. Did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma, or something else?
It actually started with a tragedy. A year before I started the series, I lost someone special to me. I wasn’t dealing with it very well, so I created Meteor Mags as a tribute to her, to honor her memory and the creativity we shared. Mags is named after her, shares her love of piracy, and embodies the same kind of hard-edged self-determination I admired so much about her—combined with a softer and more caring side that not everyone got to see, but only those closest to her.
But I’m a huge science-fiction geek, too, so it made sense to take that kind of character and put her in a space-based setting, and send her off on ill-advised adventures with her totally awesome cat. And so, Meteor Mags was born! I’ve discussed this all in much more detail in my book of essays, Virtually Yours: A Meteor Mags Memoir about the origin and creation of the character, and what she means to me.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
The mix of zany humor and absolute seriousness owes a lot to one of my favorite comic-book series: Nexus by Mike Baron and Steve Rude, with Paul Smith. Science-fiction comics such as Alien Legion and Jim Starlin’s Dreadstar also played a huge role in how I approach telling a story with an ensemble cast of rebels and adventurers in space. When I started the series, I envisioned it as just a handful of short comic-book stories, but I can’t draw sequential art to save my life—so I did it in prose, and Mags quickly took on a life of her own.
As for the concept of pirates as not just criminals but a multicultural labor rebellion against capitalist oppression—that was heavily influenced by Marcus Rediker’s brilliant book, Villains of All Nations. The idea that these outlaws would try to build a utopian micro-society comes from the chapter “Of Captain Mission” in A General History of the Pyrates.
The historical research I did on the classical Atlantic pirates really comes through in the story “Hang My Body on the Pier” which concludes the first omnibus and tells how one of Mags’ ancestors rose to power in the early 1700s. It’s a bit of historical fiction in an ostensibly sci-fi series, but it’s one of my favorites. The episode “One Last Night on Death World” in Permanent Crescent is a follow-up to that story—again, with a lot of historical fiction and research going into it.
Do you have more space pirate stories featuring Mags to share with readers, or are you working on a different story?
Oh, there are so many more Meteor Mags adventures to tell! I’ve been posting drafts of new stories on my blog at MarsWillSendNoMore.com, with plans to publish another collection in 2024. If you’re new to the series, everything that happened before Permanent Crescent is collected in Meteor Mags: Omnibus Edition and Meteor Mags: The Second Omnibus. Together, the omnibuses are well over a thousand pages with a total of thirty stories plus illustrations, poems, song lyrics, and even a mini-comic. There’s enough anarchy, asteroids, and excessive ammunition to keep even the most voracious reader busy for quite some time!
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Permanent Crescent: The Moon is about to die, and it’s all Mags’ fault. Join a hell-raising space pirate and her indestructible calico cat as they confront a lunar death cult whose alien leader plans to take his revenge on humanity by destroying Earth’s ancient satellite.
Odonata’s Revenge: Mags faces double trouble when an alien menace and an ex-mercenary converge on Ceres to end the pirate’s life and steal her secret technology.
Infinite Spaces: Mags and her crew discover signals emanating from the depths of the subterranean ocean on Ceres and risk their lives in uncharted waters to find the source. What they find makes Mags reconsider her role in humanity’s evolution and the final fate of her universe.
Farewell Tour: A band of telepathic octopuses and their interspecies friends bring a message of liberation to the solar system one last time. Mags and Patches fight to rescue them from the forces of law and order.
One Last Night on Death World: On the last night of Gramma’s life, Mags takes her drinking at a west-coast bar to shoot pool and have fun. Between games of billiards, they discuss the future of the solar system and reminisce about their past, revealing details about Gramma’s childhood, her relationship with her piratical mother, and the development of GravGen technology.
Pieces of Eight: Mags and her friends in Small Flowers return to Earth to seek a new home for the dying octopuses, but what they find is not at all what they expected.
Might be unsuitable for children and other carbon-based life.
Meteor Mags: Permanent Crescent and Other Tales
Prepare for a cosmic adventure in Meteor Mags: Permanent Crescent and Other Tales, the ninth installment of Matthew Howard’s exhilarating Meteor Mags series. This time, space pirate Mags is on a mission to save the dying moon, a predicament she unwittingly caused. But what awaits her among the stars promises to surprise even the most seasoned adventurer. From the ocean’s depths to the infinite expanse of space, there’s nowhere Mags and her intrepid crew won’t venture. The universe unfolds with boundless possibilities, blending the extraordinary with the ordinary. In this installment, old friends rejoin the fray for new and daring escapades, all while facing the ever-present threat of monstrous forces roaming the cosmos.
This anthology-style novel brings together six thrilling stories that showcase the indomitable spirit of our favorite space pirate, Mags. Each tale offers a fresh and distinct narrative, ensuring an engaging and quick-paced read. What’s truly impressive is how Matthew Howard effortlessly juggles tone, seamlessly transitioning between seriousness and levity, depending on the story’s needs. While the series may primarily target a male sci-fi audience, I found Meteor Mags enjoyable and entertaining. However, it’s worth noting that some characters, including Mags herself, may occasionally feel two-dimensional. Howard provides insights into their motives and personalities, but it sometimes comes across as somewhat forced. Showing rather than telling readers about their depth could enhance the overall experience. Nonetheless, this minor quibble does not diminish the overall enjoyment of the narrative.
Meteor Mags: Permanent Crescent and Other Tales is a thrilling addition to the series, promising a captivating blend of adventure, intrigue, and cosmic wonder. I eagerly anticipate more thrilling escapades from our beloved space pirate in future installments.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B0B721R5TT
The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen
The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen by Cameron A. Straughan is a collection of twenty-three chronological short stories about the day-to-day life of Anthony Zen. As illogical as this book may seem, the character is not fazed by the absurd adventures he has to face on a daily basis. Anthony is a man who runs to work without pants, owns a cat named Monty that rings, and finds this wacky behavior normal. This humorous tale of a man who lives his life to the fullest is wildly creative and entertaining. This eccentric story is full of shenanigans and outrageous creatures. It is a creative tale with backward logic that makes you laugh.
The book is brimming with wildly imaginative shenanigans and outrageous creatures that are sure to keep readers entertained. The writing is sophisticated and free of grammatical errors, making it a joy to read. Although I think the book would benefit from illustrations, the quality of the writing and the depth of the characters is enough to engage readers and take them on a journey through Anthony’s surreal world.
While most books with eccentric worlds have a set of rules that guide the reader, The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen does not. The author adds details seemingly at random, leaving readers in a state of anticipation, never knowing what to expect next. This unpredictability adds to the entertainment value and keeps readers in suspense.
The book’s structure is broken up in a way where each chapter functions as its own individual story, but the book consistently follows Anthony’s overall narrative. This non-traditional approach to storytelling is refreshing and makes the book stand out.
The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen is a well-written and creative book that offers a unique take on storytelling. It is certainly an enjoyable one that will leave readers both amused and engaged.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B088LQF344
Drunk Talk
The mind of the average human is a powerful thing, able to invent and create, to study, and to progress. But it also has the capability to fill us with dread, panic, and fear. Above all, though, it gives us the ability to question. Is there a God? What is out in the far reaches of space? Did I return that book to the library? Since the dawn of time, humankind has been gifted and cursed with curiosity, and as life advances, its people and their problems advance with it.
Drunk Talk is a book brought to us by Mike Davis and TL Banks. It is not so much a story in its traditional sense, but more a study of humans told through stories. Its premise is that of a drunk sitting at a bar and listening to the various topics being discussed around him.
I enjoyed this book. It was nice to read something different from other fiction, and I liked the style of writing. It’s humorous, sharp, and authentic. This made it more engaging and a breeze to read. The topics and themes of the book were immensely enjoyable. The questions posed here were all very real, from the mysterious to the mundane. We have all experienced these same things and asked the same questions, but here, we get another perspective on them, which is remarkably refreshing.
Drunk Talk is a work of satire fiction stemming from the truth. Readers will find something in these forty-eight short stories that they can relate to. In my opinion, Davis and Banks have delivered a hit with this book. It’s thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. I would be extremely interested in reading any other material they have. A highly satisfying book that I would highly recommend.
Pages: 119 | ASIN : B08F42246S
LITERARY TITAN 