How to Introduce Stories in an Anthology

I decided to write introductions to each story in the anthology, because the anthologies I like best include the author’s behind-the-scenes comments. However, I had a problem because in some cases what I wanted to say risked spoiling the story.

I moved the “introductions” to the end of the story and made them “comments.” Some of the comments are fairly neutral, discussing the techniques and inspiration for the story; others speak a little more personally.

Although I’ve kept the Comments short, my word count for the anthology as a whole is a little longer than expected: 47,000 words.

A Virus Walks Into a Bar…

This is Why You Should Keep Your Notes

Argh. I am down to writing the last introduction to a story in the anthology. I saved it for last because it’s a hard sf story, and probably the least accessible in the anthology. It takes place in the fraction of a second after the Big Bang before the hadronization of quarks took place.

What is driving me crazy is that I did a TON of research for this novella. I read physics papers, pop science books on the Big Bang, philosophical musings by scientists on the nature of the cosmological constant, and on and on. Most of that, I left out of the story, of course, but I wanted to talk about it in my comments. But, because I was writing fiction instead of an academic paper, I just tossed all good academic instincts out the window and did not keep a bibliography. In fact, I can’t even find my notes. I know that I have — or should have — many of the papers I read on my computer, but lord knows where.

I am so mad at myself for not keeping better notes. I am tempted to yank the story, but I’ve already mentioned it will be in the anthology to numerous people, so…. *sound of me kicking myself*

Matt Albie

Harriet Hayes: I don’t even know what the sides are in the culture wars.

Matt Albie: Well, your side hates my side because you think we think you are stupid, and my side hates your side because we think you are stupid.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Nevada Day, Part I

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201003/why-liberals-are-more-intelligent-conservatives

Humble Assistance

Dear Friend,

As you read this, I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday. My name is William Makai,a business merchant in Europe,I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer.

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous,I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for.

But now i regret all this as i now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money inthe world.I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world i would live my life a different way from how i have lived it.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations Abroad. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, i cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organizations; they refused and kept the money to themselves.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what i have left for them,the last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Eighteen Million United States Dollars that which i will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations.

Please note we will need the services of an attorney so once you have reached me by my private mail i will strongly advise that you do not share my email with anyone because of the rate of unscrupulus mails i get from people on the internet. I have set aside 30% for you and for your time.

God be with you.

Regards

William Makai

* * *

Dear Willy,

I was saddened and appalled to hear how you have been defiled by all forms of medical treatment. It shocks me that your relatives are such profligates. What a pity they have not been touched by God’s grace, as you have! No wonder you have been compelled to turn to me, a complete stranger, to trust with your enormous amounts of money.

Of course I would be glad to help you distribute your ill-gotten gains to charities to help you atone for your life of grubbing, capitalistic self-aggrandisement.

Unfortunately, I’m extremely busy right now. It happens that I was recently contacted by a Syrian businessman who, in the final days of the Iraqi war in 2003, was given a huge cash deposit of Eighteen Million United States Dollars to hide in a secret Swiss account. His widow now requests my discreet help in assisting her to distribute the money, also to charities.

By coincidence, I also just won a lottery of a huge cash deposit of Eighteen Million United States Dollars from a drawing of random email addresses. The FCC wishes to impose an unreasonable tax on that money, however, so in order to keep the amount, to donate to charity, of course, I cannot disclose the name of the organization running the lottery.

Being awash in all this money, most of which I must keep secret, the better to distribute it to likely charities, according to God’s will, without impositions from undue authorities, is quite stressful for me. However, by the grace of God, who is all knowing, I shall find the time to help you with your problem as soon as I am able.

Yours Truly

Dyatink Imanidiot