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This question has long fascinated me, and is the subject of my new piece appearing in the award-winning magazine Strange Horizons.

Entitled “Lost Chance: Greek and Chinese Philosophy’s Unrealized Romance,” I’ve been interested in the historical coincidence of two remarkably advanced Golden Ages of Philosophy arising, in two completely different parts of the world, at exactly the same time.

From the article

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“One of history’s most curious—and unsung—episodes is the rise of two extraordinary philosophical Golden Ages, in two vastly separated parts of the world, at exactly the same time. Over the course of two centuries, intellectual luminaries simultaneously emerged in Greece and China. Neither knew of each other, yet together they bequeathed a staggering menu of wisdom to humanity.

Why a culture becomes a wellspring for philosophy is an interesting question all by itself. China is an immense country, covering 9.6 million square kilometers (making it the world’s third largest country behind Canada and Russia). Unlike the forced political and cultural unity characterizing it today, the China of 500 BCE was an ever shifting map of competing warlord states…”

Click here to read the entire article, and thanks for stopping by.

Watching this Week: Hackers, Witness, and Conversations with Other Women.

Reading this Week: Metamorphoses by Ovid.

Quote of the Day:”Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?” Confucius

First up, Happy New Year everyone. This is my favorite holiday by far — bringing out the traditionalist in me. My friends have a legendary New Year Party each year and despite the brutal wind and snow, this year was no different. The Earth wheeled around the sun once more.

A very clever and energetic science-fiction magazine called Bewildering Stories will be publishing a flash fiction story of mine titled “A Rupture in Ragnarok,” an ironic take on the post-nuclear wasteland genre. I’ll link here when it’s available and discuss its genesis.

Today, my friend Gary let me know that my interview with the Infidel Guy Show has been posted and is available on YouTube. Feel free to drop by and give it a listen.

Watching this Week: Tropic Thunder, Altered States, and Short Cuts.

Reading this Week: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

Quote of the Day: ”Writing is… not an escape from reality, but an attempt to change reality, so the writer can escape the limits of reality.” William S. Burroughs