In publication-related news, I am rather excited to announce that I have two short prose pieces published in issue 17 of Alice Blue Review. Alice Blue Review is an experimental and innovative online prose & poetry journal, published from the mountain tops of Portland, Oregon. The editors of this mag also have a small press which they run, Alice Blue Press.
In this issue, I have two pieces of prose – ‘Discovery’ and ‘observatory’ – which both play around with uncertainty, truth, & scientific fact. ‘Discovery’ hones in on Technetium (see the shiny silver stuff below), and ‘observatory’ focuses on erosion of matter in space. But to reduce either to these simple sentences, would be telling an untruth. I’d love it if you would pop by Alice Blue & check out both prose pieces. And while you’re there, do have a browse of my fellow poets and prose writers in issue 17 – there are some stunning pieces. If you’re in the mood for some science + poetry readings, do check out this article in The Guardian, as well. It’s old, but very good!
June 20, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Hmm there’s a lot to take in here. All sorts of lovely images and one thought which keeps coming at me which is the difference between being in the midst of an inspiring experience and having to deal with something in a practical way.
and congrats as well!
I’m not sure i can explain it except from a recent experience I had…travelling home in a friend’s car from being at the observatory watching the transit of Venus across the sun. Because it had clouded over at the time we could not watch it directly but it was more exciting to be there than anywhere else because there was this connection.
However on the way home the sun came out and I whipped out my solar specs and gazed at it. It seemed amazing to me and I wanted my friend to stop but we were in two worlds …I like your scientists was among the stars and my friend was concentrating on the after school traffic… do you see what I mean? At the time I had that luxury.
It came across quite strongly in your two pieces which I really enjoyed, Thanks
June 20, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Many thanks, Maggie & Helen, for stopping by and reading ‘Discovery’ and ‘observatory’ – it’s lovely to have readers for your work! Helen, I know exactly what you mean about the balance between the unreality of the experience and the competing physical task at hand. You explained it perfectly. I’m really pleased you pulled that thread out of the two pieces – they do both sit together with this. Funnily enough, I wrote them at quite different times – it must have been something I was still lingering over, despite the gap…
June 20, 2012 at 10:06 pm
Love them Elizabeth – and what a good online mag. Thanks for pointing us in its direction.
June 21, 2012 at 3:19 am
Thanks for the kind words, Kathleen! Alice Blue is a great little publication, with very hard-working editors – hope you enjoyed some of the other poetry and prose in it