My blogs

The Man Who Loved Alien Landscapes

About me

Introduction	I write classic science-fiction adventure with a modern noir sensibility that blends mystery, pulp, thriller, and romance with deep longings and cosmic fears. The future’s ambivalent, the ways and means of the stars uncertain, and all paths darkly dangerous—but still enticing with wonder and the sublime. The characters warily enter the universe, often peeking behind their backs, but they yet plunge on to find their own awe and desire. My “space noir” novel, “The Man Who Loved Alien Landscapes” (a murder mystery and interstellar treasure hunt) was a starred pick-of-the-week by Publisher’s Weekly. A prequel followed, “In a Suspect Universe” (“planetary noir”), and then a book of poetry, “Temporary Planets for Transitory Days: Poems by Mykol Ranglen,” which supposedly was written by the protagonist of the previous books. Another prequel novel recently came out, “Haunted Stars” (interstellar revenge and conspiracy). And a sequel to the first book was just completed, “Worlds of the Lost Forever,” as well as an unrelated stand-alone novella, “In Fall,” that begins as personal memoir and ends as dark cosmic horror.
Interests	I’ve made a career from a life-long interest in speculative fiction—and photography, art, film, and travel. I double-majored in Physics and English at Carnegie-Mellon University, intending to go into Astronomy but becoming more interested in writing and novels. At Seton Hill University, where I’m now a professor emeritus, I’ve taught popular fiction, British, European, and World literature, fiction writing, science fiction, film analysis, and European history. I also co-founded the MFA in Writing Popular Fiction, which I directed for several years. It’s one of the few writing programs that specializes exclusively in genre fiction (fantasy, SF, romance, mystery, YA). I enjoy landscape photography, landscape painting, astronomy, film studies, Romanticism, graphic novels, travel, and “the sublime”—in art, nature, and outer space.

Introduction

I write classic science-fiction adventure with a modern noir sensibility that blends mystery, pulp, thriller, and romance with deep longings and cosmic fears. The future’s ambivalent, the ways and means of the stars uncertain, and all paths darkly dangerous—but still enticing with wonder and the sublime. The characters warily enter the universe, often peeking behind their backs, but they yet plunge on to find their own awe and desire. My “space noir” novel, “The Man Who Loved Alien Landscapes” (a murder mystery and interstellar treasure hunt) was a starred pick-of-the-week by Publisher’s Weekly. A prequel followed, “In a Suspect Universe” (“planetary noir”), and then a book of poetry, “Temporary Planets for Transitory Days: Poems by Mykol Ranglen,” which supposedly was written by the protagonist of the previous books. Another prequel novel recently came out, “Haunted Stars” (interstellar revenge and conspiracy). And a sequel to the first book was just completed, “Worlds of the Lost Forever,” as well as an unrelated stand-alone novella, “In Fall,” that begins as personal memoir and ends as dark cosmic horror.

Interests

I’ve made a career from a life-long interest in speculative fiction—and photography, art, film, and travel. I double-majored in Physics and English at Carnegie-Mellon University, intending to go into Astronomy but becoming more interested in writing and novels. At Seton Hill University, where I’m now a professor emeritus, I’ve taught popular fiction, British, European, and World literature, fiction writing, science fiction, film analysis, and European history. I also co-founded the MFA in Writing Popular Fiction, which I directed for several years. It’s one of the few writing programs that specializes exclusively in genre fiction (fantasy, SF, romance, mystery, YA). I enjoy landscape photography, landscape painting, astronomy, film studies, Romanticism, graphic novels, travel, and “the sublime”—in art, nature, and outer space.