The Wishing Bridge CD and more of my music

I've been playing guitar for about 16 years now. Prior to my life as a writer/podcaster, I was a musician in a New Jersey band, fronted and financed by Matt Mango. We released 2 independent CDs, "The Wishing Bridge" and "Be the Light". I had a hand in 17 of the 21 tracks on both CDs, plus both albums' "hidden" songs. Naturally, I feel deeply connected to each of those songs, with fond memories of developing them in Matt's basement, the recording and mixing sessions at JMM Studios, and in some cases, playing them live on stage. But even when I step back to as objective a spot as I can, I still think there are some truly magical moments throughout both CDs. It was a great time, and I'm thrilled to have the music to remember it. You've heard an excerpt of "Asteroid Speed Highway" at the beginning of each "Duel of the Fates" episode, and a piece of "Kool Katz" at the end. Both tracks were on "The Wishing Bridge".

You can actually check out and order your own copy of "The Wishing Bridge" CD at http://www.theorchard.com/dist/releaseInfo.php?upc=669910559727 . I've also spotted it listed in Best Buy's online CD catalog, but I'm not sure what would happen if you placed an order there. Matt Mango has also asked that I gave out his phone number, so you can contact him directly and request a CD. I don't think I'll post his phone number here, though. If you want to contact him, then send me an e-mail and I'll give you the number. He said that "Be the Light" is there at The Orchard as well, but I didn't see it.

I know that Matt is still doing the songwriting and recording thing, and plans to (hopefully) release his "truthRISEup" CD sometime in 2006.

I also recorded some solo instrumental guitar pieces back in 2001, plus two with vocals with my wife. You heard some of that music during the Spherical Tomi Podiobook. I plan to release them independently sometime in the near future -- and maybe some stuff from the "Wishing Bridge" and "Be The Light" CDs as well. You'll hear about it here when I do.

My catalog

I've received so many nice comments lately from Spherical Tomi fans (is the moniker: "Sphericalheads" sticking?) who've expressed a desire to check out my other stuff. So here, while I have your attention, is a list of some of my recent work and where you can find it:

Spherical Tomi. Available as an e-book *OR* as an 11-episode Podiobook. (order from Fictionwise - and/or - subscribe to the Podiobook. Subscribe to the Podiobook!!!! Subscribe to the Podiobook!!! It may eventually release in print, but don't hold me to that.) In two words: Dark, edgy, ambitious SF. Some people have said they loved the action sequences, others have said they loved its depth.

The Unsolvable Deathtrap. A short story published in Interzone #202. In two words: dark, edgy, with a satirical touch. (check the magazine rack at your local bookstore - or order online)

Duel of the Fates, seasons 1 & 2. A podcast series featured on Dragon Page Wingin' It! and its own Podiobook. In two words: satirical, irreverent, irrelevant, irreversible. (check out Wingin' It! archives - - or even better - - subscribe to the Podiobook series)

Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women. A novella in Creative Guy Publishing's anthology, "Amitvyille House of Pancakes, vol 1." In two words: satirical, weird, comic, sexy, non-PC. (order the print version at your local bookstore, at Amazon.com; order the e-book at Fictionwise). This will soon be recorded and released as a Podiobook. I have 100% completed sequel written; I'm just trying to decide what to do with it.

Supremacy: A Laser Tag Memoir. An essay on Photon in the Internet Review of Science Fiction #7. In two words: Non-fiction about my misspent youth on the smoky Photon field.

The Last Cyberpunk. Short story published on the Neometropolis website. In two words: seems to garner strong reactions, both negative and positive. Dark, edgy, with a satirical touch. (read it right at the website)

Note how that word, "satirical", keeps popping up.
This is not a complete bibliography, but it's a start. Thanks for your interest!!! Happy reading.

Duel of the Fates 2 - Final results

Can you read the text in there?
Here are the official results of the DotF 2 Final Battle. If you have yet to listen, and want to be surprised, then read this post no further.

I hope those of you who've already listened were surprised and entertained.
Thanks for a second great season everyone!

The future of Duel of the Fates will be. . . . . . . . . . . .

AHOP reviewed at Tangent online

That's the good news. The bad news is that the guy kind-of bashed my story, "Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women". He didn't hate it, just said it didn't suit his tastes:

"It clearly takes talent to jam a story full of almost every trite Golden Age science fiction trope, but Mangan has managed to do just that."
After a bit of plot summary: "Sound like fun? Then you’ll enjoy this story. As for me, so-bad-they’re-painful science fiction flicks of the 1950s are funny only if the Mystery Science 3000 gang are on hand to make jokes."
"He not only tries to skewer overused plot devices, but also attempts to wring humor from bad writing techniques." -- bad writing techniques?? Buddy, that's my actual prose! ;)

So that's not exactly a scathing review, and he liked the other stories. . . so good. Hopefully it will sell a few more copies of AHOPs 1 & 2.

So why blog a negative review? Because it's not really THAT negative a review; someone might read the review and be inspired to check out "Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women"; and there's no such thing as bad publicity, right?
I really want to drill those 6 words plus ampersand into your head: "Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women"
"Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women"
"Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women"

Duel of the Fates 2 Finale

All things must pass, and the Duel of the Fates 2 tournament is no exception.

Get the Finale here, as part of Wingin' It! Show #49.

I stopped in join the crew for this week's Wingin' It! to send off the podcast segment. Thanks everyone for being a part of it. You guys voted for the 8 participants - - you guys chimed in and voted TD-0013 into the Finals. It was a lot of fun.

People are already talking about DotF III.
OK, there will probably be a third tournament, but it will be at least a few months into the future, and will likely be very different from the first 2.

FYI: The now-completed 2nd season will soon be added to the Duel of the Fates Podiobook - so you can enjoy it all over again! Woo hoo.

Spherical Tomi Podio Complete!

Hello gang! In case you hadn't already noticed, the final story episode of the Spherical Tomi Podiobook has been posted! I still intend to post one more - a wrap-up meta-episode, but the story is complete. Until the sequel, that is. . .

Thanks to all of you who have already contacted me to be counted. I'nm going to record that soon, so if you want to get in on the first round, contact me soon! If you want to be named, and you don't reach me in time, then that's fine. I plan to periodically update that file with all of the new additions. It's never too late.

Thanks for listening and subscribing - - and if you haven't yet subscribed, now is the time. You'll be able to hear every epsiode without having to wait for the next to release.

Duel of the Fates Tournament standings

And here is the tournament tree - TD-0013 and Dr. Evil are set to compete in the Final battle!
It's recorded and will be available mid-next week. Thanks for coming along for the ride everyone! It's been a fun season!
One more sentence that ends with an exclamation point!

Dirk Moonfire Podiobook Casting closed.

Thanks to everyone who has come forth and volunteered to read parts for the upcoming podio version of my Dirk Moonfire & the Nefarious Space Women Podiobook!
I think we have enough people onboard (not too many, I hope), so we're going to close the doors.

Hey, if this grand experiment is a success, then maybe we'll do the same thing when I podio the sequel: "Dirk Moonfire vs. the Golden Thing"*.


*(I haven't published DMvtGT yet; I'm currently at work on a third, and I may combine the 2--or 3-- into one spectacular full-length novel. Stay tuned.)

Spherical Tomi - Final episode

No, not yet! Soon.

I'm just posting to follow-up on my statement at the end of Episode 10.
I wasn't kidding - - Are you a subscriber? You're definitely welcome to send me your name and/or handle, and a personal message of some sort. Use the "duelofthefates" gmail email address; send me your message. Stand up and be counted!! I already have a few names - - be sure that you're mentioned with them!
We only want want genuine listeners and readers, of course, so please answer this question in your e-mail - - what are the names of the decahedron-shaped fighter ships from planet Cerberus?

Thanks everyone for listening and subscribing!!

Overguestage

Yeah, I elected to drop in at the Draco Vista studio again this weekend to hang out with the Dragon Page boys - - and Summer. I was more observer than participant this week, but it was still a good time, as always. Got to meet Charlie the Beer Guy. My official excuse for my overguestage was, of course, the 2nd round DotF2 battle between Ash and TD-0013, to determine who reaches the Final round against Dr. Evil.

I will be there again next weekend for the DotF 2 Final battle. It's gotten to the point now, where if the DP guys were vowels, I'd be the letter "Y".

Oh -- and here's my delayed response to Evo's boardgame question, since I drew a blank in studio: Scorched Earth (the old DOS PC game - - you sit and wait forever for your opponents to take their turns - - that qualifies as a board game). There were also a bunch of Harry Potter-based boardgames we used to play more often.... Not to mention Trouble (the one with the d6 pop-bubble in the middle).

Spherical Tomi Episode 10

Sphericalheads, take note! ST Episode 10 is out and available.

Only one more story episode will follow this one - - we're almost there.

If you're subscribed, then check your podcast catchers. If not, then -- subscribe!

State of the Duel of the Fates 2

Duel of the Fates - Round 2 has begun!

Hear the Dr. Evil vs. Gandalf duel on this week's Wingin' It! Show # 47.

I kinda like this one, myself.

And now for something completely different. . .

. . . A man with a unique guitar.

OK, so I thought I'd have some news to post by now - but - I have nothing until tomorrow.
In the meantime, check out this amazing display of dexterity. Forget that the guy looks like a cross between Nigel from Spinal Tap and Blackie Lawless from WASP - - that's a pretty impressive performance. Check out those tendons on his forearms - - they look like they're about to snap and decapitate everyone in the first three rows.
He was apparently the guitar player for the 80s shred band, Nitro. I don't actually remember him; I just remembered the singer breaking glass with his voice.

Note to Evo Terra

Evo - read your interview with Daniel Shaurette of Is This Thing On?
"Some people like Jack Mangan who did SPHERICAL TOMI. You know Jack's deadpan. I mean the boy seems to have no emotions coming out of his mouth. That's an OK delivery style. The nice thing about podiobooks are that it is different than an audio book."

If I was capable of emotion, those comments would hurt me very deeply.


*Note to everyone else: The Spherical Tomi Podiobook Episode 10 is posted and will be available soon.

Duel of the Fates 2 Round 2 Matchups

Here are the results of the DotF 2 tournament first round:


Dr. Evil defeated Terminator and will now face Gandalf, who eliminated The Six Million Dollar Man.
TD-0013 beat Starbuck and will now face Ash, who overcame Thor to reach the second round.

Be sure to listen next week for the Dr. Evil-Gandalf battle.

New image.

It took me long enough to change my Profile image, huh?
I've finally dropped Picasso's Old Guitarist and replaced it with the Spherical Tomi cover.

Beauty, ain't she?

Recordings

Two bits of recording news from my personal home studio (a Windows PC and a Logitech mic in the middle of my living room):

The Gandalf vs. Dr. Evil Doodle of the Fates battle is wrapped and recorded and submitted. Thanks for your comments - and keep 'em coming - but the battle is decided.
Your feedback can still help to determine the winner of the TD-0013 vs. Ash duel, however. I've already received a few e-mails on that one. I will probably record/submit that one on Feb 7th - so there. Feb 6th is your deadline.

The other recording news item:
Spherical Tomi Podiobook recording has wrapped!! Thank the bakenokawa! Episode 10 is 90% finished editing, and I hope to have it out to you in a few days. Episode 11 will follow shortly after.

Third Place in the SFReader.com

Good news everyone! My short story, "Sixteen Pieces at a Time", placed 3rd in the SFReader.com 2005 Short Fiction contest! I got the bronze medal - w00t! According to their contest guidelines, all three stories will be published sometime in April of this year. I'll post here the moment it's available.

1st Place: "A Question of Faith" by Corie Ralston.

2nd Place: "The Craven" by Ed Knight

3rd Place: "Sixteen Pieces at a Time" by Jack Mangan.

http://www.sfreader.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2188

Congratulations to Corie Ralston and Ed Knight.

New DotF 2 battle is out.

I know I just gave you an .mp3 link... but here's another: http://www.dragonpage.com/archives/wingin_it_-_show_46.html
Let's make it clickable.
To celebrate the end of the Duel of the Fates 2 Tournament's First round, I showed up at the Draco Vista studio to hang out during Wingin' It! Easily the wildest show I've ever heard, or ever participated in. Even if you hate my DotF, you want to listen to this one.

And of course - the battle this week is Ash vs. Thor.