Bob Morrell
@wallet55.bsky.social
Retired medical data nerd. Science fiction reader and writer, published in Analog, Asimov’s, Amazing, Space and Time, Fantasy Book. #SFWA, #Codex. Cat servant. Retired Librarian’s husband.
https://sites.google.com/site/bbbmorrell/bobs-writing-page
https://sites.google.com/site/bbbmorrell/bobs-writing-page
Pinned
Bob Morrell
@wallet55.bsky.social
· Dec 15
A short story is never so good as it is when it pops into to your head
We flew over the "pixel" forest, mountains of identical planted trees so evenly spaced it made your eyes cross. Our pilot pointed out for comparison one scraggly patch on a west facing ridge notch that had been spared. The difference was jolting. I would love to hear about that planting project.
February 10, 2026 at 6:53 PM
We flew over the "pixel" forest, mountains of identical planted trees so evenly spaced it made your eyes cross. Our pilot pointed out for comparison one scraggly patch on a west facing ridge notch that had been spared. The difference was jolting. I would love to hear about that planting project.
Still reading this issue (the new publisher delivers slow) Your observation on the age of authors is spot on. I (in a 2024 issue) am 70, and I notice many authors are older, including one recent who died in his 90’s before his last sale came out! The mag still wins awards, but you have to worry.
February 9, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Still reading this issue (the new publisher delivers slow) Your observation on the age of authors is spot on. I (in a 2024 issue) am 70, and I notice many authors are older, including one recent who died in his 90’s before his last sale came out! The mag still wins awards, but you have to worry.
I enjoyed your exploration of the killing of the dogs, which bothered horribly. I am sure people viewed dogs differently back then. My dad, who grew up on a farm with working dogs often compared his youthful, functional attitude towards dogs to his older, more besotted love of his dogs. But still.
February 7, 2026 at 9:36 PM
I enjoyed your exploration of the killing of the dogs, which bothered horribly. I am sure people viewed dogs differently back then. My dad, who grew up on a farm with working dogs often compared his youthful, functional attitude towards dogs to his older, more besotted love of his dogs. But still.
It isn't the long awaited lava?
February 7, 2026 at 12:10 PM
It isn't the long awaited lava?
Wow. I actually remember that story. I must have read it in a collection though, not sure I was getting analog then.
January 29, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Wow. I actually remember that story. I must have read it in a collection though, not sure I was getting analog then.
Last weekends #snow may have fizzled on volume, but the hard packed snow and ice have made roads impossible to clear, and the persistent polar temps have meant no melting. Now another snow is scheduled for Saturday.
January 28, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Last weekends #snow may have fizzled on volume, but the hard packed snow and ice have made roads impossible to clear, and the persistent polar temps have meant no melting. Now another snow is scheduled for Saturday.
January 27, 2026 at 1:32 AM
One of my favorite authors.
January 26, 2026 at 11:56 PM
One of my favorite authors.
Unimpressed with the #snowpocalypse thus far. Rating and click minded weather predictors always overplay these things.
January 25, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Unimpressed with the #snowpocalypse thus far. Rating and click minded weather predictors always overplay these things.
Definitely the most fun I have had writing a story!
Time for another Free Fiction Friday!
This week we have a veritable stew of a story about alien visitors, investigations into financial crimes, gun violence, and Madagascan currency exchanges.
It all makes sense when you read it. So, carve out some time for "Chuck's Gun," by Bob Morrell.
This week we have a veritable stew of a story about alien visitors, investigations into financial crimes, gun violence, and Madagascan currency exchanges.
It all makes sense when you read it. So, carve out some time for "Chuck's Gun," by Bob Morrell.
Chuck’s Gun - Trollbreath Magazine
Chuck’s Gun
magazine.trollbreath.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Definitely the most fun I have had writing a story!
From talking to my Trump supporting relatives, it is not ICE that is going to break the back of his support (they love what ICE is doing!) it is the inflationary aspect of his policies, and maybe some of the Epstein files.
January 22, 2026 at 10:57 PM
From talking to my Trump supporting relatives, it is not ICE that is going to break the back of his support (they love what ICE is doing!) it is the inflationary aspect of his policies, and maybe some of the Epstein files.
50 years ago today, Marcia and I went on our first date, dinner at the Carolina Cafe on Franklin street, then to a movie (Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail) We realized we each had a sense of humor, which turned out to be vital for the next 50 years!
January 17, 2026 at 1:15 PM
50 years ago today, Marcia and I went on our first date, dinner at the Carolina Cafe on Franklin street, then to a movie (Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail) We realized we each had a sense of humor, which turned out to be vital for the next 50 years!
what does it look like today?
January 14, 2026 at 11:47 AM
what does it look like today?
Leon Russel did a great version.
January 13, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Leon Russel did a great version.
@scalzi.com got quite a shoutout at the end of the latest episode of my favorite podcast, This week in virology. overcast.fm/+AAAHPahwF38
TWiV 1287: Ancient herpesviruses and modern dementia — This Week in Virology
TWiV explain the tracing of 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient human DNA, the effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course. Ho...
overcast.fm
January 12, 2026 at 12:52 AM
@scalzi.com got quite a shoutout at the end of the latest episode of my favorite podcast, This week in virology. overcast.fm/+AAAHPahwF38
the date on that piece is amazing
January 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
the date on that piece is amazing
In West Germany a lot of Nazi's just went back to work, wanting to get up and running fast to oppose the Soviets. In the East there was a more aggressive de-nazification, and some blame the economic collapse/stagnation on that, though for my money, there were a lot of other reasons.
January 11, 2026 at 2:03 PM
In West Germany a lot of Nazi's just went back to work, wanting to get up and running fast to oppose the Soviets. In the East there was a more aggressive de-nazification, and some blame the economic collapse/stagnation on that, though for my money, there were a lot of other reasons.
It’s an excuse to read Dave Barry’s masterpiece on colonoscopies. We used to pass that around at the cancer center.
January 7, 2026 at 9:35 PM
It’s an excuse to read Dave Barry’s masterpiece on colonoscopies. We used to pass that around at the cancer center.
Reposted by Bob Morrell
New Episode! Doorways in the Sand, by Roger Zelazny, with guest Bob Morrell (@wallet55.bsky.social)
It's a brief but fun discussion about a very funny book.
hugospodcast.com/podcast/door...
It's a brief but fun discussion about a very funny book.
hugospodcast.com/podcast/door...
January 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM
New Episode! Doorways in the Sand, by Roger Zelazny, with guest Bob Morrell (@wallet55.bsky.social)
It's a brief but fun discussion about a very funny book.
hugospodcast.com/podcast/door...
It's a brief but fun discussion about a very funny book.
hugospodcast.com/podcast/door...
This added so many books to my reading list!
December 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
This added so many books to my reading list!
I still have my first edition of Star Wars! (I was not impressed when I read it, but kept it after the movie came out.)
December 26, 2025 at 12:03 AM
I still have my first edition of Star Wars! (I was not impressed when I read it, but kept it after the movie came out.)
I just added my name to the dictionary. What I want is a document specific dictionary. My aliens’ name for that story only.
December 20, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I just added my name to the dictionary. What I want is a document specific dictionary. My aliens’ name for that story only.