Honored samurai, ruthless ronin, wayward vagabonds, shadowy ninja and helpless villagers... welcome.
Opening Volley
This week I am truly excited to announce two things. First and foremost, I would like to welcome and thank all the new subscribers. This month has been the second best I’ve ever had — 12 in total, so far — pushing the newsletter up over 60! That may not seem like a lot, but for a small NL like this, it’s inspiring, so, again, THANK YOU! I plan to keep the good times coming.
Second, as some of you may have heard through my social media accounts already, “Dark Hour,” my second samuraipunk short story has been picked up by Broadswords and Blasters for their Futures That Never Were anthology coming out later this year.
I’ll post more information as it’s available. In the meantime, check out Matt and Cameron’s other issues — it’s a fantastic indie magazine specializing in pulp science fiction.
Main Event
"...my obsession with cyborgs, metamorphosis and transhumanism is how temporary and fragile we all are. Our bodies are not here forever..." — Hallidonto
Readers will probably remember Hallidonto from back in the May issue “Transhumanism Now”. He’s leading figure in the posthumanism/transhumanism scene; the real deal among the glut of this-weeks-cool-device-installed-in-my-front-teeth yoinks. The subject of a behind-the-artist style interview, it was just too engrossing not to share. A short recap before the show...
Cyborg, NFT artist, opera author, child of the 80s, punk... Hallidonoto is just as likely to embrace, as dismiss, any title. He’s ever-changing, perpetually in a chrysalis of his own making, shedding and reforming his “skin” of talent as any given moment calls for. He’s willing to adapt as he needs and he won’t let anyone stand in his way.
Currently challenging the “lofty” ideals of corporate vision and bourgeois “artistry,” the leader and founder of Cyborgia is creating an epic, barrier- and boundary-free opera for the people. He’s well into his second year of creating and writing for it. Over 250 pieces of digital art have been produced, a team has been formed, and one can only guess at how many words (as details are still under wraps for now).
Get the word direct — deep dive into the mind of a man-machine-man in his recent interview. Over 2 hours long (in 2 parts)!
Twitter account not required.
We never meet without parting
I would really like to thank all the other great substack newsletters that have supported Samuraipunk. Without their word-of-mouth and active promotion, the NL would not be growing as fast as it is. They deserve your support, and if you came over from one of them to Samuraipunk, you have my undying gratitude. m(_ _)m
Flattown Gazette (Robopulp)
Creative writing and graphic storytelling: theory and practice.Strange Stories Live Here (Tonya R. Moore)
Short stories, reviews, interviews, and highlights from the speculative fiction multiverse.The Lion's Teeth (Ken Liu)
Dispatches from a silkpunkInfinite Worlds
All things Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and RPG. The works and loves of Author Ben StevensExtra Evil
Dennard Dayle's incriminating newsletter, featuring satire too hot for sane outlets. A vassal state of SeeMoreEvil.com and mandatory reading in 49 states.Literary Loud
Smoked out musings of author Grant Wamack
Next issue...
Giving serious thought to sharing a bit of the work I’m doing on the novel version of Castle Oblivion (working title). The short “teaser” chapter the novel is based on is up at Vocal and I am considering publishing chapters there as well (but only after I’ve finished). The novel is about 6 rough draft chapters in and it’s going well.
Until then!
Made in DNA