Short Treks/2020s
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v.19 n.3
Short Treks v.19 n.3 was published in March 2023 and contains 8 pages.
The editor is Richard McKay.
From the editor:
ello! It has been a mighty quiet vicennial (20 years). What happened? Well - to put it simply; LIFE. Since the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, so much has happened to the world and to each of us. For me, [personal info redacted]. A global pandemic swept the world and literally everything changed overnight. The club (Star Trek Winnipeg) originally responsible for the publication of this newsletter (Short Treks) came and went as quietly as a whisper. New eras of technology opened up and now electric and hybrid vehicles are everywhere. Old friends died and new friends were made. I’ve moved five times and got buried under the miscellany of life. I’m almost finished my primary career and I’ve started to enjoy watching the sun set in the late afternoon.
So, why am I publishing this little known, exceedingly provincial “newsletter” again? For what purpose? Simply put; I’m not done yet.
Even though STW has faded in time and memory, the spirit lives on. There are interesting things out there; fascinating stories, captivating images. I want to share them. Creating something, anything really, is a miracle. In my long years on the planet, I’ve come to realise that there are two paths in life. One can chose a life without conflict, where everyday is pretty much like the last - or one can chose to live. Take on new challenges, go on new adventures. All you have to do is take that first step with me. Here it is - are you willing to join me in this journey?
As this is pretty much starting up from nothing, as the last meeting was over 20 years ago. I would like to propose something. If after reading this, you would like to become a part of this venture, and are willing to devote a little time, maybe we can host an on-line meeting that would determine if a physical meeting would be of benefit. Does it still have a place in out post-Covid world? It could help me assess if that would be worth investing the time and effort to make it happen. The virtual meeting cover pretty much all of North America (being in proximate time-zones), we could do a “virtual” meeting and see if there is enough interest (and money) to put together something in “real life”. This probably won’t happen for many meetings as we literally have no capital for such a venture, but if the interest is there - we might be able to make something happen in the near future. I like meeting people and when people get together the unexpected often happens. Perhaps the magic can be re-kindled, there will be people reading this and thinking; “What if?” In truth, that is often how everything begins... with a single question, and a single drive.
So if there are experts at running on-line meetings, we will happily take the time to investigate this wonderful opportunity.
Now, with that part said and done... I am looking for reporters, artists, reviewers and the generally interested to add content to this on-line rag. I accept everything. It doesn’t matter what age, sex or gender you are! If you have something you want to share, why can’t this be a potential forum for you. I love stories, I love artwork even more, and the world needs more investigators and reports to bring “you” the news of the day!
If you are interested in science, fantasy, science-fiction, math or general interest stuff then this could be your opportunity! Let’s move forward! Let’s take the helm and navigate a new course, a course of adventure and opportunity!
Let’s get together! Let’s see what happens!
- Editorial
- Club Meeting Proposal
- Girls of Short Treks, art
- An Interview with Blake Smith (artist and guest of honor at the 1998 ConQuest) ("A bit of preface to this piece. Back in 1998, I had the idea to interview guests that would be appearing at one of our many local sci-fic convention. At ConQuest that year, Blake Smith was selected to be the Art GoH (Guest of Honor). My article never got published due to politics within the club. So, as I am bringing back “Short Treks”, I thought I would publish the last article I wrote for Short Treks and in doing so pay respects to the first “guest” artist I interviewed.")
v.19 n.9
Short Treks v.19 n.9 was published in September 2023 and contains 14 pages.
From the editorial:
So as I begin to turn toward my new future as a retired individual, no longer keeping pace with the pack, I reflect on some of the concerns of today. Is our civilization coming to an end? Will A.I. completely change the world as we know it? Are we replaceable? So many fears and so many questions - some can be answered, some not. So where do we go from here? That is what this issue will address, at least in part. So grab a chair, a favorite beverage and lets dive in and see where this wonderful journey will lead us. So without further ado, lets begin this issue with a brief look at A.I. and what it means to you and me. A.I. will also turn up later on in the issue when digital avatars will be discussed. What is a “digital avatar” and will it be the last remnant we leave behind? I will be looking at the connection between digital avatars and what their rights may be... this will explore the legacy left behind by those in the public arena... will these digital ghosts be the representatives we leave behind? Will this be the beginning of the digital soul? No one knows for sure, but what an interesting future that may lie before us. Stay tuned, get comfortable, we’re about to go on a wild ride. Hang on!
- Editorial
- A.I. - Dream or Eventual Reality?, article by Richard McKay
- Book Review by Richard McKay of "Silo Trilogy," a novel series by Hugh Hewey
- Is This the End? - A Discussion by Richard McKay and (The Other) R. McKay ("As we move through this year, we are confronted with doomsayers and endless media twits. Some despair, fearing that the end of our world is near; climate change, media toxicity, dwindling resources, civil unrest, among a host of other very real maladies. How to cope? Is it the end of the world as we know it? What can we do?")
- Digital Immortality - Physical Death Transforming into Digital Life Everlasting, article by Richard McKay
- The Ouroboros of A.G.I., article by Richard McKay
- poem with art by Richard McKay
- The Jug of Empty Dreams by Richard McKay (Jazz Writer) (original fiction)