FEBRUARY ARTICLES AVAILABLE AT SCI FI - ARIZONA
Michael McCollum
SCI FI - ARIZONA REPORT
February, 1998
We offer this report as a public service for our regular visitors and for
everyone who is interested in science fiction and writing. You can now reach
us by typing http://scifi-az.com, or the usual http://www.scifi-az.com .
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
1. The February articles are now in the Writer's Workshop:
The Art of Writing Series: "Antagonists," a 4500 word article that discusses
villains in all their forms. Are they truly evil, or merely misguided? And
just why is it that all those actors prefer playing villains in movies? Do
the like being booed?
The Art of Science Fiction Series: "Life As We Don’t Know It." We continue
our series on designing alien life forms with a 5500 word article on
non-terrestrial art. Ever wonder why science fiction refers to us as "carbon
based lifeforms?" We’ll enlighten you this month.
2) We have collected all 16 articles in both of our series into two full
length books. If you came in late or otherwise missed some of the articles,
here is your opportunity to get them all in one handy package!
3) We now have all our articles online in the archive page.
Several times each month I receive emails from users inquiring where they can
obtain the earlier articles in "The Art of Writing" and "The Art of Science
Fiction" series. These are the articles that have been taken offline to make
room for newer offerings. And, of course, there is another reason why these
earlier articles are no longer available. Simply put, after spending eight to
sixteen hours each month writing them, I had hoped to eventually make some
money from my labors. The problem was that no practical funding mechanism for
selling individual articles has existed ... until now!
As with everything else related to the Internet, that situation has changed
dramatically for the better. Sci Fi - Arizona is proud to announce the
addition of the Micro Money Corporation iMicros payment system to our
repertoire of payment options. With iMicros, you no longer have to worry about
your credit card number falling into the wrong hands. All that is required is
that you visit the iMicros site and open up an account using a super secure,
encrypted data link. They will fill your account with "iMicros," electronic
money you can then use to purchase things at numerous sites across the web.
If you are interested in any past article, you can obtain it for the low cost
of $1.00 (100 iMicros) by merely clicking on the link in the Archive Page
http://www.scifi-az.com/archive.htm. Please visit and observe what commerce
is going to be like all over the Internet in the future!
4) Art Gallery
We have new images in the art gallery. If you haven’t visited in a while, you
may want to check it out again.
Since it went online in mid-June, the art gallery has proven to be our most
successful feature. Don Dixon's paintings of other worlds, both real and
imagined, have made it possible for many people to experience the beauty of
the universe. His spacescapes have graced over 60 book covers, scores of
magazines, and are in the collections of Ray Bradbury and Larry Niven. We are
extremely proud that he has chosen to exhibit his work in the Sci Fi - Arizona
Art Gallery. You can download images and use them for wallpaper, or else
purchase a high quality print signed by the artist.
5) We now have real books!
We have something new and unique at our virtual bookstore -- REAL BOOKS! As a
result of numerous requests, Sci Fi - Arizona is now offering hard copy books
of the novels you have been downloading as electronic files for the past six
months. The books are similar to large format trade paperbacks in size, but
much closer to hard cover books in quality. If you find that you have trouble
reading your PC in bed, then we have the solution for you – a new miracle
material for pixel display called PAPER!!!
6) Free Fiction
We have added a FREE FICTION page that includes all of the short stories and
novel excerpts that can be downloaded for free from the site. The Free
Fiction page is in response of your suggestions that we make it easier to find
these resources.
Novel excerpts have been expanded to a minimum of three chapters
(approximately 10,000 words). Now you can be really sure that you like a
novel before downloading it or purchasing the hard copy book.
7) Gift Books Upgraded
Our limited edition novels in which you specify the names of the characters
have also been upgraded. The gift shop books have improved art and binding.
They have also been reduced 50% from their original price.