Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Insecure Writer’s Support Group! A to Z Challenge – Ether-wall, Force Field, Genetic Engineering, and Hive Mind

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

My awesome co-hosts today are Megan Morgan, Chris Votey, Viola Fury, Christine Rains, Madeline Mora-Summonte, L.G. Keltner, Rachna Chhabria, and Patricia Lynne!

They say write every day. Since we are in the middle of the Challenge, I really hope blog comments count. I know a lot of writing and research went into my Challenge posts. Plus my posts at the IWSG site and A to Z Blog this month.

Once April has ended, my plans are to work more on my next story outline and write another article for Area of Effect. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve written for Geekdom House and would like to continue.

And since we’re in the middle of the Challenge, I’m keeping this short! Be sure to visit other Insecure Writer’s Support Group members!


My A to Z Challenge theme - Origins of Science Fiction Terms and More! The term, its meaning (definitions from Technovelgy), and first book appearance / a movie that features this term / a blogger buddy who reminds me of that term.

I’m also the guinea pig for an experiment – A to Z Lite. I get between 100-170 comments per post in April during the Challenge. And it has just become too much to return that many every day, six days a week. The other A to Z Admins agreed to an A to Z Lite trial run. A to Z Lite means I will just be posting a handful of times this month and multiple letters at a time. I also won’t be visiting every single person every single day, although I will return all comments. Hope everyone understands.


Ether-Wall
An invisibility field.

First appeared in E.E. ‘Doc’ Smith’s Triplanetary, which appeared in Amazing Stories in 1934

One of the funniest examples of an invisibility field is found in Erik the Viking. Princess Aud gives Erik a tiny cloak of invisibility, but it only seems to work on her father. Obviously, he thinks it works all the time. Released in 1989, it stars Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Terry Jones, Imogen Stubbs, and John Cleese.

Kim at This Writer’s Growing might be a bit invisible to most of the blogging community. But she’s there and in the thick of it. For some really interesting news about the world around us, check out her weekly posts.



Force Field
A barrier to objects, created by projected forces.

Believe it or not, the term first appeared in a 1920 report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. In science fiction, it appeared in John W. Campbell’s book Islands of Space in 1931.

One of the many examples of a force field can be found in the movie Independence Day. When our ships attack the alien vessel, they meet a force field they cannot penetrate. Starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirch, Randy Quaid, and Adam Baldwin.

Another force to be reckoned with is The Blue Grumpster. He’ll come at you full force, with truths and nonsense all the way, and you’ll never know what hit you!



Genetic Engineering
Direct manipulation of genetic material.

First appeared in Jack Williamson’s novel, Dragon’s Island in 1951.

You can’t mention genetic engineering without thinking of Jurassic Park! Released in 1993, it stunned us with the most realistic dinosaurs we’d ever seen. Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sir Richard Attenborough, and Samuel L. Jackson – who has been in almost every huge movie since!

EE Giorgi at CHIMERAS is on top of this subject. She’s a scientist! If you want facts not fluff from your authors, you need to tune into her posts.



Hive Mind
A collective alien intelligence.

The term first appeared in James H. Schmitz’s short story Second Night of Summer in 1950.

The perfect example of a hive mind is the Borg in Star Trek First Contact. Released in 1996, the seventh installment of the Star Trek series starred Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Alfre Woodard, James Cromwell, and Alice Krige.

The Amazing Elizabeth Spann Craig hosts a site that is definitely a collective – the Writer’s Knowledge Base.
Even more eerie – its web address is hiveworld.com…





What’s your writer insecurity this month? Saving your writing time for May? Where have you seen an invisibility field used? If you’ve seen Independence Day, are you ready for the sequel? Know of any genetic manipulation gone wild? Fan of the Borg? Following those excellent bloggers?
And do you think I’ll survive this IWSG/Challenge overlap…?

166 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Alex - you do a wonderful supportive job for us all - I'm sure it's not T for thank you day .. but that's what I do. Going Lite - makes sense ... and Elizabeth Spann Craig is such a great blogger to be able to link to - such valuable information is available .. and she's exemplary in her approach to blogging and writing. I should know more about Sci Fi terms once the A-Z is over ... cheers and good luck to one and all .. and yes the overlap is allowed ... everyone is so appreciative of all the hive-world of A-Z ... Hilary

J.H. Moncrieff said...

You're doing a great job, Alex. I smile whenever I see a comment from you--thank you so much.

It's incredible how old some of these terms are. I thought hive mind was modern, but I guess not! Thank you for everything you do.

In May I'll be in Italy, enjoying a much-needed break. :)

Ann V Friend said...

E for excellence Alex! Blessings (smile)

Nicola said...

I love the word 'ether'. It's mysterious in a positive way. I often send out well wishes through the ether to my writing buddies.

Writing each day includes all types of writing (in my world), Alex. That includes email, posts, letters, comments on other people's blogs, website entries, stories, chapters, scenes, articles. All count! :)

Wishing you a fab Wednesday.

Empty Nest Insider said...

Erik The Viking sounds like a cute movie with a great cast! Yay for Blue! Alex, I'm Eternally grateful for all you do! Another Extraordinary Theme!

Julie

Michelle Wallace said...

You'll survive, Alex!
I see the A to Z Lite experiment is a four-in-one post today.
I thought ether was from medical origins...but science and medicine are linked anyway...
May will HAVE to be dedicated to writing...
Writer In Transit

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Jurassic Park was the movie that made me the most tense in a theater! That genetic engineering is never a good thing in a film. :)

Thanks for linking to my blog!

Elephant's Child said...

I so appreciate the work you put into each and every post, and the support you offer.
Hive mind is a concept I find very, very scary.

Sarah Foster said...

That's great that you'll be outlining a new story soon! My writing is pretty much on hold until May, too. I'm way too busy with the Challenge.

Lynn La Vita said...

Experimenting with – A to Z Lite is a great idea. I think it's important to modify our commitments as our lives or circumstances change. This allows us to stay in the game and thrive.

Hive Mind
"A collective alien intelligence" especially caught my attention.

Thanks for being our fearless leader.

Shah Wharton said...

You're doing a blinding job, Alex. Thanks for visiting me during such a busy time. :)

shahwharton.com

Natalie Aguirre said...

I hope you're finding this experiment is working out and keeping your blogging to a manageable level. Yes, you are writing a lot in blog posts and comments, so don't feel bad about no time to write even more.

nashvillecats2 said...

You're doing a grand job Alex, Man of many talents.
Great post today for both the ISWG amd the A to Z.
Yvonne.

Mason Canyon said...

I'm so enjoying your post for the A to Z Challenge. I also appreciate all the support and encouragement you give writers (as well as non-writers).

Nilanjana Bose said...

Of course commenting counts! Anything that makes someone else smile cannot and must not be dismissed!

Wow, genetic engineering appeared only in the 50's? Surprised that Jules Verne did not dream that one up before then.

I am really getting an education on Sci-Fi here!

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

It's interesting that the term "genetic engineering" was used before the structure of DNA was determined (1953). Sometimes SF does a great job of predicting science. Thanks for sharing that information, Alex!

Shady Del Knight said...

Hi, Alex!

My earliest memory of Force Field was the one in Forbidden Planet (1956) starring Walter Pidgeon. A force field ran around the perimeter of the camp and vaporized anything or anyone that came into contact with it.

Thanks, good buddy!

Jennifer Hawes said...

What a great idea for a theme! I hope you get some sleep this month:) I'm enjoying the terminology. Hive Mind is my favorite so far. Can't wait to participate in the challenge again next year!

Rhonda Albom said...

Wow, AtoZ and IWSG. With my book launch next week, I am filled with insecurity, but way to busy to have remember to post about it. I am loving your blog theme, and the great bloggers you have featured.

The Cynical Sailor said...

I think you should get extra credit points for all of the work you're doing on the challenge and IWSG this month! Hive minds are possibly more scary to me than genetic engineering.

Cheers - Ellen | http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.com/2016/04/e-is-for-epirb-nancy-drew-investigates.html

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Thank you, Hilary!

JH, enjoy Italy for me!

Nicola, good to know that counts.

Julie, thanks!

Michelle, either that or dedicated to sleeping...

Elizabeth, you're welcome!

La Vita, thanks and I'm trying.

Thanks, Mason.

Nila, I am here to amuse...

Shady, think that was my first exposure to it as well.

Thanks, everyone!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Erik the Viking, yes! I remember that. (OMGosh, I'm old.)

mshatch said...

I loved the Borg. Especially Hugh :)

Bob/Sally said...

Great idea with the A to Z Lite approach, Alex. I just couldn't make time for A-Z this year, not with a big beta-read to complete by end of month, but I like that idea.

Lan said...

I seriously don't know how you participate in so much and still have any time in the day!

And yes the Borg are the epitome of scary opponents! First contact is one of my favourite movies.

Jennifer Lane said...

No way I write every day! And that's cool with me. I wasn't a big fan of Independence Day (I thought Jeff Daniels was horribly miscast) so I'm not too eager for the sequel. Happy A to Z!

Tamara Narayan said...

An Independence Day sequel? I don't know . . .

I think blog writing and commenting definitely count, especially if done well. Will I survive this overlap . . . eh. Overload, overload, overload.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I'm torn about the Independence Day sequel. I remember standing on line to get in to the first one, the theater being packed, the crowd cheering at the end. So much fun!

I'm hunkering down on my WiP after IWSG. And that will probably continue the rest of the Spring...and the Summer....

Christine Rains said...

Good luck surviving April, but I think your A to Z Lite is working. Terrific idea! I know all those wonderful bloggers. I'm not sure I'm ready for the Independence Day sequel. Some films should just be left alone.

L.G. Keltner said...

Another batch of great sci-fi terms! I'm trying to keep writing through April, even though it has been tricky. I'm not writing at my typical speed, but I've still managed to write some everyday so far.

@LGKeltner from
Writing Off the Edge
Parallels

Tonja Drecker said...

I hope you survive...assume you will. I don't know why, but I thought the invisibility field was older than that. Interesting!

Karen Baldwin said...

Oh, you'll survive...YOUR ALEX!! I"ve only seen people use invisible energy fields - for good purposes. And I'm enjoying visiting everyone's posts during the challenge.

Crystal Collier said...

Erik the Viking! Bwahahahahaha. That was the first movie I saw with my hubby (second date), and to this day we laugh about how he thought his face would explode from heat during the magic cloth scene. (He picked the movie.)

Crystal Collier

Nicki Elson said...

IWSG Lite - not THAT lite since you're still putting lots of time into each letter. But of course you can survive the overlap. You're the Ninja Master, remember?

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Thanks for mentioning Elizabeth. She's my choice for the Letter E.

Ah, to be invisible.

The Borg was one of my favourite shows. Scary and captivating.

Dean K Miller said...

I've seen trout use their spotting/coloring to disappear into the riverbed, blending with the rocks and other debris. It's pretty cool to see nature use its own invisibility cloak. Enjoying the sci-fi word origins.

Stephanie Faris said...

I'm doing A to Z, starting a new book my agent has requested, and writing 2,000 words a day for my clients. Everyone suddenly has an emergency...so basically I'm chained to my computer for the duration!

Murees Dupè said...

You are amazing. You do so much and never complain. Some great movie references again:) Hang in there.

Unknown said...

Here I was talking about how full and hectic my life is, but you always seem to have so much on your plate and handle it beautifully. I really admire that!

Blue Grumpster said...

Truths and nonsense... That's my blog in a NUT shell. It wouldn't be the first time truth and nonsense are the same thing.

Thanks for including me, Alex.

Blue Grumpster said...

Yay!

Joanne said...

I'm sure I'll see Independence Day 2, and then think why? I like the term Hive Intelligence. That's a new one for me. Knee deep in the A to Z - trying to keep up (and work too!!! That's the hard part

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

SA, so am I!

Bob, maybe next year.

Christine, especially since most of the cast will be new.

Crystal, that's funny.

Dean, nature does it best.

Stephanie, that's a lot!

Megan, thank you.

Blue, you're welcome!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm scrambling to keep up today and this entire week. Every scifi fan has seen Independence Day numerous times. I can't believe how old some of those terms have been around.

Susan Says

Chemist Ken said...

I always enjoyed the SEP (Somebody Else's Problem) cloaking field as described in Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It didn't quite make his spaceship invisible, but it caused everyone to look the other way. Hilarious.

You may not survive the IWSG/Challenge overlap, but your clones will, and that's all that matters, right?

Bish Denham said...

Hubby LOVES Doc E. E. Smith! I'll have to tell him that Ether-Wall first appeared in one of his stories.

Many moons ago I read a book by Frank Herbert called Hellstrom's Hive. It is a rather unsettling look at humans modeling their lives after insects.

Pat Hatt said...

Never even heard of Erik the Viking, is it any good? Blue sure can rant on about this and that haha Jurassic Park pops in first indeed. Write every day? Blog posts better count for me.

Anonymous said...

Some great movies there! And reading about the first uses of the sci-fi terms is interesting. I always learn something new during A to Z. As soon as I get Book 2 launched, I'll get back to writing again. Happy IWSG Day!

Chrys Fey said...

When they say write every day, they aren't specific, so blog comments count! ;)

Chrys Fey said...

When they say write every day, they aren't specific, so blog comments count! ;)

EEGiorgi said...

Hi Alex, thanks so much for the mention!!!! Yes, I do love genetics, hehe. Sorry I mistakenly scheduled my IWSG for 3 pm instead of 3 am, I just corrected that and it's live now! Happy A-Z blogging!

Juneta key said...

Force Field makes me think of Star Trek and Star Wars. Ether makes me think the new Thor movies, especially the second one, although I have heard the term for as long as I have been reading.

You are doing an Excellent job Alex.

Happy Writing,
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I wonder if the Blue Gumpster was genetically engineered. He's a fun one.

Liz A. said...

I'd never heard of an ether-wall before. I actually got a chapter almost finished on my novel this month. We'll see if I get anything else done.

At least you only have one IWSG post this month!

Jeffrey Scott said...

I'm a fan of the Borg on Star Trek.
And one of my favourite Super Heroes uses a Force-Field belt. Brainiac 5 from the Legion of Super Heroes. He's a distant relative of Superman's nemesis Brainiac.

Cherie Reich said...

I'm sure April has A-Zers quite busy. I love the idea of A-Z Lite. :)

Al Penwasser said...

So, "Hive Mind" kinda, sorta, has something to do with bees?
BTW, after Wrath of Khan, First Contact is my favorite Trek movie.

Gwen Gardner said...

Oh I love the idea of A-Z Lite -- it's like doing a half marathon instead of a full one. A half marathon is still pretty epic!

Love that ether wall--where can I get one?

Anonymous said...

It's great that you have such great references in all your posts. I think I've found more sources of information here than in most places! Keep up the great posts!

cleemckenzie said...

Again it blows me away to find out that these terms weren't invented more recently!

Great group of co-hosts today.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Ken, very true! Or I'll survive and they won't...

Bish, that does sound creepy.

Pat, it's quirky but funny.

Chrys, I'm counting them.

EE, you're welcome!

Juneta, good point about Thor.

Robyn, maybe!

Jeffrey, I know him well.

Al, you have good tastes.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Like J.H. I always smile when I see a comment from you. How do you do it? The ghost of Mark Twain helped me with IWSG today. He is a scamp but helpful!!

A Tarkabarka Hölgy said...

I recently found a really cool RPG forum (I am writing my dissertation on them) that was based on Jurassic Park. Your character could take a number of jobs around the park, including the engineering department... because nothing bad can ever come of that, right? :D :D

@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog

Truedessa said...

Hi Alex,

I am excited to hear you will be writing again. I am in the process of re-reading your series. I am currently halfway through book 2. My current insecurity involves sharing something I wrote.

Independence Day was such a good movie. Why did they need to make another one?

I smiled when I saw The Blue Grumpster listed. His site surely is about truth and nonsense. A fun blog to follow and he always makes me feel at home.

You're a ninja I have no doubt you will survive the A to Z.

Enjoy your week!

Carrie-Anne said...

Some of these sci-fi terms go a lot further back than I would've pegged them as. It just goes to show some things aren't as anachronistic as we might initially assume.

Good luck with your May writing plans.

Mary Aalgaard said...

Science fiction, and its terms, have been around a long time. We humans have been wondering since creation what else is out there!
Great post.
Mary at Play off the Page

Anonymous said...

I've definitely seen Independence Day - numerous times, Twinny. I could go for a sequel. The only genetic manipulation I've seen gone wild is in a state of delirium. :( I've missed you brother! Updated, but it ain't pretty. Hugs.

Lisa said...

This is an awesome way to do the challenge. Hmmm, next year? Also, Hive Mind was also used in Orsen Scott Card's Ender's Game... I made it to the fourth book before I stopped, but loved the first one. And for genetic manipulation, what about the Island of Dr. Moreau published in 1896! That was downright spooky and a real precursor to genetic manipulation! 1896!

Debra Renée Byrd said...

I use force fields in my fantasy! It's one of my MC's powers. :D

I like this abridged version of the A-to-Z Challenge.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Hi Alex, I hope you are getting enough sleep this month? I know that you will survive the IWSG/Challenge overlap and take it easy in the month of May. I am enjoying your A to Z posts, infact I have copied down a few of the terms to use for my story :)

Rachna Chhabria
Co-host IWSG
Rachna's Scriptorium

kjmckendry said...

You definitely get credit for all your comments and different posts! I don't know how you do it all! We all really appreciate all that you do!

I can't believe how most of these terms were used so long ago!

Elizabeth said...

I'm like you, waiting until May to dive back into writing. I'm enjoying your science fiction terms :) I've seen an invisibility shield in the Hunger Games, but I've never heard the term ether wall before.

Andrew Leon said...

Douglas Adams hardly ever wrote and often had to be forced to do it.
Just sayin'.

Kristin Smith said...

Yes, I think you'll survive because you're the NINJA CAPTAIN!! Although, I can only imagine how daunting it must be to keep up with it all.

I liked seeing your genetic engineering post. My novel that releases in November (CATALYST) has genetic engineering in it! Fun stuff! :)

Cathrina Constantine said...

Love Independence Day and Looking forward to the sequel!!!!

Good Luck with the Challenge, Alex!! So far, so good.

Robin said...

Do you watch the TV show Arrow? They have a "hive mind" thing going on that show right now.

kimlajevardi.com said...

Thanks for the shout out, Alex! That was quite a pleasant surprise today.

I think you'll do more than survive. I don't know how you manage all that you do, but you always seem to do it well and with as much encouragement to other writers as I've seen anywhere. Kudos for that. Keep on chugging. You've got this.

Jo said...

You'll survive dear Ninja Captain. You might be exhausted, but...

I've come across the hive mentality in several stories. It is a pretty frightening concept. I have seen Independence day, didn't know they were making a sequel.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Roland, I saw that!

Csenge, nothing bad at all...

Truedessa, thank you for reading them again.

Eva, just glad to have you back!!

Lisa, good point! That book did feature it first.

Kristin, cool!

Robin, I've seen a few episodes, but prefer The Flash.

Kim, you're welcome!

Huntress said...

I started out interested in your IWSG post and ended up in the middle of A to Z. I'm sincerely loving your posts.

And if I could wish something, I hope your T delves into the meaning/history of Tesseract. I thought it was a term made-up for Marvel's Avengers. Cool to know different.

stephen Hayes said...

It's hard to imagine why we need another Independence Day. Especially without Will Smith.

Yolanda Renée said...

May is definitely a break month. I'll be spending a week at the beach just to write, a birthday present from hubby.
love the experiment in IWSG lite. Is it working for you?
Happy IWSG day! Today I posted about something currently on my mind and love the response. Feeling better already!

Jenni said...

I really like your A to Z post. I never knew where "hive mind" came from, so I learned something today. :) Erik the Viking looks fun...

M Pax said...

Cool theme you have going on, Alex.

I'm trying to ease back into writing daily now that I've semi-adjusted to my new life/schedule. We do what we can, and that's good enough.

J E Oneil said...

Science is working on making force fields a reality! I had no idea it was so old, though. I wonder what that 1920 report said.

Sandra Cox said...

Good info, Alex. Blue is indeed a force to be reckoned with:)

Cynthia said...

Hi Alex! I see you visited my post today already, and I just wanted to mention that I've since updated it with a short IWSG thought, nothing big. No reason to visit back for that but I wanted to let you know so I remain in "good standing" on the list.

I recall some mention of a force field in Catching Fire.

I hear about genetic engineering sometimes, and this is in science news, not sci-fi.

Heather M. Gardner said...

Ha! Perfect! 4 is perfect!

Did you ever read Jurassic Park? It's really good. I tried to read it to my son, but he got bored. :)

Looks like some great bloggers I should check out!

Thank you for another informative post!

Heather

Li said...

I'm convinced that gene manipulation will one day be the key to preventing and/or curing some diseases. But frankly, it also terrifies me because the potential for screw-ups and unforeseen consequences is huge.

Unknown said...

So excited for the new Independence Day movie!! Of course you'll survive . . . you have your army of clones to help ;-)

Julie Flanders said...

Jurassic Park will always be one of my favorite movies. Just reading about it makes me want to watch again. I hope the A-Z Lite is going well for you so far.

Cherie Colyer said...

I didn't know they were making a sequel to Independence Day. Could be interesting. I think you'll survive the IWSG/Challenge overlap, and be off in running writing in May. :)

Patrick Stahl said...

I love hive minds. I'm surprised it took so long for them to appear in SF.

SpacerGuy said...

Star Trek First Concact is a great movie for drawning into fans, I love it because Lily tells Picard what to do. This is not about shaving the course of humanity he says. Its a great movie movie well worth watching again. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful, Mr. Cavanaugh, as you highlight intriguing sci-fi ideas that hadn't occurred to me! It was a satisfying post to read. Good luck surviving the overlap, and, I agree, 1993 was so much the better year in my life for the sake of being able to watch Jurassic Park. I'm trying to keep motivated these days, and sometimes I feel good about my chances (and often not so much, but it wouldn't be a challenge if it wasn't difficult). I remember my childhood Dungeons & Dragons game in which magic-users could cast the Invisibility spell to help. Immediately, the players (excluding the Dungeon Master) could move through the dungeon for a little while without being seen by opponents (the monsters). Thanks for your organization where this fun challenge is involved and, once more, good luck with your powers of survival when it comes to the overlap. Remember you can try a Dexterity Ability Check to get to the next room in the lair.

J.L. Campbell said...

I'll be a sci-fi guru by the end of the month, learning all these terms and stuff. Not a lot of insecurity now, just the fear of falling behind with a crazy schedule. Send me some of your clones, please.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Loving the A to Z Lite version - I could have gone for that . . . maybe next year!
And yes, you can do it, Alex!!!

Love that example of an invisibility field. :)

Donna McDine said...

I love the invisiability field.... very cool. I honestly don't know where you get your energy!

Shell Flower said...

I can't believe force field is a term that is so new. And a great example of the hive mind is in Ender's Game, another classic. You're doing a great job of linking terms to bloggers, too. And don't worry, after April I'm sure you'll be writing like crazy with all your newfound free time :)

Sheena-kay Graham said...

I loved the last article I read by you for Geekdom House. Glad you're doing more. Hive mind has been done very well in movies. Seen Independence Day and still in the middle on whether or not to see the sequel. So many amazing bloggers all around us.

kaykuala said...


It is great to be writing again after this Alex! The knowledge within you must find the designated outlet. The Sci-fi terms come with lots of pleasant surprises. To think they've been around that long for most of them. The shout-out for Blue, Hank's constant companion at Pat's is most timely!


Hank

alexia said...

Nice sci-fi terms :) And good luck with your submission to Geekdom House!

Ella said...

I feared I had hive mind-phew! I love all the insight, offerings and movies~ I missed Erik The Viking...how did that happen? Off to find this movie-I need some insight on this cloak~

Thank you, Captain!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Huntress, glad you like them!

Yolanda, so far so good. I'm not drowning daily in posts. Except today of course...

Cynthia, noted!

Heather, I read that book in three days. World record for me.

Spacerguy, yes it is!

Ode, I remember those D&D days...

Joy, five are on their way!

Sheena-kay, thanks!

Good point, Hank. I've learned a lot getting these posts together.

Unknown said...

Oh, man, Erik the Viking is classic Monty Python malarkey! I always wanted to work on the Jurassic Park project when I was in genetic engineering. Ended up in a boring lab. Zero dinosaurs. So disappointing.

The AtoZ of EOS
#TeamDamyanti

Botanist said...

Love these fun facts. I find it amazing that so many ideas we take for granted in sci-fi started out so long ago. That example of genetic engineering appeared before the structure of DNA was known.

N. R. Williams said...

Hi Alex
Since you're only visiting a few people, I count myself lucky. As for invisibility cloaks who can forget Harry Potter. I also watched a report some years back on the science channel of a group of students along with their professor who have made a real invisibility cloak using magnets.
Nancy

Erika Beebe said...

I personally don't know how you get the fire you keep burning strong with but I want some! I think my insecurity this month is the battle of my own talent against the greater writing world but as usual, I will take it a day at a time. Not sure on the Independence Day sequel but I loved Erik the Viking! John Cleese Rocks. :)

Stephen Tremp said...

Genetic Engineering now there's a theme for a good story. In real life who knows what some crazy research scientists are genetically altering without the public knowing about it.

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI, Alex,

Sounds like you came up with a great solution.... No one could keep up with that previous schedule... not even wit Ninja clones!

XmasDolly said...

I thought what you had was a good idea, but this is even better for all that you do. It's amazing... where do you find the time and the wit. Way ta go Alex and keep up the great work. I've never heard of the Hive mind before. That's a new one on me!!!

Sarah Allen said...

Love Jurassic park. The new movies are great, I thought!

Sarah Allen

J Lenni Dorner said...

J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge - where I am part of Arlee Bird's A to Z Ambassador Team.
April is here and I'm excited about it. Best of luck to us both on meeting our goals of posting and hopping to other blogs.
My blog has a giveaway. There's a bonus a to z challenge each day to encourage people to visit more stops.
http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com

Blog comments need to count as writing! Especially in April. ;)
Wow. Genetic Engineering in 1951. Impressive mention for back then.
I'm SO ready for the next Independence Day movie. Woot woot!

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

Very interesting. Loving the theme. And as always you totally amaze me...wondering if you every sleep. or have time to even breathe. Best to you always, becca

Unknown said...

Genetic engineering and heredity have always fascinated me! (Which is why I studied Genetics at university ;-)) I definitely need to check out EE Giorgi's blog :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Nancy, I've heard about that.

Erika, yes he does!

Rachel, you'll learn some cool stuff at her blog.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

I never thought so much about all these different terms. I know a little about genetic engineering, but the rest is all new. Great stuff.
I'm still editing. No choice. The publisher's waiting. :)

Charles Gramlich said...

It's good to get a lot of comments but the hard work of answering must be overwhelming for sure.

XmasDolly said...

So today I'm going to try to go every other person on the list and see how many I can see. Whatcha think... ? That is what we're supposed to do right is try to hit every person with a comment yes? I do appreciate the work you do and I just wanted to say that. Have a great day and I'm glad I met you Mr. Cavanaugh! You're a very interesting person.

Kathe W. said...

Hive Mind? Got tocheck that out!

Anonymous said...

I suppose I could say I do write every day. If we count blogging and commenting on blogs. Oh and Twitter. ;)

Jen said...

I'll definitely visit two of the bloggers you mentioned. I don't know Blue Grumpster or Kim yet! I loved Independence Day and I'm hoping the sequel will be good. I doubt it will be better than the original! And Jurassic Park is still one of my favorite movies. Just that one. In my opinion they never made any others...kind of like those rumored Star Wars prequels...

Jen said...

Oh...and I meant to add that I'm saving my writing time for May. Too much to do this month! I'm breathless keeping up with reading the Challenge posts! Whew!

Loni Townsend said...

I hope you get the chance to write your article! And I am so amazed that you're able to keep up the number of visits you do. That is impressive!

klahanie said...

Hey Alex,

I hope you're sitting down. Yep and gosh, finally, I've arrived!

Always good to note the "I Was Seeking Gary" dedication. Thank you, my kind friend. Seriously, I do know how interactive and proactive you are. Sometimes, I worry that you might just burn yourself out. I'd have totally burnt myself out if it wasn't for a certain famous dog taking over my obscure blog. I wish April was over so you would get back to your next storyline. This A to Z has just gone on for way too long, as far as I'm concerned.

Not my rambling. Nice to see you've got "E" to "H", out of the way. Nice mention of my friend, Mr. Blue.

I wish you'd forget the overlap and think about your own well being. Take it easy and thanks for being a thoroughly decent human.

I'm going now....another twenty straight hours of commenting to go....

Gary

Toi Thomas said...

If anyone can survive this challenge overlap it's you, Alex.

I could be wrong, but I believe the existence of killer bees is a good example of genetic engineering gone wrong.

Still not sure how I feel about the ID4 sequel.

DMS said...

I am amazed at all the A-Z posts I have been reading. So many fun themes and posts and I am in awe of the energy and diligence! Bravo to all!

I haven't seen Independence Day since it was released. I don't know that I needed another one- and what a long wait for those that have been waiting!
~Jess

Cathy Keaton said...

Do you actually return every commenters comments? I would be surprised if you do, since you get way too many for that. I certainly don't think you should have to.

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

Always a fan of the Borg, well, y'know, kinda - wouldn't really want to meet them :). I remember reading EE Doc Smiths Lensman series when I was a teenager - loved it. Can't actually remember most of the details now though :).
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

Misha Gerrick said...

Most of my writing insecurities center around the lack of time. In fact, I've been working/writing non-stop since Tuesday and only got around to blogging today. And I'm STILL behind on my writing. >_<

mail4rosey said...

Good of you to offer the shout-outs. :) I know Blue!! :)

Have a fun weekend, Alex!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Charles, it is!

Marie, thanks! Yes, visit as many as you can and comment where you can. No pressure though - sometimes, there's just no comment to make.

Jen, I pretend those Star Wars movies don't exist...

Gary! Don't worry, the A to Z Lite will prevent burnout. I expect a busy day on IWSG day, and that's all right.

Toi, not sure where they came from.

Jess, that's what is so odd - why the twenty year wait?

Cathy, I do!

Rosey, I'll always do the shout-outs!

XmasDolly said...

Wow, you do know all the lingo don't you! Totally awesome and I'm being introduced to so many. Thanks for sharing. Woo Hoo

Sandra Cox said...

It's date night, Alex!

Al Penwasser said...

Ether. What a gas.

A Beer for the Shower said...

I'm digging this A to Z lite. In the future that's something we might be able to do.

Ether-Wall is a new one for me. Knew about the concept, just not the name. And hive mind - still one of the most terrifying ideas in all of literature. Once read a story about zombies with hive mind and it was chilling. I loved it.

Shadow said...

Invisible force? Felt one of course. When hubby an I fight, hee heee hee

Sean McLachlan said...

"Write every day." I've been following that advice for year, but I'm actually going to take a week off from writing this month. i have a big backlog of busy work to do--revamp my blog design, replace the back matter in my novels, etc. Should be interesting to give the creative part of my mind a break!

Jess said...

HIVE MIND STORIES FREAK ME OUT. They are so creepy!!! And I loved the movie Independence Day!

Unknown said...

I think A-Z Lite is clever, and I really enjoyed reading all the letters here at once. I'm surprised things like Hive Mind and Genetic Engineering were thought up and used in SF in the 50s! Super post - and thank for mentioning Kim Lajevardi! She's a CP and such a sweetheart, plus she has a great understanding of scientific stuff, beyond having a thoughtful and deep appreciation of just about everything else! Have a great weekend, Alex!

Fundy Blue said...

I'm so loving this, Alex! As you can see, I'm still getting around to the IWSG posts ~ I'm a bit late because of flying on IWSG day and a very sick hubby. You came up with a sci-fi term I hadn't heard of: "Ether-wall." The original Jurassic Park ~ OMG! Ken Carpenter, who ran the fossil lab I volunteered in, was a consultant for the film. I remember one memorable Saturday morning when the guys were all debated what a T-rex swallowing a goat would look like, the throat mechanics. They were scribbling all over paper towels. That was when I learned the movie had shown the T-rex swallowing the goat. I was so scared during the movie that I missed a lot because I had my eyes covered or buried in my hubby's shoulder. Thanks for the memories!

Anonymous said...

A-to-Z lite sounds doable. It's hard to post and comment every day. I like to think blog posts count as writing. :)

Jean Davis said...

Wow, that's a lot of comments to keep up with. Don't blame you a bit for going with the lite version. Good luck with surviving the month.

Plans for May include writing a lot of short stories during the A Story a Day frenzy. If other projects don't pop up, but that's the plan.

Love the borg, fan of Impendence day, but not excited about the sequel, and the only time my invisibility field ever seems to work is when I'm waiting for a drink at the bar.

The Happy Whisk said...

Hahaha, you hope blog comments count.

Leslie S. Rose said...

Hmmmm? Ready for Independence Day... Do you think they offered Randy Quaid a cameo?

T.F. Walsh said...

My insecurity is marketing... struggling to keep positive while pushing through the crowds is hard... but it hasn't stopped me either:)

Melissa Sugar said...

I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth Spann Craig's site and her Twitterific links but you've also given me some new writers sites to check out. How could I not visit the blue grumpster, after seeing that cute avatar. And The Writers Growing sounds like a place to visit, plus Chimera sounds fascinating. Thanks again Alex

Jeremy [Retro] said...

HUGE, HAPPY and HANDSOME... great job!

Very Nice Post... but you know that, that's why you posted it! Right!

Welcome in the letter "H"... thank you!
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2016]

Stop over and find a free "SIX STRINGS: BLOGGING AtoZ CHALLENGE" Here: http://www.jmhdigital.com/

HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?

Hart Johnson said...

I really like your A to Z light approach. Seems like an excellent compromise. I have ended up with a super busy day job month and it is making A to Z that much more challenging, but I sat out one year and regretted it.

ediFanoB said...

Incredible!
each of your A to Z posts bring back memories.

I still remember when I saw Jurassic Park in cinema.
The Borg is indeed an excellent example of a Hive Mind.


Blue Grumpster said...

Star Trek First Contact... Now that's what I call a great movie.

John Wiswell said...

I'm just sifting through posts, and scarcely have the time to comment. Wish I could've played along this month, but I'm saddled with too many projects.

XmasDolly said...

Wow you're one busy dude I bet!!! I don't know what a Hive mind or ever heard of it, but you keep pluggin' away my friend and have a great weekend.

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

A wonderful collections of "bits and bobs" as the British say. I like the origin of ether, personally/ :)

jean

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Brandon and Bryan, what was the story?

Sean, sometimes that detail stuff is necessary.

Lexa, Kim is awesome.

Fundy, you knew a consultant? That is very cool!

Jean, that's funny.

Leslie, well, considering his character is dead...

Hart, you knew you couldn't miss it.

Arlee Bird said...

Hive mind is a new one for me. Hope the bees stay in the right frame of mind since I love honey. They could do us all in if they wanted to mess with the honey.

I'm back from my trip and now totally behind with the blogging. Oh well, at least we had a good time.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

Sherry Ellis said...

Ether Wall is a new term for me. I like the way you're doing this challenge. You might find that next year, others may follow your example.

Unknown said...

My son referred to his roommates as the hive mind recently and I thought that was the funniest thing I had heard in a while. But so apt! And now I'm hooked on it as well.

kaykuala said...

Thanks Alex for the wonderful info as always. Been trying to keep pace. On the road lately with just hit and runs. Fascinated with the Sci-Fi terms which seem very new and current but never realized they have been around.

Hank

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I love your description of Blue. So true.

Birgit said...

I'm having to play catch up since we have had visitors, my mom has not been taking baths, and general mayhem. Ok I always think of Star Trek when I hear force field. ST:First Contact is my favourite in the series of movies. Alice Krige did a great job as a Borg queen. I am not a fan of Independence Day and wanted Will Smith's girlfriend to get vaporized.

The Happy Whisk said...

I hear a lot of folks putting down the original Jurassic Park, but I tell you, I liked it for what it was. Just fun.

Kathe W. said...

parallel universe- love this!

XmasDolly said...

As soon as I read Time Machine the first thing that came to my mind was that old movie. It was the coolest movie I ever seen when I was little. hahaha You've done such a fantastic job with all the letters. You're just a cesspool of sci-fi knowledge aren't you? :) Have a great weekend.

Deniz Bevan said...

All of this is making me feel like reading some very old SF magazines...

You know what's sad? I've never seen Erik the Viking!

Unknown said...

I want an Ether Wall...Yep invisible...I like it!