The sunbeams are my shafts, with which I kill

Deceit, that loves the night and fears the day;

All men who do or even imagine ill

Fly me, and from the glory of my ray

Good minds and open actions take new might,

Until diminished by the reign of Night.

--From "Hymn of Apollo" by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I don't know that 2026 will kill deceit, but we're two months in and it shows no signs of letting up. I think I'll be running the entire year.

Have you seen North by Northwest? Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Mount Rushmore. Let's just say there are a lot of familiar faces.

I'm just about ready to write the next Napoleonic short story. I've been busy gleaning facts. I still have to sort and pick those that will important for the story. I'm also itching to write another Whip and Truth tale. One thing at a time.

Carnivores of Light and Darkness by Alan Dean Foster is the first book in a trilogy. I've got about a chapter or two left in the this one. I have mixed feelings about it. At this point, I'm not compelled to read the 2nd book, but I have it (because they were both on sale) and probably will read it. It's a journey story with weird encounters along the way. Each obstacle is overcome in some phenomenal way that appears attributable to the main character. His companion therefore believes he's a wizard rather than a simple tribesman carrying out a burden of honor. The story does remind me in some ways of Dead Jed and another Foster book, To The Vanishing Point. They're all weird journey adventures, I guess.

Last week I stumbled across some hits from 1980. Naturally, I recognized the songs and had not heard some of them in decades. The most tenacious ear worm of the bunch is a little ditty called "Romeo's Tune." It's as if the song had burrowed into the substrata twilight of my consciousness, like a sleeper agent, to emerge to assume control like the Solar Federation. The song begins with a bright instrumental intro to sink in its jaunty hooks of airy piano and subtle guitar work. Then the lyrics that will take up residence and assume control begin. Gentle organ strains and harmonic background voices weave the lyrical threads anchored by frequent tacks from the piano keys. The organ strains rise and fall with the driving of the lyrical train until it glides to fade out into the destination station. It's over - but it's not. It will live inside your head until you're dead or only a few days if you don't listen more than once.

Steve Forbert, the artist performing the above tune, is now 71 and still performing. I think "Romeo's Tune" was his biggest hit.

History Bit:

As soon as De Soto had settled in Anhayca, he sent out three exploring parties. Two went north and returned after several days, reporting a land free of swamps with many villages and forest. The third party went toward the coast, led by a captured guide. Eventually the Spaniards suspected the guide was intentionally leading them into swamps and marshes. The guide became suspicious that the Spaniards were no longer dupes and elected to test his theory by grabbing a brand from the fire and smacking a Spaniard in the face. Naturally, immediate reaction followed. However, they stopped short of killing him, because he was still their guide. Not to be deterred, the guide attacked a second man. Again, he was beaten but not killed - which is not quite as good as stirred but not shaken. Ever persistent, he attacked a third Spaniard before daylight. They beat him with cudgels and shackled him. The next day, he attacked man who held his chain. Swords, lances, and an attack dog finally put his life to an end.

With an opening having been created in the guide position, they interviewed another captured native. This one had pretended to be mute, but seeing the brutal end of previous holder of the post, the native decided to speak. He had the Spaniards back track and then led them to the Bay of Horses, where Narvaez, leading an ill-fated 1527 expedition, had previously constructed boats in hopes of sailing to Mexico.

De Soto also found two native boys of 16 or 17 years of age, Marco and Perico. Marco claimed he could gladly guide them for several days into the interior. Perico claimed to have been captured by these Indians from another province and described gold being taken from mines, melted, and refined- exactly the kind of hope the Spaniards needed.

--From Knights of Spain, Warriors of the Sun.

March is magical and these books prove it. Check them out while you still can!

YA Fantasy has arrived in various sub-genres. It's not just for the young.