Scott Edelman

Woke to discover that as I slept, I'd received my 33rd short story rejection of the year. And so I come here to remind you once again — I'm just another bozo on this bus. We're all in this together. Never give up! Never surrender!

"And what’s next? Pete Hegseth’s hardcore backyard wrestling in the rose garden? How about a JD Vance dunk tank on the south lawn? Or Stephen Miller as a carnival geek biting heads off live chickens and guessing immigrants’ weights?" https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/i-am-emperor-caligula-and-even-i-think-the-white-house-ufc-event-is-a-bit-much

Happy 85th birthday to artist Mike Royer, who at a comic book convention more than half a century ago, when he was but 30 and I a mere 16, sketched a somewhat uncertain Silver Surfer for me ... as indicated by the question mark he appended to the character's name.

Donald Trump and the Supreme Court are trying to kill my friends. So I repeat —

Trans rights are human rights.

Now that the contract's been signed, I can share details of a short story sale at which I'd previously only hinted. "All the Things He Loved Beyond Him" will appear in an upcoming issue of Translunar Travelers Lounge. Check out the link for more info about the magazine. https://translunartravelerslounge.com

I've made my comment on that career criminal's proposed arch, an insult to America I refuse to call triumphal. Please make yours before time runs out. https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=186&projectID=136973&documentID=151576

Eight years ago this morning, I headed into D.C. with thousands of others to deliver a message to a career criminal whose cruelty knows no bounds — and to my great surprise ended up in USA Today. And how horrifying it is he haunts us still, waking each morning to destroy democracy anew.

Ran errands this afternoon being entertained by the Hugo, Girl! podcast gang as they chatted about CJ Cherryh's Downbelow Station. And I look forward to being entertained by them in person at the Los Angeles Worldcon, where we shall toast being Hugo finalists together! https://hugogirl.libsyn.com/episode-93-downbelow-station-love-you

Happy birthday to Alison Scott, one-third of the Octothorpe group mind, with whom I chatted over Nando's earlier this year during Eastercon. Celebrate her natal date by joining her on Episode 284 of my Eating the Fantastic podcast! https://www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/2026/06/12/octothorpe/

Today's writing session added 169 words to the new story, and the final scene is now in sight. Plus I came up with yet another working title. I think it's the fourth for this story, or maybe the fifth, and who knows? It might even stick. I call that progress.

Today's treadmill TV time took me to the end of Star City Episode 3. And to my surprise, I found myself more riveted by this spinoff than I was by the fifth season of For All Mankind. Perhaps it simply has to do with beginning being more exciting than middles? Not sure ... but I'm enjoying the ride.

Your context-free comic book panel of the day.

Tonight's treadmill TV time took me to the end of Star City Episode 6 — which was the only reason I managed to get myself stepping tonight in the first place. That vow I made long ago never to consume media unless I was moving works wonders.

Today's writing sessions added a staggering 151 words to the story in progress as I inch toward the final sentence. This is turning out to be some kind of Zeno's paradox of a story!

Happy birthdays to @mercwolfmoor@wandering.shop, Paul Kupperberg, and @john_chu@wandering.shop three former guests of Eating the Fantastic who've completed new trips around the sun today! Celebrate by eavesdropping as I chat and chew with them on Episodes 45, 169, and 238 of the podcast. https://pod.link/1083737796

Happy Flag Day!

Today's fifth and final post-StokerCon COVID-19 test tells me I appear to have survived yet another con unscathed. Now on to Readercon!

Your context-free comic book panel of the day.

Another error-free solve to a Clues by Sam puzzle ... but only because it's rated Easy. Haven't had much luck avoiding logic mistakes on anything more difficult lately, alas. https://cluesbysam.com

Your context-free comic book panel of the day.

Supergirl has invaded the cereal aisle of my local supermarket!

June's nearly over now, so I found myself thinking about the 15 guests I chatted and chewed with on Eating the Fantastic during the first half of 2026. It makes me smile to see them all across the table from me like this. I hope you'll join me with them ... and with July's first guest, Somto Ihezue. https://pod.link/1083737796

As I contemplate my first new horror collection since Things That Never Happened in 2000, I took my list of 136 published stories (so far) and struck out the 71 already collected to wrap my mind around what remains. I may be the only one interested in such a list, but since I created it, here it is.

Today's treadmill TV time caught me up with the latest episode of Star City — so I need no longer fear your spoilers!

Once again, Beard Meats Food is giving me ideas for dinner. https://youtu.be/Qwvoj5k2nsY

Whoa! The splash page from Iron Man's first appearance is about to be auctioned. It sure would look great framed on my wall, but considering interior pages have sold for $500,000+, I predict this will sell for somewhere around $1,000,000 ... so that ain't gonna happen. https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/splash-pages/don-heck-tales-of-suspense-39-iron-man-first-appearance-splash-page-1-original-art-marvel-1963-/p/7468-18001.s

Hit the halfway point in editing the raw audio from my Balticon chat with Somto Ihezue as I eradicate any infelicities which might make our chat less pleasing to your ears before it goes live next week on Eating the Fantastic. I hope you'll subscribe and join us. https://pod.link/1083737796

This afternoon's treadmill TV was The Bear Season 5, Episodes 1 through 3. But now I'm hungry, and there's nothing in the house commensurate with my desires.

One last ICYMI of the latest episode of Eating the Fantastic for the weekend crowd: join Octothorpe's Alison Scott and John Coxon to hear advice for anyone who’d like to start a podcast of their own — and much more. https://www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/2026/06/12/octothorpe/

Ted White's daughter Arielle needs our help in covering the costs of her father's cremation and other funeral expenses. Please help if you can. https://gofund.me/10c3c175c

Same as it ever was. https://youtu.be/Qg0pO9VG1J8

Today's Clues by Sam rated Hard was too hard, alas, to solve error-free. https://cluesbysam.com

Happy birthday to the Bram Stoker Award-winning writer Paul Tremblay! Celebrate the date by eavesdropping as we eat enchiladas on an episode of Eating the Fantastic — and learn about his legendary hatred of pickles, our shared love of ambiguity in fiction — and more. http://www.scottedelman.com/2022/03/04/paul-tremblay/

This week once again proves the only Clues by Sam puzzles I'll solve error-free these days seem to be the ones rated Easy. Obviously, my logic is off. https://cluesbysam.com

On this final day of June, let it be known that coming next month on my Eating the Fantastic podcast, you'll be able to chat and chew with Somto Ihezue, Arley Sorg, and Kate Maruyama. Subscribe now for your chance to eavesdrop on these three wise and witty guests! https://pod.link/1083737796

Today marks the birthdays of two former guests of Eating the Fantastic — Yves Meynard and Karen Heuler! What better way to celebrate the date than by joining them at the table and getting to know them better? Check us out as we chat and chew on Episodes 13 and 262! https://pod.link/1083737796

Remember that original splash page from Iron Man's first appearance I told you about two weeks ago which I thought would go for around $1,000,000 at auction? It turns out I might have underestimated, because with 12 days remaining, the current bid is already $837,500! https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/splash-pages/don-heck-tales-of-suspense-39-iron-man-first-appearance-splash-page-1-original-art-marvel-/a/7468-94010.s

Printed out notes for the first of my Eating the Fantastic episodes I'll be recording during Readercon, which kicks off 12 days from now in Burlington, Massachusetts. If you'd care to reserve your seat at that table and be among the first to eavesdrop, subscribe! https://pod.link/1083737796

Printed out a second set of notes for an Eating the Fantastic conversation I plan to record during Readercon, where I'll be heading 11 days from now. It's a con I've only missed once since it launched in 1987. If you'd like to come along with me and listen, subscribe! https://pod.link/1083737796