Laurie Tom
About Laurie Tom
Laurie Tom has loved fantasy and science fiction since childhood. Nearly all her favorite stories took place in other worlds, so naturally she wanted to visit them. Eventually, other people's worlds weren't enough so she started to create her own.
Her short fiction has appeared in a variety of venues such as the anthologies Streets of Shadows and Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk, and magazines such as Strange Horizons and Galaxy's Edge
Tina Gower
Alex Shvartsman
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
Brad R. Torgersen
Lou J Berger
Floris M. Kleijne
Marina J. Lostetter
Dantzel Cherry
Brian Trent
Edward McKeown
Nick Tchan
L. D. Colter
Steve Pantazis
Eric James Stone
Lon Prater
Scott M. Roberts
Eric Cline
Todd J. McCaffrey
Robert B Finegold MD
Fabio F. Centamore
Michael Swanwick
David A. Kilman
K.G. Anderson
Walter Dinjos
Brian K. Lowe
Sylvia Spruck Wrigley
Robert Jeschonek
Jennifer Campbell-Hicks
Sharon Joss
Stewart C Baker
David G. Blake
Emily McCosh
Swords v. Cthulhu
My Favorite Anime of 2021
One would think that being laid up for most of the year I would have been an anime watching fiend, and I was for the spring season (which aired right after my surgery, so I had plenty of time), but after that my interest waned, and overall this has been a year where I tried a lot of series and just didn't finish them.
Also two series that I enjoyed I'm not putting on the list because they didn't finish so I don't know what my final impression of them will be, but assuming they don't
My Favorite Games of 2021
In 2021 I played a lot more visual novels than I normally would due to so much of my time being spent either in cancer treatment or recovering from cancer treatment. I had neuropathy issues following surgery that largely prevented me from using my left hand for gaming (even typing was hard!), which was a definite factor in what I could play. Fortunately visual novels are easy to play one-handed.
These are the 12 games I liked the most out of the ones I finished in 2021, in the order
2021 was a year of reading comfort fiction, mostly because I was in cancer treatment for so much of the year that I just wanted to read what I already knew I would enjoy. Hence, a lot of later volumes in various series.
Normally I list the twelve books I enjoyed the most, but this year because of all the series' reading and because I mostly read volumes back to back, I'm just going to group everything by series and include book/volume numbers. I didn't start any new series. This is
VN Talk: The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
In which I talk (write) about visual novels from a storytelling perspective...
Platform: Switch (also on PS4 and Windows)
The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve is the second of the two games included in Capcom's The Great Ace Attorney: Chronicles collection, making its English language debut after originally appearing on the 3DS. I was originally thinking of saving this one for a rainy day since I don't know when we'll ever see another Ace Attorney game
VN Talk: The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures is making its English language debut fairly late compared to its mainline cousins, being a port of the original 3DS and only as part of the The Great Ace Attorney: Chronicles collection, but that's not so bad because the GAA games are a paired set and an incomplete experience without each other.
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 8: Grand Ending
There is one more ending! The Grand Ending is the last to unlock and it's a romance agnostic golden route where Cyrus not only gets to prevent her parents' murder in the first place, but the primary cast comes together in pursuit of a common goal, making this the only route where all the love interests are ever in the same room together.
Normally Cyrus goes out to the dining room unarmed when she hears a noise the night of the murder, but in the Grand Ending she decides to take her
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 7: Fin
Fin is the first love interest you meet in Steam Prison, and it's pretty clear from the get-go take he's nursing an unrequited crush on Cyrus that their society will not allow him to act on, but he was only added as a romantic option in later releases of the game. At first I thought it was because Cyrus gets exiled from the Heights at the start of the game so you simply don't get to see him again, but then he shows up later on most routes as a part of HOUNDS, so he's not entirely removed from
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 6: Yune
In the original Steam Prison release, Yune was the only locked route. Because of this, I expected that Yune's route would end up answering my remaining questions about the game; primarily why Cyrus's parents were killed instead of other options for framing Cyrus (Glissade says in Adage's route that he didn't expect murder specifically, so it was done at his associate's discretion), why Warner cooperates with Glissade in the first place (what's in it for him?), and why Cyrus's engagement with F
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 5: Ines
I had certain expectations for Ines's route, given that he's presented both as a decent man and as a member of HOUNDS, its vice-commander no less, and I wasn't disappointed. Ines is someone who would like to take the more humane option, but given a direct order from Sachsen, he will bare his fangs like any other member of his unit and kill on command.
Of all the love interests, he's the most like Cyrus, down to the fact he wants to return to the Heights to discover the truth and rig
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 4: Adage
If I'd played with a walkthrough from the start I would have done Adage's route first; not because of what I saw of him in the common route (he's the only love interest who isn't in it!), but because I liked his character design. That said, I didn't know what kind of character he would be, and even after finishing his route I find him difficult to sum up in a few words, which is good! It means we don't get many love interests like him in an otome.
For a game about Cyrus being sent t
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 3: Ulrik
Ulrik's the prickly sort, who won't/can't admit that he actually cares about anyone. His backstory supports his negative worldview, but that doesn't make him an easy person to get along with. If not for Eltcreed constantly prodding Ulrik with potentially uncomfortable banter he'd likely remain a glum, unlikeable person. But Eltcreed's jokes and intentional misinterpretations take the edge off Ulrik's acerbic personality and humanize him. This makes him more entertaining to be around, especi
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 2: Eltcreed
I entered Steam Prison much like I do other otome. For my first playthrough I role play it out with the idea that I'll choose a love interest based on whoever strikes my fancy, which may or may not be who I thought it would be based on reviews or promotional material.
That did not happen quite as expected this time around because of how the game is structured, with routes being based around whether Cyrus goes to the sanctuary district (possible to avoid on later playthroughs once Yu
VN Talk: Steam Prison - Part 1: Overview
Platform: Switch (also on Windows)
Release: 2021 (2019 on Windows)
Steam Prison is an otome visual novel I've had on my radar for a couple of years, but I knew it would be a long and involved game and my preferred platform for visual novels is a handheld; something I can curl up with in bed, much like a good book. So I dithered until I heard it was coming out for Switch, at which point
September Health Update
My post-surgery cancer treatment ended about a week and a half ago, but I didn't say anything sooner because quite frankly the side effects are still with me, and they're only finally starting to ebb. Even this weekend I would still dry heave if I sat up too long, which is not fun. And I still tire very quickly.
But things are supposed to get better in the coming weeks and I already feel like I'm on the upswing. It's a very slow upswing, but it's going up.
I have a lot
VN Talk: Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind
Platform: Switch
Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind is a prequel to Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir, and because of that it doesn't have to deal with any of the fallout from the previously published game. The result is a less personal story, but definitely a creepier one.
The two games can be played in any order (and in fact you can im
VN Talk: Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir was originally an old adventure game for the 8-bit NES some thirty odd years ago. It wasn't brought over to the US at the time, and no wonder since it has more in common with PC games than what we considered console games at the time. Famicom Detective Club has a lot of text and requires a player willing to read a l
RPG Talk: The Caligula Effect: Overdose
In which I talk (write) about RPGs from a storytelling perspective...
Platform: PS4 (also on Switch and Windows)
I was interested in the original The Caligula Effect from the day I first heard about it, when it was still a Japan-only title that might never be localized. I liked the idea of characters trying to escape a virtual world that they originally arrived at in order to avoid the pain and trauma in their real lives. And the game had a pedigree,
VN Talk: My Vow to My Liege - Part 5: Wu Zixu
This is the last installment of my My Vow to My Liege VN Talk series. As mentioned before, beware of spoilers since I will cover plot points up until the end of his route.
If there is any character that the title My Vow to My Liege applies to, it's Wu Zixu. Though all the love interests are loyal (or not) to Fuchai, Wu Zixu's vow is front and center from the common route on. He clearly states that his goal in life is to see his king and country prosper. Though he and Fuchai disagree
VN Talk: My Vow to My Liege - Part 4: Yiguang
I was probably the most ambivalent going into Yiguang's route because there isn't much to his story aside from being a mage. Though Wu Zixu distrusts both him and Goujian, Yiguang is in less precarious a position. The only black mark against him is that he faked his death five years ago when the rest of the Shi clan sacrificed itself instead of continuing his family's service to the king. Unlike Goujian, he never raised arms against the kingdom.
We meet Yiguang living as a simple vi
VN Talk: My Vow to My Liege - Part 3: Goujian
Even though Yiguang is the poster boy of My Vow to My Liege, I feel like the game may have been created with Goujian in mind as his route is the longest out of all of them.
I had a difficult time with Goujian's route, not because of the being on opposite sides thing (star-crossed lovers from feuding nations is all right with me), but because both he and Fuchai keep running hot and cold throughout the entire run. In the beginning of Goujian's route, when he's trying to figure out whe
VN Talk: My Vow to My Liege - Part 2: Chenfeng
Chenfeng was my first route in My Vow to My Liege and he was initially a character design pick. Not too ostentatious, not too stern. He looks like a nice guy and one of the kinder characters in the cast. And when I saw how close he was with Fuchai in the opening that sealed the deal. As the king's bodyguard, attendant, and childhood friend, Chenfeng is in on her secret, and since she obviously can't have female servants helping her in and out of her royal clothes, he's the one who does it.
VN Talk: My Vow to My Liege - Part 1: Overview
I picked up My Vow to My Liege for a few reasons. One was that it's set in ancient China, which is unusual for an otome game, but also because it's by a Chinese developer (no chance of being exoticized by outsiders) and I heard that it has a good translation.
This title is less than a year old as of this writing, so be aware there will be spo
VN Talk: Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk
Platform: PS Vita (also on Steam)
Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk is the second game in the Psychedelica duology, and it's a much different animal than its predecessor, Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly. It changes the setting from a Gothic mansion to what appears to be a fantasy European town and introduces us to a new heroine, Jed, who is a much livelier protagonist tha
VN Talk: Raging Loop
I debated whether it was a good idea playing Raging Loop back to back with Gnosia given that they're both visual novels built around the Werewolf party game, but beyond that initial conceit, they're quite different experiences. Unlike Gnosia, where you play each game yourself, Raging Loop weaves a single game tightly into the narrative so most of the choic
May/June Publications
Due my ongoing health issues, I've fallen behind on a lot of things, but I got a little nudge in the mail last week when my contributor copy of the Cooties Shot Required anthology arrived!
While it's up on Amazon as a pre-order for August, a reader let me know he read my story before I even got my copy (!), so it seems some people have already gotten their pre-orders; perhaps though the Whether Change Kickstarter or directly pre-ordering through Broken Eye Books.
My ant
Titles By Laurie Tom
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 26: The Best New Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Oct 19, 2010
by Laurie Tom, Lael Salaets, Alex Black, Adam Colston, Tom Crosshill, Brad R. Torgersen, Scott W. Baker, Simon Cooper, Brent Knowles, K.C. Ball, Jeff Young, Jason Fischer, L. Ron Hubbard, Irena Kovalenko, Ven Locklear, Tyler Carter, Jordan Cornthwaite ; Olivia Pelaez ; Jingxuan Hu ; Kelsey Wroten ; Cassandra Shaffer ; Rebecca Gleason ; R.M. Winch ; Seth J. Rowanwood ; Rachael Jade Sweeney ;, K.D. Wentworth, Dean Wesley Smith, Stephen Youll
Discover Imaginative New Worlds of Tomorrow. Discover the new visionaries of imagination in the Writers of the Future. Let tomorrow's masters of science fiction and fantasy books take you on a journey.
Meet a female warrior created to fight horrific, high-tech future wars, who discovers her humanity.
Get lost in a magic room that comes to life, in the midst of rivaling magicians.
Can an unlikely friendship with an exotic Alien race save an injured human girl.
What would happen if you shared your mind with a terrorist, and their violence started to seep through?
Can an android marked for death become human instead in a twist of fate?
Established in 1983 by L. Ron Hubbard expressly for the aspiring writer, Writers of the Future has become the most respected and significant forum for new talent in all aspects of speculative fiction. Never before published first-rate science fiction and fantasy stories selected by top names in the field. Authors and artists discovered by Writers of the Future have gone to publish more works than other Writing Contest. It is a leading showcase of Creative Writing.
"Not only is the writing excellent...it is also extremely varied. There's a lot of hot new talent in it." —Locus Magazine
Writing Contest Judges: Kevin J. Anderson, Doug Beason, Gregory Benford, Orson Scott Card, Brian Herbert, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Eric Kotani, Anne McCaffrey, Rebecca Moesta, Larry Niven, Frederik Pohl, Jerry Pournelle, Tim Powers, Robert J. Sawyer, Robert Silverberg, K.D. Wentworth, Sean Williams and Dave Wolverton (AKA David Farland).
Illustrating Contest Judges: Vincent Di Fate, Diane Dillon, Leo Dillon, Bob Eggleton, Frank Frazetta, Laura Brodian Freas, Ron Lindahn, Val Lakey Lindahn, Stephan Martiniere, Judith Miller, Cliff Nielsen, Sergey Poyarkov, H.R. Van Dongen and Stephen Youll.
Other Formats: Mass Market Paperback
Deep Magic - April 2017 Apr 11, 2017
by Jeff Wheeler, DK Holmberg, Kathryn Yelinek, Clint Johnson, Eugene Morgulis, Laurie Tom, Emily King
If you want to read gripping stories that don't rely on sex, swearing, and graphic violence—you've come to the right place!
DEEP MAGIC is a bi-monthly electronic magazine that publishes clean short fiction in the fantasy and science fiction genres (epic, paranormal, steampunk, etc). Our issues are also filled with author interviews, art features, book reviews and tips for writers.
In this issue you'll find an exclusive story for Deep Magic by bestselling author DK Holmberg called "The Price of Healing" - it is set in a new world that he'll be introducing in an upcoming novel. We also showcase a great sci-fi story that we loved called "Between Earth and Exile" by Laurie Tom. Clint Johnson also brings us "The Dealer, the Hag, and the Boy Who Dreamed" and "Not That Kind of Wizard" by day-time attorney Eugene Morgulis. Finally, an enchanting story of love, loss, and dragons in "Autumn at the Dragons Cave" by Kathryn Yelinek.
We've also rounded up a great interview with Shawn Speakman and the multiple hats he wears in the genre. We interview the amazing artist Andree Wallin. Love that sci-fi cover! He did concept art for the latest Star Wars movies. And bestselling author Nick Webb gives us the technical know-how on interstellar travel with his article "Fictional Space Propulsion."
This month we also feature two book excerpts that we think you'll love to purchase. Jeff Wheeler's new Kingfountain book "The Hollow Crown" and a sneak peek at Emily King's debut novel, "The Hundredth Queen" - both are sneak peeks and will be published in June 2017.
Solaris Rising: The New Solaris Book of Science Fiction Oct 26, 2011
by Ian Whates, Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, Stephen Baxter, Ken Macleod, Paul di Filippo, Tricia Sullivan, Pat Cadigan, Adam Roberts, Lavie Tidhar, Laurie Tom
Solaris Rising is the first in an exciting new series of anthologies that are set to reaffirm Solaris's proud reputation for producing high quality science fiction. The book will feature all original short stories from Peter F. Hamilton, Alastair Reynolds, Stephen Baxter, Paul di Filippo, Adam Roberts, Lavie Tidhar, Ian Watson, Ken MacLeod, Mike Resnick, Tricia Sullivan, Eric Brown, Pat Cadigan Steve Rasnic Tem along with other top name authors; stories guaranteed to surprise, thrill and delight, demonstrating why science fiction remains the most innovative, satisfying, and downright exciting genre of all.
Other Formats: Paperback , Mass Market Paperback
Killing It Softly 2: A Digital Horror Fiction Anthology of Short Stories (The Best by Women in Horror) Oct 28, 2017
by Digital Fiction, Rachel Caine, Nancy Holder, Elaine Cunningham, L. D. Colter, Lillian Csernica, Jennifer Brozek, Barb Goffman, Suzie Lockhart, Tina Rath, Amanda J. Spedding
The Best by Women in Horror
The first 'Killing It Softly' was just the tip of the iceberg…
Beneath the icy depths of this next installment, you'll be plunged into a world where 38 female horror writers give you a glimpse of their inner-demons, unleashing the hell-fire they suppress in the 'real' world. It will disturb you to discover what really lurks inside their minds, because many of these stories delve into pain that can only be experienced by women—leaving you unhinged as you curl up with them during their darkest hour.
Post-partum depression, hording, anorexia, and mental health will be brought to light when viewed through the shadowy perspective of cognitive deception.
Sci-fi, romance, steam-punk, and fantasy intertwine with horror to deliver unsettling, chilling stories; traditional tales of witches, zombies, werewolves, and vampires will be told in twisted new ways that will shock, unnerve, and even repulse you…and within these pages, sometimes new monsters will arise from the ashes.
You may even discover that women can not only write good horror…but in some cases, can do it better.
Part 1 – Another Space, Another Time
The Whims of My Enemy – Amanda J. Spedding
A Moveable Feast – Jenny Blackford
Softly into the Morning – L. D. Colter
Whispers in the Wax – Tonia Brown
The Screaming Key – Lillian Csernica
Framed – Diana Catt
Bloody Rain – Rie Sheridan Rose
The Idlewild Letters – H.R. Boldwood
Kristall Tag – Holly Newstein
The Adventure of My Ignoble Ancestress – Nancy Holder
Part II – Monster Party
The Devil's in the Details – Stacey Longo
Octavia – Chantal Boudreau
The Skeench – Debra Robinson
Sandcastle Sacrifices – Jennifer Brozek
Unfilial Child – Laurie Tom
Milk and Cookies – M.J. Sydney
Figaro, Figueroa – Karen Heuler
Scarecrow – Vonnie Winslow Crist
A Great and Terrible Hunger – Elaine Cunningham
Part III – Cognitive Deception
Belongings – Abra Staffin-Wiebe
Evil Little Girl – Barb Goffman
Blue – Julie Travis
The Devil Inside – Shannon Connor Winward
Shining Brook and the Ice Moon Spirit – Jean Graham
Damaged Goods – Lindsey Goddard
Project Handbasket – Rebecca J. Allred
Behind the Eight Ball – Lena Ng
A Faithful Companion – Deborah Sheldon
Omega – Airika Sneve
Part IV – The Changed and the Undead
Little Fingers – Christine Morgan
Golden Rule – Donna J. W. Munro
Fifth Sense – Tina Rath
Cycle – Rebecca Fraser
The Hand of God – Gerri Leen
Vile Deeds – Suzie Lockhart
The Holy Spear – Barbara A. Barnett
Skin and Bones – Rebecca Snow
Death Warmed Over – Rachel Caine
Galaxy's Edge Magazine: Issue 9, July 2014 (Galaxy's Edge) Jun 24, 2014
by Kary English, Gardner Dozois, Andrea G. Stewart, Robert Sheckley, Laurie Tom, Lou J. Berger, Michael Swanwick, Mike Resnick
ISSUE 9: July 2014
Mike Resnick, Editor
Stories by: Kary English, Gardner Dozois, Andrea G. Stewart, Robert Sheckley, Laurie Tom, Lou J. Berger, Michael Swanwick, Lisa Tang Liu & Ken Liu, Kay Kenyon.
Serialization: Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp
Columns by: Barry Malzberg, Gregory Benford
Book Reviews: Paul Cook.
Interview: Joy Ward interviews Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
Galaxy's Edge is a bi-monthly (every two months) magazine published by Phoenix Pick, the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Arc Manor, an award winning independent press based in Maryland. Each issue of the magazine has a mix of new and old (reprint) stories, a serialization of a novel, columns by Barry Malzberg and Gregory Benford, book reviews by Paul Cook and an interview conducted by Joy Ward.
by Heidi Ruby Miller, Eric Flint, Laurie Tom, Barry N. Malzberg, Muxing Zhao, Jack Williamson, Michael Flynn, C. L. Moore, Gregory Benford, Mike Resnick
Edited by Mike Resnick
Stories by: Heidi Ruby Miller, Eric Flint, Laurie Tom, Barry Malzberg, Muxing Zhao, Jack Williamson, Brennan Harvey, C. L. Moore, Ron Collins & Michael Flynn.
Serialization: Dark Universe by Daniel F. Galouye
Galaxy's Edge is a bi-monthly (every two months) magazine published by Phoenix Pick, the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Arc Manor, an award winning independent press based in Maryland. Each issue of the magazine has a mix of new and old (reprint) stories, columns by Barry Malzberg and Gregory Benford and book reviews by Paul Cook.
Living Rooms Jun 14, 2011
by Laurie Tom
Rill had grown up the daughter of a magician without any desire to follow in her father's footsteps, but when her father unexpectedly passes away she finds that she must defend her childhood home against another magician seeking the secrets her father left behind.
"Living Rooms" won the Writers of the Future Gold Award, the grand prize in the annual worldwide competition for up-and-coming writers.