Michael John Grist

The sun-blasted remains of holy Angkor Wat

MJG — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:51:29 +0000

Angkor Wat is the last, greatest remnant of the ancient Khmer empire, a sprawling citadel and temple complex built nearly 1000 years ago, now resplendent in ruins. Doubtless you’ve heard of it. It’s the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, with...

Why ‘Cloud Atlas’ is no ‘Magnolia’

MJG — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:19:49 +0000

Cloud Atlas is no Magnolia. Cloud Atlas is a sprawling, epic tone poem that ruminates on the ‘natural order’ behind slavery, and the revolutionary forces that rise up against it. It cross-cuts 6 stories staggered across time and space, from...

Cullsman #9 @ Andromeda Spaceways

MJG — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:17:10 +0000

The Cull needs you. My story Cullsman #9 is now available to buy in Andromeda Spaceways semi-pro zine, in edition 55, here. I first wrote Cullsman some 5 years ago, inspired by an idea I had 10 years ago, of...

Why Neal Stephenson’s ‘Snow Crash’ needs rebooting

MJG — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:37:06 +0000

Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash is a blistering assault of techno-punk babble, metaphoric memetic conspiracy theory, and hubristically confident authorial voice, half-baked into a bun so undercooked it’ll likely stodge up your wind-pipe and throttle you. But also- brilliantly ambitious, stunningly...

The Tonsor’s Son @ Podcastle

MJG — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:33:56 +0000

I knew from the moment I saw him that his beard was full of evil. My story The Tonsor’s Son is now up on the PodCastle website- an awesome semi-pro zine that makes audio recordings of short stories. The rendering...

Why the ‘Hunger Games’ was too calorie-lite

MJG — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 01:49:13 +0000

I found the Hunger Games movie to be kind of disappointing. While I was watching it my mind wandered. I wondered how much time was left, and when we would get to the good stuff, only to realize the ‘good...

Why ‘Prometheus’ failed to deliver fire

MJG — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 02:51:14 +0000

Prometheus was the titan who brought fire to humanity, kick-starting our ascent to civilization, for which he was punished with an endless fate of stomach-bursting (thanks to a liver-hungry eagle). There are clear parallels to Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a story...

I need your vote!

MJG — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 04:23:46 +0000

My story ‘Bone Diamond‘ about blood-lust and greed in alt. ancient Egypt is in the running to be published in an anthology! It was published last year in the pro-zine Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and now they’re doing a vote to...