Dear Mr. Abrams --

I know that I spent a fair amount of time tearing apart the screenwriting of your latest movie. Really, I thought the action sequences were well-done and the casting and acting were pretty good. It's just that script...

So I thought in fairness I should tell you what I think might have made for a better script, so you can see from where my criticisms arise. Mostly, I hate that the script relies almost entirely on coincidence, rather than the actions of the characters, to drive the plot. Here's what I might have suggested, had you asked me...

( Here's my reboot of the reboot... )

Well, that's my idea, Mr. Abrams. Yeah, there are lots of details you'd have to work out (like why doesn't Spock Prime just tell everyone what he's planning to do when he heads for Romulus), but we can work out the plot kinks and the overall arc is there. You can tell me whether that would have been a better script or not. What do you think?

Excellent WILD CARD News!

The first good news is that George has signed the contract for the 21st WILD CARDS book, which will be published by Tor and will be titled FORT FREAK. This volume will concentrate (after a long hiatus) on Manhattan and in particular the area called Jokertown and the police precinct there, which is labeled "Fort Freak." This one should be a lot of fun, and a bit of a "return to roots," given that the last few volumes have been more international in scope.

The second bit of good news is that I'll be writing for Fort Freak, and that the story will concern the Oddity, a character I created Way Back When. Even though Oddity appeared/was mentioned in several volumes of the series, I only wrote one story with Oddity as the viewpoint character(s). I've always wanted to finish the character arc for Oddity... and now I get the opportunity to do exactly that!

I'm excited that WILD CARDS is continuing its new run, that Tor is not only bringing out yet another new volume but is also reprinting the first book (with new material!). It bodes well for the series!

So started saving your pennies. SUICIDE KINGS, Book 20 of the series and the concluding volume of the current triad with INSIDE STRAIGHT and BUSTED FLUSH, will be out in December, and it's going to be a hell of ride. FORT FREAK should be just as terrific, from the proposals I've seen.