Tales of the Rampant Coyote

Adventures in Indie Gaming!

Pulps: Just a Training Ground for Authors?

Posted by Rampant Coyote on March 2, 2017

When I first started browsing the science fiction section in bookstores as a kid, they weren’t all that huge. Fantasy and science fiction were mixed together. This was smack-dab in the era of the original Star Wars trilogy… probably around the time The Empire Strikes Back came out. The school bookshelves were far more limited. […]


Filed Under: Books, Short Fiction, Writing - Comments: 17 Comments to Read



Crawlers – A New Short Story

Posted by Rampant Coyote on February 28, 2017

My short story “Crawlers” is now up at Electric Spec. The long-overdue earthquake hits the Wasatch Fault. In the midst of the devastation in the hub of Utah, things long hibernating underground are forced to the surface… and they are hungry. My editor used the phrase “creepy as hell” in his feedback to me, which […]


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Cirsova reaches funding goal, says: “I Want You to Read Me.”

Posted by Rampant Coyote on February 10, 2017

Yes, I’m old, and I think using modified versions of ancient Cheap Trick lyrics is cool. Ah, well. Anyway – Cirsova Magazine! I’m a fan. I’m a writer. Besides promoting the story I wrote for issue #6 in a cool prehistoric Lovecraft shared world (“Queen of Shadows”), I do want to encourage folks who are at […]


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Cyberpunk is dead, long live cyberpunk!

Posted by Rampant Coyote on January 13, 2017

In his introduction to the new cyberpunk anthology Altered States II, Isaac Wheeler of Neon Dystopia suggests that a lot of what cyberpunk envisioned back in the 1980s has come to fruition today. We’re living cyberpunk. Not just technologically (in some ways, our technology has exceeded the wildest dreams of the authors in the 1980s), but culturally. He […]


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What is the Pulp Aesthetic?

Posted by Rampant Coyote on October 3, 2016

Misha Burnett writes a bit about what, in his mind, represents the “Pulp Revival Aesthetic.” I’ve read a bit about this from various corners over the last year. In part, I was trying to educate myself a bit after hearing some of the bickering in SF literary circles. And the fun part was that in exploring it, […]


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Looking Forward: Optimistic Speculation Wanted

Posted by Rampant Coyote on September 30, 2016

I think I’ve noted my somewhat recent delves into reading pulp fiction from the early-to-mid 20th century. I can’t say I’m reading it extremely broadly… it’s a huge area, and I have my favorite authors. Like every field, Sturgeon’s Law applies: 90% of everything is crap. Theodore Sturgeon oughta know. He was a pulp writer, […]


Filed Under: Books, Mainstream Games, Movies, Short Fiction - Comments: 3 Comments to Read



Cirsova Magazine Preorders – The Final Push

Posted by Rampant Coyote on September 9, 2016

Hey folks. Just a reminder that the chance to order Cirsova #4, with my story “The Priests of Shalaz,” is closing down in 3 days. If you want to get a paper edition, this will probably be your best chance. Grab ’em while they are cheap! Cirsova Science Fiction & Fantasy Pulp-Style Magazine “Mini-Sub” for Issues […]


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Cirsova #4 – My name is on the cover!

Posted by Rampant Coyote on August 18, 2016

The cover art is not done, so it’s currently just a black cover, but there’s my name on the publisher’s print review copy for Cirsova #4. BOOYAH! There is is, right up there at the top of the right column. Not sure if it will stay there in the final version of the issue, but […]


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What Is Pulp Fiction, and Who Cares?

Posted by Rampant Coyote on June 30, 2016

A few weeks ago at local convention, I gave a short presentation on the “pulp fiction formula,” referencing the Lester Dent “Pulp Fiction Master Plot Formula.” When I talk about this, one of the first questions I receive is “What is pulp fiction?” Which comes with the implied question, “Why should I care?” Now, I […]


Filed Under: Retro, Short Fiction - Comments: Read the First Comment



Cirsova #2 Pre-Order (via Kickstarter)

Posted by Rampant Coyote on June 6, 2016

The second issue of Cirsova Magazine, a magazine for heroic fantasy and science fiction, is now available for pre-order. They are using Kickstarter as their pre-order method, but… this is pretty much in the bag. The stories are paid for, the cover art is done, it’s just getting the issue out the door. (This is […]


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The Thief and the Chalice (Frayed Knights Fiction) Part 4

Posted by Rampant Coyote on May 5, 2016

This is conclusion of a four-part short story of one of Dirk’s adventures shortly before he met Chloe and Arianna and formed the Frayed Knights.  If you haven’t read them yet, I suggest you start back at The Thief and the Chalice, Part 1 Enjoy! Let me know how you like the conclusion! The Thief and the […]


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The Thief and the Chalice (Frayed Knights Fiction), Part 3

Posted by Rampant Coyote on May 4, 2016

This is part three of a four-part short story of one of Dirk’s adventures shortly before he met Chloe and Arianna and formed the Frayed Knights.  Parts 4 will be posted tomorrow. If you haven’t read them already,  start at Part 1: The Thief and the Chalice, Part 1   The Thief and the Chalice, […]


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The Thief and the Chalice (Frayed Knights Fiction) Part 2

Posted by Rampant Coyote on May 3, 2016

This is the second of a four-part short story of one of Dirk’s adventures shortly before he met Chloe and Arianna and formed the Frayed Knights. You can read part 1 here. The Thief and the Chalice, Part 2 by Jay Barnson The baron slammed and locked the door behind them. It took a moment for Dirk’s […]


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The Thief and the Chalice (Frayed Knights Fiction) Part 1

Posted by Rampant Coyote on May 2, 2016

This is the first of a four-part short story of one of Dirk’s adventures shortly before he met Chloe and Arianna and formed the Frayed Knights. I really enjoyed combining my obsessions for both writing and game development on this. The rest of the story appear later this week. Let me know if you enjoyed the story! […]


Filed Under: Frayed Knights, Short Fiction - Comments: 6 Comments to Read



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