J. Michael Straczynski

Today we lost Walter Koenig. Some thoughts about a fine actor and genuinely nice guy....

Lamentably, this is a not-uncommon occurrence, though the precise reasons for this phenomenon vary wildly from person to person....

Some folks online recently bumped into my autobiography without knowing there had actually been one. And while searching other topics today on NPR I bumped into one of the reviews of said book, which I took as a sign to link it here for the curious. www.npr.org/2019/07/23/7...

The folks at Union Square just informed me that according to Bookscan, HARLAN ELLISON'S GREATEST HITS is the #5 top-selling SF Anthology of all time, and #1 for the period from 2021-present. Over 170,000 copies in print, available here in three versions. www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/harla...

And one potato in a checked shirt.

Annnnd parts one and two of the discussion between me and Bruce Boxleitner have just gone up at YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KnT...

I go with Mark Twain who, noting that he was having a harder time remembering the things he did versus the things he wanted to do but didn't, or just random things: "I'm coming to a point of my life where the only things I can remember are the things that never actually happened."

Minimally at best.

My every relationship disproves your thesis.

Yep. I think there are one or two other references in there as well.

10 authors 🚀 5 Thunderbird craft 🚀 1 FAB book With illustrations by Lee Sullivan, foreword by Jamie Anderson, and an afterword by J. Michael Straczynski... it's in stock and shipping NOW! gerryanderson.com/products/thu...

Way too early. At this point they're only looking to hear from production companies to determine which can bring the most resources, money and other elements to the table. They won't even be talking about writers for a while yet.

A while ago I mentioned that Bruce Boxleitner and I were helping Warners with the launch of their Babylon 5 YouTube channel. As part of that, the first of three brand new half-hour-plus interviews/discussions between me and Bruce will go online on Monday. www.youtube.com/@Babylon5

Good news! The standalone version of Harlan's story I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM, with additional essays by Harlan and other pieces, and currently a USA TODAY national bestseller, is now available to read for free for those using Kindle Unlimited. www.amazon.com/Have-Mouth-M...

Huzzah! We knew the new standalone edition of I HAVE NO MOUTH AND I MUST SCREAM was doing well but we didn't realize just how well until today when it cracked THE USA TODAY INSTANT BEST-SELLER LIST in a very competitive month. www.usatoday.com/booklist/boo...

I find I lack the will to flee, I think I’ll stay, just me and thee The plume is there, a roaring cloud I’ll greet it with a comely shroud The fire comes My neighbor runs The rest have fled I’ll stay in bed And close my eyes and turn my head A final note, from we the dead.

This year the agreed-upon menu includes pizza and profiteroles. Just saying.

Tomorrow, August 24th, is the 1,947th anniversary of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius which took out the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. Check local and online listings for a commemorative dinner in your area.

I wasn't behind it, didn't create it, but I was one of the primary writers. If I included everything it would be a very very long video.

From time to time folks will see a discussion of my work and say "I didn't know you worked on (fill in the gap)", or don't know I worked on *anything* after the 90s. Hence, this video, updated for 2026, but which doesn't have the upcoming new movies. youtu.be/w_aP30AI7ts

It has sharp pointy fins at either end.

What, milk chocolate Easter bunnies with caramel tears wasn't good enough for you?

No one ever does.

Tommy, A Dancing Chicken

We live in the age of wonders.

Lastly: you're trying to make it look like "oh JMS is attacking TADC," which I'm not, it's a fine show. I'm pointing to those folks who critique AI for denying credit and payment to the writer (which it does), but watch TADC sans critique even though it does the same thing.

Because we're not talking about themes, we're talking about *story*...there's a crucial difference in terms of echoing specific storylines, literary devices and the like. Stories have themes but themes are not stories and only stories can have protection.

I didn't say that I thought they should have, because if I did, then I would have forced the issue. I didn't. I'm only pointing to the contradiction in perspectives. (The other difference is that in interviews the creator made explicitly clear that the show was directly inspired/derived from IHNM.)

Mainly, it's just not very dramatic in a TV show. And it has the potential to become a constant deus ex machina to get your characters out of a tight place, and it shouldn't be that easy.

That there may not be good AI critics doesn't diminish the fact that there are concerns that need to be addressed. Yeah, there have been some screed and yelley-heads here but others offered reasoned arguments. It's a tough cultural and ethical issue whichever side you're on.

I became aware of TADC relatively early and had to decide whether to take legal action over this. Honestly I think he would have liked it so I let it pass. People liked it, Harlan often said be kind to small things, and I didn't want to piss in their punchbowl.

If you can provide citations, now and between the second print run, I give you my word they will be included. Not being flippant.

Just common decency, and let's be honest, there's a huge amount of rightful heated debate going on about this...we're in the midst of a huge tech-wave that needs to sort itself out in non-destructive ways. I think we'll get there, we generally do, but it's going to be messy for a while.

Subsequent to my note about having a brief AI essay in I Have No Mouth and I Must scream, there have been a number of fair, sincere and reasonable questions that deserve a respectful and appropriate response. You will find it here. jmichaelstraczynski.substack.com/p/fair-repli...

As noted in the reply on Substack, none of us were sure about it, for all the obvious reasons, but were drawn to the piece's questions about the ethics of AI, so we took it to the best AI/IP attorneys around who said it was okay *as long as* we stipulated it was AI and not pretending otherwise.

Which is exactly the point I raise in the reply.

I give you my word that I shall.

Thank you I'll check it out.

I've heard that now from several people but haven't had a window to do due diligence. Will definitely do so and act accordingly.

The essay is free to read.

Yes, that the story coming at a time of AI makes it remiss not to mention it. But the piece is in no way a creative work, it's an analytical essay that had some points which many who are concerned about AI have been trying to get across for some time. Which was ultimately why it was included.