Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Death of a Lesser God
The background to the story is the difficult period of Indian history after partition which Vaseem Khan has thoroughly researched. The difficult role of a female police officer in a patriarchal organisation is highlighted.
The story is compelling.
Vaseem Khan has an amazing ability as a storyteller and highly original use of similes and metaphors. "The dog was as wet and unhappy as a goldfish in a toilet bowl."
Although it is a crime story it is still a joy to read.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Top review on Amazon:
Top review on Amazon:
(This is a review of the short story, "In the Mirror of Eternity")
Short stories about time travel, with the associated paradoxes, have been among the classics of SF since the 1950s: think of Ray Bradbury’s "A Sound of Thunder", Poul Anderson’s "Delenda Est", or Robert Heinlein’s "All You Zombies". Sixty-odd years on, finding an original angle on the time travel short story can’t be easy. Derek McMillan has however managed it in his brief but excellent "In the Mirror of Eternity".
Instead of the actions of time travellers creating problems for history, as is usually the case, here just observing the past is the problem. Schroedinger’s cat and the multiverse provide a scientific underpinning. An irony of the story is that both the narrator and the time machine’s inventor, the louche Xavier, remain totally unaware of what is happening as their own history too changes: indeed, Xavier reassures the narrator more than once that merely observing the past can have no consequential effects.
The narrator’s (and, one suspects, McMillan’s) interest in early twentieth-century politics provides the alternative history background, with history changing at almost dizzying speed towards the end.
The originality of the conception demands further development, and McMillan has provided this in four sequels.
Short stories about time travel, with the associated paradoxes, have been among the classics of SF since the 1950s: think of Ray Bradbury’s "A Sound of Thunder", Poul Anderson’s "Delenda Est", or Robert Heinlein’s "All You Zombies". Sixty-odd years on, finding an original angle on the time travel short story can’t be easy. Derek McMillan has however managed it in his brief but excellent "In the Mirror of Eternity".
Instead of the actions of time travellers creating problems for history, as is usually the case, here just observing the past is the problem. Schroedinger’s cat and the multiverse provide a scientific underpinning. An irony of the story is that both the narrator and the time machine’s inventor, the louche Xavier, remain totally unaware of what is happening as their own history too changes: indeed, Xavier reassures the narrator more than once that merely observing the past can have no consequential effects.
The narrator’s (and, one suspects, McMillan’s) interest in early twentieth-century politics provides the alternative history background, with history changing at almost dizzying speed towards the end.
The originality of the conception demands further development, and McMillan has provided this in four sequels.
Friday, October 20, 2023
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Sunday, September 24, 2023
The Manfreds
The Manfreds at the Worthing Assembly Halls was a trip down memory lane. Who knew how many great hits they were responsible for?
And who knew people who made me feel young could still perform on stage with so much vigour?
A great experience all round.
Saturday, September 02, 2023
General Knowledge Quiz 45 answers
General Knowledge Quiz 45
Please try the questions before looking at
the answers
1) Amanda Holden has been a judge in which reality show since the first series?
a) Strictly come dancing b) The X Factor c) Britain's
Got Talent
2) Thomas Savery developed the first commercial pumping device powered by what?
a) solar power b) steam
c) electricity
3) Who was Marc Anthony's love interest?
a) Julius Caesar b)
Cleopatra c)
Calpurnia
4) Which ballet features gingerbread men soldiers?
a) The
Nutcracker b) Romeo and
Juliet c) Swan Lake
5) What name is given to the area under a church?
a) churchyard b)
glebe c) crypt
6) If you are born on 22nd January, your star sign is
a) Aquarius
b) Pisces c) Aries
7) Ben Price played which character in Coronation Street?
a) Todd
Grimshaw b) Nick Tilsley c)
Damon Hay
8) Jonathan Edwards was the first triple jumper to achieve which distance?
a) 16 metres b) 18 metres
c) 20 metres
9) Anakin Skywalker became which villain?
a) Darth Vader
b) Boba Fett c) Emperor Palpatine
10) What tribe sacked Rome in 410 AD?
a) Hun b) Visigoths
c) Gauls
11) What type of film is High Noon (which starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly)?
a) Romance b) Sci Fi c) Western
12) Which Old Testment recalls Sarah's pregnancy with Isaac?
a)
Genesis b) Exodus
c) Leviticus
13) Who votes for the winners of the Man of Steel Award?
a) the public
b) the Amateur Athletics Association c) Fellow players
14) What could Jack Sprat's wife not eat?
a) fat b) lean
c) chocolate
15) Which group released "Emotional Rescue"?
a) Paw Patrol b)
The Stones c) The
Beatles
16) Lancia vehicles are manufactured in?
a) Germany b) France c) Italy
17) Where is Worksop?
a) North Yorkshire b) South Yorkshire c)
Nottinghamshire
18) The Roman numerals CD are equal to?
a) 300 b) 400
c) 500
19) Rattan furniture is made from a plant native to?
a) Africa b) Asia
c) South America
20) What name is given to the person in charge of exhibits at a gallery?
a) curator
b) surveyor c) owner
General Knowledge Quiz 45
General Knowledge Quiz 45
1) Amanda Holden has been a judge in which reality show since the first series?
a) Strictly come dancing b) The X Factor c) Britain's Got Talent
2) Thomas Savery developed the first commercial pumping device powered by what?
a) solar power b) steam c) electricity
3) Who was Marc Anthony's love interest?
a) Julius Caesar b) Cleopatra c) Calpurnia
4) Which ballet features gingerbread men soldiers?
a) The Nutcracker b) Romeo and Juliet c) Swan Lake
5) What name is given to the area under a church.
a) churchyard b) glebe c) crypt
6) If you are born on 22nd January, your star sign is
a) aquarius b) pisces c) aries
7) Ben Price played which character in Coronation Street?
a) Todd Grimshaw b) Nick Tilsley c) Damon Hay
8) Jonathan Edwards was the first triple jumper to achieve which distance?
a) 16 metres b) 18 metres c) 20 metres
9) Anakin Skywalker became which villain?
a) Darth Vader b) Boba Fett c) Emperor Palpatine
10) What tribe sacked Rome in 410 AD
a) Hun b) Visigoths c) Gauls
11) What type of film is High Noon (which starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly)?
a) Romance b) Sci Fi c) Western
12) Which Old Testment recalls Sarah's pregnancy with Isaac?
a) Genesis b) Exodus c) Leviticus
13) Who votes for the winners of the Man of Steel Award?
a) the public b) the Amateur Athletics Association c) Fellow players
14) What could Jack Sprat's wife not eat?
a) fat b) lean c) chocolate
15) Which group released "Emotional Rescue"
a) Paw Patrol b) The Stones c) The Beatles
16) Lancia vehicles are manufactured in
a) Germany b) France c) Italy
17) Where is Worksop?
a) North Yorkshire b) South Yorkshire c) Nottinghamshire
18) The Roman numerals CD are equal to
a) 300 b) 400 c) 500
19) Rattan furniture is made from a plant native to
a) Africa b) Asia c) South America
20) What name is given to the person in charge of exhibits at a gallery?
a) curator b) surveyor c) owner
Saturday, August 26, 2023
General Knowledge Quiz 43 answers
Please try the questions first. It is more fun that way!
1) What was the hotel in the 2014 film starring Raiph Fiennes?
a) The
Grand Budapest b) The Grand
Baghdad c) The Grand Bombay
2) What is the occupation of someone who collects and maintains historical records?
a) historian b) historicist c) archivist
3) Which desert is the largest in square miles?
a) Sahara
b) Gobi c) Kalahari
4) Who has to blow his horn?
a) Acker Bilk b) Little Boy
Blue c) Humphrey Littleton
5) In which decade was the film "Brassed Off" released?
a)
1970s b) 1980s c) 1990s
6) Bradford is on the edge of
a) pennines
b) mendips c) cheviots
7) Which 1980s sitcom had the characters William and Hester Fields?
a)
The Fields of Yorkshire b) Fresh fields
c) Head for the Hills
8) Which catch-phrase is associated with Paul Daniels?
a) You
will like this, not a lot b)
they don't like it up 'em c) I 'ate you Butler
9) Which catch-phrase is associated with Corporal Jones?
a) You will
like this, not a lot b) they don't like it up 'em
c) I 'ate you Butler
10) Which catch-phrase is associated with Blakey from "On the Buses"?
a) You will like this, not a lot b) they don't like
it up 'em c) I 'ate you Butler
11) From which language do we get the term "contretemps"
a)
French b) Latin c)
Italian
12) What is the name of the fort in Camberwick Green?
a) Pippin
Fort b) Fort Worth c) Fort
Knox
13) In which decade was Alfed Hitchcock's Spellbound released?
a) 1930s b) 1940s c)
1950s (=1945)
14) What is the maximum number of players in a game of croquet?
a) two
b) three c) four
15) In which county is Bromsgrove?
a) Kent b) Surrey c) Worcestershire
16) What was never won by a faint heart?
a) a battle b) a
fair lady c) a game of chess
17) Here we go round the mulbery WHAT?
a) bush b)
flower c) pub
18) Who led the Carthaginian expedition against Rome?
a) Hannibal
b) Lector c) Scipio
19) On a standard keyboard which key is immediately to the left of D?
a)
A b) S c)F
20) Which sauce is traditionally served with roast pork?
a) mint b)
apple c) pineapple
General Knowledge Quiz 43
General Knowledge Quiz 43
1) What was the hotel in the 2014 film starring Raiph Fiennes?
a) The Grand Budapest b) The Grand Baghdad c) The Grand Bombay
2) What is the occupation of someone who collects and maintains historical records?
a) historian b) historicist c) archivist
3) Which desert is the largest in square miles?
a) Sahara b) Gobi c) Kalahari
4) Who has to blow his horn?
a) Acker Bilk b) Little Boy Blue c) Humphrey Littleton
5) In which decade was the film "Brassed Off" released?
a) 1970s b) 1980s c) 1990s
6) Bradford is on the edge of
a) pennines b) mendips c) cheviots
7) Which 1980s sitcom had the characters William and Hester Fields?
a) The Fields of Yorkshire b) Fresh fields c) Head for the Hills
8) Which catch-phrase is associated with Paul Daniels?
a) You will like this, not a lot b) they don't like it up 'em c) I 'ate you Butler
9) Which catch-phrase is associated with Corporal Jones?
a) You will like this, not a lot b) they don't like it up 'em c) I 'ate you Butler
10) Which catch-phrase is associated with Blakey from "On the Buses"?
a) You will like this, not a lot b) they don't like it up 'em c) I 'ate you Butler
11) From which language do we get the term "contretemps"
a) French b) Latin c) Italian
12) What is the name of the fort in Camberwick Green
a) Pippin Fort b) Fort Worth c) Fort Knox
13) In which decade was Alfed Hitchcock's Spellbound released?
a) 1930s b) 1940s c) 1950s (=1945)
14) What is the maximum number of players in a game of croquet?
a) two b) three c) four
15) In which county is Bromsgrove?
a) Kent b) Surrey c) Worcestershire
16) What was never won by a faint heart?
a) a battle b) a fair lady c) a game of chess
17) Here we go round the mulbery WHAT?
a) bush b) flower c) pub
18) Who led the Carthaginian expedition against Rome?
a) Hannibal b) Lector c) Scipio
19) On a standard keyboard which key is immediately to the left of D?
a) A b) S c)F
20) Which sauce is traditionally served with roast pork?
a) mint b) apple c) pineapple
Friday, August 25, 2023
General Knowledge Quiz 44 answers
General Knowledge Quiz 44
Please try the questions before looking at
the answers
1) Amanda Holden has been a judge in which reality show since the first series?
a) Strictly come dancing b) The X Factor c) Britain's
Got Talent
2) Thomas Savery developed the first commercial pumping device powered by what?
a) solar power b) steam
c) electricity
3) Who was Marc Anthony's love interest?
a) Julius Caesar b)
Cleopatra c)
Calpurnia
4) Which ballet features gingerbread men soldiers?
a) The
Nutcracker b) Romeo and
Juliet c) Swan Lake
5) What name is given to the area under a church?
a) churchyard b)
glebe c) crypt
6) If you are born on 22nd January, your star sign is...
a) aquarius
b) pisces c) aries
7) Ben Price played which character in Coronation Street?
a) Todd
Grimshaw b) Nick Tilsley c)
Damon Hay
8) Jonathan Edwards was the first triple jumper to achieve which distance?
a) 16 metres b) 18 metres
c) 20 metres
9) Anakin Skywalker became which villain?
a) Darth Vader b) Boba
Fett c) Emperor Palpatine
10) What tribe sacked Rome in 410 AD?
a) Hun b) Visigoths
c) Gauls
11) What type of film is High Noon (which starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly)?
a) Romance b) Sci Fi c) Western
12) Which Old Testment recalls Sarah's pregnancy with Isaac?
a)
Genesis b) Exodus
c) Leviticus
13) Who votes for the winners of the Man of Steel Award?
a) the public
b) the Amateur Athletics Association c) Fello
w players
14) What could Jack Sprat's wife not eat?
a) fat b) lean
c) chocolate
15) Which group released "Emotional Rescue"
a) Paw Patrol b)
The Stones c) The
Beatles
16) Lancia vehicles are manufactured in
a) Germany b) France c) Italy
17) Where is Worksop?
a) North Yorkshire b) South Yorkshire c)
Nottinghamshire
18) The Roman numerals CD are equal to
a) 300 b) 400
c) 500
19) Rattan furniture is made from a plant native to
a) Africa b) Asia
c) South America
20) What name is given to the person in charge of exhibits at a gallery?
a) curator
b) surveyor c) owner
Available on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evil-Quizmaster-Mr-Derek-McMillan/dp/B0BSMCP1FX
General Knowledge Quiz 44
General Knowledge Quiz 44
1) Amanda Holden has been a judge in which reality show since the first series?
a) Strictly come dancing b) The X Factor c)
Britain's Got Talent
2) Thomas Savery developed the first commercial pumping device powered by what?
a) solar power b) steam c) electricity
3) Who was Marc Anthony's love interest?
a) Julius Caesar b)
Cleopatra c) Calpurnia
4) Which ballet features gingerbread men soldiers?
a) The
Nutcracker b) Romeo and Juliet c) Swan Lake
5) What name is given to the area under a church
a) churchyard b)
glebe c) crypt
6) If you are born on 22nd January, your star sign is
a) aquarius b) pisces c) aries
7) Ben Price played which character in Coronation Street?
a) Todd Grimshaw b) Nick Tilsley c) Damon Hay
8) Jonathan Edwards was the first triple jumper to achieve which
distance?
a) 16 metres b) 18 metres c) 20 metres
9) Anakin Skywalker became which villain?
a) Darth Vader b) Boba Fett c) Emperor Palpatine
10) What tribe sacked Rome in 410 AD
a) Hun b) Visigoths c) Gauls
11) What type of film is High Noon (which starred Gary Cooper and
Grace Kelly)?
a) Romance b) Sci Fi c) Western
12) Which Old Testment recalls Sarah's pregnancy with Isaac?
a) Genesis b) Exodus c) Leviticus
13) Who votes for the winners of the Man of Steel Award?
a) the public b) the Amateur Athletics Association c) Fellow players
14) What could Jack Sprat's wife not eat?
a) fat b) lean c) chocolate
15) Which group released "Emotional Rescue"
a) Paw Patrol b) The Stones c) The Beatles
16) Lancia vehicles are manufactured in
a) Germany b) France c) Italy
17) Where is Worksop?
a) North Yorkshire b) South Yorkshire c) Nottinghamshire
18) The Roman numerals CD are equal to
a) 300 b) 400 c) 500
19) Rattan furniture is made from a plant native to
a) Africa b) Asia c) South America
20) What name is given to the person in charge of exhibits at a
gallery?
a) curator b) surveyor c) owner
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Hospital Stories
#Worthingflash is a project to promote flash fiction. In addition to Worthing, it has attracted writers from every continent. There have been 100 writers so far, over 63,000 people have visited the blog http://worthingflash.blogspot.com and there is a wide range of topics and genres.
You can write about anything you like but for those who like prompts, here is a suggestion.
At a certain age, we have all had some time in hospital. You may have a true story. For example, I was in a bed opposite a patient who got up every morning, got dressed and said his family was coming to collect him. In due course, his long-suffering family arrived. They pointed out he had a resting pulse of 150 and he was suffering inter alia from gangrene. They then had the daily task of dissuading him from going home.
Alternatively, it could be a fantasy about a nurse called Eustace who falls madly in love with you. He turns out somewhat disappointingly to be a drug dealer with unfortunate personal habits.
The only rule is that entries have to be under 1000 words. Indeed you could try your hand at a six-word story if you like!
Stories should be sent to worthingflash@gmail.com and all are read and considered.
Friday, July 21, 2023
Illegal Migration Bill
A key feature of government policy is to deport migrants to Rwanda. Racists in the UK are expected to applaud this and vote Tory.
Rwanda, according to Human Rights Watch, used arbitrary detention and torture. What must appeal to Suella Braverman is that they also arrest any opposition leaders.
Several people with whom the Africa Justice Foundation charity worked are now key members of President Paul Kagame’s government and are involved in the UK’s £140m deal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Suella Braverman was a founder member of this charity.
How anybody can reject the Devil and all his works and vote Tory is a mystery.
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Traffic Lights
However their failure to do this could have two beneficial consequences.
1) people could stop buying those products.
2) people could start doing the Maths for themselves.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
The Postscript Murders
This is a first-class whodunnit. It also gives an insight into the world of the crime writer. Although it is serious, in places it is laugh-out-loud funny as well. For example, Harbinder decides the way to cope with her colleague is to think of him as a small woodland creature. This works very well.
The book actually uses the word "cosy" for a type of fiction. This term could be applied to Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and now Elly Griffiths. It simply means there is no explicit sex and violence. There is also a lack of profane language. This is all very welcome. If people want that sort of thing, they can go elsewhere!
I wonder how many readers downloaded Panda Pop after reading this story. :)
The book actually uses the word "cosy" for a type of fiction. This term could be applied to Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and now Elly Griffiths. It simply means there is no explicit sex and violence. There is also a lack of profane language. This is all very welcome. If people want that sort of thing, they can go elsewhere!
I wonder how many readers downloaded Panda Pop after reading this story. :)
Saturday, July 08, 2023
Consultation on Ticket Offices
On numerous occasions the ticket machines have failed and only the ticket office has been able to help.
Southern Rail does not provide a good service but to deliberately make it worse is absurd.
They seem to be only concerned with making their shareholders filthy rich.
To make your views known contact
It is worth writing to your MP even if they are a useless Tory bastard. They must not be allowed to say there is no opposition to this move.
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Expensive royals
The BBC cannot stop lying.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653
This article about the cost of the royal family is good but it grossly underestimates the cost of the Coronation which is closer to 250 million when the security operation (which involved rounding up non-violent Republic protestors - a brutal piece of policing for which even the Met apologised) is included.
There is no figure for the benefits of the royals to Tourism but this is in any case a pathetic argument. Many countries which do not have monarchies have far better tourism than the UK so the royals are arguably a cost to the tourist industry.
If people want to drool over Buckingham Palace then they can still do so when Charles and his cronies are consigned to the trash can of history.
Thursday, June 22, 2023
Flash Fiction
My friend Ecosia (a search engine without the baggage of Google) is of the opinion that I have written a lot of flash fiction. Here are a few examples:
https://www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-stories/humility-by-derek-mcmillan
https://www.reflexfiction.com/albert-flash-fiction-by-derek-mcmillan/
https://sixquestionsfor.blogspot.com/2019/02/worthing-flash.html
https://drablr.com/derekmcmillan
https://www.sledgehammerlit.com/post/dave-s-contraption-by-derek-mcmillan
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