Please Support Post Peak Fiction Magazine

Post Peak Fiction Magazine is exactly what the title says it is:  a fiction magazine dedicated to publishing short stories set in a post-peak/deindustrialized future.

the plan is to raise $12,500 which should cover the costs for a first year run of a 64 page quarterly magazine.  Here's the kickstarter link if you are interested in pledging any money.  It runs till August 2nd...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1857368911/post-peak-fiction-magazine

thanks for checking in at the flyingcardealer, and have a great day.

recommended reading

Of all the books I’ve read over the years, these are the ones that have withstood my own subjective test of time and, in most cases, find themselves either dog eared, highlighted, underlined, or a combination of all three and show any other signs of overuse.

Anyways, this is my bookshelf hall of fame, divided into categories.  If you have an interest in any of the categories but haven’t read or even heard of a particular title, by all means, search it out.  If I’m taking the time to recommend it, I obviously think it’s worth the effort.  So here they are, in no particular categorical order…

Exercise and Fitness

Brother Iron Sister Steel by Dave Draper

Actually, if I were to recommend only one book on weight training, this would be it.  Dave Draper is from the old school of bodybuilding, back in the Muscle Beach heydays of the sixties when bodybuilders were looked on as little more than freaks in a circus sideshow and bodybuilding—and weight training in general—was largely frowned upon even by coaches and athletes.  The book is, like so many books by bodybuilders, one part biography and one part training and diet advice.  What sets this book apart from the pack is not only has his advice (on training in particular) been beneficial to me, but I also think Mr. Draper is a talented writer.  His prose style is rather poetic, and makes for what I imagine would be enjoyable reading even for someone who might have only a slight interest in the topic.

  Power to the People!: Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American by Pavel Tsatsouline

A no non-sense “nuts and bolts” approach to strength training.  His explanations and descriptions for some of the more scientific and kinesthetic principles are, for the most part, easy to understand and accompanied by helpful illustrations and diagrams.  I’ve put most of them to the test and with good results.  However, I’ve also tried his “How to Become a Bear” routine for hardgainers.  I’ll just say, when it comes to routines, I’ll stick with the advice offered by Draper (Though even that’s been modified over the years.  It’s all about self-discovery and finding what works for you.  But I’m getting carried away.  That’s a whole other post J…) Still, his strength training principles and their explanations are great.

Power Eating by Dr. Susan M. Kleiner

Forget a lot of what you read in all the Muscle and Fiction magazines.  This is good, rock solid nutrition advice and diet planning from someone who knows her stuff.

Gardening

Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway

This was the text used at a permaculture seminar I attended a couple of years back.  I’m not sure it’s even possible to find a list of recommended books on permaculture and/or sustainability that doesn’t list this title (and usually right near the top), and for good reason.  Check it out.

Peak Oil

Reinventing Collapse by Dmitri Orlov

An articulate (and often times cynical) explanation for why and how the United States will, sooner than later, socially and economically collapse.  He uses the collapse of the Soviet Union not only as a model for what we can expect, but also to show us how, in many ways, we are less prepared; let's just say our being a little spoiled has something to do with it.  It's also a great glimpse of the American lifestyle through the eyes of someone who grew up behind the iron curtain, a chance to see ourselves through a totally different set of eyes.

The Long Emergency by James Howard Kunstler

Probably the best book on peak oil out there.  Very readable and frightening.  Then again, maybe that's a reason not to read it:  once you've read this book, it's hard not to constantly think about doom and gloom scenarios.  But yes, you should read it.  It is a wake up call.

Good enough for now.  This is a page I’m sure I’ll be updating frequently, and sorry if any of my recommendations seem a little lacking in terms of what all’s in inside, etc.  I don’t mean for this page to be a review.  I’ll be posting entries on each of the topics—in general terms and more specified as well—later on down the road and I’ll quote from these books and paraphrase parts of them quite a bit I’m sure.

For now, if you’re interested in any of the above topics, the books recommended are worth searching out.