James D. Macdonald
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James D. Macdonald (1954- ) is an American critic and author working in multiple related genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Many of his stories are co-written with his wife, Dr. Debra Doyle.
He is proud of his involvement in science fiction fandom and for his work in attempting to educate newer writers, including as a moderator of electronic discussion groups starting with GEnie in the early 1990s and progressing eventually to Internet boards as these became more popular. In this capacity, he is perhaps best known under the pseudonym Yog Sysop and as Uncle Jim on the Absolute Write forums. James D. Macdonald offers advice on science fiction and writing.
James D. Macdonald is the critical voice behind Red Mike's Reviews. Together Uncle Jim and Dr. Doyle make up part of the core membership of the sff.net website and rec.arts.sff newsgroup, which includes other longstanding notables in the science fiction field such as David Langford.
His adage, Yog's Law ("money should flow toward the author"), is something he hopes will be quoted by writers as a way of warning novices about scams that the unwary writer seeking publication may fall into.
In 2004 he organised the writing of a collaborative hoax novel, Atlanta Nights, in order to expose alleged vanity press PublishAmerica's lack of editorial standards.
He is also a frequent contributor to his long-time friend, sff.net and rasff newgroup associate, Teresa Nielsen Hayden's weblog, Making Light.
[edit] External links
- Official web site
- Official forum at IBDoF
- James D. MacDonald at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Learn Writing with Uncle Jim (a long running thread at Absolute Write in which Mr. Macdonald offers advice to writers)
- Red Mike's Reviews
- Bewares and Background Check Board on Absolute Write.
