On Labor Day I wrote my Magazine Monday column, all 851 words of it. I took Tuesday off, but yesterday I wrote a review of 635 words. On average, I'm doing okay.

I've started reading Jim Butcher's Storm Front, the first of his Dresden Files novels. It reads very much like a first novel -- the seams are showing, so to speak -- but I gather that Butcher grows in skill and complexity as the series moves on, so I'll stick with it. Actually, that sounds harsher than I mean it to -- it's good enough that I'd stick with it regardless. I enjoy the first person voice of Harry Dresden, and I love noirish detective novels, especially when they're fantasy noirish detective novels. My, things really do get mashed up these days, don't they?

I've also started the September/October 2011 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. It's a double issue of more than 250 pages, but I'm still hoping to finish it up in time for next week's Magazine Monday column.

In other news, I'm hoarse today from yelling at my television during the debate of the Republican candidates last night. Some of the yelling was even at the audience, who cheered at the news that Rick Perry has killed nearly 250 inmates. Do they not know that that group includes at least one person who was clearly innocent? Or do they not care? Argh. Don't get me started on politics, or you'll be sorry!