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Very pleased to announce that my story "Rust" (originally published in the September/October 2025 issue of Analog) will be reprinted in the 2026 edition of anthology "Think Weirder: The Year's Best Science Fiction Ideas" edited by Joe Stech.
My Worldcon Schedule
Aug. 1st, 2026 04:33 pmI'll be appearing on the following program items at the Los Angeles Worldcon, LACon V, Aug 27-31! Full program: https://guide.lacon.org/
Oops! Fails in SF Science - Thu 8/27 3:00 PM
Table Talk - David D. Levine - Fri 8/28 1:30 PM
Um, Actually...The Game Show - Fri 8/28 3:00 PM
Nineteenth Century Medicine - Sat 8/29 10:30 AM
The Mature Main Character - Sat 8/29 12:00 PM
Ig Nobel Dramatic Readings - Sat 8/29 7:30 PM
Autographing: David D. Levine - Sun 8/30 12:00 PM
Place as Character - Mon 8/31 10:30 AM
Reading: David D. Levine - Mon 8/31 2:10 PM
Portland Pride Play Festival
Jul. 10th, 2026 03:25 pmPortland friends! This weekend (7/10-12) is the 2nd Annual Portland Pride Play Festival of queer theatre at the Back Door Theater on Hawthorne! I'll be performing in Queerly Departed at 7pm Friday and Nothing is Nothing is Nothing at 3pm Sunday! Pay what you will! https://thirdeyetheatre.com/
I will be participating in the Nebula Finalists and VIP Guest Autographing at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare Hotel & Conference Center in Rosemont, IL, on Friday, June 5 from 8 PM to 10 PM. It's free and open to the public!
"Join us for a terrific opportunity to mingle and get to know some of the brightest lights in our 'Nebula' this year and interact with exciting voices in science fiction and fantasy storytelling. Meet Grand Master N. K. Jemisin, Toastmaster Tananarive Due, 27th SFWA Grand Master Joe Haldeman, VIP Steven Barnes, and acclaimed finalists, including Annalee Newitz, Jordan Kurella, J. R. Dawson, P. A. Cornell, Michelle Knudsen, Jubilee Cho (represented by E.D.E. Bell), Daryl Gregory, Amy Chu, Jonathan Brazee, Jessica Maison, K. A. Mielke, Wen-Yi Lee, Somto Ihezue, and Jennifer Hudak.
"Past SFWA Board Presidents Michael Capobianco, Cat Rambo, and Mary Robinette Kowal; board members Curtis C. Chen, Steven Brewer, and Anthony Eichenlaub, and authors Alex Kingsley, David D. Levine, Melinda Welton-Mitchell, Sarah Zachrich Jeng, William Ledbetter, Gabrielle Kirouac Byrne, Helene Wecker, Tamika Thompson, Beth Cato, Keith Ammann, RM Briggs, Meg Turville-Heitz, Rebecca M. Zornow, Dave Creek, Brian U. Garrison, Richard H Moon, Clif Flynt, Steven H Silver, Suzanne Hagelin, and Richard Chwedyk who will also be signing their titles.
"RSVP today to be added to a giveaway draw, too – so tell all your friends in Chicago and vicinity to bring their books for signing! (Limit 3 books per author.)
"Books will be available for purchase from Women & Children First."
"Join us for a terrific opportunity to mingle and get to know some of the brightest lights in our 'Nebula' this year and interact with exciting voices in science fiction and fantasy storytelling. Meet Grand Master N. K. Jemisin, Toastmaster Tananarive Due, 27th SFWA Grand Master Joe Haldeman, VIP Steven Barnes, and acclaimed finalists, including Annalee Newitz, Jordan Kurella, J. R. Dawson, P. A. Cornell, Michelle Knudsen, Jubilee Cho (represented by E.D.E. Bell), Daryl Gregory, Amy Chu, Jonathan Brazee, Jessica Maison, K. A. Mielke, Wen-Yi Lee, Somto Ihezue, and Jennifer Hudak.
"Past SFWA Board Presidents Michael Capobianco, Cat Rambo, and Mary Robinette Kowal; board members Curtis C. Chen, Steven Brewer, and Anthony Eichenlaub, and authors Alex Kingsley, David D. Levine, Melinda Welton-Mitchell, Sarah Zachrich Jeng, William Ledbetter, Gabrielle Kirouac Byrne, Helene Wecker, Tamika Thompson, Beth Cato, Keith Ammann, RM Briggs, Meg Turville-Heitz, Rebecca M. Zornow, Dave Creek, Brian U. Garrison, Richard H Moon, Clif Flynt, Steven H Silver, Suzanne Hagelin, and Richard Chwedyk who will also be signing their titles.
"RSVP today to be added to a giveaway draw, too – so tell all your friends in Chicago and vicinity to bring their books for signing! (Limit 3 books per author.)
"Books will be available for purchase from Women & Children First."
How To Write the Future podcast
Apr. 28th, 2026 02:48 pmFun interview with Beth Barany on the How To Write the Future podcast! https://writersfunzone.com/blog/2026/04/27/read-write-repeat-with-david-d-levine/
Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop
Mar. 16th, 2026 09:23 pmThe one-week Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop helps writers and other creators learn about space science. It's fabulous and it's FREE! Applications are open now for the workshop in July. https://www.launchpadworkshop.org/
As you may now if you've been following me for some time, I'm a big fan of European-style Live Action Role Playing (LARP). One LARP I was really excited about back in 2024 was called Odysseus. Inspired by Battlestar Galactica (and other SF TV shows and movies), the game was played in Finland on an incredibly detailed and interactive spaceship set, and had a lot of hype after its successful 2019 run. So much hype, in fact, that the two 2024 runs were massively oversubscribed, and I was very disappointed not to get a ticket in the lottery.
But now Odysseus is back, in an exciting new form. The organizers, realizing that the massive volunteer effort and cost to create and then disassemble the spaceship set were unsustainable, have decided to crowdfund ten more runs of the game in 2026-2027. If the campaign succeeds -- which depends on them selling out all ten runs -- they'll have nearly a million dollars to play with, and will be able to set up a permanent spaceship set and pay the staff to run it. That'll give people choices about when to attend, create the possibility of runs in Finnish and Swedish (and maybe more!), and provide a facility that can be used for corporate events, educational events, and new and different science fiction LARPs. If the 2026-2027 runs demonstrate that this can be run as a sustainable business, it might go even longer than that.
But none of this will happen unless the crowdfunding campaign succeeds. I've backed it, pledging for 3 tickets for myself and my partners plus an additional pledge to increase the campaign's chances of success. I encourage you to check it out, and pledge if you can. I think I can guarantee that if you attend this LARP you will have a fabulous time.
Back the campaign here: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/ellarion-tales/odysseus-first-light
But now Odysseus is back, in an exciting new form. The organizers, realizing that the massive volunteer effort and cost to create and then disassemble the spaceship set were unsustainable, have decided to crowdfund ten more runs of the game in 2026-2027. If the campaign succeeds -- which depends on them selling out all ten runs -- they'll have nearly a million dollars to play with, and will be able to set up a permanent spaceship set and pay the staff to run it. That'll give people choices about when to attend, create the possibility of runs in Finnish and Swedish (and maybe more!), and provide a facility that can be used for corporate events, educational events, and new and different science fiction LARPs. If the 2026-2027 runs demonstrate that this can be run as a sustainable business, it might go even longer than that.
But none of this will happen unless the crowdfunding campaign succeeds. I've backed it, pledging for 3 tickets for myself and my partners plus an additional pledge to increase the campaign's chances of success. I encourage you to check it out, and pledge if you can. I think I can guarantee that if you attend this LARP you will have a fabulous time.
Back the campaign here: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/ellarion-tales/odysseus-first-light
At the beginning of December I participated in a LARP called Heirs of the Dragon. This LARP, inspired by George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire novels, was set at the Great Council of 101AC, 180 years before the events of the main book series and 30 years before the Dance of the Dragons. The LARP took place in its own timeline, such that the events of the LARP did not necessarily have to be consistent with those of any book or TV show set at a later time.
This was an "international blockbuster LARP," meaning that it had a large cast (130 players), a highly detailed and immersive setting (the marvelous Czocha Castle in Poland, which dates to the 13th century and has hosted many a LARP), magnificent costumes (provided by the players), and prewritten characters. It's one of the best LARPs I have played, although I did have a few issues, most of which I would ascribe to myself as a player.
This report will include SPOILERS for the game. Be warned!
( Read more... )
This was an "international blockbuster LARP," meaning that it had a large cast (130 players), a highly detailed and immersive setting (the marvelous Czocha Castle in Poland, which dates to the 13th century and has hosted many a LARP), magnificent costumes (provided by the players), and prewritten characters. It's one of the best LARPs I have played, although I did have a few issues, most of which I would ascribe to myself as a player.
This report will include SPOILERS for the game. Be warned!
( Read more... )
Credit to Charmed Plume and Wonderlarp for the LARP and Rekografia for the photos.
David's Index for 2025
Dec. 31st, 2025 09:48 amNovel words written: 32,000 (exactly!)
Short fiction words written: 599
Notes, outline, and synopsis words written: 47,757
Blog words written: 10,769
Total words written: 91,125
New stories written: 1
Short fiction submissions sent: 6
Responses received: 7
Rejections: 5
Acceptances: 2 (pro)
Short stories published: 2 (1 pro, 1 translation)
Novel submissions: 2
Rejections: 1
Awaiting response: 1
Agent submissions: 11
Rejections: 4
Non-responses: 6
Acceptances: 1
New agents signed: 1
LARPs attended: 4
Happy new year!
David Levine 2025 awards eligibility
Dec. 30th, 2025 02:38 pmAnd so we come to the end of another year, and the traditional "here's what I published this year and is eligible for SFF awards" post. This year I published just one short story, "Rust," in the September/October Analog. Here's what A.C. Wise at Locus had to say about it:
"Rust" by David D. Levine is narrated by a genetically enhanced chimp named Alpha, who is trapped with a group of other chimps in an abandoned, underwater research facility, where they were the subjects of secret, illegal study. After stumbling upon the group, a human salvager named Mercy works with the chimps to try to cover up the existence of the station, while also trying to cover up the accidental death of her partner. Despite the grim subject matter, the story is ultimately sweet, and has a strong voice.If you'd like to read it and are not an Analog subscriber, I'd be happy to send you a PDF. Just email me and request a copy.
Mini-Play-a-Thon, January 3
Dec. 20th, 2025 10:45 amI will be appearing in a short play as part of this "Mini-Play-a-Thon" at the Echo Theatre in Portland on Saturday January 3, 4-6 PM!
Tickets are $10 regular, $15 VIP: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/start-fresh-festival-mini-play-a-thon-2
Tickets are $10 regular, $15 VIP: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/start-fresh-festival-mini-play-a-thon-2
Thrilled to announce that I will be presenting a personal story (think "The Moth"), along with five other storytellers, at "Off the Rails: An Evening of Third Rail Storytelling" on Tuesday November 11 at CoHo Theatre in NW Portland. Buy tickets here: https://third-rail-rep.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/?acode=98d50fb4c33a811df1fa763ed72f3cfd&#/instances/a0FUv000002IzS5MAK
My OryCon schedule
Oct. 16th, 2025 04:40 pmThis coming weekend is OryCon 45, the very last OryCon! Come say goodbye to my hometown convention! You can find me on the following program items:
- Fri Oct 17, 2025, 6:00 PM, Washington Room
Genre Hybrids
Stories that incorporate core concepts and elements of more than one traditional genre offer something particularly satisfying. What does or doesn’t work? A discussion of genre hybrids with writers who create them with recommendations. - Fri Oct 17, 2025, 8:00 PM, Lincoln Room
Choose Your Seat
When you settle down to watch a movie are you in a theater or snuggled on the couch streaming? We'll discuss preferences and the pros and cons of both. - Sat Oct 18, 2025, 2:00 PM, Gather Side Room
David Levine Kaffeeklatch
Come spend time with David Levine in an intimate setting. - Sat Oct 18, 2025, 3:00 PM, Madison Room
The Evolution of Technology in Science Fiction
Most early science fiction was action-oriented and centered around robots, spaceships and computers in futuristic societies. Nowadays there's far more to the genre than that. How has SF changed since the heyday of Asimov et al, for better and for worse? - Sat Oct 18, 2025, 7:00 PM, Oregon Room
David Levine reading
Reading and Q&A with David Levine - Sun Oct 19, 2025, 11:00 AM, Halsey Room, Table 1
David Levine Autographs - Sun Oct 19, 2025, 4:00 PM, Powell's Books at Cedar Hills, 3415
SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton, OR 97005
Powell's AuthorFest
I'll be signing my books, along with 18 other Pacific Northwest SF writers!
You may have heard about the Anthropic AI piracy settlement, in which (some) authors whose work was downloaded and used without permission or compensation by Anthropic will receive a cash payment in compensation for (some of) their pirated works. You may not know that the list of pirated works includes not only novels but short story anthologies.
I have over sixty published short stories, many of which have been collected in anthologies. Fortunately I keep very good records. I have been able to identify 56 published anthologies that contain at least one story of mine. Of these 48 have ISBNs, and of those 14 have copyright registration numbers and are included in the Anthropic settlement database.
My understanding is that if I file claims on these anthologies I may eventually receive a share of the settlement on those titles. Assuming the settlement goes through as I understand it and that my claims are accepted, I may eventually receive roughly a hundred bucks for each story (assuming the settlement per title is about $3000, minus 25% for the lawyers, minus 50% of the remainder for the publisher, divided by the number of authors which I'm assuming for the sake of argument is about ten).
This is in addition to the claims I'm going to file on my two novels Arabella of Mars and Arabella the Traitor of Mars, which may eventually pay off about $3000 * 0.75 * 0.50 = $1125 each. (I think the publisher's 50% in this case will go to Open Road, the current publisher, rather than Tor, the original publisher, but there are still a lot of open questions here.)
Arabella and the Battle of Venus, the middle book of the Arabella trilogy, does NOT appear in the Anthropic settlement database, and I believe this is because Macmillan failed to register the copyright for that volume. However, according to Locus, Macmillan has issued a statement that "If your work was excluded from the settlement for this reason, we will make you whole by paying you what you otherwise would have been paid under the settlement." I've already sent an email to Macmillan inquiring as to next steps.
I have over sixty published short stories, many of which have been collected in anthologies. Fortunately I keep very good records. I have been able to identify 56 published anthologies that contain at least one story of mine. Of these 48 have ISBNs, and of those 14 have copyright registration numbers and are included in the Anthropic settlement database.
My understanding is that if I file claims on these anthologies I may eventually receive a share of the settlement on those titles. Assuming the settlement goes through as I understand it and that my claims are accepted, I may eventually receive roughly a hundred bucks for each story (assuming the settlement per title is about $3000, minus 25% for the lawyers, minus 50% of the remainder for the publisher, divided by the number of authors which I'm assuming for the sake of argument is about ten).
This is in addition to the claims I'm going to file on my two novels Arabella of Mars and Arabella the Traitor of Mars, which may eventually pay off about $3000 * 0.75 * 0.50 = $1125 each. (I think the publisher's 50% in this case will go to Open Road, the current publisher, rather than Tor, the original publisher, but there are still a lot of open questions here.)
Arabella and the Battle of Venus, the middle book of the Arabella trilogy, does NOT appear in the Anthropic settlement database, and I believe this is because Macmillan failed to register the copyright for that volume. However, according to Locus, Macmillan has issued a statement that "If your work was excluded from the settlement for this reason, we will make you whole by paying you what you otherwise would have been paid under the settlement." I've already sent an email to Macmillan inquiring as to next steps.
I'm just back from Poland, where I participated in a science fiction LARP called Eclipse. This was an "international blockbuster LARP," meaning that it had a fairly large cast (150 players), a highly detailed and immersive set (a futuristic dome complex near Krakow called Alvernia Planet), costumes (most of us wore standard jumpsuits, which we had the option to rent or buy, but many people accessorized or modified the standard jumpsuits to suit their characters and some brought their own costumes, which was okay as long as your outfit clearly indicated which division you were in by its color: brown for Soft Science, gray for Hard Science, and green for Explorers), and prewritten characters. It was an incredible experience which I have described as "like living in a science fiction movie" -- specifically a cross between Arrival and Interstellar.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
I am writing at the airport on the way home from Philadelphia, where I played in the Miskatonic University North America LARP organized by Chaos League in conjunction with Reverie Studio. This was a Live Action Role Play game loosely based on the stories of H.P. Lovecraft, which took place at Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts in 1924.
This report contains SPOILERS.
( Read more... )
This report contains SPOILERS.
( Read more... )
My Worldcon schedule
Jul. 23rd, 2025 01:10 pmHere's where you can find me at the Seattle Worldcon, August 13-17, 2025!
Improbable Research Dramatic Readings
Wed 1:30pm-2:30pm, Terrace Suite (4F)
The Ig Nobel Prizes—and Improbable Research more generally—celebrate "research that makes people LAUGH… then THINK." Put another way, it celebrates the fun of science. In this panel, we will have dramatic readings of scholarly research articles that are new to the people reading them. The audience will then get to ask these "experts" about the papers they have presented. Hilarity, and then thinking, will ensue.
Mikołaj Kowalewski (M), Geri Sullivan, Liz Zitzow, E.A., Mason A. Porter, David D. Levine, Janice Gelb
Muppets, Puppets, and Marionettes
Wed 4:30pm-5:30pm, Room 343-344
We love bringing puppets into our movies and shows. What is the mystique? Why do we love them and how they can say what we can't.
David D. Levine (M), Andrew Penn Romine, Mary Robinette Kowal, Merav Hoffman, Sho Glick
Reading: David D. Levine
Wed 8:00pm-8:30pm, Room 428
I'll be reading from "Rust," a short story told from the perspective of an ASL-using enhanced chimp trying to survive in an abandoned undersea laboratory. It'll be appearing in the September/October issue of Analog.
David D. Levine (M)
The Short and Long of It: Short Fiction, Its Mutability, and How to Transform It
Thu 9:00am-10:00am, ACT Theatre (ConCurrent Seattle, a separate event)
A craft discussion about writing, editing, and publishing fiction at every length, and growing - or shrinking - the format. But how do you know how long a story should be? Are there tricks for coaxing out specific lengths for pieces? Panelists will discuss these questions and more.
Sam Asher (M), LaShawn Wanak, David D. Levine, AW Prihandita, Lauren Ring
Live Action Role Playing Around the World
Fri 3:00pm-4:00pm, Room 420-422
Live Action Roleplaying (aka LARP) takes the game off of the tabletop and brings it to life through acting, costuming and character. Explore how this unique approch to gaming has developed worldwide; from the ongoing sagas of USA LARPS, to the full-immersion weekends of European Larps, and beyond.
Eleri Hamilton (M), David D. Levine, Terilee Edwards-Hewitt, Vivian Abraham
Autographs
Sat 3:00pm-4:00pm, Garden Lounge (3F)
Ken Bebelle (M), Bethany Jacobs, Cecilia Tan, Christine Taylor-Butler, Ctein, D.L. Solum, Dan Moren, David D. Levine, Edward Martin III, Fonda Lee, Henry Lien, Nancy Kress, Robin Hobb, Sonia Orin Lyris
Do Androids Dream of AI Slop?
Sun 3:00pm-4:00pm, Room 322
What is artificial intelligence and how does it differ from the image and text generators that have proliferated over the past few years? Is science on the track to creating R. Daneel Olivaw, or is all of this a mirage?
Jon Lasser (M), Avani Vaghela, Chris Kulp, David D. Levine, Elektra Hammond
Need a new agent
Jul. 22nd, 2025 04:56 pmAlas, my agent Paul Lucas just moved to a new agency and decided not to take me with him. Can you recommend your agent, and are they perhaps looking for new clients?
While I'm looking for an agent, I'm going to be submitting my novel Vaudevaliens myself (to publishers who'll accept unagented submissions). Here's the pitch: "Two down-on-their-luck vaudevillians run into a couple of strange guys from way, way out of town. Together they will make it big on Broadway... or destroy the Earth." It's a standalone novel for adults, 81,000 words, and I'd say it's in the genre of "historical science fiction." I'm well aware of the major SF publishers, but if you know of any literature publisher (even small or medium-sized) who'd be willing to consider a historical novel with fantastic content, please let me know.
While I'm looking for an agent, I'm going to be submitting my novel Vaudevaliens myself (to publishers who'll accept unagented submissions). Here's the pitch: "Two down-on-their-luck vaudevillians run into a couple of strange guys from way, way out of town. Together they will make it big on Broadway... or destroy the Earth." It's a standalone novel for adults, 81,000 words, and I'd say it's in the genre of "historical science fiction." I'm well aware of the major SF publishers, but if you know of any literature publisher (even small or medium-sized) who'd be willing to consider a historical novel with fantastic content, please let me know.
LARP comes to the USA!
Jun. 30th, 2025 04:32 pmIf you've been reading this blog, you will have seen me raving about my Live Action Role Play experiences in Europe in the past few years. Well, suddenly the European LARP experience is coming to the United States!
I'm aware of the following LARP events in the US in the next year. Many of these are being run in cooperation with a European LARP organizer. Some of them are still provisional; others are already sold out (though there is usually a waiting list). Check the websites for details and contact the organizers if you have any questions. And feel free to bookmark my public LARP spreadsheet, which I try to keep updated with every LARP I hear about that's of interest to me. (Which excludes vampire and boffer LARPs, for example.)
- Miskatonic University North America (Lovecraft) - Pennsylvania
Aug 1-3 2025
https://chaosleague.org/miskatonic-university-larp-us - Daemon (His Dark Materials) - Colorado
Run 1: Sep 26-28 2025
Run 2: Sep 29 - Oct 1 2025
https://www.mooneybinentertainment.com/daemon - Hawkins (Stranger Things) - Wisconsin
Oct 2-5 2025
http://hawkinslarp.com - Monstrosity (Erotic horror) - New Jersey
Run 1: Oct 30 - Nov 1 2025
Run 2: Nov 2-4 2025
Run 3: Nov 6-8 2025
https://www.monstrositylarp.com - Bard's Tale US (Shakespeare) - Wisconsin
Run 5: Apr 10-12 2026
https://www.westcoastinteractive.com/bardstale - Lies & Liability (Regency) - Wisconsin
Late April 2026
https://grimmoire.productions/lies-and-liability/ - Outbound Hope Mission (Galactica-ish on a decomissioned warship) - Michigan
Run 1: Apr 30 - May 3 2026
Run 2: May 7-10 2026
https://outboundhopemission.com/ - Conscience USA (Westworld) - Montana
Run 1: Jun 26-28 2026
Run 2: Jul 3-5 2026
http://mooneybinentertainment.com/conscienceusa - Hivemind (1960s spies) - USA TBD
Nov 6-7 2026
https://www.hivemindlarp.com/
Sale: "Rust" to Analog
Mar. 11th, 2025 04:04 pmVery pleased to announce that I've sold short story "Rust" to Analog! This is the story of a small group of intelligent sign-language-using chimpanzees who have been left to fend for themselves for years in an abandoned undersea base, and the two humans who stumble upon them and have to figure out what to do with them.
The story is told in the unique voice of the eldest chimp, who is named Alpha -- in honor of the Alpha SFF workshop for young writers, where I developed with the plot while teaching an "idea to outline in an hour" workshop back in 2011.
This is my first short story sale since 2022 and I'm very excited about it!
The story is told in the unique voice of the eldest chimp, who is named Alpha -- in honor of the Alpha SFF workshop for young writers, where I developed with the plot while teaching an "idea to outline in an hour" workshop back in 2011.
This is my first short story sale since 2022 and I'm very excited about it!
