This Day in History, 1981: Israel Bombs Iraqi Nuclear Reactor

Twenty-four years ago today...

On June 7, 1981, an Israeli Air Force strike force left Etzion air base and flew 1,100 km (683.5 mi) across Jordan, Saudi Arabia and into Iraq to bomb the Osariq Nuclear Reactor. Arriving at around 17:30, the strike force quickly destroyed the reactor site. The strike force evaded detection by flying so close to each other on the long journey that, instead of appearing as a squadron of small fighters on radar, they appeared as a single large jet, and not much attention was given to them. One of the Israeli pilots on the mission was Ilan Ramon, who would later become Israel's first astronaut and die in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003.

( Read more... )

(taken from the Wikipedia entry on Osiraq)

A Literary Map of Manhattan

Back on May 4th, I made this post on Reader Identification, in response to this post from sdelmonte, who reported that the New York Times was attempting to design a literary map of Manhattan.

The project is now complete, and was posted two days ago at the New York Times website. I was very glad to read that a lot of people submitted works by the MWA Grand Master Lawrence Block, as I'm a big fan of his novels, most of which are set in New York City. (In some ways, I can't imagine either of his series characters Matt Scudder or Bernie Rhodenbarr operating anywhere other than Manhattan.) Sadly, my own special interest of science fiction is not too well represented, although on the fantasy side I found citations for Madeleine L'Engle's The Young Unicorns, and Jack Finney's Time and Again. Doubtless there are others.

I must admit, though, I'm half-inclined to put together a science fiction version of this map, perhaps to go along with the list of New York City movies I was interested in putting together last February 29th.

For more information on the map (registration at the New York Times site probably required):

We Mapped Manhattan by Randy Cohen, the article on how they chose the locations for the map

A Literary Map of Manhattan, the map itself.

Novel Progress: First Draft FINISHED at 121,000 Words

The subject line pretty much says it all.

Just a few minutes ago, I finished the first draft of the novel I've been working on. The total word count is about 121,000 words.

In terms of manuscript pages and story chapters, my three-part structure has ended up breaking down as follows:

Part One: 183 pages (chapters 1-6)
Part Two: 225 pages (chapters 7-11)
Part Three: 75 pages (chapters 12-15)

So instead of having three acts of approximately the same length, I have a novel with a long set-up, an even longer middle, and then a quick wrap up at the end. (Come to think of it, that might actually work better.)

Of course, my work isn't done yet. The novel needs some extensive rewriting. For example, by the middle of the novel I had decided that my protagonist ought to be an orphan. This means the chapter where she has dinner with her parents needs to go. (Or, at least, I need to alter it extensively.)

Then, after I rewrite it, I have two or three first readers who have volunteered to give me feedback. Then I have to send it to my agent, and if she has any suggestions to offer I'd be well-served to incorporate them into the final submission draft.

But for now...for now I feel content to rest on my laurels, satisfied with a job well done.

If only it weren't so darn hot today...

Thanks to everyone who has been accompanying me on this journey. We've made it to the first plateau.