ABOUT AUTHOR
JIM LANTERN
Me on my 60th birthday 5 March 2016, wearing new hat bought at Walmart. This photo is my first “selfie” taken with my cell phone.
Jim Lantern is my legal professional pen name for the Internet as an independent journalist and as a science fiction author.
Me on 4 July 2008 at the Bishop’s Creek, Oklahoma University duck pond bridge in Norman Oklahoma.
About me:
I was Born in Wichita Kansas 5 March 1956. I’ve lived in Norman Oklahoma since 3 May 2008.
Single. No children. Parents deceased. Not in contact with any living relatives.
Education:
Graduated from high school in 1974. College during 1974 and 1975. Business and computer courses during 2001 and 2002. I prefer apprenticeship, on-the-job training, hands-on experience.
Professions:
Past professions about 10 years each include:
- Electronics repair – pinball games, video games, juke boxes, some kinds of vending machines.
- Parts department inventory control, shipping & receiving, and other warehouse work.
- Hotel night auditor and motel manager.
I’m a science fiction author. My first science fiction novel was published as a paperback book in May 2003, then as an ebook in May 2004. It did much better as an ebook until June 2006 than it did as a paperback. That version is no longer available. Read my new longer version of my science fiction novel (and short stories) posted here at Lantern Timeglass Journal – see links list for access on the Science Fiction Stories Page and Free Novel Page.
I’m now also an Independent Journalist, mainly interested in political issues.
Entertainment:
I’m a fan and writer of science fiction.
Favorite authors include…
- Arthur C. Clarke
- Robert A. Heinlein
- Spider Robinson
Favorite science fiction movies include…
- Lifeforce
- Brainstorm
…I do not consider those two to be the best science fiction movies of all time but they are my favorite. I also like…
- Avatar
- Star Trek (new version)
- Star Wars
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Blade Runner
Favorite TV shows past and present include…
- The Walking Dead
- Hell on Wheels
- Vikings – on History Channel
- Lost
- Battlestar Galactica – new and original versions
- America’s Got Talent
- The Voice
- Survivor
- The Prisoner – stared favorite actor Patrick McGoohan
My favorite female performers in music include…
My favorite male performers in music include…
My favorite bands and others in music include…
Sports I like:
- Auto Racing
- Soccer
Games I like:
- Chess
- Scrabble
Religion:
In religion I’m basically a Universalist, more specifically a Spiritual Universalist, without also being Trinitarian or Unitarian. I’m more spiritual than religious. Out of the realm of science fiction, I’ve created what I’ve named Spiritual Universalist – “A Way of Life as a Virtual Reality Faith” – to present my idea that the physical universe is a kind of virtual reality for spiritual beings of the spiritual universe. Physically, we are their avatars. We are them. They are us. The physical body is like a car, and the spiritual soul is the driver.
Politics:
I was born into a Republican family in the oil business. When I first registered to vote at age 18 in 1974, I was a Republican.
I became a Democrat during 1994. I found the Kansas Democrats to be in a useless state of anarchy, which I cold not tolerate.
I became registered as an Independent voter in 1995.
I’m not a member of any political party.
In 2008, I discovered I’m a “Centrist” after taking the World’s Smallest Political Quiz.
I average out to be a Centrist by agreeing with Democrats on about 50% of specific issues – mostly personal and social, while agreeing with Republicans on about 50% of specific issues – mostly economic and government. I’m not a Moderate.
It may be described that my liberal mind is anchored in science fiction and fantasy as a science fiction author, while my conservative mind is anchored in science and reality as a political journalist. I’m very interested in political ideas in science fiction and religious ideas in science fiction. I’m especially interested in alternate history, time paradoxes, and time travel. If we humans can’t learn to accept our differences, then what will happen when we finally do encounter people from another planet – whose differences will truly be alien? Go to war with them? Or accept our differences and engage in peaceful trade? It appears to me there’s more profit in mutual acceptance.
I served as a “soldier” in The Salvation Army during 1991 when I was age 35. I mainly did disaster relief work to help victims of floods and fires. Also, I was the weekend night manager for the men’s homeless shelter, which is what caused me to go into lodging business management the following year – 1992, my third profession.
+ + +
Lantern Timeglass Journal 