Scott Edelman

Shredding vs. Archiving Drafts Saturday, July 19, 8:00 p.m., Salon I/J Some writers want nothing to survive of their written work after death save the final drafts of the stories they love, and so they destroy letters, journals, early drafts. Other writers want the world to witness their process and box everything up for future archivists. This panel will engage proponents of both sides of the spectrum in dialogue and help the audience decide whether to cherish their early own work or turn it into confetti. with Randee Dawn, Karen Heuler, and Natalie Luhrs

I wish last month's Readercon panel on the topic, which I'd suggested to the program committee because I wanted to compare my choices with those of other writers, had been recorded!

If you're heading to @seattlein2025.org, take note: there's a self-described sci-fi coffee house around five miles from the convention center. I've never been, so I can't vouch for the quality of the comestibles ... but I'm intrigued. Do any locals have an opinion? www.theouterrimseattle.com

Oh, my work at erasure is only beginning! This year alone, I've destroyed the never-to-be-published manuscripts of three novels, several dozen short stories, and a couple of thousand poems from my teens through my late 20s. And in the not so distant future, 50 years of daily journals will join them.

Took a break from my @seattlein2025.org prep to review and dispose of another 381 pages of early manuscripts, which means I've transformed approximately 5,800 pages into confetti since the beginning of 2025. If only there were a way to disappear a few early published stories of mine as well!

Mike across the table from me viewed over his tray of brisket.

Happy birthday to the legendary Mike Gold! Celebrate his latest spin around the sun by eavesdropping on our episode of Eating the Fantastic, where you'll learn why editor Murray Boltinoff compared Marvel Comics to the Beatles (and not in a good way) — plus more. www.scottedelman.com/2023/11/03/m...

Today's treadmill TV — Squid Game Season 2, Episodes 2 and 3. As far as I can recall, I was able to watch the first season without thinking the series was set on the same island where rapists Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein palled around — but I can no longer keep that thought out of my mind.

So sorry to hear that. Hugs.

Screen shot of the sound waves of our voices in GarageBand, showing all those snips and a time stamp of 02:07:19.408.

For those who like knowing how Eating the Fantastic's podcast sausage is made — editing next episode's chat with @benjaminrosenbaum.com to remove its infelicities required 901 snips, deleting 21 minutes and 25 seconds of raw audio. I hope you'll subscribe to join us at the table! pod.link/1083737796

Oh, yes, I get plenty of those. But they're an entirely different kind of spam.

Everything in the fall is East Coast for me, I'm afraid.

Text Message • RCS Today 9:26 PM Are you Olivia? You left something at my house yesterday. Contact me as soon as possible The sender is not in your contact list. Report Junk

Am I the only one receiving more spam texts than usual lately?

The sound waves of our voices in GarageBand, the left half showing many snips and the right untouched. A time stamp shows the cursor halfway at 01:07:44.564.

Edited my way to the halfway point in the raw audio from my Nebula Awards weekend conversation with @benjaminrosenbaum.com on which you'll be able to eavesdrop during Friday's episode of my Eating the Fantastic podcast. Subscribe to be among the first to take a seat at the table! pod.link/1083737796

A ridiculously long credit box which reads: "You won’t believe this, but … Steve Gerber, Gerry Conway, Roger Slifer, Len Wein, Chris Claremont, and Scott Edelman plotted this tale. Steve scripted it, Don Heck drew it, Mike Esposito inked it, Dave Hunt inked the backgrounds and lettered it, G. Roussos colored it, Len edited it. Coffee and moral support were provided (for a price) by the Lantern Coffee Shop on 53rd St. and Carla made the meatloaf. Once you’ve read it—the story, not the meatloaf—you may wonder why. Answer: Why not?"

Remembering the late Dave Hunt, born on this date in 1942, with whom in Giant-Size Defenders #5 (July 1975), I shared what's perhaps the longest comic book credits box ever.

Eating the Fantastic I’ve been going to science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comic book conventions since I was 15, and I’ve found that while the con which takes place within the walls of a hotel or convention center is ...

Always happy to chat with creators, but Eating the Fantastic is recorded in-person over meals in restaurants during my travels on the convention circuit, so unlikely to happen until we're at the same con at the same time down the road. But I'll keep an eye on the guest lists! pod.link/1083737796

If you see this, post a #castle 🏰

This afternoon's treadmill TV — Foundation Season 3, Episodes 3 and 4 — which means I'm all caught up. Whew! I need no longer fear your spoilers!

Edelman has spoken about their friendship and even appeared on a podcast discussing Stan Lee's influence. They worked together at Marvel, and Edelman later produced and wrote the Spider-Man animated series. Here's a more detailed look at their connection: Friendship and Collaboration: Scott Edelman and Stan Lee developed a friendship that spanned several years before Edelman produced the Spider-Man animated series.

If you need further proof AI is not merely supremely useless but also dangerously wrong, look no further. While trying to track down a photo of me with Stan Lee, I searched on our names and was told — I was the writer and producer of the Spider-Man animated series! How could I have forgotten?

Text Message • SMS Today 3:35 PM David, you and I haven't seen each other in a while since Sullivan's birthday party. Are you everything alright. The sender is not in your contact list. Report Junk

Yet another spam text to which I shan't be replying.

YouTube video by JonBatisteVEVO Jon Batiste - LONELY AVENUE ft. Randy Newman

How lovely to hear Jon Batiste and Randy Newman in collaboration! youtu.be/50W_ePTb5rY

The Eating the Fantastic icon, showing a flying saucer using its tractor beam to lift a hamburger, chicken leg, and donut. Only it's backward, with the words EATING THE FANTASTIC and WITH SCOTT EDELMAN printed in reverse.

If you'd like to learn what's up with the icon for my Eating the Fantastic podcast being printed in reverse, track me down during @seattlein2025.org and I'll put the answer in the palm of your hand.

Text Message • SMS Today 12:25 PM Would you mind if I said something?. The sender is not in your contact list. Report Junk

Today in text messages to which I shall not respond.

Hmmm ... I hadn't thought of that! Thanks for putting the idea in my head. I'd intended to wear it to my reading of a story for which the POV character is a fish. I also have one about octopi. But we shall see!

A person in what is now my fish head mask marching toward the camera. They are wearing a blue vest, pink shirt, and white jacket. The pants are perhaps lavender, but it's hard to say in the light of the aquarium. Though the mask cannot be seen in its full color due to that light, it's opalescent, with pinks, and blues, and greens, and large yellow and red eyes with black pupils. There's a large tail fin coming out the back, with red veins. There are also two green antennae. They's being followed by a person wearing a yellow dish mask and wearing a yellow dress.

A person in what is now my fish head mask standing before the projected image from a shadow puppet show which depicts a sea tortoise making its way across the sea bottom. The person is holding a notepad and giant pencil. They are wearing a blue vest, pink shirt, and white jacket. The pants are perhaps lavender, but it's hard to say in the light of the aquarium. Though the mask cannot be seen in its full color due to that light, it's opalescent, with pinks, and blues, and greens, and large yellow and red eyes with black pupils. There's a large tail fin coming out the back, with red veins. There are also two green antennae.

Found a few photos of the mask I'd won at auction being used during @submersive.bsky.social's show Voyages, Chapter 7: Submerged! In the Company of Fish. But it's mine now, and will likely make its convention debut atop my head at next month's @capclave.bsky.social. I look forward to showing it off!

Nino, a charcuterie plate by one elbow, holding up a slice of Prosciutto Bread.

Happy birthday to writer Nino Cipri! Celebrate their latest spin around the sun by chatting and chewing with us on an episode of Eating the Fantastic — where (among many other things) you'll learn how they made peace with the heat death of the universe. www.scottedelman.com/2021/05/21/n...

It's quite clear Saboteur-in-Chief Donald Trump intends to destroy anything and everything good about America. cpb.org/pressroom/Co...

Two photos merged: Benjamin across the table from me displaying our banana pudding dessert, and Mur across the table from me seen through a cloud of steam rising from her bowl of ramen. She’s wearing a DO IT FOR VIOLENCE T-shirt.

Coming later this month on Eating the Fantastic — share a seafood lunch during the Nebula Awards weekend with @benjaminrosenbaum.com — and then kick off Readercon by slurping ramen with @mightymur.bsky.social! Subscribe now to be among the first to eavesdrop as we chat and chew! pod.link/1083737796

Cecilia Copeland and Tim Waggoner standing behind Irene Vartanoff and me, who are seated. I'm wearing a blue T-shirt with a red-and-yellow chest symbol which combines the Superman S and and outline of Cthulhu.

How wonderful to find a StokerCon photo of me with my beloved in the latest issue of Locus! (And in case there's any confusion, by "my beloved," I mean Irene Vartanoff, not @timwaggoner.bsky.social.)

Part of a spread from a copy of a guide to Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The page has a detail from a Spider-Man/Doctor Strange mural and the following text: ARTS & CULTURE See the only Marvel Comics-approved public art in the world! Spider-Man Mural MURALS OF CAMBRIA COUNTY Cambria County, PA is solidifying its place as a hub for the arts and expression. Many local facades, walls, and more have been and are being coated in a variety of colorful designs. From the comic book art stylings of MARVEL artist, and Johnstown native, Steve Ditko to the serene flowers adorning the front of Cambria City Flowers, this guide will help art lovers find them all! SPIDER-MAN/DOCTOR STRANGE MURAL 104 Franklin St., Johnstown, PA 15901 | 814-535-2020 bottleworks.org The first of three public art murals to honor the late comic book inker, Steve Ditko, who was a native of Johnstown. Designed by Matt Lamb, the mural is located on the exterior wall of Stone Bridge Brewing Company in downtown Johnstown on the Washington Street side. The effort is coordinated by The Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center in partnership with the Ditko Estate, and with the support of Marvel Comics. STEVE DITKO MURAL 411 & 413 3rd Ave., Johnstown, PA 15906 814-535-2020 | bottleworks.org The second of three public art murals to honor comic book icon Steve Ditko. Designed by Javier Hernandez, the mural features characters such as Mr. A, Iron Man and more. The mural also features a familiar image of Ditko himself drawing away with a speech bubble highlighting one of his quotes: "When I do a job, it's not my personality that I'm offering the readers, but my artwork. It's not what I'm like that counts, but what I did and how well it was done. I produce a product, a comic art story. 'Steve Ditko' is the brand name."

Paused at a PA rest stop as we drove home from the Ohio Light Opera, and was happy to see the Steve Ditko murals @andyduncansf.bsky.social and I visited in November get a guidebook shout-out. But I wish they hadn't limited their description of that legend to "inker," as he was far more than that.

YouTube video by PatMFF ANDRÉ RIEU & JSO / BERLIN COMEDIAN HARMONISTS - MEIN KLEINER GRÜNER KAKTUS

The earworm which got all prickly in my brain each time I woke last night was — "Mein kleiner Grüner Kaktus." No idea why! youtu.be/YaUtCIGMoJw

Ended our four-musical run at the Ohio Light Opera tonight with George and Ira Gershwin's 1925 musical Tip-Toes, a production which utilized the original orchestrations as researched at the Library of Congress, allowing us to experience it as audiences did 100 years ago, down to the TWO pianos.