Bewildering Stories welcomes...

Duane Locke

Professor Locke’s bio sketch might have been published in the fiction section of one of our issues, but readers might object that it requires too much suspension of disbelief. As one of our unofficial mottoes says, “There is no story so truly Bewildering as reality.”

Dr. Locke’s career as a professor of English Renaissance literature and Poet in Residence at the University of Tampa is overshadowed only by his literary achievements. The volume alone almost requires scientific notation. As of last year, the number of his published poems was approaching 6 x 10³ (six thousand). In 2004, a magazine published a 92-page interview, including 60 poems.

A Google search of Professor Locke’s name will return on the order of 5 x 10⁵ hits, but a MSN search is more disappointing: only about 6 x 10⁴ hits. A side note: that illustrates why I don’t use hit counters on my own works: what numbers would be big enough? I just assume everyone reads every word I write, and I let it go at that.

Readers will also find especially interesting Dr. Locke’s career as a painter and photographer. His choice of subjects seems to run in part toward what one might call urban naturalism.

The story of Professor Locke’s personal library reminds me of that of the Great Library of Alexandria. However, I don’t recall that the city of Alexandria had to be evacuated at the time...

In this issue, the poem “The Rigged Jury” may allude to events reaching far back into world history. On the other hand, it can also be read as political satire of relations between the administrative and legislative branches of the U.S. government between the years 2001 and 2006. It’s the readers’ call.

Duane Locke’s bio sketch can be found here.

Welcome to Bewildering Stories, Duane. We hope to hear from you again soon and often!