Genre: Science Fiction
I must say, I was, and am, very proud of Dreams Fulfilled, but these notes are very necessary. Primarily, I wish to comment on my motives for writing it. I happened to be, early one morning, in the small Kentish suburb of Allington. I took a trip to a local store (to buy Pringles, if memory serves) and I chanced upon a copy of Interzone magazine in the racks. I was eventually to buy this copy and was disgusted. There was some good stuff, oh yes, some, but most of the stories were utter tosh (don't even get me started on Tanith Lee). I immediately decided I was going to sit down and write a better story. That story was Dreams Fulfilled, and by golly I think I succeded. Of course, Interzone rejected it, which was the start of my long running feud with the publication.

So, why was Dreams Fulfilled rejected? Firstly, of course, Interzone hates me. Secondly, however, it's plagarism.

Sad, but true. The story bears a resemblence to The Unpleasant Profession Of Jonathan Hoag by Robert Heinlein. The differences are many, though, and the more I look at it the less I see Heinlein's story. The set up is similar, but the crux of the work is very different; the resemblence isn't exactly striking.

I should also give credit for Ericsson's final line. It is very similar to one spoken by Stephen Franklin in an episode of Babylon 5. I love B5, and I really think it's a great line, so I put it in. It's a habit I have, pinching lines, and it also rears its head in Jump. As for the sin of plagarism, just wait for my next work, The Ancient Adversary. You ain't seen nothin' yet!