NEWS
“Sea Sand in My Shoe” Completed (11/20/12): After three years of writing verse, sketching, and painting sea life—not to mention learning a ton of art software— “Sea Sand in My Shoe,” my first children’s story, is complete. Check for an excerpt and more information on the “Young Reader’s” page.
REVIEWS
In General…
“Terry’s work fits the ‘Golden Age’ styled mold that I’m looking for to a tee. Terry as a new ‘Bots story in Issue #9. It’s the third one of his robot stories I’ve published. The first was in issue #2, Evolution Wave. Evolution Wave was the most futuristic of the three, telling us the tale of a ‘Bot that was tired of being pushed around and how he overcame his programming to make a break for freedom. ‘Janibots Inc.’ backed up to tell us how the ‘Bots came to be and how they almost ruined us. This new story occurs somewhere in the middle.
I think Terry’s work is brilliant. I like how he ties money grubbing big business into dealings with machines that border on being human and the social impact that has on human society. He ties in politics, ethics, bio-mechanical bigotry, greed…good stuff.”
Edward Knight
Editor, Journey Books Publishing
Review posted on sfreader.com (8/20/05)
Janibots, Inc., published in “Unparalleled Journeys”
“Another robot story by Terofil Alexander Gizelbach, “Janibots Inc.,” is a clever, hilarious riot of a tale. Lou Staminsky meets Glennard Marcus Newcomb the Third, a down-and-out inventor obsessed with order and cleanliness. Glenn introduces his “janibot” to Lou, a device designed specifically for home and office cleaning. Lou offers to be Glenn’s partner in manufacturing and promoting the janibots. But Glenn’s plans go beyond profit and into a “utopian” ideal of a worldwide police state governed by non-violent bots designed to maintain order and peace. Of course, the new utopia isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, and soon a revolution ensues, one filled with riotous comedy. In the tradition of Asimov, (Gizelbach’s) robot tale sheds light on basic human nature; in this case, humanity’s need for free will and how its importance trumps the need for peace and security. This is a story I’d like to see made into a movie some day, provided the movie-makers have the wisdom to do it right.”
Scott M. Sandridge
Review posted on Tangent Online
“Editors Edward Knight and David M. Fitzpatrick have chosen a strong collection of science fiction and fantasy stories that reached back to the days of old—when stories had ideas AND adventure—to make reading fun again. “Janibots, Inc.” by Terofil Alexander Gizelbach is, without a doubt, the best story in this collection. In this crazily entertaining piece, a scientist invents robots that force order onto the world. When things go too far, all of humanity is powerless to stop them until…Well, I don’t want to ruin it for you, so I’ll say no more. The strong narrative, a plot that kept me guessing, and fascinating characters make this story a real winner.”
David A. Olsen
Review posted on Amazon.com
“William Tenn immediately came to mind when I started reading Terofil’s story ‘Janibots, Incorporated’ in Unparalleled Journeys.”
Brian C. Petroziello
Review posted in sfreader.com (8/19/05)
“The origins of the Janibots is an amusing tale told in the first person, and like Sandy, Terry does a fine job building other characters through the eyes of his protagonist. Here we follow the birth of the Janibots and the amazing (and entertaining) sequence of events that unfold. I’m not sure now whether or not I’d like a Janibot in my house, and wonder whether I even dare get one of those new vacuum cleaners that intelligently vacuum your house all on its own. Terry has done a great job in the tradition of robotic science-fiction yet at the same time has built a totally original world–one we may end up in if we’re not careful.”
David M. Fitzpatrick
Home De-Offense, published in “Amazing Journeys,” issue #6
“‘Home De-Offense’ an A.I. house-gone-berserk story, extends a riff on this common SF-nal theme, popular in the SF small press and beyond. I may have encountered this theme once too often in the recent past to fully score this story; that, however, shouldn’t prevent others from enjoying Terofil Alexander Gizelbach’s lucid bit of satire which bristles with as much energy and dark humor as the majority of these house-as-ironic enemy stories. Score another one for Jung.”
Review posted on AFReader.com Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Book Reviews and More
Song of the Universe, published in “Amazing Journeys,” issue #9
“The following Amazing Journeys Magazine stories and authors have been nominated for the Speculative Literature Foundation’s 2005 Fountain Award:
“Song of the Universe”-by Terofil Alexander Gizelbach”
Edward Knight
Editor, Journey Books Publishing
Announcement on sfreader.com (12/26/05)
“You’ll note that this is the first issue for which a writer has been awarded the coveted AJM Editor’s Choice Award. The prize will go to the writer that I feel best demonstrates the Golden Age style we crave so much at AJM.”
Edward Knight
Editor, Journey Books Publishing
Announcement on sfreader.com, regarding Amazing Journeys issue #9 (8/22/05)
“‘Song of the Universe’: Beautiful, ‘old-fashioned’ robot story. Truly an example of ‘Golden Age’ sci-fi style. ”
Paul McNamee
Review posted on sfreader.com (10/7/05)
“Terry’s story is very deserving of the editor’s choice award.”
Angie Lofthouse
Review posted on sfreader.com (10/7/05)
“‘Song of the Universe’ by Terofil Alexander Gizelbach–This was my favorite of the science fiction stories. I enjoyed it (and his other robot stories), and Gizelbach’s writing is good, fun reading.”
Sean T.M. Stiennon
Review posted on sfreader.com (9/29/2005)
“With the movie, I, Robot, along with hundreds of movies, books, and other artistic mediums featuring robots; some may feel that “robot stories” have become cliché. I thought so too until I read “Song of the Universe” by Terofil Alexander Gizelbach. Jack Staminski—CEO of Robotics, Inc—recruits Dr. Gillian Anderson, a brilliant Neuroengineer, to prove that robots can have human-like emotions and consciousness. And she has to do so before the “Ant-moderns” (a fundamental anti-technology movement) place Foster in power. The plan: to teach R-45 to play piano in the hope that eventually he will learn to compose his own music, then set up a concert on Pluto—the farthest place from Earth and the “Antimod” political base. But with the election of President Foster, the Antimods are determined to prevent Jack’s plan. This suspenseful story takes a good look at the ugly side of politics, and shows the importance of art (in this case, music) in Humanity’s social conditioning. Gizelbach shows a spiritual philosophy to the question of consciousness and the soul, and the meaning of these two words. This story almost brought tears to this jaded reader’s eyes and is a very worthwhile read.”
Scott M. Sandridge
Review posted on Tangent Online (10/29/05)
Special Delivery, published in “Amazing Journeys,” issue #11
“Terry Gizelbach is back with a story about future manufacturing that will keep you thinking for days.”
Edward Knight
Editor, Journey Books Publishing
Review posted on sfreader.com (2/8/06)
“Congratulations to Angie, Terry and Jon. I have read all the stories, and they were excellent pieces of fiction; all very deserving.”
Brian C. Petroziello
Review posted on sfreader.com (12/29/05)
Breakdown, published in “Amazing Journeys,” Issue #12
“Almost certainly the most unique of the twelve items in this mag is ‘Breakdown’. This is a strangely devastating work, drawing on frustrations, doubts, and embarrassments that we are all intimately familiar with, and bringing them to their extremes. The story follows naturally from technological improvements that we can certainly expect to one day see, and the result leaves one-as Ed put it-very uncomfortable. It’s a tale that examines the relationship between man and machine with a lucidity that is almost frightening.”
“……‘Breakdown’ is the one (story) that sticks with me the most. Three cheers for Terry!”
Robert Orme
Review posted on sfreader.com (6/14/06)
“Breakdown is like reading Alfred Hitchcock in the year 2200. Mental stress brought on by technology and man’s old nemesis (time) make for a great tale.”
Edward Knight
Editor, Journey Books Publishing
Review posted on sfreader.com (6/14/06)
“‘Breakdown’ really hit home with me. I could feel just what the main character felt, especially his frustration in realizing he had a way out the whole time.”
Angie Lofthouse
Review posted on sfreader.com (6/20/06)
“I agree with you on ‘Breakdown’, Angie: one of the best things about that story is that you’re right there with the protagonist every step of the way. The empathy implanted in the tale is almost scary.”
Robert Orme
Review posted on sfreader.com (6/24/06)
“Terry is very good at bringing the reader into the story. He’s especially good at writing first person tales in which you feel the POV character is sitting in the same room with you.”
Edward Knight
Editor, Journey Books Publishing
Review posted on sfreader.com (6/24/06)
“‘Breakdown’ is far more than just a story about a guy having car trouble. In fact, it seems to me that the title of the story has at least two meanings; the story illustrates a breakdown in the relationship between man and the machines he created. By all rights, the system should have made getting out of that situation a walk in the park for the protagonist. Instread, it made escape essentially impossible. ManKind’s fallibility met with machine’s impenetrability, and the result was personal disaster.”
Robert Orme
Review posted on sfreader.com (7/11/06)