Friends & their books

The IAmCompuBear Bookshelf

"A reading list from friends I've made along the way."

Authors I've known for years — many of us first met at LASFS, the world's oldest science fiction society. Their stories shaped me, and I've been lucky enough to collaborate on some of them. Browse the shelf below.

And after eleven years, there is now one of my own on it — How Did I Survive?

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, IAmCompuBear earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links doesn't change your price — it helps support the Consortium. Thank you!

Cover of How Did I Survive? A Memoir by Michelle Deborah Weisblat-Dane — a painting of green eyes in the dark

Mine

How Did I Survive? A Memoir

"I was born in 1963, and for most of my life I could not write any of this down."

Eleven years in the making. A childhood no child should have, science fiction fandom at fourteen, fourteen children raised, three computer stores in Colorado, a shop called The Internet Store in 1993, a husband whose empathy was taken from him twice over, and seven years of my own cancer — and, on the far side of all of it, a life the girl at fourteen could never have pictured and would have chosen anyway.

I am dyslexic, and on bad days very nearly blind. Every word here is mine — the memory, the order, and every judgment about what stayed and what went. What I could not do was type it, so I built something that could, and then I ruled every line.

  • 249 pages
  • 51 chapters
  • 3 parts & 4 appendices
  • 22 photographs
  • PDF, instant download

Sold direct through Payhip — no Amazon link, no commission, nothing between us. The cover is my own painting, godseyes. Contains accounts of abuse, illness and self-harm.

Author

Larry Niven

Long-time science fiction author. I first met him at LASFS when I was 14. I've collaborated with him on The Patchwork Girl, The Integral Trees, and The Smoke Ring — I'm even a character in The Integral Trees! Our VR experience X-Ring World is loosely inspired by his Ringworld series.

Author

Steven Barnes

Steven Barnes and I have been friends since he first started collaborating with Larry Niven on his first book, Dream Park. We've stayed friends ever since. I'm a part of his Lifewriting group — a unique combination of writing coaching and Tai Chi, which he runs alongside his wife Tananarive Due, also a celebrated author.

Author

Craig Miller

Another LASFS member. I met Craig back when he was working for Lucasfilm — I was lucky enough to see a copy of The Empire Strikes Back before it was released! His books are full of behind-the-scenes stories and rare photos. If you're a Star Wars fan, these are a must.

Star Wars Memories by Craig Miller

Star Wars Memories

A must-read for Star Wars fans — behind-the-scenes from Craig's time at Lucasfilm.

Get on Amazon
More Movie Memories by Craig Miller

More Movie Memories

More Star Wars stories, '80s marketing tales, and writing for animation.

Get on Amazon

Author

Gene Turnbow

Another friend from LASFS — his wife Susan I've known since I was a young child. Gene also runs Scifi.Radio. This is his new writing endeavor: The Alterwhere series. A 3D world based on the book is coming soon, and he's currently working on book two.

Author

Liz Gotauco

Known as The Cosbrarian — the cosplay librarian. I first started watching her videos years ago, then followed her onto her podcast (find it on a podcast service near you), only to discover that a long-time friend of mine, Michael Charboneau (Aiyume), an IAmCompuBear Consortium Member (contact him on our Discord), edits the show!

Let's talk

Know an author we should add?

Reach out on Discord, email, or phone — we'd love to grow this list.

Join us on Discord