Robert L. Peters

18 October 2018

Rich Sparks… when the world needs a chuckle.

Sparks_engine

Sparks_octopus

Sparks_dino

Sparks_exctinction

Sparks_pike

Sparks_sofist

Sparks_juices

Sparks_unicorn

Sparks_paleoviewmaster

Sparks_climbing

Out there in cyberspace…

I have recently met an inspiring illustrator/cartoonist on Facebook (yes, it happens). I find his work to be insightful, funny, sardonic, often cheeky — quite brilliant, really — a balm for troubled times. You can see more of Mr. Sparks’ work here.


1 October 2018

Old woman | Young lady

young_or_old

Most people can see one or the other… and “switch” back and forth.


25 November 2017

The Rebel… end of the cyberpunk triolgy.

The_Rebel_Gerald_Brandt

The_Rebel_San_Angeles_Brandt

The_Rebel_Blurb_Brandt

The_Rebel_Praise_Brandt

Gerald_Brandt

Winnipeg, Manitoba

My good friend Gerald Brandt’s third novel in the San Angeles trilogy, a thrilling “near-future cyberpunk sci-fi series,” has just been released by Penguin/DAW. Gerald’s “darkly gripping vision of the future” offers a tense, fast-paced, “impossible-to-put-down” tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seat, with a very relatable young heroine as the embattled protagonist. The Rebel is launching locally at McNally Robinson on Monday evening, and we look forward being there for it!

I first got to know Gerald in the 1990s when I took up rock climbing — he and his lithe twin brother were good instructors and a decade younger than I was — we bonded almost immediately (in that way that only those who put their lives into each other’s hands can do) and we became good climbing mates, with countless weekends on nearby cliffs along with unforgettable climbing expeditions in the Rockies. (Yes, Gerald’s climbing prowess makes an appearance in his San Angeles narratives).

Ev and I were pleased and honoured last night to be able to host Gerald and his partner Marnie for dinner — a real shock (and a sudden wave of tears) came when he presented me with a signed copy of The Rebel and I opened the book… Talk about chuffed! I’ve never had a book dedicated to me before…

Thanks Gerald!

The_Rebel_Dedication_Brandt


12 April 2015

Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion.

― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values


10 April 2015

It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top.

― Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values


30 January 2015

Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.


12 July 2014

There is probably no pleasure equal to the pleasure of climbing a dangerous Alp; but it is a pleasure which is confined strictly to the people who can find pleasure in it.

—Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad


4 June 2014

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It is lethal.

Paulo Coelho


9 November 2013

My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)


25 August 2013

Fly fishing holiday… in Banff National Park

Brown_trout

Rainbow_Lake_Minnewanka

Rob_Lake_Louise

Lake Louise, Alberta

Earlier this month Ev and I once again crossed the prairies with Bettie Blue (my 1988 VW Westfalia camper van) for a holiday in the Rockies. For a number of reasons, not least of which being that I took up fly fishing earlier in the summer, I decided not to climb and scramble as usual, but rather stick to the valleys, streams, rivers, and lakes of Banff National Park.

Above are a few images from our sortie “out west.” Ev informs me that crispy-skinned pan-fried trout are her new favorite fish… which is a nice reward for doing something I’ll admit is almost as much fun as climbing. (-:

While we were in Banff we heard the tragic news that my long-time friend and frequent climbing companion, Peter Aitchison, had been killed in a fall while attempting an ascent of the south summit of Mount Victoria. This came as a real blow, from which I’m still recovering (ergo the absence of blog posts over the past few weeks).

We ended our trip a few days early with a visit to Lake Louise, where we could sit and take in the spectacular view that would have been Peter’s last… climb on, Peter, climb on.

Peter_Aitchison_Mount_Victoria


Next Page »

© 2002-