Play Attention by Marshall Soules

A crow riding a bicycle with the text 'PLAY ATTENTION'.

Play is older than culture. Play is distinguished from work by being self-motivated, voluntary, without external reward. Unless it is freely improvised, play usually occurs within boundaries of ritual or voluntary guidelines. Playing attention means playing in your chosen ways, paying attention to what matters to you, then activating your attention in meaningful, ethical ways. Pre-order here.

Portrait of an older man with white hair and glasses wearing a black shirt.

Marshall Soules taught literature, drama and writing courses at Vancouver Island University before founding the Media Studies degree program in the mid-1990s. Following the general principles of Media Ecology pioneered by Innis, McLuhan and Carpenter, VIU’s Media Studies program balances theory and practice, and pioneered video conferencing and online course delivery in the mid-1990s.

What They're Saying about Play Attention

"Play Attention takes the reader on a wild romp through multiple dimensions of play, from extreme athletes to street artists, before placing play in the context of the Internet, all as seen through lenses which include McLuhanism and neuroscience." -- Marc Edge, author of The Postmedia Effect

"Play Attention, a serious intelligence takes on a subject of equal seriousness, guided at every page by a spirit of playfulness." -- Bill Kuhns,creator of the McLuhan Marshalling Machine

“This is not a text limited to text, but open to audio-visual resources of many kinds that the reader can consult with a few strokes of a computer key. It's multi-disciplinary perspective ranges over ancient and modern myth, psychology, physiology, neurology, along with various arts. And its multiple references to theorists of play are rich. But it's also deeply personal in that it so often relates the theory back to your personal experience." -- Ray Ellenwood, author of Egregore: The Montréal Automatist Movement

What They're Saying about Song of the Unsung Mushroom

"Sarah Clarke Stuart passionately explores how human diversity and self-discovery may break into new frontiers... and how fungi might actually be our friends."
-- David Brin, Hugo, Nebula, Locus Award-Winner; author of Earth, Existence and The Postman

"Haunting and fascinating! Song of the Unsung Mushroom is an intriguing exploration of identity, set within a unique science fiction mystery." -- Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

“Glimmering with the excitement and danger of exploring a childhood world that never ends, Song of the Unsung Mushroom unearths the damp, soggy soil of the posthuman spirit.” -- Roy Christopher, author of The Medium Picture

"Song of the Unsung Mushroom skillfully blends an aching portrayal of a big sister- little brother relationship with a fervent drive to investigate mysterious intelligences thriving in Florida’s waterways." -- Rosemary Claire Smith, Sidewise Award Winner,

“Apollo in Retrograde”

"Song of the Unsung Mushroom is an engaging blend of family dynamics and climate fiction, literary fiction style and science fiction tropes. It evokes lazy childhood summers even as weird scientists slowly work their way to the centre of the story. Highly recommended for SF fans who want something fresh and different." -- Ira Nayman, former editor of Amazing Stories

"Sarah Clarke Stuart has written a novel that glimmers with beauty and depth. Song of the Unsung Mushroom is haunting and deeply original. Part family drama, part speculative wonder, it is always lyrical and alive. A truly original work that will linger long after the final page.” -- Edwin Stepp, Award-Winning author and memoirist; co- producer: Live Forever: The Ray Bradbury Odyssey

"Blends genres with aspects of fantasy and science fiction, ecological thriller and even some horror ... I really loved the story of the young girl and her brother and their small adventures in their canoe." - Max Truxaw, Amazing Stories

-> Available in Kindle, paperback, hardcover , and audiobook here!

Play Attention by Marshall Soules

What They're Saying about Play Attention

Song of the Unsung Mushroom by Sarah Clarke Stuart

What They're Saying about Song of the Unsung Mushroom

Events

Zoom conversation with Author

Sarah Clarke Stuart talks about her debut novel

In-Person Book Launch: March 22, 2026

Sarah signs Roy Christopher's copy of her novel

Other In-Person Events

March 18-21 International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts

April 25 Book signing at San Marco Books at the Independent Bookstore Event

Sarah on day of publication of her novel ...