John Shirley’s guide to wrecking your career in science fiction

By John Shirley

“I’m growing up in public, growing up in public,
growing up in public — with my pants down.”
— Lou Reed

Kamikaze, streaking from the sky! Crash and burn!

Thus, the fanatical rage-fueled Kamikaze flight of yours truly in 1976, as I pilot the Japanese Zero of my career, teeth-gritting as I arc my aircraft down to destroy itself on the rusting plates of the st…