A City of Han, which includes my short story “The Mosquito Hunters of Korea,” has been reviewed by The Korea Herald. I am in disbelief that they said my story reminded them of Joseph Conrad. In high school and for ... Read More
Maureen and Bill had a good marriage, or so it seemed, until one full moon when he became a wolf man. Their bonds of matrimony are put to the test by his newfound appetite for eating neighborhood cats and rolling ... Read More
Three of my erasure poems, “Plate XVI. B. suturalis,” “Plate VI. L. fulvicauda,” and “No satisfactory explanation” are in the Februrary 2020 print issue of Inverted Syntax. These are erasures of classic entomological texts, revealing the hidden lives of insects ... Read More
A scientist with a US military preventive medicine unit in South Korea dies in a minefield while collecting mosquitoes in the DMZ. His supervisor, the unit’s newly appointed executive officer, takes over the position, only to find out that this ... Read More
Ancestor simulations, such as the matrix simulation in the eponymous movie trilogy, are a recurring form of technology within speculative fiction; however, science fiction critics have largely overlooked their importance to the genre. This paper examines how ancestor simulations function ... Read More
Publications
Publications
Fiction
“The Mosquito Hunters of Korea.” A City of Han: stories by expat writers in South Korea.
A scientist with a US military preventive medicine unit in South Korea dies in a minefield while collecting mosquitoes in the DMZ. His supervisor, the unit’s newly appointed executive officer, takes over the position, only to find out that this was not the first such death. He will have to fight against his unit’s dark history if he is to not repeat it.
A City of Han has been listed as a #1 New Release in Asian Literature by Amazon.com. In a review by The Korea Herald, my story was compared to Joseph Conrad. Read the review here.
“The Wolf Man’s Wife.” Strange Stories, Volume 1, Fall 2019.
Maureen and Bill had a good marriage, or so it seemed, until one full moon when he became a wolf man. Their bonds of matrimony are put to the test by his newfound appetite for eating neighborhood cats and rolling in fresh poop.
“The Camphorwood Statue.” Leaping Clear. Fall 2018.
A monk in medieval Japan has a vision of the Bodhisattva Kannon and must travel to a distant camphorwood forest to fulfill it. His journey leads not only into the heart of the forest, but into the nature of suffering.
”Ancestor Simulations: A Past, Revisited.” NewMyths.com, Winter 2019.
Ancestor simulations, such as the matrix simulation in the eponymous movie trilogy, are a recurring form of technology within speculative fiction; however, science fiction critics have largely overlooked their importance to the genre. This paper examines how ancestor simulations function as a plot device and how this changes over time from the 1980s to today. The relationship between characters and ancestor simulations parallels the growing dependency upon computers during this time period and, disturbingly, suggests a willingness to give up agency for a freedom mediated by computers and technology.
“Journaling as a Ritual Practice.” NILVX. Volume 2, Issue 3, Fall 2019.
A magical journal is an unexpected ritual partner for the practitioner of the esoteric arts. Many of us keep grimoires or Books of Shadow – but the magical journal is not the same. Within the magical journal, the practitioner finds a sacred space of transmutation. Learn how to use your journal for self-discovery in my article in the Fall 2019 issue of NILVX.
“The Descent of Ancient Night Upon Heav’n: An Addition to John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Book Three.” The Mythic Circle 41, Summer 2019.
John Milton’s Paradise Lost is a classic of the English language, but it is also mired in a patriarchal view on women in Christianity – the titular Paradise is lost through the indiscretions of a woman.
My addition takes a minor character in Paradise Lost, Night, and empowers her as a goddess, redefining the original and reclaiming the feminine in Christianity.
“Postcards from the Abyss.” Mosaic. University of California, Riverside. 1993.
“Blood & Water Blood & Sand.” Mosaic. University of California, Riverside. 1993.
“Drinking from a Dry Well.” Mosaic. University of California, Riverside. 1993.
“I, Attis.” Mosaic. University of California, Riverside. 1992.
Pest Control Publications
Ted has also published extensively on how to safely and effectively control pests in and around homes and businesses. Known for his down-to-earth writing style and practical insights, his philosophy is that the science and technology in an article should complement the reader’s understanding of the material, not undermine it.
Roach Baiting: Feast or Famine? NPMA Commercial Division e-Newsletter, 2007.
Creating a Teaching Pest Collection. Pest Control Technology, December 2005.
Stick it to Them: Insect Espionage. Pest Control Technology, July 2005.
The Little Ant That Could. Pest Control Technology, April 2005.
Subslab Ant Infestations. NPMA Commercial Division e-Newsletter, 2005.
Ants in Warehouses. NPMA Commercial Division e-Newsletter, 2005.
Exclusion as Part of an Integrated Pest Management Program. NPMA Commercial Division e-Newsletter, 2005.
Web Removal Works. Pest Control Magazine, August 2001.
What to Do When Ants Call for Improved Pest Management. Pest Control Magazine, May 2001.
Doing Pest Management in a Vacuum: Using This Tool Can Make Yellowjacket Control More Simple and Less Risky. Pest Control Magazine, June 2000.
Make a Clean Sweep of Old Methods: Using a Vacuum Cleaner can Enhance an IPM Program. Pest Control Magazine, May 2000.
Exhibitions
The Short Bus: Reclaiming the Voices of Students in Special Education Through Erasure Poetry, displayed at the Midwest Interdisciplinary Graduate Conference, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, February 2020.
This exhibition displayed a series of erasure poems that provide a voice to the experiences of students with special needs.
About Ted
About Ted Snyder
Ted at Bodai-ji Temple, Osore-zan, Japan
Ted grew up in Roger Zelazny’s Amber as much as he did in California’s Inland Empire. He still wanders the shadow worlds, only now in the stories he writes.
Much of his writing falls within that odd corner of speculative fiction often referred to as weird tales. Science fiction that overlaps with horror enough to where it's not quite SF anymore. Dark, macabre fantasy. Horror that sidesteps the overused monster tropes and clever twist endings. He takes inspiration from Gene Wolfe, HP Lovecraft, Clark Aston Smith, Joe Lansdale, Roger Zelazny, Frank Bill, and David Foster Wallace.
He also creates erasure poems, finding hidden texts within writings both old and new. These "found poems" push the boundaries of what we consider poetry and what we consider art. Many of his erasure poems incorporate in old scientific illustrations. He is always finding ways to expand poetry into new media, and he was one of the first poets to publish multimedia poetry on the internet back in 1999.
He studied creative writing at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, spinning terrifying tales for his fellow graduate students. Perhaps one day they might recover.
Originally from Southern California, he lived in Tokyo, Japan while serving as an officer in the US Army, and Raleigh, North Carolina while he was in graduate school for entomology. He currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
For workshops, Ted teaches using a student centered instructional style that focuses on students learning through doing, rather than listening to a lecture. He teaches workshops on the various types of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, and horror), as well as on poetry. Teaching erasure poetry and found poetry is a special interest of his. Contact him to discuss your ideas for a workshop.
