About this Website

This site is the official website of short story writer Walton "Bud" Simons, whose works have been published in anthologies, magazines, mosaic novels, and comic books.

Perhaps best known as the creator of Demise and Mr. Nobody in the Wild Cards science fiction series. Walton Simons was also immortalized in popular memory when he lent his name to the supervillain in the Deus Ex video game.

Bud is an avid film aficionado who has written countless reviews of new video, laserdisc, and DVD releases, some of which are available on this website.

• "Bud on the Wild Cards phenomenon"
• Wild Cards bibliography


• Complete short fiction bibliography
• New fiction " The Two Mr. Howards" available only to visitors of this website.
• Read the story " The Thing in the Trees" by faux pulp writer M. M. Moamrath, a tale "discovered" by Bud.
• Reviews written for the Austin Chronicle


• Related links

The American Hero website is live. Visitors can view a wealth of new material by Wild Cards authors, which will be regularly updated, related to the aces-on-aces competition featured in Inside Straight, now on sale from Tor books.

The unpleasant-looking fellow on the left is Bud's creation Joe Twitch, one of eight members of team Diamonds, who hopes to be the last one standing. Think he has a chance?

Busted Flush, the second in the trilogy of new Wild Cards mosaic novels that began with Inside Straight (out this January at a bookstore near you), and the nineteenth volume of the overall series, has been completed and delivered to editor Patrick Nielsen Hayden at Tor. The book is scheduled to be published in late 2008.

To promote the publication of Inside Straight, the first volume in the new Wild Cards triad, Tor Books has launched a Wild Cards website. Vistors can check out author bios, interviews, character sketches, and much more. Inside Straight is set for publication in January 2008. Read an excerpt here.

The following text is an excerpt from Deuces Down and is copyright © 2002 by George R.R. Martin and the Wild Card Trust.

That the Wild Cards series is still alive and kicking after over 15 years might be a surprise to some, but not to me. Then again, I'm the creator of James Spector, aka Demise, who died from the Wild Card virus but still managed to stay alive long enough to wreak havoc through several volumes of the series. The book you're getting ready to read, Deuces Down, is not only the first new Wild Card opus in quite some time but also proof that the story ideas and concepts nurtured by the series' writers have a way of coming to fruition eventually.

Over the years, Walton Simons has written a number of video, DVD, and game reviews for the Austin Chronicle under the name by which he's known locally to his friends, "Bud" Simons.

A sampling of these reviews are available on this site.

Bud Simons is a longtime friend of game producer Warren Spector, who avid Wild Cards readers may recognize as having lent a name to Bud's most beloved character, James "Demise" Spector. When it came time for Warren to create a boss monster in his blockbuster game, Deus Ex, he decided to return the favor--and thus, the Walton "Do you have even a passing interest in doing your job?" Simons supervillain was born.

Since the game's debut, Walton Simons has become such a part of popular culture that he is listed on the Wikipedia entry for FEMA. That's the actual FEMA, not the Deus Ex FEMA! The character was named the fifth greatest villain in PC game history in the April 2006 issue of PC Gamer magazine.

Here's the Deus Ex character's "official" biography, taken from Wikipedia.

Sony Playstation Electronic Arts/Blizzard Entertainment

Playstation owners who have completed all the missions from Command and Conquer now have something else to occupy their time. Real-time strategy games are far and few between on game consoles and Warcraft II (along with Red Alert) is among the best in the genre. The objective is simple: Commanding either the orc or human forces, the player fulfills a specific objective, generally annihilating the enemy. At his disposal are a variety of land, air, and sea forces, all of which require resources to produce. Managing the elements of production as well as overseeing military strategy are critical to achieving success in each of the increasingly difficult scenarios. Warcraft II is notable for its balanced play, excellent music, and pronounced sense of humor, and it's the game's unabashed love of fun that gives it the edge over Command and Conquer.

According to Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics, the April/May 1981 issue of the World's Finest Comics #268 contains a 10-page spread called "The Blade of Death" featuring the Green Arrow and authored by our very own Bud Simons. Other credits...Penciller: Treevor Von Eeden, Inker: Brent Breeding, Letterer: John Costanza, Colorist: Jerry Serpe.

Now, technically this isn't short fiction. I may just have to start a separate comics bibliography and list this along with Bud's 3 Wild Cards comic credits.

Contrary to popular rumor, Walton Simons is not a psuedonym for Walt Simonson. (That's one reason he wrote the Green Arrow story under his nickname, Bud--to avoid confusion. Unfortunately, it hasn't entirely worked.)

D: Jonathan Demme (1984); with David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison.

Stop Making Sense is considered by many to be one of the best concert films of all time, and possibly the best (depending on how one feels about the band). There are people who find David Byrne to be affected and bizarre, but plenty of others have no such problems. The Talking Heads were at their artistic zenith when the film was made, having released back-to-back the albums Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues, and the band's videos were getting heavy rotation on MTV.

The concert begins with Byrne taking the stage, guitar in hand and accompanied only by a boom box. After performing "Psycho Killer" solo, he's joined by fellow Heads Weymouth, Frantz, and Harrison, each arriving individually to add their talents to the next song. It can be argued that parading the band out one at a time is a conceit, but it's one that works.

By the time they kick into "Slippery People," the music is in full gear. Heads fans will be happy with the performances of such favorites as "Heaven," "Burning Down the House," "Life During Wartime," "Naive Melody," "Once in a Lifetime," "Take Me to the River," and "Crosseyed and Painless." Byrne bouncing around the stage in his big suit during "Girlfriend Is Better" is one of the more memorable rock images of the Eighties, but Stop Making Sense is more than just something to be sliced and diced into music videos. Director Jonathan Demme wisely stayed away from unnecessary camera movement and the rapid editing style so prevalent on MTV at the time, allowing the concert to unfold in the organic manner the band intended.