The official Website of Michael Martinez, author, theorist, and Website publisher has been online since 2004.
Michael Martinez has been a fan of science fiction and fantasy for as long as he can remember. He was permitted to stay up late on Wednesday evenings during the 1960s to watch Star Trek. He suffered through the “Years of Dearth” when all science fiction movies were complete trash. Even the “Planet of the Apes” movies quickly descended into cheap commercial nonsense. But Michael was there in line for “Star Wars” in 1977. He saw the film 17 times that summer. It was a breath of fresh air, a badly needed revival of science fiction movie making. It was also an excuse to spend time with the cute girl next door at the theater.
Michael first became involved with fantasy role playing games through college in the 1980s. He joined CompuServe for professional reasons in the early 1990s but quickly found the SF-Lit Forum. There he joined the CompuServe IMPs, a group of up-and-coming writers who were patiently waiting for admittance to the SF-Lit Forum’s online writing workshop. From CompuServe Michael found the Internet and the news groups. He eventually became active in several online discussion groups.
By 1997 Michael had taken on his first work-for-hire contract, developing copy for electronic Hercules and Xena trading cards. He launched Xenite.Org, a massive science fiction and fantasy fan site, and by late 1998 had begun learning about search engine optimization. That year Michael also began writing a bi-weekly column for the popular Suite101 Website, which at the time was a platform showcasing freelance writers who were paid small monthly stipends.
From his very first Website, The Worlds of Michael Martinez, published via CompuServe, came a collection of essays about the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Titled Parma Endorion: Essays on Middle-earth, the collection was cited by Yahoo! and other notable Websites as one of the most scholarly essay collections about Tolkien’s fiction on the Web. After revising and republishing the essays on Xenite.Org as a “2nd edition”, Michael eventually released them as a free eBook (the “3rd edition”). With more than 1 million downloads in its first six months, Parma Endorion: Essays on Middle-earth, 3rd Edition was proclaimed “Free eBook of the Year” in 2003.
In 1999 Michael began writing a popular column about Tolkien and Middle-earth for Suite101. His readership grew to about 30,000 weekly visitors. He published many of his Suite101 essays in a book, Visualizing Middle-earth. Visualizing Middle-earth was the first of several books Michael published. Here is an interesting story about the book: Michael’s father, who was living in Biloxi, MS, took a cab one day. The can driver was a friendly guy who chatted about his interests in science fiction and fantasy. Michael’s dad mentioned his son was interest in SF, too. The cabbie recommended a new book he was reading. Mr. Martinez began chuckling, “That’s my son’s book!” he said.
As noted above, in addition to science fiction and fantasy, Michael also has a strong interest in search engine optimization. Drawing upon his training in computer science and literary analysis, Michael applied the principles of scientific measurement and study to learning about how the Searchable Web Ecosystem works. As a theorist Michael’s work has influenced the marketing practices of governments and major corporations around the world. To date he remains the only full-time theorist in the field, and his ground-breaking writings on Viral Propaganda Theory and Naturality Curves have established him as a singular authority.
One of Michael’s essays from another Website, SEO Theory, Practical Argument, 3rd edition, was published in a college textbook, , by Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. The essay, “Why Citations Do Not Make Wikipedia and Similar Sites Credible”, is a rebuttal of arguments put forth by people who use Wikipedia and other wiki cites as sources of reputable information.
Michael launched his official Website, michael-martinez.com, in May 2004. It serves as a personal brand site for people who are curious about Michael’s work as a writer and theorist. The site also includes a blog where Michael occasionally shares his personal thoughts, memories, and experiences.
Here is a list of current sections on Michael’s official Website:
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