Welcome to the World  According to Cosmos

  [display-posts posts_per_page=”5″]               Where to Find Cosmos’s Work on the Web updates Where to Find Cosmos’s Work More Podcasts available Podcast update Cosmos Books Read 2021 Update Reading the Classics Updated Lists Movies Seen 2021 Guns KIll People Recent Political Poems All Poetry Poems Poetry Soup Poems 2016-2019  

Welcome to The World According to Cosmos

Poetry, fiction, travel writing, rants, and reflections from a wandering diplomat‑poet.

Welcome to The World According to Cosmos! I’m your host, Jake Cosmos Aller—novelist, poet, retired U.S. Foreign Service officer, and lifelong traveler. I launched this site almost seven years ago, and since then more than 7,000 readers from around the world have stopped by. My podcast, now two years old, has also reached thousands of listeners. Thank you to everyone who has joined me on this journey. It has been almost seven years since I launched this site and I have over 7,000 followers from around the world and thousands of hits. Thanks to all who have visited the site. I hope you like it. It has also been two years since I launched my podcast, and I have thousands of listeners. I spent 27 years in the Foreign Service, serving in ten countries—South Korea, Thailand, India, Spain, and the Eastern Caribbean (based in Barbados but covering Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent). I’ve visited nearly fifty countries, lived in Berkeley, Stockton, Seattle, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., and Medford, Oregon, and traveled to all fifty states plus Puerto Rico. These days I split my time between South Korea and the U.S. I’ve been writing poetry and fiction for decades, and my work has appeared in more than one hundred literary journals. My poetry leans toward outlaw and neo‑Beatnik styles — a natural outcome of growing up in Berkeley surrounded by the echoes of the Beat generation. My fiction tends toward sci‑fi political thrillers. I’ve completed six novels so far, including Giant Nazi Spiders, The Great Divorce, Jurassic Cruise, The Life and Times of Big Daddy, and Fort Ashland. The first three chapters of several novels are posted here, and I welcome your comments. This blog is where I share my poetry, fiction, travel writing, book and movie reviews, and the occasional political rant. I’m on a long‑term quest to read the classics and keep updated lists of books read and movies watched. You’ll find those here as well. Politically, I am a lifelong Democrat and a pragmatic progressive. I distrust ideologues on both the left and the right — especially the right’s refusal to address gun violence. I support the LGBTQ community and have many LGBTQ and trans friends. My religious views have evolved over the years: once a hardcore atheist, I now consider myself a Buddhist of the independent, non‑temple variety. I try to do the right thing and avoid the hypocrisy I see in much of the so‑called Christian right. I grew up in a political family in Berkeley. My ancestry is a swirl of eighteen nationalities — Basque, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, Jewish, Laplander, Mongolian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian, Cherokee, Irish, Italian, Nigerian, Scottish, and Welsh. My mother descended from the “lost tribe” of the Cherokee Nation — families who fled into the Ozarks to avoid the Trail of Tears — so I may also have Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole ancestry. DNA tests don’t break Native ancestry down by tribe, so the mystery remains. My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name — passed down from my great‑grandfather, who wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller. He found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos Aller. The name has nothing to do with being born in Berkeley, though no one ever believes that. “Universe” would have been even more Berkeley. I welcome comments and will respond when I can. Spirited debate is fine — personal attacks are not. Please keep things civil. I apologize in advance if my sarcasm or bluntness rubs anyone the wrong way. Take it or leave it — it’s all part of the Cosmos. You can also find my work on All Poetry, Fan Story, Medium, Poetry Soup, Substack, Wattpad, Writing.com, Tumblr, Twitter, and on my podcast platforms including Spotify, Amazon, and Radio Public. A YouTube channel is coming soon, along with my music compositions — I recently bought a Roland piano and am relearning how to play. I love blues, jazz, roots rock, and funk. Tower of Power remains my all‑time favorite band. Finally, a disclaimer: these are my opinions alone. They do not reflect the views of any of my former employers. I am retired now — free to speak my mind — and I have a lot to say. Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy my poetry, fiction, travel writing, rants, and cosmic musings. — Jake Cosmos Aller (aka Cosmos) I am Jake Cosmos Aller, your host.  I am a novelist, poet, and retired U.S. diplomat having served 27 years in the Foreign Service, living in South Korea., and Medford, Oregon. I have been writing poetry and short stories for decades and have published my poetry and fiction in over 50 literary journals. My poetry can best be described as “neo-beatnik” as growing up in Berkeley I was heavily influenced by the beatnik writers. I have completed six SF novels, – Giant Nazi Spiders, the Great Divorce, Jurassic Cruise, the Life and Times of Big Daddy, and Ft. Ashland. I have posted the first three chapters on my site. Comments are greatly appreciated. During my foreign service career, I served in ten countries (Korea, Thailand, India, the Eastern Caribbean (lived in Barbados but covered Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts, St Lucia, and St Vincent), and Spain. I grew up in Berkeley, California, and have lived all over the U.S., in Berkeley, Washington DC, Stockton, California, Seattle, Washington, and Alexandria Virginia, and Medford, Oregon. I have traveled to 50 States, and Puerto Rico. I have also lived overseas in Korea, Thailand, India, Spain, and the Eastern Caribbean. I  am splitting my retirement between Korea and the U.S. States. I speak Korean, Thai, and Spanish.  I am married, with no children. I will be posting my poetry, fiction, and political observations on this site. I also will be posting travel items on my travels around the world, I will also post literary and movie reviews from time to time.  I am on a quest to finish reading the classics over the next few years.  Here are my latest reading and movie lists. Cosmos Reading List 2023 Reading the Classics Updated Master Movies Seen 1970- 2024 Regarding the political rants, I could post a lot but why bother? So much of our political discourse is based on fake outrage on both sides and I am sick and tired of it and don’t feel like contributing more to the noise. But on occasion I will post my rants.  Here are a few   The GOP War On the LGBTQ Community Continues Unabated MAGA Freak-Out About Haitians Eating Cats and Dogs T he Color of Politics Climate Change Is Kicking Our Ass. Politically, I am a lifelong Democrat but consider myself a pragmatic progressive and distrust ideologues of both the left and the right, but particularly the right. I am particularly incensed by the Republican party’s dismal failure to do anything about the epidemic of gun violence other than mouthing useless words and prayers. The dead don’t care, they are gun ghosts. My religious views have evolved – I was a hardcore atheist but over the years have had spiritual insights so I consider myself a Buddhist nowadays but don’t belong to any temple or group.  Just try to do the right thing at all times.  I particularly have a bone to pick with the so-called Christian right, particularly those who proclaim Trump is anointed by God, etc, or who claim that God speaks to them.  See my poem “God Does Not Speak to Idiots.” Encounters with God I welcome comments and will respond to each comment, time permitting. While I welcome a spirited debate and certainly don’t expect people will agree with me all the time, please keep your comments civil.  I apologize in advance if anyone finds anything objectionable or offensive. I do have a sarcastic, in-your-face attitude in some of my writing. Take it or leave it. Send any comments to me at authorjakecosmosaller@gmail.com or hit me up on my blog. Be sure to check out my All Poetry, Fan Story, Medium, Poetry Soup, Substack, Wattpad, Writing.com, Twitter feed, Tumblr postings, and podcasts, available on Amazon, Radio Public, Spotify, and elsewhere. Stay tuned for the launch of my YouTube channel in the New Year, as well as my music compositions starting shortly thereafter. I just bought a Roland piano. and am relearning how to play the piano and write music. I like classic blues, jazz, roots rock, and funk the best.  My favorite band is Tower of Power! My pen name, Cosmos, comes from my middle name, Cosmos. The name Cosmos came about because my great-grandfather wanted an English translation of our German family name, Aller, to use as a middle name for his son, my grandfather. He looked up Aller and found “Cosmos” or “Universe.” I am the third and last Cosmos heir. The name has nothing to do with me being born in Berkeley, although no one believes that, as the name is so “Berkeley.” Universe would have been even more of a Berkeley vibe, I think. I appreciate my readers and any comments you may have. Please keep your comments civil. It is important that we all get along and remember that, despite our differences, we are all God’s children. I am not your enemy, and you are not my enemy. Thank you, and please enjoy my fiction, musings, rants, and poetry. Jake Cosmos Aller aka Cosmos Finally, a big disclaimer. These are my opinions only. They do not reflect the opinions of any of my prior employers. I am retired and now can speak my mind. and I have a lot to say. Thanks John (Jake) Cosmos Aller, aka Cosmos