Still want to be an editor?
Pay-rate increase at Asimov's and Analog
Against closure (I'd need to read the novels to see if I agree)
Island mapped on Google and other maps does not exist.
Margo Lanagan & Mark Morris audio stories
Patricia McKillip review
APB-SAL is a blog about education, science, science education, fiction, science fiction, literature, literary stories, poetry, and anything else that strikes the blogger's fancy. NOTE: This blog interrogates art. It rarely make moral proclamations. For that attend the church or politician of your choice. This blog concerns aesthetics, not propaganda. Consider this as interviews with books where the interviewer presents interviewees, so you get what you need to do your own thinking.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
free ebook: Golden Queen by David Farland
I enjoyed this one: The Golden Queen - Book 1 of the Golden Queen Series by David Farland. It begins in what feels like a fantasy world and gets gradually stranger and more science fictional. Good fun.
"Heaventide" by K J Kabza
Fantasy and Science Fiction, November/December 2012
Daybreak-Under-Clouds is in a quandary. In her world if you consort with a traveler, you're a woman. If you travel, you must be a man. You can't do and be both. After catching her consorting, her grandmother consigns Daybreak to womanhood. Still, with the traveler's aid, Daybreak continues to attempt travel, building a boat and going where she ought not to. When she's caught for the last time, there's really only one choice left.
A story about triumphing over those who would stamp the fluidity of gender.
Daybreak-Under-Clouds is in a quandary. In her world if you consort with a traveler, you're a woman. If you travel, you must be a man. You can't do and be both. After catching her consorting, her grandmother consigns Daybreak to womanhood. Still, with the traveler's aid, Daybreak continues to attempt travel, building a boat and going where she ought not to. When she's caught for the last time, there's really only one choice left.
A story about triumphing over those who would stamp the fluidity of gender.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Writing Advice, Workshop, Rights, Science, & Magazine
Cat Rambo on literary game and toolbox: (Rambo has a special offer on her workshops)
Rights reverting to authors
Massive black hole makes up an unprecedented 59% of galaxy's mass
Powerful Quasar (mostly the picture is cool)
Eclipse Online Magazine
"[A] device shouldn’t be separate from a story, but an integral part of it"Rachel Aaron on increasing productivity
Rights reverting to authors
Massive black hole makes up an unprecedented 59% of galaxy's mass
Powerful Quasar (mostly the picture is cool)
Eclipse Online Magazine
Book review: There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur History by Howard Temperley
There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere!: A Rhyming Romp Through Dinosaur HistoryDo you have a young dinosaur-lover in your home? There Were Dinosaurs Everywhere! represents a light-hearted look at dinosaurs with Michael Kane doing an excellent job drawing compelling illustrations. Despite the verse, the book is largely a nonfiction work, targeting those precocious ones with an unquenchable thirst for all-things-dinosaur.
Howard Temperley Illustrations by Michael Kline
KWS Publishers
JKSCommunications
- ISBN9781937783167
- Price24.95
- CurrencyUSD
- EditionPaperback
The book treats early dinosaurs (evolution, Scutosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Lesothosaurus, Diplodocus, Barosaurus), finding them (fossils, paleontologists), flying dinosaurs (Microraptor, Incisivosaurus, Caudipteryx, Pterosaurs, Pterodactylus), dinosaur facts (intelligence, diet, digestion), sea dinosaurs (Ichthyosaurus, Liopleurodon), later dinosaurs (Velociraptor, Carcharodontosaurus, Styracosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Troodon, Euoplocephalus, Oviraptor, Tyrannosaurus rex, Ankylosaurus, Triceratops), and the end of dinosaurs.
The choice of verse as the method of presentation--as well as the subtitle's "Rhyming Romp"--might lead one to suspect a book of humorous verse. Perhaps this is a symptom of reading Shel Silverstein. Some poems are written as humor, others as non-sequitors, a few as moral compasses (eat your organic veggies), but most are just an alternate presentation of nonfiction--maybe with the design of better recall.
Yet more humor might have given the book a longer longevity, no matter how low the humor. It is written for young people, after all. And if adults are to read it, you'll want to give them something to take pleasure in, more than rhyme and illustrations. However, the author does prove capable of humor:
This scutosaur is a sorry sight,
...It looks as if its life's a bore.
I'm glad I'm not a scutosaur.
The balance of fact and humor might have been too difficult to navigate. Still, it is a book sure to please young dinosaur-lovers everywhere.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Links: Mentoring a Crackling-Real Mars at Lightspeed
"Old Foss Is the Name of his Cat" by David Sandner
Clockwork Phoenix 1
Inspired by an Edward Lear lyric, this story relates the tale of how Old Man rejected the Jumbly Girl to remain with Old Foss, his sometimes talkative cat. While rejecting the Jumbly Girl saved the Old Man's life, Old Foss regrets how he'd convinced the Old Man otherwise. A moving tale. Deeper characterization might have made it more powerful, but still worth reading.
Inspired by an Edward Lear lyric, this story relates the tale of how Old Man rejected the Jumbly Girl to remain with Old Foss, his sometimes talkative cat. While rejecting the Jumbly Girl saved the Old Man's life, Old Foss regrets how he'd convinced the Old Man otherwise. A moving tale. Deeper characterization might have made it more powerful, but still worth reading.
Monday, November 26, 2012
"The Problem of the Elusive Cracksman" by Ron Goulart
Fantasy and Science Fiction, November 2012
Set in 1901 England, this story captures some of the feeling of that era as Harry Challenge of New York attempts to solve the mystery of the stolen jewels, jewels stolen by a gorilla who isn't a gorilla. The story opens with Challenge tossed into the Thames to stop him from investigating the crime, but of course it fails. The story doffs its cap to a famous monster story as well as thumbing its nose briefly if playfully at the sexual tension found in the noir genre. A fun romp.
Set in 1901 England, this story captures some of the feeling of that era as Harry Challenge of New York attempts to solve the mystery of the stolen jewels, jewels stolen by a gorilla who isn't a gorilla. The story opens with Challenge tossed into the Thames to stop him from investigating the crime, but of course it fails. The story doffs its cap to a famous monster story as well as thumbing its nose briefly if playfully at the sexual tension found in the noir genre. A fun romp.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
"City of Blind Delight" by Catherynne M. Valente
Anthology: Clockwork Phoenix 1
Writers with elaborate descriptive skills tend to earn more writerly praise within the genre. Valentine is no exception. While her ability does impress--"graffiti-barnacled leviathan" for a train--certain readers will be put off. Mike Allen clearly wanted to establish a certain tone for his anthology. He isn't going to let it be easy on you, but the view will be worth it.
The story opens with speculative philosophizing: A train exists that traverses the world, all train stations. Gris, a business man, unknowingly steps aboard and enters the station for the City of Blind Delight, where you either work as a dancer or a prostitute. Dancers decorate the walls and ceiling. And a prostitute greets Gris, shows she is both a woman and a machine, and he returns home. The story closes again on its speculative philosophy.
Writers with elaborate descriptive skills tend to earn more writerly praise within the genre. Valentine is no exception. While her ability does impress--"graffiti-barnacled leviathan" for a train--certain readers will be put off. Mike Allen clearly wanted to establish a certain tone for his anthology. He isn't going to let it be easy on you, but the view will be worth it.
The story opens with speculative philosophizing: A train exists that traverses the world, all train stations. Gris, a business man, unknowingly steps aboard and enters the station for the City of Blind Delight, where you either work as a dancer or a prostitute. Dancers decorate the walls and ceiling. And a prostitute greets Gris, shows she is both a woman and a machine, and he returns home. The story closes again on its speculative philosophy.
"If the Stars Reverse their Courses, If the Rivers Run Back from the Sea" by Alter S. Reiss
Fantasy and Science Fiction, November 2012
Another strong parallel universe story, albeit one with roots in fantasy. The narrator travels to a basement where he does some conjuration so he can visit a nexus where the formerly dead gather. In some universes they live on, while in others they are reincarnated, living again and again. The narrator is determined to right wrongs, to kill Cainder who has started a war in every universe--no matter how many times the narrator has to kill Cainder.
This one feels like part of a novel or novella, especially since we travel through part of one universe without accomplishing much except setting up the travesty Cainder has caused (vital but perhaps more could have occurred). It captures a nice tone matching the narrative.
Another strong parallel universe story, albeit one with roots in fantasy. The narrator travels to a basement where he does some conjuration so he can visit a nexus where the formerly dead gather. In some universes they live on, while in others they are reincarnated, living again and again. The narrator is determined to right wrongs, to kill Cainder who has started a war in every universe--no matter how many times the narrator has to kill Cainder.
This one feels like part of a novel or novella, especially since we travel through part of one universe without accomplishing much except setting up the travesty Cainder has caused (vital but perhaps more could have occurred). It captures a nice tone matching the narrative.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
"Waiting for a Me Like You" by Chris Willrich
Fantasy and Science Fiction, November 2012
This one smells of future classic, nearly matching Robert Heinlein's "All You Zombies." Bob is visited by a man from another universe, a man who strong-arms Bob into joining their cause using alternate versions of himself. Clever. A good set-up for a novel.
This one smells of future classic, nearly matching Robert Heinlein's "All You Zombies." Bob is visited by a man from another universe, a man who strong-arms Bob into joining their cause using alternate versions of himself. Clever. A good set-up for a novel.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
"The Ladies in Waiting" by Albert E. Cowdrey
Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 2012
Jimmy & Morrie, a paranormal investigative couple, liberate a ghost from its violent haunting in Mississippi. Wittily told and sharply rendered characters. You may need the first story to get a better feel for the main characters.
Jimmy & Morrie, a paranormal investigative couple, liberate a ghost from its violent haunting in Mississippi. Wittily told and sharply rendered characters. You may need the first story to get a better feel for the main characters.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Stories mapped, Get out of writing, World of Clarke, Burning the dust
Storymap is one the cooler websites I've come across. They have a map of Dublin, where stories have taken place. Clicking the link leads to a video telling the story. This one visually tells Roddy Doyle's short story.
Philip Roth to young writers: Get out while you can.
Neil Clarke needs help after a number of health and financial mishaps. Support Clarkesworld.
Ken Burn's Dust Bowl
Can astronauts on Mars survive the radiation? Apparently, yes.
Philip Roth to young writers: Get out while you can.
Neil Clarke needs help after a number of health and financial mishaps. Support Clarkesworld.
Ken Burn's Dust Bowl
Can astronauts on Mars survive the radiation? Apparently, yes.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
"Breathe" by Steven Popkes
Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 2012
Considering this has vampires in it, this treats them uniquely and movingly. Vampires can pass on their genes. They can die of normal aging; however, they can prolong their life by stealing health from those around them. Will is uncomfortable with the vampirism; and when he catches his father, dying of emphysema, in the act, he decides to do something about it. The ending is a little unclear--whether there was retribution (probably--but it's a potent little story, well worth checking out.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Claim Blame by Alan Dean Foster
Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 2012
After reading other works by Alan Dean Foster (review of his latest trilogy), one admires the broad range of Foster's abilities. While his latest novels deal with gene-modification in a way that should , his latest story in F&SF reinvents the American tall tale, mixing in European folk tales as well.
Mad Amos Malone, a giant, is asked to settle claim for gold between two humans and a herd of gnomes. After trading claims, what ensues is a kind of the-lady-who-swallowed-the-fly scenario. Leprechauns are summoned from across the pond and a melee follows hot on the heels as gold is promised. Malone's compromise is welcomed with mixed feelings. The colloquial, narrative voice is charming and feels authentic if at times thick. As in the tradition of American yarns, no characters develop, but a collection of such stories should prove interesting.
After reading other works by Alan Dean Foster (review of his latest trilogy), one admires the broad range of Foster's abilities. While his latest novels deal with gene-modification in a way that should , his latest story in F&SF reinvents the American tall tale, mixing in European folk tales as well.
Mad Amos Malone, a giant, is asked to settle claim for gold between two humans and a herd of gnomes. After trading claims, what ensues is a kind of the-lady-who-swallowed-the-fly scenario. Leprechauns are summoned from across the pond and a melee follows hot on the heels as gold is promised. Malone's compromise is welcomed with mixed feelings. The colloquial, narrative voice is charming and feels authentic if at times thick. As in the tradition of American yarns, no characters develop, but a collection of such stories should prove interesting.
Friday, November 16, 2012
links: physics zombie movie, cooperation, conditions for life books squeezed into movies
Zombies in the CERN collider (movie trailer): Looks a bit silly, but still interesting enough give a gander.
Coral signal Goby fish to mow down encroaching seaweed (symbiosis).
Asteroid belt positioned for life.
David Mitchell on Cloud Atlas as a movie/book.
Coral signal Goby fish to mow down encroaching seaweed (symbiosis).
Asteroid belt positioned for life.
David Mitchell on Cloud Atlas as a movie/book.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Battlestar Galactica online free, Philip Roth, Science? Mayans? Words?
SyFy's Battlestar Galatica has some two cool episodes online for free: One and Two
Philip Roth calls it quits. Interview.
Science vs. Pseudoscience
Climate Change doom Mayans? drought article... Mayan volcanoes
Drawings of unusual words
Philip Roth calls it quits. Interview.
Science vs. Pseudoscience
Climate Change doom Mayans? drought article... Mayan volcanoes
Drawings of unusual words
Monday, November 12, 2012
Links: Free ebook, Free story, Shiner, Campbell, Tidbeck, NASA, Bullies
Interview I did with Lewis Shiner a few years back. For some reason, my memory thought it longer. Maybe because I'd done so much research for it.
Free ebook of John W. Campbell, one of the early major forces behind SF
Free Karin Tidbeck story online
Rumors of NASA's death greatly exaggerated?
School bully: a short movie by Key & Peele on bullies that's simultaneously true, funny, and sad. Too bad this has words you can't play at school.
Free ebook of John W. Campbell, one of the early major forces behind SF
Free Karin Tidbeck story online
Rumors of NASA's death greatly exaggerated?
School bully: a short movie by Key & Peele on bullies that's simultaneously true, funny, and sad. Too bad this has words you can't play at school.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Application by Lewis Shiner
Fantasy & Science Fiction, November 2012
A man's former computer notes that the man is applying for a job beneath him because of business practices. The computer pretends to have helped him out when it slips out the real motive later.
Humorous and clever.
Humorous and clever.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Book Review: Dinosaur Countdown
written and illustrated by Nicholas Oldland
Nicholas Oldland Books
Hardcover Jacket
978-1-55453-834-8
Grades: Toddler to 1
Ages: 2 to 6
4-color • 10 x 9 • 24 pages
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Math: Number Sense, counting
Language Arts: Picture Books
Who doesn't love dinosaurs? Even
if you (or your child) are a little frightened of being trampled or ground into
lunch meat in the jaws of a tyrannosaur, the dinosaurs in Nicholas Oldland’s Dinosaur Countdown all smile big and open their eyes wide, instilling a sense
of trust that these dinosaurs are A-OK and disarmingly likeable.
Oldland illustrates the dinosaurs charmingly and gives young readers pointers to
notice small details in the pictures, challenging them to look closer. In scientific terms, it associates the names
and shapes of a few dinosaurs as well as introducing the words “herbivore”
and “carnivore” in an innocuous manner, not to mention the pictorial demonstration
of English vocabulary, such as lumber, soar, rear and saunter. As Dinosaur Countdown gives the scientific
names, it helpfully supplies readers with a pronunciation key in back.
One concern might be whether the exposure to scientific names helps (through
exposure) or hinders (through intimidation) language acquisition. However, that’s someone else’s PhD
focus. Meanwhile, this picture book is perfect
for the early reader who loves dinosaurs.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
NPR on Grimm's fairy tales
Salon on Edward Gorey
Damien Walter on SF being eager to please -- some good points (in general terms, not on authors named) but surely SF doesn't have any one role to fill.
Salon on Edward Gorey
Damien Walter on SF being eager to please -- some good points (in general terms, not on authors named) but surely SF doesn't have any one role to fill.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Science & Writing
This was fun and awe-inspiring for students: displaying the wind map and cloud cover map as Hurricane Sandy passed over the US.
Via IO9, we learn of the internet archive of OMNI magazine, a cool mix of science, paranormal and SF.
How to make your head spin 360 degrees (animation).
NY finds body entwined in tree roots (not unusual).
Christopher Priest and Tobias Buckell discuss their juvenalia to the aid of writers.
SF Poetry contest winners
Interviews
Via IO9, we learn of the internet archive of OMNI magazine, a cool mix of science, paranormal and SF.
How to make your head spin 360 degrees (animation).
NY finds body entwined in tree roots (not unusual).
Christopher Priest and Tobias Buckell discuss their juvenalia to the aid of writers.
SF Poetry contest winners
Interviews
Bradley P. Beaulieu (annoyingly loads up ads constantly)
Christopher Barzak
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