Archives
What I Just Read: Bone Song
Bone Song by John Meaney was one of the books included in the bag-o'-free-books handed me at World Fantasy Convention. I liked the cover and the premise sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a shot.I'm glad I did. It's an interesting mixture of police procedural and gothic horror, with a pretty straightforward conspiracy-reaching-to-the-highest-levels-investigated-by-team-of-maverick-cops story (you know, one of those) that gains its interest from the macabre world Meaney has created, where power is generated by either corpses being magically fused inside massive underground reactors or teams of slack-jawed, mind-and-body-synchronized bald-headed children, depending on which country you're in, and cars, furniture and elevators are as ...What I Just Read: City of Ashes
I actually finished City of Ashes, the second book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, the week before last, but then I headed out of town to join the Canadian Chamber Choir and haven't had a minute to post about it until now.It continues to hold my interest with plot twists, great action scenes, and lots of humor. I still get Buffy-vibes off it, but that's not a bad thing, necessarily--I liked Buffy.I guess the other thing it reminds me of a bit are the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher. Again, not a bad thing....Scientific evidence reading fiction is good for you AND for society
From the Globe and Mail:A group of Toronto researchers have compiled a body of evidence showing that bookworms have exceptionally strong people skills. Their years of research - summed up in the current issue of New Scientist magazine - has shown readers of narrative fiction scored higher on tests of empathy and social acumen than those who read non-fiction texts. And follow-up research showed that reading fiction may help fine-tune these skills: People assigned to read a New Yorker short story did better on social reasoning tests than those who read an essay from the same magazine. Those benefits, researchers say, may be because fiction acts as a type of simulator. Reading about ...Why do I read science fiction?
It comes down to both nature and nurture, says Carol Pinchefsky in Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show:Paul Allen, a reader of science fiction and a practicing clinical psychotherapist for 22 years, says my temperament predisposes me to a love of science fiction. Each of us has a temperament, that is, a part of our personality that may or may not be genetically based. A quick Myers-Briggs test has informed me that I'm a Thinking iNtuitive (NT), that is, a "Rational." According to the Keirsey Temperament website, "Rationals are very scarce, comprising as little as 5 to 7 percent of the population." Allen says, "NTs are non-conformist critical thinkers. The NTs idolize the ..."Bad books are an essential part of life"
Praise for bad books from The New York Times:Bad books are an essential part of life, as entertaining and indispensable as bad clothing (ironic polyester shirts), bad music (John Tesh at Red Rocks, Phil Collins anywhere), bad trends (metrosexuality, not using toilet paper for a year in order to “help” the environment) and bad politicians (take your pick).****Bad books fall into three broad categories: the stupid, the meta-stupid and the immoral. Each has its own inimitable charms. Stupid books range from anything with the word “rapture” in the title to investment guides linking the yield curve with the teachings of Nostradamus. Meta-stupid books try to explain how to hold better meetings or motivate slackers ...Do you lie about what you read?
Apparently the Brits do:People once said ‘you are what you eat’ but it appears the phrase has been hijacked by image-conscious Brits to state ‘you are what you read.’So suggests new research from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, which found almost half of people lie about their literary credentials.Joining in conversation motivated 40% of people to fib about reading classics like Jane Eyre, while an equal number said they’ve cited such heavyweight novels to appear more intelligent.So-called ‘book snobbery’ is most likely to come from adults aged 18-21, but these youngsters, ironically, are the likeliest to get caught out....What does a writer owe his readers?
I've been reading very interesting thread over at Paperback Writer about what an author "owes" a reader.Paperback Writer wrote:I don't know what, if anything, writers actually "owe" readers. I always feel a responsibility to do my best work for the reader; that goes without saying. No one can write something that makes everyone happy. As to what ends up in print, I generally only sell what has (in the publisher's opinion) the greatest chance of selling well, or what has already sold well in the past. (snip)I'm curious to hear what other writers and readers think. Do you believe the writer owes the reader anything? If so, what, and why? ...Reading and signing reminder
Just a reminder for any readers in the Regina area: I'll be reading and signing my book A Safe and Prosperous Future: 100 years of engineering and geoscience achievements in Saskatchewan, tonight (Tuesday, December 19) at 7 p.m. at the Book & Brier Patch in Regina.Since my wife can't even be there, it would be nice if someone was...The 50 most significant SF&F Books, 1953-2002
I've seen the following list of The 50 Most Significant SF & F Books published between 1953 and 2002, originally from the Science Fiction Book Club, then posted by Lou Anders on his blog, in various places, but hadn't gotten around to doing anything with it until I saw it on Amy Nelson-Mile's Books, Words, and Writing this morning. The idea is that you bold the ones you’ve read, strike-out the ones you hated, italicize those you started but never finished, and put an asterisk beside the ones you loved.So here goes:1. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien*2. The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov3. Dune, Frank Herbert*4. Stranger in a Strange ...The 50 most significant SFF Books, 1953-2002
pI've seen the following list of a href="http://www.louanders.com/2006/11/50-most-significant-sff-books.html"The 50 Most Significant SF F Books/a published between 1953 and 2002, originally from the Science Fiction Book Club, then posted by a href="http://www.louanders.com/Bio.htm"Lou Anders/a on his a href="http://www.louanders.com/"blog/a, in various places, but hadn't gotten around to doing anything with it until I saw it on Amy Nelson-Mile's ema href="http://www.amynelsonmile.net/booksblog/"Books, Words, and Writing/a/em this morning. The idea is that you bold the ones you’ve read, strike-out the ones you hated, italicize those you started but never finished, and put an asterisk beside the ones you loved./ppSo here goes:br /br /1. strongThe Lord of the Rings/strong, J.R.R. Tolkien*br /2. emThe Foundation Trilogy/em, Isaac Asimovbr /3. strongDune/strong, Frank Herbert*br /4. strongStranger in a Strange ...
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Magebane
“Spectacular” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, hidden kingdoms…Lee Arthur Chane…has done a marvelous job…Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time.” – A.M. Donovan, Night Owl Reviews
I happily recommend Magebane and I’ll certainly give Chane’s next novel a try based on this one.” —Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature
“…an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love…” – Errant Dreams Reviews
Eight centuries ago, the world changed. A devastating war swept the lands, and the MageLords, who had long ruled by virtue of their spell powers, were driven to a distant place, separated from those they had ruled by a magical Barrier. With magic banished from the rest of the world, the MageLords became mere legend and people turned to science to improve their lives. But if one man has his way, all that is about to change….
Written as Lee Arthur Chane (the middle names of my older brothers, Jimmy Lee and Dwight Arthur, and myself, Edward Chane Willett).
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Johnny Cash: The Man in Black
When country music legend Johnny Cash took the stage at Folsom State Prison in 1968, he solidified the public’s perception of him as a rebel who followed his own path. Born in Arkansas during the Great Depression, Cash endured poverty, the death of his older brother, and a difficult relationship with his father. He turned to gospel and country music to express the pain, and after many years of struggling, his songs of hardship and hope would finally reach the ears of those waiting for an artist who represented them, ordinary people fighting to survive.
Andy Warhol: Everyone Will Be Famous for 15 Minutes
“Paintings are too hard. Machines have less problems…” In the 1960s, Andy Warhol became the most famous creator of a new style of art called pop art, which transformed mass-produced items of popular culture into fine works of art. From Campbell’s Soup cans to photographs of Marilyn Monroe, Warhol’s willingness to use anything and everything from the mass media in his work expanded the range of subject matter available to artists. His avant-garde films, artistic usage of American icons, and unconventional social life made him a controversial figure, both greatly admired and deeply reviled. A trendsetter rather than a trend-follower, a dispassionate observer of both the seamy and celebrity sides of life, Warhol was a true American rebel.
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
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