Archives
A nice new review of Magebane…
...courtesy of T.E.J. Johnson, who gives it 91%. Read the whole thing, but here's an excerpt: This is a rich book, and Chane sets the plot zipping through a crackling political landscape. The land of the Evenfels is wonderfully realised...The way Chane describe the use and abuse of magic makes sense, you can feel the characters make a spell, or draw on energy and it is with this careful kind of craft with which he weaves the lands behind the barrier. The books principle characters are strong and Mother Goodwind (sic; it's actually Northwind, but, oh well - Ed) is a particular standout. A dotty, forgetful Miss Marple kind of ...Test Drive: Ford Escape Titanium 4WD
I've driven quite a few Fords now since I started this series of car posts, and I have to say that the Ford Escape Titanium 4WD is pretty much my favorite of the lot (always excepting the Mustang convertible, but this time of year I'd much rather be navigating our icy, snow-choked streets in the Escape than in the Mustang.) As I've noted before, I'm not a big-vehicle guy: I've found things like the Explorer (and the F150) just too humongous for my taste. This one, though an SUV, hits the sweet spot in size. I felt like I was driving a ...Go see Tafelmusik’s The Galileo Project…
...if you have the opportunity. We did, last night, and were blown away. The music, the playing, the images, and the text were all fantastic, and pretty much exactly in line with the things that interest me most: science and the arts, mingled together. Tafelmusik is, of course, one of the world's premiere period-instrument orchestras. The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres features poetic narration, choreography, and music by Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. Here is a sample: Most moving for me was a final quote from Galileo, taken from his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. Although I prefer the translation used in The Galileo Project itself, here is the passage taken from an ...Nice review of “A Little Space Music”
Speculating Canada, a relatively new blog focusing on Canadian science fiction, fantasy and horror, has a nice review of "A Little Space Music," my humorous "amateur theatre in outer space" short story just published in OnSpec. It begins: In “A Little Space Music”, Edward Willett demonstrates his creative wit and humour. He plays on an issue that is familiar to any of us who have done amateur theatre… the issue of making a cast out of actors with varying skills. But, ...Some reviews of The Helix War
The Helix War is a first for me, being an omnibus of two previously published books, Marseguro and Terra Insegura. I wasn't quite sure what to expect in the way of reviews, except I figured there wouldn't be quite as many of them. And, so far, that's certainly been the case. But there have been a couple. Here's one from Two Dudes in an Attic: A verdict? The Helix War was fun. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my bus seat. It won’t appeal to certain demographics, but would probably be a good SF gateway drug. Readers looking for Hard SF, right wing MilSF, ...VOYA likes Magebane
Although Magebane is not a YA novel, it does have relatively young protaganists, and there's certainly no reason older teens wouldn't enjoy it...a fact with which VOYA concurs. VOYA (it stands for Voice of Youth Advocates) magazine is "the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of young adult librarians, the advocacy of young adults, and the promotion of young adult literature and reading," so it's gratifying that their reviewer Heidi Uphoff has this to say about Magebane (it's not an unadulterated rave, as you'll see, but I'll take it!): Chane created a fascinating and unique world in Magebane, a stand-alone fantasy novel. There is a little predictability ...A couple of more Magebane reviews…
First up, Just a Guy Who Reads Books begins his review by saying: Chane combines some steampunk sensibilities with a magic world, infuses the whole thing with some potent political plotting, and presents the result - a fantastic novel. And finishes... Ultimately, a highly satisfying novel. I'd love to see something further in the world that Chane has created... Read the whole thing. Review Room has some quibbles, but still says: I found the book quite appealing because it pitted science against magic, and couldn’t help being drawn in by the detailed descriptions of this alternate magical reality – it’s spells, it’s inventions and it’s different life. Commoners have achieved through ...Errant Dreams gives Magebane 5/5
Another nice review for Magebane, this one from Errant Dreams: Lee Arthur Chane’s Magebane is an original and delightful tale of epic fantasy and magic, steampunk science, adventure, tragedy, and love.... The mix of high fantasy and steampunk is one that I regarded with suspicion; such a blend is difficult to do well, such that it makes sense and doesn’t create a sense of genre discord. Chane did a marvelous job with it, however... Although I’ve raved solely about the worldbuilding so far, there’s plenty more to recommend it. The characters are delightful...There’s plenty of action and excitement to keep things going... If you ...Night Owl Reviews likes Magebane
A.M. Donovan at Night Owl Reviews rates Magebane at 4.5 stars ("I Loved it - Top Pick"): Evil wizards, multi-level conspiracies, magic, hidden kingdoms, cruel tyrants, usurpers, and a hint of steampunk make this book entertaining. Lee Arthur Chane (also known as Edward Willett) has done a marvelous job of making all of this work together. Instead of being overwhelmingly complicated and difficult to follow with the danger of being boring, he manages to tie the different themes together into an entertaining, cohesive whole. The good guys do win, just not the way anyone expected. Magebane is a very entertaining book and well worth the time. Yay!Magebane gets starred review in Publishers Weekly!
Talk about a pleasant surprise. I fired up the iPad briefly before my concert at WorldCon in Reno today (I sang the Donald Swann-composed cycle of songs from Tolkien, called The Road Goes Ever On) and discovered the first review I've yet seen of my upcoming Lee Arthur Chane fantasy novel Magebane: but it's not just any review: it's a starred review in Publishers Weekly! Some highlights: Chane makes a splash with this spectacular epic-feeling stand-alone fantasy debut...Double and triple crosses, fast-paced action, and powerful moral conviction will have readers hanging on every word. Read the whole thing! Made my day, that's for sure!
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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
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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