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The Space-Time Continuum: Sturgeon’s Law doesn’t always apply
My latest column for Freelance, the magazine of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild. *** [caption id="attachment_10283" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Theodore Sturgeon"][/caption] Ever heard of Sturgeon’s Law? It does not, as you might think at first glance, regulate the caviar industry in Russia; rather, it is a general description of the world around us. Formulated by the late science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon, it is usually paraphrased as, “Of course 90 percent of science fiction is crap. Ninety percent of everything is crap!” This poses a challenge to anyone who wishes to seek out the best of anything, whether movies, music...or science fiction. And if you’re just thinking of taking the plunge into the speculative fiction ...What’s in a name?
It's not exactly a secret, since I've been telling everyone everywhere for some time, but my next book from DAW, the fantasy novel Magebane, will not be appearing under the name Edward Willett, but under a pseudonym, Lee Arthur Chane. This is a first for me, though it's pretty common; some writers have several pen names. There are many reasons for them, but in my case it's because Edward Willett started his career as a space opera/science fiction writer, and notwithstanding the Aurora Award for Marseguro and the nomination for Terra Insegura, didn't make as much of a splash as either he or his publisher would have ...The Ninety-Nine Rule
Ever hear of the Ninety-Nine Rule? Formulated by Tom Cargill of Bell Labs, it goes like this: "The first 90 percent of the code accounts for the first 90 percent of the development time. The remaining 10 percent of the code accounts for the other 90 percent of the development time." Humorously, that adds up to 180 percent of the development time, but even if you correct the math, you end up with something that's absolutely, undeniably true about pretty much any creative endeavor you wish to examine: it's the last 10 percent that eats up 90 percent of the time. It's ...Ebook versions of my Andy Nebula books now available!
With the explosion in dedicated ebook readers, and the growing popularity of ebooks in general, I've finally decided to take some concrete steps to make sure my books are available in that format...so, I've added Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star and the never-published sequel (because publisher Roussan went out of business), Andy Nebula: Double Trouble to the Amazon Kindle store and to Smashwords (from which it should eventually propagate to other major online ebook sellers), where it is available in a variety of formats. Here are the links: Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Kindle Edition Andy Nebula: Double Trouble, Kindle Edition Andy Nebula: Interstellar Rock Star, Smashwords Edition...The Space-Time Continuum: Defining My Terms
When I was a high school debater, in the dim, distant past, I always began debates by defining my terms. So let me begin this new regular column in Freelance the same way: by defining what I’m going to be talking about. I’m going to be focusing in this column on what is referred to in polite literary society as “speculative fiction.” That’s not a term I often use myself, since it is sometimes a euphemism used by writers horrified by the thought of getting icky “genre” germs all over their nice clean “literary” story, but it has its place as a useful umbrella, beneath which shelter three more specific genres, fantasy, science fiction and horror. Of the three, the easiest to define, it ...Night Owl Reviews calls Terra Insegura “a very good read”
It's always nice to see a positive review of a book, even if said book has been out for a year and half, like Terra Insegura. Today a new review popped up at Night Owl Reviews, where reviewer Lilyraines writes: I found the book to have an intriguing take on genetic modification and what could go wrong. It also talks about obsession, arrogance, and a rigidly imposed belief that does not see anything beyond it... Terra Insegura also shows through its characters how people who may not entirely trust each other can, in the end, respect each other and learn to ...Here’s what I’ll be doing at VCon…
I'll be attending VCon 35 in Vancouver (well, Richmond, really, but close enough) the first weekend in October. And if you'll be there, too, here's my schedule...say hi! Tense Viewpoint - Friday 3pm Science Fiction And Comedy - Friday 4pm Book Launch - Friday 7pm How Did That Get On My Book Cover? - Saturday 2pm Reading - Saturday 6pm Religion In Fantasy And Science Fiction - Sunday 10am How To Write A Fight Scene - Sunday 11am Author Magic 8-Ball - Sunday 3pm Keeping me busy, aren't they? But that's OK. I like having lots of panels. While I'll definitely be at the mass book launch on Friday night, I don't know yet if we'll (as in, me ...I’ll be teaching a speculative fiction writing workshop this fall…
...through the University of Regina's Centre for Continuing Education, and you can sign up for it now! Here's how it's described: Speculative Fiction Workshop Aurora Award-winning science fiction and fantasy author Edward Willett leads a six-week workshop for writers of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Students bring new or revised work to each session and prepare to read it aloud for critiquing by the instructor and other class members. Each student will receive a one-on-one session with the instructor to discuss his or her work in detail. Instructor: Edward Willett Mon, Sep 13-Oct 25, 6:30-8:30pm $145 + GST You can find the entire fall catalogue for the U of R's Continuing Education program here. Hope to see you there!My short story in Space and Time
My short story "Waterlilies" has finally appeared in Space and Time Magazine, which bought it months and months ago (as is obvious by the bio, which refers to my seven-year-old daughter--that would be the one who just turned nine). Anyway, it's nice to see it in print, my name up in lights--well, on the cover, at least. "Waterlilies" is a humorous apocalyptic nanotech art story. Just so you know. The cover art at left is by Patrick Thomas. My story is illustrated by Alan Beck.The winners of the 2010 Prix Aurora Awards
The 2010 Prix Aurora Awards for the best Canadian science fiction and fantasy of 2009 were handed out tonight at KeyCon in Winnipeg. My Terra Insegura was nominated for best novel in English, but didn't win (although all the nominees did receive very nice stainless steel mini-Aurora pins, which were much appreciated!). Instead, the best novel in English award went to Robert J. Sawyer's Wake (and well-deserved it is). Here are this year's nominees and winners. I've arranged the list with the winners at the top of each category, starred and bolded: BEST NOVEL IN ENGLISH : *WAKE, Robert J. Sawyer, Penguin Canada THE AMULET OF AMON-RA, by Leslie Carmichael, CBAY Books DRUIDS, by Barbara Galler-Smith and Josh Langston, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy STEEL WHISPERS, ...
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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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