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F&SF, July 2008
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 04:49 pm
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The Fiction --
Please note: possible spoilers included! When I review, I do occassionally reference parts of the story for example.
FULLBRIM’S FINDING by Matthew Hughes
The character in this story is from an ongoing series by the author, hanging out lately in novels. He has been around for a while, and as such his universe no doubt has been more fully described in depth elsewhere. However, this is the first time I read a Henghis Hapthorn adventure, and it lacked some for me for this reason because not much of this universe is brought out, and by the hints given in the story I would have loved to see more. Another thing that distracted me was the prose. It is a well-written piece, but it seems that the author seeks a literary style, and while the command of language is excellent, what it did for me was to make the entire feel of the read mono-emotional. From the description to the dialog, it was same and unremarkable, and I am afraid that if next month someone asked me about the story about the dude with the odd computer information system advisor looking for someone and finding God’s helper stuck in rock, well, I’d have to say, huh? Oh wait, that guy in the rock sounds familiar….
If I gave ratings, say on a 5-star scale, this would barely hit 3.
READER’S GUIDE by Lisa Goldstein
When I first began this story I had to say, Whaaa..? This came solely because the author wrote this in a question – comment style. Once I got into the swing of that I really got into the story. In here the author takes on an idea that could seem to be cliché, dealing with the writing muse. However, the author treats it rather differently, and I can say that reading this will resonate at different levels with the reader, particularly if the reader also writes. I have to admit that I will remember this story long after I forget the other tales in this issue.
I found this story easy to read, entertaining, and by the end deep but not preachy. Nice read. 4.5 of 5 stars, if we go back to the star system, and highly recommended.
THE ROBERTS by Michael Blumlein
This was the story inspiring the cover illustration, and in this one there is no lack of visualization. It is a well written piece, and to me deals with relationships, both in life and professionally. However, it seems to have been influenced by old movie ideas – I, as an older reader/viewer, lost some when I related the replication of self to an old Keaton flick. Still, it was a decent read.
4 of 5 stars for this one.
ENFANT TERRIBLE by Scott Dalrymple
This one was the shortest I believe in the issue, and this, and that it was written in the second person, present tense narration was distracting. The theme could well have been fleshed out some – it is essentially a “superhero amongst us” sort of tale, but with the enhancement created by some parasite. This wasn’t dealt with as thoroughly as I would have like, since I rather enjoy this type of tale. I would have been more into it if the author would have written it in a normal narration style.
3.5 stars here. Although interesting, this could be more substantial.
POISON VICTORY by Albert E. Cowdrey
I love parallel universe adventures, and to a lesser level alternate history stories as well. I also like reading good takes of era’s/decision moments that most would now consider a trope. But there are a few that I really am not drawn into. This includes anything WWII involving Hitler. It is rather overplayed, and although I cannot for a second fault the writing, this time the subject just didn’t draw me in. I would have rather read that Luxembourg won WWI with some secret steampunk techno than this.
3 stars here. Can’t fault the thought put into and the writing quality in this.
THE DINOSAUR TRAIN by James L. Cambias
The color here comes from an assumption that there’s an island, now protected, but once open where dinosaurs still live, and could once be taken for study or for something else. Here we have a story that brought to mind the recent remake of King Kong, but here with a parade of dinosaurs for the show instead of an gorilla. And while this is the color of the story, the real story explored in here is about change, and resisting change with suspicion. It is a pretty decent story, but I felt it could have used a bit more substance. 3.5 of those sad little 5 stars.
The Non-fiction:
I jump to the entertainment, so there's not too much here on this.
The Humor:
Two comics included. Both are "Huh?" humor at best. Ah, but for the days of Gahan Wilson's humor!Current Mood:  thoughtful |
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Alfredo Light
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 04:33 pm
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1. Fry up some onions and garlic in a teaspoon or two of oil and, if you like, some white wine
2. Meanwhile, slowly heat 2 cups of 1% milk, 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper, 1/2 salt and 3 tablespoons of flour, stirring until it begins to thicken
3. Add 1/2 cup of grated parmesan and the onion garlic mixture and stir a little more. There's your sauce!
Meanwhile,
4. Cook some pasta! (ooh, ahhh)
5. If you like, throw some broccoli, peas or beans in said pasta when it's almost done
And voila! Pasta and sauce.
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Encouragement from Agent Blogs
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 03:45 pm
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I'm in the middle of the "query wars" as ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) arcaedia has dubbed the process. Because of this, I find myself surfing agent blogs on a fairly regular basis. During the last week or so, I've run across a couple of post snippets that have lifted my spirits and renewed my optimism. I hope they'll do the same for you...
Rachelle Gardner wrote this in a post likening the search for an agent to American Idol:
"So, this is what it's like when you're vying for a spot on an agent's roster, or a publisher's list. Just because you get a rejection letter doesn't mean you're not a good and talented writer. In fact, for every person I say "yes" to, there are probably a dozen more whose work is really good but for various reasons, I'm not able to say yes. I can only represent a limited number of people. Publishers can only put out a certain number of books. We are all saying "no" to perfectly talented writers and perfectly good projects at various times."
raleva31 posted this near the end of her entry today:
"Also, I find myself rejecting things that I might have requested a year ago when I had fewer queries and more time to read. (Which is why it's a GREAT idea to include some new young agents in your agent search!) Now I'm looking for pretty specific things in a query letter and I've HAD to get more selective in requesting submissions. Why? I have more clients now, and I have a lot of reading to do for them as a first priority. Also, I'm just getting MORE queries than ever before. I wish I could add a note to all the queries that I think show promise, to say, "This really does look good, but I just can't request it. I'm sure someone else will jump on it!" But that takes time and it sometimes turns into an extra dialogue with the author. I hope every time I hit Send for a form response letter that the author realizes that this is a numbers game, an odds game, and it isn't personal. If I had infinite amounts of time, I would probably request about 10% of the manuscripts pitched to me in query letters. As it is... well, it isn't even close to 10%. "
In addition to comments like these, many blogging agents offer advice on the query process. Kristen Nelson has recently embarked on a series of posts designed to help write that fiendish little query letter. I found an earlier post of hers invaluable in crafting mine.
Keep your eye open for agents who blog. Whether they're a good fit for your career or not, they dispense a lot of information about the publishing industry.Current Mood:  thoughtful |
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Smart Dictionary Function?
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 03:17 pm
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I'm hanging out late at work to get some work done using Google Docs. I have to add a word to the dictionary. This is common enough, but I also have to add every form of the word to the dictionary.
Why?
Computers are smart enough to understand if a word is plural, and can even make guesses to the proper way to pluralize words (at least in English), and transforming a string to all lower case, all upper case, and title case are part of almost every programming language out there (or at least they are part of the tutorials in learning the language).
So again, I ask why?
When I select a word that Google Docs or M$ doesn't know, I want it to be smart enough (or at least offer) to add not only that word, but the plural, possessive, and titular forms of the word to the dictionary at the same time. Yes, there's six words right there, but that should be simple for a computer.
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Having It Pointed Out.
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 02:51 pm
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Is it true? YAWT has made it's ending known?
Maybe, perhaps, probably so. Okay, yes, it's true! And it only took reading it (with LOTS of voice inflection) in front of friends and people I don't know to have them all point out the ending of the story to me.
Reason number 46 why I love writing groups.
A relatively simple rewrite will happen later this weekend and then, the mad hunt for a market will begin. This one, my first with intentional humor added (influenced by reading Ken Scholes), will be story number seven looking for a home.
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Light Note # 2
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 03:46 pm
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Watching the Subway Series game with the daughter....Bobby Abreu hit a HR and Jeter hit a double off Santana to make it 6-4 Mets....she threw up! That's my girl!Current Mood:  amused |
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The folks who did my latest review...
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
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...also did a fantastic interview with me, which is now up for your perusal. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this one. Go have a look.
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"Wisdom is as wisdom does"
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 10:36 am
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Bloated fiction
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 09:44 am
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Following various paths on the internet, I came across this article, discussing the obesity in science fiction. I don't know if it's really true of all published science fiction, but it may be true of the major publishing houses. It seems that some of the smaller presses are producing books closer to the pocket size books I grew up with.
For a long time I kept all my Discworld books on one shelf, in published order, and the obesity problem is apparent: the books just got thicker and thicker, sometimes padding an extra 30 pages with a preview of the next novel or a Discworld primer and quiz.
What I want to see is a dedicated market for published novellas and novelettes. Something similar to Lunch Hour Stories, but more genre-oriented and something that accepts more than 8,000 words.
The novels I read seem to be packed with more world building than may be necessary. Jay Lake has described the genre reader's desire to visit a new place, and I think he's right. Instead of going for the emotional or sympathetic connection to an individual, which drives other genres, as a genre reader I want to travel to places beyond my imagination. I think this has always been the case, and the shorter novels managed to do this.
I find the novella and novelette comfortable lengths to read, and if I get the external editors out of my head, I think it's the length I would write. Is suspect my five novels would be fine at novella lengths. Stories can breathe a bit, without having to pad the action or the description. One of my favorite workshopped stories is still a 12,000 word story that just breezed by. Stories like that need a market, too. A dedicated market.
Maybe I'm just dreaming. I know if I won the lottery, I'd start this publishing company.
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 09:38 am
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My cousin's [huge!] townhouse is right on a golf course, and I've discovered a free wifi signal directly from the clubhouse, so I can check my mail and such before heading from here to the big town of Phillipsburg, MT for the party at 2 pm. |
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Enchantment Academic
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 08:33 am
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Back in this posting we had a look at this essay by Tom Simon. This time around we’ll be taking a look at the assumptions we tend to make where magic is concerned. This to start under the fold
( Read the rest of this entry » )Originally published at Mythusmage Opines. Please leave any comments there.
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"And nothing is better than this."
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 01:10 am
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Montana ... made it.
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 08:26 pm
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Right after school today, about 4 pm, I hit the road for Missoula Montana for a family gathering. An aunt I've not seen for many years is turning 90. My folks will be there as will many other relatives I've not seen forever. A long drive--about 8 hours--and I rolled in to my cousin's place at 1 am Montana time. No wifi here but I'm able to get this posted from my phone.
I might see if I can get to my email tomorrow. Now, it's lights out. |
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Picture a Day 05-16-08: Cloudscape
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
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The clouds were beautiful this evening, so I pulled out the DSLR and got some practice with some shots of the sky.
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Official Rating System for Calico Reaction
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
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After two and a half years, I've finally broken down and created a rating system. But not just any rating system. Oh no. You won't find any stars, grades, or number scales in this blog. Such ratings are far to concrete in my mind, and they're too easy to write off in that you see the review and don't stop to wonder why the reviewer rated the book the way they did.
My method is based on my buying habits. I don't have a decent public library within decent driving distance, and it's rare that I get free books or borrow them (though it does happen). So usually, I'm spending good old cash for my books, and I decided to create a review system loosely based on how happy I am with my purchase. In other words, if I'd known how I'd like the book beforehand, would I have spent the money on it that I did?
Maybe my way isn't any better, but it sure helps in narrowing the focus of my review since I know what I'll be giving it at the end. I figure if it helps me, it'll help you too if you're curious about reading a book or not.
As always, reviews are subjective, and by no means meant to be taken as the word of God (but if you'd like too, I won't complain much--ha!) Below is a brief sketch of each rating and what it means and why, but rest assured, each rating will be accompanied by a non-spoiler snippet of why the book got the rating it did. If you want spoilers or anything that remotely resembles them, you'll have to click behind the cut of the review.
Clear as mud? Good.
And as an added bonus, just click the category to be taken to each of the books with that rating. Bear with me, since I've got to go back through every stinking one of my old reviews and add a rating, but in the end, I think it'll be worth it.
Keeper Shelf: These books I love to pieces and it's highly likely I can't speak coherently or even critically about them, even though I try. Books on my Keeper Shelf may not be perfect (no book is), but my love for these books knows no bounds.
Must Haves: I might love these books, or I might just be in awe of them. These are books that don't make me a puddle of mush, but they're very, very good, and I feel they bring something to their genres that's necessary for readers to check out. But reader beware! What I think readers of a genre should check out may not be the standard by which the genre is commonly measured. This disparity will be most obvious, I think, in SF.
Worth the Cash: I enjoyed the hell out of it and/or liked it well enough to keep it around. This book may be part of a series or inspire me to read the rest of the series (if there is one), but whatever the case, the book's worth paying full price for. Fun reads may often wind up in this category, but don't hold me to that.
Give It Away: It's an okay book. It didn't grab me enough to want to keep it around or continue with the series (if there is one), and it's a book I definitely plan on passing on to a more interested reader.***
Wish I'd Borrowed It: Reserved for books that I read out of mild curiosity and found that I would've rather borrowed the book than buy it myself. I don't mind reading these books and find them okay (or they might even annoy me), but there's no reason for me to let this book clutter myself. Borrowing is better.***
Waste of Time & Money: Pretty obvious, isn't it? Didn't like it, and/or it pissed me off and/or bored the snot out of me. Any one of these, or combinations thereof will do. It's a waste of my time and money, and I'll make sure I don't make the same mistake again.***
*** = You may have figured out that the categories marked with an asterisks are books I plan on getting rid of in some form or fashion. Usually, I take them up to the SHU Writing Popular Fiction program and dump them in the break room for someone else to find, but since I am graduating, I may explore other options. There is a used bookstore in the area, but if you live in the US and you really, really want to read one of these books, I might be open to negotiations. ;) Just comment at the review saying so, and we'll talk. ;)
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sister, platypus. close enough
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 08:16 pm
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At work today I kept thinking back to that whole issue of the cacophony of images that my brain paints upon the world around me. As a kid, I used to have tons of fun with it, and still do. A game can be played -- try to bring one of the images into focus. See, I know people who say that when they visualize things, they can do it in great detail, bring in all the senses, etc. Really focus in on an image and hold it steady. Me, not so much. Chattering monkey brain, me, and the images tend to morph and dance away. But I can try. Bring it into focus, try to add detail, see how long I can concentrate on it. It's never very long. I just tried, for fun, to picture my sister as her image danced through my head, and then thought of a platypus. I'll let you guess what the results were..
What can I say. My brain = weird.
One odd addendum is the realization that this way my brain visualizes may explain another aspect of my thinking -- I don't tend to think in details. I'm one of those people who may never really notice a person's eye color, say. I've lived with my cat Spud for 11 years now, and could recognize him anywhere, but if you asked me to describe the patterns of his coat I'd be unable to beyond the vaguest detail (ie, I'd probably mention the white spot on his back, but would forget which legs are white and which are gray, which areas there's more black in, etc). How is my sister's hair styled? Errr, it's short. That kind of thing. And yet somewhere my brain has all those details, and keeps them straight, despite the constant dance of imagery.Current Mood:  cheerful |
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What to do when the world fails to end
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May. 17th, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
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After the world failed to end on schedule, Kuznetsov was found trying to commit suicide by hitting his head with a piece of wood.
-- SMH, 'Corpse stench drives cult from cave', 16 May 2008
Kuznetsov's other achievements include starting his own cult, and convincing his followers that barcodes 'are a symbol of the devil'.
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the temples of science
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 07:13 pm
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I dislike the last 'teaching' week of college. Most of you know I've been in college a long time and I've noticed certain trends. I don't attend college to be subjected to religious bombardment. Teach the class materials or science. It is enough to teach the science.
On the last day of teaching, without fail, there are a percentage of teachers who move from teaching the science to teaching the theology of their subject matter. I ALWAYS want to get up and leave. I detest prostheletyzing (sp?) and its undertow of YOU ARE INCOMPETENT and YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE and YOU ARE A SINNER.
This is the theology of disempowerment wearing different gloves and hiding behind science in exactly the same way most religions hide behind dogma and God.
All of us live with a razor edge of suffering in our life. The theology of ____insert your subject here____ will labor to position you on top of that razor of suffering and pain. It is like watching the movie Private Ryan - let me grind at your spirit for a few hours or better yet, consume your joy with my descriptions of the ways you are guilty of environmental, ecological SIN.
I suspect you.
The length of my life informs me that there are innumerable ways I can improve my life and my world and over time I have chosen to embrace most of them because it makes sense for me to renovate my older bad habits. However, when the priests of the new religions show up I am informed of their desire to oppress me, to reduce my sense of joy, to disempower me.
I will not embrace your religions of suffering. Prostheletyzing is a form of violence - of assault. It is when someone wishes to IIMPOSE nonconsensually, their belief, theology, ideology on others. It is earmarked by features of DISEMPOWERMENT of the recipient. Let me hand you YOUR sin and add stones to the weights on your shoulders. This is YOUR burden because I give it to you.
The next teacher who tries this crap in a class I'm part of will see me walk out in the middle of their passioned rhetoric. They are TEACHERS, not PRIESTS. Keep your sin for yourself.Current Mood:  busy |
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We are Here to Saaaave the Day!
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 04:37 pm
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Wildlife, tamelife...
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May. 16th, 2008 @ 03:16 pm
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Just yesterday I was eyeballing this beekeeping course in Pitt Meadows, so it seemed especially serendipitous to leave the house today and find honeybees swarming in my favorite magnolia tree.
The neighbors whose yard houses the tree were out watching them, and were obviously delighted to have the swarm, and won't be killing them if they settle there. So, bwee! Beewatching ahoy!
Meanwhile, I seem to keep taking the same damn picture of Minnow, because she's just that adorable.
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