Internet Book Shopping: Why It Sucks
(There’s a question at the end of this, so if you don’t want to read my long story, skip there and leave a comment!) Every time I go to buy a book online, I end up getting stuck in this terrible “get free shipping” game. After all, the free shipping saves you $10, easy, for books you already would buy anyway. But, therein lies the problem: you have to find books to fill out that $25 limit to get the free shipping, and the Internet does not make this easy. For example, recently I found out I had $5 of “Borders Bucks” to spend. Since it would be a pain in the ass to go all the way to the local Borders on a weekend (I don’t own a car and the bus isn’t all that great here on weekends), I decided this would be a good time to a) buy a book I really want and b) get some books that might come in use later during my graduate career. So, I set out to find a good book to buy, and even asked for suggestions from all of you in the process (thanks for the help, by the way). Well, Borders, while wonderful and lovely and all that good stuff, made me work to use that $5. Half the time the books that I wanted were $5 cheaper on Amazon, which makes spending money on them rather pointless if I’m not technically saving any money. This let me to reduce my acquisitions to paperbacks. Then there was the long, drawn out process of trying to find good paperbacks to buy that weren’t too old and fit what I was looking for (“literary” SF/F). Borders doesn’t make that easy either. You see, the bookselling industry has no easy method you can use to find books that might cross over into the “fiction” or “literature” areas, even though they technically are science fiction or fantasy. So, as much as you might want to find them in the endless “fiction” section, you never will, unless you read every single page for every book (which, let’s be honest here, none of us are going to do). This meant that I had to reduce my selections to those books labeled as science fiction and fantasy. Why? Because I do not read outside of those genres unless I’m forced to (or it’s a non-fiction book that is useful to me). I like SF/F. That’s all I like. Literary fiction bores the hell out of me and so does most everything else. That’s not to say I don’t like literary SF/F (I do, a lot, actually), just that I need a little weird in my fiction to keep me interested. As I’ve said before: I live in real life; I don’t particularly want to read about it. By the time I got things narrowed down, I had already spent too much time trying to figure things out anyway. Then came the really hard part: actually picking the books. Anyone who shops online knows how hard that is. Lots of link clicking, lots of poor descriptions, missing information, and other issues that make it impossible to figure out if a book is worth your time. There is nothing that the Internet can do to make the book buying experience as entertaining or as efficient as being in an actual bookstore. Nothing. Eventually I managed to narrow things down, but it was not easy by any stretch of the imagination. This makes me wonder if I should keep a running list of “books I want” so that when this happens again I can just start at the top and snatch them one by one. The problem is that I like to buy books that are fairly recent just so I don’t end up with some old thing that’s been sitting on a shelf for five years. How do you all go about your online book purchases? I want to hear your stories and ideas!
Last Minute Help: Looking For Some Books
I apparently have some money to spend at Borders. I have no idea how I earned it, but I have it. With that in mind, I want to buy a book or two, and I haven’t the foggiest what to get. This is where you come in. I’m looking for either high-concept or “literary” science fiction, OR non-traditional fantasy (i.e. not standard urban, epic, sword and sorcery, and things of that ilk). All should be relatively new (within the last few years). I don’t want any old stuff right now. I have nothing against the subgenres I’ve indicated I don’t want; I just don’t want to buy books in those genres right now (I have too many as it is at the moment). I want something a little different. Do you have any suggestions? Let me know in the comments or email me at arconna[at]yahoo[dot]com The deadline is tomorrow, the 4th of October, hence why I stated “last minute help” in the title. Thanks in advance!
Science Fiction, Writing, and the Race Gap
I have recently been reading a unique book called Astrofuturism: Science, Race, and Visions of Utopia in Space by De Witt Douglas Kilgore (that name is a mouthful). One of the unique points he tries to make is that science fiction is, in some respects, racist; Kilgore does not argue that the fiction of writers like Clarke, or other more recent authors, supports racism, but that the very absence of people of color suggests, as he puts it, the extinction of non-white, non-European people. To put it differently, Kilgore makes the argument that science fiction in the past, and this is, I would argue, still true today, imagined the white European state as the continued dominant cultural pattern (think Star Trek, Star Wars, et al.). Plenty of other arguments are made in the introduction to Kilgore’s book, but this one is what struck me most. Kilgore’s take on race and how it has been perceived interests me because I have to lodge a disagreement. If RaceFail has taught us anything, it is that writing outside of one’s comfort zone is difficult, if not impossible, and that attempting to do so can lead you into a lot of trouble. One can attempt to write from a black perspective as a white male, but there have been few writers who have pulled off such a feat to the satisfaction of those most vehemently concerned with this issue. RaceFail pointed out the futility of writing PoC. But Kilgore takes all this a step further and hints at an intentional or unintentional extinction of non-white races by the fact that they are, for the most part, practically nonexistent (and when they are present, they rarely have good roles, and are, more or less, there to act as furniture, as if to say “see, we still exist”). This seems too simple. For example, to make such a claim, one must know the psychological conditions that produce these sorts of white-dominated works of fiction (some assumption is made on Kilgore’s part that all the things he has read have all been predominately about white people; for clarification, there is no assumption on Kilgore’s part that any particular author is racist, though some may be). How might where someone is raised influence one’s writing? Could we say that an author living in a predominately white area might automatically be inclined to write about white characters? And on the inverse, could we say that an author living in a more mixed place may be more inclined to write about characters of various races? They say “write what you know,” and I have to be honest in saying that I only just recently began to understand what it is like to live in a place where white is not the dominant color. Coming from California, my exposure to people of other races was limited, particularly in Santa Cruz. There were Hispanics and blacks and Japanese and Chinese, and a few Indians too. Mostly, however, Santa Cruz and all the places I had visited in California were populated mostly by white people. But here, in Gainesville, the story is different. I only realized how different when I actually came here and saw it with my own eyes. In looking back at my writing, this absence of exposure does show up in my fiction. It was never intentional, but the world that I had lived in did not make easy the process of writing about people considered different by skin color (I don’t agree with this, but dominant society does; I think race is a stupid concept anyway). Now, however, I imagine myself becoming more comfortable with the prospect of writing about characters of different colors. It’s not that I did not want to write such characters, but that I never knew how. You can’t tell someone “write a Chinese character now, and it has to be authentic” if that person is not comfortable with doing such things. We write in our comfort zones because those are the spaces we know well enough to remain close enough to reality to be accurate. But there is a lot of fear, too; after all, if you fail to properly portray a character of a certain race, you will have effectively committed career suicide. Once the mob knows you exist, it’s game over. Similar things happen if you don’t write PoC. Maybe this is isolated to myself, though. I can’t say. I know little about the biographical histories of science fiction writers, but I do know my own history. I write in my comfort zone because it’s what I know. I don’t presume to know the “black experience” or the “Japanese experience” or the “Irish experience.” I know my experience. That’s where I write from. And since that is true, then Kilgore would say that my futures are tinged with the extinction of people of other races. That seems unfair. Now it’s time for you all to chime in, because I like hearing your thoughts on things like this. Have at it!
Book Magnet Entry #1: Deviations: Covenant by Elissa Malcohn
The second entry for my Book Magnet Project is in! The magnet is on the left and is for the book Deviations: Covenant by Elissa Malcohn. The book was originally published by Aisling Press, which, unfortunately, is no longer in business. However, Ms. Malcohn informs me that Covenant and the rest of the books in the Deviations series can still be purchased through her website (or found at ManyBooks). There is a bit more about Ms. Malcohn, including her publishing history, at the end of this post. Now, to the image and information about Ms. Malcohn’s books:About the Deviations Series:Long ago the Masari and the Yata hunted together in peace, until the species they drove to extinction included those possessing nutrients necessary to Masari survival. The Yata then became the only source of those nutrients. Deviations tells how these peoples cope with the reality of being sentient creatures forced to play the roles of predator and prey, and how several of them try to thwart long-established conventions in the hope of overcoming their biological imperative. In Deviations love triumphs in the midst of death. The series focuses on the social, ethical, and spiritual dilemmas surrounding both the literal cannibalism of the societies involved and the many ways in which their different communities feed off each other. About Covenant:TripStone hates to kill her gods, but she must feed her people. An accomplished hunter in the Masari village of Crossroads, she is charged with the ritual slaying of the sacred Yata. Her comrade Ghost tries to end Masari dependence on Yata meat by performing experiments punishable by death. His jeopardy increases when he shelters a teenage runaway sickened by fasting. Their worldview shatters when they harbor a Yata woman raised to be livestock instead of a god. But Crossroads itself is imperiled. Hidden in the far woods, a secret Yata militia is preparing to alter the balance of power. About Elissa Malcohn:Ms. Malcohn was a John W. Campbell Award finalist in 1985 and her story “Moments of Clarity” (Full Spectrum, Bantam, 1988) reached preliminary ballot for a Nebula. More recently, three of her stories have appeared in publications that won awards in 2009: “Arachne” in IPPY Silver Medalist Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory (Scriblerus Press); “Memento Mori” in Bram Stoker Award-winner Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet (Dark Scribe Press); and “Hermit Crabs” in Hugo Award-winner Electric Velocipede. “Hermit Crabs” is also on the recommended reading list in The Year’s Best Science Fiction, 26th Annual Edition. Ms. Malcohn also has fiction and poetry in the Oct./Nov. 2009 issue of Asimov’s. Aisling Press (small, indie) published the first edition of Covenant and was contracted to publish Appetite before it folded–all rights reverted back to Ms. Malcohn. ———————————————————- There you have it. If you have a promotional magnet for your sf/f (or related) book and want to take part in this project, send an email to arconna[at]yahoo[dot]com with the subject “Book Magnet Project.” Help me cover my fridge!
Quickie Movie Reviews (2009): Volume Seven
I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately. I’m not a huge movie person, to be honest (at least when it comes to being at home), but the library at the University of Florida has free DVD rentals, so I’m taking advantage for the time being. Here goes: Europa (Trier)A young American travels to post-war Germany to become a sleeper car conductor for the Zentropa company, and do some good in a country ravaged by war and occupation. Soon he finds himself caught in the middle of an underground militant group’s quest for revenge and the strange psychological world state of Europa.Pros: Bizarre, beautiful, and downright creepy. This is a powerful movie that is as brilliant as it is deep and meaningful. The visuals do some brilliant adjustments between b&w and color, to great effect. This is a must see.Cons: It might be difficult to grasp for some. If you’re a Michael Bay fan, then this is not for you. This is not action-packed, nor is it insanely suspenseful. It’s a deep, psychological film dealing, in unique ways, with the post-war condition, but in a way that never really happened (on the box it describes this as a futuristic past). This means that at times the story can drag. It is also rough around the edges as far as editing is concerned, though, perhaps, for good reason.Rating: 4/5Value: $8.00 Animania (the Documentary)A brief examination of Anime culture, walking through the basic concept to costumes to the acceptance of the movement and culture by mainstream society.Pros: It’s a geek fest for people who are already a part of the movement. Beyond that, it has nothing going for it. (Then again, it says “seriously funny” on the cover, so maybe they’re trying to make a joke of things?)Cons: This is in no way a well-thought or particularly adept attempt to document anything within Anime culture. I know; I’ve been to a couple Anime conventions myself, and this “documentary” tells us nothing that we didn’t already know about the people who go or dress up or are obsessed with Anime. It reinforces the stereotypes and fails to not only dig into actual Anime culture, both here and in Japan (and elsewhere), and completely misses the mark. Animania seems more like a media project for a convention rather than an honest attempt to actually work with the phenomenon of Anime culture. There really isn’t anything good to say about this. It’s just bad.Rating: 0.5/5Value: $1.00 Metropolis (Fritz Lang)This iconic film takes place in 2026 where the world is divided between those who live above the Earth in the massive city of Metropolis and those who live below, working on the machines that keep Metropolis running. A tale of love, betrayal, revenge, and fallen utopias, this is a must see for any science fiction enthusiast.Pros: As an astonishingly detailed film, it is no wonder why Metropolis is so influential. It has a fascinating story too.Cons: This is a silent film and does show its age. This may be problematic for most film lovers. Also, the story is a bit disjointed, not because parts of the film are missing, but because certain aspects of the film are rushed.Rating: 3/5Value: $9.00 (because it’s a classic) The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Extended Cut; Clint Eastwood)Taking place in the middle of the American Civil War, this western follow three interlinked characters who discover the existence of a “treasure” buried somewhere in an unknown cemetery. What follows is a long series of tricks, betrayals, lies, deceptions, and gun battles as the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly try to secure the treasure for themselves.Pros: A different kind of western that makes a game of creating mythological archetypes of its cast of main characters (from the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly). There is a good amount of action here, and much of what is iconic of westerns, at least as modern viewers know it today, seems to have been established here: drawn-out waits in duels, the iconic whistling music, etc. The characters are well-rounded. Quite entertaining.Cons: The extended cut is too long. Parts of the movie drag endlessly and the entire beginning loses a lot of its power by the time you get to the meat and potatoes. That said, the length does make for a more rounded film; none of the characters are short-changed here. But two and a half hours of this style of film is a lot to take in. There were also some audio track issues, but this may be due to the time and not the filmmakers.Rating: 3/5Value: $6.00 Let the Right One InThe critically acclaimed vampire film that puts all others to shame. Let the Right One In is about a young boy named Oskar in 1980s Sweden who lives a troubled life amidst bullies and a broken family. When he meets Eli, a mysterious, cold girl who moves in next door, he quickly befriends her and the two of them strike up a youthful “romance.” But the more Oskar gets to know Eli, the more he realizes that she is not a normal twelve-year-old girl…Pros: It is impossible to describe this movie in an effective way without giving away all the details. What I can say is that this is an absolute must see. Period. It is not only powerful, but brilliantly crafted, visually stunning for such a low budge film, and simply amazing. From the characters to the plot, Let the Right One in does everything a good movie should without resorting to the ridiculous nonsense of Hollywood.Cons: If you do not like blood, don’t see this movie. Let the Right One In is not gory, but there are a few scenes where blood is present. One of the things I appreciated about this film is that it did not resort to being disgusting in order to shock you into discomfort. Those few scenes where blood or a little gore were shown were done with class. To be honest,
Book Review Up: Kell’s Legend by Andy Remic
You all have to check out this book if you’re into action-packed, unflinchingly brutal fantasy. Remic has done one heck of a job with this one. Here’s the review.