A Top 10 of 2009 Christmas Shopping Guide
We’re at that time yet again. The year is coming to a close, there are only a handful of shopping days left, and you’re wondering what the heck to buy your science fiction or fantasy obsessed loved one. Well, I’ve got a few suggestions. Some of the following books were released in 2009, some weren’t, but all are excellent choices. Here are my top 10 picks for 2009: 10. Angel of Death by J. Robert KingOne of the creepiest serial killer books I’ve read primarily because it’s extremely supernatural in nature. I think this year has been one for the creepy, though, and if you’ve got someone who likes dark fiction, then Angel of Death would be a welcome addition to their collection.(I reviewed Angel of Death here.) 9. The Dragon Hunters by Paul GenesseIt’s got dragons, dwarves, wicked monsters, and a fairly well-developed world, all packed into an adventurous, action-packed book. Genesse is the poster-child of small press fantasy authors for good reason. He writes a darn good fantasy yarn. But, if you know your loved one doesn’t have the first book in the series (The Golden Cord), then you should grab that too.(I reviewed The Golden Cord here and The Dragon Hunters here.) 8. Britten and Brulightly by Hannah BerryI don’t review graphic novels very often, but charming detective mystery with a hint of the fantastic is a must have for all fans of visual forms of storytelling. The artwork is unique and the story is both typical and thrilling. Definitely a must for fans of any of the aforementioned genres.(I reviewed Britten and Brulightly here.) 7. The Road by Cormac McCarthyMcCarthy’s novel is probably a little too obvious considering the movie is officially here to terrify us with its post-apocalyptic imagery. What makes The Road stand out from other books in the same subgenre isn’t its story (one we’ve seen many times before, and in more elaborate form), but the feeling of the book as you read. It’s a big page-turner and would be suitable for just about anyone with a taste for powerful, thrilling fiction.(I reviewed The Road here.) 6. Terra Insegura by Edward WillettOne of the few science fiction novels I reviewed and loved this year, Willett’s sequel to Marseguro is exactly what science fiction needs: action, awesome ideas, and good characterization. No more good vs. bad plots. There’s so much grey in Willett’s book that it makes you really think about everything, from what occurred in the previous novel to what happens by the end. It’s absolutely a must for science fiction fans.(I reviewed Terra Insegura here and Marseguro here.) 5. Last Days by Brian EvensonYou know how I said that this year seems to be one of dark fiction? Well Last Days is no exception, and is probably one of the most twisted, yet enjoyable novels I’ve read this year. Last Days chronicles the exploits of a one-handed detective in a cult of amputees. It’s messed up in all the right ways, and an excellent gift for creeping out your loved ones.(I reviewed Last Days here.) 4. Kell’s Legend by Andy RemicPerhaps your loved one is more into the hardcore fantasy and you need to get something that will wet his or her Kill Bill-loving appetite. Well, look no further than Kell’s Legend, a no-holds-barred, twisted fantasy that would keep most Tarantino fans itching for me. Remic is…unrelenting. He’s almost a genius, if you want to get right down to it, and it would make a perfect gift.(I reviewed Kell’s Legend here.) 3. Mind Over Ship by David MarusekWhoever said that science fiction was out of ideas hasn’t been reading Marusek’s novels. If anyone is coming up with the SF goods, it’s this guy. Mind Over Ship is everything that science fiction should be and is brilliantly complex both in plot and world. Fans of high-concept SF will love this one for sure, and seasoned and new science fiction readers will get a lot out of it. It deserves to be in every science fiction collection!(I reviewed Mind Over Ship here.) 2. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover BartlettThis is the only non-fiction book on this list and it deserves to be here precisely because it is the most amazing non-fiction book about books that I’ve ever read. Oh, and it’s not so dull as to be just about books specifically, but about something much grander and more terrifying: book thefts. There’s a huge mystery element to this book and the deeper you get into the history of book thefts, the more the book starts to read like a murder mystery, only…with books. It’s an excellent choice for anyone with a love of books or a healthy appetite for crime.(I reviewed The Man Who Loved Books Too Much here.) 1. The House of the Stag by Kage BakerBy far the best fantasy book I have read in a while, this is a must have for any fantasy fan, and might even be suitable for those book lovers who have more “sophisticated” tastes. You can apply all sorts of fun buzzwords to The House of the Stag, such as postcolonialism, postmodernism, etc. It’s an amazing story with the kind of depth you don’t get in fantasy very often, and if you’ve got a loved one who is into fantasy or complicated tales about identity and myth, then this is an excellent choice, and I think this book should be on any fantasy essentials list out there.(I reviewed The House of the Stag here.) Honorable mentions:Stardust by Neil GaimanTechnically I read this in December of last year, which is why it’s not in the top ten. If you didn’t see the movie, then you should at least read the book. Gaiman has a knack for storytelling and Stardust is a perfect gift for anyone with a Gaiman fetish or an appetite for reworkings of classic themes. Survival By Storytelling, Issue One, edited by myself and Niyousha BastaniOkay, so I’m a
Why WISB is a Safe Place: I Won’t Call Your Employer
I have access to every IP that comes to this website. I also have some detailed information for all of those IPs. But guess what: I’m not going to report you to your employer if you post a vulgar or just downright stupid comment. Not like this guy (and there’s more here). And you want to know why? Because I’m not that much of an asshole. I’m also not a supporter of the kind of Gestapo-style policies that some people think is perfectly acceptable in a free society. What I will do is delete your comment or prevent it from appearing. But I sure as hell won’t be actively seeking to get people fired for using the Internet for childish purposes. No, I subscribe to a much more low-key style of asshole. So feel free to be as vulgar as you want here. I dare you. That is all.
Survival By Storytelling: Now on Lulu and CreateSpace
I just wanted to remind all of you that the first issue of Survival By Storytelling is available on Lulu ($9 in print; $5 in digital) and CreateSpace ($9 in print). It will be on Amazon.com soon, and, as soon as we can figure out how to properly format the book for the Kindle, it will be available there too. For now, pick up a copy for yourself or a friend and let us know what you think! Thanks to those who have already purchased a copy. You’re helping support young authors. Every sale goes to paying them, and they appreciate being paid for their work. And that’s enough from me! Thanks for reading.
I’ve Been Interviewed!
Harry Markov over at Temple Library Reviews has officially posted his interview with me. Go check it out. It’s awesome, and not because it’s me, but because it’s, well, it’s just awesome, and fun.In other news, I have two small things coming up: a quick plug for a cool new site I learned about through the University of Florida and a Book Magnet promo for a bit of cyberpunk goodness. I hope you all will enjoy them. And that’s enough from me. Have a good night. So say we all.
Calling On You: Ecocriticism, green, DIY science fiction?
I’m in the process of doing some research for a paper proposal and am looking to put together a list of recent (last ten years) science fiction stories containing some element of the “green” movement in it. This can be anything from obvious ecocriticism, but more particularly aspects of the DIY (do-it-yourself) green movement as visualized through science fiction. This is not limited to near future stories; one of the novels I am working with is Sly Mongoose by Tobias Buckell, which is set pretty far into the future, but deals with a lot of the issues I am curious about in regards to “green” literature (i.e. living with the environment and creating tech that accommodates that sort of relationship). Any help would be appreciated. Again, it should be recent fiction. I know of a lot of older stuff, but I want this paper to be more relevant to the more recent “green” movements today. Thanks!
Survival By Storytelling, Issue One for sale!
Well, I know you’ve all been waiting for this for quite a while, and it’s finally here. Survival By Storytelling Magazine, Issue One is up for sale at Lulu for a mere $9.00 in print and $5.00 in electronic format! You can purchase it here. The magazine will also be appearing on Createspace and Amazon in time, but the process for those two is different from Lulu, and longer, but you’ll hear from me as soon as it happens. For now, you can get your copy of SBS from Lulu. And in case you wanted to know why you should purchase the issue, here’s some incentive:–We have some amazing fiction and poetry from writers new and old, all twenty-five and under, many of them members of YWO (Diocletian, Mercy, Adri, Nyx, Tegzz, and Crocolyle, unless I’m missing anyone).–We have an interview with author Paul Genesse (The Golden Cord and The Dragon Hunters; he has also written many short stories for collections published by DAW). He also wrote us a fine article about writing.–There is also an article by author T. M. Hunter in here, author of Heroes Die Young.–Every sale of SBS pays our authors. Since we pay by royalties, every sale is directly helping the contributors, and that’s a good thing, right?–Every sale also helps Young Writers Online, which is also good. Mostly the money goes to contributors, but YWO gets a little bit out of it too, and that goes to making sure we can have more contests in the future!–It’ll make you feel good inside. Trust me. SBS is like chocolate, only better. So go out and get your copy now! As for the contributors: you’ll be getting an email from me shortly in regards to free copies for you, which wasn’t in the contract, but, hey, I feel that you deserve something for your patience. Plus, it’s standard practice anyway! Lastly, please advertise about SBS. I’ll try to get some promotional images together, but if you could blog about us, that would be great. Spread the word and let everyone know what you think about the magazine! Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of this endeavor over the last year+. It’s been a lot of work and we’re glad to be done, if not a little misty-eyed about it. Thanks to all who contributed, and here’s to a good opening run!