Check out this cool film of a horse-car cruising down the Slot towards the Embarcadero, shot a few years into Flora's future. Is that Udo on the white horse? And who is that dumb kid who runs and jumps on the back of that phaeton and clings there for several blocks?
Also, I think the Warlord should invest in some traffic lights. Or at the very least some traffic bulls. Some of those drivers are crazy.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Correction...
Octavian Nothing won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature, not a Newberry...
My mistake, duly corrected in the post below!
My mistake, duly corrected in the post below!
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing
So, I'm at the far end of the bandwagon when it comes to reading M.T. Anderson's National Book Award winning book, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, but read it I have. In one long afternoon. Yes, it's that's absorbing...and that much of a page-turner.
But that said--did I enjoy it? Well, kindasortamaybe.
First it must be noted that to write and publish a book written in a sort of 18th century Johnsonian voice, full of classical literary allusions, which depends greatly upon the philosophy of Rousseau for its plot--well, that's a pretty great achievement. To publish this book as a YA novel--well, that's almost a miracle.
I was a pretty advanced reader for my age, well steeped in classical mythology. I knew well who the Emperor Nero was; all about the Battle of Breed's Hill; and I may have even known what a banyan was. (I was a rather obnoxiously informed child.) But I don't know if I could have read this book. Not because of the language, which is difficult, yes, but not insurmountably so. Not because of the details--you don't have to know what a banyan is to follow the plot--but because of the violence.
Octavian Nothing is a very violent book. Sieur Anderson pulls no punches with his depiction of colonial life. The realities of slavery, battle, sickness and sanitation are all here.
This is a good thing. We oft tend to look back on history as a charming old timey place, where old timey people did quaint old timey things. Our historical imaginations are fed via movies and television, where battles are smoky bloodless affairs, slaves shuck and jive happily, and women bow to the obvious strength of their male protectors. Our historical imaginations are fed on shreds of the past--the shiny clean shreds. True, more recently movies and museums have tried to show the past in a more honest and dirty light, but with mixed success and still in a minority. Take Williamsburg, the Colonial American history theme park, where the streets are paved and clean, the smells flowery, and the interpreters--painstakingly dressed in historical accurate clothing--mighty clean. Williamsburg has introduced slaves into their interpretation, but in a neat and tidy way. Some years ago when they held a slave auction--oh boy.
The truth hurts.
Octavian Nothing is a painful book. It's also a complicated book--because the story it seeks to tell is a complicated one. The interplay between revolutionary fervor, race relations, benevolent patriarchy, religious freedom, gender politics makes the Colonial period of American history a complicated time to understand. On the surface, it's very straightforward--Give me Liberty or Give me Death.. We hold these truths to be self-evident...Don't tread on me. But liberty for who--white land-owners? women? black men? Indians? What truths--Religious freedom? Fiscal freedom? Political freedom?
Octavian Nothing raises these questions and many many others, and attempts, via the person of Octavian himself, to answer them. They are important questions and should be pondered at length by all Americans. The Colonial period is the American cradle; from it springs our entire history. Without trying to understand that history we can't understand ourselves. Slavery, in particular, (that "peculiar institution") must be considered; technically abolished over one hundred years ago, it still casts a cold shadow over us today.
Back to my earlier question...did I enjoy the book? I did not. Like castor oil, it's good for you, but you are going to have to choke it down. Can one enjoy a book in which a young black boy is enslaved, abused, tormented, tortured? No, of course not. It's powerful, and compelling, and painful, and thoughtful, but not enjoyable.
Every American adult should read Octavian Nothing tomorrow--maybe even today. It's that important.
But I'm not sure I can recommend it to kids. Despite my salad days advanced reading habits, I think some of the book's more horrific scenes would have given me nightmares. And frankly, I can't imagine a kid wanting to plough through the philosophy and science--even the nerdiest kid, I would think, would draw the line at Latin translation. Maybe not--maybe I underestimate nerdy kids. In fact, I'd like to know what kids who have read the book thought about it. I'd like to know what adults who read it thought of it, too...
(ps. extra points to Sieur Anderson for writing a historical novel that wasn't riddled with historical inaccuracies! I only caught tiny little thing, which I'm not 100 percent sure was an anachronism anyway. I'm highly susceptible to shoddy historical research; nothing will make me throw a book across the room faster than a historical howler, so I'm always excited to find a book where the author actually did his research!)
But that said--did I enjoy it? Well, kindasortamaybe.
First it must be noted that to write and publish a book written in a sort of 18th century Johnsonian voice, full of classical literary allusions, which depends greatly upon the philosophy of Rousseau for its plot--well, that's a pretty great achievement. To publish this book as a YA novel--well, that's almost a miracle.
I was a pretty advanced reader for my age, well steeped in classical mythology. I knew well who the Emperor Nero was; all about the Battle of Breed's Hill; and I may have even known what a banyan was. (I was a rather obnoxiously informed child.) But I don't know if I could have read this book. Not because of the language, which is difficult, yes, but not insurmountably so. Not because of the details--you don't have to know what a banyan is to follow the plot--but because of the violence.
Octavian Nothing is a very violent book. Sieur Anderson pulls no punches with his depiction of colonial life. The realities of slavery, battle, sickness and sanitation are all here.
This is a good thing. We oft tend to look back on history as a charming old timey place, where old timey people did quaint old timey things. Our historical imaginations are fed via movies and television, where battles are smoky bloodless affairs, slaves shuck and jive happily, and women bow to the obvious strength of their male protectors. Our historical imaginations are fed on shreds of the past--the shiny clean shreds. True, more recently movies and museums have tried to show the past in a more honest and dirty light, but with mixed success and still in a minority. Take Williamsburg, the Colonial American history theme park, where the streets are paved and clean, the smells flowery, and the interpreters--painstakingly dressed in historical accurate clothing--mighty clean. Williamsburg has introduced slaves into their interpretation, but in a neat and tidy way. Some years ago when they held a slave auction--oh boy.
The truth hurts.
Octavian Nothing is a painful book. It's also a complicated book--because the story it seeks to tell is a complicated one. The interplay between revolutionary fervor, race relations, benevolent patriarchy, religious freedom, gender politics makes the Colonial period of American history a complicated time to understand. On the surface, it's very straightforward--Give me Liberty or Give me Death.. We hold these truths to be self-evident...Don't tread on me. But liberty for who--white land-owners? women? black men? Indians? What truths--Religious freedom? Fiscal freedom? Political freedom?
Octavian Nothing raises these questions and many many others, and attempts, via the person of Octavian himself, to answer them. They are important questions and should be pondered at length by all Americans. The Colonial period is the American cradle; from it springs our entire history. Without trying to understand that history we can't understand ourselves. Slavery, in particular, (that "peculiar institution") must be considered; technically abolished over one hundred years ago, it still casts a cold shadow over us today.
Back to my earlier question...did I enjoy the book? I did not. Like castor oil, it's good for you, but you are going to have to choke it down. Can one enjoy a book in which a young black boy is enslaved, abused, tormented, tortured? No, of course not. It's powerful, and compelling, and painful, and thoughtful, but not enjoyable.
Every American adult should read Octavian Nothing tomorrow--maybe even today. It's that important.
But I'm not sure I can recommend it to kids. Despite my salad days advanced reading habits, I think some of the book's more horrific scenes would have given me nightmares. And frankly, I can't imagine a kid wanting to plough through the philosophy and science--even the nerdiest kid, I would think, would draw the line at Latin translation. Maybe not--maybe I underestimate nerdy kids. In fact, I'd like to know what kids who have read the book thought about it. I'd like to know what adults who read it thought of it, too...
(ps. extra points to Sieur Anderson for writing a historical novel that wasn't riddled with historical inaccuracies! I only caught tiny little thing, which I'm not 100 percent sure was an anachronism anyway. I'm highly susceptible to shoddy historical research; nothing will make me throw a book across the room faster than a historical howler, so I'm always excited to find a book where the author actually did his research!)
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Reading Guides?
I'm considering putting together a reading/curriculum guide for FLORA SEGUNDA, which would be available as a gimme in the Crackpot Hall Bibliotheca.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Any thoughts, anyone?
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Font Composition!
Slate has polled various authors on what fonts they compose in. Of course, the majority winner was Courier, ye olde typewriter font that is so squat and square on the page.
I can not stand Courier; it pains me to even look at it. If someone emails me a manuscript in Courier the first thing I do is change the font. Otherwise, I just can't read it.
Traditionally, submission guidelines have requested that manuscripts be presented in Courier 12. Courier is a monospace font, which means that each letter is exactly the same size. Editors, supposedly, like monospace fonts because it makes it easier for them calculate the length of a book. Of course, few books are actually printed in Courier, because it's not very aesthetically pleasing.
I write in Times New Roman 11, which I then bump up to 12 before printing and sending. So far no editor has complained. And every time I see something in Courier, I shudder. For some reason, the way in which those blocky letters march across the page makes the words almost impenetrable to me.
But then I'm fussy about fonts. I have not bought books because of the font, or because I didn't like the line-spacing. I've even put books back on the bookstore shelf because I didn't like the paper the book was printed on.
I can not stand Courier; it pains me to even look at it. If someone emails me a manuscript in Courier the first thing I do is change the font. Otherwise, I just can't read it.
Traditionally, submission guidelines have requested that manuscripts be presented in Courier 12. Courier is a monospace font, which means that each letter is exactly the same size. Editors, supposedly, like monospace fonts because it makes it easier for them calculate the length of a book. Of course, few books are actually printed in Courier, because it's not very aesthetically pleasing.
I write in Times New Roman 11, which I then bump up to 12 before printing and sending. So far no editor has complained. And every time I see something in Courier, I shudder. For some reason, the way in which those blocky letters march across the page makes the words almost impenetrable to me.
But then I'm fussy about fonts. I have not bought books because of the font, or because I didn't like the line-spacing. I've even put books back on the bookstore shelf because I didn't like the paper the book was printed on.
Memorial Day Redux!
I was so busy with the last day of Wiscon that I didn't have a chance to memorialize Memorial Day--tho' in my defense, not a day goes by without me thinking about the sacrifices that so many men and women (and dogs too!) have made to our great country.
It's a bit of cliche to say that freedom ain't free, but it's true.
So in the words of the old Army song:
"Raise a cup to the dead already
And hurrah for the next to die!"
And hurrah for those still living, too!
Happy Memorial Day!
It's a bit of cliche to say that freedom ain't free, but it's true.
So in the words of the old Army song:
"Raise a cup to the dead already
And hurrah for the next to die!"
And hurrah for those still living, too!
Happy Memorial Day!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Pirates from Hell!
I'm not quite sure how I feel about the new mini-golf course in Bethany Beach, DE, the "family-friendly resort" near Middlesex Beach, where much of my novel, Tumbling After, is set.
On the one hand, it's pretty hideous, even for lovers of kitschy putt-putt displays.
On the other hand, it is set up directly opposite the Disciples of Christ Christian Church and Conference Center.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wiscon Exodus!
The great Wiscon exodus has begun; my livejournal friends page is slowly going dead as post after post announcing off to Wiscon rolls in. The highways, skyways and byways must be full of migrating writers; you shall know them by their bleary eyes and heavily laden bookbags.
Bothwell and I will join the migration tomorrow, tho' I have yet to break the news to him that he is not invited to the actual con--No Dogs Allowed. Poor Bothwell! It's really is a dog's life. I'll try to pick him up some Michael's K9 Custard, and I think that will make up for his exclusion.
Anyway, upshot is that The CPG will be on another short hiatus (unless one of my guest bloggers decides to pick up my slack again, hint hint) to return next week with a full AAR.
In the meantime, may I suggest that you hie yourself to the nearest bookshop and check out these super fabulous new books, all of which currently reside in my reading pile:
Generation Loss by Elizabeth Hand
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
Beige by Cecil Castelluci
The Wallpaper Guide to Istanbul
Happy Reading!
Bothwell and I will join the migration tomorrow, tho' I have yet to break the news to him that he is not invited to the actual con--No Dogs Allowed. Poor Bothwell! It's really is a dog's life. I'll try to pick him up some Michael's K9 Custard, and I think that will make up for his exclusion.
Anyway, upshot is that The CPG will be on another short hiatus (unless one of my guest bloggers decides to pick up my slack again, hint hint) to return next week with a full AAR.
In the meantime, may I suggest that you hie yourself to the nearest bookshop and check out these super fabulous new books, all of which currently reside in my reading pile:
Generation Loss by Elizabeth Hand
Thirteen by Richard K. Morgan
Beige by Cecil Castelluci
The Wallpaper Guide to Istanbul
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
FanLib--Boo!
So my take on this whole FanLib thang (no, I'm not going to link to the site--find it yourself) is that if everything eventually becomes commercialized. That's the way capitalism works. If something is popular enough eventually someone will try to make a buck of of it. Thanks, Sieur Marx.
But this is just stupid. The whole point of fanfic is that it's not corporate. It's unlicensed, uncensored, and not-for-profit. Fanfic writers are about the purest type of writer there is: they write only for an audience, for the sheer love of it. They know they'll never be bestsellers, or win the National Book Award. They are Pure Will unassuaged of purpose and delivered from the Lust of Result.
Is nothing sacred, she howls? Leave my Mulder/Skinner slash alone! I'm not the only one, thankfully, who is disgusted by this attempt to turn fanfic corporate.
And I predict that it will fall miserably. Oh yeah, maybe twelve year olds in Nebraska who want to write Heroes or Supernatural fanfic will be happy to post away and have their work co-opted by the suits. But I suspect everyone else will realize that the fanfic communities that already exist are perfectly satisfactory and have the added advantage of not being slathered with banner adverts, as well.
Fanficcers unite in saying Boo!
But this is just stupid. The whole point of fanfic is that it's not corporate. It's unlicensed, uncensored, and not-for-profit. Fanfic writers are about the purest type of writer there is: they write only for an audience, for the sheer love of it. They know they'll never be bestsellers, or win the National Book Award. They are Pure Will unassuaged of purpose and delivered from the Lust of Result.
Is nothing sacred, she howls? Leave my Mulder/Skinner slash alone! I'm not the only one, thankfully, who is disgusted by this attempt to turn fanfic corporate.
And I predict that it will fall miserably. Oh yeah, maybe twelve year olds in Nebraska who want to write Heroes or Supernatural fanfic will be happy to post away and have their work co-opted by the suits. But I suspect everyone else will realize that the fanfic communities that already exist are perfectly satisfactory and have the added advantage of not being slathered with banner adverts, as well.
Fanficcers unite in saying Boo!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Summer is Red
In the summer time, I like red drinks.
- Campari and soda
- Rote gruze ice tea
- Pomegranate soda
- Kriek
- Cherry Kefir
- Cranberry kombucha
- Raspberry shrub
Monday, May 21, 2007
Dangerous Books for Boys
So Boys can have dangerous books.
Books that teach them to climb rocks, fly kites, and build tree houses.
But not Girls.
Girls can have princess diaries and books that teach them to back bite and gossip.
Nini Mo and I both say, what a crock.
Nini Mo and I think maybe we'll write our own book: The Dangerous Book for Girls. In it we shall tell teach Girls how to kick bullies in the head, form their own rock bands, and build tree houses.
Among other dangerous things.
Books that teach them to climb rocks, fly kites, and build tree houses.
But not Girls.
Girls can have princess diaries and books that teach them to back bite and gossip.
Nini Mo and I both say, what a crock.
Nini Mo and I think maybe we'll write our own book: The Dangerous Book for Girls. In it we shall tell teach Girls how to kick bullies in the head, form their own rock bands, and build tree houses.
Among other dangerous things.
New York, New York--It's a Helluva Town, Part II.
Things I do not love so much about New York.
And yes, the Bronx is still up, the Battery is still down, and people still ride through a hole in the ground...
- Squeezing between giant bags of garbage as you walk down the sidewalk.
- Waiting fifteen minutes in the bathroom line at the Union Square Barnes and Noble because it's the only free bathroom for blocks.
- People who try to push into the train car as soon as the doors open, not allowing you to push out which would then give them room to get on without pushing you (solution: elbows at a sharp angle and push back)
- Waiting an hour an half to pay $8 dollars for bread and butter.
- $8 dollars for bread and butter.
- Teeny tiny mid-level hotel rooms that cost more than a five star hotel in other city in the U.S.
- Trash.
- Trash.
- Trash.
And yes, the Bronx is still up, the Battery is still down, and people still ride through a hole in the ground...
Books of Wonder!
So, today I had the singular honour of reading at Books of Wonder, with Holly Black, Cassandra Clare and Lisa Ann Slidell. The readings went well, the crowd seemed enthused, and I was very happy to meet several people who have been kind and generous with their email support. (You know who you are--! Thanks for coming out!)
I have to confess I'd never been to Books of Wonder before, and I don't know how I had missed out. It's an absolutely fabulous kids' bookstore, chock full of wonderful books and with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. It took all my self control not to load up on books, but I've recently adopted a strict carry-on only flying policy, and when you are personally responsible for loading your own luggage, you do tend to be careful about packing light. So I resisted. But if you should ever been in New York, I strongly urge you to check out Books of Wonder. Ordering books off the internet is fine and dandy, but it is so much more wonderful to actually get to browse the bookshelves in person.
My thanks to all those who helped make the reading a success!
I have to confess I'd never been to Books of Wonder before, and I don't know how I had missed out. It's an absolutely fabulous kids' bookstore, chock full of wonderful books and with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. It took all my self control not to load up on books, but I've recently adopted a strict carry-on only flying policy, and when you are personally responsible for loading your own luggage, you do tend to be careful about packing light. So I resisted. But if you should ever been in New York, I strongly urge you to check out Books of Wonder. Ordering books off the internet is fine and dandy, but it is so much more wonderful to actually get to browse the bookshelves in person.
My thanks to all those who helped make the reading a success!
New York, New York--It's a Helluva Town!
Things I love about New York:
- Dogs in restaurants, shops, bars, and ABC Home.
- Kebab trucks that are open at 12 a.m. ready to provide you with delicious hot food that costs only three dollars.
- Tiny weeny underground stores that sell hand-made rubber stamps--cash only!
- The Empire State Building lit up at night.
- Cobblestone streets lined with skyscrapers.
- Stores that only sell rice pudding.
- The gorgeous doll-house-like West Village.
- Deli coffee--where "regular" means half milk, two tablespoons of sugar.
- Random David Bowie sightings (okay, that wasn't me--it was Paul--but still I'm only one degree removed from a David Bowie sighting, so that's pretty good)
- St Marks-in-the-Bowery, an oasis of history and trees in the middle of tenement district.
- The hustle and the bustle, busy people going busy places.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Authors in Captivity!
Okay, all you folks that live in the New York City area, your humble Author will be appearing at Books of Wonder on Sunday, in the company of Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Dean Whitlock, and Lisa Ann Sandell.
We shall be displayed, authors in captivity, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Books will be read from and signed, questions answered, etc. I will, as is my wont, also be raffling away various printed copies of The Califa Police Gazette and maybe some other stuff, as well. Who knows what other antics might occur?
So if you've nothing better to do on Sunday afternoon--and how could you have anything better?--please stop on by. We shall all be glad to see you!
We shall be displayed, authors in captivity, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Books will be read from and signed, questions answered, etc. I will, as is my wont, also be raffling away various printed copies of The Califa Police Gazette and maybe some other stuff, as well. Who knows what other antics might occur?
So if you've nothing better to do on Sunday afternoon--and how could you have anything better?--please stop on by. We shall all be glad to see you!
Dirty Wow-Wow Contest!
Dirty Wow-Wow is the name that Ten Speed Press has given to the "shabby stuffed toys" that you've been holding onto since childhood. (Ain't you ashamed for thinking anything else?)
Now in honor of the publication of Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories Ten Speed press is running a Dirty Wow-Wow contest.
Submit a picture of your dirty wow-wow, and a short description and you could win a copy of the book. Some of the wow-wows submitted are pretty scary, others pretty worn, but all well-loved. And I was heartened to know that I am not the only adult who still must have her wow-wow close by to protect her while she sleeps. (Who knows what lurks beneath the bed...)
My wow-wow is The Bear with No Name. He was rescued from a bin of stuffed animals at the Community Thrift store on Valencia Street, and purchased for a quarter by my best friend Nini, about fifteen years ago. He was clearly somebody's bear, who had ended up in the discount bin by accident. Perhaps he was discarded by an evil stepmother. His eyes are sunken into his matted fur, and he has an extremely large head. Also, he's never had a bath. He travels with me everywhere and I don't know what I would do with him. He doesn't smoke cigarillos, but I guess I should probably get him a poncho.
(Pig wishes to make it crystal clear to everyone that he ain't nobody's wow-wow.)
Now in honor of the publication of Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories Ten Speed press is running a Dirty Wow-Wow contest.
Submit a picture of your dirty wow-wow, and a short description and you could win a copy of the book. Some of the wow-wows submitted are pretty scary, others pretty worn, but all well-loved. And I was heartened to know that I am not the only adult who still must have her wow-wow close by to protect her while she sleeps. (Who knows what lurks beneath the bed...)
My wow-wow is The Bear with No Name. He was rescued from a bin of stuffed animals at the Community Thrift store on Valencia Street, and purchased for a quarter by my best friend Nini, about fifteen years ago. He was clearly somebody's bear, who had ended up in the discount bin by accident. Perhaps he was discarded by an evil stepmother. His eyes are sunken into his matted fur, and he has an extremely large head. Also, he's never had a bath. He travels with me everywhere and I don't know what I would do with him. He doesn't smoke cigarillos, but I guess I should probably get him a poncho.
(Pig wishes to make it crystal clear to everyone that he ain't nobody's wow-wow.)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Jennifer Stevenson's New Blog!
After much bugging, by me and others, Jennifer Stevenson, the super talented author of TRASH SEX MAGIC has decided to rise above her Luddite ways and start a blog.
You may now find her at her livejournal site: The Smoking Pigeon. Stop by and throw her some encouragement. She's not so sure about this whole blogging thang, but I know she'll get the hang of it.
The Brass Bed, the first book in Jennifer's new paranormal romance series, The SeX Files, will be published by Del Rey Spring of 2008. I've been privileged enough to have a peek at The Brass Bed, and its follow-ups, The Venus Machine, and The Haunted Porn Factory, and I can say with authority that this series rocks--it's funny, sexy, magickal, and sexy. You'll have to wait until next spring to find for yourselves, but in the meantime, Jennifer's blog should provide an amuse bouche!
You may now find her at her livejournal site: The Smoking Pigeon. Stop by and throw her some encouragement. She's not so sure about this whole blogging thang, but I know she'll get the hang of it.
The Brass Bed, the first book in Jennifer's new paranormal romance series, The SeX Files, will be published by Del Rey Spring of 2008. I've been privileged enough to have a peek at The Brass Bed, and its follow-ups, The Venus Machine, and The Haunted Porn Factory, and I can say with authority that this series rocks--it's funny, sexy, magickal, and sexy. You'll have to wait until next spring to find for yourselves, but in the meantime, Jennifer's blog should provide an amuse bouche!
Lordi!
Surely Lordi will win an Oscar for Best Band Ever.
Would the Academy dare not to vote for a band that has "The One in Symbiotic Armour" on lead vocals, "The Terrestrial Man-Beast" on drums, and "The Ruler of the Anubis Dynasty" on lead guitar?
Not if they don't want their livers to be torn out and their souls shredded into pulp they wouldn't.
I have no idea what Lordi sounds like, but I don't care what they sound like. I love them just on their looks alone. I don't dare do anything else.
Would the Academy dare not to vote for a band that has "The One in Symbiotic Armour" on lead vocals, "The Terrestrial Man-Beast" on drums, and "The Ruler of the Anubis Dynasty" on lead guitar?
Not if they don't want their livers to be torn out and their souls shredded into pulp they wouldn't.
I have no idea what Lordi sounds like, but I don't care what they sound like. I love them just on their looks alone. I don't dare do anything else.
Elsewhere Amusement!
I'm still boring here, trying to wrap stuff up. I'm soooooo close to finishing my story, but it's sooooo hard to come up with a clever ending. I did, however, complete the plot summary of FLORA REDUX, so that feels like a battle won.
But there's lots of entertainment elsewhere in the Blogoverse. (What a horrible name--can't someone come up with something better?)
Gwenda has plenty of entries to keep you amused. Justine has big news. (Yay, Justine!) Over at the Inferior4 + 1, Paul DiFillipo continues his survey of 1960s literature. The Fug girls are covering the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest--they got some outfits that even Udo wouldn't wear!
And there's always Cute Overload.
So, don't blame the Blogoverse if you are bored.
But there's lots of entertainment elsewhere in the Blogoverse. (What a horrible name--can't someone come up with something better?)
Gwenda has plenty of entries to keep you amused. Justine has big news. (Yay, Justine!) Over at the Inferior4 + 1, Paul DiFillipo continues his survey of 1960s literature. The Fug girls are covering the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest--they got some outfits that even Udo wouldn't wear!
And there's always Cute Overload.
So, don't blame the Blogoverse if you are bored.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Dainty Pirate Ahoy!
Where is my fictional non-fiction?
David Halberstam died recently, killed in a car crash, and the English-speaking world lost one of its great writers of non-fiction. I loved his books, especially "The Fifties", and would often read a book of his even if the subject matter didn't compel me -- he was just that good.
In thinking of him I keep wondering: would his books been as interesting if they were all made up? Writers -- especially genre writers -- are programmed to "show, don't tell", and those habits run deep. There are beloved exceptions -- much by Borges, The Dictionary of the Khazars, Stanislaw Lem. But by and large fiction hews to the time-honored tradition of characters and plots.
But non-fiction -- expository non-fiction -- is often exciting, gripping, compelling -- all of the things fiction is supposed to be. Is it all of those things only because it's true? I think that if someone had written a book as readable, as interesting as "The Fifties", but about a completely different world -- I think I would have loved it.
In thinking of him I keep wondering: would his books been as interesting if they were all made up? Writers -- especially genre writers -- are programmed to "show, don't tell", and those habits run deep. There are beloved exceptions -- much by Borges, The Dictionary of the Khazars, Stanislaw Lem. But by and large fiction hews to the time-honored tradition of characters and plots.
But non-fiction -- expository non-fiction -- is often exciting, gripping, compelling -- all of the things fiction is supposed to be. Is it all of those things only because it's true? I think that if someone had written a book as readable, as interesting as "The Fifties", but about a completely different world -- I think I would have loved it.
Coming Up...
So I have two deadlines this week, and also I'm heading to New York on Friday for to read at Books of Wonder bookstore on Sunday with Holly Black and Cassandra Clare (more on that later...)...
Between the scribbling and the packing, I probably won't be doing a whole lot of posting this week. Thanks to Cake, who is already picking up some of my slack...
Between the scribbling and the packing, I probably won't be doing a whole lot of posting this week. Thanks to Cake, who is already picking up some of my slack...
Friday, May 11, 2007
Oops--Bad Steampunk Link!
I accidentially gave the wrong link for the steampunk tech in the previous post, and tho' I've fixed the link, the post was already syndicated.
So, for those reading The NPG via feed, here's the correct link.
Mea culpa...
So, for those reading The NPG via feed, here's the correct link.
Mea culpa...
Banning Books--Bad!
Now comes a brouhaha over Maureen Johnson's The Bermudez Triangle which was banned by the Bartlesville Oklahoma Mid-High Library. (The linked article, from a local paper, claims the ban is not yet a done deal, but correspondence between Maureen and local high school officials indicate otherwise.)
For what sin did this banning occur? Cannibalism, paraphilia, coroophilia, defenestration, blasphemy, incest, homophobia, sexism, or just plain bad writing?
The vices listed in the paragraph above are completely absent from Maureen's charming book, which contains something much more subversive and sinful: two girls holding hands and kissing. No heavy petting, no third base, no badda-bing. Just two girls in love.
Get a match, folks. It's Farhenheit 451 time.
Now this would just be flat silly if it weren't so pernicious, particularly in light of this incident in Washington State (Two girls caught kissing on a school survellence camera--parents told--kids in deep trouble.) The complete story of the banning seems to be the same old sad song: one parents complains, the book is ejected, most of the people voting to ban it haven't read it, etc. The song remains the same. Can't we change the station?
To the parent who is worried about her kid reading about two girls in love, I promise you that your daughter already knows everything you are trying to protect her from. In this day and age the only way to keep kids ignorant is to keep them locked in a cellar somewhere. Homophobia, in any day and age, even in Oklahoma, isn't cool.
That's the moral of this story for the adults. The moral of this story for the kids is: Big Brother is watching you.
The moral for us all, kids and grownups alike, is Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Freedom. (A quote by the founder of one of the greatest libraries of all, the Library of Congress.)
Sign a petition asking the Bartlesville officials to reconsider here.
For what sin did this banning occur? Cannibalism, paraphilia, coroophilia, defenestration, blasphemy, incest, homophobia, sexism, or just plain bad writing?
The vices listed in the paragraph above are completely absent from Maureen's charming book, which contains something much more subversive and sinful: two girls holding hands and kissing. No heavy petting, no third base, no badda-bing. Just two girls in love.
Get a match, folks. It's Farhenheit 451 time.
Now this would just be flat silly if it weren't so pernicious, particularly in light of this incident in Washington State (Two girls caught kissing on a school survellence camera--parents told--kids in deep trouble.) The complete story of the banning seems to be the same old sad song: one parents complains, the book is ejected, most of the people voting to ban it haven't read it, etc. The song remains the same. Can't we change the station?
To the parent who is worried about her kid reading about two girls in love, I promise you that your daughter already knows everything you are trying to protect her from. In this day and age the only way to keep kids ignorant is to keep them locked in a cellar somewhere. Homophobia, in any day and age, even in Oklahoma, isn't cool.
That's the moral of this story for the adults. The moral of this story for the kids is: Big Brother is watching you.
The moral for us all, kids and grownups alike, is Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Freedom. (A quote by the founder of one of the greatest libraries of all, the Library of Congress.)
Sign a petition asking the Bartlesville officials to reconsider here.
Various!
- Pobrecito rich people who don't feel rich and who are feeling the pinch of the Ferrari shortage. The WSJ and I feel your pain.
- Isabella Blow, the patron saint of super fabulous hats and iconoclastic fashionista, has died.
- In a strange twist of timing, new reports this week conclusively prove that Isabella's grandfather, Sir Jock Delves Broughton, did indeed kill the Earl of Erroll in 1941 in what became known as the White Mischief murder.
- Scotty's Away Party runs into some problems.
- Is the internet a data panopticon? You betcha--you may have forgotten that silly post you made to a Usenet group in 1997 on the joys of
(redacted) but the Internet hasn't. Now a Harvard professor makes a plea for Internet amnesia. - Get yer Kool-ade pickles here. No, thanks. I'll wait for the Crystal Lite pickles.
- Bothwell wants his own cellphone, but I'm worried about him going over his minutes. He's already spending a lot of time on Dogster.
- It's time for asparagus! Yum!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Synopsis Hell.
Un-fun things like a synopsis, and stuff. How do you boil down 400 pages into 2 paragraphs? By leaving all the good stuff out, I guess.
You know:
Boy means Girl. Parents say No. They die.
Guy takes long sea voyage. Meets Whale. Ship sinks.
Creepy old man kidnaps obnoxious young girl. He goes to jail. She dies.
Cattle drive to Montana. Many people die.
Yawn. Where's the swordplay, musings on whiteness, the murderous prose style? Cut out, that's where. Cut to the bone, so there's no meat left, just chewy sinew, yuck.
But it's got to be done, sigh.
And yeah--my story isn't quite done yet, you knew it, didn't you? I was crowing about being so close, and I am so close but close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and tactical nukes. But I am close--which is better than being far, no?
That's all I got, kids.
You know:
Boy means Girl. Parents say No. They die.
Guy takes long sea voyage. Meets Whale. Ship sinks.
Creepy old man kidnaps obnoxious young girl. He goes to jail. She dies.
Cattle drive to Montana. Many people die.
Yawn. Where's the swordplay, musings on whiteness, the murderous prose style? Cut out, that's where. Cut to the bone, so there's no meat left, just chewy sinew, yuck.
But it's got to be done, sigh.
And yeah--my story isn't quite done yet, you knew it, didn't you? I was crowing about being so close, and I am so close but close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and tactical nukes. But I am close--which is better than being far, no?
That's all I got, kids.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Hear Hear!
Greg Frost takes the words right out of my mouth, with his insightful and pointed critique on the Sunday NY Times' somewhat condescending article on Philip K. Dick, and also on the unfortunate coining of the term "mundane" SF.
My sentiments, exactly, as oft griped about here, tho' perhaps not quite as eloquently as Sieur Frost.
My sentiments, exactly, as oft griped about here, tho' perhaps not quite as eloquently as Sieur Frost.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Zombie Cliche.
How come no one sent me the memo about how zombies have become big fat cliches, until I had already started a zombie story?
Tho', Devilman assures me that I have written a story with a zombie in it, not a zombie story. There is a distinction. That is--I hope there is a distinction. And my zombie is more of a revenant, anyway, though his return is not motivated by evil, unless you consider the banality of paperwork so.
Devilman thinks I should change my "revenant" to a C.H.U.D. which is arguably less cliched, but that would require more rewriting than I care to do at this date. I will just say, with bravado, that I have a new and unique addition to the undead canon, and finish my darn story.
Tho', Devilman assures me that I have written a story with a zombie in it, not a zombie story. There is a distinction. That is--I hope there is a distinction. And my zombie is more of a revenant, anyway, though his return is not motivated by evil, unless you consider the banality of paperwork so.
Devilman thinks I should change my "revenant" to a C.H.U.D. which is arguably less cliched, but that would require more rewriting than I care to do at this date. I will just say, with bravado, that I have a new and unique addition to the undead canon, and finish my darn story.
Yay!
One of my all time favorite writers, Elizabeth Hand, gets a fabu review of her new book, Generation Loss, at The Washington Post. I look forward to all of Liz's books, of course--but this one sounds particularly yummy. I have it on order right now, and can't wait until it arrives!
Yes, exactly!
"But the real, real reason I don't make more movies is that I'm a writer, and I always have to start with the blank page and that's hard. You are starting from scratch every single time. Nothing you've done before means a damn when you've got to start all over again."
Quentin Tarantino in The Telegraph.
Quentin Tarantino in The Telegraph.
To Review or Not to Review!
Lionel Shriver explains exactly why I don't like to write book reviews.
What if you trash a book whose author is then in a position to trash you? What if you trash a book and then run into the author at con? They may smile and smile at you, but you know there's murder behind those smiles. And can you blame them? Every book--even a bad one--is an agony to write and represents weeks of works. And then some uppity reviewer comes along and dismisses those weeks, even years, of painful slogging with a few paragraphs. Sure, some books deserve being eviscerated, but I guess I'm too cowardly to be the one with the knife.
Clearly, if I love a book, you'll hear about it here. But if I hate a book, you will not. Particularly if it's a book that everyone else is loving to death. I find that the more likely a book (especially genre) is hailed as fabulous, the more likely I shall hate it. And the more likely I shall keep my opinion to myself. I just don't have the guts to go against the grain. Well--that's not true. If I were sure that I should never meet the author at a cocktail party, then I'd probably feel safe in airing my dislike. But the higher the odds I might meet the author, the less likely I am to spread my negative opinion around. Cowardly but true. I'd like to think that authors would realize a bad review is nothing personal--except of course a bad review is everything personal, because a book is everything personal. Le livre c'est moi, to paraphrase the Sun King.
Also, oh so true: As Ms. Shriver says: "Every compliment I've ever received in print, I have forgotten. The insults I can often quote verbatim; they have the cerebral shelf-life of radioactive isotopes."
Oh yes.
What if you trash a book whose author is then in a position to trash you? What if you trash a book and then run into the author at con? They may smile and smile at you, but you know there's murder behind those smiles. And can you blame them? Every book--even a bad one--is an agony to write and represents weeks of works. And then some uppity reviewer comes along and dismisses those weeks, even years, of painful slogging with a few paragraphs. Sure, some books deserve being eviscerated, but I guess I'm too cowardly to be the one with the knife.
Clearly, if I love a book, you'll hear about it here. But if I hate a book, you will not. Particularly if it's a book that everyone else is loving to death. I find that the more likely a book (especially genre) is hailed as fabulous, the more likely I shall hate it. And the more likely I shall keep my opinion to myself. I just don't have the guts to go against the grain. Well--that's not true. If I were sure that I should never meet the author at a cocktail party, then I'd probably feel safe in airing my dislike. But the higher the odds I might meet the author, the less likely I am to spread my negative opinion around. Cowardly but true. I'd like to think that authors would realize a bad review is nothing personal--except of course a bad review is everything personal, because a book is everything personal. Le livre c'est moi, to paraphrase the Sun King.
Also, oh so true: As Ms. Shriver says: "Every compliment I've ever received in print, I have forgotten. The insults I can often quote verbatim; they have the cerebral shelf-life of radioactive isotopes."
Oh yes.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
More Omissions!
Sitting around and shooting the scifi with Devilman and Paul, we came up with a few more appalling omissions to the EW list.
Donnie Darko: Okay, I hated this film, but Devilman says it's "the heir to the classic scifi cult movie tradition--so evocative it doesn't have to make sense."
Gattaca: One of the few recent scifi movies to take on a dystopian future that doesn't involve aliens and galactic wars, focusing instead on genetic testing and the human quest for perfection through science.
Invader Zim: Yeah, it's a cartoon, but it's a brilliant cartoon about a little green space man and his little green robot in a dog suit trying to take over the world. The artwork is amazing, and the show is a clever riff on the invading space alien trope--what if the space alien was only in third grade?
Stargate: Paul assures me this movie is "brilliant." I'll take his word for it; I'm still bitter that when the SciFi channel had to choose between the Stargate franchise and Farscape, it chose the Stargate franchise.
Donnie Darko: Okay, I hated this film, but Devilman says it's "the heir to the classic scifi cult movie tradition--so evocative it doesn't have to make sense."
Gattaca: One of the few recent scifi movies to take on a dystopian future that doesn't involve aliens and galactic wars, focusing instead on genetic testing and the human quest for perfection through science.
Invader Zim: Yeah, it's a cartoon, but it's a brilliant cartoon about a little green space man and his little green robot in a dog suit trying to take over the world. The artwork is amazing, and the show is a clever riff on the invading space alien trope--what if the space alien was only in third grade?
Stargate: Paul assures me this movie is "brilliant." I'll take his word for it; I'm still bitter that when the SciFi channel had to choose between the Stargate franchise and Farscape, it chose the Stargate franchise.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Best Sci-Fi of the Last 25 Years--Pah!
Via Cake, here's what EW.com considers to be the best Sci-Fi of the last 25 years. (Film/Tv only.)
And I must just beg to differ.
Sure there's some good stuff on this list but the omissions are glaring.
Viz.:
1. Farscape. Quirky, character-driven and very po-mo. And those fabulous puppets. Really cool aliens. Scorpius has to be one of the best Evil Villains ever, and they did an entire episode on crackers.
2. Space Above and Beyond. Okay, I didn't love this show, but it was one of the first tv shows to embed realistic military lifestyle into a science fiction world, so it deserves notice for that, if nothing else. In some ways, a fore-runner of BSG.
3. The Fifth Element. I know, I know, a Bruce Willis action vehicle. But the production design (via French comic masters Jean Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières) and costuming (via Jean Paul Gaultier) was visionary. And as an action movie, the action was pretty darn good.
4. Lexx. I could never decide if I liked this show or not--but I kept watching it. Plot-wise it was surreal and bizarre. A half-cluster lizard half-love slave, a robot head, a dead Brunnun-G Warrior, and Stanley Tweddle travel through the Light Universe on the Lexx, the most powerful weapon in the universe--also a giant insect--encountering no end of weirdly menacing creatures and people. It's unlike any other Scifi show you've ever seen.
5. Red Dwarf. One of the few SciFi comedy series, Red Dwarf follows the adventures of slobby Dave Lister, who through a series of unfortunate incidents, finds himself trapped in deep space, three million years into the future, with only a hologram of his worst enemy, and a hyper-evolved cat for company. These adventures are very very funny.
6. Babylon Five. I never cared much for this show, but it was one of the first (if not the first) scifi shows whose adventures were driven not by exploration, but by politics. It was also one of the first shows to really push the use of CGI. Additionally, the show gave full screen time to its various alien races, creating fully formed characters who were just as important as the humans.
And I must just beg to differ.
Sure there's some good stuff on this list but the omissions are glaring.
Viz.:
1. Farscape. Quirky, character-driven and very po-mo. And those fabulous puppets. Really cool aliens. Scorpius has to be one of the best Evil Villains ever, and they did an entire episode on crackers.
2. Space Above and Beyond. Okay, I didn't love this show, but it was one of the first tv shows to embed realistic military lifestyle into a science fiction world, so it deserves notice for that, if nothing else. In some ways, a fore-runner of BSG.
3. The Fifth Element. I know, I know, a Bruce Willis action vehicle. But the production design (via French comic masters Jean Giraud and Jean-Claude Mézières) and costuming (via Jean Paul Gaultier) was visionary. And as an action movie, the action was pretty darn good.
4. Lexx. I could never decide if I liked this show or not--but I kept watching it. Plot-wise it was surreal and bizarre. A half-cluster lizard half-love slave, a robot head, a dead Brunnun-G Warrior, and Stanley Tweddle travel through the Light Universe on the Lexx, the most powerful weapon in the universe--also a giant insect--encountering no end of weirdly menacing creatures and people. It's unlike any other Scifi show you've ever seen.
5. Red Dwarf. One of the few SciFi comedy series, Red Dwarf follows the adventures of slobby Dave Lister, who through a series of unfortunate incidents, finds himself trapped in deep space, three million years into the future, with only a hologram of his worst enemy, and a hyper-evolved cat for company. These adventures are very very funny.
6. Babylon Five. I never cared much for this show, but it was one of the first (if not the first) scifi shows whose adventures were driven not by exploration, but by politics. It was also one of the first shows to really push the use of CGI. Additionally, the show gave full screen time to its various alien races, creating fully formed characters who were just as important as the humans.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Thursday is Boring!
Obviously so was Wednesday, because I had nothing to post about...
Devilman and I went to see Hot Fuzz last night. It was amusing, particularly for those of us with a sneaking fondness for law enforcement action movies and mindless gun play. At least this mindless gun play was all in good fun, and no swans were hurt in the filming thereof. I also liked the rapid cut editing; I wish my life was full of rapid cut editing!
We also ate horrific buffalo wings at a horrific sports bar chain which I shall not identify otherwise except to say that two of the words in this sentence are also found in the name of this chain. Why oh why? We were hungry and it was that or fast food. I think we might have been better off with fast food. Or gnawing our own forearms.
But it's sunny here, and has been so for almost a week now. Which for Chicago seems some sort of miracle.
And my silly story is not done yet.
Devilman and I went to see Hot Fuzz last night. It was amusing, particularly for those of us with a sneaking fondness for law enforcement action movies and mindless gun play. At least this mindless gun play was all in good fun, and no swans were hurt in the filming thereof. I also liked the rapid cut editing; I wish my life was full of rapid cut editing!
We also ate horrific buffalo wings at a horrific sports bar chain which I shall not identify otherwise except to say that two of the words in this sentence are also found in the name of this chain. Why oh why? We were hungry and it was that or fast food. I think we might have been better off with fast food. Or gnawing our own forearms.
But it's sunny here, and has been so for almost a week now. Which for Chicago seems some sort of miracle.
And my silly story is not done yet.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Queries: Metal More Attractive...
Madama Hamerquist has inquired how long it took me to write Metal More Attractive, a short story that was published in F&SF a few years back.
Answer: About 48 hours.
Metal More Attractive was written while I was attending Clarion West a few years back. Our esteemed teacher, Paul Park, had tasked our class with a writing exercise: describe a location through action. That is, rather than using passive description (I walked into the room and looked around...the floor was flat and the walls vertical...) all the setting description should be part of the action of the scene. In response, I wrote the first few paragraphs of Metal More Attractive, which describe Hardhands walking into Guererro's Helado y Refresco.
Later, I finished the story in one caffeine fulled day. At this point, I had already written Flora Segunda, so Califa was clear in my mind, but the characters of Hardhands and Tiny Doom were new to me. I've never written a story so easily and I probably never will again. Despite its length, the tale just poured right out, and I didn't have to do much revising either. Since MMA was the also the first short story I'd ever written, I can truly attribute it to beginner's luck!
Answer: About 48 hours.
Metal More Attractive was written while I was attending Clarion West a few years back. Our esteemed teacher, Paul Park, had tasked our class with a writing exercise: describe a location through action. That is, rather than using passive description (I walked into the room and looked around...the floor was flat and the walls vertical...) all the setting description should be part of the action of the scene. In response, I wrote the first few paragraphs of Metal More Attractive, which describe Hardhands walking into Guererro's Helado y Refresco.
Later, I finished the story in one caffeine fulled day. At this point, I had already written Flora Segunda, so Califa was clear in my mind, but the characters of Hardhands and Tiny Doom were new to me. I've never written a story so easily and I probably never will again. Despite its length, the tale just poured right out, and I didn't have to do much revising either. Since MMA was the also the first short story I'd ever written, I can truly attribute it to beginner's luck!
Fillogies, Trilogies & Series, Further Considered.
In a comment to my entry introducing the word "Fillogy", Madama Hamerquist asked what's up with that? (I paraphrase, of course--her actual query was a put a bit more elegantly)--why are publishers mad for trilogies and series? Madama Hamerquist is not the only one asking me thus; I recently had lunch with several YA librarians who bemoaned the fact that so few stand-alone books, particularly in the fantasy genre, were being published, and that not all young readers were up to the challenge of a multi-part series. Some kids just wanted to read one book and be done with it. Why, why, why? they asked, as though somehow I, the lone author in the conversation, had some special insight into the byzantine world of publishing.
Well, I don't claim to have done exhaustive research into the matter, nor to have special insight, but I do have a few theories, which I shall raise up the flagpole. Feel free to salute.
My first theory is that, of course, writers like to have a sure thing, and a multi book deal is a sure thing. With a multi-book deal the writer knows where her next meal is coming from, and it's been my experience that most writers like to eat. So most writers are only too happy to come up with ideas that will take several books to play out. And of course when writers invests a lot of time and effort into world and character building, they like to be able to use them more than once.
Publishers like series because if they can also be a sure thing--get the reader hooked on book one and they'll come back for more. And more. And more. Some series are fillogies--the book started out long for one volume, but was rather too short to be easily split up into two, and didn't have enough bulk to go into three, so the editor and author padded out. Sometimes this padding works and sometimes it doesn't. I think, also, that some publishers are worried about super fat books--word cubes--there's certainly an audience for word cubes, but many readers are turned off by thick books, which can seem intimidating, so easier to chop the book up into bits. The most famous example of this would be Lord of the Rings.
But really, I think it all comes down to familiarity. Readers coming back for more. This sentiment seems to be prevailing in the movie industry as well. Most of the big hits these days are sequels, and some are even sequels to sequels.
This is not new, of course. There's the two/three volume novel was a staple of the 19th century; I'm thinking here of such tomes as Euegne Sue's The Mysteries of Paris, which was published in two volumes. Literature majors will no doubt be able to point to hundreds more examples of that, and sequels to sequels etc.
As for me, I had always planned on writing three books about Flora, but I never planned on having one plot play out through the three volumes. I wanted each book to have its own distinct plot with its own distinct resolution. Some larger plot points would carry over through the books to culminate in the third, but I didn't want to leave readers hanging at the end of each book. There's nothing wrong with cliff-hangers per say; I'm particularly fond of them as chapter endings (as I'm sure you all have noticed), but I find them frustrating at the end of a novel. Particularly when the next installment might be a year or so off. It seems woefully unfair to readers stuck with you for hundreds of pages only to be left high and dry, and told to come back later if they wish satisfaction.
So while each volume of Flora's adventures is self-contained, they do have commonalities, and issues which carry over--much like real life, things do not get tidily resolved--but I hope I have found some balance between giving the reader a satisfying conclusion and encouraging them to want more.
'Cause there's more coming, that I promise!
Well, I don't claim to have done exhaustive research into the matter, nor to have special insight, but I do have a few theories, which I shall raise up the flagpole. Feel free to salute.
My first theory is that, of course, writers like to have a sure thing, and a multi book deal is a sure thing. With a multi-book deal the writer knows where her next meal is coming from, and it's been my experience that most writers like to eat. So most writers are only too happy to come up with ideas that will take several books to play out. And of course when writers invests a lot of time and effort into world and character building, they like to be able to use them more than once.
Publishers like series because if they can also be a sure thing--get the reader hooked on book one and they'll come back for more. And more. And more. Some series are fillogies--the book started out long for one volume, but was rather too short to be easily split up into two, and didn't have enough bulk to go into three, so the editor and author padded out. Sometimes this padding works and sometimes it doesn't. I think, also, that some publishers are worried about super fat books--word cubes--there's certainly an audience for word cubes, but many readers are turned off by thick books, which can seem intimidating, so easier to chop the book up into bits. The most famous example of this would be Lord of the Rings.
But really, I think it all comes down to familiarity. Readers coming back for more. This sentiment seems to be prevailing in the movie industry as well. Most of the big hits these days are sequels, and some are even sequels to sequels.
This is not new, of course. There's the two/three volume novel was a staple of the 19th century; I'm thinking here of such tomes as Euegne Sue's The Mysteries of Paris, which was published in two volumes. Literature majors will no doubt be able to point to hundreds more examples of that, and sequels to sequels etc.
As for me, I had always planned on writing three books about Flora, but I never planned on having one plot play out through the three volumes. I wanted each book to have its own distinct plot with its own distinct resolution. Some larger plot points would carry over through the books to culminate in the third, but I didn't want to leave readers hanging at the end of each book. There's nothing wrong with cliff-hangers per say; I'm particularly fond of them as chapter endings (as I'm sure you all have noticed), but I find them frustrating at the end of a novel. Particularly when the next installment might be a year or so off. It seems woefully unfair to readers stuck with you for hundreds of pages only to be left high and dry, and told to come back later if they wish satisfaction.
So while each volume of Flora's adventures is self-contained, they do have commonalities, and issues which carry over--much like real life, things do not get tidily resolved--but I hope I have found some balance between giving the reader a satisfying conclusion and encouraging them to want more.
'Cause there's more coming, that I promise!
Tra-La--It's May!
The merrie month of May
When tons of little happy thoughts
Go merrily astray!
Happy May Day!
When tons of little happy thoughts
Go merrily astray!
Happy May Day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
