Grasping for the Wind

@The Smart Set: The Term Paper Artist

I don't know a lot about Nick Mamatas, but I do know he is popular in the SF world, espceially for his work on Clarkesworld Magazine (he is no longer with that publication). Either way, this article on Mamatas' time as a for-sale term paper writer is fascinating stuff.

http://www.thesmartset.com/article/article10100801.aspx

Best Line: "Writing model term papers is above-board and perfectly legal. Thanks to the First Amendment, it's protected speech, right up there with neo-Nazi rallies, tobacco company press releases, and those "9/11 Was An Inside Job" bumper stickers."

On Some Clients: "Most of the customers just aren't very bright. One of my brokers would even mark assignments with the code words DUMB CLIENT. That meant to use simple English; nothing's worse than a client calling back to ask a broker -- most of whom had no particular academic training -- what certain words in the paper meant. One time a client actually asked to talk to me personally and lamented that he just didn't "know a lot about Plah-toe." Distance learning meant that he'd never heard anyone say the name."

It is a fascinating look at something you wonder about but never really understood becasue you never had to use the service, or it seemed insulting to need to (and it isn't always, as Mamatas points out).

[Via mental_floss]

Ever Wanted a Personal Library (as in Room)?

Then check out these pics, so that you can covet, covet, covet.

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-10/ff_walker?currentPage=all

Personally, I've always wanted a personal library like that of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady.

John Joseph Adams makes manuscript submissions a whole lot easier

For aspiring writers, the following link to the page of John Joseph Adams-Slush God is a must. In it, he interviews Gordon Van Gelder, editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction; Sheila Williams, editor of Asimov's Science Fiction, and Susan Marie Groppi, editor of Strange Horizons, about what, as editors, they are looking for from manuscripts and the writers who write them.

http://www.johnjosephadams.com/?p=1689

This article originally appeared in 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, but it is now online for your reading enjoyment and as a help to your professional writing career.

Quote of the Day

"Beauty is harder to analyze than truth."

- Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book

mental_floss $50,000 Tuition Giveaway

My absolute favorite blog of all time mental_floss, is giving away $50,000 in tuition to 5 lucky guys or gals who write a short 750 word essay.

The Contest: In 750 words or less, explain why you (as the most deserving person on the planet) should win a $10,000 prize for tuition/books in the fall of 2009. The contest is open to full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the U.S. or Canada in the fall of 2009. Essays must be original work and should reflect the tone of mental_floss magazine. Winning essays must be truly memorable. They should be easy-to-read, funny, quirky and creative without being pretentious. Just (we hope) like mental_floss magazine. The prizes will be awarded on the overall quality of your essay.

Eligibility: You must be 18 years of age or older (by August 15, 2009) and a legal resident of the United States (except Puerto Rico), the District of Columbia or Canada (except Quebec) in order to enter.

Grand Prizes: Five $10,000 (U.S.) scholarships will be awarded for full-time students pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the U.S. or Canada in the fall of 2009. The prizes will be paid directly to the schools. Winners will also receive a Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary and a two-year subscription to mental_floss magazine.

Runner-Up Prizes: The First Grand Consolation Prize is a dinner at your college or university during fall semester 2009 with a co-founder of Mental Floss LLC, namely Will Pearson or Mangesh Hattikudur, and five (5) of your closest friends or a cash award of $250. Four other Runners-up will receive a one-year subscription to mental_floss magazine, a mental_floss T-shirt and a Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Here are the official rules.

Here is the official entry form.

Here are the FAQs.

As you know tuition keeps on rising in cost, this money could go a long way to make your life a whole lot easier. Just be sure and use your supermoney for good, not evil. And remember, Mangesh good, no college bad.

Words They Used - 2008 Political Conventions

No matter your political stance, this is a pretty cool graphic for lovers of words. Counting the number of times words were used by speakers at the two conventions, we can see what the emphasis' are, or at least seem to be.

Wonder if we ought to do something similar with comparable authors?

Buy my book and I'll throw you a bone (maybe)

An author lets you get your name on the cover of her next book if you submit a one-page synopsis of the story. The plus side: you get paid a small amount, you get you name on a book, and you get to feel proud of yourself. The catch? You have to submit a proof of purchase of the author's first book. It is great guerrilla marketing, but if you fall for it, you deserve what you get.

Ideology as Subgenre

In the following article, I will be focusing on Christian SF&F, but this argument is valid for any ideology based subgenre.

It has been mentioned that Christian science fiction and fantasy ought not to be considered a subgenre of SF&F at all. It is, after all, associated with a particular ideology and/or belief system. Might as well have subgenres called Taoist SF for Ursula K. LeGuin's work, or Muslim SF, should such ever appear on the horizon. And to an extent, this is a valid argument. If we allow one particular religion, ideology, or belief system to have its own subgenre, then, to be fair, we must allow all to do so. The current classification system within SF&F, while often generating controversy, still generally classifies its works based on setting and content, not ideology or belief system. So ideology based subgenres are still something of a bastard child in the way books are classified.

For instance, Steampunk is a genre that contains certain elements within it's setting and characterization that do not apply to sword and sorcery, and this is as it should be. The same is true for epic fantasy versus hard SF. Even if we haven't truly codified the system completely due to its changeability, its ability to adapt to new writing styles is part of what we love about it.

But, for all of that argument's validity in a logical sense, there is another to be made, which I think is much more pragmatic. That argument stems from categorization as defined by marketers. Sure, some purists out there will decry this notion as absurd, since it is the fans and writers who should define the genre, not the marketers who can justly be accused of not understanding the intricacies of SF&F. But hear me out.

"Marketers and publishers" classification is how book sellers know where to put a book on their shelves. When laying out their store, many of the books are placed in locations relating to where the publisher believes a book should go. That is why Harry Potter, although popular with adults, is found in the children's section. Its publisher, when putting out the first book, decided that was a logical place for it to go. For that same reason Madeleine L'Engle's AWrinkle in Time, originally written for an adult audience, landed in the children's section because of a marketing decision. She makes such a claim in her memior A Circle of Quiet. In early 1960, the book had received a long series of rejections, "because it deals overtly with the problem of evil, and it was too difficult for children, and was it a children's or an adults' book, anyhow?" writes L'Engle. Her marketer ultimately decided to market this book for children, and a Newberry Award was the result. That is why Tolkien, while popular with kids, is more often found in the adult fiction section of the store. He was marketed that way at first, and so he continues to be. These classifications are not wholly arbitrary, and certain conventions are used, but ultimately the publisher and its marketing team decide where the book would best sell, and the bookseller follows their lead.

So, what does that have to do with Christian SF&F? Well, as any customer in a bookshop knows, there is often a section devoted to Christianity as a whole. This is intentionally designed to allow readers of religious works, including fiction, to choose books that follow this belief system, in its myriad forms, and to easily find books that agree with their assumptions and presuppositions. Additionally, it is such a large market that to the bookseller it is worth the effort to differentiate it from the general fiction, much like Science Fiction and Fantasy has its own section as well. Other sections that are comparable would be the section on Women's Studies, or that on Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Works, or on Minority Works. These are worthwhile categorizations for the marketer and bookseller as it allows potential customers ease of access. They allow readers to find works they are looking for easily and in a subject that interests them.

Each of these larger genres must then integrate with others to create subgenres. That integration only enhances the ease in which a reader can find a book of interest. For example, Women's Studies finds itself turned into a subgenre in the general fiction genre, often called feminist fiction. In Science Fiction and Fantasy, there is a small, but growing, idea of a subgenre known as feminist SF. Usually written by women or about women's issues, this is a subgenre that is intimately related with its non-fiction counterpart. And noone seems to have much trouble agreeing that feminist SF is a valid subgenre. Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Works also has its subgenres, particularly in the romance section, as well as a growing subgenre in SF. Both of these examples are subgenres which are based on ideology, which relate to a larger genre, and are accepted by retailers and publishers alike.

Therefore, if there is such a thing as a Christianity genre, then when it appears in the SF&F genre its subgenre must be that of Christian science fiction and fantasy. By relating an existing, larger genre to a smaller subgenre, we show its validity and provide ease of access to customers looking for a particular work. You may find argument with the existence of that overarching genre, but precedent stands against you.

In essence, Christian science fiction and fantasy is a valid subgenre, as are any subgenres based on ideology as well as setting. Obviously, if you allow one (as we already have with feminist SF) you must allow them all. But that only adds to the diversity that makes SF&F so great in the first place. Christian SF&F is a valid subgenre, as is feminist SF, as would be Taoist or Muslim SF. To say otherwise feels more like close-mindedness that the spirit of freedom that SF&F has always fostered historically.

For a perspective from someone not a self-pronounced Christian, read this piece at The Guardian that argues that lesbian fiction is a necessary and needed categorization.

Lou Anders opens a Can of Worms

At his blog, Bowing to the Future, Pyr editor Lou Anders opens up a real can of worms. Building off a comment made in a review of The Martian General's Daughter he takes issue with people who accuse authors of propagandizing when they are simply writing from their perspective. He states,

"Now, I am neither a Marxist nor a Christian, and I'm no fan of propaganda in fiction whether I'm a fan of it's object or not, but there's a difference between propaganda and an author writing from out of his/her own perspective. I don't have to share an author's belief system to enjoy their craft, any more than I have to endorse human sacrifice to admire the construction of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacán (and that would be an extreme example.)"

And goes on to say,

"I've always loved science fiction for its extreme wealth of ideas of every size and stripe, and don't feel the genre - which is ultimately a set of tools, not a school of thought - should be limited only to a liberal/socialist world view, even if I happened to share that world view."

I agree wholeheartedly, which is why I review Christian SF&F, paranormal romance, hard SF, Space Operas, Epic Fantasy, etc. To ignore the wealth of spec fic, and its myriad of viewpoints, is to demean yourself.

I highly recommend you read Lou's entire thought HERE. And be sure to comment.

This is Genius Book Marketing

According to the Guardian, Charlie Hidgson, author of the "Young Bond" books for young adults, has created a computer game that ties into his books. Kids are not just encouraged, but are forced to read his books in order to play the game. Says Hidgson in his defense of this idea ""Kids can get as engrossed in a football magazine as they can in a history book or novel. We shouldn't be dismissive of other forms of literature - I used to read tons of comic books when I was a kid."

Good point, and genius marketing.

After all, if the old Wheel of Time video game had integrated better with the books, building on knowledge gleaned from reading them rather than being a separate story, they would have been much better. What if the popular Lord of the Rings games from Electronic Arts had not just let you play through the story, but had in fact used facts that could only be gotten from reading the books to help you solve puzzles in that world?

I always liked the old school Nintendo games that required you to read the "spoken" words of the characters. Early Final Fantasy, King's Quest, Legaia, and Wild Arms all required this. I was reading, and doing all the thinking about intent and tone, etc that goes along with it. Today's video games don't require reading much becasue the technology has progressed far enough to allow voices. You have to turn on closed captioning to read the words of the characters.

But beyond it having a positive effect, it also is genius marketing. Book sellers and publishers have been bemoaning for years the loss of readers to video games and their kin. Well, Hidgson looks to be taking the best of both worlds and combining them. This way, he gets kids to buy his books (with a character lots of boys are interested in, and some older men). This guy should make money hand over fist.

The game, called Shadow War, is available for free online play at www.youngbond.com until October 8,"when Higson will take part in a live event during which players will be able to influence the end of the game."

And I say, more power to him. I like both mediums, so a combination thereof, I am all for!

Woops! Got Tagged and Didn't Know It

Sorry Aidan, thanks for the interesting tag btw.

Nightstand/Table: Nothing is allowed on my bedside table, per her highness. But if I did, it would be the same as whatever I am reading at the moment.

Reading at the Moment: Orcs by Stan Nicholls - waiting to be wowed, This Gaming Life by Jim Rossignol - thought provoking though I disagree mostly.

Can't Put Down: I had trouble putting down three books recently, Ascendancy of the Last by Lisa Smedman, Plague Year by Jeff Carlson, and Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams. I blew through these, reviews are coming.

Gathering Dust: King's Shield by Sherwood Smith (unfortunate result of coming in on a latter book), several Forgotten Realms books, Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things, Mark J. Ferrari's The Book of Joby, The Gardens of the Moon by Stephen Erikson and Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge. (In my defense, except fo the first one, they are all ones I bought, and so get lesser priority to review copies.)

Secret Indulgence: Kinda hard to have when you blog about everything you read.

Looking Forward To: The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie, A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin, Kevin J. Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns Series, The Riven Kingdom by Karen Miller, All My Holy Mountain by L. B. Graham.

As far as tags go: I set you all free!

But Scifichick, WeariedJuggler, John Markley, and Tia might enjoy this more particularly.

100 Places to Connect With Other Bibliophiles Online

I just got an email telling me about this post at the Online Education Database. I thought you wonderful readers might find it useful as well. I will probably be checking out some of the blogs and using Instappraisal to get some value on my really old books. (I have a Jane Austen Collection from 1850, plus lots of classics in really old printings).

MultiReal First Drafts

For those who still live in a dream world where they believe their writing will come out fully formed and ready for publication, not understanding why they get so many rejection letters, there is a reality check. David Louis Edelman has posted the first drafts of Chapter 1 of MultiReal for you to learn from. Writing is a hard business, and these excerpts show it in ways that description never can.

The Practicalities of Freedom

This is a beautifully written post on just what freedom can mean. The setting is a public library, and the impetus the desire of one parent to remove a book from the library shelves that is about gay marriage. Morally, I disagree with gay marriage (I am a Christian, and believe homosexuality is a sin, just like lying, or adultery), but based on our laws and governmental structure I do not think it is unlawful or should be in the United States.

Read this microcosm of what freedom can mean in the practical day-to-day life of people HERE.

Okay, Maybe One More: Iain M. Banks on practicing SF

Though I haven't read any of his works, I know Iain M. Banks is rather a popular SF author, so I thought I might share THIS ARTICLE at The Guardian with you where Banks writes about practicing with SF and gives a partial history of his successes and failures in writing.

Literary Tattoos Part Deux

There is now an entire blog devoted to literary tattoos. Some of their highest rated tattoos are for Neil Gaiman and Harry Potter.

HT: Provocative Church

How to Bind a Book at Home

Got any old or worn books that need new bindings? Check out this video how to at mental_floss. It's DIY for book lovers!

Zoomii

Do you like how cheap Amazon's prices are, but hate the fact that browsing is so dang hard? Personally, I still go to the bookstore to browse and see what's new, even if I plan to buy online later. You may like cheap prices, but you enjoy browsing too. That's why Chris Thiessen created Zoomii, where you can browse Amazon's bookshelves in a format similar to browsing a bookstore while online. Chris Thiessen explains why he created the site,

Because I love bookstores. Spending afternoons wandering the shelves. Happening across great books I didn't even know existed. But it's an experience I never found online. Online bookstores are wonderful. They've got amazing prices, huge selections, and they're open all the time. If you know exactly what you want, they're perfect. But somehow I kept coming back to the bookstore just to browse. Zoomii is my attempt to bring online as much of the real bookstore experience as possible.

Check it out HERE. Think it will catch on?

Brian Ruckley on Product Placement in Novels

A funny and strangely unsettling idea. Is this where advertising might go next?

http://www.brianruckley.com/2008/06/on-placing-of-product.htm

Literary Tattoos

For my birthday back in January, my wife gave me the present of allowing me to get a new tattoo (I already have one). Still haven't gotten it yet, because I can't find the right image. But perhaps I ought to get a literary tattoo? I don't mind being middle class chic instead of a rebel, becasue in all honesty, that is what I am.

Print-on-Demand is Your Friend

Much has been made of the effect of POD (print-on-demand) publishing. Generally, it is seen as something to be feared, a force for evil that is destroying the “art” of the publishing industry.

First, a definition from Wikipedia: “Print on demand (POD), sometimes called publish on demand, is a printing technology and business process in which new copies of a book (or other document) are not printed until an order has been received.” Essentially, a book is written, and hard copies are not produced until the buyer requests one by putting some money on the table.

Authors and Publishers lament the existence of POD because in many cases, POD books are works that tend to be published due to the author’s vanity. They feel it somehow dilutes the quality of the genre as a whole. And it is true that they are often works that no publisher would ever publish, and most likely any queries for these books sent to agents like The Swivet would be rejected instantly. They lack quality, often lack any editing, and usually read like a fifth grader wrote them.

But I say that this is a good thing. Beyond the obvious environmental benefits, POD publishing is a new wall between publisher and author. Many, many people write novels in their spare time (especially SF&F enthusiasts) and each and every one of those people thing their novel is worthy of being published. This is obviously not so.

After a few rejections, many of these authors will get frustrated, and turn to places like PublishAmerica to get their work published, because it so obviously deserves to be in print. That’s a good thing, because now the agent and publisher can devote their limited time to looking for works that actually have some merit. Sure, those people wasted the time of a few agents, but now they won’t be bothering anybody anymore, since there books now has a glossy (if ugly) cover, and black and white words. They can sign books for all their friends and feel that they have “made it” as an author.

Agents and Publishers, you ought to be glad the POD exists, since enough rejections will get these “authors” out of your hair so you can do the work you really enjoy. If there was no POD, those authors would most likely keep coming back again and again, and in your professionalism and politeness, you would write a response with a few helpful suggestions that may or may not be listened to. But once that book is “published” you no longer have to worry about those submissions.

Authors, you ought to like it because if you are just out to see your work in print, then you can do so, and if you are serious and have quality work to publish, you now have a little less competition.

This is not to say that all POD books are bad. I’ve read and reviewed several, and enjoyed quite a few of them. But it weans out the people who are just out to say “I’m a published author!” to all their friends and family. Occasionally, there is a gem, a nugget in POD, usually due to some author being too humble or shy, or simply too tired of getting rejected, even when their manuscript is worthwhile. But now the agents and publishers can peruse those by their own choice, rather than dealing with a query.

Additionally, out of print books, especially those out of copyright, get added to print-on-demand titles. This way you can read a hard copy of a book that has been published for thirty years. That is certainly a good thing, especially for enthusiasts of little-known and long dead authors whose works can't even be found in used bookstores.

I feel that POD increases the quality of those works that do get published by big press publishing houses. It also increases some of the quality of the small presses as well, though those can sometimes be “vanity editing” a kissing cousin of “vanity publishing”.

Sure, there are some people being published who are being published just because they have always been published, long before POD came around. And sometimes who you know or a track record can get you published no matter how bad your latest book is. But for new authors, who began seeking publication after the advent of POD, I can be more sure that those books are higher quality, since POD has helped weed out the trash.

I acknowledge that many more factors go into publishing, and that editorial decisions, personal preference, who you know, and what readers have an appetite for have some say in which books get published. What I am really saying to all the detractors of POD is, “What are you complaining about?” In theory, if your work is quality, you will have better access to agents and publishers, as POD allows those who want to stoke their egos to do so, and in some cases, propel some authors into publishing with a big publishing house. What’s wrong with that?

30,000 Books

Think you have a hard time finding a place to store all of your books, try finding shelving for 30,000 of them. Says the author, "I knew that once the books found their place, I would find mine." Too true, too true. I know I find it much easier to read when my books are organized and neatly stacked. At least my library is only at 2,274 books and doesn't yet require a barn, nor generate the fear that I will forced to "foresee a day in which my books, like that anonymous invader, will complete their gradual conquest. I will then be banished to the garden, but knowing the way of books, I fear that even that seemingly safe place may not be entirely beyond my library’s hungry ambition."

Must Read Essay

Everyone in any sort of artistic endeavor, those who think of themselves of artists, or those who think Harry Potter is actually a Great Work (notice the capitals, I mean those of you who put it on par with Aristotle, Twain, or Shakespeare) need to read this essay on aesthetic taste by Laurie Fendrich.

Must Read Books for Writers

Mental Floss has a list of 4 Must Read Books for Writers. If you are a writer, I recommend you take a look.

How to Choose a Summer Reading Book

Summer is just around the corner, and its time to find that summer beach reading. Picking that book that you carry with you to the beach, the park, on vacation, and to visit the relatives can actually be surprisingly difficult. You have a limited amount of time, and you want to be sure to use your time wisely. So do you read a book recommended to you by a friend? Or do you read that latest New York Times bestseller? Do you take the bookstore's recommendation and read a book that they list as excellent beach reading? What has been your success rate with such methods?

It is not as easy a choice at it seems, as I have found to my detriment more than once. I thought I might presume to share with you some of the things I have learned about choosing a summer reading book.

Pick a book in a genre you like or by a favorite author.

This is of paramount importance. Summer reading is meant to be fun and pleasurable, and if you are reading a big fat biography of Winston Churchill, or trying to reread a classic that was assigned to you in grade school, you might find yourself not getting the relaxation that is one of your primary goals in taking a book with you on vacation or to the park. This does not necessarily mean that it should be a work of fiction or some book that is pure entertainment. If you can't decide, try picking a book from suggested summer reading books at your local bookstore or library in a genre you generally read. But it is important that you read a book that will help you relax and that will easily keep your interest.

Choose a book with short chapters or has regular breaks every few pages.

Summer is a busy time, and you are going to get distracted. Your kids will come up to you at the beach and ask you to swim with them, or you need to keep your eye on them in the pool. You will want to be able to poke your nose out of the book regularly, but not have to break the flow of the narrative in an unnatural place. Books with short chapters or short sections allow this to happen easily. Terry Pratchett's later works don't even have chapter divisions, but simply have the occasional break as he moves from one scene to the next. This suggestion does not mean the book has to be short itself. I just finished reading Tad William's Shadowmarch and it is a hefty tome at 600+ pages, but he breaks his narrative often enough to change scenes that you can look away or put the novel down without having to stop reading in awkward places.

Buy a book only if you don’t mind letting it get beat up.

You will most likely be traveling with this book, and believe me it is very likely to get damaged in some way. Either you will drop it, spill something on it, or the natural wear and tear of being taken in and out of a bag will bend the edges. You might get sand in it at the beach, or dirt at the park. No matter what you try to do your book will be damaged. I've tried everything, believe me, I'm one of those strange folk that doesn't bend mass market paperbacks far enough back to crease the book. I like my books to look brand new all the time. I know, I know, I'm a freak. :)

This is a great time for you to become a customer at your local library (they build wear and tear into replacement costs) or visit your local used bookstore for a copy of a book you don't mind seeing destroyed. Both will appreciate your business, and you don't have to feel guilty should your book be lost or significantly damaged. I have even bought books I already owned because I like the proprietor of my local independent bookshop and want to give him business, but didn't want to damage my good copy. DO NOT borrow from a friend, unless your friend is OK with that book being a mess when it is returned. Be sure to ask.

Pick something that reads quickly or that you can put down and return to after a long period of time.

This is related to the first suggestion above, since if you pick a book in a genre you like it will most likely read quickly or be a book you will want to return to.

We all are very busy during the summer. Looking at my own travel schedule for summer, I will be traveling for nearly a month at different times June through August. That's a lot of travel, and most likely, your schedule is even worse than mine - I'm a homebody at heart. During that time you will probably be spending most of your times seeing sights, visiting theme parks, carousing with friends or reminiscing with family. Combined with travel time, that leaves little time for reading, no matter how much you enjoy it. So a book that reads quickly is useful for picking up at odd times, or only getting to at night or early morning when every one else is asleep.

Or you may be so busy that although you brought your book, you don't get to it over the entire course of your vacation, even though you had started it on the first few hours of your road trip or plane ride. A week can be a long time to put a book down and then try and return to it, so if your book is something you will want to return to, that you enjoy, you will be able to pick it up more easily after a hiatus and will also not abandon it, thereby wasting the money you spent on it. (If it is a library book of course, money is not a consideration, but do consider the time invested.)

Your summer reading should not be your child's summer reading.

While it is important that you read some of the things your children are reading, you are not going to get the relaxation you need from books written for young children or even high school students (unless that is a genre you like). You need to read for yourself, and your summer reading book or books should be for you. This is a good kind of selfish. It will also have a trickle down effect to your kids. Because you are more relaxed, your relationship with your kids will be more relaxed, and you will both have more fun. (This is actually applicable all year.)

Have fun.

Summer reading has the connotation of "fun in the sun" to it, and you should be sure to enjoy yourself, however you define that. My hope for you is that you enjoy your reading, I know I will.

These are just a few suggestions, by no means comprehensive, and you may have more of your own. I'd like to know what you do to pick some summer reading. Tell me your suggestions and or anecdotes in the comments below.

Baby Got Book

Remember Sir Mix-a-lot's "Baby got Back"? Of course you do, you saw Shrek and Friends. Well creative Cheryl Klein has rewritten the lyrics and given us "Baby Got Book". Hilarious!

HT: Eos Books Blog

Lulu Titlescorer

Have some time on your hands and want to have a little internet fun? Try putting in the titles of some of your favorite books into Lulu's Titlescorer to see how likely they are to become bestsellers. Here is a list with score of some of the books I have read recently.

The percentage is their likelihood of becoming bestsellers.

The Name of the Wind - 69%

Goblin War - 35.9%

The Blade Itself - 26.3%

Empress - 35.9%

The Hidden City - 10.2%

Rolling Thunder - 79.6%

Phytosphere - 35.9%

Small Favor - 69%

Try it with your favorites! Obviously other factors go into a book being a bestseller, such as existing author notoriety, genre, marketing, etc., but in a vacuum, this holds some weight. ;)

Booklamp.org

I know, I know, the title of the post makes you think that I've found some site that sells lamps made of books, or perhaps reading lights designed to make reading easier.

But Booklamp.org is much more awesome than that. A program/site that is currently in beta testing, booklamp.org is like Pandora for books. Their website explains it well.

BookLamp.org is a system for matching readers to books through an analysis of writing styles, similar to the way that Pandora.com matches music lovers to new music. Do you like Stephen King’s It, but thought it was too long? The technology behind BookLamp allows you to find books that are written with a similar tone, tense, perspective, action level, description level, and dialog level, while at the same time allowing you to specify details like... half the length. It’s impervious to outside influences - like advertising - that impact socially driven recommendation systems, and isn’t reliant on a large user base to work.

The geeks have once again been visionary. I'd love something like this. I mean how many times has a reviewer (and I'm in this category) or a friend misdirected you in suggesting you read something that they liked. You ended up hating it. This new site will try and take the guesswork out of that. Watch the video to watch it in action. It's about thirteen minutes long, but its worth listening to the idea.

I signed up for the free beta test and tried it out myself. I put in GRRM's Dying of the Light and got recommendations for Kate Elliott (56%) and Lester Del Rey (56%). I put in Michale Moorcock and got Ben Bova as the best match (78%). I'd say that is a pretty good match of writing style. Of course, there are only 179 books in the database right now, all science fiction novels, so right now it is imperfect and gives back comparisons that might not make a lot of sense. But the more books there are, the better the system will work.

I think this is an awesome idea, and I hope these guys can make it work. Help them out by testing it out for yourself.

HT: Provocative Church

Bookshelf or Art?

Well, why not both?

I've been watching this blog for some time now, and I have to say, I am ga-ga for some of these shelves. My one an only disappointment is that I have yet to find a bookshelf that is designed to hold Mass Market Paperbacks.

I'm looking for a specially designed Mass Market Paperback bookshelf because I am a collector of the Forgotten Realms novels, and the majority of those are published only in mass market format. But no matter how I lay them out, they never really fit well on standard bookshelves, or they are stacked one on top of the other.

I would like to see a bookshelf where I can set my mass market paperbacks upright and next to each other so that the titles on the spines can be read clearly, I can put series together, and still looks classy. Anybody out there ever come across such an animal? What do you do with your mass market paperbacks? How do you stack them if you keep them?

PS: The photo is from when my wife and I first moved into our house about two years ago. Non of these shelves are empty now, and their are more books both on top and on the floor. And these are only the bookshelves in one room of our 2,300 square feet! We have shelves of comparable size in every other room but the two bathrooms. The books on these shelves are my wife's.

Pile o' Shame

Taking a cue from Aidan, I thought I might share with folks a few of my books from the Pile o' Shame, those books I just haven't gotten around to reading, but that everyone says I should.

When a woman wins a Nobel Prize (even if she acts poorly about receiving it) and has written some science fiction, I think that perhaps I ought to read some of her work. I picked up a cheap (but new!) copy of this at my local BJ's wholesale club.

Talked about as one of the best books of last year, Mark J. Ferrari's (such a cool last name!) The Book of Joby has been on everyone's recommended list. Even a Christian magazine I respect thought it was pretty good. However, it is very long and I have other books of more immediate interest.

My youngest brother picked me up a copy I had requested for Christmas, but for all the hubbub surrounding Steven Erikson, I just haven't wanted to pick it up quite yet. Part of it is that fact that it has been so talked up that I'm afraid that I won't like just becasue everyone else seems too. (ridiculous, isn't it?) And although it may not seem like it, I do like to read books not everyone is reading.

I love Neil Gaiman's writing. It's fresh, innovative and unusual. But I suffer from the conscientious reviewers problem. Since I ma fortunate enough to get some books for free from publishers, I feel an obligation to review books sent to me first, books I buy second. I in part deal with this by interposing a book I buy between those sent to me for review, but that leaves me with a pile of books I am glad I own and can't wait to read, but that will have to wait their turn.

You may have noticed that I predominantly read fantasy here. I like scifi a lot, but I prefer fantasy works. Yet a good buddy of mine has really, really encouraged me to read Vernor Vinge. He's the kind of guy who likes his books to provoke him and make him think, as well as be based in good science, rather than pure speculation. And his all-time favorite is Vernor Vinge. I got Rainbow's End on the cheap as a used library copy, and want to read it, but it suffers from the same problem as Gaiman's above.

That ought to do for now. I could probably list another ten to fifteen books on my pile including a few *GASP* Forgotten Realms books I haven't gotten to yet (I am really ashamed of that, I used to breeze through those highly enjoyable books in a weekend, now I haven't touched one in months). Maybe I'll give you another list in a few weeks.

Still, they say that confession is good for the soul, and I feel a little better for having told you about those books I know I should read, but haven't gotten to just yet.

He likes what writer?

Great essay at the NY Times on the effect of literary differences in the dating game.

I know I make it sound boring, but it is quite an insightful little piece.

(HT: Worldmagblog)

Book Review: Henry V by Classical Comics

* Genre: Graphic Novel, Literature, Drama
* ISBN: 1906332002
* ISBN-13: 9781906332006
* Format: Paperback, 144pp
* Publisher: Classical Comics
* Pub. Date: November 2007

Depending on how you look at it, most of us were forced or fortunate enough to read many of the greatest works of fiction in junior and high school. I’m sure you remember breezing through the novels you loved and slogging through the books you hated. If you are young enough, you likely remember trying to find the video version as well.

But perhaps most difficult of all these classics of literature we read was the works of Shakespeare. AS an Elizabethan writer, his English was archaic, and while teachers assured us it was filled with innuendo (or maybe it was fellow students?) we never could quite get the story. Many times, this was due to the fact that we were reading the work of a playwright, but were unable to see the work actually performed. Sometimes we might be fortunate enough to go to a Shakespeare festival, and maybe we say one on microfilm or VHS, but that was one class in a quarter, and never allowed us to engage the dry text before us.

Enter Classical Comics. This UK based publisher has done what others have been unable to do. Namely, give us a visual representation to go alongside the text of the Great Bard’s plays. Using the graphic novel format, Classical Comics gives teacher and students (plus those of us who love good literature) a fun and interesting way to enjoy the works of Shakespeare.

You might say that this has been done before and I agree it has been tried for all sorts of classics. But most of the time, they use abridged versions, dumbed down to fit on the page and leave more room for artwork. Not so Classical Comics. They give us not one version, but three. There is the unabridged version, best for the high school student or adult, the plain text version, which uses modern English to give us the gist of the Bard’s meaning, and the quick text version, which is a great way to introduce potential lovers of the classics, especially elementary age children.

For Classical Comics first book, they chose Henry V, probably the most action packed and inspiring of Shakespeare’s plays. Obviously, most readers will be familiar with the play itself, so I won’t go into detail here, but suffice it to say that its words are as awesome as ever.

Classical Comics has really done a good job translating the words into images. (Unfortunately, this example doesn't have the text, but you can look at more complete versions in pdf format at the website.) Although the artwork is a little bit on the cartoony side (rounded edges, not much in the way of sharp lines, it reminds me of early Disney films) it is well laid out, and the text is never crammed into the panels. And yet the full text is there.

The marriage of artwork and text is important, especially when so many students are historically illiterate. They have difficulty picturing how some of the characters may have dressed or what the country side might have looked like. Classical Comics recreates these things as best they can, allowing students and readers to see with their eyes as well as their minds.

Additionally, the work contains historical background at the end of the volume on Shakespeare, the Globe Theater, the time period as well as a discussion of just how they transformed the work from dry, dusty page to colorful, interesting comics. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Says Patrick Stewart, skilled Shakespearean actor and Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: TNG fame, “I find them gripping, dramatic and, although for me the original Shakespeare is always my reason for turning to these plays, I think that what you are doing in illuminating and making perhaps more lucid, especially for young people, is clever and meaningful.”
Need any more be said?

For me, this really revived my interest in the works, and if I were still a teacher, I would have been sure to use it in my classroom. I would even recommend giving these books out as the text to use. Having a picture to go with the words, and having the ability to access a plain English text is of inestimable value to the teacher and the student.

If you want to read the classics, but are afraid after bad experiences in your youth, Classical Comics has the solution for you. Their next volumes include Macbeth, and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, as well as works by Charles Dickens and Mary Shelley. Although the longer novels will be abridged versions I’m still looking forward to all of them, especially since I know that Classical Comics will give me interesting artwork to go with the story.

I highly recommend reading Henry V as one of the greatest epics of all time, and I recommend these particular editions from Classical Comics as the best for understanding the plays, short of seeing it them performed live.

You can read samples at their site in PDF format, to get a taste of what the books look and read like.

Joshua Palmatier's Plot Synopsis Project

Spend some time today looking over Joshua Palmatier's Plot synopsis project. Many of my favorite authors are posting, as well as at least one that I have found dissenting.

This will be a useful tool for all writers whether you write SF or not.

Participants are listed below, but I suggest you read Palmatier's intro, it helps set the stage, as well as giving useful tips and tools.

# Patricia Bray: http://www.sff.net/people/patriciabray/synopsis.html

# Chaz Brenchley: http://desperance.livejournal.com

# Mike Brotherton: http://www.mikebrotherton.com

# Tobias Buckell: http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/

# S.C. Butler: http://scbutler.livejournal.com

# Barbara Campbell: www.barbara-campbell.com/inside.htm

# David B. Coe: http://davidbcoe.livejournal.com

# Jennifer Dunne: http://jennifer_dunne.livejournal.com

# S.L. Farrell: http://sleigh.livejournal.com

# Diana Francis: http://difrancis.livejournal.com

# Gregory Frost: http://frostokovich.livejournal.com

# Felix Gilman: http://www.felixgilman.com/wordpress/

# Jim C. Hines: http://jimhines.livejournal.com

# Jackie Kessler: http://www.jackiekessler.com/blog

# Mindy Klasky: http://mindyklasky.livejournal.com

# Misty Massey: http://madkestrel.livejournal.com

# C.E. Murphy: http://mizkit.livejournal.com

# Naomi Novik: http://naominovik.livejournal.com

# Joshua Palmatier: http://jpsorrow.livejournal.com

# Irene Radford, P.R. Frost: http://ramblin_phyl.livejournal.com

# Maria V. Snyder: http://blog.myspace.com/mariavsnyder

# Jennifer Stevenson: http://smokingpigeon.livejournal.com

# Michelle West: http://msagara.livejournal.com

# Sean Williams: http://ladnews.livejournal.com

Reading in Public

Ever wonder about people reading in public? Ever wanted to approach someone reading a book you read before or would like to read and talking about it with them? Well, one brave blogger does just that.

My wife pointed me to this neat little blog where the author approaches people reading in public on the streets and in the buildings of San Francisco and asks about their reading.

Without giving names, the blogger takes two pictures, one of book in hand and the other of the person and in between inserts information learned about that person and the story of their conversation. It is fascinating how the blogger delves into the mind of these people. It also reminds me how reading is both a communal and a solitary occupation. And of course, it helps that some of the books noticed were fantasy. scifi. Just looking at the first two pages, I saw Mark J. Ferrari's Book of Joby and a Kim Harrison novel. And many folks mention C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien as favorite authors.

Check it out, its a really neat and creative idea.

On Selling Myself

Recently, an author acquaintance of mine suggested that I start submitting my reviews and other thoughts to various e-zines and other trade magazines devoted to spec fic. But as I think about it, and do a little research on payment types and methods, I’ve come to the conclusion that it really isn’t for me.

I didn’t start this blog with the intent to find work. I have a very good paying job with benefits that I really like. Not only that, it is a job that, while making me a capitalist pig, also lets me have plenty of free time, during work, to write posts for this little hobby.

Nor is this blog an attempt to promote my own fiction writing. I have no training in creative writing whatsoever (except for a few classes in my undergrad studies, and they were just for fun). I am a trained elementary teacher for goodness sake! The best I can come up with is, “See Spot Run,” and even that is pushing it. I have no agenda here other than the gratification of myself. (I know where you just went. When you stop giggling, read on.)

I like to think. You know, that thing your brain is for? And to be honest, since giving up television (except for movies and boxed TV shows through Netflix) I have time on my hands that can be put to a purpose. Sure, I could volunteer at my local hospital, but I’d be the ugliest candy-striper you ever saw. People would die just to avoid my entrance into their room. Honestly, I know sci-fi and fantasy. It’s what I enjoy. So I blog about it. (Not that I don't still volunteer for charitable organizations, I just don't pour all my time into them, or seek positions of responsibility in them.)

And of course, there is the fact that selling your writing is a full-time job. It’s a lot of work, as any freelancer will tell you, and it lacks any real security, something my oldest child obsessive personality cannot handle. I need security, and I’m not ashamed to say so. I looked at some of the requirements for publishing writing at various e-zines and trade mags, just for my own information, and it’s tough to get them to accept your work. I have to say, I really respect those folks who can do it.

Would I like to write a novel in my lifetime, see my name in print for my non-fiction or short stories? Sure, that would be nice, but am I willing to make the sacrifice necessary to make that happen? No, not really, and I’m mostly okay with that.

I’d rather pour my energy into making this blog better and better, so that you can enjoy what I enjoy, without feeling like I’m selling you something. My opinions on books are as honest as I know how to make them, and though I am rarely disappointed, I will let you know when I am, with no apologies to whoever sent me the book to review.

I just don’t see myself as someone who needs to go through the effort of publishing my material. If someone wants to borrow and republish what I have written with my permission, more power to them. (SF Crowsnest has done this a few times already.) And if I get paid for it, even better. But I am not going to seek these folks out.

I get paid well at my job, I like what I do for a living, and the mediocre amounts of money that could be produced by trying to put my name into print are so pitiful compared to my salary that it just isn’t worth it to me in terms of money.

I’m just a speculative fiction fan with a critical mind who likes to apply it to the thing he loves. I seek neither money, nor glory (although that would be nice, I won’t deny it) just an open forum to express my thoughts and opinions, a good way to meet authors I respect and whose writing I enjoy, and a useful tool for those of you trying to decide what book to read in your spare time.

I hope I’ve met those expectations in the last six months since this blog took off, and I plan to meet or exceed them in the future.

The Six Word Story

A long time back, before this blog had any readers whatsoever, I posted a little link to a story in Wired, that had a bunch of science fiction and fantasy authors (including Charles Stross, Robert Jordan, Cory Doctorow, David Brin, Gregory Maguire and Frank Miller), as well as others copying Hemingway's famous short story of only six words. They also added a slide show where the stories are put into pictures which is a must view.

Well, I had thought that such a thing didn't really constitute a story, more of an advertisement or promo and it seems Nicholas Lezard at the Guardian agrees with me.

It's worth a look at both articles, the first for the fun, the second for the critical opinion.

Weaving the Colors: An Interview with Jeffrey Overstreet

In one of the most enjoyable and well-answered interviews I have ever done, Jeffrey Overstreet has covered the gamut of topics from his debut novel Auralia's Colors to Christians in fiction to review writing methods. (Here is my review of his debut novel.) I hope you enjoy his thoughts as much as I did. For more of his thoughts, check out his oft posted to blog.

Grasping for the Wind: How did you become a fan of fantasy fiction, and why did you choose to write in this particular genre?

Jeffrey Overstreet: Do you remember those “long-playing records” that Walt Disney produced for each of their movies? You’d put the needle to the record and listen to a narrator tell the story, while excerpts from the movie’s soundtrack gave the characters distinct voices. That’s how I learned to read — listening to those records over and over again, on a plastic Mickey Mouse turntable. The needle was right under Mickey’s index finger on this plastic arm.

Most of those Disney stories were fairy tales. My family didn’t watch much television, and we didn’t go out for entertainment. So I found drama sitting in my room and listening to Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

Around the time I turned seven, my neighborhood librarian took me up to the next level, introducing me to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and Lloyd Alexander’s Chronicles of Prydain. Then came Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings (I’d read it through more than once by the time I was 10), and Richard Adams’ Watership Down, which remains my favorite novel.

I write fantasy today because those stories — whimsical and wild as they are — continue to speak meaningfully to me, as much as any more “realistic” or sophisticated art. Fantasy explores spiritual mysteries through metaphor, giving shape to ideas that we can’t easily express with everyday stuff. We invent fairies, monsters, elves, trolls, dragons, and magic beans to give shape to ideas and virtues and fears and wonders. And that helps us live more fully, engaging with realities beyond what we can see and hear and touch.

GFTW: Before writing Auralia’s Colors you were widely acclaimed for your movie-going memoir Through a Screen Darkly. Why did you choose to write a book about the simple pleasure of going to the movies?

Overstreet: Movies, like fairy tales, have had an enormous influence in my life, shaping ideas, inspiring questions, giving me an appreciation for beauty, and helping me understand how the world looks to my neighbors (who have often had very different experiences).

I grew up in a rather conservative community in which moviegoing was viewed as a suspicious, dangerous, “worldly” activity. But I also came to see that when we cut ourselves off from art for fear of “contamination,” we lose one of the greatest gifts humanity has to enjoy, something that helps us understand each other, something that humbles and inspires us.

So I wanted to share my own story about how movies have changed my life, how conversations with moviegoers, movie makers and movie stars have taught me a great deal about art and life. It was also a way to write a thorough answer to those who send me emails demanding to know how I can call myself a Christian and still be an enthusiastic fan of filmmakers like Woody Allen, Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, and Krzysztof Kieslowski.

GFTW: Auralia’s Colors, your debut novel, is a fantasy with echoes of the traditional fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen. Like their stories, your story is also an allegory. What moral or cultural truth are you trying to convey to your readers?

Overstreet: I’m glad you find echoes of fairy tales there. I suppose that’s inevitable, since I grew up on those stories.

But I don’t consider Auralia’s Colors to be an allegory at all. I did not intend to teach moral lessons or write a commentary on culture. I imagined a different world, threw in some characters, and then I started asking “What if?” The characters then led me into a story I hadn’t expected.

Now, that doesn’t mean readers won’t find anything meaningful in the story. The story reveals all kinds of things—and that just goes to show that art sometimes knows more than the artist. The characters in Auralia’s Colors are struggling with questions about freedom, responsibility, power, faith, and art. But I didn’t conspire to put any lessons in there. I discovered them after I stood back and thought about the story I’d written. I keep hearing from readers who are finding implications in the story I’ve never considered. That’s exciting.

I get bored with stories that can be boiled down to a simple meaning. In an allegory, characters are really just symbols. And the reader starts solving the puzzle: “Okay, so this character represents Jesus, this one represents Satan, this one represents a Christian, this one represents Judas, etc.” Allegories are like algebra. I’m more interested in storytelling. I do not have any characters that represent Jesus or God or anybody. Certain characters might behave in a Christ-like manner, or in a devilish way, just as many different characters in everything from The Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter to Buffy the Vampire Slayer have moments of Christ-likeness. But Auralia isn’t Jesus. The Keeper isn’t God.

GFTW: Much of your prose reads like poetry. A lot of the book is given over to descriptions of sight and sound, smell and touch. Why did you focus so much on the sensory aspects of your tale?

Overstreet: I grew up reading stories that had musical, poetic language. Literature wasn’t just meant to be read — it was meant to be read out loud. I want to write paragraphs that taste good and sound good.

Also, I’ve learned that natural beauty can make even the most ridiculous movie worth watching. I believe that nature “speaks.” I believe that the things God made mean something. It makes a difference if Auralia is running through a forest instead of a field or a canyon. And it matters what kind of forest that might be, what trees are there, what they smell like, and what colors are in their leaves.

When I read a story in which the author has paid attention to those details, I feel a much more powerful sense of immersion within that world. I’ve read a lot of forgettable fantasy novels. But I go back to Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, Patricia McKillip’s The Book of Atrix Wolfe, Richard Adams’ Watership Down, and Mark Helprin’s Winter’s Tale, because I feel like I’ve lived in those places.

GFTW: You are a vocal Christian who is unafraid to make your beliefs known. What effect has this had on the reception of Auralia’s Colors both in the Christian and secular marketplace?

Overstreet: It’s too early to say, I think. I’m encouraged, because I’m getting mail from all kinds of readers, all ages, and very different worldviews. Some Christians write stories to “present the Gospel” or “convey a message,” but I don’t. Some people write for Christian readers; I don’t. I want to write books that I would have enjoyed reading, and that I think others will enjoy. I think everybody likes a good story. People are drawn to excellence.

If there is some truth to a work of art, or some beauty, poetry, and passion — that’s can give the audience an encounter with God, even in the artist doesn’t believe in God. I’ve read an awful lot of Christian books that were poorly written, derivative, boring, and sloppy. That doesn’t do me any good. And my faith has been encouraged and transformed by artists who would never call themselves Christians. It doesn’t matter much who is writing the story — it’s the story that matters. It doesn’t matter what color that candle’s made of — it’s the light and the heat the draws people in. You’ve probably heard it said, “All truth is God’s truth.” I would add that all beauty is beautiful because it reflects God’s glory.

I hope that Auralia’s Colors has enough in its pages to give people an engaging and meaningful experience. We’ll see what happens.

GFTW: What effect does your Christian faith have on your writing?

Overstreet: Because I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after we killed him, I believe that there’s hope, even hope that death does not have the final word. I believe there’s meaning in the world around me. I believe that there are, as Hamlet said, “powers in heaven and earth” that we cannot fathom.

If I believe those things, how can I write a story that isn’t hopeful? I would have to tell a lie. I can’t help but write stories in which there are powers greater than the characters, powers in conflict.

But no, I don’t deliberately write “Christian stories”, just as I don’t bake “Christian cookies.” I just want to write a good story. And I think all good stories draw us because they reflect God’s glory… even if they’re shelved somewhere outside the “Religion” section at Barnes and Noble.

GFTW: Your novel lacks any clearly defined “evil” characters or clearly defined “good” characters. Why did you avoid the standard good vs. evil theme of fantasy?

Overstreet All of my favorite stories avoid dividing their characters into false categories of “Good Guys” and “Bad Guys.” I don’t believe in “Good” and “Bad” people.

I believe that all of us were designed by God, in God’s image, and that we have “eternity written in our hearts.” That means that everybody will give evidence of goodness in some way, even the worst villains.

But I also believe that we are all broken, deceived, and depraved in our appetites. Thus, even the best heroes will have moments of doubt, make mistakes, and sometimes behave irresponsibly.

When we insist on stories in which there are “bad people,” and suggest that the solution is the elimination of those “bad people,” that can carry over into devastating behavior in the real world. We live in a culture that perpetually abuses labels and categories for the sake of judging other people. Genocides begin with the idea that we can divide people into the “good” and the “bad.”

Now, in stories for small children, I think it’s useful to have simplistic “good guys and bad guys” because you are giving children figures that represent fears they must overcome, or virtues they should strive to imitate. But when storytelling becomes more sophisticated, it’s important to discourage any interpretations that will cause people to judge others and exalt themselves.

GFTW: My favorite quote from the novel is on page 254. “You want a gift from the king? Hear this: if you allow Abascar freedom, some people will choose what they shouldn’t. … But take away that freedom, and no one has opportunity to choose what they should.” Why is having a choice so important?

Overstreet: Wow, that’s a question that would take a book to answer! Here are a few thoughts:

In Auralia’s world, the king and queen of House Abascar take away their people’s power of creative expression. And they also forbid them to tell certain stories. The people of Abascar become resentful, because they are not able to ask certain questions, investigate mysteries, and express the mysteries within themselves. They can’t be human.

The king tells them that the world outside is dangerous, so he makes them stay inside the walls. And the world is dangerous. But if the people are forced to obey the king, without any choice in the matter, they have no chance to develop discernment. And worse, when they become afraid of the world around them, they become starved for beauty. Sure, they might be safer from some dangers inside of Abascar’s walls, but by walling themselves off from the world they’re creating an enclosed space, and new dangers will arise and flourish within that space. Worse, the people remove their chances of making a difference beyond the walls, so the world outside just spirals out of control.

It reminds me a bit of my own experience growing up. I was taught to avoid the world beyond the church because there were so many temptations out there. But as a result, my Christian community became rather isolated and had very little effect on the surrounding culture. We talked about “loving our neighbors,” but in truth, we were repulsed by our neighbors and we tried to create a society in which we could live apart from them. And guess what? Temptations and sins of all kinds festered within that community, so we were fooling ourselves by thinking we could withdraw from “the sinful world.”

We need freedom. And yes, freedom is dangerous, which is why we also need to be responsible and discerning.

GFTW: The ale boy, one of your primary and perhaps most interesting characters, lacks even a name. Why did you choose to make him nameless throughout the novel?

Overstreet: The reason is rather simple: I liked the sound of it.

It kindled my curiosity. And while some storytellers like to solve of the mysteries for the reader, I prefer reading books that leave mysteries, big and small, for me to ponder. This is one of those small mysteries in Auralia’s world.

As I began to write Auralia’s Colors, the ale boy was a minor character. My friend Danny Walter is an actor who pays close attention to characters and their voices. He started asking me questions about the ale boy. I started exploring possibilities, and realized that the ale boy had a much bigger part to play in the story.

I’m finishing the sequel, Cyndere’s Midnight, and I’m still discovering more about the ale boy. He has a particular call that he’s following, and it’s leading him into some rather horrifying places.

GFTW: What has been your favorite reaction to Auralia’s Colors from a reader or critic?

Overstreet That’s a tough question. I’ve been bowled over by the enthusiasm in the letters I’m receiving.

I thought I had made up the name “Auralia.” I experimented with combinations of letters from other names and words I like: aura, Laura, Leah. But then I received a letter from someone named Auralia. She bought the book simply because her name was on the cover! She informed me that the name means “golden lion of God.” That kind of freaked me out. I had no idea.

I had to chuckle when a fellow at Amazon gave the book a low rating because it reminded him of the writing of George Macdonald. Hey, I’ll take that as a compliment!

But my favorite responses have come from two extraordinary artists whose work has not received the kind of attention it deserves. They both wrote to say that they felt related to Auralia, because of her relentless creativity and her frustrations at how others take what she does for granted. That made the whole project worthwhile.

GFTW: What can you tell us about the sequel to Auralia’s Colors, Cyndere’s Midnight?

Overstreet: You could call it my version of Beauty and the Beast. But my version has two beauties and a whole pack of beasts.

Auralia’s Colors focuses on House Abascar. Cyndere’s Midnight takes you into a world of monsters — the ruins of House Cent Regus, where people have fallen under a curse that turns them into murderous beasts. You’ll catch glimpses of these beastmen in Auralia’s story, and you’ll learn about the mysterious monster who crept into Auralia’s hideaway in the first book.

It’s also about House Bel Amica, the wealthy and powerful society beside the sea. You’ll meet the heiress to the throne, Cyndere. Cyndere has the scandalous idea that there is a better way to deal with the beastmen than just hunting and killing them.

Things get out of control quickly when Auralia’s Colors bring together the heiress and a beastman, as well as the ale boy, Cyndere’s beautiful helper Emeriene, an ambitious soldier named Ryllion, and that dreamer from House Abascar named Cal-raven.

GFTW: Beyond the usual authors recommended (like Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Madeline L’Engle) whose works would you recommend that fantasy enthusiasts read?

Overstreet: When I first read Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin, I was enthralled. And I ended up marrying the woman who first recommended it to me. It’s set in New York, but it’s a New York so richly imagined that it’s a whole new wonderland. Helprin writes so beautifully that it could make you want to just give up writing.

I love the way Guy Gavriel Kay tells a story. In books like Sailing to Sarantium and The Lions of Al-Rassan, he imagines new worlds, but they’re firmly rooted in the details of actual human history. He gives us many different perspectives on a single world, from the rich to the poor, the young to the old. That is not only creative, but it’s compassionate. It trains us to consider other people’s perspectives, which is good for our hearts.

I also recommend Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast, for his exaggerated, spectacular descriptions; Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow, a powerful work of “theological science fiction”; and a little-known story by Michael Ende called Momo, which is a fairy tale just waiting for someone to turn it into a fantastic feature film.

GFTW: As a professional movie critic, what advice would you give to people (such as myself) on the best way to critique a work of art like movies or literature?

Overstreet: I spend quite a few pages in Through a Screen Darkly telling stories about what I’ve learned about writing film reviews. And I’ve included a guide there for movie discussion groups. I highly recommend starting a movie discussion group. We learn a lot about each other when we compare our responses to a work of art.

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