Warp Section

I have to share this. My most recent trip to the movies gave me an unexpected jolt of absurdity: the posters are up for I Am Legend, Will Smith’s new action adventure spree, due out this December. I also caught the trailer. Mostly scenes of a desolate New York City and Will Smith walking with a cute German Shepherd.

I like Will Smith. He obviously has a penchant for science fiction that many actors of his status don’t (I, Robot, Independence Day, Men In Black). But I find myself wondering…why this one? See, it’s already been done, first with Vincent Price in The Last Man on Earth, and again with Charlton Heston, in The Omega Man. The story’s based on the book I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. (My copy, that I picked up at a used bookstore, is actually The Omega Man tie-in edition.)

I’ll confess: I haven’t seen The Last Man on Earth or The Omega Man yet, though I might, just to compare. I have read the book (there’s a switch). And I have a feeling these versions are not very much alike. I also have a feeling Smith’s I Am Legend won’t be much like either of them.

What can I say about the book? It’s supposed to be about vampires, and is considered one of the classic vampires novels, but structurally it looks more like a zombie story — hordes of transformed humans hunt down the living for the purpose of consuming them. But they’re vampires, vulnerable to stakes and sunlight. The book’s important and has stayed important, first because it offers a scientific explanation for vampirism, and because it’s wrapped up in the psychology of the protagonist, Robert Neville, who is trying to survive as the last uninfected human, and is slowly going mad. (I personally found it a bit dated. Published in 1954, it seemed like some of the horror was supposed to come from imagining that the main characters are June and Ward Cleaver.)

Will Smith’s version will probably have more things blowing up than the book did.

I can’t say that I’m looking forward to this the way I’m looking forward to The Golden Compass. I’ll have my academic analysis hat on rather than my squeeing fangirl hat. Either way, it looks like we have another big holiday movie season in the making.

Share This

Shameless self promotion time. This is just to announce, commemorate, and squee over the release of my third novel, Kitty Takes a Holiday.

This is part of a series about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio show about the supernatural. As the title suggests, she’s taking a break in this one. But she should have known that going to an isolated cabin in the woods, all alone, was just asking for trouble. (Insert Psycho theme music.)

A little note about how publishing works: the lead time for getting a book into stores is about a year. That means I finished the manuscript for this one about a year ago. Which means I’ve been trying very hard to not talk about it at all, in order to keep secret a couple of rather large spoilers. I’m so happy I can finally talk about it!

But now I have to keep mum about the fourth book which is, of course, finished except for revisions, but won’t be released until next year. Grrrr.

Share This

The current trend in fantasy literature (actually, it’s been a trend for over a decade now) is the very long, endless epic fantasy series. It’s mostly epitomized by Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and perhaps brought to its apogee by George R. R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series. They’re characterized by 1) a pseudo-medieval fantasy setting ala Tolkien and/or Dungeons and Dragons, 2) very thick books, 3) a very long wait between books, and 4) no end in sight.

I’m a tough sell on these. I’ve read the first volumes in both Jordan’s and Martin’s series. I haven’t continued on, primarily because I’m a slow reader and 800 page books daunt me. Ten 800 page books make me weep and gnash my teeth. I stick with writers like Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillip who write absolute gems that manage to finish a story in under 400 pages.

So imagine my surprise upon encountering the first book in Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen series. Nothing about this attracted me except the recommendation of a friend. (Usually all it takes for me to pass a book by is some variation of the phrase “Book X in the X-ity X Decology” typed on the cover.) But I read it.

Then I immediately rushed out to the bookstore to get the second one.

What the heck? I asked myself that through both volumes. (I think the second one was even better than the first, if possible.) This is going to sound really cheesy, but the experience of reading these is like playing in the very best session of the very best D&D campaign ever.

As in any good book, this rests on the characters. They’re competent, interesting, and real. I’d stopped noticing how often the plots of books are based on characters lucking into their successes and making completely irrational decisions every step of the way until I read a book where all the characters are functional human beings. I also had a shock when I realized most of the main characters are good people. I mean good people, not in the sense of good v. evil, but good in the sense that they will save a kitten from a tree. They will postpone their own adventure to save a kitten from a tree. Sure they have faults, but that doesn’t prevent them from doing good in the world. (It also doesn’t prevent them from failing, but at least their failures are their own.) Once again, I hadn’t realized how unpleasant the characters in so many books are until I read one in which people sometimes did nice things just for the sake of doing nice things.

Which is not to say these books are not utterly, fantastically, horrifically brutal, because they are. In fact, that’s part of what flipped the first book, Gardens of the Moon, from “well, I’ll try it,” to “OMG I love it.” The other thing I really like: magic is an integral part of this world, which means Erikson doesn’t spend any more time talking about it than Buffy the Vampire Slayer spends telling us how cars work. If you’re like me and bored by descriptions of wizards wielding their mystical energy beams, then read Erikson. He doesn’t describe the magic — he describes the effects. When the spell that activates the zombie galley slaves starts, you know it by the clicking of the oars in the oar locks, and because the eyes on the pile of severed heads have snapped open. Chilling.

Now, I’m off to find a copy of Memories of Ice…

Steven Erikson’s website is here.

Share This

William Gibson is one of my favorite SciFi authors.  I wasn’t always a fan, I was introduced to him relatively recently (within the last seven years).  I haven’t read all of his works yet, but I’m getting there.  We owe a lot of Gibson, an American ex-pat like me who lives in Vancouver, in fact I’d venture to say we owe a lot of how we conceive of the Internet thanks to him.

Gibson was the first to use the term “cyberspace” in his book Neuromancer.  His Bridge Trilogy envisioned a world where the virtual and the real worlds being to intersect.  Long before Second Life was close to becoming a reality, Gibson wrote about companies having “virtual” offices and avatars, Idoru, wanting to become “real”.

I’ve always been enamored with Gibson’s vision of the future.  Even as bad as the movie Johnny Mnemonic was, the concept of grabbing data from the air, pulling it together, and making new things is how I envision the Internet and how I brainstorm.

As strange as it sounds, and looks even stranger believe me, I start my brainstorming process by pacing on the deck and reaching and pulling pieces in the air.  One part of a project there, another there, connect these two.  Yes, it’s all from Gibson.  Yes, it was also done in Minority Report, but I saw that much later.

Today the term “cyberspace” isn’t as in vogue as it once was, but despite that Second Life has virtual offices of real things (companies, political campaign offices, even government) the Minority Report/Johnny Mnemonic vision of controlling computers and information with your hands, is in prototype stage.

William Gibson, a man who’s works, I feel, have inspired generations of geeks to bring his worlds to life

Share This

When I saw that the Space Channel here in Canada would be carrying the new Dresden Files show I was exciting.  I’ve read most, if not all–I don’t know if there are new ones out since I last looked–of the Dresden Files mysteries by Jim Butcher.  In the books, Harry is a guy geeks can relate to.  He has trouble with women, he tends to carry around a lot of strange stuff, and well things tend to explode around him.  And come on dude, his blasting rod can pack a mean whallop!

So far I haven’t been too thrilled with the shows.  The TV Harry is just not my vision of the book Harry.  He should be taller, lankier, geekier, oh and his leather coat is too short.  Okay not to mention in the book, Harry doesn’t carry a freakin’ hockey stick and he drives an old VW Beetle not a Land Cruiser.  Nit picking, I know, but that is part of being a fan isn’t it.  Knowing the details that bring a story to life?

So while you’re waiting for the next epsiode, wander down to the library and check out one of the books.  You won’t be disappointed.

Share This

In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll state up front that this is a bit of shameless self promotion. I’ll get to that in a minute.

Back in the eighties, writers George R. R. Martin (the Song of Fire and Ice series), Melinda Snodgrass (Star Trek: The Next Generation), and some of their friends started a series of novels asking the question: What would superheroes really be like, if they existed in our world? What developed was the Wild Cards universe: a brilliant alternate history in which super powered people shape the fate of the world. Notice I said people and not heroes, because these guys have flaws. Some of them — even the good guys — are not nice people. This series came out around the same time as Alan Moore’s Watchmen and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, and is rooted in the same dark, gritty realism.

These books were my soap opera all the way through high school and college. I adored them, I adored the characters, especially the Great and Powerful Turtle (a shy telekinetic who flies around in an armor plated VW beetle), Popinjay (a projecting teleporter — he points at you, you end up someplace else), the Sleeper (who changes his form and power every time he sleeps), Peregrine (a woman with wings), and even Carnifex (a general bad ass who seems to be mellowing charmingly in his middle age). The history in these things is real (heroes brought before the House Unamerican Activities Committee in the 50s, that sort of thing). Wild Cards is what happens when some of science fiction and fantasy’s most talented writers get together to play with the whole idea of superheroes.

Well. There’s a new book in the series coming out next year from Tor Books: Wild Cards: Inside Straight. George R. R. Martin has posted a sample chapter on his website, here.

Now for the shameless self promotion: I’m one of the writers. I picked up my first Wild Cards book in 1988 and I’ve read every single one since. I’m a fan. Becoming one of the contributors to Inside Straight — creating new characters and helping to shape this alternate world — is a fangirl dream come true. I’m so excited I could explode. Much like the fabled Wild Cards character who never made it into the series: Nova Boy, who had the power to make the sun go nova…once.

For more information about Wild Cards, see fan site Wild Cards Online.

Share This

Now for some fantasy novels:

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle As fond as I am of the animated version of this from the 80s, the book is far, far better. Stunning, poetic — if it doesn’t get to you, you have no soul. One of the best fantasy novels ever written.

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay Do you like big doorstopper fantasy? Do you hate that all your favorite big doorstopper fantasy authors seem constitutionally incapable of finishing their series? Well, here’s the cure for that. Everything you love about big fantasy — wars and magic sweeping across the country, epic heroes, epic scope — and it’s all in one book. Just one. No waiting three years for the next installment. It’s all right here and it’s brilliant.

Deerskin by Robin McKinley This is the best book by my favorite author. It’s a retelling of a more obscure fairy tale, and unlike some retellings, McKinley doesn’t pull any punches. It’s simultaneously brutal and heart-breakingly beautiful.

Little, Big by John Crowley I describe this to people as “the best fantasy novel you’ve never heard of.” This does require a bit of patience — it has lots of threads that unfold slowly. It has fairy tales, near-future dystopia, family histories, and everything in between. But when those threads come together, it will blow your mind, I promise.

Agyar by Steven Brust This novel is one of the very best of its kind, but I can’t tell you what its kind is without spoiling it. Brust is a phenomenally good writer, and this novel packs quite a punch.

Share This

Well, I do. And as a novelist and former bookseller, I advocate the practice. With the holidays coming, this seems like a great time to list five of my favorite science fiction novels — classics that you or the avid SF reader in your life might have missed. Books make great gifts!

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. All about the preservation of knowledge after a nuclear holocaust, this is one of the greatest science fiction novels ever. Straczynski paid tribute to it in one of the 5th season episodes of Babylon 5.

Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh Nobody writes about living and working in space as well as Cherryh in her Merchanter novels. You can smell the recycled station air seeping through the pages.

The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Time travel is a reality, but the only people who use it are historians doing research. Here, a history student is accidentally sent to England during the Black Death. Gut wrenching.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman This is the thinking person’s answer to Starship Troopers. Don’t get me wrong, I think Starship Troopers is a great book. But read this one and you’ll understand what I mean.

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick Alternate history in which the Axis wins World War II. Think that idea’s been done to death? Trust me, nobody writes it like PKD.

Do you have any recommendations? Share them in the comments!

I’ll list five of my favorite fantasy books in a day or so.

Share This

A movie, mini-series or full on multi-season series I could get behind.

I have read the Section 31 novels, but even before then I knew that the black ops group, Section 31, would make a great series. Maybe not a whole multi-year series, but even just a mini-series, or a movie or two would do well in my opinion.

A new ship, either a recognizable design or a new design, crewed by Section 31 agents. You could set it during Star Trek: The Next Generation or Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and have them interact with some of the events during that time. Even so much as tying them into the actual episode story line, making people go “so, that’s how they got out of that mess. And they thought it was Data, or O’Brien that did it.”

I wouldn’t want the whole mini-series to be like that, but one or two missions would make it interesting. Watching agents infiltrate ships, to talk to various characters, check up on crews of ships, make deals with alien governments that the Federation can’t know about.

The dark underbelly of what it is like in the Star Trek universe. Some of my favorite episodes have been when they deal with the alternate universe. While way over the top usually, it does put an interesting perspective on how things could be. Delving into Section 31 would make for another interesting perspective.

They would have to have cloaked ships, while against the Treaty of Algeron, cloaking devices have been used by the Federation in a few points in time.

The type of people involved in Section 31 would be interesting, as only a certain type of person makes a good agent. Also, a story on someone getting drafted into Section 31 would also be interesting. How do they deal with the person’s family, friends and co-workers?

I don’t know why Paramount has not tried to capitalize on such a great group. They have used Section 31 in various episodes of Star Trek, but I think it is deserving of its own plot line.

Appearances (from Wikipedia):
Star Trek: Enterprise

• “Affliction” – Section 31 calls on Malcolm Reed to halt development of a cure for a disease afflicting the Klingons
• “Divergence” – Continues “Affliction”’s story
• “Terra Prime” – Reed’s Section 31 contact provides information to help the Enterprise crew infiltrate a Martian colony

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

• “Inquisition – Introduces Section 31, which uses a holodeck simulation to gauge Julian Bashir’s suitability to join.
• “Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges” – Section 31 calls upon Bashir to carry out a mission on Romulus
• “When It Rains…” – Bashir realizes that the disease affecting the Founders is a Section 31 creation
• “Tacking Into the Wind” – Miles O’Brien suggests that Bashir lure a Section 31 agent to Deep Space Nine
• “Extreme Measures” – Bashir and O’Brien capture a Section 31 agent

Section 31 Novels (not affiliate links):
Section 31: Cloak (Star Trek)
Section 31: Rogue (Star Trek The Next Generation)
Section 31: Abyss (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Section 31: Shadow (Star Trek Voyager)

Share This

I love watching the Stargate universe be expanded in various ways, as long as it does not get too diluted, but from what I can tell the first Stargate novel written by Australian author Karen Miller should fit in nicely. Entitled “Stargate SG-1: Alliances” it takes place just after the season four episode: The Other Side.

Here is what the publisher says about the book:

Following the disastrous mission to Euronda, the team — and especially Colonel Jack O’Neill — are up the creek without a paddle with a crocodile named Senator Robert Kinsey circling the boat.

The team must ignore the Washington politics and regroup to spearhead a mission to find more hosts for the Tok’ra. It means infiltrating a Goa’uld slave breeding farm and risking their lives — but that sure beats doing 20 questions with Senator Kinsey.

All SG-1 wanted was technology to save Earth from the Goa’uld, but the mission to Euronda was a terrible failure. Now the dogs of Washington are baying for Jack O’Neill’s blood — and Senator Robert Kinsey is leading the pack.

When Jacob Carter asks General Hammond for SG-1’s participation in a mission for the Tok’ra, it seems like the answer to O’Neill’s dilemma. The secretive Tok’ra are running out of hosts, and Jacob believes he’s found the answer — but it means O’Neill and his team must risk their lives infiltrating a Goa’uld slave breeding farm to recruit humans willing to join the Tok’ra.

It’s a risky proposition, especially since the fallout from Euronda has strained the team’s bonds almost to breaking. If they can’t find a way to put their differences behind them, they might not make it home alive …

I miss Colonel Jack O’Neill, things just weren’t the same after he got promoted and eventually left SG-1. This sounds like a great way to go back to the good old days before any changes to the team, and remind yourself why you hate Robert Kinsey so much.

Share This