jana nyman

November 5, 2020

Tachyon tidbits featuring Nancy Kress, Kameron Hurley, Cory Doctorow, Brandon Sanderson, Andrew Fox, and Kate Elliott

Rick Klaw blog andrew fox, Apolitical Cocktail Party: 2020 Handbook, brandon sanderson, context: further selected essays on productivity creativity parenting and politics in the 21st century, cory doctorow, fantasy literature, hex, jana nyman, kameron hurley, kate elliott, lamplighter, meet me in the future, Nancy Kress, review, sea change, smashwords, the curious sff reader, the emperor's soul, the man who would be kong, tor.com, with a little help, you tube 0

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

At FANTASY LITERATURE, Jana Nyman praises Nancy Kress’ SEA CHANGE.

Ever read a book and immediately wish that you’d been able to read it in school, rather than [insert inaccessible book of choice]? For me, Nancy Kress’s 2020 novella SEA CHANGE, with its gutsy-yet-conflicted heroine and all-too-real near-future global catastrophes, is exactly the kind of book I wish I’d been handed way back when.

[…]

I enjoyed SEA CHANGE tremendously, not only for the strength of Kress’s character work but for the ways in which she tackles difficult subjects like environmental collapse, the fraught legal status of people living on reservations in America, grief and the different ways people cope with loss, and the often-surprising ways people express their hope for a better future. SEA CHANGE is a short novel with a powerful impact, and I highly recommend it.

THE CURIOUS SFF READER enjoys Kameron Hurley’s MEET ME IN THE FUTURE.

Before reading this anthology, I had only read one of Hurley’s novels The Stars are Legion and one of her short stories, The Red Secretary (included in this short collection but first published in Uncanny Magazine). I didn’t have the best experience with the former, however, I really enjoyed the latter, which is why I decided to give MEET ME IN THE FUTURE a try. And I’m glad I did because it’s an amazing collection!

Hurley’s stories are bloody, complex and deal with hard issues so, if dark fiction isn’t your thing, I don’t think you will enjoy this one. However, if you want to read from the perspectives of morally grey characters who don’t take shit from anybody, I would definitely recommend this anthology.

Cover by Carl Sutton
Design by Elizabeth Story

If you enjoy dark and unsettling reads exploring fascinating themes, MEET ME IN THE FUTURE is a must. The collection doesn’t contain a single bad story and they were varied enough that I didn’t feel burn-out by the end.

Four stars.

The “reading list” included in the appendix of the Apolitical Cocktail Party: 2020 Handbook contains Cory Doctorow’s CONTEXT: FURTHER SELECTED ESSAYS ON PRODUCTIVITY, CREATIVITY, PARENTING, AND POLITICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY and With A Little Help.

Cover art by Alexander Nanitchkov
Design by Elizabeth Story

Brandon Sanderson answers Where Should I Start With Your Books?

SMASHWORDS offers a free read of Andrew Fox’s “The Man Who Would Be Kong.”

An elderly man, Max Strauss, retired in Miami Beach, visits an entrepreneur who is about to open a King Kong-themed restaurant. Max claims to have portrayed the giant gorilla in the 1933 classic film. But everyone knows that King Kong was actually an 18″ tall animated model, don’t they? So is Max an attention-seeking fraud? Or is he something far greater?

TOR.COM announces Kate Elliot’s a new two fantasy novella series comprised of Lamplighter in early 2022 and Hex in 2023.

Fellion is a Lamplighter, able to provide illumination through magic. A group of rebel Monarchists free her from indentured servitude and take her on a journey to rescue trapped compatriots from an underground complex of mines.

Along the way they get caught up in a conspiracy to kill the latest royal child and wipe out the Monarchist movement for good.

But Fellian has more than just her lamplighting skills up her sleeve…

October 6, 2020

Evoking Italo Calvino, Marie Brennan’s very unique DRIFTWOOD is definitely worth a read

Rick Klaw blog axie barclay, book view café, driftwood, essay, fantasy literature, jana nyman, kat hooper, manhattan book review, marie brennan, nikki @ the bibliophibian, quote, r/booksuggestions, r/fantasy, reddit, review 0

Months after its release, Marie Brennan’s DRIFTWOOD continues to garner interest.

Axie Barclay for MANHATTAN BOOK REVIEW enjoys the mosaic novel.

From the lived-in feel of the world to the mysteries surrounding Last, let alone the creatures from all the worlds emerging from the Mist, Brennan is at her most creative with this work. From religious zealotry to loners trying to save their little stretch of earth or memory of their people, Driftwood is as diverse as the Shreds themselves. Definitely worth a read.

At FANTASY LITERATURE, both Kat Hooper and Jane Nyman feel much the same

I enjoyed most of the tales, though, and hope that Brennan will revisit this setting for a full-length novel in the future.

I listened to the audiobook which was produced by Tantor Audio and beautifully narrated by Christina Delaine. I recommend this version!
~Kat Hooper

Bill’s comparison between DRIFTWOOD and Invisible Cities is quite apt — the quilted-together nature of the stories, the otherworldliness and yet almost-recognizability of Driftwood’s lands and peoples, the stories they tell each other and themselves about who they are and where they came from, all evoke Italo Calvino at his finest, and I can’t think of a better compliment to pay to Marie Brennan.

[…]

[I’d] recommend it to anyone who’s already a fan of Marie Brennan or to anyone who is looking for an introduction to her work.
~Jana Nyman

Mentions of DRIFTWOOD abound on REDDIT.

r/booksuggestions Your favorite shorter books (under 250 pages)

I recently read the new book by Marie Brennan called DRIFTWOOD. Had about 200 pages and was very interesting.

The world was something i never read before. Very unique and well written.
Baroness_Lori

The /r/Fantasy Monthly Book Discussion Thread

Loved it! I’m a big Lady Trent fan, and I enjoyed this jaunt into a different world. I hope she writes more books in this setting, it was very creative and fun, and the story really stuck with me.
thesphinxistheriddle

As part of r/Fantasy’s What are some physically good looking looking fantasy/sci fi books?, chem9dog included the book under “And here’s a list of normal books you can get anywhere that I think are just plain gorgeous even without a fancy edition.”

Nicky @ The Bibliophibian includes a selection from the book in Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Book Quotes.

Paggarat was less doomed than they wagered, not because of how long it lasted but because of how it went out. Because of Aun and Esr, smiling at each other until the end of the world.

For BOOK VIEW CAFÉ, Brennnan offers her thoughts on hospitality.

After that tour through the unpleasant things humans do to each other, let’s turn our thoughts to something nicer.

You may think it odd that I’m discussing hospitality, given that my patrons voted for a set of economic topics this month. But we’re going to be looking at concepts of generosity and charity, and from that perspective, it seems only natural to begin with hospitality: the welcoming of a guest into your home.

Specifically, welcoming a traveler. We also take in guests on a more casual, short-term basis, when somebody comes by for dinner or to have a conversation, but for our purposes here I’m focusing on travelers. These days we talk about the “hospitality industry,” as if there are factories somewhere churning out a product for customers to buy — and in a sense, that’s true. Hotel chains operate on the promise of mass-produced accommodations, rentable for a set time in exchange for money.

But hospitality used to mean a good deal more. It wasn’t financial; it was sacred.

October 2, 2020

Get lost in the fascinating world, myth and lore of utterly beautiful THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES by R. B. Lemberg

Rick Klaw blog andrew liptak, fantasy literature, jana nyman, lee mandelo, lost in a good book, oliver potter, pamela scott, r.b. lemberg, review, the book lover's boudoir, the four profound weaves, twitter

R. B. Lemberg’s THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES continues to garner interest.

Cover by Elizabeth Story based on initial concepts by Francesca Myman

Pamela Scott at THE BOOK LOVER ‘S BOUDOIR enjoys her first taste R. B. Lemberg and the Birdverse.

This was my first time reading the author. If this great book is anything to go buy, it won’t be my last. I really like the idea of The Birdverse.

[…]

I thought this was great and got lost in the fascinating world, myth and lore of the book and the story as it bounced between two characters.

LOST IN A GOOD BOOK feels much the same.

This book is one of a kind. The writing is fascinating, atmospheric, drenched in culture and personality. It feels completely immersive. The writing is utterly beautiful, and the characters are very memorable.

In a Sunday Status Update for FANTASY LITERATURE, Jana Nyman express some thoughts on the novella.

I also read R.B. Lemberg’s first BIRDVERSE novella, THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES, which is beautifully written, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more stories set in this universe.

As shared on TWITTER, Oliver Potter got a tattoo celebrating the book.

in a rapidfire decision today, I got my friend to give me a little tat for @RB_Lemberg's 4 Profound Weaves! a cute lil addition to my armful of literary tats. :] pic.twitter.com/4f6qo38WBd
— Oliver "All Hallows Gay" Porter (@oliverdandylion) September 24, 2020

Andrew Liptak and Lee Mandelo, in Liptak’s newsletter, mention THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES in Read Trans / Nonbinary Authors.

Earlier this year, J.K. Rowling blew up headlines with a series of transphobic tweets and a followup essay that outlined her views when it came to trans people. It’s caused considerable angst within the trans community and its allies, and has both galvanized trans activists and elevated hateful rhetoric to the wider public. I wrote about the situation back in June, and since then, Rowling has continued to promote her hateful views.

Most recently, she published a new installment of her Cormorant Strike mystery series, Troubled Blood, which reviewers have noted features a serial killer who stalks women dressed as a woman. The book appears to do away with parable of “separate the art from the artist,” and it’s ignited a new firestorm around the author. I’d like to use this moment to highlight some trans / nonbinary authors, because their works are well worth reading.

While I’ve read authors who fall into this category, I want to turn this particular newsletter edition over to Lee Mandelo. I’ve long admired their writing on the subject, and asked to highlight some works from trans and nonbinary writers that they’re a fan of.

[…]

For that matter, in the month of September alone there are multiple scintillating new books unto which I’d like to direct your attention:
The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke
Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg
Burning Roses by S. L. Huang
Love after the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction edited by Joshua Whitehead
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
…and that’s more or less off the top of my head, so apologies for the others that inevitably slipped past me. The point I’m aiming for here is that trans, nonbinary, and gender-variant folks of all backgrounds are out there writing books about a hundred thousand different things. Compare those September releases for a minute and you’ll notice, beautifully, nothing much in common between them; the same goes for the longer list above.
It’s a veritable cornucopia, so go snag some books and support the folks making good art.

October 5, 2017

Patricia A. McKillip’s lovely THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD is a lyrical, thoughtful exploration

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized fantasy literature, jana nyman, patricia a mckillip, review, the emerald city book review, the forgotten beasts of eld, Thomas Canty

More effusive praise for Patricia A. McKillip’s World Fantasy Award-winner THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD. The new edition is now available in paperback and for the first time as an ebook.

For FANTASY LITERATURE, Jana Nyman recommends the novel.

The prose of THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD is generally lovely, if occasionally over-laden with descriptive adjectives or similes, and it’s easy to see why this short novel won the 1975 World Fantasy Award and is a perennial favorite for many fantasy readers. For a novel published so early in an author’s life, it’s remarkably well-written, and it’s no wonder McKillip has enjoyed such a long and well-respected career. Recommended for YA and adult fans of Arthurian myths, fine poetry, and high fantasy.

THE EMERALD CITY BOOK REVIEW enjoys their first reading of the classic book.

Though McKillip’s early novel has become a classic of fairy-tale-flavored fiction, a favorite genre of mine, I’ve somehow managed not to read it until now. I’m so glad I finally did, thanks to a new, beautifully designed paperback and e-book edition from Tachyon books. This is a lyrical, thoughtful exploration of love and power, pride and forgiveness and freedom, rich with evocative imagery and resonant language. I’ve already read it twice in a row, and I’m sure I’ll be returning to it again.

<snip>

Though it has no external connection to Arthurian legend, there are thematic resonances in this tale of love lost and betrayed, of powerful, magical women, of the double-edged sword of passion and revenge. So I’m very excited that thanks to Tachyon, I’m able to offer a giveaway of this lovely book during Witch Week: Dreams of Arthur, taking place from October 31 to November 6 — plus another one of their new publications.

Photo: Stephen Gold/Wikimedia Commons

Sheila Goicea at SHE’S GOING BOOK CRAZY praises the fantasy.

A book like this is intimidating to pick up. Not because it is mundane, nor because it is necessarily daunting (although it is, in a way). No, my friends. This book entails every aspect that fantasy writing is about, and it is truly breathtaking. Being disappointed with other fantasy reads after this book is why it is intimidating.

Compared to the writing of today’s YA novels, this book automatically takes the lead in its overall quality. Its writing style, detail to plot and meaningfulness are (in my opinion) so much more when compared to what is out there today.

<snip>

Random side note: I think that Sybel is the original white-haired, dragon wielding heroine. Not Khaleesi.

4.5 stars.

For more info about THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Thomas Canty

September 22, 2016

Win a SIGNED copy of Peter S. Beagle’s SUMMERLONG

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized contest, elizabeth story, fantasy, fantasy literature, interview, jana nyman, magdalena korzeniewska, peter s beagle, review, summerlong

Jana Nyman at FANTASY LITERATURE not only reviews Peter Beagle’s masterful SUMMERLONG but also interviews Peter Beagle. As an added bonus, the site is giving a way a SIGNED copy of the novel.

From the review:

Seattle and its surrounding areas are described in loving, careful detail, from the hustle and bustle of Pike Place Market to the colors of the Olympic mountain range. The natural environment is as much an essential character as Abe or Del; orcas and flowers are as deeply affected by Lioness’ presence as the humans she interacts with. Beagle describes flora and fauna with more of a naturalist’s eye than a poet’s, and much of the plot depends on ordinary people doing ordinary things, so it was sometimes easy to forget that the seasons were off-kilter or that a very strange woman had drifted into town. However, the way that the family dynamic between Abe, Del, and Lily shifts over the course of the novel is well-written. The interactions between And and Del, in particular, read as an honest depiction of a relationship shared by two people who have grown older together.

There’s also a very familiar classical myth folded into SUMMERLONG, one that might be obvious to some readers just from reading the jacket copy, but Beagle handles it well and makes the participants accessible and realistic. Lioness’ identity is hinted at early in the text, and it takes a long while for Del and Abe to catch on, but the actual reveal is still enjoyable. That said, the way Beagle involves Lily in that myth could have used more nuance and explanation: her obsession with Lioness is supposed to be special, but her mannerisms establish her as someone who falls into one-sided romantic attachments easily and engages in dramatic over-reactions when situations don’t go her way. Since Abe and Del’s partnership feels so real and fully-lived in, warts and all, Lily seems that much more immature and broad-stroke by comparison.

Ultimately, SUMMERLONG is a pleasurable read, with complicated characters and an excellent portrayal of a specific place and time. Readers who are looking for a mature perspective in fantasy are sure to enjoy this.

Photo by Paul Todisco

From the interview:

SUMMERLONG is a novel in which the ordinary world is colored by fantastic moments. Was it difficult for you to maintain the careful balance between the real and the unreal?

All my work, one way or another, deals with that blur — if that’s the word I want — between the officially real and the supposedly fantastic. My major influence in that way was Robert Nathan, who isn’t widely read these days, I suppose, but who moved through time and the unlikely with an effortless grace that I’ve been trying to duplicate since I first came across his work in college. Sometimes I almost get it right.

I was surprised by how much detail about kayaking and home-brewing you incorporated into SUMMERLONG without ever bogging down the narrative. Are these topics you were already familiar with before writing the novel? And would you mind sharing a little insight into your writing process? Are you the type of writer who has an idea and goes about creating the world which fits that idea, or do you start with a concept and start researching it before you write?

Brewing I know something about, being a great fan of proper dark beer. Delta blues and Piedmont-style guitar I probably know more about, having been one of the few Jewish kids in the 1950s Bronx who knew who Big Bill Broonzy was — not to mention Sonny Boy Williamson and Brownie McGhee. On the completely other hand, to be perfectly honest, I’ve never set foot in a kayak in my life, though I’ve always wanted to. Joanna’s yearning is entirely real to me. My research, such as it is, is a shockingly unorganized mess, but it always begins with voices in my head … the voices of people I’ve never met and don’t yet know. Without the voices, I’m helpless as an artist. I listen for them all the time, and pray that they’ll show up once more.

Details about the contest:

One random commenter with a U.S. mailing address will win a signed copy of SUMMERLONG!

For more info on SUMMERLONG, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Magdalena Korzeniewska

Design by Elizabeth Story

July 25, 2016

INVADERS proves the line between genre and literary fiction is simply speculative

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized andrew liptak, elizabeth story, fantasy literature, goro fujita, invader, invaders: 22 tales from the outer limits of literature, jana nyman, library journal, neal wyatt, review, the verge, wyatt's world

Following its recent release, excitement remains high for Jacob Weisman’s INVADERS: 22 TALES FROM THE OUTER LIMITS OF LITERATURE.

Jana Nyman delivers the second review of the book for FANTASY LITERATURE.

The anthology begins with an introduction by Weisman, explaining what his goals were and why he wanted non-genre authors to cross the invisible-but-forbidding barrier between serious lit and sci-fi. He sets the tone for what the reader should expect, as well as reflecting on his own experiences as a reader and an editor in the publishing industry. Regardless of my evaluation of an included story’s success or failure as speculative fiction, he’s completely correct when he extols the talents of the authors.

Each story is headed by a short biography of the author in question, as well as a brief bit of information on the story itself: where it might have been previously published, whether it was nominated for any awards, etc., which was tremendously helpful in the cases (and there were many) where I wasn’t already aware of an author’s career.

<snip>

The best stories in INVADERS: 22 TALES FROM THE OUTER LIMITS OF LITERATURE certainly outweigh the weakest ones, and even the ones that I didn’t consider completely successful were still quite good. The style and content of the stories varies drastically from author to author, so I recommend reading a few stories at a time rather than plowing through the entire anthology in one go. Personally, I’ve been inspired to linger a little longer outside the sci-fi/fantasy section the next time I’m on the lookout for a new work of fiction.

For LIBRARY JOURNAL, Neal Wyatt recommends the anthology in his WYATT’S WORLD column.

Authors such as Junot Díaz, George Saunders, and Molly Gloss are gathered in this anthology highlighting stories of alien invasion, first contact, and more—offering further proof, if any more were necessary, that the line between genre and literary fiction is simply speculative.

Andrew Liptak at THE VERGE includes INVADERS among his listing of what to read in science fiction and fantasy this month.

Invasions are a longstanding trope within science fiction literature, and this new anthology from Jacob Weisman collects an intriguing set of short stories from authors not typically associated with science fiction. This collection contains stories about first contact to epidemics to scientific experiments from authors such as Junot Díaz, Jonathan Lethem, Katherine Dunn, and a number of others.

For more info about INVADERS: 22 TALES FROM THE OUTER LIMITS OF LITERATURE, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Goro Fujita

Design by Elizabeth Story

June 24, 2016

Patricia A. McKillip’s DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES is sensuous, mournful, beautiful, and poetic

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized collection, dreams of distant shores, Elitist Book Reviews, fantasy, fantasy wonderland, jana nyman, margaret kingsbury, paperback wonderland, patricia a mckillip, review, susana patrícia, Thomas Canty, vanessa christenson

A quartet of fresh reviews of Patricia A. McKillip’s thought-provoking DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES.

Jana Nyman at FANTASY LITERATURE enjoys her introduction to Patricia A. McKillip’s writing.

Since I haven’t read any of Patricia McKillip’s work before, I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES, which collects seven short pieces of fiction both new and previously-published, a short non-fiction essay by McKillip herself, and an afterword by Peter S. Beagle entitled, simply, “Dear Pat.” I’d always heard high praise associated with McKillip’s fiction — her gifts with language, her deep understanding of the human heart, her knack for portraying the misunderstandings which plague romantic and platonic relationships — and I’m pleased to say that this collection lived up to that reputation, even when individual pieces weren’t to my taste. These aren’t stories you can rush through; you have to take your time, savor the wordplay, let McKillip cast her spell over you. Magic is very real in her stories, and she makes you believe that it could be real for you, too.

<snip>

DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES is sensuous, mournful, beautiful, and poetic. Despite its occasional flaws, was an excellent introduction to Patricia McKillip’s fiction, and I will absolutely seek out her back-catalogue as well as any future short stories or novels. Recommended particularly for readers who are new to McKillip’s work, but also for readers who want to revisit some old stories along with the new.

For ELITIST BOOK REVIEWS, Vanessa Christenson praises the collection.

Patricia A. McKillip’s writing is often described as ‘ethereal.’ If you’ve read really anything by her you would be nodding your head. In her most recent anthology, DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES, we are treated to her lovely prose, with a collection of stories that are surprisingly different. They are alternately strange and silly, but all are thought-provoking.

<snip>

“Something Rich and Strange” is a novella-length story about Megan and Joshua who live in a coastal town. When an artist drifter arrives in town, their sedate lives are jumbled, implying change. Then the stranger’s sister arrives and Joshua is pulled into another world that he seems unable to navigate or stay away from. Megan realizes how she loves Joshua and discovers that she has more strength than she realized. McKillip’s stories can be so full of the strange and yet make you feel like that’s exactly the way the world works at the same time. I don’t know how she does it, but it’s beautiful.

Quick to read and at the same time thought-provoking, DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES is for the discerning fantasy reader.

Patricia A. McKillip at Westercon 64 in the Fairmont San Jose Hotel on Saturday 2 July 2011 (Stephen Gold/Wikimedia Commons)

Margaret Kingsbury christens her eponymous blog with a review of the lyrical DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES.

For example, when the discussion turned to the essentialism of fantasy settings, McKillip asserted that “Landscape is the human condition.” While all of the stories in Dreams from Distant Shores deal with how humans and landscape are inextricably linked—even the title suggests such—nowhere is that theme more prevalent than in the novella “Something Rich and Strange.” “Something Rich and Strange” is a reprint, but this was my first time reading it. In this novella, the ocean enraptures couple Jonah and Megan with its seen and unseen wonders, which are rich and strange. It begins when Megan, an artist, realizes she’s capturing odd moments in her paintings of the sea, moments she didn’t realize were there until she looks at the finished painting. Then two sibling newcomers come to their small coastal town and Jonah, Megan’s husband and an antique shop owner, becomes ensnared by one of their voices, which sounds just like the sea’s song. Meanwhile, Megan is drawn to the singer’s brother, who brings beautiful, sea-inspired jewelry to sell in the antique shop. A fairytale quest follows, venturing deep into the ocean’s depths. This novella is an atmospheric, ecological-themed treatise on the ocean and its magic.

<snip>

McKillip’s writing is sharp and lyrical, full of humanity, myth, and hope. If you haven’t read McKillip before, this is a great collection to start with and see if you like her style. If you’re already a McKillip fan, then you should definitely pick this up, if you haven’t already.

At PAPERBACK WONDERLAND, Susana Patrícia lauds the book.

It’s no secret that I am a fan of the author luscious writing and enchanting imagination. As such it was with great pleasure that I read this anthology.

“Weird” – 4 Stars I loved this story and for a moment there the author had me completely fooled, making me think that I was reading a ~normal~ contemporary story. Ah!*Yes, I should have known better* We have two characters, and it seems as if they’re having a rendez vouz in the bathroom… of course bit by bit, the fantasy comes crashing down on them. It was intriguing, and left me wanting much more. For real, I would love to know how it ends. Or more on how it started 😉

<snip>

Something Rich and Strange – 4 Stars A tale of two lovers who need to get lost in order to finally find each one another. The only problem is the toll it will take on both… and on their relationship.While reading it, I felt as if this was supposed to be the master piece in this collection… and for a period of time it was.

Strangely, I can’t help feeling that this novella would have worked better as a short.I know, I know, I’m impossible to please, lol.

As for the cover it is absolutely stunning.

For more info on DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Thomas Canty

June 24, 2015

Pitfalls of blogging and reviewing: An interview with the Fantasy Literature staff

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized blogging, fantasy literature, interview, jana nyman, kat hooper, kelly lasiter, publishing, review, ryan skardal, s. c. flynn, scy-fy

S. C. Flynn on his SCY-FY blog interviews the brain trust behind FANTASY LITERATURE. Their discussion about the inner workings of the review site, the current state of publishing, and nuts and bolts of blogging proved insightful and interesting.

Today I will be talking with the team at Fantasy Literature, which consists of 17 reviewers. They have a rigorous application process for joining the site – and a very lengthy one for potential interviewers, as I have discovered – and all the reviewers work together to produce the site’s content. They’ve been blogging together daily for eight years.

SCy-Fy: Team, I am very pleased to have got this chance to speak to all of you. Firstly, tell me about a typical blogging day.

Kat Hooper: My blogging day starts at about 7:45 am, when I’m overseeing my kids getting off to school and before I get ready for work. As the managing editor, I usually make the decisions about which reviews to post each day. I usually post two or three reviews each weekday. They’ve been edited in advance by Jana Nyman, Ryan Skardal, or Kelly Lasiter.

Other FanLit folks do most of the feature columns that we run at noon (EST) most days. These are:

Monday: Horrible Monday or Magazine Monday (Terry Weyna)

Tuesday: Author interviews (any of us)

Wednesday: World Wide Websday (Marion Deeds will be taking over from Kate Lechlerin July)

Thursday: Thoughtful Thursday (any of us)

Friday: Edge of the Universe or Expanded Universe (Ryan or Kate)

Saturday: Comics (Brad Hawley) or Films.

Sunday: Sunday Status Updates (Tim Scheidler)

After posting the day’s reviews, I do my real job – I teach neuroscience, psychology, and research methods courses at the University of North Florida. My commute is at least 40 min, so I read by audio during that time. After my classes, I usually check in on the blog a few times to see what’s going on. Later, I do my own reading and review writing and whatever kind of maintenance/oversight the blog needs. There’s a lot of planning and talking with authors and publicists, etc that goes on, but we all do that kind of stuff together. I spend only a very small amount of time on social media.

<snip>

SCy-Fy: Hard-to-spot pitfalls in SFF blogging that are difficult to avoid?

Marion: One hard-to-spot pitfall in some ways is the dreaded “spoiler.” One person’s spoiler is another person’s clever detail. Also, in a world where things are recapped instantly, and people are on Twitter commenting on TV and movies as they happen, it’s hard to judge quite what the “shelf life” for a spoiler is. Is it a month after publication? Six months? Never? It’s a challenge to strike the balance between giving enough information, and giving away the farm.

Kat: One thing I’d warn bloggers about is those seductive review copies. Everyone loves free books, but if you only review the books that publicists are currently hyping, you’ll end up with three problems.

Your blog will look just like everyone else’s, because you’ll all be reviewing the same books at the same time.

After a year or two, you’ll find that you’ve got one or two books reviewed for a few dozen current authors – you’ll have breadth, but no depth.

You’ll be in the middle of so many series that you can’t possibly keep all of their storylines in your head and you won’t be able to do a good job reviewing subsequent novels. As hard as it is, learn to say “NO” to some of those free review copies.

Bill: Two pitfalls: 1) Assuming that your audience shares your knowledge – they may in fact not be as well read in the genre or sub-genre, or may not be of an age to have read those authors you may assume “everyone” has read.

2) Lack of diversity/blindness to other world-views.

Read the rest of the riveting interview at SCY-FY.

February 20, 2015

THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT is, truly, a demonstration of the very best of Elliott’s abilities

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized collection, elizabeth story, essays, fantasy, fantasy literature, jana nyman, julie dillon, kate elliott, review, short stories, the very best of kate elliott

At Fantasy Literature, Jana Nyman is dubious at first but is ultimately swayed by THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT.

Kate Elliott is a prolific writer, producing over twenty fantasy and science fiction novels and several highly-acclaimed short stories in the last three decades. This year alone will see the publication of not only The Very Best of Kate Elliott, a collection of twelve short stories and four essays, but also two new novels: Court of Fives and The Black Wolves, and Elliott shows no signs of slowing her output in the future. Thus it was with some prickliness that I began reading The Very Best of Kate Elliott, thinking that the title would prove to be ambitious at best (and disappointingly superlative at worst).

The introduction provides insight into Elliott’s progression from young reader to mature writer of fiction and why she writes the way she does, reflecting her family’s experiences as Danish immigrants to Oregon and her own experiences with fantasy literature of the 1960’s and 70’s. Though the novels she read as a teenager focused exclusively on male characters and their agencies and narratives, she realized that the women who don’t exist in written histories or fiction are still real. They have important stories, and she wanted to write in such a way that would give them a voice even when the main characters in her own fiction aren’t female. In The Very Best of Kate Elliott, each single character has value, and she includes every gender, sexuality, race, and social class. Everyone should be able to find representation in the books they read. Everyone has power, though it’s not always of the same kind.

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Elliott is a writer of remarkable talent and sensitivity. Despite my misgivings about titling this work as The Very Best of Kate Elliott, I am not too proud to admit when I am wrong. This is, truly, a demonstration of the very best of Elliott’s abilities. I look forward to the inevitable Volume Two of The Very Best of Kate Elliott, but for the time being, I’ll content myself with reading more of her novels and shorter work as they are published.

Read the rest of Nyman’s review, which includes coverage of many of the stories, at Fantasy Literature.

For more on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Julie Dillon.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

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