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February 2010/Sci Fi Experience Wrap-Up

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(Book love photo by Chocolate Geek)

Continuing what I hope will be a trend here at Stainless Steel Droppings throughout the year, I present to you my Wrap Up for the month of February. The end of the month also saw the “official” end of the Sci Fi Experience 2010. After my review of February I will post a wrap up for the Experience which includes a place for you to link to if you plan to do a Sci Fi Experience Wrap Up on your site. Feel free to do so in the comments section as well.

February did not see a big drop-off on my reading production, a fact for which I am grateful. I read 8 books (I’m considering the cover to cover read of Asimov’s as a book). The breakdown is as follows:

Novels:

—Gateway

—Diving Into the Wreck ~Kristine Kathryn Rusch

—Farmer in the Sky ~Robert A. Heinlein

—The Love We Share Without Knowing ~Christopher Barzak

Short Story Collections:

—Eight Stories From The Rest of the Robots ~Isaac Asimov

—Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, March 2010

—Cyberabad Days ~Ian McDonald

—You Will Never Be The Same ~Cordwainer Smith

Individual Short Stories:

—Call Me Joe ~Poul Anderson, found in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol. 2A (4/5 stars)

Engaging, entertaining novella about…well, if you’ve seen Avatar then a lot of this classic story will seem familiar. Whether you liked or loathed Avatar, this is a story well worth taking the time to read.

—Universe ~Robert A. Heinlein found in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol. 2A (3.75/5 stars)

What if you found out that all that you assumed about your universe was wrong? What is you were actually on a starship headed for a destination at which you never arrived? This Heinlein story was quite an enjoyable take on our perceptions and where beliefs might come from. This is a very accessible story and I would recommend it to non-science fiction fans as well as hard-core Heinlein fans.

—With Folded Hands ~Jack Williamson , found in Men and Machines, edited by Robert Silverberg (4/5 stars)

Very dated but ultimately fun, creepy tale of robots (humanoids) coming to earth to make mankind happy. The suspense and tension mount to the horrifying conclusion.

—Desertion ~Clifford D. Simak, found online, pulled from SFWA Grand Masters, Vol. 1. (3.5/5 stars)

A bit far out but still an interesting concept on the potential limitations of man and how those limitations might be overcome. The story had a nice build up to it. Though I suspected the outcome it was still fun to read. And being a dog lover I have to give props to any story that includes man’s best friend.

The Heinlein, Williamson, and Simak stories were read for one of my personal projects, which is to read one short story, novella, or novel by each author on the SFWA Grand Masters list going in order from the first recipient to the most recent.

I have managed to review everything that I have read so far this year with the exception of the Asimov short story collection, but that I am saving for a combined review with Robot Dreams. I also read several short stories from other collections which I am saving to review when I finish the book itself.

Films:

In between a minor amount of Olympics viewing and episodes of Corner Gas and Coupling (both re-viewings), I managed to catch a few films in the theater, on DVD, and on Netflix over X-Box Live–

—Moon

—Shutter Island

—Zombieland

This was every bit as entertaining as when I saw it in the theater last October. Showed it to my wife and she enjoyed it. Once you get past the very comically graphic opening sequence, the movie tones it down quite a bit and becomes a highly entertaining buddy/romantic comedy road flick.

—Holiday

Katherine Hepburn, especially in these younger roles, is a real beauty and was quite the firecracker onscreen. This pairing with Cary Grant is sweet and funny. You see the end coming before the film begins, but it doesn’t matter as these two have real charisma. Bringing Up Baby is my favorite pairing of the two, and one of my favorite screwball romantic comedy classics, but this one was well worth watching.

—Sunshine Cleaning

Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are great, and the more I see Alan Arkin the more I enjoy him. The movie started out kind of bleak, but once the actual bleak job of cleaning up crime scenes started the movie became surprisingly warm and funny and sentimental without being a saccharine-fest. See it.

—Creature Comforts

Nick Parks, creator of Wallace and Gromit, put together this wonderful collection of interviews with real people about every day subjects that the animation team then based creature characters on. Think This American Life done claymation style. Our family found this quite funny. Follow the link above to go to the site where you can see some examples.

—Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, The 39 Steps:

The last three Sunday nights have found us sitting in front of the television watching PBS Masterpiece Theatre. I lump all three of these together for this reason: all are beautiful productions with great casts (updated: by that I mean great leads, forgettable casting for more minor roles) and all three are adequate films that suffer from being considered great adaptations due to being crammed into a 90 minute program. I never felt like I got to know the main characters well enough to LOVE these films, let alone the many side characters who play an integral role in the story but are not allowed to develop due to their limited time onscreen. I’ve read Northanger Abbey and now will need to read Persuasion to get the whole story. I’m also interested in reading The 39 Steps as well as seeing the classic film version.

What about the rest of you, how did you fill your February?
____________________________________

The third annual Sci Fi Experience has officially come to a close. I hope that all of you who participated experienced the same sense of wonder that I did in exploring some of what this genre has to offer.

I read 16 books total for the Experience: 7 novels, 7 short story collections/anthologies, and 2 art books and several individual short stories.

I had first time experiences with Frederick Pohl, Ian McDonald, Poul Anderson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Lester del Rey, among others.

I partook of 3 more Heinlein books, read more Asimov, re-read some John Scalzi, and fit in some Cordwainer Smith.

I ended up with a much larger To Be Read pile than I had when I started this year’s Experience. 🙂

And, most importantly, I had some very interesting conversations with friends new and old regarding a number of book-related and other topics and I read many great reviews on books/stories that were enjoyed and others that were not.

In my mind, the Sci Fi Experience 2010 has been a roaring success and it is because of you who participated, in your own reading and here in the comments. Thank you all so very, very much.

For me, science fiction reading for 2010 hasn’t ended, there will be much more as the year progresses, but you’ll start to see other reading begin to creep into the pages of Stainless Steel Droppings, as has already happened with my recent review of The Love We Share Without Knowing, a book I would loosely classify as literary fantasy, or perhaps magic realism is a better category.

I would love to know your personal..er…experiences with this year’s Experience. If you plan to blog about it, please leave a link to that specific blog post in the box below. You do not have to do a wrap up post, however, so if you just want to talk about it in the comments section with your thoughts on Feb. 2010, please do that.

Thank you again to all of you, including the folks at SF Signal who provide all of us with daily Science Fiction goodness, for making the Sci Fi Experience 2010 so much fun.

34 thoughts on “February 2010/Sci Fi Experience Wrap-Up”

  1. I really, really love the film Northanger Abbey. I thought they did a great job with it. (Have you seen the 1986 one?! It’s truly something, I’ll tell you that.) But I didn’t like the new Persuasion. At all. I prefer the other two versions much, much better. There’s one from 1995, and one from 1971. And definitely try to read the novel–it’s one of my favorites!!!

  2. Quick note: my reading for February is WAY down, mostly due to hours spent watching the Winter Olympics and attendant commercials. I will post my Challenge results later in the week or after I return from a brief trip, sine I’m leaving in a few days. I had fun, and since my reading was already turned to SF-F, it was perfect timing.

    Your own results are to be admired (insert admiring sounds here). Good job.

  3. Richard: Admiring sounds? Does that include expletives or what?!?! 🙂 My reading for Jan/Feb has pretty much followed course and if trends continue then nice weather and annual work projects will find that being cut down. I hope it isn’t the case but that is usually what happens. I generally average between 50 and 60 books a year, so you can see how it has the potential to drop off considering that I’ve read 17 total already.

    Becky: I thought they did a nice job with Northanger Abbey, loved the actual location they chose, but just felt that the whole thing was too rushed in comparison to other Jane Austen film adaptations that are allowed a little more time to give weight to the side characters. Most of the casting was really good. And I have seen the 1968 version but it was a long time ago (over a decade) and I don’t remember it at all. I really liked the two main characters chosen for Persuasion, but again didn’t feel like they gave them enough time to develop the story.

  4. Admiring sounds: [Whoa!], [Wow!], [Un-beeeelieveabe!], [gooooal!], [In-saaane!], [Oh! Oh!], [clap, clap, clap, clap…]. [cheer, whistle], [oh yeah!].

  5. the closest I got to your sci fi experience was the last day of Feb. (yesterday).. I finally saw Avatar!!!!! (absolutely loved it!) The bad guy was so bad you wanted to smack him silly, the love story was great, ant the “land and plants and animals” were outstanding! can’t wait to get the dvd to see it a few times to catch all that I missed!!

  6. Sci-Fi Challenge results

    War Games by Christopher Anvil
    Science Fiction: the illustrated Encyclopedia by John Clute (yes, I read it cover to cover)
    Space Cadet by Robert A. Heinlein
    The Ship of Ishtar by A. Merritt
    Extremes by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
    Hospital Station by James White
    Major Operation by James White
    Star Surgeon by James White
    Snake Agent by Liz Williams

    Just 9 qualifying books read since January 1, 2010. Blame the Olympics for some of that, but it only would have been a couple more at most. Best of the bunch were the Encyclopedia and the James White. A lot of fun. There’s still plenty of SF reading stacked up waiting, so I’ll continue with it as I move into the OUAT challenge.

    Thanks very much for the encouragement of the challenge, website and your other commentors.

  7. Richard: Thank you so much for participating and for adding so much to my literal and virtual TBR pile. I told you that I FINALLY got the first omnibus of White in so I plan on cracking into that soon. You read some interesting stuff and have wrote about authors who I haven’t read that I hope to check out.

    Deslily: Being a Pern fan I can’t believe you didn’t mention the flying creatures!!!! 🙂 Glad you got to get out and see it at the theater as I think that is the venue that is most advantageous to see it in.

  8. I thought about it lol.. i loved everything about the movie. can’t wait to own it! I’m not good at reviewing anything..but you are too kind to “notice it” LOL..

  9. Deslily: When I was watching the movie and that scene came in where the girl jumped on the winged creature and dove down I instantly thought of two things: the cover to Dragonriders of Pern and you!

  10. So I take it deslily is a big Pern fan? As ma I. I have been hugely disappointed in the Todd books, however and took an oath not to read another. It’s really too bad. I wish he’d go try to write his own series and leave poor Pern alone, but I doubt he’d get published without the series and name to support his meager efforts.

    I sure would like to have a fire dragon to take messages…but I guess the internet is our fire dragon.

  11. Deslily – So glad to hear you made it to the theater to see Avatar. It was truly magical film that I can’t wait to own as well.

    My reading results are as follows. I read these all between December 15th and February 15th. After two months of Scifi I got the fantasy bug bad about two weeks ago and had to shift gears away from Scif.

    I have read 3 books.
    Star Trek: Vanguard – Harbinger by David Mack
    Star Trek DS9 – The Soul Key by Olivia Woods
    Metatropolis edited by John Scalzi. This anthology is built around a shared universe by 5 authors; Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, and Karl Schroeder.

    I have read one novella.
    The God Engines by John Scalzi

    I have also read a TON of short stories from numerous novels authors mostly new to me.
    1. Grolion of Almery by Matthew Hughes from Songs of the Dying Earth.
    2. Code Three by Rick Raphael from A World Turned Upside Down edited by David Drake, Eric Flint, and Jim Baen ( AWTUD )
    3. Hunting Problem by Robert Sheckley – AWTUD
    4. Black Destroyer by A. E. Van Aogt – AWTUD
    5. A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber – AWTUD
    6. A Gun for Dinosaur by L. Sprague de Camp – AWTUD
    7. Vital Factor – Nelson Bond from Great Science Fiction Stories – Selected and Edited by Cordelia Titcomb Smith
    8. Delilah and the Space-Rigger by Robert A. Heinlein from The Green Hills of Earth
    9. Space Jockey by Robert A. Heinlein from The Green Hills of Earth.
    10. To Avenge Man by Lester Del Rey from an 1964 issue of Galaxy magazine
    11. Endosymbiont by Blake Charlton from Seeds of Change edited by John Joseph Adams
    12. A Dance Called Armageddon by Ken MacLeod from Seeds of Change by John Joseph Adams.

    So far my favorite stories are from John Scalzi, Tobias Buckell, Robert A. Heinlein, David Mack, and L. Sprague de Camp.

    All in all another great experience!!!

    Lastly, I have to disagree with you on the recent Masterpiece Classic versions of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. NA was ok for what it was but not a version or story I would watch again most likely. As for Persuasion I did not like the main characters at all in that version especially the female lead. In fact I coulnd’t even finish it although my wife made it to the end. We both loved the new version of Emma though. Best version of Emma I have seen and I actually like the Paltrow quite a bit.

  12. Glad you had an enjoyable Sci Fi Experience and got to sample short stories from a lot of sources. I’ve been thinking back a lot on the Heinlein stories from Green Hills. I am so glad that I read that collection during this challenge.

    Yep, we’ll have to disagree on Persuasion. I still think overall it wasn’t a good story, but I really like Sally Hawkins a lot. I’m disappointed for her that they didn’t give her a more full film to tell the story in. I think Persuasion suffered more than NA from the length issue because I got the impression that some of those side characters, particularly her governess? (not sure if that was what she was) actually played a larger role in her initially rejecting the guy but the film certainly doesn’t say that. I also didn’t understand the dad at all, what his motivations were, why he was so weird. I didn’t like him very well nor the sisters. I probably should have been more clear when I said “great casts” that really all I was talking about was the two leads in each of the films. I do need to watch the other version of Persuasion some time. I like Ciaran Hinds a lot and have an idea that might be a better version. Its one we can ‘watch instantly’ on Netflix and probably need to do so soon. Sorry you didn’t make it to the end of Persuasion, I found the last 30 minutes, particularly the very end, to be quite enjoyable.

    I told Mary I want to pick a day and have a period piece day. I want to Redbox Bright Star and watch some of the other period films we love and watch over and over again. As spring rolls around I’ll be in the mood for this.

  13. I was surprised when you said great casts because I really disagreed with you there. I didn’t like anyone but the male lead in Persuasion. I don’t begrudge you enjoying it but I don’t regret missing the end myself as I really didn’t like the female lead and I just couldn’t stand watching her anymore.

    I’m making more of a conscious effort not to finish books or movies I’m just not enjoying at all. I’m all for slow build up and story telling but if something is just not working for me then life is too short for just to slog through something just because anymore. There’s just too much stuff I want to experience for stories I’m not connecting with. I’m trying to cut back on my internet time as well as it is cutting into my reading time too much.

    A period piece day sounds fun. You might even work that into your guys annual trip.

    Can we borrow your special edition copy of Pride & Prejudice this week?

  14. Jeff: That’s what I get for early morning typing. I honestly did just mean the leads. In these short versions I felt the peripheral cast was even more peripheral than normal.

    The male lead in Persuasion did a nice job in 39 steps…and then I saw he is in MI-5 now which played right after 39 steps. He’s been all over PBS lately.

    Yes, you can borrow P&P. Remind me when you come over on Wed.

  15. Carl: LOL well pern’s dragons were no where near as colorful being only green, blue , bronze and gold but they were a tad easier to get to know and could talk back to you! … I was thrilled when he got that big orange one! lol.. “I mean business now guys!” hahahaha gawd I wanna see the movie again.. when I like a movie I want to see it many times so I get all the small stuff I miss the first time!!!

    Richard: oh yeah! I’ve read the pern books many times! Ohhhhhhh wouldn’t it be fantastic to have fire dragons?!!!

    Jeff: yeah sure can’t wait for the dvd!! I guess the story line was predictable but it was still great! The villian was fantastic (I wanted to punch him out soooo bad! lol) the love story for the people and the land were great..and I would not believe in the oscars anymore if their special effects team dont win the oscar! The creations and colors were fabulous! (the only other movie I can remember to have so much color was Robin Williams movie “what dreams may come” !)

  16. Well done, Carl. You had a hell of a month. Great reading and film watching done. Looking forward to seeing what March brings you. 🙂

  17. I’m 90% sure The 39 Steps is on the Guardian’s list of 1,000 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I, too, have been loving PBS this winter, but I got sidetracked from The 39 Steps with the Olympics. Now I’ll just have to read the book. 😉

  18. Deslily – I totally agree with you on ” What Dreams May Come ” I loved the use of color and special effects a lot in that film as well. I’m hoping to find time to go see Avatar again before it leaves the theaters. I too can’t wait to look for all those small things I missed the first time around.

  21. I’d be interested too, to know if deslily has an opinion on the Todd McCaffrey Pern books? I was really disappointed too, and I *hated* what was happening to the dragons in Dragonsblood. Don’t think I shall read any more.

    Carl, I’m sorry I missed the SciFi Experience – maybe I’ll get to join in next time.

  22. Geraniumcat: well he’s not his mother that’s for sure .. and he is a man so will think and write quite differently. I am guessing that his mother still reads his manuscripts and although giving him his own thoughts and feelings has something to say about them.. overall, no I don’t care for them like his moms books, his characters and dragons are not ones that I can say I’d never forget like Flar, and Fnor and Lessa and Masterharper Robinton! But one can only hope (wish?) that he would have understood his mothers writing more than he obviously does.

  23. Deslily: What? Men and women think differently?!?! 😉 Thanks to all of you for your opinions on the McCaffrey books. Sounds like the son’s books are a definite miss.

    Richard: Don’t you hate that comments can’t be edited? I’m doing stuff like that all the time.

    GeraniumCat: No worries about missing the experience, it will be great to have you next time if you decide to join in.

    Jeff: We enjoyed What Dreams May Come when we watched it over the past year or so. Not great as far as the story goes, but really good. And beautiful to look at.

    Bellezza: I was surprised that it had been based on a book, since that was something I hadn’t ever paid attention to.

    Ceri: thanks, it was a really fun month.

  24. Carl: I thought What Dreasm May Come was excellent! First off I think Robin Williams is a much better actor than most think he is .. second: I thought this was a very original way to tell a love story..and third: the use of color.. which in both cases (dreams may come and avatar) the color seems to enhance the use of the imagination. *which of course worked well for both movies!*

  26. Ha! Happens to me all the time, unfortunately. Thanks for the thoughts on the Todd M. Pern. Yes they are pretty bad. I could not finish the last one, threw it against the wall, then gave it to the library.

  27. Plague Zone by Jeff Carlson
    Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
    Impact by Douglas Preston
    Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
    In the Country of the Blind by Michael Flynn
    Legend by David L. Golemon
    Primitive by Mark Nykanen
    Orbis by Scott MacKay
    I only read 8 book due to an unexpected trip out of town. (I also watched several (bad) science fiction movies.) Thanks for having the Sci Fi Experience 2010!

  28. Lori – How did you like the Flynn book? I’m about to try a volume of short stories, The Forest of Time. Also, now that you’ve read it, do you consider Twilight to be SF or Fantasy?

  29. I have liked every Flynn novel I’ve read. From my brief review of Flynn’s In the Country of the Blind: “There is plenty of intrigue and double crosses as the existence of the secret group(s) is revealed. While an interesting story, In the Country of the Blind is more a philosophical argument concerning the use of Cliology and the study of human society. For serious students of science fiction, there is a large appendix, including charts, that discusses the mathematics and biology of history. highly recommended”

    As for Twilight… I read it for the Critical Monkey Contest because it is a book I generally would never read. Mostly I consider it a bad book (unless you are a young teen girl who likes sparkly things), but it could be more fantasy than Science Fiction and thus not count toward the Sci Fi Experience.

  31. That sounds like such a full, enjoyable month of entertainment, Carl! I’m so glad, because you so deserve it! Here’s to another great month in March! 😀

    I hate admitting that I didn’t get a single thing read or watched in the world of sci fi. 🙁 It’s just been such a busy, busy year so far. Which I know, is mostly my own dumb fault.

    BUT…on a fun note…Rich impulsively bought himself a sci fi book (Sleepless) about a month ago. He read it, loved it, and has declared himself a newbie sci fi fan.

  32. Debi: Well pat Rich on the back and congratulate him for me on joining the world of science fiction fans! And I know you’ve been busy, its no wonder you didn’t get to any of this over the last couple of months. I’m hoping for a great March as well and am looking forward to the soon-to-start Once Upon a Time Challenge.

    Richard: Have a wonderful, good-read-filled vacation!

    Lori: Thanks for posting your list. I haven’t read Twilight but I tend to lump vampire fiction in the urban fantasy category right now, mostly because it seems like the majority of vampire novels are in that category. It is a generalization to be sure, but that’s what I mostly see on bookstore shelves when it comes to vamps.

  33. While the car is being re-packed (I didn’t do it quite, um, right, I guess) I’ll peek in at the blog world.

    Lori – I’m not sure if that review of the Flynn has me moving toward or away from his book. I was expecting hard SF, but not quite so much sociology. Still, the short story collection may have a variety of things, and I have THE WRECK OF THE RIVER OF STARS waiting if I like it.

    Carl – Thanks! Looks like rain, but we’re outta here. Breakfast in Oceanside. One thing I love about traveling by car is breakfast. The noise of conversation, clinking of plates, smell of pancakes and eggs, it all gets me going, and breakfast out is always a treat (with the possible exception of the coffee).

    I think the categorizing of the Twilight books as fantasy, or urban fantasy, or teen-sigh fantasy would be accurate. I haven’t read anything of Meyers’, and don’t expect to, but that makes sense to me based on reviews and word of mouth.

    The horn. I’m out.

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