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Cantina Klatch: Sci-Fi Wishes and Caviar Dreams

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(Image credit)

Whether it be a group read discussion or sharing our thoughts on a movie we’ve just seen or simply shooting the breeze over the things we are passionate about, I see these online interactions as the equivalent of the coffee klatch. Let’s face it, we are readers and movie/tv buffs. If we were all to converge on the cantina in Mos Eisley Spaceport we wouldn’t be on the lookout for a couple of wanted droids nor would be be dodging bounty hunters. We would start talking about the latest thing we read or watched and off we would go.

So here we are. It is the weekend and we are meeting up. Pull up a chair, order an Antakarian Fire Dancer or a Synthale…or perhaps just a steaming hot cuppa joe and let’s chat (no blasters please). At some point in that conversation I will ask this question:

What technology/innovation from science fiction books, television or film do you wish was a reality today?

In putting in my own two credits worth I would go about answering three wishes style, only I would cheat (we are at a wretched hive of scum and villainy after all). I would offer three wishes based on things I believe are already in various stages of development and are in some ways already a reality and three that are dreams unfettered by rational thinking.

Remember, we are sitting around chatting, so be sure to put your two credits in too.

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Book Reviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Dragonflight Group Read, First Half Discussion

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Welcome Dragonriders one and all to the first of a two-part discussion on Anne McCaffrey’s classic novel Dragonflight. This is my first ever foray into the works of Anne McCaffrey and it is a great pleasure to being doing so as part of a group made up of other first timers as well as frequent visitors to Pern.

I emailed questions to the folks who signed up in the Mr. Linky on the Dragonflight Group Read post and they will be using those as a springboard for their individual discussions of the book on their sites. If you intended to participate but did not get an email from me, please let me know in the comments and feel free to snag the questions below to use in your post.

I will warn those of you who have not read Dragonflight: hereafter there be spoilers! I will being doing a proper non-spoiler review of the book once the group read is over for those who would like to get an overview of what the book is about and my experience with it.

Let’s talk Dragons…

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Art/Photography, book news

Favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy Covers of 2012

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(Image Credit)

As each old year gives way to the new I like to reflect back on the various book cover illustrations that have graced Science Fiction and Fantasy books released over the past twelve months. I like science fiction and fantasy art. Since it is unlikely that the image above will ever be the view outside my front porch, SFF art is my window to the universe, both the real and the imagined. My house is full of books purchased because I wanted that art in my home. I am careful now to point out that these are my favorites of the year, not necessary the best. I don’t have an art degree nor any formal training, I am merely a fan. Who am I to say what is best? The beauty of coming from the position of fan rather than expert is that I can share with you what I like, why it works for me, and what influences I see. The beauty of art in all its forms is the engagement that we can have with it on a personal level.

These are the images that caught my eye, online or in the bookstore, and made me want to learn more about both the artist and the book. Several of these images caused that interesting phenomenon whereby money leaps out of the wallet into the hands of a bookseller happy to provide it a new home.

Special thanks to SF Signal for their monthly hits of book crack…er, posts showcasing the science fiction and fantasy releases each month. If SF Signal is not one of your regular blog stops, it should be.

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Book Reviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Stories

Lightspeed, January 2013. Issue 32

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Fear-inducing weaponry, steampunk cockroaches, bottled cities, martians, living books, wicked fathers, the dismantling of Earth, frogs and a telepathic dog…is this some SFF acid trip?

No! That, plus wicked fathers, alien invasion, economics, Lemony Snicket and so much more await you in this issue of Lightspeed Magazine.

Lightspeed Magazine is a monthly e-magazine featuring new and reprint science fiction and fantasy stories, author spotlights, feature interviews and exlusive novellas and book excerpts. I have only recently become aware of the way in which Lightspeed is structured and I have to admit that I very much enjoy what they do. John Joseph Adams gives a nice editorial intro for the month, the fantasy and science fiction stories are filed under their respective headings, and each author spotlight features interview questions geared specifically for the story in the issue. I love that. The stories printed in Lightspeed are released on their website throughout the month for you to read for free. It is quite an amazing concept really and I applaud them for that. By doing so they become this amazing repository for short fiction. Exclusive to each paid issue is a novella and a novel excerpt. By way of disclosure I generally don’t read novel excerpts unless I am planning on reading the novel and want an early sample but I think it is great that one is included as an extra every month for those who purchase the magazine.

The January 2013 issue was very, very good with a number of high-quality engaging short stories and a novella that has me wanting author Judith Berman to expand on the rest of the story. Maybe I can lead a Wool-style campaign to get her to write more. Hmmmm….

At any rate, I have structured this review to include a small quotation from each short story followed by my non-spoiler overview or impression of the story, the grade I give my experience of the story, and the date it will be released for you to view online. The stories that have a highlighted title are already available and you can travel directly to that story by clicking on said title. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the stories that Lightspeed offers online. Yes, its like a free hit of crack. But getting high on story is a good thing, right kids?

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Book Reviews, Science Fiction

Star Wars: Scoundrels ~Timothy Zahn

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The Novel at a Glance: The celebration was short-lived. Han Solo had played a key role in the destruction of the Death Star and was rewarded handsomely, only to have that reward unceremoniously stolen before he could settle his debt to Jabba the Hutt. Fond of being alive, Han has to track down a paying job quick and when that job arrives in the form of a request to reacquire a stolen fortune in credits, Fate seems to be smiling down on him and his Wookie companion, Chewbacca. But this job is beyond Han’s skill set and will require the assemblage of a team of specialized individuals to get the job done. In a word: scoundrels. Fate is a fickle mistress and you can be assured that when Han Solo is involved, nothing will go according to plan.

Pluses: Story takes place during original trilogy timeline; respectful to film canon; engaging non-film characters; strikes a good balance between action and dialogue scenes; great integration into film story lines; a grin-inducing reference to the Han/Greedo controversy.

Minuses: Knowledge of the original film trilogy decreases tension in regards to main cast of characters; several Deus Ex…Luck moments; high suspension of disbelief required; brief story element that caters to gender stereotypes; large cast means less “screen time” with Han and Chewie.

My Experience: A return to the Star Wars universe of my youth–that contained within the framework of the original film trilogy–was a refreshing way to begin the new year. For over two decades Timothy Zahn has been fleshing out the history of George Lucas’ creations while adding new characters to the universe that have become iconic to Star Wars fandom. Zahn returns here with an Ocean’s Eleven style caper filled with a varied cast of characters lead by one of the most loveable rogues in the galaxy. Fun is an overused adjective yet it applies here.

My rating: 7.5/10

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Eclectic Musings of a Renaissance Geek