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Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern
By David Brin, Lois Mcmaster Bujold, Elizabeth Moon, Mercedes Lackey, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Todd Mccaffrey, Michael Whelan. 2013
When Anne McCaffrey passed in November 2011, it was not only those closest to her who mourned her death; legions…
of readers also felt the loss deeply. The pioneering science fiction author behind the Dragonriders of Pern® series crafted intricate stories, enthralling worlds, and strong heroines that profoundly impacted the science fiction community and genre.In Dragonwriter, Anne's son and Pern writer Todd McCaffrey collects memories and stories about the beloved author, along with insights into her writing and legacy, from those who knew her best. Nebula Award-winner Elizabeth Moon relates the lessons she learned from Pern's Lessa (and from Lessa's creator); Hugo Award-winner David Brin recalls Anne's steadfast belief that the world to come will be better than the one before; legendary SFF artist Michael Whelan shares (and tells stories about) never-before-published Pern sketches from his archives; and more.Join Anne's co-writers, fellow science fiction authors, family, and friends in remembering her life, and exploring how her mind and pen shaped not only the Weyrs of Pern, but also the literary landscape as we know it.Contributors include: Angelina Adams David Brin David Gerrold John Goodwin Janis Ian Alec Johnson Georgeanne Kennedy Mercedes Lackey Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Lois McMaster Bujold Elizabeth Moon Charlotte Moore Robert Neilson Jody Lynn Nye and Bill Fawcett Robin Roberts Elizabeth Ann Scarborough Wen Spencer Michael Whelan Richard J. Woods Chelsea Quinn YarbroEnchanted Incognito
By W. I. Zard. 2014
So you want to hear my miserable tale? Bad idea. Go live vicariously through a girl whose life worked out…
the way she planned. A girl who didn't wake up one morning and find that her relatively simple, albeit disconnected life had been turned upside down and filled with the darkest of magic and worst of curses. Here I thought the SATs and college applications were complicated! Have you ever felt so completely lost and out of place you wondered if your life was really even yours? Well I have. I've lived most of my life feeling as though I were trapped in someone else's, so when I found out that I was born a witch, it all started to fall into place. That is until I met the tall, dark and mysterious Elliot and realized that dating in the mortal world has got nothing on the complication, desire and mistrust that surrounds romance in the magical world. It doesn't help that our families are mortal enemies either. Did Romeo and Juliet have to suffer plagued curses and time travel in their struggle? I think not. As tragic as their tale was, they were fully responsible for their fate, but not Athiya and Elliot. No, our story was completely out of our control.Sedna
By Richard L. Smith. 2016
The year is 2117. The United World Science Foundation has sanctioned a team of geologists to explore the remote minor…
planet known as Sedna. About one-half the diameter of Pluto, Sedna orbits twice as faraway from Earth as Pluto is, and at this distance, it receives only weak sunlight and is dark, cold, and forbidding. Discovered in the first decade of the twenty first century, the first astronauts landed on its surface in 2087. This geological team will be the first scientists to explore the surface of this remote icy world. Astronomers have been unable to explain the unusual mass, density, and gravitational attraction measured for such a small dwarf planet. The two hemispheres are dramatically different, one side similar to our moon while the other side is more like the surface of Mars. In 2104, Sedna became the home of the Sedna International Observatory. After years of construction, in 2014 its 30-meter telescope saw first light and immediately began making important discoveries. The seven-year geological mission to Sedna on starship Tesla includes a year to explore and chart the dwarf planet to answer those puzzling geological mysteries. The novel follows these scientists as they journey through our solar system, explore Sedna, and discover “something wonderful” on its surface. Technical problems on their three-year journey home forces unscheduled landings on Triton and Mars yet provides unforgettable opportunities to visit these unique worlds. An unanticipated revelation awaits them upon their return home.Liliana's Realms
By Adam Altman. 2014
Storms ravage the Guardian Realm, Greg is lost, Felip walks in uncharted territory, and the troupe of kids led by…
Liliana is in disarray. And worse still is that Liliana has little power to control any of it. How is she supposed to save the realm when she can barely save herself?Considering Watchmen: Poetics, Property, Politics
By Andrew Hoberek. 2014
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmen has been widely hailed as a landmark in the development of the graphic novel.…
It was not only aesthetically groundbreaking but also anticipated future developments in politics, literature, and intellectual property. Demonstrating a keen eye for historical detail, Considering Watchmen gives readers a new appreciation of just how radical Moore and Gibbons's blend of gritty realism and formal experimentation was back in 1986. The book also considers Watchmen's place in the history of the comics industry, reading the graphic novel's playful critique of superhero marketing alongside Alan Moore's public statements about the rights to the franchise. Andrew Hoberek examines how Moore and Gibbons engaged with the emerging discourses of neoconservatism and neoliberal capitalism, ideologies that have only become more prominent in subsequent years. Watchmen's influences on the superhero comic and graphic novel are undeniable, but Hoberek reveals how it has also had profound effects on literature as a whole. He suggests that Watchmen not only proved that superhero comics could rise to the status of literature--it also helped to inspire a generation of writers who are redefining the boundaries of the literary, from Jonathan Lethem to Junot Díaz. Hoberek delivers insight and analysis worthy of satisfying serious readers of the genre while shedding new light on Watchmen as both an artistic accomplishment and a book of ideas.Forbidden Journeys: Fairy Tales and Fantasies by Victorian Women Writers
By Nina Auerbach, U. C. Knoepflmacher. 1992
As these eleven dark and wild stories demonstrate, fairy tales by Victorian women constitute a distinct literary tradition, one startlingly…
subversive of the society that fostered it. From Anne Thackeray Ritchie's adaptations of "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood" to Christina Rossetti's unsettling antifantasies in Speaking Likenesses, these are breathtaking acts of imaginative freedom, by turns amusing, charming, and disturbing. Besides their social and historical implications, they are extraordinary stories, full of strange delights for readers of any age. "Forbidden Journeys is not only a darkly entertaining book to read for the fantasies and anti-fantasies told, but also is a significant contribution to nineteenth-century cultural history, and especially feminist studies. "—United Press International "A service to feminists, to Victorian Studies, to children's literature and to children. "—Beverly Lyon Clark, Women's Review of Books "These are stories to laugh over, cheer at, celebrate, and wince at. . . . Forbidden Journeys is a welcome reminder that rebellion was still possible, and the editors' intelligent and fascinating commentary reveals ways in which these stories defied the Victorian patriarchy. "—Allyson F. McGill, Belles LettresA Question Mark Above the Sun
By David Koepsell, Eric Lorberer, Kent Johnson. 2012
"At the end of last year, an extraordinary work of detective criticism briefly appeared, despite legal threats. Kent Johnson's A…
Question Mark Above the Sun (Punch Press) movingly speculates that Kenneth Koch forged one of Frank O'Hara's greatest poems as a posthumous tribute to his friend. A noir-ish middle also recounts some very funny run-ins with the English avant-garde. Shame on the poets who forced its redaction and suppression." - Jeremy Noel-Tod, The Times Literary Supplement, including a previous edition of A Question Mark Above the Sun as one of its 2011 Books of the YearWhat you have in your hands is a kind of thought-experiment. It proffers the idea that a radical, secret gesture of poetic mourning and love was carried out by Kenneth Koch in memory of his close friend Frank O'Hara. I present the hypothesis as my own very personal expression of homage for the two great poets. The proposal I set forward here, nevertheless, is likely to make some readers annoyed, perhaps even indignant. Some already are. A few fellow writers, even, have worked hard through legal courses to block this book's publication. The forced redaction of key quotations herein (replaced by paraphrase) is one result of their efforts.In this self-described "thought experiment"-part fiction, part literary detective work, and always daring-Kent Johnson proposes a stunning rewrite of literary history. Suppressed upon initial release, this is a one-of-a-kind book by one of our most provocative contemporary authors.Kent Johnson is the author, translator, or editor of over thirty books of poetry and criticism, including Beneath a Single Moon: Buddhism in Contemporary American Poetry (Shambhala Publications, 1991), Doubled Flowering: From the Notebooks of Araki Yasusada (Roof Books, 1998), and his most recent collection of poems, Homage to the Last Avante-Garde (Shearsman Books, 2008). Best known for his radical ideas about authorship, scholarship, and experimentation, it was with his translations of Hiroshima survivor poet Araki Yasusada that Johnson became both celebrated and castigated. Only after Yasusada's poems were published in American Poetry Review did readers learn there was no Yasusada, and that Johnson was not a translator on this project, but the author. Johnson is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Translation. He lives in Illinois, where he is a faculty member in English and Spanish at Highland Community College.Webslinger: Unauthorized Essays On Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man
By Leah Wilson, Gerry Conway. 2006
The tangled web of vengeance, love, and loss woven by Spider-Man comics and films is explored in this collection of…
insightful essays by acclaimed writers of comics and science fiction and edited by Spider-Man comic writer Gerry Conway.A variety of topics-from the superhero's sarcasm to the science behind radioactive spiders-are discussed in essays on "Turning Rage into Responsibility: A Psychology of Loss," "Love Is Selfish: Can a Hero Afford Personal Attachments?," and "Self Identity and Costume Design." The popular rival Green Goblin, the bumbling-yet-influential media, and the part New York City itself plays in stories are skillfully explored, as well as the overall philosophy of mild-mannered Peter Parker and Spidey's relationship with the rest of the characters in the Marvel universe.Our Hero
By Tom De Haven. 2010
Since his first appearance in Action Comics Number One, published in late spring of 1938, Superman has represented the essence…
of American heroism. "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound," the Man of Steel has thrilled audiences across the globe, yet as life-long "Superman Guy" Tom De Haven argues in this highly entertaining book, his story is uniquely American. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the midst of the Great Depression, Superman is both a transcendent figure and, when posing as his alter-ego, reporter Clark Kent, a humble working-class citizen. An orphan and an immigrant, he shares a personal history with the many Americans who came to this country in search of a better life, and his amazing feats represent the wildest realization of the American dream. As De Haven reveals through behind-the-scenes vignettes, personal anecdotes, and lively interpretations of more than 70 years of comic books, radio programs, TV shows, and Hollywood films, Superman's legacy seems, like the Man of Steel himself, to be utterly invincible.Shadowhunters and Downworlders
By Holly Black, Rachel Caine, Cassandra Clare, Kami Garcia, Sarah Rees Brennan. 2012
Explore the world of the Mortal Instruments with Cassandra Clare and moreJoin Cassandra Clare and a Circle of more than…
a dozen top YA writers, including New York Times bestsellers Holly Black, Rachel Caine, and Kami Garcia, as they write about the Mortal Instruments series, its characters, and its world.Inside you'll read:* A cinematic tutorial on why the best friend (Simon) always loses out to the bad boy (Jace)* The unexpected benefits of the incest taboo* What we can read between the lines of Alec and Magnus' European vacation* The importance of friendship, art, humor, and rebellion* And more, from the virtues of Downworlders to the naughty side of ShadowhuntingBeyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, From A Game of Thrones to A Dance with Dragons
By R. A. Salvatore, Ned Vizzini, James Lowder, Daniel Abraham, Susan Vaught, Brent Hartinger, Gary Westfahl, Myke Cole, Andrew Zimmerman Jones, Elio M Garcia Jr., Linda Antonsson, John Jos. Miller, Jesse Scoble, Caroline Spector, Adam Whitehead, Alyssa Rosenberg, Matt Staggs. 2012
"There were a number of books about A Game of Thrones (the HBO series) and A Song of Ice and…
Fire (the books) published last year . . . the one that impressed me most was James Lowder's Beyond the Wall."--George R.R. MartinForeword by New York Times bestselling author R.A. SalvatoreGo beyond the Wall and across the narrow sea with this collection about George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, from A Game of Thrones to A Dance with Dragons.The epic game of thrones chronicled in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. In Beyond the Wall, bestselling authors and acclaimed critics offer up thought-provoking essays and compelling insights: Daniel Abraham reveals the unique challenges of adapting the original books into graphic novels. Westeros.org founders Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García, Jr., explore the series' complex heroes and villains, and their roots in the Romantic movement. Wild Cards contributor Caroline Spector delves into the books' controversial depictions of power and gender.Plus much more, from military science fiction writer Myke Cole on the way Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder shapes many of the leading characters to author and television writer Ned Vizzini on the biases against genre fiction that color critical reactions to the series.Contributors:R.A. Salvatore (foreword)Daniel AbrahamLinda AntonssonMyke ColeElio M. García, Jr.Brent HartingerJohn Jos. MillerAlyssa RosenbergJesse ScobleCaroline SpectorMatt StaggsSusan VaughtNed VizziniGary WestfahlAdam WhiteheadAndrew Zimmerman JonesLaw, Cinema, and the Ill City: Imagining Justice and Order in Real and Fictional Cities (Law, Language and Communication)
By Anne Wagner, Le Cheng. 2020
This book uses film and television as a resource for addressing the social and legal ills of the city. It…
presents a range of approaches to view the ill city through cinematic and televisual characterization in urban frameworks, political contexts, and cultural settings. Each chapter deconstructs the meaning of urban space as public space while critically generating a focus on order and justice, exploring issues such as state disorder, lawlessness, and revenge. The approach presents a careful balance between theory and application. The original and novel ideas presented in this book will be essential reading for those interested in the presentation of law and place in cultural texts such as film.Atlas: The Archaeology of an Imaginary City (Weatherhead Books on Asia)
By Kai-Cheung Dung. 2012
Set in the long-lost City of Victoria (a fictional world similar to Hong Kong), Atlas is written from the unified…
perspective of future archaeologists struggling to rebuild a thrilling metropolis. Divided into four sections—"Theory," "The City," "Streets," and "Signs"—the novel reimagines Victoria through maps and other historical documents and artifacts, mixing real-world scenarios with purely imaginary people and events while incorporating anecdotes and actual and fictional social commentary and critique. Much like the quasi-fictional adventures in map-reading and remapping explored by Paul Auster, Jorge Luis Borges, and Italo Calvino, Dung Kai-cheung's novel challenges the representation of place and history and the limits of technical and scientific media in reconstructing a history. It best exemplifies the author's versatility and experimentation, along with China's rapidly evolving literary culture, by blending fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in a story about succeeding and failing to recapture the things we lose. Playing with a variety of styles and subjects, Dung Kai-cheung inventively engages with the fate of Hong Kong since its British "handover" in 1997, which officially marked the end of colonial rule and the beginning of an uncharted future.Ring Legends of Tolkien (Tolkien Illustrated Guides #7)
By David Day. 2020
Learn the most popular legends about the Rings of Power!The history of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth…
is filled with an ongoing struggle between good and evil, centered on a set of rings forged by Elves and an evil sorcerer. The Ring Legends of Tolkien recounts stories and conflicts surrounding the Rings of Power. Insightful commentary by Tolkien scholar David Day discusses how people, tactics, and weapons were used to obtain and control the rings, and also how the legends of Middle-earth relate to the real-world mythology on which Tolkien based his famous literary creation. Maps and full-color illustrations help bring this rich universe to life, making it an invaluable reference book for Tolkien fans of all ages. This work is unofficial and is not authorized by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.The Science of Middle-earth: A New Understanding of Tolkien and His World
By Arnaud Rafaelian. 2021
The surprising and illuminating look at how Tolkien's love of science and natural history shaped the creation of his Middle…
Earth, from its flora and fauna to its landscapes.The world J.R.R. Tolkien created is one of the most beloved in all of literature, and continues to capture hearts and imaginations around the world. From Oxford to ComiCon, the Middle Earth is analyzed and interpreted through a multitude of perspectives. But one essential facet of Tolkien and his Middle Earth has been overlooked: science. This great writer, creator of worlds and unforgettable character, and inventor of language was also a scientific autodidact, with an innate interest and grasp of botany, paleontologist and geologist, with additional passions for archeology and chemistry. Tolkien was an acute observer of flora and fauna and mined the minds of his scientific friends about ocean currents and volcanoes. It is these layers science that give his imaginary universe—and the creatures and characters that inhabit it—such concreteness. Within this gorgeously illustrated edition, a range of scientists—from astrophysicists to physicians, botanists to volcanologists—explore Tolkien&’s novels, poems, and letters to reveal their fascinating scientific roots. A rewarding combination of literary exploration and scientific discovery, The Science of Middle Earth reveals the hidden meaning of the Ring&’s corruption, why Hobbits have big feet, the origins of the Dwarves, the animals which inspired the dragons, and even whether or not an Ent is possible. Enhanced by superb original drawings, this transportive work will delight both Tolkien fans and science lovers and inspire us to view both Middle Earth—and our own world—with fresh eyes.Become an expert on the various species of North American Unicornus thanks to this fun, funny, and fascinating field guide!From…
historical details to identification strategies, you&’ll soon be immersed in the world of unicorns that roam the wilds of North America thanks to the scientific, "fact-packed" handbook. Plus, you&’ll learn easy, step-by-step drawing techniques for when you&’re out in the wild searching for signs of unicorn presence. Along with unicorn history, popular tales, and scientific information, you&’ll be provided with in-depth details about the most popular species of North American unicorns, including: • American Unicorn • Hoary Unicorn • Spiked Bog Pony • Tropical Unicorn • And more! This field guide is perfect for any lover of these fantastic beasts, no matter if they believe unicorns to be fact or fiction!Fantasy: The 101 Best Books
By Michael Moorcock, James Cawthorn. 2016
Fantasy is one of the most appealing and yet most puzzling of literary genres. Appealing because it can offer dreams,…
the fulfillment of wishes, and escape; but puzzling because it spans such a wide and diverse range of books. In Fantasy: The 100 Best Books, James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock present a wide-ranging cross-section of the fantasy genre, from its eighteenth century Gothic origins through nineteenth century literary classics, pulp-era weird fiction, and on to modern favorites. Recognized classics are accompanied by lesser-known works ripe for rediscovery, resulting in an interestingly idiosyncratic and uniquely valuable guide to two-and-a-half centuries of fantastic stories.Modern Fantasy: The 100 Best Novels
By David Pringle. 1985
Pringle presents his selections in chronological order and includes a synopsis of the story, a discussion of the author's overall…
contribution to fantasy literature, critical commentary on the title's significance, and a brief publishing history. An introductory essay tackles the difficulty of defining fantasy, while a "Brief Bibliography" directs readers to other discussions of the genre. By no means a definitive subject guide, this entertaining volume should serve as a solid introduction to the elusive field of imaginative literature.Tolkien: A Look Behind The Lord Of The Rings
By Lin Carter. 1969
Lin Carter introduces readers to Tolkien's epic trilogy then takes them on a scholarly yet populist journey through the massive…
web of myths and legends that Tolkien drew on for both imagery and themes during his life's work. Carter's book places Tolkien's trilogy in the context of world mythology and legend and is a tribute to Tolkiens power of assimilation and original vision. It is the ideal introduction to the background of the LORD OF THE RINGS for the legions of new fans.Dragons, Elves and Heroes
By Lin Carter. 1969
There is magic in the grand old tales that have survived through centuries of time. Even the names of the…
books have a ring that sets the blood pounding - THE VOLSUNG SAGA, THE SHAH-NAMAH, THE MABINOGIAN. From all over the world, from all periods of ancient time, the great myths and heroic tales thunder down through the ages. Each country, each region has its legends. Somewhere, sometime, somehow, some often unknown scribe has set the tales down in permanent form.In this volume, Lin Carter has gathered together samplings from this richest of all sources of adult fantasy and although their original names may sometimes be anonymous, there surely has never been such a pride of taletellers together at one time as we have in DRAGONS, ELVES AND HEROES.