Helen Lowe's Blog, page 110
June 12, 2016
Having Fun with Epic Fantasy: Making the Grand Tour
A few weeks back I posted on why epic fantasy keeps “speaking” to us, by which what I really meant is that despite its critics, people keep writing and reading in the genre. I discussed epic’s mythic roots and how it allows readers to step outside the everyday and focus on a wider world—but in a way that lets us have some fun as well.
Since then, I’ve found myself coming back to the fun and reflecting on some of the elements of classic epic fantasy that I most enjoy. So much so that I though...
June 11, 2016
More on Trees — In My Books!
Last Sunday was Arbor Day and I shared some of my thoughts on the importance of trees.
Mostly I focused on the big picture and the (major) environmental benefits and landscape contribution of trees, but trees — as the various tree poems I’ve featured recently bear out — also influence human creativity in terms of art and literature.
In my own writing, trees often play an important part in defining landscape and over the next few weekends, I’m going to feature some excerpts that illustrate thi...
June 10, 2016
“Vivid” Sydney & the Opera House
Completely by chance, my visit to Sydney coincided with the “Vivid Sydney” festival, which is basically a “festival of light” around the waterfront and other locations in and around central Sydney.
One of the main events in this festival was the constantly changing display ‘across’ the Opera House roof, which this year was (apparently) based on the work of five Aboriginal artists. Unfortunately, only one of my night-time photography attempts worked out, but I still think it gives you a sense...
June 9, 2016
Sandstone Sydney
In between my many and all-good speculative Sydney meetings I also got to walk between meeting places and see something of “sandstone Sydney” at the same time.
I say “sandstone” because many of the heritage buildings that remain are constructed of this material, which is local to the Sydney area. Although it’s not all sandstone, since there is also the iconic Harbour Bridge in the mix.
Here are a few of my snaps of inner city Sydney experience, starting with my hotel, The Grace, a 1930s art d...
June 8, 2016
Fun With Fellow SFF Folks in Sydney
I’ve just spent the last few days in Sydney and have had a fabulous time meeting up with lots of books and SFF folk.
I would have liked to have gotten some photos onto the blog a little sooner, but I was just a bit too busy—in the best possible way, though, and I can still share some of the pics with you today and tomorrow.
Today I thought I’d focus on meeting up with people. First and foremost in that regard was the opportunity to meet fellow SFF author and friend, Courtney Schafer, in perso...
June 7, 2016
Big Worlds On Small Screens — Rebecca Fisher on Continuities and Universes
Last week, a commenter, Tim, asked Rebecca a question—on her Time Bandits’ post— about Superman, Supergirl, Arrow and the Marvel universe. Time Bandits.
Her answer was so awesome that I thought it deserved its own place at the top of the “…on Anything, Really” masthead, so here it is for you today, Tim’s question, slightly abridged, and Rebecca’s reply:
—
Tim: I just watched the first season of “Supergirl”, my first steps into superhero fiction. I had hoped to, after I’d finished it, start wa...
June 6, 2016
Tuesday Poetry: “South of My Days” (Excerpt) by Judith Wright
South of my days’ circle, part of my blood’s country,
rises that tableland, high delicate outline
of bony slopes wincing under the winter,
low trees, blue-leaved and olive, outcropping granite-
clean, lean, hungry country. The creek’s leaf-silenced,
willow choked, the slope a tangle of medlar and crabapple
branching over and under, blotched with a green lichen;
and the old cottage lurches in for shelter.
…
Oh, they slide and they vanish
as he shuffles the years like a...
June 5, 2016
The Wall of Night FB Group — Fun To Come
The map of Haarth
Recently I posted about the newly formed The Wall of Night Facebook Group, fittingly titled “Haarth.”
The group’s come about so keen series readers can get together and discuss the story, characters, world et al —- so I’ve said that if each new member has a burning question he or she would like to ask, then if they fire them through I’ll answer them. Or do m’best to, at any rate!
I’m thinking initially that I may do so on Twitter, as that allows more of a to and fro than the...
June 4, 2016
Arbor Day — I Speak for the Trees
Burnside High School cabbage trees
Today is Arbor Day here in NZ, with the idea being to celebrate the contribution of trees to our lives and environment, and where possible to plant them.
June 5 is also World Environment Day, which is appropriate given the environmental benefits delivered by trees.
As those who follow my blog may have picked up, late last year and earlier this year I found myself involved in an endeavour by Christchurch residents to prevent 80% of the city’s heritage trees b...
Make that Two — “Daughter of Blood” Gets Another Review
“It was a long wait but it was certainly worth it.” — Mark Timmony
USA
UK/AU/NZ
This one’s from Australia—from Mark Timmony, who was with Galaxy Bookshop when I met him at AussieCon 4 awa’ back in 2010, and is now with Booktopia.
I also hope to meet up with him again when in Sydney next week, but in the meantime, he has just reviewed Daughter of Blood.
Like Fantasy Book Review’s reviewer, Joshua S Hill, Mark has read and reviewed The Wall of Night series from the outset—and also like Joshua,...
