Lynne M. Thomas's Blog, page 22
June 1, 2016
Verity! Extra! – AVA (Ask Verity! Anything)
We answer your questions!
It’s another “ask Verity! Extra!” Join Deb, Erika, Lynne, and Tansy (who ran out of time to do our homework for our planned Extra!). We decided to punt and let you do the work! Thanks to all the listeners who tweeted us questions to answer!
Have a question for the Verities? Ask in the comments, and we’ll bank those questions with the ones we didn’t have time to answer this time!
^E
Download or listen now (runtime 58:22)
May 25, 2016
Verity 110! Mehnlightenment
:registers complaint with the titling of this episode as I happen to love Enlightenment:
It’s a classic-Who first! Join Deb, Erika, and Katrina as they talk about the first Doctor Who story written by a woman, Barbara Clegg’s “Enlightenment”. Not for the first time, Erika and Kat go against received fan wisdom and are lukewarm at best toward this story. Good thing Deb is here to balance things out.
What do you think of “Enlightenment”? Are you drawn in by its fascinating concepts? Or left cold by a lack of connection to what’s happening on screen? Let us know in the comments!
^E
Also covered:
Kat is thrilled by Janto reunion news:
John Barrowman and Gareth David Lloyd are recording together again!
They recorded a video at Ianto’s Shrine!
Erika enjoys the joy of her spouse at getting the 12th Doctor’s sonic screwdriver!
Deb points out some scraps of new DW content:
The Legends of River Song !
David Tennant and Katharine Tate’s new Big Finish audio!
Bonus link:
Our Amazon Giveaway goes until May 27!
Download or listen now (runtime 1:07:40) Audio Player
May 24, 2016
Book review: Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins
Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my first Beverly Jenkins, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in California among ranchers; a Philadelphia girl takes a chance to start over out West. Sex scenes are sweet rather than scorching, but nicely done in general.
I am a sucker for certain tropes. If you like any of the following:
Couples sassing one another and bickering.
Heroine who opens the book by saying ENOUGH to a frankly abusive situation, gets out, finds help, and essentially learning to remake herself on a long train ride.
Couples who slowly learn about each other as people while trying desperately to keep their hands off one another.
Family (on one side) is FUNCTIONAL and well thought out. The non-functional/toxic side get appropriately handled.
Emphasis on family of choice.
Emphasis on the importance of community.
Comedic yet loving mothers-in-law.
Then give this one a go. Very satisfying indeed.
May 20, 2016
5 Things make a Friday post: Reentry edition
She hung out with Joe Haldeman a bit. As one does. (Photo courtesy Fran Wilde. )[image error]
New Directions for Special Collections has officially gone to press! We do final copy edits in June, and proofs and indexing in August, with publication slated for November. Thanks again to everyone who submitted abstracts, and to all our contributors.
Although I have completed my work on the Program Prioritization Administrative Task Force, the next phase, in which the programs we scored get a chance to respond to the report and provide an action plan for what comes next, is underway. So I’m working on that through the relevant library committees. It feels like juggling, a bit.
This summer is a lot of committee work punctuated by travel. It’s hard to feel as though one is making progress that way, but I’m trying desperately to tell my inner overachiever that it’s okay, given that I just came off 2 large projects, basically.
I’ve signed up for a membership to the gym/rec center on campus. Caitlin is getting bigger, and we are beginning the process of ordering her next wheelchair, which will be heavier than this one. If I’m going to not hurt my back while parenting, l need to strengthen my core. Expect a LOT of whining about this on Twitter. I loathe exercising in a general sense.
Bonus item! Thank you to everyone who subscribed or renewed their Uncanny subscription during our Weightless Books subscriber drive!
May 19, 2016
Verity! Extra! – The Oncoming Storm Warning
New Verity! Extra!
It’s an audio-based Extra! this week! Join Deb, Erika, and Liz as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first televised appearance of the 8th Doctor by talking about his first audio appearance! That’s right, it’s Storm Warning. And because we love Big Finish so much, we digress a LOT and talk about many other Big Finish stories we love–whether they include 8 or not. When it comes to DW audios, it’s near-impossible to keep us on track, and we’re A-OK with that!
Have you heard Storm Warning? If so, what do you think of it? And do you think it’s a good starting place for a new BF listener? Let us know in the comments!
^E
Related links:
Our TVM 20th anniversary giveaway!
Tansy’s post on where to start
Inconceivable!: This is How We Lost America in the First Place
Download or listen now (runtime 51:12)
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May 17, 2016
Digital POWRR nominated for DLF Comm/Cap award!
The Community/Capacity Awards (DLF Comm/Caps, for short) are a new debt of gratitude from the DLF membership, selected annually by vote. We are pleased to announce the nominees for the 2016 DLF Comm/Cap Awards!
These are not awards for pure innovation, individualism, or disruption. Instead, they honor constructive, community-minded capacity-building in digital libraries and allied fields: efforts that contribute to our ability to collaborate across institutional lines and/or work toward something larger, together. The Comm/Caps are about community spirit, generosity, openness, and care for fellow digital library, archives, and museum practitioners and for the various publics and missions we serve.
The 2016 DLF Comm/Cap Award will go to an inspiring project, team, or person selected by the Digital Library Federation membership at large (one org, one vote: we will send voting instructions soon to DLF’s primary contact at each member organization; you decide locally how to make your pick!).
The 2016 DLF Comm/Cap Award winner (person or group) will receive a $1000 prize, one free Forum registration, and assistance toward travel expenses to make it possible for a representative to accept the award certificate in person at the 2016 DLF Forum, which will be held in Milwaukee, WI, November 7-9th.
Congratulations and thank you to all nominees!
This is some excellent company to be keeping, I tell you what. That is an epic list of nominees, all of whom have done amazing work.
I am incredibly proud of the work that Digital POWRR has done, and I’m honored that our work has made such an impact on the cultural heritage community. Thank you for this recognition.
May 16, 2016
Book review: House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard
Reblogged from my Goodreads account.
The House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de Bodard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lush urban fantasy set in Paris by a lush prose stylist, featuring fallen angels whose remains serve as a source of power for the Houses that they found. Themes of power, colonialism, loyalty, and decay abound.
This feels much like a gothic novel mixed with urban fantasy, with pacing closer to the gothic novel side of things. Beautifully written.
May 11, 2016
Verity! Ep 109 – Resurrection of a Dalek
New Verity! Also, join our TVM 20th anniversary giveaway!
Back to new Who series 1! Join Deb, Erika, Liz, and Tansy as we talk about Rob Shearman’s resurrection of the Doctor’s most iconic enemy, the Daleks. We do a little “fanthropology” and talk about how we each felt watching this story when it first aired and whether we feel any different now. It was a turning-point episode for some of us, but does it live up to the memories? Listen and see!
What do you think of “Dalek”? Is it still (or was it ever) amazing? Or does TV from 11 years ago look too different to take as seriously? Let us know in the comments!
Pop over to our giveaway post to enter!
^E
Also covered:
Liz’s new Star Wars the Old Republic guildie is an old-school DW fan!
Tansy
enjoys all the Bill fan art on Tumblr!
gives kudos to Hot Topic/Torrid for their size-inclusive Doctor…
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May 9, 2016
Nebula Awards Conference Schedule!
Thursday, May 12
2:00pm-3:00pm @ LaSalle 2
Interfacing with Conventions
3:00pm-4:00pm @ LaSalle 2
BarCon and Other Secret Handshakes
8:00pm-9:30pm @ Monroe Ballroom
Welcome Reception
Friday, May 13
4:00pm-5:00pm @ LaSalle 1
Medicine After The End Of The World: Managing Chronic Conditions and Serious Illness After The Apocalypse
8:00pm-9:30pm @ Red Lacquer Room
Mass Autographing
Saturday, May 14
10:00am-12:00pm @ TBA
SFWA Business meeting
2:00pm-3:00pm @ LaSalle 3
Rare Books
6:00pm-7:00pm @ Empire Room
Nebula Reception
7:00pm-8:30pm @ Empire Room
Nebula Banquet
8:30pm-10:00pm @ Empire Room
Nebula Award Ceremony
10:00pm-11:00pm @ Empire Room
Nebula Alternate Universe Speeches
Sunday, May 15
Tour of Northern Illinois University Archives
19 Attendees
3 Hours on Sunday at Noon
Cost: $50.00
Attendees will experience a personally guided tour of Rare Books and Special Collections at Northern Illinois University, with an emphasis on the SFWA collections, including the SFWA archives, archival materials from over 70 SF/F authors, and first and early editions of landmark works of SF/F. The tour will cost $50. A bag lunch will be provided. Limited to 19 attendees.
May 4, 2016
So, apparently updating blog post tags reposts them.
Sorry about that.
Here, have a silly photo in recompense.
From the West Wing: GIF of President Bartlett telling you to stand there in your wrongness and be wrong and get used to it.
