Phil Giunta's Blog, page 46
January 30, 2018
My Farpoint Schedule
We are a mere ten days away from celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Farpoint SF Convention in Hunt Valley, MD. I am proud to say that I’ve been in attendance since day one and for the past eight years, the convention has brought me in as a writer guest.
It’s always a thrill to reunite with friends—some of whom I only see once or twice a year—and to meet the celebrity guests. This year, the latter includes Matt Frewer, Nana Visitor, Nora McLellan, and author Timothy Zahn.
Other writer guests include Steven H. Wilson, Heather Hutsell, Michael Jan Friedman, Aaron Rosenberg, Howard Weinstein, Peter David, Mary Fan, David Mack, Keith RA DeCandido, Dave Galanter, Robert Greenberger, Kelli Fitzpatrick, Allyn Gibson, Susanna Reilly, Michael Critzer, and many more.
My schedule for the convention is listed (and pictured below).
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Farpoint Book Fair – Hunt Valley Hallway – 10PM to Midnight. Meet and mingle with all of the author guests at the con. Books will be available for sale and signing.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Writing From Life – Salon C – 10:00am – 11:00am
Derek Attico, Phil Giunta, Phil Margolies, Kelli Fitzpatrick
Our lives are composed of our experiences. The panel will discuss why writing from life is important and the methods they have used to turn their life experiences into relatable stories.
Firebringer Press Presents – Salon C – 11:00am – 12:00pm
Steven H. Wilson, Phil Giunta, Michael Critzer, Renfield, Diane Baron, Susanna Reilly
The team from Firebringer Press will discuss current and future publications. With Steven H. Wilson, Phil Giunta, Michael Critzer, Renfield, and Susanna Reilly.
Author Autograph Session – Hunt Valley Hallway – 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Kelli Fitzpatrick, Phil Giunta, Jennifer R. Povey
Creating Memorable Characters – Salon C – 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Mary Fan, Timothy Zahn, Phil Giunta, David Mack
Characters can make or break a story. How do you create a protagonist interesting enough to follow throughout the length of a book? How do you craft supporting characters with traits that make them stand out from a crowd? Our panel will delve into these questions and more.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Author Autograph Session – Hunt Valley Hallway, 10:00am – 11:00am
Kelli Fitzpatrick, Phil Giunta, Dr. Valerie Mikles
Indy’s Back (In 2020)! Good Idea or Bad? – Salon A – 11:00am – 12:00pm
Howard Weinstein, Ryan Permison, Phil Giunta
Our panelists will discuss the pros and cons of Harrison Ford’s return and the future of the franchise.
January 25, 2018
Book Review: The Great Houdini by Beryl Williams and Samuel Epstein
Recounting the life and achievements of Harry Houdini is a daunting task, given his involvement in so many ventures during his remarkable career including circus performer, illusionist, spiritual “medium” (when in dire straits financially), escape artist, historian of magic, published author, show manager, filmmaker, and debunker of fake spiritual mediums later in life during his tumultuous friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Through tireless effort that would have broken most men half his age—and frequently exhausted his devoted wife Bessie—Houdini had become a renown showman, philanthropist, and lecturer in demand throughout Europe and the United States right up until just days before his death on 31 October 1926.
In The Great Houdini, the husband and wife team of Beryl Williams and Samuel Epstein deftly capture all of that and more in a 268-page biography that includes a foreword by Houdini friend and student, William B. Gibson (who also created the famous pulp fiction character, The Shadow).
Make no mistake, this is not a romanticized chronicling that elevates Houdini to unblemished sainthood. Williams and Epstein offer honest accounts of the performer’s bravado, arrogance, ill-temper, and occasional failures (as a show manager and film star) as much as his brilliance and industriousness in crafting each stage performance and besting every handcuff and escape challenge from law enforcement and container manufacturers alike. Nothing could keep Houdini restrained—physically or mentally—and nothing could hold him captive.
It was, in fact, Houdini who captivated the world.
January 23, 2018
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, we stop by the Kill Zone where James Scott Bell warns against starting your story with a dream while John Gilstrap and Jordan Dane talk internal monologue. Over at Mythcreants, Oren Ashkenazi advises against writing prequels, but if you must, he offers a few tips.
From Writer Unboxed, Julie Carrick Dalton provides timely advice on dual timeline stories. Think you can become a writer on “talent” alone? Anne R. Allen would like to give you a rude awakening. Anne also has some strong opinions on how to begin your story in order to optimize Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature.
All that and a little more. Enjoy!
What’s the Deal on Dreams in Fiction? by James Scott Bell
Internal Monologue by John Gilstrap
5 Key Ways to Balance Internal Monologue with Pitfalls to Avoid by Jordan Dane
Chronicling a Non-Chronological Story: Writing a Dual Timeline Novel by Julie Carrick Dalton
Five Tips for Telling Prequel Stories by Oren Ashkenazi
8 Qualities that are More Important than Talent for Writing Success and The One Thing That Will Kill Book Sales Dead and 10 Ways to Avoid It by Anne R. Allen
How to Write a Novel Using the Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
How to Spark Your Story with an Inciting Incident by Pamela Hodges
Veteran SF and Media Tie-In Writer, Michael Jan Friedman, Would Like to Take You Into Empty Space
January 20, 2018
Book Review: Empress Irukandji – The Case of Charlotte Sloane by Heather E. Hutsell
In 1889 London, Doctor Charlotte Sloan and her closest companion, Professor Matthew Sterling, find themselves embroiled in an adventure of international intrigue as a result of Charlotte’s dark past—one which she can scarcely recall.
While on the run from assassins, it becomes immediately clear that Matthew knows precisely what’s happening, yet refuses to reveal all of the facts to Charlotte despite their blossoming romance. However, Charlotte begins to learn her true identity and royal Russian heritage.
While alone aboard a train, Charlotte finds a letter, apparently written by her and addressed to a Lord Snodgrass, wherein her prowess as an assassin and vigilante are made clear.
If only she could remember…
After she and Matthew become separated during their escape, Charlotte is found by Captain Aya Hauke who recognizes her instantly and rushes her aboard his ship. Based on what little information she gleaned from Matthew about her origins, she orders the captain to take her to Siam (an archaic exonym for Thailand).
However, before reaching Siam, they stop in Turkey where Hauke hands Charlotte over to the corpulent and haughty Lord Wendell Snodgrass himself. It becomes quickly apparent that Charlotte and Wendell have a shared history… one that has left the two of them bitter enemies.
If only she could remember…
Now that she is a prisoner of the vindictive Lord, Charlotte realizes her days are numbered. It is only the presence of the visiting Queen Victoria that has prevented Snodgrass from murdering Charlotte outright, but this provides only a temporary stay of execution. Will Charlotte escape before Snodgrass finally kills her and, more importantly, will she ever see Matthew again?
Empress Irukandji-The Case of Charlotte Sloane offers an engaging romp through steampunk Europe with a fascinating cast of characters and circumstances. Some readers might feel that the burgeoning romance between Charlotte and Matthew slows the pacing in the first 80 pages while they flee from unseen killers. Repeated attempts at tender moments are disrupted by a word or event that causes Charlotte to question her trust in Matthew and it’s clear that while he adores her, he maintains an emotional distance much to Charlotte’s dismay and confusion. Of course, the truth is slowly unraveled during the twists and turns of the story.
It should be noted that crafting a “romance on the run” narrative is challenging, and as someone who does not read romance novels, I don’t know if that is a staple of the genre. Nevertheless, Hutsell did a fine job with it while also dropping clues about Charlotte’s past. I’m accustomed to books and films where romance takes second seat to the adventure (think Indiana Jones or Han and Leia in Star Wars).
I was equally as impressed with Hutsell’s skillful use of milieu and setting. From Charlotte’s modest home in London to the voyage aboard Hauke’s ship to Snodgrass’s ostentatious palace in Istanbul and the journey by dirigible to Siam, all were completely immersive environments.
January 19, 2018
Empty Space – A New SF Graphic Novel by Michael Jan Friedman
Writer pal and veteran storyteller Michael Jan Friedman and artist Caio Cacau just launched a new Kickstarter campaign to fund the publication of a 128-page SF graphic novel, Empty Space.
Michael describes Empty Space “as a cross between Star Trek and Lost, but it’s really more than that. It’s a twisty, turny, sometimes unsettling narrative set against the limitless backdrop of the stars, with the sort of bizarre alien species and against-all-odds derring-do that’s always characterized the best space adventure–along with a heaping dollop of the macabre.
This is the kind of tale I’ve wanted to tell for a long time. In fact, it’s a dream project for a guy who fell in love with comics and science fiction at the age of six and never stopped loving them.
It’s also a chance for me to give back to you–the readers who’ve been following me for decades–the best, most intriguing, and most entertaining work I can possibly come up with. If at any time in your immersion in Empty Space you think you know where the story is going…I humbly invite you to think again.”
Click here to read more about Empty Space on Kickstarter and support this publication!
EMPTY SPACE Artwork by Caio Cacau
January 14, 2018
Time Shadows: Second Nature
Congratulations to writer pal, Stuart S. Roth on the release of his latest Doctor Who story, “The Siege of Orléans” in Pseudoscope Publishing’s Doctor Who anthology, TIME SHADOWS: SECOND NATURE
The anthology features 23 stories with a foreword by John Peel. All proceeds from the sale of Pseudoscope’s Doctor Who anthologies are donated to CODE, Canada’s leading international development agency focused on advancing literacy and education in some of the world’s underserved regions.
Stuart’s first published Doctor Who tale, “Circular Logic,” can be found in Pseudoscope’s original Doctor Who anthology, TIME SHADOWS. The Anniversary Edition features 25 stories, 12 illustrations, a foreword by Gary Russell, and in-depth author interviews.
January 11, 2018
Book Review: Great Science Fiction Stories edited by Cordelia Titcomb Smith
With few exceptions, most of my 2017 reading consisted of classic SF and speculative fiction primarily from Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke with a dash of Rod Serling, Alfred Hitchcock, A.E. Van Vogt, and H.G. Wells.
It stands to reason that if you read enough vintage genre anthologies, some will overlap and offer one or two stories in common. Such was the case with Great Science Fiction Stories compiled by Cordelia Titcomb Smith.
In this case, I had previously read “The Stolen Bacillus” by H.G. Wells (about an anarchist who pilfers a vial of cholera bacillus from a bacteriologist, initiating a frantic taxi chase through London) and “History Lesson” by Arthur C. Clarke (after an ice age has wiped out humanity, Venusians land on Earth and discover artifacts of our civilization, including a strip of film that they believe accurately depicts human culture).
It was a pleasure to finally read Isaac Asimov’s legendary short story, “Nightfall,” wherein a civilization that lives in constant daylight provided by three suns nervously anticipates an eclipse that will shroud their planet in complete darkness for the first time in 500 years… and possibly throw society into madness.
When the Martian crown jewels are stolen from a robotic space craft sent from Earth to Phobos, Inspector Gregg questions everyone involved. Before the case explodes into an interstellar scandal, Gregg travels to Mars to request the help of Martian’s famous private detective, Syaloch, in Poul Anderson’s “The Martian
Crown Jewels.”
In “The Sands of Time,” P. Schuyler Miller channels H.G. Wells and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When a young man named Donovan presents a paleontologist with photographic and physical evidence of his
encounter with dinosaurs, the scientist rebuffs him—until Donovan asks for his help in launching his one-man time machine back to rescue an alien woman he encountered in a prehistoric age.
Money is no barrier when a wealthy businessman decides to be the first man in space. He hires engineers to construct a vessel, but they still require a propulsion system. The businessman takes out ads in
newspapers offering millions to anyone who can design and create a means of propelling the vessel beyond Earth’s atmosphere. After being presented with proposals from the ludicrous to the insane, the
businessman meets an unassuming young man who might just have the answer… but he wants more than money. We find out what that is in Nelson Bond’s “Vital Factor.”
In a future where city streets are massive conveyor belts that transport people and vehicles at varying speeds, the mechanics decide to strike under the leadership of Deputy Chief Engineer Van Kleeck. To emphasize their power and ensure their demands are met, they stop the machinery beneath one of the streets—with fatal consequences. It’s up to Chief Engineer Larry Gaines to negotiate with Van Kleeck, because as Robert Heinlein tell us, “The Roads Must Roll.”
A teacher rethinks her decision to quit the profession, but the only available position is in a one-room schoolhouse in a remote rural town called Bendo where the reclusive inhabitants have no sense of humor and no interest in music or art. It is not long before the teacher uncovers the astounding otherworldly secrets of Bendo and the dark history that forced them into seclusion in this beautifully crafted tale called “Pottage” by Zenna Henderson.
Jules Verne provides a brief glimpse into man’s first attempt to reach the moon as three men volunteer to venture “Into Space” inside a giant aluminum capsule shot from a 900-foot gun. Although they survive the shock of launch and enjoy a view of Earth from beyond the atmosphere, it’s unclear whether they survived
the journey—or how they plan to return.
A new star appears in the vicinity of Neptune, disrupting the planet’s orbit. As this new star’s light intensifies in the sky each day—blotting out the moon and rivaling the sun—it isn’t long before astronomers
realize that it’s on a direct course for Earth in “The Star” by H.G. Wells.
A 13-year-old student named Timothy is sent to school psychologist Dr. Welles. At first, it’s clear that Timothy is nervous, uncommunicative, and possibly holding something back. As trust grows between the young man and his counselor, it becomes apparent that the boy is a prodigy… and he may not be alone in Wilmar H. Shiras’s “In Hiding.”
Overall, this was an entertaining anthology with tales from writers I had not heard of previously (Zenna Henderson, Wilmar Shiras, P. Schuyler Miller, and Nelson Bond). My favorites included “Nightfall,” “Pottage,” “The Martian Crown Jewels,” and “The Roads Must Roll.”
January 9, 2018
Celebrating Milestones…
2018 marks two milestones for two of my favorite annual science fiction conventions in Hunt Valley, Maryland and the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, my second favorite Trek series.
Next month, Farpoint celebrates its 25th anniversary with celebrity guests Matt Frewer (Max Headroom, Orphan Black, Eureka, Timeless), Nana Visitor (Deep Space Nine), Nora McLellan (Killjoys), and Hugo award-winning author Timothy Zahn.
Additional writer guests include Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Howard Weinstein, Robert Greenberger, Aaron Rosenberg, David Mack, Keith RA DeCandido, Heather Hutsell, Dave Galanter, Steven H. Wilson, Mary Fan, Phil Giunta (hey, that’s me!) and more…
In July, Shore Leave celebrates 40 years with the return of William Shatner as well as Deep Space Nine cast members Chase Masterson and Aron Eisenberg. From Dark Matter, Melissa O’Neil and Alex Mallari, Jr. will also join us.
Writer guests include many of the same from Farpoint including Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, Howard Weinstein, Robert Greenberger, Aaron Rosenberg, David Mack, Keith RA DeCandido, Heather Hutsell, Steven H. Wilson, Mary Fan, Dave Galanter, Phil Giunta (hey, that’s me again!) as well as Dayton Ward, Lorraine Anderson, Scott Pearson and more.
So far, 2018 is shaping up to be a great year! Keep an eye on my Upcoming Events page for updates on these and other conventions and author events.
January 6, 2018
Free Stories on Wattpad
If you’re unfamiliar with Wattpad, it is a website where writers post stories of all lengths and genres for your free reading pleasure.
I currently have four complete speculative fiction short stories posted there as samples from the first two volumes of my Middle of Eternity anthology series.
In the coming weeks, I will post one or two new stories. For now, happy reading!
December 28, 2017
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Once was Enough
While I now understand why many in fandom would be disturbed by certain aspects of the story, I see no reason for the outrage and divisiveness that The Last Jedi has triggered.
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill were wonderful. I like Laura Dern, but she reminds me of a soccer mom and I didn’t completely buy into her character of Admiral Holdo.
I was relieved that they dialed back the petulant, callow juvenile that was Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in The Force Awakens. His repeated temper tantrums and outbursts made him a weak and laughable villain in that film, hardly the intimidating Sith Lord he aspired to be. In the The Last Jedi, Kylo begins that way, but quickly learns to govern his anger during his dealings with Rey (the effervescent Daisy Ridley).
Rose Tico, portrayed by Kelly Marie Tran, was an immediately likable character with heart and determination. Shame they wasted her potential, as well as that of Finn (John Boyega) and DJ (Benicio del Toro). More on that below.
It seemed like they were trying to make Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) fill the void left by Han Solo. The brash man of action. It did not entirely succeed. His insubordination went too far. It wasn’t until the end when he realized that cowboy heroism was not going to win the battle. Otherwise, Poe was also a figure of courage and heart like Rose.
Now we come to the heart of the story. Luke Skywalker (Hamill) is now a different man who seems to have turned his back on the Jedi after years of training and dedication, and after telling Emperor Palpatine decades before, “I am a Jedi, like my father before me.”
In The Last Jedi, we have a disheartened, bitter—and fearful—Jedi master who wants nothing more than to die alone because he failed as a teacher. Obi-Wan also failed (and lived as a recluse as a result), but rather than turn his back when called upon, Obi-Wan immediately answered the call, knowing all too well that it would be his end. Here, Luke does just the opposite. He tells Rey to leave him alone and repeatedly refuses to return to the fight. It takes R2-D2 to break Luke’s resolve by showing him the old hologram of Princess Leia pleading to Obi-Wan for help. That was excellent nostalgia, but should not have been necessary. Were this my story to tell, I would not have taken Luke in this direction… but this was not my story.
It also seemed the goal of this film to tear down much of the esteem and awe granted to the Jedi in previous films and to tarnish their legacy. Yoda so blithely destroys the ancient Jedi texts and makes a flippant comment about them not being page turners. If they’re so irrelevant, then why were they preserved for so long? Why even include them in the story? That entire sequence seemed pointless. It served no purpose in the plot.
Rather, I was taken by Luke’s lightsaber breaking in half during the Force struggle between Kylo and Rey. That was a brilliant foreshadowing of Luke’s death (and foreshadowing is a familiar tool in the writer’s toolbox).
The lightsaber, once Anakin Skywalker’s, had been with Luke since it was given to him by Obi-Wan in A New Hope and was familiar to the audience. It meant more to us than a set of books that we never heard about or saw before until this film.
Also, Rey barely had any training compared to Luke, yet Yoda feels that she knows all she needs to. Really? It’s that simple? We were given the impression that it took a bit more. Apparently not. Is she a Jedi Knight or a Master now? Do those ranks even exist anymore?
And here we go again with young Jedi willingly surrendering to Sith Lord because young Jedi feels the conflict within said Sith Lord and thinks Sith Lord can be turned to the Light. So Young Jedi willingly surrenders to Terrible Baddies. Together, young Jedi and Sith Lord take the elevator up to face the Evil Uberlord (previously Emperor Palpatine, now Supreme Leader Snoke). Evil Uberlord takes possession of young Jedi’s lightsaber and taunts/threatens young Jedi. Young Jedi tries to cut down Evil Uberlord, but is prevented from doing so until, in the end, Evil Uberlord’s own Sith pupil kills him. Oh, and the Evil Uberlord’s personal guards wear monotone red outfits. Even that detail is unoriginal.
Yeah, we saw this before. Rian Johnson just put his own spin on it. I fully support paying homage (as with the old hologram of Leia), but while The Force Awakens ripped off A New Hope, The Last Jedi pilfered that throne room sequence straight from Return of the Jedi. As for Snoke himself, he has no backstory and no depth whatsoever. He is a shallow duplicate of Palpatine, at times regurgitating the former Emperor’s lines verbatim.
As for the rest, the First Order’s General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) is far too young, stupid, and incompetent to lead and his dialogue was frequently sophomoric. While Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 had a few humorous and/or poignant moments in the film, they were mostly relegated to the background. The entire sequence at the casino was a waste. It added nothing to the story, and while Benicio del Toro is cool, he ultimately served no purpose? By the time Finn and Rose crashed into the old Rebel base, I felt their entire subplot was fluff. They did nothing for the story at all.
Overall, I consider The Last Jedi to be adequate, but not as inspired as it’s purported to be by many in fandom. Seeing it once was enough, which is precisely how I felt about The Force Awakens.
Rogue One, on the other hand, was excellent. I watched that again about three weeks ago and enjoyed just as much as the first time I saw it last year. Just didn’t want you to think I was an old, cantankerous purist hating on the new Star Wars films.
It’s only the prequel trilogy I can’t stand, and I’m far from alone in that.
ADDENDUM: A friend of mine brought up a few excellent points in an email exchange earlier this evening…
Whatever happened to the Knights of Ren as seen in The Force Awakens?
Why all the mystery surrounding Rey’s parents if they were nothing but junk dealers?
Why bother showing Luke’s X-Wing submerged beneath the water as if foreshadowing and then never follow through?
Why not allow a classic character like Admiral Ackbar crash the Rebel cruiser into the First Order ship instead of unknown Admiral Holdo? Let Ackbar go out a hero.
When confronting Kylo Ren, why would Luke bother to say: “If you strike me down, I will always be with you.”? Luke was not even physically present! He was merely projecting his image across the cosmos to trick Kylo so there was no way for Luke’s nephew to strike him down. Again, it’s a nice homage to Obi-Wan’s words to Darth Vader in A New Hope, but it no made sense this time around.
