Francesca T. Barbini's Blog, page 6

'The Dangers of Expectation in African Speculative Fiction' By Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso.

Luna's second Call for Papers, 'The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction' will be released on Tuesday the 7th of August 2018. Explore the five brilliant papers you will find in the book.Today, we introduce you to Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso (Nigeria). He is presenting the paper: "The Dangers of Expectation in African Speculative Fiction".Ezeiyoke says:"It was the 1960’s. Chinua Achebe published his ground-breaking novel, Things Fall Apart, and there was a buzz about African literature globally. Writers like Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Bessie Head, Flora Nwakpa followed suit. The critics turned to them with a question: now that African literature had emerged, what was the world’s expectation of this tradition? Achebe and co. then laid down the foundations of the boundaries that this new novel tradition would cover. It was to teach people who Africans really were, especially the West, who had construed Africans as salvagers. It was to be used to fight colonialism and neo- colonialism. Subsequently, African writers wrote to fit into this model. But this expectation had its pitfalls. Majorly, it constrained African literature from developing and growing into different sophisticated styles, themes, and genres. Helen Andrews articulated it thus: "African novel-writing has scarcely progressed since he (Chinua Achebe) inaugurated it with the celebrated Things Fall Apart. In the decades since that title was published [...] the American novel has evolved through a multitude of vogues and phases while the Anglophone African novel has, for the most part, remained as it was when Achebe launched it: unremarkable in its prose, flat in its characterization, anti-Western in its politics, and preoccupied with the confrontation between tradition and modernity." (Andrews, 2017). Recently, there was a shift that occurred in African literature which led currently to the growth of genre fiction in Africa. But what led to this shift? This essay will trace the history of that rise, hinting at what had held African literature to ransom and from growing for quite a long time, and especially on the damage of the “expectation syndrome”. It will theorise on the pitfalls that African genre fiction would tend to avoid if it is to avoid its growth being ground to a standstill."As always, you will be able to pre-order at a discount through the Luna website, and if you are subscribed to our newsletter, you will also get the special extra discount voucher on the 1st of July.

Luna Welcomes Finland: Tero Mielonen and Pentti Otsamo!

Luna Press is delighted to welcome writer Tero Mielonen and artist Pentti Otsamo, authors of the comic book "The Ozone Diary". We will be bringing you the English version of this scientific comic book which has already been highly praised in academic circles. They even created a Spotify music list to go with it!"The Ozone Diary" is a successful attempt at popularising science, via a comic book medium, particularly about the life of postdoctoral researchers in the field of Meteorology.We must thank the Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Kone Foundation for helping to make this possible. We are thrilled to bring you something a little different, although you know we love our sciences at Luna. Let's introduce you properly to our new writer and artist.Tero Mielonen (@tmielone) works as a senior scientist at the Atmospheric Research Centre of Eastern Finland of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Currently, he is using satellite observations and climate models to study the interplay of biogenic and anthropogenic fine particles in the atmosphere. He has been awarded an adjunct professorship in the field of spaceborne observations of the atmosphere. The Ozone Diary is Tero’s first script for a graphic novel, but his reviews on comic books created by other authors have been a feature at kvaak.fi for many years.Tero says:"I'm a huge fan of graphic novels/comics and I have always wanted to write one but, as the world is full of great stories and storytellers, I didn't see the point in trying to compete with them. Then I moved to the Netherlands for a postdoctoral visit and realised that now I had found all the pieces for an original story. By telling a story of a scientist working in a foreign country, I could tell about my research topics, what is it like to work as a scientist, and what it is like to live in a foreign country. By combining all these pieces, I hoped to create something which has not been done a thousand times before. As I had no experience in writing scripts, I wanted to collaborate with a professional and contacted Pentti. I didn't know him beforehand but I liked his books and thought that his drawing style would be perfect for my story. Then we applied for funding from foundations and were lucky enough to get some. As a scientist I had written several applications for scientific research, but hadn't been successful with them. So, I was quite surprised when I got funded to do something that I didn't know how to do. All in all it's been a challenging but fun project and I hope the readers like the book."Pentti Otsamo (@potsamo) has been working as a freelance illustrator and comics-maker for more than 25 years. His illustrations have been published in numerous newspapers and magazines, books and textbooks. His comics include Kahvitauko (Like, 2012) and Pieni Olento (Otava, 1999), which have been published, in addition to Finland, in Sweden, France, Italy and Canada (The Fall of Homunculus, Drawn & Quarterly, 1998). Pentti is the recipient of the Puupäähattu Award for Finnish comic artists. "I have always been interested in science and the popularisation of science, so when Tero suggested collaborating on his book idea, it was easy to say yes. I had read about climate change, in the news and in fiction, so I was familiar with the topic and it was interesting to see what kind of angle an atmospheric scientist would choose for a story in this field. The combination of everyday science and international collaboration was a refreshing way to approach a topic that has received a lot of coverage in the media. In his scripts, Tero gave me free reign for the illustrations, but we also wanted to depict the venues accurately. We had taken some photos from the venues for reference but, as the story is set in several cities in different countries, I also had to use photos from the Internet. In a graphic novel, the illustrations and text can be used to tell separate stories, so we used this to combine scientific content with descriptions of everyday life. It was challenging, but we hope that readers are happy with the end result. To add some sound to the book, we made a Spotify playlist based on the chapters of the book. You can find it here."

'Forces Shaping the Development of South African speculative fiction down the ages' By Nick Wood.

Luna's second Call for Papers, 'The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction' will be released on Tuesday the 7th of August 2018. Explore the five brilliant papers you will find in the book.Today, we introduce you to Nick Wood (Zambia/South Africa). He is presenting the paper: "Forces Shaping the Development of South African speculative fiction down the ages".Nick says:"In this paperI outline an overview of the production of written South African (SA) science or speculative fiction (SF) through the ages, up until 2017. A socio-historical lens is adopted, as it is not possible to fully understand the development of SF within South Africa without appreciating the changing socio-political contexts, which continues to both shape and constrain the emergence of local SF. Finally, an attempt will be made to grapple with the thorny question of why black writers are still under- represented within the SF genre in South Africa."As always, you will be able to pre-order at a discount through the Luna website, and if you are subscribed to our newsletter, you will also get the special extra discount voucher on the 1st of July.

'On the Emergence of African Science Fiction' By Peter J Mauritz.

Luna's second Call for Papers, 'The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction' will be released on Tuesday the 7th of August 2018. Explore the five brilliant papers you will find in the book.Today, we introduce you to Peter J Mauritz (Netherlands). He is presenting the paper: "On the Emergence of African Science Fiction".Peter says:"The aim of this article is to contribute to the understanding of the emergence of contemporary science fiction on the African continent (ASF), occurring around the year 2007. Based in part on theories of the emergence of European and American SF, I suggest that we may consider ASF a new phase in the joint tradition of science fiction and utopian writing that responds to both contemporary and non- contemporary narrative dystopian traditions. I suggest that ASF could build and maintain momentum due to the spread of new media on the African continent, due to Afro- and techno-optimism, and the effects of the global financial crisis (GFC) on discursive regimes connected to the narrative utopia."As always, you will be able to pre-order at a discount through the Luna website, and if you are subscribed to our newsletter, you will also get the special extra discount voucher on the 1st of July.

'The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction' is now in pre-order!

Luna's second Call for Papers, 'The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction', is now ready for pre-order. The release date will be the 7th of August 2018, in time for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, where it will be on sale.As always, you will be able to pre-order at a discount through the Luna website, and if you are subscribed to our newsletter, you will also get the special extra discount voucher on the 1st of July.Peter Maurits (Netherlands). Postdoctoral Fellow. "African Science Fiction and Knowledge Production". University Erlangen-Nurnberg.Polina Levontin (Russia). MA at UCL in Comparative Literature; researcher at Imperial College at the Center for Environmental Policy.Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso (Nigeria). MA at Swansea University in Creative Writing; writer of fiction and non-fiction, editorial member at Internation.Robert S Malan (South Africa). Editor and writer. Senior Editor at freeflowedit.Nick Wood (Zambia/South Africa). Ph.D. in Child Development from University of London; ClinicalTutor on a Doctoral Training Course in Clinical Psychology in the UK; Writer of science fiction and non-fiction.The first part of the book will explore the theme from a broader perspective: Peter Maurits will introduce us to the emergence of African science fiction; Nick Wood will explore the forces shaping the development of South African speculative fiction down the ages, and Ezeiyoke Chukwunonso will explain the dangers of expectation in African speculative fiction. In the second part we focus on more specific issues: Polina Levontin will look at the representation of scientists in Nigerian science fiction, while Robert S Malan will take a look at the evolution of portrayals of South Africans in popular entertainment during and after Apartheid.Starting from next Tuesday, we will introduce you to each author's paper in more detail, so do check back with us!And remember that the e-book edition is available through the usual channels (Kindle, iTunes, Kobo, etc.).Spread the word!

Luna Welcomes Oronzo Cilli - Tolkien's Library: An Annotated Checklist

We are delighted to welcome Italian scholar Oronzo Cilli to the Luna Family. Oronzo will be releasing "Tolkien's Library: An Annotated Checklist" with us in 2019. Which books did Tolkien read? What subjects was he interested in? What books found a place in his library, and which did he cite in his academic writings and many letters? Finally, where are the books from his personal library preserved now? In “Tolkien’s Library: An Annotated Checklist”, Tolkien scholar Oronzo Cilli endeavours to answer these and many other questions. By reading his work, you will have a chance to enter Tolkien’s studio and consult his books, learn if and where he cited from each of them and discover if a particular book was cited by Tolkien in his academic writings or his fiction. A unique and extensive guide, with information on over 2,000 titles, it was conceived as a personal research tool, but will soon be available to both scholars and the general public.It's a work that doesn’t aim to ‘reconstruct’ a physical library that once existed, but rather charts an imaginary collection, including books or other printed items which Tolkien once owned (and may or may not have read). Along with this, it includes works he didn't own but is known to have read or consulted (such as the run of Andrew Lang fairy books he used at the Bodleian), and works he referred to in his writings but may not have owned or directly consulted. It's worth noting that, of the items he did own at one time or another, he may not have kept them all, as many had to be disposed of, like when he left Merton, or moved to Poole, and when he returned to Oxford. In addition, there were other books in the Tolkien household which were not, strictly speaking, part of his own personal library; indeed, some of these belonged to his children, though Tolkien sometimes consulted them.“Such study will throw up many new insights into Tolkien’s thoughts, his life-experience, and the way that experience expressed itself in his fiction. The best guide to an author’s mind is through his books, and in the work of Oronzo Cilli we have now the best and most valuable guide to Tolkien’s books. It is a devoted and enduring work of scholarship.”― Tom Shippey“This book is a labour of love and will surely prove to be an important research tool for established and new Tolkien scholars alike.”― Dimitra Fimi“Drawing together a wide range of information about Tolkien’s reading, Oronzo Cilli has constructed a library which never wholly existed, or did not wholly exist in one place or at one time, but represents the foundation of the work of one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers and scholars. Tolkien’s Library is an impressive, fascinating, and useful essay in bibliography.”― Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond“From the thorough research of the untiring Tolkien scholar Oronzo Cilli, here is a unique guide to Tolkien’s Library which will catch your breath: more than 2,000 entries, ranging from the expected several editions of Beowulf to the complete surprises, such as Agatha Christie’s At Bertram’s Hotel. If you are doing research on Tolkien, you simply cannot miss Oronzo’s work.”― Giovanni C. Costabile"Tolkien's Library: An Annotated Checklist" will be released in time for Tolkien 2019 in Birmingham, in August 2019. You will be able to order your copy (and any other Luna books) and get it delivered there, where both Oronzo and Tom will be able to sign it. Double bonus!

Lost Objects is Now in Pre-order!

We are delighted to announce that Lost Objects, by Spanish writer Marian Womack, is now officially in pre-order until its Tuesday 3rd of July release date.“An intriguing and illuminating first collection, chockfull of interesting ideas about the natural world and ourselves.” says Jeff VanderMeer.These stories explore place and landscape at different stages of decay, positioning them as fighting grounds for death and renewal. From dystopian Andalusia to Scotland or the Norfolk countryside, they bring together monstrous insects, ghostly lovers, soon-to-be extinct species, unexpected birds, and interstellar explorers, to form a coherent narrative about loss and absence.Here, Marian shares her thoughts on the incoming collection with our readers:"These stories have been with me a long time, and it is difficult to see them go out into the wider world. They are not entirely mine, I guess. Orange Dogs, Love(Ghost)Story and Frozen Planet were workshopped in Clarion; Black Isle or The Ravisher, The Thief, grew in meaning under the attentive gaze of skilful editors. Some are found-poems in prose, like Marvels do not oftimes occur, which is based on real events and reproduces, as respectfully as possible, the actual impressions of those who lived through them. Kingfisher is the most personal story I have ever written; and it refers to a particular set of anxieties many of us share. I'd like to thank the Luna Press team for the final editorial magic-dust that has smoothed off the last spiky places. Any fault in the book is entirely mine; they have been nothing but patient and caring with the project.So, these stories owe a lot to many different people. As I said in the acknowledgements, a writer is in no way an island. But still, they talk deeply about my experience of always being perceived, or looked at, from the wayside. The stories talk about landscape, about place, but all of them looked at askance, from the wrong angle. This feeling has been a constant one for me, as a woman abroad, and has only accentuated itself over the years: ever more, perhaps, since the Brexit vote. Many of us live with a heightened sense of standing apart. It is always difficult being yourself in another language, in another place. External assumptions weigh heavily on your sense of self, and are almost unshakable. I am not interested in setting all my stories in my native Andalusia, a place in any case also deeply foreign to me now. I think many of us feel that way now, as if we are looking at life from the outside. We are a displaced generation, a generation of loss and absences, trying desperately to hang on to ever-fewer certainties.This is a collection of short stories written over a number of years, which also indicates my developing interest in man’s impact on the environment, and what a possible future might look like, what our landscape, our sense of place, may transform itself into, sometimes with monstrous results. But if they look at the world from a particular place of loss and displacement, they observe the future with a certain degree of suspicion. I hope I have managed to convey the profound sense of sadness and bewilderment with which many of us look upon our actions, on the world we will leave for those who come after us."Lost Objects is now in pre-order, paperback and e-book. As always, on the Luna Press website you will find it with a pre-order discount.

Call For Papers 2018: Evil is Here!

We are very proud to announce our third Call For Papers. The theme of the 2018 collection is: "The Evolution of Evil in Fantasy and Science Fiction".Our first call for papers, "Gender and Sexuality in Fantasy and Science Fiction" received 2 BSFA Awards nomination and one BSFA Awards shortlist. The second call for papers, "The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction", will be out this summer.It is time for a new challenge!Writers are invited to explore the concept of evil in all its shapes and developments, in literature, games, movies and TV.Here is some food for thought, though it should not restrict your own ideas:Focus on a specific character which has embodied the concept of evilThe development of a specific archetypal character which, over the course of the centuries, has undergone a transformation from neutral/positive figure into an evil one, or vice versa – historical and socio-political influences that brought about this transformationDevelopment of a representative type of evil over time (trolls, fairies, mad gods, dark lords, vampires, demons, etc.)The impact of religion on folkloreLatest incarnations of evil mirroring socio-political changesLatest incarnations of evil in generalEvil as an embodiment of modern societyEvolution of evil through the agesPossible representations of minorities as evilCreating evil – what makes a successful villain?Heroes as villainsOther representations of evil, e.g. hostile environments. Music as a tool for implying threat and hostilityBefore you start, get in touch! Send us an email either with your abstract or simply to let us know what topic you intend to explore: it is perfectly fine to have more than one author discussing the same topic, as long as the angle is different.Word Limit: up to 6,000 words.Full references for citations must be included using Harvard referencing style. Download the full guide and the quick guide on the Academia Lunare page.Closing Date: 30th of November 2018.Publishing contract for all participants, with shared royalties from each sale and a free copy of the book.Do not fear if this is your first non-fiction work: if you love research, you need a chance to start somewhere. Take a look at the past two Call For Papers blog posts and explore the articles submitted - it may help you decide your course of action.Get in touch if you have any questions.I hope to hear from you!

My First London Book Fair & Survival Tips

Last week I attended my first London Book Fair. It was three days of non-stop talks and panels surrounded by book enthusiasts; all in all, an incredible event. I was expecting to feel overwhelmed after being warned at the size of the venue (London’s Olympia) and at the amount of people attending, but to my surprise I felt relatively comfortable and found myself enjoying the buzzing atmosphere and tangible excitement of those in attendance.Being a newcomer to the publishing industry, I attended both of the SYP (Society of Young Publishers) panels. “How to Get Into Publishing” was held in a large room and yet was still packed out with new/future publishers and advice about everything from interviews to the importance of cover letters and standing out. “How to Get Ahead in Publishing” followed this and imparted wisdom about handling tricky situations with bosses and colleagues once a job had been secured. One of the most inspiring messages that came from these two panels was the importance placed on enthusiasm and passion for books, and ideas about how to convey this through a cover letter and at an interview were some of the most useful pieces of advice from LBF for me.I attended the “Trailblazer Panel: The Future of Publishing: How to Thrive in the Evolving Book World” which not only discussed the future of publishing but also the current most-pressing issues within the industry and what needs to be done to evolve to a point where the future goals can be achieved. One of the issues that was spoken about at length in this panel was diversity and inclusivity. Until there is diversity in the publishing industry, then can it be representative of the target market. A way that was mentioned to address this was to start with young people- Heather McDaid of 404 Ink spoke of Nicola Sturgeon’s literacy initiative to get children reading and how positive the reception of this has been so far, across the nation. Representation in children’s books is a key way in which children can see future careers and roles for themselves and a crucial way to inspire young people to be interested in education.Something I wasn’t expecting to be treated to while attending LBF was the appearances, talks and book-signings from authors. Myself and some friends from my university course went to hear Jacqueline Wilson in conversation with Julia Eccleshare and in the queue for the book signing afterwards, spoke about how important she was to many of us growing up. We spoke about how many issues, (often taboo in children’s literature) she wrote about and explained for so many young people and the impact it had on our own childhoods. It was so incredible to hear the vision she has for her books and the ways in which she hopes to help young readers and their parents, giving examples of fans she had met, and their stories. This again explained the importance of passionate publishers who are so needed to bring these stories to the reader and made me, once again, feel extremely lucky and excited to be part of that.Tips for London Book Fair1. Dress to be comfortable!London Book Fair is huge; you’ll be walking a large amount of the day and spending most of it on your feet, so wear appropriate footwear.2. Plan your days beforehand.The London Book Fair website and app are updated with the dates and times of the upcoming events so you can prioritise your must- see panels and talks.3. Realise that you don’t need to stay 9-5 every day.The book fair is exhausting, it’s hot, requires a lot of energy and effort both physically and mentally. Why not enjoy the events you most want to see and take it easy, there’s no point turning up at 9am if the only event you’re really interested in starts in the afternoon. Be kind to yourself.4. Come with questions.Many sessions have a q & a section at the end and the audience is encouraged to ask questions to the panel. Be prepared to arrive at panels early in order to find seating or a spot near the front.5. Bring business cards.LBF is a great way to make new contacts and if you do end up in a conversation and would like to make that connection, a business card may be the perfect way to keep in contact. In a similar thread; LinkedIn and Twitter seem to be the most used social media profiles to have in the publishing industry at the moment.6. Bring a notepad and pen.This may be an obvious point but it is always worth bringing note-taking supplies to write down important points, quotes and names from the many talks at the event.7. Plan some social activities too.The book fair does not have to be all about business, why not use the evenings to catch up over drinks with colleagues and friends. This is a great way of unwinding from what are three stressful and busy days.8. Bring your own food.Food at the Book Fair is not only expensive but the lines are long and when trying to get from one talk to the next, a quick lunch from home may be your best bet!9. Bring water!Similarly to the last point, there are many stations across the venue to fill up water bottles. Make use of them and keep hydrated whilst walking around all day.10. Have fun!There are so many inspiring speakers and people to meet. Make the most of the Fair and speak to people.

Uncle Curro: J.R.R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection. Pre-order Now!

We are thrilled to announce the imminent release of "'Uncle Curro'. J.R.R. Tolkien's Spanish Connection" by José Manuel Ferrandez-Bru, featuring insights from Priscilla Tolkien and a preface from John Garth.The book will be released on Tuesday the 5th of June 2018, both in English and Spanish (El Tío “Curro”. La Conexión Española de J.R.R. Tolkien), with a subsequent Italian edition in the Autumn, by Edizioni Terra Santa. It will be available in both paperback and digital formats.The pre-order discount is only available through the Luna Press Website, and don't forget that you can have the book delivered to The Tolkien Society Seminar in Leeds, on the 1st of July 2018 (order by the 5th of June), or the Tolkien Society's Oxonmoot in Oxford, 20-23rd of September (order by the 20th of August).International Tolkien Societies can also place larger orders directly with us, and cut shipping costs. Just drop us an email and we will organise that.Both José and the cover artist Fernando López Ayelo will be at Oxonmoot this coming September, so you can also get your copy signed!“'Uncle Curro'. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Spanish Connection” revolves around Francis Morgan, Tolkien's "second father". This book has been extremely well received in its first Spanish edition, not only by the Tolkien readership of literary criticism, but also by those with a keen interest in historical ties - books such as these can only increase the understanding of beloved authors such as JRR Tolkien. We asked José to describe his work and why he decided to investigate the figure of Francis Morgan:"The book is a biography, but not only a biography. It reconstructs the almost unknown life of Francis Morgan (1857-1935), a Catholic priest of Anglo-Spanish origin, who was involved in the sherry trade, and was guardian and “second father” of author J.R.R. Tolkien.J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the most famous contemporary authors. His works, especially The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, are among the most read of our time, with legions of fans. In addition, Tolkien, a prestigious professor of the University of Oxford, attracts many scholars who try to analyse his works and his biography as keys to determinate his cultural heritage, and to find his sources and inspirations. However, there is one aspect of his biography that has been barely investigated so far: his early years and the lasting relationship of Tolkien (who was orphaned as a child) with his guardian, Father Francis Morgan.The book is not merely a biography of Tolkien’s guardian; the data collected about Tolkien’s personal relationship with Morgan, as well as a comparative review of his work with that of the illustrious ancestors of his guardian in Hispanic literature, reveal curious parallels that give rise to hypotheses about the influence (yet unknown) of them on Tolkien.It is also curious that Morgan was the intermediary between Tolkien and the famous Cardinal John Henry Newman (of whom he was assistant); also with people who were directly related to his family, like Washington Irving, Humboldt, Campe or Blanco White, who all didn’t appear to have any other contact outside of this with Tolkien.Finally, it should be noted that the present work is the result of thorough research between Spain and England which involved, among others, Tolkien’s own family, who have provided their support, along with the testimony (including previously unpublished writings), of Priscilla Tolkien, the author’s daughter."Don't forget to pre-order this title, either in English or Spanish, directly from the Luna website, to receive your pre-order discount. Only on our website can you benefit from the Loyal Luna Reward Card: for every 9 books, you get one free!Happy reading!