Tansy Rayner Roberts's Blog, page 162
August 8, 2010
Pictures tell a Thousand Words
Day 19 – Favorite book cover (bonus points for posting an image!)
For once I'm just putting up one answer! Though as usual, struggling not to put up one of my own!
Other Days of the Book Meme:
Day 01 – A book series you wish had gone on longer OR a book series you wish would just freaking end already (or both!)
Day 02 – A book or series you wish more people were reading and talking about
Day 03 – The best book you've read in the last 12 months
Day 04 – Your favorite book or series ever
Day 05 – A...
The Loving Dead, by Amelia Beamer
This is the sexy zombie novel you've been waiting for.
It's not a sexy novel with zombies.
It's a novel about sexy zombies.
There are whips.
I spoke rather incoherently about The Loving Dead on the last episode of Galactic Suburbia. I've since had a bit of time to assemble my thoughts. The topic of pop culture educating the masses on how to cope with suddenly finding yourself in a horror story has been well trod in films such as Scream and Shaun of the Dead – but what Beamer does differently...
Once Upon a Time, there was Lipstick and Goons
Day 18 – Favorite beginning scene in a book
Soooo many good beginnings. Here are four favourites:
"The trouble started the day Howard came home from school to find the Goon sitting in the kitchen." (Archer's Goon, Diana Wynne Jones)
DWJ kicks arse at openings. In this one, the first novel of hers that I knowingly read and the one that set me on an addiction that would continue for more than a decade, the first chapter sets up the situation: Howard and his sister Awful come home to find a...
August 7, 2010
Who Needs Chicken Soup For The Soul When There Are Stories
Day 17 – Favorite story or collection of stories (short stories, novellas, novelettes, etc.)
I think I have to go for Kelly Link's beautiful stories in the collections Stranger Things Happen and Magic for Beginners, though I have to give a shout out for the recent paperback collection Pretty Monsters, which I bought despite having copies of all the stories inside! No one writes stories like Kelly Link.
I also deeply adore Kim Newman's Diogenes Club stories, which are collected in two volumes s...
August 6, 2010
I Don't Work For Money [Xena Rewatch 1.5-1.8]
1.5 The Path Not Taken
Xena has to go undercover with her old warlord pals to save a princess and stop a war – luckily the bush telegraph passes information along pretty slowly between members of the Secret Society of Warlords. She also gets to make smoochytime with Marcus, a dear "friend" from the past.
The aspect that most jumped out at me in this episode, which is all about the contrasts between Xena's old and new lives, is her statement to the prince who wants to hire her that she does...
August 5, 2010
Come Buy, Come Buy!
Day 16 – Favorite poem or collection of poetry
My first thought is Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market, one of the sexiest fairy stories ever told, and a truly splendid story of sisterly love and friendship. As with songs, my favourite poems are the ones that tell stories.
She cried "Laura," up the garden,
"Did you miss me ?
Come and kiss me.
Never mind my bruises,
Hug me, kiss me, suck my juices
Squeezed from goblin fruits for you,
Goblin pulp and goblin dew.
Eat me, drink me, love me;
Laura, make...
Girl Mages and Lady Knights
Day 15 – Your "comfort" book
It's probably time that I talked about Tamora Pierce, and the Tortall books. I discovered Alanna of Trebond at the perfect time – my early teens – with the second book of four. I have read every book Tamora Pierce has written since. One of my favourite comfort reading routines was to read through all the Alanna books, then the Daine books, and finally the Kel books. Each heroine is my favourite, when I am reading her.
When I'm not actually reading the Alanna b...
August 4, 2010
Galactic Suburbia Episode 13 Show Notes
The latest ep of Galactic Suburbia is up now for streaming and direct download. We hope it will be available from iTunes as well soon, but dealing with a minor glitch with that.
In which we discuss girl heroes, boy books, sexy zombies with whips, why proofing makes Alisa's brain hurt, how many limbs get hacked off in David Eddings novels, and analyse what SF awards actually mean to us.
News
Ditmar nominations now up:
Author Hannah Moskowitz complains at the lack of and treatment of boy...
Some Of My Favourite People Don't Technically Exist
Day 14 – Favorite character in a book (of any sex or gender)
Miles Vorkosigan
Miles is one of the most complex fictional characters I've ever read. He is pure charisma and ego, overcoming some of the most extraordinary physical limitations to become a truly legendary figure. His ability to talk his way out of (or into) any situation is nothing short of breathtaking, and watching his career and life unfold is a truly fascinating journey. I'm very excited to see what is next in store for him w...
August 3, 2010
A Worm Called Rover
Day 13 – Favorite childhood book OR current favorite YA book (or both!)
I planned to talk here about Arthur Ransome or Enid Blyton or even my slightly insane addiction to vintage Grange Hill novels, but then I had another thought.
Eva Ibbotson now writes the most beautiful historical YA novels, about German cakes and war and lost aristocrats and all that sort of thing. Beautiful, beautiful books. A new one is always a pleasure, the kind of save for a treat and read while drinking hot...
