Martha Wells's Blog, page 96
September 29, 2015
New Book Tuesday and Signing
* Sound by Alexandra Duncan
Sound is the stand-alone companion to Alexandra Duncan's acclaimed debut novel Salvage, which was praised by internationally bestselling author Stephanie Perkins as "brilliant, feminist science fiction." For fans of Beth Revis, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica. As a child, Ava's adopted sister, Miyole, watched her mother take to the stars, piloting her own ship from Earth to space making deliveries. Now a teen herself, Miyole is finally living her dream as a research assistant on her very first space voyage.
* Dancing Through the Fire by Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee's last story collection.
* Promise of the Child by Tom Toner
"To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years." —Tor.com
* Ming Zhu and the Pearl that Shines by Joyce Chng
Enter the world of Xiao Xiao, daughter of an imperial courtesan, and a fantastical historical Qing China, with dragons and magic and traditions. The adventures of Xiao Xiao and Ming Zhu continue.
* Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
The stunning conclusion to the trilogy that began with the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke award-winning Ancillary Justice. Can't wait to read this!!!!!
* Of Books, and Earth, and Courtship by Aliette de Bodard
In a Paris that never was, a city of magical factions where Fallen angels mingle with magicians, alchemists and witches... Emmanuelle is the Fallen archivist of House Silverspires, and only wants a quiet life with her books. But when Selene, the latest student of Lucifer Morningstar, walks into the library, Emmanuelle finds herself drawn in an adventure to steal from another House. It's a thrilling and dangerous task, but the most dangerous thing about it might just be Selene herself--aloof and resourceful, and unexpectedly attractive...
* Without Light or Guide: Los Nefilim Part Two by T. Frohock
For although Diago Alvarez has pledged his loyalty to Los Nefilim, there are many who don't trust his daimonic blood. And with the re-emergence of his father—a Nefil who sold his soul to a daimon—the fear is Diago will soon follow the same path.
* Letters to Tiptree
For nearly a decade, between 1968 and 1976, a middle-aged woman in Virginia (her own words) had much of the science fiction community in thrall. Her short stories were awarded, lauded and extremely well-reviewed. They were also regarded as “ineluctably masculine”, because Alice Sheldon was writing as James Tiptree Jr. In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Alice Sheldon’s birth, and in recognition of the enormous influence of both Tiptree and Sheldon on the field, Twelfth Planet Press has published a selection of thoughtful letters written by science fiction and fantasy's writers, editors, critics and fans to celebrate her, to recognise her work, and maybe in some cases to finish conversations set aside nearly thirty years ago.
Signing
Saturday, November 7 at 5:00: Join fantasy authors Martha Wells, Stina Leicht, Amanda Downum, Patrice Sarath, and J. M. McDermott at the Twig Book Shop (306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 106 - San Antonio, TX 78215). There should be copies of all the Raksura books, plus the two Emilie books, plus Star Wars: Razor's Edge.
Sound is the stand-alone companion to Alexandra Duncan's acclaimed debut novel Salvage, which was praised by internationally bestselling author Stephanie Perkins as "brilliant, feminist science fiction." For fans of Beth Revis, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica. As a child, Ava's adopted sister, Miyole, watched her mother take to the stars, piloting her own ship from Earth to space making deliveries. Now a teen herself, Miyole is finally living her dream as a research assistant on her very first space voyage.
* Dancing Through the Fire by Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee's last story collection.
* Promise of the Child by Tom Toner
"To call The Promise of the Child one of the most accomplished debuts of 2015 so far is to understate its weight—instead, let me moot that it is among the most significant works of science fiction released in recent years." —Tor.com
* Ming Zhu and the Pearl that Shines by Joyce Chng
Enter the world of Xiao Xiao, daughter of an imperial courtesan, and a fantastical historical Qing China, with dragons and magic and traditions. The adventures of Xiao Xiao and Ming Zhu continue.
* Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
The stunning conclusion to the trilogy that began with the Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke award-winning Ancillary Justice. Can't wait to read this!!!!!
* Of Books, and Earth, and Courtship by Aliette de Bodard
In a Paris that never was, a city of magical factions where Fallen angels mingle with magicians, alchemists and witches... Emmanuelle is the Fallen archivist of House Silverspires, and only wants a quiet life with her books. But when Selene, the latest student of Lucifer Morningstar, walks into the library, Emmanuelle finds herself drawn in an adventure to steal from another House. It's a thrilling and dangerous task, but the most dangerous thing about it might just be Selene herself--aloof and resourceful, and unexpectedly attractive...
* Without Light or Guide: Los Nefilim Part Two by T. Frohock
For although Diago Alvarez has pledged his loyalty to Los Nefilim, there are many who don't trust his daimonic blood. And with the re-emergence of his father—a Nefil who sold his soul to a daimon—the fear is Diago will soon follow the same path.
* Letters to Tiptree
For nearly a decade, between 1968 and 1976, a middle-aged woman in Virginia (her own words) had much of the science fiction community in thrall. Her short stories were awarded, lauded and extremely well-reviewed. They were also regarded as “ineluctably masculine”, because Alice Sheldon was writing as James Tiptree Jr. In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Alice Sheldon’s birth, and in recognition of the enormous influence of both Tiptree and Sheldon on the field, Twelfth Planet Press has published a selection of thoughtful letters written by science fiction and fantasy's writers, editors, critics and fans to celebrate her, to recognise her work, and maybe in some cases to finish conversations set aside nearly thirty years ago.
Signing
Saturday, November 7 at 5:00: Join fantasy authors Martha Wells, Stina Leicht, Amanda Downum, Patrice Sarath, and J. M. McDermott at the Twig Book Shop (306 Pearl Parkway, Suite 106 - San Antonio, TX 78215). There should be copies of all the Raksura books, plus the two Emilie books, plus Star Wars: Razor's Edge.
September 27, 2015
AudioBooks on Sale
There are sale prices (50% off the MP3-CD) on most of the audiobooks of my novels at Tantor right now. (Just scroll down to see the list of books available.) They also come in audio CDs and downloads.
This includes Wheel of the Infinite (narrated by Lisa Renee' Pitts, who plays Dr. Dre's mother Verna in Straight Outta Compton), plus The Death of the Necromancer, The Element of Fire, City of Bones, and all three books of the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy.
This includes Wheel of the Infinite (narrated by Lisa Renee' Pitts, who plays Dr. Dre's mother Verna in Straight Outta Compton), plus The Death of the Necromancer, The Element of Fire, City of Bones, and all three books of the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy.
September 24, 2015
Raksura Question
This is a Raksura question and bit of discussion on consort sexual politics over on tumblr
notahyper-specific asked:
It hadn't occurred to me until I read your last post, but now I have a question about queens and consorts. Consorts are almost as physically powerful as queens, but their role in the court is almost completely passive. Is that an attitude queens deliberately encourage to keep their consorts "docile", a consequence of how important they are to the survival of the court, or a combination of the two?
marthawells answered:
Originally, it was probably mostly the second reason, that they are important to the court’s survival, with a bit of the first mixed in. It’s definitely a cultural construct, but also figures into the way Raksura manage their bloodlines. Queens wouldn’t want other courts to steal consorts and get access to their court’s royal bloodline without permission. Consorts are also a status symbol. Allowing the consort out to fight for the court, or to do anything that a queen or a warrior would normally do, would also lessen the court’s status, since if you have to resort to using your consorts that way, your court must be up shit creek. Having consorts who don’t have to do anything except make and raise babies is a sign that the court is rich, well-defended, and comfortable.
Though for small courts like Indigo Cloud that tried to establish colonies outside the Reaches, there probably were quite a few consorts that ended up fighting for the court or going on more exploring and trading visits than would have been seen as acceptable in the Reaches. (I think Jade tells Moon at one point that consorts have fought for Indigo Cloud in the past. (Though Indigo Cloud had pretty much been living on shit creek for most of Jade’s life.) They have the ideal of how consorts are supposed to be passive and protected, but don’t always have the resources to live up to it.
1houreveryday said
I think my favorite thing about the Raksura books is Moon coming into this and being like “you may be physically stronger than me and faster than me and look down on me for not fitting you ideals but I’ve been kicking ass for a long time and I’m not gonna just stop now, obviously”.
notahyper-specific said
One of the things I =love= in the Raksura books is Indigo Cloud interacting with courts that are used to consorts who won’t even go to the bathroom unless they check with their queens first, and then they end up having to deal with Moon and Stone taking the Look at all the Fucks I Don’t Give revue on tour.
notahyper-specific asked:
It hadn't occurred to me until I read your last post, but now I have a question about queens and consorts. Consorts are almost as physically powerful as queens, but their role in the court is almost completely passive. Is that an attitude queens deliberately encourage to keep their consorts "docile", a consequence of how important they are to the survival of the court, or a combination of the two?
marthawells answered:
Originally, it was probably mostly the second reason, that they are important to the court’s survival, with a bit of the first mixed in. It’s definitely a cultural construct, but also figures into the way Raksura manage their bloodlines. Queens wouldn’t want other courts to steal consorts and get access to their court’s royal bloodline without permission. Consorts are also a status symbol. Allowing the consort out to fight for the court, or to do anything that a queen or a warrior would normally do, would also lessen the court’s status, since if you have to resort to using your consorts that way, your court must be up shit creek. Having consorts who don’t have to do anything except make and raise babies is a sign that the court is rich, well-defended, and comfortable.
Though for small courts like Indigo Cloud that tried to establish colonies outside the Reaches, there probably were quite a few consorts that ended up fighting for the court or going on more exploring and trading visits than would have been seen as acceptable in the Reaches. (I think Jade tells Moon at one point that consorts have fought for Indigo Cloud in the past. (Though Indigo Cloud had pretty much been living on shit creek for most of Jade’s life.) They have the ideal of how consorts are supposed to be passive and protected, but don’t always have the resources to live up to it.
1houreveryday said
I think my favorite thing about the Raksura books is Moon coming into this and being like “you may be physically stronger than me and faster than me and look down on me for not fitting you ideals but I’ve been kicking ass for a long time and I’m not gonna just stop now, obviously”.
notahyper-specific said
One of the things I =love= in the Raksura books is Indigo Cloud interacting with courts that are used to consorts who won’t even go to the bathroom unless they check with their queens first, and then they end up having to deal with Moon and Stone taking the Look at all the Fucks I Don’t Give revue on tour.
September 23, 2015
Links and Raksura Questions
Links
* Some thoughts about Tragic Queer Narratives
And we go downhill from here. The tragic queer narrative? Widely available. Very, very, very common. Arguably more common than positive depictions of queer characters and relationships. Books by LGBTQ authors with LGBTQ protagonists who are not tragic queers? Much less common and much harder to find.
* Writing Wednesday: Putting Handles on the Cups by C.E. Murphy
This is reality-based writing advice. I said on Twitter: I've seen writing advice that said unless you do 2000+ words every day you aren't a real writer/are a bad person etc. That's bullshit. How I write has changed a lot over time, as I've gotten more experience and tried different things. Writing media tie-ins to tight schedules taught me a lot, writing fanfic let me explore new ways of storytelling, helped my fantasy writing. I write faster now than I did 20 years ago, but I still can't hit 2000 words in a day more than a few times a month, if that. I have days where my brain just doesn't work, or all I can do is figure out plot. I had a day like that yesterday, and did not get 2000 words of anything written, but I do know how to restructure the end of the book now. That's just how my process works, and everybody's process is different, and will often change over time as you keep writing. There is no right way to do it, there's just the way that allows you to produce a finished piece of work.
Raksura questions
J. L. asked: Okay, I have a Raksura question: will we be seeing Opal Night again? I have an ultimate soft-spot for Moon's interaction with Opal Night, and I can never get enough of it.
In The Edge of Worlds there are some of the characters from Opal Night, but Moon and the others don't go back to the colony. I may do a novella or short story where they go back to visit Opal Night again at some point, because I enjoyed those interactions too.
Darrell asked: I have tons of questions, but I'll try to stick to a few. 1) Since Raksura are usual born in clutches of 5, what happened to Jade's and Balm's clutchmates? Were they stillborn or did they die later? 2) In The Edge of Worlds, will we get to see more of the social dynamic in a Raksura colony (like faction, clutches, family relationships, etc)? Really can't wait for the new book! Thanks for writing such incredible books!
1) The other three were stillborn. This was basically the first incident that started the court's slow decline, though they wouldn't have realized that at the time. In the turns after that, Pearl's next clutch was stillborn, and there were a lot of deaths among the Aeriat, and then some time after that was when the sister queen Amber had a clutch where only two warriors survived, Spring and Snow, and them Amber died.
2) Yes, definitely! Though they do leave the court for the most of the story, I try to show as much of the social dynamic as I can, because I really enjoy writing it.
And thank you for reading them!
* Some thoughts about Tragic Queer Narratives
And we go downhill from here. The tragic queer narrative? Widely available. Very, very, very common. Arguably more common than positive depictions of queer characters and relationships. Books by LGBTQ authors with LGBTQ protagonists who are not tragic queers? Much less common and much harder to find.
* Writing Wednesday: Putting Handles on the Cups by C.E. Murphy
This is reality-based writing advice. I said on Twitter: I've seen writing advice that said unless you do 2000+ words every day you aren't a real writer/are a bad person etc. That's bullshit. How I write has changed a lot over time, as I've gotten more experience and tried different things. Writing media tie-ins to tight schedules taught me a lot, writing fanfic let me explore new ways of storytelling, helped my fantasy writing. I write faster now than I did 20 years ago, but I still can't hit 2000 words in a day more than a few times a month, if that. I have days where my brain just doesn't work, or all I can do is figure out plot. I had a day like that yesterday, and did not get 2000 words of anything written, but I do know how to restructure the end of the book now. That's just how my process works, and everybody's process is different, and will often change over time as you keep writing. There is no right way to do it, there's just the way that allows you to produce a finished piece of work.
Raksura questions
J. L. asked: Okay, I have a Raksura question: will we be seeing Opal Night again? I have an ultimate soft-spot for Moon's interaction with Opal Night, and I can never get enough of it.
In The Edge of Worlds there are some of the characters from Opal Night, but Moon and the others don't go back to the colony. I may do a novella or short story where they go back to visit Opal Night again at some point, because I enjoyed those interactions too.
Darrell asked: I have tons of questions, but I'll try to stick to a few. 1) Since Raksura are usual born in clutches of 5, what happened to Jade's and Balm's clutchmates? Were they stillborn or did they die later? 2) In The Edge of Worlds, will we get to see more of the social dynamic in a Raksura colony (like faction, clutches, family relationships, etc)? Really can't wait for the new book! Thanks for writing such incredible books!
1) The other three were stillborn. This was basically the first incident that started the court's slow decline, though they wouldn't have realized that at the time. In the turns after that, Pearl's next clutch was stillborn, and there were a lot of deaths among the Aeriat, and then some time after that was when the sister queen Amber had a clutch where only two warriors survived, Spring and Snow, and them Amber died.
2) Yes, definitely! Though they do leave the court for the most of the story, I try to show as much of the social dynamic as I can, because I really enjoy writing it.
And thank you for reading them!
September 22, 2015
Books!
I wish I had more money for books, but in lieu of that, here are books for you:
* Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis
The year is 1779, and Carlo Morelli, the most renowned castrato singer in Europe, has been invited as an honored guest to Eszterháza Palace. With Carlo in Prince Nikolaus Esterházy's carriage, ride a Prussian spy and one of the most notorious alchemists in the Habsburg Empire. Already at Eszterháza is Charlotte von Steinbeck, the very proper sister of Prince Nikolaus's mistress. Charlotte has retreated to the countryside to mourn her husband's death. Now, she must overcome the ingrained rules of her society in order to uncover the dangerous secrets lurking within the palace's golden walls.
* Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
* Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas
The tale of Cinderella has been retold countless times. But what you know is not the true story. Sarah Prineas’s bold fairy-tale retelling is a dark and captivating world where swords are more fitting than slippers, young shoemakers are just as striking as princes, and a heroine is more than ready to rescue herself before the clock strikes midnight.
* Dragon Coast by Greg van Eekhout
Daniel's adopted son Sam, made from the magical essence of the tyrannical Hierarch of Southern California whom Daniel overthrew and killed, is lost-consumed by the great Pacific firedrake secretly assembled by Daniel's half-brother, Paul. But Sam is still alive and aware, in magical form, trapped inside the dragon as it rampages around Los Angeles, periodically torching a neighborhood or two.
* Cast in Honor by Michelle Sagara
Elantra stands strong, but countless numbers of Hawks, the city's staunchest protectors, were lost in the brutal attack. Humans, Barrani, Aerians, Leontines—none of the races emerged unscathed from the defense of the city. Homes were lost, families were scattered…and the outcast Barrani Lord Nightshade is missing from his castle in the fiefs.
* Short Story: In Morningstar's Shadow: Dominion of the Fallen Stories by Aliette de Bodard
In a Paris that never was, a city of magical factions where Fallen angels mingle with magicians, alchemists and witches...
* In Midnight's Silence: Los Nefilim by T. Frohock
Born of an angel and a daimon, Diago Alvarez is a singular being in a country torn by a looming civil war and the spiritual struggle between the forces of angels and daimons. With allegiance to no one but his partner Miquel, he is content to simply live in Barcelona, caring only for the man he loves and the music he makes. Yet, neither side is satisfied to let him lead this domesticated life and, knowing they can't get to him directly, they do the one thing he's always feared.
* Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis
The year is 1779, and Carlo Morelli, the most renowned castrato singer in Europe, has been invited as an honored guest to Eszterháza Palace. With Carlo in Prince Nikolaus Esterházy's carriage, ride a Prussian spy and one of the most notorious alchemists in the Habsburg Empire. Already at Eszterháza is Charlotte von Steinbeck, the very proper sister of Prince Nikolaus's mistress. Charlotte has retreated to the countryside to mourn her husband's death. Now, she must overcome the ingrained rules of her society in order to uncover the dangerous secrets lurking within the palace's golden walls.
* Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.
* Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas
The tale of Cinderella has been retold countless times. But what you know is not the true story. Sarah Prineas’s bold fairy-tale retelling is a dark and captivating world where swords are more fitting than slippers, young shoemakers are just as striking as princes, and a heroine is more than ready to rescue herself before the clock strikes midnight.
* Dragon Coast by Greg van Eekhout
Daniel's adopted son Sam, made from the magical essence of the tyrannical Hierarch of Southern California whom Daniel overthrew and killed, is lost-consumed by the great Pacific firedrake secretly assembled by Daniel's half-brother, Paul. But Sam is still alive and aware, in magical form, trapped inside the dragon as it rampages around Los Angeles, periodically torching a neighborhood or two.
* Cast in Honor by Michelle Sagara
Elantra stands strong, but countless numbers of Hawks, the city's staunchest protectors, were lost in the brutal attack. Humans, Barrani, Aerians, Leontines—none of the races emerged unscathed from the defense of the city. Homes were lost, families were scattered…and the outcast Barrani Lord Nightshade is missing from his castle in the fiefs.
* Short Story: In Morningstar's Shadow: Dominion of the Fallen Stories by Aliette de Bodard
In a Paris that never was, a city of magical factions where Fallen angels mingle with magicians, alchemists and witches...
* In Midnight's Silence: Los Nefilim by T. Frohock
Born of an angel and a daimon, Diago Alvarez is a singular being in a country torn by a looming civil war and the spiritual struggle between the forces of angels and daimons. With allegiance to no one but his partner Miquel, he is content to simply live in Barcelona, caring only for the man he loves and the music he makes. Yet, neither side is satisfied to let him lead this domesticated life and, knowing they can't get to him directly, they do the one thing he's always feared.
September 21, 2015
Monday all day
It's Fall, but it's still in the 90s, so not very Fall-like. My husband still has a cough that's been very slow to go away. I'm still revisioning on The Edge of Worlds. I need to change up the ending a bit, and fix a lot of little stuff I've been making notes on as I go through it, but it's going pretty well.
If anybody has Raksura questions or publishing-related questions, feel free to ask.
A few links:
* Aging in IT by Catherine Lundoff
Nearly every middle-aged woman I know in IT has run into negative assumptions about her skill level and competence and/or general intelligence. Interviewing and working as an older woman in IT means it can be much more difficult to get considered for technical roles and technical training. I was once denied training on a new system because I was "too much of a people person;" coding would be "too dull and isolating". It would also, not coincidentally, have brought me more money and somewhat more job security.
Aging in writing sucks, too, in case anyone was wondering.
* Atlas Obscura: The Duke, the Landscape Architect and the World's Most Ambitious Attempt to Bring the Cosmos to Earth
If anybody has Raksura questions or publishing-related questions, feel free to ask.
A few links:
* Aging in IT by Catherine Lundoff
Nearly every middle-aged woman I know in IT has run into negative assumptions about her skill level and competence and/or general intelligence. Interviewing and working as an older woman in IT means it can be much more difficult to get considered for technical roles and technical training. I was once denied training on a new system because I was "too much of a people person;" coding would be "too dull and isolating". It would also, not coincidentally, have brought me more money and somewhat more job security.
Aging in writing sucks, too, in case anyone was wondering.
* Atlas Obscura: The Duke, the Landscape Architect and the World's Most Ambitious Attempt to Bring the Cosmos to Earth
September 18, 2015
One More Post
I was going to do the 7-7-7-7 challenge but I'll just post this bit. It is from the 7 page of my current WIP. (It's part of the chapter I read at my WorldCon reading.)
To the swampling, Stone said, "Wait." He turned to Moon and said in Raksuran, "'Don't' what? You're the one with the temper."
Moon folded his arms. "You're senile and delusional." Admittedly, he wasn't exactly in a good mood either.
"After him, you're next." Stone turned back to the swampling. "Now what do you want?"
The swampling hesitated, rocking back and forth, the blades on its harness jingling. It had clearly expected them to be afraid. That they weren't implied its estimation of their ability to defend themselves was incorrect, possibly fatally so. But it rallied and said, "There's nothing but trouble for softskins here."
Stone said, "Good, that's exactly how we like it."
To the swampling, Stone said, "Wait." He turned to Moon and said in Raksuran, "'Don't' what? You're the one with the temper."
Moon folded his arms. "You're senile and delusional." Admittedly, he wasn't exactly in a good mood either.
"After him, you're next." Stone turned back to the swampling. "Now what do you want?"
The swampling hesitated, rocking back and forth, the blades on its harness jingling. It had clearly expected them to be afraid. That they weren't implied its estimation of their ability to defend themselves was incorrect, possibly fatally so. But it rallied and said, "There's nothing but trouble for softskins here."
Stone said, "Good, that's exactly how we like it."
Friday
I'm behind on everything. I've been busy working on the revision for The Edge of Worlds, plus my husband's been sick with a bad cough and off and on fever. All I've made time for is revisioning and laundry. I am looking forward to new Doctor Who this weekend.
I answered this question on tumblr, and wanted to copy it here:
punkranger asked: Do you use music for inspiration? If so what do you listen to? :) Also, have you heard of Ayreon? They do a lot of sci-fi/fantasy-inspired music and all their albums are very intricate stories.
I do, and it’s kind of a weird mix. Here’s one of my playlists for the Raksura books (don’t judge me).
Did Anyone Approach You a-ha
Apple Cibo Matto
Life’s What You Make It Talk Talk
Loneliest Star Seal
[ Untitled ] VAST
Sugar Water Cibo Matto
Show Me What I’m Looking for Carolina Liar
Under The Milky Way Sia
Where Has Everybody Gone? The Pretenders
Night of the Hunter 30 Seconds to Mars
Bedroom Hymns Florence + The Machine
Tell Me Billie Myers
Forever May Not Be Long Enough Live
Silence Delerium & Sarah McLachlan
Calm the Storm Graffiti6
Afreen A. R. Rahman, Nakash Aziz & KM Sufi Ensemble
Inside Moby
Under the Influence Elle King
I add songs whenever I hear something that just strikes a chord. I haven’t heard of Ayreon, but they sound cool. I’ll have to check them out.
I answered this question on tumblr, and wanted to copy it here:
punkranger asked: Do you use music for inspiration? If so what do you listen to? :) Also, have you heard of Ayreon? They do a lot of sci-fi/fantasy-inspired music and all their albums are very intricate stories.
I do, and it’s kind of a weird mix. Here’s one of my playlists for the Raksura books (don’t judge me).
Did Anyone Approach You a-ha
Apple Cibo Matto
Life’s What You Make It Talk Talk
Loneliest Star Seal
[ Untitled ] VAST
Sugar Water Cibo Matto
Show Me What I’m Looking for Carolina Liar
Under The Milky Way Sia
Where Has Everybody Gone? The Pretenders
Night of the Hunter 30 Seconds to Mars
Bedroom Hymns Florence + The Machine
Tell Me Billie Myers
Forever May Not Be Long Enough Live
Silence Delerium & Sarah McLachlan
Calm the Storm Graffiti6
Afreen A. R. Rahman, Nakash Aziz & KM Sufi Ensemble
Inside Moby
Under the Influence Elle King
I add songs whenever I hear something that just strikes a chord. I haven’t heard of Ayreon, but they sound cool. I’ll have to check them out.
September 15, 2015
New Books
* Making Wolf by Tade Thompson
Weston Kogi, a police officer in a supermarket in London, returns to his home in West Africa for his aunt’s funeral. After catching up with his family, his ex-girlfriend Nana, and an old schoolmate over good food and plenty of beer, it seems like a bit of harmless hyperbole to tell people he works as a homicide detective. But when he his kidnapped by separate rebel factions to investigate the murder of a local hero, Papa Busi, Weston soon finds out that solving the crime may tip the country into civil war.
* Short fiction: Of Books, and Earth, and Courtship: A Dominion of the Fallen story by Aliette de Bodard
Emmanuelle is the Fallen archivist of House Silverspires, and only wants a quiet life with her books. But when Selene, the latest student of Lucifer Morningstar, walks into the library, Emmanuelle finds herself drawn in an adventure to steal from another House.
* Short fiction: The Merger: A Romantic Comedy of Intergalactic Business Negotiations, Indecipherable Emotions, and Pizza by Sunil Patel
Paresh and Sita are a loving married couple who share a (mostly) pleasant and uneventful life. That is, if you don’t count Sita’s cooking experiments with turkey chili pizza (don’t ask). All that changes one evening, when Paresh is approached by a gelatinous, horned blob-alien from outer space who makes a lucrative offer that Paresh and Sita literally cannot refuse (or else the world is, well, kaput).
* Hexomancy by Michael R. Underwood
Fan-favorite urban fantasista Ree Reyes and her crew of Geekomancers—humans that derive supernatural powers from pop culture—take on their biggest foes yet in this fourth book of the Geekomancy series.
* Breakout by Ann Aguirre
The prison ship Perdition has become a post-battle charnel house with only a handful of Dred's soldiers still standing and now being hunted by Silence's trained tongueless assassins. Forging an uneasy alliance with mercenary commander Vost—who is their only chance at escape—the Dread Queen will do whatever it takes to end her life sentence on Perdition and keep the survivors alive long enough to cobble together a transport capable of getting them off station.
Weston Kogi, a police officer in a supermarket in London, returns to his home in West Africa for his aunt’s funeral. After catching up with his family, his ex-girlfriend Nana, and an old schoolmate over good food and plenty of beer, it seems like a bit of harmless hyperbole to tell people he works as a homicide detective. But when he his kidnapped by separate rebel factions to investigate the murder of a local hero, Papa Busi, Weston soon finds out that solving the crime may tip the country into civil war.
* Short fiction: Of Books, and Earth, and Courtship: A Dominion of the Fallen story by Aliette de Bodard
Emmanuelle is the Fallen archivist of House Silverspires, and only wants a quiet life with her books. But when Selene, the latest student of Lucifer Morningstar, walks into the library, Emmanuelle finds herself drawn in an adventure to steal from another House.
* Short fiction: The Merger: A Romantic Comedy of Intergalactic Business Negotiations, Indecipherable Emotions, and Pizza by Sunil Patel
Paresh and Sita are a loving married couple who share a (mostly) pleasant and uneventful life. That is, if you don’t count Sita’s cooking experiments with turkey chili pizza (don’t ask). All that changes one evening, when Paresh is approached by a gelatinous, horned blob-alien from outer space who makes a lucrative offer that Paresh and Sita literally cannot refuse (or else the world is, well, kaput).
* Hexomancy by Michael R. Underwood
Fan-favorite urban fantasista Ree Reyes and her crew of Geekomancers—humans that derive supernatural powers from pop culture—take on their biggest foes yet in this fourth book of the Geekomancy series.
* Breakout by Ann Aguirre
The prison ship Perdition has become a post-battle charnel house with only a handful of Dred's soldiers still standing and now being hunted by Silence's trained tongueless assassins. Forging an uneasy alliance with mercenary commander Vost—who is their only chance at escape—the Dread Queen will do whatever it takes to end her life sentence on Perdition and keep the survivors alive long enough to cobble together a transport capable of getting them off station.
September 14, 2015
A few things
* I got the editorial notes for The Edge of Worlds, the next Raksura book, and I'll be working on that for the next few weeks. I can't wait until I can show you guys the cover.
* I need to start up Martha's Guide to TV Mysteries again, since I have a few more to add to it. I was watching both versions of the Miss Marples, the ones with Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie, and I finally figured out why I don't like the ones with McKenzie as much. It's like they often have McKenzie having to almost beg people, especially the police and other authority figures, to believe her. It's kind of exhausting for me because it feels like it's the position women are put in so often. You say "this is happening" and people say "no it isn't" "you're imagining it" "it is but not like you think" etc, etc, infinity. It may be more realistic but it's just disheartening to see it played out on the show with Miss Marple, who's been portrayed as a fairly powerful older woman in the past. When McEwan played her, Miss Marple seemed to never end up in that position. She was a strategist who made allies and leveraged influence and manipulated the situation so she was never put in that position. In "4.50 from Paddington" you see an instance where a cop mocks her and she and the friend with her verbally rip his face off. So many of the female characters in the McEwan series are better written, more complex, less in need of rescue, more active in their situations.
* I read Ms. Marvel volume 1 and 2 and really loved it. I thought it was interesting when there was a line about wanting to take Kamala away from her family, and my reaction was immediately to get angry and think "No! Do not take this adorable person away from her family!" In most YA adventure stories, getting the kid away from their family is the jumping off point. But in these books the family members are such great, complex, realistic characters that they add a lot to the story and you just don't want to see them split up, you know how painful that would be to her parents.
* I need to start up Martha's Guide to TV Mysteries again, since I have a few more to add to it. I was watching both versions of the Miss Marples, the ones with Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie, and I finally figured out why I don't like the ones with McKenzie as much. It's like they often have McKenzie having to almost beg people, especially the police and other authority figures, to believe her. It's kind of exhausting for me because it feels like it's the position women are put in so often. You say "this is happening" and people say "no it isn't" "you're imagining it" "it is but not like you think" etc, etc, infinity. It may be more realistic but it's just disheartening to see it played out on the show with Miss Marple, who's been portrayed as a fairly powerful older woman in the past. When McEwan played her, Miss Marple seemed to never end up in that position. She was a strategist who made allies and leveraged influence and manipulated the situation so she was never put in that position. In "4.50 from Paddington" you see an instance where a cop mocks her and she and the friend with her verbally rip his face off. So many of the female characters in the McEwan series are better written, more complex, less in need of rescue, more active in their situations.
* I read Ms. Marvel volume 1 and 2 and really loved it. I thought it was interesting when there was a line about wanting to take Kamala away from her family, and my reaction was immediately to get angry and think "No! Do not take this adorable person away from her family!" In most YA adventure stories, getting the kid away from their family is the jumping off point. But in these books the family members are such great, complex, realistic characters that they add a lot to the story and you just don't want to see them split up, you know how painful that would be to her parents.
