How Did A Nice Girl Like Me End Up With An Alien Like You?

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How Did A Nice Girl Like Me End Up With An Alien Like You?

You thought November was all turkeys and parades, but I’m telling you now, November is Sci-Fi Month! So…

Throw an alien in the pot and add some spaceships to that parade!

As some of you know, I like science fiction. (Maybe my twitter name gave it away?) Anyway, I’m not a scientist, nor did I grow up with geeks. In fact, I grew up in an artsy-fartsy family full of musicians, photographers and—drama! While I spent plenty of hours watching the Robinson family while they were Lost in Space, I spent many more hours dancing around the house to Johann Strauss’ Blue Danube waltz or singing along with songs composed by the likes of Rogers and Hammerstein

OMG! I just realized—I was a Glee girl!

Why, then, do all my fictitious ramblings involve aliens? My first picture, Floridius Bloom

Narrated by Bryan Kennedy

and the Planet of Gloom, takes place on another planet (The planet of Gloom, Obviously… although it’s really a lovely little planet populated with starshines and wigglyfluffs). My first novel, WHEELS, involves H.G. Wells and, well, another planet. And, while the novel I’m currently writing takes place on Earth… it’s not exactly this Earth, but rather Urth and, well…it’s complicated.

The truth is, I like both science fiction and fantasy, though science fiction that is not too hardcore and fantasy that is not too full of fairies—especially fairy princesses.

Disney help me—I don’t like fairy princesses!

I believe it started with C.S. Lewis and Narnia; which, though fantasy, led me to read his Perelandra series—definitely science fiction. Next, came the Hobbit. I know, I know…once again it’s fantasy; but, while I was making my way through Middle Earth, my father and brothers were watching the original Star Trek series on TV. The men in my family may have moved on from Star Trek, but I managed to become a fan of every Star Trek incarnation since.

For me, the genres of science fiction and fantasy aren’t about aliens or dwarves, they’re about imagination and escape. My best friend’s favorite book involves a depressed boy setting himself on fire. I’d rather escape the pain of everyday and read a story about a boy who can control fire! Sure, science fiction and fantasy are often dark, but at least that darkness is far, far away in another galaxy.

Most important—the spaceships (or wizards) that take you there are really cool!

So anyway, mark you calendar: November is Sci-fi Month. Then, check back next Tuesday for an interview with science fiction author and blogger, John Guy Collick. We’ll be discussing his new novel Thumb, one of the most imaginative pieces of world building I’ve read in a light year. J

In the meantime, if you love Science Fiction and want more ways to celebrate, check out following list of bloggers participating in Sci-fi Month: