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Stephen Graff

Goodreads Author

Website

http://www.sgraffwriter.com

Twitter

sgraffwriter

Genre

Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Literature & Fiction

Member Since

July 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/sgraffwriter

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Stephen Graff is a full-time public school teacher living in Southern New Jersey with his wife and daughter. He has over 30 years experience as a writer and and educator, including working with new playwrights and helping them in the development of their work.

4 posts
Stephen Graff's Blog

Men With Principles

House republicans held hearings recently on the issue of health care and availability of free contraceptive drugs. On the first panel: not a single woman, and all the men present were/are opposed to White House policy on this issue. Besides the fact that the Republican Party is digging a huge ditch the size of the Amazon for itself (nearly 70% of Americans and 90% of women support the WH position) Read more of this blog post »

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Published on February 17, 2012 10:24 • Tags: church-and-state, contraceptives, dystopian, issa, politics, power-hungry

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Stephen Graff’s books

Average rating: 2.67 · 27 ratings · 13 reviews · 1 distinct work

River Dawn
by

Stephen Graff (Goodreads Author),

Joel Bahma (Photographer)

2.67 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions

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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

Stephen is Currently Reading

Stephen Graff rated a book it was amazing

Fireseed One (Fireseed #1)

by Catherine Stine (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

read in January 2012

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Stephen Graff said: " A THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING PAGE TURNER

Catherine Stine's dystopian novel FIRESEED ONE immediately pulls the reader into a strange, new world. The description of the setting--from the physical architecture of it to the natural land and seascapes--is its A THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING PAGE TURNER

Catherine Stine's dystopian novel FIRESEED ONE immediately pulls the reader into a strange, new world. The description of the setting--from the physical architecture of it to the natural land and seascapes--is itself compelling enough that it drives the story. I could see it in the next James Cameron film and, as setting is so important to a good dystopian story, it helps to set up the turning points in this novel. It also helps that Ms. Stine is an accomplished illustrator. Her visual depictions are shown throughout the novel. Good science fiction explores how technology will change. Some writers get too caught up in the details. Stine's descriptions are, just by themselves, worth reading and could be another book. She's clearly done her homework in researching how society might create food for itself in the event of environmental collapse. The classic dystopian elements are also in place. It's a world at war between the have and have nots. A place where authority hovers like an ominous shadow.

Like those imaginative science fiction masters Heinlein, Asimov, and D'Engle, Ms. Stine provides a techno-cool descriptive language interlaced with darkly humorous satiric asides to present this ravaged world, fighting environmental devastation. Human inhabitants struggle to survive, but many intrepid characters have managed to make out pretty well despite the harsh climates and rash of invasive species. Varik is the young narrator/protagonist, a young man still recovering from the mysterious death of his father. As the novel begins, he is attacked by a strange young woman, Marisa. He manages to capture and imprison her, and he is now trying to figure out who she is. Good writers are always careful to reveal just enough information and Stine understands this. There is a always a sense of mystery throughout. We can identify with Varik. What he doesn't know, we also don't know. And what he wants to find out, we also want to find out. We also want to know who Marisa is in the classic tradition of noir and detective books. Is she working for the enemy, the terrorists who may have killed Varik's father? Is she in love with their leader? Is she falling for Varik? This combination of attention to the right kind of detail and letting the story drive itself is the inner strength of FIRESEED ONE. As the novel progresses, the stakes get higher and the central mysteries--including the search for the key to the planet's survival, Fireseed One--deepen.

I was completely transported into the setting, taken aback by the boldness of the writing, and pulled along by a story that revealed itself in pieces--so that by the end the pieces could be assembled by a careful reader. A great reading choice for fans of science and dystopian fiction, and general readers looking for a literary work that is, at the same time, a thoroughly entertaining page turner. ...more "

Jan 27, 2012 12:30PM · see review

Stephen Graff rated a book really liked it

The Road

by Cormac McCarthy

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Stephen Graff said: " Tried to get through it twice, but it was just too dark. I like dark-tinged books, but McCarthy's a little too careful about keeping out the light, even though there is grace and hope in the actual father-son relationship. ...more "

Oct 23, 2011 03:27AM · see review

Stephen Graff rated a book really liked it

Beekeeping for Dummies

by Howland Blackiston

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Oct 23, 2011 03:24AM

Quotes by Stephen Graff (?)

“Minutes are sometimes like eternities if they are let go.”
― Stephen Graff, River Dawn

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Stephen’s Friend Comments

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message 4: by Book Club

Mar 17, 2012 07:29AM

Add your books to Book Club Reading List today and
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message 3: by Robert

Mar 15, 2012 07:13AM

Thanks for accepting my friend request, Stephen.

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message 2: by Stephen

Feb 02, 2012 02:49AM

David wrote: "Glad to be added to your friend list, Mr. Graff. I see I've met a fellow educator. (I'm substitute teaching at present). And your background of SF and playwriting sounds interesting."

I used to love teaching. I still like working with kids, but the whole standards issue has gotten very wearying--for teachers and students--in that it doesn't allow for creativity in the classroom. Nice to meet you.

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message 1: by David

Jan 23, 2012 04:36PM

Glad to be added to your friend list, Mr. Graff. I see I've met a fellow educator. (I'm substitute teaching at present). And your background of SF and playwriting sounds interesting.

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