Books Received in November and December
From Wizards of the Coast (Click on the images to order your copy today!) Forget The Secret! Turn… [more]
Plagued by Small Demons: Art or Ad?
Plagued By Small Demons – Art or Ad by Gregory Pellechi Gregory Pellechi is a freelance writer… [more]
The Importance of Contextualization When Reading Classic SF
The Importance of Contextualization When Reading Classic SF by Bryan Thomas Schmidt In a recent… [more]
Guest Post: Five Things You Should Never Do in Epic Fantasy
Five Things You Should Never Do in Epic Fantasy K.V. Johansen When Shaun asked me to write this… [more]
Latest Podcasts
AISFP 158 – Susan Cartwright and 2011 books . . . sort of
Susan Cartwright joins us to discuss her science fiction novel WOLF DAWN, a book filled with body swapping, body modification, love, revenge and a quest to solve the human condition. Also, Brent and Shaun discuss books from 2011.
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AISFP 157 – EDGE Books: Brian Hades, Nancy Kilpatrick, Barb Galler-Smith, Erika Holt and more.
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing encourages, produces and promotes thought-provoking and well written science fiction and fantasy literature. Moses sat down with publisher Brian Hades, editor Nancy Kilpatrick and authors Rebekah K. Roe, Susan Florist, Barb Galler-Smith, Erika Holt and Lawrence C. Conley.
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AISFP 156 – Dan Wells
Dan Wells sat down with Sandra Wickham at the World Fantasy Convention to discuss family mortuaries, getting inside the head of a psychopath, researching serial killers (and mortuaries) for fun, serial killer rules, his work being optioned and much more.
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AISFP 155 – John Jarrold and Tone Milazzo
John and Moses discuss John’s long history in publishing, including his prolific career working with the biggest talents of science fiction and fantasy, including Ray Bradbury, Terry Brooks and Robert Jordan. Tone Milazzo also joins us to discuss the writing and publication process of his first novel, PICKING UP THE GHOST.
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AISFP 154 – David Bischoff, Bookstores, Feedback
David Bischoff joins us to discuss writing for STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, changes in publishing, the founding of Hotspur Publishing, his comedic tribute to TWILIGHT and his hope to discover new talent.
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AISFP 153 – N.K. Jemisin
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in AISFP land. N.K. Jemisin joins Moses in two parts from the World Fantasy Convention to discuss her novels both current and forthcoming. Also covered: pajama parties, drinking from sippy cups, her writing journey, writing from the perspective of a god, how trilogies work, and much more.
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AISFP 152 – WFC Extravaganza! Rothfuss, Lynch, Redick and More
An embarrassment of riches in this episode! Okay, we’re not that embarrassed. Interviews with Patrick Rothfuss, Robert V. S. Redick, Scott Lynch, Elizabeth Bear, Robin Sullivan, K.W. Jeter, Nancy Green, Jonathan Wood, Connie Willis, Collette Vernon, Laurie Tom, Eric James Stone and Louise Marley.
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AISFP 151 – Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson sat down with Moses at the World Fantasy Convention to discuss his massive epic fantasy series. Topics include: the elements that cause societies to fail, readers fulfilling the Hero’s Journey through the accumulation of emotional context, the purpose of Homer’s work, inconsistencies in large stories, role playing games, feeling as if the muse had left him, and so much more.
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AISFP 150 – Simon Royle, Nook, Feedback
Simon Royle joins us from across the globe to discuss his dystopian thriller TAG. Topics include: sacrificing liberty for the sake of security, modern day technology, William Gibson, and his experience self-publishing.
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AISFP 149 – Michael A. Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole sat down with our Moses Siregar at World Fantasy 2011 to discuss his controversial “House Slave” blog posts. Do publishers treat their writers as little more than slaves, and are writers making a big mistake by working with publishers? Listen to hear Michael’s thoughts. Also, they discuss Christmas of 2011 possibly being the final big gasp of publishing, the qualified buyer, the J.K. Rowling demographic, the future of bookstores and more.
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AISFP 148 – Joshua Bilmes
The first of our World Fantasy Convention 2011 interviews features agent Joshua Bilmes, the President of JABberwocky Literary Agency. Moses spoke with Joshua about his recent blog post that discusses whether ebooks are killing the publishing industry,which led to some discussion of agency model ebook pricing.
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AISFP 147 – Ebooks, Book Review, Feedback
We discuss several topics: Joshua Bilmes’ blog post asking if ebooks are killing publishing, the possibility of an 80 percent ebook world in two-five years, and a review of MANTA’S GIFT, by Timothy Zahn.
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AISFP 146 – R.A. Salvatore
R.A. Salvatore joins us to discuss his new Drizzt Do’Urden novel NEVERWINTER, a book that also helps set the stage for the forthcoming Neverwinter game. We also discuss writing comics with his son, working with Todd McFarlane, the new board game based on his novels, the future of libraries and sports, of course.
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AISFP 145 – Charles M. Pulsipher, DC Comics, Feedback
We talk with Charles Pulsipher about wormholes and string theory while also delving into the Barnes and Noble/Amazon Showdown over DC Comics. Plus: news, feedback and Kickstarter.
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News and Reviews
The Importance Of Risk Taking In Fiction Writing
I once had a fortune cookie which read: “Some good things will happen, but there will be bad, too.” I thought: now there’s a writer who’s afraid of risks. Seriously. They covered all their bases and what was the result? A pretty unsatisfying fortune. I mean, I knew that already. Where’s the excitement in that? [...]
The Problem With Moral Abiguity In Fiction
Books are powerful. Fantasy is powerful. I think books are tools and fantasy a medium filled with rich possibilities.
Books Received in November and December
Need a last minute gift idea? Check out the titles we received in November and December! Most wonderful time of the year, indeed. Titles from Resnick, Sawyer, Sanderson, Mayer and more.
Plagued by Small Demons: Art or Ad?
Gregory Pellechi introduces us to Small Demons and examines the impact of product placement on literature: the good, the not so good, and the potentially ugly.
The Importance of Contextualization When Reading Classic SF
In a recent blog post, author/podcaster Mur Lafferty was lamenting her difficulty with reading classic SF and how hard it is to admit that to others in the field because the classics are so revered. While the comments quickly frustrated her and went in directions which led her to cut them off, the final comment really sparked something for me I’d like to discuss here.
REVIEW: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
One could summarize The Magicians as follows: it is a coming of age novel in which a boy discovers the magical lands he read about and longed for as a child are real. This assessment would certainly be true, but it would also do a grave injustice to this complex and compelling novel.
Is There Room for Positive Stories in Science Fiction and Fantasy?
I believe there’s room for stories that entertain first, teach second. All writers project our own worldviews and agendas on our work, through our characters and the situations in which we choose to place them. But all too often these days, I find myself finishing books with an emptiness and discouragement I’d hoped they’d help erase.
Books Received for October 2011
New titles from Pyr SF, Tor Books, Orbit, Another Sky Press and a game from Wizards of the Coast
Guest Post: Why I Like Old Fashioned Heroes
Bryan Thomas Schmidt, author of THE WORKER PRINCE, joins us to discuss why he likes old fashioned heroes and what our heroes say about our society.
REVIEW: all these things i’ve done by Gabrielle Zevin
Set in a dystopian New York City, ALL THESE THINGS I’VE DONE tells the story of Anya Balanchine, the 16 year old daughter of the city’s most famous, deceased mob boss. In this future world, though, it isn’t booze or drugs that Anya’s Family runs, but another now-illegal commodity: chocolate.
Guest Post: Five Things You Should Never Do in Epic Fantasy
Medieval Scholar and fantasy author K.V. Johansen presents a wonderful, funny and insightful article on what writers should never put into their epic fantasies, starting with baled hay.
REVIEW – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
In the future, the world is not a pleasant place. Overpopulation and lack of resources have made it a squalor and like many people, Wade Watts escapes his miserable life by logging into the OASIS – a virtual reality environment of unprecedented scale and utopia.
Books Received for September 2011
We neglected the Books section this past year, and we are committed to correcting that error. Now, here is a look at the books we looked at in September. To learn more about the books sent to use by publishers this past month, simply click on the image to open the Amazon page for that [...]
REVIEW – Deathless by Catherynne Valente
Based on Russian history and folktales, DEATHLESS plunges the reader into worlds sometimes beautiful, often horrific, and always grimly fantastic.
REVIEW – In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
Though iced over with a veneer of Sci Fi, this story boils down to a romance – part Darcy and Elizabeth’s delicious verbal fencing and part steamy bodice-ripper, all shadowed over with the looming efforts of doomed Mary Tudor to re-Catholicize England.
Win Free Books from Brenda Cooper!
Because we just can’t give away too many books, we are pleased to announce two autographed novels from Brenda Cooper are now up for grabs for AISFP listeners. Brenda has made available copies of her new fantasy thriller MAYAN DECEMBER and her exciting science fiction adventure, THE SILVER SHIP AND THE SEA.
REVIEW – The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia
Though it takes place in an urban setting infused with magic, SECRET HISTORY OF MOSCOW is unlike any urban fantasy I’ve read. It’s strange, and drifty, and thoughtful. Sad. Dreamlike. In fact, the book is much like the Russian fairytales from which its author draws inspiration.
Review: Briarpatch by Tim Pratt
Tim Pratt’s latest novel, Briarpatch, is dark (as any story with suicide as a major plot point must be), whimsical (it contains a vignette that’s a pastiche of Winnie the Poo as a zombie apocalypse apocalypse) and it’s tightly satisfying (this is doorstop epic with an economy of prose).
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