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The Paths of Righteousness Lead to Many Worlds
The Paths of Righteousness
James Reasoner
various ebook formats $2.99, trade paper $8.99
If the name James Reasoner doesn’t come to mind when you think of contemporary science fiction authors, there’s a reason for that. Science fiction isn’t what he mainly writes. James Reasoner is a noted western and crime writer. If you like either of those genres and haven’t read him, you should check him out.
Science fiction has always been one of my favorite genres, in fact the only one I read for a while when I was a kid. So when I read about this collection on James’ blog, I quickly snagged myself a copy. Good thing I did, too. James Reasoner is a practitioner of the art form created when Urg first painted his version of the mammoth hunt on the cave wall; he’s a storyteller.
There are only five pieces in this book, which is something of a downer because I wasn’t ready for the book to end. Reasoner has a unique voice, and it comes through in the phrases his narrators choose and the way they describe things. You can also see the influence of the western writer side of Reasoner’s mind in some of the selections. “The Path of Righteousness” and “The Border Shift” have strong western overtones, especially the latter. “Bugeyes” deals with human-alien relations. “Terran Girls Make Wonderful Wives” is a noir PI story set on the Moon. The final selection, “Season of Storms” is set in a near future Texas in which the weather has gone wild.
The characters are likeable, and they have depth. The plots are straight forward science fiction adventures with heart. The first and last tales are set in Texas, and being (as far as I know) a life-long Texan, Reasoner captures the tone and voice many non-Texan writers miss when they attempt to set their stories in the Lone Star State.
The stories are serious, meaning they aren’t intended to be humorous or funny, but none of them have the dark, almost nihilistic tone that so much contemporary science fiction does, especially near future science fiction. They reminded me of the science fiction I grew up reading, the old fashioned kind where the author told a story, told it well, and didn’t try to beat me over the head with how clever he was with words or raise my social consciousness. In other words, I was entertained, which is the primary purpose of good fiction.
In his blog post announcing this collection, Reasoner mentioned that putting the book together had made him want to write more science fiction. I think that’s a swell idea. So, James, do you see that chair over there? Yes, that one next to the (choose all that apply: computer/typewriter/quill and parchment/clay tablet). Please sit down and get to work. Now.
Bill Crider posted the following photo on his blog earlier this year, and Scott Cupp passed it along to me. I’ve been looking for an excuse to do something with it either here or at Adventures Fantastic.. It’s from 2001, although I don’t know the venue. The writers pictured are Scott Cupp, James Reasoner, Bill Crider, and Joe Lansdale. A swell bunch of guys.
NaNoWriMo: It’s Over (Sort Of)
I say in spite of myself because I turned out to be my own biggest obstacle. This is by far the longest thing I’ve attempted. I didn’t plan it out in detail well enough. I usually have a general idea of where I want a story to end up. Getting there is just details. The devil, as they say, is in the details. This novel has three viewpoint characters, four if you count the captain who only appears in flashbacks at the end of the major sections. The characters are in separate locations when the book opens, and I alternate chapters featuring each of them. I found myself writing more than one chapter about a character, depending how well I understood that part of the character’s story arc in relation to the other story arcs. I would then go back and insert chapters where needed. I found this to be both a stressful and liberating way to write.
Anyhoo, I’ve not been blogging much in the last couple of weeks because I was trying to make the deadline. I’m going to step away from the novel for a few days, finish up a fantasy mystery novella that’s about 1500 words from being done, start reading some of the books that have been piling up. I’m also going to think about some details I didn’t work out very well before I started writing a month ago. I hope to finish the first draft of the novel over the holidays, get it to the beta readers, and get to work on the second book in the series. I’ve learned a lot about writing and how (not) to approach a novel, and I’m eager to put some of those things into practice.
Things I’m Thankful for
First of all, my family, both immediate and extended. (This includes the dogs.)
Our health.
Employment, both for me and my wife. And not just a job in my case, but something I find fulfilling. While I’m not sure it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life, I don’t dread going to work every day.
A place to live, food to eat, cars to drive.
Books to read. Lots and lots and lots of books to read. And vintage pulps. And comics and graphic novels. And opportunities to write.
The good things blogging has brought into my life: new friends, review copies of books from both authors and publishers, and outlet for my writing.
That I live in the greatest country in the world, where I am free to say what I like, read what I like, and worship God in the manner I see fit.
May God bless each and every one of you as much as He’s blessed me.
RIP, Anne McCaffery
Locus Online is reporting that SFWA Grand Master Anne McCaffery died at home in Ireland of a massive stroke on November 21, 2011. She was 85. McCaffery was author of the long-running Pern series. In addition to Pern, McCaffery was the author of a number of other series, which she often co-wrote with up and coming authors who went on to have significant careers. These authors include, but are not limited to, Jody Lynne Nye, Elizabeth Moon, Elizabeth Anne Scarborough, and Mercedes Lackey. McCaffery won a number of awards for her work, including the Nebula and Hugo (she was the first woman to win both). In 2006 she was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
Angry Robot Announces New Authors
** ANGRY ROBOT SIGNS TWO NEW “OPEN DOOR MONTH” AUTHORS **
Like most successful publishers, Angry Robot generally only accepts submissions through literary agencies. Earlier this year, however, the company ran a pilot programme to see how many unpublished – but talented – authors there were without representation. During March, Angry Robot invited all un-agented authors to submit completed manuscripts as part of an “Open Door Month”. Over 990 novels were submitted during that period.
Today, Angry Robot are delighted to announce the first acquisitions from the first Open Door Month. Two new authors, each with a minimum two book deal, have now joined the Angry Robot family.
Cassandra Rose Clarke was the first signing to come through this process. Her two novels for Angry Robot show the versatility of this important new talent.
‘The Mad Scientist’s Daughter’ is the heartbreaking story of the journey from childhood to adulthood, with an intriguing science fictional twist. And ‘The Assassin’s Curse’ is a fantastical romp, starring Ananna, a no-nonsense lady pirate, born into pirate royalty.
Clarke said: “I’m beyond excited to have Angry Robot publishing my first-ever novel, and not only because of the delightful coincidence that my novel involves a robot who is, on occasion, angry. Angry Robot’s reputation is stellar and their author list incredibly impressive – I’m humbled to be included amongst their ranks!”
We take a somewhat darker turn with a pair of books from Lee Collins – ‘The Dead of Winter’ and ‘She Returns From War’. Both novels follow Cora Oglesby, a bounty hunter with a reputation for working supernatural cases.
Collins said: “As excited as I am at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with Angry Robot’s outstanding authors, publication was really a secondary goal of my submitting to them. My primary reason was the hope, however slim, of cybernetic augmentation.”
Both deals were negotiated by Angry Robot’s editor, Lee Harris, who stated: “There is an enormous amount of talent out there, waiting to be discovered, and I am thrilled we have found two great new talents as part of our search.”
Both authors’ debut novels will be published by Angry Robot in autumn 2012, with their second books scheduled for spring 2013.
Following the success of the project, Angry Robot expects to run a similar Open Door period in spring 2013, details of which are to be confirmed at a later date.
Ok, that’s the end of the press release. Further details and author photos can be found on the Angry Robot website. Advanced reading copies of The Mad Scientist’s Daughter and The Dead of Winter will be available at some point. I’ll download them and post the reviews, here for the former and at Adventures Fantastic for the latter. Angry Robot is one of the more innovative publishers out there. I’m eager to see what new authors they’ve discovered.
NoNoWriMo: Week 1
On the whole, though, I’d say the first week has been a success. Taking a day or so off shouldn’t kill my momentum. I need to think about what each of the three viewpoint characters is going to go through next to get them where I ultimately want them to end up.
John Joseph Adams Buys Lightspeed and Fantasy Magazines
John Joseph Adams |
Prime Books announced today that it is selling both Lightspeed and Fantasy magazines to current editor John Joseph Adams. The sale is part of the expansion of Prime Books. Publisher Sean Wallace stated that the book publishing side of his job was taking more and more time. Adams is a highly respected editor not only of the magazine but of numerous anthologies as well. Adams issued the following statement: “It’s an exciting time to be involved in publishing. Models are changing and so is the readership, and online magazines have a better shot at sustainability than ever have before. I believe the possibilities for growth are tremendous, and I look forward to staying in the vanguard of this new frontier.”
With the announcement last week that Realms of Fantasy was closing again, it’s been an eventful week in sff periodical publishing. As I promised when I posted about RoF I’ll have more to say about these changes in a post later this week.
NaNoWriMo: Excerpt One
I’ve written what amounts to three chapters introducing three of the main viewpoint characters. I’ll introduce a significant fourth viewpoint character later in a flashback, whose present whereabouts will be a mystery for a while. None of the three characters I’ve introduced have any idea where they are or how they got there when we first meet them, nor do they know anything about the nature of the planet they’re on. Discovering that will be a major portion of the storyline. I don’t have a working title yet, still kicking a few ideas around.
Anyway, here’s what will probably be the first chapter, in rough draft form with little to no editing.