Author Archives: Keith West

NaNoWriMo: Day 1

Well, I got 2,000 words done today.  That’s not counting tomorrow’s exam that I wrote this afternoon.  If I can get between 1500 and 2,000 words completed every day, not counting any revisions, then I should make my goal, which is the minimum 50,000.  Since this is my first year to participate, I’ll have a better feel for what is a reasonable goal next year.  I know I won’t be able to match that number every day, but if I shoot for it, I’ll get closer than if I don’t.  I plan to write more than that on weekends and over Thanksgiving. 

So far, so good.  I won’t post a word count every day, but I will from time to time.  When I get a good chapter done, I plan to post it as a sample.  I’ve got several different viewpoint characters on different parts of the planet when the novel opens that will have to be introduced, so I’ll pick the introductory chapter I like best.  Tonight’s chapter isn’t quite done, so I figure at the rate I’m writing, a chapter every couple of days is what I’m most likely to get done.

NaNoWriMo Starts in 2 Days

National Novel Writing Month, usually called NaNoWriMo, starts on Tuesday.  It’s a month long project in which aspiring writers attempt to write a novel in a month.  For the month of November, I’m going to be focusin on my personal writing.  That’s not going to leave a lot of time for blogging, reading, or much else.  From time  to time I’ll post about how the writing is going as well as provide an excerpt or two.  I’ll still be doing some blog posts on both Adventures Fantastic and Futures Past and Present, but they’ll mostly be devoted to short fiction or brief news or opinion pieces.  I’ll review the novel I’m currently reading, and that will probably be it as far as novels go for a few weeks.

In case you’re wondering what my novel is about, it’s a sword and planet adventure with a lot of hard science thrown in.  Think of a blend of Leigh Brackett, Robert E. Howard, and Larry Niven with a dash of Jack Vance.  At this point, I’ll be focusing on two or three different characters from the same space ship trying to survive at different places under very different circumstances on the same alien planet.  Of course, I could change my mind and give each character their separate novel.  I’ll just have to wait and see. 

Fifty thousand words is the minimum required to “win” NaNoWriMo.  I know I can write that much; the thing that will be hard will be writing that much in one month.  Thankfully the Thanksgiving holidays should allow me some time to catch up if I fall behind.

Indie Books: A Tsunami of….?

You hear a lot of talk in the publishing world these days about indie published ebooks.  Some think they’re nothing short of the salvation of western civilization because they allow authors to connect directly to readers.  Others, to a large extent publishers, editors, and agents, insist that indie publishing will bury us all under a tsunami of crap.  And of course you every possible position in between those two extremes.

A couple of days ago, Passive Guy at The Passive Voice, posted something about a publisher reporting ebook sales.  In the comments section, Mick Griggs included a link to this essay.  (Thanks, PG and Mick.)

Mark Williams, the author of that essay insists, quite convincingly, that instead of  a tsunami of crap, we’re starting to see a tsunami of excellence.  If you have an ereader, are thinking about buying an ereader, or even interested in what effect ereaders and epublishing will have on your future book buying, you should check that essay out.

I decided to do a little commentary myself, based on some things I’ve posted lately over at Adventures Fantastic.

I’ve looked at four indie ebooks in the last month.  Those books were Tisarian’s Treasure, Age of Giants:  Awakening, Dark Heroes, and Stones.  The links in the previous sentence are to the reviews. 

Now, this analysis is completely unscientific; statistically speaking, my sample size is too small to be significant. 

Still, as a snapshot, it is an informative look at what’s going on in the adventure and fantasy fields.  Two of the books, Tisarian’s Treasure and Dark Heroes, are available in print editions as well as electronic formats.  The question is, are these publications crap?

When dealing with electronic publishing, crap can be defined two ways.  One is the quality of the writing itself.  The other is the formatting.  I’ll address the latter first, since formatting is something that can be changed fairly easily after publication compared to print books.  With the partial exception of Dark Heroes, with which I had some issues in regard to no table of contents, all the books listed above were well formatted, had decent to great cover art that reflected the content, and were well laid out and organized.

The quality of the works varied a little, because Dark Heroes was an anthology and some of the stories didn’t resonate with me as well as others, but all were at the worst well written and highly readable.  The better written stories flowed, grabbed me, and made me want to read more.  Given that these books started at $0.99, and most major publishers’ electronic books start at $6.99 or $7.99, I’d say any one of the four I’ve looked at are a better buy than almost anything coming out of major New York houses.

Like I said, I realize my sample size isn’t a representative cross-section of what’s out there.  But I want to argue that it doesn’t have to be.  I’m old enough to know what I like.  I’m going to pick up books that I think will appeal to my tastes and preferences.  That doesn’t mean everything I read will, but I load the odds in my favor.  I also like a lot of variety and am not afraid to try something new from time to time.  Indie publishing provides that at affordable prices.

When was the last time you saw something really new come out of New York publishing?  The majority of books from major publishers look fairly interchangeable to me. 

Is there crap in the world of indie publishing?  Yes.  Sturgeon’s Law, remember?  But clearly there’s excellence out there, too.  New York publishing has gotten so afraid of taking risks that we’re being given a steady diet of the same old thing.  Indie writers are finding an audience that they haven’t been able to find through major houses.  More power to them.

Oh, and that tsunami of crap that New York publishers, editors, and agents say we’ll be drowning in?  I agree, we are drowning in a tsunami of crap.  I just don’t think it’s coming from indie publishing.

Amazon Launches New Imprint Focusing on Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

Amazon announced this morning that it is launching a new science fiction, fantasy, and horror imprint, 47North.  Several top names have signed on, including Dave Duncan,  Neal Stephenson, and Greg Bear.  The imprint will publish in Kindle, print, and audio formats.  The entire press release can be found here.

Amazing Stories Trademark Bought

Steve Davidson (Crotchety Old Fan) has acquired the trademark to Amazing Stories.  He is looking at relaunching the magazine online with containing new and reprint stories with a strong social networking component.  You can read his press release here.  There are further updates here and here.  The website for the magazine is up and is http://amazingstoriesmag.com/  There’s not much there yet, but check back frequently.  I used to pick up Amazing Stories regularly and am thrilled it will be coming back.  Thanks, Steve, and best of luck. 

Report on Fencon

Fencon VII/Deep South Con 49 was held in Dallas (well really, Addison), TX on September 23-25.  While I can’t say that a good time was had by all, a good time was certainly had by me.  Everything had a steampunk theme, with many of the guests being steampunk authors.

As usual, there was much more on the programming than I had time to attend.  I didn’t make it to either slide show by the artist guests, Vincent DiFate or Stephan Martiniere. Not because I don’t like those artists.  I do.  It was just that there were other things conflicting with their slideshows.

Rather than try to sum up the whole convention, I’ll hit some of the high points of the events I attended, then post some pictures.

My favorite panel was the one Saturday afternoon devoted to Phineas and Ferb.  Yes, yes it was.  It was the most fun I’ve had at a panel in years.  I hadn’t had a chance to check the schedule in detail before I left, so it was only coincidence when I put on my Perry the Platypus T-shirt that morning.  Really.

I met Phillipa Ballantine (see my review of Geist) and Tee Morris.  They were a lot of fun.  I hope the convention brings them back.  In addition to being two of the nicest people, they were also funny, high energy, and more approachable than many professionals I’ve encountered.

Other good panels include remembrances of the Shuttle, discussions of near space exploration (more than I was able to attend), and a panel on publishing scams that could have been twice as long and still not exhausted the subject.

I got a chance to visit a little with Lou Anders, editor of Pyr books.

There were plenty of room parties, although I found it offensive that the hotel posted a uniformed security guard in the hall near where the parties were being held.

Finally, one of the things I like most about Fencon is there is an entire track of programming devoted to music.  This, I’ve discovered, is a great way to keep me financially solvent  out of the dealer’s room occupied when there’s not a panel or reading I want to attend.  I just read and listen to the music.

I had a good time and came back much more relaxed than when I went.  (I really, really, really needed the break)

Phineas and Ferb Panel

Toastmaster Brad Denton signs for a fan.
Tee Morris and Phillipa Ballantine
Lou Antonelli channels Harlan Ellison by writing in public.

Attendees came from the North, South, East, and West

Publishing scams panel
Steampunking

Who’s Who in the pictures, if not identified in the captions:

1.  l. to r. :  Gloria Oliver, Shanna Swendson, Perry the Platypus, Cathy Clamp, Todd Caldwell, Rhonda Eudaly
2.  Brad Denton and Steven Silver
5.  unidentified
6.  L. to r.:  A. Lee Martinez, Rachel Caine, Tee Morris, Cathy Clamp, Selina Rosen, Amy Sisson
7.  unidentified

A Roiling Adventure

Roil
Trent Jamieson
Angry Robot Books
$7.99, 432 p. mass market paperback
$5.99 ebook

The publisher’s website classifies this one as fantasy, but I’m going to pick nits and call it science fiction (which is why I’m reviewing it here rather than over on Adventures Fantastic), or as a compromise, science fantasy.  Unless I misread something, this one takes place on another planet thousands of years in the future, after at least one civilization’s global collapse.  In other words, Roil is science fiction that reads like fantasy.

I’ve never read William Hope Hodgson’s The Night Land, but from what I’ve read about it, I suspect there are similarities between that work and this one.  The subtitle of the book, or rather the title of the series, is The Nightbound Land, after all.   In addition, Roil has elements of steam punk with a dash of pulp adventure thrown in.  There are airships, but they’re organic, living things.  There are examples of advanced technology in a milieu of Victorian era science.  There’s a man who is at least one thousand years old.  There are strange races that are only partly human.  And a cast of Dickensian characters.  If any of these appeal to you, then you should check this book out.

Things aren’t well when the book opens.  David has just seen his father murdered by political enemies.  One of the few remaining political allies, Cadell, is his only hope of survival.  But Cadell is the man who killed David’s uncle.

Far to the south, deep within the Roil, Margaret is the only survivor of the city of Tate.  Now she has to make her way hundreds of miles north, out of the Roil.  Fortunately, if anyone can survive the roilbeasts, she can.  That’s her on the cover.

For David, Cadell, and Margaret, things are going to get worse before they get better.  If they get better.  The Roil is a region of heat, inhabited by bizarre beasts, that has been spreading slowly northward for years.  And it’s about to pick up the pace…

Things move fast.  The roilbeasts are really unique, especially the Witmoths.  Those were just plain creepy.  And the Vermatisaur was cool.  The image of one nesting in the tower in an abandoned city was one of the strongest in the novel.  I hope one shows up in the next book.  There’s plenty of mystery about how things got the way they are, and Jamieson unveils things at a nice, steady rate, so that the reader is drawn into the story deeper and deeper the more he reads, just like being lured into a trap.  The characters grow and change, and their relationships don’t remain static.  And there’s no guarantee they will all survive, adding to the suspense.

This book was a little different from what I’ve been reading over the last few years.  It had a much more old fashioned feel to it, as though I were reading a Victorian or Edwardian novel.  That’s a good thing, and for a number of reasons.  Not least of which was the fact there were several places Jamieson could have inserted a sex scene and didn’t.  Coupled with the low amount of profanity, that makes this a novel that could be given to younger readers, building the author an audience that will probably outlive him.  While not exactly YA, it’s got enough cool stuff in it that teens and preteens would enjoy it, as well as characters they could identify with.

Intelligent, well-read adults will enjoy it, too.  I normally put up a link to Amazon when I review a book, but that feature doesn’t seem to be working at the moment.  Instead, I’ll leave you with a sample chapter, courtesy of Angry Robot Books.


 

Long Looks at Short Fiction: "D.O.C.S." by Neal Barrett, Jr.

“D.O.C.S.” by Neal Barrett, Jr.
Asimov’s Science Fiction
September 2011

I know, I know, this is the previous issue, not the current one.  It’s still available at Fictionwise.  I’m behind on my reading, so sue me.  Most of you have a stack of things to be read just like I do.  Are you caught up?  I didn’t think so.

Before you read further, be aware this post contains spoilers.

The D.O.C.S. of the title is an acronym for Department of Curative Science.  It’s not a nice outfit.  They don’t practice the type of medicine you want if you’re sick.  For that you go to a doktr.  The doktrs are required to keep detailed notes on people’s medical conditions, which are reported to DOCS.  If they can’t be helped, then all medical care is cut off.  “Denied furtherance of medical intervention” is what it’s called. 

In other words, the government run medical care determines who lives or dies. 

The story concerns a boy whose mother is on the list.  It’s not a happy story.  Rather it’s a warning of where we could be heading.  “D.O.C.S.” is short, so I’ll not spoil any more of it for you.

End of spoilers.

I will, however, make the following general comments on the story.  It’s told from the viewpoint of Bobby, who seems to be a preteen boy when the story opens.  He’s aged considerably by the closing line.  While I often have reservations about stories told from a child’s viewpoint (they tend to be somewhat passive), this is a perfect viewpoint of this tale.  Barrett uses it to build suspense as Bobby has to try to make sense of events he doesn’t completely understand but knows are bad, very bad. 

Barrett’s prose, as usual, is compelling, pulling the reader into the events.  This one has all the punch of the first time you slammed back a shot of good single malt.

Neal Barrett, Jr. is a unique voice in the world of fantastic literature.  If you haven’t read him, you need to rectify that omission ASAP.  This is a perfect place to start.

Update

It’s been a while since I posted here, and I regret that.  I’ve been swamped with classes starting this week.  My job duties have changed with the new semester, so I’ve got a whole new set of plates to juggle.  Also, I have an out of town job interview on Monday that I’ve been trying to find time to prepare for.  After I get back, I should start posting again.  My goal when I set this blog up was to try to post at least once a week.  When things settle down, I should be able to meet that deadline at least part of the time.

Congratulations to the Hugo Award Winners

The Hugos were given out last night at Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention, in Reno, Nevada.

The winners are:

Best Novel:                      Blackout/All Clear                             Connie Willis

Best Novella:                   The Lifecycle of Software Objects      Ted Chiang

Best Novellette:                “The Emperor of Mars”                        Allen M. Steele

Best Short Story:              “For Want of a Nail”                            Mary Robinette Kowal

Best Related Work            Chicks Dig Time Lords                      Lynne M. Thomas
                                                                                           and Tara O’Shea, eds.

Best Graphic Story           Girl Genius Volume 10:                        Phil and Kaja
                                                                                            Folio, art by Phil Folio

Best Dramatic Presentation , Long Form:                Inception

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form:                Doctor Who:  “The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang”

Best Professional Editor, Long Form:                      Lou Anders

Best Professional Editor, Short Form:                     Sheila Williams

Best Professional Artist:                                         Shaun Tan

Best Semiprozine:                                                  Clarkesworld

Best Fanzine:                                                         The Drink Tank

Best Fan Artist:                                                      Brad W. Foster

Also, the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, which is not a Hugo, went to Lev Grossman

Futures Past and Present/Adventures Fantastic would like to congratulate all the nominees and especially the winners.  A list of winners and all nominees can be found here.