The Quiet At The End of The World

 Wow. Five out of five stars for "The Quiet At The End of The World" by Lauren James. Here's what I loved:

• It's SF utopian / distopian, and we honestly need more novels in this genre.
• It's YA without the horror of The Hunger Games. I mean, I love The Hunger Games, but I struggle that ten-year olds read it.
• It's YA but also for adults.
• The book is incredibly well-written. The action starts on page one. The world feels real. The characters are loveable. All in all: unputdownable.
• There is no antagonist. Instead of the all-too-common man-versus-man, this is man-versus-environment. Or, in this case, two teeneagers trying to stop the end of the world as they know it.
• Best of all, it's one of those books that make you think about what it means to be alive.

Blurb:

Lowrie and Shen are the youngest people on the planet after a virus caused global infertility. Closeted in a pocket of London and doted upon by a small, ageing community, the pair spend their days mudlarking for artefacts from history and looking for treasure in their once-opulent mansion.

Their idyllic life is torn apart when a secret is uncovered that threatens not only their family but humanity’s entire existence. Lowrie and Shen face an impossible choice: in the quiet at the end of the world, they must decide who to save and who to sacrifice . . .

Titanium Noir

So, "Titanium Noir". Reading it I kept forgetting it's by Nick Harkaway, because the SF whodunnit flavour made me think of John Scalzi's "Locked In" series. This is what you need to know:

• It's really good.
• It's smaller than the author's "Gone away world" - also easier to figure out what's going on.
• It's a fun book.
• It'll make you think.

Blurb

Cal Sounder is a detective working for the police on certain very sensitive cases. So when he’s called in to investigate a homicide at a local apartment, he’s surprised by the routineness of it all. But when he arrives on scene, Cal soon learns that the victim—Roddy Tebbit, an otherwise milquetoast techie—is well over seven feet tall. And although he doesn’t look a day over thirty, he is ninety-one years old. Tebbit is a Titan—one of this dystopian, near-future society’s genetically altered elites. And this case is definitely Cal’s thing.

There are only a few thousand Titans worldwide, thanks to Stefan Tonfamecasca’s discovery of the controversial T7 genetic therapy, which elevated his family to godlike status. T7 turns average humans into near-immortal distortions of themselves—with immense physical proportions to match their ostentatious, unreachable lifestyles. A dead Titan is big news . . . a murdered Titan is unimaginable. But these modified magnates are Cal’s specialty. In fact, his own ex-girlfriend, Athena, is a Titan. And not just any—she is Stefan’s daughter, heir to the massive Tonfamecasca empire.  

As the murder investigation intensifies, Cal begins to unravel the complicated threads of what should have been a straightforward case, and it becomes clear he’s on the trail of a crime whose roots run deep into the dark heart of the world.

"Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro

"Klara and the Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro is speculative fiction book that delves into the nuances of what near future could bring. Set in a future both familiar and fantastical, the story centers around Klara, an Artificial Friend designed with exceptional observational skills. Through her eyes we discover a world where technology meets human emotion in unexpected ways.

Ishiguro's novel is a timely exploration of the heart's capacity for affection, the enigma of artificial intelligence, and the eternal question: What makes a life worth living and remembering? 

The reviewers seem to love or hate this book. What do you think?

 

Travel by Bullet (The Dispatcher, #3) by John Scalzi

For various reasons, I started the Dispatcher series with book number 3, but "Travel by Bullet" works well as a stand-alone SF thriller. It's a typical Scalzi, with a fast-moving plot, brilliant dialogue and likeable characters. For fans and newbies alike.

Blurb

The world has changed. Now, when someone is murdered, they almost always come back to life—and there are professionals, called "dispatchers," who kill in order to save lives, to give those near the end a second chance. Tony Valdez is a dispatcher, and he has never been busier.

But for as much as the world has changed, some things have stayed the same. Greed, corruption and avarice are still in full swing. When Tony is called to a Chicago emergency room by an old friend and fellow dispatcher, he is suddenly and unwillingly thrown into a whirlpool of schemes and plots involving billions of dollars, with vast caches of wealth ranging from real estate to cryptocurrency up for grabs.

All Tony wants to do is keep his friend safe. But it’s hard to do when friends keep secrets, enemies offer seductive deals, and nothing is ever what it seems. The world has changed... but the stakes are still life and death.

Project Hail Mary

"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir is a fantastic read. The author has done the impossible: written a book that's even better than his previous bestseller "The Martian".

This novel has everything: the heart, the pace, the science, the unexpected yet perfect ending.

Whether you're into SF, think you might like to try an SF book, or are vehemently against SF, you should read it.

Ready Player One

If you haven't read "Ready player one" by Ernest Cline yet, try it. You will love it if:

• You remember the 80s fondly.
• You liked video games.
• You watched 80s movies.
• You played text adventure games.
• You’re into SF and VR.

Premise: The 80s have been recreated in virtual reality, and now a treasure hunt is on: for a fortune in money, but also for the ownership of the virtual reality and for the chance to save it from a greedy corporation hell-bent on changing the setting forever. The plot is one gigantic video game / treasure hunt / puzzle.

 

Young Adult level, a bit too much swearing for young young-adults. A romance subplot. Because the plot is a virtual reality game, any deux ex machina devices should be forgiven. J

The Man in the High Castle - TV series

Too dark for me.

The Martian

It's not about the plot. We can all predict the plot from the trailer or even the poster. But it's all about the how: how do you survive, how do you get food, how do you science your way back home.

Humans, the TV series

I watched the first episode of Humans. So far, intrigued.

Interstellar

Interstellar is an interesting movie. Slow but not boring. Unusual but not weird. Long but not lengthy. It looks like yet another space-set movie, and yet it's highly original.

I'm glad I saw it.

Wool - The Silo Trilogy

Wool by Hugh Howey is the first book in the Silo Trilogy. A post-apocalyptic Earth. A subterranean city. An evil IT department. And the most unusual love story.

Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett

You know, I'm very pleasantly surprised by Raising Steam. It's almost as though old Terry's back. It's great to return to Ankh-Morpork where Nobby is Nobby, Vimes is Vimes and Vetinari is Vetinari - or is he? Having a steam train in Discworld is a logical step in the series, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

Thank you, amazon.com!

This was kind of awesome. I received an email today with my own book suggested for purchase. Yes, amazon.com, you're right. The book is definitely to my liking, LOL.

Cloudy Cloud Atlas

Anybody else confused by Cloud Atlas, the movie? I couldn’t get through the book (the narration style didn’t suit me), and I watched the first half of the movie with avid interest and a complete lack of understanding what on earth was going on.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the acting, loved the settings, was riveted by the various threads of the story (the futuristic Seoul being my favourite), but as far as putting them all together went, no luck.

Here are some links to help you decipher this brilliant yet baffling story:

• http://au.eonline.com/news/357482/cloud-atlas-five-things-to-know-before-seeing-the-trippy-flick
• http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/guide-to-the-characters-and-connections-of-cloud-atlas-confused.html
• http://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/six-keys-to-cloud-atlas
• http://io9.com/still-confused-by-cloud-atlas-infographic-featurette-505751083

Oblivion

Not enough SF movies get made. And too many of the ones that do get made think they have to be all action and not enough mood and setting and plot. So I'm very pleased to report that Oblivion with Tom Cruise met all the criteria for a good SF story, with amazing visuals as a handy bonus.

The Seventh Taboo - review

A beautiful one compliments of "Long and Short Reviews":

"... Clones are identical? Clones are the same sex? The future stretches the scientific boundaries until even the people of that time aren't sure what can be achieved.

In a world of virtual reality, some workmates decide to play an illegal Face to Face game. This is when Jade and Lorri-Ann meet. They are immediately attracted to each other and Lorri-Ann wonders if she has met her soul mate, but realizes this can't be as they are different genders.

In a world where the young and cloned have live-in monitors, these two young people steal moments to investigate and maybe advance their attraction for each other.

Although short this story is full of mystery. Jade and Lorri-Ann combine their skills to outwit their mentors and search the files for clues to their origins...."

Read more here: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/seventh-taboo-by-yvonne-eve-walus.html

The Seventh Taboo - SF e-book

"A brilliant story! I want more!

Nalini Singh,

New York Times Bestselling Author of Hostage to Pleasure

Read the first chapter.

Sir Julius Vogel (SJV) Awards

Great news: I have been nominated for the Sir Julius Vogel (SJV) Award for:

• Best Short Story - Safe Sex Incorporated (as Eve Summers)
• 
  
• Best Short Story - The Hannukah Time Capsule
• 
  
• Best Short Story - The Seventh Taboo

Carmelo Rafala escapes velocity

With Issue 2 of Escape Velocity on the stands, it's time to talk to one of its contributors. Today, drinking a virtual glass of champagne with me, is Carmelo Rafala.

1. Your story, "Mother Tongue" was published in Escape Velocity. Quick, make us want to read it!
On a mission to tame a new world, man will turn against man, and even mother nature herself will have her say.

2. Who is your favourite SF/F mainstream author, and why?
I really enjoy the short works of JG Ballard. He is really a surrealist when it comes to writing science fiction. There are always things left unsaid and questions that need answers, and a simple sense of the bizarre. However, the brilliant thing about Ballard is that these questions never make you feel like you've missed something, nor do they detract from enjoying the story.

3. What is your personal definition of SF?
Science fiction to me is not simply ray guns and exploding space ships, although that is obviously a part of it. It is a medium from which to see ourselves as well, to gain distance from the human condition in order to see it more clearly. That would be my personal definition, or part of it.

4. I love that: gain distance to see more clearly. Yes. Now share something personal with us.
I'm an obsessive daydreamer. Even when I am working, my brain goes out of its way to find a moment to wander off somewhere. It's embarrassing when it happens in the middle of a conversation but it does. My friend said my eyes literally glaze over. On a particular day I was in a heated discussion and suddenly I "fazed" out. My friend later told me he was taking bets as to how long it would take for the other person to realise I was no longer "there". I'm terrible!

5. Do a quick plug for Escape Velocity.
Escape to new worlds. Escape Velocity!

A word about Escape Velocity

Escape Velocity is a brilliant new publication of Science Fact and Fiction. Today we're talking to one of the editors, Geoff Nelder.


1. Give us your editorial take on Escape Velocity. What made you start on the project? What was the most challenging thing about it? The funniest?

Several notions urged me to suggest to Robert Blevins at Adventure Books of Seattle that we should entertain the idea of publishing a science fiction magazine.

a) I've a bunch of short stories too good for the usual sci fi mags like Analog and Asimov (OK they rejected them, but that's their fault). So has Robert. However, the funny thing is that once we started putting it together we realized we couldn't crowd it with our own stories or it would look too much like vanity publishing. Consequently, we limit ourselves to maybe one story and one article each, plus the editorial.

b) There seems to be so few sci fi magazines and so many talented writers who need an outlet for their brilliance.

c) We insisted that we were not going to accept rubbish stories from famous authors, no matter how much they paid us!

(LOL from the interviewer)

d) We decided there was a niche for a magazine that focused on science fiction rather than a mix of speculative genres, and one that had a sufficiently readable font style and size that didn't need a magnifying glass.

I thought the title and cover art would be challenging but Robert thought of the excellent title and has a nose for the perfect cover art. He also does all the hard work of configuring and formatting the magazine for the printers (Lulu for issues 1 to 3 and then probably Lightning Source afterwards). In fact the most challenging or difficult part of editing is not the hours of reading and copyediting but in turning down submissions, especially from friends and relatives. It is a great honour and pleasure to read all the submissions even those we reject. Some stories are rejected not because they are not well-written or don't have thunderingly great plots, but becuase we've already accepted similar, or they exceed the word limit. It is amazing how many folk are so keen to have us read their fantastic (in the literal sense) stories they forget to read the guidelines.

Funniest moment in producing Escape Velocity? Tricky question. There was that moment when we had a deadline for Robert to jigsaw all the pieces in the mag together but Maria hadn't sent me her fascinating insights into working at the Hubble Telescope research institute. She couldn't just write it and whizz it to me because it had to pass the official litmus test at her works. So there I was one Saturday morning sat at my computer finding Maria's e-mail in my inbox. Unfortunately, I was leaving the UK for a holiday in Spain that morning. Nevertheless, I opened Maria's article and prepared to send it on to Robert in Seattle when I noticed a few editing elements I felt compelled to do. So I opened Word, threw in Maria's piece, and then my wife yanked my left elbow. She said: "I've put the cases in the car, and the engine's running. Am I going on my own?"

(Yvonne: I empathise...)

I 'just a minuted' and burned through the fastest copyedit I'd ever done. Then I had to send it back to Maria for her approval with a plea that I'd added nothing new so it didn't need the official censor. I then made my excuses to my wife so I popped to the bathroom. While there I realized I hadn't sent a copy to Robert. So while my wife tapped her feet and tut tutted in the open front doorway, I found a speedy return OK e-mail from Maria, and rocketed off the piece to Robert. I slowed to the speed limit where the speed cameras live and just made it to the airport in time. Phew!

2. Who is your favourite SF/F mainstream author, and why?

This is a tricky one. Jon Courtenay Grimwood has become a good corresponding friend and I admire the cunning plot in his alt history / future SF books. His characterization is a literary masterclass. I've also met Terry Pratchett and his black hat, large enough to eclipse a whole book group. I am a huge admirer of the Discworld novels of TP, but also his Truckers and the other two in that series.


3. Do you think the face of SF has changed over the last 2-3 decades? How do you think EV's contribution will affect it in the next few years?

SF has changed. Simplified, it has transformed from rockets and exploring the moon and the solar system, with the odd time travel story (plot more important than characters and their relationships), to character-led fictional applications of quantum mechanics - including time aspects - and much fancier rockets at different scales, in multiple dimensions and universes. Apologies for the oversimplification. EV's only desire is to exploit the wide range of SF possibilities. I believe I speak for Robert too in that we don't seek to change the way readers view SF, but we can open some minds to new directions via good stories then we'd be deliriously happy.


4. Share something personal: your biggest fear, your ambitions, the colour of your underwear ;-) ...

I have no phobias, but I have passions: all three are female. My wife, my bicycle and the Snowdonia mountain range.

An ambition is to have my Left Luggage sci fi trilogy enjoyed by thousands of readers. It's going through a critique group and volume has already been rejected by a handful of agents and mainstream publishers. It has an original premise and marvelous characters with a bewitching plot so I am hopeful.

The colour of my underwear remains a mystery since they are squeezed into and removed in the dark.



5. Do a quick plug for Geoff the writer.

Oh dear. Here goes then.

By coincidence the notion of escape is in my published humorous thriller, Escaping Reality. 'Learn how to escape and survive before they get you. A hot, adventure with romance and exotic locations seen here:
http://geoffnelder.com/ERinfo.htm

Sci fi adventure too in Dimensions at Adventure Books, and later in 2008 at Double Dragon Publishing.

Does your novel need copyediting - not just a proofread but make your characters 3D, plug those plot discontinuities and fix those pleonasms and POV errors? Then check out my editing services page at http://geoffnelder.com/


Geoff, you've given us a lot to think about. Thank you for your time. And that link to Escape velocity again: http://www.escapevelocitymagazine.com/.