Sci-Fi Fan Letter

Hi Chris, Glad you liked your spotlight. I'v...

2012-05-27T21:34:10.666-04:00

Hi Chris,

Glad you liked your spotlight. I've read the first Anthony book in the series, but have to read the rest some time. I've got your book on my tbr pile. Hope to get to it soon.

Thanks, Jessica, for the mention! I keep meaning t...

2012-05-25T10:52:08.009-04:00

Thanks, Jessica, for the mention! I keep meaning to check out the Piers Anthony; Charles Ardai recommended it to me when he so graciously blurbed my book. Guess I oughta pick it up!

I really enjoyed it when I watched it last year. ...

2012-05-18T00:38:05.851-04:00

I really enjoyed it when I watched it last year. I had no idea that it was a made for tv movie, that raises it even higher in my opinion.

I thought that this book was one of the best books...

2012-05-16T10:02:13.811-04:00

I thought that this book was one of the best books I've read in my life. There and twists and turns in this book that you'll never see coming. Its written very well and I couldn't seem to put the book down! I completely recommend this book to others. I hope Dan Wells makes a sequel!!!

If a genre, or even a whole field is not making yo...

2012-04-25T13:46:17.592-04:00

If a genre, or even a whole field is not making you happy to read, then yeah, its time to let it lie fallow and come back to it again fresh sometime.

Cool. I've added it to my list. Thanks. Y...

2012-04-24T21:56:34.765-04:00

Cool. I've added it to my list. Thanks.

You've also reminded me of a book I read on fairy tale adaptions a few years ago. A Charlie Chaplin film was mentioned in it... now I need to figure out which one and add that to my list of films to see too.

I know this isn't a sci-fi silent film, but wh...

2012-04-24T20:58:50.502-04:00

I know this isn't a sci-fi silent film, but when you get the chance, you should see "City Lights". It does have a score (written by Chaplin himself, if I recall) and it's considered one of silent film's last great hurrahs. The closing scene is absolutely lovely.

I hadn't read your review (I avoid reading rev...

2012-04-24T13:41:32.035-04:00

I hadn't read your review (I avoid reading reviews of books I'm reviewing for fear that the other person's comments will affect my own reading of the book). I think it's a fair review, based on my own impressions of the book. I really liked your synopsis (mine has a lot less mystery and enticement).

For anyone who's interested, Paul's review can be found here:
http://functionalnerds.com/2012/04/songs-of-the-earth-by-elspeth-cooper/

I did write a somewhat critical review of SOTE for...

2012-04-24T13:14:05.102-04:00

I did write a somewhat critical review of SOTE for the Functional Nerds. Did you see it?

I don't post unfinished book reviews very ofte...

2012-04-24T13:07:40.484-04:00

I don't post unfinished book reviews very often, and I debated not posting this one. In the end, I thought the book had enough going for it that I decided to post this in the hope that the book will attract readers who like character driven fantasy.

A fair rebuttal with good points.

2012-04-24T12:51:12.442-04:00

A fair rebuttal with good points.

I disagree. The worst thing a review can say is t...

2012-04-24T12:37:41.751-04:00

I disagree. The worst thing a review can say is that a book is drivel with no redeeming features.

Not being able to finish a book simply means it was the wrong book for that reader. I've put down several books that had redeeming qualities (like this one) that just weren't for me at the time of reading.

Mood, last book read, stress level, etc. all play a part in reading. I've prepped a post for tomorrow explaining how I've developed fantasy fatigue and am just not enjoying fantasy the way I used to - even fantasy by authors whose work I've read before and loved.

And a lot of people like character driven fiction, which I'm not as keen on. Just as I like quest fantasy novels which other people aren't keen on. There's so much subjectivity in books and reviewing. That's one reason I don't like starred ratings and prefer the pro/con mode of telling readers what's in a book (because it allows others to say - "Jessica put graphic violence in the con category, I like graphic violence so maybe I'll like this book").

I'm sorry, Jessica. "DNF" is about t...

2012-04-24T12:00:14.109-04:00

I'm sorry, Jessica. "DNF" is about the worst thing a reviewer can say in a review.

Clever!

2012-04-18T20:47:40.500-04:00

Clever!

I'm keeping track of my books too so it's ...

2012-04-18T12:46:07.918-04:00

I'm keeping track of my books too so it's easier to parse things at the end of the year. I hadn't thought of mentioning print vs ebook though. That might be interesting to see as well.

I'm doing the same thing with my books this ye...

2012-04-18T05:25:52.747-04:00

I'm doing the same thing with my books this year, but I'm keeping a spreadsheet for each book I read. I want to see how I grade male vs. female authors, but also print vs eBooks.

Off the top of my head: Gwyneth Jones, Justina Rob...

2012-04-17T08:21:30.955-04:00

Off the top of my head: Gwyneth Jones, Justina Robson, Tricia Sullivan, Louise Marley, Jo Clayton, Doris Piserchia, Marta Randall, Jay D Blakeney, Shariann Lewitt, L Timmel Duchamp, MM Buckner, MJ Locke, Michelle Shirey Crean, Jody Scott, Suzette Haden Elgin, Sue Thomas, Janet Palmer, Susan R Matthews, Linda Nagata, Joan Slonzcewski, Pamela Sargent, Jayge Carr, Leigh Brackett, CL Moore, Judith Merril, Judith Moffett, Pamela Zoline...

Apologies for any you might all ready have listed.

@ Candiss - Thanks. I've added her. @ Paul -...

2012-04-16T11:05:52.703-04:00

@ Candiss - Thanks. I've added her.

@ Paul - I'm not trying to pick a definitive work for each author, I'm just picking one book as I don't have time to write out everything each author has written. I figure if readers are interested in an author, they'll find out what else she's written and choose a book that matches their tastes.

Thanks for the suggestions, they've been added.

Thanks for this great start, Jessica. Among the w...

2012-04-16T01:49:45.201-04:00

Thanks for this great start, Jessica.

Among the writers I'd like to see added are Eileen Gunn, Pat Murphy, Pat Cadigan... argh, the list is long!

Ursula Le Guin spells her surname as two words, cf. http://ursulakleguin.com/

I'd like to question the format of representing each author by only one title when so many have produced so many varied works. By listing just one title, aren't we in danger of caricaturing writers of breadth?

If listing a single title is meant to epitomize an author's work, particularly in a feminist context, then I'd like to suggest Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness in favor of her (notably superb) The Word for World is Forest.

I look forward to watching this list develop!

This is a wonderful list. I would add Kate Wilhe...

2012-04-14T23:29:55.580-04:00

This is a wonderful list.

I would add Kate Wilhem's WHERE LATE THE SWEET BIRDS SANG. It is the best and most thought-provoking book I've read tackling ideas about and implications of cloning.

@ JC - Thanks! @ Carrie - Catherine Asaro's o...

2012-04-14T15:49:43.005-04:00

@ JC - Thanks!

@ Carrie - Catherine Asaro's on the Romantic SF reading list, so I didn't add her to this one.

I didn't see Catherine Asaro on the list. Did ...

2012-04-14T14:37:18.111-04:00

I didn't see Catherine Asaro on the list. Did I miss it? I've only read Primary Inversion so far but she's a great writer!

This is a great list. I just created a link to th...

2012-04-14T09:30:08.966-04:00

This is a great list. I just created a link to the post on my blog. I don't know how to add the link on the bottom of the comments so here is the link:

http://mixedbookbag.blogspot.com/2012/04/link-to-science-fiction-romance-author.html

@ Will - I didn't realize Marion Zimmer Bradle...

2012-04-13T23:23:26.115-04:00

@ Will - I didn't realize Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote SF. Thanks for that. I've added the authors.

@ Sheryl - Thanks for stopping by the store. You made a great impression on my co-workers. :)

@ Jody - Linnea Sinclair's on the Romantic SF reading list. I've heard a lot of good things about her books.

I love this list. And it's scary how many of t...

2012-04-13T22:55:20.400-04:00

I love this list. And it's scary how many of these I've read!
But I used to work in the library in the town next door to this library. It's not Martin Grove, it's Morton Grove.
Every other suburb in the Chicago Area is something either Oak, Park, Brook, River, Wood, Forest, or Grove.
It can be really confusing!