A REMINDER OF THE FEBRUARY-MARCH SELECTIONS:
Published in 2006, it was named The Top SF Novel of 2006 by Barnes & Noble Explorations and also received a nomination for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Novel. Infoquake was the debut novel of author David Louis Edelman, a blogger, web programmer, and John W. Campbell nominee for Best New Writer in 2007.
Discussion the week of February 23rd with author David Louis Edelman.
Fantasy Illustrator Mark J. Ferrari’s first novel has been described as witty, thought-provoking, audacious, and unforgettable. It’s also received several requests as a potential Book of the Month Club candidate. Who says I don’t listen to the fans?
Discussion the week of March 2nd with author Mark J. Ferrari.
As a pet owner, the premise for this book really intrigues. As a science fiction fan, the fact that it’s written by multi-award winning author Nancy Kress (3 Nebulas, 2 John W. Campbells, a Hugo, and a Theodore Sturgeon) makes it an absolute must-read.
Discussion the week of March 9th with author Nancy Kress.
Now, in an effort to build on our burgeoning book club, I’ve decided to make two small changes that will hopefully make it more accessible to those considering getting involved.
First off, I’m going to start including the occasional graphic novel or trade paperback. There are a lot of intelligent, provocative, and incredibly well-written (and, yes, well-drawn) TPB’s out there and, while it would be nice to welcome comic book fans into the BOTMC fold, it would be even nicer to introduce non-comic book fans to some of the sensational work being produced in a field they may not have normally checked out.
Second, I’m going to announce upcoming titles sooner in order to give you all as much time as possible to track down and read the books. To that end, here are April’s selections:
Five time Eisner award winner Brian Michael Bendis is one of the most successful writers working in comics today. Some of his major works include Jinx, Torso, a 55-issue run on Daredevil, and a staggering 110-issue run on Ultimate Spiderman. If you’re looking for a book with a clever story, engaging characters, and witty dialogue, then look no further than Powers which, incidentally, is in active development as a live-action series at FX (they of The Shield and Damages). And fear not, fans. He’s writing the pilot script himself.
Discussion the week of April 6th with author Brian Michael Bendis.
Author of the hugely popular Thursday Next literary detective series, Wodehouse prize winner Jasper Fforde is often mentioned in the same breath as Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams for his wildly inventive narrative. His writing has been described as “stunningly imaginative“, “utterly delightful”, and “sheer gut-busting fantasy“.
Discussion the week of April 13th with author Jasper Fforde.
Over the course of her career, editor Ellen Datlow has received the Shirley Jackson Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, two Hugo Awards, three Locus Awards, and eight World Fantasy Awards. Poe: 19 New Tales Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe is her latest anthology.
Discussion the week of April 20th with editor Ellen Datlow.
That’s it! Plan a head, pick up a book, and start reading!
Mailbag:
Mamsue9 writes: “Will you be a guest at the San Diego Comic Con? Would you consider being a guest at Shore Leave 31?”
Answer: Alas, no, I won’t be at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. And, while I appreciate the consideration, I hope to keep travel to a minimum this year so that I can stay home and spend quality time with the dogs.
Herbertsommerfeld writes: “Have you heard anything about the show Defying Gravity that is being filmed at Bridge?”
Answer: Not much. I know they’re in the FX Stage.
Blademos writes: “Hey do you think a network like ABC,NBC,CBS or even FOX would take chance on a show like SGA?”
Answer: Afraid not. As much as many of us would have loved to have seen a sixth season for the series, the reality is the show has ended and not even the most successful of petition drives will bring it back. L
Quade1 writes: “BTW did u get the motivational poster??”
Answer: Not yet. Is it the adorable “Hang in there!” kitten?
Green writes: “I didn’t get past the first bit where the device dies three times.”
Answer: Three versions of the jumper in three different timelines = three after-effects of the device overloading.
PG15 writes: “My major quibble though, is what happens with Past!SG1 and Future!SG1? The Past version just seems to disappear after they delete the Aschen from the database, and the future versions are jumping ala Scott Bakula?”
Answer: The past and future versions merge in subsequent jumps. I know, that needs to be clear.
Gollysunshine writes: “And Daniel was where for this episode? Doing what? Out having a holiday or holding up the background?”
Answer: The entire team is present throughout as evidenced by the fact that when the team first travels to the past, Dr. Lee expresses surprise at seeing Daniel who was apparently reassigned.
Jedi43 writes: “I thought Y,T & T was going to be a Atlantis episode? Why all the SGC people?”
Answer: It was originally and SG-1 story whose structure I considered using for SGA.
Tim Gaffney writes: “I forgot to include this link: http://video.westminsterkennelclub.org/player/?id=1002561
It shows the 40 something French Bulldogs that competed to be the one to compete in the Non-Sporting group.”
Answer: Thanks for the link, Tim. I forwarded it to my wife. While the pugs aren’t exactly show material, Lulu does come from a champion line.
Suziesbluefeather writes: “The only thing that I didn’t really get was the awareness. Why would the team in the present and in the future be aware of the changes?”
Answer: The conceit is that their exposure to the device has essentially placed them in the unique position of self-awareness – unlike anyone else who wasn’t in the jumper in the time.
PG15 writes: “ 1. Of the SGU scripts written so far and the notions that are “on the table” (or board), does any of them involve our people visiting alien civilizations?
2. What’s John Scalzi been up to with the show? Has he been in the writers room, spinning stories?
3. Any new permanent writers yet?
4. How many SGU scripts have titles BESIDES the ones you already revealed to us (Air 3-parter, Fire, Water, Earth)?”
Answers: 1. No comment. 2. John is/will be reading and providing notes on scripts. 3. Not yet. 4. We have 12 titles so far.
Juralas writes: “If they’re the past versions, they were the ones sent 14 months back, but now they’ve become the present versions?”
Answer: Eventually, all three versions of the team merge.
Jinx writes: “But it fades out before there is resolution….”
Answer: The attack of Byzantium Tech (thanks to the tip from the alternate timeline Mitchell) is the resolution in that it thwarts Baal’s plot to take over the planet. In the final scene, the team from the past makes their final jump – back to the present where they will merge with their alternate selves.
Michelle Lumsford writes: “And I would have driven myself bonkers trying to figure out if Vala’s taking the coin over and over was supposed to have some secret significance.”
Answer: It was meant to illustrate the cross-effects of the different timelines. Present Vala misplaced the coin long ago and we learn, from Past Vala’s filching of the coin, that she was responsible. However, the fact that her present self does find the coin at episode’s end is intended to suggest that the three timeline versions of our team have merged – birnging Vala’s long lost coin along for the ride.
JJ writes: “So SGU will start shooting in this week right?”
Answer: Nope. Next week.
Mackenzie’s Momma writes: ”Silly question(probably) do you read any other genres than the Horror, Sci Fi, and Fantasy?”
Answer: Sure. I’m a big fan of David Sedaris.
Planet_tv writes: “In Enemy at the Gate was Teyla’s son with her on Atlantis or in the Pegasus Galaxy with his father because I don’t thing she would up and leave her son especially with what she said at the end of The Prodigal (If the answer to this is in the movie can you say the answer will be in the movie or something like that)?”
Answer: Although we didn’t see them, Kanaan and Torren made the trip back to Earth with Teyla.
Kuonji writes: “Have you ever done a Neil Gaiman book? Or Terry Pratchett?”
Answer: I’ve read and enjoyed books by both. I think they’re terrific authors.
Meils writes: “Jo, if you like detective novels with a weird twist then investigate the death of Humpty Stuyvesant Van Dumpty III in The Big Over Easy.”
Answer: Oh, I plan to. And so will a lot of readers here.
Chevron7 writes: “I’m curious though about your Theatre Room. Is it very geeky?”
Answer: Not particularly, although the walls and ceiling are black.
Charlie’s Angel writes: “ Have you read Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami?”
Answer: No, but I do have The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle sitting on my to-read pile.
DasNdanger writes: “Does Sheppard really have respect for Todd, but puts on a Wraithy personality when dealing face-to-face with him, in effect speaking to Todd in the language he understands best (as is hinted at in EatG when Todd says Sheppard knows how to talk to him), or is the hostility we see in Sheppard the way he truly feels about Todd?”
Answer: I believe that there is definitely an undercurrent of respect there (as evidenced by the end of Infection), but there is no way Sheppard will tip his hand publicly, especially to Todd himself.
Leave a Reply