by Irma Arkus

Last Friday, instead of listening to HiSciFi, beloved science fiction authors congregated at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle, for the annual Locus Awards.

Here are the winners of the 2008 Locus Awards:

- Best Novel awarded to “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” by Michael Chabon –

This strange noir detective story takes place in an alternate universe, a small Alaskan jewish community of Yiddish speakers. Meyer Landsman, an alcoholic private eye investigates a murder in the city of Sika, a place of jewish refugees and holocaust survivors.

Chabon’s exceptional novel has thus far won Nebula Award for Best Novel, has been nominated for a Hugo Award and the Sidewise Awards, as well as Edgar Awards for Best Novel and is shortlisted for British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel. Shortly, this one gets a unilateral must-read stamp of approval.

- BestFantasy Novel awarded to “Making Money” by Terry Pratchett –

It’s Terry Pratchett folks. Nuff said. Go read.

- Best Young Adult Book awarded to “Un Lun Dun” by China Miéville –

As if Mieville needs more awards…and now he’s thinking of children too. Awwww.

- Best First Novel awarded to “Heart-Shaped Box” by Joe Hill –

The First Novel awards are always exciting as they bring new talent into the spotlight. This year’s winner, Joe Hill, presents us with “Heart-Shaped Box” and if you are reminded of a Nirvana song, you’re right as the novel is partially influenced by dead rockers and all that is supernatural.

As some of you know by now, I am not a great keener on the “supernatural” elements as my heart-strings are tugged only by science. But saying that, this novel is somewhat of a surprise as it turns out to be a major bibliophile collectible.

Judas Coyne, the protagonist of the novel, is a collector of all rock memorabilia. Combine ghosts and love of rock into one awesome novel. Re-prints of the novel are still awaited.

- Best Novella goes to “After the Siege” by Cory Doctorow

Read it. Read it now. At least read the comic book version. The one with the pictures. Yeeesh.

- Best Novelette goes “The Witch’s Headstone” by Neil Gaiman –

Read that too.

*************

That is more or less the summary of this year’s Locus Awards. It is worthwhile mentioning that Michael Swanwick won a Locus for story, “A Small Room in Koboldtown.” As far as art, this year’s scoop was The Arrival, by Shaun Tan.

by Irma Arkus

Locus Award Ceremonies were held this week in Seattle, WA. Winner of best novella was Doctorow’s highly praised “After the Siege,” part of Overclocked collection.

The interesting thing about After the Siege is that it has been also immortalized in a comic book available for viewing and download (link).

In case you have been living in a cave for the past few days, or going on one of those wild back to the land trips in which you remove yourself from all sorts of media bombardment, Arthur C. Clarke has died. Clarke needs no introduction for our audience, so I won’t even bother. Nevertheless, many mainstream media outlets have been piling on the retrospectives over the last day or too so, if you are feeling nostalgic I am sure you will know where to look to remember a life of one of the heavies of the genre.

by Irma Arkus

Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist (read: hot Mr. Smartypants), has just released his new book, “Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel.”

His newest addition to my already hefty bookshelves is to deliberate on applicable sci-fi. In other words, for readers to comprehend that faint line between technologies that are already available (yet understood only as fictional) and those that are still a challenge, but not necessarily an insurmountable one.

Cloaking technology, for one, has been the big news of 2007, as many research teams have ascertained techniques of bending light and creating “invisible objects.” Even though cloaks of invisibility still belong in realm of fantasy and science fiction, they are no longer out of our reach, just not stocked on shelves of your local gadget store.

He goes on further to explain that even Class I Impossible technologies are actually possible, when taking into consideration some of more recent discoveries. From psychokinesis, telepathy to time travel and teleportation, Kaku’s explains in layman terms what are some of difficulties, as well as possible solutions, in turning these into reality. Light sabre, for example, already exists, but in order for one to have a mobile laser device that cuts everything in its path, we would require a more powerful mobile power supply.

From time travel to fun with weapons, Kaku’s newest release is an entertaining read, one that successfully melds science and fun, making him one of those rare physicists who are appealing equally to everyone, charming their way into our hearts. Yeey Mr. Smartypants!

Check out Mr. Kaku’s site and newly released book HERE.

If you are bored and are looking for something to gaze your eyes upon, check out Cult Pop a great little tv show out of Michigan that has all of its eps up online for your viewing pleasure. Their episodes include interviews with a feast of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors and Creators including John Scalzi, Tobias Bucknell, artist Carl Lundgren, Elizabeth Bear, Jeff VanderMeer, Justine Larbalestier & Scott Westerfield. Well worth the gander if you ask me… even if I would refer to them as THE COMPETITION!!!!

Today we had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Hayashi, the author of the “Arhka Chronicles,” and we would like to pass along info of how to get a bit of a preview of her books, but also a bit more info on her as a writer. So go check out her site!

http://www.dragonwriter.com/

ENJOY!

A Wizard’s Bestiary
by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash “LeopardDancer” DeKirk

From the times of antiquity through to the age of exploration bestiaries have been written (and illustrated) to keep record of the diversity of life throughout the known world (and the unknown world as well). Continuing in this tradition is A Wizard’s Bestiary. It was written by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Ash “LeopardDancer” DeKirk who are both faculty members at the Grey School of Wizardry. Mr. Zell-Ravenheart, in addition to being the headmaster of the school, is a prominent figure in the neo-pagan community and the creator of a number of real-life unicorns (generated through surgical techniques) that have been on display at circuses.

Whereas historical bestiaries attempted to contain exhaustive records of all known animal life, this book limits itself to fantastic creatures that are totally unknown to science, or those which may have been inspired by early accounts of real plants and animals, or those which may have been imagined all together. While the book takes a comprehensive look at the beasts of myth, legend, heraldry, and religion, it goes beyond the past and examines contemporary cryptozoological phenomena and popular monster movies. Obscure and extraordinary creatures of all sorts are cataloged and information is drawn from the folklores of a variety of cultures.

Well known beasts such as unicorns, dragons, gryphons, sasquatches, the phoenix, merfolk, and sea serpents are explored at a greater depth and are included in informative encyclopedic detail. In addition to a meticulous glossary of cryptic and fantastic creatures there are separate chapters for flying, walking, and aquatic creatures as well as chapters on plantimals, dinosaurs, and human-animal-hybrids like sphinxes and centaurs.

I found it very difficult to think of a fantastic creature that was represented in film, folklore, or hearsay that wasn’t included in this book. Every legendary beast I’ve ever heard of has been listed, many I’ve never heard of have been introduced to me, and I would be ready to accept that this book is a comprehensive directory of the spectacular creatures that have occupied people’s imagination since the earliest times.

While there is some speculation regarding the existence of some of the creatures in the book the authors show enough restraint to maintain an objective tone for the most part. The authors include plausible explanations and interpretations of the monsters as well as links between similar creatures or those that may have had a shared a common origin.
The appendix includes lists of monsters arranged by historical age and geographic origin. It also has references, a timeline of other bestiaries, a list of beasts with magickal (that’s magic with a “k”, so you know it’s hardkore) properties, and even a brief comics section.

Whether you’re a mythology buff, an amateur cryptozoologist, or just a critter enthusiast that’s bored with biology textbooks A Wizard’s Bestiary is an interesting resource. It’s an indispensable tool for any hardcore monster fanatic and necessary reading for the scholar of the strange.

Tarek Suliman

Geoff Ryman is a founder of Mundane SF, a literary movement that envisions the future of humanity on Earth, and Earth only, as colonisation of other planets is currently not feasible.

Ryman’s interesting philosophy is based on bringing fourth “scientific accuracy,” into his writing, something rare these days. Either way, worthy of a read and a second thought.

Author Terry Goodkind talks about critics:

"Why would they continue to read books they claim are bad? Because they hate that my novels exists. Values arouse hatred in these people. Their goal is not to enjoy life, but to destroy…"

Classy!

Rant Rant Rant!

More Rants!

Reading from and signing Rollback
White Dwarf Books
3715 West Tenth Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia
Monday, April 30, 2007, 7:00 p.m.

He is here with the band so go! Check the link for more details

Sawyer Signing!