a great CLOCKWORK HEART review

by Mary over at my book review blog, Enduring Romance. http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2009/01/clockwork-heart-dur-pagliassotto.html

That's about it...

...for this week. I'm reading COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa, but I won't have a review ready for you until next week.

Well, Duh!

Study shows children need to play.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090126/us_nm/us_children_recess

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The other day I went shopping at Target. It just opened stores here in Alaska. So, I was shopping along and two teenage girls went wondering by, giggling hysterically, with a box over their heads. Did I think "What a couple of idiots! Why can't they act their age?" Nope. I thought, "Well, there's a couple of best buddies having fun." I was also reminded of the fact that the *more intelligent the creature, the greater his or her need for play.* This is why dolphines, dogs, and chimpanzees have so much fun. This is why senior citizens are encouraged to solve word puzzles and such to keep their minds sharp as they age.

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So, go ahead, goof off! Have fun. Be very silly. I'm one adult who will be very happy for you.

This is a picture of some highly intelligent Alaskan adults racing reindeer down the streets of Anchorage, our largest city.

Real Science

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090128/ap_on_sc/sci_hot_planet

Ka-boom, ka-boom. So another volcano in Alaska is about to blow. Big deal. I'm an Alaskan, so I can say that. My husband's a pilot and flies over volcanoes spitting, sputtering, and spewing all the time.

;)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,485048,00.html

Upcoming Science Fiction Movies

Thanks to Christine for the link!
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*This is a thumbnail from ASTROBOY.*
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http://www.scifimoviepage.com/upcoming/upcoming.html
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Naturally, STAR TREK is at the top of my list, but if they think I'll watch a TERMINATOR movie without Arnold they've got another thing coming!

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I noticed several were based on computer games, like LOST PLANET.

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I liked the looks of ASTROBOY, which is based on a popular cartoon. Have you noticed all the Science Fiction cartoon movies for kids lately. We love Wall-E at our house and can't wait to get SPACE CHIMPS. Make sure the kids you know are being brought up right. Take them to ASTROBOY.

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THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE is based on a bestselling novel. I loved the premise, but it had too many descriptions and bellybutton examinations to hold my attention. I'm hoping the movie version will make it a little more snappy. I spend all my patience on my children, you know. I don't have much left over for wordy stories.

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MOON. This one's about a moon miner who's about to be replaced by his own clone. Not sure why this appealed to me. Maybe because it hits on one of my pet peeves, overlooking the value of human life and individuality.

Reading News for Techno-Geeks

Dear Author does such an excellent job keeping on top of this that I just link to it. Pop on over every Sunday for the latest on electronic publishing. http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/01/25/why-epublishing-needs-to-grow-up/comment-page-1/#comment-189327 You don't even need to be an actual techno-geek. I know I'm not smart enough to ever be one!

AN ACCEPTABLE TIME by Madeleine L'engle

*Cover Art varies*
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Madeleine L'engle is best known for the classic YA SF, A WRINKLE IN TIME, which I've never read. (Kimber hangs head in shame.) But, this one just sounded so cool, you know? So, I bought it first. I love Time Travel stories. They combine my two favorite genres- Science Fiction and History. L'engle has been around for decades and has a huge backlist. It's not difficult to find her novels at libraries and used bookstores.
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Polly's a smart, college-bound teenager visiting her grandparents sprawling home place. She's genetically blessed with intelligent and supportive parents and grandparents. They're all scientists and doctors and such. For the first time, she also gets to spend time with her uncle, an Episcipalian bishop. Soon after arriving, she meets up with Zachary, a boy she met in Greece the year before. He's pretty hot and thinks she's awefully fantastic too.
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Before I go on, I should mention this book was originally published in 1989. This is during the series run of Star Trek The Next Generation when Science Fiction was cool and it was okay to be a smart, scientifically minded girl. Also, the 'formula' for YA SciFi was different. Girls were still thought to like Fantasy-type SF better, but the story structure was different. When you start reading a book which was released within the last five years, you expect certain things to happen at certain points during the story. That's the formula. Nowadays, the main plot is clear on page one and you started right in the middle of the action. This novel starts with Polly going for a walk in the woods and a long description of her surroundings and there's no clear main plot until half way through the book that I could see. This novel would not have made it past the partial stage in today's Queryland. So, I encourage you to read this novel with an open mind. Let go of the established formula you may or may not even be aware of and simply accept this story on its own terms. 'Kay?
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Anyway, while out on a walk, Polly and Zach see a beautiful girl who then mysteriously vanish. Another time they see a handsome man. Polly learns there are some interesting archaeological finds around the ol' homestead (this is actually set in New England) and her family theorizes that Europeans visited the Native Americans there thousands of years before. And not just any Europeans. Druids.
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Then, Polly inadvertantly steps through a time gate and sees everything as it was thousands of years before. She meets the beautiful girl, Anaral, who is actually Native American. Over the course of several fade ins and outs of this time period, she also meets the man, Karralys, who is European and a Druid. And she meets Tav. I always like it when a heroine has a fine selection of romantic suitors to choose from and I thought Tav was hotter than Zach who was just a little too flattering for me to believe in.
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Meanwhile, only the Bishop completely believes Polly, because he's been to that time period too. He discovered it while digging around in the old root cellers. These cellars turned out to be Druid holy places where the priests communed with the dead and got in touch with all that spiritual stuff. I realize this all sounds Fantasy genre, but the scientist grandparents and the Bishop's archaeology bent provides the Science Fiction interpretation of it. There's 'magic,' but it's scientifically explained.
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So, I'm reading along with an open mind wondering when the main plot's going to kick in. Polly is drawn to the other time period, but why? I mean, who cares? Sure, anyone would be curious, but there's got to be a much more powerful motivation at work. Otherwise, it's a lame duck story. Well, right about half way through the story, Tav draws Polly into his time period using a really cool silver sun disk which she's mysteriously driven to place on her forehead and then he does something which totally stunned me. Bingo! The plot reveals itself.
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Reading this older releases is turning out to be quite an education for me as a writer, as well as being a lot of fun for me as a reader. As a writer, I often moan and groan about the restrictions in formulas and trends if I ever want to be published and get paid for it too. I mean, c'mon, guys, I totally admire Stephanie Meyer. Obviously, she has a gift for striking the cord in the hearts of millions, but I'm just not into blood-sucking dead guys! Okay? So then I read an older release and think, "Gee, these authors had so much more freedom." (((sigh))) But, actually, Madeleine L'engle was a popular author and popular authors have more freedom anyway, because they can sell a book on their names alone. Also, these authors had their own set of restrictions to live with. So, what's an aspiring author to do? Write her own thing or conform to pack standards?

More Real Science This Week

You lucky folks in the Indian Ocean!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090123/ts_afp/spaceastronomyeclipseasiaafrica
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Beam me up, Scotty! Well, almost.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482264,00.html
Okay, guys, time to get to work on that replicator. You know how I hate to cook! One of you YA SciFi Geniuses are going to build me a replicator one day, right?

Book Review...

...will be posted later. I'm still reading.

STAR TREK & Going to the Movies

Good morning, YA SciFi Geniuses! Well, of course, you're geniuses. All the young people in my life are the smartest and the best and always have been. It's my runaway maternal instinct, you know. I just can't help it. I kinda take after Mrs. Potatohead in 'Toy Story 2' that way. "Ooh, they're adorable - let's adopt them!"

Anyway...I was just trying to snag a Star Trek movie widget for this blog and my computer was not cooperating at all. And I was thinking it would be fun to have some kind of movie premier party. I used to do Cyber-Launch Book Parties at my Enduring Romance book review blog. Here's one for MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND, a Fantasy novel by Lisa Shearin - http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2007/06/cyber-launch-book-party.html I don't know if that would work work for a movie premier, but I thought we could brainstorm something between now and then. As some of you know, I'm in the middle of a high risk pregnancy right now. I'll probably be on medical bed-rest when the Star Trek movie premiers in May. I'll rely on you guys to review it here, if you're willing.

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The other thing I was thinking about is figuring out how to keep track of upcoming Science Fiction movies. Does anyone know a good site which tracks that?

Inspiration for Storytellers

If you've never been to Michelle Moran's blog and you're an aspiring author, you ought to pop on over. It's a treasure chest of inspiration, everything from Gallileo's DNA to finding new Egyptian mummies. I've reviewed both her novels, Historicals, at Enduring Romance. NEFERTITI is my favorite. http://michellemoran.blogspot.com/

Yeah, I know history may bore you at school and, on the face of it, have nothing to do with Science Fiction. But, the fact is most American schools absolutely stink at teaching history and that is why most teens hate it. Also, Ancient Egyptian culture is alien to us, when you think about it. STARGATE was inspired by it.

Real Science This Week

New Life, if Not New Civilizations. If we're still discovering new species right here on Earth, can you imagine what will discover on other planets? The Discovery Channel had a show in which scientists speculated what kind of life might be discovered out there.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090118/sc_afp/scienceoceansanimalswarmingaustralia

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Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like if the parasitic twin survived and was a conscious, sentient lifeform, two minds in one visible body. There's a Sci-Fi story in that and, in all likeliness, its' already been done. But, that doesn't mean it can't be done again in a new way!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481866,00.html

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Study hard, Oh My Young Techno-Geeks! The world needs you.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,481456,00.html

Star Captains' Daughter available as Free eBook

Pop over here to check it out- http://kimberan7.tripod.com/id11.html

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Or here for an explanation- http://starcaptainsdaughter.blogspot.com/2009/01/star-captains-daughter-available-as.html

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Much thanks to Tia for her continuing help working out the glitches!

Reading News for Techno-Geeks

Good morning, Blog Buds. I thought you all might want to know that the blog, Dear Author, usually has an article on eBooks and the gadgets required for them every Sunday. Here is today's article- http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/01/18/using-calibre-to-interface-with-iphone-sony-reader-or-cybook-part-2-of-2/
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I so need an eBook reader!

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams

I finally got around to reading this one and I'm so glad I did. It's a blast! It's a pretty old back, published back in the 1970's, back when even female Science Fiction writers only wrote stories with male protagonists because no one wanted to believe girls were a force to be reckoned with in the genre. And so the protagonists are guys, and kind of old guys at that. Nevertheless, it's definitely a fun read.
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Ford was stranded on Earth for fifteen years while on assignment, conducting research for an expanded version of that all-important, intergalactic bestseller, THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. Unfortunately, his opportunity to hitch a new ride out of the solar system doesn't come until some interstellar developers arrive to raze down the Earth to make way from an express lane. He gets aboard via the starship's cooks who love to annoy the ship's crew by letting on hitchhikers. And he takes one of his human friends, Arthur, with him.
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Of course, Arthur's more than a little freaked out about being on a spaceship and knowing Earth's been blown up. And it's not like Ford asked him if he wanted to bum around the galaxy with him. He thinks having a little yellow fish stuck in his ear to help him understand languages is freaky too, but then the ship's boorish captain finds out the hitchhiker's are on board. Ford says they can handle being put off the ship, even if it means directly into space, but if the Captain starts spouting poetry they're in deep Tribble poo!
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This is an old and popular book, so you should be able to find it at any good library or used bookstore. Cover art will vary. With Fun & Adventure scarce in the Science Fiction New Releases nowadays, this is a must-read for anyone who needs a break.

Majel Barret-Roddenberry, She'll Always Be Number One with Me

Why? Because she was the first woman in a command position in Star Trek history. She pathed the way for what young intelligent women take for granted right now - that girls can grow up to do and be anything they want to be. http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Majel_Barrett

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Majel Barret was cast as the Enterprise's executive officer, called Number One by the series first captain, Christopher Pike. That means she was the First Officer, second in command to the captain. But, it was 1964, and the t.v. execs couldn't stomach the idea of a woman in pants, much less in command. And so she was re-cast as Nurse Chapel in a miniskirt when Star Trek actually began its run.

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I also loved Majel Barret-Roddenberry as Lwaxana Troi, Counselor Deanna Troi's fabulously eccentric mother in Star Trek The Next Generation.

Science Fiction hasn't been as much fun since! With 'Dark & Sexy' being all the rage nowadays, I fear it will never be as much fun again. And sexy? Goshdarnit, Lwaxana was hot! In her own wonderful, fun way, she made the younger generation (mine at the time) believe women could have a blast well into their senior years. It all depends on attitude and, brother, did she have a lot of attitude!

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Sadly, Majel Barret-Roddenberry passed away last month, after a long career inside and outside the Star Trek universe. She is dearly missed.

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Remember, Star Trek episodes (all series) and movies can be checked out free from good libraries and watched on t.v. on Spike and the Sci Fi Channel, or you can download them from iTunes or buy on DVD.

"KAHN!"

Ricardo Montalbahn passed away this week, taking with him one of the finest villains in Star Trek history. http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Ricardo_Montalban

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Kahn was first seen in the Original Star Trek episode, 'The Space Seed,' which I didn't find all that interesting. I thought the Starfleet officer who abandoned Starfleet to marry him was a complete idiot.

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'The Space Seed'

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Space_Seed_%28episode%29

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However, when the Enterprise crew stumbled over Kahn again in the second Star Trek movie, Kahn was freakin' awesome!

Star Trek The Wrath of Kahn

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek_II:_The_Wrath_of_Khan

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You can find Star Trek episodes free to check out at your local library, to download at iTunes, or on t.v. channels like Spike and SciFi Channel. I have no doubt those channels will be rerunning Kahn's episodes in the coming days in his memory.

COMET'S CURSE by Dom Testa

This book's on the way to me and I'll be reviewing it here. In the meantime, here's the link to the book trailer-

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=49954832

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And here's the link to the blurb-

http://us.macmillan.com/thecometscurse

DRAGONSONG by Anne McCaffrey

Okay, I admit this isn't a real review because I haven't even gotten a quarter of the way through the book. My reading energy this week was taken up by a commercial fiction novel about a stay-at-home dad and his 13 year old daughter, MAN OF THE HOUSE by Ad Hudler http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2009/01/man-of-house-by-ad-hudler.html which I reviewed for my other blog, Enduring Romance, where, despite the title, we review just about everything. Oh, yeah, and I'm still quite sickly and I live in Alaska where we're glad when it warms up all the way to Zero Degrees Fahrenheidt this time of year. But, enough of my 'my-dog-ate-my-homework' story.

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DRAGONSONG came highly recommended from my buddies who grew up on Anne McCaffrey novels. Unfortunately, I was a teen in the boonies and had no idea anyone wrote Science Fiction with girl heroes until after I grew up and got the heck out into the real world.

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Here's the blurb:

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"Menolly loved music and wanted to be a Harper, though her father would not allow it. It was a disgrace for a woman even to think of such a thing. Finally, he forbade Menolly to even sing for fear her ambition would become known. Menolly had no choice but to run away. On her journey she meets a group of fire lizards who bring new adventure, challenge and direction to her life."

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Sounds like a Fantasy novel, doesn't it? Maybe that's why she got away with writing a Science Fiction novel for girls back in the 1970's when the genre was pretty much male-dominated. Do you realize there are still people who think girls don't like science or Science Fiction? Anyway, like I've said before, Anne McCaffrey has been around for decades and has a huge backlist. You should be able to find her books at any library, used bookstore, and even the new bookstores carry her old releases sometimes. Here's her website- http://annemccaffrey.net/index.php

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So, Alaska is finally warming up to Zero and I'm done at Enduring Romance for the month. I'll take my bucket and haul my pregnant body down to the library and used bookstore and find some good stuff for you next week. I think I'll also visit a few publishers' websites because I haven't seen anything good and new lately. Your recommendations are always welcome!

Real Science This Week

Worst Case Scenario Solar Storm

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html

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The Milky Way - she's a growing girl!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,476207,00.html

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Plucky Mars Robots

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/pluckynasaroverscompletefifthyearonmars

I'm a Little Slow on the Draw These Days

Told you it was good to be Queen!

I appreciate your patience.

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I tend to be sick for the duration of my pregnancies. Hopefully, I'll find my groove though. Do I mind being sick? Heck, no! 'Cause it means I'm having a baby. There is nothing more wonderful than bringing a new life into the world and helping him or her grow into an imaginative young lady or gentleman like you all.

;)

Anne McCaffrey's THE UNICORN GIRL the Illustrated Adventures by various authors

If you've been thinking about trying Anne McCaffrey stories, this may be a good place to get a taste. A lot of women my age who love Science Fiction grew up on Anne McCaffrey because she was one of the few women Science Fiction authors who wrote stories featuring girl heroes.

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This book starts where the first ACORNA book leaves off. Acorna is comparative to an 18 year old at this point in the series. She's helping the children she rescued from the factories and brothels of an evil world to move on with their lives. A secret message comes in saying she left a few children behind. Together with her besotted boyfriend (an interracial romance, by the way, written before it was okay), she travels back to the planet to save them. But, is it a trap?

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These are short stories which will leave you wanting to read the original ACORNA novels. They're so popular that you should be able to find them in any library. If you must have them for your very own, try a good-sized used bookstore or Amazon.com. New bookstores also carry them from time to time. Anne McCaffrey is one of those authors whose stories are ageless.

TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE by Rebecca Kraft Rector

Here's a great Middle Grade novel with a girl hero. Hey, and it actually has a real, live parent instead of an egg or a robot! Fancy that. From the cover art, you might think this is for younger Middle Grade, but I think kids up to 12 years old will like it. I've known lots of Middle Graders, including one I personally gave birth to. Anyway, on with the review.
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Tria's parents are both archaeologist and they're human colonists. One day, her father is infected by germ on a dig and dies. Tria is so traumatized she isolates herself in mortal terror of all germs. So, while other kids her age go to Back to Basics School where technology is forbidden, she homeschools with a cyber-tutor. Since her mother still must go out and work, she programs a holographic girl to be her best friend and keep her company. The latest security technology keeps her safe and food is dispensed automatically.
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Tria's sterile world suddenly ends when she receives word her mother's been kidnapped. Just before getting snatched, her mother sent orders to have her delivered to a Back to Basics School for safekeeping. However, the bad guys know Tria has something of her mother's which they want. They demand she hand it over or else.
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At Back to Basics School, Tria is frantic to escape and find the object for the kidnappers. Not so easy. Of course, the adults won't listen and, besides, rescuing parents is a job for big people, you know, and little kids are stupid and helpless, so they think. There's a really mean girl there who thinks if she can be the best at everything her father will let her come home. But, there's also a boy there teams up to get a holographic projector so Tria can have her best friend back. Tria's a techno-geek and she also manages to retriever her cyber-tutor's file, which she mistakenly downloads into a robotic horse.
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And so Tria sets off to rescue her mom with new, old, and old-made-new friends, and one obnoxious girl who may ruin it all.
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Great story. I loved the adventure. I loved the girl hero getting to be a techno-geek. And I loved that the author didn't fall into the Middle Grade novel cliche of killing off all parents or even the Young Adult novel cliche of 'all parents are evil.' I get so sick of that. I also loved that the Heroine overcomes her fears for the sake of love. I have a hard time finding such heart and soul in Middle Grade fiction these days.

SPACE BRAT by Bruce Coville

I'm working on a Middle Grade Science Fiction story called Space Brats, so when I saw this on the shelf I had to have it. Thank goodness, it's absolutely nothing like my Space Brats story and it was published way back in 1992.

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I wouldn't hand this to a child over eight years old. It's pretty silly. Know the child well first.

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Blork is an alien kid who was hatched in a factory like all the other alien kids. No mom or dad, just a robot who was decidedly uncuddly. His species isn't supposed to cry, but his egg shell scratched him when he hatched and he cried anyway. The robot nanny immedietly stamped the word, 'BRAT,' on his forehead and that was what he was believed to be from then on. He finally gave up and accepted his destiny. He became a brat like everyone assumed he already was. He had no one and no thing to pay any loving attention to him until he found a newly hatched poodnoobie, which is something like a gigantic, stupid, but very cuddly and lovable dog.

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One day, Blork takes his poodnoobie to school and, of course, it destroys a great deal of property, since it's so big and clumsy. It gets taken away by the Big Pest Vaporization people, leaving Blork frantic to get him back. Can Blork rise above his presumed brattiness to out-brat the bratty adult who won't give poodnoobie back?

Real Science

Obama on the New Space Race

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20090102/pl_bloomberg/aovrno0oj41g

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We're Still a Long Way from Deep Space Nine, but We'll Get There

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081219/sc_afp/usspacetourism

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And for you storytellers out there, a little inspiration from great prehistoric dads.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081219/sc_nm/us_dinosaurs_fathers