Weekly Tech News from Dear Author

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/04/26/weekly-tech-round-up/

ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS by Sylvia Engdahl

The thing to remember with this one is that its original copyright is 1970. That makes it 39 years old. The style is very different now. Nevertheless, this book was so popular its been republished several times and cover art varies. You should be able to find it in any good library or large used bookstore and on-line at Amazon.com and the like.

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The best thing about this story is its girl hero. Seems to me we get more stories like this when Science Fiction is in a popular phase. However, it also takes into consideration the belief that girls prefer Fantasy to SF. The author clearly tried to bridge the gap between the two genres.

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Elana is the daughter of two agents. Her dad leads her team and her mom died on assignment some years before. She's a teen but she's already engaged to Evrek, another agent who's just ahead of her in rank. They arrive at a Youngling world in their starship. Younglings are people from worlds less advanced than their own. They're there to explore and also to investigate an incursion by a nearby interstellar empire which wants to clear away Younglings for colonization.

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Elana is so eager to go on the mission that she tricks her way into the landing party. When the only other female on the time dies during first contact, her father has no choice but to promote her to the next rank. He and her fiance are very upset at needing to do this.

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Meanwhile, the local Younglings believe a dragon is terrorizing their people. A woodcutter's sons set out to defeat this dragon. The youngest, Georyn, is a sensitive, intelligent young man. When they encounter Elana on their journey, they believe her to be an enchantress and Georyn is taken with her in a personal way too.

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While that's going on, another young man, Jarel, is working as a guard for the Imperials and questioning why they're there clearing away the primitive peoples because, now that he sees them in person, he realize they're just like him. They're no animals.

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Of course, the three - Jarel, Georyn, and Elana - have to work together to resolve the plot.

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Remember, this was written almost forty years ago, so the language is a bit stiff and the romance is rather shallow compared to Young Adult romance now. Besides YA romance not being all that deep back then, this was Science Fiction during a time when it was believed SF readers thought romance was icky and almost entirely read by boys who thought romance was even ickier. However, the author clearly knew better and I thought the romance, though light, came off well.

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Sylvia Engdahl has a huge backlist. Be sure to check it out on-line or at any good-sized library. http://www.sylviaengdahl.com/

THE TROUBLE WITH DEMONS by Lisa Shearin

Even if you don't usually read Fantasy, I think you might like this one just for Lisa's wry storytelling voice. http://enduringromance.blogspot.com

STAR TREK Anyone?

Good morning, YA SciFi Geniuses. If you've popped in lately, you know how much I've slowed down. Even though I have a wonderful new laptop, it's difficult to write due to my unborn baby pinching a nerve somewhere on the left side of my body. I have to reserve my writing time mostly for my own stories. Of course, my increasing belly size makes it difficult to sit for long periods of time too. I won't be able to attend the opening of the new STAR TREK movie in May. So, I'd really appreciate it if those of you who do could write up some kind of review for me. Either email me - my address is in my Blogger profile - or put it in the Comments of any post. All comments must be approved by me via email anyway. Instead of posting it as a comment, I would copy and paste the review to its own post. Thanks a whole bunch!
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During this time, my priority will be book reviews for you all. I'll also link you to reviews at my other blog, Enduring Romance, for books which I think you might like even if they're not SciFi.

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In baby news, my little princess is doing very well. She's large for her age, which is good because she'll probably be born early. It's good to marry a large man if you're going to have premature babies! The bigger the preemie, the better chance she has. Still, I'm hoping to keep her in full term. As for me, well, I'm in pain and increasingly uncomfortable and so on. Making babies is very hard work, which is why it's good to only make them with a responsible, unselfish, and utterly devoted mate. It also helps if he's very cute and a darn good kisser.

Young Adult at Cerridwen Press

*FROM DREAMS TO REALITY by Barbara Goodwin looks pretty darn cool to me.*

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Now, these are all new to me and look Paranormal all around, rather than Science Fiction. But, there might be some SciFi in there or on its way. These novels are not specifically written for Teens, I don't think. I believe they're grouped together for Teens because they have cross over appeal for both teens and adults. http://www.jasminejade.com/c-111-young-adult-interest.aspx

New Source for YA Paranormal- Harlequin Teen

*This is INTERTWINED by Gena Showalter, one of the debut novels for this line. I've never read Showalter's books, but I know plenty of people who have and love them.
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Harlequin Teen is a new line from the famous Romance novel publisher and it's coming in August of this year. Despite the Romance connection, the stories will actually compass all of Young Adult fiction. Looks like the first two are Paranormal and I'm hoping future titles will include Science Fiction. We can only wait and see. http://www.harlequinteen.com/harlequinteen/index.html

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Here's the link to a website trying to connect early with teen readers- https://www.harlequinteenpanel.com/Portal/default.aspx I think it looks a little too 'Tween' rather than 'Teen,' but they've got four months to get their act together.

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New Books from Tor

I haven't checked these out, YA SciFi Geniuses, but I don't want you all to suffer just 'cause I'm knocked up and sidelined. DREAMQUEST looks kinda cool.

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http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=236284388&albumId=991130

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Tor makes it easy to keep up with what they're doing. I wish other publishers did. And I wish it was easier to find YA Science Fiction. (((sigh)))

Happy Easter!

We're finding our Easter eggs in the mud and leftover snow banks here in Alaska, but, hey, at least we know Spring is on the way. Have fun!

Weekly Tech News from Dear Author & I got a mini laptop!

Here's the Dear Author link: http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/04/12/weekly-tech-roundup-2/

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And here's my mini loptop-

Now, I can write on my stories anywhere and also accept eBooks and electronic ARCs for review.

Reading News for Techno-Geeks

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/04/05/weekly-tech-roundup/ I don't know about you all, but I want one of those itty-bitty laptops.

TENNYSON by Lesley M. M. Blume

Here's another non-Science Fiction paranormal for you-

http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2009/04/tennyson-by-lesley-m-m-blue.html Click on the link because it's actually posted at my other book review blog.

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Although it's labeled Middle Grade, I think anyone would enjoy it. I'm forty and I did.

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Meanwhile, I'm having a terrible time finding Science Fiction in the New Releases for you all. I had what I thought was a great one, but it opened so insanely boring and full of teenage stereotypes I just knew you'd gag. I'm going to have to go back to the Older Releases to find something good, I'm afraid, and definitely not limit my choices to the YA label. (((sigh)))