March 23, 2013 Quote – Terrible Things BUT Great Books “There are some awful things in the world, it’s true, but there are also some great books.” -Jo Walton – Among Others (TOR, 2010) Categories Quotes Comment: 1
March 22, 2013 Science and Speculative Fiction An editorial on Science and Speculative Fiction By Derek Newman-Stille Although as a society, we often create an impenetrable barrier between the arts and sciences, seeing each as separate and distinct from one another, these barriers are historically created and are social inventions. The origin of science is through philosophy, remember. Science Fiction (or more widely, Speculative Fiction) is one of... Categories Editorials Comments: 0
March 21, 2013 Quote – People Fight For Fear of Monsters “People unite against things. People fight when they’re scared and threatened, not to change, not for the future. They get it wrong in the other Tales. People don’t fight for heroes: They fight for the monsters. For fear of the monsters in the dark.” -Leah Bobet – Above (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012) Categories Quotes Comments: 0
March 20, 2013 Interview with Leah Bobet An interview with Leah Bobet by Derek Newman-Stille I was fortunate enough to meet Leah Bobet at CAN CON: The Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature in Ottawa this past year. We had a brief chat about SF and inclusivity, and I got back in touch with her again after reading her novel Above, which I was... Categories Interviews Comments: 0
March 19, 2013 Between Pages of Experience A review of Jo Walton’s Among Others By Derek Newman-Stille SF has a pedagogical value – it teaches, it shares experiences, and it opens the mind to new horizons. Outsiders and social outcasts are often drawn to SF as a means to explore a world that seems strange and alienating to them – reading the alien as a way of... Categories Fiction Book Reviews Comments: 0
March 18, 2013 Quote – Science Fiction Makes You Look at Things From New Angles “One of the things I’ve always liked about science fiction is the way it makes you think about things, and look at things from angles you’d never have thought about before.” -Jo Walton – Among Others (TOR, 2010) Categories Quotes Comments: 0
March 17, 2013 Sex, Drugs, and Country and Western Horror A review of Derek McCormack’s The Haunted Hillbilly (ECW Press, 2003) By Derek Newman-Stille Hank is a country and western star looking for an image that will bring him success and Nudie is willing to assist him with an eye toward aesthetics he picked up in the carnival. Nudie recreates Hank in an image he desires, planting evidence of infidelity... Categories Fiction Book Reviews Comments: 0
March 16, 2013 Quote – Who Has The Right To Decide Acceptable Behaviour? “Who had the right to decide what types of behaviour were acceptable for all species under all circumstances?” -J. Paul Cooper – The Dinner Guest (Canadian Tales of the Fantastic) Categories Quotes Comment: 1
March 15, 2013 Upcoming interview with Leah Bobet on Wednesday March 20th I met Leah Bobet at CAN CON: The Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature in Ottawa this past year. After chatting with her about her work, I wanted to share some of her insights with readers. You will have a chance to hear from her about her involvement in politics, studies of intersectionality, advocacy, supporting local food... Categories Interviews/News Comments: 0
March 14, 2013 Interview with Corey Redekop An interview of Corey Redekop By Derek Newman-Stille Wouldn’t the world be better if we just asked the monsters politely if they could please not eat us at the moment? Corey Redekop and I had a chance in this interview to explore the figure of the monster and its role as a representation of the social outcast, the rejected. It... Categories Interviews Comments: 0