Speculating Canada: Canadian Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy

March 13, 2013

“Husk” Reading Questions

Some Book Club Discussion Questions for Corey Redekop’s “Husk” (ECW, 2012) What was it like to be in the perspective of the zombie? Why do you think the author titled his chapters after the stages of grief? Why do you think the author made his zombie character an actor? If this book were made into a movie, who would you...

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March 12, 2013

Travel Guide to Fairy

A Review of O.R. Melling’s The Hunter’s Moon (In The Chronicles of Faerie, Penguin Canada, 2000) By Derek Newman-Stille O.R. Melling’s The Hunter’s Moon explores the idea of place and landscape saturated with the mythic and the historical, the overlapping realms of reality that are facilitated by time and story-telling. Two cousins – Findabhair and Gwen – linked by family,...

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March 11, 2013

Quote – Entropy

“But nothing is ever really fixed. Michael’s father once told him about entropy and he never forgot. Something that depressing is hard to forget. Everything is eroding; people slow it down by fixing their cars and fixing their love lives and fixing their bodies, but in the end, it all falls apart anyway.” -Brett Savory – In and Down (Brindle...

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March 10, 2013

Upcoming Interview with Corey Redekop on Thursday, March 14

Even though I research the use of monstrous protagonists in Canadian SF to express ideas of the outsider and socially oppressed groups, for some reason I haven’t done much work on the figure of the zombie…. largely because they just creep me out too much. I had been hearing so many amazing things about this book Husk by Canadian SF...

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March 9, 2013

Quote – Iridescent Love

“I wanted a place that was iridescent, that lit without burning. Being in love is sort of like that, when it’s real. When it’s true.” -Leah Bobet – Above (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012)

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March 8, 2013

Interview with Scott Fotheringham

An Interview with Scott Fotheringham By Derek Newman-Stille This was a great interview to follow up with our interview of Julie Czerneda since Scott Fotheringham also has a background in biology and has experienced both the worlds of science and Canadian fiction authorship. I have been pondering the relationship between speculative fiction writing and science for some time, and have...

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March 7, 2013

Magic, Mazes, and Math

A Review of Ari Goelman’s The Path of Names (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013) By Derek Newman-Stille Despite wanting to go to math camp and magic camp, Dahlia is convinced by her parents to attend Jewish camp. It comes complete with everything she would expect – sports, crafts, outdoor activities, friends, Hebrew lessons, and mean girls… and a few things...

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March 6, 2013

Quote – Don’t Voice Ideas If Don’t Want Them Realized

“Don’t voice your ideas if you don’t want them realized.” -Scott Fotheringham – The Rest is Silence (Goose Lane Editions, 2012)

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March 5, 2013

Upcoming Interview with Scott Fotheringham on Friday March 8

This is a great interview to follow the interview with Julie Czerneda. Join Speculating Canada on Friday March 8 to hear another scientist who has turned to fiction writing discuss their ideas, thoughts, and inspirations. Scott Fotheringham is a former molecular biologist who is currently a fiction author. Although he does not identify as an author of SF, much of...

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March 4, 2013

“Plain Kate” Reading Questions

Some Book Club Discussion Questions for Erin Bow’s “Plain Kate” When Plain Kate was first with the Roamers, she had to quickly learn their ways. What did you find unique or interesting about their ways? The characters in this book often blame witches for their misfortune. How does this relate to our world – who do people blame for misfortune?...

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