Early next month, we’ll discuss another YA speculative novel that’s been getting a lot of buzz:
… which is about a boy who wakes up in a maze with no idea of how he got there–or how to get out.
We hope you’ll get a chance to read the book and then come join in the discussion. In fact, we’ll give away a copy of the novel to the first person who asks for it in the comments section (continental US only).
“The wave of sci-fi overwhelming the mass media today, while often fun, is rarely on the level of the best those genres have to offer.”
So says Damien G. Walter in this article on The Gaurdian’s website. He goes on to argue that the watered-down ideas of science fiction that make up “sci-fi” have become so familiar to modern audiences as to be played out. And so, he claims, we have moved into a “post-sci-fi era.”
Check out the article and then tell us what you think: has science fiction run out of steam or is it merely evolving?
Today we’d like to invite you to post any questions you might have for us here at the Spectacle, including ideas for topics you’d like to discuss.
Our team of bloggers represents different levels and types of experiences in writing and publishing speculative fiction, so there’s a decent chance we’ll be able to either answer your questions ourselves or find someone to answer your them for you. And we always love a good discussion.
So what are you dying to talk about? Want to talk about the weirdest bookstores in the country? Wondering how many rounds of revisions a debut author goes through? Curious about some obscure tidbit relating to your favorite series? Go ahead–tell us what you’d like to talk about.
My most recent updating in Goodreads got me thinking about speculative fiction books I’m looking forward to. Since it is a bit of a broad definition, I’ll list some that I can’t wait for and what the main reason I’m looking forward to them is.
My number one book for 2010 I’m looking forward to is the sequel to THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan, THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES. Zombies the way zombies should be done. I loved how the author wasn’t afraid to kill off people.
Second up would be the CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins sequel. Anyone know what this is called? Why I’m looking forward to it? Because the first two books were awesome!
Next would be PROPHECY OF DAYS – BOOK ONE: THE DAYKEEPER’S GRIMOIRE by Christy Raedeke. Why? End of the world Mayan stuff sounds way cool to me.
The next one is a bit of a cheat. I read book one INCARCERON (in ARC form) already. It’s a British import that comes out in January 2010. I liked it enough that I Amazon marketplaced and got SAPPHIQUE which is book 2. It’s sitting on my shelf waiting for me to read. What I liked about INCARCERON was how different it was than current spec YA out there now. It actually felt more like traditional adult fantasy.
Okay, I just finished GREGOR AND THE CODE OF CLAW today (Gregor book 5). This series left me loving it enough that I want a book six. Is there going to be one? I googled and the answer looked hopeful. The series was really strong MG fiction. It was clever and left me caring about the characters.
I’ll round it off with LAST MIDNIGHT by our own Parker Peevyhouse. According to Parker, this is filled with world ending stuff, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
So what spec books are you really looking forward to?
PJ Hoover loves seeing kids excited about future books coming out…especially hers.
Here’s the fourth and final installment of our guest post from Molly Blaisdell about her 4-author collaborative book project. Don’t miss the first segment, the second segment, or the third segment, either!
Q: How did you get your book off the ground?
Molly
The first step was world building and character creation. This was lots of fun and exciting. We built the backstory to our world first, settling on our alternative history of a pre-industrial time on Earth — an untamed Europe where the Empire of Rome has fallen and the continent is now wild with barbarians and gangs. Also a burgeoning Brython Empire, with trade colonies instead of settlement colonies in America and Australia as the norm. The Egyptian Empire flourishes, rising into its golden age. The power center of civilization is the pseudo-Byzantine Empire with Constantinople as the seat of power that it is ruled by a Christian and a Muslim emperor together. This reinforces its position as a bastion of stability, humanity, and tolerance.
In this city is an international school for some royalty, some diplomats, and at times, bright scholarship students. This school is a crossroads and the place where our characters first met. We each settled on a character who had attended the school and then returned to our respective homes. None of this backstory happens in the book except in a few brief flashbacks.
Chris Cheng
We shared lots of email to build this history, so our world would have an authentic feel. Several of us had worked on series for various publishers and knew that a bible of information that contained everything from maps to character synopses, plot synopses, history, science, and themes would help us as we moved forward. If we discussed it, it was archived. Whenever anyone got off track, we could go back and check what we agreed to do.
Next, in email and phone conversations, we began to throw out ideas about what would be the problem of our novel. Soon we knew an evil magician Amosis had made a power grab in Egypt, and he was seeking more power. We also knew a powerful weapon, the regalia, was kept in the Salt City, and that our characters were going to have to keep the weapon safe.
Chris Eboch
We outlined the first few letters and plunged forward. We never had any questions of character or setting after the initial phase of the work. Each of our characters had to accept the quest that was put before them. This only left work on the plot during the actual writing. We shared many emails to work out the plot on the journey phase. We outlined. Each character had his or her own task and internal problem to overcome before they came together to the international school to face Amosis (the really bad guy). When all of our characters reached the school, we, the authors, had to regroup one more time and outline the darkest moment and the big bad battle. After that, it was a quick wrap to the end. All of this got us to our first draft.
We then went into revision, following the basic pattern of any novel revision. The only difference was that if one of us made a change that affected someone else’s journey, it had to be discussed first. We didn’t have much of that because of careful work early on. There were a few ruffled feathers during our email discussions, but for most part it was just a dynamic, fun experience. I think what helped the most was our positive attitudes, our real friendship, and strong work ethics.
Louise Spiegler
It took two solid years to complete the project, and it was odyssey full of unusual turns, but, in all, it was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done as a writer. Currently, our book THE FOUR WINDS has just started to make the agent rounds. Wish us luck; we’ve done the hard part. That said, move forward with your own crazy ideas. I hope you’ve been inspired here, and I wish you luck, too.
Thanks x 4, Molly! (And to Chris C, Chris E, and Louise for allowing their story to be told, too.)
Happy Halloween! Thanks to everyone who voted for a favorite story opening. The winner you’ve chosen is
Amanda is the winner of a $20 online giftcard for Powell’s bookstore and a copy of Dead Girl in Love by our own Linda Joy Singleton.
Here again is the tantalizing and spooky story opening that Amanda wrote:
Once a year, at exactly noon in the tired little town of Ashwood, Tennessee, the sky goes black. The street lights stay off and all of the houses draw their curtains.
Today is that day.
We continue our discussion about favorite villains from speculative fiction.
P. J. Hoover
My favorite literary villains are the ones who change to the good side at the end. The ones who find the redemption they are looking for and decide to help the main characters reach their goals. I recognize that many times this happens when there is another antagonist also (double antagonist, anyone?), and the good and the bad unite against a new common enemy. I’m drawing a blank on examples, but if the commenters have any examples of this, I’d love to hear them. The only examples I can think of come from sci-fi movies: Darth Vadar being the most well known in Return of the Jedi and also the Captain in Titan AE.
Jo Whittemore
My favorite literary villains are the ones with no sense of self-preservation.
They have no fear and no care if they live or perish, so long as they achieve their desired result. This can be applied to robots, zombies, and any mindless drone. In particular, the giants-turned-ogres from Patrick Carman’s Land of Elyon series frighten me. They’re ruthless, they smell like rotting brains and they just want to eradicate all other species, consequences be damned. These are the toughest to battle because they literally will fight to the death, and if they’re bigger and badder…you’ve got your work cut out for you.
Parker Peevyhouse
I like the “ticking clock as antagonist,” as in Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember. It’s so ominous when the lights start going out in that story. But as far as traditional villains go, I love Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. They’re really funny, and that makes them even more unsettling. Here’s a sampling of their dialogue which I will use to convince you to agree with me:
“Talking of the marquis, I wonder where he is. He’s a bit late, isn’t he, Mr. Vandemar?”
“Very late indeed, Mr. Croup. As late as he possibly could be.”
Mr. Croup coughed sententiously and delivered his punchline. “Then from now on, we’ll have to call him the late marquis de Carabas. I’m afraid he’s ever-so-slightly–”
“Dead as a doornail,” finished Mr. Vandemar.
For this Roundtable Discussion we ask, Which villains of speculative fiction are your favorites and why?
Below are some of our answers. We’d love to hear yours, too.
Joni Sensel
I’m not sure I have a good answer for this. I’m not someone who “loves to hate” a bad guy, and I really dislike books with one-dimensional villains who seem to be bad for the sake of power or riches alone. I like complex and sympathetic antagonists, like Dustfinger in Inkheart, who of course turns out not to be so bad. One of my own books has a villain I was surprised to realize I mostly agree with, even if the characters don’t. And I tend to like books with death, time, or other natural forces as an antagonist.
Linda Joy Singleton
Like Joni my first thought was Dustfinger in Inkheart because he’s a charming, loveable villain. I’ve been trying to think of other memorable villains.
* There’s Voldemort, of course, who is evil incarnate, although his childhood adds an interesting look at his choices for evil, theorizing that evil is a choice not a genetic personality flaw.
* In Phillip Pullman’s GOLDEN COMPASS, the villains are multi-dimensional with good and bad traits: the heroine’s own parents. I never really decided which one I disliked or liked.
* A unique villain appears in Sarah Beth Durst’s INTO THE WILD — a small piece of green leaves called The Wild, which escapes into Massachusetts and and devours buildings and land, turning everything (and everyone!) into fairytales. This gives a whole new meaning to the slogan “Go Green.”
* Looking at my own books, I think one of my favorite villains is Galena the wicked mermaid in SEA SWITCH (midgrade by Llewellyn). Galena magically turns Cassie into a mermaid to escape underwater crimes and to gain her heart’s desire — human feet so she can go shoe shopping. Can’t resist an evil fashionita (g).
K. A. Holt
Let’s see…
As far as villains go, Mrs. Coulter from Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass creeped me out nearly as much as Cathy in East of Eden. Her insidious plotting, the Hansel and Gretel-style wooing of Lyra, and that superfreak monkey daemon all combined into a pretty frightening character. At least for me. I haven’t read all of the books in the His Dark Materials series yet, and I know that Mrs. Coulter could be considered a conflicted villain (or maybe a flawed hero? I haven’t read that far to know), but in The Golden Compass she really and truly gave me the willies.
Now, if we’re talking *favorite* villains, that’s much more difficult. The idea of a pulsing, quivering brain on a dais (IT in A Wrinkle in Time), is pretty darn gross and cool. And I have to say, I loved the attacking umbrellas in China Meiville’s Un Lun Dun (even though they were more props than villains unto themselves).
Monkeys, brains, umbrellas. I guess I’m a fan of non-traditional bad guys!
We’ll have more answers tomorrow…
Okay, so it’s not the new trend yet, but I SO want it to be.
I’m not talking frat houses, by the way.
I’m talking all things of Greek mythology.
All the gods and goddesses: Apollo, Aphrodite, Hades…
All the creatures: centaurs, chimeras, griffins, harpies…
All the legends: the Argonauts, the Trojan War, the Theban Cycle…
Yes, there are books out there (as Greg Fishbone mentioned earlier this year) that feature gods, and the Percy Jackson series teems with mythology, but surely Rick Riordan hasn’t cornered that market.
So why am I such a huge proponent of the Greek uprising?
-They never do anything on a small scale. If you’re worried your child is going to overthrow you, swallow him as an infant, a la Kronos.
-They use dramatically extreme opposites. On one end, you have Medusa who could turn a man to stone with one look. Also, her hair was a bit…unruly. On the other, Aphrodite, who could win Miss Universe by just showing up (and yes, those are her real boobs).
-They have the coolest origins for everything. Why do we have different seasons? Because that daft girl Persephone got duped into eating pomegranate seeds in the Underworld, and everyone knows if you eat the food there, you have to live there! Luckily, she only ate a few seeds, so she’s only there part-time, but her mom Demeter (goddess of harvest) gets so upset when that happens she stops providing fertility to the earth.
See? Cool! And don’t get me started on the Fates.
-They have awesome beasties, and they all have awesome names.
Exhibit A: Cerberus, the three-headed dog, who guards the gates of Hades (once you cross the Styx, you ain’t never coming back, honey).
Exhibit B: Cerynitis, an enormous gold-antlered hind (think deer, people) fast enough to outrun an arrow. Heracles had a job chasing THAT one down. The man ran after it for a full year (again, those Greeks and their extremes!).
Plus, they’re coming out with The Lightning Thief and a re-make of the Clash of the Titans, so kids (and adults) are going to have an interest anew. Why not tap into it?
So, I say, once the vampires and werewolves and zombies are retired to the Lon Chaney vault, let there be light…ning thieves!
Who’s with me?
I had a great time this past weekend attending the Austin Teen Book Festival here in Austin, Texas. There were some amazing authors in attendance and it was quite impressive to be in the presence of so many famousy famous YA writers (Justine Larbalestier, Heather Brewer, Daniel Waters, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Libba Bray and more more more)!
I was only able to stay for one panel (bummer!), but it was a good one: Zombie vs. Vampires. The panelists were Carrie Jones, Daniel Waters, Heather Brewer and Cynthia Leitich Smith.
While I was listening to merits of glamoring vs. full-on brain eating, I wondered what you guys would have to say about all of this. So I’m opening the field a little here and asking, what do you think?
In a fight between zombies, vampires, were-things and scary pixies, who do you think would come out victorious? Who would make you pee your pants a little with fright?
How about a little pro/con chart for each of the creatures:
Zombies
Pros: super strong; create more minions as they attack; can fight in the daytime
Cons: do not sparkle in the sun, or ever; kind of slow; not smart
Vampires
Pros: don’t need a mob to be effective; smart; have that glamor thing going for them
Cons: Sunlight; being way too emo
Were-things
Pros: fast; violent; crazy
Cons: only a were-thing at certain times of the month; fleas
Scary Pixies
Pros: some of them can fly; soul-sucking; attractive
Cons: distracted by shiny things; confused with faeries
It’s a fantasy creature smackdown! Let us know which undead/fanged/furry/pretty critter would prevail… and who you would run from the fastest.
KA Holt is an unabashed fan of zombies, though she admits they can be kind of slow on a variety of levels.
Parker Peevyhouse
P. J. Hoover
Jo Whittemore
lindajoysingleton
Joni Sensel
kaholt