Science Fiction

What??? Just when I'm getting into Stargate Atlantis, just when the series has really come into its own, just a few weeks after I chatted with the cast about the show's future ... comes word that the current season will be its last (thanks to Gateworld, possibly the greatest fan site ever). Apparently the plan is to end this season with a cliffhanger in January, then resolve it with a movie, then (if all goes well) make more movies, a path familiar to fans of Stargate: SG-1, which just added a second movie to its legacy (the very enjoyable Continuum). Gateworld says Atlantis has lost some ground in "live" ratings, but is especially popular in the DVR realm (and it's one of Amazon's top episodic downloads). But don't think we'll be living in a world without a Stargate TV series (a fate too frightening to contemplate). A new Stargate series -- designed to appeal to an audience beyond the typical sci-fi crowd -- is in the works, and heck, maybe this means they'll be able to spend more money on it.

I'll end this post on an optimistic note, courtesy of cast member Chuck Campbell (via Gateworld, of course): "Hang in with us," he said. "This new series will be of the same caliber as the other two. These writers know what they are doing. They can write good television. You've been with us this long. Stay with us for the ninth inning. It'll be worth it. And thank you for the five years you've given us." -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, Unbox TV Freak

This weekend, Seattle is Mecca for gamers. The metaphor might not extend to people actually praying in the direction of Seattle (although I wouldn't rule that out) but it is true that gamers of every kind--from casual console players to hard-core boardgame geeks--are traveling from around the world to attend the Penny Arcade Expo, a.k.a. PAX.

PAX is the largest gamer festival in the U.S., the spiritual successor to the now-more-corporatized E3, and it's just a mad-crazy three-day lineup of "freeplay" games, huge LAN combats, exhibitor demos, a variety of tournaments and competitions, panels, movies, and even concerts--from H.P. Lovecraft tribute band Darkest of the Hillside Thickets to nerdcore godfather MC Frontalot.

So what does all this have to do with books and writing? Well, there's actually some reading going on amidst all the gamer craziness. The latest edition of D&D and many of the creative minds behind it will be well-represented, but here are a few even better (and more traditionally narrative) examples:

• A reading and a panel with actor--and now accomplished writer--Wil Wheaton, who has been called "an almost Mark Twain for the geek crowd." (What, you don't read his blog?)
• Panels on "Game Criticism and Old School Journalism," "How to Make the World Notice Your Video Game Blog," and "Writing for Games." (Love the description for that last one: "Bowser takes Peach, Mario chases after Bowser, Bowser falls into some lava, The End. It wasn’t long ago when writing and storytelling were at the bottom of the priority list, but as these industry pros will tell you, the tide has changed and compelling story arcs and tight dialogue are all being used to create and sell games.")
• Many chances to meet and hear from Gabe and Tycho, the genii behind the very sharp and literate Penny Arcade comic (anthologized for your convenience if you need to catch up).

(Cross-posted to Guys Lit Wire.) --Paul

In this edition of YA Wednesday, Heidi is taking a break while I root around for noteworthy YA news (but watch for her this weekend, when she compiles the End-o'-the-Week Kid-Lit Roundup).

More reviews by kids. This was fun to see after writing about Storytubes last week. The Chicago Tribune just published a whole passel of reviews by kids between 5 and 15, talking about their favorite books as part of the Trib's "Read & Write" series. From a Kid-Lit vs. YA perspective, it's especially fun to see where the kids break and self-select into YA and beyond--from the likes of Tales of Animal Heroes moving onto 24 Girls in 7 Days and then Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Plus, you get to hear about some books you might never have noticed, like The Hardy Boyz: Exist 2 Inspire. (Found via Big A little a.)

"Young Adult" classification possibly good; also, possibly bad. Science-fiction site io9 has a couple of essays up on YA SF, pro and con. ("Young Adult Books Will Save Science Fiction" and "Stop Writing Young Adult Science Fiction", respectively.) Kid-lit cognoscente Colleen Mondor calls them "two of the silliest pieces I have read on YA literature in ages." Take that! You've got to love her advice: "Here's an idea - why doesn't everyone just grow up and stop talking about this and let teens read what they want; whether a publisher designates it YA or not. (And really, that is what they are quite happily doing anyway.)"

Violence! Swears! Kids' book awards!. Elsewhere in the world of controversy, we found out from achockablog that Matt Ottley's Requiem for a Beast was named the Children's Book Council of Australia's "Picture Book of the Year"--despite having swears and "illustrations of a bloody axe," among other things. By many accounts, the book--explicitly intended for "adults and young adults"--is dark, complex, and also fairly awesome. But one former Book Council president isn't happy: "I really have a problem with this book. It shouldn't be on the shortlist, let alone win."

Some obligatory Twilight. I now believe Heidi that when you're reading about YA on the Web, you can't help but read about the Twilight Saga, whether it's funny Robert Pattinson interviews or commentary in the Washington Post from the author of Why Gender Matters. My favorite (sorry, I'm sure I'm getting to this late) was the cute Twilight trailer spoof:

Advice from college guys for high school guys. Guys Lit Wire is a great site for teen guys--or anyone who recommends books to teen guys--to find new ideas on what to read. (You can even find ideas from me there from time to time.) Kelly Herold's "Higher Learning" interviews are especially good, in which "college guys talk about what they're reading, what they read in high school, and what books are important to them now." She just posted her third, with Ben, a second-year student at Grinnell College, who cut his teeth on the likes of Lois Lowry's The Giver and Jack London's Martin Eden.

Show your librarian some love! Okay, this isn't specific to YA, but everyone should know that nominations just opened last Friday for the "I Love My Librarian!" awards....

--Paul

Seeds of Change is a cool new anthology edited by John Joseph Adams and featuring work by Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, and many others. A compact, small-sized hardcover from Prime Books, it's a work of art just in the design alone. The stories, which deal with social and environmental issues, are thought-provoking and strong. Recently, I asked Adams to give me a list of things readers can do in connection with the anthology, which is itself a call for being proactive in helping with some of the most pressing problems facing us on a global level. Here's his response...

John Joseph Adams: In the introduction to my anthology, I said: "It is my hope that reading these stories inspires some to plant their own seeds of  change—that when we see something wrong, we'll do something about it, whether that means writing to your representative in congress or researching a cure for a disease or simply speaking out against inequality and prejudice. We're all in this together—and the first step toward change can begin with any one of us."

So, obviously one of the main ideas behind the book was that science fiction can be a mode of social change. With that in mind, I'd like to offer up five ways--not necessarily the top five ways--you can plant seeds of change of your very own.

(1) Donate. We live in a land of privilege, but some of us are more privileged than others. If you can afford to spare the money, consider donating to a charitable organization. Uncle Sam will thank you come tax time, but do it for the karma, not the tax write-offs. Not sure who to donate money to? Check out Network for Good, which acts as a charitable clearinghouse, allowing you to discover and donate to a number of different charities and track your contributions.

(2) Volunteer. If you can't afford to donate money, or just want to do more than that, try donating your time. Charitable organizations of all kinds are always in need of volunteers to help make their organizations work. Not sure how to get involved? Check out VolunteerMatch.org, which helps match up volunteers with charitable organizations that need their assistance. (Network for Good can also help you find volunteering opportunities.)

(3) Recycle. Mother Earth has given us a lot; recycling is one of the ways we can give back. To learn more about recycling, environmentalism, and the different ways you can lessen your own environmental footprint, visit Earth911.org.

(4) Vote. One of our greatest freedoms is to be allowed a voice and to know that it will be heard; vote today to ensure a better tomorrow. If you're not already registered to vote, visit RocktheVote.com.

(5) Listen. Because that's the most important step.

Center stage in rising star Tobias Buckell's new novel Sly Mongoose is the unpredictable planet Chilo. As the press release informs us, "Welcome to Chilo, a planet with corrosive rain, crushing pressure, and deadly heat. Fortunately, fourteen-year-old Timas lives in one of the domed cities that float 100,000 feet above the surface, circling near the edge of a monstrous perpetual storm. Above the acidic clouds the temperature and pressure are normal. But to make a living, Timas like many other young men, is lowered to the surface in an armored suit to scavenge what he can. Timas’s life is turned upside down when a strange man crash lands on the city. The newcomer is fleeing an alien intelligence intent on invading the planet and discovering the secret hidden deep inside the perpetual storm—a secret that could lead to interplanetary war." And from there, things just get worse.

Still, in its day, Chilo must've had a few years when it was a vacation hot spot... No? Well, er, maybe it was at least "a nice place to raise a family," as they say.

Not convinced? Maybe this will help. Buckell, who was recently tagged to write the next Halo novel, has provided Omnivoracious with this compelling top five list from the Chilo Chamber of Commerce...

TOP 5 REASONS TO GROW UP ON THE PLANET CHILO

1) Forced anorexia means never having to clean your plate
2) Sulfuric acid rain is just nifty, as long as you wear your protective armor
3) Everything you say and do is seen by a technocracy, smile for the camera
4) Group mind zombies don't need to eat your brains
5) Caribbean cyborgs sometimes drop from the sky and hit your floating city

In this week's roundup, we find some help for first-time school-goers, visit the intersection of kid lit and tattoos, and get some free Daniel Pinkwater:

"Back to school, for the first time." How do you help new preschoolers and kindergartners prepare for their first big day of capital-S School? The latest Horn Book newsletter has some great tips, including several recommendations for books that will help kids know what to expect--like Wow! School! and Kindergarten Rocks!. Read the newsletter for even more titles and ideas.

Tattoos, kids, tattoos involving kids' books, kids' books involving tattoos, etc. Can we all agree that tattoos have finally, irrevocably, resoundingly become mainstream? 100 Scope Notes compiles the "colliding worlds" story of tattoos and kid lit, with links to a kids' book about parental tattoos, cool librarian temp tattoos (e.g., "Literate 4 Life" and "Read or Die"), a beautiful Matilda tat, and more. I think this full-color Giving Tree tattoo was my favorite, just for sheer commitment to the bit:

Daniel Pinkwater's Yggyssey, serialized free online. If you followed the zany journey of Nedworth Wentworthstein in the Neddiad, you won't want to miss the Yggyssey--the Neddiad told from the point of view of Ned's friend, Iggy. Pinkwater is putting the Yggyssey online in serial form, with a new chapter every Monday. You can already read all the way up to Chapter 17 (how did I miss this?), and you can even download an mp3 of him reading the first chapter. (Found via Bookshelves of Doom.)

Science-fiction roundup for kids and teens. Amanda Craig of the London Times just pulled together an excellent roundup of the "dazzling results" of relatively recent SF efforts for children and teenagers--including the particularly creepy-sounding Unwind:

Unwind imagines a society in which parents who get fed up with their children can sign them up, secretly, to be “unwound” at 13: that is, taken away to have every part of them, from eyes to skin, donated to others. The decision to “abort retrospectively” is irrevocable, and when the clever, rebellious Connor discovers his fate, he plots his escape.

This is the kind of rare book that makes the hairs on your neck rise up. It is written with a sense of drama that should get it instantly snapped up for film, and it's satisfyingly unpredictable in that its characters change and realise things about each other in a credible way. Enforced organ donation isn't a new idea, but Unwind has the kind of anger that will appeal to teenagers.

(Found via Achockablog.)

New Fuse #8 podcast. Elizabeth Bird procrastinates funnily in another "children's literary" podcast, talking about the Bloodhound Gang's secret Newbery-winning writer, the Twilight backlash (and the Twilight backlash backlash), and the "WORLD PODCAST PREMIER" of The Effin G's song "Randolph Caldecott." She also has two fun "booktalks," on King George: What Was His Problem? and The Cabinet of Wonders (Book 1 of the Kronos Chronicles). --Paul

Sometimes spending time around the star(s) of a TV show you enjoy can take the magic right out of it (I'm thinking here of a certain hunky hero type with the initials D.B.). But other times -- and these are really great times -- the cast is so cool that you find yourself upgrading a show from merely "interesting" to "new favorite." This was the case for me with Stargate Atlantis, after my colleague Leah and I got to interview cast members Joe Flanigan, Robert Picardo ("Star Trek: Voyager") and Jewel Staite ("Firefly"). Anyway, you can see for yourself: Check out our interview, and get some insights into the new season, which is airing now (you can watch it here, ad-free). Enjoy! -- Stephanie Reid-Simons, Unbox TV Freak

Hugo Award finalist (and now winner!) and John W. Campbell Award recipient John Scalzi brings readers something new and different this month with Zoe's Tale. The protagonist is a 17-year-old girl. The milieu is the same as for his Old Man's War novels. Rumor has it this new novel has made a few librarians cry. Has Scalzi gone soft? Not likely. Something tells me the man who had the guts to put bacon on his cat's head has probably just gone and taken it to the next level.

Which brings us to the question I asked Scalzi as an Amazon exclusive: Who is Zoe and why should we care about her tale?

Scalzi: Why, she's just your average sort of teenage girl, of course, who just happens to be standing directly on a pivot point for a potential interstellar war between humans and everyone else in the universe, and who is trying get herself, friends and family off the pivot point and well out of the way. And really, who among us hasn't been in that situation? As to why should you care--well, you know. You don't necessarily have to care who she is when you start the book. My job, as the writer, is to make you care -- to get you invested enough in who Zoe is and what she's going through that you keep reading because you need to know what's next for her. If you start the book not caring about Zoe, that's just fine. I want you to finish the book having cared deeply about her...I have to say that I'm really happy with Zoe, both the character and the book. The story is in the Old Man's War universe, but it's written as a stand-alone, so folks new to series pick it up and look around place through Zoe's eyes. I hope they will, and I think they'll like what they see.

And, as an added bonus, the interview I did with Scalzi about his last novel, for those who missed it the first time around...

Oh, I know you, Omnivoracious reader. You're already browsing the August books. You're even looking ahead to what's coming out in the fall. But there's a little time travel trick that would benefit both you and your children: take a trip back to June, when Random House released The Lost Art by Simon Morden. It's a delightfully complex children's book that explores a post-apocalyptic world.

What's it about? "One thousand years after the formidable war machines of the User cultures devoured entire civilizations and rewrote planetary geography, Earth is in the grip of a perpetual Dark Age. Scientific endeavor is strongly discouraged, while remnant technology is locked away—hidden by a Church determined to prevent a new Armageddon. This is the world to which Benzamir Michael Mahmood must return. A descendant of the tribes who fled the planet during those ages old wars, he comes in pursuit of enemies from the far reaches of space. The technology he brings is wondrous beyond the imaginings of those he will meet, but can its potency match that of the Church’s most closely guarded treasure? For centuries it has lain dormant, but it is about to be unearthed, and the powers that will be unleashed may be beyond anyone’s capacity to control. Even a man as extraordinary as Benzamir..."

This is an audacious concept for this audience, but it works. If you're looking for something different, you should check it out before you go a-seeking amongst those alluring August titles.

Shared Worlds student Katherine Buchanan admonishing me to read Stephanie Meyer at a Breaking Dawn book release party; Will Hindmarch talking to the students about world-building from a game development point of view.

Nothing could've better served as a grand finale to the Shared Worlds teen writing camp at Wofford College in South Carolina than taking the students to one of the recent Stephanie Meyer book release parties. These are kids, you have to understand, who read constantly, who have to be told to put away their books to pay attention in class, and who when asked what activities they'd like to do outside of class pretty uniformly replied, "take us anywhere we can buy more books." Talk about omnivoracious!

Shared Worlds ran from July 20 to August 2 and started off with a week of world-building, in which the students split into groups to create distinctive SF-fantasy worlds. Then, in the second week, they wrote short stories and novel excerpts set in those worlds. In addition to Wofford College teachers and other personnel, I was there as the writer-in-residence and assistant director. Other writers came in to conduct guest lectures and workshops, including Tobias Buckell,