Closing: The 2015 Science Fiction Experience

Space by Stephan Martieniere

My participation in The 2015 Science Fiction Experience was minimal. Nevertheless, it was no less enjoyable as I spent most of my time reading great reviews posted by the rest of the participants. Thanks to Carl V. from Stainless Steel Droppings for hosting once again.

BOOKS READ:

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
This book is all about the journey. I loved traveling through the galaxy along with this crew. I particularly liked the episodic style utilized in this novel and the ensemble of characters that become so central to the overall journey.


MOVIES:

Gravity (Warner Bros, 2013)
I'm a big fan of science fiction films, yet I waited a long time to watch Gravity, a highly regarded film by many. It all comes down to personal taste. I have found that the nitty gritty details and slow moving plotting I often enjoy when reading hard science fiction books are lost on me when translated to film. As suspected, I couldn't wait for this movie to end. The plot did not keep me at the edge of my seat and the improbability of the events as they develop at the end did not help. So, as much as I love science fiction, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, this film was not for me.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014, Marvel Studios)
This is a similar story with a different ending. I refused to go to the theaters last summer to watch Guardians of the Galaxy because I thought I would not like the film. Wrong!! I loved everything about Guardians of the Galaxy. That scene close to the opening with Chris Pratt as Peter Quill singing along to a 1980's song just about did me in. I was hooked by it. I love the soundtrack, the humor, and the action. But really the best part of this movie is how five outsiders who don't belong anywhere get together and become a family. I loved that about this movie. And I fell in love with Groot and Rocket. A sequel is scheduled to release in 2017. I won't miss it!

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (Microsoft Studios, 2012)
I rented Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn on a whim knowing that it is military sci-fi based on a game. Since I am not a gamer, however, there is not much I can say about the contrasts between the original storyline and characters in the game and the movie. The movie plot vaguely reminded me of Starship Troopers with cadets training to go to war in a world where it is expected that they should join the service and hate the enemy without question. Young Cadet Thomas Lansky, however, is ambivalent about his future and his role in the service, so a coming-of-age story is incorporated into the overall plot. A surprise attack toward the end of the movie changes everything -- no more questions, no more choices -- and Master Chief shows up in all his glory to help survivors. I loved Master Chief's character and was disappointed that he did not have more screen time. The end was a sort of beginning. Although the first half of the film is a bit cliché, the second half picks up and Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn ends up being an entertaining sci-fi film with great action.

MISCELLANEOUS POSTS:
Reading Habits: Thoughts on Introductions
2014: Top Books of the Year

Joining: The 2015 Science Fiction Experience

Space by Stephan Martieniere
Used with permission from the artist
To view complete Portfolio visit artist's website

The Sci-Fi Experience, hosted by Carl V. of Stainless Steel Droppings, has become a favorite yearly event. As in previous years, The 2015 Sci-Fi Experience is a celebration of Science Fiction in all its glory. This is NOT a challenge, but a way to enjoy and share love for the genre. I personally love that it gives me the opportunity to share my enjoyment of Sci-Fi through book, film, and television program discussions.

The fun began on December 1, 2014 and it will end on January 31, 2015. If interested in joining, read more about it here. If you just want to follow reviews, recommendations, and/or commentary, check out the review site where all participants post links to their reviews.

I read some excellent Sci-Fi this past year. However, I still have a stack of books to read. I plan to be realistic and go with the flow and my mood. There is no pressure and I'm hoping this event will help get me excited about reading and blogging regularly again. So let's see how far I get and which books I end up reading. In the meantime, here is my tentative list:

• A Confederation of Valor Omnibus (Valor's Choice and The Better Part of Valor) by Tanya Huff
• Star Soldiers by Andre Norton
• The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin
• Abaddon's Gate (The Expanse #3) by James S.A. Corey
• Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Thomas Sweterlitsch

I usually watch and comment on at least one science fiction film or television program. Let's see what appeals this year.

Let the fun begin.

The Queen, The Cambion, and Seven Others by Richard Bowes

Myth is the sea on which the Fantasy story floats.
Legend is the wind that drives it.
Its place of birth is the Fairy Tale.

So begins The Queen, The Cambion, and Seven Others by Richard Bowes, a beautifully illustrated little book containing eight stories ranging from modern fairy tales and fantasy, to variations on myth and legends. The afterword by Mr. Bowes, "A Secret History of Small Books," enhances the overall reading experience.

I read this magical little book and enjoyed all of Mr. Bowes' stories. Of course I have a few favorites, including "The Queen and the Cambion" in which Bowes takes events from the life of a historical figure, Queen Victoria of England, and incorporates a character from Arturian legend to create a magical modern fantasy tale. There is "The Lady of Wands" a magical fantasy with a fantastic narrator as the central character, and a whodunit with twists, turns and political undercurrents that can only take place when a story is set in the land of fairies. And the fantastic "The Progress of Solstice and Chance" with its soap opera style plot where the King of Winter and Queen of Summer marry and their child Solstice falls in love with Chance. I recommend all the stories, but today I'm going to focus my post on one story, a single Fairy Tale.

Illustration by Gustave Dore, 1867

The book begins with "Seven Smiles and Six Frowns" a fairy tale. It goes something like this. On a summer's evening the Witch of the Forest of Avalon gathers the children on her porch to tell them a simple tale about Prince Alaric who is beloved and gifted by his father the King and the Fairies with all types of magical presents. When the time comes for Alaric to marry, he is not satisfied with the princesses presented to him, but while traveling through the forest, a beautiful maiden uses cunning and magic to divest him of the magical items that make Alaric special until all he has left to win her is himself. There is a happy ending of course, but, what happens after that is what makes this a striking and unique piece.

Bowes' simple fairy tale gains complexity as the Witch invites her future apprentice to return the next day, alone, so she can tell her a different version of the fairy tale, one that is based on 'truthful' events. After the apprentice becomes the Witch, she in turn makes further revelations to her own apprentice and the reader. By the end, what began as a simple Fairy Tale with a handsome Prince and a happy ever after evolves into "a tale that not only entertains but teaches." Bowes' "Seven Smiles and Six Frowns" is an excellent example of the evolution of a fairy tale where modern insights are used by the narrator to enhance the listener's understanding but retaining the magic remains essential to complete the experience.

The collection includes “Seven Smiles and Six Frowns” a story of the evolution of a Fairy Tale; “The Cinnamon Cavalier,” a Fairy Tale variation a critic has called, “The Gingerbread Man, writ large,” and “The Margay’s Children” a modern take on a “Beastly Bridegroom” tale; “The Progress of Solstice and Chance,” with its complex sexual relations and invented pantheon of gods, the outrageous situation and characters of “The Bear Dresser’s Secret,” and the “The Lady of Wands,” set in a fairy/mortal demi-monde; and two Arthurian tales, “Sir Morgravain Speaks of Night Dragons and Other Things” and “The Queen and the Cambion” in which the eponymous queen, though famous, is not Guinevere.

Once Upon A Time VII

Category: Fantasy/Fairy Tales
Series: Conversation Pieces
Publisher/Release Date: Aqueduct Press/February 26, 2013
Grade: B+

Visit Richard Bowes here.

Joining: Once Upon A Time VII

(Art by Melissa Nucera)

Hosted by Carl V from Stainless Steel Droppings, the Once Upon A Time VII challenge is a yearly reading and/or viewing event that highlights four categories: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy and Mythology. I am a few days late joining, the challenge began on March 21st and ends on June 21st. Participants are given choices to make this a fun event: they may read one book, one book from each category, 5 books from a chosen category, fulfill all of the above, and/or join the Quest on Screen where they can discuss television and films that fall under the required categories.

Since this is my first year participating in the Once Upon A Time Challenge, I decided to begin small and chose to join The Journey. This choice gives me the freedom to read one book from any of the four different categories, but if I choose or have the time to read more, then that works out too!

I'm shooting for a Fairy Tale. :)

Completing: The 2013 Science Fiction Experience

Wow, February is over already? The month just flew by and that means my participation in The 2013 Science Fiction Experience hosted by the gracious and enthusiastic Carl V from Stainless Steel Droppings is over too.

I had a fantastic time during January and February indulging my love of science fiction. It's unfortunate that my month of February was such that I was not able to read and/or review all the books on my list. Like last year, I ended up wishing for just one more month. . . this has become such a fabulous experience that I just didn't want it to end. But, there's always next year, right?

Here's a list of all reviews and related posts:

Andre Norton: Sargasso of Space (Solar Queen #1)
Group Read: Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Parts I & II)
Group Read: Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Parts III & IV)
Sci Fi Books Old and New: When the price is right
Andre Norton: Storm Over Warlock (Forerunners, Book #1)
Plague Ship (Solar Queen #1) by Andre Norton (Not reviewed but recommended)
Review: Wool Omnibus (Wool #1 - #5) by Hugh Howey
The Human Division #1: The B-Team by John Scalzi
The Human Division #2: Walk the Plank by John Scalzi
To Read: Jan/Feb 2013 SFF Releases & More
This n' That: Scalzi, Guy Mark Foster + Updates
On Basilisk Station (Honor Harrington #1) by David Weber

Thanks to Carl V and all my fellow participants. I had a fantastic time visiting, discussing books and authors these past couple of months, and more importantly adding more books to my ever-growing pile of books. Thank you all!

Joining: The 2013 Science Fiction Experience

(image property of Stephan Martiniere,
used with permission)

Joining again, The 2013 Science Fiction Experience hosted by Carl V of Stainless Steel Droppings. Check out Carl's post about this event, I just love his enthusiasm! This cool event takes place from January 1 through February 28, 2013. I love it because if you, like me, are a fan of reading science fiction novels you can participate by picking up a book, but if you prefer to participate by watching movies or television programs and prefer to discuss those, that is fine too. It's all about science fiction!

I already have a stack of books accumulated just for this event and can't wait to begin reading. However, I've decided to begin by joining Carl and the rest of my fellow participants on the Dragonflight Group Read planned for the beginning of the year.

1. Dragonflight (Pern #1) by Anne McCaffrey (Chapters 1 & 2 by January 9th) (Chapters 3 & 4 by January 16th)

I'm excited and can't wait to begin!

2012: Completed Challenges & Fun Events

The TBR Challenge 2012 hosted by Wendy of The Misadventures of Super Librarian was definitely a fun challenge. Not only did I read one book every month to complete this challenge, but throughout the first half of the year found myself buying and reading books recommended by my fellow participants. Then, during the second half of the year, while searching for THE book of the month, it became addictive to read, read, and read a few more of those books lingering in that old TBR pile. I read some great books this year and found some *favorites among them because of this Challenge -- one of them even made it to my 2012 Top Reads list.

Here is a list of the books read and reviewed:

Monthly Review Dates And Theme Suggestions:

January 18 - Light the Stars by RaeAnne Thayne: Category romance
February 15 - Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie: Recommended Read*
March 21 - Dalton's Undoing by RaeAnn Thayne: Series Catch-Up
April 18 - Almost a Gentleman by Pam Rosenthal: Not on theme
May 16 - The Charm School by Susan Wiggs : Published prior 2000*
June 20 - Logan's Outlaw by Elaine Levine: Western
July 18 - Open Season by Linda Howard: Free Pick Month (Romance/Suspense)
August 15 - Dirty by Megan Hart: Erotic Romance*
September 19 - Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher: Genre besides romance
October 17 - On Thin Ice (Ice #1) by Anne Stuart: Romantic Suspense
November 21 - The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey: All About The Hype*
December 19 - Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas: Holiday Theme

Thank you Wendy!

✽✽✽

The 2012 Science Fiction Experience hosted by Carl V. of Stainless Steel Droppings, was not a challenge but a two month experience worth of discussions about science fiction reads, movies and well... anything to do with science fiction. It took place from January 1st through February 29, 2012, and I had a blast participating in this super cool event!

You can read a list of books read, movies watched and posts shared for this event in my closing post here. But I can tell you that as a result of this event, I ended up reading and enjoying more science fiction (including post-apocalyptic, sf/mystery, sfr, science fiction opera, and more) in 2012 than I have in a long time!

Thanks Carl V.!

Joining In: The 2012 Science Fiction Experience

The 2012 Science Fiction Experience is not a challenge, it is an experience. Hosted by Carl V. of Stainless Steel Droppings, this will basically be two months worth of discussions about science fiction that will go from January 1st through February 29, 2012.

Carl is making this experience fun and I think cool! I love that the discussions include science fiction books, movies and television shows watched. I'm looking forward to not only reading some books that I've accumulated, but hopefully joining in on some of the discussions. Hopefully, I will gather a great list of titles for future reading too!

I'm not sure which books I'll read yet. These are the books that I already own and that are in my list of possible reads:

• Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Old Man's War Series (Books 1 through 3) by John Scalzi

However, I do have a few others! We'll see.

I'll be keeping my list of books read at the bottom of this post.
Wish me luck!

Posts:

1. Science Fiction "B Movies"
2. The Butcher of Anderson Station: A Story of the Expanse by James S.A. Corey - Mini
3. Overview: Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Old Man's War #1, The Ghost Brigades #2) 
4. Impressions: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

Books Read:

1. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
2. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
3. The Sagan Diary by John Scalzi
4. The Last Colony by John Scalzi
5. After the Coup by John Scalzi
6. The Butcher of Anderson Station: A Story of the Expanse by James S.A. Corey
7. Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Series, #1) by Lois McMaster Bujold
8. How I Proposed to My Wife: An Alien Sex Story by John Scalzi

Movies Watched (watched more!):

1. The Matrix
2. Pitch Black
3. Soldier
4. Push
5. Star Trek (2009, directed by J.J. Abrams)
6. Priest (spec fic)