Is it over?
Is it safe?
Is it safe?
Is it safe?
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Is it?
Guess we're not as safe as I thought. Some zombies broke in. Bit the girl. After we shot them, we had to shoot her too. Then we burned her. When I say "we", I mean "they".
It should be over soon, though, right?
It should be over soon, though, right?
house
I'm in some Hmong guy's house in Deephaven right now. We've got more guns than are technically legal. They've given me a couple that I really need to just point and pull the trigger and the gun will take care of the rest.
Did you ever feel as if your life was one big video game?
Minnetonka was damned overrun with zombies. I hate those fucking things. Zombies everywhere.
Did you know that zombies shit? Seriously. That town was covered in zombie shit. I guess all that flesh and brain they eat has to go somewhere. I had no clue zombies still had a digestive system.
Anyway.
I feel as safe as possible. Bloomington, to the best of my knowledge, is under water. Even the parts that it doesn't make sense, it's underwater. Something weird, I tell you. I'm in a house with twelve other people (does that make me Judas?) and only one of them speaks English. It'll come as no surprise that I speak neither White Hmong nor Green Hmong. Shoot, sometimes I can barely not stutter my way through English.
We'll see.
Did you ever feel as if your life was one big video game?
Minnetonka was damned overrun with zombies. I hate those fucking things. Zombies everywhere.
Did you know that zombies shit? Seriously. That town was covered in zombie shit. I guess all that flesh and brain they eat has to go somewhere. I had no clue zombies still had a digestive system.
Anyway.
I feel as safe as possible. Bloomington, to the best of my knowledge, is under water. Even the parts that it doesn't make sense, it's underwater. Something weird, I tell you. I'm in a house with twelve other people (does that make me Judas?) and only one of them speaks English. It'll come as no surprise that I speak neither White Hmong nor Green Hmong. Shoot, sometimes I can barely not stutter my way through English.
We'll see.
hitch
I hitched a ride with some stupid motorist. Stupid because he stopped for me, not because he was dumb. I'll take it.
I told him I didn't care where I was going.
Where did he take me? Minne-freaking-tonka.
What is in Minnetonka? Lake Minne-freaking-tonka.
I'd complain, but I do live in a state with more than 11,000 lakes.
I told him I didn't care where I was going.
Where did he take me? Minne-freaking-tonka.
What is in Minnetonka? Lake Minne-freaking-tonka.
I'd complain, but I do live in a state with more than 11,000 lakes.
still alive
Still alive. Still alive. Still alive.
Out of breath.
I'm pretty sure I'm over by Wood Lake right now. This would have been an easier day if my busted up knees hadn't kept me from staying in marathon shape. I swear I could amputate my knee without anesthetic right now and I would hurt less than I do.
Umm....
The more I think about it, the more I think Wood Lake is a bad idea. Water = Zombies. Zombies = Bad.
I saw a small child eat his mother this afternoon. I didn't have time to vomit.
Out of breath.
I'm pretty sure I'm over by Wood Lake right now. This would have been an easier day if my busted up knees hadn't kept me from staying in marathon shape. I swear I could amputate my knee without anesthetic right now and I would hurt less than I do.
Umm....
The more I think about it, the more I think Wood Lake is a bad idea. Water = Zombies. Zombies = Bad.
I saw a small child eat his mother this afternoon. I didn't have time to vomit.
On the Move
I see them, those ghosts of Christmas past – waving their chains, moaning, calling out for brains, grasping mindlessly but with purpose.
I may be medicated, but I ain’t stupid.
Time to go.
I may be medicated, but I ain’t stupid.
Time to go.
River
The river has risen much faster than expected. The flooding is stretching past Old Shakopee Rd and is expected to reach the Hyland Park Reserve within the hour. Houses that we weren’t going to evacuate for days are now underwater.
It’s not even raining.
Something is coming out with the water. People are dying, and not just from the flood.
My office has received so many calls the phone line fried itself.
Why am I so calm, you ask?
If you must know, I’m heavily medicated right now. My family is out of the state and so is out of harm’s way, and I am on so many different medications that standing too close to me might get you strung out. That’s how I plan to get through today.
I haven’t even tazed anyone yet.
It’s not even raining.
Something is coming out with the water. People are dying, and not just from the flood.
My office has received so many calls the phone line fried itself.
Why am I so calm, you ask?
If you must know, I’m heavily medicated right now. My family is out of the state and so is out of harm’s way, and I am on so many different medications that standing too close to me might get you strung out. That’s how I plan to get through today.
I haven’t even tazed anyone yet.
Reports
There are reports of strange shapes seen coming out of the river. I don’t have good footage, just something shot with a camcorder. The guy’s hand was shaky and there is a whole lot of “oh, my gods”, but those shapes seem a bit familiar.
This shouldn’t be possible.
I called the governor. Or, more accurately, I tried to call the governor, but Pawlenty’s secretary wouldn’t put me through. Said he has better things to do than talk to just any crack pot city councilman. I told her that he just lost my vote, but to be honest, I didn’t vote for him the first time around. Didn’t plan on voting for him next time, either.
I want to provide leadership, as if anyone would listen, but I’d kind of like a little bit of leadership myself.
This is just going to get worse.
This shouldn’t be possible.
I called the governor. Or, more accurately, I tried to call the governor, but Pawlenty’s secretary wouldn’t put me through. Said he has better things to do than talk to just any crack pot city councilman. I told her that he just lost my vote, but to be honest, I didn’t vote for him the first time around. Didn’t plan on voting for him next time, either.
I want to provide leadership, as if anyone would listen, but I’d kind of like a little bit of leadership myself.
This is just going to get worse.
Disappearance
Umm...
A couple of less stupid people have disappeared while investigating down by the river. These are people who know better and were just doing their jobs.
Not to be cliché, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
A couple of less stupid people have disappeared while investigating down by the river. These are people who know better and were just doing their jobs.
Not to be cliché, but I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
ZGW
A film crew from Girls Gone Wild is now in town. They’re shooting a new video special: Zombies Gone Wild.
I think I might taze myself.
I think I might taze myself.
Drowning
Natural Selection has begun to take place. I just got a call about some drownings down by the Minnesota River. Because of all the rain we’ve had the last few weeks the river has been rising and isn’t expected to crest for another couple of days. We’ll probably issue evacuation orders for southern Bloomington in the next day or so. Until then, I’ll be happy to hear that we’re weeding some of the stupider people out of the gene pool.
Oh, folks have been setting up parties over by the river so they can go swimming and mix beer, swimming, and pretending to be zombies.
Oh, folks have been setting up parties over by the river so they can go swimming and mix beer, swimming, and pretending to be zombies.
Morons
A bunch of yahoos wearing nothing but zombie masks and jock straps just ran by my office.
I’m going to taze the next ass-hat who does something stupid.
I’m going to taze the next ass-hat who does something stupid.
Anniversary
Today is the One Year Anniversary of the Zombie Apocalypse of 2007. Do you know what the drunk ass clowns of Bloomington have planned to honor the dead?
24 Hour Zombie Parties.
Yeah, because that’s a good idea.
A few well organized parties have already been going for 8 hours. Most people are going to wait until sometime in the afternoon, I think, and the rest will party after work.
I hate people today. I was elected to the Bloomington city council in a special election last year after most of the city government was eaten. Apparently enough of the survivors had liked my book reviews to get me through. Well, that, and not too many people wanted to take the vacated seat of someone whose brains still stained the chair. Not me. I don’t have any class.
The rest of the city council overruled me and authorized official zombie parties.
Morons.
24 Hour Zombie Parties.
Yeah, because that’s a good idea.
A few well organized parties have already been going for 8 hours. Most people are going to wait until sometime in the afternoon, I think, and the rest will party after work.
I hate people today. I was elected to the Bloomington city council in a special election last year after most of the city government was eaten. Apparently enough of the survivors had liked my book reviews to get me through. Well, that, and not too many people wanted to take the vacated seat of someone whose brains still stained the chair. Not me. I don’t have any class.
The rest of the city council overruled me and authorized official zombie parties.
Morons.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Blog Like it's the End of the World 2008
Dear Gentle Reader,
Tomorrow is June 13. This is the official "Blog Like its the End of the World" day. You know, like I did last year.
So, tomorrow will be filled with zombie apocalypse related posting. I'm going in a different direction than last year. Less exciting, perhaps.
I have a few entries preloaded into Blogger right now, and they'll post throughout the day.
Advance apologies to Cherie Priest. I loved Not Flesh Nor Feathers so much I completely, though with love and admiration, cribbed the essential non-spoiler plot point from the novel for the zombie posts.
So...all credit, honor, praise, and respect goes to Cherie Priest for the brilliance of the idea. It's her idea. Not mine. All blame for the poor execution...well...that goes on me.
Tomorrow is June 13. This is the official "Blog Like its the End of the World" day. You know, like I did last year.
So, tomorrow will be filled with zombie apocalypse related posting. I'm going in a different direction than last year. Less exciting, perhaps.
I have a few entries preloaded into Blogger right now, and they'll post throughout the day.
Advance apologies to Cherie Priest. I loved Not Flesh Nor Feathers so much I completely, though with love and admiration, cribbed the essential non-spoiler plot point from the novel for the zombie posts.
So...all credit, honor, praise, and respect goes to Cherie Priest for the brilliance of the idea. It's her idea. Not mine. All blame for the poor execution...well...that goes on me.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Why I Stopped Reading City of Saints and Madmen
I have heard nothing but praise for Jeff Vandermeer’s City of Saints and Madmen, and I wanted to read the book for several years now. Only problem is that my library only had City of Saints and Madmen: The Book of Ambergris, a shorter edition published by Cosmos Books. After a couple of years I gave in and grabbed The Book of Ambergris from the library.
The collection opens with “Dradin, In Love” and from the start I was disappointed.
I think this is a case of Vandermeer’s style just not working for me. Obviously, Jeff Vandermeer is a talented writer. He has a World Fantasy Award on his shelf, Michael Moorcock wrote the introduction to this collection, and pretty much anywhere I go online I see high profile praise for Vandermeer whenever his work is mentioned. People like his work.
I couldn’t get in to it.
“Dradin, In Love” is written in a curious mix of present tense and past tense (at least at the start of the story, I didn’t notice it after a couple of pages) and Vandermeer works his descriptions of Ambergis in such a way that the stank of the city comes alive and off the page. But, the story *feels* description heavy to me. There are little tidbits I liked in how Vandermeer built Ambergris with the story, the mushroom dwellers, the book store, the chase / doublecross at the end of the story. There is much to admire here, but I was never in a position where I wanted more from the story and instead, I had to force myself to keep reading.
I started the second story, “An Early History of Ambergris”, which is written exactly like what you would expect from the title – as a history – complete with absurd footnotes. I like the footnotes, but this is where I checked out.
What this means is that I’m missing the World Fantasy Award winning novella “The Transformation of Martin Lake”. In an intellectual sense I would like to read the story someday, but I’ve completely checked out of Ambergis and though I’m two thirds of the way through the collection, I’m done.
I know that City of Saints and Madmen was skillfully constructed, and I appreciate the construction of this collection more than I did The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, but this impressive work of imagination is not at all for me.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Fantasy & Science Fiction: July 2008
The good people at The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (F&SF) offered up the July 2008 issue of their magazine to bloggers to read and review. As I fit the bill, I requested and received a copy. This is a magazine I have considered subscribing to, and one which had a good number of stories included on the list of Nebula Nominees and is considered one of the Big Three SFF magazines. So, why not?
This issue opens with “Fullbrim’s Finding” from Matthew Hughes. It is a Henghis Hapthorn story, which may mean something to those familiar with the character. Henghis has appeared in several stories as well as two novels from Hughes. Hapthorn (unnamed in the story, I believe) investigates the disappearance of Doldam Fullbrim, a scientist of some renown. From the start, I was bored. The fact that I was not familiar with the character had no bearing on my interest in the story, but this is just one of those tales that didn’t work for me. Not the most auspicious of starts to the issue.
“Fullbrim’s Finding” is followed by two sections of book reviews. Charles de Lint covers Duma Key and a Repairman Jack novel. James Sallis takes on The New Weird and The Dragons of Babel. De Lint succeeded in making me more interested in Duma Key than I was from reading the short story the novel is expanded from, and Sallis does good work in his section.
For those keeping track at home, the opening story in the magazine was underwhelming, but I like the reviews.
On to the second story, this one from Lisa Goldstein: “Reader’s Guide”. Loved it. It starts as a list of questions as one might find in those reader’s guides at the back of YA novels (or book club editions), but the questions turn ridiculous. “10. Are these symbols and coincidences so obvious that Donny might come to suspect that he’s in a story?” Just perfect. Then it moves into the story of the person who wrote the reader’s guide and the story gets even better.
“Reader’s Guide” is followed by the lone novella in this issue: “The Roberts” by Michael Blumlein. Here we have cloning (eventually), but really a story of a man who loves a woman and when in love he does his best work as an architect. When he does his best work, he begins to neglect his woman, and thus the work suffers when the relationship falls apart. Rinse, wash, and repeat. It ends in cloning. Other than my fairly basic disgust with the man, who should be adult enough to know how to prioritize or accept, the story is fine. I can imagine some readers will delight in “The Roberts”, others will be bored. I’m somewhere in between. I expected a bit more from the novella and I’m not sure I got it.
Not much to say about Paul Di Filippo’s “Plumage from Pegasus: Galley Knaves”. I started out thinking it was nonfiction, but by the end, I think there is a healthy dose of fiction in it. It is an interesting story (sort of) of the lengths publishers may / could go to get their Advanced Reading Copies noticed by reviewers. Silly, fun, but what the hell is this supposed to be?
Scott Dalrymple’s “Enfant Terrible” is a highlight of this issue. A man from “university” looks in on an elementary school class for extraordinarily gifted children. The story is told straight, but there is still a decent layer of humor in the story. Good stuff.
Albert E. Cowdrey's novelette "Poison Victory" is something I did not expect to like, but I did. It is an alternate history tale set in 1949 AFTER Nazi Germany won the war. It features a former soldier turned landowner recounting a dual story: his actions in the war which allowed the Nazis to win, as well as his quiet rebellions in 1949 Nazi Germany. Well written and dark, "Poison Victory" was an unexpected story, but a solid one.
This issue concludes with "The Dinosaur Train" by James L. Cambias. It's about a traveling dinosaur show in the present day (or in the 80's, I can't tell) and a sick dinosaur. It was...I don't know. Fine. Boring. Moderately readable. Sort of compelling. A mixed back that didn't amount to a whole lot? All of the above. I expected a bit more from this one and got a bit less (which is the exact opposite of my experience with "Poison Victory".
So, now, having read the July 2008 issue of F&SF, would I actually spend my hard earned money on a subscription?
Nope.
I’ve been far more impressed with the Nebula Nominees which have come out of the magazine than I have been with the stories in this collection. Naturally I wouldn’t expect every story to be Nebula level, but I was disappointed with this issue. There were two stories that were good (“Enfant Terrible” and “Reader’s Guide), another that I liked but I can’t get excited about (“Poison Victory”), but overall a bunch of blah. That’s my basic impression of this issue: Blah. There is nothing to get excited about here and as a promotional copy I would have hoped that the quality would be a bit better than average to really excite new readers. It didn’t. I would not actively seek out a subscription to F&SF based on this issue or recommend that others do the same.
Reading copy provided courtesy of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
April / May 2008 Reading
I'm a bit behind in my monthly wrap ups, so here is a two-fer. Blessings to all, huh?
All links are to the original reviews.
April
1. Snake Agent - Liz Williams
2. Darth Bane: Rule of Two - Drew Karpyshyn
3. The Shadow Speaker - Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
4. Magician: Volume One - Raymond E. Feist
5. I Live for This: Baseball's Last True Believer - Bill Plaschke and Tommy Lasorda
6. Force Heretic: Refugee - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
7. Shooting War - Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman
8. Magician: Volume Two - Raymond E. Feist
9. Star Wars Legacy: Shards - John Ostrander
10. The Armageddon Rag - George R. R. Martin
11. Selling Out - Justina Robson
12. Skeleton Crew - Stephen King
13. Judge - Karen Traviss
14. The Best of Lucius Shepard - Lucius Shepard
15. Wrath of a Mad God - Raymond E. Feist
May
1. A World Too Near - Kay Kenyon
2. Rollback - Robert J. Sawyer
3. Dead in the West - Joe R. Lansdale
4. Not Flesh Nor Feathers - Cherie Priest
5. Empire of Ivory - Naomi Novik
6. Force Heretic: Reunion - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
7. The Final Prophecy - Greg Keyes
8. Before They Are Hanged - Joe Abercrombie
9. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
10. The Complete Peanuts 1967-1968 - Charles M. Schulz
11. Nano Comes to Clifford Falls and Other Stories - Nancy Kress
12. The Life of the World to Come - Kage Baker
Previous 2008 Reads
January
February
March
All links are to the original reviews.
April
1. Snake Agent - Liz Williams
2. Darth Bane: Rule of Two - Drew Karpyshyn
3. The Shadow Speaker - Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
4. Magician: Volume One - Raymond E. Feist
5. I Live for This: Baseball's Last True Believer - Bill Plaschke and Tommy Lasorda
6. Force Heretic: Refugee - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
7. Shooting War - Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman
8. Magician: Volume Two - Raymond E. Feist
9. Star Wars Legacy: Shards - John Ostrander
10. The Armageddon Rag - George R. R. Martin
11. Selling Out - Justina Robson
12. Skeleton Crew - Stephen King
13. Judge - Karen Traviss
14. The Best of Lucius Shepard - Lucius Shepard
15. Wrath of a Mad God - Raymond E. Feist
May
1. A World Too Near - Kay Kenyon
2. Rollback - Robert J. Sawyer
3. Dead in the West - Joe R. Lansdale
4. Not Flesh Nor Feathers - Cherie Priest
5. Empire of Ivory - Naomi Novik
6. Force Heretic: Reunion - Sean Williams and Shane Dix
7. The Final Prophecy - Greg Keyes
8. Before They Are Hanged - Joe Abercrombie
9. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
10. The Complete Peanuts 1967-1968 - Charles M. Schulz
11. Nano Comes to Clifford Falls and Other Stories - Nancy Kress
12. The Life of the World to Come - Kage Baker
Previous 2008 Reads
January
February
March
Friday, June 06, 2008
The Life of the World to Come, by Kage Baker
This is the first time I have truly been disappointed with one of Kage Baker’s Company novels. At first I thought my disappointment had to do with the fact that the novel opens with Mendoza in exile 150,000 years in the past and after that opening she only shows up once for a short chapter. I am a fan of Mendoza. But, then I realized that what I liked about Sky Coyote had little to do with Mendoza, and The Graveyard Game was entirely absent of Mendoza. While I would have appreciated more of Mendoza in The Life of the World to Come, her appearance in the novel is not required.
What was it, then?
Alec Checkerfield.
I pretty much can’t stand the character of Alec Checkerfield. His first appearance in the novel is a chapter titled “Smart Alec”, which was a story in Baker’s Black Project, White Knights collection (my other Company disappointment). The Life of the World to Come seems to alternate chapters with some Company operatives a few years before The Silence, and with Checkerfield. Unfortunately, we get Alec Checkerfield chapters dealing with Alec at various ages. Yeah, it gives the reader a full and complete background of Checkerfield, but I’ve got to tell you – it sucked. Unfortunately, Checkerfield is the spitting image of both Edward and Nicholas, the two previous loves of Mendoza, and this means Checkerfield is about to become integral to the remainder of the series.
God help me. I love this series, but have a borderline literary hate for Alec Checkerfield.
The one real plus to this novel, besides the couple of brief Mendoza interludes, was the Company scientist chapters when we got a glimpse of them manipulating things in history and when we discover the whys and hows of Alec / Edward / Nicholas.
And then things get just stupid when we get the 23rd Century Alec pulling multiple personalities with both Edward and Nicholas.
I’m reading a series with immortal cyborgs who love twentieth century movies, time travel, and a company that snatches artifacts from the past for future profit. I can buy into a whole lot of stuff. But that multiple personality thing...Baker damn near lost me there.
I sincerely hope that The Children of the Company is better and that Alec is somehow less obnoxious a character, because The Life of the World to Come was rough going.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Shadow Unit: The Complete First Season
Elizabeth Bear and Emma Bull wrapped up the first season of Shadow Unit with their short novel Refining Fire.
Shadow Unit is a blend of The X-Files, Criminal Minds, and probably a half dozen other police procedural / supernatural type programs. Rather than being broadcast on television, the collective minds of Bear, Bull, Sarah Monette, Will Shetterly, and Amanda Downum have delivered over the course of seven short stories and one novel a full season story arc that most television shows would kill for. Except that Shadow Unit would never be broadcast, except maybe on HBO or Showtime.
The teaser description of Shadow Unit from the website:
Shadow Unit is a division of the FBI much along the lines of The X-Files where the Anomalous Crimes Task Force works on cases involving what has come to be called The Anomaly. The Anomaly is *something* that can take over a normal person, give that person some extra power and strength, and tends to push that person to do some really bad things. Local police and regular FBI can’t handle these sorts of cases, they don’t know what to look for or how to respond to it. Shadow Unit, colloquially called the WTF (yes, it means what you think), does.
Our Creators have written a series of stories with an exceptionally strong and well defined character list. With each episode the reader learns more about the characters. Some episodes will focus more on one or two characters not featured in a previous episode, but the strength of the series is that we are given a core group of characters to follow and fall for, and feel for. They make mistakes, but they are quite competent at their jobs. They are all at various stages of their careers and understanding of the Anomaly. They all have their backstories and over the course of this first season, we get a good look into the backstories of several of the characters, or at least enough of a look to feel like we know who they are.
I could not be more impressed and more thrilled with the Shadow Unit stories.
Shadow Unit is fairly interactive, with 8 stories, character livejournals (they respond!), various teasers, artwork, a message board frequented by three of the four primary authors (Sarah Monette doesn’t come round much, if at all).
Season Two should begin sometime next year, and I have heard it suggested there are plans for five seasons. One can only hope.
One comment I want to make about Refining Fire. Damn, it was good! Bear and Bull split up the finale into five parts, released over five days and each day I was left wanting more. By the end of the story, I was short of breath. Seriously. I had fear for Chaz, fear for the other agents, a bit of disgust at Reyes (and yet, I’m sympathetic towards him and I don’t know his backstory), and chills at the storytelling. If this isn’t nominated for awards next year, I just won’t understand.
The whole season is available to read for free online. If you like what you see, perhaps shoot a couple of dollars in the direction of the creators via the links on the website. This is professional level work provided gratis from professional writers. A couple bucks wouldn’t hurt, eh?
Episodes:
1. "Breathe" by Emma Bull
2. "Knock on Coffins" by Elizabeth Bear
3. "Dexterity" by Sarah Monette
4. "A Handful of Dust" by Will Shetterly
5. "Ballistic" by Sarah Monette, Emma Bull, Elizabeth Bear, and Amanda Downum
6. "Endgames" by Emma Bull
7. "Overkill" by Elizabeth Bear
8. Refining Fire by Elizabeth Bear and Emma Bull
Teasers and Deleted Scenes
Artwork
Playlists
Character Livejournals
Emma Bull’s essay on the origin of Shadow Unit
Message Board
There is more than a little bit to do and see here. I loved every moment of Shadow Unit's debut season, and am now eagerly awaiting Season Two. They should really get paid for this, and paid well. It's damn fine work.
Shadow Unit is a blend of The X-Files, Criminal Minds, and probably a half dozen other police procedural / supernatural type programs. Rather than being broadcast on television, the collective minds of Bear, Bull, Sarah Monette, Will Shetterly, and Amanda Downum have delivered over the course of seven short stories and one novel a full season story arc that most television shows would kill for. Except that Shadow Unit would never be broadcast, except maybe on HBO or Showtime.
The teaser description of Shadow Unit from the website:
The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit hunts humanity's nightmares. But there are nightmares humanity doesn't dream are real.They had me from hello.
The Behavioral Analysis Unit sends those cases down the hall.
Welcome to Shadow Unit.
Shadow Unit is a division of the FBI much along the lines of The X-Files where the Anomalous Crimes Task Force works on cases involving what has come to be called The Anomaly. The Anomaly is *something* that can take over a normal person, give that person some extra power and strength, and tends to push that person to do some really bad things. Local police and regular FBI can’t handle these sorts of cases, they don’t know what to look for or how to respond to it. Shadow Unit, colloquially called the WTF (yes, it means what you think), does.
Our Creators have written a series of stories with an exceptionally strong and well defined character list. With each episode the reader learns more about the characters. Some episodes will focus more on one or two characters not featured in a previous episode, but the strength of the series is that we are given a core group of characters to follow and fall for, and feel for. They make mistakes, but they are quite competent at their jobs. They are all at various stages of their careers and understanding of the Anomaly. They all have their backstories and over the course of this first season, we get a good look into the backstories of several of the characters, or at least enough of a look to feel like we know who they are.
I could not be more impressed and more thrilled with the Shadow Unit stories.
Shadow Unit is fairly interactive, with 8 stories, character livejournals (they respond!), various teasers, artwork, a message board frequented by three of the four primary authors (Sarah Monette doesn’t come round much, if at all).
Season Two should begin sometime next year, and I have heard it suggested there are plans for five seasons. One can only hope.
One comment I want to make about Refining Fire. Damn, it was good! Bear and Bull split up the finale into five parts, released over five days and each day I was left wanting more. By the end of the story, I was short of breath. Seriously. I had fear for Chaz, fear for the other agents, a bit of disgust at Reyes (and yet, I’m sympathetic towards him and I don’t know his backstory), and chills at the storytelling. If this isn’t nominated for awards next year, I just won’t understand.
The whole season is available to read for free online. If you like what you see, perhaps shoot a couple of dollars in the direction of the creators via the links on the website. This is professional level work provided gratis from professional writers. A couple bucks wouldn’t hurt, eh?
Episodes:
1. "Breathe" by Emma Bull
2. "Knock on Coffins" by Elizabeth Bear
3. "Dexterity" by Sarah Monette
4. "A Handful of Dust" by Will Shetterly
5. "Ballistic" by Sarah Monette, Emma Bull, Elizabeth Bear, and Amanda Downum
6. "Endgames" by Emma Bull
7. "Overkill" by Elizabeth Bear
8. Refining Fire by Elizabeth Bear and Emma Bull
Teasers and Deleted Scenes
Artwork
Playlists
Character Livejournals
Emma Bull’s essay on the origin of Shadow Unit
Message Board
There is more than a little bit to do and see here. I loved every moment of Shadow Unit's debut season, and am now eagerly awaiting Season Two. They should really get paid for this, and paid well. It's damn fine work.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Nano Comes to Clifford Falls and Other Stories, by Nancy Kress
Nano Comes to Clifford Falls and Other Stories
Nancy Kress
Golden Gryphon: 2008
I cannot remember when I first heard of Nancy Kress. It may have been in regards to her novel Crucible (and not Beggars in Spain for some reason), but I first paid attention when I read her Nebula winning and Hugo nominated story "Fountain of Age". I still am convinced I've read another related story to this one, but I can't find it. Regardless, I was impressed with "Fountain of Age" and when the opportunity arose to review this collection, I jumped at it.
So, here are the stories.
Nano Comes to Clifford Falls: The opening story in the collection is one of the best. It is also
representative of what we will find in this collection. The fiction of Nancy Kress frequently deals with the intersection of people and technology, and “Nano Comes to Clifford Falls” is exactly that. It takes a small town and shows what happens with the introduction of a device which can replicate nearly anything by using nanotechnology. Suddenly people don’t need to go to work because they can get nano food, nano clothing, nano homes. Businesses close and much of the population is excited by Nano, but there is a segment that rebels against Nano and lives a more natural life. Society begins to collapse with the collapse of the economny. The story encompasses all of the technology and the effect of technology on society, but the story is about people, specifically the people who do not choose to use Nano. As I mentioned, one of the best in the collection.
Patent Infringement: This is a much shorter story, and is a series of letters (or e-mails, for all I know) about how a company is willing to cheat to protect their patent even when the company is initially at fault, and then twist everything so that the person who was defrauded ultimately ends up taking the blame. Naturally. This is one of my favorites in the collection.
Computer Virus: What happens when a rogue AI hides in a computer protected house and takes the family inside hostage? "Computer Virus" happens. Kress could focus on the AI, the technology involved, and the hunt for the AI. In part, she does, but like most of her more successful stories, she focuses instead on the people involved and "Computer Virus" is all the more successful for it.
Product Development: A short-short originally published in Nature magazine, and it is a nearly all dialogue story about a hypothetical product which turns off electronics. Kress doesn't write too many stories this short, or even as short as "Patent Infringement", but she should. She's quite good at it.
The Most Famous Little Girl in the World: This story wasn't quite as successful as the previous stories in the collection. It still focused on the people, cousins, one of whom was abducted by aliens and in turn becomes the title girl of the story. Their estrangement seems to mirror that of the aliens / humanity, sort of, though not fully. Kress's afterword speaks to the changing of allies she is attempting to demonstrate, but I don't know just how interesting this is. There is nothing inherently wrong with the story, it just doesn't work for me.
Savior: On the other hand, "Savior" is far more interesting despite the fact that it covers a couple of hundred years of non-communication with an alien artifact which landed on Earth. Kress shows the changing of society and technology and what an alien craft might be waiting for. Fascinating.
Ej-Es: Originally published in an anthology of stories based on the songs of Janis Ian, “Ej-Es” works on its own terms, about the discovery of a failed colony of humans on another world where the power of speech has been limited to basic sounds and the residents act as if they can see things that aren’t there. The scientists on the mission work to fix the problem, but the solution itself is heartbreaking. The title doesn’t make sense until we get into the story, and the last line of the story (as Mike Resnick points out in the introduction) can only make sense having read the entire story. It raises the question of whether the scientists did right and what was taken away from those colonists by their actions.
Shiva in Shadow: This story feels a bit more techy than most of this collection and as such, doesn't work for me. There is some odd dual storytelling with transfered consciousness to some sort of biometric programming to do scientific in deep space...but because it is the same characters (sort of) in each storyline, sometimes it is easy to confuse the two. There was an interesting moment with the same bit of dialogue and narration in each storyline that I had to work to realize what just happened. Bottom line: Not a favorite.
First Flight: A cheerful story (almost out of place in this collection) based around the concept of a 1960's Space Cadet show. It has the feel of Connie Willis (think D.A.) and what I'd expect if Scalzi wrote a juvenile story (Zoe's Tale notwithstanding). It's on the forgettable side at the end of the day, but a very pleasant read.
To Cuddle Amy: A different kind of horror story and one which barely touches upon science at all. Two parents are despairing of their daughter, Amy, and the teenager she has grown up to be. There is a list of ages of photographs of Amy and then the next line lists Amy’s age as she walks in the room. It reads like a typo, but it isn’t. That’s when we realize something else is going on here. The more you think about it, the nastier this story gets.
Wetlands Reserve: In her story afterword Kress mentions that "Wetlands Reserve" was the first story she wrote about environmental issues (still about the people, not the science) and I'm glad she did. Kress is good at it. I can't say I'm too surprised at how the story ended, but right up until the ending - good stuff.
Mirror Image: I believe that "Mirror Image" feels more science laden than it actually is. The problem (my problem) is the AI QUENTIAN, the ^563's, and the overriding sense of "otherness", or alienness that pervades the story. Kress pulled off what she tried to do, I think. She says the story is "very high tech and very far future" and it is, at that. It is also her favorite story in the collection. It's not mine. I suspect everything that she likes about it, is what I dislike about it.
My Mother, Dancing: A weird conclusion to this collection, a shorter story, but one which remains on two readings fairly incomprehensible. I want to like every story in a collection, but sometimes it just isn't possible. This is another far future story, set in the year 3000, and just does not connect with me.
Thinking about the collection, I have a good, positive feeling. I enjoyed more stories than not, and the ones which did not work were inoffensive enough to not mar my overall enjoyment. If asked (and what is a review if not an answer to an unasked question?), I would say that I can see myself reading more of Nancy Kress based on having read this collection. Her writing feels familiar, but new at the same time. Nancy Kress is a damn fine writer and Nano Comes to Clifford Falls is a wonderful place to experience her for the first time. I wasn't a Kress fan before this collection, but I am now.
Reading copy provided courtesy of Golden Gryphon.
Nancy Kress
Golden Gryphon: 2008
I cannot remember when I first heard of Nancy Kress. It may have been in regards to her novel Crucible (and not Beggars in Spain for some reason), but I first paid attention when I read her Nebula winning and Hugo nominated story "Fountain of Age". I still am convinced I've read another related story to this one, but I can't find it. Regardless, I was impressed with "Fountain of Age" and when the opportunity arose to review this collection, I jumped at it.
So, here are the stories.
Nano Comes to Clifford Falls: The opening story in the collection is one of the best. It is also
representative of what we will find in this collection. The fiction of Nancy Kress frequently deals with the intersection of people and technology, and “Nano Comes to Clifford Falls” is exactly that. It takes a small town and shows what happens with the introduction of a device which can replicate nearly anything by using nanotechnology. Suddenly people don’t need to go to work because they can get nano food, nano clothing, nano homes. Businesses close and much of the population is excited by Nano, but there is a segment that rebels against Nano and lives a more natural life. Society begins to collapse with the collapse of the economny. The story encompasses all of the technology and the effect of technology on society, but the story is about people, specifically the people who do not choose to use Nano. As I mentioned, one of the best in the collection.Patent Infringement: This is a much shorter story, and is a series of letters (or e-mails, for all I know) about how a company is willing to cheat to protect their patent even when the company is initially at fault, and then twist everything so that the person who was defrauded ultimately ends up taking the blame. Naturally. This is one of my favorites in the collection.
Computer Virus: What happens when a rogue AI hides in a computer protected house and takes the family inside hostage? "Computer Virus" happens. Kress could focus on the AI, the technology involved, and the hunt for the AI. In part, she does, but like most of her more successful stories, she focuses instead on the people involved and "Computer Virus" is all the more successful for it.
Product Development: A short-short originally published in Nature magazine, and it is a nearly all dialogue story about a hypothetical product which turns off electronics. Kress doesn't write too many stories this short, or even as short as "Patent Infringement", but she should. She's quite good at it.
The Most Famous Little Girl in the World: This story wasn't quite as successful as the previous stories in the collection. It still focused on the people, cousins, one of whom was abducted by aliens and in turn becomes the title girl of the story. Their estrangement seems to mirror that of the aliens / humanity, sort of, though not fully. Kress's afterword speaks to the changing of allies she is attempting to demonstrate, but I don't know just how interesting this is. There is nothing inherently wrong with the story, it just doesn't work for me.
Savior: On the other hand, "Savior" is far more interesting despite the fact that it covers a couple of hundred years of non-communication with an alien artifact which landed on Earth. Kress shows the changing of society and technology and what an alien craft might be waiting for. Fascinating.
Ej-Es: Originally published in an anthology of stories based on the songs of Janis Ian, “Ej-Es” works on its own terms, about the discovery of a failed colony of humans on another world where the power of speech has been limited to basic sounds and the residents act as if they can see things that aren’t there. The scientists on the mission work to fix the problem, but the solution itself is heartbreaking. The title doesn’t make sense until we get into the story, and the last line of the story (as Mike Resnick points out in the introduction) can only make sense having read the entire story. It raises the question of whether the scientists did right and what was taken away from those colonists by their actions.
Shiva in Shadow: This story feels a bit more techy than most of this collection and as such, doesn't work for me. There is some odd dual storytelling with transfered consciousness to some sort of biometric programming to do scientific in deep space...but because it is the same characters (sort of) in each storyline, sometimes it is easy to confuse the two. There was an interesting moment with the same bit of dialogue and narration in each storyline that I had to work to realize what just happened. Bottom line: Not a favorite.
First Flight: A cheerful story (almost out of place in this collection) based around the concept of a 1960's Space Cadet show. It has the feel of Connie Willis (think D.A.) and what I'd expect if Scalzi wrote a juvenile story (Zoe's Tale notwithstanding). It's on the forgettable side at the end of the day, but a very pleasant read.
To Cuddle Amy: A different kind of horror story and one which barely touches upon science at all. Two parents are despairing of their daughter, Amy, and the teenager she has grown up to be. There is a list of ages of photographs of Amy and then the next line lists Amy’s age as she walks in the room. It reads like a typo, but it isn’t. That’s when we realize something else is going on here. The more you think about it, the nastier this story gets.
Wetlands Reserve: In her story afterword Kress mentions that "Wetlands Reserve" was the first story she wrote about environmental issues (still about the people, not the science) and I'm glad she did. Kress is good at it. I can't say I'm too surprised at how the story ended, but right up until the ending - good stuff.
Mirror Image: I believe that "Mirror Image" feels more science laden than it actually is. The problem (my problem) is the AI QUENTIAN, the ^563's, and the overriding sense of "otherness", or alienness that pervades the story. Kress pulled off what she tried to do, I think. She says the story is "very high tech and very far future" and it is, at that. It is also her favorite story in the collection. It's not mine. I suspect everything that she likes about it, is what I dislike about it.
My Mother, Dancing: A weird conclusion to this collection, a shorter story, but one which remains on two readings fairly incomprehensible. I want to like every story in a collection, but sometimes it just isn't possible. This is another far future story, set in the year 3000, and just does not connect with me.
Thinking about the collection, I have a good, positive feeling. I enjoyed more stories than not, and the ones which did not work were inoffensive enough to not mar my overall enjoyment. If asked (and what is a review if not an answer to an unasked question?), I would say that I can see myself reading more of Nancy Kress based on having read this collection. Her writing feels familiar, but new at the same time. Nancy Kress is a damn fine writer and Nano Comes to Clifford Falls is a wonderful place to experience her for the first time. I wasn't a Kress fan before this collection, but I am now.
Reading copy provided courtesy of Golden Gryphon.
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