Columns

Taking From the World Tree: Mythology and Cultural Appropriation

August 28th, 2012

Mythology has long been a source of inspiration, and indeed material, for those writing fantasy fiction. One of the gold standard examples I always use is J. R. R. Tolkien, whose Lord of the Rings universe was influenced by Norse mythology. Tolkien’s creation took a much different form, but there are echoes of these myths in Middle-Earth and beyond.

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Unsanctioned: Sequels To Classic Novels Written By Different Authors

August 27th, 2012

A literary trend I've never been able to support is that of sequels to classic novels written by different authors. Even when the author's estate actually sanctions these sequels, I will never consider them canon. I've read a few of them out of sheer curiosity and a penchant for masochism, and I cannot recommend a single one. 

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Why The Hell Do We Want Everyone To Die and Eat Our Brains?: Zombie Fiction and The American Obsession With The End of the World

August 27th, 2012

Death The irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by permanent stoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity : the end of life. *

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LURID: Welcome to the Dollhouse, Pediophobes and Agalmatophiles!

August 24th, 2012

LURID: vivid in shocking detail; sensational, horrible in savagery or violence, or, a twice-monthly guide to the merits of the kind of Bad Books you never want your co-workers to know you're reading. …dolls, the undead, who cannot live at all and yet who mimic the living in every detail since, though they cannot speak or weep, still they project those signals of signification we instantly recognize as language.” ― Angela Carter, Wayward Girls and Wicked Women

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Scandalous! Is Stephen King's Original Version of THE STAND Better Than the Uncut Edition?

August 24th, 2012

I am a fervent Stephen King fan. I have read everything he's ever published, often multiple times. I've seen every adaptation. I've defended him countless times against detractors. I wrote him a fan letter when I was a pre-teen and he in turn mailed me an inscribed publisher's copy of Wizard and Glass, to this day the single most exciting piece of mail I've ever received. I think King is a brilliant writer who creates some of the most memorable characters and narratives of any author I've ever read.

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YA Superstar: Sarah Dessen

August 23rd, 2012

The first time I ever met Sarah Dessen, she gave me a free whoopie pie. Really, that should tell you everything you need to know about what a fantastic person she is, but I can't pass up the opportunity to gush about what makes her such a terrific YA author as well.

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The Benefits of Free Indirect Discourse

August 23rd, 2012

Anyone who’s been writing for a short while knows all narrative points of view have their advantages and disadvantages. First-person offers unparalleled access but is extremely limiting; third-person offers a more objective view of the world but promises limited access; second-person is just plain weird.

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Image Innovation: Then & Now

August 22nd, 2012

Whatever your feelings about 1990’s era Image Comics (mine are mostly a side-eye with a heavy dose of nostalgia), the company has done exactly what they set out to do when they started -- their version of what DC and Marvel were doing, but with creators owning all their own work.  And they were massively successful in that endeavor.

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Where the Heart Is: Ten of The Best Regional Books You'll Find On the Shelf

August 22nd, 2012

Most stories, fiction and non-fiction, have settings. But there are some that stand out amongst others as having a unique sense of place; stories that are informed and made consequential by where they occur and the introspection they shine on their respective locales. The following is  list of ten great books that create an incredible sense of place; ones in which the setting isn't merely a device for advancing plot, but somewhere where the heart and soul of the story blossoms.

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The Death of the Literary Recluse (And Also, Is The Internet Ruining Us?)

August 21st, 2012

To Kill A Mockingbird was published in 1960. Since then, Harper Lee has appeared in public a handful of times. She never wrote another book, and she rarely grants interviews.  In 1951, J.D. Salinger published his first novel, The Catcher in the Rye. As the book grew in popularity, the author withdrew from public, moving from his Manhattan apartment to Cornish, New Hampshire. From there, he published three more books, all without maintaining a public profile. 

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