David Feintuch, author of the Nick Seafort science-fiction novels, has passed away. He was sixty-one. Midshipman’s Hope, the first novel in the Seafort saga, came out when I was in college, and after a very favorable review in the Washington Post I picked up the book and was very taken with it. The book’s pullContinue reading “On David Feintuch”
Category Archives: Reading
On Reading
Some random questions, taken from a mailing list. How often do you read?I read something every day. As oftentimes as not in bed before nodding off to sleep. Some things are best read in small chunks, like a book I’m working on presently–Garrett P. Serviss’s Edison’s Conquest of Mars, which was written as a newspaperContinue reading “On Reading”
On Recent Reading
What have I been reading? I’ve been on a Revolutionary War kick of late. Or at least, of that era. Currently atop the desk–Redcoats and Rebels, by Christopher Hibbert, which offers a British perspective on the conflict. Also recently read, General Howe’s Dog, by Caroline Tiger, about, besides General Howe’s Dog (obviously), the battle ofContinue reading “On Recent Reading”
On Temeraire
I ordered from Amazon’s UK division recently Naomi Novik‘s debut novel, Temeraire, the first book in an alternate history series that posits that alongside Nelson’s Navy and Wellingon’s Army Britain fought the Napoleonic Wars with a dragon Aerial Corps. I was impatient. I could have waited and bought the novel’s American paperback, entitled His Majesty’sContinue reading “On Temeraire”
On Geek Novels
Jack Schofield at the Guardian Unlimited wrote about the Top 20 Geek Novels. I’m not at all clear on the methodology of determining the Top 20 Geek Novels–seems to be a sort-of survey based on the comments on a blog entry elsewhere–so this list is more than a little meaningless. However, it is an interestingContinue reading “On Geek Novels”
On the Hellboy Novel
I’m now about halfway through On Earth as It Is in Hell, Brian Hodge’s new novel based on Mike Mignola’s comic book character Hellboy, the World’s Greatest Paranormal Detective. No giant gorillas with huge freakin’ metal bolts sticking out of their necks. Dagnabbit! Despite that failing, however, it is a mildly diverting read. Seraphim attackContinue reading “On the Hellboy Novel”
On Being Quoted
It’s odd. I saw myself quoted today while reading a thread on a message board. I wasn’t cited, nor would I have expected to be, because the conversation wasn’t one in which I had participated. But there they were, my words, and I knew them to be my words, because I had said them inContinue reading “On Being Quoted”
On Reading and Coughing
A few days ago I received a book in the mail. It’s one I’ve looked forward to reading, and yet! I’ve been able to muster little progress, stalling out at near page fifty twice now. It’s probably not the book, though. I’ve lacked for energy the past few days. Since I received the book, actually.Continue reading “On Reading and Coughing”
On Crisis
The new Science Fiction Book Club catalog came today. I was flipping through the Altiverse flyer–Altiverse is the comics and media SF flyer–and what I noticed on the cover of the flyer was Superman holding the broken body of Supergirl, one of the seminal images from DC Comics’ 1985 crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths. MyContinue reading “On Crisis”
On my authorial tendencies
As seen on several blogs in the past day, most recently Bill Leisner’s, which science fiction author am I? I am: Philip K. Dick The brilliant yet trashy master of the reality warp always left you unsure of what was real, but never forgot compassion. Which science fiction writer are you? That didn’t surprise me,Continue reading “On my authorial tendencies”