Conversations with the creators of the best in science fiction and fantasy. If you love SF literature, are an author or aspire to become one, you'll enjoy this podcast.
Middle-school teachers bringing you tips and techniques fresh from the real-world classroom environment. Discussions on education, ideas for parents and teachers
Show Notes: Mike Carey
Discussion: Summer talks a bit about what’s been keeping her busy and away from the show lately; Mike and Mike talk about what’s going on in Second Life with the live streams of some shows and writing workshops, and the latest developments with the iPod Touch/iPhone ebook app that is now available in the iTunes Store.
Interview: This week, Michael, Michael and Summer talk with acclaimed comic book writer Mike Carey about his second novel, Vicious Circle. The follow-up to The Devil You Know continues the saga of exorcist Felix Castor and his struggles with whether or not he can do good with his unique abilities or not, and the consequences of some of his past decisions.
Now we just have to wait until the US publishing schedule catches up with the UK schedule, since the 4th book in this series is coming out in the UK this coming fall.
Submitting Listener comments: If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know! “Cover to Cover” has it’s own call-in line, 206-350-READ! That’s 206-350-7323, or just email Michael with a comment you’ve recorded yourself!
Second Life Info: FarPoint Media’s Second Life space is now the penthouse suite of Third Life Books, the place for SL versions of Michael A. Stackpole’s writings, and many other goodies, including a Wednesday night writing workshop. You can find the castle at http://slurl.com/secondlife/beraudes/203/151/49. Come see the castle roof pool!
FarPoint Forums: Head on over to the FarPoint Forums and join in the discussions on Dragon Page topics, and for most of your favorite FPM shows!
Promo: Audible Frontiers’ SciFi and Fantasy
Link: Mike Carey
Hola Michael and Michael (and Summer too if you’re there.)
I’m out of town for work right now and found myself in need of something good to read. So I trapsed on over to the large book store right across from my hotel to see if I couldn’t solve my problem.
When I got there I headed straight for the Fantasy/Sci-Fi section. I ran into to very annoying problems. First, it seems that there aren’t any authors these days capable of writing just one book in a story line. No they have to write them in a series of three, or four, or five, or five hundred. As if this doesn’t add enough confusion, when I get to the book store, I can find book three in the series, and book five, and probably books eight and forty as well, but can I find book one?
No!!!
Next, and most alarming: vampire novels. I couldn’t swing a dead cat in that store without hitting a vampire novel or someone looking for a vampire novel. When did vampire novels qualify as fantasy/sci-fi? Did I miss that memo? I’ve been hearing about a new book on the Slice pod cast these past couple of weeks called “Brave Men Run” and went looking for it. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I did find a ton of vampire books. Every other book was a vampire book, but this new author was no where to be found.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing so I went and asked an employee for help. When I mentioned the title, she looked at me with a puzzled, frightend look. “Is it a vampire book?” she asked. I told her that I surely hoped it wasn’t. “Well then we probably don’t have it,” was her reply. Then she added, “Uh… we don’t allow pets in here. Not even dead ones.” (Ok, I made up that conversation, but I think we can all imagine it happening.)
I realized that the fantasy/sci-fi section of this store was hopeless, but I didn’t give up hope. I’m a school teacher, and I’m planning to introduce a unit on historical fiction in my room this year. If I couldn’t find any good sci-fi, maybe I could find a few good titles to add to my classroom library. With this cheery thought in mind, I headed to the young adult section to see what Ann Rinaldi (awsome author) titles they might have on the shelves. When I arrived in the young adult section, I was shocked and dismayed to find only two Rinaldi titles on the shelves. But do you know how many vampire titles there were!?!?!?! Every third book was a #$$@#% vampire novel.
I couldn’t accept what I was seeing, so I found another employee. I begged him to show me more Rinaldi titles, or Sachar, or Spinelli, or anyone. “Do they write vampire novels?” he asked. My blank stare must have told him all he needed to know. “I’m very sorry,” He put a hand on my shoulder and I wiped tears of frustration from my eyes. “But if they don’t write vampire novels, we probably won’t carry them. Is that your cat? We don’t allow pets in here, not even dead ones” (Ok, that conversation didn’t happen either, but it could have.)
Exactly who decided that vampire novels are the next big thing!?!?!!? I’m sick of all things vampire. If I see another vampire book, I’m probably going to go crazy. I just can’t take it anymore!!!!
Thanks for listening to my rant. I’m all better now. Now if you’ll excuse me, my lovely wife has come to my rescue and sent me a book to read. She tells me that it’s a classic, so I’m sure it’s safe. It’s by some guy I’ve never heard of; I think his name is Stoker. Many I hope it’s not a vampire book.
Have a great one all,
Rich
(No dead cats were hurt in the writing of this post.)