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: Feedback from Everyone
Voicemail: Trampas comments on the changes and expansions with Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms, changing the landscape in order to start anew in several places, and enacting time jumps in other places; James listens to us while walking the streets of exotic foreign cities, and wants to know if we’ve ever considered talking with Samuel R. Delany and Gene Wolfe; Mark from KY is happy that Dragons of the Hourglass Mage will be coming out after all, in 2009; Tim Low extolls Book Exchange as a place to get rid of used books (there’s also Book Mooch); Justin from Dead Robots Society asks Stackpole for tips about efficiently eliminating dialogue tags; Tim Low is impressed with the avatar choices available for him in Second Life; Doc from Des Moines reports on a reorganized Borders floor layout.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? Tell us how you’re doing!
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!
Discussion: Mike, Lorrie and Mike chat about Burned by Ellen Hopkins — about the impact of the book, and how she’d want to talk to a kid about after they’ve read this. The style is unique and Lorrie loved the unique way of telling the story (in a journal-like fashion), but the continual parade of bad things happening to the main character, Pattyn, and the bleak and vaguely veiled implications of the ending disturbed her, of how it might affect a teen who’d read the book without having an outlet to talk with someone about.
The discussion turns to the different levels of coping skills, in both adolescents, teens and adults, and possible ways to handle things when you observe warning signs of destructive or self-destructive behaviors.
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: Dragon Page With Class
Come to second life guys! See what we dress dad in next!!! hehehe
Darcy
While I was researching Liz Williams for my review of Snake Agent – I found her first book Ghost Sister in the juvenile section. As I pointed out to the librarian, it wasn’t the violence or promiscuous sex that was the problem it was the unrelieved depressing “tone” of the book – that I felt made it an adult read. Often I think that Fantasy/SF is considered “children’s stories” by definition because it is “not real”. So stick it into the YA section.
By the way – Ghost Sister was a good read, just one for grown ups or to discuss with a +15 year old reader.