Some interesting reads on the subject of fantasy and genre fiction:
-- First, an interview in the LA Times with Michael Chabon, on the "ghetto-ization" of genre fiction. Yeah, what he said.
-- Second, a post at the Tor blog by Jo Walton, about how she hates fantasy though she loves fantasy. I'm on board with that too. Too many of the books I pick up, I wish were better. The comments to this post, by the way, have great book recommendations (a certain sweet husband even recommendation this faerie book you may have heard of. . .)
If you missed it yesterday, please scroll down to my interview with Laurel Snyder, who is having a glorious year with TWO books coming out into the world. Hurray for Laurel!
And tomorrow, I think my political dam is going to burst and I will have to write about the Democratic convention, the swell of hope in my breast, and oh yeah, about McCain's female-vote-grubbing choice of the pro-life, Creation-spouting, wolf-killing, polar-bear-hating, grizzly-pelt-sporting, kill-everything-for-oil governor of Alaska for veep. Not that they're going to get elected. I mean, come on, country. Do not plunge me into despair, please please.
Please.
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19 comments:
Yes, yes, don't let us down. Please! We're counting on you, too.
I am totally freaked out by his choice because as you know, many Americans don't use their critical thinking skills when it comes down to voting and go for who they feel "comfortable" with even if it means voting directly against their best interests on things like health care and the economy. Plus, my guess is that the Republican convention will be aired much more on the networks than the Dems were (who aired ONE HOUR LIVE a night for the keynoter primarily- that alone disgusts me, that they chose to keep up dumb weekly programming instead of the speeches)....btw, did you hear how sensitive Republicans have become? They may postpone their election for one-two evenings due to the potential hurricane. Today is the anniversary of Katrina too and it should be getting a lot more coverage than it is getting. Now I'm all worked up- thanks F.T!
and if they postpone the convention a night of two, that conveniently allows them not to air Bush and Cheney)
I keep meaning to read The Name of the Wind (mentioned in Jo Walton's post)! I've brought it home from the library THREE times. Have you read it yet? Everything I've heard is fantastic.
And yeah. McCain's VP? I'm PISSED.
<3 Obama <3
laini,
one more item to add to your list re: palin. i hear she's a creationist that argued "it" should be taught in schools AS IF it were on par with the theory of evolution. stephen jay gould is doing cartwheels in his grave.
mccain did (with his veep pick) what obama did not. honestly, this development makes me HORRIBLY uneasy.
blog away! :)
Tone -- fingers crossed!!
Alexandra -- I know. All of the above. I just wish Americans would care a little more. CSPAN aired everything, without pissy, snarky "analysis" after -- but the thing is, while Dems will watch the Republican convention to hear what's said, Repubs won't watch the Dem convention. Mostly. And the Katrina thing? ARG. If that old coot doesn't speak at the convention . . . Well, there's still the debates -- no weasling out of that!
Dawn -- ARG. Well, sadly too much of America won't see that as a problem. :-(
Steph -- I have not read that -- really want to. I was waiting for it to come out in paper, then forgot about it until I read that today; I shall adjourn to Amazon to check. . .
Personally, I'm going to be plunged into despair either way. Ugh.
Don't hold back the dam Laini - I love a little politics with my fiction. And don't despair peeps, take action.
Our general election in NZ is coming up and the polls are pointing to a possible victory by the right wings party. So my housemate and I organised a cocktail party for our apartment building and invited the local left-wing candidate to meet them all. Small step? Sure - but better than despair.
Hold a cocktail party debate on the issues you care about - the environment? health care? whatever it is - get people who can talk intelligently about the policy positions of the two parties and candidates and let people ask questions. it's good old-fashioned kitchen politics and if nothing else it is a great antidote for despair.
Oh good, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the convention and the Palin pick. I'm not a fan, to say the least. McCain lost this independent voter and my republican mother to Obama today, 100%.
Also, I just read this interesting commentary for an argument against drilling in ANWR. Thought you and some of your readers might be interested: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/122433/592/999/578693
Ack! That was an incorrect link I posted up there. It was too long to fit in Blogger comments so it's missing a 3 at the end. Here is a shorter url that should work: http://psychbob.dailykos.com/
The commentary is titled "Drilling in America: 5 Number You Should Know."
Maybe McCain knows something we don't know. I mean, Palin does have a bachelor's degree in journalism. And John did chat with her briefly at a convention...one time...seven months ago. So he's obviously got a good sense of how she handles all sorts of situations.
- Jay
I think if McCain wins, I'm taking the wolves and polar bears and moving to Canada.
That Chabon interview was outstanding! I love him. Thanks for posting!
Palin terrifies me as much as McCain does (is that possible???). I keep telling myself there is NO WAY a sane person would vote for them . . . and then I remember how comfy I am in my very blue state.
I tremble in fear . . .
Let it burst, Laini! You can see what your trickle started.
Personally, I enjoyed the look of, "What the f_ did I just do?" on McCain's face as Palin spoke. Did anyone else see it? And really, McCain has a huge number of supporter who would never consider Obama for ignorant reasons and now they won't want to support McCain for the same ignorant reasons.
Bring on the v.p. debate! I'm tuning in for sure.
Alex is right. A lot of people choose a candidate for weird gut reasons--even when it's against their own interests. McCain, with the gun toting Palin at his his side, attracted his largest crowd ever in PA.
Another little thing before I shut up about politics, dears:
In Norway, the right wing party has been horribly popular these last few months, mainly because of gas prices, I think, but also because they manage to say things that appeal to the mean streak in people. Urgh. Scares me silly. (Of course, they're lots less scary than your republicans, but that's no real comfort).
But now, the three liberal parties that are in goventment at the moment, are doing much better in the polls again. And one of the reasons is actually the enthusiasm Obama creates over there - and here. It rubs off.
My son phoned me and urged me to blog, blog, blog to try to wake the country up to the hope represented by Obama and the terrible pit we will continue to wallow in if McCain and his ex-beauty-queen side kick are elected!
Speaking of the convention, I thought Al Gore gave one of the best speeches, reminding us once again that it isn't only our country's future but the future of the world that is at risk if we follow our current energy policies.
Yeah, I was really surprised by McCain's veep pick too. I SO thought he was going to choose a hemp-wearing, free-range producing, tree hugging, transgender abortionist as his running mate. ;-)
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