Things SFnal

[lizwilliams]

Spent this morning immersed in the work of Hugo Gernsback, for the course in July. This afternoon, I've managed to get some of my own stuff done. This novel is now progressing very slowly, but that's OK - I changed my mind about half of its contents. Graham Joyce's comment about writing resembling coal mining comes to mind - you hack out a seam and it crumbles, so you hack out another one.

Although my actual coal mining experience is not extensive, I must confess.

Meanwhile, from the early 20th C of Gernsback to later days....anyone interested in the course of 21st century SF is directed over to ianmcdonald's LJ, where there is an interesting discussion about SF reflecting a post-American hegemonic future, with the emergence of various 3rd world nations as economic contenders. Obviously, this is of interest to me (one book set in India, one in the former SU), although I don't quite fit the pattern: these are novels in which America is not dominant in the narrative, not ones in which it is in economic collapse. I had some interesting discussions with Geoff R at Eastercon as to just how far (if at all) one can write via the worldview of another culture.

Also, I notice we have some new people on the f-list. Please feel free to join in or introduce yourselves; you're most welcome.

Comments

[gwendolynstar.livejournal.com]

Hello :)
Actually, I am one of your Bardic students from the states :)
I enjoy your LJ....it gives me some great insight into the world of creative writing, as I am enjoying Banner of Souls, great work!

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Hi! This is where my two worlds meet...! You are very welcome.

[ethereal-lad.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm Craig Laurance Gidney. I've read a couple of your stories and found you on lj. By the way, congratulations on being on the shortlist for the Carl Brandon Awards (just announced).

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

You are most welcome.

re: the awards: I'm delighted, and thank you so much - this is the first notification I had of this. Having checked my email, I see that hotmail has helpfully put the email from the awards committee in the junk folder. I'm now going to bang my head against the wall for a short period. Thank God for LJ.

[fastfwd.livejournal.com]

Aha! So this is what you've been doing with your time lately.:)

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

Nice to actually meet you at The Clarke, amidst the throng.

Which of your novels is set in the former SU, I haven't found that one yet.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

You too!

It's NINE LAYERS OF SKY - it's set mainly in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzia and Uzbekistan.

[garunya.livejournal.com]

Also, I notice we have some new people on the f-list. Please feel free to join in or introduce yourselves; you're most welcome.

I seem to be one of those, so hi! Though I've heard your name quite frequently, I've never actually read any of your stuff yet. But since I stumbled across your LJ a couple of days ago, I went and bought one of your novels today - Banner of Souls - which will go next in my reading list :)

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Hi! And welcome.

[ellenscult]

Hi! I followed a link over from someone, probably jaylake, and stayed. ;-) I'm 30, based Oop North, and I'm a writer. Well, alright, I'm a technical writer and I also have a novel which I'm editing, and short stories out with magazines for their kind perusal. And I like Robin Hood.

You know, I once attended a lecture at York Uni on 'King Arthur, Captain Kirk and James Bond'. It was actually rather good. *heh*

Congratulations on being shortlisted for the award! Go you.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

>You know, I once attended a lecture at York Uni on 'King Arthur, Captain Kirk and James Bond'. It was actually rather good. *heh*

Excellent! :-)

And you are very welcome.