Yesterday, I touched upon my preference for beautiful prose. Consider me shallow, but I find the better stylists among SFF authors to tell a superior story, because well-crafted prose creates more depth and nuances than straightforward prose in service of a plot or character development. Yes, the latter two matter in general, but superior writing starts with excellent prose. An author with a grasp on how to write with a magical ease is Amal El-Mohtar, which she displays in her fantastic but too short “The Honey Month”. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 21] Amal El-Mohtar and Words of Beauty
Category:
Musings & Rants
I can’t celebrate Women in Genre without Lauren Beukes – a true powerhouse from South Africa with experience as a journalist in some of the most dangerous cities in the world. I first heard of Beukes through Angry Robot, who published Beukes’ “Moxyland” as one of their first titles and have since published her second novel “Zoo City”. In both novels Beukes proves her an insanely talented storyteller with edge and a gift to include social critique in her genre. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 20] Lauren Beukes – The Powerhouse from South Africa
I appreciate beauty, prose and darkness in my fiction. The authors I have highlighted prove this, but I have another love – humor. Humor, sarcasm and witty banter have been integral in my life as I consider myself a pretty funny guy with some chops for improvisation. I have a drag queen’s tongue, so I appreciate a mind with an asinine sense of humor and unsavory jokes. R.J. Astruc is a writer who delivered everything I love in humor and left it in my lap with a pretty bow. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 19] R.J. Astruc and Dark Laughs
I’ve already mentioned Karin Tidbeck a few times in my posts so far, but I haven’t talked of her work at length. Tidbeck may be a newcomer to mainstream genre (if anyone is unaware, Tidbeck has been publishing short stories for years, but it was her collection “Jagannath” to launch her in the eye of the public), but it’s exactly her ‘birth’ what’s exciting. I feel that electrifying feeling I am at the right place and the right place, watching something magnificent come into being even though signs have pointed towards it for those looking.
Read More [Women in Genre, Day 18] Karin Tidbeck and on Expanding Horizons
The stories I have shared so far touch upon lessons learned thanks to the women in genre or the strength I have gained through the friendship and talent of these women. You can say continuity has an established role in my life, though not every encounter with a brilliant talent grows into a relationship. Its beauty lies within its brief brilliance (can I get bonus points for alliteration?) and such is the case with Tammy Moore, better (if) known as T.A. Moore. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 17] Tammy Moore and Painting with Words
For the longest of times, I have considered myself a reviewer rather than a writer. As I’ve spoken about it, it’s reviewing that introduced me to genre and its authors. I have roots in reviewing and the people I have interacted with still remain dear friends. I will perhaps remember my days as a reviewer with the awe I felt every time I saw what The Book Smugglers did with their blog. The dynamic duo stars Ana Grilo and Thea James (technically two women, but you don’t talk about the individual components of a deity, now do you) who have been the most industrious reviewers on the scene. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 16] The Book Smugglers and Reading Domination
I can’t discuss my influences without mentioning Diana Pho (or Ay-leen the Peacemaker), who runs the excellent blog project Beyond Victoriana – a wonderful blog dedicated to steampunk in its non-Western incarnations. Multiculturalism in genre has picked up the pace in the last couple of years, but Diana has been leading a similar discussion within the boundaries of the steampunk sub-genre and movement, which to a point has been associated more with cosplay and a sense of artistry rather than a set literary tradition. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 15] Diana Pho and the Clockwork Thought
When you think of genre, you often associate it with books and rarely think about comic books, because comic books are peculiar and have often been separated from general SFF-dom. It’s true superhero-centric stories are in themselves a peculiar sub-genre as they rely on a narrative based on a sense of grandeur and over-the-top stakes. It’s do or die. Villains are outrageous. Heroes are expected to ascend beyond the flawed human nature. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 14] Gail Simone and the Birds of Prey
It’s Saturday, the first day in two weeks, I have had some free time to rest, catch up on TV series and even read. Having almost to no free time has become feature presentation in my life. When I think my schedule has grown too overpopulated, I look over at Jaym Gates, Queen of Deadlines, Slayer of Schedules. Gates is perhaps the most industrious woman in genre I’ve met and she has contributed a lot to the whole US scene. I certainly can’t imagine what genre would be without her being involved in it. Read More [Women in Genre, Day 13] Jaym Gates – The Queen of Deadlines
Theresa Bazelli is a newcomer to the genre scene. She has some short fiction published, but has yet to establish a name in. Quintessentially, I’m her equal. We are both young hopefuls with eyes towards a brighter tomorrow* and creative realization, because there’s nothing more profound than validation of your dream – it means you’ve won in life. As cliché as it sounds, chasing THE dream is a journey and although the final destination matters, it’s all about the person you end up gossiping with at the back of the bus while the driver is trying to fix the AC – the driver is an old corgi with a tail-chasing habit.** Read More [Women in Genre, Day 12] Theresa Bazelli – the Alpha & the Beta