BBC interviews of 10 SF Authors now on CD

Science Fiction Writers
British Library Board 2011
Interviews date from 1977 through 2001.

Distributed by the University of Chicago Press

Reviewed by Ann Wilkes

I completely enjoyed listening to the interviews on this CD. The majority of the interviews were conducted in such a way as to bring out interesting anecdotes and facts of which I was formerly unaware. The authors interviewed are as follows:

Douglas Adams
Isaac Asimov
J G Ballard
Ray Bradbury
Arthur C Clarke
Ursula K Le Guin
Michael Moorcock
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Also included is what seems to be a joint panel discussion or lecture led by Brian Aldiss and Doris Lessing as there is not interviewer on that recording. These are ALL previously unreleased recordings.

The gems you'll hear on this crisply mastered CD include an interview with Isaac Asimov on his 70th birthday in which he states that the kinetic theory of gases is what sparked his idea of psycho-history that is the "science" running through his Foundation series. Brian Aldiss tips his hat to Mary Shelley for writing what he thinks is the first truly science fiction novel.

Doris Lessing said she was struck by the defensiveness of pulp sci-fi authors in the States. She also said that though she thoroughly enjoyed Asimov's Foundation series, it's not really sci-fi, because there's no science. She goes on to say the Foundation series contains "brilliant sociology." Since when are robots, space travel and sociology not science?

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. explains why he chops up his books in short bursts. He also addresses his use of social commentary and satire, pointing out the reason why the defenders of the Alamo were really fighting in his novel, Hocus Pocus: for their right to own slaves.

Did you know that Ray Bradbury had a hand in the archetectural designs of Epcott Center, Disneyworld and World Fairs? A builder in Glendale (CA) even made a mall based on an article of his about a city of the future. He talks of his dream of globalism and a united space exploration instead of men of the same planet fighting one another. "Men want to be destroyed. But they should be destroyed for a good cause and the good cause is space."

The woman who interviewed Ursula K. LeGuin basically asks her if she would fancy being a father and a mother like the characters in The Left Hand of Darkness. And asked her if she thought of herself as an anarchist because she wrote about anarchists. Why is it that the one woman actually interviewed was interviewed by someone who obviously doesn't understand science fiction? LeGuin, however, handles the situation with aplomb and grace with wonderful tidbits like, "You can have books and babies. They are not mutually hostile occupations."

I highly recommend this CD for any sci-fi fan or writer. For more information or to buy your copy for $15, visit the University of Chicago Press.

Flash fiction sale, hopeful exercises in futility, and sf news

I'm doing the happy dance! I sold a story! That hasn't happened as often this year. I think it may have something to do with the fact that the number of stories I've submitted this year can be counted on one hand. I'm still selling some, which speaks well of my sell-rate. :) You can read "Troll Games" at flashquake now. It's an urban fantasy tale of two young brothers who encounter a troll on a bridge who has come to collect his due.

You might have noticed I have a new page. The cookbook review request was the last straw. I now have a whole page outlining what I will and won't review, who I will interview and what kind of press releases I'd like to see. Just click on the Request Guidelines tab above if you're considering sending something or know someone who would like to send me something. Unfortunately, since I'm some sort of mega reviewer database, I'll get the email without a thought, let alone a visit to my guidelines page. Maybe someone, somewhere will actually update the thing to include a link to my guidelines. I can hope, right?

I don't know if it will make its way to the States, but the lucky sf fans across the pond will be treated to the Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently series - as a series - on BBC4. Way cool! Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently detective novels adapted for TV - Science Fiction World

While browsing through Science Fiction World, I also learned that Lucas reveals Star Wars TV series on hold then gives away half his wealth - Science Fiction World

And here's a peek at a new breed of Monster movie. Now THIS is the request I want. Come on, publicists, don't you see my raised hand? Been a while since I've attended a preview.



And alien invasion...




vote it up!

Douglas Adams - Happy Belated Birthday!

photo by Chris Ogle

This post should have been yesterday, on Douglas Adams' birthday. But, you know, stuff happens. So, pretend I posted it yesterday and we're good. Or we could do the time warp again and I will have posted it yesterday. Douglas Adams died May 11, 2001 at age 49 of a heart attack. His memory lives in on. And on and on...

Anyway, Happy Birthday, Doug!

I would love to list 42 reasons why everyone should read every novel written by Douglas Adams. But what with playing Starship Titanic, enjoying my long, dark teatime and washing my towel, I just don't have the time. I haven't made a dent in the dishes and I still need to make dinner. I was going to have beef tonight, but it was just too cheeky. Besides, I think it was lying about its tender rear. I intercepted a transmission from Zaphod yesterday. He said he'd be dropping in for fruit loops and shaving cream tomorrow. Of course, I could be wrong, since my babelfish has a virus. He might have said the Vogons are coming. But don't panic! I'm not going to ramble on forever. Now for the Birthday presents.

In honor of Douglas Adams' birthday, I'd like to share all kinds of cool widgets and things. Follow these links to HHGG swag.

Squidoo has movie clips, free wallpaper from flickr, the radio version of HHGG, links to T-shirts, mousepads, etc.

The complete radio series at BBC Audiobooks America.

Fan HHGG on facebook.

Now, if you're not sure you've read every book he's ever written, go here to double-check.

Finally, a commercial from our sponsor (my publisher):
AWESOME LAVRATT by Ann Wilkes
In the spirit of the cult classic The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams: Beautiful Aranna Navna plans to conquer the galaxy one planet at a time. She steals the Awesome Lavratt, a mind control device, from a freighter in Horace Whistlestop’s junkyard. She takes Horace, too. With the Lavratt, Aranna manipulates the thoughts and desires of everyone around her —- until she gets to the Emperor of Calistania. Then things go from bad to worse for Aranna. The Lavratt, however, has only just begun! Oh, the fun you can have from a small cube with mind control powers. Travel the galaxy with Tyrantz Lavratt. Silly science fiction at its best. All puns intended.






vote it up!

Too bogged to blog

I've been playing catch up after having my back betray me. This is the first time I've had to do the 8-5 thing with my back out. I'm finally on the mend just in time for the huge festival my church puts on every year.

If you live within 100 miles of Santa Rosa, CA, you simply must come. The Glendi Ethnic Food Fair features two days of live music, dancing, performances, church tours, and FOOD! Oh the food. Where else can you get Eritrean Zigni (spicy beef) served hot on engera (sponge bread)with lentils and alitcha (spinach dish)? They also serve up delicious culinary delights from Greece, Russia and the Balkans such as gyros, piroshki, sarma and spanikopita. You can wash it down with Sonoma County wines or local micro-brews. Follow it up with Greek or Eritrean coffee and a pastry from one of the their two bakeries. Is your mouth watering yet? And just think, if you get out there and dance like a Greek, you can work off the calories. Guilt-free binging! Find out more at www.theglendi.net. If you don't know how to dance like a Greek, no worries. I'll teach you! I'm teaching two classes each day.

OK, the commercial portion of my blog is done.

For those of you who join me in mourning the loss of Douglas Adams and regret the end to his zany space adventures, I have news for you. Eoin Colfer has been granted permission to extend Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy "trilogy". The sixth book in the series, And Another Thing..., debuts on October 12, 2009.

In the meantime, you'll want to check out the cool interactive site that Block Interactive and Penguin launched for all things HHGG related, at www.6of3.com.

No fiction writing will happen this weekend. Not even in the universe of Awesome Lavratt, my novel that has been compared by some to HHGG. I'll be too busy dancing. I'm so glad the back and the foot are doing better.

I'll try to get some Glendi pictures up next week. Maybe even tomorrow. We'll see...

Next interview, this Friday with Dani and Eytan Kollin, authors of The Unincorporated Man, with a review of same available concurrently at Mostly Fiction.

vote it up!

Havin' fun

Last weekend, my husband and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary by going to the Herdeljezi Festival in Sebastopol on Saturday and Papa's Taverna on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the Roma Festival, meant to herald the changing of the season and the beginning of outdoor activities, was "rained in". But there were still lots of dancers enjoying themselves in the Vets Hall.



I went outside to cool off after dancing for a while. And then look what happened!

This was a sculpture by a local artist that was donated to help raise money.

Here I am getting my Greek on at Papa's.




And how's this for a new author photo? All thanks to hubby, Patrick.


The last in the Dirk Gently series, by Douglas Adams, published posthumosly has just been ordered for production at Radio 4. Read the tip here and more about the series here. The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul is one of my faves. He's partially responsible for my Brit wit that seeps into Awesome Lavratt.

Ain't the world wide web grand? I just saw my interview with Robert J. Sawyer show up on Technorati Japan. :)

Finding that helped to deal with the rejection that came yesterday. :( Sent that story back out again. It WILL find a home.

Towel Day, BayCon and Mottos

I've been getting ready for the BayCon, the science fiction convention in Santa Clara, CA this weekend. I couldn't help but notice that Towel Day isn't mentioned on their website. So, whether you're going or not, this is your reminder: Sunday is Towel Day! Don't forget your towel. For those who haven't a clue what I'm blathering on about, it's a reference to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and a memorial to Douglas Adams, author of same, who died on May 11, 2001. You can't go hitchhiking in space without your towel. It's essential for space travel.

***

I had the privilege of speaking to two high school classes last week. What a rush! The kids were great and they had some thoughtful questions. Thanks to one young lady, I now have a motto. She asked me what my motto was. I got to thinking about a phrase I've been using frequently that I think is original. Ready?

"The positive side of stubborn is determination."

Compared to Douglas Adams!

Saturday, the twelfth, after my reading in Santa Rosa, from my new book, Awesome Lavratt, another author compared me to Douglas Adams! Woo hoo! And then my publisher did the following Saturday. :) I'm a huge fan of his work, and obviously influenced by him. Now to find someone famous to say it for the back of the book. If only I can scoop up all those Douglas Adams fans out there who are dying for something new.

That story I recently rewrote that didn't know what it wanted to be when it grew up? The one about the tiny aliens stealing drugs from Earth? I went with the dangerous heist route and sent it out. Now I keep wanting to make the other choice, too, and write it as it began, as a fun little romp with a punch line. Maybe if I change it just enough and change the title...

And the other story I just rewrote doesn't want to end, and no one wants it too. >sigh< style="font-weight: bold;">Under the Suns of Sarshan, so I wanted to kick all these things out the door. I think I'll leave it as a short. I can always return to Chance's world later with a longer story. It's dripping with possibilities.