Category: Writing

Reading that Shapes the Writer: Pride & Prejudice

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is my favorite classic and probably my favorite novel that is not in the speculative fiction genre. I can trace my love of entertaining dialogue, social interaction and skillful mockery of human foibles to Austen, before I ever found my way to Pratchett or Adams. This book is often thought … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: Pride & Prejudice →

Fangirling

I thought I'd write more about why I like John Scalzi so much as an author. First, a note: Scalzi's novels do not read as the work of a progressive activist unless you're one of those far-right sphincters that feel facts are liberally biased. So there's a high chance you'll enjoy them just as much … Continue reading Fangirling →

If You Haven’t Read John Scalzi, You Should Start

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2019/05/28/agent-to-the-stars-fuzzy-nation-and-the-androids-dream-now-out-in-trade-paperback/ John Scalzi is one of my favorite authors. I haven't read The Android's Dream* yet but can definitely recommend Fuzzy Nation and Agent to the Stars if you haven't read them, yet. Fuzzy Nation was actually the first book of Scalzi's that I read. I was browsing my library's little used bookstore and thought … Continue reading If You Haven’t Read John Scalzi, You Should Start →

Reading that Shapes the Writer: Watership Down, Dune, Lord of the Rings

Of the many works of speculative fiction I've read, these three books stand out as being truly epic. They have very little in common when it comes to setting or flavor or protagonists. The first is about rabbits establishing a new warren, the second a far distant sci-fi human future, and the latter a far … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: Watership Down, Dune, Lord of the Rings →

Reading that Shapes the Writer: Tolkien (Part 2)

Part 1 As a white child growing up in a 'colorblind' household I didn't notice the issues with how race was depicted in the material. Criticism there is fully warranted and I wish people adapting the work would realize that Tolkien himself, were he alive today, would probably have grown enough as a person to … Continue reading Reading that Shapes the Writer: Tolkien (Part 2) →