FB Report: Lots of Links on Speculative Fiction -- 6/15/11

Rahul Talakanti I Like science Fiction.i was An Alien in my past Life in Another Galaxy. my Age is 18,00years in my past Life.i Got my past Life Through a Dream in a midnight sleep. on That planet Aliens 'Life span' is 3,000years.(1 Day=100hrs, 1 year = 1000 Days). on That planet Aliens are Looking so Handsome.They haven't ill, Dandruff,Fungal infections,cancer,cold,.,.etc. ...Their Body Resistance power is so GOOD. on That planet motor cars,vehicles are used solar Energy,Not Like us petrol,Diesel,.,.etc. Their Film Actors are Looking Like Angels.
5 minutes ago · Like ·
[6/14/11]
Comments:
Reading For the Future Rahul, this sounds like the seeds of a book. Why not write one about your dreams as you experience that world? If the book is suitable for kids, let us know--especially since this page focuses on books for children as shared by speculative and science fiction fans.~Valerie C.
[6/14/11]


Reading For the Future
We who read science fiction read it because we love to experience this chain-reaction of ideas being set off in our minds by something we read, something with a new idea in it; hence the very best science fiction ultimately winds up being a collaboration between author and reader, in which both create--and enjoy doing it: joy is the essential and final ingredient of science fiction, the joy of discovery of newness.
[6/11/11]
Comments:
Reading For the Future ?~Philip K. Dick
[6/11/11]
Rahul Talakanti I Like science Fiction.i was An Alien in my past Life in Another Galaxy. my Age is 18,00years in my past Life.i Got my past Life Through a Dream in a midnight sleep. on That planet Aliens 'Life span' is 3,000years.(1 Day=100hrs, 1 year = 10...
See More
[6/14/11]

Reading For the Future from Cynthia Ward Announcing TR:SF, an all-science fiction special issue, coming this fall.
Technology Review Goes From Fact to (Science) Fiction - Technology Review
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/26819/
www.technologyreview.com
Many of the editors at Technology Review are long-time science fiction fans--like many scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, our interest in science and technology was sparked by a heavy diet of science fiction in our youth. For us, science fiction is another way to approach the same fundamental...
[6/9/11]

Reading For the Future thank you Christopher Barzak for another response to the WAJ article
Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why-the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/
blogs.wsj.com
Some cultural critics argue that kids books have become too violent, too dark, too adult. Sherman Alexie, author of "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian," argues that such books give young readers the tools they need to survive.
[6/9/11]
Comments
Ruth R. Davidson Thank you! That article moved me to tears. It's the best response yet to Gurdon.
[6/9/11]
Ruth R. Davidson I just read the book, "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian". I can see what people are complaining about it, but they missed a whole lot of good by focusing on the parts that made them uncomfortable.
[6/11/11]
Reading For the Future  I'm glad you liked it :)
One thing that is really bothering me about this entire argument is that 100 years ago "children's" books were Treasure Island and Peter Pan, and those are two of the most violent "children's" books I've ever read! Maybe not dark, per se, but they certainly aren't pure white bread.
~Cie
[6/11/11]

Reading For the Future
Check out the poll at the bottom -
Are darker themes in youth fiction helpful or harmful to teenagers?
82% (1213 votes) say helpful
18% (269 votes) say harmful
Should Young Adult Books Explore Difficult Issues?
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/05/should-book-covers-shield-young-adult-readers-from-the-world/
blogs.wsj.com
?"A great book is a perfect starting point for talking with kids about the real world around them. "
[6/9/11]
Comments:
StarDragon T. Canadian Forces Of Good now at 88.7% !
[6/11/11]

Reading For the Future More on how do we decide what books to recommend to kids.~Valerie C.
Is The Hunger Games corrupting kids? - The Week
http://theweek.com/article/index/216066/is-the-hunger-games-corrupting-kids
theweek.com
Has young-adult fiction become harmfully dark as a whole — or have teens always had to sift through subpar books to find enduring literature?
[6/8/11]

Reading For the Future Cie McCullough says, "Usually eschew lists; I find them nothing more than some else's opinion. However, this one is compiled to familiarize any high school student with the classics before they are required reading in college. Does it say something about the education system that I have read only 25%and still maintained a B+ average in both HS and college?"~Valerie C.
100 Books Every High School Student Should Read | Accredited Online Colleges.com
http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2009/100-books-every-high-school-student-should-read/
www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com
When preparing for college, one of the smartest moves a high schooler can make is to read, read, read. This is especially true of literary classics. Many of the books covered on this list also surface in university literature classes, so high school students can facilitate their college workloads
[6/8/11]
Comments
Reading For the Future Visit Cie's page or see it on mine for some interesting comments on the link!~ Valerie Coskrey
[6/8/11]

Reading For the Future School Library Journal Review of the first book by upcoming new author Mark Jeffrey. 'Max Quick: The Pocket and the Pendant' will attract fans of Percy Jackson!
Reviews
New review (came out today) from School Library Journal
By: The Max Quick Series
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150216607153560.338153.6259958559
http://www.facebook.com/maxquickseries
[6/7/11]
Comments:
Mark Jeffrey A very promising young lad, I must say! :)
[6/7/11]

Reading For the Future A teen reader responds to Ms Gurdon
Booking Through 365: There Are Whole Lives In These Bookshelves
http://bookingthrough365.blogspot.com/2011/06/there-are-whole-lives-in-these.html
bookingthrough365.blogspot.com
Dear Ms Gurdon, Your article about YA literature has become a huge topic of conversation with the YA community filled with bloggers, authors, librarians, teachers and publisher professionals alike.
[6/7/11]

Reading For the Future Thanks to Christopher Barzak for this link:
A response to WSJ's article about YA lit
"That 'adult' aspect of reading is scary for many of us. It's our job as parents to protect our kids, even as they slowly move out into the world and further away from our dictates. But there's something almost comical about raising them with tales of big bad wolves and poisoned apples"
Teenagers: Has young adult fiction become too dark?
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2011/06/06/WSJ_young_adult_literature_too_dark
www.salon.com
A scorching Wall Street Journal editorial rips apart the genre -- and lights up the Internet
[6/6/11]
Comments:
Bev Kodak The author of the WSJ article apparently missed the point, as so many adults do. YA lit is inherently about hope, and how the human spirit triumphs over adversity. I like Bazarak's piece a lot. See also Laurie Halse Anderson's, Kathleen Duey's and many others' well reasoned responses.
[6/6/11]
Ruth R. Davidson From a teen reader: http://bookingthrough365.blogspot.com/2011/06/there-are-whole-lives-in-these.html?
[6/6/11]
Reading For the Future Thanks Ruth! Just reposted it :)
[6/7/11]

Reading For the Future Contemporary fiction for teens is rife with explicit abuse, violence and depravity. Why is this considered a good idea?
Darkness Too Visible
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576357622592697038.html
online.wsj.com
Meghan Cox Gurdon on Jackie Morse Kessler's Rage, Cheryl Rainfield's Scars, Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games and other examples of contemporary young-adult fiction.
[6/6/11]

Reading For the Future
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150200478628080.326764.156183763079
photos of sci fi fans shared by V. Coskrey, although like Cie, I was not there and live east of the Rockies.~Valerie C.
Norwescon 34: Saturday
Saturday at Norwescon 34. NOTE: This album is still in progress. More photos yet to come!
By: Norwescon
Photos: 92
[6/6/11]

Reading For the Future Visit David Brin for a vote on favorites and for comments.~Valerie C.
Contrary Brin: My Top Choices in Science-Oriented WebComics
http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-top-choices-in-science-oriented.html
davidbrin.blogspot.com
[6/6/11]

Reading For the Future David Brin shared this link.~Valerie C.Andrea Kuszewski's link.
http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-top-choices-in-science-oriented.html
» Want Kids to Win the Future? Turn Them Into Makers — and Sci-Fi Fans
Nolan Bushnell once almost destroyed his family's garage. As a youngster in Utah, he went tooling around with a liquid-fuel rocket on a roller skate and
 Want Kids to Win the Future? Turn Them Into Makers — and Sci-Fi Fans
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/05/maker-faire-nolan-bushnell/
Wired.com
www.wired.com
Get in-depth coverage of current and future trends in technology, and how they are shaping business, entertainment, communications, science, politics, and culture at Wired.com.
[[6/6/11]
Comments:
Reading For the Future link to the article sans the facebook input: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2011/05/maker-faire-nolan-bushnell/
[6/14/11]

Reading For the Future More on the great exhibition on Science Fiction happening until September 25th in London.
"Explore a range of imaginings that have provoked hopes and dreams, exhilaration and fear - and see how science fiction has influenced scientific discovery."
Out of this World: Science Fiction but not as you know it
http://www.bl.uk/sciencefiction
www.bl.uk
Our new exhibition which will explore the Science Fiction genre and show how there is more to this diverse canon than meets the eye
[6/5/11]
Comments
Laura Swift Lind very cool.
[6/5/11]

Interview with Angela Lott, Co-author "Angela's Wisdom"

About "Angela's Wisdom"

"Angela's Wisdom" is a short story by Lynda Williams and daughter Angela Lott. It deals with the value of literacy and the experience of learning to read.

It was written when Angela was 8 years old and given to RFF a few years ago. Now it has been given to RFF, Inc. It will be used on the educational CD/DVD that will be given to the first 70 participants of the educator's workshop at Renovation.

I asked Angela to tell us about her memories of the story. Her responses confused me, so I asked Lynda Williams about how the story was written. She credits the story to both herself and her daughter because, "Angie doesn't remember 'co-writing' the story because her part in it was ad hoc. I constrained myself to working, word for word, with what she and Tegan actually said. I had to build the story around it."

Note: Questions were emailed to Angela in sets. Rest assured, I really did not rudely ask her loads of questions before listening for a response.

Valerie's Interview with Angela

Valerie: How did the short story come about? Who's idea was it? How old were you at the time of writing the story?

Angela Lott in 2011

Angela: I am not totally sure how this story came about. My best guess would be that it had something to do with my mother feeling like an alien while being totally immersed in the technical revolution. She was starting to doubt the need for written literature and since she is a very creative person she put the two together and created a story.

It was my mother’s idea as I was too young to be involved in writing it at the time. When this was written I was as young as I am in the story. As a matter of fact I believe that what is said and done in the story is actually what happened except for the fact that my mother wasn’t being controlled by an alien. She was just trying to act like one to get a reaction from her children. I have a vague memory of her asking us questions while recording it all on a tape recorder.

Valerie: How did you work together to get the story done? What process did you use to collaborate? Was it more or less challenging to work with your Mom on the story than it is to work with your lab partners at school? Was it weird working with your mom? Who had the most ideas about the story, you or your mom? What did you do to get around periods of writer's block? How many days or hours did it take to write the story?

Angela: As I have said in my previous answer I did not write the story. I was the inspirations while I was younger and recorded the story just a week or so ago. This means that my mother and I did not work together to make the story, but when we have worked on things together in the past I have always found it fun and easy to work with her. It is much easier to work with her than a school partner that you don’t know. I have only started writing within the last year and then only fan-fiction, which is writing with someone else’s character and/or within someone else’s universe. I am not sure how long it took my mother to write that story but since she is an experienced writer and the story is not long I can’t imagine that it took her very long.

Note from Valerie: Angela recently recorded the story as a pod-cast to be distributed at Renovations.

Valerie: What do your friends say about the story? What do they say about you as the co-author? What do you say to your friends about writing stories?

Angela: Most of my friends haven’t heard the story since it was written such a long time ago, and the ones who have probably haven’t thought much about it. I am not the co-author. I am the reader and the inspiration. Most of my friends have written stories but like me they write fan fiction. We talk about our plot lines sometimes and help each other by reading each other’s work and giving them feedback.

Valerie: Have you written other stories?

Angela: As I have said previously I have so far in my life only written stories in other people's universes except for one story that I wrote for my grade 12 history class. All of these stories are on both Fanfiction.net and DeviantArt.com. I have one in the Bones universe, one in the Harry Potter universe and one in the Torchwood universe. The original story I wrote for History is only on DeviantArt.

Note from Valerie: I used one link for both references. The Fanfiction.net links to all 3 stories and to Angela's DeviantArt home page using her online avatar JelloDVDs.

Valerie: What do you want to say to Young Adults about science fiction and fantasy?

Angela: The most important thing to me about Science Fiction and Fantasy is that it is the most creative and enlightening kind of fiction there is. You can learn from it and enjoy it. Science Fiction and Fantasy push the boundaries there by helping us to understand ourselves and our way of life better by taking us away from both ourselves and our way of life. By showing us through our own imagination that there is more to life than we know and that there is more in the universe than we can see.

Interview by Valerie Coskrey

At 18, Angela Lott has posted 4 short stories online along with numerous photos and photo collages. Start with the link to her FanFiction site to read 3 stories; and follow the link to her DeviantArt site for another story and numerous photo collages. Angela is on Facebook, where she posts several wonderful photo albums of both nature and people.

Lynda Williams is the original author of the Okal Rel Universe series, to which several other authors have contributed. She teachers writing and other subjects in Canada. Lynda is an active member of RFF and part of RFF, Inc.

Listen to the story "Angela's Wisdom" as read by Angela Lot in this podcast.

RFF and AboutSF Sponsor an Educational Workshop at WorldCon Renovation

Renovation, the 2011 World Science Fiction Convention
August 17-August 21, 2011

Press Release of Monday, April 18, 2011

-- Reno, Nevada, USA --
Want to build an alien or explore science fiction in the classroom?

Renovation, the 69th Worldcon, today announced "Teaching SF", a workshop for teachers, librarians and parents on how to use science fiction as a teaching tool.

Workshop speakers will include Renovation Guest of Honor Tim Powers, Peadar Ó Guilín, Mary Robinette Kowal, John DeChancie, Daniel M. Kimmel, Gary K. Wolfe, L. E. Modesitt, Jr. and G. David Nordley. The workshop is a collaborative effort, organized and presented by Reading for the Future, Inc, from a proposal by AboutSF at the University of Kansas.

The workshop will be held alongside Renovation in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, running from 9 a.m. to around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17. Renovation members with full attending memberships can attend the TeachingSF workshop at no cost, but must sign up in advance as space is limited.

Adults who are not Renovation members may attend the workshop for a $40 fee; this fee includes a one-day pass to attend Renovation on Wednesday after the workshop. Young Adults (those aged 21 or under on the day of the workshop) may attend for a reduced fee of $25.

Full details of the workshop program and information on how to register can be found at www.renovationsf.org/teachingsf.php Sign-up for the workshop ends on June 30, 2011. Additional information is at Reading4Future@gmail.com

About the Organizers

Reading for the Future, Inc (www.readingforfuture.com)is a grassroots volunteer organization whose aim is to help young people develop a love of reading and intellectual adventure through the vehicle of science fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction.

AboutSF (http://www.aboutsf.com)is a resource center for speculative literature, science fiction, and education. It is a joint project of the University of Kansas, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the Science Fiction Research Association, with generous support from Tor Books, The Heinlein Prize Trust, and several individual donors.

FB Report: Lots of Links on Speculative Fiction -- 4/11//11

Reading For the Future Nothing I can think of to add here :)
Liking science fiction and fantasy makes you a genius | Graham Edwards Online
http://grahamedwardsonline.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/liking-science-fiction-and-fantasy-makes-you-a-genius/
grahamedwardsonline.wordpress.com
A lot of people are unbearably snooty about genre fiction – especially SF, fantasy and horror. I’m not the first to remark on this – the debate rages daily across the interwebs. But I think I’ve finally worked out why there are so many folk who feel this way.
[4/8/11]

Reading For the Future Paul Levinson talks about George Melies, Hugo Gernsback, Ray Bradbury, William Gibson, and everything in between in this 2002 interview.
Paul Levinson: Evolution of Science Fiction | Scifi Picks
http://www.scifipicks.com/2011/04/06/paul-levinson-evolution-of-science-fiction/
www.scifipicks.com
My 6-minute tour of the history of science fiction, from Mary Shelley through HG Wells all the way to the 21st century.
[4/7/11]

Reading For the Future This link offers activities and ideas for a number of books, SF and others. There should be enough SF here to warrant a look see. All ages.
CanTeach: English Language Arts: Novel & Picture Book Activities - Specific Novel & Picture Book Act
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/novel11.html
www.canteach.ca
CanTeach contains online resources for educators, including lesson plans, links, discussion lists, and more!
[4/6/11]

Reading For the Future
Chronicles of Narnia Unit Study
http://narniaunitstudy.tripod.com/
narniaunitstudy.tripod.com
[4/5/11]

Reading For the Future Free online books library for students, teachers, and the classic enthusiast. Absolutely FREE online books - Thousands of novels, poems, stories - Easy to read books online.
"We've made some changes so that you can catalog your entire personal library on Read Print! We still feature thousands of online books, but you can now keep track... of everything you've ever read or want to read in one convenient place."
Online Books, Poems, Short Stories - Read Print Library
http://www.readprint.com/
www.readprint.com
A free online library, Read Print puts thousands of online books at your fingertips.
[4/6/11]

Reading For the Future
Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP3c1h8v2ZQ
www.youtube.com
Short lecture by Kurt Vonnegut on the 'simple shapes of stories.'
[4/4/11]

Reading For the Future I wanted to share this website with the teachers and the writers here. It's a bit scary - people are willing to write, even ghost write, well researched, 400-500 unique content for only five dollars.
I see a bad trend here ~Cie
Writing related services people are willing to do for $5
http://www.fiverr.com/categories/writing/order/rating/pages/1
www.fiverr.com
Writing related services Fiverr users are willing to do for $5: writing, script, screenplay, proofing and more!
[3/30/11]
Comments:
Sandra Fogler Yeah, because written language, like all other language - already destroyed - is now OFFICIALLY on the auction block for five bucks. In addition to the issue of academic dishonesty, this is also reflective of a horrible economy, that five bucks gets you a paper.
[3/30/11]
Reading For the Future Yes
My main point. Thank you.
[3/30/11]

Reading For the Future Very glad to hear Neil Gaiman say people should try her books. She is my very favourite YA author (with apologies to all my writer friends).
Even when you know it might come, it is sad. Even sadder to think of all the books she still had not yet written. ~Cie
Neil Gaiman's Journal: Being Alive. Mostly about Diana.
http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/being-alive.html
journal.neilgaiman.com
Diana's been my friend since about 1985, but I was a fan of hers since I read Charmed Life in about 1978, aged 18. I've loved being her friend, and I'm pretty sure she loved being my friend. She was the funniest, wisest, fiercest, sharpest person I've known, a witchy and wonderful woman, intensely p...
[3/27/11]

From Other Walls

David Brin The implicit assumption in most fantasy is that the form of governance that ruled most human societies since the discovery of grain must always govern us. Science fiction, in sharp contrast, considers the possibility of learning and change.
The Difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy | Contrary Brin
http://davidbrin.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/the-difference-between-science-fiction-and-fantasy/
davidbrin.wordpress.com
Why are SF and Fantasy so often grouped together? Obviously, because they share readership and so are well placed together in book stores. And… heck… some of us write both! Still, there are very real differences.
[4/9/11]

Astrid Bear My piece on Dominic Flandry is up at Baen Books' site. They asked me to write it in conjunction with the publication of the last volume of the Technic Civilization collections, FLANDRY'S LEGACY.
A Midsummer Night's Flandry by Astrid Anderson Bear - Baen Books
http://baen.com/MidsummerFlandry.asp
baen.com
So I found myself plunged into the world of the dashing, clever, love-them-and-leave-them Dominic Flandry, determined warrior fighting against the forces of the Long Night. “Wow!” I remember thinking. “This stuff is pretty good!” And so I read all the Flandry there was, that summer, and moved on to
[4/7/11]

Donna Barr via Moe Labelle I'm not a well person. It's the LAST sentence had me cackling like Harry Secombe.
Harlan Ellison on God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le-vDxmIKOI&feature=related
www.youtube.com
The writer Harlan Ellison discusses his views on god and religion in the documentary 'Harlan Ellison: Dreams With Sharp Teeth.
[4/7/11]

FB Report: Lots of Links on Speculative Fiction -- 3/24/11

Reading For the Future Thank you Lawrence Santoro for this information.
Free Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft for Nook and Kindle – Cthulhu Chick
http://cthulhuchick.com/free-complete-lovecraft-ebook-nook-kindle/
cthulhuchick.com
Presenting a free eBook (EPUB and MOBI) of the complete works of H.P. Lovecraft. eBook is compatible with Nook, Kindle, KOBO, Sony and more.
[3/24/11]

Reading For the Future They have a section for teachers.
Welcome to CritterZoom! Streaming video of critters and offering interactive, online animal classes!
http://www.critterzoom.com/
www.critterzoom.com
Critterzoom educational wildlife videos for schools and home. Responsible internet content. Welcome to CritterZoom! Streaming video of critters and offering interactive, online animal classes!
[3/22/11]

Reading For the Future Supreme Court Justice William Brennan tackled the issue of how people will govern themselves in space settlements in a 1988 speech.
The Space Review: The path to the future, from a voice from the past
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1804/1
www.thespacereview.com
The overarching goal of space advocates is to create “a spacefaring civilization.” A key aspect—some say a key precondition—will be the existence of a legal structure governing how people will live and work in space.
[3/22/11]

Reading For the Future In honor of World Storytelling Day, Michele Wilson is offering some of her fantasy short stories suitable for children of all ages from 8 to over 80.
Index
http://artbymichelewilson.com/storyindex.htm
artbymichelewilson.com
I am currently working on a collection of Fantasy short stories entitled Sean's Stories. Sean is one of my favorite characters to write. A huge shape-shifting elf, he is an excellent Bard and would much rather sing and tell stories then do that hero stuff. Unfortunately for him, he is also an excell...
[3/20/11]

Reading For the Future Here's another great eBook for only 99 cents. Tim Pratt, the author, says it's for ages 10 and up - the protagonist is age 13, too!
Remember, the great thing about cheap and free eBooks is that there are quite a few free apps for reading them on Smart Phones.
And that's cool.
The Nex
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045JL56K
www.amazon.com
Teenager Miranda Candle finds a mysterious necklace and is suddenly transported to The Nex, the bizarre city at the center of all possible universes, where she falls in with a pair of would-be revolutionaries -- the skinshifter Howlaa and the bodiless Wisp -- fighting the oppressive regime of the ci
[3/15/11]

Reading For the Future Now you can watch Isaac Asimov’s unaired science show.
(and at a great price, too)
io9.com
http://io9.com/#!5782023/now-you-can-watch-isaac-asimovs-unaired-science-show
io9.com
In the two years before he died, Asimov was prepping a TV series about the thin line between science and science fiction - and how we need to embrace the future. Now you can see footage from it for free online.
[3/15/11]

Reading For the Future What can science fiction tell us about the future of social media?
io9.com
http://io9.com/#!5781908/what-can-science-fiction-tell-us-about-the-future-of-social-media
io9.com
Right now, you are reading a piece of social media. That means it's designed to be passed around on social networks - though it appears on io9.com, can easily be transplanted to Facebook, Twitter, Stumble Upon, and dozens of others.
[3/15/11]

Reading For the Future ‎Alex Knight is doing something amazing! Her new eBook, What Luck! is only 99 cents but royalties from all sales during the month of March (even the sales made before this disaster will count) will go to various organizations for earthquake & tsunami relief. (for ages 14+)

What Luck!
http://www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Margaret Anne and Maxwell Sinclair have lost their only son and one another. “I shall love you forever.” Her prophetic last words to Maxwell haunt him for what seems like an eternity. Reunited by a miracle, they have little time for bliss as their idyllic existence is once again threatened. When an
[3/13/11]

Reflections Collections -- 3/13/11

I am writing this post while watching CNN and the reports on Japan's disastrous situation following the earthquake, the tsunami and the partial meltdown of its nuclear power plant. The Arab League is discussing making a no-fly zone over Libya. The Arab nations are in turmoil with the potential of democratic change. Union bashing is the new tactic of Conservative American politics. Into these challenges comes the fan-based mission of RFF to foster literacy among our youth. It is, after all, the youth who will solve such problems in our future. Meanwhile, our thoughts and prayers and mental focus are with those of our world who are dealing with the problems of today.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all who have lost loved ones during these tumultuous weeks.

Image is Alien © julien tromeur - Fotolia.com
Alien ©julien tromeur - Fotolia.com. Used with permission by Valerie Coskrey only.

Most of what I would have to say this month has been posted in the blog as articles. So this issue is mostly links to those posts.

During the last month, there have been 3 FB Reports: First; Second, 2/18/11; and 3/6/11.

Dave has sent in information on Renovation and the work that RFF and AboutSF is doing getting ready for the workshop for teachers, parents, librarians and fans who are interested in teaching with science fiction and fostering literacy. This day-long workshop is sure to be interesting and informative. Read more about it in these blog posts: "Announcement: RFF Teams with AboutSF for Roadshow at Renovations" and Spotlight: Who I Would Like to See at Renovations 2011. The Spotlight features information about authors that have assisted in the mission of RFF in the past.

David Brin provided RFF with an excerpt of his Skeptical Environmentalist.

Two book reviews were posted this past month: Summers at Castle Auburn reviewed by Lynda Williams, and Space Winners reviewed by Rozalyn Mansfield. I will add that I found another reference to G.R. Dickson's book in which the person called it Space Swimmers. Additionally, two authors have asked me to review their newest books.

Three posts dealt directly with teaching with science fiction. If you add the comments in Rozalind's book review, that makes four. Three of the 4 are by Rozalind, so became an interlinked series.

• "What SF Story for YA is This?" is Rozalyn's puzzle starting the 3-part series.
  
• "Book Review: Space Winners by Gordon R. Dickson" is Rozalyn's book review.
  
• "Teaching with Science Fiction: Social Studies and ..." concludes Rozalyn's series with teaching suggestions and is a part of the Reflections series Teaching with Science Fiction."
  
• "Teaching with Science Fiction: 10 Reasons for Use of SF in the Science Classroom" is by Valerie Coskrey.
  

Another series with a blog posts this past month is To Share or Not to Share: How does one decide..." a continuing dialog on what criteria is used to recommend a book to youth. It expands on the question I am exploring on how to evaluate children's literature. This post is Part 2 in the series, and the 3rd post on the central question.

Happy St. Patrick's Day. And thank our lucky stars that we are able and willing to help those in the disaster zones of our earth today.

FB Report: Lots of Links on Speculative Fiction -- 3/9/11

Reading For the Future A series of 3 new blog posts based on the work of Rozalyn Mansfield was just posted: a puzzle, a book review, and a teaching with SF article. Enjoy!~Valerie

Reading for the Future Reflections: What SF Story for YA is This?
http://rff-reflections.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-sf-story-for-ya-is-this.html
rff-reflections.blogspot.com
[3/6/11]

Reading For the Future I asked Robert sawyer if the trilogy was suitable for YA. He said yes, but there is some mild profanity. He said that his American publisher was only marketing them to an adult audience, but his Canadian publisher was listing them as adult novels suitable for YA. Fans of Enderverse should like these.~Valerie

Start reading the WWW Trilogy now!
http://kobo.com/sawyer
kobo.com
Discover Wake, Watch and Wonder, a stunning and mind-bending trilogy from Canada's leading futurist Robert J. Sawyer.
[3/6/11]

Comments:

Reading For the Future. This comment is from one of R. Sawyer' friends:
Janet Wilson also commented on Robert J. Sawyer's link.

Janet wrote,"I'd say, definitely YA-suitable! (And probably less such "language" than the YA reader uses)"~Valerie
[3/6/11]

Reading For the Future: Heather Borean also commented on Robert J. Sawyer's link.
Heather wrote, "As a parent of former YA's who has always been very careful about what her kids read I would absolutely recommend Wake and Watch for YA's They might even make the kids... reading them THINK. Nothing gratuitous about them whatsoever."~Valerie
[3/6/11]

Reading For the Future Teaching with Science Fiction: 10 Reasons for Use in a Science Class

Reading for the Future Reflections: Teaching with Science Fiction: 10 Reasons for Use in a Science Classes
http://rff-reflections.blogspot.com/2011/03/teaching-with-science-fiction-10.html
rff-reflections.blogspot.com
Like any good book shared among friends and associates, science fiction offers conversation starters. Class discussions often need an example to get the students thinking and talking. Examples from books can lead to examples from personal experiences and then to examples from the textbook or the tea...
[3/6/11]

Reading For the Future From David Brin -- Twenty-five years ago, just after finishing my thesis on comets, I collaborated with Gregory Benford to write Heart of the Comet. Here, we discuss how we went about writing the novel together, trading off with the main characters. A few moments of humor, as when Gregory specifies why he wrote the sex scenes and I wro...te the more technical ones. Plus why he never reads his own novels!See More

Comets in Fact and Fiction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj8ZXaJtnEA
www.youtube.com
Science fiction authors David Brin and Gregory Benford discuss their collaboration on Heart of the Comet. The novel, published in 1986, coincided with the last return visit of Comet Halley to Earth. Heart of the Comet tells the story of an ambitious manned mission to visit the comet and alter its or
[3/5/11]

Comments:

Reading For the Future I loved Heart of the Comet. When will we build a generation ship like this?~Valerie C.
[3/5/11]

Reading For the Future

Google Docs - Online documents, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys, file storage and more
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=12e80e1400a773e9&mt=application%2Fvnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3D2&ik=328ed06f21&view=att&th=12e80e1400a773e9&disp=attd&realattid=f_gkujakly0&zw&sig=AHIEtbRg5fcp_v3__Xk1q7H5HoOe65ZE-w
docs.google.com
Reading For the Future Spotlight: People I want to see at Renovation - by David G Anderson
[3/4/11]

Reading For the Future Lindalee sent this out as an example of a Yu's illustrated Goodnight Dune. Compare to the previous post on Goodnight Dune. ~Valerie C.

io9.com
http://io9.com/#!5773911/good-night-dune-for-wednesday
io9.com Goodnight Dune, a children’s book straight from Arrakis - Were you impressed by the science fiction children's books Caldwell Tanner created a few months back?Artist Julia Yu was, so she illustrated an entire book based on Tanner's Goodnight Dune .
[3/4/11]

Reading For the Future Thanks to Moshe Feder for posting this earlier today. In his words:
'This portion of a recent show includes a segment no SF fan should miss. It's a conversation with a remarkably convincing Philip K. Dick robot who is much more than just audioanimatronic.'

Social Robots, NOVA scienceNOW, PBS Video
http://video.pbs.org/video/1801231960
video.pbs.org
Would you want a robotic friend who could chitchat, do chores, even take care of you?
[3/2/11]

Reading For the Future Something fun

Goodnight Dune
http://goodnightdune.com/
goodnightdune.com
[3/2/11]

Reading For the Future another new blog post~Valerie C.

Reading for the Future Reflections: Teaching with Science Fiction: 10 Reasons for Use in a Science Classes
http://rff-reflections.blogspot.com/2011/03/teaching-with-science-fiction-10.html">
rff-reflections.blogspot.com
[3/1/11]

Reading For the Future Lynda Williams reviewed this book for us. As it turns out, the book is suitable for youth and was actually listed on the ALA List of Best Books for Young Adults.~Valerie C.

Reading for the Future Reflections: Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
http://rff-reflections.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-review-summers-at-castle-auburn-by.html
[3/1/11]

[I included the Bradbury reference again for the comment on a book reference to the letter.]

Reading For the Future http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/02/28/love-what-you-love-ray-bradbury/

Love what YOU love – Ray Bradbury
http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/02/28/love-what-you-love-ray-bradbury/
www.geeksaresexy.net
This amazing letter was sent to a child by Fahrenheit 451 author Ray Bradbury back in October 1991. Unfortunately, we don't have the context in which the
[2/28/11]

Comments
Jack Lessovitz Someday very soon,very very soon, There will be a great starship named Bradbury.
[2/28/11]
Mary Rose Love this! He talks about this letter in one of his books - Zen maybe.
[2/28/11]

From Other Walls

Cie McCullough How do they get these shots?

Solar Observations from around the World
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33207&id=118107518236480&fbid=170999999613898
There are many amateur astronomer and professional observatories also looking at the Sun. Here are some recent images from all over the world.
By: NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (Little SDO)
Photos: 8

Welcome to WakeWatchWonder.ca | HOME
wakewatchwonder.ca
Blind from birth, Caitlin Decter received the gift of sight with the aid of a signal-processing retinal implant. The technology also gave her an unexpected side effect—the ability to "see" the digital data streams of the World Wide Web. And within the Web she perceived an extraordinary presence, and
[3/6/11]

FB Report: Lots of Link on Speculative Fiction -- 3/2/11

Reading For the Future Lynda Williams reviewed this book for us. As it turns out, the book is suitable for youth and was actually listed on the ALA List of Best Books for Young Adults.~Valerie C.
Reading for the Future Reflections: Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
http://rff-reflections.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-review-summers-at-castle-auburn-by.html
rff-reflections.blogspot.com

Reading For the Future
Love what YOU love – Ray Bradbury
http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2011/02/28/love-what-you-love-ray-bradbury/
www.geeksaresexy.net
This amazing letter was sent to a child by Fahrenheit 451 author Ray Bradbury back in October 1991. Unfortunately, we don't have the context in which the


Reading For the Future A nice bit of historic science
Space Shuttle Launch: Viewed From an Airplane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_USPTmYXM
www.youtube.com
The captain can be heard over the loudspeaker saying, "Those on the right side can see the space shuttle. Those on the left side can probably see the people on the right side looking at the space shuttle." You gotta love airplane humor.

Reading For the Future' On November 30th and December 1st, 2010, at the TIME Conference Center in New York City, many of the most innovative people and organizations in the science and technology world came together for an historic gathering - the 2010 World Technology Summit & Awards, the eighth Summit and ninth Awards thus far!'
Does Sci-Fi Influence the Future?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJP-YqAJT9c
www.youtube.com
Tech Nation's Moira Gunn and science fiction author Paul Levinson explore the influence of sci-fi on technological breakthroughs of the future, from space exploration to time travel.

Reading For the Future A Program Designed For Teen Writers Interested in Today's Hottest Fantasy Fiction Genres.
SharedWorlds
http://www.wofford.edu/sharedworlds/
www.wofford.edu
Here there be monsters! And beasts! And fantastical creatures. The faculty of Shared Worlds creative writing camp has called on some of speculative fiction's most compelling storytellers to chase down and gather up all manner of wondrous beasts. Scroll through our Fantastic Bestiary and don't forget

Reading For the Future Some of my favorite authors publish with Baen, however a couple of their works were left off the list. But it is a start. Fledgling and Saltation, both by Lee and Miller were both left off the list, although Baen published them last year or so. At least the ones on the list were personally vetted by someone who has read each one. ~Valerie C.
Young Adult Reading List - Baen Books
http://baen.com/ya_list.asp
baen.com
This is a preliminary list of books published by Baen deemed by me, Toni Weisskopf, executive editor, (with help from editor Hank Davis) to be suitable for an intelligent young adult reader. These are the books I would have read (and in some cases did read) when I was in middle and high school.

Reading For the Future Good luck if you have been nominated! :)
SFWA announces the 2010 Nebula Award Nominees
http://www.sfwa.org/2011/02/2010-nebula-nominees/
www.sfwa.org
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Lynda Williams of Okal Rel Universe fame has written this book review.

Lynda Williams Reviews Summer at Castle Auburn

Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn is a charming tale of disillusionment and romance set in a classical fantasy setting with some unique touches.

I picked it up second hand for the sake of the endorsements from Peter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn, and I wasn't disappointed.

Image used with permission.

It's a gentle story, although the protagonist has to live through discovering the ugliness behind her rosy childhood vision of the courtly relatives. I enjoyed the fey species called the aliora, prized as slaves for their unfailing kindness even in captivity, and the many well integrated subplots.

Like many strong-minded heroines in medieval fantasies, the heroine Corie gets away with more than might be historically justified, but not so much that her choices are easy ones. Corie's training in the healing arts of her grandmother, a village wise woman, makes her independence more believable.

A manageable read for young lovers of romantic fantasy and entertaining for adults, also.

by Lynda Williams
Author Okal Rel Universe

More About Sharon Shinn

Sharon Shinn's website lists this book in the novels section where it is described as, "Named to the ALA list of Best Books for Young Adults."

Sharon Shinn writes fantasy for adults and young adults alike. On her website she lists 5 novels and 1 short story written specifically for young adults. Among these, 3 deserve special mention.

• The Safe-Keeper's Secret, first published in 2004, "was named to the ALA list of Best Books for Young Adults."
• The Truth Teller’s Tale was "named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age and made it onto the 2006 Bank Street Children’s Book List."
• The short story "Wintermoon Wish" was published in the young adult anthology Firebirds Rising 

I enjoyed exploring Sharon Shinn's beautiful website and reading the extremely interesting descriptions of her books. Who knows, maybe I will begin to read more fantasy, a feat that I currently do on a limited basis as I am such a die-hard hard SF fan. Am I mellowing as I age? Of course, I have always loved a good romance novel!

Thanks, Lynda, for this introduction to another spec fiction author.

~Valerie