This book could teach Hollywood to do superheroes right

(via io9.com) 

You might think superheroes are played out as heroic archetypes or sources of fresh stories. But you’d be wrong, and a new anthology, Masked, proves it. Anybody who writes superhero comics or movies, or just loves superheroes, should read it.

Spoiler warning!

Masked, edited by Lou Anders, is a really strong collection of stories that play with the idea of superheroes in clever, often fascinating ways. There’s a fair bit of metafictional commentary on the tropes of superhero stories, like costumes and secret identities and sidekicks — but it doesn’t ever become too self-referential or navel-gazey about it. The stories get dark, especially the first few outings in the book, but they’re dark in a thought-provoking way, not just angsty or “grim and gritty,” as dark superhero stories are prone to be.

I’m not always a fan of themed anthologies, because stories sometimes feel shoehorned in to fit the theme. The danger is that you’ll get a bunch of well-known authors who didn’t really have a Haunted Tree story they were dying to tell. But there’s a Haunted Tree anthology that wants them to contribute, so they’ll give it their best shot. And the result, often as not, is hit or miss.

The good thing about Masked, then, is that Anders gets stories from people who have a lot of experience with superheroes, or who obviously had a superhero story they wanted to write. The contributors include Secret Six writer Gail Simone, Incredible Hulk mastermind Peter David, X-Men: Dark Mirror author Marjorie Liu and comics veterans Bill Willingham and Mike Carey – as well as Paul Cornell, a regular Doctor Who writer and the new writer of Action Comics, which, by the way, just featured a rather striking David Tennant cameo:

Read more HERE

Is your novel set on an alternate Earth? You could win the Terry Pratchett Prize!

Do you have an unpublished novel set on Earth, but not this Earth? If you do, and it’s really awesome, you could win the Terry Pratchett Prize: Random House will pay you £20,000 to publish your novel next year.

You must live in the UK, Ireland, or the Commonwealth to enter, and Pratchett has written up a great description of what the book should focus on:

Anywhere but here, anywhen but now. Which means we are after stories set on Earth, although it may be an Earth that might have been, or might yet be, one that has gone down a different leg of the famous trousers of time (see the illustration in almost every book about quantum theory).

We will be looking for books set at any time, perhaps today, perhaps in the Rome of today but in a world where 2000 years ago the crowd shouted for Jesus Christ to be spared, or where in 1962, John F Kennedy’s game of chicken with the Russians went horribly wrong.

Find out all the gory details on entering the contest via Terry Pratchett

Read more HERE

Medallion to Publish YA Titles by YA Writers

(via publisher’s weekly)

Medallion Press is venturing into unfamiliar territory, in announcing the launch of its new Ya-Ya line of fiction and nonfiction for young adult readers ages 13-18. Not only is the Ya-Ya line intended for teen readers, but the titles in the imprint will actually be written by teen authors.

“Helen Rosburg [Medallion's publisher] wanted to provide young adults with a voice, with the ability to tell stories to others in their age range,” explained Paul Ohlson, Medallion director of sales and marketing. “Instead of adults writing for young adults, young adults are writing for young adults.”

Medallion is currently seeking submissions for its new Ya-Ya line; submission guidelines are posted on the company’s Web site. The press has not yet announced how many Ya-Ya titles will be published each season, or when the first book in the new line will be released.

Read more HERE

Fiction review: ‘Memory Wall’ by Anthony Doerr

Most writers should want to be Anthony Doerr when they grow up — short story alchemist, novelist, travelogueur; anthologized, winner of literary awards, despite which his writing really is crazy good. “Memory Wall” is Doerr’s latest collection of stories, including “Village 113,” which earned his third O. Henry prize.

While Doerr’s novel “About Grace” explored humanity’s impotence against fate, “Memory Wall” investigates, through characters plagued by conflicting emotions, humanity’s impermanence — be it our bodies, minds, relationships, hopes, our memories.

Unwilling to evacuate her doomed and deserted village, labeled “113″ by dam project engineers, the seed keeper muses: “Every memory everyone has ever had will eventually be underwater.”

Doerr’s characters are fond of pronouncements, particularly regarding the question, “What’s the one permanent thing in the world?” “Nothingness is the permanent thing.” “Darkness … is the permanent thing. And silence.” Even: “a river never stops.”

These dictums aren’t original or insightful, which is to say, there’s no serviceable answer, which is to say, is there nothing we can hold on to, though we’re destined to lose everything?

Read more HERE

What did you think about today’s book news? What do you think about this new book ‘Masked’, can it really teach Hollywood? How cool is this new award/prize that Terry Pratchett is giving away? How does this ‘Memory Wall’ novel sound to you, will you read it?

Author name: Marjorie M. Liu by Caro

List of books:
*novels

Dirk & Steele:
Book 1- Tiger Eye (2005)
Book 2- Shadow Touch (2006)
Book 3- The Read Heart of Jade (2006)
Book 4- Dark Dreamers (2006)
Book 5- Eye of Heaven (2006)
Book 6- Soul Song (2007)
Book 7- The Last Twilight (2008)
Book 8- The Wild Road (2008)
Book 9 – The Fire King (2009)

Hunter Kiss:
The Iron Hunt (2008)
Darkness Calls (2009)

*Anthologies
Inked (January, 2010)
Never After
Huntress
Hotter than Hell: Anthology (“Minotaur in Stone”)
Holidays are Hell: Anthology (“Six”)
My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (anthology)
Companion Story – Hunter Kiss
Book 4 – Dark Dreamers

Standalone Novels
A Taste of Crimson – Book 2 in the Crimson City Series (2005)
X-Men: Dark Mirror (2005)

*Audio Books
The Iron Hunt
A Taste of Crimson

*Comics
NYX: No Way Home #1 – 6, Marvel Comics (2008-2009)

Dark Wolverine #75- present, co-written with Daniel Way. Marvel Comics (2009)

Link to their site/blog:
www.marjoriemliu.com
http://twitter.com/marjoriemliu
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marjorie_m_liu/
http://www.myspace.com/marjorieliu

Review about the author:

Born in Philadelphia, spending her formative years in Seattle and now resides in the Midwest. She is a 30 year old New York Times bestselling author who has written more than ten romance novels. Marjorie went to Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, for her undergraduate studies, majoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures, with a minor in Biomedical Ethics. After that Marjorie attended law school at the University of Wisconsin, graduating in May 2003. Even though she loved law school, she didn’t like being a lawyer and decided to become a writer.

Her first novels was Tiger Eye in 2005 and all of her books have received some of the highest ratings of 4 ½ stars by the Romantic Times.

Marjorie has studied and traveled extensively through Asia, and spent some time working at the US Embassy in Beijing. Loves to write, prove to herself that dreams do come true, poodles and cats.

Upcoming events:
A Wild Light due August 2010.

Are you a fan of Marjorie M. Liu’s work? What about her writing style do you like best, and what is your favorite novel of hers?

Come join us and discuss Marjorie M. Liu on our form HERE

Just like with vampires, the love of zombies will never die, and neither do they. These supernatural creature won’t be going away any time soon, whether it be through art, film or products. This month Open Book Society takes a look at Tacky Merchandise involving zombies. As we always stipulate, you just might like some of these items and would even purchase them. However we won’t hold it against you.

Fake Eyeball Gauge Earring

No adult in their right mind would wear these, except on Halloween. We like how the description needed to tell us they are fake. Lose (normal) friends and win ghoulish enemies with these beauties.

Samantha and Darren The Zombie Couple

The only way these would work is if you embellish on where you got them. Tell everyone they are actual shrunken heads from a tribe in Amazon Rain Forest, given to you by the head chief of the tribe and you could possibly get away with owning these tacky items.

Zombie Dress

With this dress you’ll either cause of mob scene, or you’ll get arrested for murder before you can say the word ‘Zombie’. Anyone can do this to their clothing, why would we need to buy a cute dress totally ruined?

Left For Dead First Aid Pin

Silvertone charm pin with Left 4 Dead plastic first aid and health enhancements charms (one sided only, back is plain white). Includes: First Aid Kit, Adrenaline Shot, Pain Pills and Defibrillator.  One word…why? Now, if it came with all these items in miniature then it would be pretty darn cool.

Virgin Mary Zombie

I don’t think anyone remotely religious would appreciate this Zombie Virgin Mary necklace that looks like a rosary. It would offend more than it would be a cool conversation piece, therefore we deem it tacky!

Zombie Salt Shaker

Kinda looks like Puff the Magic Dragon. Where’s the blood and gore? (It is a great attempt, but it’s more cute than ghoulish)) for that but we’d have to pass on this.

Dismember Me Plushy

We’re not sure if this is tacky, or awesome. We’d say tacky for children and awesome for adults. I don’t think a small child would appreciate a toy that breaks into pieces.  Poor thing will think you broke it and start wailing. That’s never a good thing.

‘HOW TO SPEAK ZOMBIE’ BOOK

Learn how to say “Mmmmmgggrrr….brrrrrraaaaiinnsss”, just in case one you meet a Zombie. One of the Zombieland rules did not include speaking to them. You just need to run for your life not hold a conversation with one.

GLOW IN THE DARK ZOMBIE PLAY SET

Perfect for the child who’s into the macabre. Or the adult who never grew up. They remind me of those Homies figurines (which I have a whole bag of mind you…don’t ask.) If you owned both you can organize a play date with the two. Oya vato!

CRAWLING ZOMBIE TOY

Take it one step further and get this monstrosity. Scare the crap out of your kid sister next time she acts up. Play this sucker in her bed and watch the hilarity ensue. Like The Clapper, you clap your hands or tap it’s hand and the Crawling Zombie comes to life racing across a flat surface and it talks! How delightfully evil and tacky.

UNDEAD JEWELRY: ZOMBIE BEAR CHARM

Wear this and you just might blend into the Zombie hipster crowd. I almost feel sorry for it. It looks so creepy yet sad. I can’t look at it. There is more were these came from if your into this kind of jewelry.

DATE A ZOMBIE

We saved the best for last…

If your pool of potential dates has dried up and all hope is lost…there is hope for you. Zombie Harmony. Find that person someone, even if they’re dead. Tacky but hilarious!

We hope you enjoyed this edition of OBS Tacky Merchandise, see you next month.

Our friends over at A Life Bound By Books has a slue of contests currently running. Here are the links:

Contest 1 – Win Copy of the Iron King

Contest 2 – Gift Card to CSN

Contest 3 – ARC Copy of WEREling

Contest 4 – Win two books with UK covers

You must enter to win, so check them out!

Source: getthebigpicture

BLOOD OATH VAMPIRE SECRET AGENT BOOK TO BECOME A MOVIE

The man who acquired the rights, Warp Films’ Lucas Foster, recognizes that this could turn silly, but says Farnsworth sells it the right way. “It’s a big idea and it’s an idea that in the wrong hands could have been cheesy. He did a very good job of making the reader, and me, buy it. It’s the right tone between thriller and improbable fantasy.”

The story goes that a vampire was captured by the Army just after the Civil War, and is forced into protecting then-President Andrew Johnson. His blood oath turns into guarding every president for about a century and a half.

Read more here…

We are very excited Blood Oath is being turned into a movie. We are currently reading this book and it starts off with a bang and does not let up. A review on this book will be posted on Open Book Society very soon, so stay tuned.

I’d love to see who they cast as the vampire Cade. It calls for a young actor, so anyone from young Hollywood can be chosen, however, it is not a character to be taken lightly. Some acting chops are necessary and the actor would need a worldly quality to him.

If you haven’t gotten your hands on this novel yet your missing out.

TWITTER TOPICS

iPad and Reading Books: Will It Revolutionize The Way You Personally Read?

Kindle has been out for a while, but I haven’t seen anyone holding up a Kindle and reading. Mind you I no longer travel the NYC subway, so I could be missing out on this picture. Now with iPad newly released, Kindle has competition by way of the Gadget God Apple.

First, we shall ask…have you bought an iPad yet? Second, will you be reading most of your books on it from now on?  Do you see yourself succumbing to the technological temptation of carrying around, say 20 books, on the iPad in the future?

Come to the FORUM AND DISCUSS this week’s Twitter Topic…