An Overview of International Science Fiction/Fantasy in 2009

Compiled by Jeff VanderMeer at Locus Magazine

Although my year’s best selections included some international fiction, I thought it would be of use to compile a few “core samples” of work mostly in other languages that my contacts found of particular interest in 2009. Except for the books from places like Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, these titles are not yet available in English. It’s worth noting, too, that the term “International Fiction” or “World SF” requires further specificity of detail, in the sense that some countries have a stronger tradition of supporting non-realistic fiction than others.

Australia, recommended by writer Deborah Biancotti and editor Alisa Krasnostein

Slice of Life, Paul Haines, pub. The Mayne Press: The cover says it all: a man digging into his own side with a knife. If you’ve never read Haines before, then brace yourself. This book features 17 stories “from the decaying mind” (to quote the blurb) of one of the country’s creepiest writers. All proceeds go to Haines’ cancer fund.

Read More here

A nod to coming-of-age novels

Kay Austen at Squamish Chief

On the recommendation of one of the library’s front desk staff, I recently read The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, a young Jewish-Australian writer.

This is a brilliant new novel from the young people’s collection in our library. The Y.P. collection, meant for our 14 to 21 year old patrons, is a veritable goldmine of wonderful classics: coming of age stories, science fiction, fantasy, edgy drugs, sex and rock and roll pieces, war stories, romances, adventure, mysteries, and of course, disguised adult advice.

Many of us who have left our adolescence can remember books that affected us in profound ways. They spoke directly to the circumstances we found ourselves in during those rocky times or they spoke with a voice to which we could relate.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Kidnapped threw us into fantastic rollicking adventures. Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series (from which the film The Golden Compass came) and Madeleine L’Engle’s Wrinkle in Time series both take the fantasy road – they discuss developing identity, relating to others and becoming a part of a society.

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The 16 Best Dystopian Books Of All Time

by Tom at Pop Crunch

Dystopian novels—stories of the horrific future—are so common as to be almost forgettable. Here is a compilation of what I believe are the 16 greatest of the genre. I could happily list twice as many that are amazing, but these are the best. From the post-apocalyptic wasteland to deadly viruses to social malaise, all possible bad futures end here.

15. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: Despite her protestations of not writing science fiction, [Atwood's] story of a dystopian future where almost all women are infertile is most assuredly of the genre. Set in a future where disease and radiation have reduced fertility to a minimum, and a fascist military theocracy has taken over America (or at least part of it). Brutal in its critique of evangelist Christianity and their view on women, Handmaid’s Tale is a harrowing read at the best of times. In it, women have essentially been reduced to chattels, and the few fertile ones assigned to high-ranking military men in order to give them children.

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Peter Straub’s A Dark Matter—a literate horror story

Mark Graham at Tor

Since the 1970s Peter Straub has been known as the “literate” horror writer, kind of a modern-day Henry James.  Stephen King, Straub’s sometimes collaborator (The Talisman and Black House), has compared himself to a burger and fries.  Using the same type of allusion, we might refer to Straub as filet mignon and a baked potato with chives.  Maybe the combination of the authors’ styles is what makes their two novels so successful and deliciously frightening. King goes for your jugular; Straub goes for your brain.

Straub’s 16th solo novel reinforces his reputation, but it is also, at times, more visceral in description than most of the author’s recent works.  However, between the few scenes of a college student being torn limb from limb by a disgusting-smelling demon, rather than scream-in-the-night scary, A Dark Matter is pit-of-the-stomach disturbing, a novel that readers will carry with them like a gladstone loaded with bricks.

Read More here

Children’s author came to write dark fantasy by ‘crazy career path’

By Jody Seaborn at The Statesman

Carolyn Cohagan didn’t write a children’s book on purpose. Her debut, “The Lost Children,” published last month by Aladdin, came about because of a failed screenplay.

“The Lost Children” is an adventure fantasy about a 12-year-old girl who falls into another world where orphans mysteriously vanish, a couple of bizarre monsters prowl and an evil ruler reigns. Readers will recognize darkly comedic touches straight out of Roald Dahl here and there, and well-crafted surprises heighten the story of loss and reunion.

For decades, writers, parents and librarians have been debating what’s appropriate reading for particular ages — what’s too scary, what reads too old. Though it’s sensitively handled, there are a couple of moments of fleeting violence in “The Lost Children” and an atmosphere of grief and loneliness throughout most of the book. So Cohagan knew that some parents might find her book too dark for its intended audience — ages 8-12.

Read More here

I love seeing Sci Fi from other countries; there are different reading trends everywhere, so it’s interesting to see. Although that cover is disturbing. And A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite books when I was a teenager (I still think it’s awesome).  It was my first experience with Sci Fi. I’ve mentioned that I love dystopian novels before, and I’ve read (or am reading) over half the books on that list. So I’m glad they’re good choices.

Did (or do) you read sci fi or fantasy as a teenager? What got you interested in the genre?

from Meredith Woerner at i09: First Iron Man 2 Trailer Explodes With Gadgets, Guns And The American Way

Check out War Machine, the Iron Man dancers, and all new Tony Stark banter, in the first Iron Man 2 trailer. It seems Tony’s handling his new superhero status with style: partying, jumping out of planes and pissing off everyone.

See the trailer here

By Michelle Kung at Speak Easy/Wall Street Journal: “Avatar’s” Sigourney Weaver on James Cameron, “Ghostbusters 3,” and Younger Men

Get ready for a lot more Sigourney Weaver. The 60-year-old actress plays botanist Grace Augustine in James Cameron’s highly-anticipated “Avatar,” out this Friday. She also has (at the moment) five films — primarily comedies — slated for 2010, including her “Galaxy Quest” co-star Tim Allen’s directorial debut and “Cedar Rapids,” where she plays Ed Helm’s cougar-esque ex-teacher and lover. Speakeasy spoke with Weaver about finding her inner “goof,” what makes a good science fiction film and reading the “Ghostbusters 3″ script.

The Wall Street Journal: Was working with James Cameron again something you’d been thinking about for a while?

Sigourney Weaver: We kept in touch [after "Aliens"]. It’s wonderful to work with him, because whatever he takes on is always challenging. He also has such a common touch, even with sci fi — he’ll populate a story with something you can immediately identify with. For example, in “Aliens,” when everyone first gets off the spaceship, Hudson says he’s cold and the sergeant says, “You want me to fetch your slippers, Hudson?”, which is wonderful way of mixing science with true reality.

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By Amy Hertz at the Huffington Post: Sam Elliott, Philip Pullman Says Religious Right Blocked Golden Compass Sequel

The author, a star, and others are all asking the same question: when the movie adaptation of the book, “The Golden Compass” looks like it’s going to be a hit, why are no sequels being made? It was the first of a trilogy written by self-proclaimed atheist Philip Pullman, a successful fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig.

The Guardian says:

After the success of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy looked a dead cert for epic fantasy book franchise success. In 2007, when first installment The Golden Compass was released, it looked to have all the right ingredients: moppet actors, spectacular battles, a sexy baddie, Ian McKellen, snow. But no sequels were made. Why?

In an interview with the NCRegister,

Actor Sam Elliott claims that the Catholic Church prevented Hollywood from proceeding with the next two film’s in the His Dark Materials trilogy based on Philip Pullman’s books.”The Catholic Church … lambasted them,” said Elliott. “I think it scared New Line off.”

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by Anthony Pascale at trekmovie.com: Seth MacFarlane Still Wants To Do Star Trek Family Guy Parody Episode – Will Paramount Cooperate?

Seth MacFarlane’s animated FOX comedy Family Guy has long been rife with sci-fi references, which have culminated in doing full parody episodes remaking two Star Wars movies. And what movies does he want to do next? According to a new interview, MacFarlaine is still interested in taking on Star Trek, but will Paramount let him?

In 2007 Family Guy took on the original Star Wars movie in a full length parody called “Blue Harvest.” Next week the Family Guy re-imagining of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back as “Something Something Dark Side” is coming out on DVD and Blu-ray. The Family Guy team plan to finish off the original Star Wars trilogy, taking on Return of the Jedi in 2010.

So what is next for the pop cultural referencing fanboy MacFarlane? In a new interview with the LA Times he gives a clue…

Read More here

Iron Man 2 looks as good as the first so far. I would love Family Guy to do Star Trek, I thought Blue Harvest was awesome. And it is so irritating that New Line backed down about the Golden Compass sequels. They had planned to do the entire trilogy when they started it; Chris Weitz was signed on for all three. If they knew the material when the ok’d the project, they should have known there would be controversy. It doesn’t seem like they really thought it through (or they didn’t bother reading all three books).

What do you think of Iron Man so far? Are you excited about Ghostbusters 3?

OBS has a new feature: Cover Clusters! Every month we’ll give you beautiful Fantasy and Science Fiction book covers based on a different theme. For December we’ve chosen Polar Bears-Enjoy!

Ice By Sarah Beth Durst: When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe. Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back — if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman: In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children’s book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn’t speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end.

Once Upon a Winter’s Night by Dennis L. McKiernan: Camille, the sixth and last daughter of a destitute farmer, lives at the border of the land between mortals and faery. One winter night Camille receives the chance of a lifetime when Alain, prince of Summerwood (in the land of faery), asks her family for her hand in marriage. The story continues, as per the classic tale, with Camille discovering that Alain is a bear during the day because of a curse placed on him by a disgusting troll. Our heroine, who is sweet and guileless with only a hint of cloying Pollyanna-ishness, sets out alone on a nearly doomed quest, but admirably keeps going no matter what. Some of the plot is cliched, but this has more to do with the familiarity of the story than with the writing, which is never less than graceful.

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman: In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he’s had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy. Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle—three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined—a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. It’s going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever . . .Someone just like Odd…

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: Official Movie Guide By Perry Moore: The ultimate visual companion and keepsake to the making of the stunning fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe based on the beloved children’s classic by C.S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis wrote the classic children’s series over 50 years ago, and the amazing land of Narnia is finally coming to the big screen. This beautiful book captures the creative energy behind this film and offers the official inside story on how the magic was made. Includes selections from the script, still shots from the film, photos of the production, an introduction and stories throughout from the producer, Perry Moore, reflections and anecdotes from cast and crew, and much more. By going beyond the usual soundbites which make up traditional ‘Making Of’ books, this insider’s account allows for the real personality of the project and its people to shine through its pages.

Chaosbound: The Eighth Book of the Rune Lords by David Farland: The stark, dark and elegiac eighth installment of Farland’s Runelords fantasy saga (after 2008′s The Wyrmling Horde) centers on heroes Borenson and Myrrima, fresh from a gallant fight against unspeakably evil world dominators. Flameweaver Fallion, trying to unite the shattered One World, binds Borenson with Aaath Ulber, a giant horned berserker warrior. As their worlds and personalities merge, Borenson loses his human identity and family, but acquires a superhuman mission: to help Fallion bind all the worlds, uniting humans and defeating the wyrmlings forever. In this somber celebration of brutality, Farland ponders the fuzzy line between honor and obsession in a world where compassion comes with a high price.

all summaries from amazon.com

Ellen Hopkins, an author to a very incredible series of books, was denied speaking at a school in Oklahoma last week. This unfortunate event has spawned a poem written by Ellen, and now this poem has now been picked up as the manifesto for Banned Books Week, which starts this saturday till Oct 3rd and is meant to bring attention to the dangers censorship presents. Also in the light of the upcoming week, we have some the books on the “Bannned” list.

From Alison Flood guardian.co.uk

The author, Ellen Hopkins, this week saw a school visit in Oklahoma cancelled after a parent complained about her New York Times bestselling novels Crank and Glass – loosely based on her own daughter’s story of addiction to crystal meth. “I have had my books challenged before, but never had an event cancelled because of a challenge. I was then and remain incensed that a single person could go to the school and make that happen,” said Hopkins. “No one person should have that kind of power. No person should be able to choose what anyone else’s child can or can’t read, let alone who they can see speak to. Some of the kids were devastated.”

The poem has now been picked up as the manifesto for Banned Books Week, the annual American celebration of the freedom to read, which kicks off on Saturday and which will see hundreds of libraries and bookshops across the country drawing attention to censorship with displays of challenged books and events. According to the American Library Association, there were 513 challenges to books reported in 2008, up from 420 the previous year.

 ”I most definitely see the problem growing here, with the quite vocal, extreme right-wing power grab going on right now,” said Hopkins. “My books speak to hard subject matter. Addiction. Cutting. Thoughts of suicide. Abuse. Sexual abuse. All these issues affect children. Look at the statistics. Closing your eyes won’t make these things go away.

Why not talk about them with your kids, to arm them with knowledge. Open the books with them. Listen to the author speak with them.”

Read more HERE

Also toptenz.net has a list of Top 10 Banned Books

6. 1984

“Never again will you be capable of ordinary human feeling. Everything will be dead inside you. Never again will you be capable of love, or friendship, or joy of living, or laughter, or curiosity, or courage, or integrity. You will be hollow. We shall squeeze you empty and then we shall fill you with ourselves.”
Written by George Orwell in 1949, 1984 is a novel that depicts an extremely grim future of society. The society has no free will, truth, or privacy. The book was first banned in 1984 by the American Library Association because of its “bleak warning of totalitarian government and censorship.” Many see the novel as one that is expressing immoral themes, as well as being pro-Communist. The book tosses around the idea of “Big Brother,” which is still highly influential and popular in culture today. The book has also been challenged for sexual themes.

3. Harry Potter Series

“As much money and life as you could want!  The two things most human beings would choose above all – the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.”
The most recent books on the list, the Harry Potter series tell the tale and adventures of a young boy named Harry Potter, who is a wizard, and his friends Ron and Hermione. The central theme of the book is a struggle against evil, Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry’s parents. Since the first book’s publishing in 1997, the series has been under much scrutiny. In 2001, parents from all over the U.S. and other parts of the world challenged the book because of its witchcraft, violence, the occult, and its overall scariness. Years later, the series is still banned and challenged for the same reasons, including lying, cheating, stealing, ghosts, and promoting Wicca ideology.

Read the rest of the list HERE

University of South Florida held a read-aloud of banned books yesterday September 29th. Participants were allowed to choose any of the banned books and read for 15 minutes.

The event, part of the American Library Association’s Banned Book Week from Saturday to Oct. 3, is meant to bring attention to the dangers censorship presents.

“When you try to censor a book, you are restricting freedom of speech and individual freedom,” Lavallee-Welch said.

Some of the most banned or challenged books include children’s favorites such as the books from the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and “The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman, Lavallee-Welch said.

“Sometimes people are very well-intentioned and just want to protect children, but if we start censoring now, it leads to something bigger later,” Lavallee-Welch said.

Read more on this event HERE

I’m in utter shock over what happened to Ellen Hopkins. Her work is amazing and deserves attention and teaching, because her books represent the hard lessons that youth face everyday! I stand against these ‘book bans’, it’s so wrong, to keep youth from learning and being so close-minded.

What are you thoughts on banned books? Are there some that seem ridiculous and some that are necessary?