The 2013 Hugo Award Nominees

/ Susan O. / 1 Comment

hugoCongratulations to all of Hugo Award nominees for 2013!  The Hugo award is given to the year’s best science fiction, including print, film, podcasts, art, and fans.  The Hugos are awarded at the annual World Science Fiction Convention, which will be held this year at LoneStarCon 3 in San Antonio, Texas, August 29-September 2, 2013.  This year’s toastmaster will be British author Paul Cornell.

This year’s nominees are:

Best Novel

  • 2312, Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit)
  • Blackout, Mira Grant (Orbit)
  • Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen)
  • Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, John Scalzi (Tor)
  • Throne of the Crescent Moon, Saladin Ahmed (DAW)
  • [Cover]      [Cover]

Best Novella

  • After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, Nancy Kress (Tachyon Publications)
  • The Emperor’s Soul, Brandon Sanderson (Tachyon Publications)
  • On a Red Station, Drifting, Aliette de Bodard (Immersion Press)
  • San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats, Mira Grant (Orbit)
  • “The Stars Do Not Lie”, Jay Lake (Asimov’s, Oct-Nov 2012)

Best Novelette

  • “The Boy Who Cast No Shadow”, Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Postscripts: Unfit For Eden, PS Publications)
  • “Fade To White”, Catherynne M. Valente ( Clarkesworld, August 2012)
  • “The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Sushi”, Pat Cadigan (Edge of Infinity, Solaris)
  • “In Sea-Salt Tears”, Seanan McGuire (Self-published)
  • “Rat-Catcher”, Seanan McGuire ( A Fantasy Medley 2, Subterranean)

Best Short Story

  • “Immersion”, Aliette de Bodard ( Clarkesworld, June 2012)
  • “Mantis Wives”, Kij Johnson (Clarkesworld, August 2012)
  • “Mono no Aware”, Ken Liu (The Future is Japanese, VIZ Media LLC)

Best Related Work

  • The Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature, Edited by Edward James & Farah Mendlesohn (Cambridge University Press)
  • Chicks Dig Comics: A Celebration of Comic Books by the Women Who Love Them, Edited by Lynne M. Thomas & Sigrid Ellis (Mad Norwegian Press)
  • Chicks Unravel Time: Women Journey Through Every Season of Doctor Who, Edited by Deborah Stanish & L.M. Myles (Mad Norwegian Press)
  • I Have an Idea for a Book … The Bibliography of Martin H. Greenberg, Compiled by Martin H. Greenberg, edited by John Helfers (The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box)
  • Writing Excuses Season Seven, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler and Jordan Sanderson

Best Graphic Story

  • Grandville Bête Noire, written and illustrated by Bryan Talbot (Dark Horse Comics, Jonathan Cape)
  • Locke & Key Volume 5: Clockworks, written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez (IDW)
  • Saga, Volume One, written by Brian K. Vaughn, illustrated by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
  • Schlock Mercenary: Random Access Memorabilia, written and illustrated by Howard Tayler, colors by Travis Walton (Hypernode Media)
  • Saucer Country, Volume 1: Run, written by Paul Cornell, illustrated by Ryan Kelly, Jimmy Broxton and Goran Sudžuka (Vertigo)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

  • The Avengers, Screenplay & Directed by Joss Whedon (Marvel Studios, Disney, Paramount)
  • The Cabin in the Woods, Screenplay by Drew Goddard & Joss Whedon; Directed by Drew Goddard (Mutant Enemy, Lionsgate)
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro, Directed by Peter Jackson (WingNut Films, New Line Cinema, MGM, Warner Bros)
  • The Hunger Games, Screenplay by Gary Ross & Suzanne Collins, hunger gamesDirected by Gary Ross (Lionsgate, Color Force)
  • Looper, Screenplay and Directed by Rian Johnson (FilmDistrict, EndGame Entertainment)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

  • Doctor Who, “The Angels Take Manhattan”, Written by Steven Moffat, Directed by Nick Hurran (BBC Wales)
  • Doctor Who, “Asylum of the Daleks”, Written by Steven Moffat; Directed by Nick Hurran (BBC Wales)
  • Doctor Who, “The Snowmen”, written by Steven Moffat; directed by Saul Metzstein (BBC Wales)
  • Fringe, “Letters of Transit”, Written by J.J. Abrams, Alex [Cover]Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Akiva Goldsman, J.H.Wyman, Jeff Pinkner. Directed by Joe Chappelle (Fox)
  • “Blackwater”, Written by George R.R. Martin, Directed by Neil Marshall. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (HBO)

Best Editor, Short Form

  • John Joseph Adams
  • Neil Clarke
  • Stanley Schmidt
  • Jonathan Strahan
  • Sheila Williams

Best Editor, Long Form

  • Lou Anders
  • Sheila Gilbert
  • Liz Gorinsky
  • Patrick Nielsen Hayden
  • Toni Weisskopf

Best Professional Artist

  • Vincent Chong
  • Julie Dillon
  • Dan dos Santos
  • Chris McGrath
  • John Picacio

Best Semiprozine

  • Apex Magazine, edited by Lynne M. Thomas, Jason Sizemore and Michael Damian Thomas
  • Beneath Ceaseless Skies, edited by Scott H. Andrews
  • Clarkesworld, edited by Neil Clarke, Jason Heller, Sean Wallace and Kate Baker
  • Lightspeed, edited by John Joseph Adams and Stefan Rudnicki
  • Strange Horizons, edited by Niall Harrison, Jed Hartman, Brit Mandelo, An Owomoyela, Julia Rios, Abigail Nussbaum, Sonya Taaffe, Dave Nagdeman and Rebecca Cross

Best Fanzine

  • Banana Wings, edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
  • The Drink Tank, edited by Chris Garcia and James Bacon
  • Elitist Book Reviews, edited by Steven Diamond
  • Journey Planet, edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, Emma J. King, Helen J. Montgomery and Pete Young
  • SF Signal, edited by John DeNardo, JP Frantz, and Patrick Hester

Best Fancast

  • The Coode Street Podcast, Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
  • Galactic Suburbia Podcast, Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts (Presenters) and Andrew Finch (Producer)
  • SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester, John DeNardo, and JP Frantz
  • SF Squeecast, Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. Thomas, Catherynne M. Valente (Presenters) and David McHone-Chase (Technical Producer)
  • StarShipSofa, Tony C. Smith

Best Fan Writer

  • James Bacon
  • Christopher J. Garcia
  • Mark Oshiro
  • Tansy Rayner Roberts
  • Steven H Silver

Best Fan Artist

  • Galen Dara
  • Brad W. Foster
  • Spring Schoenhuth
  • Maurine Starkey
  • Steve Stiles

The John W. Campbell Award for Best New WriterJacket.aspx
Award for the best new professional science fiction or fantasy writer of 2011 or 2012, sponsored by Dell Magazines. (Not a Hugo Award, but administered along with the Hugo Awards.)

  • Zen Cho
  • Max Gladstone
  • Mur Lafferty
  • Stina Leicht
  • Chuck Wendig

’42’ – A Movie About Jackie Robinson

/ Linda / Leave a comment

movie 42The movie ‘42′ is set to be released Friday, April 12th.   It tells the life story of Jackie Robinson (played by Chadwick Boseman) who became the first African-American to play professional baseball.  He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers where team executive Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford) guided Robinson through this momentous time.  The movie is already generating positive buzz with great reviews and high praise.

The Cheshire Library has several books about Jackie Robinson that you might want to read – for both children and adults.

Adult:

Jackie Robinson and the Integration of Baseball by Scott Simon

The Jackie Robinson Reader: perspectives on an American hero by Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson by Arnold Rampersad

Children:

Jackie Robinson by Tony DeMarco

Stealing Home : Jackie Robinson: Against All Odds by Robert Burleigh

Jackie Robinson and the Story of All Black Baseball – by Jim O’Connor

There are also more titles to choose from.  The Children’s Librarian or Reference Librarian can help you locate them.

 

BOOK REVIEW: Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker

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julie ann walker

Julie Ann Walker

Julie Ann Walker is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Black Knights, Inc. series. This is book four in the romantic suspense, intense, sexy series. The books do not have to be read in order, however, it would help in knowing a little bit about the other characters and the history of the Black Knights.

This book certainly lives up to its title.  It is filled with action, suspense, love, loyalty, friendship and honor.  The action is fast, the sex is hot, there are unexpected surprises, there’s a bit of humor, a lot of emotion, and you are kept on the edge of your seat throughout.

The story centers around ex-navy SEAL, sexy Cajun, Rock Babineaux and Black Knight operative, Vanessa Cordero.  Rock has been off the radar for quite some time until word gets back to the Black Knights that the CIA has issued an order to immediately terminate him for crimes the Black Knights don’t believe he committed.  This begins the race to see if the Black Knights can find Rock before the CIA and clear his name.  Vanessa has been secretly in love with Rock and is determined to save him.   Mixed in with the story of the crimes and the hunt, is also the back story of Rock’s and Vanessa’s pasts.  Add to that are the wonderfully entertaining secondary characters.  Although all are tough, intense individuals, they are portrayed with humor and real human emotion that makes the story very believable.

Ms Walker’s writing is edgy, entertaining and hot!   Suspense and intrigue levels are high.  The chemistry between Rock and Vanessa sizzles.    This book is truly a thrilling read!

If you’d like to read the first three books in the series, they are:

Hell on Wheels

In Rides Trouble

Rev It Up

Jane Fonda’s Adopted Daughter

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jane fondaIt came as a surprise to many people that Jane Fonda has an adopted African-American daughter who was raised in Oakland during the 70’s in a family that belonged to the Black Panthers.   Mary Williams’ father was in prison most of her life, her older sister was a prostitute and her mother struggled to raise six children alone.   When Mary was thirteen, she was invited to spend the summer at the Laurel Springs Children’s camp run by Jane Fonda and her then husband, Tom Hayden.  Mary flourished at the camp and started to confide in Jane about her difficult life at home.  After Mary suffered a nightmare assault, Jane provided care and therapy and invited her to come live with her family.  Jane was a wonderful mother who helped with homework, and offered inspiration and encouragement.

Mary’s life since has been one of adventure and opportunity.  It also involved returning to Oakland to reconnect with her biological family.  The Lost Daughter: A Memoir is a chronicle of her journey back in time, an exploration of fractured family bonds, and a moving epic of self-discovery.

 

Book Review: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

/ Jenn / 1 Comment

Our classics pick for April is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I had picked this book a while ago, not knowing it was the 50th anniversary this year of the publication.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

I was warned when I picked this book that it would be “terribly depressing” and “Ooo, that’s so depressing I’m not sure I want to read it.” While this book was depressing, that was not the whole of the story.

The Bell Jar is a coming of age story that takes place in 1953 and centers around main character Esther Greenwood, a 21 year old college student. She is bright, but has a difficult time reconciling with the stifling world of the 1950’s.  Esther works for a fashion magazine in NYC during the summer of 1953 and is fascinated with the news headlines of the day, including the execution of the Rosenbergs and a man’s suicide. It appears that Esther may be on the track to bigger and better things.

But Esther is not as stable as she presents herself. This is a coming of age story, like The Catcher In the Rye, but it is through rebirth and pain. Esther begins a slow decline into mental illness, so slowly it’s almost impossible to remember what the “trigger” was for her. In her rejection of conventional models of woman,, like purity, relationships with men, and the fashion world of NYC, she finds herself on the outside looking in. I found myself, when reading of Esther’s first suicide attempt, wondering “Well, where did that come from?” Esther had no reason to try to kill herself, she even says that she wants to see if she can do it.

Plath’s use of language, imagery, and tone in The Bell Jar allowed the reader into the mind and life of Esther Greenwood. Plath is simply a genius when it comes to weaving a story. A slim 264 pages, it was easy reading.

One of the reasons I liked this book so much was that I found so much of myself in Esther Greenwood. At that age, I too was bright, ambitious, and sometimes on the brink. But unlike Esther, I had the mental fortitude and support system to bring me back from the edge.

I listened to this book on audio and it was read by Maggie Gyllenhaal. I found her reading to be less than stellar, as she read…. like… she.. was… taking… her… time. It was extremely annoying, but I was able to look past her inept reading and hear the heart of the story.

Rating: 4 stars