Review: 5* :)

OK, here's another one I really liked.

Narcissus is Dreaming, by Rose Mamber.
published by Pink Narcissus Press, out May 14 2014.

Proof copy blurb says; "What happens when a shape-shifting alien, incapable of emotion, falls in love?"

You'd think the author had deliberately set herself up to fail with such a premis but hooray, she didn't. The plot is tight, the characters credible. In fact the aliens are if anything more vivid than the humans - real writing that.

For some reason, maybe the Press, this is tagged as gay/lesbian. Do ignore that cos it's simply pure SF, and way out there with it. At least take a look at the whole blurb or a sample?

If you want to try something new and different, this is for you.

April? Really?

I had no idea time was whizzing past this fast. I didn't even hear the whooshing sounds.
[Don't know that one? It's from Douglas Adams, the Hitchhiker's Guide writer, who was famously unable to meet deadlines and said - you've got it - he  loved deadlines, he liked the whoosh as they passed him by.]

It's not as if I haven't been busy: writing, critting, reviewing, dealings in Orbit groups, even the odd spot of actual work, but I didn't mean to let my writing here lapse so long.

So here goes to begin catching up...

My new editor has been in touch. She's Australian, so with an American publisher as well that makes me feel very international. She's also very polite and I think we'll be fine - phew.

Of course I also think we'll work well cos she's just said she's halfway through my manuscript and "It's a joy to read and edit".
So far anyway!
I'm understandably chuffed?

Funnier, she remarked she was so glad I could "speak horse". No it wasn't a typo for hoarse, she'd recently edited a writer seemed to think riding a horse was the same as driving a car. Why did I find that so funny?Cos i have 'sat' a horse, but only once, and I wouldn't dare call the experience riding. So, two compliments. How can I not like her?

I'll let you know how it all goes when she's reached the end.

And Meanwhile, I'm Reading. A Lot.

I'm currently knee deep in reading, reviewing, editing and critiquing [with only the merest hop aside into chat/discussions here and there].

One of the perks of doing these things is that they are all new scripts, as in in-the-works, about to be published, just out in the shops. I'm seeing what's hot off the press, or could be. It's great fun, and obviously it's a very useful learning tool; I can learn from seeing what others did well, or not. Hopefully that's happening but I guess only time will tell - and other people's comments. ;)

I've just been told the proof of that is finally enroute - I've been appointed an editor for my novel, he or she has read the opening chapters, presumably to see if they can bear to work on it, and should be in touch when they've swallowed it whole.

How do I feel? Honestly, more excited than scared. I'm used to being critted. I assume the editor doesn't hate it or they wouldn't have taken it on. I like an exchange and hope that they'll make me think about things I've missed, cos that can be exciting.

Best scenario: It'll be like one edit I did where the writer and I had a ball. I felt able to be direct, make jokes, throw in the odd insult and know he didn't take anything the wrong way cos he found it as energising as I did.
Oh I do hope it's like that. And I fully intend to be a nice, well-behaved author, who listens, then thinks, then really tries to cooperate, then...

Meanwhile, I'm reading like there's no tomorrow. No, of course it's not nerves. Not at all...

Review - 5* :)

The Martian, by Andy Weir, pub Feb 13th.

This one really is a great read, and not what you might expect, so check it out?
The blurb says:
 "I'm stranded on Mars.
I have no way to communicate.
I'm in a Habitat designed to last 31 days...
...Yeah, I'm screwed."

I'm not usually the world's greatest fan of hard SF but this one is hard SF with a soft, character-driven centre. It's fatcual, it's technical, and it's so good I didn't care.Ii rooted for the hero all the way and I think you will too. More than that I won't say. I'd hate to spoil it for you.

Life with Blogging

Sometimes reality gets in the way and I realise I 'owe' a blog. So for once let's talk about reality.

My other half has been dismantling the garden trellis, snapped clean off by the high winds. Which is not a complaint because I'm seeing numerous pics of people all round the country, and beyond, who are much worse off. I seem to live in the only bit of the UK not seriously impacted by the current weather challenge. Trees down, yes, garden totally soggy, yes. Flooded, no.

 I have enormous admiration for those people so obviously pulling together and getting on with a life that's now knee deep in yukky water, and I love the images of one area using water-filled bags to form dams, like holding back oil spills at sea, it just seems so appropriate to use water to fight water?

To anyone out there who has flood problems, I really hope the weather reports are right and things are about to perk up. At least then you can try to put your lives back together.

Review: non fiction for once but well worth trying :)

Just read 'The Science of Civilisation' by Roger P Briggs, just out from Collins Foundation Press. subtitled 'The Science of How We Got Here'.   
Isbn 9780988438200

I've given it a whopping 5 stars!

The title pretty much sums up the book but this is no dry academic tome. There’s plenty of scope here for both the scientific reader and the very not-so – which would be me!

I take the factual content on trust, supported by the wealth of originating references, both to those who made the discoveries and to books with more detailed information for those who want to go deeper.

What I especially like though is the language, full of everyday terms and analogies. And the way the book is organised into clear sections, each with shaded pages for extra data and a summary to close.

I’d say this was a great stab at making evolution accessible to those like me, and a very good starter pack for those wishing to delve further. Tell your friends?

Got Any Spare Parts?

This time it's a serious blog. I've just amended the details in my Organ Donor registration. I've been registered for years now, since it meant carrying a card rather than being in a database, but it had slipped my mind that I'd  done things like move house, change email....

So this has reminded me to send out the call. If there's anyone out there who isn't registered, how about it?
As the latest leaflet  succinctly puts it:

"Would you take an organ if you needed one?