Rereading the Classics

Yes, I read and then reread books over and over again.

So this past week, I reread the 1930s classics, When Worlds Collide and After Worlds Collide.

Sometimes it's hard to read older books. There's terms that we don't use any more and plenty of social/political beliefs that are completely outdated and, honestly, offensive.

And omg, the books are so, so White. Not that there's anything wrong with being White, but except for a mention of a "Negro" singing (at least they didn't use the N-word), and one continuing character and the Japanese bad guys who were continuously called the "J-word," the characters were so, so, well... White!

No Native Americans, no Arabic peoples, no East Asians, no Pacific Islanders, no other Asians, no Africans, no African-Americans (that were mentioned anyway)...

I wonder if these books are out of copyright yet?

I'd like to do some judicious editing and reprint them, and then add a couple more books to the series, like the South African spaceship that was briefly mentioned, and maybe an Aussie and also a South American group that included indigenous peoples. Pick up the story upon landing on Bronson Beta, maybe on the other continent, and their struggles to survive, since they don't have the large cities built by the extinct original inhabitants. (Gets hotter underground, hmmm, live in mining facilities or deep caves maybe, where it would be warm, and set up a power plant with the remains of the spaceship(s) for lights, etc?)  

It would be interesting, huh?

I have an idea for an anthology too, based on something Andre Norton mentioned in two of her books, but NOT using Norton's stories or characters. Just the idea. But that will have to wait until I can afford to do it right.

So, back to my crime noir meets urban fantasy book. I'm only at 3400 words, so I have a longgggg way to go before November!

Or back to making money. One of the two... 

Another Work in Progress

Yes, I'm a great one for starting books.

Despite the fact that I already have three works in progress, I started a fourth and also am working on a story for a cyberfunk anthology. The new book has a short story to whet your whistle, so when I'm ready to publish the story I started last night, you'll have a free sample to download, and then a whole new book that kicks off the crime noir meets urban fantasy series.

When I get it done.

Meanwhile, I still have a Native American urban fantasy/fantasy series,  a dystopian end-of-the-world as we know it Christian science fiction, and a steamfunk set in California that I'm working on. Inch by agonizing inch.

AND three websites to maintain: Alien Star Books, New Bridges, and The Griffith Girls. 

AND, I'm still writing non-fiction articles for money. So, since I still have to pay for hockey, I'd best get myself back to work on the money part of the equation...

Yeah, I did buy a Megamillions ticket for tonight. LOL, but I'm not holding my breath...

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs -- Five Stars!

Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a HUGE fan of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series. Night Broken is the eighth Mercy Thompson book and if you ask me, except perhaps for the first book, Moon Called, this latest book is the best in the whole series.

New and interesting characters, Coyote, the Fae and Tad, more troubles with the pack and OMGosh, the way Mercy handled Adam's ex-wife, Christy! I can't say too much or I'll give it all away. Let's just say, I got this book for my birthday and I'm already on the third reread. Yes, it's that good!

Check it out!

The New Mercy Thompson - River Marked

Oh my gosh that was good! I read it cover to cover last night and it was great!

Now, some reviewers complained because a lot of the book was just Mercy and Adam. But (no spoilers here), it was freaking awesome and took some twists and turns that will just blow your mind.

Once again, Patricia Briggs has given us an awesome urban fantasy, complete with fae, werewolf and coyote.

This is a must read for the urban fantasy fan. But start with the first book, Moon Called, don't start in the middle of the series. (I HATE it when I find a book I like and realize I've started in the middle. Then I have to hunt down all the rest of the books...)

On a side note: I have a question - How old is Bran? Really, I'm serious. If Asil is 1300 years old and Bran is older, just how old are Bran and his oldest son Samuel? I'd like to see some more info in future books, either the Alpha and Omega series or in Mercy's series.

Silver Borne Is Out!

Yayyyy!

The latest Mercy Thompson novel, Silver Borne, by Patricia Briggs is out! I actually pre-ordered it from Amazon, something I never do.

No spoilers here, let me just tell you that it's awesome.

If you haven't read these books yet, start with the first, Moon Called. It's 100 times better than the Twilight series (which are romance pap disguised as urban fantasy in my most biased opinion).

If you like urban fantasy, you'll love Mercy Thompson!