wisb-Guardian-Express

On January 10th, Catherine Schaffer and Mary Robinette Kowal organized a fundraiser to raise money for a genome sequencing procedure for fellow writer, Jay Lake.  Lake, as you might know, has been battling cancer for years, and recently received some terrible news about his future.  Having this procedure done could very well suggest new treatments that could extend his life.  The fundraiser offered a lot of amusing perks for different goal levels -- Paul Cornell, for example, offered to sing "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush (goal reached!):

You can find many of the other amusing examples, from ancient trunk stories to Mary Robinette Kowal's amazing rendition of "Mother Goose" in her "phone sex" voice.

Needless to say, the cause is a good one.  When I had the fortune to have Jay Lake on my podcast last year, he shared a great deal about his personal life, which had the effect of convincing me that I should write about my own travels with cancer (which I started here).  While it's not fair to offer up one of those "if anyone deserves it" statements (almost everyone deserves the right to a long, healthy life, as far as I'm concerned), I have to admit that I'm extraordinarily happy that so many wonderful people stood up to raise money for Jay.

And that fundraiser has, at the time of writing this post, raised over $36,000 in under 48 hours, with numerous bits of joy added on as previously unexpected financial heights were reached (the fundraiser has now become a way to help Jay pay for his medical bills).  I imagine Jay is overwhelmed for very good reasons.  After all, the community came out en mass to help him get a potentially life-saving procedure he otherwise couldn't have afforded.  I can imagine he's ecstatic and emotional over this.  I would be too if I were in his position.

But I've found myself overwhelmed too, for different reasons.  Folks who know me have been, shall we say, gifted to my perpetual cynicism about our culture.  Barely 12 hours before this fundraiser went live, I recall telling my friend, Adam Callaway, that our culture is a painfully selfish one, and that we are capable of so much good if we could only get over our desperate need to hoard wealth and back-stab one another.  I still believe that, but the enormous success of this fundraiser (one that still has a month left) has made me realize that there is a strong pocket of what I'd call "true humanity" right here in the genre community.

That so many people who don't even know Jay would pour out their support for him, and at such a rapid pace, has taught me that maybe I shouldn't be so cynical about everything.  After all, fundraisers happen all the time, for very good causes, and some raise massive amounts of money too.  The genre community is relatively small, though.  The people offering to embarrass themselves in public or donating their money have done something extraordinary, as they have done many times before.  This time, it was too obvious to ignore.  Too big.  Too amazing.

That's more or less how the genre community restored my faith in humanity.  You've shattered my view of the world in all the right ways.  And I thank you for that.

For those who haven't helped yet, please head on over to the fundraiser for Jay and give a little money.  The stretch goals have since been, well, stretched to the $100,000 mark, in which someone will produce a Jay Lake musical (after Howard Taylor draws a picture of Jay beating the crap out of cancer).  I'd love to see that musical, and I'd love to see Jay ride out the rest of his life with a little less stress.  Go donate!

Now that I've covered movies and television, I think it's time I hit the big stuff -- books.

Here's the ten books I'm looking forward to this year (feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments):

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord
Ghost Spin by Chris Moriarty
Ever since Spin State, I've been waiting for Chris Moriarty to release another book for adults.  And it's finally coming!  If I'm not mistaken, Ghost Spin is set in the same world as Spin State and Spin Control, though it's been so long since I last read Spin State that I can't honestly remember where it ended.  That's a good thing because it gives me an excuse to re-read!  Ghost Spin should be one of those insane science fiction novels packed full of sensawunda and sociopolitical critique.  I can't wait.  (If I'm lucky, she'll agree to be on m my podcast!)

Bonus Point:  It's post-cyberpunk!  That means it's cyberpunk, but sexier.

Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson

On the Razor's Edge by Michael Flynn
Despite some reservations about In the Lion's Mouth (see the review here), I cannot help but remain intrigued by Flynn's writing style and science fiction world.  This book continues the story from the previous three books (two of which I still have to read) and should include some of the incredible science fiction wonders that intrigued me about In the Lion's Mouth, including the fascinating character of Donovan buigh, who had his brain cut up into multiple personalities at some point in the past.  Plus, the continuation of the war with the Names should hit its all time height here, which means there'll be a lot of wicked super assassin fights!

Bonus Point:  The covers for his books are bloody gorgeous.

Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell
The Childhood of Jesus by J. M. Coetzee

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Every since I saw the following TED talk by Adichie, I've been jonesing for a new novel from her.
Her new novel has a flare of the romantic epic to it, and it happens to be one of the few African novels I know about that I'll probably read despite having nothing to do with SF/F.  Brilliant writing deserves to be loved.

Bonus Point:  Her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, won the Orange Prize, perhaps the most important award for literature by women.  She was also listed as one of the best 20 writers under 40 by The New Yorker, like a certain someone on this list.

Bio-Punk:  Stories from the Far Side of Research edited by Ra Page
This collaborative work between writers and scientists looks promising.  Part of what fascinates me is that the collection will feature stories based on actual science conducted in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and so on, and those stories will sit beside explorations of scientific research.  It's not a new concept, but it does make for a collection with some sticking power.

Bonus Point:  Jane Rogers, who I had the pleasure of interviewing here, has a story in this collection.

The Curve of the Earth by Simon Morden
A continuation of the Samuil Petrovitch series, The Curve of the Earth promises a lot of cyberpunk-ish elements and dark adventure (it's set in a post-apocalyptic London full of AIs, criminals, and all sorts of almost-punkish elements).  Plus, the main character is a Russian, and the U.S. is apparently some sort of reformed hellhole not unlike its current state (tongue and cheek, folks).  Sounds like something I'd read.

Bonus Point:  Holy covergasm, Batman!


What are you looking forward to in 2013?  Feel free to leave your list.  There are certainly some gaps in mine, and I wouldn't mind filling them with work I might have missed.

And neither should you.

I've been avoiding all the discussion about Benedict Cumberbatch's mysterious role in the newest Star Trek film.  IMDB still thinks he's Khan; other people think he's Gary Mitchell.  Me?  I used to speculate, but have officially taken the "I don't give a shit" attitude.

Why?  Because isn't part of the fun not knowing who he's supposed to be?  Isn't that why we go to movies? For the surprise.  For the excitement.  For that amazing moment when the villain is
revealed and we have to ask ourselves what he's going to do next!  And isn't thinking about it too much taking so much away from what makes movies great?
In my mind, arguing and bickering and digging for answers about Cumberbatch's role is pointless.  It is also destructive to the viewing experience.  He might be Khan.  He might be John Harrison (as in an actual character and not a cover).  He might be Gary Mitchell.  Or he might be Quigloo the Monstrous, Lord of Darkness, King of the Micklefooze System!  Either way, I don't want to know before I see the film.  I'm not seeing Star Trek Into Darkness because I'm expecting Khan or John Harrison or whatever.  I plan to see the film because I think Cumberbatch will put out an amazing performance.  In fact, I expect him to, despite all my reservations about J. J. Abrams' foray into the Star Trek universe.

In a sense, I'm treating this like my first Star Trek movie now, and will do so with future films I intend to see.  When I was a youngling (Obi!), my grandma sat me down and had me watch Star Trek IV:  The Voyage Home.  I loved it.  There was humor, cool spaceships, and Leonard Nemoy dressed like some kind of cross between The Karate Kid and a guy from a Snuggie commercial.  Plus, the story was pretty cool.  It remains one of my favorite science fiction movies (nostalgia and all) and turned me into a little whale lover (which my grandmother promptly ended when she tried to drown me in the ocean -- love you, grams).  I want to have that experience again.  The wonder.  The joy.  The excitement.
What about you?  Are you tired of the constant attempts to find all the answers?  Do you find yourself missing some of the excitement?


P.S.:  This post was inspired by Andrew Liptak's recent editorial on SF Signal.

The other day, I released my "top 10" list for television shows premiering or continuing in 2013.  Now it's time for movies.  Why?  Because movies are where it's going to be hot this year.

Here goes:

Elysium

Sherlock (Season Three)(BBC)

If you head on over to The OF Blog, you'll find this post containing links to over a dozen "Best of 2012" lists.  Larry wants us to look at them and take note of the commonalities and the differences.  Some of those lists are varied, unique, and fascinating; I found a lot of new reads through them.  Others?  Let's just say that Larry is right to identify a lot of similarities.

Well, it's that time of year again.  You know, when we look back at all the resolutions we made last year and slap ourselves for failing so miserably?  Yeah.  Not that I can remember what my 2012 resolutions were...

But since it's officially 2013, and I feel like setting some goals for myself, I am going to make a few resolutions.  Here goes:

Writing and Reading
--Write (finish) a novel OR 25 short stories.  My output during 2012 was pretty pathetic, in part because of a lack of motivation, but mostly because I worked insanely hard to create a financial buffer for 2013.  This year is going to be a writing year.
--Read at least 100 books (or the equivalent in some other written medium).  This should be easy enough, since there are 40 books on my PhD. reading list and 24 interview slots for The Skiffy and Fanty Show.  That leaves about 36 books I have to squeeze into the gaps.
--Write more reviews.

Health
--Lose 30 lbs.  Period.
--Eat healthier and consume more vegetarian meals.  Woo!

Financial
--Spend less money and save more for summer.
--Pay my taxes as early as possible and like it.

I think that's a good enough list, no?