Friday's Interesting Links

There’s no “What I’m Reading” section for this week as I haven’t finished either reading the book or listening to the audio book. That said, both will be coming with me on my next trip, along with at least one other.

Science
More assumptions about ancient South American vanishing under new evidence:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427383.800-ancient-amazon-civilisation-laid-bare-by-felled-forest.html (more…)

A Most Lamentable Comedy by Janet Mullany

I signed up for and won A Most Lamentable Comedy on Lucienne Diver’s blog despite studiously not entering book contests to preserve my sanity…and the foundation of my house which is groaning under the weight of my to-be-read pile. That said, I couldn’t pass this book up. A Regency novel, which is a favorite era of mine, with scoundrels for protagonists? I was sold on the description alone. (more…)

Friday's Interesting Links

What I’ve Been Reading

I’m currently 3/4ths of the way through Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan as an audio book, and have to figure out how to work the rest with no long road trips planned, and I’m reading Dragonfly by Fredric S. Durbin. I’m enjoying both books, though they are very different in voice and approach.

However, I did, in fact, finish a book this week. I took time I rarely manage to do a marathon read and finish up Crystal Healer by S.L. Viehl. Now I know I’m way behind in reading it, but there are now three people in my household who are into this series and one, who shall remain nameless, “lost” the book in the midst of desk papers. (more…)

Snowmageddon, or A True Life Adventure

It’s been a while since I posted a canary post, but it seems the universe isn’t done making my everyday life interesting.

I went down to the Bay Area (a drive of 4 hours in good weather and about 6 in bad) to go to my parents’ caroling party. Great fun was had by all and many songs were sung. The trip was totally worth it.

That said, the way back became a little more interesting than expected.

I knew a snow storm was coming in the evening, so I said I had to leave by 10am the latest…and I did leave by 10 exactly. As we were packing my car with leftovers my parents were happy for my family to consume instead of them, my father made a complete groaner. He said, “Well, if you get stuck at Donner, feel free to eat our party.” I hadn’t expected it to be quite so prophetic. (more…)

Friday's Interesting Links

Notice: I have been getting up-to-date market news from Ralan.com for years, and so know that the information is kept up and accurate. That’s where I point people first. With the proliferation of searchable databases, apparently Ralan.com is slipping out of the public eye despite reliability being key. Ralan has asked, if you benefit from his efforts, that you tell Writer’s Digest, using the information below:

* Send an e-mail to writersdig (at) fwpubs (dot) com with the Subject line: “101 Websites”

* Write a short note asking them to check out the site for possible inclusion

* Specify the name and URL: Ralan’s SpecFic & Humor Webstravaganza, http://www.ralan.com

* Mention why you think the site should be included

What I Am Reading

I’m in the middle of enjoying Crystal Healer by S.L. Viehl, but I wanted to, oddly, mention something I haven’t read yet. I got my first issue of Weird Tales in the mail the other day (I have been an on-and-off subscriber), and I left it in a prominent place, pointing it out to both my sons without a lot of expectation. They’re avid readers, but not particularly interested in short fiction. However, the youngest (15) picked it up on his own, and made a point of telling everyone how much he enjoyed the story he read (which of course I can’t remember the title of). Still, it’s a worthwhile recommendation because both of them have good taste when it comes to speculative fiction. (more…)

Hawkspar: A Novel of Korre by Holly Lisle

Hawkspar shares the fascinating world Holly created for Talyn, but is not dependent on the early book except for a small bit of crossover. While Talyn focused in on the Tonk and their culture, Hawkspar takes us much further, both in physical movement and in broadening our knowledge of the world itself.

The story begins with a young woman who was captured into slavery at a young age. She was bought by a rigid monastery culture where she has endured years of training designed to strip her of individuality and absorb her into traditions that include feeding those who disobey to starving rats while the rest of the monastery watches, a warning as to their own future. (more…)