Category: Uncategorized
Accuracy in Historical Fiction
As many of you know, I have a love-hate relationship when it comes to Conn Iggulden’s books because his incessant need to mess with history is infuriating. It happens more and is more noticeable in his Emperor series, which annoys me to no end because some of the changes are not justified. So, in this article I will discuss when writers need to be accurate and when it’s okay to mess with history.
I don’t know anyone who went to see The Mummy (1999) for its historical accuracy. But that’s how cinema is so different from literature: in the former, accuracy is a bonus while people expect it in the latter. Authors should not betray the bond of trust between them and their readers or their readers (especially reviewers like myself) will eat them alive. Unlike The Mummy, a novel about the same thing would be ridiculed for having five canopic jars instead of four, giving Seti a beard and including the idiotic idea that someone can be mummified alive and survive more than the first day. Basically, if you’re going to write historical fiction be sure, if nothing else, to get the basic facts of the time period right. Continue reading
How I Spent My Day
I am trying to conquer my stupid, irrational zombie fear by reading Feed by Mira Grant. It’s an amazingly funny book and more of a political thriller than a zombie story, but it’s still scaring me. I’m going to need some serious therapy if I want to read the rest of the trilogy. So if you like zombies or political thrillers or both, check out this review over on The Quiet Voice. It’s very informative and it will explain things while I try not to jump at every little sound in this enormous, badly lit house of mine. I promise I’ll have a review (not necessarily of Feed, though) out tomorrow.
A Plea for Diversity in Fantasy
Fantasy has been quite stagnant of late, and frankly, I’m sick of it. I am sick to death of heroes gallivanting around swinging swords in quasi-Medieval European worlds to defeat the evil king. Can fantasy writers quit ripping off Tolkein and try to write something different for a change? Now don’t get me wrong, fantasy is one of my favourite genres, but it’s time for a change, especially in YA fiction. Here I’ve compiled a list of fantasy writers’ greatest offenses.
1. Enough already with the vampires, werewolves, fairies, angels and [insert half-something here].
Every genre goes through its trends and fantasy is no different. But sooner or later these trends have to end. Except, the fantasy genre in general seems to have no intention of letting go of the usual fantasy creatures. The funny thing is that most of these creatures come from familiar Western mythology. Would it really be so bad to include a few oni, Wendigos or even a Nandi bear? Would it kill fantasy writers to step a little further outside their own culture? Probably not. Oh, and calling fairies, “faeries”, or hinting that creatures are familiar fantasy creatures without actually calling them that don’t count. Continue reading
If You Love the Iron Fey…
This is the novella about the events that take place between The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight (the third and fourth books respectively) in the Iron Fey series. Summer’s Crossing is only about 72 pages long, but it really is an enjoyable read, especially if you’re a fan like I am. Here is a link to the PDF where you can read the book online. But be warned, it’s only free for a limited time!
And if you’re in a romantic mood, check out An Iron Fey Valentine (PDF), a short story written by Julie Kagawa about Ash and Meghan’s first Valentine’s Day together. I wouldn’t recommend reading it unless you’ve already finished The Iron Knight, since it is a spoiler.
Why are Zombies so Scary?
Since I do not feel like writing a book review today, I want to try some therapy write an article about why zombies are so scary. They’re just walking hunks of dead meat, right? Wrong. Zombies, particularly in YA fiction, represent so much of what we as humans fear and I hope I can explore why they scare me us so much. Warning: these pictures are not for the faint of heart.
1. They are basically designed to kill/infect us.
In most new zombie tales, zombies are able to sense and track us humans. Whether they are slow or fast, they pursue us with a single-minded determination that’s unmatched anywhere and because they lack any coherent thoughts, the only thing on their minds is food. And guess what: we are their only (or sometimes main) source of food. Therefore, they will do anything to get at us. Their predatory instinct is, in my opinion, what makes them so terrifying. Unlike most human villains in fiction, they lack redeeming qualities like mercy, so there is no chance of escaping from them once they have you cornered. Continue reading