The Re-Readable Collection Of
SF&F
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2008
Preview Below
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Year 2007 Titles Well Worth Re-Reading
Books Reviewed
"The Soul-Time Hypothesis: The Art of Time and Soul"
Save The Cat! The Last Book On Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder, Michael Wiese Productions, 2005
Cinematic Storytelling by Jennifer Van Sijll, Michael Wiese Productions, 2005
Screenplay by Syd Field, Delta, Dell Trade PB 2005
The Conversion of Chaplain Cohen by Herbert Tarr, Avon 1963
Ushpizin award winning film English subtitles. DVD on Amazon.
The Gold Falcon by Katharine Kerr, DAW HC July 2006
The Blood Books, Volume One by Tanya Huff, DAW July 2006
Roman Dusk by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Tor HC, Sept 2006.
Strange Candy by Laurell K. Hamilton, Berkley HC, Oct. 2006
The Mirror Prince by Violette Milan, DAW Fantasy, July 2006
Hounding The Moon by P. R. Frost, DAW HC Sept. 2006
Fall of Knight by Peter David, Ace HC June 2006
Son of the Sword by J. Ardian Lee, Ace pb, Feb. 2003
Knight Tenebrae by Julianne Lee, Ace Hist. Fantasy Sept. 2006
Dragon Champion, by E. E. Knight, RoC TP, Dec. 2005
Dragon Avenger by E. E. Knight, RoC TP, Dec. 2006
Journey Between Worlds by Sylvia Louise Engdahl, Putnam, 2006
The Blood Books, Volume Two, by Tanya Huff, DAW Aug. 2006
Omnibus Reprint of Blood Lines and Blood Pact.
Smoke and Ashes by Tanya Huff, DAW HC, June 2006
War For The Oaks by Emma Bull, Ace Fantasy Special 1987
Forbidden The Claim by Samantha Sommersby, e-book, and paperback -- Linden Bay Romance 2006
The Butterfly Effect I
and II – direct to DVD films --
The Soul-Time Hypothesis: The Music Of The Spheres
Save The Cat! by Blake Snyder, Michael Wiese Prod. 2005
Save The Cat!
is discussed in further depth in this column.
The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook, ACE pb, Dec. 2005
Princess at Sea by Dawn Cook, ACE pb, Aug. 2006
Resenting the Hero by Moira J. Moore, ACE pb, March 2006
WebMage by Kelly McCullough, ACE pb, Aug. 2006
NOTE: THE COLUMN RECOMMENDS YOU READ THESE 3 BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY BEFORE BUYING.
Valentine’s Exile by E. E. Knight, RoC HC, June 2006
Inda by Sherwood Smith, DAW HC, Aug. 2006
Childe Morgan by Katherine Kurtz, Ace Fantsasy, Dec 2006
NOTE: THE COLUMN RECOMMENDS THESE 3 BOOKS FOR PURCHASE
Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Spectra pb, Nov 2005
Accidental Goddess by Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Spectra Jan 2006
Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair, Bantam Spectra pb May 2005
I’ve been talking about the Kabalah of Time in this column since the July 2006 entry, archived on simegen.com. Since January, I’ve focused closely on Time and the Soul. Throughout, I’ve made casual references to Astrology.
You may want to read the July 2006 column plus Jan, Feb, March, and April 2007 leading into this column.
"The Soul-Time Hypothesis: The Incredible Edible Human"
The King Imperiled by Deborah Dorchester, ACE Fantasy, 2005
Bloodstone by Barbara Campbell, DAW Fantasy PB, Aug 2006
Forbidden: The Claim by Samantha Somersby, Linden Bay Romance, e-book
Hammerfall by C. J. Cherryh, EOS, pb. Aug. 2002
Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher, RoC pb Apr 2000
White Night (Dresden Files #9) by Jim Butcher, RoC HC April 07
The Dresden Files, Sci Fi channel Series based on Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files novels.
Exclusive Interview with Jim Butcher – his natal chart info.
Smoke and Shadows
Smoke and Mirrors
Smoke and Ashes
The Dresden Files Sci Fi channel
The Blood Books Omnibus Reprints by Tanya Huff, DAW 2006
Bloodties – Lifetime network Vampire series. See new shows FALL 2007
Blood and Rust by S. A. Swiniarski, DAW pb 2007
Memory in Death, J. D. Robb, Berkley Romantic Suspense, 2006
Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper, Bantam pb, Sept. 2000
Hiding in the Shadows by Kay Hooper, Bantam pb, Oct 2000
The Covenant by Naomi Ragen,, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2004
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, RoC and Sci Fi channel
Anime
The King’s Own by Lorna Freeman, RoC Fantasy pb Feb. 2006
Trading Places by Fern Michaels, Pocket Star Romance June 2003
The Future Scrolls, Fern Michaels, Zebra Fiction pb, Sept. 2003
The Rebel Fay, Barb & J. C. Hendee, RoC hc Jan. 2007
House of the Rose is an e-book series from awe-struck.net -- you can get these novels directly on http://www.awe-struck.net ( or at http://www.fictionwise.com for $4.24).
Blood Ties TV Series on Lifetime cable network based on The Blood Books
Sebastian by Anne Bishop, RoC HC Feb 2006
Belladonna by Anne Bishop, RoC HC March 2007
Watch for this series in paperback
House of the Rose Book III Broken Gods by Michaela August, awe-struck.net
Marked, A House of Night Novel by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast, St. Martin’s May 07.
The Old Power Returns by Morven Westfield, Harvest Shadows Publications, 2007.
The Soul's Journey: Test To Destruction
Awe-struck.net e-books
Forbidden: The Awakening by Samantha Sommersby, Linden Bay Romance, 2007
The Viking Funeral by Stephen J. Cannell, St. Martin’s pb 2002.
Deliverer by C. J. Cherryh, DAW HC Feb 2007
Kris Longknife: Resolute by Mike Sheperd, Ace Nov. 2006
Plague of Memory by S. L. Viehl, RoC pb Jan 2007
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds, Ace HC June 2006(not up to my usual technical standards but an absorbing read for the undauntable human spirit and pride of craftsmanship "We push ice. That's who we are.)
Janus is a Two Faced Moon by Susan Marie Knight, Awe-struck.net (not up to awe-struck's usually technical brilliance, but worth reading.)
My Favorite Earthling by Susan Grant, Harlequinn Paranormal Romance, 2007 (a silly situation made real - and a serious study in psychology)
Stargate SG-1 & SG: Atlantis, Sci Fi channel series
(don't miss these 2 series on the Sci-Fi channel -- worth buying in DVD
for both series)
Hinterland by James Clemens, Book Two of the Godslayer Chronicles
RoC HC Nov. 2006
(technically flawed, but with a substance worth thinking about -- borrow
this from the library)
There's also one additional item from Jim Butcher on his character, Harry Dresden of The Dresden Files.
This is billed as an action-comedy, but it's really action-humor reminiscent of a Bob Hope movie. No slapstick, but a send up of the secret-agent movie.
I watched it with a pile of rather urgent sewing in my lap, and not a stitch got sewed.
The casting is outstanding. This group of people look more "real life" to me than most any other cast I've seen lately. They're not pasteboard cutouts of ideal people -- not Asimov Robots -- but "real life" actual people in various shapes and sizes. I liked that. Made the whole thing more believable.
The script had all the twists in the right places, the escalating stakes, the sendups of the basic genre, the pacing was just right, and the dialogue works.
Memorable moments: When Nichelle first appears -- ooooo, she is soooo
good! That was just the BEST. She's perfect for the part of a Las Vegas
legal brothel owner, too.
When the woman sets off the airport detector with her hairpins. Oh, that's
ME -- happens every time.
I loved the James Bond sendup -- saw the license plate. The casting of
the lead actor was perfect for it.
I loved the dramatic irony of the former IRS auditor of the brothel now
under cover as one of the girls, shadowing a foreign agent pretending to
be another of the girls. Later, when our Hero falls for her without
knowing who she really is or what she's doing, it all makes perfect sense.
Our Hero's character is validated by his taste in women -- so powerful
and so subtly written.
I loved the hapless clowns of Al Queda operatives playing at being a Cell
-- then getting the job of protecting a High Value Asset. I loved
the workaround to naming "him" out loud. But I especially loved the
CASTING -- the actor who played the head of the Cell was PERFECT!
The High Value Asset was cast perfectly too - he really looks the part!
Loved the use of foreign language. This story makes so many thematic
points our world needs to hear! The twist of humor makes it all work.
This is a low budget film where the Producer strictly controlled costs and
made some hard decisions about where to invest. Those were well made
decisions as the total effect is to tell the story, not dazzle.
A few moments after watching the credits with the marvelous out-takes running on the side of the screen, it suddenly occurred to me what had grabbed me.
THIS SHOULD BE A TV SERIES on USA CHARACTERS WELCOME!!!
Nichelle is SUCH a Character here! (Monk Move Over!) Our multi-Agency
Agents are SUCH "Characters!" (HART TO HART move over) The brothel has
SUCH Character!
This is really a USA TV series, not just a film. It is purely character
driven -- and that's what I loved about it. Definitely one that will etch
itself into memory. I like it a lot better than FIREFLY.
It grows on you after you finish seeing it. I was still thinking about it
a week later. And you can't forget the title!
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
http://www.simegen.com/jl/
Snyder's book set me off on an entire 6 months of columns on The Soul-Time Hypothesis.
Recently, I've been invited to speak on the Soul-Time Hypothesis at a convention in Maryland next March.
This film, Lady Magdalene's, is also a springboard into a group of issues about decision making that I expect to cover throughout 2008.
I'm hoping this film will be available to you by then.
