On this day in 1969, the first-ever computer-to-computer link was established on ARPANET, the precursor to Candy Crush . . . I mean, the Internet.
Jose Guadalupe Posada
Writing, Editing, and Publishing:
Just to remind everyone, National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, starts on November 1. For all you FanLitters out there with novels on the brain, this might be a good kick in the pants to get started. I’m going to do it; who’s with me? (And tell us about your writing projects in the comments, if you like!)
This New York Times article about Michel Faber reveals that his latest novel The Book of Strange New Things, is going to be his last. Unexpected news and a heart-wrenching backstory to the novel, which puts an entirely different spin on my experience of it.
Jon Michaud for the New Yorker explores the lasting importance of Walter M. Miller, Jr.’s novel, A Canticle for Leibowitz.
Damien Walter at The Guardian writes about “transrealism,” a literary movement gaining steam that encompasses some of our favorite authors here at FanLit.
From Publisher’s Weekly, an in-depth article about the YA boom of the last decade and how it is affecting new imprints.
Also in PW, Jacqueline Baker confronts H.P. Lovecraft’s racist legacy in this article, “Facing the Monsters.”
If you’re an alien, a computer, or a sentient dolphin and have always been frustrated that your literary efforts have gone unnoticed, fret no more. The Hoshi Prize, a Japanese SFF award, has just opened up its entry regulations to include works by artificial intelligence and other non-human intelligences.
Maria Alexander of SF Signal writes about 4 of the dumbest things done with swords in film and fiction.
Elizabeth Minkel, writing for the New Statesman, takes a look at fan fiction’s special (and growing) place in pop culture and explains why it doesn’t matter what Benedict Cumberbatch thinks of Sherlock fan fiction.
Can science fiction help spur real-world scientific innovation? Michael White, writing for the Pacific Standard, believes it can.
Finally, a new Potter story just in time for Halloween at Pottermore. Enjoy learning about the background of the Hogwarts headmistress we all love to hate.
Jose Guadalupe Posada
Movies and Television:
Disney has a new project in the works, Moana, featuring a Polynesian princess on a quest to reconnect with her ancestors. Look for this in 2016.
ABC has picked up Karen Russell’s short story collection, St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, to adapt into a TV series. I do not exactly understand how this is going to go, but I am excited for it nonetheless; Russell is one of my favorite authors and her short story collections are on my short list to review.
The visuals in this short film, in which a magician and his apprentice build solar systems out of space rubble, are gorgeous. It was made in collaboration with the European Space Agency and stars Aidan Gillan (Petyr Baelish, anyone?); at its heart is the Rosetta Mission, the current attempt to land a vehicle on a comet and potentially uncover some of the origins of life on Earth.
Finally, Horns, the film adaptation of Joe Hill’s novel of the same name, comes out this Friday, starring Daniel Radcliffe as Iggy.
Internet Stuff:
And the Gamergate hits just keep on coming. This past week, actress and gamer Felicia Day spoke out against the Gamergate movement, and within hours, her private details were made public in an act of online intimidation and harassment.
Io9 had a couple of interesting posts this past week as both the US and the city of Toronto geared up for big election days: first, some haunting images of a post-apocalyptic Toronto, and then a lovely post about the greatest speech in SFF (read the comments!).
Finally, a beautiful Snow White themed poem by Laura Madeline Wiseman, featured in Silver Birch Press’s Mythic Poetry series.
Artist Feature:
Enjoy this vintage Mexican Day of the Dead art by Jose Guadalupe Posada!
Jose Guadalupe Posada
It’s tragic about Michel Faber but I hope it isn’t true. Many other writers have “retired” and then returned to writing. The heartbreaking story does go a way toward explaining his latest book, though.
And tomorrow, October 30, marks the 45-year anniversary of the first ad for erectile dysfunction on a computer-to-computer connection….
Sandy, you are too funny!
That was such a touching story about Michel Faber. I’m glad I read it before reading the book.
Lovecraft was absolutely a racist. Anybody who says different hasn’t read him.
Kat, the columnist does state that HP was a racist. It’s an interesting article.
Yes, I read it. I’m agreeing with her.