Hi all,
This is my annual best of
the previous years science fiction and new year’s resolutions post.
the previous years science fiction and new year’s resolutions post.
2011’s Science Fiction Books.
The best science fiction
book I read last year was The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood, a prequel to her
equally as good Oryx and Crake. It’s
not about global warming, the flood is a genetically engineered plague. I also
enjoyed Stephen King’s Under the Dome – which did sag a bit
in the middle – and Dave Kitson’s self-published ebook Turing Evolved, which had
a great story, it just needed a good edit.
book I read last year was The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood, a prequel to her
equally as good Oryx and Crake. It’s
not about global warming, the flood is a genetically engineered plague. I also
enjoyed Stephen King’s Under the Dome – which did sag a bit
in the middle – and Dave Kitson’s self-published ebook Turing Evolved, which had
a great story, it just needed a good edit.
Overall, I made very good
choices for reading in 2011, except for the very much overrated Perdido
Street Station, by China Mieville. Its story took way too long to
develop into anything interesting. It should have been cut to half its 600
pages.
choices for reading in 2011, except for the very much overrated Perdido
Street Station, by China Mieville. Its story took way too long to
develop into anything interesting. It should have been cut to half its 600
pages.
2011’s Science Fiction Movies.
Apart from the excellent Rise
of the Apes, was any other science fiction movie released in 2011? At
least that’s the question I asked myself. When I checked what else was
released, I did remember other movies I had seen last year.
of the Apes, was any other science fiction movie released in 2011? At
least that’s the question I asked myself. When I checked what else was
released, I did remember other movies I had seen last year.
Source Code was good, but not the sort of film that got my
imagination going. Paul was a good
laugh. I expected more of a Philip K. Dick story with The Adjustment Bureau. X-men Origins was a good but
instantly forgettable movie. The same goes for Super 8 and Cowboys
and Aliens. There currently seems little appetite to make science
fiction movies that get a viewer thinking. I want more movies with grand themes
and ideas like Inception, Moon and District
9.
imagination going. Paul was a good
laugh. I expected more of a Philip K. Dick story with The Adjustment Bureau. X-men Origins was a good but
instantly forgettable movie. The same goes for Super 8 and Cowboys
and Aliens. There currently seems little appetite to make science
fiction movies that get a viewer thinking. I want more movies with grand themes
and ideas like Inception, Moon and District
9.
Two absolute stinkers released
last year were Battle Los Angles and I am Number Four.
last year were Battle Los Angles and I am Number Four.
2011’s Science Fiction Television.
Easily the best science
fiction on television last year was series four of Torchwood: Miracle Day. It was a ten part miniseries that slowly built up the tension before
reaching a satisfying conclusion. A series that made you think about the prolonging
of life for those with little quality of life.
fiction on television last year was series four of Torchwood: Miracle Day. It was a ten part miniseries that slowly built up the tension before
reaching a satisfying conclusion. A series that made you think about the prolonging
of life for those with little quality of life.
Doctor Who improved as the year went on. There were some good
episodes, but none as good as those with the previous two doctors. Suspense has
been thrown out the window with the current doctor. As we all knew the doctor
wouldn’t die, although I was hopeful he would regenerate, the continuing story
of his death generated zero suspense. I did enjoy the non-alien invasion Christmas
episode.
episodes, but none as good as those with the previous two doctors. Suspense has
been thrown out the window with the current doctor. As we all knew the doctor
wouldn’t die, although I was hopeful he would regenerate, the continuing story
of his death generated zero suspense. I did enjoy the non-alien invasion Christmas
episode.
Terra Nova is too predictable and like Falling Skies has been
made as a family drama (soap), rather than a science fiction series. The lead
characters and families in both series act exactly like other current television
families. They even have the same clichéd dialogue. The writers seem to have
put no effort into exploring how families might behave in the future or in a
world destroyed by aliens. Instead, the writers have said, let’s write
characters who today’s teenagers can identify with.
made as a family drama (soap), rather than a science fiction series. The lead
characters and families in both series act exactly like other current television
families. They even have the same clichéd dialogue. The writers seem to have
put no effort into exploring how families might behave in the future or in a
world destroyed by aliens. Instead, the writers have said, let’s write
characters who today’s teenagers can identify with.
I enjoyed Fringe,
and look forward to its return this year. I also enjoyed the low-brow Warehouse
13, Eureka and Chuck. I think the last two will struggle for originality in future episodes.
and look forward to its return this year. I also enjoyed the low-brow Warehouse
13, Eureka and Chuck. I think the last two will struggle for originality in future episodes.
Two movies I saw on cable
stood out, both British. Monsters was an excellent character based movie, set in Mexico, where two
people get to know each other as they try to cross a no-go zone full of aliens
to get back to the US. I also found Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel
very funny, and clever for a story about a group of drunken yobs who step into
the lavatory and find themselves in the future.
stood out, both British. Monsters was an excellent character based movie, set in Mexico, where two
people get to know each other as they try to cross a no-go zone full of aliens
to get back to the US. I also found Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel
very funny, and clever for a story about a group of drunken yobs who step into
the lavatory and find themselves in the future.
Last Year’s Resolutions/Goals
I didn’t make any writing
resolutions last year. The previous year I had a goal of writing every day,
which I did achieve.
resolutions last year. The previous year I had a goal of writing every day,
which I did achieve.
The only new year’s
resolution I made last year was to download no ebooks that were less than $5.
My next post will tell you how I went with that resolution.
resolution I made last year was to download no ebooks that were less than $5.
My next post will tell you how I went with that resolution.
Last year I signed up for the Goodreads reading challenge. My goal was
to read 26 novels/anthologies. I only read half that due to tiredness and
choosing long books – they averaged 400 pages. This year I will again challenge
myself to read 26 novels/anthologies, hopefully the tireds won’t intervene
again.
to read 26 novels/anthologies. I only read half that due to tiredness and
choosing long books – they averaged 400 pages. This year I will again challenge
myself to read 26 novels/anthologies, hopefully the tireds won’t intervene
again.
2012 Writing Goals.
My writing goals for this
year are many. I want to finish the first draft of Jack Logan, Astronaut. I am
about half way through it at 67,000 words. I then want to rewrite it, get it
critiqued, rewrite it, and then edit it.
year are many. I want to finish the first draft of Jack Logan, Astronaut. I am
about half way through it at 67,000 words. I then want to rewrite it, get it
critiqued, rewrite it, and then edit it.
I also hope to edit a 25,000
word novella, get it critiqued, and rewrite and edit it. The same goes for a
6,000 word short story.
word novella, get it critiqued, and rewrite and edit it. The same goes for a
6,000 word short story.
I want to do all that
writing before NaNoWriMo in November which I plan to do again.
writing before NaNoWriMo in November which I plan to do again.
If I have time, I want to return
to rewriting another novel, which I was halfway through rewriting last
year.
to rewriting another novel, which I was halfway through rewriting last
year.
When I am writing new words my aim is 1000-2000 words a weekday. When I am
rewriting and editing, obviously the word count will drop.
I also aim to again get 12 paid articles published in DiVine magazine and to
look for other freelance writing jobs.
I want to critique a lot more this year and be more of a contributor to a
couple of writing communities I am involved in. In the last two years I have
only critiqued a couple of novels and a few stories. I need to do more.
I want to do all this before
the world ends on December 21, according to the Mayans anyway.
the world ends on December 21, according to the Mayans anyway.
0 Responses
Sounds like a big year Graham. Your novel sounds huge too. First time novelists do have trouble selling big books, that's what 'they' advise anyway, which doesn't mean it cant be done.
Congrats on all your work.
I agree, not much in the way of quality sci-fi last year. I enjoyed Apes and Monsters too, felt disappointed by pretty much everything else. Hope that changes.