If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

New Book Sale

2012-01-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

I'm very pleased to announce that Patrick Swenson of Fairwood Press will be publishing my next short story collection, to be titled Over the Darkened Landscape. This will be my fourth book and my second collection (after the late, lamented Wasps at the Speed of Sound). Official publication date is set for November of this year, but the book will be out in late October, I am told, in time for World Fantasy in Toronto.

The reprints in this book will again, like the previous book, span a wide range of my career. My second-ever sale (and Aurora nominee) "Body Solar" will be in this book, as will my last piece of short fiction, "Ancients of the Earth" from Tesseracts 12. I won't give the rest of the titles yet; once the order is settled, though, I'll toss it up here for all to see.

Also unlike Wasps, there will not be any sort of theme. Wasps was a book of eco-SF (sometimes if you looked at the stories from just the right angle). Over the Darkened Landscape will be a mix of fantasy and science fiction, and will also include my four published "Magic Canada" stories, stories that take events in Canada's history and then give them a little bit of a fantastical spin.

There will be more updates as time goes on. We have already lined up a great author to write the introduction, but until that's in I'll hold off on saying anything. And Patrick and I have already been knocking around some cover ideas (remember, I used to be the Art Director for On Spec), and I think we'll have something very soon.

I'm excited about this. Patrick does excellent books, and has published many friends of mine. As with ChiZine, I'm going to be keeping good company and will be handled by a publisher who cares about his writers.

My Letter to the School Board

2012-01-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

My son attends the AcTal program at Greystone (grade 7), and they are off on a curling field trip next week. We have been informed that the kids are going to be required to wear helmets for this, and that this requirement is a school board policy.

My wife and I are at a loss on this. Our son is going to be 13 in a month, and, while he has only curled once before, he has managed to play outside in the schoolyard all winter long without once falling and hitting his head (I note that this is not meant to be taken facetiously: walking on school fields before the recent snow has been monumentally treacherous this winter, due to all the ice). We also note that one of his classmates is an experienced curler and will also be required to wear a helmet.

We are raising a generation of (to use the phrase so recently picked up by a new TV program) Bubble Wrap Kids. I see nothing wrong with setting the rules and doing so firmly, letting the kids know that with the first sign of roughhousing, on the ice or even off, and they get to sit out the remainder of the field trip. But, unless there has been a rash of severe injuries involving this sport, a number that shows some sort of statistical significance, then we don't see how this makes any sense. And here let me add that a study by Monash University finds that most curling injuries involve shoulder, knee, and back pain, which comes as no surprise.

It is right and proper that we should teach our children to be safe, and I believe that the responsibility for this task falls on the shoulders of all caregivers: parents, teachers, other family members, and beyond. But we also need to teach our children that we trust them, especially when they are already under direct supervision. As they get older, children take bigger steps, remove themselves more from our obsessive need to control every little thing they do, and that's a good thing. By insisting they wear helmets for a slow-moving sport, we are showing these children that we do not trust them, nor do we trust the previous lessons involving their safety that were made by their caregivers.

If this sort of decision is made to ensure that the school board and all schools and teachers are not liable for any accident, then by all means send a release form, and we will gladly sign it. If not, then as parents we obviously will have to make our own decision about whether or not he takes part. And that strikes me as ironic, that parents might pull children out of events not because of safety concerns, but because so many of us are too afraid that some nebulous thing might happen.

Sincerely,

Derryl Murphy

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (8)

2012-01-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

I'm going to write about a voice that many of you will recognize, especially fans of Christmas music, although the type of Christmas music you would probably never hear in a church. In 1987, the Pogues had a bit of a hit song with "Fairytale of New York," in which lead singer Shane MacGowan traded both loving and hateful words with Kirsty MacColl. Remember these lines?

You scum bag, you maggot

You cheap lousy faggot

Merry Christmas your ass

I pray God it's our last

It interests me that Kirsty MacColl, blessed with such a great voice and so many friends in the business, was unable to make further inroads here in North America, and that what I consider her finest album was released almost as an afterthought by a record company that wasn't willing to sign her to a contract. There are plenty of great songs on Titanic Days; it's a very emotional album, sometimes peppy, sometimes introspective, always thoughtful.

The title track is what stands out the most for me, "Titanic Days," is an upbeat-sounding song with a deep dark secret. The words are as disturbing as anything in the Pogues song, this one though about a very different kind of relationship. It's disturbing, sexual in an off-kilter sort of way, apparently about a relationship gone sour. Which makes sense, since I read now that the album is "informed by her failing marriage with [Steve] Lillywhite."

As for the music itself, I find a sense of anticipation that grows on me as I listen to it. There's a steady but quiet beat that accompanies a a slow swell to the music, and MacColl's voice joins in early, taking us for a ride into a pretty kinky situation. I love listening to this song, but that enjoyment always turns to a knot of pain at the end, when I hear the sounds of the sea in the background.

You see, in 2000 Kirsty MacColl was on vacation with her children in Mexico, swimming and diving in the ocean (in a restricted diving area), when a speed boat owned by a wealthy Mexican entered the area, apparently moving very fast. As she and her boys came up from a dive she saw that the boat was heading right for them. She managed to push her son out of the way (he did receive some injuries), but the boat hit her and killed her instantly.

At the time, MacColl was in the process of reinventing herself, and introducing listeners to new music, especially from Cuba. She had worked on a radio series for BBC Radio 2 about Cuban music, and I know there were a lot of wonderful songs that went unwritten, and to hear her evolving take on Latin music would have been grand.

Two Tickets to Paradise

2012-01-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

Back in 1979, rock radio in Edmonton was dominated by 630 CHED, an AM station that introduced me to the vast majority of the music I listened to from the moment I became aware there was such a thing as rock and roll, until they were eventually pushed aside by the advent of FM AOR stations, such as (at the time) K-97. In addition to the music, I was also a contest fan, and liked to phone and chat with the DJs in between songs, request music, pontificate on whatever was going on in the biz, and more. It got so I knew the DJs quite well, and they knew me; sometimes we'd be chatting on the phone and the DJ would say to me, "Derryl, are you a fan of X?" (X being defined as a certain movie, or star, or band.) I'd say yes, and he'd tell me that they were about to give away a prize (album, screening passes, tickets to a concert) and that I should hang on the line and I would be lucky caller number seven. I also became an expert in fast dialing, and in timing my dials so the phone would start ringing the second they cleared the boards. This was no small feat when you consider I was using a rotary dial phone. It used to drive my parents and my sister nuts, because I would chase them off the phone or keep them away from it, and sometimes even hung up on friends of theirs who were rude enough to dial in just as I was about to dial out. But it worked well for me, and over the few years I did this I literally won thousands of dollars worth of prizes.

My biggest payday from CHED came on my 16th birthday, though, and required neither fast dialing skills nor a personal connection with anyone working at the station. Eddie Money was coming to town, and CHED was giving away a big prize that included two tickets to the show, backstage passes to meet the man himself, and some cash (more on all that soon). To win required filling out an entry form at a stereo shop downtown (I think it was Krazy Kelly's, but would welcome someone correcting me if I'm wrong), and then you had to listen to the radio for the DJ to call your name. If he did, you had six minutes and thirty seconds (clever, huh? See what they did there?) to call in and tell them you heard your name on the radio. If you did that, then your name was into the hat for a second time, for the big prize.

I dutifully went downtown on the bus and stupidly filled out one form and put it in the box. When I got home, my friend Don Jessop told me that he'd snagged about 80 forms and filled them out, then went back and put them in one at a time. It surprises me that I'd never thought to that, but next chance I got I headed downtown again, but fear of persecution for breaking some untold law meant I could only work up the nerve to grab 14 forms, which I filled out and then hurriedly snuck into the box.

Then I went home and began religiously listening to the radio. Which I already always did, so it wasn't much of a sacrifice.

I can't remember what I was doing, but I remember my little clock radio sitting on the bookshelf in my room and Len Thuessen coming on and announcing my name. I ran downstairs and grabbed the phone and called and said, "Hi Len! Guess who?" like the idiot I was. Len quite rightly said, "I don't know. You tell me." Once we cleared that up, my name was in the hat.

Side note. Even with 80-odd entry forms, Don never heard his name. My luck in those days sometimes made me quite insufferable, and I'm sure this was one of those times.

Forward a couple of days, to April 19, the day before my 16th birthday. The phone rings and my mom answers, then gives it to me ("It's some man," she said in something of a stage whisper). I knew the voice of the DJ as soon as he said my name. Yes, I was the winner. Yes, after this part of the call was done (they were recording it to play on the air in about 20 minutes time), they would give me all the details on who and where to meet. I told him that tomorrow, the day of the concert, was to be my 16th birthday, which he thought was pretty cool. And through it all my mom was standing there, making as many disbelieving-you're-being-spoofed-by-someone noises as any mother possibly can. And so I finally, and in immediate retrospect, embarrassingly, handed to phone over to my mother so that they could convince her this wasn't some scam. And of course all of that ended up on the air. The only good part is my mom was embarrassed as well.

Next day at school, everybody had to decency to not hassle me about the call, but instead they all congratulated me on winning. Surprising to me, considering my state of mind all through high school, I managed to work up the nerve to ask a girl if she wanted to be my date. Cindy Weir said yes, and so that night we headed off to the Jubilee Auditorium where we met two CHED DJs (not easy to miss, since they were both wearing shiny silver jackets). They sat with us for the concert, which meant that everyone there knew I was the winner. I got lots of thumbs-up and congrats from people.

Long John Baldry opened the show, with a grand total of three songs. Which was too bad, because I was actually a Baldry fan. I'm happy to say that years later, shortly before he died, I met him and told him that, which amused him.

And then Eddie Money came out on stage. At the time I would guess he was on tour for his second album, but of course his big hits were "Baby Hold On" and "Two Tickets to Paradise." He put on a fun show, a lot of energy and a pretty tight band, as I recall. But I believe I also recall that the DJs hustled Cindy and me out of our seats before the gig was over and off we went to the green room.

I stood there, nervous as hell, and then, show over, a very sweaty Eddie Money walked in, smoking (if memory serves) a big doobie. He was introduced to me, shook my hand and wished me a happy birthday, the said, "Hey! This man needs a beer! Somebody get him a beer!" Just like that, I had a beer. I sat on a couch and Cindy sat beside me and talked to me until I stopped shaking.

Some more formalities were taken care of, and then Eddie presented me with an Eddie Money money clip (which was cool, but sadly it has gone missing in the fog of years) which held five crisp $100 bills (which, surprisingly, also went missing. I wonder how?).

This was, I think, the coolest 16th birthday I could have possibly had. I am not much for classic rock, and usually listen to more current music, but "Two Tickets to Paradise" is still on my iPod and it doesn't get old, which is a sign of good quality, I would think. Every once in awhile, I've thought of that day, but I had completely forgotten that a photographer had been present. But yesterday on the phone my dad informed me he'd found a couple of pictures in an old box. He scanned them for me and sent them along, and brought back a whole flood of memories.

I can't recall all the people in this photo. There are hangers-on and probably a publicist, and the two DJs. I'm the goofy-looking kid in the middle, holding the wad of cash. On my left is Cindy, hands clasped and apparently guarding her purse with her life is Cindy. And to my right, arm over my shoulder and still smoking (although at this point I'm pretty sure this is regular old tobacco) is Eddie Money.

He treated me well that night. I wish I'd been more on the ball and less freaked out by my situation. It would have been cool to have had more of real conversation with the man, instead of sounding like a star-struck lunkhead.

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (7)

2012-01-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

Since my friend Randy brought them up last week (on Facebook), I figure now is as good a time as ever to talk about Buffalo Tom, one of his (and my) favorite bands, and one that he introduced me to. They've put out quite a few very good albums, a couple of excellent ones, and, in my mind, one truly great album, Big Red Letter Day.

A three-piece band from Boston, they formed and released their first album a year ahead of Nirvana's first album, way out there on the opposite coast. It's a telling thing in a couple of ways: for whatever reason, grunge became the central talking point for pretty much anything related to rock and roll during this period (although obviously more so after the release of Nevermind in '91), and therefore the power pop-oriented sounds of bands like Buffalo Tom were kind of on the outs, at least with radio programmers.

Wrap your heads around this the next time you listen to the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl may indeed have been in Nirvana, but I pick Buffalo Tom as his band's true progenitors.

I almost picked "Sodajerk" for this, a song that I do so love, and one that is more famous (fame being a relative thing here; the song is much loved by people who know it, but even though it's been used in TV shows, it's still relatively unknown.. And while the album as a whole deserves more attention and acclaim, in the end the song I have to throw in with is "Latest Monkey."

This song quite literally gives me the jitters. As soon as I hear those first chords my whole body starts to move. When the lead vocals break in, I'm jumping. And the remarkable backup vocals, a sort of low-fi response, help bring the song to a whole new level. "Lastest Monkey" is a song with energy to burn, and the self-knowledge that said energy is going to burn hard, burn fast, and burn very, very bright. Less than three minutes long (but a few seconds longer than what is apparently the perfect length for a pop song), this is a compact and exciting piece of music that deserves to be heard.

Oh, I forgot to mention that they are one of Jon Stewart's favorite bands, and were the last musical guests on the Daily Show.

Another Review of Napier's Bones Sneaks In

2012-01-01T15:12:00.000-08:00

I missed this one when it came out. Among other things he says the book is "kind of like Highlander except with numbers instead of swords" and "(m)inds may have been blown." Nice to still see good words popping up.

The Movies of 2011

2012-01-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

I only managed to see 47 (No! 48!) movies in 2011, a drop from last year when I saw 53. There are several reasons for this: I think 2010 saw the overall quality of what was offered up to the movie-going public fall significantly (and I will clarify my thoughts on that in a moment); prices at the cinemas continue to climb; TV continues to impress with much of what it has to offer, and so a lot of my viewing time goes to programs I am invested in; the boys are involved in a lot more in their lives, and wish to see movies with friends, or not see the ones we would usually see together; and keeping with the boys, their lives are still so very busy, and often that involves me, coaching or cheering or watching or just chauffeuring.

Much has been made about the drop in movie attendance this past year, apparently the smallest paying audience in 16 years, and I think Roger Ebert really hits the nail on the head with his thoughts. I want to stress just how difficult it is to see many of these movies if you don't live in a major center. Saskatoon has a population a little shy of a quarter million; not huge, I know. Our movie theatre selection is therefore limited: Cineplex has a Galaxy Theatre downtown, with (I believe) 10 screens. Near our house they have another complex in a mall, with 6 or 7 screens, but they have no idea at that location how to properly run a projector or how to set the sound, so we steer clear. It's also dirt cheap compared to downtown, though, so plenty of people put up with being treated like crap to get the "big" screen and expensive popcorn experience, so what do I know? Across the mall from that one is the Rainbow, part of the smaller Magic Lantern chain. It shows second-run movies, the last chance to catch it in a theatre before it hits the rental market. They've recently invested in 3D for one of their screens, so some of the cheap movies also have a $3 surcharge. I do see lines there pretty regularly, but I don't think we saw one movie there this past year.

The other two options in town are both repertory cinemas, the Broadway (independent, a little scruffy around the edges) and the Roxy (also owned by Magic Lantern, gloriously redone on the inside to echo how going to the movies used to look and feel). We try and get to these theatres when we can, but as noted it's difficult. Also, even though Ebert in his article talks about the desire of the movie-going public to see intelligent, even challenging fair, I know for a fact that the Roxy has trouble attracting audiences to many great movies, and so they have to top things up by acting as a second-run house for films that have just finished at the Galaxy, only a few blocks away. It's frustrating for me, and I know it's frustrating for the management. And so they, like the Broadway, are turning more and more of their attention to live events which, coupled with the fact that the distributors appear to be dropping film in favor of all digital, may mean saying goodbye to the chance to see all sorts of excellent films on the big screen.

I have two specific examples about this monoculture mindset. When Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams came out, it was one of the few times I was excited about seeing a 3D film. And so of course it didn't come to the Galaxy, which has 3D (fun fact: doesn't matter how many emails you send to the distributor and the cinema owner, they will always blame each other for this unfortunate turn of events), but instead went to the Roxy, which doesn't. I quite foolishly held out, hoping that maybe it would at least go to at least the Rainbow, but that didn't happen. And so I will see it in 2D this year, in my own somewhat smaller home theatre. And then last night I talked with my parents. For New Year's Eve in Edmonton they decided to go out and see a movie (a rare occurrence for them), and went to see The Artist. At a major Cineplex cinema, no less. It's not here yet, and as far as I know will be at the Roxy, although they have yet to set a date on it. This is frustrating, as you might imagine.

I also wonder about how the cinemas approach their customers. When we went to see Fincher's English-language version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the audience was almost wholly made of people our age and older. Just the type of audience I suspect the theatres do not see nearly as often as they should. And so, to greet this well-moneyed but probably short of patience crowd, we were treated to the largest and longest collection of commercials I have ever see on the screen, followed by a series of highly inappropriate (for both the movie we were seeing and for the audience) trailers, including some jingoistic crap starring actual Navy SEALS as Navy SEALS (ask yourself this: is Canada suddenly keen on waving the US flag?) and the new Nic Cage Ghost Rider movie. Why bother going for a nice night out at the movies if this is how you're going to be greeted? And then, a few days later, we go to see the new Tintin movie and only get one measly commercial, followed by a series of trailers that includes The Hobbit and the new Studio Ghibli film, both of which had me and the boys (Jo, not so much, since she is less of a geek) shaking with anticipation.

There is another reason for seeing fewer movies this year, although the one is kind of a combo and could feasibly be divided into two reasons. The closest video store to our house, the only one even marginally within walking distance, closed down. Add to that, Netflix has finally come to Canada, and proudly boasts just about the worst selection one could hope for. If a movie is current, you can rest assured it will have been a major bomb, such as M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. We may indeed invest the tiny amount of money required to stream older movies and outdated TV shows, but out of protest at being treated like the kid who gets all the hand-me-downs (and yes, I am aware that there is some strange vagary in Canada that apparently makes all this happen, although I couldn't tell you if that's just a crappy excuse) I have yet to fork over any money.

Anyhow, enough kvetching. Here's the list. As per other years, movies I saw in the theatre are denoted by an asterisk (*). I will also noted what year the movie is listed on IMDB, unless the movie was a true 2011 release. I think, though, that it shows just how tough a year it was to get to the movies by how much catching up I was doing, and by how few foreign-language films and documentaries I was able to see.

Iron Man 2 (2010) - To carry on with my inner-geek-getting-tired-of-this-shit theme from last year, I enjoyed the movie well enough, but then promptly forgot about it.

Agora (2009) - This is one I regret not having seen in the theatre. Not perfect, but a nice shot across the bow in the discussion about rational thought versus religion, and a great setting (the Library of Alexandria).

Pirate Radio (2009) - Originally known as The Boat That Rocked, this had a great cast and a can't-miss concept that, unfortunately, missed. Some fun moments don't make up for the disappointment I felt with this one.

Gran Torino (2008) - Nice to see Clint reaching out and trying to not always be so gruff. Oh, wait. Still, he played it against type by forcing us to think he was going with the grain when the movie came to a head, so that was good.

*The King’s Speech (2010) - Yes, I enjoyed it. Heartwarming, feel good, great acting, yadayada. And then it was over and I was ready to move on.

The Soloist (2009) - A little maudlin, a little too much over-the-top from both Downey and Foxx.

*127 Hours (2010) - I'd followed this story since it first happened and, as always, am intrigued by the choices Danny Boyle makes as a film maker, both in what he chooses to film and how he chooses to film it. Quite riveting.

The Social Network (2010) - An excellent film that suffers from the central character being such a cold fish that it's hard to find a central heart.

Alice in Wonderland (2010) - Hoo boy. We were airing out the house for weeks after this stinker.

The Cove (2009) - Astonishing and upsetting, this documentary about the slaughter of dolphins in Japan really should be seen by everybody.

Get Low (2009) - A nice, low key movie with Robert Duvall doing Robert Duvall as a crabby old hermit.

Monsters (2010) - Interestingly, one of three low budget monster movies I saw this year. Also interestingly, I think this was the weakest of the three. But I still enjoyed it.

Restrepo (2010) - A great doc about a year at a forward base in Afghanistan. Tim Hetherington, one of the directors and a great war photographer, was killed this past year in Libya.

The Town (2010) - I think Ben Affleck is really coming into it as a director. I do hope he continues to stretch, and by the looks of Argo, that may indeed be the case.

The White Ribbon (2009) - Quiet and disturbing as shit, this German film takes place just before WW1 and absolutely deserves to be watched.

Winter’s Bone (2010) - And hey, speaking of disturbing, this is the film that would have possibly upset True Grit to be my number one movie of the previous year, if only it had come to a theatre in town (again, barring a brief appearance at the rep cinema when I couldn't go). If you plan to see The Hunger Games this year, do make an effort to watch this one first.

*Paul - Yeah, I had fun, and I laughed. No, it's not a classic, and Pegg and Frost, as enjoyable as they are together, will probably not reach the heights of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz again. But that's OK, I guess.

*Source Code - A smart SF thriller that held my attention. But, and I don't know if it's the movie or me getting older and therefore growing up, I don't feel the urge to own it. And that's odd for smart SF thrillers.

*Hanna - I really enjoyed this movie, as preposterous as it was. Lots of smart foreshadowing and little tricks with what the camera chose to show you, and an absolutely propulsive soundtrack to boot.

Salt (2010) - Another thriller, this one not quite so good, but OK for letting the mind for for awhile.

*Thor - And again, I went to the cinema, shut off my brain, had a good enough time, then went home and didn't worry my pretty little head about what I'd just seen. Some of which was pretty damned stupid, actually.

*Bridesmaids - Laugh? I thought I'd die. Funny and smart and of course extraordinarily disgusting. Kristin Wiig is my new hero.

*Super 8 - I know opinions varied on this, but it hit my sweet spot. A little loud and over the top a few times (train crash, and crash, and crash anyone?), it still brought me back to another time and dredged up all sorts of great filmic memories for me.

The American (2010) - George Clooney in the quietest spy thriller you could ever hope to see, directed by the guy who used to shoot U2's cover photos. I quite liked this.

The Adjustment Bureau - This was a pleasant surprise, although since we usually like Matt Damon in this house, maybe it shouldn't have been. Another smart and fun SF thriller.

Buried (2010) - This one was tough to pull off, and sometimes I thought maybe they had, but in the end it's hard to hold you when you're inside a coffin with the main character and his only interactions are over the phone.

*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 - A grand finale to a series that has only gotten better with age.

*Cowboys & Aliens - This was a dog of the highest water. I really want my two hours back for this one.

Rango - Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp may have crapped on us with most of the Pirates movies, but this was a surprising delight from beginning to end.

*The Tree of Life - Another one that was guaranteed to divide people (and, frankly, to not even interest many), this was a stunning and sometimes confusing film from Terrence Malick.

*Horrible Bosses - Another very funny and very rude comedy. Jennifer Aniston, how I love you.

Win Win - Paul Giamatti as a sad sack high school wrestling coach is very good, but the young man who plays the wrestler he takes in was outstanding, and the film left me feeling very warm and like I could walk on air.

*The Debt - A remake of an Israeli thriller I never did see. Good because of a good cast, but I just don't know if it was really needed.

Troll Hunter (2010) - A Norwegian film, the second-best monster movie of the year.

The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) - Fun and silly and finally got to see it so I could get that itch out of my system.

*Drive - Wow and wow and wow. To that woman who was suing because the movie didn't have much, you know, driving in it, I hope you lose and are sentenced to a year of sitting and watching nothing but Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson movies with your eyes pried open.

*Life In A Day - This was that YouTube movie, produced by Ridley Scott. Quite good, actually, although the Roxy had only a slightly defective disk copy and therefore we had to put up with all sorts of fits and starts.

Cedar Rapids - Ed Helms is actually quite sweet in this, and it's fun and funny.

13 Assassins (2010) - A tremendous Japanese period piece with some major action and set pieces that didn't need buttloads of CGI to be effective.

*Attack the Block - My favorite monster movie of the year, this British film about an alien invasion coming in one of the poorer areas of London is a wild ride.

*Red State - In which Kevin Smith goes completely over the top. And honestly? When the heavenly trumpet sounded, I actually found myself hoping he really was going there.

Captain America - Well, I had more fun than I anticipated I would.

*The Guard - "I'm Irish. Racism is part of my culture." Brendan Gleeson plays it so very sly in this slightly askew take on the oddball cop/buddy movie. Well done.

*Hugo - I may have missed Herzog's film, but Scorsese shows how to do 3D right. No crap jumping out at you, rather you going in, discovering the literal depth of the movie. That, coupled with a neat story and a lovely tribute to films of old, made this one I was glad to see on the big screen.

*Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol - Yes, I enjoyed it. That said, it almost enrages me to see how many critics put this on their top ten lists for the year. Listen, people, this is not a movie, it is a collection of set action pieces designed to show how exciting Cruise can still be, tied together by only the most tenuous of plot threads, full of ridiculous excuses to take us to exotic locations around the world.

*The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - The opening credits, as can often be with Fincher films (think Se7en) are alone worth the price of admission. I liked this one more than the Swedish version. Very good.

*The Adventures of Tintin - And here for me was the biggest surprise of the year. I have all the books, have owned them since I was a kid, and wasn't sure if I could expect anything good. But I am also firmly of the view that a movie and a book are two different things. And so I loved this movie, truly enjoyed the ride that Spielberg took me on.

LATE ADDITION KungFu Panda 2 - Forgot to mention we watched this with Brennan on New Year's Eve. Good fun, and then, like some many other movies of its ilk, it ended.

Now for my Top Ten. As usual, the usual caveat stands that I only list 2011 movies (aside from foreign films that might have been difficult to get here), and that my list of movies seen is woefully incomplete.

1. Drive
2. The Tree of Life
3. Win Win
4. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
5. Hugo
6. Attack the Block
7. Bridesmaids
8. 13 Assassins
9. The Guard
10. Super 8

Hanna and Tintin both wrestled and came close to number 10. I ruled out The White Ribbon because it was 2009, but otherwise it would have been top 5.

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (6)

2011-12-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

Let's lean towards a more pop-oriented sound this time, shall we? I first discovered Nada Surf via one of the music blogs that I frequent. While I was aware of them in some distant, peripheral fashion, they started up right around the time I was finishing up being a college DJ, and their forward movement since then has been rather jittery, including another case of being abandoned by their label. More power to them, though, for fighting through it, even including a period of time when the all had *gasp* day jobs.

Consequently, this is one band which I am no authority of. I've picked up what I know of them from bits and pieces of info floating on the wind. But not radio, of course. I'm sure there are places where they receive airplay, but this is another one of those inexplicable cases where, at least with the radio I have access to, they don't get played on the air.

And that's odd. Listen to "See These Bones." I hear this song and I just float away; it strikes me as being as close to the perfect pop song as could possibly exist. Of course, there is no auto-tuning, nor a 13-year-old striking poses to a hectic beat. Instead, there is a catchy opening guitar hook, a solid, propulsive but simple drum beat, and vocals that climb and carry you away. Do listen.

And then, as a bonus, scare up the time to also listen to "Beautiful Beat," also by Nada Surf, and which did receive some visibility, thanks to a play on the show How I Met Your Mother.

My Favorite Christmas

2011-12-25T16:31:00.000-08:00

In the summer of 2000 Aidan was 4 and Brennan was about 1-and-a-half. With no idea of what we were really getting ourselves into, Jo and I stepped off a cliff and moved the whole family from Edmonton to Logan, Utah, a small city (75,000 or so people, including the surrounding county) about a half hour south of the Idaho border, largely populated by Mormons. I didn't have a visa for work; Jo's job was why we were down there, and we discovered that I might be able to do something about that but it would take a chunk of time and an even bigger chunk of change, all directed towards a lawyer. So I stayed home and was a house husband, something that every so often raised an eyebrow down there.

We did eventually make some friends, although it often took both time and some pig-headedness on our parts. Early on Jo and I had to make due with acquaintances, but at least Aidan (and to a lesser extent Brennan, because of how young he was) was able to make friends fairly quickly.

In early autumn there was a problem with something in the laundry room: I can't remember if it was the washer, or maybe the furnace, which shared the space, but whatever it was, I wasn't able to deal with it. I called the landlord, a good and decent man who lived up the block and whose grandson was already Aidan's best friend, and after looking he decided to call in a repairman.

We talked, that repairman and I. Like many others who lived down there, he was surprised to find that someone had moved there from Canada and yet wasn't a Mormon. But he was a nice enough fellow, and already it was good for me to every so often have a grown up conversation.

Fast forward to late December, just before Christmas. We were staying put that year; the drive back to Edmonton to be with my family was close to 12 hours in good weather, and if we wanted to see Jo's family in Peace River another 5 or more hours would be tacked on top of that. And Christmas is not the time of year that either her family or mine travel, due to other commitments. No real friends yet, remember, although we were invited (along with a number of seniors from a residence and a few other unattached families and singles) to our babysitter's home for a big meal on Christmas. And while that ended up being a fine meal, it was so large and unwieldy that it felt a little impersonal, or like attending a charity meal.

Anyhow, one night just before Christmas - perhaps the very night before, although my memory has let that slip away - the doorbell rang. I went and opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Santa Claus, accompanied by a young girl, about 10, dressed as an elf. He made the requisite Santa-like noises, and then, seeing the evident confusion on my face (was this a Mormon tradition I was unaware of?) he pulled down his beard ever so slightly and reminded me that he'd been my repairman a few months before. Turns out he'd recognized somehow that a) we weren't going anywhere, b) weren't having family visit us and c) we were feeling mightily removed from the surrounding community.

I invited him in and we went to find the boys. Somewhere, buried in a box, there are pictures of Aidan and Brennan accepting candy canes from Santa and from Emily the Elf. Neither boy was brave enough to confront him head on, though, and so both had to hide behind Jo and then, with some coaxing from Santa and their parents, reach out just far enough to get their fingertips on the candy canes. Santa talked to the boys, and they played shy, and then he wished us all a very Merry Christmas and left, politely not noticing how close to tears I was.

Both Aidan and Brennan were pretty keen about this visit. After the fact, of course. And to this day Aidan says he thinks he can remember it.

There was no proselytizing that night, so attempt to see us on the rightness of one way versus the wrongness of another. Instead, all we saw was a glimpse of humanity, a man and a child who knew that perhaps just a tiny gesture would be enough to intervene on the potential gloom that can overwhelm you when you're alone - because even together, sometimes we forget and get lost in that loneliness - and remind you that there are good people out there.

We're "alone" again this Christmas. We haven't gone to visit family, and, same as always, they can't come visit us. Our dearest friends live in other cities, although we do have friends here, and will be seeing some of them over the next few days. But we have each other, and we try to step up for other people when we can, and, you know, the peace and quiet of a small family Christmas isn't quite so smothering as it once was.

Merry Christmas, all, and Happy Holidays. And let me leave you with a link to our friend Maria Dunn singing "God Bless Us Everyone" from The Carol Project.

Fine and Funny Words About Napier's Bones

2011-12-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

A short, one paragraph review of Napier's Bones was published on the web early in November, but I only just found it tonight. She misspells my name, but that's fine. You can read it all here, but I wanted to give you the marvelous money quotes: "This book is like putting a nerd in a blender. It hits so many nerd spots. You read it and go, 'Oh, that kind of nerd.'" And also: "... I'm really happy that this book was published, because it's not doing a lot of the things we seem to be assuming books all have to do, but it is getting its nerd on with great gusto and comprehensiveness."

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (5) Special Christmas Edition

2011-12-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

You can't miss hearing "seasonal" music this time of year, especially on any contemporary music station (and I'm including CBC Radio 2 in this category). It used to be, I think, that Christmas music was something done by some artists, those who were already prone to doing special events songs (Elvis, for instance) those who were inclined to do so, usually by virtue of religious background (plenty of country artists), novelty acts (The Royal Guardsmen, natch) or those who had decided to make a statement (like Jethro Tull or Greg Lake - and argue as you will about the pretensions of these two, but I believe my point about trying to make a statement stands). And no, I'm not forgetting the Vince Guaraldi music for A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I'm not sure when the change happened. Was it Bruce Springsteen and his live version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"? Or maybe it was the success of the A Very Special Christmas and its sequels and offshoots, all of which gave radio programmers more fodder for the days (weeks, actually) leading up to Christmas.

Outside of this possible sequence, recording artists have done excellent Christmas music. I think now specifically of John Lennon with "Happy Xmas (War is Over)", of the Pogues with the late, great Kirsty McColl (more on her in a future posting in this series) doing "Fairytale of New York" (and yeah, that's Matt Dillon as the cop), and The Band with "Christmas Must be Tonight."

Beyond that, well, name your favorites. As programmers have cast about for more to play, we're hearing a lot more, although often we're hearing more recent acts doing versions of older faves, even if they're slavish copies.The Pogues and Kirsty McColl come close to being my favorite song of the season, but in the spirit of music snobs everywhere, I tend to not like something as much when it receives so much airplay, and when everyone else professes to like it so much.

Instead, the song that speaks the most to me is one I first heard performed live and solo in the middle of summer, by an Australian who is revered Down Under but, aside from those familiar with the folk fest circuit and a few other fans of music to be found in odd nooks and crannies, unknown on these shores.Paul Kelly is a singer/songwriter who may show up on this list again a little later. The stories he tells are marvelous, powerful pieces, sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always smart and precise. And I wonder: who else could write a Christmas song told as a letter written home by someone in jail? With cooking reminders, to boot. "How to Make Gravy" is that track, a deeply moving song that rises in emotion and even in temper as it proceeds, that with a sad economy of words tells you all you need to know about the man writing the letter. Enough to both feel sorry for him, and to worry not only about him but about his family on the day he finally gets out.

One final note. As I've been putting this together, I visited Paul Kelly's website for the first time in what is apparently a long time, and I find he has a book and CD box set and an iPad app, all titled How to Make Gravy. This is a thrilling, almost secret discovery, and I shall be partaking.

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (4)

2011-12-14T19:47:00.000-08:00

The danger of course with a series of posts like this is that there are inevitably people who point to a song I name and say, "What the hell? Of course I know it!" Or, casting a slightly wider net, if not the song, then they know the band.

Late 2010 saw the release of a new album by Guster, but aside from some airplay on satellite radio (which we happened to have in a rental vehicle while traveling), there was nothing anywhere we were able to listen. And then, midway through 2011, CBC Radio 2 picked up on the album, Easy Wonderful, especially giving airplay to "Do You Love Me" (for my money one of the best love songs of the past few years) and "Architects and Engineers." And of course they have a rabid fan base, known as Gusteroids.

Several years ago, though, another Guster album was released, reaching to about the mid-30s on the Billboard charts. Again, though, most radio play was via alternative radio stations. That album, Keep It Together, includes a song that has a deep resonance for me. "Come Downstairs and Say Hello" (not an official video, obviously) is a beautiful song, fluid and honey-like to the ears, but with lyrics that have spoken to me, most deeply on days when I've questioned myself and where I was going in my life (and yes, I've had plenty of those: not long before I sold my novel I was seriously considering quitting writing).

"To tell you the truth I've said it before/Tomorrow I start in a new direction/One last time these words from me/I'm never saying them again." Those lyrics still ride in my head, and remind me how tough those moments can be, when you second-guess yourself, when you fall into the same damned rut and feel completely unable to escape it. There were days where I would promise myself I was done with the nonsense, would step up to the plate and take care of what needed taking care of, only to repeat myself the very next day. To know that there were people out there who were familiar with this situation themselves, and able to complete such a marvelous piece of music out of it, well, that managed to pick me up and help me move on to the next level.

And besides, how can you resist a song that name checks the whole Dark Side of Oz thing?

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (3)

2011-12-07T16:07:00.001-08:00

I'm sure that after only two entries, some people are already starting to worry that I'm a) only going to be posting links to country(ish) rock and b) I won't be talking about anything too recent. I can assure you that I won't be sticking too close to any single genre or time frame, although today we only move sideways for musical style.

I'm sure there are many people out there who remember the song "Welcome to the Boomtown" by David + David. The album hit Billboard's Top 100, and the song itself peaked, I believe, inside the rock top ten. This surprises me, to be honest. You don't think of a song with the lyrics "Now he smokes much too much/Got a permanent hack/Deals dope out of Denny's/Keeps a table in the back" as being something that will even make a minor stab at the top of the charts. We are, after all, a society that tends to prefer our music poppy and schmaltzy. Grit and anger always hovers just over the edge of the horizon, the property of disaffected youth who prefer punk and its offshoots or rap that isn't all about bling and booty.

The rest of the album is filled with gems, and I encourage you to seek it out if you don't already have it. "Swallowed by the Cracks," "Ain't So Easy," and more, the album is riddled with bitter, angry music, a worldview that gives us characters who skate on the edges of life, and yet is eminently listenable.

David + David didn't last as a group. For whatever reason, platinum-selling status didn't agree with the pair, and they broke up. David Baerwald moved on, writing songs for others, recording his own albums, and even helping form the Tuesday Night Music Club (a name you might recognize if you are a fan of Sheryl Crow).

Baerwald has recorded some gems during his solo career, but for me his absolute standout album has to be Triage. The cover alone tells you you're in for more grit and anger: two bloody hands, palms out towards the camera, with an American flag in behind.

Triage starts quietly enough, and indeed much of the album is fairly quiet, at least musically speaking. The lyrics, though, slam home throughout. Most of these stories go the same way as Boomtown, except that now Baerwald ramps it up, taking it from the lowlifes and hustlers on the street corner to the larger world around us. And instead of empathy, what we often get on this album is anger.

Rage, even.

The song that screams out the loudest, that in my opinion drowns out every other rock and roll political protest song (I'm looking at you, Green Day) is the marvelously-titled "The Got No Shotgun Hydra Head Octopus Blues." This song brings it up right quick, what sounds a bit like crickets in the background, followed very soon by Baerwald yelling, almost grunting. Then the bass line starts along with the drums, a steady, propulsive rhythm. Baerwald sings the first line, then the guitar finally kicks in, and the song is off to the races.

When I was a DJ at a university radio station, this song made it into as heavy a rotation as I could allow it, but that's likely the only radio play it ever got in those parts. And that's a shame.

Previously:

Great Songs You May Never Have Heard (1) and (2)

Great Songs You May Never have Heard (2)

2011-11-30T16:56:00.001-08:00

The rock and roll landscape is littered with the ruins of super groups that didn't live up to expectations, or did but only for a very short time, or turned out the good music but still burned out as everyone moved on. It happens. Artists have their own projects on the go, and a melding of minds and talents is also a melding of egos, which means that eventually someone has to give in. Besides, often these sorts of groups are conceived as a one-off, or perhaps a side project to come back to and fiddle with now and again, when everyone is in the mood. None seem to be intended to have the longevity of a group like, say, the Rolling Stones (although whether or not they'll be able to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a group remains to be seen. Personally, though, I suspect the money hanging over their heads will entice Mick back into the fold, no matter what Keith said about him in print).

In 1998, Golden Smog released their third of five albums (six if you count a best-of), called Weird Tales. The band has had several different incarnations over the years, all interesting. For this album, some of names included Jeff Tweedy (from Wilco), Gary Louris (from the Jayhawks), Dan Murphy (from Soul Asylum), and Jody Stephens (from Big Star). Now, I know I have friends who will shrug and perhaps nod their heads in mild recognition at one or two of those names, but I also know people who, like me, sit up and take notice when they see those all grouped together.

I will admit that sometimes the album sounds more like Jeff Tweedy walked in and decided it was time to do a new Wilco album, only with other musicians, and as much as I adore Wilco, that can sometimes be a little irritating (probably unfair, considering how few of the songs he actually wrote on his own). But unlike Wilco, Golden Smog has other voices to add to the mix; infrequently, perhaps, but enough to keep it interesting and enjoyable.

Interesting and enjoyable is enough for me to keep an album on fairly regular rotation, but not enough for me to want to shout from the rooftops about the music I'm hearing. A few songs do stand out for me, including "Looking Forward to Seeing You," "Jane," and "Jennifer Save Me," all of them enough for me to be happy to recommend the album to anyone who likes an alt-country vibe coupled with excellent musicianship.

All that said, one song leaps high above the rest, and from the moment I first heard it entered my own pantheon of great (Great!) music. "Until You Came Along" was written and is sung by Louris and is a great, messy, barroom singalong, a booze-stained love song that soars and aches at the same time. Listen to the harmonies: hear how they follow their own path? It really is like they're all in a bar, singing along with Louris, trying to hold onto their sloshing mugs of beer, arms around each others' shoulders, and forgetting exactly where they're supposed to hit their musical marks. The beat doesn't matter with the vocals, and yet as messy and eruptive as the music is, everything there is remarkably tight.

Listen to it, and imagine the response it should have garnered every time it was played by a DJ at a country bar, people hearing it for the first time and clamoring to find out who this was, everyone wanting to sing along with the track, all as messy and as fun as what they were hearing. Imagine country radio playing something like this, instead of (or even alongside) that insipid pop that passes for country music on every commercial station's playlist across the land (side note: really, CBC Radio 1, you thought it important to announce to us during the news broadcast that Lady Antebellum is coming to town?).

The album got some attention, and as will be the case with every song I list in this series, some of you will be familiar with it. But in my eyes "Until You Came Along" is a great song that deserves more than the cult following it has received. Enjoy.

Hey, How Come I'm Not There?

2011-10-03T15:23:00.000-07:00

I spent a few years as a board member with SFWA, I've posted plenty of times about writing and publishing scams, and yet I don't make the boycott list. Oh, I see: it's because I didn't mention these guys in particular.

Well, have at it then. The Write Agenda are a bunch of tools who are pulling all sorts of silly stunts and who are quite obviously identifiable as affiliated with scammers. Or, at the very least, have some very strange complex about the good work that Ann and Victoria and Jim are doing. If you write, especially if you're newer, and don't know about it yet, Writer Beware should be one of your best friends.

My Letter to Loblaws (Parent Company of Real Canadian Superstore)

2011-08-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

This is a note to inform you that it is highly unlikely I will shop at Superstore again. On Thursday of last week my wife and I purchased groceries, including a package of pork chops that cost $18.61. We hung onto the receipt, but today was recycling day and it went with everything else. The chops, which were labeled as good until August 16 (today being the 15th), had gone bad. I drove to the store to return them, and while I was aware of the no receipt policy, informed the clerk that I was not interested in replacement meat, nor did I want to wade through the crowds (this was close to supper time) in order to buy the equivalent amount. She was inflexible, so I asked to speak to the manager. Sadly, all the store manager could be bothered to do was to phone down, hear her side of the story, and tell her there was nothing he could do.

Fine. I left the meat with her and told her to let her manager know that he had lost a customer.

Last Thursday we spent close to $350 on groceries, and only two of those items were meat. We have two teenage boys, which as you might imagine contributes to a healthy monthly food bill. Sadly, it seems to me that your managers are not really trained in the art of customer service. As the saying goes, it takes months to lure a customer into the store, and only seconds to lose one. Who knows? I might have changed my mind if he had bothered to come down and treat me like a human being, or perhaps he might have changed his mind on seeing the quality of the meat and the fact that I wasn't someone looking to perpetrate a scam.

My fairly regular $300+ grocery bill likely does not impact your bottom line, I know, but the inability of the store manager to even be bothered to come down to talk to me (plus the apparent disdain the girl at the desk exhibited) indicates that it would be much less grief for me to take my business elsewhere, which I am happy to do.

And while I know that my impact on the world at large is small in the bigger view of things, rest assured that I will blog, tweet, Facebook, and Google+ my view, to say nothing of making sure that I make as many personal comments to friends, acquaintances, and even random strangers as I can. Again, I know that many, perhaps even most, of those people will not change their buying habits. But some may, and certainly many, if not most, will always have a niggling doubt about your store whenever they set out to do their shopping.

(Update: this is the 8th Street store in Saskatoon. Dopey me.)

Convention Appearance This Weekend

2011-08-11T17:01:00.001-07:00

I'll be in Calgary for the first When Words Collide, which is being touted as something of a readercon. My schedule that weekend is fairly light, but if you happen to be there, do drop by one or more of these and say hi:

Friday 9pm Foothills 1 and 2 - Blurring the Boundaries

Saturday 2pm Room 527 - Reading (probably a bit from Napier's Bones and a bit from the WiP)

Saturday 7pm Foothills 1 - Turning History Into Fiction

And that's it. Which is fine, actually, since I see that quite a few friends I have not seen for a long time will be there.

The Local Approach to Authors and to Publishing

2011-08-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

In case I haven't noted it before, Napier's Bones has not been getting a whole lot of love from any local sources. CZP sent copies to the Star-Phoenix here in Saskatoon and also the the Journal in Edmonton (Edmonton will qualify as a local source because I grew up there, because I used to write for that paper, because I have family there and regularly visit, and because part of the novel takes place there), but no reviews were done, no articles written, no mention made of my launch at McNally Robinson here in Saskatoon. In addition, no launch took place in Edmonton (in spite of some hopeful signs, but in the end all that arrived was frustrating silence), and it took some effort to therefore convince the libraries to order in copies of the book. And don't get me started on how Saskatoon Public Library has now shelved the novel as YA. In the end, aside from the launch at McNally and a later signing at the recently-refurbished Coles in downtown Saskatoon, the only local push I got was an interview in Planet S, the local free arts paper. Even Indigo, which had a co-op deal with my publisher, made a hash of things, and the manager-who-no-longer-works-there neglected to order the books until it was too late to get at the front (or even middle) of things.

Anyhow, now that I'm done bitching about all of that, I wanted to take the rest of this space to write about a new publication here in town called Bridges, published by the Star-Phoenix as a free weekly, which means even if you don't subscribe to the paper, this will still show up in your mailbox. In a never-ending pattern of plenty of newspaper chains (and Postmedia, the Star-Phoenix's corporate masters), there is a new path towards getting the word out yourself, instead of paying for a real author, real photographer, and real editor to do any kind of real work. The first sign of that is a new feature for local authors to write in and tell about their book, and to of course supply their own photo. Of course, the Journal has also done their own bit to give up more power to the readers, but that is neither here nor there right now.

Will I write a piece for this? I suppose I probably will, seeing how important it is to get the word out about my novel, and doubly so now that the initial window of interest has come and gone. Remember, it's all about What Have You Done For Me Today.

To take this digression a little further, while still staying with the publication at hand, last week's Bridges (only just now online) has a cover article about self-publishing, and I find myself wanting to answer a few things in it. In the interest of ease, I am going to attempt to address these in the order in which they arrive in the article.

1. In the article, Wes Funk says, "Every letter I got was quite praising of the book... But they told me they couldn't afford to take on an unknown (author)."

Now, I may be wrong here, but without evidence, I'm going to suggest that this may be a bit of hyperbole. Every letter? Listen: Editors and publishers want - desire, even - to discover someone new and fresh. It's a big deal to do so. Sometimes, those discoveries come off the slush pile, that stack of unsolicited manuscripts sitting in every publishing office around the world. Hell, the fact that anything worth publishing comes off the slush pile is a reason to celebrate, and no editor is going to turn down that opportunity.

At the risk of hurting feelings, I am going to instead suggest that Wes Funk received rejection letters (not all, of course) that were written in a way to very gently let him down. For whatever reason (and sometimes it has nothing to do with quality of the writing and the story), his book didn't speak to those editors, or perhaps it caught them on the wrong day, or after they'd already read portions of six other books that had similar themes and/or characters, and they decided to pass.

By the way, did you catch that word in the last sentence? Let me repeat it for you: Portions. The bad news here is, if you don't catch the editor or agent in the first sentence, you may have lost him or her already. And then, if the first sentence works but the first paragraph doesn't, again the editor may bail. And if that first paragraph works, but the first page doesn't, or the first chapter, or... Well, you get the idea. I haven't read Dead Rock Stars, so I don't know if it's missing anything in this area, but I will make an effort to track it down and make up my own mind. Because, as I've also noted, it may be that Funk just caught the wrong eyeballs on the wrong day.

2. The article goes on to say, "Any given year, a traditional publishing house, like Random House or Penguin, could receive as many as 3000 manuscript submissions a year. Of those, it's likely only 15 will make it onto bookstore shelves."

I won't speak to how many mss are received each year by the various publishers. I know it is indeed a large number. But a quick Google search tells me that Random House in the US is featuring 35 new titles for Fall orders, and going to "Upcoming Releases" for Penguin Canada kicks out 500 titles (I'll grant that "new" could mean a variety of things here, but bear with me). Are all those titles going to make it to the shelves of McNally-Robinson? Probably not. Are all of them going to appear of a variety of shelves in different stores? Here, I would suggest that yes they will.

3. The article talks about how Funk did everything himself, publishing and media releases and finding stores to carry it and cover design.

Yes, this is pretty much the definition of self-publishing, where you do everything yourself. Now, here is the point where I tell you all that it is not my job to be critical of the author. You may find info and a picture of the cover for Dead Rock Stars here, but without holding that book in my hands I can't tell you whether or not that cover really works for me. Besides, coming as I do from the garish world of scifi and fantasy, who am I to talk? But I will point out that hiring a professional for this sort of task is usually a very good idea.

4. Funk states, "Even a lot of renowned writers and authors are now turning to self publishing."

I will grant that, in spite of the redundancy of the above statement, and will cover a couple of examples at the end.

5. The article says that McNally Robinson in Saskatoon estimate they have over 300 self-published titles on their store shelves right now.

As opposed to? Does anyone care to take a guess at how many "traditionally" published books are on those same shelves? I haven't asked, but I'll take a wild stab and say that if could be anywhere from 7500 to 20,000 individual titles. Perhaps more, since so many are mass market paperbacks or slim picture books, and there is a 2nd floor as well.

A more sensible statement would be that there are over 300 titles and X percentage of them are selling regularly, even if not briskly.

6. The article also quotes Jeff Smith, who runs a company here in town called Indie Ink. He says, "Frankly a traditional publisher who hasn't figured out that the world is changing is on borrowed time."

As is any business person. The good news here is that most publishers I am acquainted with has indeed figured out that the world is changing. Their reactions are often different as they cast about for what will be the right answer for them and for their creators, but they are making an effort to change.

But let me quote from Indie Ink's website. The home page starts with the words "Create, collaborate, celebrate" and then asks what they mean. It also says "the old model is dying; its carcass huddling inward upon itself, licking its mortal wounds and surrounding itself with the trusted and familiar." That carcass is of course traditional publishing.

Delving deeper into the site, we find this as the only discussion of costs: "So who pays for all this? Maybe we do, maybe you do, or maybe we share the costs. It depends on the project and the players. Every deal is different, but one thing is certain, when everyone has a stake in the game, everyone stays focused and realistic. No fat and no Armani."

Oh-oh.

Just so we're clear, what this says to me is that different people are going to get different deals, kind-of-but-not-really like how Stephen King and I got different advances for our last novels. All of a sudden it sounds to me like a traditional publishing model, except for the part where you have to fork over some of your own dough. Only, if you have Most Favored Nation status, you don't have to pay as much. I think. I'd know for sure, but they're being awfully secretive about it.

Also, Armani? Wow, do we ever live in different worlds. Almost every editor I know, and I know a lot, dresses every bit as well as almost every writer I know (LE Modesitt, Jr is an outlier here). In other words, just like regular people. The same goes for publishers, although I know fewer of them.

There would be more I could say, but you get the point, I hope.

I don't question the wisdom behind self-publishing anymore. If done right and with care, it can be a good thing. I'm seeing that a fair number of my friends are getting into it for ebooks, as a way to bring older works back into "print." Jim Kelly is doing a zine of his short fiction, and Doug Smith is also selling his older short work online. Even more interesting to me is Minister Faust going out on his own for his new book, and I will follow with interest what comes of it. I know that he has opted to print some actual books after initially only going with an ebook. And of course Cory Doctorow has documented (start here) the process for With a Little Help, but I have always contended that Cory is a special case. More power to him, but what he does will not work for all of us.

In case I'm not preaching to the choir, anyone who is thinking about self-publishing needs to make sure that they check out Preditors and Editors for all the info on who and what to steer clear of. If you are paying money to anyone, it needs to be for the printing service, not for all sorts of starry-eyed ideas about how to market your book. Plain and simple, that's what you want. Avoid the Publish America (no link, but lots of stuff on the web about how nasty they are) model at all costs.

And that sort of warning is, I suppose, why I felt the need to write this post. Because the Bridges article had nothing to say about the dangers, and they are many and very real. In the meantime, I have vented, and now I can rest easy, at least until the next time I read something that sparks something.

In Today's Mail

2011-07-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

This morning, just after 6am, the doorbell rang, waking me up and inducing a sudden cramp in my calf as I bounced around putting on a housecoat to rush downstairs. When I got there, though, nobody was at the door.

Cut to later this afternoon, when I came home and found mail and something else in the box: an envelope with no stamp on it, addressed to (and from here on any spelling errors you find are lifted directly from the envelope and letter therein):

"A concered neigbour"

The letter inside says:

"Dear Neigbour,
Would you mind triming the tree at the corner of the alley, we use the alley every day & it is hard to see coming out of the alley, if there is a car coming down the street, also it is scatching our cars as it is so far out.
A concered neigbour
Thank you."

Obviously, I have no proof that this envelope was a result of the ring-a-door ginger game this morning at 6. But I think it's a reasonable assumption.

Part of me wants to put a sign up in the alley excoriating this person for their gutless behaviour; we would have no problem accepting someone ringing the bell and asking to talk to us (although, to be honest, we would have some problems with a person doing this when we're asleep. That's pretty bloody rude). We do have a problem with anonymous, passive-aggressive notes.

We also agree that the tree is in an awkward place, and it grows like a weed, although unless you're driving a Hummer there is no reason you can't slide around it, and I question how fast they're coming out of the alley when the distance between the tree and the road is about 10 feet.

The tree, though, is an elm, and there is a city bylaw about cutting down or trimming elms after the end of April and before the beginning of September. This is to prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease, and we are trying to get clarification on the whole "cutting down" part, since we want to get rid of it.

So, we will take care of this, but at our own speed, and my wife will be my smarter half and make sure I don't do or say anything too stupid, although she's obviously not a miracle worker, as many of you can attest. But I may go out and tie some coloured safety ribbon around a branch or two in the meantime, just for fun.

Another CUPW Screwup

2011-06-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

As soon as the rotating strikes were announced, employees were blindsided by Canada Post's contention that since the collective agreement was no longer in force and so they didn't have to cover benefits. Thus, employees found that drug plans, other health coverage, life insurance, and of course pension payments were no longer in place.

It is, I suspect, the union's belief that since these strikes are rotating, then employees who are still on the job should be entitled to their benefits. I haven't gone looking through the Canada Labour Code with a lawyer's eye for detail, but I have gone to an excellent review site, and find that... well, I don't really find much of anything. As far as I can tell, this particular situation hasn't been addressed.

Here are some aspects of employee status that are put at risk by a strike or lockout because they depend upon the resulting collective agreement. However, some aspects of employment are so fundamental they ought not to be put unduly at risk by a work stoppage. These include pension and insurance rights. Says the appropriate page:

Section 94(3)(d) prohibits an employer from denying to any employee any pension rights or benefits to which the employee would be entitled but for the cessation of work by the employee as the result of a lockout or strike that is not prohibited by Part I of the Code. The Code merely preserves pension and other benefits enjoyed or acquired prior to discontinuing work.

This is appropriate and should continue. Some provinces also protect insurance rights which are frequently provided through employer group plans. Employees with families are dependent on these plans for basic securities like life insurance, medical, dental or disability coverage and so on. It is often difficult, if not impossible, for employees to make alternate arrangements. Employees should be free to continue paying the full cost of premiums through their union, and the employers should be required to allow such benefits to continue.

Recommendation:

For the duration of a strike or lockout, employees through their union should be entitled to maintain employer-administered or third party insurance or similar benefit programs without interruption by the insurer or employer. This option should be conditional on the employees or union paying the full premium costs of such benefit plans.

It says nothing about rotating strikes, but it is eminently clear about other situations: CPC employees would still have all of their benefits if CUPW had made prior arrangements for payments to continue to be made, or, if that was too onerous a financial burden, if they had allowed employees to make their own informed decision about whether or not to continue paying for coverage. And then they should have announced their intention to grieve this decision by CPC. To accept that something is going to happen is not the same as admitting that it is correct. Look out for all aspects of your members' rights and health from the front end and continue the fight on all other aspects as it goes along.

CUPW has announced that CPC will reinstate prescription drug coverage, with a $100 deductible and 80% coverage, which, for employees who themselves or have family members with chronic conditions, is better than a kick in the head with a hob nail boot. Unfortunately, the conditions of it don't allow either side to shine especially bright.

How CUPW Has Dropped the Ball and Will Probably Lose the War

2011-06-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

The ongoing strike action by CUPW against Canada Post is about a lot of things, and as I think about it, that is very much the problem right now. I'm not going to link to any, but I'll point out that Google can lead you to many articles and editorials about why Canada Post needs to change, or needs to be privatized, or that the employees (especially letter carriers, since they are the most visible face of the corporation) are lazy and/or overpaid. What almost all of those have in common is the steadfast refusal to discuss he issues as the union sees them, at least beyond the most cursory notice.

Journalists are inherently lazy. They'll work damned hard when pressed, and that push often comes from themselves, especially when faced with a gripping, hot story. But for stories such as this, they often need to be spoon fed. And as near as I can tell, CUPW is doing an absolutely horrific job at this. Here's what I've found on their site, a series of bulletins about negotiations set up in one handy place for the press to come and find it. And I will note that I don't doubt each bulletin is dutifully emailed to reporters as they come out, along with a link back to the site for further reference.

But there's nothing sexy in these bulletins, nothing that is going to catch the reporter's eye and sense of story, much less the editor's. Even more important, there is nothing personal in these bulletins. "United, Disciplined, and Proud?" Well, good for you. But big deal. And throwing around words like "struggle" just reminds those reporters and editors and, even more so, their corporate masters, that the union still holds some pride in its ostensibly distant Marxist roots.

With rotating strikes hopping around the country, CUPW missed a perfect chance to make this personal, local, and national, all at the same time. They should have had several sympathetic writers lined up, people who had some training in how to word things more coherently than your average union leader, ready to dive in - by phone or in person - to every city that was soon to walk out for their assigned 24 hours, in order to interview one or two employees about the grief they've received from management. Whether or not that grief related to the bargaining process and what was being offered or taken away should have been irrelevant. These pieces could have been used to highlight what postal employees have been asking for, what CPC has been taking away, and how all of this has been affecting the common good.

Let me give a couple of small examples, off the top of my head (and therefore with a couple of facts fudged and with names changed to protect the innocent):

In over 20 years of delivering mail to the people of Saskatoon, Ron Raymond has done his very best to ensure that his customers get nothing but the highest level of service. Besides making sure the mail gets there on time, no matter the weather, Ron has twice rescued toddlers who were locked out of their houses, he's reported the death of another customer, an older woman, to the police, and he's befriended children, adults, and pets alike. In that same span of time, Ron has had three knee surgeries, largely due to the fact that his walk is now close to 18km a day, up and down stairs and on hard pavement. His latest surgery had Ron needing time off just a couple of weeks ago, but this time instead of being allowed to properly recover, Ron was forced to go to Employment Insurance and to his bank manager to ask for help in making his mortgage payments, because Canada Post decided to cut off all benefits to its employees, even health benefits for postal employees previously injured on the job who needed medical help to be able to do their jobs properly.

This (and I admit it's short and could be better - this is what time and professionals are for) could be accompanied by a photo, if Ron allowed it, as well as a brief fact from negotiations, something that relates directly to what was mentioned.

Another could talk about a letter carrier who was forced out on overtime 31 days in a row in January and February, about the toll that took on his body, about the staffing at the time (but remember! Not too strident, keep it moderately apolitical and calm).

What both of my above examples could also tie into would be a brief commentary about how CPC's actions are adding a current and a future burden to the public health care system, wearing employees down and throwing them to the side when they're done. Make it about the public, and in more ways than just them deserving a proper and public mail system. Remind them that good jobs mean money back into the economy. Talk about the local issues and the national issues, and make sure you personalize them. Don't be stupid and talk about how people won't notice another small increase in postal rates. And above all, don't tell people how bad off you are compared to them, because that's just a ridiculous thing to say. Get their sympathy, not their anger.

Have these things on the website in a special place, easy to find (easy to remember, like yourpostalemployee.ca or some such). Also hand them out in hard copy to reporters you've contacted, along with links on the hard copy to the site with all the stories. Follow up with emails that have those links.

And dammit, start using Twitter! Near as I can tell, CUPW has two Twitter feeds, and neither one has a single tweet to show for it. The Vancouver local has tweeted 22 times, Pacific region 44 times. Most of those tweets are about local action, or which city is going out next. None are about CPC intransigence, about ridiculous offers during bargaining (sample: Get this! CPC wants a doctor to assess you ability to crawl after injury on duty!). They have to be fast, real time, with the bare minimum facts and no hyperbole. Say it, and move on. Tweet several times a day, every day. Look for mentions of CPC and CUPW, and follow them. Retweet anything others say that is important and fits for you, and watch as others do the same. Social media can spiral in the right direction if done well.

Facebook too, but less so. It should be used for mobilization, for getting people to spread word when other ways don't work. But Facebook lends itself less to the spreading of the good word beyond the limited number of people who are your Friends. Twitter, on the other hand, can have the signal amplified many times over (retweeting, in case you need to know).

Above all, get yourself on the offensive and don't sit back waiting for the world to come to you. It won't happen.

Star Chamber For Librarians

2011-05-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

There have been a number of articles and posts about what's been happening down in Los Angeles with the school board, but this latest one is a real heart breaker. Lawyers, a judge, and I recall even hearing about police officers. It's an offensive theater of the absurd that shows just how little respect employees are getting in today's environment, and of course how little respect school librarians get. And not just in LA.

The BoingBoing Bump

2011-05-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, a bit more than a month after Napier’s Bones was released, Cory Doctorow posted a review of the book on BoingBoing. Up until then the book had been selling okay, consistently but with no great spikes. Its orders had been large, as mentioned before pretty much the biggest that CZP had received up until that point, but the two sales tracking tools I’ve used to monitor things had not shown any significant jumps in numbers (and here let me note that I cottoned on to both of these a little bit late, and so missed any account of sales right out of the gate).

The first tool is offered by a company called NovelRank. They keep track of your Amazon sales for you, and I have it set up to see the numbers from Amazon in the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany (where I’ve seen a couple of inexplicable spikes in sales). These are not Amazon Sales Ranks, mind you, but actual quantities of books sold. And now I get to own up to the fact that I was an idiot and didn’t set it up early enough to get a good grip on how the Kindle edition was doing. I’m a dope, yes. Learning curve and all that.

The second tool is offered by Amazon themselves, and, ironically enough, doesn’t keep track of Amazon sales. Instead, it gets the Nielsen Bookscan numbers from bricks and mortar stores across the US. The claim is it’s only giving about 75% of the actual sales numbers, but it’s a cool site to use, showing sales from actual cities and geographical regions, and even highlighting those parts of the map as desired.

It should seem obvious how useful those two tools are, especially when put up against the numbers that Amazon offers at its most basic. You know those numbers: when you click on a book, you’ll be told the Amazon ranking.

The morning of the BoingBoing review, Napier’s Bones had its reverse peak, so to speak, sitting at 789,000 in sales on Amazon.com, around 138,000 on Amazon.ca. A few short hours later, it peaked at 1961, and Amazon.ca at 221. These were, I believe, the highest numbers ever for CZP. And for a short while I had great fun Tweeting the numbers in various categories and locations. Allow me to run down a few of them for you:

94 on Amazon.com’s Fantasy list.

14 on Amazon.com’s Fantasy subcategory of Magic and Wizards (Kindle edition). 42 for trade edition.

Kindle hit 1101 overall, 10 in Occult, and 31 in Contemporary.

At Amazon.ca, it was 1 in Magic and Wizards, 8 in Science Fiction, and 31 in Contemporary. And that 8th position meant I was the only Canadian author in the top 20.

At Amazon.co.uk it jumped from around 689,000 to 2294. There it was 8 in Mystery & Crime, and 99 in Scientific, Technical, & Medical. And that category raised an eyebrow.

In Germany, it went from over 95,000 to 1254. And France, for some reason, has been a flat line the entire time. No interest there, I guess.

Now here’s the thing. It’s fun and goofy to track these numbers, but you can’t let yourself get caught up in it, because it can become a ridiculous obsession. And even more important, you have to remember that these numbers are relative. The sales figures are only in relation to how other books sell, and not giving real numbers, books that have actually crossed the transom, physical or electronic.

I won’t go into actual amounts sold, at least not yet. It’ll be a few days before the Bookscan numbers show up for this week, and I have no idea how things are selling in Canada anywhere other than on Amazon.ca. And the Canadian numbers, I am told, are only estimates.

The BoingBoing bump is a very real thing, that much is obvious. But I think there has been more at play than just Cory’s excellent review. As big and popular a website as BoingBoing is, I think more has probably come out of Cory tweeting about the review, both via BoingBoing’s Twitter feed and via his own. At least a couple of dozen people retweeted his Tweet, and there were, I’m sure, plenty of people who paid attention to the Tweets that ensued. And some of those retweeters added their own comments expressing their interest or else pointing someone else towards the book because they thought it would be of interest.

As far as numbers go, Cory himself has over 130,000 followers on Twitter, BoingBoing has well over 80,000 (many of those are cross-overs, I’m sure), and the retweeters varied from as low as 7 followers to up over 6000, with the average probably being several hundred. However it’s stacked, though, that’s a lot of potential eyeballs. There will be no miracle here, though, no 50% of everyone seeing this buying the book. But every little bit counts, and interest was shown by people who might not have heard of the book otherwise, so that’s a major win.

I guess the lesson here is that social media can indeed help get the word out, but first you need to catch someone’s attention. Not everyone is going to get their book plugged by Cory - he gets dozens of books every week, and there’s no way he can read them all, and when he does read one he has to like it enough to want to write about it. But BoingBoing is not the only place writers can take their books. There are plenty of other blogs and review sites and tweeters to approach, not all as big, but all with their own followings, and if word gets out, slowly or quickly, it’s a Good Thing.

The other issue, though, is quantities. I’ve seen numbers suggesting that over 500,000 books are published every year, and I wonder if, in this age of POD and ebooks and self-publishing, that that might be a low ball estimate. The book had better be special, had better have something to say and some way to catch the eye and, in the end, had better be well-written to get that attention.

And then, the author had better be ready to hustle some more, because these things don’t usually sell themselves.

Selling Well

2011-04-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

My numbers at Amazon are not as high as I'd like them these days (although I've had a couple of author friends assure me that's only a small part of the puzzle), but if you go by the slogan of "Think Global, Act Local," then Napier's Bones is doing very well indeed. The local paper has a small Books section in its Saturday paper, and included there is a list of the Top 10 selling books from the past week for McNally Robinson Booksellers here in Saskatoon.

And there, sitting in 4th place, is Napier's Bones. This pleases me greatly, especially since the local press has been no help whatsoever.

The Quill & Quire Review in Whole

2011-04-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

I had only put up a small piece of it before, but the review for Napier's Bones is now up at CBC's Books site. Go have a look!

Final Day in New York

2011-04-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Today was a bit slower. I did get to one B&N to sign more copies of Napier's Bones, as well as the Strand (where they were for some reason filed under Fiction. I personally didn't mind this, but sober second thought led me to believe that people looking for them would more likely go straight to SF/F). I also hit the Museum of Natural History, which was every bit as marvelous (and crazy busy) as last time. The weather was cool enough I could see my breath, but instead of going inside somewhere to eat I bought a hot dog from a street vendor. For supper I got a sandwich at a deli down the street from where I'm staying in Astoria, and it was quite good.

Tonight, after some hemming and hawing about what time it would be (initial suggestions had me there from 2-3am!), I will be at WBAI recording Hour of the Wolf with Jim Freund from 9-10pm, then rushing back to force myself to sleep before heading out to the airport at about 4:30am. Because it isn't live I obviously won't be taking phone calls, but we'll chat about the book, about writing, I'll read something, and probably listen bemusedly as Jim surprises me with a variety of questions. Should be fun.

A Full Day in New York

2011-04-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

There was lots of rain today, and as I walked downtown from uptown I smartened up and stopped at a camera store that was wisely also selling umbrellas (one of the short ones for only $4, which is fine as long as it makes it through tomorrow).

I dropped by the one Borders I could find that was still open, but, surprise surprise, they didn't have my book. The four Barnes & Noble stores I hit did, though, and all were keen to have me sign their copies. In fact, Karen at the Union Square store told me that they'd already sold out and had to bring them back in (not that this was huge quantities, mind), and it turns out she'd also a huge ChiZine fan, and has set up a special end cap devoted to their books. This was a delightful turn of events. One of the other B&Ns had me on their New SF shelf, and the other also had me on an end cap, while the 4th had my book mixed in with all the other SF; I'm hopeful that now that it has an "Autographed Copy" sticker on the cover, it'll go face out.

To tell you the truth, I was surprised at how non-blase everyone seemed when I came in, how genuinely interested they were. One woman was even halfway to excited. These are stores that are advertising events and signings by Gwyneth Paltrow and Rob Lowe, for crying out loud, and even some real authors in the mix.

After all that I had lunch at Punch with Amy, my agent, which was a nice time. Great to finally meet her in person, and while we chatted lots about life in general, there was business talk and a couple of potential ideas. And then after that I rushed back uptown and met for a short visit and a cup of tea with Jane Yolen, who was herself in town meeting with agents and editors. I hadn't seen her since Jo and I were in Scotland in 2003, and it was lovely to talk, about both life and business.

Finally, I spent the last hour and a half it was open wandering the first floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I had a free pass and may go back tomorrow; I do love that place.

Tonight, I am waiting for my host Mark to come back to Astoria from work, and we were going to find a place to eat nearby since his wife Sue is working late, but I have just received an invite to attend dinner in SoHo for Carol Emshwiller's 90th birthday. I just may head out there.

Yet Another One Crosses the Transom

2011-04-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

Not a review, so much as a reader reaction, something I think is incredibly important and valid. This blog post is from a reader who bought Napier's Bones after reading about it in my Big Idea piece (which was quite gratifying). He says nice things and finishes with, "Overall, it was a fun, fast paced read."

Another Napier's Review Rolls In

2011-04-12T05:39:00.000-07:00

Missy's Reads & Reviews has some nice things to say about the book, including: "...this was a great read, fast-paced with an explosive beginning and equally entertaining reading. There's the definite feel of an Urban Fantasy read to it, but other than that it is like nothing that I've ever read before. It's a book to add to your TBR lists, for sure."

On the weekend I had lunch with Guy Gavriel Kay, and he and I were talking about review sites compared to more traditional venues in print, and he expressed his belief that these are the way things are going, with fewer and fewer column inches being devoted to print reviews. That's been my experience, too, with pretty much nothing coming from the local press or from Edmonton (where I used to live, where some of Napier's Bones takes place, and where I once wrote an award-nominated SF review column), and also seeing the larger publications, such as the Globe & Mail, severely cut back what they once had.

It intrigues me to come upon all of these online review sites, and I look forward to finding more. They represent readers who want to still want to discover new works, who care about the written word, and I'm pleased that they have jumped in to fill the void.

Great New Review For Napier's Bones

2011-04-04T21:34:00.001-07:00

Fantasy Book Critic has posted Liviu Suciu's full review of my novel here, and it's full of all sorts of praise. A few choice quotes:

"The numerological stuff in the novel is as good as anything I've read and the action is fast and furious with no let-up till the powerful climax."

"...the pages turn by themselves and the book is a very entertaining reading experience with a great ending."

"...if you are a math aficionado or a fan of Urban Fantasy that goes beyond vampires and zombies, you have to try Napier Bones (A+ for superb content and very good execution) since the author makes the premise work with brio."

Oh, and I also have a flowing style that keeps the pages turning. Nice one all round.

In Which I Might Be Compared to Yes, or Genesis, or Perhaps Rush

2011-03-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Not online, of course, but I've managed to get my hands on a new (and mostly positive) review of Napier's Bones which ran in the new issue of Quill & Quire. Here are a couple choice quotes:

"...the book's true pleasure lies in how committed it is to its premise, continually unfolding new permutations..."

"...Napier's Bones is a consistently compelling and inventive read. Think of it as literary prog-rock, stretching the bounds of what is possible..."

He also thinks I do too much exposition, just like many a hard SF author, which is interesting, considering another review equated the book to both urban fantasy and hard SF.

Best Spam Ever

2011-03-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

It can't get any better than this. It really can't. This first part was just the header:

"Records show that you are among one of the individuals and organizations who are yet to receive their overdue payment from overseas which includes those of Lottery/Gambling, Contract and Inheritance. Through our Fraud Monitory Unit we have also noticed that over the past you have been transacting with some imposters and fraudsters who have been impersonating the likes of Prof. Soludo of the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Aziza, Anderson, Wallace Fred, none officials of Oceanic Bank, Zenith Banks, Kelvin Young of HSBC, Smith Williams, Daniel Wilson, Ibrahim Sule, Dr. Philip Morgan, Dr. Usman Shamsuddeen and some imposters claiming to be The Federal Bureau of Investigation."

And then this is the body:

"Please see attached letter.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation.

[link redacted]

Attention: Beneficiary,

The Cyber Crime Division of the FBI gathered information from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ICCC) formerly known as the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) of how some people have lost outrageous sums of money to these imposters. As a result of this we hereby advice you to stop communication with any one not referred to you by us.We have negotiated with the Federal Ministry of Finance that your payment totaling 6.1million united stated dollars will be released to you via online banking system which means that an account will be setup in your name and the 6.1million united states dollars credited into it and there login name and password sent to you through via e-mail for you to assess the account online and make transfers online from the account to your local bank account We have been advised that this should be the only way in which you are to receive your payment because it’s more guaranteed and the best option, since over Fifteen billion us dollars was lost on fake checks last year 2010.

To redeem your funds you are hereby advised to contact the bank officer Mr. Donald Diedrich who will put you through as your account manager on the procedure to setup the online banking account for you and also you have to pay 300 us dollars to him for the bank logistics which is the normal process of setting up the online banking account and the bank where this account is going to be opened will be an International known bank.

Contact Information of the bank officer:

Name: Donald Diedrich
Email: [email redacted]
Phone: [phone number redacted]

Do contact Donald Diedrich the bank officer via his contact details above and furnish him with your details as listed below for the processing:

Your full Name:
Your Address:
Home/Cell Phone:
Occupation:

Robert S. Mueller
Fbi Director."

Just Ducky

2011-03-26T16:38:00.001-07:00

That's me holding the 2nd book of Volume X of my Carl Barks Library from Another Rainbow, along with the slipcases and books for all ten sets, three hardcovers per volume. I started collecting this when Volume I came out 1984, and just the other day finished it when I was finally able to get my hands on the elusive Volume X.

I was, obviously, a much younger man when these started coming out, and diligently set aside my money to make each purchase as it arrived. If memory serves, each one of the first nine sets was in the vicinity of $200. But then 1990 rolled around and, even though it was published, the final set never came to the store I used. In those pre-internet days, I had no idea what had happened, and searches for the books were always fruitless. But I always carried those other nine with me, no matter where I lived, hopeful that one day I'd be able to fill in the final blank.

In the past few years, I think I'd managed to find the books online three or four times, but I was always too late. And then I found it on eBay last year and promptly bid a nice, safe, high number. Which wasn't enough. So when I found it again this February, I made sure that the bid I put in was higher, beyond safe, and it turned out that even that was only about $15 higher than I needed. I'm not the only one who's been looking for this.

Here's my understanding: Another Rainbow was absolutely meticulous with this, doing a remarkable job of recreating all the covers, many of Barks' original oil paintings, scholarly and historical articles about Barks and his work, and all of his Duck stories (including some that needed re-creating or other work because of original editing or loss). But then, midway through putting the final volume together, Disney yanked the licence, and they had to rush it out. Some of the covers are poorly shot and color-controlled, and I would guess that the print run was probably smaller, although I don't have verification of that. I do find it interesting that Volume V in the link in the paragraph above this one is actually the most expensive set, aside from the one that was signed by Barks.

In my mind, the two greatest funny animal comic people of the 20th century were Walt Kelly, who did the strip Pogo, and Carl Barks, who not only drew the adventures of Donald Duck and his family, but created such iconic characters as Scrooge McDuck, the Beagle Boys, and Gyro Gearloose. Pogo was the strip (and yes, I know also a comic book, but the strip was better) and the Ducks were comic books. They were above everything else, and not just in funny animals. And now, finally, I've completed at least one small portion of what Barks did, and who thought it would have been almost as hard as trying to collect all of his originals?

Ad Astra Schedule

2011-03-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

I'll be in Toronto for Ad Astra from April 8-10, my first-ever visit to that convention, and my first con since San Jose's World Fantasy Con last October. I've received my programming schedule, which I gladly share with you here:

Saturday 1 pm Ballroom Centre
Marketing and Self Promotion for the Backlist, Mid-list, and Small Publisher Author
JM Frey (m), Laura Marshall, Samantha Beiko, Derryl Murphy

Saturday 3:30 pm - 5 :30 pm Ballroom East and Centre
Autograph session

Sunday 12 pm Anton's
Getting Your First Novel Published
Caro Soles, Kent Allan Rees, Samantha Beiko, Shawna McCarthy, Derryl Murphy

Sunday 2 pm Salon 243
Laws of Magic
Ed Greenwood, Elisabeth Vonarburg, Jana Paniccia (m), Shawna McCarthy, Derryl Murphy

The CZP Launch Party is scheduled to start at 8 pm Saturday in Suite 100

I hope to have further news about activities out that way very soon.

Yet Another Review of Napier's Bones

2011-03-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

This one is print only, in the New York Review of Science Fiction, in the March issue which is apparently now out. My publisher has sent along the review, which the author, Alex Good, was kind enough to send along the unedited text. I'm thrilled, to say the least. I can't post it all here, obviously, but here are a couple, including the final line of the review, which is a killer of a pull quote:

"It takes a sure hand to make material like this work, and it is much to Murphy's credit that he manages to pull it off. In tone it's a lot different from the typical ChiZine dark fantasy, but the lighter touch is welcome here."

and

"The result is a clever lark full of free-wheeling adventure and odd intellectual borrowings; a sort of winking DaVinci Code for the math set bracketed in magic and uncertainty."

Hello? Is Anybody There?

2011-03-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

Y'know, I remember the day when local papers took up the cause of local writers. Now? The paper here in town had a retirement and is between editors, and nobody else might ever be bothered to contact me about the book, even though I've talked to them and made it easy for them to at least interview me if they don't want to review it. And the same goes for cities where I used to live: I didn't expect much from the paper in Prince George, since it is a very small city, but there's been no response to my follow-up query. In Edmonton, where some of Napier's Bones takes place and where I not only lived but was an award-nominated SF critic for the one paper, that Books editor is away on holidays and I've been told nobody is making any decisions until he comes back. I am also told that they, like most other Postmedia papers, are outsourcing a lot their reviews, even to the US.

I can see now why publishers and writers are relying more and more on social media to get the word out. It's a frustrating thing.

New Guest Blog Post Up

2011-03-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

I've written a piece about the process of editing for the blog Writer in Residence, and it can be found right here. Head on over, read it, maybe make a comment to show her that someone's paying attention and that it was worthwhile to bring me on.

Back in the Day

2011-03-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

I remember being 13 or 14, sitting in Bruce Thomson's basement, when he ran his comic shop out of there, not yet in a proper store. Don Jessop and I were sitting there when Bob Klassen came downstairs with a box in his arms, saying, "Got it." Inside was Amazing Fantasy #15, and Spiderman #s 1-100, all in fabulous shape. I asked how much for the set and was told $1000, which was ridiculously far out of reach for me.

I say that because of a recent sale of that first appearance of Spidey.

Another Mention for Napier's Bones

2011-03-09T12:57:00.001-08:00

As a precursor to an actual review going up at the Fantasy Book Critic, a smaller review from that person has shown up on GoodReads, and is a 5 Star notice for Napier's Bones. He calls it "a very entertaining mix of [science fiction] and [Urban Fantasy]" and a "positive surprise for 2011." Nice to see this, and to see the list of people piling up on GoodReads who want to read the book when it comes out.

That Poster

2011-02-23T16:53:00.001-08:00

This is the poster that Eileen has won (give or take any last-minute tweaks that Martin performs). It is also the colour frontispiece art for the limited hardcover edition.

We Have Some Winners!

2011-02-23T16:34:00.000-08:00

The numbers have been tallied, and after some adding and subtracting of those same numbers, I've arrived at the list of winners for the Napier's Bones contest. The nice surprise for me was how many people came very close to picking the right number. While some I could dismiss right away, I actually had to go back and make sure about who was closer in several cases, at least twice for each prize.

I'll send an email to each of the winners, but the announcement goes up here first. And so, after inserting the obligatory drum roll:

3rd Prize - The winner of the poster, signed by Martin Springett and me, is Eileen Bell. My number was 1646, and Eileen picked 1630.

2nd Prize - The winner of the trade paperback, signed by me, is Winnifred Smit. My number was 1986, and Winnifred picked 1973.

1st Prize - And the big winner of the signed and numbered hardcover is Charity Fraser. My number was 697, and Charity picked 765.

Congratulations to all of the winners. You'll hear from me probably before you see this post, and soon you'll see your prizes. And thanks again to everyone who entered.

Atlanta Nights: The Movie

2011-02-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

Just got word that Atlanta Nights by author Travis Tea (say it out loud) has been optioned for a film, kind of a documentary coupled with some dramatizations. The money will go to SFWA's Emergency Medical Fund. Wanting to know about the famed Atlanta Nights? Read about it here.

And you can hear a "dramatic" reading of my chapter here.

I'll note that my chapter is a little more tame than many of the others. I was writing it so it would be bad but not insanely so, and out of sync with what was happening elsewhere in the book. Some other authors went a little more nuts, and more power to them, says I.

People Are the Same the World Over

2011-02-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have yet to read Napier's Bones, I won't give away too much but wanted to mention something related to a scene in the book. There is a point where our heroes go to a little place called Seil Island, and while there they have an encounter with a badger. Beyond that I'll say nothing.

I've been to Seil Island, specifically to visit a place called the Ballachuan Hazelwood, which was the absolute highlight of my trip, a forest that has probably existed since the island was first settled after the first ice age. And while I didn't see any badgers while there, I did know that they were living on the island.

So imagine my despair to discover that in 2007 it was announced that the species had been extirpated on the island, and that authorities believed that someone had been gassing the badgers to death over a number of years. There had been about forty of the animals living on the island, and some of their setts had been there for hundreds of years.

Think about that. A small mammal, whose home has been built and enlarged by successive generations for a longer period of time than the place where I live has been a city. And then some jackass comes along and wipes them all out.

I weep for the future of us all.

Fertility Clowns

2011-02-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

Is there a better phrase in the English language today? I think not.

And let me just add that this explains why Jo always laughs at me before we enjoy conjugal relations. Yeah, that's it...

A Napier's Bones Contest

2011-02-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

On Facebook I had recently made some noises about having some sort of contest so that somebody could win some cool Napier's Bones-related swag, but I had to put my brain to the grindstone to figure out exactly how I wanted to do this. That's all done now, and it's time to start this contest.

But first, let me announce what you can win:

First Prize - A signed, limited edition hardcover of Napier's Bones. This glorious edition contains a colour frontispiece and some internal black and white art by Martin Springett, as well as signatures by me, Martin, cover artist Erik Mohr, and book designer Corey Beep.

Second Prize - A trade paperback copy of Napier's Bones, signed by me.

Third Prize - A poster for Napier's Bones of Martin's colour frontispiece, signed by Martin and by me.

I will handle the mailing costs to anywhere in the world, but am not responsible for our respective postal services doing Something Stupid.

Contest Rules

In conjunction with the mathematical fantasy nature of the novel, I want you to pick a number, anywhere from (and including) 0 (Zero) to 2011 (two thousand eleven). You may then post that number in one of three places:

- on my blog, in the comments for this contest announcement. Please make sure you've left your email address or else check back on February 23rd for the announcement.

- on my Facebook page, in the comments of this Note

- on Twitter. If using Twitter, you must use the hashtag #napiersbones, in order for me to be able to find your entry. Simply type your number and the hashtag, ie

2012 #napiersbones

(note that I chose a number outside of the range)

Speaking of Twitter, you can follow me there @derrylm. Nothing extraordinarily scintillating, but as events for the book begin to unfold, I suspect I will be able to update there more frequently.

I have already chosen and tucked away the three winning numbers. They were randomly generated, so no prior knowledge of my life or anal habits or OCDs will be of benefit.

Entries will be accepted until February 22/2011.

Anyone can enter, except for employees of ChiZine Publications and their immediate families, as well as my own immediate family, and that of my wife.

You are allowed one entry per format. One for the blog, one for Facebook, one for Twitter. Make sure you choose a different number for each place. If by some bizarre set of circumstances someone actually tries to spoof this contest with bots, I reserve the right to shut it down early.

If the number is not chosen, the closest guess will be the winner. If two or more are potential winners, I will draw the winner's name from a hat. Guesses equidistant from the right number will qualify, whether they are higher or lower, excepting those numbers that fall out of the range.

Spread the word! The more the merrier, and the odds are better than the lotto.

When Photography Means Something

2011-01-25T20:34:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned W. Eugene Smith before. There's an award named after him, and it has recently been awarded to Darcy Padilla, for an incredible series of photos taken over almost 18 years. It's a tough, honest, and heartbreaking look at a life that didn't go well.

The Movies of 2010

2011-01-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

I kind of fell off the wagon partway through the year, not keeping track of every movie I saw because I was so busy working on the novel and living the life of a soccer dad. If I discover any that I missed (and it's likely there are a few foreign movies that have fallen off the radar), I'll add them to this at that time.

Because we subscribed to Zip.ca this past year (a subscription that we have now let drop), I've decided to include older movies seen for the first time in 2010 as well. It's a standard event with me that many films get seen on my home theatre setup instead of on the big screen, and so many films are seen the year after their release, but this time I'm allowing even older ones into the picture (including one that is significantly older, although ironically that is one I saw in the theatre).

I also add the proviso that my life has been disproportionately weighted towards family fare, although as the boys get older that sort of movie becomes less Cats and Dogs 2 (Hurray! I didn't have to see it!) and more action/adventure. You'll be able to sort out which is which as you read the list.

I'm now up to 38 movies in my Blu Ray collection, which last year (mentioned here) was at 29. The new films on that list are: Close Encounters of the Third Kind; Fantastic Mr. Fox; The Hurt Locker; The Last of the Mohicans (Michael Mann's film); Memento; No Country for Old Men; Ponyo; The Road; Toy Story 3. I'll continue to add to this collection as I find either the right movie or the right screaming deal.

The other two years I looked at the movies can be found in posts here and here. 53 movies were seen this year, and several of those were shorts as a part of an Oscars collection that came to town. That's down from last year, and is indicative of how time seems to shrink when the kids hit a certain age. But enough whining: On with the list!

Appaloosa - From 08, a decent film with a good cast, although it seemed to wander a tad, especially considering its length.

Helvetica - From 07, and interesting documentary about the typeface. Yes, really.

Sharkwater - A disturbing documentary about sharks and how we view, treat and kill them, from 06

Vera Drake - Imelda Staunton is incredible in this 04 film about an abortionist in 1950s Britain.

The Squid and the Whale - From 05, some disturbing family dynamics and some off-putting characters, but still a good movie.

Tsotsi - From 05, this South African movie was a deserving Oscar winner for foreign language film.

*Metropolis - Yes, this was made in 1927. No, I wasn't lucky enough to see the newly-updated version, but the whole family got to go to the Roxy (the finest cinema anywhere near these parts) to watch the movie with live musical accompaniment by members of Saskatoon's symphony orchestra. There was even wine in real wine glasses, which, judging by the number of times we heard them drop and break, was a mistake.

*Sherlock Holmes - Late 09 release, enjoyable enough, but after seeing the new Sherlock TV series, it just doesn't hold a glass to that.

Zombieland - From 09, fun and light fare, but I'm hopeful the zombie thing is slowing down now. Or even stopping.

(Note: From the next one until a film called The New Tenants, these were a part of an in-theatre presentation of Oscar-nominated shorts, both animated and live action. If the film is available online, I've given a link)

*French Roast - A funny animated piece about a man in a cafe who forgot his wallet.

*Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty - Another very funny animated piece.

*The Lady and the Reaper - Also very funny, a madcap animated Spanish film about an old woman who does not want the doctor to keep saving her life.

*Logorama - The Oscar winner for animated short, this is a bizarre, profane, and unsettling film set in a world where everything is corporately branded.

*A Matter of Loaf and Death - (Link to Part 1, with French subtitles) Wallace and Gromit, of course, another fine and fun adventure.

*The Door - (Link to Part 1) A devastating live-action short about a man who has to sneak into an off-limits area to steal an old door.

*Instead of Abracadabra - (Link to Part 1) A funny live-action Swedish film about a bit of a loser who still lives with his parents and wants to be a great magician.

*Kavi - A live-action short about child slavery in India.

*Miracle Fish - A disturbing Australian live-action short about a young boy who wishes everyone in the world would disappear.

*The New Tenants - The Oscar winner for live-action short, this American one I think was a little over the top, and of course was also the one that had the most professional input (including an appearance by Vincent D'Onofrio).

*Shutter Island - Martin Scorsese. Leo DiCaprio. Lord, what a mess.

Primer - A clever low budget science fiction film from 04 that deals quite effectively with time travel and starting a business in your garage.

Paranormal Activity - An interesting enough low budget horror movie that couldn't quite live up to its hype, but good for some chills and thrills nonetheless.

Princess and the Frog - A return for Disney to hand-drawn animation. The movie was fine and enjoyable, but won't ever rank as a classic.

Whip It - Drew Barrymore's roller derby movie. Light and frothy fare, fun to watch.

*How to Train Your Dragon - Enjoyable enough, but not so special to be a top ten moneymaker on the year.

*The Ghost Writer - Just when I was bemoaning the state of movies in 2010, a friend on FB (thanks, Taras!) suggested this movie, which, no matter what you think of Roman Polanski, goes a long way to renew one's faith in the ability of movies to grab and hold you. Absolutely marvelous.

A Serious Man - In which the Coen Brothers kick it down a notch and make sure they don't make a movie with broad appeal. I liked it, yes, but it is definitely a movie that rewards patience.

*The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - The best of the three in the original Swedish. Noomi Rapace is tremendous in this one.

*Date Night - Fun and funny, although with reflection I find that James Franco's character is the one that still sticks with me.

Kick-Ass - Disturbing, funny, and with whole sections that bored me to tears. Like so many movies of this sort, I am no longer the sort of geek ready to give it a free pass.

The A-Team - I watched this on the plane coming home, a bored captive audience. Preposterous and loud. Oh, and also smug.

*Inception - I found this to be very smart and thrilling, and yes, I understood what was happening.

*Scott Pilgrim vs The World - Smart and too cool for school, and just the sort of role that works for Michael Cera's disjointed affect he gives the audience.

*The Last Exorcism - Not what I expected at all, and that's a good thing. I found the characterization of the pastor/exorcist to be very realistic, and a pleasant surprise.

*Let Me In - A rare instance in which the American remake is every bit as good as the foreign original, and in some ways I would venture to say even better. It's a shame this movie didn't catch the public's attention. Go check out this excellent breakdown of what Matt Zoller Seitz calls this movie scene of the year. And if you've seen the movie or Let The Right One In, be patient with his use of the word "father."

*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - It's been quite a ride, and I've enjoyed both the books and the movies, feeling they've just gotten better over time.

*True Grit - Wow, what a tremendous film. And there's so much sorrow and loss in this film, something that the Coen Brothers managed to slip by this time.

*The Girl Who Played With Fire - Good, but not as much tension as the first.

*The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest - A bit more tension in this one. I will say that the source material, being in many cases not much more than a tense laundry list, makes it surprising they were able to do as good a job as they did.

500 Days of Summer - I really enjoyed this. Whimsical and sweet and sad and fun, and the song and dance number with the animated bird was a nice touch.

The Damned United - Nice to see an excellent soccer movie, with great acting to boot.

Drag Me to Hell - Sam Raimi returns to his roots with a good old-fashioned horror that makes you laugh as much as you might scream.

The Informant - Matt Damon has a good time going over the top and at the same time makes a somewhat nuts character sympathetic. Not a classic, but enjoyable.

It Might Get Loud - From 08, Jack White, The Edge, and Jimmy Page riff and talk, and it's endlessly fascinating.

Public Enemies - I think of how Bonnie and Clyde was such a shock to the system back in 1968, and how much I admire Michael Mann, and wonder how this movie could have left me feeling so flat.

Micmacs - A fun and whimsical French film about getting even and getting along.

The Good the Bad the Weird - A funny and well-done Korean movie, a Western that takes place in 1940s Manchuria.

*The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 - A so-so thriller remake starring Denzel Washington.

Terminator 4: Salvation - Yee. Why did I bother?

*Babies - A sweet and fun documentary about four babies born at the same time in four very different countries. I was thankful there was no narration.

The Brothers Bloom - From 08, an enjoyable film full of great period anachronisms. The brothers seemed to live in a time bubble, and nobody around them seemed to notice.

Julie and Julia - Great acting from Streep - surprise, surprise - and an enjoyable story arc that results in a movie I quickly forgot.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Terry Gilliam would have been the only person to be able to work out an answer to the death of his star, Heath Ledger. Mad and entertaining, but sloppy and loose and, in the end, disappointing.

Top Ten? As per last year, keep in mind that I will restrict this to actual 2010 releases, except for foreign releases that were hard to get here. Also, remember that there were all sorts of films I didn't get to see.

1. True Grit
2. Toy Story 3
3. The Ghost Writer
4. Inception
5. Let Me In
6. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
7. Micmacs
8. The Door
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
10. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

This list is sorely lacking. I finally saw The King's Speech the other day, and have yet to see Winter's Bone, Black Swan, 127 Hours, Monsters, and so many more. I promise to try harder for 2011!

The Pressure We Put On Our Kids

2010-12-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

We may as well consider this to be a placeholder post, as I have plenty of thoughts bouncing around in my thick skull right now but no time to let them all loose in a sensible fashion until after an assignment is done, but I wanted to point out this article from the UK about what is happening with kids who just want to play football (soccer) for fun, and then I wanted to point to the Canadian Soccer Association's page about their new program called Wellness to World Cup, which attempts to deal with some of these very issues.

More soon. I'd been thinking about these very things (among others) before I read this, but it brings it all to the forefront for me.

More Martin Springett Art For Napier's Bones

2010-12-16T19:55:00.001-08:00

Martin has really gone to town on this, which I've greatly appreciated. Every time I think he's done, he sends along another sketch he's done, inspired by something else he's read in Napier's Bones. It's been quite thrilling to open all the new emails and see what he's sent this time.

This gryphon sketch was the last one he sent. There are others, but they are works that will be appearing in the hardcover, which, as usual, can be ordered here, although only until January 2. And because they're appearing in the book, I'd like to save that experience for the people who get that version.

More Napier's Bones Hardcover Art Samples

2010-12-12T12:35:00.001-08:00

Here's another sketch by Martin Springett, from the scene in the book that takes place in the Ballachuan Hazelwood on Seil Island in Scotland. We ended up opting not to go with this one as the frontispiece, although it was a close decision in the end.

Out of all the things we did when Jo and I went to Scotland for research, visiting this tiny island and this small forested nature preserve was my very favorite. It's a magical place, and a fine introduction to how people in the UK treat public and private access to land. We parked down below an old church (a church that also hosts a scene in the novel), then walked down a private drive and up over some wooden steps that had been placed so people could safely scale a barbed wire fence. Then we walked through farmland before coming to a very old forest, ancient trees covered in hundreds of types of lichen. Magic!

Napier's Bones Hardcover Art - Third Go

2010-12-08T19:47:00.001-08:00

Martin Springett really went to town with his drawings inspired by his reading of Napier's Bones, and I'm very much enjoying sharing them here. Some of you may have attended the reading I gave in Calgary, of a scene that takes place in London, alongside and then atop the Thames (yes, atop). This drawing, a quick rough sketch, was one of two Martin did from that scene, and it just delights me to see a scene I wrote come to life like this.

As usual, you can buy the limited edition hardcover here. Remember that you have to do so by January 2, 2011. As well, if all you want is the trade paperback without Martin's very cool artwork, you can pre-order it online from all of the major book retailers.

Finally, I've been advised that ARCs of the book (Advance Review Copies) have gone out today. I'll be interested to see how quickly reviews start to pop up.

More Art For Napier's Bones

2010-12-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in the previous post, Martin Springett has done some interior art for the limited edition hardcover of Napier's Bones. The one I'm bringing to you today is series of rough sketches he did as he worked on some concepts he would ultimately reject for the book, although the numbers flowing from Jenna's hair is something he latched onto for some other art he did later in the process.

Remember, you only have until January 2, 2011 to order the book. Order it here.

Napier's Bones Hardcover Illustration News

2010-12-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

The final colour version of the frontispiece for the limited edition hardcover came to me via email today and I have to say that it is absolutely, unbelievable gorgeous! The artist is Martin Springett, probably best-known for having done the covers for the original editions of Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry. Over the next week or so I'm going to share with you all some of the sketches and ideas that Martin came up with while reading Napier's Bones. These are shared with Martin's permission, and all are preliminary sketches. I will of course save the final image for those people lucky enough to get their hands on one of the 150 signed and numbered hardcover editions.

Addendum, added December 3: Brett has written to correct a factual error. The hardcover is not limited to 150 copies, but is instead limited to however many are purchased between now and January 2. At the moment, that is not a number approaching 150, so start shaking the trees and convincing your friends and neighbours that purchasing this edition of Napier's Bones is a good idea.

Cam's Take on TSA Searches at US Airports

2010-11-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

Is here, and one that I think I could endorse. Although I still think issuing all men a copy of Playboy before they go into the scanner would be good as well.

Some Surgical Procedures Are Easy

2010-11-19T14:53:00.001-08:00

Attention Supervisors,

If you have not already had your sense of irony removed, this note should serve as a reminder that it is a quick and easy process. Indeed, unless you have felt compassion for an employee in the past two months, you won't even need anything more than a small dose of local anesthetic (now administered in the neck - we found that direct local anesthetic to the brain area was superfluous).

To test if the procedure was a success, we recommend that you take a moment during the weekly staff meeting to proudly announce you are leaving early that day to take a short vacation, scant moments after having justified to an employee why their claim for Family Leave - to take care of a medical situation for their son - was denied. If you are feeling extremely confident that the procedure went well, then perhaps leaving one or more entire walks unattended for three days or more without consequence for yourself or your fellow supervisors would prove an exciting challenge, especially when faced with employees who recently received five day suspensions for missing half a dozen flyers.

Sincerely,

Canada Post Management

Napier's Bones: Try, Try Again

2010-11-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

OK. Now this seems to be the right place to order. Pain in the butt, this, with the original only allowing you to ask to be advised, and then the other link I set up disappearing.

Ordering Napier's Bones

2010-11-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

If you go here and then click on the Proceed to checkout button, it should work now. I hope.

Limited Edition of Napier's Bones Now Available for Pre-Order

2010-11-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

Right here. And while it doesn't say anything quite yet, we're cooking up a little surprise to make this special edition even more worthwhile for you.

Publication Date for Napier's Bones

2010-09-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

While I have yet to see it on CZP's website, publisher Brett Alexander Savory has announced on Facebook the Spring 2011 lineup for their books, and I'm surprised and pleased to note that I've been pushed from an initial suggested date of May to March 15. Says Brett, in talking about some of the newer authors they'll be publishing (to go along with a whole slate of returning authors):

But this doesn’t mean that CZP is shy on new authors, according to Savory. “Next spring’s line-up is quite diverse, both in terms of the authors and the books themselves. Whether it’s the mathematical-alchemy-driven Napier’s Bones (by Derryl Murphy), the ultra-hardboiled crime fiction Every Shallow Cut (by multiple-award-winning author Tom Piccirilli), or the dark fantasy The Isles of the Forsaken (by Carolyn Ives Gilman), we are still pushing the envelope when it comes to diversifying our list and the authors as well.”

He also notes:

As with all CZP titles, hardcovers, trade paperbacks, and eBooks will be released at the same time. Pre-ordering for the March hardcovers will begin in October.

Hear that? Napier's Bones will be available for pre-order next month! The countdown has started.

Napier's Bones - The Cover

2010-09-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

Here it is, folks, the cover art for my novel, Napier's Bones. It's designed by Erik Mohr, who I suspect is largely responsible for the singular and snappy, sharp look of all of ChiZine Publications' titles. I'm pleased, I am; it's nice to have something that will not only stand out from the crowd, but that doesn't easily fit into any of these categories.

Canada Post Sets a New Standard

2010-09-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

I really do wish I was one of the lucky ones, able to write full time. Perhaps some day, more than likely after the boys are gone from the house and we don't have that extra financial load to carry (one that we do so happily, mind). In the meantime, seeing how I stupidly chose not to finish university, the work I can do inevitably is of the commercial or grunt variety. For the past 6 years I've been with Canada Post, and for over 2 years since we arrived in Saskatoon I've been a full time letter carrier.

There are good things about the job: in that time, I've lost 40 pounds; I get to spend several hours a day outside, walking and sometimes chatting with people or visiting with "my" dogs and cats on the route; and I know that I don't have to work evenings or weekends, which means I'm able to do a whole lot more with my boys than I would if I worked selling cameras (to name but one job I have had).

This isn't the place to get into everything that's gone wrong with Canada Post in my short career there, but suffice it to say that I once said it was the best wage-slave job I'd ever had, and I no longer believe that. Perhaps another day I can grouse about other things, but today I'd like to turn my attention to a letter that arrived in my mailbox the other day, a letter from Canada Post.

The front of the letter (it's really a card that opens up, with something on the back and on the inside) has my name and address and says "INSIDE: Important Information about Canada Post's Social Media Policy." On the back, accompanied by various logos we've all come to know, for Facebook and Twitter and YouTube and more, are the words "Do you use Social Media? Here's what you need to know."

This caught my attention, even though the card came as Addressed Admail, which is the junk mail Canadians get that still has their name and address on it. Usually I toss this sort of thing, but I was intrigued. Curious about what nonsense I would now be privy to.

On the inside of the card there is some info about logging into Canada Post's Intrapost, but that's not relevant. Instead, allow me to reproduce everything else here. On the first fold it reads:

Why do we need a Social Media Policy?

Canada Post wants employees to join in the conversations Canadians have about us online.

Before you engage in those conversations, there are some things you should know and that's why we have created a Social Media Policy with 10 helpful guidelines. The policy strikes a good balance: say what you think while respecting your colleagues, our customers and the company.

Online comments can protect our brand - but using social media improperly can undermine everyone's hard work. That's why serious violations of the policy could trigger sanctions, including dismissal. It's important for every employee to follow the guidelines.

If you post or comment online, please express your views responsibly.

[and then, inside the fold]

Our Social Media Policy

The guidelines contained within the Social Media Policy spell out employees' responsibilities when using social media for professional purposes (including participation in discussion groups such as Life@work) and when participating in social media for personal use. They are consistent with best practices used across the Internet and reflect Canada Post's values.

1. Be responsible. You are personally responsible for the content you publish online through social media, and can be held liable for any commentary deemed to be defamatory, obscene, proprietary, or libelous. Be aware that the content you publish is visible to the entire world and will remain public for a very long time. Protect your privacy.

2. Follow the rules. Be aware of, and respect, the rules of participation governing the discussion groups and social networks within which you choose to participate. Remember that laws and company policies that apply in the "real" world also apply online.

3. Be transparent. If you post material or discuss topics related to your work or to Canada Post, identify your relationship to Canada Post. Even if you take part in an anonymous discussion or use a nickname, disclose your connection to the topic at hand. Never pretend to be someone you are not.

4. Take ownership. Clearly state that you are not speaking on behalf of Canada Post, unless you are expressly authorized to do so. Consider using a disclaimer such as: "This is my personal opinion, and does not necessarily represent the views of Canada Post." (Although good practice, this does not exempt you from being held accountable for what you write.)

5. Respect your audience and colleagues. Don't engage in any conduct or use any language that would not be acceptable in the workplace. Protect the privacy of others and respect their opinions.

6. Add value. When you express yourself in social media on issues related to, or about Canada Post, you contribute to the public perception of the Canada Post brand. Write about what you know, from your own perspective. Include links to relevant canadapost.ca pages or, in the case of internal posts, Intrapost pages.

7. Protect the brand. If you identify yourself as a Canada Post employee in an online social network, ensure your profile and related content is consistent with how you wish to present yourself with colleagues and clients.

8. Be accurate. If you publish information about Canada Post, ensure the information is accurate and the source is clearly indicated. Be the first to correct your own mistakes, and do not alter previous posts without indicating that you have done so.

9. Do not reveal secrets. Do not disclose confidential or proprietary information about the company, its clients, stakeholders, or suppliers. Respect copyrights and ask permission before you cite a colleague, client, stakeholder or supplier. If you are not sure whether some information is OK to publish, ask your manager/team leader.

10. Do not forget your day job. You are encouraged to use social media during your leisure time. Make sure your online activities do not interfere with your job or commitments to customers. Check with your manager/team leader if you are not sure about the appropriateness of publishing during work hours.

Got all that? Good. Now, let me break some of it down.

1 through 5 are all, for the most part, eye-wateringly obvious. Those of us who have floated around online for many years already know a) how to behave and b) what happens to people who are caught out. Where CPC falls apart, though, is in combining the stern parental voice that uses words such as "never" and "liable" and the even more stern voice that admonishes you to always make sure people know where you work and to make sure your readers know you don't speak for them (upon which they are quick to tell you that you could get into trouble even though you've clearly stated you don't speak for them. IANAL doesn't cut it here).

To break it down even further, this desperate need to hold your hand betrays the elementary school mentality I've been noticing at work for some years now. We know better than you, you should listen to us, we can't trust you to make any sensible decisions on your own. Also, we've noticed that some of you have gone off the reservation and we need to get you back, quick, before anybody else notices.

The last sentence of 5 was of special meaning and humour to me. A couple of weeks ago I needed to get in touch with a term employee that I was hoping to coerce into house and dog sitting when my family and I are in the Maritimes. Because I didn't have her phone number, I approached my direct supervisor and asked if she could contact this girl and give her my number, so that she could decide whether or not she wanted to call me. I did this because I know if I were in her situation (young gal, single, quiet) I would want to be able to control the access certain people had to me. Especially people from work. It's a privacy issue. But my supervisor didn't understand this, and just gave me the girl's home and mobile numbers. What that tells me is that either CPC has no official privacy policy as it relates to employees, or else this supervisor did not know of it or did not care about it. Either way, it was an appalling lapse in privacy control, and even safety. What if I was some creepy stalker looking to get back at someone who had spurned my advances?

6 and 7 are quite problematic. It's not my job to add value or protect the brand. I know. I checked the contract. It turns out (and here's a surprise) I'm supposed to deliver the mail. The fact that I do so with a smile on my face, in spite of the BS in the depot, the arthritis in my knees, and the insane quantity of junkmail each day (sorry, unaddressed admail is the preferred parlance) is testament to how important it is to me to represent my job in a positive light when I'm working. But that stops the minute I get home. I don't actively walk around bad-mouthing the idiots who don't know how to run things, at least not every minute of the day. But if someone thinks that I should be all sweetness and light about a corporation whose response to me being physically bullied and intimidated by a supervisor who is larger than me was to transfer him to another depot - with word that he may be transferred back by the end of the month - then they have obviously picked the wrong universe in which to live. My private life is my own life, and strangely enough I'm guaranteed to right to speak my mind. If I choose to bicker about some aspect of work, so be it. If someone at head office has a problem with that, I recommend paying attention and looking for a way to fix things.

8? Of course I'll be accurate. Thanks, Mom.

9 begs the question, What sort of secrets are we talking about? Obviously not private phone numbers. Hell, maybe I could post contact info for all of our management team here online. A precedent has pretty much been set. Canada Post info? It's a crown corporation, which means that, even though it is run like a corporation, there is still a government minister responsible, and therefore there are limits on what it can keep private. Wikipedia, for instance, has a fairly good overview of numbers, none of which can be considered proprietary. As for clients, well, it's none of my business and shouldn't be yours either. I deliver what I'm paid to deliver, and I don't snoop, nor do I let others know what's going in their neighbour's box. But on the flip side, if I were asked to deliver something that was remarkably offensive, I'd likely bring it to management, and when that inevitably didn't work, I'd take it further.

As for 10, well, let me spell out my day for you. I arrive and start sorting at 8:15, and usually no later than 10am I'm out the door (later as Christmas approaches). And then I walk and deliver. I don't take breaks. When I'm done, I go back to the depot, clean up for the next day, then go home. But let me tell you, if life were easier, if they hadn't pushed my start time from 7:45 to 8:15 because they couldn't for the life of them figure out how to get the priority mail to us in time, well then, I'd be living the easy life and would have all the time in the world to post updates to Facebook or my blog.

The problem there, though, is every one of them would be bitching about work. So maybe there's a method to their madness after all. In the meantime, I intend to lead my private life in the fashion I see fit. I won't do anything stupid like discuss doing violence to a member of management (yes, someone I work with once did that. The idiot), but yes, I'll bitch and moan all I want. And if I happen to follow some of those rules, it won't be because Big Brother told me to do so, it'll be because I already know how best to behave online. I'm not the one who's just suddenly stumbled into this strange thing the kids are doing on that great series of tubes.

Champions!

2010-07-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

As I may have mentioned around here before, this outdoor season Aidan was playing for the Aurora Diablo of the SPSL (Saskatchewan Premier Soccer League) They had a remarkable season, going 11 wins, no losses, and 1 draw during the regular season. They had a few close calls, but a good team always finds ways to win, I believe, and these boys did. The lone blemish was their last game of the season, when they allowed a late goal for a final score of 1-1.

There were six teams in the league, three here in Saskatoon, three in Regina, and one in Prince Albert. The boys played home and away to each, which meant some travel during the season. This level of play also required a lot more commitment than most of the boys were used to, including four 1.5 hour practices this past week alone.

Today was the provincial championship. Unlike BC (where friends of Aidan's from when we lived in Prince George recently competed unsuccessfully in their own provincials), there is no round robin here. Instead, it's a 1st vs 2nd showdown, winner take all. And so the Diablo went into today facing REU Ginga from Regina, who went 10-2-2 on the season, their only two losses coming against Aidan's team, 3-2 home and then 6-1 away.

REU started with the ball, but Diablo stripped them of the ball and Aidan's teammate Austin scored at the 20 second mark. By the half they had a 3-0 lead, and probably should have had more. There were some minor blips in the game, short periods of time when REU put on some pressure, but in the end it was obvious which was the stronger team, and the game finished 6-2.

That's the end of a great season, but only kind of. In October, Aidan's team will travel across the country to Moncton, NB, for the Canadian club nationals. They'll be in tough, against teams from across the country, some of them having played together for a good long time. And we're all in tough, as well, since there will be a significant amount of fund-raising involved (I've heard estimates that we may need to raise as much as $30,000, which is not small change). But it'll be worth it; an experience like this may indeed be once in a lifetime for Aidan, and he needs to reach out and grab it while he can.

World Cup Haiku

2010-06-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

I know these only marginally follow the pattern, but just because I'm a writer doesn't mean I'm a poet. I just thought it would be fun to write down my thoughts on the Round of 16 games in some vaguely poetic form. Please feel free to offer up your own.

South Korea wins
Just by making it this far
Uruguay moves on

Landon proves us wrong
Digs Ghana into a hole
Still like “Landycakes”

The Dutch are slower
Than I ever remember
Slovaks are slower

Brazil had their day
Chile are exciting
Here’s my long shot pick

Mexico can run
But they can’t hide from Messi
Hand of God still hurts

The Brits are a mess
The Germans young and faster
Don’t mention the war

Paraguay defeats
The Land of the Rising Sun
Japan had its day

Spain and Portugal
Here’s the clash of the titans
The best diver wins

A Poem By Brennan

2010-06-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

He wrote two for his grade 5 class the other day. One is a picture poem that doesn't show up well in this type of blog. Suffice it to say that it is quite lovely. The other? Well, have a look:

Cows
*I see cows in the night sky
*Shiny and bright
*They scream to me with a piercing hate
*They are grazing on the stars
*The horses threaten them to take over the world

Canada Post Proudly Announces Its New Scam

2010-05-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

I remember when this was initially announced, but I see more of it is popping up now. Canada Post is now in a partnership with MoneyGram, a company that will gladly take your money in order to transfer your money somewhere else in the world. The problem with this is that word got out long ago about MoneyGram's bad rep. Last year they paid an $18 million fine in the US for not shutting down fraud that used their service, and which they apparently often had knowledge of. More interesting is that some of the company's agents in Canada "actively participated" in the scams.

This is of course a new, great, money-making scheme for Canada Post. $8.00 for any transfer up to $500 sounds like a fabulous deal. But double that - let's say you want to transfer $1000 to the US from Canada, and suddenly the fee is $50. If I want to send something through, say, ScotiaBank, the fee is a flat $1.50. If I want to pay someone via PayPal, which doesn't require me going anywhere physical, then it can be as cheap as free.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Moya Greene, the head of Canada Post, recently told her employees that she wanted the corporation to move into secure electronic communications (exact quote is unavailable, but I can dig it up next week), which is as loony a statement as she could possible make. She'll think that that will be a moneymaker too, I know, although it seems far less likely. MoneyGram does stand to make money, but it will do so on the backs of the disenfranchised, those who don't have bank accounts or access to the internet in any decent fashion. And so they will make their way to Canada Post outlets and pay a premium to send someone money, perhaps overseas to family they support while they bust their humps working two or more jobs here. And if not MoneyGram, then one of the thousands of payday loan sites who also offer the service and combine it with their own special poverty tax.

Disclaimer: I work for Canada Post. Further disclaimer: I am doing my level best to get out of that job as soon as I can.

Novel Sale!

2010-05-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announced that Napier's Bones, the book for which I received a Canada Council grant to research and write and which one wag had dubbed "the best book you may never get to read," has been sold to CZP, ChiZine Publications.

I'm also excited and relieved, as you might imagine. The contract has been signed, and Napier's Bones is now on their publication schedule for May 2011 release. There will apparently be a limited edition hardcover, a regular edition trade paperback, as well as eBooks, and it will be much more easily available than my previous two books.

CZP books look great: if you haven't seen them, get to a bookstore and look at (and buy, of course) David Nickle's Monstrous Affections, Claude Lalumiere's Objects of Worship, or Douglas Smith's Chimerascope, all of which are excellently produced books with, it should go without saying, fabulous fiction on the inside. And yes, the three mentioned are friends of mine. All of this is to say that I'm in excellent company and am really looking forward to seeing the final product, not just because it will be so nice to finally have this book on the shelves and in my hands, but also because I'm quite keen to see what they do with it.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, Napier's Bones is my mathematical dark fantasy/suspense thriller with helpings of baseball and hockey and Romantic period literature thrown in. Hopefully it will be the best mathematical dark fantasy/suspense thriller with baseball and hockey and Romantic lit novel you'll ever read. At least for that year.

What a Butthead

2010-04-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

In the middle of all this mess about Helena Guergis and Rahim Jaffer, which frustrates me and at the same time reminds me that politicians can be stupid and about as quick to react as a teen asked to clean his room (he said from experience), Liberal and official opposition leader Michael Ignatieff had this to say (in the same article, at the bottom):

"This isn't fun because it casts aspersions on the political class and I'm a member of the political class."

He said more, of course, but I single this out because it offends me and reminds me of why so many people have trouble thinking of themselves as Liberal voters right now, even if that's the way they normally lean. No, Michael, you're not a member of the "political class." Just the fact that you think there is such a class tells me that you are, as your opponents suggest, sitting somewhere with your head in the clouds and paying no attention to the goings-on in the world around you. But please pay attention now: although we don't pride ourselves on it quite as much as the US, we live in what is ostensibly a classless society. Although money and power can get you things you may otherwise never be able to reach, being a politician is not, or should not be, the be-all and end-all. Being a politician should not be a final goal for anyone, which unfortunately is what is suggested by this statement. Instead, it should be about serving the greater good. Sadly, the moment a politician starts to think about him or herself as being part of a certain class, that's the moment he or she decides they're owed their living, and should be allowed to stay there as long as they want.

If I had to define his statement, the word I'd use today would be "classless."

Because this sort of thing deserves all the attention it can get

2010-04-06T17:50:00.001-07:00

More about priestly sex abuse, this time showing how Alaska was a veritable dumping ground for priests whose proclivities for child rape (among other things), since it was off the grid and easy to hide them there. A lot of these crimes were still happening into this century (and many were committed on girls and women, which rules out Bill Donohue's loutish theory about homosexuals), and I'll warn you that it is not easy reading.

Katha Politt in the Chicago Tribune has an editorial on the matter: "A papal resignation and pedophile priests" which is worth reading. In Canada, of course, the matter of Graham James shows that there are issues with child sexual abuse that are not related to the church, including decisions seeming made on high regarding the criminal's status. Although with James, at least, he did serve time.

Perhaps next time out I can focus on Protestants, but I'll tell you now there's a new steaming pile of crap presented to me just about every day, and it may be awhile before my gaze wavers.

(Via Pharyngula, which will probably be proof enough to many that this is worth ignoring)

Finally, something for me to be angry about

2010-04-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

As opposed to just crabby, that is.

The Catholic church has been taking it on the chin lately, and has seemed completely unable to handle this constant barrage of bad news. Unless, by "handle," you read that as "attack and offend."

Just in the past couple of days a number of atrocious things have been said:

Bill Donohue, the head of the Catholic League in the US (and, frankly, a notorious blowhard who gets way more press and air time than he deserves), came on Larry King Live and worked very hard to convince everyone that the crimes committed by the priests (or, at least, the priest at the school for the deaf in Wisconsin) were not pedophilia because the boys were all "post-pubescent." Bonus points for Donohue for upping the anti-gay hysteria with that one.
The Pope's personal preacher likened the current attacks on the church to "collective violence" suffered by the Jews. Yes, really, he did. Because legitimate concerns about the hideous abuse* of children and about the cover-ups that in fact did occur are indeed the moral equivalent of Kristallnacht, or perhaps a little something called the "Holocaust." (Check Wikipedia, in case you too have forgotten.)
US priests who've been accused are sometimes quietly being reinstated. Now, I actually somewhat agree with this, in the whole innocent-until-proven-guilty motif, but I do have issues with them being set loose on more children, or being given new jobs without - at the very least - the people directly involved with them being aware of the current situation.

I could go on (and do quite often when I'm shouting at the radio after the latest revelations), but, y'know, for the moment I think I'll stick with these three, all of which have just popped up. Imagine how long this would be if I went digging (and by digging, I have to say that I don't really mean anything that involves work, since this sort of stuff is absolutely everywhere).

In my own personal online orbit (and yes, actually in real, honest-to-goodness person-to-person life as well), much of this has been discussed, and discussed again, hashed out and questioned and brought about eye rolls and wailing and gnashing of teeth. But what I have noticed is that, from the Catholics I know, there has been nary a peep (wait, not true: a friend of a friend on Facebook was quick to note that it can't be just priests, that this problem must exist elsewhere. Of course it does, and police chiefs quite obviously cover up for pedo cops, editors move journalists around rather than them being charged... Actually, no, that's not true. And, I have to say, the 200 kids at the school for the deaf is a new item on the agenda since she brought that up). Anyhow, back to the topic at hand: just because I haven't heard anything from the Catholics I know (family and friends), doesn't mean they haven't been talking about this, either in disgust at the scandal or, conversely, disgust at the rest of the world for bringing this up and pushing it.

And so, I find myself curious. Is anything being said? Or is this the proverbial elephant in the room?

(Added later) I forgot to mention the church calling much of this "petty gossip," which seems a remarkably short-sighted trivialization of all that's gone on. Salon has a good look at what's gone down in the past week.

*And by abuse I mean a young boy being forced to put the penis of an adult priest in his mouth, or perhaps being forced to fondle the same priest's penis, and perhaps worse. Keep this in mind next time you read a media or spokesman-induced euphemism. Or the next time you hear Bill Donohue prove that some humans are no more than enormous wastes of skin.

Peter Watts: International Felon

2010-03-19T18:14:00.001-07:00

I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said by plenty of people. Even if he wasn't a friend, this sucks, and all I can think of to do now is to look to other locations for family vacations for now on. Especially regarding Michigan (which is a shame, since I loved Ann Arbor the one time I visited. Although I totally hated Saginaw: remind me to tell you all that story some time).

Anyhow, here's a news piece, Peter's take (very calm, I might add), and an article from the local Michigan rag that includes the most appalling comment thread you could possibly imagine. Although this one commenter does put certain "thoughts" and ideas to rest:

"As a member of the jury that convicted Mr. Watts today, I have a few comments to make. The jury's task was not to decide who we liked better. The job of the jury was to decide whether Mr. Watts "obstructed/resisted" the custom officials. Assault was not one of the charges. What it boiled down to was Mr. Watts did not follow the instructions of the customs agents. Period. He was not violent, he was not intimidating, he was not stopping them from searching his car. He did, however, refuse to follow the commands by his non compliance. He's not a bad man by any stretch of the imagination. The customs agents escalted the situation with sarcasm and miscommunication. Unfortunately, we were not asked to convict those agents with a crime, although, in my opinion, they did commit offenses against Mr. Watts. Two wrongs don't make a right, so we had to follow the instructions as set forth to us by the judge."

The law is sometimes indeed an ass.

Cast a Cold Eye Reviews

2010-03-16T18:48:00.001-07:00

The novella that Bill Shunn and I wrote, Cast a Cold Eye, has been out for a few months now and the reviews are finally starting to trickle in. I figured this would be a good place to point to all the ones that have shown up online, followed by a portion of a great review that is not online, as well as my reaction to it.

So first off, there are reviews in Tangent Online (as well as a pick for their Recommended Reading List for 2009), Black Static (not an online mag, but scroll down to read an excerpt), and Mass Movement (well, not really a review, but positive).

In the March issue of Locus (the major review and news mag for the SF/F field), there are two reviews of our book. One is a short notice from Rich Horton, who calls it "an involving and moving story," and the other, the one I'll talk about here, is a much longer review by Paul Witcover.

And I do mean much longer. Paul gives it as much attention as he does the new Gene Wolfe novel, and the whole thing is a rave. Here are a few quotes:

"Some collaborative efforts seek to make a virtue out of the clashing voices and styles of the writers involved, while others read so smoothly and of a piece that it's hard to believe two writers could so completely efface their own egos. Shunn and Murphy fall into the latter category..."
"It's a compelling story about letting go and moving on, about growing up, but also about holding on."
"...the real heart of the novella lies in the relationship between Luke and Annabelle..."

These are all nice things to say, but he real hit for Bill and for me is when Paul draws direct comparisons between our book and one of the most famous texts of American fantasy: "Any fantasy of a certain ambition set in the American Midwest in the late 19th through early 20th centuries must reckon with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, book and movie both, and Shunn & Murphy do so squarely, not only in the situation of their main character Luke Bryant, an orphan living with his aunt Maura (Auntie Em, indeed!) and uncle Roy, but in his perceptions - as the title, drawn from Yeats's epitaph, implies, perceptions, or ways of seeing, matter in this novel."

Heady words, and he draws more connections between our story and Oz as the review continues.

Did we intend this? Heck no. While I've written stories where I have had all sorts of deep and hidden meanings in place, in this case Bill and I did nothing to link Cast a Cold Eye directly (or indirectly) to Baum's universe. But that doesn't mean anything.

In Annie Hall, Woody Allen drags Marshall McLuhan out from behind a sign to refute and obnoxious person who is completely misinterpreting what McLuhan has said. And I have heard (possibly apocryphal) stories of people bringing authors to their university English classes to tell the profs that their critical analysis of the author's book is way off the beaten track. There is, for some people, some divine sense of satisfaction to be derived from this sort of one-up-manship, especially when we so strongly disagree with the interpretation offered us. After all, why should so ludicrous an interpretation be accepted when all the author wanted was the give us a good and fun story?

Me, I don't buy all that at all. Reading a novel (or story) is another part of the process that only starts when the writer spews out the words. Whatever the author has to say, that's all well and good, but I believe you should think of the creation of consumption of the story and two sides of a coin, separate parts of a complicated process. And the beauty of it is, the writing is only one small part, since each reader bring his or her own baggage to the station. Think of it as the many-worlds theory of fiction, in which the book gains a new life with each reading, a new interpretation that is every bit as valid as the last.

And the beauty of Paul's interpretation is that it works for us. In fact, its validity stands quite nicely when I think about it, since Bill and I brought our own baggage to the writing of the story, and since we're both familiar with the Wizard of Oz, it's entirely possible that this was an unconscious decision on our part. And now, as we contemplate a sequel and/or expansion, it's something new for us to keep in mind.

A Couple of Related Links

2010-02-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

First, the Ten Commandments as text messages. Sample: "10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8. or ox. or dnkey. myob." And also, the Devil writes a response to Pat Roberts.

A Scene I'd Love to See in the Next Star Trek Movie

2010-01-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

INT. - BRIDGE OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE

CAPTAIN KIRK sits at his chair.

SULU and CHEKHOV man their stations, as do UHURA and SPOCK.

McCOY stands beside Kirk.

Behind Kirk, the turbolift door opens and SCOTTY enters the bridge, followed by another male crew member whose face we do not see.

SCOTTY
She'll be ready to go any time you are, Captain.

KIRK turns his chair to face SCOTTY.

KIRK
Thank you, Mr. Scott.

In the background, we see the other crew member wandering around the bridge, looking at various pieces of equipment and their displays. He has yet to turn towards the camera. For the first time, KIRK seems to notice him.

KIRK
(quietly)
Spock.

SPOCK looks up from the display he has been watching.

KIRK points at the crew member and stands.

Now everyone on the bridge is paying attention, watching KIRK and the crew member.

SPOCK walks over to stand near KIRK.

KIRK
(still quietly)
Does his behavior seem a little... strange to you?

SPOCK
(eyebrow arched)
Almost everything humans do seems strange to me, Captain. But yes, in this instance I can perceive no reason for a member of the crew to be on the bridge and acting this way.

By now the crew member has walked back towards the turbolift, back still turned to the crew and to the camera.

As KIRK approaches him the lift doors open and he steps in.

Just before the lift doors close, the crew member turns and smiles widely at KIRK, revealing his face.

Q
(brightly)
I like what you've done with the place.

Q disappears in a flash of light before the lift doors can close.

End of scene. Of course, John DeLancie would be the right guy for the job. Less than a minute, somewhere near the beginning, I'm thinking.

JJ Abrams, I'm looking at you here! Because, of course, it's highly unlikely you're looking at me.

Jenny at The Bloggess has a dirty conversation with a Convobot

2010-01-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

The results are very funny. Also a little naughty. Did I mention she's one of my heroes?

Over 1/3 of New Jersey Conservatives Think Obama Might be (or, Actually, IS) the Anti-Christ

2010-01-18T16:54:00.000-08:00

Uh huh. "Resentful because they've been left behind" does sound like a decent description to me. Watch the interview here.

How to Read SF

2010-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

Jo Walton at Tor.com does an excellent job of laying out how to read science fiction and fantasy, and why some people just don't get it. This is a good article to read, for SF fans, of course, but more so, I think, for people like my wife, who normally don't read the stuff.

The Movies of 2009

2010-01-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Here I am again, after last year's list and the list from the year before as well.

This year I saw 60 movies, as opposed to 51 in 2008 and the possible 39 in 2007 (possible because I wasn't being as anal about keeping track). Of the 60 I saw, 25 were in the theatre, the rest at home. The final number could have been higher, but there were a few periods of time when the numbers fell right off (like leading up to Christmas, when life gets too busy).

As I noted last year, we now have a Blu Ray machine and a big screen along with home theatre sound, all of which helps make the home viewing experience that much better. My collection of Blu Rays now stands at 29, but as prices come down and more interesting features that deserve (and get) an exacting HD treatment are released, I'll likely pick many of them up. This is what we have right now:

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen; The Adventures of Robin Hood; Baraka; Children of Men; Cloverfield; Coraline; The Dark Knight; The Day the Earth Stood Still (the original, thank you); Donnie Darko; Galapagos; Ghandi; The Golden Compass; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; Iron Man; The Last Emperor; Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World; Monty Python's The Life of Brian; Nightmare Before Christmas; North By Northwest; Pan's Labyrinth; The Perfect Storm; Planet of the Apes (again, the original); The Princess Bride; The Shawshank Redemption; Star Trek (the JJ Abrams reboot); Terminator; Up; Wall-E, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

At the end of the year we signed up for Zip, Canada's largest version of Netflix. It's too early to tell how that's working out, but sometime this weekend I'll be watching Helvetica, so the year will start off a little less obviously than a trip to the mulitplex or to Blockbuster would normally offer, so that's a start.

As far as movies seen this year, the usual proviso stands that not every film listed was a film released in 2009, that as a father of two who's busy in the lives of my children and my wife as well as my own, sometimes I find myself playing catchup. But if this was the first time I saw a film, and it wasn't ridiculously old, I listed it. The year itself stood out for me as being especially strong for animation. We didn't manage to see Disney's return to hand-drawn animation, The Princess and the Frog, but otherwise covered almost all of the bases (although I still have Waltz With Bashir and Persepolis in my Zip list), and I have to say that this was possibly the best year for animation I can remember, including the Toy Story re-releases. Hell, even Monsters vs Aliens was at least fun to look at.

And now, on to the movies. Remember, an asterisk means we saw that film in the movie theatre, as opposed to at home:

The Band’s Visit - Lonely, sad, but funny, especially the scene where Haled teaches Papi how to seduce a woman at the roller rink. A slow and quiet Israeli movie that rewards patience.

Vantage Point - I like a good thriller, even those that are preposterous, but this took silly serendipity many steps too far with an ending that was absolutely absurd. Plus, the presence of so many stars meant pretty much all of them were wasted.

Ghost Town - Ricky Gervais is great, even though there are really no surprises in the character he plays. A nice romcom and some good laughs.

*Coraline - An early front runner for best of the year. The 3D was nice and mostly subtle, but the story and the characters and the animation were all what made this what it was. Exciting and thrilling and a little scary and mostly delightful.

Pineapple Express - A funny, funny stoner comedy/buddy film/crime film, with a performance by James Franco that could have passed muster for a best supporting actor nomination in the Oscars.

Eagle Eye - Absurd and ridiculous, but because I came into this with low expectations I rode with it OK. Although I figured out the major plot point pretty early on.

Frozen River - Melissa Leo certainly deserved an Oscar for her role in this, but even the nomination was good to see, considering how quiet and obscure the picture was. One of the best I saw this year.

*Bedtime Stories - Forgettable, frankly, and even a bit blah for Brennan, who was a part of its target audience.

Changeling - Disturbing and frustrating and, yes, Angelina Jolie was tremendous in it, but in the end the film was a little too distant to engage me to any great length.

Man on Wire - A thrilling documentary about the man who walked the tight rope (illicitly) between the two World Trade Center towers shortly after they were built.

*Slumdog Millionaire - I’m not one to jump off the bandwagon here. Still brings back good memories.

Encounters at the Edge of the World - Another excellent documentary from Werner Herzog (who also did the affecting Grizzly Man), this one about life in the Antarctic.

Milk - For which Sean Penn absolutely deserved his Oscar. Very moving, and nice to see my friend Frank Robinson on screen, playing himself.

*Race to Witch Mountain - Meh. Yeah, some good fun, but also plenty of irritation. By now you can tell I still have kids young enough for this sort of fare.

*Monsters vs. Aliens - The voice work was pretty good, the story pretty mediocre, and the 3D way over the top. Middle of the road.

Quantum of Solace - Not nearly as good as the previous Bond film. In fact, kind of boring in many places.

Happy-Go-Lucky - This was fun and delightful, a great character sketch of a woman (played by Sally Hawkins) who refuses to let life get her down.

*Owl and the Sparrow - A Vietnamese movie that, up until the somewhat unlikely ending, carries the viewer along on an emotional journey with a young orphan and her attempts to create a new family.

Passchendaele - A somewhat disjointed WW1 epic with rather obvious allegorical tricks near the end, it nonetheless mostly held my attention and can be said to be worth a rental.

Doubt - I liked it, but director John Patrick Shanley every once in awhile would tilt his camera as if he was filming the villains in the old Batman TV series, which would have been bad enough if it weren’t for Meryl Streep’s nun character looking so much like the Penguin at those times.

*Earth - I knew it was a rehash of the TV series Planet Earth, but I was disappointed that they didn’t make the effort to fix the more glaring image problems, including blacks with zero detail and some scenes that were hideously grainy, washed out, or out of focus. And, James Earl Jones as narrator was thrust forward too much, as has been the wont of Disney nature movies over the years.

The Wrestler - Both Mickey Rourke and Marissa Tomei (whom I love, by the way) were tremendous. Very good, and nice to see an ambiguous ending.

*Star Trek - What a great ride! The actors were great, the story was great, and even the nonsense science was great, since it was so obviously Star Trek. Did you see the tribble on Scotty’s desk when he’s first introduced?

Taken - Liam Neeson brought some interesting gravitas to the role of a former spook having to bash heads to save his daughter. Fun and light.

The Reader - I was most taken with this during the scenes of the two of them in their later years. The love affair, not so much, as a matter of fact quite boring.

*Up - Tremendous, and a movie of the year candidate. The opening 10 minutes were the most moving I’ve seen in a film in ages. And the first time Alpha spoke I thought I would bust a gut, I was laughing so hard.

Valkyrie - A tense enough thriller with some decent acting, but in the end a film that doesn’t really stick with you.

The International - This gets bonus points from me because Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, Run) directed it, doing a decent job of making it feel like one of those low-rent Michael Caine suspense thrillers from the ‘70s.

*The Hangover - Yes, I laughed. And laughed and laughed and laughed, along with everyone else in the theatre, all of us probably worried out mothers were going to march in and catch us.

Knowing - If you didn’t figure it out well before the ending came you weren’t trying. A shrug of the shoulders is about all I could give this one, possibly put off by the aliens doing their level best to look like angels.

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - This was very dark, it seems to me physically as well as psychically, and I shall soon re-watch it to make sure I don’t misremember.

In Bruges - Dark and disturbing and funny, with fine acting and such a great travelogue I want to visit the city, even though I’m not an assassin.

*The Hurt Locker - Until the last minute this was my pick for movie of the year. Still an incredible and deeply moving experience. Bigelow’s finest film of her career, and the most on-edge I’ve felt watching a movie in a long time.

Tell No One - A decent thriller from France, one of two I saw this year that had British actress Kristin Scott Thomas. There was a bit of a reach to buy into the central plot device, but then there is always that in movies like this.

Watchmen - I really wanted to like this, I really did, but in the end I found that director Zack Snyder tried too hard to stick with the graphic novel (lack of giant telepathic squid notwithstanding), and the end result was a stylistic jumble with little heart. But it looked good.

Vicky Christina Barcelona - As usual, I would watch Penelope Cruz in anything. But I almost folded on that vow with this film. An unholy mess from Woody Allen, with mostly uninterested acting (Scarlett Johansson, whatever happened to you?) and very - Very - annoying voice-overs there to cheat Woody’s way out of, you know, showing us the story.

*The Taking of Pelham 123 - I recall enjoying this, but that said, I recall hardly anything else. In one ear and out the other, as they say.

*District 9 - There were plenty of battles about this online, with many of my friends upset about the implicit and explicit racism, and many more, including some who were upset, gushing on about what a great ride it was. It was smart, well-paced, and disturbing as all hell.

Redbelt - A film by David Mamet, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor? Deal me in. A movie about MMA fighting that’s smart and cautiously paced and with a climactic fight scene that takes place off the main stage (though not off-camera) is a movie that deserves more attention than it got.

*Moon - Best SF film of the year. Low budget, using models instead of CGI (hooray!), and aside from a couple of minor characters only seen via video or heard via radio, the only two actors are Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey, and Spacey plays a computer. This film deserved way more attention than it got.

Sunshine - Danny Boyle’s attempt at the type of SF that uses spaceships, but he couldn’t help himself and had to go with a preposterous horror turn to accompany the preposterous science. And yet, as with all Boyle films, stylish and good to look at.

*Inglorious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino’s best film. Thrilling and tense and a mad dream about what could have been, with Christoph Walz more frightening than any other character on the screen this year.

*Ponyo - Speaking of mad dreams, Hayao Miyazaki seemed to go absolutely nuts with this film, or else he simply tapped into his inner four-year-old for the plot, although of course sometimes the two aren’t necessarily exclusive. This was a wonderful film that had my whole family grinning like idiots throughout, but don’t try to explain the plot to anyone; it simply has to be experienced.

The Year My Parents Went on Vacation - A Brazilian film that takes place at the time of the 1970 World Cup (won by Brazil, nearing the end of Pele’s time as the best the game had to offer), this is at times sad and at times uplifting, about a boy whose parents are on the run from the government and so they leave him at his grandfather’s door, not knowing that his grandfather has just died.

*Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian - Seems it was just a year or two I was thinking Amy Adams deserved an Oscar nom for her role in Enchanted, and then I’m forced to sit through her take on Amelia Earhart. Almost made me want to watch Hilary Swank do the same thing. Overall, a silly movie, one that Brennan seemed to enjoy enough in the theatre, but even he was iffy about it afterward.

Duplicity - Clive Owen and Julia Roberts? Not this time, thanks. Not a good movie.

Adventureland - An excellent little movie about a very specific time in one’s life, set against the background of work at a mediocre carnival.

Let the Right One In - A vampire film. In Swedish. And the vampire and the central protagonist are both children. Of course it had to be the best vampire movie of the year, possibly the best I’ve seen.

*Toy Story 3D - I didn’t care so much about seeing it in 3D. I did care about seeing it one more time on the big screen.

*Toy Story 2 3D - The same here, of course. Even more so, since I think the second film was better than the first.

I’ve Loved You So Long - The other French film with Kristin Scott Thomas, this time a sad and focused family drama about a woman (Thomas) who’s come to live with her sister and her family after being released from jail. The secrets are slow in coming, the pain there from the start, the joy fighting to be heard.

*Bright Star - Jane Campion’s marvelous, slowly-paced (some might say glacial, but that’s fair, since glaciers leave great changes when they depart) movie about Fanny Brawne and John Keats. I got lost in this film, swallowed up in its world and its inhabitants.

*Where the Wild Things Are - I know people who hated this movie, but to me it was a sorrowful experience about leaving behind our childhood. The promises we make as children when our imaginations burn feverishly, and the shock and sadness we feel when we learn they can’t be held; the monsters continually falling out with each other, as children are wont to do; with an ending when, for a moment, Max forgets it all, even as his mother is able to rest, knowing her son is safe, all of these reached deep inside me.

Wolverine - Yes, there were aspects of this I liked, but in the end it just becomes a huge mishmash that uses action as a characterization device.

The Brothers Bloom - A bit too twee to be genuinely good, this was still enjoyable, and I especially enjoyed the fact that everything the brothers did, no matter that it was in the here and now, seemed to take them back to an earlier and more elegant time.

*Fantastic Mr. Fox - Wes Anderson’s best since Rushmore, the only word to truly describe this film is Delightful. Best animated movie of the year.

Away We Go - Quiet and enjoyable, although a little too episodic to qualify as anything other than a series of short films with the same characters.

Angels & Demons - Hey! Something had to be the worst movie I saw this year, and here it is.

*Avatar - Spectacular to watch, a bit of a cringe-fest to think about the plot. But I still loved it, and especially appreciated James Cameron’s nod to Michael Mann’s Last of the Mohicans, when Sully is first brought into the Na’vi village, with all the natives whooping and yelling, touching him and pushing him, and then Wes Studi speaks.

*Up in the Air - The best movie of the year. Clooney and Farmiga were great, the rest of the cast were great, and the story touched me very deeply. And the best part is this is a movie that can be lots of things to lots of different people, while not once losing its path or its soul.

This year, I'll even attempt a little more quantification. The kids are always after me to list things, to tell them the best of this and the best of that. Going over the list one last time today, I think I can cough up an actual top ten list, keeping in mind again that my list is woefully incomplete and out of date compared to that of people who actually have the time and the money to get out to see all the movies as they're released. Also, this is the part of the list where (aside from the two foreign entries) where I'll try to keep the titles to those released in 2009.

1. Up in the Air
2. The Hurt Locker
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Let the Right One In
5. I've Loved You So Long
6. Up
7. Bright Star
8. Inglorious Basterds
9. Where the Wild Things Are
10. Ponyo

And that's it. I hope to see Paranormal Activity soon, Sherlock Holmes, and am curious about Kick-Ass, which I definitely won't be taking the boys to see.

There and Here

2009-12-20T15:31:00.000-08:00

An interesting confluence of news stories today, combined with the varying reactions to them. In the UK, Gareth Thomas, a rugby great now in the declining years of a wonderful career, has finally come out of the closet and publicly admitted that he is gay (although I note here that teammates and coaches have known this for some time).

In Canada, MP Scott Brison, who is the first ever gay MP to marry his partner, sent out a Christmas card with a photo of him, his husband, and their dog.

The troglodytes are out because of this, but surprisingly few of them are British rugby fans. In fact, according to the Globe & Mail, the "overwhelming number of hateful and homophobic remarks" caused them to disable commenting on the online article. All because Brison has the temerity to be standing in a field with his husband, Maxime St. Pierre.

Good on the Brits on this one, but there is one other aspect of this story that stands out for me. The key word? Moderation. For some reason, the people at the Globe seem unable to manage their commenters, and even if people wish to say something positive or interesting (even if negative), in this article they don't have that option. Whereas at the Guardian website, comments that are deemed to break the rules are removed by the moderator. No muss, no fuss. We're still told the idiots posted something, but needn't be bothered with putting up with the BS.

Good for the Globe for recognizing there was a problem. Bad for the Globe for not recognizing that there are better ways to deal with this. And shame on all the bigoted assholes who will always be so shit-scared of anyone who is different than them that they feel the need to insult and threaten.

Explaining the Tree Ring Data "Trick"

2009-12-17T20:31:00.000-08:00

PZ Meyers points out an article by a fellow scientist who points out what was meant in those hacked emails and what the meaning of the word "trick" is in that context. It is definitely worth the read, and handily disposes of complaints about why tree rings are not showing the temperature changes that the science shows.

Our Own Problems Along the Border

2009-12-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

I don't pretend that my voice is going to be anywhere near loud enough to drown out all the noise that's arising from the border arrest and apparent assault of my friend Peter Watts (and here we pause so you can read the two things that Peter has written about it, Boing Boing's entry, John Scalzi's entry, and the post at Making Light, all of which have garnered a fair amount of attention, in our own little subset of fields, at least).

There have been many good things to come out of this, most of all the solidarity for Peter that has resulted in money being raised to help with his sure-to-be-hefty legal fees. And that's important, for sure.

Could I say anything else about what happened to Peter? I could, but if you follow the links you'll see two comments by me on Scalzi's blog (one of them quoted at Making Light), and one, shorter one, at Making Light.

No, what I need to say has more to do with the stampede that may do real harm to Peter's chances to get out of this with his hide and his record intact. One commenter at Whatever, Dora P, has announced that she is planning a possible protest caravan. On Facebook there is now an "Against the arrest and beating of Peter Watts" page, because, I guess, we need to rule out those who are "for" it (although my tongue in cheek moment might fail here because there are people out there who are quick to blame Peter). And everywhere there are comments and other blog posts where people are venting as much fury and rage against the border patrol as they possibly can.

The more noise is made, the more likely it is that the prosecutor will push to take this to court. Much as I remember the way things worked when people would protest against the Tory government in Alberta back in the day, any attempt to embarrass those in authority would result in a digging in of the heels and a severe pushback. The prosecutor has to work with the border guards at Port Huron, and therefore he or she needs to stay in their good graces (and, I imagine, vice versa). These people work together all the time, and build that working relationship on trust. When someone screws up, the automatic reaction will likely be to get their back, and if others are out there working hard to show them up, the wagons circle even tighter.

This is by no means a way of saying that they are right in what they do. It just is. Now, if we're a little less forceful for the time being, then perhaps Peter has a chance of this all being dismissed. But if he goes to trial, then he has a chance to speak to what was done to him in an open court of law, and we can hope that the proper checks and balances, coupled with the money we've helped raise to pay for a good lawyer, will serve to bring to light of day the wrongs that have happened.

And then we can reach out, make calls, write letters, stand up. What happened can't stand, I know that. But right now the best possible result is the short-term one, in which Peter avoids being sent to jail for that mandatory two year term. Everything else, as important as it is, needs to be set back for the time being.

Never Forget

2009-12-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.

Never forget those names.

Twenty years ago today, I was at home in Edmonton when the news came that there had been a shooting at a university in Montreal. In those days, 24 hour news was not so omnipresent, and so much of the information was slow to trickle out. The first thing I remember was news that most (and of course, as it sadly turned out, all) of the victims were women. For some reason, at the time I heard that there was still no confirmation that the school was L'Ecole Polytechnique.

I was home with my stepdaughter Zoe that day, and I also remember her being quite annoyed with me that I wouldn't let her out of my sight. Indeed, I spent a good part of the day wanting to hold onto her. The idea that she would one day grow into a young woman who might possible be targeted by some sick son of a bitch because of her gender absolutely appalled me. Yes, the tragedy was not anything we hadn't seen before, aside from the sheer frightening scale, and yes, I was in no way directly affected. But there's something about having a little girl, whether or not she is your flesh and blood, that can bring this sort of monstrous event much closer to home.

The other thing that hit me that day was that my little sister was a university student in Montreal. She was at McGill, of course, and eventually word did come out that the bastard (I refuse to use his name - already too many people remember his name and not those of the victims) had targeted female engineering students at Polytechnique. I recall the fear I felt, the worry that she would have been one of the targets, even though the rational part of me knew the odds were so extraordinarily long.

When the University of Alberta put up their memorial to the victims, Jo and I attended the ceremony (this was when we were dating), along with my sister Joy-Anne and our friend Randy Reichardt. On that day I was interviewed by a reporter from one of the local TV stations, wondering why I was there.

Let me clarify the way the question was phrased, so that you can ponder on it for a moment: the reporter (a woman) wanted to know why I was there because I was a man.

I note that the reporter was female only to point out just how clueless many people were in those days, no matter the gender. There were reports from some memorial services that men were not welcome, that women were taunting them and chasing them away. I can tell you that I never saw such a reaction at any of the memorial services I attended, even the one I went to the week of the massacre. It may have happened elsewhere, but idiot reporters asking dumb questions could only hope they would luck into an interview subject whose back would not get up too much and who would answer intelligently about loss and fear and admiration for those who picked themselves up and carried on. Whether or not that was me, I'm not objective enough to say, but I do know that it didn't seem to matter to anyone there - aside from the press - had a penis.

Since that day, I have learned that random violence can strike close, and that the odds may be long but someone will still lose. In 2007 my friend Michael Bishop lost his son Jamie in the shootings at Virginia Tech, one of 32 who were killed.

I hate that these hateful and horrible tragedies still happen. I know it's too much to hope that they will never happen again, but it's a hope I can't let go of. In the meantime, I will ask everyone who reads it to remember the victims, and I will hold the women in my life close to me today, in reality or virtually. The men and the boys, too, but today is especially for Zoe and Joy-Anne and Jo.

In Which I Take Stupidity to Task

2009-12-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

A letter to the editor this past week extolled the virtues of young-Earth creationism and did its level best to convince us that evolution and "Darwinism" (a term I believe is mostly used to try to prove that it is nothing but a belief, even a religion) are wrong.

Not being granted a whole lot of space, I take what the letters column allows and give my answer. Yeah, it mostly amounts to sticking my tongue out, but there you go.

Monbiot on Canada, Plus Answers for Doubters

2009-12-01T20:18:00.000-08:00

I sit here watching George Monbiot on The Hour (Ooh! Money quote: "The moment those [leaked] emails were published, the sea ice stopped melting...") and think about his recent Guardian article, which is reproduced on his blog here. The basic gist is that Canada is now a corrupt petro-state, and Stephen Harper (following in the deep footsteps of the Liberals, I might add: I don't play favorites here) is a bully in the pockets of the oil barons.

As an added bonus, check out these "Seven Answers to Climate Contrarian Nonsense."

More Photographs of What We Do Wrong

2009-11-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

The other day I had posted a piece that mentioned W. Eugene Smith. Today I'm bringing to you photos of Chinese pollution that brought the photographer the $30,000 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography. Just ignore the angry and racist comments at the end.

The More Things Change...

2009-11-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

Years ago, W. Eugene Smith did a photo essay at a place in Japan called Minimata, the most famous photo of which is this one. For his efforts taking those photos, Smith was beaten to a pulp by company goons, the end result being his incapacitation and death.

Seeing photos of what The Big Picture is calling "Kazakhstan's radioactive legacy" reminds me of Minimata in so many ways, although without the goons, thank goodness.The shots are a horrible reminder of what we do to each other in so many incredible ways. That said, though, the shots are even more a reminder of the beauty of humanity and the great things we do for each other.

Going, going...

2009-11-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

The IUCN releases their new Red List of Threatened Species, which is as unhappy a thing as you can possibly read. But an important thing to read, too, so don't avoid it because you want to pretend you're allowed to feel good about your own species (unless you're, say, a penguin who is reading this).

A Call to Arms

2009-10-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Nicola Griffith posts a horrible and sad story about a woman and her children who were denied access to her dying spouse, all because they were lesbians and they happened to be in an "anti-gay city and state."

Here's my take: gay marriage won't even have a chance to "ruin" so-called "traditional" marriage because traditionalists (and three guesses just who I'm talking about here) will do there level best to ruin the gay marriages first. The death of Lisa Pond and the treatment of her spouse and children are an awful, avoidable loss, but when you get to the bigger picture (saying that knowing that death is indeed the big picture, but looking beyond the one tragedy with the sad knowledge that this will not be a one-time issue) the losses we will see are of dignity, respect, and humanity. I'll leave it to you to decide which side loses which.

As a final point, I don't live in Washington and so can't vote on this matter, but I can let my voice be heard in my own circles. Which starts here and in my other online venues, but is sure to move to the wider world.

Nobody Can Toss Out an Insult Like the Brits

2009-10-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

And I mean nobody:

"It's like gazing through a horrid little window into an awesome universe of pure blockheaded spite. Spiralling galaxies of ignorance roll majestically against a backdrop of what looks like dark prejudice, dotted hither and thither with winking stars of snide innuendo."

And a well-deserved insult it is, too. You may not be familiar with the story of the tragic death of Stephen Gately, but if you're curious about what brought on this diatribe, do go check it out.

Update: Lots of furor over the original column. Which I won't link to.

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-10-12T15:52:00.000-07:00

There are several movies that I have greatly anticipated this year, but none more so than Spike Jonze's take on Maurice Sendak's wonderful children's book Where the Wild Things Are. From the moment I first heard about it I've been dreaming and hoping that it does things right where so many other adaptations of this sort get it completely wrong. No, I haven't seen it yet, but this review gives me hope, and does a fine (and frighteningly logical) job of spelling out what Hollywood would have done to the movie by putting it into another's hands.

When I Grow Up...

2009-10-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

The Guardian goes for the hard news, and I for one appreciate it. Check out the torso on the singer.

The Crap That Parents Put Up With

2009-10-04T15:59:00.001-07:00

From Free-Range Kids, one of my favorite blogs, comes this story about a school - no, not just a school, apparently an entire board - that will not allow children to bike to school. Indeed, they had a police office at school for the first day to greet parents to tell them they weren't allowed to even bike with their children. Even better, kids can't walk to school either.

It does look like some changes might be made, but I have to say that this is absolute insanity. Now, Aidan can obviously walk to school, since we only live a block away. Brennan takes the bus in the morning with Jo, and I do pick him up most days, but days I can't he takes the bus home no problem. And lots of kids bike to both schools without any grief.

The New Noblemen (and Women)

2009-10-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

I've been watching Ken Burns' National Park's: American's Best Idea on PBS this week, and as per usual am truly enjoying the experience. However, a line spoken in the third episode just jumped out at me and I had to briefly address it.

"In other parts of the world there are certain areas that are preserved because some rich nobleman, out of the goodness of his heart decided to decree it. But in the US you don't have to be dependent on some rich guy being generous to you. To me that's what national parks mean. It's a symbol of democracy. Democracy that works well, at its best." - Juanita Greene, Journalist.

Just for fun, I did a quick Google search and found a chart that lays out the average personal wealth of members of the US Senate and Congress. Go have a look and tell me more about the difference between democracy and these high-minded noblemen, especially considering how many of these wealthy representatives would do damage to those precious, public jewels.

The ISS From Start to Finish

2009-09-29T17:45:00.001-07:00

Here's a cool Flash page that shows the International Space Station as it was at the beginning and as each piece was added, with timeline.

Some Additional Thoughts on District 9

2009-08-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

I've been a little on the fence about the movie District 9, but nonetheless went to see it a second time earlier this week. The first time I'd seen it to make sure that it was fine for Aidan and Brennan, the second time with them. Yes, people and aliens blow up, language is used, but we make a habit of talking about what we watch and the decisions that are made; those boys are learning to use their critical faculties when watching movies or TV, which is damned important.

Some friends have expressed concern or even dismay about the film. Tobias Buckell had an interesting response that I used later to talk with the boys, and Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor responded to a lot of problems she identified with the movie, especially the treatment of the Nigerians, which as you might be able to imagine was a subject somewhat close to her.

My take? Simply put, District 9 is not the astonishing and complex take on apartheid that many reviewers say it is, ("Jo'burg," Lisa? You've spent so much time there you can call it that?) and coming from a middle class white Canadian background, I can't very well speak to much of the background that leads to complaints from elsewhere about the director being a racist. But based on some concerns I've read (often in comment threads, and not necessarily in the two links I supply above) I can point out some of the things I did see:

There did not appear to any conscious decision to make blacks appear worth less than whites by virtue of not giving them names during talking head interviews in the documentary section. If "man on the street" interviews were done, no names were given. If experts of major players were interviewed, they were identified. This included the head of MNU and Fundiswa (and more about him in a bit)
Questions about why there only seemed to be one intelligent alien (I won't use the derogatory appellation) were answered to my satisfaction by the presence of the control module underneath his shack. Just how intelligent he was to lead them all there in the first place I'll leave to others
Naming that alien Christopher Johnson was a definite nod to the colonial habit to either assign Anglicized names to slaves or servants, or for those same individuals to adopt such a name. Note that "Anglicized" does not necessarily mean proper so-called Christian names, since Nadine Gordimer's July's People (which I freely riffed on in my short story "Summer's Humans") has the whites name their servant July, rather than allow him his own name and thus denying him that one piece of humanity. In the movie, substitute whatever the aliens call themselves for the word "humanity."
While it was heavy-handed and not handled very well, the Nigerian leader's desire to take and consume alien body parts was mirrored by MNU's desire to do the same, although in their case "consume" had a slightly different definition. That said, both "mystical" Nigerian gangsters and "rational" multinational scientists and executives want essentially the same thing, and both quite obviously will stop at nothing to attain it
On first viewing even I was embarrassed by the female Nigerian witch doctor
The name "MultiNational United" showed a real paucity of imagination
Back to MNU's treatment of the aliens. In truth, the only human who really comes off well (aside from Wikus, who has a very late conversion) is Fundiswa, who we are told is in jail because he blew the whistle on MNU's illegal activities (a cursory search of the web seems to indicate that South Africa's whistle blower laws are not very good, so maybe his being tossed in the clink is accurate). It seems that every single human, black or white, is not on the side of angels when it comes to the aliens. The exceptions to this would be the "human rights" (really?) protesters, but we only see them as a faceless mob holding signs. They're background noise, a placeholder as MNU vehicles move from one locale to another. Otherwise, the eye cast on humanity in this movie is very jaundiced indeed
The MNU military "cowboys" were an overt nod to Afrikaaner paramilitary forces, with token blacks allowed on board so we could pretend they weren't another cliche

All that said, I still enjoyed the film, although it isn't the highlight of the movie year. Not even the highlight of the SF movie year, which at the moment is Moon, with Avatar still to come.

"William Shatner left dog poop on my lawn. And he doesn't even own a dog."

2009-08-15T19:18:00.001-07:00

More from the Bloggess. It turns out she's been blocked on Twitter by William Shatner, and many (many) people have taken up her cause on the same network. Her silliness and slyness know no bounds, and I admire the insane places her mind takes her, and us.

"YOU WILL MISS ME SO MUCH ONCE I’M SOBER ENOUGH TO WAKE UP AND DRIVE AWAY."

2009-08-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Another fun one from the Bloggess, A series of helpful post-it notes I left around the house for my husband this week. As usual, some language warnings, but well worth sharing.

A Bomb (in the best sense)

2009-08-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

I usually contain my movie notes until my end of year wrap-up (see here and here), but I had to make mention of Kathryn Bigelow's new movie The Hurt Locker, which Jo and I went to see today. Bigelow is probably most famous for directing Point Break, but for me she stands out with Near Dark, the other vampire movie of 1987 (who can tell me what the other one was?). The Hurt Locker stars Jeremy Renner, who we quite liked in the short-lived TV series The Unusuals, as a bomb tech in Iraq. It's been getting great reviews, and with justification, I might add.

I'm not going to go into a lengthy review, but I did want to single out a couple of things that Bigelow did right. At the very beginning of the film, when the first explosion takes place, Bigelow does a very stylized slow motion take that includes a frankly incredible view of some of the road rising into the air, as if on a snare drum. Later in the film, Renner's character makes a decision to go a little bit rogue, sneaking out of camp to investigate the death of someone he allowed himself a moment of closeness with.

Both of these moments could have completely derailed the film, I think, but Bigelow shows admirable restraint. Yeah, she has that geeky coolness that I still love, but as wonderful as that first explosion is, more of that would have taken away from the film's true focus, its heart. Renner's decision to chase after the killers would have done much the same, dragging the film down to the level of a standard Hollywood procedural thriller, but again, Bigelow pulls back.

Instead, what we see is a supremely damaged individual who feels safest viewing his world through the lens of the bombs he defuses, even literally at one point through the mask he wears. This characterization, coupled with the slow burning tension that never lets up makes for an astonishing viewing experience. Hell, even the appearances by three somewhat more famous actors (Guy Pearce, David Morse, Ralph Fiennes) doesn't take away from the focus of the movie, and I'm glad for the fact that Bigelow chose a lesser-known name actor so that we could concentrate on what we were watching, not who.

I hope the film does well. It obviously won't need to make Star Trek-type money to make back its nut, and I would naver expect it to. But it deserves an audience, and has to be my leader for best film of the year, as well as best war movie of this still-young century.

Final numbers

2009-07-19T19:27:00.000-07:00

We lost the semi-final 2-1, and a missed PK and a struck crossbar didn't help. The last half was thrilling, though, with Aidan out of the net for most of the last 5 minutes and only a defender on the half line, but couldn't break through.

As noted in my previous post about the team, I'm donating to a charity based on wins, shutouts, and goals scored. The total, after $50 from the PK competition win and $7 from fines on the boys, was $250 even. The boys took a vote at the end of the last game and the money will be going to Right to Play, a worthy international organization to help kids learn what it's like to be kids.

Anyhow, here are some of the numbers from the season, including preseason and tournament games:

Won 21
Lost 7
Shutouts 8
Shutout by other teams 2
Goals for 109
Goals against 38

12 of 14 boys scored at least once, and three, maybe four scored their first goals ever. The leader finished with 25 goals, followed closely by another boy with 23. Aidan, our main keeper, scored 8. A successful season!

Today's Insane But Obviously Necessary News Article

2009-07-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

Apparently, it's that psychics and numerologists have important things to tell us about Michael Jackson's life. When I went to CNN, this was the 3rd story down from the top on the "Latest News" feed. Thank goodness I know now that Jackson led a "six life path." I probably couldn't have made it through the day otherwise.

The Very Definition of Me

2009-07-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

Pilgarlic.

An epithet Jo can cast upon me on some future day.