Fantasy Minute for October 31, 2005

E-Signing has begun for Halfling's Gem: The Legend of Drizzt VI at RASalvatore.com. He has also posted a sample chapter over there.

Preparations are about complete for the World Fantasy Convention held this weekend in Madison, WI. Most authors have their panels set and have posted them on their respective websites. There is also a full programming schedule at worldfantasy.org/2005.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) University Bookstore, Bellevue WA, 7 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena CA, 7 p.m.

George RR Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire) Lucca Comics and Game Show, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) The Centurion Conference Centre, Nepean, ON, 7:30 PM

Fantasy Minute for October 30, 2005

Keith Parkinson, world renowned fantasy author, has peacefully passed away. Keith had been battling Leukemia for the past 16 months. Keith fought the good fight every step of the way and at one point he had it beat. At that point, we all thought he was in the clear and we were even talking about him attending Gen Con Indy 2006 to build up his immune system with all the lovely sights and smells that tend to rear up at Gen Con. But it came back hard and in the end it was more than his body could handle.

Good news for fans of The Hedge Knight comic and graphic novel. George RR Martin has just signed an agreement with the DB Pro for a follow-up series, a full-color comics adaption of the second Dunk and Egg novella, "The Sworn Sword."

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Borders, Cincinnati OH, 2 p.m.

Alan Lee (Lord of the Rings Sketchbook) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 2 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for October 29, 2005

Marvel Comics to publish Dark Tower Comic Books:

Stephen is working with Marvel to produce a series of comic books inspired by and adapted from his Dark Tower novels. The first six issues will appear monthly starting in April 2006 and then will be collected in a hardcover volume published by Marvel in time for the 2006 holidays. The comics will integrate scenes from the novels with new material, creating a linear history of Roland Deschain as a young man.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Borders, Santa Cruz CA, 4 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Borders, Tigard OR, 7 p.m.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Borders, Madison WI, 2 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Powell's, Beaverton OR, 1 p.m.

Alan Cole and Kate Elliot appear at Autumncon, Salt Lake City UT

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Books and Breakfast, London, ON 9:00 am

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Book Express, Cambridge, ON 1:30 pm

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Chapters, Kitchener, ON 4:00 pm

Fantasy Minute for October 28, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 28, 2005:

National Novel Writing Month about to open. NaNoWriMo novel writing contest opens November 1. 50000 word entries accepted.

Matthew Vaughn to direct and produce Gaiman's Stardust.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Barnes & Noble, San Jose CA, 7 p.m.

Nancy Jane Moore (Changeling) Barnes & Noble, Philadelphia PA, 7:30 p.m. (Philadelphia Fantastic event)

Kim Stanley Robinson (Fifty Degrees Below) Cody's, Berkeley CA, 7:30 p.m.

Richard K. Morgan (Woken Furies) Midtown Comics, Times Square, New York City NY, 6 p.m.

Clive Barker (Clive Barker: Visions of Heaven and Hell) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Robin's Bookstore, Philadelphia PA, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) The Other Change of Hobbit, Berkeley CA, 7 p.m.

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Coles Bookstore, Toronto, ON , 12 Noon

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Chapters Ancaster, ON, 7:00 PM

Fantasy Minute for October 26, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 26, 2005:

Lawsuit may delay Canadian release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Canadian band, The Wyrd Sisters, a little known Winnipeg folk group, has filed for an injunction to delay the film's release. The application for an injunction is part of a lawsuit the Wyrd Sisters filed in September against the Warner Brothers movie and music empire and three famous British musicians - Jarvis Cocker of the group Pulp and Jonny Greenwood and Phil Selway of Radiohead. The lawsuit alleges the musicians appear in the film under the Wyrd Sisters moniker, and seeks $40 million plus punitive damages, interest and other costs.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Brentano's, Century City (LA) CA, 12:30 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Cody's, San Francisco CA, 7:30 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) CUNY Graduate Center, New York City NY, 7 p.m.

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Vroman's, Pasadena CA, 7 p.m.

Brian Jacques (High Rhoulain) Petaluma Community, Petaluma, CA, 7:00PM-9:00PM

Fantasy Minute for October 25, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 25, 2005:

Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs... a new book by two dozen authors and artists—including Lemony Snicket, George Saunders, Neil Gaiman, Kelly Link, Nick Hornby, Jonathan Safran Foer, Marcel Dzama, and Barry Blitt—have donated their work to a collection benefiting 826NYC, a tutoring center in Brooklyn where kids can take creative writing classes for free. November 12 is a six city Noisy Outlaw extravaganza.

Stephen King's Picks:

Stephen is reading The Mad Cook of Pymatuning by Christopher Lehman-Haupt (Great) and To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas (Good)

He is listening to Drunken Lullabies, by Flogging Molly (Excellent) - One of Galaphile's top 5 albums of all time

His movie pick of the week is In Her Shoes, Directed by Curtis Hanson (Real Good)

Brian Jacques (High Rhulain) Cody's, 1730 Fourth Street, Berkeley CA, 7 p.m.

Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Hue-Man Bookstore, Harlem NY

R. A. Salvatore (The Promise of the Witch King) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, 7 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Ottakar's, Basingstoke, UK, 7 p.m.

George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Ottakar's, Woking, UK, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Clive Barker (Clive Barker Visions of Heaven and Hell) The Booksmith, San Francisco CA, 7 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for October 24, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 24, 2005:
Anne Rice's new book, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, breaks with her former books. Rice states she has gone back to faith and will now only write for the Lord.
Rocker Jarvis Cocker is battling "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling over songs he composed for the upcoming movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." Cocker appears in the movie with Radiohead members Phil Selway and Jonny Greenwood as the eccentric band The Wyrd Sisters, according to contactmusic.com. But Rowling has banned him from commercially releasing music he has written for the film.
Jeffrey Ford is selling an unfinished story at a garage sale!
Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Chicago Public Library, Chicago IL,
Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington KY, 7 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Ottakar's, Portsmouth, UK, 7 p.m.
Cory Doctorow (Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town) Stanhope Centre, London, UK, 6 p.m.
Joyce Carol Oates (Missing Mom) Strand Bookstore, New York City NY, 6:30 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for October 23, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 23, 2005:
Lynda Williams, author of The Courtesan Prince speaks about copyrights, file sharing and podcasting.  Interesting read.
Free subscription to Edward McFadden's Cosmic Speculative Fiction.  COSMIC SF features fantasy and science fiction in all their forms.
Win a collector's edition of His Dark Materials by Pullman sponsored by the Times, Waterstone's and Scholastic.

Brian Jacques (High Rhoulain) Borders, Redmond, WA, 2:00PM-4:00PM
Terry Brooks (Straken) Surrey Writers Coference: Surrey, BC
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Surrey Writers Coference: Surrey, BC

Fantasy Minute for October 22, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 22, 2005:
Dakota Fanning to voice Neil Gaiman's Coraline in the upcoming adaptation of Gaiman's novel by the same name.

Charles Coleman Finlay (The Prodigal Troll) is signing at Bakka-Phoenix Books, Toronto Canada, at 3 p.m.
Donald Sidney-Fryer (Songs and Sonnets Atlantean) signs at Borderlands Books, San Francisco California, 4 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) signs at Borders, Glasgow, UK, 1 p.m.
Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) signs at Borders, Cincinnati Ohio, 2 p.m.
John Ringo (Ghost: Book 1 of Kildar) signs at Chapter 11, Norcross, Georgia. 7:30 p.m.
Clive Barker (Clive Barker: Visions of Heaven and Hell) signs at Dark Delicacies, Burbank, California, 7 p.m.
Terry Pratchett (Thud!) signs at Forbidden Planet, London, UK, 1-2 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for October 21, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 21, 2005:
Terry Brooks' Castaway's Map by Russ Charpentier is now available on the For Sale page of terrybrooks.net. Both Terry and Russ have signed the beautiful giclee map, and they are available for $300.00. 

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Books & Co., Dayton OH, 7 p.m.
Robert J. Sawyer (Mindscan) Brock University, St. Catharines ON, Canada, 2 p.m. George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Forbidden Planet, London, UK, 5 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Red Lion Bookshop, Colchester, UK, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Brian Jacques (High Rhulain) Barnes & Noble, Olympia, WA, 2:00PM-4:00PM
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Surrey International Writer's Workshop, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Terry Brooks (Straken)  Surrey International Writer's Workshop, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Christopher Paolini (Eldest) Karstadt Department Store, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Fantasy Minute for October 20, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 20, 2005:
Robert Jordan gives the working title for book 12:  A Memory of Light.  
Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Borders, Baileys Crossroads VA, 7 p.m.
Joyce Carol Oates (Missing Mom) Barnes & Noble, Princeton NJ, 7 p.m.
Octavia E. Butler (Fledgling) Elliott Bay Bookstore, Seattle WA, 7:30 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Forbidden Planet, Birmingham, UK, 2 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Waterstone's, Nottingham, UK, 7:30 p.m.
Brian Jacques (High Rhulain) Parkplace, Kirkland, WA 6:30PM-8:30PM
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Surrey International Writer's Workshop, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Christopher Paolini (Eldest) KaDaWe Department Store Berlin Germany 4:00 - 5:00 pmChristopher Paolini (Eldest) Literary Salon of the Old Headquarters, Berlin 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Write Fantastic  Bromley Central Library in association with Ottakar's

Review: I'm a Vampire For Real

Title: I'm a Vampire...For Real
Author: Jackie RoseAuthor site: www.jackieroseroom.comPublisher site: www.extasybooks.comPrice: $4.99ISBN: humor, vampirePub date: Oct. 14, 2005Rating: one flame (mildest)Formats: Adobe PDF, Microsoft LIT, hiebook KML, Palm PDB, Rocketbook RB,Mobipocket PRC, HTML
Fantasy Times Rating:  8.3

To properly set the stage for the following review, I must inform you of an important point.  I have not read much of this type of fiction and thus my review is based solely on the reaction I had as a reviewer.  That being said….

I’m a Vampire…For Real by Jackie Rose is a humorous foray into the world of politics and real estate.  The story opens with Mistress Legree holding a small party with some of her friends and quickly runs smack into the political arena with the President and Congress who are intent on passing the “Same Species Marriage Bill”.  President O’Neill doesn’t really want to sign the bill, but is concerned about his own daughter’s romance….and there are plenty of interest groups who wish to work on him.

I found myself laughing from the onset of the story.  Ms. Rose is a fantastic humorist with a mastery of parody and finds a way to cut through my normally quite conservative stereotypes.  The humor was sharp witted and made the read quite fulfilling.  One of my favorite lines is late in the story:

Actually, it sounded much more like Satanism than witchcraft to him, and goodness knows his First Lady had spent enough time lecturing about the difference. Still, he was in no condition to quibble, as he realized when he felt the First Penis straining against his blue serge pants.

The story went on to talk about the various special interest groups.  At no point during my reading did I find myself offended and I instantly bought the humor she used.  Well worth the read especially when you need a laugh…and a must for anyone who’s been told they’re too uptight, I would recommend this book to anyone over 18.

Fantasy Minute for October 19, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 19, 2005:
Bear McCreary, music composer for SciFi Channel's top-rated "Battlestar Galactica" television series, will lead his band, 17 Billion Miles of DNA, in a live Internet concert Oct. 20 at midnight ET, 9 p.m. PT.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Borders, Leeds, UK, 1-2 p.m.
David Wecker (Mastering the Universe) Joseph-Beth Booksellers Cincinnati OH, 7 p.m.
James Baker (Real Simple magazine) KGB Bar, New York City NY, 7 p.m.
Melissa M. Snodgrass (Edge of Reason) KGB Bar, New York City NY, 7 p.m.
Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Olsson's Books & Records, Arlington VA, 7 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Waterstone's Deangate, Manchester, UK, 7 p.m.
Brian Jacques (High Rhulain) Eagle Harbor Books, Bainsbridge Isl., WA 7:00PM-9:00PM
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Alix Gooden Performance Hall, Victoria, BC 7:30 PM

Fantasy Minute for October 18, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 18, 2005:
Jeffrey Carver is offering a free online writing class for science fiction and fantasy authors (or aspiring ones).  Whether you're trying to write for the first time, or have been at it for a while, you'll probably find some useful tips here. The course is intended mainly for younger (high school and middle school) writers, but it covers fundamentals you can build on no matter what your age.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Books-a-Million, Hanover MD, 7 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Ottakar's, King's Lynn, UK, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows) Ottakar's, Norwich, UK, 6:30 p.m.
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Touring Western Canada
Brain Jacques (High Rhoulain) Third Place Lake Forest Park, WA, 7:00PM-9:00PM

Fantasy Minute for October 17, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 17, 2005:
Philip Pullman comes out against Narnia; claims racist and religious propaganda devoid of love with outdated fears of sexuality and women.
Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show is available for purchase.  This is issue 1 for October 2005.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Chester County Books & Music CoWest Chester PA, 7 p.m.
Terry Bisson (Greetings) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, 7 p.m.
Robert J. Sawyer (Mindscan) The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford NH, 7 p.m.
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Touring Western Canada

Fantasy Minute for October 16, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 16, 2005:
Interactive Narnia Map now available. Moviefone now has an interactive Narnia map available. You can browse through the map to each of nine sites throughout the land of Narnia. See photos and read a synopsis of the following scenes from the story
C.J. Cherryh is putting her next Cyteen book on hold and is instead writing Foreigner 9.  Details here.
Justine Larbalestier BarbŠs Bar, Park Slope, Brooklyn NY, 6 p.m.
Scott Westerfeld BarbŠs Bar, Park Slope, Brooklyn NY, 6 p.m.
Terry Bisson (Greetings) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
Nancy Holder (Outsiders) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
Paul Di Filippo DCU Center, Worcester MA, US, 1-2:30 p.m.
Alexander C. Irvine DCU Center, Worcester MA, US, 1-2:30 p.m.
James Patrick Kelly DCU Center, Worcester MA, US, 1-2:30 p.m.
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Barnes & Noble, Tucson, AZ - 7PM
Brian Jacques (High Rhoulain) Barnes & Noble, Bellevue, WA 2:00PM-4:00PM

Fantasy Minute for October 15, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 15, 2005:
Locusmag: Clarion writers conference reorganized.  The Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Workshop, founded in 1968 and since then the best known and most highly regarded science fiction writing workshop in the US, has reorganized, and announced plans to return next year to Michigan State University.
Michael Moorcock (Silverheart) Book People, Austin TX, 7 p.m.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (States of Grace) Dark Delicacies, Burbank CA, 2 p.m.
Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA, 2 p.m.
Nick Mamatas Monmouth County Library, Manalapan NJ, 12 noon
Ben Bova (Mercury) Mysterious Galaxy, 7051 Clairemont San Diego CA, 1 p.m.
Elaine Isaak (The Singer's Crown) The Toadstool Bookshop, Lordens Plaza, Milford NH, 7 p.m.
Julie E. Czerneda (Migration & Fantastic Companions) World's Biggest Bookstore, Toronto ON, Canada, 1-3 p.m.
Christopher Paolini (Eldest) Several location in Barcelona, Spain
Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Barnes & Noble, Albuquerque, NM, 1 PM
Brian Jacques (High Rhoulain) Barnes & Noble, Lynwood, WA 1PM-3PM

Fantasy Minute for October 14, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 14, 2005:
The Write Fantastic's next event is at Bromley Central Library in association with Ottakar's on 20th October 2005. The Write Fantastic is an initiative by authors to introduce fantasy fiction to readers who have never tried the genre, and to show those who have drifted away the breadth and depth in current fantasy writing.
Martha Wells has an essay "Neville Longbottom: the Hero With a Thousand Faces" in the Mapping the World of Harry Potter non-fiction anthology from BenBella Books.  Martha will also have a Stargate SG1 short story "Archeology 101" in the #8 issue of Stargate Magazine. 
Howard Waldrop Library of Congress, Pickford Theater, Washington DC, 12:10 p.m.

John Ringo (Ghost: Book 1 of Kildar) Mysterious Galaxy, San Diego CA, US, 7 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) The Toadstool Bookshop, Milford NH, US, 7 p.m.

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) King's English, Salt Lake City, UT, 7 PM.

Christopher Paolini (Eldest) 3 events in Barcelona, Spain

A Debt of Bones Review

A Debt of Bones
By Terry Goodkind
Gollancz, 116 pages

FT rating: 9.0


Her friends and family kidnapped and her village sacked, A Debt of Bones opens showing Abby waiting in line to ask for help from her last hope: a wizard.  And not just any wizard, only the First Wizard Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander will do.   This is a dangerous request from the “Wind of Death”, but Abby is confident because she has an ace in the hole, or more accurately, the sack.  When she finally sees him, one of the most interesting parts of the story unfolds as Abby isn’t granted a private meeting, she has to share First Wizard Zedd’s time with other wizards, generals, sorceresses and confessors.  Even though she has come to call in her debt of bones, Zedd denies her request and she is sent away.  After a little help, Abby meets with Zedd who agrees that her debt of bones is legitimate and agrees to help, but there is a time limit.  The story progresses quickly and Abby goes in search of her child.  Will she find her before Zedd’s magic separates them forever?

Now it must be said that I have read the Sword of Truth series and was already acquainted with the outcome of the story.  That being said, I was hooked into this story and read it in one sitting.  The world was well developed and the dialogue and interaction was eloquent and meaningful.  Mr. Parkinson’s cover art and illustrations added a wonderful dimension to the story and helped visualize some of the Sword of Truth’s central things particularly the Grace.  Do not be fooled by the brevity of this story or that it is a prequel.  For new readers, this book will lay the ground work for the Sword of Truth series and gives an example of the rhythm and tempo of Mr. Goodkind’s writing.  Sword of Truth followers will see the story of Zedd and the making of the boundaries only enhancing the series as a whole.  Well worth the read whether you’re a Goodkind fan or not, I highly recommend Debt of Bones.

Fantasy Minute for October 12, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 12, 2005:

Enter the Young Warriors Random House contest.  In celebration of Young Warriors edited by Tamora Pierce and Josepha Herman, Random House is asking that you send in a picture of yourself as a young warrior and describe what makes you one!  One grand-prize winner's picture will be featured on the cover of the paperback edition of Young Warriors!
Scot R. Stone is holding a contest for two copies of his newest book, The Ice Shadows of Arna, Book 2 of The Snowtear Wars.  More information HERE.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) signs at Barnes & Noble, Warwick RI, US, 12:30 p.m.

T. A. Barron (The Great Tree of Avalon: Shadows on the Stars) signs at Malaprop's Bookstore, Asheville NC, US, 7 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) signs at Waldenbooks, Crystal Mal Hartford Tpke, Waterford CT, US, 7 p.m.

Brian Jacques (High Rhulain) signs at Borders, Federal Way, WA, US 6:00PM-8:00PM

Fantasy Minute for October 11, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 11, 2005:

Today the fantasy blockbuster A Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan appears on bookshelves.  This is book 357 of the Wheel of Time Series…actually it’s book 11 and is the second to last installment.


New Fantasy Minute Shownotes are available.  I am trying out a new shownotes system.  Let me know what you think.  http://thefantasytimes.blogspot.com


Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) signs at Barnes & Noble, New York City NY, US, 12:30-3 p.m.

Harlan Ellison appears at Boston University, Boston MA, US, 6 p.m.

Robert Jordan (Knife of Dreams) signs at The Book Revue, Huntington Village NY, US, 8 p.m.

John Ringo (Ghost: Book 1 of Kildar) signs at The Other Change of Hobbit, Berkeley CA, US, 7 p.m.

Diana Gabaldon (A Breath of Snow and Ashes) Tempe, AZ - Changing Hands, 7 PM

Brian Jacques (High Rhulain) University Temple United Methodist Church, 7:00PM-9:00PM Seattle, WA

Fantasy Minute for October 10, 2005

Fantasy Minute for October 10, 2005:
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay has been nominated for the Geffen Award. The Geffen Award is presented to distinguished works in the genre by The Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy
The 2005 Sunburst Award Winner is AIR by Geoff Ryman.
New Fantasy Minute Shownotes are available.  I am trying out a new shownotes system.  Let me know what you think.  http://thefantasytimes.blogspot.com



Jon Courtenay Grimwood reads and signs at Borders, London, UK, 6:30 p.m.


Cory Doctorow reads and signs at Borders, London, UK, 6:30 p.m.

Fantasy Minute for October 9, 2005

The British Fantasy Society have announced their latest short story competition.  Since 2006 is the 35th anniversary of the Society itself, and the 30th anniversary of their Fantasycon event, the BFS are looking for Fantasy/Horror/Science Fiction stories with an anniversary theme. 
The Fantasy Times reviews Ilona Hegedus' new collection, Unearthly Companion.  
Knife of Dreams internet hunt has been modified.  Prizes no longer tied to the hunt.  Instead, a sweepstakes with entry deadlines from October 11 through November 29.  The Hunt will continue but only for enjoyment sakes.

Signings:
Maria Snyder: Mysterious Galaxy 2:00 pm, San Diego, CA
Brian Jacques: Barnes & Noble, 2:30PM-4:30PM Portland, OR

Unearthly Companion

Unearthly Companion
Ilona Hegedus

Genres: sci-fi, fantasy, horror, humorISBN:Electronic: ISBN#: ISBN 963 460 561 3Paperback: ISBN#: ISBN 963 219 168 4Release Date: end of October 2005

FT rating:  8.5

Unearthly Companion is a collection of dark genre poems putting a new dimension in everyday life.  Every reader can relate to at least the elemental portion of each poem, but the twist that is added to each poem is worthy of, at minimum, a second thought and, more likely, find a place in your “déjà vu” memory.  I read this collection at two different times: the first in one sitting and the second on two separate sittings at a weekend renaissance festival.  The collection worked in both settings and, therefore, is worthy of review for both types of venues.

My initial reading was an enjoyable one with interesting twists on relevant social events.  The poems did not appear to have any particular order to them whether by genre or subject.  However, with only a few exceptions, the poems, if read in order, will give a nice enjoyable read.  The collection begins with a few poems about people and progresses through a nice banter between people, places and things.  Her technology poems are analytical and relevant and offer a unique insight into computer usage and what place it has in our life.  

Around a campfire on a cold evening is the perfect venue for this collection of poetry.  Ms. Hegedus’ story telling shines while in a setting such as this and will bring any campfire to a chorus of oohs, aaahs and NO WAYS.   Her prism on life twists your reality until you begin to wonder what’s happening when someone brings you a drink.

Overall, Unearthly Companion was a well written collection of poetry.  Ms. Hegedus’ work would be enjoyed by anyone who likes to look at life through a different light but it would also work as a story telling mechanism when you’re at a campsite or sitting around the fire.  Any students should consider using several of these poems as speech pieces or audition pieces.  Well written and enjoyable, I would recommend this.

First post

I imagine there is this same post header in every single blog: First Post. Well, here it is and oh how fantastic it is.

This blog is simply the personal weblog of Ross, a.k.a. Galaphile, site administrator of The Fantasy Times. If you don't know what the heck that means then wakeup and head to http://www.thefantasytimes.com.

The purpose of this space is to put my own personal spin on anything I want.

Sit back and enjoy.

G