...in which I continue this podcast thing on my new website by talking to Paul Weimer about how he became an sf/f fan. In this episode:
- I interview Paul Weimer about his first books, his genre influences, and his development as a reader.
Wednesday, July 08, 2015
Shaun's Rambles 004: Interviewing the Fans -- Paul Weimer
(Note: I'm starting to move things over to my new website. This shouldn't affect current feed subscribers, but do expect more announcements about the shift in the future. For now, I'm crossposting so nobody misses anything.)
...in which I continue this podcast thing on my new website by talking to Paul Weimer about how he became an sf/f fan. In this episode:
...in which I continue this podcast thing on my new website by talking to Paul Weimer about how he became an sf/f fan. In this episode:
Saturday, July 04, 2015
Quick Note: New Website Incoming!
Dear Readers,
I'm currently at CONvergence, but I did want to let you all know that The World in the Satin Bag will be moving over to my new website, shaunduke.net.
No need to change feeds or anything like that. In fact, you shouldn't have to do anything other than bookmark the new page in case you want to check it out. The feeds should automatically shift over when the new page is complete (in about a week).
I'll say more about all this later.
A huge thanks to Dave Baxter for all his hard work on this. He has been an enormous help!
Now back to the convention!
I'm currently at CONvergence, but I did want to let you all know that The World in the Satin Bag will be moving over to my new website, shaunduke.net.
No need to change feeds or anything like that. In fact, you shouldn't have to do anything other than bookmark the new page in case you want to check it out. The feeds should automatically shift over when the new page is complete (in about a week).
I'll say more about all this later.
A huge thanks to Dave Baxter for all his hard work on this. He has been an enormous help!
Now back to the convention!
Wednesday, July 01, 2015
On Unofficial Blacklists: Why I Keep a Mental List of Authors I Won't Read
In April of this year, I posted a list of five reasons I won't read someone's work. Whether it's because you don't write what I read or you're a giant turd nozzle on the Internet, there are a variety of reasons for why I skip on someone's work. By implication, that means I keep a constantly changing list of authors I won't read -- a list I have begun calling my Do Not Read list.
My DNR list isn't particularly long, and it does change from time to time. For the most part, the only people who show up on the DNR list are folks whose online (or in person) behavior is particularly nasty. This usually comes in two forms: an author whose politics I find repugnant (and who often openly talks about those politics in a way that suggests they would like it pushed on the rest of us as "normal") or an author whose behavior towards readers and/or reviewers suggests they will respond to negative criticism (or anything, really) in a way that will make me uncomfortable. Most authors don't fit into either of these categories. In fact, most authors know not to respond to negative reviews and most authors don't hold (or discuss) political views that are, to put it lightly, bigoted.
My DNR list isn't particularly long, and it does change from time to time. For the most part, the only people who show up on the DNR list are folks whose online (or in person) behavior is particularly nasty. This usually comes in two forms: an author whose politics I find repugnant (and who often openly talks about those politics in a way that suggests they would like it pushed on the rest of us as "normal") or an author whose behavior towards readers and/or reviewers suggests they will respond to negative criticism (or anything, really) in a way that will make me uncomfortable. Most authors don't fit into either of these categories. In fact, most authors know not to respond to negative reviews and most authors don't hold (or discuss) political views that are, to put it lightly, bigoted.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Shaun's Rambles 003: On Negative Reviews and Their Value
...in which I talk about things some people don't want to write.
In this edition:
In this edition:
- A discussion of the value of negative book reviews and why I think many people, including me, are hesitant to write them.
Enjoy the rambles!
You can download the mp3 directly from this link or stream the episode below.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Shaun's Rambles 002: The Value of Book Reviews and Dark Orbit by Carolyn Ives Gilman
...in which I continue a podcast of random thoughts had while driving home from work.
In this edition:
In this edition:
- What is the value of book reviews (to me)? Suggested by Jonah Sutton-Morse (Twitter / Cabbages and Kings Podcast)
- Some thoughts on Dark Orbit by Carolyn Ives Gilman
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Shaun's Rambles 001: The Gallo Conspiracy and Trial By Fire
...in which I begin a podcast of random thoughts had while driving home from work.
In this edition:
In this edition:
- Some thoughts on the controversy over Irene Gallo's statements about the Sad / Rabid Puppies
- Some thoughts on Trial By Fire by Charles Gannon and the absence of sf/f awards for adventure fiction
Friday, June 05, 2015
On the SF/F Novel: What Happened to Short Novels?
Later tonight, I'm recording an episode of The Incomparable with Jason Snell, Scott McNulty, Paul Weimer, and Fred Kiesche. We'll be discussing the Nebula Awards novel finalists, and among the topics I intend to bring up is the fact that I have been bouncing off of novels hard lately.
In the last few months, I've increasingly become weary of novels over 300 pages, and even more weary of novels exceeding 500. Part of this comes from experience: over and over, I'll pick up a novel of that length and come to the realization that it should have been cut down by 30% to avoid bloated side stories. There are all kinds of reasons that a novel should be trimmed, from excessive "as you know, Bob" explanations (a trait that Kim Stanley Robinson has somehow avoided in his exposition-heavy work) to simple elongations of otherwise tight narratives are pretty common. In other words, novel bloat is the primary culprit.
In the last few months, I've increasingly become weary of novels over 300 pages, and even more weary of novels exceeding 500. Part of this comes from experience: over and over, I'll pick up a novel of that length and come to the realization that it should have been cut down by 30% to avoid bloated side stories. There are all kinds of reasons that a novel should be trimmed, from excessive "as you know, Bob" explanations (a trait that Kim Stanley Robinson has somehow avoided in his exposition-heavy work) to simple elongations of otherwise tight narratives are pretty common. In other words, novel bloat is the primary culprit.
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