I am going through my second science fiction novel chapter by chapter with my writing partner. The experience has been very positive. The first positive is she understood what I was doing with race in the book. I am still struggling with the point of view. There are two main characters but only one voice. I have written the book from two points of view but it felt really awkward, so my latest version had just one. However, my partner suggests that I return to two points of view. My potential publisher also indicated that the second voice would be better for the African American market. Strong incentives.
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Before you count solar out: scientists are working towards it being more efficient to manufacture and mass produce. Anything that can reduce our carbon footprint (ironic, since you kind of burn carbon to make solar), plus reduce our dependency on oil as a power source is forward-thinking I can appreciate.
My blog on this is at redamygdala.wordpress.com
Hi there friends. Here’s a short sensual tale with a little dark twist to whet your appetite. Comments are welcomed. Enjoy! http://yvonnenicolas.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/naked-and-wanting/
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson: when you see the PDF of the first chapter of a very short, remarkable book, you'll peek into a remarkable life. She was the first African American graduate of MIT, and is the president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. There are always "firsts": make sure you reach back so that it's not "only."
Einstein answering a question regarding his acumen at science, said God had allowed him born "as stubborn as a mule." The video from Ainissa Ramirez shows people of color exceling in the sciences - sister is a prof at Yale in Material Science!
The dilemma is the expected instantaneousness of any posed question. Google has sadly hindered our patience in problem-solving or storytelling. A student is more prone to say: "So...what's the answer?" versus "what's the next step?"
The quality of the question and the stubborness of the seeker determines the height of the outcome.
Like the Walking Google: it was meant as a compliment, but the scary connotation (to me, at least) was the lack of apparent need to memorize anything beyond the superficial concerns of 13 - 19 year olds fixated on technology, but unwilling to take the time to master, or advance it. Sadly, most considered offline reading "boring" as well.
Nanoscale Infection Fighters: part of the asset speculative fiction lends is asking not only can we, but should we? I think of Michael Crichton's novel Prey.
OK, that's a grip! Obviously, the human species is "below impulse speeds" let alone FTL travel.
However, it is evidence that we're not alone in the universe, and that life is not so unique to our globe.
I just hope they (if there is a "they") survived their own Drake Equation.
Longer Lasting Lasers: I don't know if at our perception range as humans we can notice a pulsed versus a continuous laser. However, this is some good information if your fiction requires it as a background.
I actually pulled this off in a high school physics class demo of total internal reflection (though, I'm not sure the kids appreciated it):
1. Name three members of Nomad Squadron.
2. There are two characters answering to the name, The Night Stalker. One on TV. The other in real life. Who were they?
3. This 1979 horror movie featured a scene where a zombie fought wit ha shark.
4. Secret identities revealed. Who are these three characters? Kletus Cassady. Fred J. Dukes. Mac Gargan.
5. This was the weapon used in an assassination attempt against Reinhart Heydrich.
6. Name the members of the Warbound.
7. Astronomers recently discovered a planetary system with twin suns and named it after a planet in this well known science fiction film.
8. This man was known as the butcher of Plainsfield.
9. Secret indentities part 2. Who are these thre characters? Johnathan Crane, Todd Arlis, Cain Marko.
10. It was rumored that Adolph Hitler copied his small moustache from this silent film star.
11. This man used to be Al Capone's boss.
12. Where can you find these villians? Tchernobog, The Enclave, Makron.
13. WHat are the three kingdoms in nature?
14. This man was the only German field marshal ever to be taken prisoner in World War-2.
15. Where is Little Lamp Light?
16. This Toho Studio's monster was a mutation created by micro oxygen.
17. This long time member of the X-Men lost his life in a firey plane crash.
18. This woman was Adolph Hitler's secretary.
19. David Vincent had a hard time getting people to believe that aliens were invading earth in this classic TV series.
20. This coin was often mistaken for a quarter.21. Name the three German generals who committed suicide.22. Where can you find the Arm fighting the Core?23. This man was fired from Al Capones gang because he was too violent.24. Secret Identities part three. Who are these characters? Otto Octavious, Sam Sterns, Morrie Bench.25. WHere do these three characters live? Rigel the 16th, Mr House, Arthas.
AfroFuturism Transdisciplinary Seminar
PSAM 6700 CRN 6822
December 6th, 6pm-8:40pm
Tuesday evenings from 6 - 8:40pm
LOCATION:
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Auditorium, Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, 66 Fifth Avenue
ADMISSION:
Free; no tickets or reservations required; seating is first-come first-served
The Transdisciplinary Seminar in Fine Arts was implemented in 2009 to explore intersections of art and other forms of creativity and knowledge, from the natural sciences to social theory and various areas of design.
The Transdisciplinary Seminar on Afro-Futurism will consider how representations of science, technology and social engineering intersect with African diasporic cultural expressions. Science fiction will be the organizing trope that unites all the guest presentations and works under consideration. Visiting artists and cultural theorists will lecture on the role of futuristic projection in African diasporic art, architecture, film and music. The expediency of science fiction as both a fractured mirror of historical experience and a heterotopic projection of the collective desires of a displaced people will be discussed throughout the semester. Guest lecturers will present lectures that relate to the fields that are central to their research: painting, electronic music, film, video installation, and built environments.
Guest presentations will be interspersed with seminar-style discussions. Students will be expected to complete weekly reading assignments and write brief thought-papers in response to lectures. They will also be required to prepare questions in advance of guest lectures.
Guest Lecturers
1. Alondra Nelson, Associate Professor, Sociology, Columbia. U, editor of Social Text Issue on Afro-Futurism
2. Kodwo Eshun, Artist and Cultural Theorist, co-founder of The Otolith Group, Lecturer at Goldsmiths College
3. Mabel Wilson, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, Columbia U.
5. Julie Mehretu, Visual Artist
6. George Lewis, Composer and Cultural Theorist, Associate Professor, Columbia U.
7. Wanuri Kahiu, Filmmaker, Director of the award winning science fiction short, Pumi (in dialogue with NSGS Professor Sean Jacobs)
Been working on a new novel. It's an alternate history crime drama. I finished my sci-fi/fantasy novel not too long ago, and a friend is helping me edit it. If any of my friends here on BSFS would like to help out. Email me at gatecrasher6@gmail.com Make sure to put Black Science Fiction Society in the title, and a note on which one of my BSFS friends you are :)
-Mick
I've been out of pocket at the 'Society for a minute and apologize for not giving my usual drops of info for my blog and the groups I sponsor. It's been a rough year on the homefront, but in the meantime I managed to knock out a short-story epic, some video productions and getting my third novel 'ready for primetime'. Now that I'm starting to see some daylight, the info drops will pick up in the coming months. That's the nature of the 'creative biz'. In spite of all the distractions and BS from the real world trying to get in the way, you just gotta' keep on creatin'!
This is the story about the young Shaman KaKo on his journeys to be initiated and what happens
all along his way!!
http://www.thecrocodilefactor.blogspot.com/
It starts like this...
Episode One
Introduction:
The Warrior-Equilibrium Chief's compound...All this is taking place in a Village called (WE-Village)
Warrior-Equilibrium Village, where all of the people are talking about "The Crocodile-Factor" because,
in the Chief's compound of WE-Village, there's a big, big crocodile roaming heavily and freely as the Chief wanted it to be so....
Please join D. Jahman Deidotree's blog and follow his saga!!!
http://www.thecrocodilefactor.blogspot.com/
Thank you...
J. Peterson
Quality Editing
at Affordable Prices
http://qandvaffordableediting.blogspot.com/
Editing Services starting at $1.00 per page
Ebook format starting at $25.00
Cover design starting at $100.00
Manuscript layout
Proofreading services
Copy editing
PDF files sized to your specification
ebook formatting
Cover art
We will work within your budget!
Contact: Quinton Veal quintonveal@hotmail.com
Valjeanne Jeffers sister24moon@gmail
Quinton Veal is a poet, graphic artist and a student at Southwest Illinois College. Quinton designed the covers of: Her Black Body I Treasure, Immortal 3: Stealer of Souls, Probe and Grandmere's Secret (by Valjeanne Jeffers). He has also released his own book of erotic poetry and art, Her Black Body I Treasure, now available at Amazon Kindle and in print.
Dr. Trellie Jeffers earned her doctorate in Humanites from Atlanta University. She has extensive experience writing grants, editing and proofreading theses and dissertations. She has also been published in numerous journals including: The Black Scholar.
Valjeanne Jeffers has been published in numerous anthologies including: Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology. She is also the author of the Immortal saga. Valjeanne works as an editor for Mocha Memoirs Press and is part of the Genesis Magazine editorial Staff (http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com).
I keep my eyes on the day star
Its light reaches through galaxies
It illuminates all dark places
I ramble through dark despair
Striving to reach its glow
Darkness of fear blinds me
But its brilliance lights my way
It is the most lustrous
It makes white of the night sky
Unobscured it shines to me
And like the day star I shine now too
WIRED! magazine gave us an awesome review.
We've started actually building our official website.
If your local comic book shop owner won't order it, you can order PRODIGAL online.
Here are some places you can get issue one
http://www.apecomics.com/store.htm
http://heavyink.com/comic/12377-Prodigal-Egg-Of-First-Light-1
and, if your LCS is still not being nice, I suggest jumping on issue 2 right now.
http://www.milehighcomics.com/comicindex/nice/January-2010/Title-PRODIGAL--EGG-OF-FIRST-LIGHT--2010---2-by-Ape-Entertainment.html
http://www.dcbservice.com/product.aspx?id=319083
http://westfieldcomics.com/comic-books/Prodigal-Egg-of-First-Light/10010699
Well after a long delay, I want to announce that I have completed the first book in my series of Novellas in the "LOST CHILD" Fantasy series: The HOUSE of GALES.
There are some great illustrated images included in the e-book and I'm already hard at work on book Two which I'm shooting to release for the begining of the year.
I hope that folks embrace the book because I'm sure you're like the ride and the multitude of dynamic characters that I will be introducing
Barnes and Nobles as an e-book!
Come check it out:
Who Fears Death has won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel! See the full list of winners here.
And where was I when this awesome news was announced? In a maximum security jail in Chicago visiting one of my students who'd gotten into some trouble. I needed to make sure he was ok. He was. As much as he could be. He’s maintaining.
It was good to see him. He said he was enjoying the latest book I’d sent him- a copy of His Dark Materials. Regardless, seeing him there made my heart ache and eyes burn (as it did back in April). He’s a brilliant young black man.
I came out of there fighting sadness. So many young men of color, predominately black, locked up like animals. I'd noticed when I walked in that on the controls on the wall (which featured several buttons), the one marked "trouble" was flashing and beeping. Apparently (my student told me), someone had just been stabbed and was in bad bad condition.
So, I got into my car sat there for a few moments and then looked at my cell phone (you can't bring your cell phone into the jail). Even as I picked it up, it buzzed as it received another text. When I flipped it open, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. For several minutes I was in a sort of mental turmoil as my sadness battled my extreme happiness. I drove to my mother's house in a sort of shock (had to pick up Anyaugo).
 |
| Happy Flower by Anyaugo Okorafor |
But when I got there, my family had already heard the news from my editor and I could do nothing but give in to the happy dancing and confetti throwing. Now, week later, I sit here smiling.
I am really proud of this novel. I worked so hard on it. It worked so hard on me. This is beautiful.
