Fan Fiction Books

The style of the book took some getting used to, but the actual story is pretty interesting.

A female fan-maker in Revolutionary France befriends the ever-licentious Marquis de Sade, and makes fans with "provacative scenes" depicted on them. The whole story is told in an interrogation setting, when the fan-maker is on the stand in court testifying about her relationship with the Marquis.

"The Fan-Maker's Inquisition" is an exploration of the thoughts and passions of the Marquis de Sade through letters and journal entries written during his imprisonment and a transcript of the fan-maker's trial. Its prose is lush and its topics various, flowing from page to page in vivid succession. As a series of words, sentences, paragraphs, ideas, the book is a marvelous success.

But as a story, it's a dismal failure. There is no discernible plot. The book cowritten by Sade and the fan-maker (interspersed in sections throughout) - without a doubt the most engaging, and easiest to follow, component of this novel - is too thinly spread to be memorable and bears too little relationship to the rest of the story to resonate meaningfully with it. The remainder - pages and pages - is comprised largely of lists of hedonistic pleasures, primarily food and sexual escapades. While this is certainly believable as the preoccupation of an imprisoned Sade, it makes for unexciting reading.

On its jacket, and in its other reviews, "The Fan-Maker's Inquisition" is billed as a revolution in thought, in the art of thinking and living passionately. It certainly has the beginnings of such an accomplishment, with its deft use of words, its vivid descriptions, and its wide range of subject matter (its purview includes, besides food and sex, religion, the settlement of the Americas, and the crafting and uses of fans). But without a plot, and a definitive ending, the book languishes in its own excessive use of ideas.

I picked this up because of the title. Sadly, the fan-maker's detailed explanation of her trade was the only bit I found particularly interesting. The book is filled with lush description, yes, but that's nearly all there is; the plot, if there was one, escaped me and the characters were only sketchily developed. I have the feeling I would understand more of what Ducornet is babbling about if I'd actually read anything of de Sade's, but I haven't, and anyway that's no way to write a novel; it ought to stand on its own.

Dancing alone in your kitchen. 'Do not grasp the bird too tightly...' Think of the way water implies depth through color and movement. This book muscled it's way into my reading schedule and kept me thinking and re-thinking. I can only relate how this book felt inside of me, but as with all books that leave you feeling, sensing and imagining there is the urge to send this out to others. It is the Hero's plight. I felt, sensed and saw all these marvelous things. Can you experience them as well?

The Fanmaker's Inquisition mixes tv courtroom drama, sexual intensity, imagination and ideas against the backdrop of the French Revolution. Ducornet manages to bring a live a partucularly dramatic peice of political and social history in this novel as well as exploring contemporary ideas of sexuallity and identity.
This is a beautiful, well researched, and powerfully convincing book, and I would recomend it to everyone except my dear grandmother.

Camden Joy offers us a book that will make you laugh, or think he's insane! A well writen romp through a dysfunctional relationship, and a mysterious missing kid sister. This book will give you something to think about like "Why would Sting brag about his billard skills in a song?" This book is actually isn't "about" Liz Phair,although she may or not be in there somewhere...
I often wonder..
The pictures (art work) are too hilarious to miss, reminds me a little of Vonnegut's pictures in breakfast of champions
I highly reccomend this book...

You know, I'm not gay or anything but I'm freaking in love with Liz Phair. Yep, admittedly. There you go, Hugh. It's true. And so when I saw her name attached to a novel, I thought, "Wow, cool, I think I'll read that." Listen, y'all, this dude, Camden Joy, is seriously tripping out here. This book has virtually nothing to do with Liz Phair and is more of his ranting brain-flushing sessions as he drives a hot car across Chicago in search of the greatest indy-rocker of the '90's. This was probably intended to be some sort of Burroughs/Kerouac experience for its time but it's more like a scary description of a non-artistic mental collapse. Good thing it's fiction. And, um, I was mostly kidding about the "in love with Liz Phair" part.

Mostly.

As a genre the "rock novel" is not only still in utero but perhaps to be stillborn since the music itself seems to be on the verge of "hitting the wall," as the saying goes. Yet Camden Joy is one of the finest exponents of this particular genre. Anyone familiar with his broadsheet screeds--the classic brief essays on Souled American come to mind--knows that he knows the music and that he knows how to write. I would say Liz Phair is number two on the Rock Novel list: intense, comprehensive, witty, innovative. And the first on the list? DeLillo's Great Jones Street, naturally. Also Sorrentino's great Sound on Sound, though that book shows nowhere near the level of accomplishment (though Joy shares with Sorrentino the conceit of a narrator working on a quickie bio of a rock star). Highly recommended.

"The Last Rock Star Book or: Liz Phair, a Rant" alternates between funny and disturbing, deep and superficial. Though I bought it because I'm a Liz Phair fan, the emphasis should really be on "Rant" rather than Phair. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Joy adequately captures the essense of teenage (or twenty-something, or thirty-something) rebellion, and the allure of sex, drugs & rock n' roll. He takes you along as he probes the recesses of his mind & memory, while sniffing glue and chatting with his pocket tape recorder. At worst confusing and at best intriguing, this is a good read for the original MTV generation.

As a Liz Phair fan, I was disappointed to see that Joy misquoted her lyrics so often, and I don't agree with his interpretation of her Exile in Guyville album. But the book is really fasciniating and I would highly recommend it to any fan, even though it doesn't have much to do with her.

I enjoyed this book. It was great to have intros throughout the book by Mr. Martin, letting you into the background into his life and how he came to writing certain tales. It's also fascinating to read as a time sequence to see how he found his voice over time. While not all of the stories are fantastic, the vast majority are above average and should capture your imagination. I highly recommend it.

This gives the reader a great look at some of George RR Martin's early work, including his expansive sci-fi work. Much of the sci-fi and some of the fantasy takes place in the same universe, and so despite being a collection of short stories it has a big vein of continuity running throughout.

Some of the very earliest stories are uneven or downright terrible, but the balance of the book is very good.

I am probably Mr. Martin's biggest fan. I started this book when I got it and I try to read one story every couple days so it lasts longer. I love his writing. After reading the forward to this book I got a bigger picture of where his inspiration came from, comics!! So cool. Being older (cough,cough) I loved comics, but I read Archie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead. When I was a kid there just wasn't any really good books for kids, except Nancy Drew which I also collected.

As you make your way through this book, it will amaze you at how talented the author is. Each story makes me smile when I think of an eager young mind putting his heart and soul into each written word.

Would definately reccomend it to anyone who loves to read and who isn't constrained by reality and is willing to think outside the box, and travel to parts and realms unknown. I certainly am.

DREAMSONGS VOLUME I BY GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: The two great mysteries of this world are when scientists will come up with a unification theory for quantum mechanics and relativity, and when George R. R. Martin will release the very long-awaited fifth book in his "Song of Ice and Fire" series, A Dance With Dragons. With a hopeful but doubtful release some time next year, for the time being there is thankfully Dreamsongs, a two-volume collection featuring George R. R. Martin's short stories and novellas spanning his career.

This first volume is split into five parts, separating periods of Martin's life from the sixties and on through the seventies. At the beginning of each part, Martin gives an introduction, telling his life story at this particular moment, and what were the circumstances that led up to each particularly story and how they were published. He begins from the beginning, writing and publishing at a young age, when one would expect the work to be simple and undeveloped, and yet it is clear that George R. R. Martin was a talented writer from the start. In each story are unique and memorable characters that stick with the reader long after the story is over. In "The Exit to San Breta," the main character is driving his classic, ancient Jaguar along the old and disused freeways of North America. It is on a particular road in Arizona that he runs into an even more ancient Edsel in incredible condition riding a perfectly flat and unblemished road. Soon he becomes part of a horrific haunting accident set to continuously play itself out for all eternity.

In Martin's science fiction, he establishes himself in a unique way, using the same world each time, but different planets, an distinct plot, and unforgettable characters that just add much more meaning to the story. In the last two parts, Martin reveals his love for first fantasy and his development as a fantasy writer, and finally as a horror writer. His most well-known story that won him the most prestigious science fiction awards involves a combination of these genres, in "Sandkings." Kress is a collector of the unusual, whatever the cost, until the day he buys a terrarium of sandkings: small insect-like creatures that form alliances and coalitions, fight wars over land and food, live in peace when able; even worshiping their owner, if he feeds them and takes good care of them. Kress seeks to control and make them his playthings, until they become too intelligent and powerful, breaking free of the terrarium, increasing in size, until Kress has no form of escape.

In this first collection, one sees where the writer George R. R. Martin came from, and what events and stories led him to becoming an important writer in the growing science fiction genre, the barely-begun fantasy genre, and the growing popularity of the horror genre. It is in these stories that one sees the beginning characters and story complexities that would later lead to the epic "Song of Ice and Fire" series. In Dreamsongs Volume I, Martin confesses that he would never be able to write as well as one of his childhood idols, J. R. R. Tolkien, and yet has now been labeled as the "American Tolkien" of our time. Clearly, Martin is destined to become one of the most important fantasy (as well as science fiction and horror) writers of our time.

[...]

Twenty-two terrific, highly readable stories, accompanied by five very entertaining autobiographical essays by the author (each essay introducing a group of stories and discussing what the author was doing in his life at the time he wrote the stories in question). There's also a nice little initial introduction to the whole package by Gardner Dozois.

What I liked a lot about these stories is the skillful, artful balance between clarity and ambiguity. Plot points and story developments are always very clear, so the reader knows exactly what is going on; yet Mr. Martin often chooses to pull back and let the reader decide the implications of characters' decisions rather than hit us over the head with an obvious "lesson".

It's funny, though. Mr. Martin's developed his writing craft much quicker than he accumulated life experience. The result: several stories ("The Second Kind of Loneliness" and "Meathouse Man" chief among them) that are highly polished in their craft but about little more than a young man's fear of talking to a pretty girl or depression when a relationship with said girl doesn't work out. Make no mistake, with their imaginative science-fiction, horror, or fantasy trappings, they're very interesting stories; I just thought it was amusing how, in certain particular stories, the writing was very sophisticated but the human/emotional themes were so basic. But even some of these stories feature the sophisticated ambiguity mentioned previously.

Highlights of the book? I particularly enjoyed the long "Nightflyers" (it's pretty much a novella); it reminded me of a really good Arthur C. Clarke story. "Sandkings" was a great SF/horror hybrid. And the out-and-out fantasy entry, "The Ice Dragon" was wonderful, too. In fact, there's not a clunker in the bunch, even among the early "fan fiction" stories ("Only Kids Are Afraid of the Dark", "And Death His Legacy", etc.) also included by Mr. Martin.

When posting a positive review of an entry in a multi-part series, I try to avoid a trite closing sentence along the line of "this installment was great, and I'm certainly on board for the next volume." But, uh, there's really nothing left to say but... this installment was great and I'm certainly on board for the next volume.

Well, I do have ONE more thing to say. Maybe my new Amazon Kindle will arrive in time for me to purchase the also-hefty "Dreamsongs, Volume 2" via that handy electronic device. Like Mr. Martin's also excellent "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy novels, these suckers are BIG books and a bit of a pain to lug around. Get working, Amazon!

I won't critize the author for writing this book, as his heart is clearly in it and he definitely knows a lot about what he's writing. But I don't think many Star Wars fans will find this book terribly interesting. It's like reading a book written about visiting a webpage... kinda pointless.

Anyone who's in the target demo for this book (hardcore SW fans and the fan fiction community) will probably already know everything in this book. And anyone else (casual SW fans, non-Sw fans) should go nowhere near this.

If you like reading copy and paste jobs of e-mails and posts sent to the author by SW fans, than you'll like the book. But then again, you can save your money and just do that for free on the Internet, can't you?

If you're a fan of the Star Wars mythoi, get this book, no question. Parts of it are a lot of fun, but it gets too bogged down in its own pseudo-academic style sometimes. There were points in the book where I got a bit impatient with the belaboring of the point at hand, but that's a niggling point at best.

Bottom line: I'm a fan, and I'm glad to have this book in my Star Wars collection of reading. You will be too.

Okay, we all know the stereotype - the nerd who is incapable of carrying on a conversation with the opposite sex, but is able to speak fluent Klingonese; the geek who can't shoot a basket to save his life, but who can personally reenact the final lightsaber duel from The Phantom Menace (complete with sound effects); the misfit who owns every Star Wars actionfigure ever produced, displayed on a set of shelves built into the walls of - wait for it - his parent's basement!

I give you the stereotypical science fiction/fantasy fan.

Only, stereotypes are an inch of fact and a mile of embellishment and conjecture. Are there fans that dress up like Mr. Spock and wave the V sign, telling you to "Live Long and Prosper"? Sure there are! Are there people who can do perfect imitations of a wizened, green puppet (and now CGI character) asking the Force to be with you? You bet!

However, such stereotypes are only a small portion of what encompasses fandom, but they are likely all that the non-fan (or "mundanes" as in the Harry Potter series) may envision, because it is upon the more flamboyant fans that the media so loves to shine their questionable spotlight. Yet, in truth, fandom is as varied as - well - "real life!". For every guy dressed as a Jedi and waving a plastic lightsaber at a Star Wars premiere, there is a family in jeans and t-shirts sitting down to share popcorn in the front row of the theater.

Perhaps most unfortunate of all is the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) suggestion of superiority on the part of the media covering fandom - the outsider studying some exotic, and not quite healthy, cultural phenomena and offering it up as an object of amusement if not outright derision for the "normal" masses.

I've heard the jokes and the put downs, repeatedly. I've come to expect it. So it was with some trepidation that I picked up William Brooker's study of Star Wars fandom. "Here we go again," I thought. "Someone who thinks they understand fandom and is going to tell us all about the "unhappy, socially inept fans who use science fiction and fantasy as a form of escapism from their sad, miserable little lives."

I was wrong. The first thing you should know about Will Brooker is that HE is a fan himself, and this gives him a unique perspective - not to mention it makes it more likely fellow fans will trust him enough to allow glimpses into aspects of their lives they have learned to keep secret to avoid ridicule. Brooker walks the walk and talks the talk. He respects his fellow fans and their views, and he presents them in a fair minded and non-judgmental light in his book, which makes for a pleasant change.

Furthermore, he discusses fandom from many angles, including those that are often overlooked or somewhat obscure and may not be familiar even to many that consider themselves Star Wars fans. Do the terms PWP, EU, "gusher" and "Space Wheat" mean anything to you? They will once you have read this book, and some of the insights you discover may surprise you. Brooker covers such topics as women in fandom. How do they view the Star Wars universe, and how do their reactions and expectations differ from those of the men who tend to dominate science fiction? What about creative expression in fandom? When fans use George Lucas' characters and universe to inspire their own flights of fancy, whether it be through short films, writing or art work, is this a form of homage to Lucas or a blatant disregard for legal copyright laws, or both? How did fans react to The Phantom Menace? Was it a disaster or a glorious success, or a little of each?

So who should read this book? Everyone! Non-fans should read it to gain an insight into fandom. Fans are not simply some exotic creatures you only see dressed in Jedi robes on the news coverage of a Star Wars premier. Fans include the teacher in your child's classroom, the vet who takes care of your dog, the guy who programmed your business software, the kid down the street who mows your lawn, and the Air force meteorologist. They are people like you, and, yes, like me - I am a fan and proud of it.

Fans should read to gain a broader view of the myriad aspects of fandom and the response people have to the Star Wars phenomena. As Brooker points out, Star Wars fandom is a dynamic, complex entity. Many fans don't even agree on issues covered in this book. However, for the most part, they do speak a common language that allows for immediate recognition and a sense of inclusion in a world where fans often feel excluded. Even when they disagree, there is a sense of community - a community Brooker knows well.

A great book for appreciating the various outlets of current Star Wars fandom. While offering little serious academic discourse, the book does put into print many issues which to this point have been limited to internet discussion and fan zines, such as LFL's strict licesing enforcement, the culture of message board discussion, fan fiction and films. In the end it stands as an interesting catalog of current happenings in the world of Star Wars fandom, as seen from an insider who respects the devotion of a unique community.

Anyone who frequents theforce.net message board will find everything in here to be old news. There isnt anything unique or any revelations of any kind on the state of fandom. Many of the editorial decisions are downright headscratching, such as devoting the most pages and the largest chapter to the most obscure and least appetizing (and interesting) of SW fan activites, slash fan fiction, and then giving mere lipservice to the fan film subculture despite its overwhelming popularity and overabundance of ancedotes. There was nothing in the fanfilm section at all that could not be gleened by even a superficial examination of a handful of fanfilm websites. Very shallow.

The author's research as a sum total is highly suspect. He says that the bulk of his personal correspondance consists of merely the first 100 members of theforce.net to answer his email. Whereas he can hide behind that process being allegely random, the results obivously indicate that he got caught with a string of egomaniacs and malcontents.
The author lets these "fans" (used loosely) go off on the most inane and undefendable rants on how Lucas is an idiot, the movies suck, and how much better everything would be if they were in charge, and the author never follows through to get them to justify these positions. Every wild eyed gut spew is taking as God's Holy Fact. That would be acceptable if the author was writing a book about people who hate the Phantom Menace, but he isnt. He pretends to write a book about ALL Star Wars fans, and pretends that these anti-Phantom views speak for the majority of all fans, a position which is completely unjustified. He gives pro-phantom fans only brief soundbites to rebut the furious raving of the bashers, and never even tries to gives both sides an equal shake. This ought not happen.
(There was not a single complaint given by the bashers that was not completely refutable if not outright ridiculous paranoia. They dont review TPM, they engage in character assassination, the maturity of which is nonexistant and juvenile. I could cut any one of these yo yos into metaphorical ribbons on a moderated message board in 30 seconds or less).

My impression is that the author has an unreasonable hatred of Phantom Menace, and is using this book to get back at Lucas, for Lucas "owes" him in some etherial manner known only to the TPM bashers who spend far too much time and spend far too much anger to be taken seriously about anything. This book is not Star Wars friendly, yet it tries to fool you into thinking it is a fair assessment.

It is not.
Stick to the message boards.

More like a school girl's diary. Womanhood and growing up should have more depth than that.

While I was reading this, I honestly could not tell if I was enjoying it or was just waiting to see what happened with Ming (who was so dull and boring). I felt like the book was the same thing happening over and over, with no real "climax". I wish it ended with the two friends meeting up years later to have some sort of closure and see how the other turned out. The writer's English is very good though.

This feels like an honest, non-commercial, thoughtful, even poetic narrative about growing up in a specific time, place, and social class.
It's set in a major university in southern China in 1990 -- but it reminded me so much of my university life, spent 20 years earlier, at a Midwest American state university -- on the other side of the planet.

I enjoyed February Flowers tremendously and recommended it to many friends. The novel traces the experiences of Chen Ming, a lonely scholarship student in Guangzhou, China, during her first year at university.

Ming, whose parents were exiled to farm labor during the Cultural Revolution, discovers the vibrant, exhilarating city around her with Miao Yan, a worldly senior who gives Ming her first alluring dress and teaches her how to pose in heels.

The novel let me experience the dynamism and social mores of China from an insider's perspective. It brought me alongside a dedicated, proud uncle at a crowded train station, where he pleads with passengers to spare a seat for his niece. It drew me intimately close to an unsure, intelligent young woman as she forms those friendships that sometimes last a lifetime.

I began reading the novel because I was interested in seeing what life in China was like, but the book has stayed with me because of its protagonist, Chen Ming, and because of the relationships she forms. February Flowers is a rewarding combination of both fascinating reading and serious art.

"February Flowers" tells a remarkably insightful and honest story of two young Chinese "girls" - known as young women in western cultures - trying to find themselves in the ever-changing world of today's China. Even though 17-year-old Ming and 24-year-old Yan share the same country, their families and upbringings differ greatly, which is paradoxically so true and common in a country that stresses uniformity and adherence to "tradition". It is the context of Ming's and Yan's different personal histories - which shape their current viewpoints, attitudes, interactions, and growth during the 11-month period of their friendship at university - that forms many of the tensions in the story.

What China's current parental and grandparental generations experienced growing up before and during the Cultural Revolution is completely different from what the youth of today's China are experiencing; what those parents (dear Mama and Baba) and grandparents tell their children to do or not to do with their lives is completely different from what many of these children, as soon-to-be adults and parents themselves, will tell their own children to do. Fan Wu brings Ming and Yan through this transitional time with expert story-telling and sensitive writing.

Young people in China, during their time at university, often describe themselves as "the flowers of China" - blooming, growing, becoming the new China. They are filled with hope (and also a bit of fear) for their future, while being shaped by the traditions they've been taught. Some of them view these traditions as a burden, which they try their best to reconcile and escape. Fan Wu characterizes this so achingly in her portrayal of Yan. Some of them view these traditions not as a burden but as a natural truth, and yet as they grow, they begin to see their own possibilities and try to form their own way. This is sweetly characterized in the portrayal of Ming. These two "flowers of China" come together in their unlikely friendship to form a poignant story of love, learning, betrayal, and eventually hope.

That sounds like many stories, told over generations all over the world. Yet Fan Wu tells this story in a way that isn't clichéd or overly dramatic. The emotions expressed in all of the characters - not just Ming and Yan, but also their dorm-mates, fellow students, and the various boys and men that enter their lives - ring true. Fan Wu clearly knows of which she speaks. To fully understand these emotions and attitudes, it helps if one has been to China or personally knows any young Chinese, but any reader, even without having experienced today's China and young Chinese, will recognize and appreciate the characters' dilemmas, thoughts, and emotions.

What also helps Fan Wu's story-telling is a keen eye for the little details and often humorous nuances of what constitute a young person's thinking in today's China. One particularly hilarious conversation between Ming's dorm-mates, while innocently looking at a photo of two Asian women kissing in a soft-porn magazine, captures in a nutshell the different forces at work in shaping young Chinese opinions:

"Homosexuals? I've heard about them. They have a mental illness," Donghua said. "They must be Americans. I've heard there a lot of them in the U.S."

"These two women are Asians," Pingping said disapprovingly.

"Disgusting! They must be Japanese then. Only capitalist countries have homosexuals. China doesn't."

"How do you know?"

"I read it in a newspaper."

"That's propaganda. China's so big. There must be homosexuals around. You never know."

Even as the Chinese state tries to dictate what its youth learn and understand, these youth inevitably meet other youth who know better - or at least know different - from what they are told to believe. The result is touching, humorous, and enlightening in Fan Wu's hands.

In the end, readers will be left wondering what will come next in the lives of Ming and Yan, as they both continue to search... for truth, for themselves, and even for each other. Kudos to Fan Wu for bringing today's young Chinese to life in Ming and Yan.

Aaron Dinin gives an insider view of the greatest support group the Duke basketball program has-its students at Krzyzewskiville.
The story unfolds as a group of students, tenting for tickets for a Duke basketball game, decide to while away a few hours by each giving their perspective on K-ville.

A must read for basketball fans, everywhere.

Cute little take on the Cantabury Tales from the Duke point of view. This book is only for lovers of all things Duke.

As a Duke basketball fan I found this book interesting and it made me wish I could have gone to Duke and experienced it for myself. This book was the next best thing.

I thought the Krzyzewskiville Tales did just what it was supposed to do... I learned about Duke and K-ville, but in an entertaining way. I read some other review that said some negative stuff, but I just think those people didn't get the literary allusion. It's desgined in the style of Chaucer, and the book keeps true to that while still explaining the history of K-ville. As a Duke alumnus, I'm proud to have this wonderful tradition represented in such a creative way. And all my friends and family that I've bought it for have trully enjoyed it.

Though never having been a particularly big Duke basketball fan, I picked up a copy of this book upon a friend's advice, and am glad I did. It's an entertaining way to learn about the fascinating history of what everyone knows is a storied basketball dynasty (whether you like 'em or not, it's true). The stories are easy to read, but packed with relevant information, and I was able to breeze through the book in one sitdown while still feeling like I'd gained a lot of knowledge. I look forward to what Mr. Dinin writes next.

Edited by Dave A. Law and Darin Park (sorry, the name of the book was too big to include the editors into the title).

I received this book from EDGE/Tesseract, which is also in league with Dragon Moon Press, who happened to be the publisher of this particular book. On a side note to this, they also have a couple volumes of a guide to writing fantasy, which may be of interest to those of you who are not into SF.
I'm going to do this review in two ways. First I'm going to talk about the book as a whole, second I'm going to address each article individually, and third I'll end with a conclusion. Here goes:

This book should be on your required reading list for genre-related non-fiction. If you write science fiction, get this book because it will help you in so many different ways, especially if you're just starting out in the SF field. This book covers everything from the early history of SF to sub-genres, creating believable aliens to getting your science right, writing to editing, and submitting to the life of a published author. In a lot of ways it is too much subject matter for one book, but I imagine that Dragon Moon is intending to do with this what they did with their guide to fantasy--multiple volumes--which would help expand upon the ideas that were intentionally left alone. In short, this is one of the most useful books for writers of SF that I have read since Orson Scott Card's how-to book on SF & F. It's definitely worth more than the $24.95 USD price.
Edit: I forgot to mention that the back of the book includes an extensive collection of resources that I have found remarkably useful. It includes websites, publishers, and all of the works that were cited within the articles, among other things.
Now for the criticism, which is sort of bad criticism and simple observational criticism which is neutral. There were some articles that had spelling and grammar errors, though the vast majority of the book was generally perfect. Also, it seems as though there was a printing problem throughout the book that I can't imagine being an editorial issue. The italicized capped "N" was consistently replaced with an italicized capped "I" with a little dot under it. This has to be some sort of printing fluke. It's hard to miss otherwise. Other than that, and what will be mentioned in the individual article discussions, there little wrong with this guide. With authors like Orson Scott Card, Wil McCarthy, Piers Anthony, Michele Acker, and Kim Richards in the table of contents you can see how good this guide really is. The reason I'm doing the articles last is because you may not want to read my take on the individual articles, since overall the book is really awesome. But, in case you want to know what I thought of them individually, here they are:

Part One: Defining

1. Time Line: A History of Science Fiction by Darin Park
This article gives a very, very, very brief history of SF. I did learn a few things about the history of SF, but I think the weakest part of the article--other than some grammar and spelling errors--is that it is too broad. If another volume shows up I would really like to see certain aspects of SF's history expanded upon. It's a good article for the ill-versed reader, but it is very much glossing over the vast history of SF.
2. Searching For the Definitive Definition of Science Fiction by Jeanne Allen
Addressing the age-old question of "what is Science Fiction"? The great thing about this article is that it paints the argument perfectly. What is science fiction? Well, how about, what isn't science fiction? It's impossible to come up with a definitive definition, essentially. Darn good article.
3. Science First, Fiction Second: That's Science Fiction by Bob Nailor
Nailor does a good job here discussing some of the myths in science fiction and basically pointing out that if you intend to write SF, even if you don't know the science and you're simply making something up that can't happen anyway (such as FTL travel), you still need to present it in a way that works. Technobabble used appropriately makes your writing seem effective, etc. He also uses some well known SF writers (Heinlein, Asimov, etc.) to support his point.
4. The Many Faces of Science Fiction: Sub-Genres by Kim Richards
The title says it all basically. This is another of the articles that could do with expanding, especially on the subject of the blurred lines between different genres. Still a good introduction, but I think that sub-genres are vastly more complex than this.

Part Two: Building

1. Technology and Science Fiction by Wil McCarthy
Basically, if you want to write SF, you have to get the science right. McCarthy basically says what anyone else who writes SF seriously will tell you. Readers will drop you like a hat if you create a technology that is absolutely idiotic and unbelievable, within limits of course (readers are likely to accept that a FTL ship works, but only because that's just a general acceptance in SF). McCarthy does a good job going into the use of ideas and researching. His methods might not be for everyone, but he still provides you with a unique insight into how important the science in SF really is.
2. World Building by Kim Richards
The simplest way to explain this is that it's fantasy world building, only from an SF approach. Aliens instead of goblins and elves, alien cultures instead of medieval countries, etc. Depending on the type of SF you intend to write this could be a hit or miss. I found it useful because I do like designing alternate worlds, and it did give a glossed over version of dealing with alien creations.
3. Alien Creation Michael McRae
Just read the title and you'll know what this is about. McRae does go into this by making a point that your aliens don't have to be human, but they have to have a human element to them. If something is too alien it will be impossible to translate it to an audience of people who are human. So, even if your aliens have twelve arms and three mouths, you have to make it so the audience can identify with it. A really good article here for anyone wanting to make aliens.
4. Navigating Your Way Through Outer Space: Facts, Theories, and Conjecture by Jeanne Allen
Another very brief article, but I think this is still effective. It should be expanded though, and I hope that Dragon Moon does so. Allen discusses the vastness of space--stars, galaxies, and beyond--while pointing out how harsh space is. Everything from radiation to the effects of zero gravity on the human body, methods of creating artificial gravity to methods of space travel--real and otherwise--and even the enhancement of humans via artificial means. A good introduction to everything, and very valuable.
5. I Don't Know That Bug-Eyes Monster From Adam: Cliches In SF by Milena Benini
A discussion of the cliches in SF. Really it's impossible for this to be any more limited because there are so many cliches in SF anyway. However, it serves as an example of the types of things that have been done to death already and what you need to do to make sure that any cliche elements you use come off as more creative and interesting.

Part Three: Crafting

1. Bringing Characters To Life by Tina Morgan
Basically a brief discussion on how to make your characters more lifelike. Giving them little habits and such to make them seem real. We've heard it before, but I think the basics of writing tend to be left out of genre specific books for writers. Now genre writers have a place they can go to get most, if not all, of the necessary info.
2. Attack of the Monster Plot: Ideas, Settings, and Plots by Milena Benini
Another basic look to an important element of writing. It was a decent article, I thought, and it did manage to help me really think about some of the issues I'm having with a novel I'm currently working on.
3. Science Fiction As Western Union by Orson Scott Card
Card talks in some detail about some things you shouldn't do with fiction in general: don't intentionally send a religious message or preach to your audience, etc. He raises some good points and defends his position by stating that he has written stories from various viewpoints, including non-religious viewpoints, even though he himself is a religious man.
4. Slash & Burn: When To Make Your Manuscript Bleed by Tina Morgan
Another basic approach to a common fiction element. This discusses all the little things within editing that you should be aware of. Rules like "show don't tell" and "don't be redundant" come into play here. It's a good article and certainly worth the read. Again, this is basic though. It works, but you'll want to go look for more expansive takes on some of the points made if you don't already know about them.

Part Four: Specializing

1. Laugh Lines by Bud Sparhawk
Humor...as in knock-knock jokes and other funnies. Okay, not really, but Sparhawk goes into the uses of humor in SF writing, whether it be within a serious work or a work that is intentionally being funny (like what Douglas Adams did). I think there could have been better humorous examples provided by Sparhawk, but I think he still gets his point across.
2. Going Where Others Have Gone Before...And Want To Go Again by Carol Hightshoe
This article discusses Fan Fiction. The interesting thing about it is that when I started reading it I expected to see only things related to FF, except Hightshoe goes even further by addressing shared-world series (such as Star Wars and Star Trek). This is a really good article that also delves into the issues of copyright infringement in FF (true FF I mean, not shared-world stuff). You might be interested to know that Lucas is one of the few franchise owners that actually encourages FF and Fan Films provided they follow some guidelines (no slash, and length limitations). More reasons to love Lucas I suppose. This was a fascinating read even though I have no intention of writing FF or writing within a shared-world (though I imagine I may try it one day).
3. Writing Graphic Novels and Other Forms of Sequential Art by Dave A. Law
This article was partially useless to me and partially interesting. First, it's useless to me because I have no real desire to get into graphic novels. This doesn't mean the article is bad, what it means is that it just doesn't provide information that I really intend to use. For someone who is interested in this field it will provide some valuable information, especially if you're interested but know very little about the field. It's a good introduction to how things work, particularly on the publishing side.
4. Science Fiction For Younger Readers Aged Eight to Twelve by Simon Rose
This has to be the first article I have ever seen that addresses SF for kids and young adults. I've seen far too many ones that take on fantasy, but never on SF. The interesting thing about this is that much of what is required to make SF for adults work ends up not being required in the same manner for kids. Science doesn't have to be explained too much, it just has to be believable to kids, and since kids are more likely to accept something as believable in a book it's not too complicated to make SF stories for kids. I enjoyed this article a lot.

Part Five: Publishing and Beyond

1. So You've Finished Your Short Story/Novel, Now What? Michele Acker
Everything from conventions to workshops, markets to agents, etc. Everything that takes place between having completed your story to getting it published, and the means to do so. Acker also delves into the different types of publishers (print, POD, electronic, etc.) and talks with actual agents and editors on some very important subjects. Very useful article here.
2. The Art & Science of Book Promotion by Ian Irvine
Those of you looking for a speculative fiction look into the world of promoting your newly published book should look no further than here. Irvine goes into detail on the various methods by which you can promote your book, while also addressing how the publisher may or may not help promote you. I learned a lot from this article and, in the end, I still want to be a writer. I can deal with having to work my [...] off.
3. The Writing Life by Piers Anthony
What can you say about this article other than saying that this shows the grim reality of what it's like to be a writer before and after being successful (if you are successful)? That's about all you can say really. It ain't an easy life.

The conclusion is: buy this book. Period. Okay, well don't if you don't want to, but you should really consider it if you're a writer and want to work with SF. It's an awesome book! Plain and simple!

The aspiring science fiction writer who starts at the beginning of this book will build understanding and a strong foundation of knowledge. While this by no means ensures success in a very tough business, it can give her a distinct advantage. I have read, heard, studied, and practiced all of these techniques for years. But I still found new truths and a wealth of new insights in the words.

Broken into short chapters, written in simple (but not simplistic) language, the book follows a logical progression. Three sections organize the material into five parts, plus appendices. Part I focuses on defining the history and parameters of the genre. Part II delves deep into basic scientific principles, word building, and aerospace technology. Part III covers crafting and revision and Part IV specialty sub-genres. Part V addresses publishing, marketing, and the writing life.

It's important for the writer to understand the multiple sub-genres and techniques used in each to create good stories, as well as to target marketing efforts. Having a single source for very detailed biochemistry, genetics and evolutionary biology, physics, and astronomy is much easier than unearthing it from other places.

I recommend this as the first book for new science fiction writers to buy and see it as the last one those of us slogging through the process will need.


Carole Ann Moleti writes review and commentary for Tangent Online, The Fix, Noneuclidean Café and most recently for Vision: A Resource for Writers.

I think this is a great book for a writer who's interested in learning how to write Science Fiction. It has all the nuts and bolts needed to get an aspiring writer started in writing for the genre. I enjoy reading Sci-Fi, but have always been afraid of trying to write it. Science is not my strong suit and I don't aspire to wasting my time or being a laughingstock.

They've crammed so much information into this book that it's hard for me to do it justice. It covers the mechanics of writing such as: characterization, plot, POV, pacing and so on. And yes I have read that information in other books, but it ties in with what it takes to write Sci-Fi and that's what makes it so helpful.

I liked it that the book gives out some information on black holes, time travel, wormholes and other facts or speculation. It describes the many subgenres and what is necessary for creating alien life. With World Building I create my own world for my story and its characters. World building helps me to make my story believable. I read how important technology is too. I think that's the part that's always scared me the most about writing Sci-Fi.

This book is so great because it walked me through each step of what it takes to write Science Fiction. It's a wonderful guide for a genre that is both complex and sometimes difficult to write. No, it won't write the book for me, but it does give me some basic tools to start my journey with.

A comprehensive, deftly edited, 311-page 'how to' instruction guide for writing in the science fiction genre and any of its many subgenres, "The Complete Guide To Writing Science Fiction: Volume One" is a collection of superbly presented essays and articles by knowledgeable and successful writers ranging from Piers Anthony, to Orson Scott Card, to Tina Morgan. Beginning with Darin Park's 'Timeline: A History of Science Fiction', there are specific chapters dealing with the science and technology in science fiction, world building, the creating of aliens, the use of humor and drama, writing graphic novels in the genre, and even what to do with your science fiction short story or novel once it is written. Whether an aspiring writer yearning to break into science fiction, or even an experienced author with some publication credits in the genre, "The Complete Guide To Writing Science Fiction" will prove to be invaluable reading and instructive reference.

This is definitely towards the bottom of the writing books I've read over the last fourteen years, since I started buying them regularly. I could not bring myself to read the last few essays because anyone trying to write off of this advice certainly won't need publishing advice. Each chapter of this book is a different essay and I'm surprised they were able to find so many that were so inferior. With the exceptions of Chapter Nine and Chapter Twelve I have seen every piece of advice in this book done significantly better elsewhere over the years. This book does seem to be aimed at the absolute beginner but some of the content is frankly dubious. You would be much better off reading previous how to write science fiction books. As I mentioned, there are two shining exceptions which are probably worth reading: Chapter Nine: I Don't Know that Bug-Eyed Monster from Adam: Cliches in SF by Milena Benini and Chapter Twelve: Science Fiction as Western Union by Orson Scott Card. Chapter Nine is a simple and useful summary of SF cliches and how to use and avoid them. Chapter Twelve is an excellent argument about sermonizing in your writing and the real reasons not to do it. I should place the caveat there that I am biased towards Orson Scott Card's teaching style, having enjoyed his writer's boot camp immensely. So you should take my praise of him with a grain of salt. Even so, two essays are certainly not worth the price of a book. Perhaps if you get it used. Better yet rent this from a library and just read those two chapters because this book will have to get pretty cheap to be worth the price. I would recommend instead to beginning SF writers: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Genre Writing Series) and The Science Fiction Writing Series edited by Ben Bova. Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy (Writing Series) (Writing Series) is also a nice introductory work, or the previous edition was at least. For other topics, you are probably better off looking at how to books that are not SF specific.

This book is great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The stickers are so cute and the quiz and games are so funny! Also this is really helpful in case you don't have one of the books in the series or don't understand something in the books. SO GET IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!

I myself actually loved this book. For a Furuba fan, its a major part of the collection. And I'm going to disagree with the earlier statement of volume 18 being spoiled.

I hadn't read 18 before I bought this, and found it didn't really spoil anything for me.

In short, its a major piece for a Furuba fan.

This Book was more of a recap of books 1-18. I hadn't read 18 when i read this, so it kind of spoiled all of the secrets. Make sure to read all the books before reading this. The print was a little small and hard to make out. There were only 8 pages of actual manga in it.

I have to disagree a bit with the previous reviewer's claim that this book doesn't contain much new information. The character bios mostly are just recaps of material that's been gradually presented within the story, but it's nice to see it collected in compact form-- and they actually show the kanji (or in some cases, kana) for all the major characters' names, which TokyoPop has *not* previously shown in the regular manga. Similarly, the events timeline is a tidy summation which fanfic writers might find useful; the "fashion concept" notes are fun factoids; and the emotional-relationship diagrams have some delightful touches such as Manabe and Kimi being mutually labelled as "toxic friends" to each other.

And I'm astonished that the previous review didn't mention the color artwork! Most of this book is printed in the usual black-and-white format on undistinguished paper, but the first ~10 pages have gorgeous glossy full-color prints of some of the large chapter-intro panels which were flattened down into greyscale in the regular manga volumes. There's also a two-page spread in which Takaya outlines how she creates these sort of images, from initial pencil sketch on paper up through various paint layers in Photoshop. (And an initial page of little full-color stickers (meh), mostly the faces of all the Sohma critters and some of the humans, and a few more color pages of various Furuba merchandise that were available in Japan, and which seem to be shown for the purpose of taunting US fans with their unavailability unless they get lucky on eBay.)

What I do have to nitpick is the overall presentation of the book. In many places, the text is almost unreadably tiny because panels have been shrunk down or because there're just long paragraphs squeezed into there; afaik Shounen Jump's US fanbook reprints have larger pages than the original Japanese editions, and this book would've benefited if TokyoPop had followed suit. Some sections could've done with a bit more explanation-- I still can't figure out what "moe-moe" means in the specific context of page 148-- and the long stretches of frivolous quizlets and reader-survey results from Japan can get a bit tedious.

There are one or two editing slips where a paragraph seems to've been mistakenly duplicated into a different section, replacing whatever else should've been there instead. There are also some notable translation/continuity discrepancies where the dialogue in the reprinted panel doesn't match the dialogue in the corresponding manga volume. (Two words: pronoun trouble.)

So yeah, there isn't all that much new stuff in here-- but I enjoyed enough of the info to offset my assortment of minor gripes. I would've been more than happy to buy this for the name kanji/kana and the color reprints alone, which is probably all the benefit I would've gotten from paying lots more for an import of the original Japanese fanbook.

The title of this side book to the Fruits Basket manga proper alludes to Kyo's place in the Zodiac. Just as Kyo is not technically a member of the Zodiac but still loved by fans, the premise goes, this entry is not technically part of Fruits Basket proper but will hopefully be loved by fans as well. Unfortunately, the entry is no Kyo.

The largest chunk of the book consists of character bios that act as a recap of the first 17 volumes of the series which the average fan won't find necessary - same for the games and quizzes. Talk of family trees will pique interest, but unfortunately they turn out to be mini immediate family trees for each subject of the character bios. Translation: we don't learn any more than what we already know, namely that Ayame and Yuki are brothers and the rest of the Zodiac members and Kyo are their cousins. Anyone hoping to find out exactly how closely related each of the cousins are via a master tree will be disappointed. The poll results range from interesting (Shigure and Momiji's positions in the two favorite character poll results - one presumably pre-summer house incident and the other presumably post-summer house incident - are telling) to who-did-they-ask head scratching (Yuki and Haru's friendship doesn't even make the top 20 on the favorite relationship poll??). The interview with creator Natsuki Takaya is interesting, but not worth the price of the volume alone.

Which brings us to the real reason most of us would buy this book - the presumption from the description that it would include a "lost chapter" conclusion to the Ritsu/Mitsuru subplot - a reasonable assumption considering Natsuki Takaya's previous mention in a series proper sidebar that she'd like to do a little more with them but probably wouldn't be able to because the major storylines had gone too far. What we get is a set of one page shorts, involving several different characters, of varying quality - one of which follows the new couple on an amusing if slightly disturbing date. In fact, the best and funniest short actually involves Kyo's theoretical reaction were he to read the head trip that was volume 17.

Ultimately, anyone who must have every single scrap of Fruits Basket material will pick this up no matter what anyone says. Everyone else might be better off saving their money - including Ritsu fans, who wouldn't really lose that much by leaving his relationship with Mitsuru where we last saw it - which in my opinion left us enough to work with to make a good assumption that things would go well for them once he actually worked up the nerve to ask her out.

I read this, thinking that my 14 year old daughter might like it. I was wrong. Ellen Conford is a talented writer, but this book was heart wrenching. You ache for Sylvie, the main character.The things she goes through are too real and you want to see a happy ending, but there can't be because she's 15 and can't control her own destiny. Why would anyone want to read a book that makes you feel bad and has no happy ending ?

It was good....

I'll never break your heart i'll never make you cry i'd rather die, than live without you i'll give you all of me honey that's no lie i'll never break your heart i'll never make you cry i'd rather die than live without you i'll give you all of me honey that's no liiiiiiiiiie!

From the moment I started reading this book, I fell in love with it. I wish more books could be as well written as this book was. Right when I started reading "To All My Fans, WIth Love, From Sylvie," I kept on reading because I was hooked on it. Every chapter ended with an event that caused me to want to read on and on.

I really dont understand how the title fits with the book; the book was not what it seemed to be. From reading the back cover, I thought this book would be a sweet story about a pretty, teenage girl in Hollywood trying to fulfill her dream of getting her big break in acting. In no way was this book as sweet as I thought it would be. Though that would have been somewhat interesting to read, the actual story was a lot better. It was actually about a pretty, teenage girl leaving her home, with her foster parents, whom she really didnt get along well with, trying to get to Hollywood, where she would try to become famous and all the challenges she faces along the way. I really got into the book's suspenseful turns and swerves. Sylvie, the pretty, teenage girl, is the main character inthe story. It is almost unbelievavle how brave she was throughout all the problems she faced. She meets various people, though she realizes she cannot trust everyone.

There were truly great lessons learned from this book. I reccommend it to any mature reader. Sylvie learned what love really is and you can, too if you read this book. You'll really feel for Sylvie.

It's long, but wonderful! Ellen Conford is a wonderful writer. I have read most of her books, but this is the best one yet! Read it now!

I haven't read this book in about 10 years (since I was 10,) but I remember loving it... great story, you'll really wonder what happens, and what has happened in the past, and feel for Sylvie.

One of the things I found particularly interesting (and enjoyable) about reading this book was how it mirrored discussions held with fan communities about what they do. Along with a helpful bibliography on fan studies, and more than one review of fan fiction history (its origins as well as academic study on the topic) there are various, sometimes contradictory, perspectives on the writing of fan fiction. These discuss the various forms it can take, and what models the writing fits into. Also very interesting is the history of machinima, one of fandom's latest art forms. A bit academic for the layman but still a useful introduction to those not familiar with fan fiction studies.

This is an essential book for anyone interested in contemporary fan communities and their creative products: fanfic (including slash fiction), fanvids, online RPGs, and much more. The writers are all both active fans and credentialed academics, and the book as a whole maintains academic rigour while remaining clear and comprehensible to readers who don't know the jargon.

For members of fan communities, the language and activities described will be familiar. For those who are new to this subculture, Busse and Hellekson's introduction gives a succinct and readable account of the intellectual genealogy of fan studies while outlining the state of internet communities at the time of writing (admirably avoiding the common danger for books about the internet, the making of grand claims for a landscape that will be out of date by the time the description is in print, by emphasising the history and time-sensitivity of the world they describe), and Coppa provides a history of science fiction and media fan communities as they developed into the cultures which all the essayists examine and explore.

Each of the essays presents a snapshot of fannish life, considering the communities which form around fan fiction writing, video making and other activities through fresh and interesting theoretical lenses. I was particularly intrigued by Coppa's reading of fanfiction as performance, Busse's and Lackner, Lucas and Reid's examination of writers' and readers' interactions as potentially and sometimes problematically queer acts, and Willis's depiction of slash fiction as making space for queer subjects in normatively straight textual worlds, but others will find different selections from this smorgasbord of literary and cultural analysis to be most appealing.

I am not an academic, but I found this book very readable. Beyond that, it was inspiring to read such a diversity of thought about the fannish culture to which I belong. Unlike the few other books I've read about media fandom, I wasn't just nodding my head and thinking "Yes, I know this already." Several of the essays introduced new ideas, new ways of thinking about fans and how we interact with one another and with our texts, that were not just novel to me but well-argued and fascinating.

My particular favorite was the essay that suggested a view of canon, fanon, and fan-created texts as part of an "archive" of a particular show, movie, or book, erasing the boundary between canon and fannish creations in a way that is, IMO, nothing short of revolutionary.

I would enthusiastically recommend this book to any fan interested in meta, and any scholar interested in media fandom.

Unless you are an academic steeped in modern modes of literary criticism AND an afficianado of Star Trek/Buffy slash fan fiction, don't waste your time on this book.

All of the authors write in an academic style that will be stultifying and unilluminating to even a well-read reader. The promise of the book's title is never fulfilled due to the focus on reviewing and citing the prior works of other academic authors.

The book is further marred by the repetition of a false assumption -- that ALL romance novels are of the Mills & Boon/Harlequin style. This assumption is not only wrong, it is grossly wrong. The Harlequin style has not dominated the romance novel market for more than twenty years, as even a cursory glance at any bookstore (new or used) would attest. This blatant error -- used as the basis of more than one argument in the book - casts doubt on on ALL assertions made by the authors. If such an easily-verifiable or refutable assumption is made in error, one must wonder what other significant errors are being made, especially in the far-more complex and layered world of fanfiction?