Here are some shiny things that caught my eye recently:
♦ Danish artist John Kenn Mortensen draws these wonderful monsters on Post-It Notes, and he posts new monsters regularly on his blog. I have a book of his monsters published in Denmark, and you lucky people can buy the English edition, which will be published by Square Peg/Random House, this fall (I can’t find a listing for it yet). Below are two monster drawings from Mortensen’s blog last week that caught my eye:
The drawing above reminds me of Baba Yaga for some reason I can’t fathom because that hut doesn’t have chicken legs. The detail in the drawing below is great–what’s that serpent-headed staff eating anyway? And the kid in the floating chair is so nonchalant!
♦ Book Nook.
While I like the fact that Flavorwire made a list of the greatest female Sci-Fi/Fantasy authors of all time, I am skeptical of some of the inclusions (despite being very fond of those authors myself) and aghast at some of the exclusions. Ultimately, I found this list just more than a bit baffling, which is just to say that I hope to see more such lists. My own would be rather idiosyncratic and probably a bit longer.
Graham Joyce listed his top 10 fairy fictions, “those works where the structures of fairy tales are abandoned but the world of ‘fairy’ is imported as a delicate spice,” and so he “stepped away form the obvious ‘retelling of fairy tale’ candidates” when making the list. Curiously, he includes Jane Yolen’s Briar Rose and Alan Garner’s The Owl Service, neither of which actually step that far away from retelling the original tale, at least not like the other works on his list. Still, it’s a great list.
For all you Doctor Who nuts out there, feast your eyes on this sublime TARDIS bookcase:
For those morbid readers (like myself), you’ll no doubt find this post on 15 of the most bizarre author deaths on record to be of interest.
BookRiot on being overwhelmed by bookshelves and the difference between culling and surrendering.
This past week AlphaBooks, an alphabetical tumblr exploration of fictional characters curated by Ben Towle, has moved to the F’s. So far my favorite is “F is for Mrs. Frisby” from Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, stylishly presented by Andrew Neal:
F is for Mrs. Frisby by Andrew Neal
The Wall Street Journal had an interesting article about firms that design and stock home libraries for clients. People apparently want “to look smart and well-read,” though it’s not clear how many want to look the part as opposed to being the part. Still, I would take that kind of job. Via.
Best graduation present ever? When his daughter graduated high school, Bryan Martin gave her a copy of Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss, but added to the pages “were comments and compliments from every adult who has ever taught Brenna at school, starting with her kindergarten teachers.” Seriously, I can’t imagine a better gift.
Julian Barnes wrote a nice piece for The Guardian about his life as a bibliophile, which I quite enjoyed. He says that “Reading is a majority skill but a minority art,” which I think is sadly true. Barnes also discusses how influential his parents were in developing his reading habits, and I could relate: not that my parents didn’t watch television (Barnes’ parents were very strict about the telly), but they seemed to be always reading, a habit they passed on to me. (Unfortunately, not all of their good habits came to bear: I’m sorry that I like to spend so much money, Mom, and that I like to save so little!). Another bit Barnes described about his own growth as a bibliophile was very much like mine:
By now, I was beginning to view books as more than just utilitarian, sources of information, instruction, delight or titillation. First there was the excitement and meaning of possession. To own a certain book—one you had chosen yourself—was to define yourself. And that self-definition had to be protected, physically. So I would cover my favourite books (paperbacks, inevitably, out of financial constraint) with transparent Fablon. First, though, I would write my name—in a recently acquired italic hand, in blue ink, underlined with red—on the edge of the inside cover. The Fablon would then be cut and fitted so that it also protected the ownership signature. Some of these books—for instance, David Magarshack’s Penguin translations of the Russian classics—are still on my shelves.
The library below is just wonderful for two main reasons (after the books, of course!): first, cookies! (or biscuits) Second, my most favorite photograph of Virginia Woolf!
♦ I love the cartoons Tom Gauld posts on his tumblr, You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack (I also love the title of his tumblr), but this particular cartoon just made me laugh out loud:
♦ Modern art can be so interesting and so disturbing, like Sean Hathaway and Carlos Severe Marcelin’s wild installation of 80 Teddy Ruxpin dolls strapped to a wall, screaming the subconscious of the internet. Really, you need to click through and read the article and watch the video. Trust me: you’ll either be glad you did or sorry you trusted me.
Also, check out Kyle Thompson‘s delightfully disturbing and surrealistic photos. (I actually posted one of his images before but I didn’t know at the time who the photographer was; I’ve since corrected that.) Below are a couple of recent pieces of Thompson’s that struck me (via).
So many questions to be answered about this photo! And the one below–even more questions. We see two hands and a foot, which is strange enough, but those are two left hands….
♦ Science Stuff.
I’m not what I would call a science nerd, but a lot of science stuff does interest me, as you’ve no doubt noticed from previous posts. Here’s some cool science stuff from last week:
Ever wonder what would happen if you jumped into a lake of lava?
What if the moon had never formed?
Translucent ants photographed eating colored liquids (thanks to Mike Kimball, who posted this link on Facebook).
The Big Rip Theory says the universe could end in tears (but wouldn’t the universe ending always result in tears?).
When does a minute last 61 seconds?
A virtual cabinet of beautiful and bizarre medical antiques.
On the anthropology front: we are drowning in stuff.
Some optical illusion stuff:
Japanese artist Chooo-San does some amazing work, including the zippered arm below and so much more. Check out the io9 article or her tumblr for more wonderful and creepy stuff.
Chooo-San
Check out the optical illusion work of another Japanese artist, Nagai Hideyuki, whose 2D drawings become 3D (there’s a video at the link, too).
This post on Visual Capture Illusion is fascinating! The video for the McGurk Effect will blow your mind, I promise. From the article:
We’re constantly being told how terrible our hearing and sense of smell are, compared to other animals. Perhaps that’s why we rely on our eyes. But there are plenty of times when our eyes deceive us, even when our other senses are telling us the truth.
When you’re believing your lying eyes instead of your truthful ears, you’re falling victim to the Visual Capture Illusion.
♦ In the fall, Prada’s releasing a line of steampunk-inspired menswear, and the designs look pretty sharp. Unfortunately, one can’t get away with wearing such finery in the South—or, at least, I can’t, as the heat’s too much for me most of the year to ever consider wearing anything so layered. (Also, it’s the South.) If I lived in London, though, I’d wear these clothes every day. Below is a nice group shot (genre fans ought to recognize all or at least most of the models), but click through to see more of the designs.
♦ Viewers’ Paradise.
io9 has a huge list of upcoming science fiction and fantasy films that aren’t remakes, sequels, or prequels. Cameron, which of these films should we be excited about seeing? (Besides Looper and The Possession, obviously.)
Amanda’s review of Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman and the accompanying illustrations are pretty hilarious (and spoilery). Via.
Not as hilarious but still worth reading: The New York Times had a good review of Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild, which I really hope to see, as did Salon.com.
♦ Photographer Laurent Chehere has a series of these wonderful floating houses. Via.
Laurent Chehere
♦ Writers’ Corner.
I suppose this bit isn’t really news to anyone, but apparently research finds that writing longhand is on the way out. As with everything, I suppose, this means trouble down the road. I do think writing longhand is an important skill for a number of reasons, even if I don’t write much by hand myself (I have always gripped my pen too hard and can’t learn how to correct it, so after a short time writing longhand I have hand cramps). Love letters aren’t nearly as romantic when they’re typed, for example.
The indefatigable Chuck Wendig counts down 25 things you should know about writing sex.
Learn how to use Google search techniques to do better research! Via.
Fantasy writers, Matt Staggs has some thoughts about Making Magic Magical. Speaking of magic, check out Charlie Jane Anders’ insightful analysis of the rules of magic in Magic Mike.
Famous writers and their typewriters (via):
Flavorwire posted a collection of brilliant and inspiring letters from famous authors to their young fans, including missives from Harper Lee, Roald Dahl, Maurice Sendak, and J.K. Rowling.
Some hardcore advice from writer Sarah Manguso for those writers who want to make a career of their art (though plenty of good advice for the part-time writer as well).
Mary Robinette Kowal has some thoughts about writing outlines (which, really, do not have to be perfect).
LitReactor has a great post about the building of worlds and the very different opinions of such. On a related noted, Shawn Speakman writes about creating a fantasy map.
“A book is a garden carried in the pocket” ~Chinese proverb
Sarah Selecky has a 3-step tutorial to help you organize your story drafts.
F.R. Tallis wonders whatever happened to horror? He makes some interesting points, many of which I don’t agree with, but I liked reading it (and the comments were insightful, too).
Kristine Kathryn Rusch had a provocate post about perfection for writers (spoiler alert: it doesn’t exist). Thanks to Patricia Barletta for posting the link on Facebook.
Some useful writing links from Elizabeth Spann Craig’s Twitterfic this week:
5 story mistakes even good writers make
Who to thank on your Acknowledgement Page
More advice about cover letters / query letters / submission letters
♦ This video has been making the rounds this week. El Libro Que No Puede Esperar, or The Book That Can’t Wait, is an anthology of new authors from publisher Eterna Cadencia, who printed this anthology in a special ink that disappears in two months after being exposed to air and light. The hope was to create an urgency about reading these new authors before their words vanish from the page. Rest assured, I love the novelty and concept of this book, but I think in the long run it might not be the best way to treat both the writers and the readers: Oh, I really liked that story by whatshername, but, darn it, I can’t remember her name or the story because the ink’s already disappeared. Or, Guess I’ll use this blank book as a journal now because I can’t read it again.
What do you think, Readers?
♦ Une stop-motion vidéo du chanteuse française Emilie Simon est une très bonne chose. Via.
♦ Here is Neil Gaiman‘s famous New Year’s wish with typography by Francesca Ramos, a very talented graphic designer (really, go check out her website). Via.
