Urban Fantasy Isn't Just Leather Halters and Stilettos

We've been talking Genre at my writing group. We've had great discussions about Science Fiction, New Weird, Steam Punk...and this week we delve into Urban Fantasy.

Urban Fantasy seems to be the red headed step child of the SFF world. Which I find irritating.

 

Before you dismiss Urban Fantasy as JUST a fad (or worse, bad sex filled novels wrapped in werewolves and vampires) take a look at some of the books that fall under this category.

Urban Fantasy-A Sub-Genre of Fantasy.  Most often classified as a fantasy narrative in an Urban setting.  The best definition I’ve been able to find is:

John Clute and John Grant’s Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997): “texts where fantasy and the mundane world interact, intersect, and interweave throughout a tale which is significantly about a real city”.

 

Most would argue the term Urban Fantasy applies to only contemporary fantasy novels.  Magic and fantastical creatures in our time, our world, but I’ve also seen the term UF applied to novels set in the past where an urban setting is a key factor.  Most notably the Steam Punk subgenre with books like the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger.

The other trend seen in today’s modern UF is the heavy noir mystery feel with a protagonist that's a PI, Detective, or other ‘law enforcement’.

History of Modern Urban Fantasy:

Charles de Lint is often credited as a pioneer of what we now call urban fantasy. His books draw heavily on mythology (Celtic sometimes Native American) but are set firmly in a modern city. The stories are told through modern eyes and modern perceptions.  His most popular books are the Newford stories, set in the collaborative Bordertown world.

 

Other defining authors in the genre:

Emma Bull (War for the Oaks), Neil Gaiman, Terri Windling (Editor of the collaborative anthology entitled Bordertown) Jim Butcher (Dresden Files), Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels series); Kim Harrison (Rachel Morgan serie), Simon R. Green (Nightside books), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), and Laurell Hamilton (Anita Blake books)

(This is just a sample of notable authors from this popular genre...please don't email hate mail b/c I left off your favorite author)

One thing these novels have in common is they are all about fantasy and Fairytale retellings in the real cities. (Think elves in rock bands and cities bordering magical realms.)
 

Vampire novels became popular in the 90s following Anne Rice’s Interview with a vampire.

This novel would see a whole new host of vampire noire and romance novels that were marketed under the UF heading.  PN Elrod’s vampire detective series, Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake novels, Charlain Harris’s Sothern Vampire Mysteries,   and YA romance novels like Twilight and The Vampire Academy.

The popularity of Laurell Hamilton’s Anita Blake novels in 1990s also began a new trend towards first person narrative with a “strong” female protagonist  who kickass in heels and leather.  These novels usually featured a grittier urban backdrop and more often than not, a romantic subplot.

This is when we began to see an over-all shift in plots for Urban Fantasy. Series like Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake or Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever stared to blur the lines b/w UF and romance…where the romantic subplots were to take center stage.  Tim Pratt even went so far to say that today’s Modern UF is filled with “books about tattooed women who wear black leather, fight crime, and fend off and/or sleep with supernatural monsters.” (He sites that as one of the reasons his publisher wanted him to publish his Marla Mason books under the name TA Pratt. His publisher has since dropped the series and he continues to self publish it.)

 

There's nothing wrong with including these book under the Urban fantasy umbrella, but this narrowing of the definition of UF leaves out a whole host of books that should fall into this genre.

It also makes the public believe UF is a fad or ‘New’ Genre, but in fact we’ve had these types of tales for years.

UF has wide, varied, and deep influences.  The real heart of UF is all about making old stories modern. Bringing the fantastical to our mundane lives.

The early gothic novels can easily fall under the umbrella of urban fantasy.  Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan (1890) could be classified as UF (A young girl has her mind opened to the world of gods and monsters, producing an offspring that terrorizes Victorian London) While classified as Horror at the time, The Great God Pan has all the trademarks of UF.  Urban setting, fantastical creatures, mystery, set in modern London.

 

Carrie Vaughn points out that Jack Williamson’s Darker Than You Think, a lycanthropy story, originally published in 1940, would fit well in today’s UF marketplace.  It has werewolves, a terrible destiny, and, of course, a dangerous romance.

Even if you keep to a very narrow definition of UF (city setting, modern story, mystery) many of the Victorian and pre-Victorian gothic tale could be classified as UF. 

But don’t stop there, further back Gilgamesh's fantastic adventures happened in the Sumerians' mundane world, not in some magical alternate universe.

So before you dismiss UF as just a passing trend, remember this genre has a long history and will likely be around for years to come.   

What's Up Wednesday 10/02/13

 

“What’s Up Wednesday” is a weekly blog hop by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. Be sure to visit Jaime's blog to add your post to the link list!

What I'm Reading

I've been staying with Contemporary Romance this week.  I finished two books in the new series: The Science of Temptation. 
The Theory of Attraction and The Seduction Hypothesis by Delphine Dryden.  They were fun erotic romances with nontraditional characters.  Mix in a little Big Bang Theory with BDSM and you get the picture.  I love that the male love interest was a social awkward dominant...you have to read to understand.  The second one was set a Con.  I love me some nerds :)

Right now I'm reading Rebound Girl by Tamara Morgan. Again another story with nontraditional leads.  The Female protagonist is independent to a fault (comes of arrogant and bitchy at times) and the Male love interest is a nice guy...a really nice guy (he teaches kindergarten!!!).  I'm enjoying the book.  Morgan has really great timing and a lot of humor.  I already have the next book Derby Girl ready to read.

ABSOLUTLY LOVE THE COVER!!!

   What I'm Writing

Novel: I've been keeping up with my word count so that's great but I don't think I'm going to make my mid October deadline.  I've decided to add a bunch to the story and change some of the charcters.  While I'm NOT doing that now, just making notes, the ending isn't going to match up with the start of the novel, so I'm going to have to go back to the start add at least two chapters and fiddle with the time line a tad.  So, while I might have an ending by the Middle of October....It won't be a finished first draft :(

What Else I've Been Up To

Work.  Work has be a huge time suck on me right now.  I've been spending my days arguing with some insurance companies...enough to send me on a murderous spree.  Luckily I have lots of liquor at home to keep me in check!!!

What Inspires Me Right Now

My son!!!

 

 This was part of his testing for his first degree black belt.  One of the skills he had to do was a flying side kick.  He worked really hard to be ready for his test and passed!!!  He is all kinds of awesome!

I've been swamped and don't have much else to say.

So that's what's been up with me this week.  How has your week been?

 

Audiobooks on the cheap?

I’m an audiobook devote. I work with numbers most of the day, so I can easily put in headphones and process medical claims and balance the bank accounts, all while listening to a book.

I like to read…and do feel audiobooks give you a different experience, but love being about to transport myself to a different place while I’m doing mundane things like bookkeeping, driving or doing the dishes.

 

There’s two major downfalls to audio books…

The first is narration. Sometimes a narration can ruin a book.  If a narrator changes in the middle of a series it can ruin the book for you (Ghost Story…I missed you Marsters L you can narrate for me any day, just saying.)

The other is Price.  Audiobooks are just as expensive as hard back books.  Going for $23 to $30 or more.  Even with a subscription to audible you’re still looking at $14 to $13 dollars a book, and this can be hard to justify when you can get a lot of ebook now for $6.99 or cheaper. (even the popular authors are around $9.99)

Amazon has been doing this Whisper-Sync for a while now.  Get the ebook with the audio and you can pick up right where the narration left off, or right were you stopped reading.  Have to go get the kids…no problem just pop in the earphones and you don’t have to leave you book behind/

Well last night I discovered something odd.  For some books it’s actually cheaper to get the ebook AND the audio book together.

Amazon is encouraging you to get the audiobook when you by the kindle version by discounting it.  A LOT!

TIME FOR MATH!!

Let’s look at Wool by Hugh Howey.

 

The Audiobook is $29.95. If you have a membership it’s $20.96. 

You save $8.99

But wait I want to use my credits.  A gold membership credit cost $14.95. 

You save $15.00.  Membership pays…

Let’s look at the new deal with Amazon. I can buy Howey’s Ebook for $5.99 and if at time of purchase I ADD ON the Audiobook it’s only $1.99.  So I get both for $7.98. 

You save $21.97 and $6.97 over the cost of a credit.

Not every book is like this.  And this doesn't work for every book, but for most you can get both book for less then the $14.95 credit cost.

You need to look for the tag on the audible page:

·         Whispersync for Voice

Listen to Edge of Shadows, then pick up right where you left off with the Kindle book, available from Amazon.com for $4.99. Learn more

Get this Audiobook for the reduced price of $1.99, when you buy the Kindle edition first.

So if you want to try out Audible.  This might be a way to give it a try.

Why I Want My Kids To Read Banned Books

In honor of Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read, sponsored by the American Library Association I’m sitting down to read some of my favorite Banned Books.

Why are we still talking about Banned Books in this day and age where sex is on prime time and childhood idols are twerking on national awards shows???

Well, even in 2012, the Office of Intellectual Freedom recorded 464 challenges, but the ALA (American Library Association) estimates that up to 80 percent are never even reported So where are these books being banned? Our schools and public libraries. What is it that is so offensive, so utterly damaging about any of the books that have recently been banned?

The most common reasons for a book being pulled off the selves:
Sexually explicit (the top reason according to the ALA), Offensive language, Homosexuality, Violence, Religious viewpoint, Drugs, and Nudity

Now I would agree books like Fifty Shades of Grey have no place in the schools, but I still think (despite my personal feelings on the book) it should be freely available at the public library. If parents are sooooo concerned little Timmy will get his hands on a sex book, they need to actually monitor their children, instead of dictating what everyone should be reading.

I have the resources to buy my kids books. We still frequent the libraries, mainly to find new things, but if it was our main source of books (like it is for many families) there should be a wide selection. Not on limited by the morals of a small minority.

Banning books mostly comes down to pissy adults, passing judgment and forcing their own personal morality on the whole. We are talking the old ‘squeaky wheel’ issue. Let’s take for example the The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. 

JUST THIS WEEK the book was removed when ONE parent, Kimiyutta Parson, complained because it was ONE OF THREE books the students could pick from on a summer reading list for high school juniors. YES.  High school juniors… you know those kids between 16-17 years old. Here was Parson’s complaint:

“This novel is not so innocent; instead, this book is filthier, too much for teenagers. You must respect all religions and point of views when it comes to the parents and what they feel is age appropriate for their young children to read, without their knowledge. This book is freely in your library for them to read.”

 

So while I respect Parson’s right to tell her 11th grader not to read The Invisible Man because she feels it’s ‘filthy’, what right does she have to take that book out of the school, depriving other children the opportunity to read a book that won the National Book Award and is on the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best novels of the twentieth century?

Is it a fluffy book about unicorns and rainbows?

NO. It’s a hard book to read that deals with tough issues. It addresses many of the social and intellectual issues facing African-Americans in the first part of the twentieth century, including the reformist racial policies of Booker T. Washington, as well as issues of individuality and personal identity. It’s a book that makes you think. 

Arizona also pulled Dreaming In Cuban by Cristina Garcia for its sexually explicit content.

The book tells of the life of three generations of a single family after the 1959 Cuban revolution. The book written in 1982 was a finalist for the National Book Award. Cuban history and the rich culture are important facets of the novel. According to the American Library Association, which tracks banned books, this is the first banning of this novel.

Again, the banning originated with the complaint of one parent who noted the following passage was inappropriate for her 10th grader:

Hugo and Felicia stripped in their room, dissolving easily into one another, and made love against the whitewashed walls. Hugo bit Felicia’s breast and left purplish bands of bruises on her upper thighs. He knelt before her in the tub and massaged black Spanish soap between her legs. He entered her repeatedly from behind.

Felicia learned what pleased him. She tied his arms above his head with their underclothing and slapping him sharply when he asked.

“You’re my bitch,” Hugo said, groaning.

Sexually explicit? Yes, I agree, but the book is so much more than this one passage. This passage sets up the unstable and abusive relationship that Hugo and Felicia have.  She becomes pregnant and runs off with Hugo, against her own fathers wishes.  This passionate affair turns and she attempts to kill Hugo, ultimately causing her children to take his side.  Felicia tumbles down a hole of mental instability and her behavior becomes more despondent and erratic as the years go on. All of this starts with this one passage.

If you don't feel your 16 year old is mature enough to read this than there should be an alterative title for them to read. And again I go back to the idea; I don’t need to be told what’s right or moral for my child. 

I know what you’re thinking… ”Why don’t you just let your kid read the book on their own time? It doesn’t have to part of the school curriculum.”

Again I agree.... If schools allowed students to pick books to read on their own as part of the curriculum, instead of sticking with just the ‘mandated and appropriate’ titles, than I’d be fine with letting my kids pick their own books. But that’s not the way schools are run anymore. My kids have a hard enough time keeping up with the homework assigned and the light extra-curricular activities they enjoy. Leisure reading has become a luxury we reserve for vacations. 

Just so you understand where I'm coming from...This kind of mandatory reading nearly beat the joy of reading out of my son. The books assigned to him didn’t spark his interest and slowly he stopped wanting to read. I’ve just recently stoked those dying embers back to life with audio books and graphic novels, but I fear the damage may be long lasting.

And I know where he’s coming from. I do feel his pain...

It might be surprising to find out that I myself hated to read. Yes, me. The woman who easily reads three novels a week. The one who’s writing a book. It wasn’t until I was in eighth grade, around the age of 13 or 14, that I discovered the bodice ripper romance novels. You now the ones I mean, with the virginal heroine and the hunky man who was overly aggressive.

Johanna Lindsey was one of my favorite!!

Well, I started reading those salacious novels for the sex. Yes that right, at 13 I knew what sex was and wanted to read about it. The funny thing was those books were like a gate way drug. I started staying up all night to read them. I spent my spending cash to buy more. I started branching out to harder fiction and even some nonfiction. Before I knew what happened I found myself selling the stuff. I got a part time job at Barnes and Noble just so I could get my fix at a cheaper rate. 

So there it is dear reader, my mad decent into literary addiction.  Sexually explicit novels were my downfall.  My gateway drug of choice.

I’m not the type of parent to tell you what your child should and shouldn’t do… So please afford me the same respect. I only hope my son discovers he loves to read gory horror, gritty noir or space operas.  I wouldn't even care if he sneaks away with some of my dirty novels...as long as he is reading. 

With statistics saying one in four adults in the US did not read any books last year, I think we need to be less concerned with WHAT our kids are reading, and more concerned with whether they ARE reading.

The most challenged books in 2012 were:

1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group

2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group

3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group

4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit

5. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group

6. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit

7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group

8. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence

9. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit

10. Beloved, by Toni Morrison                                                                                         
Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

What's Up Wednesday 9/18/13

 

“What’s Up Wednesday” is a weekly blog hop by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. From Jaime: It’s similar in some respects to the Currently… post, but it’s been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. Be sure to visit Jaime's blog to add your post to the link list!

What I'm Reading

I've moved on to a fun contemporary romance Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd.  I was looking for something light and not very complicated as I'm in the middle of doing a Critique of my writing group.  So far Dodd hasn't disappointed.  While it's not turning out to be my favorite of her work, I'm still enjoying it.

Next on my list is Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan. It was highly recommended to me by a friend, so I'm looking forward to reading it.

With the kids we've been listening to the Welcome to Night Vale pod cast. (I know it's not reading, but audiobooks/podcast are just as valued to me.)  The show is well done, and my kids love it.  Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but we enjoy the strange and absurd in our house. It's a little like NPR meets the Twilight Zone.

 What I'm Writing

Blogging:  Google+ now lets you embed post and I'm going to fiddle with this a bit with my blog. I'm not sure how it will work, so we'll see.

Novel: I've started back in my nightly write-ins with a friend.  Having a detailed outline for the chapter I'm working on has helped keep my word count up. I've always worked with an outline, but it's be fairly general...just plot points.  I've started to detail each chapter before I sit down to start writing, and it seems to be helping. 

Every morning I sit down and story board my chapters.  Than at night I work off that.  I have had to change some things, because as I write something new comes up or a scene runs long, but I'm flexible.  Just moving forward has me thrilled.

 
What Else I've Been Up To

Not a whole lot else has been going on.  Between keeping thing sane at my business, raising kids and writing...I've not done much else this week.  October is just around the corner and than we're into the holidays.

I did have this talk with my daughter:

(see embedded posts from G+)

What Inspires Me Right Now

I've read a lot of articles recently about human space flight to Mars.  The thought really has my creative processes spinning.

Even with a BioChem background I've never had the urge to write Science Fiction, but the recent news stories about Mars One, the one way trip to establish a Mars colony, has me rethinking that.

 

As the Guardian points out, though, the first few permanent Mars colonists will face more than just a freezing, dust-ridden environment. They're also likely to careen over the edge of psychological instability as everyone back home watches.  -Shaunacy Ferro

 Wow.  So now as I'm finishing up Lotus Petals, I'm struck with a load of ideas involving a pioneering crew establishing a colony on an inhospitable planet. There is so much human drama and psychology that a writer can tap into.  Maybe...  Maybe I'm ready to try my hand at a space story.  

 

So that's what's been up with me this week.  How has your week been?

 

What's up Wednesday 09/04/13

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. Should you wish to join us, you will find the link widget at the bottom of Jaime’s post. We really hope you will take part!

Wow is it really Wednesday already?!?!  Holiday weekends have a way of really making the week short.

What I'm Reading

I guiltily abandoned my reading list this week (didn't finish the Zombies Fallout or start Kitty Norville's new adventure) in exchange for several books in  Wicked Lovers series by Shayla Black.  Now that I've finished book 6 (just a few minutes ago).  I have book 7 on my kindle now, but I need to get serious about finishing up my critique for my writing group. I still have almost half the book to get through by Friday.  The Little Prince is still on this list with my Daughter and now that we've finished Ender's Game my Son and I have started The Knife of Never Letting Go.  September looks to be another busy reading month as several of my favorite authors have books coming out.

I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that my list never seems to go down.

What I'm Writing

Blogging: My review deficit is getting worse.  I think I'm going to bunch the series together instead of giving them each a review to get me caught up.

Other Writing: Started on first round edits for the Anthology I'm working on.  Working with other Authors is a lot like herding cats!!  I'm happy, so far with the stories turned in and thing this will be an interesting Erotic/Romantic Anthology. 

Novel: Still trying to push through to the ending of my Modern Fantasy novel, but I'm feeling less inspired. I've come up with plot outlines for two new novels in the last week. *sigh* I'm committed to finishing, and have decided to put myself on a deadline (since it worked so well with the anthology.) I'm going to put my book inline for editing for October.  That will mean I NEED to have a first round draft done by then.  There I said it out loud...

What Else I've Been Up To

My domestic spree didn't last long. However, I did manage to get new blinds up in the master bedroom before my strange cleaning and handy man spree fizzled. Work has really been beating me down, but everyone is back from vacation now, and I've finished some projects.  Here's to hoping the short week gives me time to catch my breath!

What Inspires Me Right Now

G+ has snared my attention the past few weeks. I've found some really great sites and interesting articles that have really spiked those creative juices.  If you're not active on Google+, I encourage you to follow me. I try and pass along great content.

Some highlights from my G+ feed:

Found a kick ass kickstarter to help fund!

Lilith Dark is not your typical pink lovin' princess type. She's an adventure seeking, beastie slaying kid with attitude!


Ordered some lovely minimalist Fan Art for my upstairs loft:

 

I've also encouraged all my followers to join in the campaign to make Revenge Porn illegal.

  

The excitement over the upcoming Under The Skin.  The upcoming movie is based on a book of the same name that is a dark Science Fiction by Michel Faber:

 

 

So that's what's been up with me this week.  How has your week been?

What's up Wednesday

What’s Up Wednesday is a weekly meme geared toward readers and writers, allowing us to touch base with blog friends and let them know what’s up. Should you wish to join us, you will find the link widget at the bottom of Jaime’s post. We really hope you will take part!

What I'm Reading

I've got a few on my reading list this week. I've just started Zombie Fallout, but I'll probably put aside for Kitty in the Underworld. I'm going to start The Little Prince with my Daughter and we are just finishing up Ender's Game in anticipation of the movie.

Wow... that's a lot to read.

What I'm Writing

Blogging: So I'm about 5 books behind on my reviews. So look for some more post soon :) I also have a feminist rant that I've been writing for a few days about Feminism, Erotica, and Sex. Once I'm sure I've got some good content and something more substantial (not just a rant) I'll post.

Other Writing: I've finished my first draft of the Anthology story I've been working on. It was a real stretch for me since I'm not an erotica writer, but the project is for a good cause (all proceeds are going to charity) and since the project was my idea I thought I should at least try and write a story for inclusion. I'll have to see if my story makes the final cut. (even I'm not immune to the editing room floor)

Novel: With my short finished I'm back to my novel. Last week I only managed to rearrange some chapters and add some detail, but I still haven't been able to move the story forward. BUT last night inspiration struck in the middle of the night (doesn't it always?!?!) and I got up re-outlined my plot and have a better idea of how to wrap this baby up.

What Else I've Been Up To

I've been very domestic this last week, cleaning out the pantry and organizing the closets. I'm not sure what that's a sign of... I bought a chainsaw, to dismantle the play structure in the back yard, but I imagine it will be useful for that zombie apocalypse too!

I've also been making a larger effort to be social. I've been hanging out with my new tribe of writers that I've found in my small Midwest town, and I've also managed to socialize with some non-writer types.  (oddly enough we spent dinner talking about what we were reading...)

What Inspires Me Right Now

Ted Talks. Right now I'm on a bender.  Here's a link to some great ones: 20 Talks That Could Change Your Life.

There are several talks I'd love to do blog post on. Here's one of my Favorite:

Monster by A. Lee Martinez, Book Review

 

As promised, my review of Monster by A Lee Martinez.

The Main character is Monster, a crypto-biological animal control agent…AKA the dog catcher of the magical world) isn’t a lovable character.  Heck, Monster is not even a very likable character. He borders on being a sociopath, with an apathetic attitude towards life.  And he has good reason. He’s in a dead-end job, has a dysfunctional relationship with a succubus who doesn’t enjoy sex with him, and barely makes ends meet. But hey, can’t many of us relate? 
 

So What's it about?

The story start when monster is called into help Judy: a cynical, unmotivated woman who’s stuck in a going nowhere life. Judy, who’s not part of the paranormal world, finds a Yeti eating ice cream out of the store freezer where she works. Once the job is done Monster goes on with his life, but Judy keeps popping back up with more issues. They are thrown together to save the world from events completely out of their control.

Not everyone will enjoy Monster.  Even readers who have enjoyed Martinez’s other books. While it does have the witty, sometimes dry sense of humor he’s known for, Monster has a deep thread of sadness that seems to run through the book.  It starts with the characters and their complete apathy, almost as if they themselves have given up on life, and continues with the theme of magic dying in our world (a fact that most people just can’t see).
 

My Take?

For me, I liked Monster.  It was a fun read, probably because I love unlikable characters, but I also appreciated a UF without a romantic subplot. (Judy and Monster don’t even particularly like each other).  Monster was a fast read and the plot moves along at a nice pace. The secondary characters were interesting. Chester, a paper gnome and Monster’s partner.  Monster’s succubus girlfriend. Even Judy’s alpha female sister, who ends up having to fend off a sphinx on her commute into work one morning. I’d love to see some short stories by Martinez with these characters.

So, while I would recommend this book to people who love UF but might be looking for a change from the series and romantic plots, please be aware...you might hate it. 

“BUT…what about the ending?  You said the ending had issues in your last post…”

No I didn’t forget.

The Ending. Yes the ending left a lot to be desired. The main drama of the book…you know the fate of the universe didn’t have enough drama to it. I’m not sure if it was the apathy of the main character infecting my own psyche by the end of the book or the fact that the ‘conflict’ seemed anticlimactic.  Whichever it was, by the end of the book I found out that I didn’t really care if they achieved the goal and saved the world.

 

photo via: Jake Waage

But if you’re on the fence about whether to read this book, don’t let the idea of a disappointing ending stop you.  I enjoyed the ride, and found the story fun and funny. Martinez did a wonderful job in world building and I became engaged with the world. I did go out and get Gil’s All Fight Diner, so we’ll see how that one goes.   I’ll have to wait and see if A Lee Martinez becomes one of my go to authors.

Serials: When Good Stories Don't End.

As I’ve said before I’m an avid reader; have been most of my life.  I read constantly, and there are always books waiting for me when I’m done.  I read across genres and mediums.  This of course doesn’t make me an expert, but I do have very strong opinions on what I like and don’t like.  This post will be the first in a series where I talk directly to those of you writing…not as a writer myself, but as a reader.

Today’s topic:  The End…WTF, it’s not over.  Series and serials.

I love a series.  If the writing is good or the characters and the world are compelling I’m hooked.  I have followed series to their natural end, and have even roughed through some that should have ended books earlier.  But I’ve noticed a trend, at least in the romance and YA genres, which really pisses me off:  Serials billed as Series.

So what’s the difference?

In literature, a serial is a publishing format by which a single large work, most often a work of narrative fiction, is presented in contiguous (typically chronological) installments -Wikipedia

A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. -Wikipedia

Series will often have a continuing plot and characters that are present in all of the books, building up to a thrilling (hopefully) conclusion.  Serials are the continuation of the same story through a number of books.  It might be a small distinction, but it’s crucial to me.

 

I want my stories to end.  I need that satisfying “aha” at the end of a novel.  The non-endings of serials are incredibly frustrating to me, especially when I don’t see them coming.  I’ve hopped out of my bed at two in the morning livid at an author for essentially telling me “…to be continued.” , instead of “The End.”  This is the fastest way to get me to tell my friends, “don’t read that book, you’ll be disappointed.”

I realize the draw of serials for publishers and author; they can draw in readers and create a fan base that will follow you from book one to five to twenty five, but know your definition before you bill your story as a series.  If you’re book ends without a climax, but instead has a ‘hook’ then you’re writing a serial.

I crave the rise and fall of traditional storytelling.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love a continuing mystery in a series a thread that works its way through the stories, but each novel needs to have its own story, its own mystery, its own rise and fall.    Without this,  all you have is a extraordinarily long novel that would put George RR Martin to shame. 

So tell me a story.  Give me a start and an0 ending.  Don’t leave me hanging!!

Gina Drayer

Why I read Erotica

I’m an extremely eclectic reader.  I love Chicks that kick ass and self-deprecating wizards.  Young kids discovering love or the strength inside themselves.  I love zombies and science thrillers.  Heart stopping adventures.  Achingly sweet love stories.  Every genre has something for me to love. 

But there’s one genre that doesn’t get enough love from the writing community.  Erotica.
 

 

I love reading erotica.  I’m not ashamed to say it.  I don’t hide my books from friends and family.  My sex life isn’t lacking.  I read erotica because it’s good fiction.  It’s one of the best genres to showcase true writing talent. 

Bullshit you say?  Most erotica is thinly veiled porn.   

Alas, you are right dear reader.  The genre, so often maligned, is filled with authors with little skill that rush to the sex and leave behind the foreplay.  Erotica, true erotica is NOT PORN.  It really gets my panties in a bunch that it’s acceptable for women to read grocery store romance novels with virginal teenage girls, but the minute you toss in adults who like sex and get wild in the bed it's somehow distasteful.  

It’s not just about the sex; I’ve read hotter sex scenes in Urban Fantasy (thank you Butcher and Harrison for that).  Good erotica is about characters and growth.  It's self discovery and growth rolled up into a hot sexy burrito of passion. (Wow that sounded less pervy in my head…)   Erotica is good reads!

What is good you ask… Well that’s not easy to quantify.  Like any genre, everyone has an opinion.

To start with let’s define what I mean by erotica:

Erotica is any artistic work that deals substantively with erotically stimulating or sexually arousing subject matter. All forms of art may depict erotic content, including painting, sculpture, photography, drama, film, music or literature. Erotica has high-art aspirations, differentiating it from commercial pornography.  (Wikipedia Entry for Erotica)

 For me, like other books it read, there has to be compelling characters, an intriguing plot and most importantly perfect pacing.  Don’t get me wrong… hot sex is a must, but if the writing is off then the whole thing doesn’t work.  One wrong sentence and the illusion is broken.  The scene fails.

This is why I believe any writer can benefit from reading a well written erotic novel. The author not only has to spin a character centric tale about two people falling in love (or lust… depending on the story), but they also have to choreograph sex scenes that are complicated and fraught with tension.    Pacing, stage direction, character building… it’s all there.  Don’t get me wrong, erotica isn’t literary fiction and will never win the Nobel prize for literature… but I don’t care.   I read fiction for fun and erotica is one of my go to genres.

Here are a few I've enjoyed:

 

If you have any suggestions, I’m always looking for new books to add to my reading list :)

Gina Drayer

photo credit: Chris Blakeley via photopin cc