It was with great sadness that I learned today of the death, at 85, of Anne McCaffrey on November 21 in Ireland.
McCaffrey introduced me to the world of Pern, to dragonriders, to crystal singers, to a world of wonder and delight. I devoured Anne McCaffrey's books with relish and often returned to them time again to revisit old friends and take comfort in their worlds. My battered copy of The Crystal Singer (1982) once was new but now shows many reads, as do my remaining few copies of titles from the Pern series.
Whilst I may have moved on to other fantasy authors and explored new worlds with them I nonetheless owe a huge debt to McCaffrey for first feeding my burgeoning teenage love of fantasy fiction and providing a balance to my reading. At the same time I was first reading about Pern I was also devouring tales of Middle Earth and The Land, McCaffrey helped counter the huge landscapes and epic tales of Tolkein and Donaldson with shorter, often bittersweet tales of dragons and acceptance and discovering oneself in the larger community.
She is greatly missed.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
#readit2011 - #goreads in June
Throughout June the #readit2011 theme has been travel, using the hashtag #goreads.
Added to this has been the further challenge to the #readit2011 team of stepping up to blog every day of June.
And what a challenge it has been!
Jenn ( @wateryone) summed it up pretty much with her tweet
My favourite post? Mmmmm, I really can't pick just one, they all offered so much. I will admit though it was fun to use the challenge as an excuse to write a post involving Halo: combat evolved. Ellen had written an earlier post touching on game-play but I knew I could slot one in referencing both that and Star Wars. Cheeky but fun!
I've really enjoyed this month. Even though making sure we had a post to go each day and using a googledoc to track who was doing what had its moments, in the end it worked and it showed that with just a little organisation and committment we can pull it off. I don't think I could have personally committed to blogging every single day but being able to share the workload made it so much more achievable and allowed the converstaions to flow in exciting ways. Being responsible for maybe 5 or 6 posts was something I could handle (along with all my other committments) and being able to use the blog's functions to draft them and schedule their publication meant I could write when I had the chance, reducing a lot of the pressure.
I look back on this month and I think I can say with all honesty "we done good". Congratulations team.
Added to this has been the further challenge to the #readit2011 team of stepping up to blog every day of June.
And what a challenge it has been!
Jenn ( @wateryone) summed it up pretty much with her tweet
blogging every day this month with the #readit2011 team made me realise how many different types of journeys and travels there are! #goreadsIt has also been a wonderful journey of its own. Challenging in working together to ensure that posts are up each day, exciting considering the nature of travel and all its forms - fiction and nonfiction (ooh, and games!), and rewarding - at the end of the day each of us has come away with a deeper understanding of each other, ourselves, our shared experiences, and how the idea of 'travel' or 'travelling' can be applied to so many forms of expression - from travel guides, to cook books, from console games, to movies, from verbal narrative, to journeys of the soul.
My favourite post? Mmmmm, I really can't pick just one, they all offered so much. I will admit though it was fun to use the challenge as an excuse to write a post involving Halo: combat evolved. Ellen had written an earlier post touching on game-play but I knew I could slot one in referencing both that and Star Wars. Cheeky but fun!
I've really enjoyed this month. Even though making sure we had a post to go each day and using a googledoc to track who was doing what had its moments, in the end it worked and it showed that with just a little organisation and committment we can pull it off. I don't think I could have personally committed to blogging every single day but being able to share the workload made it so much more achievable and allowed the converstaions to flow in exciting ways. Being responsible for maybe 5 or 6 posts was something I could handle (along with all my other committments) and being able to use the blog's functions to draft them and schedule their publication meant I could write when I had the chance, reducing a lot of the pressure.
I look back on this month and I think I can say with all honesty "we done good". Congratulations team.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey Stuff
One of the cool things about Twitter is the way you quite simply stumble upon some absolute gems - this is a video from Phil Bradley (UK) http://youtu.be/HECUTJ-BCpY which I stumbled upon via a tweet from Aaron Tay which first sent me to The Infectious Library blog and then on to the YouTube link.
The gist of Phil's talk to CLIPWALES links 11 social media resources which libraries need to use more to 11 Dr Who regenerations. It's a great list, a great video, and an engaging way of remembering what we should be trying to do - going where the conversations are.
The gist of Phil's talk to CLIPWALES links 11 social media resources which libraries need to use more to 11 Dr Who regenerations. It's a great list, a great video, and an engaging way of remembering what we should be trying to do - going where the conversations are.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
And before I forget ................ #readit2011
The #readit2011 Twitter reading fest has been an amazing journey so far. All the details can be found here - http://readit2011.wordpress.com/ - and here - http://readersadvisory.wetpaint.com/page/2011+Twitter+Reading+Group
Not to mention the shirts you can buy the shirts from RedBubble here - http://www.redbubble.com/explore/readit2011
There are plans afoot to continue the love next year too in conjunction with the National Year of Reading and make it bigger and better and broader and bookier!! .............. is that a word? You get what I mean, I'm just a tad excited about it all.
Now, I'd best be off to update my reading challenge list on the RA wiki .............................
Not to mention the shirts you can buy the shirts from RedBubble here - http://www.redbubble.com/explore/readit2011
There are plans afoot to continue the love next year too in conjunction with the National Year of Reading and make it bigger and better and broader and bookier!! .............. is that a word? You get what I mean, I'm just a tad excited about it all.
Now, I'd best be off to update my reading challenge list on the RA wiki .............................
And now for something completely different.......... #risg2011
Last Tuesday, May 24th, was the annual Reference @ The Metcalfe seminar, #risg2011.
The day had an exciting line-up, including David Lee King (via skype), Craig Thomler, Mitchell Whitelaw, Paul Hagon, and Ross Balharrie. Not to mention Megan Pitt doing her bit to showcase CNRL's fabulous CWA Country of Study webpage. Plus loads more.
All the details and presentations can be found here.
I missed attending this day in person, but thoroughly enjoyed following the action via twitter. A huge bonus has been the ability to view the Twapperkeeper stats and feed after the event to catch up on those moments when I wasn't shackled to my desk following the twitterstream.
As always a huge thank you to the RISG team for putting this event together and especially to Ellen Forsyth (@ellenforsyth) for all the hardwork she puts in when the rest of us simply can't make it to the post.
The day had an exciting line-up, including David Lee King (via skype), Craig Thomler, Mitchell Whitelaw, Paul Hagon, and Ross Balharrie. Not to mention Megan Pitt doing her bit to showcase CNRL's fabulous CWA Country of Study webpage. Plus loads more.
All the details and presentations can be found here.
I missed attending this day in person, but thoroughly enjoyed following the action via twitter. A huge bonus has been the ability to view the Twapperkeeper stats and feed after the event to catch up on those moments when I wasn't shackled to my desk following the twitterstream.
As always a huge thank you to the RISG team for putting this event together and especially to Ellen Forsyth (@ellenforsyth) for all the hardwork she puts in when the rest of us simply can't make it to the post.
Dragons in the Metcalfe - #ra2011 – part nine (last but not least)
Finally we finished the day with Garth Nix. Such a superb storyteller! He really brought the day full-circle, having started with Brent Weeks that’ morning.
Garth Nix reads everything – Rosemary Sutcliffe, Arthur Ransom, Georgette Heyer even rated a mention as an adventure story! For him, fantasy writing and reading is about myth, legend and superstition.
After weaving his magic on a spell-bound audience Garth reminded us that writing fantasy is about taking pieces of reality and adding in elements of the fantastic (or mythic) so that readers know it’s not true but will happily go along with the tale. And we certainly did that!
For him, finishing novels is one of the most important things a writer should do – regardless of whether or not that novel is ever published. As a writer it is important that you don’t quit, just keep going and when done move on to the next book. Write the books you want to read – Garth does.
Okay, so what is fantasy?
Often lumped together with Science Fiction
Plot; character; narrative; structure; emotion
Ask, what if…..?
Taking ordinary things you know well and making some small change
What advice does Garth have for writers?
Read Locus magazine – especially, the year in review (www.locusmag.com)
Pursue how-to-write literature: Ursula le Guin – “steering the craft”, books on writing
Exercise:
3 lines – beginning, middle, end
3 paragraphs – beginning, middle, end
Keep expanding on that
Plan / plot
Eg. Keys to the Kingdom series
Knew the 7 titles
Knew the big story, but not the smaller stories
Knew how the story would end, etc
Editors – very useful
Garth Nix’s first book was The Ragwitch, he has this beautiful cover fold-out of all his book covers which has he unfolds more covers makes you realise just how many books he has written and how diverse they have been – but all Fantasy, and all popular with audiences.
When the day finally ended it was with such a positive vibe in the room. Yet again the RA working group had put together an excellent seminar. I’m sure we all look forward to next year’s seminar and whichever theme it explores.
Well done!
Garth Nix reads everything – Rosemary Sutcliffe, Arthur Ransom, Georgette Heyer even rated a mention as an adventure story! For him, fantasy writing and reading is about myth, legend and superstition.
After weaving his magic on a spell-bound audience Garth reminded us that writing fantasy is about taking pieces of reality and adding in elements of the fantastic (or mythic) so that readers know it’s not true but will happily go along with the tale. And we certainly did that!
For him, finishing novels is one of the most important things a writer should do – regardless of whether or not that novel is ever published. As a writer it is important that you don’t quit, just keep going and when done move on to the next book. Write the books you want to read – Garth does.
Okay, so what is fantasy?
Often lumped together with Science Fiction
Plot; character; narrative; structure; emotion
Ask, what if…..?
Taking ordinary things you know well and making some small change
What advice does Garth have for writers?
Read Locus magazine – especially, the year in review (www.locusmag.com)
Pursue how-to-write literature: Ursula le Guin – “steering the craft”, books on writing
Exercise:
3 lines – beginning, middle, end
3 paragraphs – beginning, middle, end
Keep expanding on that
Plan / plot
Eg. Keys to the Kingdom series
Knew the 7 titles
Knew the big story, but not the smaller stories
Knew how the story would end, etc
Editors – very useful
Garth Nix’s first book was The Ragwitch, he has this beautiful cover fold-out of all his book covers which has he unfolds more covers makes you realise just how many books he has written and how diverse they have been – but all Fantasy, and all popular with audiences.
When the day finally ended it was with such a positive vibe in the room. Yet again the RA working group had put together an excellent seminar. I’m sure we all look forward to next year’s seminar and whichever theme it explores.
Well done!
Dragons in the Metcalfe - #ra2011 - part eight
Next up was Vassiliki (@vaveros) with her delightful presentation RA and Twitter which is viewable via Sharepoint and on the RA wiki (along with all the other presentations from the day).
And then yours truly ( @CatyJ) showcasing the delight of #readit2011 and #bookbinge plus the range of shirts now available from RedBubble to support these events.
And then yours truly ( @CatyJ) showcasing the delight of #readit2011 and #bookbinge plus the range of shirts now available from RedBubble to support these events.
Dragons in the Metcalfe - #ra2011 - part seven
Next up was Sally Dowling, Acting Childrens & Young Adult Librarian at Waverley Library, bringing together a YA Librarians perspective of providing recommended reading for teens. This was an insight into the committment Sally has to her role - participating in a teen reading group (building rapport and relationships with readers), reading YA titles, reviewing journals,newspapers, and publishers' websites, checking out the new stock as it arrives at the library and spending time on teenreads.com.au and the CBC website.
Sally came armed with some Fantasy author suggestions for teens:-
ED Baker (The Frog Princess)
Steven Orgerod
Scott Westerfeld (fabulous steam punk series: Leviathan, Behemoth, etc)
Justin Lalalesteley (?? not sure of the spelling of this one....)
Garth Nix (Sabriel is a great YA read)
Andrew Butcher
Brian Jacques
Jonathon Stroud
Holly Black
Sarah Singelton
Anthony Horowitz
Diana Wynne Jones
Eion Colfer
James patterson
Sophie Masson
Tamora Pierce
Philip Pullman
Stephanie Meyer
Erin Hunter
Anne McCaffrey
Darren Shan (Cirque du Freak / the Saga of Darren Shan; Demonata series; The Thin Executioner; etc)
Catherine Jinks (Evil Genius series; The Reformed Vampire Support Group; etc)
Francesca Lea Block
Gillian Rubenstein
Sally came armed with some Fantasy author suggestions for teens:-
ED Baker (The Frog Princess)
Steven Orgerod
Scott Westerfeld (fabulous steam punk series: Leviathan, Behemoth, etc)
Justin Lalalesteley (?? not sure of the spelling of this one....)
Garth Nix (Sabriel is a great YA read)
Andrew Butcher
Brian Jacques
Jonathon Stroud
Holly Black
Sarah Singelton
Anthony Horowitz
Diana Wynne Jones
Eion Colfer
James patterson
Sophie Masson
Tamora Pierce
Philip Pullman
Stephanie Meyer
Erin Hunter
Anne McCaffrey
Darren Shan (Cirque du Freak / the Saga of Darren Shan; Demonata series; The Thin Executioner; etc)
Catherine Jinks (Evil Genius series; The Reformed Vampire Support Group; etc)
Francesca Lea Block
Gillian Rubenstein
Dragons in the Metcalfe - #ra2011 - part six
What is your fantasy?
After lunch Jenn Martin (@wateryone) led us through a series of small groups discussions on the various Fantasy titles we had read prior to coming to the seminar. We approached our reading from the viewpoint of Nancy Pearl's 'doorways' of language, character, setting, and story/plot and considered our expectations of reading a Fantasy title versus the actual experience of the one we read. the bottom line was to consider the appeal of Fantasy to our library clients.
This was a fun session, highlighted by Vassiliki's (@vaveros) reading of Urgum the Axeman who keeps trying to die heroically only to be constantly foiled by the gods he worships who want to keep him alive as he is their last believer and without him they would perish and be forgotten. For Vassiliki reading this was all about character.
After lunch Jenn Martin (@wateryone) led us through a series of small groups discussions on the various Fantasy titles we had read prior to coming to the seminar. We approached our reading from the viewpoint of Nancy Pearl's 'doorways' of language, character, setting, and story/plot and considered our expectations of reading a Fantasy title versus the actual experience of the one we read. the bottom line was to consider the appeal of Fantasy to our library clients.
This was a fun session, highlighted by Vassiliki's (@vaveros) reading of Urgum the Axeman who keeps trying to die heroically only to be constantly foiled by the gods he worships who want to keep him alive as he is their last believer and without him they would perish and be forgotten. For Vassiliki reading this was all about character.
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