Science+Fiction+Literature

=**Science Fiction Literature**=

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** Title : Children of the Old Stars by David Lee Summers** (science fiction Podcast)

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 * Description:** The Cluster is a vast alien machine that destroys starships indiscriminately in its quest for something or someone. Commander John Mark Ellis, disgraced and booted out of the service when he fails to save a merchant ship, believes the key to stopping the Cluster is communication. His mother, Suki Firebrandt Ellis is a historian who believes the very leaders of the galaxy are withholding information about the Cluster. Clyde McClintlock believes the Cluster is God incarnate, seeking retribution. G'Liat is an alien warrior whose own starship was destroyed by the Cluster. All together, they set out to solve the mystery of the Cluster before it finds the object of its quest.

** Title :** **Nebula Nominee 2008** (Podcast)
.....StarShipSofa has, in one day, done what no other SF podcast has done before. In another unprecedented move, StarShipSofa has put out all seven Nebula Short Story 2008 nominees, all available as free audio podcasts for your listening pleasure. Tony, who helms the podcast, says, “The Nebula’s are a very special event in the SF world and I wanted the StarShipSofa to mark this occasion by doing something unique for this year’s awards. “I wanted to put out all the stories nominated in one day so people can, straight away, have them downloaded back to back… sitting on their iPod and, for the next few hours, submerge themselves in SF stories of the very best calibre. All for free. “Things are changing rapidly in this medium and this is one example of StarShipSofa pushing the boundaries of normal podcasting in both terms of quality and accessibility. “It’s what the StarShipSofa was built for.”[| http://www.starshipsofa.com/]
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Site: **Kevin J. Anderson** URL: [] **Description:** This is the official Website for Kevin J. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta, science fiction authors. Site: **Ray Bradbury** URL: [] **Description:** When opening the site, notice the words within the collection of squares. These are the connections to information about Bradbury’s home, his books, and letters to fans. Also included are connections to a message board and a newsletter. Site: **Scott Orson Card** Official Site URL: [] **Description:** Card’s official site is meant for sue by older students (high school) and teachers. The area is full of interesting columns and thought-provoking commentary by the author, There is also a section that helps students deal with research about the author and teachers to help them create lessons about the author and his novels. Site: **Sir Arthur C. Clarke** URL: [] **Description:** Included with the usual biography, list of books and awards, this site offers fan ratings of every book, each with over a thousand votes. Of special note is a list of Clarke’s predictions through December 2100. A chat, twitter feed, and links to blogs are also available. Site: **Nancy Farmer’s Official Homepage** URL : [] **Description :** Again, a rather dry site that has all of the pertinent information about Nancy Farmer. It does have a personal touch with a bio written by the author herself in a very informal tone. Basic information about her books and their reviews are concise enough to not overwhelm. The blog does allow readers to feel connected to the author and personal responses to posts on her guest book do add an element of excitement. I can imagine a child getting very excited about a personal response from the author of their favorite book. Site: **Neil Gaiman** URL: [] **Description:** This is the official Website for Neil Gaimen, acclaimed and award winning science fiction and fantasy author. Site: Offical Site of Author **Margaret Peterson Haddix** URL: [] Description: Margaret Peterson Haddix website is a kid friendly site that allows viewers to watch video previews on her books, read her biography, get help on writing reports, appearances, links and a list of all of Haddix’s work. Site: RAH: **Robert A. Heinlein** URL: [|www.nitrosyncretic.com/rah/] Description: Website creator James Gifford boasts, “If you’re looking for information on the grand master of science fiction, Robert Heinlein, you’ve come to the right place.” The site contains archives, frequently asked questions, links, news and updates and an interactive section. I was able to access all parts of the site except the interactive section. Site: **Robert Heinlen Society** URL: [] **Description:** Although this website was created to promote the non-profit organization created by Robert Heinlen’s wife, Ginny Heinlen, the site has a wealth of information and a worthwhile mission – check this out: “We intend in Heinlein's words to "PAY IT FORWARD," since we can never pay back the benefits we got from him, by spreading the wisdom of Robert Anson Heinlein to others.” It has established programs to: Place the books of Robert Heinlein in libraries everywhere, especially in school libraries where the juvenile novels may continue to help to form character and provoke critical and intelligent thinking among our young people; award scholarships and grants; promote annual Heinlein blood drives; and promote scholarly research. Given heinlen’s novel “Red Planet” is our class book and we were urged the consider how women were portrayed in the novel and film, I thought it interesting to see how much of this site is equally devoted to Heinlen’s wife and partner Ginny. I learned from this site that Ginny served her country as a Navy Wave, was a biochemist and aviation test engineer, who earned varsity letters at N.Y.U. in swimming, diving, basketball and field hockey, and became a competitive figure skater after graduation; she speaks seven languages. How’s this for female role models of the 1940s? The site also highlights the Heinlen awards for commercial space activity, an idea Heinlen promoted all his life, and also covers book discussions, writing contests, academic scholarships, and newsletters published by the society. The members of the Heinlen Society describe themselves as “a serious-minded group of people who are out to change the world for the better.” One more cool aspect of the site—included is an essay written by Heinlen about is personal philosophy of living. Remember the Edward R. Murrow essays of the 1960s called "This I Believe" that was renewed after 2001 on NPR radio (online too)? I love this! He wrote and actually read aloud on radio during Edward R. Murrow's live tv show his very own "This I Believe" essay that incorporated his love for sci-fi, his hopes for the future, and the endless and infinite possibilities of mankind. I use NPR and This I Believe in my English classes and think it's a wonderful connection to Heinlen and sci-fi. Site: **Daniel Keyes** Official Web Site URL: [] Description: This website really focuses on the author’s life and how he came to write Flowers for Algernon. The site includes a biography, a section for frequently asked questions about Algernon, and an area which gives information about Keyes personal appearances. Though it contains some useful information, this site is really just a bare-bones introduction to Keyes works. Students and teachers could begin here and then use some of the reference links listed at the bottom of the pages for additional information. . Site: **Ursula Le Guin’s** Web Site URL: [] **Description:** The site opens to a map of Earthsea, a world that Le Guin has created. Once you enter the site, there are sections that list all of her works, her most recent releases, her biography, and honors and awards. Students may find answers to their questions in a thorough FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) section. For the aspiring writer, click on the section titled “About Writing.” It includes suggestions and tips as well as a real rejection letter that Le Guin received. In addition, there are transcripts and recordings of interviews, as well as photos. Site: **Ursula K. Leguin** URL: [] Description: This website contains a picture of the author and her new publication of poems coming out in September. It also lists offsite links related to the author. The site shows the book covers of seventeen of the author’s current publications. Site: **Madeleine L’Engle** URL: [|http://www.madeleinelengle.com] **Description:** A rather dry site that has all of the pertinent information about Madeleine L’Engle ranging from interviews to lists of her many books. I wouldn’t recommend the site to younger readers, it is a little hard to navigate and not very stimulating. It seems to be maintained by her granddaughter, Lena Roy, who has followed in Madeleines “ rather LARGE footsteps” and is an author herself. Site: **Lois Lowry** URL: [] **Description:** Lois Lowry’s website is a great source of information. Kids can email Lowry, read her blog, learn about her books, FAQ’s, see her speeches and read her biography. Site: **Garth Nix** URL: [] **Description:** Garth Nix is an Australian sci-fi/fantasy writer for upper elementary and young adult readers. His site reflects his sarcastic and dry humor, he’s lots of fun. For instance, he includes FUQs instead of FAQs, frequently UNANSWERED questions. In addition to little snippets and summaries of his books are also his biography, his own favorite books, short stories, and even writing tips--including how to write a book, and even an online game he developed, called Imperial Galaxy. Garth Nix’s main series is called “The Keys to the Kingdom—it’s 7 books, each named after a day of the week (Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, etc.)—and the protagonists are young teens like Arthur and his friends (yes, á la themes of King Arthur). Arthur’s life is saved by a key shaped like the minute hand of a clock. Arthur is safe - but his world is not. Along with the key comes a plague brought by bizarre creatures from another realm. Visually it’s a bit of a boring site, but keep in mind it’s Garth Nix’s personal site maintained directly by the author. On a personal note, I befriended a visitor to Philadelphia, a middle school teacher named Lucy from South Australia, living here for a few years while her husband is a post-doctoral student at U of Penn… and her brother-in-law is no other than Garth Nix! My son and all his friends think this fact is the coolest Philly connection and they love all the Kingdom books. Now it’s my turn to finally read one.

Site: **Starshine and Shadows: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror** URL: [] **Description**: This website is an online magazine that discusses the connections between stories, their readers and the critics. Michael Collins is the author of the site and teaches literature, composition, and writing at Pepperdine University. He reprints essays by sci-fi authors, such as Orson Scott Card (Ender’s series), Stephen King, and Peter Straub. Another part of the site that intrigues me is Michel Collin’s mission: “… an open invitation to discussion.” The primary - if not the sole - function of literary criticism should be to provide insights that others, students and readers, might profitably use when engaging or re-engaging the text. To that end, he invites responses to the ideas posted on the site. One warning to note is that Michael Collins ‘s site has a page devoted to his theories on a perceived connection between sci-fi and the Church of LDS (Mormons). He explores the notion that there seems to be an unusually large number of LDS writers of fantasy and sci-fi, and many are a national and international success (Orson Scott Card, Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, Dave Farland (Dave Wolverton), James Dashner, Chris Heimerdinger, Tracy Hickman, Stephenie Meyer, M. Shayne Bell, Lee Allred, Scott Parkin, Glenn Anderson, and many others). I don’t know how important it is, but since it relates to religion, worth putting up a warning flag. One last mention is Collins’s interest in science fiction poetry. He explores, shares, and reviews the ideas best expressed by poet and founder of the Science Fiction Poetry Association (www.sfwa.org), Suzette Haden Elgin, a sci-fi poem was one that had two parts: a science part, and a fiction — narrative or lyric — part. As bizarre as it sounds, many people enjoy how the literary devices and imagery associated with poetry enhance the fantasy and sci-fi (and horror) elements of a narrative story. Just think of Tolkien and the folk songs of the hobbits and elves! I thought this could be an interesting way to explore poetry for kids who love sci-fi.