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A month for now I will be attending my first science fiction convention. As a result, I’m getting prepared. No, it’s not getting some goofy costume or whatever ready. I’m doing what attracted me to the convention — reading.
ReaderCon 18 is the first weekend in July. It is a convention that focuses on the literature of SF. For example, one of its hallmarks is series of 30-minute author talks called “How I Wrote Novel Title.” Attendees are urged to read as many of the titles as possible, a mix of books just out in hardcover or reprinted in paperback. In fact, one of the con’s past slogans was, “The con that assigns homework!”
As a result, I’m on sort of a SF binge. I’ve read one of the novels by one of the guests of honor, Lucius Shepard, and plan to read another shortly before or on my way to the con. I also recently completed the latest (and Hugo-nominated) novel by Peter Watts, one of 110 authors confirmed to attend the convention. There will undoubtedly be several more added once the books for the talks are announced this month.
The programming also looks intriguing. Here’s just a couple of the panels that have attracted my attention so far:
Brilliant But Flawed— A panel on potentially excellent works that suffer from flaws that can cause them to fail, flaws that may well be unique to each reader’s perspective.
Can I Superstring That Story for You? — A discussion of the use and abuse of quantum mechanics as a basis for many of today’s hard SF works.
Political Beliefs and Fiction — Both the hidden and overt appearance and influence of political beliefs on SF.
F&SF Reviewing in the Blogosphere — Relatively self-explanatory.
Beyond Spacetime and DNA: The Other Sciences in Hard SF — The use of scientific fields other than physics and biology in hard sf.
Rebel, Rebel: Ex-Rocker Writers — SF writers with “a significant rock ‘n’ roll past” discuss the theme of rebellion in their lives and fiction.
SF in Other Tongues: What Are We Missing? — A discussion of SF originally written in languages other than English.
The Challenge of Near-Future Political Scenarios in SF — The benefits and risks of basing near future SF on potential political events.
Undoubtedly, this all sounds pretty geeky to those who are aren’t fans of speculative fiction. And who knows? Maybe it will be full of geeks? But for some reason spending a weekend with a bunch of strangers brought together solely by a love of reading a genre I’ve enjoyed for decades sounds like a great way to spend a July weekend.
The Revelation: Ninety percent of everything is crud.
Corollary 1:The existence of immense quantities of trash in science fiction is admitted and it is regrettable; but it is no more unnatural than the existence of trash anywhere.
Corollary 2: The best science fiction is as good as the best fiction in any field.
Stugeon’s Revelation, Theodore Sturgeon, Venture Science Fiction (March 1958)
Catch-up items from what was a very hectic last seven days:
- Probably a good thing they were Buddhists.
- Crawdaddy, one of the music magazines I grew up with, is now an on-line publication after a several decade absence. (Via.)
- I might have appreciated this article on SF writers without the references to them being “deviant” or “crazy” thinkers.
- Speaking of SF, James Dryden asks what happened to the SF that questioned the world around us while Pop Matters asks if serious SF film is dying. (Both via.)
- Also recent SF related, reclusive author Cormac McCarthy supposedly will appear on Oprah June 5 to talk with her about The Road.
- I don’t know if this is a commentary on the state of the particular artist or the music business today. Either way, sad is an understatement. (Via.)
- Ray Bradbury gives an interesting take on Fahrenheit 451 I had never considered before.
- John Scalzi, from whom this came, put it best: Don’t blog your own trial, you moron.
We contemplate eternity
Beneath the vast indifference of heaven
“The Indifference of Heaven,” Warren Zevon, Learning to Flinch
Neale inquired in the last post why my kids were going to college in Nebraska. I was simply going to respond in the comments but his question combined with something in the local daily to lead me to a rant.
To clarify, my oldest daughter does attend the University of South Dakota and loves it. I am also a product of the South Dakota public university system, both undergraduate and law school. Thus, I have no problem with the quality of the system. My problem is with its efforts to keep bright South Dakotans.
One of the main reasons my middle daughter is going to a Nebraska public university is outlined here. Since that post, the Nebraska university offered her an additional $3,000 a year honors scholarship while USD offered her an additional $1,000 a year. Notably, one of the two scholarships USD offered comes from a state program where if too many students are eligible, “the scholarship may be prorated and distributed to each recipient proportionately.” In other words, “Even though we’re offering this to you we’re not saying you’ll actually get that amount of money now or in the future.”
Given the fact the scholarships offered by both universities are strictly academic-based, which university system seems more interested in recruiting top South Dakota students? And look at it from the standpoint of a graduating high school senior. You have two universities that offer quality programs in fields in which you are interested. It will cost you more to go to school in South Dakota than out-of state. How long are you going to stick around South Dakota?
Tipping me toward the rant was the article reporting the U.S. Census Bureau ranked South Dakota last in state funding for K-12 education. One of the things my middle daughter is considering is being a teacher, bless her heart. Looking at our teacher salaries and education funding, what are the odds she will find her way back to South Dakota if she does become a teacher?
I’m not bragging about my daughter. I am simply learning firsthand what has likely been transpiring for years and which shows no serious sign of abatement. The self-inflicted wounds of not being interested in or capable of competing for the bright kids in our own public schools seriously weaken the strength of the state and its future.
It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom poster
Given the timing of my post on passion, it’s been interesting with all three daughters around for the summer. It makes me realize just how friggin’ fortunate I am.
Let’s start with oldest daughter, now 21. She was struggling with a variation of the purpose and passions issues addressed in that post. Her struggle? Take non-paying internships/positions with a couple non-profit organizations or a 40 hour a week customer service job that pays good money?
After working out of town last summer, she’s spending this summer at home. Her plan was to get a job and save money for a new laptop and college expenses items before starting her senior year at college. Before school was out she applied for the customer service job and it recently was offered to her. But she also developed the opportunities for media relations-type jobs with the non-profits that really intrigue her. Her issue? Make money or pursue the non-paying positions that she really seems to have an interest in?
It’s something she struggled with for days. Just before leaving for Nebraska Monday, I told her that she may be running out of the times when a person can pursue something they love without any concern for what or whether it pays. I suggested she follow her heart because there’s plenty of time left to worry about rent, groceries and bringing home a paycheck. She told me she appreciated the input and, by the way, that was the decision she had already made.
Middle daughter, now 18, and I traveled to her college choice in Nebraska for registration. It was wonderful to see her eyes light up and the excitement bubbling just below the surface as she met new people, her honors program advisor and registered for classes. Her problem is like mine — she’s interested in too many things. She’s taking as wide a range of classes a freshman can freshman so she can see what might spark the passion in her.
While it’s a long way away (350+ miles), part of the reason she selected the school also sunk in. There, she is an individual, her own person. She will no longer hear, “Are you Liz’s sister?” or “Are you Tim’s daughter?” She will truly be her own person and an adult making her own decisions, both right and wrong, without having to live up to expectations created by other family members.
Finally, the youngest is 16 today. Mono wiped out her swimming season this past year. She is now diving back in to the sport (no pun intended) with a passion. She completed her lifeguard certification, is applying for lifeguard positions and rising at the buttcrack of dawn to make it to swim practice. At that age, I don’t know that I loved anything enough to get out of bed in the summer hours before I had to get out of bed during the school year. And while she loves the competition, there’s no doubt that what she’s really missed is the camaraderie of her teammates at practices and meets.
Oh, to have the whole world still ahead of you.
And you’re so much like me
I’m sorry
“Still Fighting It,” Ben Folds, Rockin’ the Suburbs
I occasionally look at what Amazon recommends for me when I’m searching out new books or foreign or classic films that might be of interest. But when it comes to music, I think the pixies in that department for Amazon recommendations are spending to much time imbibing in various substances. Here’s some of Amazon’s recent music recommendations for me:
Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002 because I gave high marks to Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix. Granted, these are both greatest hits type CDs but I just don’t think the fact Jimi occasionally lit his guitar on fire means I like pap such as “Candle in the Wind.”
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy because I like the eponymous first album by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Again, I am totally baffled. What connection does the country/bluegrass-tinged sound of the Dirt Band’s album (which produced the hit “Mr. Bojangles”) have to the progressive rock and synthesizer sound of EL&P. Granted, I have both albums but buying one certainly had nothing to do with the other.
In a similar vein is a recommendation for Leon Russell’s debut album because I love Steely Dan’s Aja. Both recommendations are Japanese import CDs but that certainly can’t be a valid basis for a recommendation. Having seen Russell perform in the 1970s (and send pieces of the lid of a grand piano flying from “dancing” on it in his cowboy boots), I guarantee there’s nothing in the most jazz-oriented of Steely Dan’s releases that is likely to show up on the Russell CD.
This one, though, tops them all: David Bowie’s The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust because I’m a big fan of Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. This is even funnier than “if you like Jimi you might like Elton.” You really got to be messed up if you think a glam rock concept album about an alien rock star bears any relationship to godfather of grunge Neil riffing with the Danny Whitten version of Crazy Horse. Somebody really needs a new set of ears.
I cried when I wrote this song
Sue me if I play too long
“Deacon Blues,” Steely Dan, Aja
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