Thursday, August 27, 2009
Phursday Photos: Mini varieties
If I had time I would have found 57 varieties of Mini (I'm sure there are many more than that around!) but here's a smaller selection of the different shapes and sizes (OK, not much variety in sizes!) to have appeared over the last 50 years...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Accidental Legend
A few weeks ago I mentioned that it has been 10 years since I became a published writer, and made a vague threat to reproduce that first article here. I'm not going to do that, because it was very specialised and likely only to further alienate the fans of Christian spec-fic who are often disappointed by my coverage of the topic at the best of times...
Instead, here's another little piece I wrote, a potted history of the Mini, which is 50 today!
When Leonard Lord, chairman of the British Motor Corporation, asked Alec Issigonis to come up with an alternative to the bubblecars that became popular after the 1956 Suez crisis, he expected a practical family car in as small and economical a package as possible.
What he got was a revolution.
Sketching on the backs of envelopes, paper napkins, and at one point a restaurant tablecloth, Issigonis designed the car we now know as the Mini. To keep the car within his target length of ten feet the engine had to be turned sideways, driving the front wheels directly, with the gearbox in the oil sump. This layout is common in modern cars, but was unheard of in the 1950s.
The engine was turned sideways
Everything about the new car was small, from the barely practical boot and tiny ten-inch wheels to the development budget. The developers couldn't even afford to have the cars built on jigs, giving rise to the characteristic external seams. To cut costs further, the 948cc A-series engine, used in the Morris Minor since 1956, was used as a stopgap, although Issigonis declared this too powerful and had the engine size reduced to 848cc before launch. He also had the car made two inches wider, the net result of which was a reduction in top speed from around 90mph to 72mph.
By the 1970s the interior comforts had improved, but not by much...
As the first British small car launched after the Suez crisis, the Mini was expected to take the biggest slice of this new market. However, despite being priced at £496 - its nearest rival, the Ford Anglia, cost almost £100 more - the Mini was not an instant success. Much of the buying public considered it either too revolutionary or too cheap. Those who did try the early models found faults that had been missed in the rush to launch the car - the floor leaked, and because of the positioning of the distributor inside the grille, the engine would splutter to a halt in heavy rain.
However, the Mini was quick, and one of Issigonis' friends immediately saw the sporting potential of its low centre of gravity and wheel at each corner design. Had John Cooper not liked the car, the story of the Mini would have been entirely different.
Mini Cooper 35th Anniversary edition from 1996
Issigonis disapproved of the idea of a tuned Mini, so Cooper went straight to the new BMC chairman, George Harriman, and convinced him. A trial run of 997cc Mini Coopers began production in July 1961. At the time John Cooper was best known as Formula One World Champion racing car constructor of 1959 and 1960, but when the initial 1,000 cars sold within a week, Cooper's link with the Mini was cemented.
Minis had been rallied since the beginning, but with the Mini Cooper it gained enough competition successes to warrant further development, and when the Mini Cooper S was launched in 1963 even Issigonis was keen. The Cooper S quickly became the definitive Mini, and has remained so ever since. Between 1965 and 1967, having already earned a reputation as a giant killer, an army of works Coopers took twenty-two overall victories in European motorsport events.
The 1967 Monte Carlo winning Cooper S
Meanwhile, back in Swinging London, the Mini became an essential fashion accessory. Eighty public figures had been lent Minis by BMC to evaluate in the year following the launch, in an attempt to boost the slow initial sales. As a result the car was seen at major social and political events throughout that year - and the celebrities loved it.
Peter Sellers gave the trend for personalising the Mini a kick-start when he came up with the wickerwork side panels seen on his Mini in A Shot In The Dark. Later he took the concept a step further, when Rolls Royce coachbuilders Hooper fitted his Mini with a lifting tailgate - an idea later used by Ringo Starr to accommodate his drum kit. With coachbuilders specialising in luxurious Minis, and pop stars and royalty enthusiastic owners, the Mini had become the classless icon of the sixties.
A 1960's Mini hatchback
There was a Mini to suit all tastes and pockets - the Mini and Cooper were joined by van and pick-up variants, and the more practical Austin Countryman and Morris Traveller estate cars. The army rejected the Mini Moke, which went on to become a popular fun car, made famous in the TV series The Prisoner. There were also the up-market Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf, with extended boots, traditional style grilles and interior luxuries including leather seats and wood veneer dashboards.
The completely frill-free Mini Moke
Most of these Mini variants were discontinued in 1969, as British Leyland took over BMC. The Countryman and Traveller were superseded by the less charismatic Clubman Estate, and the Mini Cooper was replaced by the Clubman based 1275GT, although the Cooper S stayed in production until 1971. Its glory days were over, but more Minis were sold in the 1970s than any other decade.
Apologies to Yoda for the 'less charismatic' comment - it was 6 years before we met!
Nonetheless, the Mini's planned replacement, the Metro, was launched in 1980 - and although Mini sales halved that year, shared components between the two cars and the Metro's more efficient production line meant the Mini continued to be viable - even after Metro production ceased.
Forty-one years and 5½ million Minis later, though much refined, the classic Mini shape remained unchanged when the last one rolled out of Longbridge; the external seams were still present, as was the A-series engine, evolved into a 1275cc fuel injected version.
The official 'last of line' Mini
The late Sir Alec Issigonis once said: "My car will still be in fashion after I've gone." From the number and sheer variety of Minis at the recent Mini 50 celebration in Longbridge, it's easy to see how right he was.
This article is (C) Steve Trower, and first appeared in Best of British, some time in 1999. All photographs by Steve Trower.
Instead, here's another little piece I wrote, a potted history of the Mini, which is 50 today!
Accidental legend
When Leonard Lord, chairman of the British Motor Corporation, asked Alec Issigonis to come up with an alternative to the bubblecars that became popular after the 1956 Suez crisis, he expected a practical family car in as small and economical a package as possible.
What he got was a revolution.
Sketching on the backs of envelopes, paper napkins, and at one point a restaurant tablecloth, Issigonis designed the car we now know as the Mini. To keep the car within his target length of ten feet the engine had to be turned sideways, driving the front wheels directly, with the gearbox in the oil sump. This layout is common in modern cars, but was unheard of in the 1950s.
The engine was turned sidewaysEverything about the new car was small, from the barely practical boot and tiny ten-inch wheels to the development budget. The developers couldn't even afford to have the cars built on jigs, giving rise to the characteristic external seams. To cut costs further, the 948cc A-series engine, used in the Morris Minor since 1956, was used as a stopgap, although Issigonis declared this too powerful and had the engine size reduced to 848cc before launch. He also had the car made two inches wider, the net result of which was a reduction in top speed from around 90mph to 72mph.
An early Austin Mini
In this form the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor were launched to the public on 26 August 1959. Internal space was maximised by fitting sliding front windows and a pull string door release, and the combined speedometer and fuel gauge sat in the centre of a full width parcel shelf. The seats were designed to keep the driver alert; for the same reason no provision was made for a radio - even later models had these slung under the parcel shelf by the passenger's knees. Such luxuries as carpets were only available on the De Luxe model.
By the 1970s the interior comforts had improved, but not by much... As the first British small car launched after the Suez crisis, the Mini was expected to take the biggest slice of this new market. However, despite being priced at £496 - its nearest rival, the Ford Anglia, cost almost £100 more - the Mini was not an instant success. Much of the buying public considered it either too revolutionary or too cheap. Those who did try the early models found faults that had been missed in the rush to launch the car - the floor leaked, and because of the positioning of the distributor inside the grille, the engine would splutter to a halt in heavy rain.
However, the Mini was quick, and one of Issigonis' friends immediately saw the sporting potential of its low centre of gravity and wheel at each corner design. Had John Cooper not liked the car, the story of the Mini would have been entirely different.
Mini Cooper 35th Anniversary edition from 1996Issigonis disapproved of the idea of a tuned Mini, so Cooper went straight to the new BMC chairman, George Harriman, and convinced him. A trial run of 997cc Mini Coopers began production in July 1961. At the time John Cooper was best known as Formula One World Champion racing car constructor of 1959 and 1960, but when the initial 1,000 cars sold within a week, Cooper's link with the Mini was cemented.
Minis had been rallied since the beginning, but with the Mini Cooper it gained enough competition successes to warrant further development, and when the Mini Cooper S was launched in 1963 even Issigonis was keen. The Cooper S quickly became the definitive Mini, and has remained so ever since. Between 1965 and 1967, having already earned a reputation as a giant killer, an army of works Coopers took twenty-two overall victories in European motorsport events.
The 1967 Monte Carlo winning Cooper SMeanwhile, back in Swinging London, the Mini became an essential fashion accessory. Eighty public figures had been lent Minis by BMC to evaluate in the year following the launch, in an attempt to boost the slow initial sales. As a result the car was seen at major social and political events throughout that year - and the celebrities loved it.
Peter Sellers gave the trend for personalising the Mini a kick-start when he came up with the wickerwork side panels seen on his Mini in A Shot In The Dark. Later he took the concept a step further, when Rolls Royce coachbuilders Hooper fitted his Mini with a lifting tailgate - an idea later used by Ringo Starr to accommodate his drum kit. With coachbuilders specialising in luxurious Minis, and pop stars and royalty enthusiastic owners, the Mini had become the classless icon of the sixties.
A 1960's Mini hatchbackThere was a Mini to suit all tastes and pockets - the Mini and Cooper were joined by van and pick-up variants, and the more practical Austin Countryman and Morris Traveller estate cars. The army rejected the Mini Moke, which went on to become a popular fun car, made famous in the TV series The Prisoner. There were also the up-market Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf, with extended boots, traditional style grilles and interior luxuries including leather seats and wood veneer dashboards.
The completely frill-free Mini MokeMost of these Mini variants were discontinued in 1969, as British Leyland took over BMC. The Countryman and Traveller were superseded by the less charismatic Clubman Estate, and the Mini Cooper was replaced by the Clubman based 1275GT, although the Cooper S stayed in production until 1971. Its glory days were over, but more Minis were sold in the 1970s than any other decade.
Apologies to Yoda for the 'less charismatic' comment - it was 6 years before we met!Nonetheless, the Mini's planned replacement, the Metro, was launched in 1980 - and although Mini sales halved that year, shared components between the two cars and the Metro's more efficient production line meant the Mini continued to be viable - even after Metro production ceased.
Forty-one years and 5½ million Minis later, though much refined, the classic Mini shape remained unchanged when the last one rolled out of Longbridge; the external seams were still present, as was the A-series engine, evolved into a 1275cc fuel injected version.
The official 'last of line' MiniThe late Sir Alec Issigonis once said: "My car will still be in fashion after I've gone." From the number and sheer variety of Minis at the recent Mini 50 celebration in Longbridge, it's easy to see how right he was.
This article is (C) Steve Trower, and first appeared in Best of British, some time in 1999. All photographs by Steve Trower.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday Tunes: Mini Week
There were a couple of ways I could have approached this Top Ten. I could have gone the generic motoring songs route (Driving In My Car by Madness, for example); I could have played cheesy word play games (I Want That Min by Debbie Harry); or I could have picked some really obscure Mini references (British Racing Green being both a popular Mini colour and a sublime piece of pop songery by Black Box Recorder). However, it turns out that if you look deep enough into the obscure, foreign and just plain daft corners of popular music, there are at least 10 more directly Mini related songs. So here are a few:
10. Stavangerensemblet: Morris Mini
I have to put this at the bottom of the Top Ten because I’ve never heard it, and it may well be rubbish. It is certainly Norwegian however, and has a good title.
9. Antonelli: Mini Cooper
Not quite sure what this little electroloungepop number has to do with the greatest car of all time, but it’s pleasant enough, and has a good title.
8. Richie Kavanagh: Courtin' In A Mini Car
It’s cheeky, but it’s kinda fun.
7. Christian Fischer & DJ Murphy: Mini Monster
Keeping up the traditional 7 minutes of electronica per top ten.
6. Echo and the Bunnymen: Rust
Echo and the Bunnymen, denizens of the dark side of 80s pop, wrote this tribute to the Mini for it’s 40th birthday. Probably.
5. The Sisters of Mercy: 1959
Spooky ethereal goth music is ideal for anyone who owns a black Mini named after Death’s horse.
4. Horace Andy: Mini Mini
I have a suspicion that the Mini Horace Andy loves to see young girls in is not one designed by Alec Issigonis, but the song works either way.
3. They Might Be Giants: Seven
OK, so one slightly obscure Mini reference slipped in (the Mini was launched as the Austin Seven, for the uneducated), but I could resist the sheer insanity of this track.
2. Corduroy: Mini
Finally, a song which was actually about the car, released around the time of the Mini’s 35th birthday, publicised at the event and with an actual Mini!
1. Quincy Jones/Don Black: Get a Bloomin' Move On!
Sorry Corduroy, but there’s no topping this as the ultimate Mini song, better known as The Self Preservation Society, or 'that one off The Italian Job'. Get yer skates on mate...
10. Stavangerensemblet: Morris Mini
I have to put this at the bottom of the Top Ten because I’ve never heard it, and it may well be rubbish. It is certainly Norwegian however, and has a good title.
9. Antonelli: Mini Cooper
Not quite sure what this little electroloungepop number has to do with the greatest car of all time, but it’s pleasant enough, and has a good title.
8. Richie Kavanagh: Courtin' In A Mini Car
It’s cheeky, but it’s kinda fun.
7. Christian Fischer & DJ Murphy: Mini Monster
Keeping up the traditional 7 minutes of electronica per top ten.
6. Echo and the Bunnymen: Rust
Echo and the Bunnymen, denizens of the dark side of 80s pop, wrote this tribute to the Mini for it’s 40th birthday. Probably.
5. The Sisters of Mercy: 1959
Spooky ethereal goth music is ideal for anyone who owns a black Mini named after Death’s horse.
4. Horace Andy: Mini Mini
I have a suspicion that the Mini Horace Andy loves to see young girls in is not one designed by Alec Issigonis, but the song works either way.
3. They Might Be Giants: Seven
OK, so one slightly obscure Mini reference slipped in (the Mini was launched as the Austin Seven, for the uneducated), but I could resist the sheer insanity of this track.
2. Corduroy: Mini
Finally, a song which was actually about the car, released around the time of the Mini’s 35th birthday, publicised at the event and with an actual Mini!
1. Quincy Jones/Don Black: Get a Bloomin' Move On!
Sorry Corduroy, but there’s no topping this as the ultimate Mini song, better known as The Self Preservation Society, or 'that one off The Italian Job'. Get yer skates on mate...
Monday, August 24, 2009
It's Mini Week!
On August 26th, 1959, two brand new cars were officially launched into a completely unsuspecting public: the Austin Seven, and the Morris Mini-Minor. These cars soon became affectionately known as the Mini - and the rest, as they say...
So this week, because I'm just a little bit partial to the world's favourite small car, I'm going to forget all about spaceships and time travel, and have some self-indulgent Mini wibble instead.
Christianity and science fiction will be back on the menu next week, but do feel free to drop by for a Mini-flavoured version of whatever normally happens here...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour: Something Else by Robin Parrish
It occurs to me that, as Offworld by Robin Parrish is a science fiction book, I might be expected to contribute something a little more relevant to this tour than a list of obscure pop songs.
But it is an important and popular fact that we do things differently here, and as my offering of relevance I therefore present a review of something entirely different: Merciless, by Robin Parrish.
Merciless is volume three of the Dominion Trilogy; my reviews of the earlier volumes Relentless and Fearless can be pretty much summed up as ‘flawed page-turners’.
And it has to be said that Merciless pretty much follows in the same mould. That’s not to say it’s a bad book – on the contrary, Robin Parrish is undoubtedly good at what he does, which is Hollywood blockbuster on the printed page. The action in Merciless is even bigger and faster than in the earlier books, the stakes are global, the climactic battle huge, and the journey to it a great ride.
However, the flaws remain, and from a writer’s perspective, this book looked a little like it was edited on a Friday afternoon. Some sentences have no place in a professionally published book. Like:
But despite its flaws, Merciless is overall an enjoyable novel in the ‘superhero gone bad’ mould, in which our band of Ringwearers are pitched against ubervillain Oblivion (try saying that when you’ve had a few beers), a mysterious civilisation descended from Cain (yes, that’s right, an actual Bible reference, right at the end of the book!), and an army of superzombies. Add to that the fact that time is on the blink and planet Earth is rapidly turning into DarkWorld in preparation for all kinds of supernatural nastiness, and you have a pretty action packed 400 pages. In between times a few confusing loose ends about Grant Borrows and his origin are tied up, and Grant himself manages to have a spiritual epiphany, albeit one without any overt Christian influence.
Flawed, but fun, and I suppose this last volume leaves space for discussion between Christian and non-Christian readers of the trilogy.
But it is an important and popular fact that we do things differently here, and as my offering of relevance I therefore present a review of something entirely different: Merciless, by Robin Parrish.
Merciless is volume three of the Dominion Trilogy; my reviews of the earlier volumes Relentless and Fearless can be pretty much summed up as ‘flawed page-turners’.
And it has to be said that Merciless pretty much follows in the same mould. That’s not to say it’s a bad book – on the contrary, Robin Parrish is undoubtedly good at what he does, which is Hollywood blockbuster on the printed page. The action in Merciless is even bigger and faster than in the earlier books, the stakes are global, the climactic battle huge, and the journey to it a great ride.
However, the flaws remain, and from a writer’s perspective, this book looked a little like it was edited on a Friday afternoon. Some sentences have no place in a professionally published book. Like:
They could do nothing but watch as the hole grew in size, first to the dimensions of a fist, and eventually bigger and bigger until it was half the mass of a man.And then there’s the car chase. The car chase with a complete absence of internal logic, even as car chases go: one minute our heroes car can’t outrun a garbage truck, but the next chapter, having been bashed about a bit by said garbage truck, can ‘accelerate with the best of them’, and keep pace with a Mustang. Garbage trucks in the US must be a lot different than the humble British bin lorry, that’s all I can say.
But despite its flaws, Merciless is overall an enjoyable novel in the ‘superhero gone bad’ mould, in which our band of Ringwearers are pitched against ubervillain Oblivion (try saying that when you’ve had a few beers), a mysterious civilisation descended from Cain (yes, that’s right, an actual Bible reference, right at the end of the book!), and an army of superzombies. Add to that the fact that time is on the blink and planet Earth is rapidly turning into DarkWorld in preparation for all kinds of supernatural nastiness, and you have a pretty action packed 400 pages. In between times a few confusing loose ends about Grant Borrows and his origin are tied up, and Grant himself manages to have a spiritual epiphany, albeit one without any overt Christian influence.
Flawed, but fun, and I suppose this last volume leaves space for discussion between Christian and non-Christian readers of the trilogy.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour vs Tuesday Tunes
This month the CSFF Blog Tour is Offworld with Robin Parrish, having returned from Mars to find everybody has vanished, and since we've done those two, you will be relieved not to have to sit through another dubious Top Ten.
At least, you would, but Ms Miller seems to like them, and that's good enough for me. So here it is, your Top Ten Astronaut Songs:
10. Duran Duran: Astronaut
It's Duran Duran, but from 2004. I know, it sounds like science-fiction...
9. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band: I'm The Urban Spaceman
If you haven't encountered the Bonzo's, well, the name should give you an idea of what to expect.
8. Snow Patrol: I Am An Astronaut
I'll be checking out this album - a compilation of childrens songs written and performed by decent bands. Follow the link if you have kids!
7. Babylon Zoo: Spaceman
Those Levi's people have a lot to answer for - one-hit wonders like this for a start...
6. The Killers: Spaceman
Not a Babylon Zoo cover, thankfully.
5. Röyksopp: In Space
This one has turned out to be quite electronica heavy, the first slice coming from Norway...
4. Kraftwerk: Spacelab
...and the second from Germany, from the form's original masters.
3. David Bowie: Space Oddity
Well, it's a classic, pure and simple.
2. Jean Michel Jarre: Last Rendez-Vous (Ron's Piece)
This was written by Jarre to be the first piece of music played in space, by sax playing astronaut Ron McNair. He never got to record his part, which he planned to do during the Space Shuttle Challenger's 10th mission, leading to the track being renamed in his honour.
1. Lemon Jelly: Space Walk
This is very cool. Samples from a proper space walk (I assume) over a nice mellow piece of, yes, electronica, infused with a touch of guitar. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Now take your protein pills and put your helmet on, it's time to continue the tour:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Justin Boyer Keanan Brand Gina Burgess Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Karri Compton Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Katie Hart Ryan Heart Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Lyn Perry Steve Rice Chawna Schroeder James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Elizabeth Williams
At least, you would, but Ms Miller seems to like them, and that's good enough for me. So here it is, your Top Ten Astronaut Songs:
10. Duran Duran: Astronaut
It's Duran Duran, but from 2004. I know, it sounds like science-fiction...
9. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band: I'm The Urban Spaceman
If you haven't encountered the Bonzo's, well, the name should give you an idea of what to expect.
8. Snow Patrol: I Am An Astronaut
I'll be checking out this album - a compilation of childrens songs written and performed by decent bands. Follow the link if you have kids!
7. Babylon Zoo: Spaceman
Those Levi's people have a lot to answer for - one-hit wonders like this for a start...
6. The Killers: Spaceman
Not a Babylon Zoo cover, thankfully.
5. Röyksopp: In Space
This one has turned out to be quite electronica heavy, the first slice coming from Norway...
4. Kraftwerk: Spacelab
...and the second from Germany, from the form's original masters.
3. David Bowie: Space Oddity
Well, it's a classic, pure and simple.
2. Jean Michel Jarre: Last Rendez-Vous (Ron's Piece)
This was written by Jarre to be the first piece of music played in space, by sax playing astronaut Ron McNair. He never got to record his part, which he planned to do during the Space Shuttle Challenger's 10th mission, leading to the track being renamed in his honour.
1. Lemon Jelly: Space Walk
This is very cool. Samples from a proper space walk (I assume) over a nice mellow piece of, yes, electronica, infused with a touch of guitar. Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Now take your protein pills and put your helmet on, it's time to continue the tour:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Justin Boyer Keanan Brand Gina Burgess Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Karri Compton Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Katie Hart Ryan Heart Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Lyn Perry Steve Rice Chawna Schroeder James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Elizabeth Williams
Monday, August 17, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour: Offworld by Robin Parrish
This month, the CSFF Blog Tour will be featuring Offworld, by Robin Parrish.
Here's the blurb from the author's website:
Lost meets the Rapture meets any number of sf tales in which a small band of people find everything they knew gone or changed beyond all recognition.
Robin Parrish appeared in the CSFF Blog Tour a couple of years ago, where I reviewed Relentless, the first volume of his surprisingly religion-free Christian superhero series the Dominion Trilogy. I will be interested to see, when I finish reading Offworld, if the same low-key approach to spiritual elements has been taken (early indications are that it has) and how that works for me, because, as I mentioned in previous Parrish reviews, I like a bit more Christ in my Christian fiction.
While I get on with reading that, please tour the deserted blogosphere with your band of wandering survivors:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Justin Boyer Keanan Brand Gina Burgess Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Karri Compton Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Katie Hart Ryan Heart Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Lyn Perry Steve Rice Chawna Schroeder James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Elizabeth Williams
Here's the blurb from the author's website:
Now if I didn't know better, I'd say that astronauts on a mission to Mars in the year 2033 suggested that this may be a science fiction novel...Christopher Burke and his crew of NASA astronauts are the first human beings to walk on the surface of Mars. Their return to Earth was supposed to be a momentous day. But a surprise is waiting for them there that's beyond imagining.
Safe after a treacherous landing in Florida, the crew emerges to find the unthinkable: every man, woman, child, and animal has vanished without a trace.
It's not a dream.
It's not a trick.
It's real.
Alone now on their home planet, the crew sets out to discover the extraordinary secret behind the disappearance of mankind. And whether or not everyone can be brought back.
But they may not be as alone as they thought.
Lost meets the Rapture meets any number of sf tales in which a small band of people find everything they knew gone or changed beyond all recognition.
Robin Parrish appeared in the CSFF Blog Tour a couple of years ago, where I reviewed Relentless, the first volume of his surprisingly religion-free Christian superhero series the Dominion Trilogy. I will be interested to see, when I finish reading Offworld, if the same low-key approach to spiritual elements has been taken (early indications are that it has) and how that works for me, because, as I mentioned in previous Parrish reviews, I like a bit more Christ in my Christian fiction.
While I get on with reading that, please tour the deserted blogosphere with your band of wandering survivors:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Justin Boyer Keanan Brand Gina Burgess Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Karri Compton Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Linda Gilmore Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Katie Hart Ryan Heart Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Lyn Perry Steve Rice Chawna Schroeder James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Dona Watson Elizabeth Williams
Monday, July 27, 2009
Podcasserole
I'm still lagging behind a little in my podcast listening since my cheap and nasty mp3 player imploded a while back, but there's a few things out in the podosphere at the moment worth mentioning here.
First, Adventures in Scifi Publishing is back in production! Yaaay! The first post-hiatus episode features Greg van Eekhout, who having had short fiction published in all the big sf zines, narrated on Escape Pod, and nominated for a Nebula award, has just published his first novel. Norse Code - for that is what it's called - is the tale of Ragnarök happening in contemporary Los Angeles. Yep, that's right, a Viking Left Behind! A Mr van Eekhout hasn't taken it that seriously, it sounds like it could be fun. If you have three minutes to spare, check out his story Taco on Escape Pod too.
On the subject of Escape Pod: The Legend of St Ignatz. This is a nice, slightly dark, story of Catholicism spread across a universe populated not only by humanoids but insectoids, squidoids, and quite possibly super-intelligent shades of the colour blue. A universe which has birthed the Sirius Heresy, which holds that 'Homo Sapiens was too weak in body and corrupt in mind for its form to harbor the Son of God'. (Discuss.) Well worth a listen, or if you'd prefer, a read on ideomancer.
And finally, everybody's favourite Geekette Mur Lafferty is in the process of putting out Season Five of her contemporary fantasy audiobook series Heaven. I'm planning to dig in to the earlier seasons again first with a view to reviewing them all here some time. In the meantime, the whole sequence is available at podiobooks.com.
So what are you still doing here? Get clicking!
First, Adventures in Scifi Publishing is back in production! Yaaay! The first post-hiatus episode features Greg van Eekhout, who having had short fiction published in all the big sf zines, narrated on Escape Pod, and nominated for a Nebula award, has just published his first novel. Norse Code - for that is what it's called - is the tale of Ragnarök happening in contemporary Los Angeles. Yep, that's right, a Viking Left Behind! A Mr van Eekhout hasn't taken it that seriously, it sounds like it could be fun. If you have three minutes to spare, check out his story Taco on Escape Pod too.
On the subject of Escape Pod: The Legend of St Ignatz. This is a nice, slightly dark, story of Catholicism spread across a universe populated not only by humanoids but insectoids, squidoids, and quite possibly super-intelligent shades of the colour blue. A universe which has birthed the Sirius Heresy, which holds that 'Homo Sapiens was too weak in body and corrupt in mind for its form to harbor the Son of God'. (Discuss.) Well worth a listen, or if you'd prefer, a read on ideomancer.
And finally, everybody's favourite Geekette Mur Lafferty is in the process of putting out Season Five of her contemporary fantasy audiobook series Heaven. I'm planning to dig in to the earlier seasons again first with a view to reviewing them all here some time. In the meantime, the whole sequence is available at podiobooks.com.
So what are you still doing here? Get clicking!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour vs Tuesday Tunes
This month the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring The Enclave by Karen Hancock, a techno-thriller about cloning and genetic engineering, which can only mean one thing: the Top Ten Genetically Modified Tunes! Tell me when this starts getting old, won't you?
10. Alice Cooper: Clones (We're All)
Not one of Ms Cooper’s better efforts, but it was either this or Same Genes by The View…
9. Blur: Gene by Gene
Blur taking a step away from their Britpop roots here, from 2003's Think Tank.
8. Phonophani: Genetic Engineering
All together now: because every tour needs at least 7 1/2 minutes quality electronica...
7. X-Ray Spex: Genetic Engineering
And, wherever possible, some proper English punk rock!
6. Catatonia: My Selfish Gene
Nice chilled tune from my favourite Welsh band.
5. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy: Socio-Genetic Experiment
You remember these guys from Television, the Drug of the Nation - no doubt more true now than back in '92...
4. Gene: Olympian
Britpop meets The Smiths, anybody?
3. A Flock of Seagulls: D.N.A.
This is a great piece of New Wave electro-pop. I'm gonna be listening to this stuff for a while now...
2. Ash: Clone
Seriously, turn this one all the way up to eleven!
1. Aardvark Spleen: Gonna Steal Your DNA
I'm not even going to attempt to describe this. No actually, folk-rock with humourour philosophical lyrics about covers it. Anyway, this track seemed appropriate, and beats Ash purely for the band's name.
So once you've finished your little wander through my eclectic offerings, don't forget the blog tour is actually about a book, and continues this way:
Brandon Barr Jennifer Bogart Keanan Brand Grace Bridges Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper Emmalyn Edwards April Erwin Karina Fabian Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Heather R. Hunt Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Mike Lynch Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Steve Rice Crista Richey James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Elizabeth Williams
10. Alice Cooper: Clones (We're All)
Not one of Ms Cooper’s better efforts, but it was either this or Same Genes by The View…
9. Blur: Gene by Gene
Blur taking a step away from their Britpop roots here, from 2003's Think Tank.
8. Phonophani: Genetic Engineering
All together now: because every tour needs at least 7 1/2 minutes quality electronica...
7. X-Ray Spex: Genetic Engineering
And, wherever possible, some proper English punk rock!
6. Catatonia: My Selfish Gene
Nice chilled tune from my favourite Welsh band.
5. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy: Socio-Genetic Experiment
You remember these guys from Television, the Drug of the Nation - no doubt more true now than back in '92...
4. Gene: Olympian
Britpop meets The Smiths, anybody?
3. A Flock of Seagulls: D.N.A.
This is a great piece of New Wave electro-pop. I'm gonna be listening to this stuff for a while now...
2. Ash: Clone
Seriously, turn this one all the way up to eleven!
1. Aardvark Spleen: Gonna Steal Your DNA
I'm not even going to attempt to describe this. No actually, folk-rock with humourour philosophical lyrics about covers it. Anyway, this track seemed appropriate, and beats Ash purely for the band's name.
So once you've finished your little wander through my eclectic offerings, don't forget the blog tour is actually about a book, and continues this way:
Brandon Barr Jennifer Bogart Keanan Brand Grace Bridges Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper Emmalyn Edwards April Erwin Karina Fabian Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Heather R. Hunt Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Mike Lynch Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Steve Rice Crista Richey James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Elizabeth Williams
Monday, July 20, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour - The Enclave
This week the CSFF Blog Tour features The Enclave by Karen Hancock. The Enclave is Karen's sixth (count 'em) novel, following the sci-fi allegory Arena, and the Legends of the Guardian-King fantasy quadrilogy.
Unfortunately (though understandably) the review copies were only available in the US, so I haven't read it yet. However, from what I have managed to glean from the posts on this tour so far and reviews elsewhere, and from the author's website, The Enclave sounds like a thriller novel with some science fiction elements thrown in.
For instance, rather than create a whole new world, the author created a world within a world like ours, having seen the Biosphere 2 project in the news. And where it could have gone really sf is with the theme of cloning, and it's effects on the human soul. There's plenty of real science happening in the field of genetics, waiting to be extrapolated and have spiritual discussion based on; not having read the book, I don't know whether this has been toned down a little so as not to scare off the CBA market, but I can't imagine it being a real hard-sf tome. Anyway, no-one wants to get bogged down in excessive info-dumps and 'As you know Bob' scenes, so I'm going to assume she got the balance right based on the fact that none of the non-sf readers on the tour (that I've read so far at least) have commented on it.
Well I think I've rambled on long enough without saying anything, all that remains is to point you in the direction of your fellow tourists this week:
Brandon Barr Jennifer Bogart Keanan Brand Grace Bridges Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper Emmalyn Edwards April Erwin Karina Fabian Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Heather R. Hunt Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Mike Lynch Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Steve Rice Crista Richey James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Elizabeth Williams
Unfortunately (though understandably) the review copies were only available in the US, so I haven't read it yet. However, from what I have managed to glean from the posts on this tour so far and reviews elsewhere, and from the author's website, The Enclave sounds like a thriller novel with some science fiction elements thrown in.
For instance, rather than create a whole new world, the author created a world within a world like ours, having seen the Biosphere 2 project in the news. And where it could have gone really sf is with the theme of cloning, and it's effects on the human soul. There's plenty of real science happening in the field of genetics, waiting to be extrapolated and have spiritual discussion based on; not having read the book, I don't know whether this has been toned down a little so as not to scare off the CBA market, but I can't imagine it being a real hard-sf tome. Anyway, no-one wants to get bogged down in excessive info-dumps and 'As you know Bob' scenes, so I'm going to assume she got the balance right based on the fact that none of the non-sf readers on the tour (that I've read so far at least) have commented on it.
Well I think I've rambled on long enough without saying anything, all that remains is to point you in the direction of your fellow tourists this week:
Brandon Barr Jennifer Bogart Keanan Brand Grace Bridges Canadianladybug Melissa Carswell Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper Emmalyn Edwards April Erwin Karina Fabian Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Heather R. Hunt Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Julie Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Mike Lynch Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Mirtika Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte Steve Rice Crista Richey James Somers Speculative Faith Stephanie Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Fred Warren Elizabeth Williams
Friday, July 17, 2009
Decade
Right now, I'm probably somewhere on the M40, in the rain, on the way to celebrate 10 years of marriage with a weekend in London.
I don't know why I'm telling you that (except for the fact that Mrs UKSteve deserves a big well done for sticking it out), but it also means that it's been about that long since I got my first professional writing gig. That seemed to deserve a mention, especially in light of my last non-writing related post. On the plus side, it would appear that I put slightly more effort into my marriage than I did my career in journalism...
If I can dig out the original ms, I may post it up soon; it will still have topical relevance, albeit not for anyone tuning in to read about Christianity and sci-fi.
Until then though, I should be driving...
I don't know why I'm telling you that (except for the fact that Mrs UKSteve deserves a big well done for sticking it out), but it also means that it's been about that long since I got my first professional writing gig. That seemed to deserve a mention, especially in light of my last non-writing related post. On the plus side, it would appear that I put slightly more effort into my marriage than I did my career in journalism...
If I can dig out the original ms, I may post it up soon; it will still have topical relevance, albeit not for anyone tuning in to read about Christianity and sci-fi.
Until then though, I should be driving...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
On Not Writing
Not Writing is something I have become spectacularly good at over the last few months. Pretty much since I lost heart with Project Seven, in fact. A more disciplined writer, I realise, would have just put it aside (if not actually destroyed it) and gone back to one of Projects 1-6. There are various reasons why I haven’t done just that, the main one being that I need a crash course in Time Management for Parents of Recalcitrant Three-Year-Olds, but I’ve no idea when I’d fit that in around the day job, the housework, the gardening, family time, and all the other constructive stuff that fills my time.
However, I don’t spend that much time procrastinating in a bad way; I’m more likely to hack down some rampaging brambles in the garden or clear out the recycling than spend hours on facebook. In fact, blogs, social networking, and various online forums where I should have a presence are also somewhat neglected at the moment. On the other hand, I have watched a couple of half-episodes of Knight Rider over the last few weeks, which in no way qualifies as time well spent; I haven’t even constructed a blog post about how bad it is to justify myself.
No, the problem is that I lack focus. I first need to get into a project, and then find the time to dedicate to it. Project Seven has, unfortunately, reverted to the planning stage again. I may put some more effort into that so that I can really get moving with it during NaNoWriMo. Last year’s NaNo may in fact have a salvageable plot, given sufficient editing time. And I have several short stories to either finish writing or to edit into something potentially publishable.
I seem to have talked myself out of novel writing, at least until the November frenzy hits… maybe, just maybe, with that psychological weight off my shoulders, I can get planning instead, maybe write a half-decent short story, and, who knows, maybe even blog about it…
However, I don’t spend that much time procrastinating in a bad way; I’m more likely to hack down some rampaging brambles in the garden or clear out the recycling than spend hours on facebook. In fact, blogs, social networking, and various online forums where I should have a presence are also somewhat neglected at the moment. On the other hand, I have watched a couple of half-episodes of Knight Rider over the last few weeks, which in no way qualifies as time well spent; I haven’t even constructed a blog post about how bad it is to justify myself.
No, the problem is that I lack focus. I first need to get into a project, and then find the time to dedicate to it. Project Seven has, unfortunately, reverted to the planning stage again. I may put some more effort into that so that I can really get moving with it during NaNoWriMo. Last year’s NaNo may in fact have a salvageable plot, given sufficient editing time. And I have several short stories to either finish writing or to edit into something potentially publishable.
I seem to have talked myself out of novel writing, at least until the November frenzy hits… maybe, just maybe, with that psychological weight off my shoulders, I can get planning instead, maybe write a half-decent short story, and, who knows, maybe even blog about it…
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
What have they done to Torchwood?
Well, first, they promoted it to BBC1, which may or may not be a bad idea for a mediocre little Doctor Who spin-off that started out on digital TV a couple of years ago.
Second, they cut the series length from 13 episodes to 5, making up one big story (like they used to with Doctor Who - complete with cliffhangers!). It remains to be seen whether the story has the legs for a five-hour mini-series, but so far it's nice to have the cliffhangers back.
The they put the whole thing out on consecutive nights, because of course sci-fi fans don't go out of an evening. Interesting choice, but in these days of Sky+ boxes, largely irrelevant (provided you can avoid reading spoilers on twinternet).
And then, just to top it all off, they went and made it good. I mean, witty one-liners, fast paced action, intrigue, mad plot twists and even madder telehandler-based scenes... this isn't the Torchwood we all know and, um.. go 'meh' about, is it? Admittedly there has been some brief nudity and Ianto's wierdness about being a couple with Jack, but on the whole everybody's libido seems to have been turned down to a more sensible level. In such a world, almost anything can happen... although, I have to admit, the extent of Jack's immortality is beginning to stretch credibility somewhat.
I'm not going to go into more detail than that; there will be plenty of reviews online if you need one. All I'm saying is that on the whole, I was pleasantly surprised. If you'd written Torchwood off as a waste of valuable TV time, it might be time to give it another chance.
Second, they cut the series length from 13 episodes to 5, making up one big story (like they used to with Doctor Who - complete with cliffhangers!). It remains to be seen whether the story has the legs for a five-hour mini-series, but so far it's nice to have the cliffhangers back.
The they put the whole thing out on consecutive nights, because of course sci-fi fans don't go out of an evening. Interesting choice, but in these days of Sky+ boxes, largely irrelevant (provided you can avoid reading spoilers on twinternet).
And then, just to top it all off, they went and made it good. I mean, witty one-liners, fast paced action, intrigue, mad plot twists and even madder telehandler-based scenes... this isn't the Torchwood we all know and, um.. go 'meh' about, is it? Admittedly there has been some brief nudity and Ianto's wierdness about being a couple with Jack, but on the whole everybody's libido seems to have been turned down to a more sensible level. In such a world, almost anything can happen... although, I have to admit, the extent of Jack's immortality is beginning to stretch credibility somewhat.
I'm not going to go into more detail than that; there will be plenty of reviews online if you need one. All I'm saying is that on the whole, I was pleasantly surprised. If you'd written Torchwood off as a waste of valuable TV time, it might be time to give it another chance.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Tuesday Tunes: Windfarm Radio
Not just tunes today, but a whole internet radio station... Windfarm Radio is an extension of the Daily Audio Bible podcast, a kind of 24 hour virtual prayer room, and opened its doors for the first time today.
I don't know how the whole prayer room thing is going to work, but I tuned in for a while earlier and in between the prayers there was a nice mix of Christian tunes (which actually seemed to be the bulk of the main feed).
What I do know is that there's a lot that's bad about the internet, and it's nice to see someone making use of the technology for God's purposes.
I dare say I shall be tuning in quite a bit over the coming days and weeks and watching how it (and the rest of the DAB's online community) develops.
Both radio station and podcast are definitely worth checking out if you can.
I don't know how the whole prayer room thing is going to work, but I tuned in for a while earlier and in between the prayers there was a nice mix of Christian tunes (which actually seemed to be the bulk of the main feed).
What I do know is that there's a lot that's bad about the internet, and it's nice to see someone making use of the technology for God's purposes.
I dare say I shall be tuning in quite a bit over the coming days and weeks and watching how it (and the rest of the DAB's online community) develops.
Both radio station and podcast are definitely worth checking out if you can.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Phursday Photos: What I did on my holidays
Has anyone else noticed I was much better at blogging regularly when I'm not actually at home? I blame, um, what's that thing called, the thing that prevents me from being a famous novelist, but also prevents me from starving, um... work. Pesky thing. Anyway, here's some random glimpses of where I went when I wasn't working:
Warkworth Castle
Lindisfarne
Souter Lighthouse
The Angel of the North
Warkworth Castle
Lindisfarne
Souter Lighthouse
The Angel of the NorthMonday, June 29, 2009
Unrealistic goals
So it's half way through the year, and it seems like a blog post would easily be filled by reflecting on how woefully I have performed in the unrealistic goals I set myself at the beginning of the year.
Let's take a deep breath and see what progress has been made then:
Let's take a deep breath and see what progress has been made then:
- Daily devotional time: I started out well actually, and kept pretty much up to date with the Daily Audio Bible until my mp3 player broke. I didn't really get into the flow again before we went away last week, so I'm starting this one again today.
- Cell group: I actually managed this one, with a lot of nudging from Mrs UKSteve.
- Professional development: haven't started yet, but put my name down to study for an NVQ as soon as my employer finds the money.
- Writing: er, well, er... ok, I started well here too, but the wheels fell off Project Seven as I was writing it, and I haven't really got back into it in any meaningful way for a while. I think I will have to reinvent it, possibly dust off that Christian version of Lost and use some of the good bits from that too.... I suppose it must be technically possible to get a 90k draft done in three months - it's only 1,000 words a day...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
CSFF Blog tour: Vanish by Tom Pawlik
There was a lawyer, a mechanic and an ex-model, stranded on a deserted planet. The mechanic says to the lawyer, 'What is this, some kind of a joke?'
Actually, on the face of it that might not be such an unusual first reaction to Vanish... three people wake up one morning to find the world inexplicably depopulated, and suffer nightmarish flashbacks to certain 'end-times thrillers' which are in no need of further publicity.
As they struggle to survive in this strange new world, they find themselves taunted by unseen observers, grappling with the least pleasant aspects of their pasts, and... hang on, this is that Christian version of Lost that's been lurking in my desk drawer for years, isn't it? I really should get my unfinished projects edited and unleashed more quickly shouldn't I...
So, Vanish: is it as derivative as it has the potential to be, or does it take a new and original twist to the stranded strangers struggling against the elements premise? Well, as I mentioned I'm still in last week, which is my excuse for not having finished the book yet... you'll have to ask these people:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Keanan Brand Rachel Briard Grace Bridges Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Alex Field Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Ryan Heart Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Joleen Howell Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Kait Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Terri Main Margaret Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Caleb Newell Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte John Ottinger Epic Rat Steve Rice Crista Richey Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Robert Treskillard Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Speculative Faith Fred Warren Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson
Actually, on the face of it that might not be such an unusual first reaction to Vanish... three people wake up one morning to find the world inexplicably depopulated, and suffer nightmarish flashbacks to certain 'end-times thrillers' which are in no need of further publicity.
As they struggle to survive in this strange new world, they find themselves taunted by unseen observers, grappling with the least pleasant aspects of their pasts, and... hang on, this is that Christian version of Lost that's been lurking in my desk drawer for years, isn't it? I really should get my unfinished projects edited and unleashed more quickly shouldn't I...
So, Vanish: is it as derivative as it has the potential to be, or does it take a new and original twist to the stranded strangers struggling against the elements premise? Well, as I mentioned I'm still in last week, which is my excuse for not having finished the book yet... you'll have to ask these people:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Keanan Brand Rachel Briard Grace Bridges Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Alex Field Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Ryan Heart Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Joleen Howell Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Kait Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Terri Main Margaret Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Caleb Newell Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte John Ottinger Epic Rat Steve Rice Crista Richey Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Robert Treskillard Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Speculative Faith Fred Warren Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour vs Tuesday Tunes
This month the CSFF Blog Tour is featuring Vanish, a supernatural thriller by Tom Pawlik. By a curious coincidence, 12 months ago we featured Vanished by Kathryn Mackel, during which tour I used up the good Vanish songs.
Thankfully, Mr Pawlik and the nice people at Tyndale must have foreseen this dilemma, and released the sequel to Vanish, Valley of the Shadow, last month. So sit back now and enjoy the Top Ten Valley Songs....
10. Bob James: Valley of the Shadows
Part Bond soundtrack, part acid jazz, it's about 10 minutes long and completely bonkers, but gets in by virtue of the title.
9. Cage the Elephant: Drones in the Valley
An American indie rock band in London...
8. Low: Lost Valley
Loving the slowcore anti-grunge sound.
7. Manic Street Preachers: Valley Boy
Exactly what you expect from the Manics, really.
6. DragonForce: Valley Of The Damned
Proper old skool rock music! Turn it up to 11!
5. The Orb: Valley
Because every top ten needs at least 7 1/2 minutes of quality electronica.
4. 4Lyn: Shadow Valley
And, wherever possible, some German nu metal.
3. Queen: Lily of the Valley
Time for a change of pace....
2. Fountains of Wayne: Valley Winter Song
Just because Fountains of Wayne are fantastic.
1. Skids: Into the Valley
And you can't beat a classic piece of pop punk awesomeness to finish.
All that remains now is to wait for Matthew to drop by and tell us what Norwegian death metal version of Valley of the Shadow I missed. Oh, and to visit the rest of the CSFF blog tour - the links are on the previous post.
Thankfully, Mr Pawlik and the nice people at Tyndale must have foreseen this dilemma, and released the sequel to Vanish, Valley of the Shadow, last month. So sit back now and enjoy the Top Ten Valley Songs....
10. Bob James: Valley of the Shadows
Part Bond soundtrack, part acid jazz, it's about 10 minutes long and completely bonkers, but gets in by virtue of the title.
9. Cage the Elephant: Drones in the Valley
An American indie rock band in London...
8. Low: Lost Valley
Loving the slowcore anti-grunge sound.
7. Manic Street Preachers: Valley Boy
Exactly what you expect from the Manics, really.
6. DragonForce: Valley Of The Damned
Proper old skool rock music! Turn it up to 11!
5. The Orb: Valley
Because every top ten needs at least 7 1/2 minutes of quality electronica.
4. 4Lyn: Shadow Valley
And, wherever possible, some German nu metal.
3. Queen: Lily of the Valley
Time for a change of pace....
2. Fountains of Wayne: Valley Winter Song
Just because Fountains of Wayne are fantastic.
1. Skids: Into the Valley
And you can't beat a classic piece of pop punk awesomeness to finish.
All that remains now is to wait for Matthew to drop by and tell us what Norwegian death metal version of Valley of the Shadow I missed. Oh, and to visit the rest of the CSFF blog tour - the links are on the previous post.
Monday, June 22, 2009
CSFF Blog Tour: Vanish by Tom Pawlik
You know things have gotten a bit desperate in the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy world when the tour gets down to this don't you. I mean, I've heard a rumour that there's going to be some actual bona fide science fiction in the next couple of months, but let's not get carried away yet, eh?
First we have to get through 200 pages about the Laundry Fairy going bad. 'Trust Pink, forget everyone you ever knew! Aaaaahahahahaaaa!'
There's obviously a good theological message behind it - something about the cleansing of our lives from the blemishes of sin, probably - but honestly, apart from a good bit where Crystal White and the Power Foam team up against a particularly nasty stain, it would have made a lot more sense if Tom Pawlik had written Vanish as a supernatural thriller, something in the vein of Kathryn Mackel, perhaps. Well, there's always the audiobook narrated by Tony Robinson to look forward to.
Incidentally, I am participating in this month's blog tour via time warp from some time last week. I'm telling you that so you know why I won't be responding immediately to the flood of comments from readers outside the UK who probably don't have a clue what Vanish is or what it has to do with Tony Robinson.
That's also why the following participant's list may not be 100% accurate:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Keanan Brand Rachel Briard Grace Bridges Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Alex Field Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Ryan Heart Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Joleen Howell Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Kait Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Terri Main Margaret Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Caleb Newell Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte John Ottinger Epic Rat Steve Rice Crista Richey Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Robert Treskillard Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Speculative Faith Fred Warren Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson
First we have to get through 200 pages about the Laundry Fairy going bad. 'Trust Pink, forget everyone you ever knew! Aaaaahahahahaaaa!'
There's obviously a good theological message behind it - something about the cleansing of our lives from the blemishes of sin, probably - but honestly, apart from a good bit where Crystal White and the Power Foam team up against a particularly nasty stain, it would have made a lot more sense if Tom Pawlik had written Vanish as a supernatural thriller, something in the vein of Kathryn Mackel, perhaps. Well, there's always the audiobook narrated by Tony Robinson to look forward to.
Incidentally, I am participating in this month's blog tour via time warp from some time last week. I'm telling you that so you know why I won't be responding immediately to the flood of comments from readers outside the UK who probably don't have a clue what Vanish is or what it has to do with Tony Robinson.
That's also why the following participant's list may not be 100% accurate:
Brandon Barr Jim Black Keanan Brand Rachel Briard Grace Bridges Valerie Comer Amy Cruson CSFF Blog Tour Stacey Dale D. G. D. Davidson Jeff Draper April Erwin Karina Fabian Alex Field Beth Goddard Todd Michael Greene Ryan Heart Timothy Hicks Christopher Hopper Joleen Howell Becky Jesse Cris Jesse Jason Joyner Kait Carol Keen Krystine Kercher Dawn King Terri Main Margaret Melissa Meeks Rebecca LuElla Miller Caleb Newell Eve Nielsen Nissa John W. Otte John Ottinger Epic Rat Steve Rice Crista Richey Hanna Sandvig Chawna Schroeder James Somers Robert Treskillard Rachel Starr Thomson Steve Trower Speculative Faith Fred Warren Phyllis Wheeler Jill Williamson
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Phursday Photos: Cosford Airshow
I'll say this up front, because it's blinkin obvious now: I make a rubbish aviation photographer.
Hopefully on some of these snaps the fact that I only had one eye in the viewfinder, and that my camera - as decent spec as it was when new - isn't really up to the task of fast jets at a distance, won't matter as the subjects speak for themselves.
Like these guys:
Isn't this perfect airshow weather:
Photos don't do the Red Arrows justice. And Her Babyship was more excited by the fact that she was sat on the roof of the car than what she was up there to watch...
The trouble is, I don't want to be concentrating so hard on getting the perfect picture that I miss watching the excitement. Excitement like:
and, if you'll excuse the graininess:
If anyone's interested in my poor attempts to keep up with the Eurofighter Typhoon (which sounds even more awesome than it looks) or some third rate shots of Spitfires or a Lancaster, say the word. But frankly, as good as they (and indeed the Red Arrows) were, they paled into near insignificance when this happened:
And that really will speak for itself to anyone with a passing interest in aircraft. She was due to close the show, but was brought on second to last... I kinda feel for the guys who had to follow her.
Hopefully on some of these snaps the fact that I only had one eye in the viewfinder, and that my camera - as decent spec as it was when new - isn't really up to the task of fast jets at a distance, won't matter as the subjects speak for themselves.
Like these guys:
Isn't this perfect airshow weather:
Photos don't do the Red Arrows justice. And Her Babyship was more excited by the fact that she was sat on the roof of the car than what she was up there to watch...
The trouble is, I don't want to be concentrating so hard on getting the perfect picture that I miss watching the excitement. Excitement like:
and, if you'll excuse the graininess:
If anyone's interested in my poor attempts to keep up with the Eurofighter Typhoon (which sounds even more awesome than it looks) or some third rate shots of Spitfires or a Lancaster, say the word. But frankly, as good as they (and indeed the Red Arrows) were, they paled into near insignificance when this happened:
And that really will speak for itself to anyone with a passing interest in aircraft. She was due to close the show, but was brought on second to last... I kinda feel for the guys who had to follow her.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Phursday Photos: split-screen camper vans
I thought I'd go for a small themed set from the car show last week; there would have been more if we'd gone on the Sunday, but foolishly we decided to go to church instead. By Monday the weather had turned and the turnout wasn't so good. Still, here's a handful of ageing VW campers, or, as Her Babyship would have it, 'Scooby-Doo Vans'.
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