Boskone to the end

Naturally, the last panel I went to at Boskone was “How Do Endings Matter?” It was a small crowd eager to join the discussion with Debra Doyle, Toni L. P. Kelner, Jim Mann, and Peter Weston Toni L.P. Kelner opened with the classic definition of a good ending being one that leaves you surprised, but […]

YA at Boskone

Consider how many YA books were mentioned at the “If You Liked That, Read This” panel, I was expected even more recommendations from “Why Adults Love YA.” But Bruce Coville, Michael J. Daley, Sarah Beth Durst, Margeret Ronald, and Navah Wolfe pretty much stuck to the topic. Short answer: What’s wrong with liking books that […]

More books you might like at Boskone

One thing we book readers love to do is recommend books to each other. At “One More Time – If You Liked That, Read This …” Debra Doyle, David Anthony Durham, Faye Ringel, Edie Stern, and Christopher Weuve did their best. Christopher Weauve even had a card listing books for those interested in naval history […]

How beer leads to books at Boskone

Possibly the high point of hanging with friends and talking came at the literary beer at the end of Saturday, with various alumnae of the Ultimate SF Workshop, headed by one of our teachers, Craig Shaw Gardner. Sadly, Jeff Carver succumbed to mystery bugs. So Hello again to Fran, Chris Howard and his daughter Chloe, […]

Re: Pelos

We just can’t resist bringing the gods down to earth this days. For example, in “Pelos” by Aaron Bilodeau, a goofy young god comes on a little strong to a savvy modern girl. That shower of gold thing just doesn’t work anymore, you know? Times have changed.

Re: Skin Folk

Once upon a time, I read In The New Moon’s Arms , and I liked it so much, I decided to track down more Nalo Hopkinson. I found what I was looking for in her short story collection, Skin Folk. Magic and folk tale elements turn up in many of the stories. The stories are […]

Re: Hubris

I’ve got another James Patrick Kelly story to talk about, “Hubris,” about a man who runs afoul of a goddess. It’s very short, so I will be brief.

Re: The Magicians

I should have known better about The Magicians, by Lev Grossman. Usually I feel suspicious when for a week or so, I keep hearing the same author getting interviews on the radio. But I thought the premise of Narnia for grownups sounded interesting. So I gave it a try.

Re: Don Ysidro

I’m not trying to make a theme of it, but here’s another story about a revenant. In “Don Ysidro,” by Bruce Holland Rogers, the title character is narrating from the other side. I like this line about the proceeding sound to him. As if I had cotton in my ears, I heard the voice of […]

Re: Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge

I’ve managed to avoid reading anything close to horror lately, but there are a few ghosts and monsters floating through a nice long reading at Podcastle of “Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge,” by Richard Parks. Lord Yamada is drawn back into Heian imperial court at the request of an old friend, Princess Teiko. Even before […]