Saturday, February 9, 2008
Thoughts on Science and Science Fiction

In January, LBF Books accepted my novel, The Solar Sea, for publication. The Solar Sea tells the story of Thomas Quinn, a young scientist who discovers an unusual new element, valuable to his father’s company. He discovers that the element exists in abundance on Saturn’s moon, Titan, and convinces his father to fund an expedition so they can learn more about the element. They build a manned solar sail craft and off they go on their adventure.

One thing I hear quite a lot is how not enough science fiction is being written and published that appeals to young people. The question is, why is it important that young people read science fiction? Personally, I think it’s important because it gets young people to think about the future and it gets them to think about how science plays a part in making that future happen.

Science is valuable and it is an important pursuit. Through science, we increase our understanding of ourselves, our universe, and our place within the universe. Without science, there is no question that our daily quality of life would suffer. I can name a whole litany of things where science has helped people from computers to medicine. Those are pretty obvious commercial applications, but they wouldn’t have been possible without the basic human desire to explore the world and universe around us. And yet, it seems that all too often here in the twenty-first century, that basic drive is trampled on in favor of short-term commercial and personal interests. It’s pretty common for me to hear phrases like “we need to solve the problems we have on Earth before we explore space” as though we as a people don’t have the ability or the willpower to do both.

I wrote The Solar Sea to be a good novel for young people. It’s not a young adult novel per se, but it was written to be the kind of novel I would have enjoyed reading in junior high or high school. It is a novel that embraces the need to explore and understand. It’s also a novel that explores one of the fundamental truths about science and that is that scientists don’t get everything right the first time. However, that’s part of the fun of science. Scientists take the new things they learn and constantly revise our understanding of the universe.

Now, in response to people who say that not enough science fiction is being written and published that appeals to young people, I often hear other people talk about the poor quality of science fiction written years ago and that science fiction is now “growing up.” My question is this: Who says that science fiction has to be written either for kids or for adults? Every other genre has stories written to appeal to different age groups. I think there’s plenty of room for science fiction that appeals primarily to young people and science fiction that appeals primarily to adults.

In addition to what I’ve said about science fiction getting people to think about the future and about science, science fiction allows us to explore important and often sensitive issues in a new light. The potential for the genre is huge and science is ever expanding. As our understanding of the universe and ourselves expands, there’s more potential for good science fiction to be written both for young people and for adults. The important thing is that we don’t close our minds to the possibilities.

Posted by David Summers 2008-02-09 13:47:47

Sunday, December 16, 2007
Wondrous Web Worlds 7

Sam’s Dot Publishing has just released Wondrous Web Worlds 7, which includes my James B. Baker Award-nominated story, “An Asteroid By Any Other Name.”

The annual Wondrous Web Worlds series presents the very best science fiction, fantasy, and horror published online at Sam's Dot Publishing, and includes two dozen selections from The Martian Wave, The Fifth Di..., and Aoife's Kiss. The material in this seventh in the series deals with some of the fundamental questions raised in the genres. What happens when you go mad from loneliness on Mars? If extra-terrestrials eat terrestrials, should you bring one back to Earth? Is it time to move on when you can't even entertain a rag-tag bunch of robots? What are the benefits of DIY terraforming? Come experience the literary potential of zombies, and learn why the Bone Slayer needed help against the skeletile, and discover the true purpose of biwigglies out Alpha Centauri way.

You'll find some of the finest names in the genres between these covers: Richard S. Levine, Wendy Leeds, Marva Dasef, Tyree Campbell, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Keith P. Graham, Karen A. Romanko, and many more!

Order a copy at: http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#www7

Posted by David Summers 2007-12-16 20:28:11

Tuesday, December 11, 2007
M.H. Bonham News

M.H. Bonham is a Tales of the Talisman contributor and a wonderful fantasy author. She has shared some news with me that she would like to pass along.

First, her newest book, Lachlei, has an awesome cover and is available for preorder through Amazon.com. This is the cover: http://shadowhelm.livejournal.com/407622.html?style=mine which also gets you to her blog. Second, Lachlei is on sale through the publisher at 30% off. You can preorder the book through http://www.edgewebsite.com/promotions.html and buy it right there for $13.96, which saves you over $6 on the book. If you’re not one to buy it from the publisher directly, Amazon.com has a slightly cheaper deal at $13.57, but it requires you to purchase $25 to take advantage of their super saver discounts. You can buy the book off Amazon or Maggie’s website at http://www.shadowhelm.net/book.html. Lachlei’s release is in March, but the sale won’t last, so be sure to pick up your copy and lock in the price.

What’s more, Yard Dog Press is having a holiday sale. Their website is www.yarddogpress.com. From now till the end of December buy any book from YDP and get free postage. That means you go to the site, see the Yard price, and that's what you pay - no postage expense. Of course this means you can't use the shopping carts, but it's as simple as mailing your check, money order, or credit card information with your order to Yard Dog Press, 710 W. Redbud Lane, Alma, AR 72921-7247. Her two books, Prophecy of Swords, http://www.yarddogpress.com/prophecy.htm and Runestone of Teiwas, http://www.yarddogpress.com/runeston.htm are available $2 less than cover and with free shipping. You can also buy the books through Amazon off Maggie’s website as mentioned above.

These books are awesome for anyone who loves fantasy. She also has some short stories in the following anthologies by Yard Dog Press including the Four Bubbas of the Apocalypse, Houston, We’ve got Bubbas, and Flush Fiction. She also has a short story in the book, A Time To... and two Amazon shorts which are all available on her website through Amazon.com, http://www.shadowhelm.net/book.html

Maggie has stories in volume 2, issues 2 and 4 of Tales of the Talisman, which are available at: http://www.talesofthetalisman.com/bookstore-v2.html

Posted by David Summers 2007-12-11 20:23:08

Friday, November 30, 2007
Darrell Bain Guest Post

Today, we have a guest post from Darrell Bain, author of more than three-dozen books in many genres, running the gamut from horror to mystery and science fiction to non-fiction. For the last several years he has concentrated on science fiction and suspense thrillers, with an occaisional foray into humor and short stories. He would like to tell you about his newest novel, Savage Survival, which is published by Twilight Times Books: www.twilighttimesbooks.com

Tales of the Talisman reviewer, Shawn Oetzel, praised the novel in the December 2007 issue, saying that Savage Survival "is definitely what is right about the science fiction genre."

You may learn more about Darrell and the novel at his website: www.darrellbain.com

And now, here is Darrell to tell you more about his exciting novel:

Savage Survival is not just another testosterone driven science fiction novel. At the basic level, it explores the personalities and attitudes of men, women, and children when stripped of the comforting insulation of organized society. Invulnerable aliens have captured millions of humans and are subjecting them to the most brutal and horrible environments ever encountered, in essence a survival test of a magnitude heretofore undreamed of.

Lyda Brightner is an eleven-year-old girl when she is suddenly and without warning separated from her parents and thrown into the midst of undisciplined humans in a harsh desert environment. Food and water and clothing are fought over. Those who control it can do as they wish -- and their wishes are terrible.

Lyda is weaponless and alone, like almost everyone. Raped at eleven. Forced to kill. Grieving for her parents. All that stands between Lyda and death is her own innate bravery, her quick mind, her unwavering integrity and ultimately, her belief that someday she will find someone to love.

Lyda's strength of character and fighting spirit make her a leader, even at a very young age. Over the next six years she must constantly fight the ever changing and ever more dangerous environments the aliens subject them to. But she must fight other humans as well, those who have survived by brute strength and ruthless plundering of the weak.

But even if she lives through all this, Lyda must still face the final question: What do the aliens have in mind for the few hundred remaining humans, those few left of all the millions who died?

Savage Survival is a coming of age novel like no other and Lyda Brightner is a character you'll never forget.

Posted by David Summers 2007-11-30 11:31:15

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Old Star Saga at Fictionwise

The first two books of my "Old Star"science fiction trilogy are now available as ebooks at Fictionwise. You can find The Pirates of Sufiro at: http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook51981.htm

Children of the Old Stars is at: http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook52408.htm

The third book of the trilogy, Heirs of the New Earth, will be appearing soon.

Don't forget, you can also listen to the first two books of the trilogy at Podiobooks.com. The Pirates of Sufiro is at: http://www.podiobooks.com/title/the-pirates-of-sufiro

And Children of the Old Stars is at: http://www.podiobooks.com/title/children-old-stars

Dave

Posted by David Summers 2007-11-06 10:46:54