Anomalous Musings: The Anomaly Podcast Blog: discworld

Hi, I'm Sue. On Saturday, I got a haircut with bangs for the first time in 18 years, and all for cosplay. And I am an Anomaly. Once again, I'll be attending Dragon Con, and once again, a few unsuspecting track directors have agreed to let me sit on panels. Keeping in mind that everything at Dragon Con is tentative until it's over, here's where I expect to be:

Dragon Con 101 Meet Up!
Friday at 10:00am
American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media Track (Marriot M302)
If you want to connect and and meet up with other DragonCon newbies, come to this casual meet and greet. This is an informal gathering. (I am one of the veterans who has volunteered to be on hand to answer questions.)

Happiest Space Off Earth: Disney-Fied Sci-Fi

Friday at 11:30am

American Sci-Fi Classics Track (Marriott M303-304)

Many moons before Disney bought Marvel and Star Wars, they were all about geeky movies, from Dragonslayer to Black Hole.

Hidden Monsters: A Being Human Fan Panel
Friday at 1:00pm
Urban Fantasy Track (Westin International BC)

A moderated fan-panel discussion of the hit series (US version).

Does a Contract Negate Non-Consent?
Friday at 5:30pm

WhedonUniverse Track (Westin International DE)

Dollhouse had the actives sign contracts. Where does that put the show where consent is concerned?

Much Ado about Shakespeare

Saturday at 1:00pm

WhedonUniverse Track (Westin International DE)
Discuss this contemporary take on a Shakespearean classic. Starring so many Whedonverse actors, there's plenty of reasons to make much ado!

Sidekicks - Hero Support or More?

Saturday at 7:00pm
American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media Track (Marriott M302)
Sometimes the best thing about a show is not the hero, but the sidekicks! Who’s your favorite? Kenzi? Chloe? Xander? or maybe its Diggle?

Orphan Black

Saturday at 8:30pm
Brit Track (Sheraton Macon)

A discussion of this groundbreaking show, including the ethics and legal issues of real-life cloning.

Gay Themes in Doctor Who
Saturday at 10:00pm
Brit Track (Marriott A601-602)

An examination of DW's role in breaking traditional walls of SF by acquiring a following in straight and gay communities. (This panel was originally "Gender Roles in Doctor Who". The topic changed, but I'm still on the panel.)

Me and my AI
Sunday at 2:30pm
American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media Track (Marriott M302)
The Macguffin of SF is Artificial Intelligence, a blessing or a curse. How has it been handled in media and has your perspective been colored by it?

Brit Fans on the Net: A Podcast Round Table

Monday at 10:00am
Brit Track (Sheraton Macon)
Brit Podcasters unite to discuss being an Anglophile on the net.

The Worlds of Terry Pratchett
Monday at 1:00pm
Brit Track (Sheraton Macon)
This panel discusses the many worlds of Terry Pratchett, including his newest works, The Long War and Raising Steam.

So, those are all my panels. Look at them all! How did that even happen?!

Hi, I'm Sue. I'm currently reading a Star Trek novel on my iPad and the meta-ness off the situation makes my heart happy. And I am an Anomaly.

It seems that, over the past several years, Young Adult novels have become incredibly popular, especially with people who would not necessarily be classified as "young adults." Now, I don't have any numbers to back this up - it's just an observation based on my own experience - but I started noticing it when "Harry Potter" came along. And then there was "The Hunger Games" and yes, even.... "Twilight."

I'm not sure why YA has become so popular with adults. Maybe it's "easy reading." Or maybe, as I think I've posited on the podcast, when we're younger, our minds are more open to the extraordinary. So while adult fiction may be more set in its ways and predictable (similar to some adults), maybe we're gravitating toward YA for something different. But whatever the reason, I like the trend. But there are plenty of great sci-fi and fantasy YA reads beyond the three series mentioned above. I want to take this opportunity to recommend some of my favorites.

The Dragonslayer Series by Jasper Fforde
The Last Dragonslayer, UK 2010, USA 2012
The Song of the Quarkbeast, UK 2011, USA 2013
The Return of Shandar, UK 2012, USA 2014

The world was once filled with magic and dragons, but the magic started to fade away and only once dragon was left. Magic usage (measured in Shandars) became regulated by the government, requiring paperwork and even special releases for large spells. The story focuses of Jennifer Strange, a foundling who runs Kazam, one of two magical organizations still in operation. She handles the paperwork, the phones, and the general business; making sure that the once-powerful wizards make it to their jobs - spelling away clogs in drains or delivering pizza on magic carpets. But one of the wizards starts to have visions of the death of the last dragon at the hands of an unnamed dragonslayer, and the onset of "Big Magic." This series is why I despise the publishing delays that can occur between the UK and US. (Yes, I will be ordering the third book from AmazonUK, thankyouverymuch.) The series is sometimes referred to - mostly by American publishers - as "The Chronicles of Kazam."

The Johnny Maxwell Series by Terry Pratchett
Only You Can Save Mankind, 1993
Johnny and the Dead, 1994
Johnny and the Bomb, 1997

It's no secret that Terry Pratchett is my favorite author, and he is most well-known for the Discworld series. These books have nothing to do with the Disc, but have the same wit and humor that make me love Pratchett's writing. Johnny Maxwell is a young teen living in England, with a group of friends who don't really fit in anywhere else. That is, until he starts to see things that other people can't. Not because he's crazy, but because those things (aliens, ghosts, time travelers) are actually there, but other people don't see what they can't understand, or just don't really look (a common theme in Pratchett's work). It all starts when the aliens he's battling in a computer game try to surrender...

The Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Peter and the Starcatchers, 2004
Peter and the Shadow Thieves, 2006
Peter and the Secret of Rundoon, 2007
Peter and the Sword of Mercy, 2009
The Bridge to Neverland, 2011

This series came to my attention because of a Broadway play, Peter and the Starcatcher, based on the first book. I fell in love with the play, so of course I had to read the book. It's a re-imagining of the origin story of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, and Neverland. The first four books are set in Victorian England (and at sea) with characters that will eventually become those that we know and love. The last book is a bit different, with modern-day characters finding out the truth about one of their favorite childhood fairy tales and a big focus on Disney World (Disney is also the publishing company for the series, so it can seem a bit marketing-heavy, but as a fan of WDW, I didn't have too much of a problem with that). Technically, these might not be "young adult" books. My library system lists them as "juvenile" and sometimes even "children's." But they're fun, fast reads (even though most are around 500 pages)!

The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth
Divergent, 2011
Insurgent, 2012
Untitled, 2013

In the remains of future Chicago, society is divided into factions dedicated to the virtue they believe is most important for preventing war - Candor (honesty), Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravery), Amity (peace), and Erudite (intelligence). Each individual, at the age of 16 has an aptitude test for these qualities, and then has the opportunity to choose which faction where they will spend the rest of their lives. Those who have high aptitude for several factions are considered "Divergent." And dangerous. And their numbers are growing. I will be honest that about halfway through the second book, I started having problems suspecting my disbelief regarding this segmented society, but that is intended, based on the payoff at the end of book 2. I'm now eagerly awaiting book 3.

The Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett
The Wee Free Men, 2003
A Hat Full of Sky, 2004
Wintersmith, 2006
I Shall Wear Midnight, 2010

More Pratchett, and this time, it is related to the Discworld, but you don't need to be familiar with the other 30-something books to jump right in. This series, intended for younger readers, is meant to be an entryway the series - the reader is introduced to this world along with the protagonist. Tiffany Aching is a girl who lives on the chalk, and a witch, under the watching eye of Granny Weatherwax, possibly the most powerful witch on the Disc (and my favorite character in the series), though not directly apprenticed to her. Tiffany, starting at the age of 9, is a natural with magic, but doesn't always understand how to control her innate abilities. She befriends the local fairy folk, called the Nac Mac Feegle, who love to drink and fight, and will be by her side to the end, and like Johnny Maxwell, she is gifted with "first sight and second thoughts" - the ability to see "what is really there" and "the thoughts you think about the way you think." She's also very good with cheese.

Feel free to friend me on Goodreads if you want to keep up with the other stuff I'm reading (just let me know you're from Anomaly, so I respond relatively quickly), and I encourage you to join the new Anomaly Podcast Communtiy Group on Goodreads as well. Goodreads is awesome, you guys. And let me know if you pick up any of these books, and what you think of them!

Sue
Staff Writer for Anomaly
Co-Host of Anomaly Supplemental
Subscribe to Anomaly on iTunes

Monday, August 19, 2013

Sue's Dragon Con 2013 Schedule

Monday, October 1, 2012

YA: It's Not Just For Youth Anymore!