This Is 15-Minutes: Russian Dreams

Some people may ask what the point is in these writing exercises I "borrowed" from gabe, the essence which is about writing non-stop for a time period (usually about 15 minutes and in my case, about a concept or a picture).

One can think the exercise akin to making paper airplanes: one uses the time and effort to craft a plane just to throw it in the air. And all for what? For the plane to crash somewhere where it can be picked up again-- or sometimes not, if it's too far to be retrieved?

Still, I figure it's worth it. After all, for one moment in time, one can experience the sheer wonder as the plane veers into the sky as if to fly forever. That's what it means to me when I do these exercises.

Sergey Korolyov heated more water again for coffee and as he waited, shivered in the early morning light.

Outside the bunker's window, he could see the slowly-rising sun light up the masive junkyard. He sighed.

At times like these, he saw how pathetically low the Russian motherland had fallen. He was a perfect example: once a brilliant scientist working for the Soviet Union, he was now nothing more than a security guard at the abandoned laboratories. How the mighty had fallen, he thought.

He lit a cigarette and exhaled a stream of smoke. Just like that, he thought, the Golden Age of Russian Scientific Dreams had blown away on the winds of history.

After the Great War, the Soviet Union had thought to come up with a more effective defense against invaders. Basing it on the ancient legend of the bronze giant Tálos, it had come up with a robot sentinel: 40-feet tall and bearing the hammer and sickle of the people it sought to protect. They called it the Iron Man.

He grinned, remembering in 1957 when their band of scientists, led by Valentin Glushko, celebrated the first activation of the robot. For almost one week, they were feted by the Soviet government.

Unfortunately, it all disappeared when the Japanese, finally done with conquering the American states in the aftermath of World War 2, started with their own version of gigantic robot warriors. First came Tetsujin-nijūhachi-gō in 1958, then Tetsuwan Atom in 1963.

But it was in 1972, when the Nippon Imperium unleashed the first human-piloted Romaji Majinga or the Demon-God against the world. Other countries, like the U.K. and the weary-beaten Germans, tried to fight back but their conventional armies were no match against the now-dubbed mecha. It was left to the Russians to stop the Japanese behemoth, as it had done before against Hitler and his Blitzkrieg.

They were so proud then, knowing that only the Soviet Union could save the world.

Sergey grimaced, his fingers dropping his now burnt-out cigarette. More fools they.

Thanks to jp for lending me the picture he found, taken from here. *winks*

Ex Libris: January Books, Part 2

On the other hand, I managed to (literally) finish four books for this month: Glen Cook's The Tyranny of Night; Karen Traviss' Triple Zero; Christopher Priest's The Prestige; and the Rich Horton-edited best of short stories collection, Best Fantasy 2006 (something I won't review until I finish reading all of the 2005 collections).

I've been a long-time fan of Cook's military fantasy, ever since I first picked up a book about The Black Company. So when I heard Cook had started a new series after finishing the last time, I immediately picked it up. Cook's specialty is the grim-and-gritty kind of fantasy with this new book being no exception. Alas, that's the only thing similar between the previous and present series.

The world of the warrior Else Tage is bloody and brutal as kingdoms fight each other over religious and political differences. It also doesn't help that there are creature of magic in a war of no quarter against the religious churches. So when Else does the unimaginable-- kill one such creature-- he gets duly rewarded by being sent on a mission of espionage into an enemy kingdom.

Unfortunately, in this book, it seemed that Cook was following more in the footsteps of other epic fantasists like George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson and Scott Bakker by powering up the political factor of his books. Whereas The Black Company books was the story of the grunts or the ordinary soldier trying to survive, this book was about the movers and the shakers of the world trying to out-maneuver each other. This left, in my opinion, Else in the rather unavoidable position of reacting rather than acting in the events.

If not for the major battle at the end of the story, I would almost say I got bored reading this-- which is sad, considering I thought before that Cook could do no wrong (something my heart still doesn't want to believe).

Weirdly enough, I also consider Traviss in a 'must-check-out' category despite not having read any of her stuff due to her quite erudite and witty presence online. So when I found a copy of her Star Wars Republic Commando work, Hard Target, I was willing read a SW book just to check her out. Though this is not her original work, Traviss has quite a sharp eye and manages to write about the possible pitfalls of having soldiers cloned and bred only for war. Likewise, she knows her military and political angles and applies this in her stories. You might say that Traviss is the 'feminine' or 'female' military writer... er, whatever that is.

But though I found that first dip in the water enjoyable enough, I was a bit put-off with its sequel. Whereas the first book detailed a squad of Republic Commando clones (Omega Squad) trying to take out a Separatist base in a far-off forested planet, the latest book has the same squad taking on terrorists in the capital city of the Republic, Coruscant. Overall, I would say the book was still good but I felt that the protagonists were in no danger no matter the gambits played. One could say that as military special forces-- even those in the future-- these men are supposed to be really good; however, where's the reader's empathy there?

Still, this may not be the fault of Traviss per se as she is working in someone else's universe (i.e. George Lucas), I'm not sure. Something to think about...

Lastly, I wanted to read Priest's book before the movie came out here. Life doesn't work that way though: I managed to finish the book but I never got around to watching the movie.

And an interesting book it was. I came into this one without having any idea what it was except that it was about a rivalry between two magicians in turn-of-the century London and that it was highly regarded, having won a couple of awards. In any case, this should give me a chance to post that quote again:

Every great magic trick consists of three acts.

The first act is called "The Pledge"; The magician shows you something ordinary, but of course... it probably isn't.

The second act is called "The Turn"; The magician makes his ordinary some thing do something extraordinary.

Now if you're looking for the secret... you won't find it, that's why there's a third act called, "The Prestige"; this is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance, and you see something shocking you've never seen before.

Priest's book is actually one giant elaborate magic trick: as the story begins, he shows you what is, turns it around to show something else, and then-- with a flick of the wrist-- twists it around again to the oohs and ahhs of the audience. To say more, of course, is akin to a magician revealing the secret trick so I won't go into here. Suffice to say, the movie is definitely different from the book but its essence remains the same.

Personally though, there were times when I found the book at bit dry (they're British, what do you expect?) and the middle was a bit dragging (so where are we going with all of this?). However, I thought that it was worth my reading time. In other words, I may not be jumping up and down in joy over it but I would recommend it.

I know that's an odd declaration but despite not being too excited over finishing it, it does share a space in the Favored Bookshelf. Given a year or two, I'll probably have a definite opinion on this one.

Up next: what's in the mail! (Books obviously...)

Ex Libris: January Books, Part 1

Obviously I'm way behind in my reviewing. That's because I'm also way behind in my reading. In a few words, my reading is getting in the way of writing and my writing is getting in the way of reading. Lastly, life itself is getting in the way of both. Gah.

But I cannot stop reading. I'm primarily a reader first before a writer and that means books-- lots of books. (Which is why I so love the anime ROD, the TV series about three girls with special powers and are quite fanatic about books. But I digress.)

So, without further ado, here are the books I finished reading in January. I do have to clarify that of the six books I read, there were two books I actually wasn't able to finish. These were Justina Robson's Keeping it Real and Thomas Wheeler's The Arcanum.

I was quite impressed by Robson's earlier book (Natural History) and I thought her latest looked impressive: a definite cross-genre that mixes science fiction and fantasy-- well, fantasy that has a solid basis in SF. In the future, a quantum accident rips holes in reality and reveals a number of dimensions peopled by elves, fairies, demons and elementals. Obviously, this has far-reaching effects in human society. In the case of one person, a half-machine/half-human secret agent Lila Black has to protect a mysterious elf rocker from assassins. Yes, you heard me right: an elf rocker.

Alas, the story was more cross-genre than I suspected, having overt tones of 'romance novels.' Despite my struggle to get through it, I couldn't get past the idea that a veritable killing machine so angst-laden could go soft-putty when in the arms of the said elf. That and I haven't read an elf book since I was younger. Some people will probably enjoy this book but unfortunately, it's not for me.

On the other hand, I remember when Wheeler's book came out, the concept of using historical and fictional characters as a team was quite popular, courtesy of Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (plus the disowned sucky movie). So the idea of having Arthur Conan Doyle, HP Lovecraft and Harry Houdini as protagonists in one book seemed like a good idea, right?

Nup.

This book bored me. As I read the book, I felt it was the equivalent of eating cardboard: you know it's not good for you, you've just wasted your money, and you just want to get it over with. So I quit half-way.

(continued...)

Post-Script

Well, that's a first for me: coming up with a story from scratch in seven days. Of course that's not straight; alas, life gets in the way of the writing.

Likewise, the story I came up with was somewhat a bit light. But given the parameters and the eight to ten-page limit, I did what I could.

Now back to your regular viewing...

New Issue!

Oh cool.

I must have blinked because kyu managed to post without my noticing it the cover of the upcoming second issue of The Digest of Philippine Genre Stories.

Here we have stories by Kate Osias, Nikki Alfar, Crystal Gail Shangkuan Koo, Celestine Maria G. Trinidad, Sean Uy, and Chiles Samaniego.

As par for the course, one can check out samplers of the stories in the issue. And all for a cheap hundred bucks, too. So go support Filipino small press and buy it, dammit! (Er... coming in March, I mean.)

Likewise, sorry for the dearth of posts. Am currently struggling with the idea of a super-rush writing job. Will post my book review for the month of January maybe tomorrow. (Or next week!) In the meantime, let's see if I can write a story in one day...

*runs around like a headless chicken*

Update: Well, it seems like the cover has been changed.

Curious Cat Question

So I had my right third molar pulled early this morning.

I consider this a major milestone since, given my history, I've always considered dentists (and the dreaded dentists' chairs) as my personal nemeses. The dentist in question-- a family friend who's treated all of us ever since when-- knows how... disagreeable I get when she pulls out the drill. My pain threshold is very, very, very, very, low.

That's why when she assessed me for a tooth-pulling, my first instinct was to run. Why? I asked, Can't we just... you know, add pasta to it? She said that as a rule, third molars are pretty useless and there's no need for heroic measures to save the tooth. Chop-chop, she said, open wide. Despite my entreaties and delaying questions, I grudgingly opened my mouth.

How can I not be fearful, after all? Before pulling the tooth, she also pulled out this big-assed syringe for anesthesia. My fear of dentists plus injections? This is no fucking way to start the day, much more the week.

Consider my surprise when she injected my gums thrice with anesthesia, and then used this rod to pop out the tooth-- all in a minute and with not much pain, much to my chagrin.

So my question is: what are your childhood fears and are they still there, hiding under your beds?

A House Divided

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do gabe's 'do-a-novelette-in-a-weekend' challenge due to a tight schedule. However, his bitch-slap did get me jumpstarted again to try something in a longer format.

Before, I used to have these notes on a number of 'created worlds' that I had come up with. Nothing fancy though: I'm no Tolkien with an actual Elvish language tucked in my pocket. These were more like notes for the setting that I had come up with in order to write my story. Granted, a lot of this was due to the influence of epic fantasies that I was reading but at least I could say there were no elves nor dwarves around.

Which is why I just shrugged when I heard noted literary fantasist M. John Harrison posted a stinging attack on the concept of 'world-building' in current fantasy books. To be exact, he called it "the great clomping foot of nerdism." Obviously, this did not sit well with most fantasy-readers, with pat (of fantasyhotlist) in the lead in slamming Harrison for his 'elitist' and 'arrogant' beliefs-- especially on the idea that reading is a matter of 'escapism.' In return, well-known agent provocateur gabe angrily riposted about the "anti-elitist faction' raising their "plebeian heads" again and cited where he thought Pat and co. got it wrong with regard to Harrison's post.

I'm not surprised: generally, both sides of the speculative fiction spectrum (from genre to literary) time and again butt heads. Hmph, I bet you don't see bestselling authors calling literary writers out, eh? Makes me wonder why in a ghetto so small, we still manage to draw blood. (Not that I prefer we all 'get along somehow'; debate is good for the soul.)

Actually, you know what gets me really riled up? In the local scene, it's people who buy/read books because everyone is reading it. A lot of people can say that they read Harry Potter or Paulo Coelho or Star Wars/Star Trek. But how many can say that after reading Harry Potter, they can go read Philip Pullman or Diana Wynne Jones? Or with Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, they can go read The Zahir or Veronika Decides to Die? Or SW/SF, they can now go read anything else?

I read because I like to read. What gets my guff is people who read because they don't want to be left out of the latest fad.

*rolls eyes*

I Need An Upgrade!

I'm currently typing this post using the new iMac G5 the office gave me. It's not so bad; thankfully, the IT people installed Windows rather than the usual Mac system. Unfortunately, I grew up using a Windows PC despite its flaws (and Bill Gates' plan for world domination) so any changes of my habits would probably result in pitchforks and burning torches.

Yes, I know it would probably take a bulldozer to drag me screaming and kicking into the future. In the meantime, I'll stick to my Windows.

Alas, the breaking of the recent cold spell hasn't done me any good with the weather's swinging from hot to cold playing merry hell on my sinus. I can now expect evenings and nights with my head and nose in a painful vise-- with the option of also having this during the day (like today). In fact, the pain is so bad today that I'm reduced to working at the computer with shades on: the glare is just adding to my misery.

Likewise, I normally pop sinusitus medicine like popcorn on days like these but my system has now gotten used to most of them so am left with taking pain-killers like Ponstan in order to even think clearly.

Anyone know where I can upgrade my sinuses?

Sometimes You Get the Bucket, Sometimes the Bucket Gets You

Gah.

Don't ask.

Read or Die! Write or Die!

Reading dean's blog just reminded me that the Read Or Die Book Convention 2007 (ROD '07) is this weekend. Anyone else going? I'll try to go meself given that they have a bookswap/book donation thing going and I have some stuff I could trade.

Considering I have a full schedule this weekend, it's going to be tight. Still, as dean's litcritters group will be giving a talk around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, I juuuust might drop by.

Likewise, gabe the intractable has issued a challenge: write a novella in one weekend!

Hell, writing a novel in month is already torture, what's a novella (or more than 50,000 words) in two and a half days? More rules can be read here but those joining have to post their stuff at the urban drift forum.

Crazy, I know but that's gabe for you. Am tempted meself to join as I've some ideas that won't fit the short-story form. (And give me a chance to play in playgrounds different from the local setting too.)

Anyway, that's all for public service announcement day...

Culling Season

First of all, a public service: a friend of mine, jim, is culling some of his comic books from his collection and asked me to help out. So if anyone is interested in issues of Spiderman or X-Men, check 'em out here.

I actually know how he feels, having sold off my own rather small collection years ago. Moreover, I'm also currently culling some already-read and still-to-be-read books from my bookshelves in a fit of pique. (Now I know how dean feels like when the Alfars have their own culling season.)

This culling also includes any book I'm currently reading. Unfortunately, two books that I've dropped while reading for this new year include Justina Robson's disappointing Keeping it Real and not-exactly-enthralling The Arcanum by Thomas Wheeler.

My main reason? I'm not getting any younger and I need all the time I have to read what I have. So why waste time, right?

Besides, there's also this nice cathartic feeling of when one goes spring-cleaning, seasons be damned.