Bibliocraft

“I think it’s unfair that I have no say over how long someone gets to remain a character...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:21:07 +0800

“I think it’s unfair that I have no say over how long someone gets to remain a character in my dreams.” - Megan Kurashige

Heteronormativity, fantasy, and Bitterblue – Part 1

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 06:46:13 +0800

Heteronormativity, fantasy, and Bitterblue – Part 1:

sarahreesbrennan:

malindalo:

In which I tackle two questions that emerged from a discussion on SLJ’s Someday My Printz Will Come blog about Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue:

What constitutes “subtlety” when it comes to describing same-sex relationships in fiction?

Is it believable to have same-sex relationships in a medieval-esque fantasy world?

I have seen this critique for books a lot (generally, I don’t just mean my books, though mine as well). It was ‘too obvious,’ ‘too PC,’ the writer was trying ‘too hard’ to be inclusive.

I remember one person saying about a book ‘gosh, having all the names for the tenants in this one apartment building be of different ethnicities was just SO OBVIOUS and self-conscious, I didn’t like that’… and I knew the writer, a friend of mine, had simply written down the names from her own apartment building.

Because writers make something clear, they’re seen as making it too obvious… but only because readers are used to seeing such things presented obliquely, as if they should not be spoken outright. (The love that dare not speak its name, but can sort of say ‘the name sounds like…’?)

It’s jarring for readers for a book to explicitly defy the default: it either jumps out to readers as discordant, or they refuse to absorb it. (Remember all the people shocked, shocked, that there were characters of colour in the Hunger Games.) So someone saying ‘a girl fancies a boy’ passes by without making much impression (of course! such is the way of the world!) but a ‘a girl fancies a girl’ is seen as Terribly Obvious. When of course, they’re the same amount of obvious: they’re both just facts.

I am not talking about all readers, of course: I’m just talking about a readerly trend, and one that should be examined.

The sense of discomfort comes from the world, not the writing.

Hi, One of my current projects is Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 07:38:06 +0800

Hi,

One of my current projects is Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology. It’s being published by Lethe Press and will be released in August 2012, although you’ll find early copies at Readercon. Thanks to my publisher Steve Berman for making this project possible.

To my readers, thanks for supporting me these past few years. Without you, I wouldn’t be here. I hope you’ll support me once again in this project. Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology is important to me because it’s giving voice to a group that not often gets a voice (and in that, I’m proud to be published by Lethe Press, which has also given opportunities and voices to diverse groups). Some of the writers in the book are veteran Filipino authors. Others are new. But this is the first time that the Filipino-Chinese experience is filtered through the speculative fiction lens and collected into an anthology. And unlike our locally-published speculative fiction titles, you can order print copies of the book from major retailers and bookstores, as Lethe Press has global distribution.

Here’s where I’m asking for your help:

Pre-order the book, purchase it upon release, or special order it from bookstores.
Spread the word about the book through the various social networks like blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, etc.
Review the book (either before the release or after… I can email PDFs [yes, I know it’s not the most optimal eBook format so apologies for that] to prospective reviewers) or contact me for interviews, guest blog posts, etc.

If you need to contact me, I can be reached at charlesatan[at]gmail[dot]com.

Here’s the cover copy:

Filipinos and Chinese have a rich, vibrant literature when it comes to speculative fiction. But what about the fiction of the Filipino-Chinese, who draw their roots from both cultures? This is what this anthology attempts to answer. Featuring stories that deal with voyeur ghosts, taboo lovers, a town that cannot sleep, the Chinese zodiac, and an exile that finally comes home, Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology covers a diverse selection of narratives from fresh, Southeast Asian voices.

And the Table of Contents:

Introduction
“Two Women Worth Watching” by Andrew Drilon
“Ho-We” by Erin Chupeco
“The Chinese Zodiac” by Kristine Ong Muslim
“Pure” by Isabel Yap
“Dimsum” by Christine V. Lao
“August Moon” by Gabriela Lee
“The Captain’s Nephew” by Paolo Chikiamco
“The Stranger at my Grandmother’s Wake” by Fidelis Tan
“Chopsticks” by Marc Gregory Yu
“Fold Up Boy” by Yvette Tan
“The Tiger Lady” by Margaret Kawsek
“The Perpetual Day” by Crystal Koo
“Cricket” by Kenneth Yu
“The Way of Those Who Stayed Behind” by Douglas Candano

And here’s an advanced review from Publisher’s Weekly.

Thanks.

Lethe Press Books: Brit Mandelo releases the TOC for Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction!

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:29:03 +0800

Lethe Press Books: Brit Mandelo releases the TOC for Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction!:

lethe-press:

“Sea of Cortez” by Sandra McDonald
“Eye of the Storm” by Kelley Eskridge
“Fisherman” by Nalo Hopkinson
“Pirate Solutions” by Katie Sparrow
“A Wild and Wicked Youth” by Ellen Kushner
“Prosperine When it Sizzles” by Tansy Roberts
“The Fairy Cony-Catcher” by Delia Sherman
“Palimpsest” by Catherynne…

Photo

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:09:10 +0800

A reply to John Green's "Why Libraries Are Different From Piracy"

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:43:54 +0800

sundialgirl:

Dear Mr. Green,

I have recently read your passionate argument against piracy, and while I agree with your main claims that piracy does not benefit the creators directly (i.e., the relationship between the consumer and the creator), I would also like to address the reasons behind why I think piracy is a more attractive option than purchasing legally.

Read More

cindypon: a chinese dragon by the talented...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:09:14 +0800

cindypon:

a chinese dragon by the talented @lizwongart!

lizwongart:

Children’s illustration portfolio piece, done in watercolor and pencil.

Game of Thrones valentine cards

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:23:04 +0800

bishopia:

Because I love you all (as friends) and I love Game of Thrones, I combined them both into some sweet valentine’s day cards for you to give to your sweetheart or favorite prostitute. Enjoy! Click for big version or get the bigger printable version…

RELATED: I’ve got two prints with these characters for sale at inprnt.com - House Stark and just about everyone.

Photo

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:54:40 +0800

oneiric-elegance: Kidchan

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:37:38 +0800

oneiric-elegance:

Kidchan

Mr. Sexsmith: Call for Submissions: Heiress of Russ

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:02:24 +0800

Mr. Sexsmith: Call for Submissions: Heiress of Russ:

mrsexsmith:

Heiresses of Russ, the new annual anthology series created in honor of the late writer, academic, and feminist Joanna Russ, is now taking recommendations for the 2012 edition. We’re looking for lesbian-themed speculative fiction first published in 2011. The 2011 edition, co-edited by Joselle Vanderhooft, is available now, including work by Ellen Kushner, Tanith Lee, Rachel Swirsky, and other outstanding writers. This year Steve Berman of Lethe Press has invited Connie Wilkins to co-edit the 2012 edition with him. Connie also edited Time Well Bent: Queer Alternative Histories for Lethe Press, and has edited seven anthologies under an alternate name in an alternate genre. We’re looking for the best lesbian-themed speculative fiction published in 2011, with a length limit of 2,000-10,000 words. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, interstitital, just plain weird—we’ll know it when we see it. We can’t succinctly define superlative writing, either, but we know it when we see it. Recommendations from readers, authors, and publishers will be welcomed. We don’t need the stories themselves just yet, but if we’re interested and can’t find copies on our own, we’ll ask for manuscripts. Our deadline for recommendations is March 15, 2012. The payment for these reprinted stories will be $25 each and two copies of the anthology. Recommendations and queries can be e-mailed to conniew@sff.net.

PLEASE REBLOG THIS LIKE THE PLAGUE

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:59:40 +0800

PLEASE REBLOG THIS LIKE THE PLAGUE:

This is a petition on the Directgov website - this goes straight through to parliment and at the current time of posting it only has 21 signatures

I know a lot of people are reblogging the one sponsored by anonymous which is great but if you live in the UK, this is going to be your best best at getting yourself heard about ACTA - even if you don’t live in the UK or even the EU, PLEASE REBLOG THIS, as ACTA is something that not only affects Europe but the rest of the world as well and this could be one of the only opportunities for it to be downturned

I Make Up Worlds: The Dream of Red Mansions & the Bechdel Test

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:15:19 +0800

I Make Up Worlds: The Dream of Red Mansions & the Bechdel Test:

kateelliottsff:

My daughter is taking a class in Chinese Vernacular Literature (in translation) and she begged me to read The Dream of Red Mansions (aka The Story of the Stone aka The Dream of the Red Chamber) along with her (we’re reading the David Hawkes translation).

The novel is about “the changing fortunes…

Photo

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:15:05 +0800

Essay: Unpacking the Philippine Policy on Book Taxes

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:20:17 +0800

Essay: Unpacking the Philippine Policy on Book Taxes:

Well, theoretically, if the book is for personal use (six or less copies of the same title for an individual, twice that for institutions), then you will not be taxed. And by tax, that probably means VAT and Rate of Duty (if NBDB’s exemption policies applies here). It is unclear whether the other fees apply. For example, there is no omitting the P40.00 Post Office Parcel Fee. That’s a reasonable cost for a public service. There is an argument to be made, however, for the various Documentary Stamps and Processing Fees, which amount to P515.00.

the collapsing sun: links and plugs and other happy things

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:24:52 +0800

the collapsing sun: links and plugs and other happy things:

collapsingsun:

Estranghero Press’s science fiction anthology, Diaspora Ad Astra, is now live! Featuring my story, “Rizal”, as well as stories by Dean Francis Alfar, Alexander Osias, Carljoe Javier, Isabel Yap, Anne Lagamayo, and many others. Edited by Joseph Nacino and Prof. Emil Flores.

…

mlq3: Department of Finance Department Order No....

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:24:26 +0800

mlq3:

Department of Finance Department Order No. 57-2011.

Imported books are exempt from customs duties. They are exempt from VAT. So long as you are bringing them in for personal use, which is defined by law as six copies or less. The only exception are books published for, or by, a commercial enterprise for advertising purposes.

Please read and circulate.

jhameia: zikrayat: WAIT WHY STEVE JOBS?! Because Apple has...

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:25:21 +0800

jhameia:

zikrayat:

WAIT WHY STEVE JOBS?!

Because Apple has some human rights issues.

lethe-press: Steve Berman on a panel, Outsiders in/of Science...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:48:28 +0800

lethe-press:

Steve Berman on a panel, Outsiders in/of Science Fiction and the Fantastic, with Carlos Hernandez, Andrea Hairston, Alaya Dawn Johnson and Samuel R. Delany with moderator Ellen Kushner.

robcham: thebearhaspants: I will be giving away a 10 page...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:49:58 +0800

robcham:

thebearhaspants:

I will be giving away a 10 page preview booklet of windmills 5, Bear King next week at sputnik. We will be launching something and I’ll update this post when I confirm it….

read more

HEY EVERYONE! JOSEL NICOLAS STARTED A TUMBLR AND IS SHARING HIS AWESOME COMICS WITH US. GO FOLLOW HIM.

Josel Nicolas is the creator of Windmills. It’s an awesome read, and I bought some of his comics back when I was in college. He is somewhat an influence on my wanting to put out my comics out there after I got to read his books and such.

I was interested because there isn’t really any other local comics here in the Philippines that would delve into the subject matter that he does in his comics and well it’s an honest look into his own life and such in his stories.

You can read and check out his stuff online either through Flipreads or his Deviant Art. You can buy his comics at Sputnik.