Amazing Stories

What if Every Superman Actor Was One Man?

Samantha Henry — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:24 +0000

This week there was only one thing I could write about. Man of Steel. I saw the film and it was amazing. I personally think it is the best outing of Superman ever. Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan have produced what is a brilliant new Superman franchise. If you loved the Dark Knight trilogy and are missing them then Man of Steel, and I expect the sequels to come will fill that void.

Henry Cavill is a brilliant Superman, I think he might be my favourite, however I don’t think we actually got to see enough of Superman in this first film. It is the start, his origin of how he became Superman, so we haven’t really seen him saving the world, every day. But boy, do I think its going to be good when we see it.

While I was looking for a picture to share with you, I stumbled across the picture above.…

Interview with Bestselling Author Daniel Abraham (James S.A. Corey and M.L.N. Hanover)

R.K. Troughton — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:00:05 +0000

Today we are joined by bestselling and award-winning author Daniel Abraham. Daniel publishes science fiction as one half of the two-headed giant, James S.A. Corey. He satisfies readers with his urban fantasy as M.L.N. Hanover, and he writes epic fantasy as himself, mild-mannered Daniel Abraham. Daniel’s work has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Locus Awards. His short story “Flat Diane” won the International Horror Guild Award. Did I mention he also adapts graphic novels for George R.R. Martin? Daniel lives on one of those super-secret bases hidden somewhere within the borders of New Mexico.

R.K. TROUGHTON FOR AMAZING STORIES: Welcome to Amazing Stories, Daniel. Not long ago we were fortunate enough to get to know one of your collaborators, Ty Franck, a little better. When we asked him for your dirty secrets, he spilled his guts like an overstuffed piñata.…

A Review of Blood on my Jets

Keith West — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:45 +0000

Blood on my Jets
Algis Budrys
Wonder eBooks
$3.99 Kindle Nook

One of the advantages of the ebook revolution is that the work of previous generations of science fiction writers can be brought back into print for new generations of readers.

Wonder eBooks has a list of titles whose authors range from masters of the field to names only historians of the field or those who’ve been around a really long time will recognize.

I’ve heard a number of writers I respect talk about what a great writer Budrys was. I had the privilege to meet the man on several occasions prior to his death, primarily at Conestoga. He only had a few volumes of short fiction published in his lifetime. The ones I’ve managed to obtain have overall been quite good.

So I snatched up this collection when I saw it.…

Review: Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl by David Barnett

Matt Mitrovich — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:45 +0000

One of the great things about being a book blogger is that you often get the chance to read books before they come out for the general public. Granted you don’t always have control over what books you get a to read and not every book will be a hit. Luckily for me, Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl by David Barnett (an author whose work I have sometimes read on The Guardian) was certainly a hit.

From Tor/Forge, this steampunk adventure story is written in the style of the old pulp fiction and features the young hero Gideon Smith as he leaves his home to seek out the help of Captain Lucian Trigger, the brave hero of the Empire whose exploits are recorded in the penny dreadfuls, to help solve a mystery haunting his tiny fishing village that already claimed the life of his father.…

Characters: Faye Valentine From Cowboy Bebop

Jack Dowden — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:05 +0000

My last article talked about Spike from Cowboy Bebop. I decided to write this week’s article on Bebop’s other fan-favorite character, Faye Valentine.

Originally a theif who trusts no one, Faye becomes an important – if annoying – member of the Bebop’s crew. Jet and Spike encounter her through a misshap. Faye owes money. A mob boss makes her a deal. Pick up a chip from a contact in a casino, and he’ll help her out. Faye believes Spike is her contact. Spike just thinks that Faye is cheating him at cards.

Through a series of adventures, Faye forces herself onto the Bebop as part of its crew. Though she stays aboard, it’s evident from the get-go she doesn’t trust either of the two men. In Faye’s mind, she’s teamed up with them for now, but when the next big opportunity presents itself, she’ll be gone.…

The Lasting Impact of Miyazaki’s Princess

Morgana Santilli — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:47 +0000

There are some artists who leave a lasting impression on every life their work touches. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that Hayao Miyazaki is one of those artists; I know that his work has been with me since I was about eight years old, and that I intend on exposing my own future offspring to his work as soon as they can focus on a television set.

All of the many films that Miyazaki has worked on have been prolific, often addressing ideas or issues that most mainstream animation has overlooked. But I was curious to know which of his films was the most beloved. Naturally, I turned to the internet for answers; I asked my friends and followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr what their favorite Miyazaki movie was, and I was surprised by the variation and enthusiasm of their replies.…

Tolkien’s Shire Becomes a Reality: Wisdom of the Shire by Noble Smith

Hunter Liguore — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:31 +0000

A new book has come to the shire filled with all the wisdom one could want to live a Hobbit-like life. It’s called, Wisdom of the Shire: A short Guide to a Long and Happy Life, by Noble Smith. At first glance it looks like another marketing ploy to get a piece of the Tolkien money-pie, but with a second glance, you can see Smith delve into the principles of a good life that Tolkien envisioned, that can ultimately be evoked today.

For the Tolkien audience, it’s a treasure of ideas to continue cultivating a connected life with the natural world, for eating local foods, for gardening and sharing in community and honoring the seasons.

In chapter one, “How Snug is Your Hobbit-Hole?” Smith explores the tight-knit community in the shire, pointing out how everything was made by hand. Smith asks, “When did we all become so helpless that we stopped learning how to make or fix the simplest things?” But change is right at our fingertips, whether through Upcycling, the trend of making useable goods out of waste products, or by making your home a little more Hobbit friendly.…

Star Wars Rebels offers a new hope

Geoff Wakeling — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:31 +0000

I’ve never really been one for cartoons as I prefer the grit and reality of filmed drama. That was, until my other half moved in and started watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Now, that’s a pretty epic show. Having won all manner of awards, it also includes some great cast and cameo’s, including Katee Sackoff, Liam Neeson and David Tenant, to name but a few. However, when the great Disney buyout occurred towards the end of last year, many fans were crushed when The Clone Wars was cancelled, particularly because many of the story-arcs and threads were never given the chance to be fully tied up.

However, for Star Wars fans and cartoon lovers alike, there’s good news as Disney have revealed that they’ll be offering up a new animate series; Star Wars Rebels. We won’t have to wait long either, as production has already begun and the series is expected to début towards the end of 2014; kicked off by a one hour special.…

Lost In Space! Reviews of Unknown or Underappreciated Books: Starship Titanic by Terry Jones

Adam Gaffen — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:27 +0000

Hello and welcome to what will be an occasional feature on my blog!

So – what, exactly, do I mean by ‘unknown or underappreciated’?

To put it simply – not everyone is a Kevin J. Anderson or David Weber or Eric Flint or Robert Heinlein. Some authors – I would venture to say, MOST authors – produce perfectly fine books: readable, enjoyable, well-structured, skillfully plotted and with fully-developed characters. And yet, something happens.

They never quite get the recognition they deserve. The book slides into obscurity, and the author – having watched their baby disappear from the public eye – often follows.

Well, no more!

I’ve been reading SF for basically my entire conscious life, and when I like a book, I hold onto it. So, for you lucky, lucky readers, I’m diving back into my stacks to find books which deserve another shot at the sunlight.…

The Genderless Mind?

Cedar Sanderson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:15 +0000

The genderless mind is a myth. Even here in cyberspace, where we can be whatever, whoever, whichever we choose to be, we are still each of us male and female. Our words give us away. As writers, we can choose pseudonyms, write characters of the opposite sex, and yet, in doing so, we only reinforce the reality that is… men and women think differently. In order to write a male character, something I am doing in my work in progress, I must constantly check myself. Is he masculine enough? Am I conveying his personality in such a way that he comes across as the strong alpha male he is?

Does this mean you can tell what gender a writer is? No, of course not. A very good writer, one that is intelligent enough to embrace and use the differences in the male and female minds, can spoof most if not all readers.…