Writing

Check out “The Elevator”

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Victoria Shockley, who we interviewed previously, has her new children’s novella, “The Elevator” coming out soon.  You can find out more here: http://victoriashockleywrites.wordpress.com/.  Here’s her blurb:

“Gorb the gnome operates an elevator in an upscale hotel. When three businessmen get stuck in his lift, their only chance of escape is to work together. But with a clashing of personalities, that proves difficult.

Gorb has a plan. Will his tale about the fantastic  kingdom of Eggslandia be enough to inspire the  group to collaborate and find a way out?

The Elevator and its story within a story share a  lesson in the importance of teamwork.”

Sounds like something to check out.  Give it a look!

– Steven

Jackie Speel List of Advice On Computer’s And Robots in Science Fiction

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(In the grand tradition ofJohn Van Sickle’s Grand list of Overused Science Fiction Clichés, the Grand list of SF clichés, Things I learnt at the Movies, and Not So Grand Cliché List, Jackie Speel is here to make her own contributions to literature – what to do and not to do – here at MuseHack.)

‘The usual weaknesses’ in describing computers and robots of the future include prediction deficit and chronological inaccuracy. It is not always possible to decide which extrapolations from present technology will be valid and where ‘a leap of imagination’ is required. (Examples – the transition from mainframes to handhelds, and the use of slide rules.)

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Does io9 Get It Right About SF and “Competence Porn”?

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Well worth reading.  Rough summary, SF has diverged from “Competence Porn” – the joy of seeing smart and skilled people do smart and skilled things.  I agree with the thesis that this has happened, but not his explanations.  In fact I probably need to analyze this for awhile before I can coherently state my own theories.

However, I think there’s something here.  Maybe it’s just my age, but for me my SF heroes were always, well, competent.  Scientists and adventurers with names like Dick Seaton (oh, E.E. Smith . . .), Danny Dunn, Tom Swift, John Carter.  Even Luke Skywalker, a bit niave, was a fast learner – but then again *I* mostly wanted to be Han Solo or Obi-Wan, so maybe I don’t care.

Something to think over.

Also I am so using the term “Competence Porn.”

(Edit: I put in the wrong link.  Ironic that.)

– Steven Savage