Monday, May 6, 2013

Post: Mission Statement, Releases, and New Members!


So what do you guys think? How does the new Laire look?

Not much different, you say? True, visually at least. It's the content that's about to change. This is The Cosmic Laire of Science Fiction and Fantasy, so it needs to reflect such a place, otherwise it would be like pulling up to a Holiday Inn and it's more like a Motel 6 inside - not that I have anything against Motel 6 ... if you're into Mos Eisley ...

That means this place is dedicated to bringing you the best and latest of science fiction and fantasy, including all subgenres in all mediums, through there will be frequent book talk and option, reviews and the occasional interview, three times a week, unless a very, very special announcement has to be made (like tomorrow). Still seeing how this works out, so again, don't mind the mess, and don't worry - we run a never-ending supply of crullers here, and our Shout-Out tradition to new members will never go away; because you are all awesome!

All forward thrusters to full ... Let the blog launching commence!

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First up, we have The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker.

Chava is a golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life to by a disgraced rabbi who dabbles in dark Kabbalistic magic. When her master-the husband who commissioned her-dies at sea on the voyage from Poland, she is unmoored and adrift as the ship arrives in New York harbor in 1899.

Ahmad is a jinni, a being of fire, born in the ancient Syrian desert. Trapped in an old copper flask by a Bedouin wizard centuries ago, he is released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Though he is no longer imprisoned, Ahmad is not entirely free-an unbreakable band of iron around his wrist binds him to the physical world.

Overwhelmed by the incessant longing and fears of the humans around her, the cautious and tentative Chava-imbued with extraordinary physical strength-fears losing control and inflicting harm. Baptized by the tinsmith who makes him his apprentice, the handsome and capricious Ahmad-an entity of inquisitive intelligence and carefree pleasure-chafes at monotony and human dullness. Like their immigrant neighbors, the Golem and the Jinni struggle to make their way in this strange new place while masking the supernatural origins that could destroy them.
   
(From Goodreads)

And now, some sci-fi action with CyberStorm, by Matthew Mater.

Mike Mitchell, an average New Yorker already struggling to keep his family together, suddenly finds himself fighting just to keep them alive when an increasingly bizarre string of disasters start appearing on the world’s news networks. As the world and cyberworlds come crashing down, bending perception and reality, a monster snowstorm cuts New York off from the world, becoming a wintry tomb where no one can be trusted, and nothing is what it seems...

CyberStorm is a techno-thriller set in present-day New York City that will appeal to fans of Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy as well as devotees of William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. It is an exploration of the human condition as the cyberworld collides with our own, a compelling portrait of a possible future that is all too terrifyingly real.
(From Goodreads)
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Check this out! A couple new members have joined the crew. If you'd take a moment to visit these bloggers, I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

and

I also have to give a special Shout-Out to the one and only Gina Gao of Modern World. Her posts are guaranteed to make you think, like a big bowl of blogging brain food to start the day. Hmm ... Brains ...

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Update: Since this is the week of LDStorymakers, I can't expect to get much writing done. Hosting a pre-conference dinner adds to that, but I'm super excited for it! And I hope to catch up on a couple ARCs I'm reading. I can't wait to review them! Yeah. Indefinite break from writing this week, but not for this blog. I have a review, an essay, and a special movie trailer that I've waited my whole life to show you!

I'll take pictures and provide an overview of the conference. Oh! I've been invited to be on a podcast also, and I will let you know when and where you can hear it, next week. Wish me luck, guys. I'll need it!

Stick around! There's more awesomeness in store, my friends. Bring a fat wallet and come hungry. I'm warming the virtual crullers now!

What are you guys up to this week? How was Iron Man 3? Any sci-fi and fantasy topics or writing advice you'd like me to dish out?

I'm David, and if I dream of electric sheep, then ... am I a robot?

36 comments:

  1. Have fun at LDStorymakers! Sometimes writing just has to take the back burner.
    Looking forward to tomorrow's announcement.
    And still recovering from the Challenge...

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  2. I've realized I'm not going to get much writing in this week either and I'm a little cranky about it. That's okay, Storymakers (and the dinner) will make up for it!

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  3. Although this isn't a genre I normally read, I look forward to visiting and learning an keeping my horizons open. It's good to have a focus-- good for you.

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  4. I'm curious about tomorrow's announcement. Hope it's what I hope it is for you.

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  5. As long as the blog's not changing too much.

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  6. I like what you done with the place. A fat wallet, huh?

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  7. Lots happening, David. Good luck and enjoy all you have planned. Looking forward to hearing your announcement.

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  8. A focus is always good. I'm curious about the movie trailer.

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  9. Yay for more Fantasy! I look forward to it. And thanks for the book recs!

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  10. Have fun at the LDStorymakers dinner at your house. Don't forget to share pics.

    CyberStorm sounds really cool.

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  11. Thanks for the shout out! It's great to be here ~ :) And best of luck with your podcast!! Maybe we'll bump into eachother at Storymakers this week?

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  12. So good to have you back! Thanks for the suggestions. I could use more science fiction in my life :)

    Also, way jealous of everyone going to Storymakers. *sigh* this is what happens when you live in the south.

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  13. I'm going to see Oblivion this week. Hopefully Iron Man will be sometime this month. Enjoy LDStorymakers. Writing has to stay in the corner sometimes. But never fear, it will see the light of day again soon. Loving the Laire David. You're not a robot David, though robots dreaming is still a debating subject of both the sci-fi fanbase and those outside it.

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  14. I wish you the best of lucks! Enjoy yourself.
    And Ironman III was great, in my humble opinion.

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  15. I love your blog, DPK!!!! And yay for Storymakers! I'll be there on Saturday!!!

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  16. Love the new look and looking forward to the new content! Wish I were able to make Storymakers!

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  17. Have fun at the conference. If you're deciding to make your site something similar to io9 where you post all the latest stuff on sci-fi, I could probably contribute an article a month on something I've watched on television. As you well know, I watch a lot of t.v. Maybe I could send you an article on "Defiance" on SyFy which is my new passion as of Monday nights (as an example).

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  18. Looks good:)Nice Philip Dick reference;)

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  19. I am reading the Golem and the Jinni right now, and enjoying it alot! I thought I might have trouble plowing through it because it is a longer book, but the pages have flown by so far!

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  20. Hey,

    The Laire looks great - but it always did (kudos to Mr & Mrs King for raising a clean, neat boy :)

    Excited to hear about this announcement, and GOOD LUCK with whatever it is :)

    PS... Looking forward to seeing/reading about your LDStorytellers adventures.

    It's always fun to hear the latest about the 96.7 percent of all U.S. bloggers who live in UT :)~

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  21. Hope you have fun at the conference. And good luck with the podcast! :)

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  22. Who doesn't dream of electric sheep?

    Okay, I don't but I don't know why as this is a subject Hubby and I have often discussed.

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  23. I wish I could go to a conference, but I am very busy teaching the kiddies every day. I keep fantasizing about a sabbatical and all the conferences I could attend during the year ...

    Meanwhile, this week I am sitting on my manuscript, which is kind of ready to send back to my editor, but not really. Today at work, something bubbled up out of my subconscious that I realized contradicted itself ... and I fixed it as soon as I came home. Who knows what will occur to me tomorrow? So, I will hang on to this baby until the due date -- next Monday.

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  24. I'm envious of the good time you're going to have and I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Going to see Iron Man on Wednesday with three of my children.

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  25. Hey DPK! Your blog never disappoints and always manages to bring all sorts of wonderfulness to the writing world! Hopefully I will do better at visiting! I'm trying to get back in the swing of things!

    See you at Storymakers! I won't be there til Friday morning, but I'll see you then :)

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  26. Like Dianne, wish I could attend the conference. It sounds awesome and I'd know people attending. Sigh. Have a great time!

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  27. Decided to rejoin the blogosphere again after a few days off. The A-Z nearly killed me. LOL. Plus the knighthood and other various excitements for April...

    This week Is my last in Florida. On the road back to Chicago Sunday. ONE more FANTABULOUS DAY at Disney... Hopefully I will NOT GET RAINED OUT. SIX days in Orlando and ALL were a washout.

    I want to take pics of the new fantasyland, but I want a sunny day. Planning on visiting Saturday. WIll post the following Wed. I get home on Monday so I can't do it then... UNLESS... I have the energy after driving fourteen straight hours to Kentucky... We shall see. LOL

    I like the new Laire. Fitting for Scifi and Fantasy....

    ANOTHER FANTASTIC DINNER AND CONFERENCE>... I WANT TO BE THERE>>>>. I miss out on all the fun. LOL

    Give a hug to Lady Morg for me..

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  28. Wow, you're so busy I'm tending to think 'Yep, you're a robot.' Good luck with the podcast and have fun with the rest... just remember to drink beer and not grease ;)

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  29. I'm loving all the changes! Good luck with all you have going on this week. Enjoy!

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  30. I have been reading Cyberstorm. It is more immediately apocalyptic than I thought it would be, but it still is a very different take, and more civilized (so far) than other examples (The Road) of the genre.

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  31. I like the new look. Can't wait to read tomorrow's announcement.

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  32. Hope the new direction is invigorating!

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  33. I like the new look! SOunds like a great plan. :D

    BTW thanks for stopping by to comment on my first page yesterday. :)

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  34. Woohoo! I'm excited for the changes, DPK. :D

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