Michal Ajvas Interview
A quick link to this interview with Michal Ajvas. I’ve had my eye on Ajvas since Jeff Vandermeer listed The Other City as one his favourites from 2009. Wierd fiction, world fiction, genre-bending and The Golden Age to follow. It all sounds very interesting indeed.
N K Jemisin
Of the high-profile debut releases in 2010, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N K Jemisin seems to be gaining the most plaudits.
In this interview over at A Dribble of Ink, Jemisin talks about all three books in her Inheritance Trilogy. The shifting time and POV from book to book sounds particularly promising and I’ll be looking to get my hands on a copy of 100,000K in the not too distant.
Iain Banks Interview and Podcast News
Always an interesting interviewee but this one also has news of a free podcast containing excerpts from his new book: Transition.
Theodora Goss
Another one to look out for, interview from 2006.
Work in Progress
The idea is for The Jub Jub Bird to become a site dedicated to the search for that mythical beast, Literary Fantasy: quality literature of a speculative nature. The emphasis is on the word quality because there’s so much dross out there, under the sci-fi / fantasy tag heading. This blog will attempt to direct readers towards the good-stuff and perhaps play some small part in bringing about a wider acceptance of speculative works by the mainstream.
I’ve kept a watching brief on sci-fi and fantasy since the days of my youth, when I was in to Tolkein, Iain M Banks, Pratchett, Weis & Hickman and Gaiman amongst others. Twenty years later there are serious gaps in my knowledge of the genre and its stars. I intend to educate myself and, by recording my thoughts along the way, stimulate debate and introduce others to the best that writing-between-the-worlds has to offer.
Please let me know your thoughts. As I’m a learner, any helpful advice or recommendations, gratefully received.
‘And when quarrels arose – as one frequently finds
Quarrels will, spite of every endeavour –
The song of the JubJub recurred to their minds,
And cemented their friendship for ever!’
Danielhall33@hotmail.co.uk
Review Pending
The Scar - China Mieville
Now Reading
The Dispossessed - Ursula Le Guin
Coming Up
Gawain and the Green Knight - Simon Armitage
Best Reads 2010
The Children's Book by A.S. ByattMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rich and multi-faceted period piece by one of the best. See my full review at....https://thejubjubbird.wordpress.com/2010/...
In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. ValenteMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A treasure trove of fairy tales, told the way stories used to be....
The Jub Jub Bird 