Review of Mammoths of the Great Plains by Eleanor Arnason
Mammoths, an alternate history story masquerading as Lakota oral tradition. It's a very quiet, gentle story about dedication and preservation.
As for "Writing Science Fiction During World War III," I was in the audience when she first made this speech. At the time, it was the focusing moment of a very socially aware conference. Science Fiction & Fantasy writers often feel marginalized as though their work doesn't count because the academics won't touch it. It's "genre." The word "genre" is to be said as though your nose is not only tilted upwards, but also plugged by the oder of mildewing pulps. Eleanor's speech was an antidote to that. She had the audience revved up to go home and shape the future with their words. Reading it the second time, I still liked it, but it had lost it's impact. Perhaps I remembered too much. Perhaps it lost the energy of it's original situation.
The interview, though, was an absolute delight! It was filled with Eleanor's intelligence and wry sense of humor. Don't pick this book up and just read Mammoths, thinking the rest is filler on the author. There is no filler about this particular author. Her life and personality is so unique that only a bad writer could write a boring blurb about her. That said, don't expect a page turner from Mammoths, but if you're looking for a contemplative read about possibilities, you've picked up the right book.
As for "Writing Science Fiction During World War III," I was in the audience when she first made this speech. At the time, it was the focusing moment of a very socially aware conference. Science Fiction & Fantasy writers often feel marginalized as though their work doesn't count because the academics won't touch it. It's "genre." The word "genre" is to be said as though your nose is not only tilted upwards, but also plugged by the oder of mildewing pulps. Eleanor's speech was an antidote to that. She had the audience revved up to go home and shape the future with their words. Reading it the second time, I still liked it, but it had lost it's impact. Perhaps I remembered too much. Perhaps it lost the energy of it's original situation.
The interview, though, was an absolute delight! It was filled with Eleanor's intelligence and wry sense of humor. Don't pick this book up and just read Mammoths, thinking the rest is filler on the author. There is no filler about this particular author. Her life and personality is so unique that only a bad writer could write a boring blurb about her. That said, don't expect a page turner from Mammoths, but if you're looking for a contemplative read about possibilities, you've picked up the right book.