Though I pretty much stay out of the awards bloodsports, I found myself sharply disappointed that Too Like the Lightning wasn't on the Nebula list this year. It was one of my favorite reads of last year. Its second half is now out, Seven Surrenders. I was commenting to mrissa, who reviews it over at her journal today, that I hope more people read these ( Read more... )

I took a look at two new fantasies, Uprooted and Crimson Bound that contain some remarkably similar elements, but which are vastly different books. I would love to discuss these books and pastoral fantasy. (Especially--she said cautiously--as life is slowly returning to his regular rhythms.)

I've gotten into a conversation with a couple of people, and it boils down to: what are the important elements of a YA novel now? Everyone agrees that what makes a story "young adult" is changing--and it's not just the inclusion of cuss words, or sex, both of which have appeared in Problem Novels going back to the late sixties, though they weren't ( Read more... )