Feed upon the sacred lottery!
Right now, I should be working on my paper regarding the use of folklore in Charlotte Mew's poetry. In fine academic fashion, I am instead procrastinating by doing other neglected tasks, making lists, organizing my deadlines, and randomly posting to Livejournal.
At least I've made an outline? And now I'm here with book recommendations!
First up: Mira Grant's Feed.
Feed is the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy, featuring a world in which humanity has made it through a zombie apocalypse and is keepin' on keepin' on. Really, I can word no better endorsement than Publisher's Weekly has already done in their starred review:
Urban fantasist Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue) picks up a new pen name for this gripping, thrilling, and brutal depiction of a postapocalyptic 2039. Twin bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason and their colleague Buffy are thrilled when Sen. Peter Ryman, the first presidential candidate to come of age since social media saved the world from a virus that reanimates the dead, invites them to cover his campaign. Then an event is attacked by zombies, and Ryman's daughter is killed. As the bloggers wield the newfound power of new media, they tangle with the CDC, a scheming vice presidential candidate, and mysterious conspirators who want more than the Oval Office. Shunning misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness, McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters who conduct a soul-shredding examination of what's true and what's reported.
If that hasn't sold you yet, here's how excited my husband is:
Andy's jazzed about FEED! Why aren't you?
Mira also appeared on John Scalzi's blog for the Big Idea last Friday: read her post for some background about the series! And then check out this kick-ass immersive website Orbit has put up for Feed.
Catherynne M. Valente also had a book birthday this week! Two years ago, she began her Omikuji Project: each month, she sends an original story to subscribers. Those who subscribe to the postal version receive heavy paper sealed with fax, each carefully wrought missive an ode to classic letter-writing. And since her project is named after the Japanese sacred lottery, Valente creates an original work of art - be it graphic collage or beaded necklace or knitted minotaur hooves - that is sent to one random subscriber.
With the assistance of the Omikuji community, Valente has created This is My Letter to the World: The Omikuji Project, Cycle I. This collection features the first 24 stories of the project, excerpts from each month's letter, and original art by community members.
If you'd like some idea of what you can expect, read my review of the inaugural story "The Glass Gear" at my website.
Back to the page-mines I go...
At least I've made an outline? And now I'm here with book recommendations!
First up: Mira Grant's Feed.
Feed is the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy, featuring a world in which humanity has made it through a zombie apocalypse and is keepin' on keepin' on. Really, I can word no better endorsement than Publisher's Weekly has already done in their starred review:
Urban fantasist Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue) picks up a new pen name for this gripping, thrilling, and brutal depiction of a postapocalyptic 2039. Twin bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason and their colleague Buffy are thrilled when Sen. Peter Ryman, the first presidential candidate to come of age since social media saved the world from a virus that reanimates the dead, invites them to cover his campaign. Then an event is attacked by zombies, and Ryman's daughter is killed. As the bloggers wield the newfound power of new media, they tangle with the CDC, a scheming vice presidential candidate, and mysterious conspirators who want more than the Oval Office. Shunning misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness, McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters who conduct a soul-shredding examination of what's true and what's reported.
If that hasn't sold you yet, here's how excited my husband is:
Andy's jazzed about FEED! Why aren't you?
Mira also appeared on John Scalzi's blog for the Big Idea last Friday: read her post for some background about the series! And then check out this kick-ass immersive website Orbit has put up for Feed.
Catherynne M. Valente also had a book birthday this week! Two years ago, she began her Omikuji Project: each month, she sends an original story to subscribers. Those who subscribe to the postal version receive heavy paper sealed with fax, each carefully wrought missive an ode to classic letter-writing. And since her project is named after the Japanese sacred lottery, Valente creates an original work of art - be it graphic collage or beaded necklace or knitted minotaur hooves - that is sent to one random subscriber.
With the assistance of the Omikuji community, Valente has created This is My Letter to the World: The Omikuji Project, Cycle I. This collection features the first 24 stories of the project, excerpts from each month's letter, and original art by community members.
If you'd like some idea of what you can expect, read my review of the inaugural story "The Glass Gear" at my website.
Back to the page-mines I go...