In an attempt to up the property value of my site, I am going to do a literary review. Since I’m trying to become a novelist, I really need to read more. Problem is, I have trouble setting aside time for it. The main time I read is on a plane flight. Luckily, I got stuck in Denver overnight flying to Boise, so I had plenty of time to read Wolf Time by Lars Walker. Lars Walker has helped me out in starting to be a writer, supported the writing group I’m a member of, and was nice enough to send me a free copy of both Wolf Time and The Year of the Warrior. He also had a new title that was released by Baen in December, Blood and Judgment.
First off, Wolf Time is definitely aimed towards a conservative reader. It takes place in sort of alternate reality modern times where liberals have taken over America and have been able to pass legislation based on any wacky idea ever presented on a college campus. This adds a black humor to the book, but this alternate reality is more of a setting to the novel than as the emphasis of the story. The actually plot of the story is a bit hard to describe, but involves a healthy dose of Viking fact and mythology, discussion of the Christian faith, and the eternal search for one’s purpose in life. The story starts out rooted in the real world, involving conflicts of university politics, national politics, and a secret society possibly committing acts of terrorism in the name of Christianity. More fantasy elements pile on as the book moves towards its ending… an ending I didn’t quite understand (then again, I’m easily confused). There is a lot of talking in the novel, but that’s actually one of its strengths because the ideas presented in the dialogue are quite thought provoking (certainly more thought provoking than your average New York Times columnist). All in all, I really enjoyed the book, and, most importantly, it really left me thinking afterwards. I give it four out of five stars.
My brother was kind enough to lend me a number of Heinlein novels, and I have to go finish reading Citizen of the Galaxy which I read most of on the plane flight home and haven’t touched since (won’t my reading group be so proud of me when they hear I’ve finally read some Heinlein!). Then I need to read Return of the King which I was saving until after I saw the movie. Then there is some writing I need to work on myself… God, there is enough hours in the day.
Heinlein kicks ass! (Still not as good as Prof. Tolkien’s work.)
The real key to getting your writing done is to set aside a specific time of day for it. Some people get up and run, others get up and write. I know when I do this I put aside two hours which leads to about two-thousand words. When I don’t do it, it is usually just a choice to slack, thereby showing a lack of resolve. That’s why my novel has sat idle at thirty-six thousand words for a while. The plot is all outlined. The characters are all sketched. The maps and time lines are all made. And most importantly, I wonder if there is anything good on T.V. right now…
Dude, I have trouble writing a 3-page short story for my English 10 class, let alone a frickin’ novel. Oh well, I still have my Tom Clancy books to keep me distracted.
Mmm…Clancy novels.
Your description of Wolf Time reminds me of Fallen Angels by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Michael Flynn – if you get a chance you might want to give it a whirl.
Citizen of the Galaxy is one of Heinlein’s best ‘juveniles’. My favourite Heinlein is still Time Enough for Love, with Stranger in a Strange Land (preferably the uncut version) a close second.
well said. i would say i largely agree.
well said. i would say i largely agree.
Heinlein, eh? Have Space Suit Will Travel. Since it’s about Mars, it’s topical. Or, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Equally topical. I find if I quit wasting time eating and sleeping, I have another 5-8 hours to do stuff. Downside is I can’t remember doing it.. But a Martian day is longer…
Never could get into Heinlein…Pournelle is masterful, though and you really can’t read too much of his stuff…
Funny someone mentioned Fallen Angel. I just read that. It’s available through the Baen Free Library online. Great idea, the moonbats get what they want, and destroy the environment as a result!
Hey Frank, speaking of your novel, the first 5 chapters are no longer at Baen.com’s boards. I never got the chance to read them there. Any chance you’ll post them here?
Thanks,
Bob
Didn’t understand the ending, huh? Doesn’t matter. My subliminal messages are now permanently embedded in your cerebral cortex, making you my helpless slave anytime the Unspeakable Word is spoken. Not today. Probably not tomorrow. But someday. Then you will join my zombie legions in our crusade of terror against the forces of evil. Fear not. There’ll be pizza and movies after the bloodbath.
I’d just like to mention that Baen is, hands-down, the best publisher in SciFi/Fantasy.
On the Heinlein track, Time enough for love is a definite keeper. I’m partial to Glory Road and you’d like that Frank because it has swords and stuff.
Heinlein also wrote the rules for writers, and they are unbeatable in their simplicity. The number one rule is WRITE, and you seem to be doing that on a pretty regular basis here.
Keep up the good work Frank,
John H
Bob,
Those five chapters have changed a lot now, so maybe I’ll put them up agian.
Lars,
Must… fight… evil… with… Viking… sword…
Since I’m trying to become a novelist, I really need to read more. Since I’m trying to become a novelist, I really need to read more.
No, no, no!!!
If you want to be a writer, write more.
Starship Troopers is a Heinlein must-read. Excellent polital/military philosophy mixed in there. And MI? mmmm…powersuits.
As for the rest of Heinlein, I always thought he sort of lost it after about 1970. The old stuff like Farmer in the Sky and Have Spacesuit Will Travel was classic sci-fi. The stuff that came later like Stranger In a Strane Land, was just pseudo-psychological claptrap – mediocre sci-fi at best.
And, when it comes to writing, the real challenge is not what to read and when to read it, the real challenge is how to find time to read, write, shoot AND be able to pay for it all.
Phosphorescent Irish Skin
I’m still tweaking, trying to get used to the newishness of my new OS and browser. There are some preferences I originally set so long ago I don’t recall how I did them anymore (font preference, for example–I forget which font it was I had for the des…