Gifts yet to be bestowed: Forthcoming Books

I mentioned in another post that I wrap my obsessions around me like a cloak, that I hold them, sometimes, before me as a shield. I'm here writing, today, because the universe seems to be silently endorsing my course. At present, many of the creators or franchises that inspire my own writing have released new titles. If only my pocketbook kept pace with such production! Barring some unexpected windfall, the titles below won't be coming to live on my shelves anytime soon, but that certainly won't stop me from celebrating their existence!

If you know me well (poor you), then you probably know that Star Wars is not only one of the inspirations for the great-unfinished-novel; it was also one of my Obsessions (that's a capital O for a reason, folks). If you need more proof, here's my best Princess Leia impression, complete with blaster.

I'm not good enough at self-analysis to say why Star Wars got into my bloodstream like some sort of science fiction virus. I can say that my mom had inklings that such a thing could happen, though; when she learned that I had been introduced to Han, Chewie, and co., she declared: "I tried to shield her from that!" (One suspects that she was mostly trying to shield herself. Maybe she really was traumatized by Orko). Whatever the reason, I abase myself here to admit that Luke Skywalker was one of my first crushes that wasn't animated (the animated ones included Skywise* and Legolas). Since the main character of my novel goes on to marry a character based on Darth Vader's little boy, maybe I should have guessed that Star Wars hadn't been entirely exorcised from my heart.

 But, in the wake of my more-recent love affair with Star Trek, I thought I'd left that galaxy far, far away far, far behind. Weirdly enough, the thing that reminded me how much fun I'd had in the Star Wars universe was youtube artist RoyishGoodLooks. His Star Wars compositions sent me on a personalized nostalgia trip (which, considering my bills, may be this summer's only vacation!) and made me wonder Star Wars books I might start scheming after. This is what I found:

I received many gifts from my graduate school education, including a tendency to search for critical works on, well, everything. Maybe I'm being won over a bit by cover art here; who knew that stormtrooper armor could look so domestic and so slimming? Reviews also call the author's enthusiasm "endearing." I suspect that my own enthusiasm is too often off-putting, so now I have something to aspire to! 

I confess that despite its commercial success, I find myself reluctant to forgive The Force Awakens. It was a good film (it was, basically, A New Hope version 2.0), but it suggested that the characters that I loved and missed had lived terrible lives while we were apart... and then it killed one of them. So, I'll opt for adventures before rather than adventures forthcoming... and I look forward to renewing my acquaintance with the farmboy, the smuggler, and the princess!

I'm definitely being won over by art here... and the title. Who doesn't want to read about an imperiled Vader? A Vader with his back against the wall? Who doesn't want to search alongside Han Solo for that silly kid who keeps having "delusions of grandeur" and getting himself in trouble? 

Novels based on a franchise might be the pinnacle of geekdom, and I've long found that fan fiction trumps the professional and the canonical six days of the week. I'm certain that I read this work once, but in rekindling my love of Star Wars I find it calling to me again.

This is another case where the cover may be winning me over - well, the cover and the deep regret I felt when I learned that Fisher had passed away. I mourned Leonard Nimoy in public (our local comic shop had a screening of the Star Trek films and I went to see them and say a strange but not unemotional goodbye to Mr. Spock) but this loss was real, too, - especially since science fiction gets so few female role models.


To complement The Princess Diarist (because the only thing better than buying books is buying them in pairs) I went searching for a good characterization of the rebel leader she brought to life. Fans say this is the one, so it joins the list of books-to-be (when I have money)!

Older than my Star Wars obsession is my love for He-man and the Masters of the Universe. Again, I can't exactly explain the reason why an overly-tan, loincloth-wearing, sword-wielding, shape-changing hero appealed to my child self ... but it's kind of a blast to exclaim, "By the power of Grayskull!" when faced with, say, a tough jar lid. Factually speaking, I don't need a character guide to MOTU; I either know who everyone is or they're minor enough that I don't care. But Dark Horse makes some handsome books - and this one is part of a set. When faced with a set, I become ruled by collecting impulses beyond my control (as interpreted by Ace Ventura).

Besides said unneeded character guide, I also don't need the remaining trade paperback volumes of the recently released He-man series. I don't need them, you see, because I have the individual comics. While Victorian enough to love a good serial, I prefer to read bound matter - so now I want the books. Somewhere, some marketing person is chuckling evilly over those silly consumers who can be made to purchase a product twice....

Since we're on the topic of sword-wielders, I confess that I was once an avid reader of Conan the Barbarian novels. As a woman, I should probably have been offended quite a bit - but I was either too young to notice or too inoculated by fantasy literature (which is still, in my opinion, usually written with men in mind) to mind. With the end of the semester crashing down around me and my brain too tired to grapple with anything, I looked on openlibrary and was pleased to discover a wide range of Conan novels. I then got to wondering about Red Sonja. She didn't feature in nearly as many novels, but it seems she's been given new life (and something of a feminist slant) by writer Gail Simone. I'm excited to see for myself!

Never let it be said that I easily abandon a theme. Elric, like Sonja, Conan, and He-man, is also centered on swordplay (I'm working hard to resist saying something here about fantasy's phallic underpinnings...). I'm fairly new to the Elric universe, but rumor has it that this is the comic book version, so I'd like to see if Moorcock makes more sense with pictures!

Speaking of things that make less sense than they might, I'm a recent convert to Discworld (as discussed here) and I'd love to become better oriented there (if "oriented" is ever something one can be on the back of a turtle soaring through space...)

Jim Henson's Labyrinth is equally disorienting as Discworld, especially when goblins hop up and change the marks you've so carefully made in 80s-bright lipstick! I bought this title for my sister when it came out, but I've yet to add a copy to my own collection. Having just ordered the Labyrinth soundtrack on vinyl, I'm feeling its absence!

Come now, you would have been disappointed somehow, deep in your soul, if Rush hadn't made the list somewhere. I confess, the Rush book I'd most like to read is an expose written by Mr. Peart, or, barring that, a really good biography of Alex or Geddy. The collection of stories featured in 2113 won't fulfill that wish, but I feel I must support the cause**! 

The band that holds second place in my heart and on my playlists is Coheed and Cambria. I've never bothered to unravel the intricate story that underlies their concept albums (I just associate things back to my novel, instead!) but I'm tempted by this title. It's only available in digital format with a $10 price tag, however, which usually makes me start my own particularly bookish calculations. They go like this: "I could buy one $10 digital book... or three used physical books. Three is better than one..." 

I think there's space enough between the Star Wars content and this entry to safely discuss Star Trek. This book made a random appearance on some Amazon.com page I was searching and I immediately took notice. I've long wondered why slash fan fiction is so primarily a female enterprise (yay, a pun!). I don't know is this book knows the answer, but I bet it will be fun to find out!

I'm an Original Series fan rather than a Next Generation one, though I have good memories of talking through the episodes my stepfather was trying to watch. Apparently, I had a thing for Commander Riker and called him "Commander Cute." I should have titled this entry "embarrassing admissions" and left it at that. Despite my preference for Kirk and company, I've always loved Patrick Stewart - and I love him more for embracing his role as Picard and saying that he was proud of it. So many character actors seem to feel a faint distaste when their role gets too big, too closely identified with them. So, in support of Patrick Stewart, I bid the universe to, "make it so" I can read this book! And, while I am at it, I should probably read Kirk's, too!

Above, I mentioned the fact that I already have the He-man comics, but still want the trade paperbacks. If any series ever excelled at getting my money for the same version of things, ElfQuest is it. I own the hardcover, printed-in-color graphic novels, which now have a $90 price tag for used copies (above). I own the new, Complete ElfQuest comic reprints. And, when it comes to this final quest, I own the individual comics. But, I remain tempted by the trade paperbacks, too... Thank goodness "book lust" never capped the list of cardinal sins (maybe it was voted out in one of those church councils?), otherwise I'd be doomed... 

See that sticker on the right of this title? It reminds the potential purchaser that Beagler wrote The Last Unicorn. Savvy marketing, that. TLU was one of my first loves in fantasy fiction - so I imagine Mr. Beagle knew what he was up to when he returned to such a theme. Unfortunately, it's a small book with a hefty price tag. Having already introduced you to book math above, I leave you to imagine my thoughts about such prices!

I love fan fiction. I love archiveofourown. I think that more solid writing is produced there than in most of what tops the New York Times bestseller list. I've yet to break into any fan community myself, but I like the emphasis on community, the participatory and contributory nature of the whole thing. I'd love to take a class on fan fiction, though I'm certainly not brave enough to teach one of my own!

My recent trip to New York City was a wonderful experience, but New York didn't feel like the New York I'd imagined until I stepped onto Broadway. I still don't want to live there (no city mouse, me) but if someone set me up with Broadway tickets for a month or ten months, I wouldn't be able to leave until I'd seen it all. And, since we've been talking more dollars than sense (sha sha sha), this one is a deal. It's the book for college courses on Broadway - and it's 800 pages cost a mere $17!

No one writes like Mark Helprin. His prose makes me want to break pens and swear I'll never write another word.... and it makes me want to build a nest of his pages and live there. His Winter's Tale is one of my desert island books. I searched his name on a whim recently and was delighted to found that his next book is due in time for my birthday. Isn't it nice of the universe to send presents?

* While I'm in the midst of admitting embarrassing things about myself, I once paid an art teacher $50 (which is a lot of money for a kid) to replicate this picture of Skywise for my wall. I always pay rather garish tribute to the things I love... There are (sigh) two Andrew McNaughtan prints of Rush in my office...

** In so much as support is feasible/reasonable. I draw the line at reissues of old material with "a new chapter!" or "bonus swag!" I just know you're behind this, Ray Danniels...

Shaped by Stories: Spotlight on Terry Pratchett

 “Cats are like witches. They don’t fight to kill, but to win. There is a difference. There’s no point in killing an opponent. That way, they won’t know they’ve lost, and to be a real winner you have to have an opponent who is beaten and knows it. There’s no triumph over a corpse, but a beaten opponent, who will remain beaten every day of the remainder of their sad and wretched life, is something to treasure.”- Terry Pratchett

Featured above is Plush Greebo (just in case anyone's thinking of buying me a new office decoration) both because he is amazing and because six live cats may be the limit - but there's always room for a stuffed creature or two! [Complete rambling aside: in my research, I sometimes stumble across big cat taxidermy. It's (mostly) illegal now, but these are generally antique pieces. And I'm convinced in a majestically deranged way that one of them should be with me because I would love it and grieve that it was ever killed. I recognize that sounds crazy, but it is true...(End rambling aside now)] I'm featuring Greebo today as a balance against my last, sobering post as I've recently completed Reaper Man and Witches Abroad -- which followed last year's read of Equal Rites and Wyrd Sisters.

 I took a roundabout road to the works of Terry Pratchett. I remember my stepdad trying to interest me in Pratchett and Piers Anthony because I was such an avid reader of fantasy. Having checked out a story or two, I gave them back, unimpressed. Older now, I think I understand why. For child-me, fantasy was a serious business, full of heroes and swords with pedigrees and THE FATE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD!! Child-me didn't get how humor could possibly flourish inside of such a genre. Besides, I think humor is far more necessary to adult me; sometimes, if I didn't burst out laughing, I might have to cry... and without damsel-in-distress looks to back me up, crying in public is right out! 

“Was that what it was really like to be alive? The feeling of darkness dragging you forward? How could they live with it? And yet they did, and even seemed to find enjoyment in it, when surely the only sensible course would be to despair. Amazing. To feel you were a tiny living thing, sandwiched between two cliffs of darkness. How could they stand to be alive?” - Terry Pratchett

Death was my original favorite character in the Discworld universe; his faltering attempts at being human remind me of my own faltering attempts to be like everyone else, perhaps... Whatever the reason, he fills me with an odd tenderness and I know I'll feel regret when I've reached the end of his particular series. The ending of this work seemed to accelerate and it caught me off-guard several times not with its wackiness or its wit wordplay (expected of Pratchett) but with a twist in plot which, having occurred, always seemed like something I should have seen coming!

“Find the story, Granny Weatherwax always said. She believed that the world was full of story shapes. If you let them, they controlled you. But if you studied them, if you found out about them... you could use them, you could change them.” - Terry Pratchett

Few and far between are the books that allow you - propped up in bed with evening pressing in on the panes - to say "he he he!" and wish your eyes could move faster across the page to find the next laugh-out-loud line. This is one of those books and, as its central message is the power of stories, it can't help but warm the heart of someone who teaches literature for a living! Granny Weatherwax and Greebo top my list of fictional-characters-I'd love to meet, but it's hard to top Nanny Ogg's letters from abroad. I wish I was as unfazed as she is when it comes to travel!

 I'm moving from these Pratchett titles to Truth, so stay tuned for more!

Social Science/ Social Issues - and the hope for social justice

"Seldom in our times have we felt a greater need for the humanitarian spirit than now, with the rising voices of fear and distrust becoming more commonplace, anger and hatred competing with love and compassion. It is more crucial than ever to champion the basic principles of human welfare." - Alex Lifeson

I admit, though not with any pride, that I'm one of those people who tend to avoid the news. I've been known to recoil from the spread pages of a newspaper; sometimes I raise my shoulders like a barrier when I hear something disturbing. I'm not advocating ignorance or burying one's head in the sand - and I do agree with Mr. Lifeson, above, that we need more compassion and understanding now more than ever - but I sometimes feel that the task before us is crushing and I'm not sure where I can make an impact. This year, I'm making a more conscious effort to know more about what's happening about me. I always try to be an advocate in my classroom -- but I can work to be better informed, too! The following titles are a small step toward that goal. 

I was first drawn to this book because it's about dogs. I'm a cat person myself, but I love books about creatures of any kind (even the spiders I fear!). As I read, I was astounded by the dedication of the women and men who volunteer to be trained alongside their animals. Their training is rigorous beyond belief (they rappel down buildings!), they search in rough and dangerous terrain -- and sometimes what they find is heartbreaking. While I hope that I'm never in a situation that merits the attention and service of these dedicated folks, I'm grateful for the sacrifices they make!

I took several seminars about race during graduate school, but I still feel out of my element when I try to discuss it. Maybe this is the product of growing up in a place that is so predominately white and attending schools that were less than diverse. When my lack of knowledge started to bother me, I began to look for "essential" titles about race and this work topped several lists. As heartbreaking as the book was (especially for someone involved in higher education) I'm grateful I kept reading. It introduced me to struggles that I've never faced and made me think about living conditions in my own country that are utterly foreign to me. I do have a single qualm, though. I felt tricked when late in the work the narrator illuminated his relationship with Peace. Maybe this is wrong on my part, but I wondered if (on some level) Hobbs exploited this tragedy to further his writing career. Maybe I'm being hideously cynical, but I wish the relationship had either been clear from the first page or left out of the narrative entirely.

Of the three books in this entry, this one was simultaneously the easiest to read (it's pacing kept drawing me in) and the most difficult to read (because of the issues involved). I found myself staggered by the statistics that so few rapes are prosecuted - and that even fewer result in significant punishment. I  thought that the book was very balanced when it came to the issues swirling around the campus itself (privileges accorded to student-athletes, party culture); I think this title should be taught in first semester seminars.

I regret that we live in a world where such investigative journalism is essential, but I'm glad that there are writers in the trenches, working to get the word out!

School Books

This image is not a commentary on my beliefs about students and reading, not even a little! ;)

Last semester, I had the opportunity to teach a literature class that I hadn’t taught previously. Although there were several stellar students in the course, the group dynamics were discouraging; there was a sort of inertia that dragged us down all semester. I’m willing to accept my share of the blame - maybe I didn’t work hard enough to find a solution - but I am grateful that this particular class is finished! Thankfully this struggle did have a silver lining! In designing the syllabus, I got to read texts that I knew of but had never had the opportunity to read during my own studies. I don’t know how much my students appreciated their inclusion, but I am better read now – and I hope they left the class with greater critical thinking skills and at least a small appreciation of literature!

Faust - This was, by far, the work the students enjoyed the most. I always feel a certain affection for well-written villains (like Lucifer in Paradise Lost, for instance), and I can’t help but feel a certain sympathy for a scholar who was led astray by a longing for knowledge, so it was a good read for me, too. It does leave me wondering though: why do my students always feel a greater affinity for the Romantics - who are removed from them by a solid three centuries - than for the Victorians?

The Tale of Kieu - This was one of my favorite reads this semester. It taught me a great deal about Vietnam, and I came to look forward to the moments of contradiction in the text. On one hand, Kieu is a female icon, upholding feminine virtues even in the face of adversity and abuse. On the other hand, she orders executions of those who have wronged her without the slightest hesitation. I love rich, complex characters! I also cannot get over the ending!

(reread) My Bondage and My Freedom - To be untouched by a narrative like Douglass’s is probably to be something less than human. I worked with this text several times in graduate seminars, but it was rewarding to see what passages resonated with my students, where the text made them take pause.

Notes from the Underground - In the first half of this text, I identified with the narrator more than I am entirely comfortable with admitting… This shorter work gave me a new respect for Dostoyevsky and a new interest in his works. Because of it, I am now reading Crime and Punishment.

The Death of Ivan Ilych - At the same time I was teaching this text, I also taught “Queen of Spades” by Pushkin and “The Overcoat” by Gogol. I preferred the other two texts, but can respect the power of this one and the message that to live a life without meaning is not to live at all (something worth dwelling on  in our time!)

(reread) A Doll’s House - I first encountered this work in a drama class as an undergraduate. I loved it then because it surprised me in the final act. I didn’t think such a foolish character as Nora could undergo a believable awakening, but she does and the play’s final moments have great power!

The Cherry Orchard - I enjoyed this play because I read it at the same time I was reading Nicholas and Alexandra, so I had a deeper appreciation of the chasms between the social classes and of the feelings on both sides. For my money, this is another play where the ending comes for your heart with a knife. Fiers lying there in the dark….

(reread) The Most Dangerous Game - I originally had no intentions of teaching this text (I was encouraged to avoid British and American authors) but a discussion with one of my students made me remember it and want to include it. It jives nicely with my own research - the idea of people as the hunted rather than the hunters - and the students had a firm grasp on the imperial elements that appear throughout.

(reread) Little Women - One of the great privileges of teaching literature is that one is often taught in turn. I worked with just one student on this text and I balked a little at first because I felt that I had outgrown the work; some passages seemed too syrupy, too disconnected from reality. Yet, over time, I found passages that still applied. The lesson Marmee teaches the girls about too much leisure? I think I’ve had to teach myself that lesson a few times, too! My student also did a wonderful job of tracking down the many cultural influences that appear at the borders of the story - from Transcendentalism to Suffrage.

Heart of Darkness - If I thought enough of my abilities as a scholar to imagine I could find something new to say, I would love to write on this text. I was so struck by Conrad’s word choice, his ability to conjure atmosphere… and that lie at the end! And then there is the narrator’s obsession… I don’t have anything concrete to say about it, but I would love to spend time parsing it out!

The Metamorphosis - This tragic little tale both won me over and repulsed me… and since I live with someone who makes a living from insects, I couldn’t help but feel a strange tenderness for poor Gregor. The moment that really did me in was his protection of the picture of the girl in the fur coat. He doesn’t known this woman - the picture is a cut out from a magazine - but he feels so much that he risks bodily harm to protect this aspect of his fading humanity. I can just imagine myself trapped in cockroach-form, protectively crouched over my Andrew McNaughtan photo of Geddy Lee!!

In the event of entomological transformation, look for me here!

(reread) Ready Player One - I successfully taught this text in a pop culture course and have since been using it as a supplement in composition classes to push students toward writing about things of personal interest to them. The geek in me also loves the way the author pays homage to things he loves (I wish I had thought of that first)!

(reread) Beowulf­ – Remember that line from The Hobbit? It goes like this: "Arrow!" said the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!" Beowulf is my black arrow in the classroom. It never fails, it gives the students a very solid foundation in terms of the epic, and I always enjoy the conversation it generates. I usually tell students that I am their good ring-giver and they are my noble shield-bearers. 

(reread) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – I love the alliteration in Gawain and the way it contrasts the two hunts. I always tell the students that they should feel nervous for Gawain if all of this carnage is being described outside – it means he’s just as much in danger inside! Having an immature, fashion-driven Arthurian court is also a nice twist on Camelot!

(reread) Paradise Lost – I’ve mentioned above that I enjoy a sympathetic villain. To compel students to engage with the literary legacy of Paradise Lost (one that taints many people’s understanding of Genesis) I ask them to compare the poem to either Wrath of Khan or Pleasantville. It makes for some very fun papers! I’m not quite willing to read Kirk as a God figure (to the regret of William Shatner, I’m sure) but Spock as a Christ figure reads better – where the needs of the many (sinners) outweighed the needs of our mightiest One.

(reread) The Odyssey – I began my class on epic with The Odyssey (as is only fitting) and my ambitious start was well-rewarded. Students were quick to pick out the cultural (masculine) values being held up and we’ve been tracing the development of the epic hero ever since!

Epic (New Critical Idiom Series) – I can’t say enough good about this series. I was introduced to it as a graduate student working under the wise and wonderful Dr. Donald E. Hall and I’ve been recommending its slender volumes ever since. If you need to get a quick, thorough introduction to a literary topic, you can’t do better than these. This particular volume was a little dry, but it gave my students a good introduction to the ancient epics, the trajectory of epics up to Milton, and the way that elements of the epic have seeped into modern fantasy, science fiction, and video games.

(reread) The Complete ElfQuest v. 1 – This teaching experiment was not a grand success, as the reading was due the day before Easter break. Half of my class didn’t appear and the half that did appear neglected much of the reading. However, as I’ve related in other posts, I think this comic has a lot to offer, and I’ll use it again in my Graphic Novel course in the fall. Try, try again!