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...