Book Review – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

After weeks and weeks of struggling to read because of a bad reaction to a book and an insane amount of stress which has even lead to me taking a break from blogging reviews generally, I am so happy (to the point that I want to scream it from the rooftops, but I’ll settle for a blog post) that I have not only finished a fiction book but I also want to talk about it.

I will hold my hands up and admit I could have maybe gone a bit easier on myself and chosen a slightly easier to read book than ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’ by Robert A. Heinlein, because it is not a easy book to read, but it is utterly brilliant.

‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’ is very much a science fiction book of its time; it was originally published in the 1960s so it does have the characteristic slower pacing, long conversations and then sudden happenings that 1960s speculative fiction is know for, but unlike others of the era I’ve read, this book hooked me in and kept me hooked.

I am very much a child of epic 1990s high fantasy like the early works of Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind and then the faster paced emergence of YA and NA literature. Reading the sort of complex speculative world-building of earlier eras (bar J.R.R. Tolkien himself) has never really appealed to me until now, and I will admit, I have been missing out.

Once you adapt to the language which has been constructed to show natural evolution and the more abrupt story-telling style, the book is an utter masterpiece in world-building, in showing how a revolution operates and in developing tender relationships between man and AI. It’s a beautiful book to read.

One of the things that I loved the most is the imagination that has gone into the world-building, or perhaps I should say the luna-building. The structure of the society that has evolved on the Moon, originally used as a penal colony before become a settlement without freedom is incredibly well thought out, and a very good example of how a society can work when women are treated equally and with respect.

The very best thing though is the character of Mike; a supercomputer that has developed AI and a questionable sense of humour. Most people might not describe the relationship he has with Mannie, the protagonist, as tender, that was very much how I felt about their story together.

As a computer specialist Mannie already has an invested interest in Mike as a computer, and their blossoming friendship in the early chapters of the book is what hooked me in. Like all friendships the strain of changing circumstances tested their relationship, and I kept reading in order to find out what happens.

If you’re interested in science fiction and speculative fiction then you should definitely add The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to your reading list, and you definitely should if you want to see how a world and society can be built up using existing norms but then evolved in a natural way to create something new.

 

Book (Re)writing – How to lose the Plot!

True for life, but not for my story.

In my previous post on Book (Re)Writing, I talked about needed to look at my own advice in order to re-write my book, so I sat and I read through my posts to see what I have written about in the past. It has helped to focus my mind. However, while I have focused my head on writing generally, it doesn’t help me to understand where my book has gone wrong.

I’ve been attending screenwriting classes with Gavin Williams (twitter@gavstatic) recently, after having done a course with him last September and again this spring, and I’ve received loads of great tips from him about how screenwriters approach the breakdown of a story. I’ve been advised to create a beat sheet when writing scripts.

A beat sheet is an outline of a story that comes in the form of bullet points that can be then expanded upon to form sentences and then paragraphs. One of the very best bits of advice Gavin has ever given me is to form this beat sheet on index cards, rather than on a large sheet of paper. In the past I’ve used a very large corkboard that was left over from my student days, and then large sketchpads that then also got dotted with post it notes.

Putting my ideas on index cards has organised my brain in a much better way. I am someone who changes my mind on quite a frequent basis, usually to experiment with different ideas of how something can work. This is so much easier to do with index cards than having to re-write an entire A3 sheet of planning.

How JK Rowling planned!

However, I didn’t know the index card trick when I planned and wrote my book. In truth I’m not entirely sure I had a solid plan for what I wanted to have happen in my book. I knew where the first book started, and I had an event where I wanted the book to end. However, because of the nature of my books, I never got to that event before I realised I really needed to end book one and instead just start book two.

My book series is called ‘The Phoenix Spell’, and its intention is to be an epic High Fantasy story, that runs more or less continuously from book to book; any jumps in time I have planned would be mid-book not at the start of a new one. The event in question that I was aiming for as the end of book one ‘From the Ashes’, that would have been a cliff-hanger, has now ended up being about a third of the way through book three ‘Into the Flames’.

My cliff-hanger has ended up being a pivotal point changing the course of one book, rather than being the end of a book that was supposed to hook the reader into reading the next book. And I have to admit, at the time of writing the books, I didn’t care that I had made this change, because in the time between making the initial plan and doing the actually writing, I’d had more ideas about what sort of story I wanted to tell, and what other events I wanted to have happen.

The original draft of ‘Into the Flames’ was supposed to be the second book. I’ve added an entire new book ‘To Light an Inferno’ in-between these books. At no point have I done any planning for this, which makes the original intention for ‘Into the Flames’ completely redundant. And one of the ways in which I made it possible for the new book to slot in was by adding hints and laying out foreshadowing into the plot of ‘From the Ashes’.

And that my friends, is how I have completely lost the plot (of my book, though I will accept arguments that I am referring to my sanity as well).

When I admitted the truth that I needed to re-write ‘From the Ashes’, I knew one of the things that I would need to re-consider is all of the ‘additions’ I have made to book one in order to justify things that happen in the new book two, and even as far in the future as book three. Now as the writer, I should know what all of these things are, except because I have been doing this for years I will admit that I’m so close to the work that even I’m not sure about everything that I have added to the story over the years.

Hello index cards. Using these lovely little beauties I have written a breakdown of my entire book, doing a section by section, and then chapter by chapter breakdown (summarised in one or two sentences) of exactly what happens in ‘From the Ashes’. I have found my plot, and good grief, I’m not surprised some of my beta-readers have got lost trying to follow the story.

If I used an analogy and compared my plot to a pathway, I will admit I would never want a plot that is akin to a straight line on a flat road; a little bit of meandering and some inclines would make a more interesting story. Needless to say I currently have mountains that require specialist equipment to climb and you don’t just go straight up; some of the paths involve climbing down a bit before you start going back towards the summit.

As much as I love that my book does this, I couldn’t sell it, and if I’m honest I’ve got to the middle of writing book three, and I’ve stopped because even I have no idea how I’m going to carry on. The foundations of my story, while they could be solid, have been built by me pouring the concrete after I’ve already build the walls. It’s a mess.

However, I do have some hope. Having done the breakdown that I’ve created, all of the story elements that are there are solid stories that could work in their own right. They might not work with these books, but they are stories I can use elsewhere. Doing the breakdown has helped me to focus on finding what I had intended to be the main plot.

I can start the re-writing (once I’ve followed a few other steps first) by creating a solid plan of what just the main plot will be, not just for ‘From the Ashes’, but for ‘To Light an Inferno’ and ‘Into the Flames’, and beyond as well.

Hopefully, if you’re new-ish to writing, this post has been a great idea of how a writer can lose and then find their plot again to help you avoid it by using the tips I’ve learn from Gavin Williams. If you’re like me and you’ve already lost the path, try index cards; they are great breadcrumbs to lead you back to where you wanted to go in the first place, and you don’t even need to have used them before you started your journey; they are like magic breadcrumbs they place themselves in the direction you need to go.

 

 

A Break from Blogging Reviews

So at the beginning of the year I caught an article on films to watch out for this year, and I planned my year of blogging reviews around that excitement.

So far it’s being going great, and I’ve done dozen of blogs this year reviewing films, tv series and books, old and brand new alike. I’ve been talking about fandoms and everything I’ve been watching and reading has gone on a list to blog about.

I now have a list of about 20 odds things I want to review that I’ve seen (note the word seen) in the last month or so, and I had planned for this week to be all about X-men.

Looking at this list has filled me with utter dread. I’ve already been having problems reading this year (See The Effect of a Bad Experience with a Book) I don’t want watching films and tv be added to that, so Young Writer’s Review is going on vacation for a while.

I have a lot going on in my personal life in the new couple of months, so I’m under enough pressure already. Blogging for me has never been about the stats, it has always been about the joy of expressing my opinion. At the minute that joy is gone and planning my reviews around new releases in the cinema makes me feel as if the stats are all I care about.

I also feel as if I have been taking the easy way out when it comes to my blog. Yes, I’ve been watching lots of films recently, but in the back of my mind I was thinking this is a blog post for a day. Ugh!

I started a Young Writer’s Notebook to be about writing and the life of a young writer and what influences me, not just reviewing. I’ve been lazy, and this vacation is my kick up the behind to get be properly thinking about writing again.

So the reviews are going to take a backseat, apart from the odd book review as it will be a part of getting me thinking about reading again, and I will be focusing on my writing blog again.

Look out for my posts on Book (Rewriting), and Young Writer’s Review will be back later in the year.

Ice Scales Scarf

A scarf of crocodile stitch; looks like the scales of an Ice Dragon to me. 

Normally I do crocodile stitch on a solid colour but I’m loving the way the variegated yarn is working up.

When complete (in photo above about one and third of a ball of yarn used) it will have been made with two balls of Rico Baby So Soft Print (DK) in Navy Mix – 100 yds. It recommends a 4mm hook but I’m using a 5mm hook for a slightly looser finish. 

TV Review: Agent Carter – Season 2

It took me a while to connect to the second season of Agent Carter, certainly longer than it did with season one, but the show is still utterly brilliant, and the storyline in season two is even better than the first season.

I think the reason it took me a bit longer to connect to what they were doing in season two has to do with the fact that the creators no longer needed to prove to the audience that a woman is able to be multi-dimensional and a capable character, while also being the lead. Throughout all of season one it was all about proving that Peggy Carter is deserving of the job she has earned and being respected as a capable woman.

The creators have toned that down for the second season, because that no longer needs to be proved, it has been established, and it is toning down that makes the second season so brilliant. It doesn’t need to be pointed out that Peggy Carter is a capable, because the show has established that this is perfectly normal. They have made having a ‘strong female’ character normal.

Someone please pat them on the back, and don’t whatever you do ask them why they wrote a ‘strong female character’, because I will throw a Joss Whedon quote at you.

Go on I will anyway but I’ll make it small.

The second season of Agent Carter is a fab romp through LA, starting with a lake freezing over, and ending with a very satisfying development. It is fun, funny and as fabulous as Agent Carter herself.

Book Review: The Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover

I really love the Revenge of the Sith film, with the exception that I don’t think Padme’s character was particularly well utilised. I didn’t think that the novelisation of the film could be better than the film. I was so wrong.

Stover gets into the heads of the characters at key moments in the plot to explain their thought processes and their actions. It interrupts the plot a little bit, but it brings a depth to Star Wars characters that I’ve never come across before. It isn’t just the plot being played out, it is a character profile that explains why things happen and why characters end up taking the actions that they do.

Also the frustrations that Anakin feels in this story are a lot more prominent. It just doesn’t come across on the screen the feelings of betrayal, confusion and panic he feels. His fall into the Dark Side in the book is played out better than in the film, and it makes a lot more sense.

The other thing I really love as well, is the explanation found in the novelisation as to why the Jedi were so easily defeated, because unlike the Sith they didn’t evolve. This revelation comes from Yodi, who feels regret for keeping the Jedi static and leaving them unprepared for the Sith who have changed over the centuries into something different.

I highly recommend this book; it wraps up the prequel trilogy of novelisations brilliantly. The style of the writing could irritate some people, but this one shows how someone can fall into the Dark Side so easily and why the Jedi lost.

The trilogy of novelisations are so much better than the films; they convey the story that got lost in the green screen better than the films.

 

Book Review: Attack of the Clones by R.A. Salvatore

Sometimes I have a debate about whether I prefer the Star Wars films or the books. However, when it comes to The Attack of the Clones, the novelisation wins hands down. Salvatore manged to do in the book what they completely failed to do in the film: he managed to make Padme into more than just a love interest there to fulfil the requirements of the prequels.

The book begins about four or so chapters before the film does, and the majority of that extra story is Padme’s. She is a busy professional woman, who sees her family when she can, and is being pressured by her family to consider herself and her needs. Admittedly, I’m not keen on that pressure stating that the only way she could possibly be fulfilled in life is to have a family, rather than perhaps a less demanding but equally fulfilling professional career, but that is beside the point.

By the time Padme see Anakin again, she is already thinking that she needs to think about herself and her life beyond her job. Many of my problems with the film, which I go into detail about in my review, stems from a strong female character having to be compromised in order to fulfil a key plot point. Padme seemingly falls in love with Anakin purely because she had to for the plot (or to avoid a much darker plot having to be shown if she didn’t love him and then have children with him anyway.)

The novelisation brings depth to a brilliant character in the way the film failed to do on so many levels. It also makes the plots of Darth Sidious and Count Dooku even better than in the film; there is a lot more mystery behind the revelations that Obi-Wan reveals, and the suspense will keep you turning the page.

This novelisation is highly recommended as it is so much better than the film, purely because it has a great deal more respect for all the characters.

 

Book Review – The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks

I am a massive Star Wars fan, and in many cases it is often difficult for me to decide whether I enjoy the films or books more. Admittedly most of my love for the books comes from the Jude Watson’s middle grade books set before the events of the Phantom Menace, The Jedi Apprentice series, but when it comes to the novelisation of the films I am completely hooked.

I first read the Terry Brooks novelisation after I had read Brooks’ autobiography, and after the chaos he went through writing the novelisation for Hook, I am so grateful that he took the risk of writing The Phantom Menace, because the book is honestly brilliant. I know a lot of people don’t like the film, but as I state in my own review of the film, I do like the film, Jar Jar Binks doesn’t annoy me and Anakin’s character as a precocious child does make sense to me.

I’m quite willing to be alone in my opinions on the film, but I will say to detractors ‘have you read the novelisation?’. The reason I ask is because Terry Brooks did an absolutely fantastic job. You understand all of the characters better, there are scenes included that aren’t in the films and the tone of the book overall is a more serious ‘Star Wars’ story.

There are lots of people who hate watching films being adapted into films because you have to miss so much out, well let me tell you this, reading the novelisation of a film has the opposite effect, because the author has the free reign to add more in, to go deeper into the psyche of the characters than a screen can show you and there can be clearer explanation of plot points.

If you are a detractor of the film then I highly recommend the book by Terry Brooks, because you might be pleasantly surprised by how good a story the Phantom Menace is, and how great a starting point it is for Anakin’s story. If you’re like me and you don’t mind the film, then the novelisation with give you even more depth to explore.

Film Review – Miss Congeniality

‘Kathy Morningside: New Jersey, as you know, there are many who consider the Miss United States Pageant to be outdated and anti-feminist. What would you say to them?

Gracie Hart: Well, I would have to say – I used to be one of them. And then I came here and I realized that these women are smart, terrific people who are just trying to make a difference in the world. And we’ve become really good friends. I mean, I know we all secretly hope the other one will trip and fall on her face, and – wait a minute, I’ve already done that! And for me this experience has been one of the most rewarding and liberating experiences of my life.’

This film was one of my favourites as a teenager, purely because Gracie Hart is kick-ass and wasn’t afraid of being an intelligent woman. Also like me she’s spent most of her life not really caring about how she looked, as she didn’t need that to progress in the world. I’m not a girly-girl really; I’m not interested in using make-up, though I will admit I do like nice dresses.

Growing up watching this film taught me that I didn’t need to be a beauty queen in order to find my place in this world. I wasn’t aware of feminism as I understand it now, and I haven’t seen the film again since feminism has become part of my identity, but watching it again now I understand the question Kathy Morningside asked a lot better and I identify better with Gracie’s response. Feminism isn’t about women only being a certain way in order to be acceptable, it is about the freedom of women having the choice to be who they are and for that choice to be accepted without question, whether that be an FBI agent who doesn’t own a brush, or a beauty queen wanting world peace.

Not that I don’t think the film is without flaws. The plot and the antagonists are great, and the quality of the production, writing and acting can’t be questioned. What I’m not all the keen on is the character arc of Grace Hart being a screw-up and having to go through a make-over to make her more outwardly acceptable as successful.

While I’m aware that the nuances of her character arc are more subtle and include her own self-esteem, perseverance and instincts as an FBI agent, all of which play a part in her development as a character, but the more outwardly obvious transformation is her appearance and her recognition as a successful person. Even within herself it comes from that transformation.

Appearance is seen as more important than internal development in this film, most pointedly when Gracie Hart is covered in paint after a fun night out, and that is commented on and taken more seriously, than the vitally important information she is conveying about what is really going on, and I hate that.

I love this film, and I do find it empowering, but it is not without its faults.

 

Book (Re)Writing – Looking at my own advice

So a couple of weeks ago I admitted in my first post on Book (Re)Writing that I had to face the truth and re-write my beloved book into something more than just the book that I have written for myself to read. I came to the conclusion a while back that I needed to do this, but admitting that truth to myself was one of the most heart-breaking things I have ever had to go through.

Making myself accountable to others via the power of blogging as well, has put me in a position that I have never been in before.

I don’t talk about my own writing very much. I am a very private person and my writing is very personal to me. The voices in my head are the characters that I have created, moulded, and changed over time into people that are as real to me as the colleagues I work with on a daily basis and the family I have known and loved my entire life.

I have been thinking quite a bit about how to make myself accountable via blogging, because the decision to blog my way through the re-writing process was made on the spur of the moment. I had hoped it would prompt me into getting on with it. Life isn’t that easy; I’m busy at work and my life is crazy at the moment. I’ve been struggling with depression for a long while, and at the moment that has taken from me my love of reading because of one bad book that’s turned me away from my escape. Thinking about my own has not been my top priority.

I’ve had the weekend to myself and I’ve been using it to procrastinate from thinking about the book by instead thinking about a short film I have to write in the coming week for a screen-writing class. I’ve also been watching romantic comedies that I grew up loving, while crocheting a massive blanket that takes my hands away from being able to potentially write as I have the films on in the background.

The slew of reviews that will get published in the wake of this binge watch will be testimony to a simple truth. I’ve not been sure where the heck to actually start with re-writing my book. That was the case until I watched 27 dresses.

Weird thing to have actually prompted me to realise where I need to start, but in the film Jane collects articles of her favourite journalist. Somehow, in the bizarre way my brain works, I made the leap of logic from those collected newspaper articles to my own collected thoughts on writing that I’ve already shared with the world.

My Key to a Great Story blog series is where I already have shared my thoughts on writing. While in the majority of the blog I have constructed my thoughts on character creation, plots and world-building by looking at popular films and books, that was not universally the case. When I posted about the differences of writing in the first person, third person restricted and third person unlimited, I used my own writing. I’ve put my thoughts on writing out there in the world, and I even allowed some of the original writing I do seep into that as well.

And therefore I’ve figured out where I need to start – I need to look at my own advice and plan this blog series around what I’ve already told you what I think makes a good story.

Sounds like it should have been simple leap of logic to make, but as any writer will tell you, there is nothing simple about writing, and certainly not about re-writing.