tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post6016176800358398318..comments2024-01-08T09:12:42.920-05:00Comments on SF and Nonsense: Trope-ing the light fantastic (aliens)Edward M. Lernerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-14279497827785207072009-01-05T09:46:00.000-05:002009-01-05T09:46:00.000-05:00Thanks for asking. Fools' Experiments will be avai...Thanks for asking. <BR/><BR/>Fools' Experiments will be available in audio format, from Recorded Books. I don't have any insight into the availability date.Edward M. Lernerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-53419255293834985862009-01-04T23:25:00.000-05:002009-01-04T23:25:00.000-05:00Edward,Do you know whether an audiobook edition of...Edward,<BR/><BR/>Do you know whether an audiobook edition of <EM>Fool's Experiments</EM> is in the offing? That would be better for me than a print edition, since my Kurzweil reading machine is on the fritz.Catreonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959115298646880631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-78206061355960454622009-01-01T22:36:00.000-05:002009-01-01T22:36:00.000-05:00Hi Catreona,Since you mentioned the one-armed-man ...Hi Catreona,<BR/><BR/>Since you mentioned the one-armed-man stories from among my Analog appearances ... <BR/><BR/>Greatly expanded, extended, and updated, those two stories have been integrated into my latest novel, Fools' Experiments. If you're curious, see my post of November 11, 2008. (My apologies for not providing a link; the silly comment editor won't take a URL as long as I need.)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for joining the discussion. A fellow writer's comments will be a welcome addition to the blog.Edward M. Lernerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-52598142008004370262009-01-01T20:37:00.001-05:002009-01-01T20:37:00.001-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Catreonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959115298646880631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-57065225811220362342009-01-01T20:37:00.000-05:002009-01-01T20:37:00.000-05:00You're welcome. I read Moonstruck as serialized in...You're welcome. I read <EM>Moonstruck</EM> as serialized in <EM>Analog</EM>. Can't remember the alien heroine's name, but I remember her, how she loved her animals and was heartbroken to lose them, how she enjoyed getting kittens and watching elephants on television. I also remember being really tickled by the first human glimpse of her as a walking barbicue grill. Maybe I was particularly drawn to her because she's disabled, and I'm disabled.<BR/><BR/>Also enjoy your stories about Jeff, the fellow with the prostetic arm. In fact, I was disappointed at first that <EM>Moonstruck</EM> wasn't about him.<BR/><BR/>My own characters are human, or humanoid. I started a warewolf story once that didn't go anywhere. But then, my stories lean more towards Fantasy than SF. Even the more SF type ones tend to include psychic powers and such soft, fantastical stuff.<BR/><BR/>REally glad I found your blog. Looking forward to the upcoming series of articles.Catreonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959115298646880631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-2317670511944002202009-01-01T11:14:00.000-05:002009-01-01T11:14:00.000-05:00First, thanks for the kind words about _Moonstruck...First, thanks for the kind words about _Moonstruck_. It's always nice to get feedback about one of my books.<BR/><BR/>One reason for humanoid aliens on Star Trek is probably budgetary: facial decals or Silly Putty forehead ridges beat spending on FX. <BR/><BR/>Trope aliens -- humans thinly disguised -- have their narrative uses: telling stories about ourselves that might otherwise be too uncomfortable (or in some places, censored).<BR/><BR/>Alien aliens enable stories that challenge us more. And yes, they're harder to pull off. My forthcoming post series will deal with the issues and give examples of (to my taste) well-done alien aliens.Edward M. Lernerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15620756142619513714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4672881018321440403.post-13416753273702496292008-12-31T16:30:00.000-05:002008-12-31T16:30:00.000-05:00One particularly notices the humanness of aliens o...One particularly notices the humanness of aliens on Star Trek. I mean, the Cardasians(sp?) are green and look to my poor vision vaguely lizardlike, but they're definitely humanoid. And there's the unavoidable fact that members of different species keep becoming romantically involved.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, nonhumanoid aliens take more work for both writer and reader. The aliens in _Moonstruck_ were well realized, but even in _Analog_ and _Asimov's_ it's unusual to encounter totally alien aliens. I mean, how is one supposed to relate? There has to be some point of contact, and physical form is the easiest.Catreonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15959115298646880631noreply@blogger.com