"intermingled with scientific fact and prophetic vision"

[eldritchhobbit]

I have two quick notes to share today.

#1: I've discovered another online lecture series for free download: Studies In Narrative: Science Fiction & Fantasy by Pat Hodgell and Mike Levy of the University of Minnesota's Independence and Distance Learning Program. In twenty lectures, the two professors follow the history of science fiction and fantasy.

The main subjects covered include the following:
Science Fiction Foundations
Fantasy
The Future
Hobbits and Inklings
Science Fiction and Religion
Supermen
Robots, Androids, and Cyborgs
Time Travel
Modern Fantasy and Horror
Modern Fantasy after Tolkien
Women in Science Fiction
An Interview with Gordon R. Dickson
Cyberpunk and Aliens

Go here to download the lectures.


#2: From Foxy Writer via lynn_maudlin: It's the Mythopoeic Awards Reading Challenge!

The Mythopoeic Society is dedicated to the study and enjoyment of fantasy and mythic literature, especially the works of the Inklings, an informal literary circle at Oxford that included the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and others. Each year the Society awards the best scholarly and literary achievements exemplifying “the spirit of the Inklings” with the Mythopoeic Award.



The challenge is to read seven books between JANUARY 1ST 2008 to DECEMBER 31ST 2008 from the list of Mythopoeic Award Winners. (See? All kinds of brilliant fantasy books to choose from!) [NOTE: The challenge includes the nominees for the fantasy and scholarship, which gives you a lot of choices!]

Here are the rules:

1. Choose seven books from the list of Mythopoeic Award Winners (or nominees, here for fantasy or here for scholarship).
2. Anything on the list is fair game, fiction or non-fiction.
3. Post a link to your list in the comments of this post (if you don’t have a website, post your list in the comments).
4. Somewhere in your post, link back to this challenge post.
5. Read the books between January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2008.
6. You may start anytime in 2008, but you must finish by the end of December 31st, 2008.
7. You may combine this challenge with other challenges.

Enjoy!


"By 'scientifiction' I mean the Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Edgar Allan Poe type of story - a charming romance intermingled with scientific fact and prophetic vision."
- Hugo Gernsback, "A New Sort of Magazine," 1926

Comments

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

I've been compiling a list of books I want to read this year -- this would be a great way to add to it! I've read some of those already, of course, so it would be lovely to reread them, but also to find new ones to discover.

Thanks for offering a fun way to do something I love to do -- read!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome! I'm so glad to hear it. :)

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Do re-reads count? I'm in. I'll read or re-read...

1991 Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner
1971 The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
1974 The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart
2004 Sunshine by Robin McKinley
2005 Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
2006 Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
1999 Stardust by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, I definitely think re-reads count. If you're like me, you see something new in a book every time you read it. That's a great list!

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a lovely way to push myself to read some things I haven't gotten around to yet. I'll be back with a link to my list once I've chosen and posted this on my own LJ.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic!

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

Thanks as always for the cool links!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome!

[vyrdolak.livejournal.com]

* Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
* The Tsaddik of the Seven Wonders by Isidore Haiblum
* The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny
* Excalibur by Sanders Anne Laubenthal
* A Midsummer Tempest by Poul Anderson


* The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers

I own this and mean to read it one day. The Drawing of the
Dark was excellent, Anubis Gates was OK.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic!

[thehornedgod.livejournal.com]

Oooh, that's an excellent challenge, thanks for awaring me of it. To make it interesting I plan on excluding Gaiman and (most of) Earthsea, as I've read most of those lots of times.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! You're most welcome.

[lenneth.livejournal.com]

I'm Lenneth from Foxy Writer (http://foxywriter.com/). I meant to comment here when I saw your comment on my blog, but offline stuff has got me extremely distracted and I forgot. Sorry I'm late! lol Thanks for linking to the challenge. It's great to see more challengers! :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Hi there! *waves* Thank you for your wonderful challenge! It's such a fantastic idea.

I don't know if this would be useful to you or your readers, but I discovered a great way to find good quality used copies of these books for very little cost: Bookins. You can search under Books, Award Winners, and then Mythopoeic Awards to go directly to the relevant titles available. Signup is free. Just FYI!

[homespunheart.livejournal.com]

Here's my list for the reading challenge.
I will reread The Crystal Cave and The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart, Paladin of Souls, The Curse of Chalion and The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMasters Bujold, Lincoln's Dreams and The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis and Coraline by Neil Gaiman. I will read for the first time Neverwhere and American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Seventh Son, Red Prophet and Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card. I know that's more than seven...but who's counting when you're having fun!!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! That's a wonderful list. I'll be particularly interested to hear how you like the Gaiman and Card books. Happy reading!

[wezbaf678.livejournal.com]

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