I had the opportunity to review Tony Sandoval's Watersnakes for GeekDad. You can check it out here!Thursday, November 29, 2018
NEW ARTICLE: Enter a World of Ghosts and Magical Teeth With ‘Watersnakes’
I had the opportunity to review Tony Sandoval's Watersnakes for GeekDad. You can check it out here!
Sunday, November 25, 2018
What Luke's Reading: October 2018
Somehow, the month got away from me without this post getting put together! Have you been reading something exciting lately? Tell us about it! Join our community of readers!
October 2018
Prose
Serials
Graphic Novels
Magazines
Comics
Did Not Finish
October 2018
Prose
- The Twilight Pariah by Jeffrey Ford (available here)
- The Manitou by Graham Masterton (available here or as part of The Graham Masterton Collection, Volume One here)
- Hidden Door by Charlotte Bywater (available FREE online here)
- Home by Carson Buckingham (available here)
- Journey Into Nyx by Jenna Helland (available here)
- Uncharted Realms: Theros compiled by wotamRobin (available FREE online here)
Serials
- Dead Air - Season 1, Episode 9: Dark Horse by Rachel Caine (available here)
- Silverwood: The Door - Season 1, Episode 1: Dead on Arrival by Brian Keene (available FREE here)
- Dead Air - Season 1, Episode 10: Justice For Some by Carrie Ryan (available here)
- Silverwood: The Door - Season 1, Episode 2: Maternal Instinct by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason (available here)
- Silverwood: The Door - Season 1, Episode 3: A Boy's Best Friend by Richard Chizmar (available here)
- Bullet Catcher - Season 1, Episode 1: Immaculate by Joaquin Lowe (available FREE here)
- Silverwood: The Door - Season 1, Episode 4: The Loop by Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason (available here)
- Silverwood: The Door - Season 1, Episode 5: Lab 04 by Stephen Kozeniewski (available here)
Graphic Novels
- Venomized written by Cullen Bunn, pencils by Iban Coello and Kevin Libranda, inks by Iban Coello, Scott Hanna, and Livesay, colors by Matt Yackey, and letters by VC's Joe Caramanga (available here)
- X-Men: Fatal Attractions, Book One worked on by an enormous number of people (available here)
Magazines
- FlameTree Press Newsletter, October 2018 (available FREE through their website)
- Star*Line, Fall 2018 (available here)
- Flash Fiction Online, October 2018 (available here)
- Game Informer, November 2018 (available here)
- Havok, October 2018 (available here or FREE through their website)
Comics
- Death Orb #1 (available here; my review is here)
- The Whispering Dark #1 (available here; my review is here)
- Lodger #1 (available here; my review is here)
Did Not Finish
- The Deep by Nick Cutter (available here)
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
The Great Catch-Up Post
The past few months have been a blur! As some of you may know, I am wrapping up my graduate degree and that seems to have consumed my life a bit. I have fallen way behind on keeping this website updated. Things have been in the works in the world of Luke Forney!
My article "Twisted Dreams: A Review of Christina Sng's Astropoetry and A Collection of Nightmares" appeared in issue 41.4 of Star*Line, the journal of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. You can find out more information and order a copy of the issue here.
If you have been following the facebook page (and if you haven't, why not?!), you'll know that GeekDad offered my a position as a contributing writer. This was incredibly exciting news for me, and I dove in with near-reckless abandon! I quickly became a member of Comic Book Corner, which is an incredible team of comic fans who love sharing their passions. I have contributions to both "Creepy, Crawlers, Horror, and Crime in Comic Book Corner" (found here) and "Bringing in November With Comic Book Reviews" (found here). I'm not in this week's edition, but I'll be returning the next week with even more exciting titles to share with the GeekDad readers. If you haven't checked out GeekDad before, I highly encourage it! Along with that, there will be reviews of some exciting new games and books coming your way soon through the GeekDad platform.
I hope the last few months have been treating you well! Keep your eyes peeled on the site as "From the Vault" continues to chug along, more features are added, and exciting news is revealed. There are some pretty cool things headed to the site around the start of the year, and as we get closer I can begin to talk about them more, so be on the lookout. Talk to you soon!
My article "Twisted Dreams: A Review of Christina Sng's Astropoetry and A Collection of Nightmares" appeared in issue 41.4 of Star*Line, the journal of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. You can find out more information and order a copy of the issue here.
If you have been following the facebook page (and if you haven't, why not?!), you'll know that GeekDad offered my a position as a contributing writer. This was incredibly exciting news for me, and I dove in with near-reckless abandon! I quickly became a member of Comic Book Corner, which is an incredible team of comic fans who love sharing their passions. I have contributions to both "Creepy, Crawlers, Horror, and Crime in Comic Book Corner" (found here) and "Bringing in November With Comic Book Reviews" (found here). I'm not in this week's edition, but I'll be returning the next week with even more exciting titles to share with the GeekDad readers. If you haven't checked out GeekDad before, I highly encourage it! Along with that, there will be reviews of some exciting new games and books coming your way soon through the GeekDad platform.
I hope the last few months have been treating you well! Keep your eyes peeled on the site as "From the Vault" continues to chug along, more features are added, and exciting news is revealed. There are some pretty cool things headed to the site around the start of the year, and as we get closer I can begin to talk about them more, so be on the lookout. Talk to you soon!
Thursday, November 8, 2018
From the Vault: "So Your Kids Want to Read Science Fiction, Part 1"
Welcome to the next installment of From the Vault! I spent quite a bit of time writing articles related to fiction, especially genre fiction. Many of these are no longer available on their original websites, and exist only on my hard drive. "From the Vault" is a place to share some of these older articles that have had their rights revert back to me since publication. Please note, many of these are 5-10 years old, and have not been edited since their original publication; I apologize for any spelling and grammar errors!
Today, we touch on a topic near and dear to my heart: children's literacy. Encouraging young readers and giving them the opportunity to grow in their development is critical to their happiness and success in later life, and I believe the options listed below are excellent stepping stones on that journey.
So Your Kids Want to Read Science Fiction, Part 1
By Luke Forney
Science Fiction is a growing genre, that much is clear. Each new generation is the lifeblood of the future, as well as the lifeblood of the genre of the future. Unlike certain other literary foundations, which embrace the old guard at the detriment of up-and-comers, science fiction, which does raise certain early genre figures above the new writers just starting, has also been receptive to new authors, as well as new fans. At a time when young adult science fiction has never been more popular, and more and more classics are coming back in print, now is the perfect time to embrace new fans with arms full of material to introduce them to the genre, be it at a home library or a classroom bookshelf. For three weeks we will be taking a look at nine great entry points for young new fans who are interested in exploring what science fiction has to offer. This isn’t a top ten list. There is no significance to the order. It is just a brief look at nine books, series, and authors that could do much good in helping science fiction grow a larger fan base and a foundation for the future.
Without further introduction, here are the first three. If you think of something not here, and think it is simply screaming to be part of the second two thirds, leave a comment!
1) Ray Bradbury
As far as authors go, few are better at bridging the gap between “acceptable,” “literary” fiction and science fiction that Ray Bradbury. Even more so, however, few are able to capture the magic and wonder of science fiction as well as Bradbury seems to do so effortlessly. While some of his most recent efforts haven’t quite matched the power of his earlier classics, it doesn’t take away from the power of his best works. Bradbury hits everything from Twilight Zone-inspiring tales of robot maids (“I Sing the Body Electric”) to chilling far future evil children (“The Veldt”), the mythic power of the Red Planet (The Martian Chronicles) to time travel via the butterfly effect (“A Sound of Thunder”). With collections specifically aimed at younger audiences, such as R is for Rocket, Bradbury is very easy for a younger reader to get into. Even his more adult works (like Dandelion Wine) work on multiple levels, and will intoxicate young readers with their power. Outside of strictly science fiction, Bradbury’s October Country, One More for the Road, and the young reader-themed Something Wicked This Way Comes, are all brilliant choices for younger readers of all inclinations.
2) K.A. Applegate’s Animorphs Series
A classic of ‘90s young adult science fiction, this immensely popular series introduced millions of readers to a secret alien invasion that was taking over hometowns just like their own. As six kids band together to fight for what’s right and save the human species, they are given the ability to change into animals, and use their newfound powers to fight off aliens that literally get into your head. The series, written by K.A. Applegate and a team of ghostwriters, reached 64 book at its conclusion (54 regular series books, as well as 10 “special” books, for lack of a better term, focusing on larger stories or background events). Fast-paced, action-filled science fiction adventures, parents and teachers liked the environmental and animal-loving undertones, while young readers liked the vibrant characters and alien vs. large animal showdowns. The series maintains its focus on the realities of war at its conclusion, with a staggering ending that leaves the world and the Animorphs changed forever. Few young adult science fiction sagas can match the scope and enjoyment of Animorphs, and the series makes great fodder for a burgeoning science fiction reader.
3) The Heinlein Juveniles
Robert Heinlein created a name for himself as one of the greatest science fiction writers, and it earned him the very first Grandmaster of Science Fiction award. Part of his strength was the series of “juveniles” he wrote for Scribner in the ‘40s and ‘50s. This was an early step in appealing to the young adult age range in science fiction, and Heinlein’s willingness to not avoid hard, technical science, and to not talk down to his readers, lead these novels to become incredibly popular in all age groups, and to retain their classic status today. The twelve Heinlein juveniles are Rocket Ship Galileo, Space Cadet, Red Planet, Between Planets, The Rolling Stones (also published as Space Family Stone), Farmer in the Sky, Starman Jones, The Star Beast, Tunnel in the Sky (this writer’s personal favorite), Time for the Stars, Citizen of the Galaxy, and Have Spacesuit—Will Travel. Many also include Heinlein’s Podkayne of Mars, although it isn’t actually part of the Scribner series. Readers young and old will love these books, and the number of new science fiction fans they have generated is staggering.
Today, we touch on a topic near and dear to my heart: children's literacy. Encouraging young readers and giving them the opportunity to grow in their development is critical to their happiness and success in later life, and I believe the options listed below are excellent stepping stones on that journey.
So Your Kids Want to Read Science Fiction, Part 1
By Luke Forney
Science Fiction is a growing genre, that much is clear. Each new generation is the lifeblood of the future, as well as the lifeblood of the genre of the future. Unlike certain other literary foundations, which embrace the old guard at the detriment of up-and-comers, science fiction, which does raise certain early genre figures above the new writers just starting, has also been receptive to new authors, as well as new fans. At a time when young adult science fiction has never been more popular, and more and more classics are coming back in print, now is the perfect time to embrace new fans with arms full of material to introduce them to the genre, be it at a home library or a classroom bookshelf. For three weeks we will be taking a look at nine great entry points for young new fans who are interested in exploring what science fiction has to offer. This isn’t a top ten list. There is no significance to the order. It is just a brief look at nine books, series, and authors that could do much good in helping science fiction grow a larger fan base and a foundation for the future.
Without further introduction, here are the first three. If you think of something not here, and think it is simply screaming to be part of the second two thirds, leave a comment!
1) Ray Bradbury
As far as authors go, few are better at bridging the gap between “acceptable,” “literary” fiction and science fiction that Ray Bradbury. Even more so, however, few are able to capture the magic and wonder of science fiction as well as Bradbury seems to do so effortlessly. While some of his most recent efforts haven’t quite matched the power of his earlier classics, it doesn’t take away from the power of his best works. Bradbury hits everything from Twilight Zone-inspiring tales of robot maids (“I Sing the Body Electric”) to chilling far future evil children (“The Veldt”), the mythic power of the Red Planet (The Martian Chronicles) to time travel via the butterfly effect (“A Sound of Thunder”). With collections specifically aimed at younger audiences, such as R is for Rocket, Bradbury is very easy for a younger reader to get into. Even his more adult works (like Dandelion Wine) work on multiple levels, and will intoxicate young readers with their power. Outside of strictly science fiction, Bradbury’s October Country, One More for the Road, and the young reader-themed Something Wicked This Way Comes, are all brilliant choices for younger readers of all inclinations.
2) K.A. Applegate’s Animorphs Series
A classic of ‘90s young adult science fiction, this immensely popular series introduced millions of readers to a secret alien invasion that was taking over hometowns just like their own. As six kids band together to fight for what’s right and save the human species, they are given the ability to change into animals, and use their newfound powers to fight off aliens that literally get into your head. The series, written by K.A. Applegate and a team of ghostwriters, reached 64 book at its conclusion (54 regular series books, as well as 10 “special” books, for lack of a better term, focusing on larger stories or background events). Fast-paced, action-filled science fiction adventures, parents and teachers liked the environmental and animal-loving undertones, while young readers liked the vibrant characters and alien vs. large animal showdowns. The series maintains its focus on the realities of war at its conclusion, with a staggering ending that leaves the world and the Animorphs changed forever. Few young adult science fiction sagas can match the scope and enjoyment of Animorphs, and the series makes great fodder for a burgeoning science fiction reader.
3) The Heinlein Juveniles
Robert Heinlein created a name for himself as one of the greatest science fiction writers, and it earned him the very first Grandmaster of Science Fiction award. Part of his strength was the series of “juveniles” he wrote for Scribner in the ‘40s and ‘50s. This was an early step in appealing to the young adult age range in science fiction, and Heinlein’s willingness to not avoid hard, technical science, and to not talk down to his readers, lead these novels to become incredibly popular in all age groups, and to retain their classic status today. The twelve Heinlein juveniles are Rocket Ship Galileo, Space Cadet, Red Planet, Between Planets, The Rolling Stones (also published as Space Family Stone), Farmer in the Sky, Starman Jones, The Star Beast, Tunnel in the Sky (this writer’s personal favorite), Time for the Stars, Citizen of the Galaxy, and Have Spacesuit—Will Travel. Many also include Heinlein’s Podkayne of Mars, although it isn’t actually part of the Scribner series. Readers young and old will love these books, and the number of new science fiction fans they have generated is staggering.
This article was originally published on September 19, 2011 at Digital Science Fiction's website as part of my series So Your Kids Want to Read Science Fiction. Text copyright Luke Forney.
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