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National Science Fiction Day

A friend of mine sent me a link to tell me that today is National Science Fiction Day, the “official” birthday of Isaac Asimov. Interestingly, and as a total coincidence, I just finished a novel that starred him as a main character: The Astounding, the Amazing, and the Unknown, by Paul Malmont. Asimov is one of my favorite writers: roboticist Susan Calvin and investigator Elijah Baley are characters I’ve never tired of, and “Nightfall” is one of the most tremendous stories I have ever read. He was a genre-defying author as well- on my bookshelves somewhere I have Asimov’s Annotated Gilbert and Sullivan.

At any rate, Happy National Science Fiction Day!

On another note, fans of speculative fiction (which includes science fiction and horror, among other genres) now have a new online resource available, Ad Astra. Ad Astra is a volunteer organization under the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas.

Speculative fiction is a broad term, and the editors at Ad Astra are trying to be as inclusive as possible by defining speculative fiction in their blog as

… a way to refer to all kinds of fiction that involve elements of the fantastic, the unreal, and the highly unlikely… All ideas are welcome, all sub-genres have something valuable to say.

It sounds like it will be very cool! Celebrate National Science Fiction Day by taking a moment to check it out.

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Kirsten, Reply

Help a Reader Out: LGBT Vampire and Werewolf Titles

As we’re now in a new year, I am shuffling through old emails, and I’ve discovered a request- one I hope you all can help with.

Sebastian writes:

Are there bibliographies/reviews specifically of LGBT oriented werewolf & vampire fiction? I’m finding it hard to track down these titles.

Excellent question, Sebastian. I know they’re out there, and a few have even been reviewed on this site, but I’m certainly not an expert here! What are some good titles Sebastian ought to look into? If I get a comprehensive enough list, I will definitely share it on the site! Is there anybody who can help Sebastian out?

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Kirsten, Reply

MonsterLibrarian.com’s Top Picks for 2011- Adult Books

Well, we’re not churning out 5,000 reviews a year like Kirkus Reviews, but our volunteer reviewers worked hard in 2011, reading and reviewing close to 300 books- some good, some bad, and some that were really extraordinary pieces of writing and storytelling.

With a new year beginning, it’s time for the Monster Librarian, in consultation with contributing reviewers, to reflect back on the past year’s reading and reviewing. We didn’t get out a list of the top picks for 2010, but now we’re back now, with our Top Picks for 2011. Each book on the list below was reviewed in the past year, although not all the books were published in 2011. If the book made a Top Picks list in the past, it won’t be on this year’s list (Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson, was first reviewed in 2009 and made the list that year, so it’s not on this year’s list).

Books that made this list were chosen by our reviewers as exceptional examples of compelling writing, creativity, and original illustration or presentation. Many of them provided considerable food for thought as well as entertainment value. The choices were made only from books reviewed for the site, so there are many fine titles that do not appear here. The Monster Librarian’s Top Picks for 2011, listed below, have not been ranked in any order. You’ll find a list for each age group: Adult, Young Adult, and Kids. Below you’ll find our list of Top Picks for Adult Fiction in 2011. I’ll post the lists for young adult and children’s books shortly.

Note for librarians and readers: As with all recommended reading lists, not all of The Monster Librarian’s Top Picks for 2011 will be appropriate for or appreciated by every reader. Please take the time to check out reviews of these titles at MonsterLibrarian.com before making a decision about reading them or recommending them to others.

The Monster Librarian’s Top Picks for 2011

Titles for Adults

A special mention goes to Lisa Morton’s The Samhanach, which three of our reviewers independently chose to review. All three reviewers highly recommended this book. And now, the list.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim, by Mark Twain and W. Bill Czolgosz

Allison Hewitt Is Trapped: A Zombie Novel, by Madeleine Roux

Bedbugs, by Ben H. Winter

Bigfoot War 2: Dead in the Woods, by Eric S. Brown

Bone Marrow Stew, by Tim Curran (limited edition available only from Tasmaniac Publications)

Crucified Dreams, edited by Joe R. Lansdale

Cuckoo, by Richard Wright

Dust, by Joan Frances Turner

Draculas: A Novel of Terror, by Blake Crouch, Jack Kilborn, Jeff Strand, and F. Paul Wilson

Enclave, by Ann Aguirre

Eternal Unrest: A Novel of Mummy Terror, by Lorne Dixon

Ghost Story: A Novel of the Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher