Ganymeder

With the phenomenal box office failure of this adaption of ‘A Princess of Mars’ by Edgar Rice Burroughs, I was uncertain whether or not the film would live up to the previews. It didn’t. It was much, much better than I expected.

First of all, this was an epic film. Large sets, warring societies, aliens with fantastic special effects, and wonderful characters. John Carter is a Virginian soldier who has lost everything, even the cause he had fought for, but on a new world he might find one again. The film chronicles his strange journey to Mars and how he once more discovers something worth fighting for.

I read ‘Tarzan’ by Burroughs a few years ago, and I really wasn’t a fan of his writing. But the movie was done very well, the characters were developed in a believable way, and one of my favorite things of all… the protagonists made mistakes. Frequently in films characters figure things out instantly – no matter how bizarre the situation, but Carter didn’t. He crashed things, he fell a lot, and for a large part of the movie didn’t even realize he wasn’t on Earth.

There were humorous parts due to miscommunication between Carter and the Martians he encountered. There was the obligatory pretty girl for the male protagonist to rescue or fall for, but what impressed me was that she rescued him as well. They were equally matched, and the story didn’t depend on romance, but rather the real problems that faced the entire planet of Mars. Even though the Princess was the main female role, unlike Princess Leia, she wasn’t the only tough woman on the planet.

There were some inconsistencies, but I didn’t really mind because everything else was done so well. I had trouble remembering some of the exotic names, but that didn’t keep me from following the plot. A few of the special effects and battle scenes were almost gory (meaning that they would have been gory if the blood had been red), but despite that I felt reasonably comfortable watching the movie with my eleven-year old. All in all, I don’t hesitate to recommend this movie to others.

In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I’m reading ‘A Princess of Mars’ now.

Ice and snow had been their home for millennia. They bred and fed in the frozen wasteland; what others called desolate, they called home. Now this small creature of warmth and blood comes crawling, bundled against the bitter cold, cradling a small box to spy upon them. He radiates heat like a beacon, calling the creatures to him, summoning them to the feast.

How considerate of him to bring a warm meal. They’ve eaten frozen food for far too long.

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* Normally I would save this for a Friday, but I got inspired mid-week.  Enjoy!

**image courtesy of Bigfoto.com

Play or download episode *here*

Welcome to My Writing Niche, a podcast for new writers. Today’s podcast, #59, was recorded for Sunday, May 27, 2012; and I’ll be talking about Towel Day, Douglas Adams, Edgar Allan Poe, The Big Read, (Inter)national Flash Fiction Day, Dust and Death, Fairy Tales, and new opportunities.

Thank you for your time. Polite feedback is both welcomed and appreciated, and I hope you have a lovely week!

**image courtesy of hiddedevries via Flicker.

***Slow Burn from the album Blues Sampler courtesy of Kevin MacLeod via Creative Commons Attribution license. More of his music can be found at FreeMusicArchive.org or at http://incompetech.com.

Once again it’s time to break out your towels and act like hoopy froods for the International Celebration of the life of Douglas Adams – Towel Day. On May 25th, every year, fans around the world proudly wear their towels and do other things in honor of the author of that most extraordinary book, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

First of all, if you are unfamiliar with the series, you REALLY need to read this novel. You’ll find it’s a quick and easy read, and so many things are drawn from its pages that you’ll find yourself recognizing references you never ‘got’ before. For instance, Babblefish – the online translator, is named after the babblefish in the book. So again,  the first thing you need to do – if you haven’t already done it – is read the book!

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the day to those already familiar with the Hitchhiker’s series.  Since the novel’s main character, Arthur Dent, is forced to hitchhike across the Universe in only his bathrobe and pajamas, my son and I spend the day in our bathrobes. And of course, we carry our towels with us throughout the day. Why a towel? In the words of The Guide:

A towel, [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy] says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have. Partly it has great practical value. You can wrap it around you for warmth as you bound across the cold moons of Jaglan Beta; you can lie on it on the brilliant marble-sanded beaches of Santraginus V, inhaling the heady sea vapors; you can sleep under it beneath the stars which shine so redly on the desert world of Kakrafoon; use it to sail a miniraft down the slow heavy River Moth; wet it for use in hand-to-hand-combat; wrap it round your head to ward off noxious fumes or avoid the gaze of the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal (such a mind-boggingly stupid animal, it assumes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you); you can wave your towel in emergencies as a distress signal, and of course dry yourself off with it if it still seems to be clean enough.”

Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters are a very popular drink in the Hitchhiker’s Universe, though unfortunately the Terran equivalent of the ingredients are hard to find on Planet Earth. However, you can have fun making up your own. My son, Monsterbat, and I have fun making up a non-alchoholic version of the most alchoholic drink in the Universe.

There are many activities you can participate in, such as posting photos of yourself with your towel to the Towel Day Flickr page. You can watch the movies, use phrases from the books throughout the day, or even compose some Vogon Poetry. The possibilities are endless.

If you visit the Official Towel Day site you might even find others fun activities you’d never imagined. Just be sure that whatever you do, you enjoy yourself while remembering the work of a great author.

Happy Towel Day, you hoopy froods!

*image courtesy of markbult via Flickr. Some rights reserved.

Swimmers during learn to swim week, at a suburban swimming pool, probably Wellington region, ca 1939 Reference number: MNZ-2303

The mermaids strained to pull the heavy container, but unfortunately the laws of physics were against them.

*image courtesy of National Library NZ on the Commons via The Commons at Flickr. No known copyright restrictions.

Today, May 16th, is (Inter)national Flash Fiction Day. In honor of the day, there are special events happening around the blogosphere and the world. My own flash, (Dust and Dime Novels), is featured on my blog. Also, I’m proud to say my flash story, Calico, has been published in the newly released, free pdf download of Twisted Tales: Flash Fiction with a Twist from Raging Aardvark Publications.

Download Twisted Tales *here*

If you prefer online reading, click *here* (available til end of day)

So celebrate the day with some free flash, and maybe write some of your own!

(Caveat: slight profanity)

*Click here for audio

Dust and Dime Novels

by Catherine Russell

The boy sat beneath the tree, clutching the precious book in small hands. Within its pages, outlaws and lawmen dueled beneath sweltering suns on dusty streets. A shadow fell across the pages, forcing him to turn from their darkened text. “Boyd! You’re back!” he cried, all thoughts of outlaws forgotten. Danny jumped to hug his older brother, the dust of travel forming a cloud around them both. “Did you bring me anything?” he asked.

“Well, I do not rightly know,” said the young man. “I haven’t been here but two minutes, and you’re hankering for…” His sunburnt face widened with his grin. “Aw, hell, I can not do it. Here!” He fished in his satchel, found the package wrapped in burlap, and handed it to the boy.

Danny grabbed the package, opening it up right there on the ground. When he saw the pile of books, he threw his arms around his brother. “I knew it! I knew you’d get me more. Thanks, Boyd!” He noticed a dark brown stain on the fabric wrapper. “Hey, what is this?”

Boyd’s face darkened. He snatched the course fabric from his brother’s hands, then flashed his beautific smile once more. “Nothing you need worry about. Just keep reading, do well in school, and you will make something of yourself one day. You won’t have to… you’ll make a better living than I do.”

“Aw, you provide well enough, Boyd,” said the boy. “You staying for supper, or going to see that girl of yours?” Danny scowled.

“Delia’s all right, little brother,” said Boyd, tousling the younger boy’s hair with a laugh. “I know you don’t trust her, but she’s good as gold.”

Danny glared but said nothing. His brother would never hear a word against her, but Danny knew those ruby lips were just a painted smile. Delia’s beauty might fool his brother, but sooner or later she’d show her true colors. The boy could only hope his brother would wake up about her before it was too late.

“Does she know you’re in town yet?” was all he managed.

“No, little brother,” Boyd answered. “I’m heading over there now. She’ll be expecting me though.”

“Stay a bit longer,” pleaded Danny. “Please?”

“I love you, little brother,” said Boyd, “but Delia’s charms appeal to a different part of my nature. But I’ll be back. You know I take care of family.” He tousled the boy’s hair once more, then remounted and headed toward town.

As Danny sat beneath the tree, paging through his new books, he watched his brother’s silhouette recede into the distance – like the hero from one of his dime novels.

#

The next day – as Danny watched his brother’s body dance and sway from the hangman’s noose – he swore vengeance on the woman who had caused it all.

The bitch would pay.

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Today’s flash was written in honor of National Flash Fiction Day. It may be a a UK holiday, but there’s no reason that people around the world can’t celebrate too. This flash was inspired by the western online novel, Dust and Death, from Choose Your Online Adventures. The part of young Danny was performed by my son, Monsterbat.

*image courtesy of Bigfoto.com

**characters in this flash based (with permission) on characters from the western novel Dust and Death from ChooseYourOnlineAdventures.com

***”Bed” courtesy of Jahzzar via an Attribution-ShareAlike license. More of his music can be found at FreeMusicArchive.org or at betterwithmusic.com

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Lightning lit the bitter darkness. The clock chimed four times, and through the keyhole Stacy could see the beetle sitting squarely over her sibling’s heart. She smiled as the creature sucked the girl’s essence, draining her life.

The glazed eyes of the coveted sheep, clutched by tiny arms, stared blankly at nothing at all.

#

This week’s flash was inspired by a roll of the dice — or rather a roll of the Story Cubes. It was the first thing I wrote when I tried them out. I hope you enjoyed it.

As far as my other projects, I’m currently reverse-outlining my YA fantasy (2nd draft), working on another round of stories for the current Choose Your Online Adventures project, and I’m also happy to say I’m going to be a monthly contributor to the FridayFlash.org site! I will probably be covering some things that I’ve wrote about in my blog here, as well as discover new and exciting subjects along the way.

Also, one of my past #FridayFlash contributions, Red Riding Hood Revised, was published in the most recent issue of Beyond Centauri! I was thrilled when I received my first contributor’s copy in the mail. Another flash story that I submitted to another market has passed the first round of judging, so my fingers are crossed.

My podcast, My Writing Niche, will post a week from Sunday. I know I usually post new episodes every two weeks, but my flash this week is so short that I doubt it would be worth the effort. Also, next week I will have another story posted on the 15th (or 16th, depending on timezone) for the (UK) Flash Fiction Day; I recorded an audio version of my western-themed flash, and Monsterbat performed the part of the main character.

Thank you for your time, and have a lovely day!

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**image courtesy of Bigfoto.com

The man little suspected that the boy gazed at the boot to hide a wicked smile.

*image courtesy of LSE Library via The Commons at Flickr. No known copyright restrictions.

For fans of space epics and super heroes, the first weekend in May was a treasure trove. This past Friday, May 4th, was Star Wars day! Fans around the world celebrated a terrible pun (May the Fourth be with you) as well as a great movie series! Monsterbat and myself were lucky enough to be invited to our favorite indie bookstore, Backlist Books, for a Star Wars party. There were prizes, popcorn, and Star Wars trivial pursuit. The Yoda Soda (green punch) had Monsterbat bouncing off the walls, but it was worth it.

Saturday was our favorite day of the Year, Free Comic Book Day. Once a year, on the first Saturday in May, participating comic book stores across North America give away special ‘Free Comic Book Day’ editions of comics in order to promote this particular art of storytelling through pictures. I looked up the comics ahead of time, so I’d know which ones I was hunting looking for, and decided my quarry quest was for the Buffy/The Guild flip comic as well as the Zombie Kid (spoof of Diary of a Wimpy Kid).

We are fortunate enough to have several nice comic shops in our area. Our first stop was TOYS TIME FORGOT in Canal Fulton, but we had to come back later because there wasn’t any parking. It was worth the return trip.

Next we visited HEROIC ADVENTURES, where we not only got free comics, but Monsterbat received a signed drawing by our favorite local artist, Joe Miller. The store even hired a band to play and they had food and drinks available outside!-

BILL’S BOOKS & MORE was a bit of a challenge – again for parking. It was a small storefront with a tiny parking lot. We ending up circling several times before snagging a spot. Though the store was packed, this was the first store that carried the Buffy/Guild comic and also the Zombie Kid. Monsterbat was thrilled that they gave him the very last Heroclix Thor figure they had!