The New Northern Rambler: March 2023

2023-03-27

"Putting the Fact in Fantasy: Expert Advice to Bring Authenticity to your Fantasy Writing" Edited by Dan Koboldt

Publisher: Writers' Digest Books

ISBN: 9780593331996

"Putting the Fact in Fantasy" is a companion volume to Dan Koboldt's previous book "Putting the Science and Fiction", which I reviewed back on December 6, 2021.

Like its predecessor this book is chock-full of valuable information for any writer, but not necessarily those writing fantasy as it also deals with real world issues that might have bearing in his fantasy story but also do in a contemporary one.

The book contains 51 individual essays by authors, who are also experts in their field. These individual essays are divine into six broad categories: history as inspiration, languages and culture, world building, weapons and warfare, horses, and going on an adventure.

The topics within a given category are all related (as you would expect). In the history one for example we deal with the Spanish Inquisition, the American old west, female professions in mediaeval Europe, Feudal Nobility, African and Asian cultures and exchange, religious fundamentalism, and real-world magic to name but a few.

While a writer will not use all these things in a particular story the details within these short essays should for the most part be extremely helpful for anyone who is a writer, and especially those who are looking to get into writing.

All of these topics could for the most part fall under the auspecies of world building, but this is something that is crucial to any well crafted story.

Highly recommended, especially for new writers and those who need inspiration.

2023-03-20

"The Map of the Sky" by Felix J. Palma

Publisher: Atria Books
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9781451660319

This novel is like the first in the series very detailed, and meticulously plotted, with a very interesting premise that definitely makes it worth adding onto any science fiction or fantasy readers list. There are even more plot twists than before, to once again make it a good combination of mystery and science fiction.

The second book is "Map of the Sky" and a number of the same characters reappear (sometimes quite literally in this one, but we also journey to Antarctica, and meet some new characters such as Arthur Conan Doyle and a few others, however they are rather busy combatting an invasion of planet Earth.

This novel is long, but the reader will quickly lose themselves in the story so that time will pass quite quickly. Mr. Palma does force you to pay attention to what's going on in order to grasp what he is telling you about, but it is well worth the read.

Very highly recommended.

2023-03-13

"The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity" by Carlo M. Cipolla (1922-2000)

Publisher: Doubleday

ISBN: 9780385546478 (hardcover)

Professor Cipolla takes an economically based look at human behaviour and in particular at human stupidity. He provides the reader with an important book that allows them to detect neutralize the effect of stupidity

He does this in both a hilarious and serious manner that will leave you better equipped confront political leaders, unreasonable colleagues, and in-laws.

This was a very interesting book to read that does manage to render some humans odd behaviour and make it more understandable.

Well worth the read, both for the humourous side as well as the insight.

2023-03-06

"The Map of Time" by Felix J. Palma

This novel is a very detailed, and meticulously plotted time travel story, with a very interesting premise that definitely makes it worth adding onto any science fiction or fantasy readers list. There are lots of plot twists, some very interesting red herrings both of which make this a good combination of mystery and science fiction.

The first book in the series is "Map of Time" and in this book you will meet a number of different historical characters such as H. G. Wells, Bram Stoker, Jack "the Ripper", Marie Kelly and number of others. Some of these people play large roles, while others are minor but all of them do their job in advancing the plot very well.

This novel is long when compared to most on the market today, however the story is so well written that you don't really notice it. Mind you you will have to pay attention to what Mr. Palma is saying to grasp the concept, but that shouldn't be too hard a thing to do when the story is as well written as this one.