Category Archives: sf/f

Joanna Russ links

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

Here are links to some essays by by Joanna Russ (1937 – 2011). Towards an Aesthetic of Science Fiction: “Science fiction, like medieval painting, addresses itself to the mind, not the eye. We are not presented with a representation of … Continue reading →

Posted in links, nonfiction, sf/f | Tagged | Comments Off on Joanna Russ links

Active Settings

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I had a note to myself that I should blog about “active settings.” I didn’t remember exactly why I’d written that phrase down, but ideas began to spill into my mind, as if the phrase was a cue. Thinking of … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, sf/f, steampunk, writing craft | Comments Off on Active Settings

If You Build It, They Will Come: Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

If you missed it on Wednesday, I have a new post on Heroes and Heartbreakers: “If You Build It, They Will Come: Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy.” My other posts at Heroes and Heartbreakers.

Posted in genre, guest, paranormal, sf/f | Comments Off on If You Build It, They Will Come: Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy

Paranormal Allegories

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

I have a post on Heroes and Heartbreakers today: “If You Build It, They Will Come: Worldbuilding in Urban Fantasy.” Now, on to today’s post! What do the paranormal creatures in Paranormal Romance represent? Are they allegories? You could say, … Continue reading →

Posted in paranormal, sf/f, vampires, werewolves, writing | 4 Comments

Coffee, Tea, and Worldbuilding

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

One component of worldbuilding that’s often forgotten is background economics. Take coffee, for example. Coffee originated in Africa. It wasn’t readily available in Europe until after 1616, and didn’t start to be cultivated on a large scale by Europeans until … Continue reading →

Posted in sf/f, writing craft | 2 Comments

New to my TBR

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

Alert! I should have a new post at Heroes and Heartbreakers about one of my all-time favorite romantic couples. # I’ve been more careful about buying fiction lately. My To Be Read piles are so frightening that I probably couldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in mystery, reading, sf/f | 2 Comments

Women Rule The 2010 Nebula Awards!

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Victoria Janssen

Five! Out! Of! Six! (Yes, the cover illustrating this post is meant to be ironic!) In the past, the Nebula Awards have been dominated by male authors. However, this year the number of nominations written by woman are astonishing, and … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, links, sf/f | 6 Comments

Best 3 Books I Read in 2010

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Ask me tomorrow and I might change my mind, but at the moment, these are my three favorite books that I read in 2010. I chose each one for a different reason. 1. A Madness of Angels: Or The Resurrection … Continue reading →

Posted in nonfiction, reading, research, sf/f | Comments Off on Best 3 Books I Read in 2010

Research Mashups

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Risky Regencies. The Duke and the Pirate Queen isn’t a historical. However, it is set in a fantasy world, and I’ve often noted that my approach to creating a fantasy world is very similar … Continue reading →

Posted in research, sf/f, the duke, writing process | Comments Off on Research Mashups

The World Beyond the Story

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Ella Drake’s blog. The Duke and the Pirate Queen is set in a fantasy world that’s based on all kinds of elements taken from our own world. Maxime’s duchy is a Mediterranean-esque land with … Continue reading →

Posted in sf/f, the duke, writing craft, writing process | Comments Off on The World Beyond the Story