Spectrum 15 - Edited by Cathy Fenner and Arnie Fenner

Books Completed: 6
Date Completed: January 4, 2009
Pages: 248
Publication Date: November 1, 2008

Reason for Reading: It's the new Spectrum book... Do I need another reason?

With art drawn from a wide variety of sources -- books, graphic novels, video games, films, galleries, and advertising -- "Spectrum 15" reinforces both the importance and prevalence of fantasy art in today's culture. Featuring 350 exceptional works by artists from around the globe, this gorgeous full-color collection celebrates a cadre of creators working in every style and medium. Included are luminaries such as Brom, James Gurney, Marc Gabanna, Shaun Tan, and 2008's Grand Master Award winner, John Jude Palencar.

I am actually surprised I waited until today to enjoy this book. I had planned to read through it yesterday, but then I got caught up in Fables. (Which is fitting, actually, because the artist of the covers for that series won an award in the book!) Anyway, I was so excited to see this book yesterday. It comes in plastic wrap and it is a big thrill to peel of the wrapper and still smell that new book smell! That part I did do yesterday... This is my third year experiencing Spectrum, and one of these days I am going to start collecting the past volumes! I am a huge fantasy nerd, which I think most people that read my blog know, so this series is right up my alley!

I think my favourite artist in Spectrum 15 was probably Melanie Delon. There were three of her works in this book and I found myself pausing over all three of them without knowing that they were her pieces. I was on her website for a while this evening. I wouldn't mind buying some of the stuff in her store... Anyway, I think she is a fantastic artist. I am pretty sure she was in Spectrum 14, too, but I cannot remember for sure. I think I will probably dig out the other two books after I write this review anyway...

Another artist I quite like is James Gurney. I am not so big into dinosaurs anymore, but there was a time in my youth that I wanted to study them when I grew up. So, I, of course, own all three Jurassic Park movies and have seen them a million times! Since it was educational, I also have a lot of books on the subject. They are a bit dated now, though. I used to know all their names and everything, but now I am lucky I know a thing! I really should find something on the subject to refresh my memory.

My favourite section in the book is always the book section. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but you know I look at all the covers and find ones that catch my eye and look up the book description on Amazon! I can't help it... There were a few in there that I knew what books they were from because I have either already read the book, own the book, or want to buy the book. I probably spend the most time on this section, but I do enjoy the whole thing.

I could go on, but then I am sort of ruining the book for others! It is really something you should experience for yourself.

For a more in-depth look at the art, head over to Carl's review at Stainless Steel Droppings.

Life.... Or Something Like It....

Well, for a month at work, I was working 12 at night until 8 in the morning. It was just training, so now I am back on regular hours. This has resulted in me not being about to sleep at night. Yesterday I was up at 5:30 after only about two hours sleep. This morning I have been up since 4:30, or a bit before. I at least went to bed early last night, so it could be worse. I have to work 8-4 today, so I am not going to be able to go back to sleep. I just hope the few hours I did get are enough to get me through the day because right now I am wide awake! Hopefully I readjust to regular hours soon!

On Christmas Eve, we decided to celebrate Christmas this year. I had to work today, so I wanted to celebrate on a day when I did not have work to look forward to. So, last night we opened presents. I only get one book for Christmas each year. Unless I make an extensive list for my mother, she would rather buy me gift cards. This year, she accidently bought me two gift cards because she forgot about one of them, so I ended up with 150 dollars to buy books with. Then, my grandmother bought me another one for fifty dollars, so yesterday I spent 200 dollars on books. I preordered some of the books I am looking forward to this year, as well as ordered a few books that are out right now and I have been waiting to read. The final list is as follows:

1. Sisters in the Wilderness: The Lives of Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Traill by Charlotte Gray. I read Reluctant Genius by her this year and I really liked her writing style. Moodie and Traill were two of the first women in the newly settled, what is now, Canada.

2. I've Got a Home in Glory Land: The Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad by Karolyn Smardz-Frost. I first added this book to my wish list when it was nominated for the Governor General's awards this year. It went on to win the award, but you would never know it. It looks really interesting, so I knew I was going to have to get it soon.

3. Mary Modern by Camille Deangelis. I asked Carl what book I should get with my gift card money, and this is one of the books he recommended. I had it on my wish list and I really like the cover, so it seemed like a good choice.

4. The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist. Heather really liked this book, so much so that it moved up my list. I really wanted it, but the cover I like is fifty bucks. I gave in, though, and just bought the other cheaper cover. Carl also recommended this book based on what he had read of it, but I am not sure if he has actually finished it yet.

5. Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashley. I have heard good things about this young adult book, so I decided to add it in. It was actually a last minute decision when another book I had planned to get is now not coming out until April. I didn't want to preorder too ahead of time.

6. Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith. This is the sequel to A Rose for the Crown, so it was an automatic purchase. The first book was one of my favourite reads of 2006, so hopefully this will be one of my favourites of 2008.

7. The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason. I read her previous two books in 2007, so you know that I need to see what happens next! I look forward to the third installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles.

8. The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin. This is the sequel to Mistress of the Art of Death, another favourite from 2007, so I look forward to seeing if this one lives up to it.

9. Fire Study by Maria Snyder. The third book in the trilogy that includes Poison Study and Magic Study, it was not supposed to be out until the fall, but now it is saying the spring. I really hope that is not a typo!

10.Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine. The third book in the Morganville Vampires series. Not a fabulous series, but enjoyable.

11.The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Finally! You have no idea how many times this has been in my shopping card, but replaced by something else in the end. Many people consider it their favourite by her, so I am excited. I am going to try and read the large pile of books I have by her next year, and then I hope to start reading her diaries.

12.The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies. Nominated for the Booker Award, this one really interested me, so I have been planning on getting it at some point all year.

13.The Gathering by Anne Enright. The winner of the Booker Award and a book that is making many people's favourite fiction books of 2007, I decided to see what all the hype was about. This is the only non fantasy or historical fiction book on my list. My plan is to cut back on genres because I read too many now, and it is too hard to keep up!

14.Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs. The third book in the Mercedes Thompson series. I have to see what Mercy is up to now, and then later on this year I will get a new series from Briggs! I am looking forward to having more than one book from her a year, although I still have her older books to read....

And, book 15, my mother bought me for Christmas. I received Darkmans by Nicola Barker. It was nominated for the Booker Award, but a bit hard to find for a while there. I saw it at the bookstore one day, and my mother offered to give it to me as a gift.

I still have a bit of book money left over. I plan to purchase The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray when it comes out, so that is where some of it will be going. I hope the bookstore gets it in, because I left it off these orders. I thought I would have a better chance of getting it soon if I just bought it at the store. There are still many other books on my to be bought list, but 15 are now gone. Now, I just have to stay away from the bookstores until about March!

I will share my other gifts later. This post is a bit long. If I am awake after work I plan to take some pictures with my best Christmas present of all! My Camera! Which is all paid for now. Yay! With my crazy hours lately I have been sleeping when it is light out, so I have not had a lot of chances to play with it. Now that I am back on regular hours I hope to spend a lot of time with it and the books that come with it. I also have a few books on photography that I plan to read, so this should get me through the rest of the winter.

And, yes, I am still in love with these pictures by Rob Gonsalves.

The Locus Awards and Some Humour

By Boris Vallejo

Have you ever wondered what the art looks like for the artists that have won the Locus Awards, a science fiction and fantasy award, over the years? Well, you are in luck, I got inspired and if you click over to Twisted Kingdom I have shown the art winners dating back to 1979. The art is amazing, that's for sure! I wish I had half the talent of this talented artists.

One thing: I am very frustruated to discover that all the winners dating back to 1979 are men. Are there no female artists in the world? One of the artists even seems to paint with a woman, but she has never won.Camelot by Boris Vallejo

Subject: NEVER ARGUE WITH A FAST THINKING WOMAN

One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent.

Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?").

"You' re in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

The Wonders of the Art Found in Spectrum

I should be getting ready to go away this weekend, but I received part of my prize from the Once Upon a Time Challenge, and I have been sitting here staring at pictures instead of getting ready! So, I am supposed to leave soon and I have not even changed out of my pjs! You would think I would be doing so right now, but I had to share my delights before doing so. Part of my prize was the Spectrum 13 book edited by Cathy Fenner and Arnie Fenner. I saw it listed as part of my prize, but I had never heard of it before. This morning, I got the thrill of tearing off the plastic, which meant that the book still had that lovely new book smell! The cover is fantastic, it is called Prometheus and was apparently done for Asimov's SF. For those that might not know who Asimov is, he is an author. I have not got to him yet, but he is pretty high up in science fiction writing, and has a tonne of books. (I, Robot, the movie with Will Smith, was based on one of his books, actually.)

Anyways, the pictures in this book are amazing. Some I had seen before, and some I had not, so I cannot wait to have the time to really look at this book. I seriously need to go get ready, but this is one of my favourite pictures in the book on the left. It is called The Mists of Avalon and was drawn by Doug Beekman. I will have more 'eye-candy' next week when I have the time to actually read the whole thing.

Thanks very much to Carl for introducing me to something so great! The other stuff I got was great too, but I will wait until it is all here to share next week.