Sandra Kishi Glenn
RSS Feed
  • A Dangerous Blog
  • Dangerous: The Book
    • [Sample] Chapter 1 - Luminous Garbage
    • [Sample] Chapter 22 - Dislocation
    • Dangerous: The Movie
    • The (Unauthorized) Dangerous Soundtrack
  • Media
  • Fiction, Food, And Other Stuff
    • Recipes
    • Movie Watchlist
    • Contact and The Silence of the Lambs: Parallel Stories
    • Randa - A Cyberpunk Mermaid Princess Story
    • Sabi
    • Nia's Dream
    • Little City Vibes
    • A Bestiary of Words
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Home

Pattern Recognition, by William Gibson

12/13/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've read the book twice. I've also just listened to the Audible version of this book for a second time. And once again I'm blown away by how good it is. Here's the review I submitted to Audible.

-----
Q: What did you like best about this story?
A: I'm a William Gibson fan, and I applaud his wilingness to try new things, honing his craft along new and unexpected vectors every time. What makes Pattern Recognition one of my favorites is Gibson's ability to see situations, scenes, and narrative connections with an eye that has, simultaneously, a child's innocent wonder and a great-grandmother's deep appreciation of history and the mysterious tides which rule the human heart. His prose is like nothing else I've read, and can wrench sudden hoots of laughter from me in one moment, then steal my breath in another.

Pattern Recognition takes place in 2002, a full decade before the date of this review, yet I consider it a subtle, fresh kind of science fiction. It views our world through a filter that sharpens the reader's appreciation of the ways in which our present day is already profoundly science-fictional. When was the last time you really thought about the miraculous nature of email, or the bizarre way advertising has mutated and evolved in the last couple of decades?

I suspect Gibson had only the barest notion of where this tale might lead when he began writing it, and perhaps none at all. Often that method falls flat, but here the process of discovery infuses the story with an organic flavor that succeeds brilliantly.

Q: Which scene was your favorite?
A: It would be impossible to pick a favorite.

Q: Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
A: There were several deeply moving scenes in Pattern Recognition, but I am unable to discuss them without spoiling. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

So I'll speak in code: Cayce, the protagonist, is moved to tears by what she finds at the source of the digital Nile (Gibson's term) she's been exploring. I shared her tears because of a deep appreciation for the delicate, beautiful, tragic, and utterly unexpected nature of her discovery.

Q: Would you consider the audio edition of Pattern Recognition to be better than the print version?
A: I enjoyed both print and audio editions of Pattern Recognition, but Ms. Fraser's performance adds a subtlety and depth which greatly amplifies Gibson's velvety prose.

Q: Any additional comments?
A: Pattern Recognition is not for everyone. If your tastes run to Twilight or Bond, this won't do a thing for you. But if you enjoy lovingly-crafted prose and an eye that turns the mundane into the wondrous, I suggest you give it a read.



0 Comments

Randa

12/10/2012

0 Comments

 
I've found and cleaned-up a cyberpunk mermaid princess story I wrote in 2009 in a challenge with a writer-friend of mine, inspired by this photo from Otter Bay Suits. You might enjoy it.
0 Comments

Dangerous is now in print

12/5/2012

0 Comments

 
Many fans have asked for a print version of Dangerous, and I'm proud to announce it can now be ordered from Amazon as a 5"x8" trade paperback! You will not be disappointed.
[Dangerous, the print edition]
Thanks, everyone, for all your support and enthusiasm for my silly book.
0 Comments

The Proof Arrived!

11/28/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
The proof copy of Dangerous arrived last night, and it's just perfect. The printing, the bindery, everything is far better than I expected.

I see a couple of minor formatting changes I want to make, but that should only delay the release of the official print version by a week or so.

I can't believe they printed and shipped this copy in less than 24 hours. We really do live in an age of miracles.

0 Comments

Chicken Tikka Masala

11/25/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
I don't know about you, but Indian cuisine is one of my absolute favorites. In fact, my first taste of Indian food back in the 90s was so satisfying, so strangely familiar, that it almost seemed I was recalling home-cooked food from another life.

My very favorite Indian dish is Chicken Tikka Masala, though its origins are in dispute and may actually have been created in Britain or Scotland. In any event, it is heavenly.

As you may know, I love to cook. This weekend I watched a video tutorial on how to make the dish in a single pot. I thought it looked kind of sketchy, though, and sought out another recipe that looked more legit. And this is what I found:

Food Republic's Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

It was absofreakinglutely delicious. The only thing I'll do differently next time is add a touch of tomato paste for color, as the two chopped tomatoes weren't enough to give the dish its signature orange color. 

Oh, and I'll probably add a generous pinch of Cayenne Pepper, as it deserves to be a little hotter. Or let each person add it themselves, to make it as spicy as they like. (Which is what we ended up doing.)

If you want to win someone's heart, Make. This. Dish.

(Next time I'll try this video recipe. It's more complicated, but looks delicious.)

(Photo credit: Michael Hays)

1 Comment

Dangerous, the print version

11/22/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
In celebration of the first anniversary of Dangerous on the Kindle, I've prepared the book for a printed version. Many, many hours went into that re-format and thorough proofreading! I've also completely redesigned the cover art, and updated all e-book versions (Kindle, Smashwords) to match the new print version.

I'm waiting on the proof copy from the printer, and it should arrive in a week or so. If I don't find any problems, the 5"x8" softcover book will be available for order from Amazon in early December. I'll keep you posted.

Thank goodness for the wealth of free software which made Dangerous possible. I couldn't have done it without LibreOffice and Inkscape.

0 Comments

Finally, Smashwords

11/7/2012

1 Comment

 
It took me a while, but Dangerous is now available on Smashwords!
As a happy consequence, I'm able to offer a larger free sample of the book -- 20%, instead of Amazon's 10%.
1 Comment

XKCD rocks

11/1/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Chances are, if you loved FSoG, you won't like Dangerous.
0 Comments

Little City Vibes

10/26/2012

0 Comments

 
I've posted the short erotic story Little City Vibes which I wrote for a fetish magazine in 2006. It's really only of interest because it's the seed from which Dangerous grew.
0 Comments

My life, post-Crunch

9/14/2012

0 Comments

 
It is with great pleasure I announce the end to my months of crunch at work. After 110 12-hour work days, it feels a little strange to go home during daylight. First item on my to-do list: sleep! Pretty soon I'll recover my wits sufficiently to get back to writing.

This morning's XKCD (titled Cautionary Ghost) made me laugh aloud.
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Jhaymesisviphotography, Arbron, Loren Javier