Robert J. Sawyer is more than just a terrific sf writer and a brilliant editor (hey, he did publish my first two novels, after all), he’s also a great guy, which is why I’m so pleased that the TV series based on his novel Flash Forward is going so well. Courtney B. Vance and Jack Davenport have been added to the cast. (Rob just announced this on his blog.) Flash Forward the novel explores some interesting questions, such as, what would we do if we could get tantalizing glimpses of our own futures? How would this affect fate and free will and all that we know to be true about our lives and the world? It will be really interesting to see what kinds of questions the TV series asks. But heck, read the novel, if you haven’t already, before the series comes out: Highly recommended.
Not to be overlooked is another fine Canadian writer, Corey Redekop, and his novel, Shelf Monkey. This is a book written for and about book lovers. For all of you who have ever felt passionate about literature and your favorite authors, this book is a must-read. You might think that a book about books and readers would almost have to be boring. Forget it! Corey pieces together an interesting plot revolving around TV personality Munroe Purvis (an Oprah-like pusher of crappy books) and the book-wormish, self-proclaimed “Shelf Monkeys” (most of them working in a bookstore, a-hem) who simply cannot let go of their absolute hatred for Purvis. I don’t want to give away too much of the story because it will take a lot of the fun out of reading this book. The surprises are worth the price of admission. There is a good bit of social satire, and the characters are exceptionally well drawn. At one point in the novel, two of the major players are talking about literature, and Aubrey asks Thomas:
“What makes a good writer, in your opinion?”
“Style, character, plot, and the ability to abandon all three when necessary.”
“And what makes a bad writer?”
“Same thing.”
Corey’s book is filled with these sorts of keen observations and witticisms, all kinds of fun literary references, and, well, style, character, plot, and the ability to abandon all three when necessary, in the best possible way. I had a chance to meet Corey this year, finally, at the Canadian Book Expo. He lives in Winnipeg (a city that I’ve grown very fond of) and blogs at Shelf-Monkey. His novel? Highly recommended.
