Diana Wynne Jones on the Magic of Doorways

 

Portmeirion, UK

 

In Diana Wynne Jones' novel Howl's Moving Castle, the wizard Howl has a magical door. Even though his castle roves the land of Ingary, he's not limited by his home's current location. With a twist of the knob, he can push open the door, and step out into the village of Market Chipping, the seaside town of Porthaven, the capital city of Kingsbury, or even his childhood hometown in Wales. 

Although Diana Wynne Jones was born in London, England, she was evacuated to Wales during World War II. Like wizard Howl, she could call that part of the United Kingdom (UK) home. Perhaps Howl's ability to visit his hometown whenever he wished bespoke Wynne's love for the land of her youth. 

 

If so, it would seem that, like Wales, doorways also held a special magic for her. Ordinary doorways separate a home from the street or the garden. In an interview in the back of her novel, she mentioned that she usually kept interior doors in her home open, just to prevent another place turning up on the other side of them.

No place is that more likely to occur than in the Welsh village of Portmeirion in Jones' beloved Wales. Sir Clough Williams-Ellis designed the village so that every possible viewpoint could present a strikingly different scene. It remains a village that invites photographers, filmmakers, and artists to share his colorful and evocative vistas with the rest of the world.

 

If I had a front door like the wizard Howl, I would love to adjust the knob and return to the idyllic Welsh village of Portmeirion. But for now, I think it best to adopt Diana Wynne Jones' view on doors. Every time I go outside, I step into a place in which anything is possible.

A world in which I can make anything happen.

Dragon Dave

Sedona Sunrise

 

Five years ago, during our last visit to England, we stayed in a bed-and-breakfast in Harrow, where a friendly Indian couple took good care of us. The man seemed very intrigued by our explorations of his country. "I've never been to some of these places you've visited," he told me.

If, like us, he were to take a trip halfway across the world, what place would he like to visit in the United States? His first choice: Sedona, Arizona.

 

Due to the pandemic, the war in the Ukraine, and the troubled airline industry, my wife and I have elected to drive to nearby locales for our vacations. We visited Sedona twice last year, and both times, the touristy nature of the community oppressed me. But this year, I was able to see past that, and enjoy our time there. 

 

We stayed in the village of Oak Creek. Everyday, we went out for a walk. Somedays we explored the residential streets. But several times, we struck out on the walking paths surrounding Bell Rock, and walked through the arid wilderness.

 

 

Too often, and especially since March 2020, I've longed to return to England. This time, I was finally able to embrace Sedona, and view it like others do: as a place of healing and rebirth. This change of mindset allowed me to look at many things in my life differently. 

There's not just one ideal place. There's not just one path to follow. Our world offers innumerable opportunities. Explore them all!

Dragon Dave

In Awe of Tuzigoot

 

Tuzigoot National Monument was not carved into a cliff. Nor was it sprawl across a plain. It was built atop a hill overlooking the Verde Valley, and stood several stories high. 

From the safety of their hilltop community, the ancients descended to forage and hunt. They planted crops. They called this hill home for centuries.

 

From their hill, you can gaze out upon their surroundings. Although much has changed since people called Tuzigoot home, the land to one side remains arid, while the other is still marshland. Knowing how and where water flowed--when it flowed in this desert landscape--helped them capture and harness it. This knowledge also helped them avoid its potentially devastating effects. For even today, in the Verde Valley--despite all our ability to access the latest weather information--the unwary still die in flash floods.

 

 

Their time has long passed. Yet life still flourishes in the Verde Valley. You can observe it, as they once did, if you choose.

 

Visitors return to this ancient site every year. Descendants of those ancient inhabitants work with the National Park system to carry out regular repairs to the stonework. They may not rebuild the structures made of wood and other less durable materials. Yet they preserve the foundations, and keep the ancient hilltop community safe to visit. 

 

 

My wife and I observed these members of our land's first nations during a visit last year. This year, they had moved on, to another site in need of preservation. Still standing after a thousand years, and inhabited for longer than the United States has been a nation, Tuzigoot National Monument still inspires.

Dragon Dave

As Time Goes By: The Unwritten Screenplay

 

 

Lo, it is written:

"I am alone with my sheep.

But my sheep are not alone with me."

 

Let the words of Romanian author Eugeniev Antonsecu guide you this day.

And Lionel Hardcastle, if you're out there: please adapt this classic novel into a television miniseries.

 

Lastly, always remember:

"We sheep are not alone."

Dragon Dave

Remembering Greg Bear

 

 

Science Fiction author Greg Bear died last Saturday, after complications from surgery.

I met Greg Bear once, at the World Fantasy Convention held in San Diego in 2011. While I had not read many of his books, I would list his novel Dinosaur Summer as a favorite. The story forms a worthy successor to Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. 

While attending a presentation given by production designers of Disney theme park attractions based on science fiction and fantasy stories, I noticed Greg Bear and his wife Astrid sit in the row ahead of me. If my mind always worked in a straightforward manner, I would have taken the opportunity to compliment him on Dinosaur Summer, as well as tell his wife Astrid how much I had enjoyed the novels of Poul Anderson, her father. Instead, I approached them with a...well, something completely different.

While reading Dreamer of Dune, Brian Herbert's biography of his father, a story had stuck in my mind. It concerned a mutual project involving three of the authors I grew up with: Frank Herbert, Jack Vance, and Poul Anderson. The three science fiction authors worked on a houseboat together. Even young Brian lent a hand. But then, Brian records that the houseboat sank, and Frank lost his investment in it.

The story left me curious. It seemed like there ought to be more to it than that. After all, all three men had written visionary fiction that I've continued to read and reread throughout my life. So, with the opportunity to ask two people who knew Poul Anderson well, I wondered if, perhaps, they could share Poul's remembrance of the project with me.

While Greg and Astrid had nothing to add to it, Greg told me how much he had enjoyed Dune, and that he admired Frank Herbert's stories. Although he was an award-winning, bestselling author, he took the time to make me comfortable, and to assure me that, at heart, he identified with me. He shared my love of Herbert's monumental novel, and the sequels it spawned. I think, in the end, I was the one to break off the conversation, mainly because I appreciated his kindness, and didn't want to intrude unduly on his time.

Farewell, Greg Bear. Thank you for your great stories, and for your even greater kindness.

Dragon Dave

 

P.S. I wrote an earlier piece about this meeting, which you can read by clicking the link below (or searching my blog for Greg Bear). I also found a link to the houseboat story written by Jack Vance. If you're interested in that story, I've provided a link for that too.

Obituary in Locus Magazine 

More on my Conversation with Greg Bear

Jack Vance remembers building his houseboat

Montezuma's Revenge

 

Life had gotten rather off-kilter before last month's vacation. So this time, I resolved to give myself a total break, and not to do any blogging. Once or twice I almost backslid, but the focus seeped out of me before I could compose a post.

My wife and I enjoyed exploring places like Montezuma's Castle on our vacation. Arizona may not be England, but it has its historic sites to inspire. As I walked around this national monument, I wondered about the lives of those long-ago cliff dwellers. So many questions arose.

Did they live there all the time, or just part of the year?

Did they farm the land below, or was the nearby Green River much closer to the cliffs?

What were their everyday activities? What were their trials and challenges?

Historians may have pieced together clues to address all those questions. Still, I suspect there's much left to ponder. So many stories about their lives yet to be told. 

 

 

I returned home less with fixed plans than with ideas and resolutions. Yet Montezuma insisted upon wreaking his revenge. We also returned to our California home with a automobile gremlin which ultimately the dealership would need to sort out. Exhaustion played its role, as did unexpectedly high gas prices ($3 per gallon higher than in Arizona). All this delayed my return to my local comic shop, to pick up the new stories I hungered to read.

Of the five I expected, my local comic shop only received three. As has become a theme since 2020, the other two were delayed. One I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever arrive. The new-to-me Star Wars #27 I picked up, as I'm trying out the series. Also, after reading several old DC comics I picked up during our vacation--and enjoying them--I picked up a copy of their preview magazine, to survey their contemporary titles.

I'll always have plenty of old stories to discover. I'll always have plenty of old stories to reread. Yet I wonder: was the reason my life felt so off-kilter before our vacation because I wasn't seeking out and discovering enough new stories?

Dragon Dave

 

New Journeys of Discovery

 

Recently, I've been ordering fewer new comics at my local comic shop. Even though I read comics regularly, some of this may reflect a reluctance to invest myself (my time, thoughts, and emotions) in new comics. Still, I think mostly this is due to publishers ending series I enjoy, producing fewer titles, and releasing issues less frequently. 

I must also admit that, with the prices of new comics rising, costs all across the board increasing, and retirement looming, I'm questioning how much I ought to be spending on new books. 

Still, I love new comics. Old comics are great. Like old novels: they're always fun to read. But new comics are just...awesome. There's nothing quite like the thrill of perusing the comic shop each week, and checking out the new arrivals. What stories might I discover? What adventures might I embark upon?

If I had the financial means, and the time, I might just read them all! But then, I wouldn't have time to read my older comics. 

(Sigh).

Lately, I've been feeling the desire to embark on new journeys of discovery. While I've read most of Brian Michael Bendis' run on Ultimate Spider-Man, I've never followed Marvel's premier series about webhead Peter Parker. I'm not nearly as familiar with Frank Miller's work as (perhaps) I should be. I read the first few issues when Star Wars returned to Marvel, but nothing since. As for Daredevil...

Can you believe that I've never read a single issue about the blind superhero? (Until now, that is).

There may come a day when the arrival of each week's new titles no longer interests me. There will likely come a day when I cannot purchase and read new comics. But until that day comes, I'll keep on the lookout for new stories that transport me to strange and wondrous places.

Dragon Dave

Check Out The New Predator

 

Predator #1 Cover A by Leinil Francis Yu

There's a new Predator in town, and she isn't what she appears. I've been eagerly awaiting this series for two years, and after the excruciating delay, the first issue doesn't disappoint. The story begins with a battle, then opens up to reveal the central character's backstory, and help you understand what drives her. 

 

The chronology summarizes the first and second movies, Predators, and Shane Black's latest film. Surprisingly, although Marvel has released a full year's worth of Alien (12 issues, 1 annual, and a one-shot sequel to Aliens), no mention is made of the Aliens Vs Predator films. But that particular match-up began in comics before it ventured onto the big screen, so if Marvel's efforts with both franchises prove successful, perhaps that's a possibility for the future.

 

 The first few pages are mostly action, so let's get into the battle. Enjoy!

 

 

 

After this first battle, you'll find more compelling art and plenty to read. The remainder of the issue intertwines the main character's backstory with her current desperate situation. It's not just exciting, but heartfelt too.

 

 

I heartily recommend Predator #1, which gives you more pages for $4.99, before the series reverts to its usual length and $3.99 price. If you enjoyed the movies, give Predator #1 a try. I did, which is why I'm recommending it to you.

Dragon Dave

P.S. This, and previews for many other great comics, can be found at Comiclist.com

Usagi Yojimbo Primer

 

Three years ago at Wondercon in Anaheim, California, my wife and I attended a panel hosted by IDW Comics. Of the upcoming series they presented, one that peaked our interest, and that we still read, is Usagi Yojimbo. It's an all-ages comic in which Stan Sakai reveals interesting aspects of Japanese heritage in his own unique way. 

Usagi Yojimbo goes back decades, and has been published by several companies. Lately, I've heard rumors on the Facebook group that Stan will be taking a break from the series after the next issue. I'm sure whatever stories he wants to tell will be interesting, and that he'll return to Usagi soon.

No matter where you start, Usagi Yojimbo is always easy to get into. You may not often visit a comic shop, or have any interest in purchasing this particular issue. Still, if you've never read Usagi, I urge you to check it out. Many collected editions are available. I think you'll find Usagi Yojimbo a refreshing change, and a rewarding read.

Here's the opening scene of the current issue, in which Komori Ninja interrogate two bandits. Enjoy!

 

Although my wife and I always purchase the standard cover by Stan Sakai, a higher-priced Retailer Incentive cover is available. I particularly like the standard cover of this issue. In the print copy, the blues really stand out. 

Incidentally, an Usagi Yojimbo action figure has recently become available. Here's a photo from the Facebook group, in which one fan showed off how much he's enjoying his. If you take up my suggestion, and decide you like Usagi Yojimbo, you may wish to join the group. Like everything associated with Stan Sakai, I've found it a lot of fun.

Dragon Dave

P.S. Previews for this and other current and upcoming issues can be found at Comiclist.com

First Look At Crashing #1

 

Crashing #1 Cover A by Morgan Beem

 

Matthew Klein, former Vice-President of Marketing at Valiant Comics, has written his own comic series! Along with It's Alive's upcoming Nervous Rex #1, the first of Matthew's five-issue series comes out in September. Overseeing the title is former Valiant editor Heather Antos, and the colorist and letterer also number as Valiant veterans. While I'm not on a reviewer for IDW, I didn't think they'd mind if I reprinted this press release, which I found on Comiclist.com. Enjoy!

IDW is excited to announce the launch of the five-part comic book miniseries Crashing, written by Matthew Klein and illustrated by Morgan Beem (Swamp Thing, Adventure Time, Wonder Woman Black and Gold). Part Nurse Jackie and part The Boys, Crashing #1 will premiere in September and will be the third title released in IDW’s upcoming slate of original comics debuting throughout 2022 and beyond.

Less than ten years into her rehabilitation, recovering addict Rose Osler is one of a handful of doctors in the United States who specialize in treating “Powered individuals,” human beings imbued with a range of incredible—and according to some, fundamentally dangerous—superhuman attributes. Amid a sudden, rising wave of violence and chaos apparently provoked by these Powered citizens, Rose struggles to balance the ghosts of her past with the mounting pressure of her professional responsibilities, all while fighting to hold her strained marriage together and avoid the lure of getting high.

 

Crashing #1 Cover B by Jorge Corona

 

“Crashing is a story about sacrifice, heroism, and self-care,” says Klein. “Over the pandemic, we saw such an increase in people needing help, falling into self-destructive behaviors, addiction, or alcoholism, it felt like there needed to be a story about a first responder who needs help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. Heroes need help, too. Whether they wear capes or stethoscopes, the responsibility of saving someone’s life can be overwhelming. We’ve all seen an extraordinary number of heroes step up on the frontlines of the pandemic. I wanted to explore a story about an everyday hero who wants to save everybody at the expense of herself and how dangerous that kind of self-neglect can be.”

“One of the things that really excites me about this project is that all our characters—and especially Rose, our main character—are flawed,” says Beem. “They all have a lot of strength but also a lot of genuine weaknesses. They make mistakes, sometimes huge ones, but they keep going. They learn to forgive others, and especially themselves. I love that because it’s something that I feel all of us can relate to.”

Crashing #1 Cover C by Liana Kangas

 

“I don’t think there’s a better time for stories like Crashing than this very moment,” says editor Heather Antos. “What Matthew, Morgan, colorist Triona Farrell, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou have managed to capture in 22-page chapters is nothing short of an extraordinary display of humanity that will help a lot of people hopefully connect, grow, and heal. One of the greatest powers we all possess is the ability to reach out and connect with one another, but sometimes finding the strength to do so gets lost along the way. Joining Rose on her journey of self-growth while caught between powers quite beyond her has been a joy.”

Crashing #1 will be available with three variant covers for fans and retailers to enjoy, including Cover A by series illustrator Morgan Beem, Cover B by Jorge Corona, and Cover C by Liana Kangas.

For information on how to acquire copies of the Crashing comic books, please contact your local comic shop or visit www.comicshoplocator.com to find a store near you.

 

 

If you'd like to peek beneath the covers, head over to website The Mary Sue, which has an exclusive reveal of the first five pages of Crashing #1. 

Phew! My shift's finally over! See you later, folks: now it's time for me to crash!

Dragon Dave

Kevin J Anderson: Shambling Into Action

 

In Death Warmed Over, detective Dan Chambeaux takes on a number of investigations. Chief among these is protecting a Vampire from a group of supremacists-against-the-unnatural, and digging up dirt on the owner of a company that produces cosmetics for the undead by the man's estranged werewolf-wife. All the while, he searches for clues to the person or persons who poisoned his girlfriend Sheyenne, and gunned him down in the streets.

To the surprise of Robin, a big-hearted laywer who takes on most of her cases on a pro bono basis, Dan Chambeaux stumbled--or shambled--back into the office shortly after death. Assisted by Sheyenne, who also rose from the dead as a poltergeist, Robin and Dan will never be rich, but as they serve a variety of unnatural clients, their work will never be boring.

 

It's been eight years since I last read Death Warmed over, and I found the novel a welcome return. Kevin J. Anderson keeps Dan's life full of interest, and his writing his chock full of humor. The novel makes a light, fast read, and the perfect book for the beach.

Provided, that is, that you're not a vampire.

 

 

If you enjoy Death Warmed Over, there are seven other books in the series. Given how many cases Dan undertakes, I don't know how many investigations those eight books will cover, but I can guarantee that they'll be fun.

Dragon Dave

My Previous (and more extensive) Posts on Death Warmed Over 

Kevin J Anderson on Fighting For Others' Rights

Kevin J Anderson on Zombies And Ghosts

Commodore Sloat & the Little Lost Bear

 

Twenty years ago, I accompanied my wife on a business trip to Monterey, California. While she was stuck in meetings that week, I explored the seaside town. Although we'd only have two days this time around, I looked forward to showing her the sights.

Our first stop was at the Presidio, where we found the military museum closed. We walked up a hill to check out an old monument.

 

 

In 1846, with the Unites States at war with Mexico, Commodore John Drake Sloat directed his fleet to Monterey. Despite a strong British naval presence, he secured California for the United States, and then briefly served as the territory's first military governor. Given the region's importance, California would become a state a mere three years later.

This monument, erected in 1910, commemorates Commodore Sloat's accomplishment.

 

As we made our way back to the car, my wife noticed a forlorn teddy lying in damp, freshly mowed grass. She picked him up, and cleaned him as best she could. Later that evening, she lavished more attention on him.

She posted photos of him on several Lost And Found websites. So far, no one's claimed their little lost bear. I wonder: does that mean he's found a new home?

Dragon Dave