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Talking About SPECULATIVE FICTION. Karen Burns SW Iowa Library Service Area kburns@swilsa.lib.ia.us. Katie Dunneback East Central Library Services kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us. Let’s Review. Some Appeal Factors. Pacing Characters Setting Period Tone (humorous, serious,..) Plot
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Karen Burns SW Iowa Library Service Area kburns@swilsa.lib.ia.us Katie Dunneback East Central Library Services kdunneback@sls.lib.ia.us
Some Appeal Factors Pacing Characters Setting Period Tone (humorous, serious,..) Plot Style/Language
What makes a good “talk”? Talk about the appeal factors for that book—character, pacing, time period Tell it in your own “voice” Choose the right length for the situation and patron “Hook: Don’t tell the ending; make them want to read it! May include “If you liked…”
“Talking” About Books Traditional (in-person) Groups One-on-One Blogs and mini-blogs Podcasts Video talks Written (in house)
Talking About Speculative Fiction • Defining “speculative fiction” • Describe characteristics and appeal factors of the genre that are relevant to preparation of a talk • Name 5 "sure bets" in the genre for the booktalking repertoire • Discuss trends in the genre/s • Crossing over into nonfiction • Talk about at least one book in the genre
What is speculative fiction? • Definition(s) • Types, with examples • Science fiction • Fantasy • Horror • Supernatural
Appeal Factors • Common with all genres: Setting, Period, Pacing, Characters, Style • Additional for speculative: • Supernatural element • Science element (how “true” is the science”?) • World building
“Type” • All over the place!
Some Speculative Fiction“Sure Bets”(and appeal factors to “talk” about) • Stephen King & Joe Hill (H) • China Mieville & Richard K. Morgan • Jim Butcher • Gail Carriger & Linnea Sinclair • John Scalzi • Chelsea Cain
Trends in Speculative Fiction • Steampunk and other -punk • Near Future & Post-Apocalyptic • Vampires • Zombies • Mash-ups • Rise of YA • Urban Fantasy
Crossovers Science (history, technology) Subgenres like Paranormal Romance What else?
Resources • John Scalzi’s Whatever blog (especially the “Big Idea” and “Just Arrived” entries)http://whatever.scalzi.com • Fantastic Fictionhttp://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ • SciFanhttp://www.scifan.com • Tor.comhttp://www.tor.com • MonsterLibrarianhttp://www.monsterlibrarian.com • Iread wiki iread.pbworks.com
Photo credits • “Steampunk at Burning Man” by Stuck in Customs - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4989019868/ • “Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame Gift Shop” by Loren Javier - http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenjavier/3832360370/
Next session:* • Read a non-fiction book • Prepare a “talk” • Review • Blog post • Podcast • Oral talk • Come prepared to Celebrate talks! * For full credit (1 extra) Non-Fiction 2/17