The Snow Queen’s Shadow

Jim Hines recently completed his fourth and final book in the Princess series, The Snow Queen's Shadow.

I am a fan of Hines' works. I am still convinced that Jig the Goblin is the modern day equivalent of Everyman (or, if you will, every geek, as I believe we can all see ourselves in Jig.) The Princess series was a real departure for Jim from his reputation as a humorous writer, and I believe that gamble has paid off. Over the course of the series he has re-interpreted and developed traditional characters into complex modern characters.

The Snow Queen's Shadow is not Hines' first treatment of a Hans Christian Anderson tale. That first outing was the moody, thought-provoking The Mermaid's Madness, easily my favorite of the series. I have to admit, in this book, Hines has his work cut out for him. The Snow Queen is perhaps my favorite Anderson tale. Every time I look at it, I see a new dimension in what Anderson is trying to say about humanity. Go on, read it for yourself. See what you think.

Of course, Hines' novel is not a mere re-telling of The Snow Queen. Hines uses his incarnations of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella as the central cast, and he uses elements of The Snow Queen story to pull together their final adventure. There are twists and turns for fans of the series, so I will put a spoiler cut right here. Go further at your own peril.

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Mirrored from Writer Tamago.

Travel Plans

So, I've been thinking about 2012.

I already know where I'll be traveling for the first part of the year, and what my conventions will be through July 4. You can see those plans on the page where I list such things. Notice that with the exception of TESOL (where I have to be sniff Dr. Catherine), these are fairly local. I am hoping to hook up with my travel buddy Catrina while I'm in Philly, so we can have a brunost and strawberry cider reunion.

***

Once school cranks up, I'll be soliciting professional development for funds to go to Taos Toolbox next year. My usual budget, which faculty get every two years, will cover the early registration cost. I'll have to cover food and airfare, but that would substantially reduce my expenses, so I'd take it. Nancy Kress is now a personal hero, and I'd like to study with her.

I wonder if any writers I know will be applying for Taos, or are thinking about it.

In a couple more years, I'll try to use my professional development to study in Lawrence, Kansas, to study with Kij Johnson if I can.

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And then there's the fall of 2012. I will of course have Icon, my local. I am thinking seriously of Worldcon in Chicago. Since it's local, and I'm due for a local convention from the department during the 2012-2013 school year, I'll see if this can be the one. I've never been to a World Con before. I'll be interested to see what it's like, and I understand it'll be a great place to hook up with some of you.

Of course, Reno is this weekend, so many of you who would be going are gone, and you won't see this until later. Yeah, that was a good sentence. I wonder who will be going.

Well, I'd better get in some real writing. It's fun to speculate, but it's also waxing the cat.

How about you? What are your conventions this year and next?

Cath

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.