Category: Uncategorized (Page 33 of 35)

In Wendy McElroy’s book review of Stephen Cox’s recent Isabel Paterson biography, “Isabel Paterson and the Idea of America,” she wonders:

Why has Paterson been so neglected? Or, more broadly, why did and does the libertarian movement — or radical individualism in general — not celebrate and embrace its fiction writers in the same manner as the Left? Upton Sinclair, Lillian Hellman, Max Eastman, John Steinbeck, Sinclair Lewis — these left-wing fiction writers were Paterson’s contemporaries. Like her, they had a dramatic impact on the culture and politics of their day. Unlike Paterson, they have claimed important niches in history, largely because of the attention of left-wing biographers and historians.

Well, one group of libertarians has celebrated libertarian fiction for almost 25 years – the Libertarian Futurist Society.

A firestorm ignites over at Sunni Maravillosa’s site regarding Laissez Faire Books decision not to carry Vin Suprynowicz’s novel, The Black Arrow. I have not read the book, so I cannot comment on the alleged “gratuitous vulgar sexual content” mentioned as the reason for not carrying the book. Nor am I as passionate about the book as some of its readers. I respect LFB’s decision not to carry the book, and I also can understand the anger and outrage from the book’s fans. For over 21 years I’ve supported and ordered books from Laissez Faire Books. I’ll continue this, but LFB never has been the sole source for my books. Meanwhile, the book is available at the publisher (linked above) and Amazon.

Pippi Longstocking becomes a ballet. I read several of Astrid Lindgren’s books as a child, and remember Pippi as a fun and strong character in several novels. It’s amusing to read how she inspired fear in the establishment as an independent-minded child, and now is lauded as a hero of female liberation.

Truth about movies and prizes at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Quoth director Gilles Jacob about Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, “it was a question of a satirical tract that was awarded a prize more for the political than cinematographic reasons, no matter what the jury said.” Nah, really? And now we expect the jury to drop their politics this year? We are expected to believe that last year was an anolamy, perhaps brought about by the election year? I seriously doubt anything will change.

Short stories online by Paul Tietjens over at Doctrinity. Via Sunni Maravillosa.

Fantasybookspot has an interview with John C. Wright. Not sure of the date, although the preface mentions The Last Guardian of Everness, which the mention was nominated for the Prometheus Award “last month.”

Meisha Merlin goes all out for Heinlein, aiming to publish
The Definitive Collection of Robert A. Heinlein. The project consists of forty-six titles spanning Heinlein’s entire career. I wonder if this has anything to do with the recent Vance Integral Edition, which published the definite Jack Vance? Via Reason Hit & Run via Boing Boing

A fascinating review from the New York Times of the new novel, Never Let Me Go, by noted Japanese writer Kazuo Ishiguro. Review forthcoming in the Summer issue of Prometheus, as the Spring issue was mailed to subscribers on April 5th.

The Libertarian Futurist Society posted the finalists for best novel and hall of fame awards.

Reason Magazine resident cartoonist, Peter Bagge, brings his own wacky art into a comic book, entitled Apocalypse Nerd. Serialized in six installments from Dark Horse Comics, Apocalypse Nerd also will feature a separate story on America’s Founding Fathers.