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hu m ll ble m light a rfa humelet and b e r t be eam e d tv ble ric yp l fire ry wa tion sh ele st l go r h a l gy fel t r m blaze o e a h c s t r o g h f i as g e a l t sm er w r c l ric ng an e n en k g t s e n k t a i b c cut h bisc n surf w queen ro cry humb tim clim radio uits andntaid tv le ck climb y fir moo en ange bloody o a u r n s e don’t g o g e se e l or one r ate don’t ra l t fury m r q r e r indforges d il ne lithe moose minus ueden lia pictur ent gh e a lia e i I iron the beh u r t go l o lig u a y i t l m n n l c l a i r t h r i k as d e dy sm ht n they nt p s tric beh y igh de hier ord red orange iro r cher quee d l r h w u a m w o e b le thi s microwave e la n po destruction elephant ituddemo I liar semester fir ra magic s ef eath s sen adventure ma n t salt g minus a t w t n r n u x d e g h i radio inte i tahowever min cod manromance five te dog r pumpkin er motivor r h netcircus g cry r un a yellow t s d n a i o a a o te e o n x m ting str b th let fo dark uee sw ange climb ven they mfood inter elephant qhe en s ness er r im l m e icr i w ow lp b g I av lia c e r s I iscu th I s ange rainbow rdcircus e icture t e l hip or i o t d s minus w I h on tv x p ora s si minus on I ck titu lig g l king ng be ange c ti range lus ro gra n o a d i n e r adio c oc g p low I cry nuswolf quee h to l do n r I mi boxes slo food letric ye g w dub e w n a d i h n o don’t s I t ed te I hi angel wind plu ben r be h humble s r a ch one sm I ing de s cry n i lad moose ge ta oraonp un o p good m rare ose b m i l dc pique re s u I n mi level pass birdrs d se oc re am m k es be ter k ll roc ht hi g i l smash rr y wo anhdclimb um blachk ble smas r I e powrgy e t a e rds enyper y elepwo hant r h hor cut fu ror
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conTeNts Crack, Angst or Fluff? Just what is Fanfiction?
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This ssue’s book reviews Marcus usa ’s The 10 Book Thief Stephen King’s Doctor 11 leep FoOd f r thought some fOod f o thE World OF HARry poTtEr uTterbeer Feve
2
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HaT Di you say A collection of quotes from so e fantasti novels
12 3 14
Rated R For Remarkable C h a n c e s a r e, i f yo u ’ ve s p e n t a n y a m o u n t o f t i m e o n t h e I n t e r n e t , o r h ave d a r e d t o d e l ve d e e p e n o u g h i n t o s o m e o f i t s d a r k r e c e s s e s, yo u ’ l l h ave c o m e a c r o s s f a n f i c t i o n . M ay b e i t ’s s o m e t h i n g yo u ’ ve o n l y h e a r d a b o u t i n r u m o u r s, w h i s p e r s b e t we e n I n t e r n e t f r i e n d s r e c o m m e n d i n g n e w Jo h n l o ck f i c s ( a s t h e y ’r e a f f e c t i o n a t e l y k n ow n ) o r s h a r i n g n e w s o f a n u p d a t e. M ay b e yo u ’r e a n av i d r e a d e r w h o k n ow s yo u r L e m o n s f r o m yo u r L i m e s, yo u r A n g s t f r o m yo u r F l u f f, yo u r C a n o n f r o m yo u r Fa n o n . E i t h e r way, n owa d ay s yo u ’r e p r e t t y h a r d p r e s s e d t o avo i d f a n f i c t i o n o n l i n e. I t ’s b e c o m e a h u g e I n t e r n e t s u b c u l t u r e t h a t i s o n l y g r ow i n g , a s m o r e a n d m o r e p e o p l e d i s c ove r a n d s p r e a d i t a r o u n d . S o w h a t i s f a n f i c t i o n ? We l l , i n i t s s i m p l e s t f o r m , f a n f i c t i o n i s f i c t i o n w r i t t e n by f a n s t h a t i n vo l ve s ch a r a c t e r s a n d s e t t i n g s f r o m b o o k s, m ov i e s, T V s h ow s a n d m o r e. I t ’s a way f o r f a n s t o c o n t i nu e t h e i r l ove f o r s o m e t h i n g a n d s h a r e t h e i r e f f o r t s w i t h l i ke m i n d e d p e o p l e. Fa n f i c t i o n i s n o t a n e w t h i n g - i t ’s b e e n a r o u n d s i n c e t h e d ay s o f t h e o r i g i n a l S t a r Tr e k b a ck i n t h e 1960s - but since the conception of the Internet i t ’s s p r e a d l i ke n e w s o f a n e w J K Row l i n g p r o j e c t . Fo r t h e f i r s t t i m e, p e o p l e w h o e n j oy e d c r e a t i n g n e w p l o t l i n e s f o r t h e i r f avo u r i t e ch a r a c t e r s h a d s o m e p l a c e t h e y c o u l d g o t o d o s o. T h e y h a d a s a f e p l a c e w h e r e t h e y c o u l d s h a r e t h e i r c r e a t iv ity with others who might be interested in readi n g t h e i r wo r k . E a ch w r i t e r c o u l d f e e l l i ke t h e i r h a r d wo r k wa s a p p r e c i a t e d , w h e t h e r t h e y a r e h u g e d e a l w i t h h u n d r e d s o f f o l l owe r s o r a n e w b i e w i t h o n l y a c o u p l e. T h e y c o u l d f e e l t h e r u s h f r o m a n e w r e v i e w o n o n e o f t h e i r f i c s, o r a n e w f o l l owe r t o t h e i r wo r k , a n d g e t t h a t l i t t l e e g o b o o s t f r o m i t . T h e b i g g e s t f a n f i c t i o n p l a t f o r m o n t h e we b c u r r e n t l y i s Fa n F i c t i o n . n e t , a p l a c e w h e r e a n yo n e c a n j o i n u p a n d s t a r t p u b l i s h i n g t h e i r wo r k s. Fa n F i c t i o n . net currently boasts a membership of 2.2 million, and hosts stories in more than 30 languages from a r o u n d t h e wo r l d . C l o s e l y b e h i n d t h i s s i t e i s A r ch ive O f O u r O w n , k n ow n t o f a n s a s AO 3 , a s i t e w i t h a wa i t i n g l i s t t o j o i n l o n g e r t h a n Wa r A n d Pe a c e, a t l e a s t w h i l e i t r e m a i n s i n B e t a - m o d e. T h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t we e n t h e t wo s i t e s i s n o t i c e a b l e – b e c a u s e F F. n e t a l l ow s a n yo n e t o j o i n , av i d r e a d e r s o f t e n h ave t o s i f t t h r o u g h s l i g h t l y l e s s we l l - w r i t t e n wo r k t o f i n d t h e r e a l l y g o o d s t u f f, w h e r e a s w i t h AO 3 a n d i t s s e l e c t ive membership means hard-core readers can m o r e e a s i l y f i n d a h i g h e r q u a l i t y o f s t o r y. T h i s i s n o t t o b e l i t t l e t h e p e o p l e o f F F. n e t ’s e f f o r t s, t h e r e i s p l e n t y o f a m a z i n g f i c s o n i t , b u t i n a g a m e o f r a t i o s, AO 3 w i n s. S o t h e n , i t c a n be seen that this subculture has aspirations of
“ I t ’ s a way fo r fa n s t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r l o v e fo r something...” 3
b e i n g mu ch m o r e t h a n t h e y a r e c u r r e n t l y. T h e r e a r e f i c s t h a t e x i t s o n l i n e t h a t h ave b e c o m e j u s t a s f a m o u s a s t h e s h ow s a n d b o o k s t h e y ’r e b a s e d u p o n , l i ke Tw i s t a n d S h o u t - a S u p e r n a t u r a l f i c. T h e publication of 50 Shades of Grey only goes to fuel this assertion, a s i t wa s o r i g i n a l l y Tw i l i g h t f a n f i c t i o n . I t q u i ck l y g a r n e r e d a n a s tronomical amount of success as a n ‘ e r o t i c n ove l ’ , s o m e t h i n g f a n f i c t i o n a u t h o r s s t i l l l e t o u t m a t ch i n g g r o a n s ove r. W h a t t h e ‘ r e a l wo r l d ’ c a l l s a g a m e ch a n g e r i n e r o t i c n ove l s, f i c a u t h o r s c a l l a r a t h e r b l a n d , b a d l y e xe c u t e d p i e c e o f s mu t . T h e i s s u e a m o n g s t t h e w r i t e r s i s n o t t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r, o r t h e f r a n k l y a b u s ive r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t we e n t h e p r o t a g o n i s t a n d h e r ‘ M r Grey’ – something that conjures to mind for many a Stephen King creation – but rather the gramm a r a n d t h e a u t h o r ’s wo r d ch o i c e. Many offered rewritten paragraphs o f t h e n ove l , a l l i n f i n i t e l y b e t t e r s t r u c t u r e d . S o m ay b e, t h e n , f a n fiction is breeding a generation of people who can eloquently for m we l l - s t r u c t u r e d s e n t e n c e s. A n d e ve n i f t h e y d o n’t e n d u p w r i t i n g f o r a l iv i n g – a n d t h a t ’s a g iv e n , m ay b e n o t e ve n 1 0 % o f t h e m will end up doing that – surely i t ’s s t i l l a g o o d t h i n g , a s i t ’s e x p a n d i n g t h e i r vo c a b u l a r y a n d a l l ow i n g t h e m t o i m p r ove u p o n t h e m s e l ve s. T h i s s u b c u l t u r e h ave p r ove n t h e y w i l l n o t b e c o n t a i n e d , especially when you consider that the longest piece of literature i n t h e wo r l d i s a S u p e r S m a s h B r o s fanfic that clocks in at an ast o u n d i n g 3 , 5 9 2 , 8 1 4 wo r d s i n 2 0 9 c h a p t e r s. A n d i t r e m a i n s o n g o i n g
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Re a c t i o n s t o t h e i d e a o f f a n f i c t i o n a r e a s va r i e d a s t h e f i c s t h e m s e l ve s. W h i l e f a n f i c t i o n i s s e e n by some as being fantastically creat ive, a n d t h e d ive r s e way s t h a t d i f ferent people treat the same plot l i n e s a n d ch a r a c t e r s d i f f e r e n t l y i n t e r e s t i n g , t h i s i s n o t a l way s t h e c a s e. T h e m a j o r i t y o f p e o p l e w i l l screw their faces up and, after a s k i n g yo u w h a t e x a c t l y f a n f i c t i o n i s, w i l l t e l l yo u ‘ t h a t ’s s o we i r d ’ . Many times writers will be told to ‘ g e t a l i f e ’ o r t o g r ow u p a n d s t o p wa s t i n g t i m e o n l i n e. B u t t h i s i s a n unfair assumption. There are plent y o f p e o p l e a b ove t h e a g e s o f 2 5 who write fanfiction in their spare t i m e, b e c a u s e, a n d h e r e ’s t h e s e c r e t o f t h e f i c w r i t e r s – i t ’s f u n . Pe o p l e e n j oy w r i t i n g i n t h e i r s p a r e t i m e, a n d f a n f i c t i o n g ive s p e o p l e w h o d o n’t h ave t h e t i m e o r c o m mitment to write for a career but w h o s t i l l e n j oy b e i n g c r e a t ive a ch a n c e t o l e t l o o s e. T h e y ’r e a b l e t o w r i t e w i t h r e a d y t o g o ch a r a c t e r s a n d wo r l d s – t h e y d o n’t n e e d t o s p e n d d ay s wo r k i n g o n s e t t i n g t h e s e t h i n g s u p, t h e y c a n j u s t o p e n t h e i r l a p t o p a n d g o. a n d i f t h e y wa n t t o s h a r e i t , g r e a t , t h e r e a r e places for them to do just that. If t h e y wa n t t o ke e p i t t o t h e m s e l ve s u n t i l t h e y f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e s h a ri n g , o r f o r e ve r, t h e n t h a t ’s a l s o f i n e. T h e y c a n d o t h a t , b e c a u s e f a n f i c t i o n a l l ow s t h e m t o d o i t . B u t h ow d o t h e w r i t e r s – t h e c r e a t o r s a n d t h e r e f o r e ow n e r s o f t h e wo r l d s a n d p e o p l e t h e f i c w r i t e r s are using – feel about fanfiction? S u r e l y a t l e a s t s o m e f e e l l i ke t h e i r copyright is being infringed upon? We l l , s o m e d o. A n n e R i c e i n p a rt i c u l a r h a s b e e n e x t r e m e l y vo c a l
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i n h e r v i e w s o n f a n f i c t i o n , a n d h a s e ve n g o n e s o f a r a s t o g e t f a n f i c t i o n we b s i t e s t o r e m ove f i c s b a s e d o n h e r wo r k s. S h e r e l e a s e d a s t a t e m e n t way b a ck i n 2 0 0 0 , w h e n o n l i n e f a n f i c t i o n wa s o n l y r e a l l y s t a r t i n g t o t a ke o f f s ay i n g : “ I d o n o t a l l ow f a n f i c t i o n . I t u p s e t s m e t e r r i b l y t o e ve n t h i n k a b o u t f a n f i c t i o n w i t h my ch a r a c t e r s.” . T h i s wa s t h e n f o l l owe d u p by a t t a ck s o n f i c w r i t e r s, i n c l u d i n g e m a i l e d t h r e a t s, a t t a ck s o n b u s i n e s s e s ow n e d by f i c w r i t e r s, a n d p e rsonal infor mation about authors being dug up and u s e d a g a i n s t t h e m by A n n e R i c e e m p l oy e e s. B u t s h e ’s not the only writer to dislike fics – George R.R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones’ books, says that using other people’s characters is ‘lazy’ and that ‘no one gets to abuse the people of Westeros but me!’ the difference between fan reactions to these two authors who have the same stance is huge – fans still love Martin, because he has always been polite to them about his wishes, as opposed to Rice’s extreme reaction. On the other hand, many authors are of the opposite opinion. JK Rowling for one, has come out and said she does not in fact mind that fans of her work are using it as a basis for their own writing. She said she was ‘flattered’ by the great interest in her series, but stressed that the books are still very much aimed at children and therefore the fanfiction should stay as PG as possible – a nigh on impossible feat online. Neil Gaiman, the prolific writer whose extensive bibliography includes Coraline, Stardustand The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, is another who says he has no issue with fanfiction. Gaiman says: ‘I think that all writing is useful for honing
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“I think of fan fiction as training wheels. Sooner or later you have to take them off...” writing skill… if you’re writing Smeagol-Gollum slash you’re still putting one damn word after another and learning as a writer…I think of fan-fiction as training wheels. Sooner or later you have to take them off the bike and start wobbling down the street on your own.’ We live in an increasingly digital world, where getting young people to read is harder than trying to batter through a copy of Les Miserables and not skip the seemingly endless description of Waterloo. People just don’t want to read any more, and when they do it’s on an e-reader. We are a society who re becoming more used to reading on screens than on paper. At least if people are reading fanfiction they’re reading, even if it is an epic saga about the Elves of Middle earth, or how The Avengers cope living together in their tower. When asked, a fan will often say they read or write fanfiction because they get to see their characters come to life once more through the power of words. This is especially true of fandoms of complete series, like Harry Potter or Twilight, which have technically ended.
“ T h e p u p p e t e e r m ay b e d i f fe r e n t , b u t t h e b e loved puppets are back and better than ever.” People have fallen so in love with the notions of these characters that they can’t let go, and never w a n t i t t o e n d . T h e p u p p e t e e r m ay b e d i f f e r e n t , b u t t h e b e l ove d p u p p e t s a r e b a ck a n d b e t t e r t h a n e ve r. T h e s e f i c w r i t e r s h ave i nve n t e d a we a l t h o f n e w a d ve n t u r e s, T h e s e f i c w r i t e r s h ave i nve n t e d a we a l t h o f n e w a d ve n t u r e s, d e ve l o p e d n e w r e l a t i o n s h i p s ( c a l l e d ‘ s h i p s ’ , b u t t h e s h i p p i n g s y s t e m i s wo r t hy o f a n a r t i c l e o f i t s ow n , s o I wo n’t g o i n t o i t h e r e ) a n d t a ke n ch a r a c t e r s i n d i r e c t i o n s t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l a u t h o r m i g h t n e ve r h ave e ve n d r e a m e d o f. I t ’s t r u l y a s t o u n d i n g. I n a s i m i l a r ve i n , a l o t o f w r i t e r s ( w h e t h e r o f b o o k s o r T V s h ow s ) wa t ch t h e i r o n l i n e f a n s ve r y c a r e f u l l y. S u p e r n a t u r a l c r e a t o r E r i c K r i p ke i s k n ow n f o r t h e way h i s s t o r y l i n e s i n c o r p o r a t e d i f f e r e n t i d e a s t h a t a r e s i m i l a r t o w h a t h i s f a n s wa n t i n a p l o t l i n e, a n d h e ’s c o n f e s s e d t o s o m e t i m e s r e a d i n g f a n f i c t i o n . S o i f i t ’s i n s p i r i n g e ve n t h e c r e a t o r s o f t h e o r i g i n a l wo r k t o d o b e t t e r, t h e n mu s t i t n o t b e a g o o d t h i n g ? N ow t h i s i s n o t t o s ay t h a t f a n f i c t i o n d o e s n o t h ave i t s n e g a t ive p o i n t s, t h e m a i n o n e b e i n g t h e s h e e r u n a d u l t e r a t e d s mu t t h a t m a n y w r i t e r s p r o d u c e. W i t h n o wo r r y o f p u b l i s h e r s c e n s o r i n g t h e wo r k s, m a n y ve e r i n t o t e r r i t o r y t h a t e r o t i c n ove l
w r i t e r s s h u d d e r away f r o m . A n d t h a t ’s f i n e, i f p e o p l e wa n t i t , w hy n o t p r o d u c e i t ? I t ’s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f p e o p l e w h o p e r h a p s a r e a l i t t l e t o o yo u n g for the content of certain fics coming across them t h a t ’s t h e i s s u e. T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y a n i s s u e w h e n yo u c o n s i d e r t h e va r y i n g a g e r e s t r i c t i o n s i n d i f f e re n t c o u n t r i e s. H owe ve r a l l o f t h e s i t e s a r e wo r k i n g on reducing the age-inappropriate material being a c c e s s e d by a c c i d e n t by i n t r o d u c i n g r a t i n g s y s t e m s s o yo u c a n’t a c c i d e n t a l l y e n c o u n t e r yo u r f avo u r i t e ch a r a c t e r s i n va r i o u s c o m p r o m i s i n g p o s i t i o n s. S o r e a l l y, t h i s p r o b l e m i s b e c o m i n g a n o n - p r o b l e m . S o t h e n , f a n f i c t i o n i s n o t a b a d t h i n g. I t ’s b e e n c o n n e c t i n g f r i e n d s w i t h t h e s a m e i n t e r e s t s f o r y e a r s, d e c a d e s e ve n , a n d i t ’s e n c o u r a g i n g c r e a t iv i t y a m o n g a generation that could be argued as losing it. So a s t a n d mu s t b e t a ke n . Ye s i t h a s i t s d a r k m o m e n t s, a n d y e s, t h e r e i s o d d f i c s o u t t h e r e, b u t i s t h a t n o t a l s o t r u e o f e ve r y a r t f o r m ? B e c a u s e i t i s a n a r t f o r m , o n e t h a t i s j u s t a s i m p o r t a n t a s e ve r y o t h e r. And I think it’s time for it to be appreciated as it should be.
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Read It The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak The Book Thief is set in Ger man y b e t we e n 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 3 a n d t e l l s t h e s t o r y o f a yo u n g o r p h a n e d g i r l c a l l e d L i e s e l M e m i n g e r, t h e ‘ b o o k t h i e f ’ o f t h e t i t l e. I t i s n a r r a t e d by D e a t h , w h o e n c o u n t e r s L i e s e l s e ve r a l t i m e s i n h e r l i f e, a n d t h e s t o r y we ave s a r o u n d t h e s e m e e t i n g s. A f t e r b e i n g g ive n u p by h e r m o t h e r, L i e s e l i s t a ke n i n by a G e r m a n c o u p l e c a l l e d H a n s a n d Ro s a Herber mann. She steals her f i r s t b o o k e a r l y i n t h e n ove l a n d H a n s t e a ch e s h e r t o r e a d a n d d i s c ove r h e r p a s s i o n f o r wo r d s. S h e a c q u i r e s a s m a l l a m o u n t o f b o o k s i n h e r l i f e by m o d e r n s t a n d a r d s, b u t e a ch o n e p l ay s a v i t a l r o l e i n h e r j o u r n e y t h r o u g h o u t t h e n ove l a n d b o n d s Liesel to the people around h e r, f r o m h e r n e i g h b o u r s t o t h e Je w i s h m a n i n h e r b a s e m e n t . Fr o m t h e g e t - g o, yo u k n ow t h a t yo u ’r e i n f o r s o m e t h i n g ve r y s p e c i a l i n d e e d , i n w r i t i n g t e r m s. A n yo n e c a n w r i t e, t h e tr ue talent lies within making t h e wo r d s s p r i n g t o l i f e a n d p a i n t a p i c t u r e i n yo u r r e a d e r ’s mind. This is something that M a r c u s Z u s a k a ch i e ve s w i t h ease – his writing is lyrical, h a u n t i n g , e ve n p o e t i c a t t i m e s. Only someone of his talent can g e t away w i t h t h e s h e e r a m o u n t o f a d ve r b s a n d a d j e c t ive s. I t ’s f i t t i n g , g ive n t h a t t h e b o o k i s a b o u t t h e p owe r o f l a n g u a g e. The narration of Death calls to m i n d t h e wo r k o f Te r r y P r a t ch e t t i n h i s D i s c w o r l d s e r i e s, a n d i s r e n d e r e d f a n t a s t i c a l l y, a l o n e l y b e i n g d r aw n t o ch i l d r e n a n d o n e w h o h a s h a d t i m e t o o b s e r ve
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h u m a n i t y a n d wo n d e r a t i t . Zusak has written him brilliantl y, d e t a ch e d b u t s t i l l i nvo l ve d , a n a r r a t o r t h a t d e l ive r s a f a i r a n d c o m p a s s i o n a t e vo i c e t h a t c a n c o m m e n t o n h u m a n i t y ’s i n h u m a n i t y t owa r d s e a ch o t h e r w i t h o u t b e i n g p o n d e r o u s. H e had this great humour to him, a n d t h e way h e e m p h a s i s e s l i t t l e d e t a i l s o r e ve n s p e e ch wo r k s r e a l l y we l l w i t h i n t h e p l o t . H i s narration style is something e l s e, g iv i n g l i t t l e m e l o d r a m a t i c p r o n o u n c e m e n t s a n d g iv i n g u s t h e e n d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g. The subject really r uns the risk of being depressing, WW2 wa s n o p i c n i c. ‘ D i r t y s ke l e t o n s o f Je w s ’ b e i n g p a r a d e d i n t h e street, bombs dropping, and m a i m e d ve t e r a n s k i l l i n g t h e m s e l ve s a r e a l l d e a l t w i t h w i t h i n t h e n ove l . H owe ve r t h e s t o r y i s n e ve r m o r b i d – a h u m o u r d a n c e s t h r o u g h t h e p a g e s, a n d t h e w r i t i n g i s u p l i f t i n g. I t ’s a l s o a wo n d e r f u l l y b a l a n c e d s t o r y – b l o n d e, b l u e - e y e d G e r m a n s a r e j u s t a s a t r i s k a s t h e Je w s, a n d we see all shades of Ger man, from the committed Nazis to the comp a s s i o n a t e a n d p e a c e f u l H a n s. T h e r e a r e n’t e n o u g h a d j e c t ive s i n t h e wo r l d t o d e s c r i b e t h i s n ove l , a n d n o n e t h a t w i l l d o i t j u s t i c e. I t ’s t h o u g h t p r ovo k i n g , life-affir ming, triumphant and t r a g i c, a r e a l n ove l o f b r e a t h - t a k i n g s c o p e. I t ’s a b o o k t h a t , o n c e yo u r e a d i t , w i l l r e m a i n i n yo u r h e a r t f o r e ve r, a n d o n e t h a t yo u w i l l b o t h wa n t t o t e l l e ve r yo n e a b o u t a n d ke e p t o yo u r s e l f .
And Weep Doctor Sleep - Stephen King 35 years after penning one of the most iconic horror n ove l s t o e ve r g r a c e t h i s p l a n e t , t h e M a s t e r o f H o rror has returned with his f i r s t e ve r s e q u e l t o o n e o f his stories – Doctor Sleep. H e ’s s p e n t y e a r s t e a s i n g u s w i t h t h e k n ow l e d g e t h a t t h i s b o o k wa s i n t h e p i p e l i n e b u t i t ’s a r r ive d . A n d i t ’s t h a t mu ch s we e t e r f o r t h e wa i t . T h e n ove l f o l l ow s D a n n y i n t h e y e a r s f o l l ow i n g h i s h o rr i f i c w i n t e r a t T h e O ve rlook, as he str ug gles with the ghosts he unwittingly c a r r i e d away w i t h h i m a n d his genetic predisposition t o a l c o h o l i s m . H e e ve n t u a l l y m a n a g e s, w i t h a l i t t l e h e l p in the first respect from his o l d f r i e n d D i ck H a l l o r a n n and an AA group for the second, to settle in a small N e w H a m p s h i r e t ow n . D a n then starts to use his ‘Shine’ ( w h i ch i s n ow m a r ke d l y we a ke r t h a n i t wa s i n T h e Shining) for good, and with the help of a cat that can apparently sense death, aids residents at a care hospice pass on, and thus becomes the eponymous ‘Doctor S l e e p.’ W h i l e h e r e, h e e s t a b l i s h e s a p s y ch i c c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a n e a r by g i r l c a l l e d Abra who ‘Shines brighter t h a n a n y t h i n g [ h e ’d ] e ve r s e e n’ . S h e wa r n s h i m t h a t there is a nomadic group of p e o p l e c a l l i n g t h e m s e l ve s ‘ T h e Tr u e K n o t ’ w h o s t e a l the Shine from the peop l e w h o h ave i t , a n d t h a t t h e y a r e c l o s i n g i n o n h e r. Dan then enters a desperat str ug gle with this evil group
t o s ave h i s yo u n g f r i e n d b e f o r e t h e y c a n g e t t o h e r. As usual, King manages to balance the supernatural with a gritty realism that m a ke s i t u t t e r l y b e l i e va b l e. I t ’s t h i s r e a l i s m t h a t stops us as readers from batting an eyelid at the introduction of a group of w h a t a r e e s s e n t i a l l y p hy s i c
va m p i r e s. T h e h o n e s t y o f D a n n y ’s a l c o h o l i s m r e a l ly bleeds through the page s, a n d yo u c a n f e e l K i n g putting his past of add i c t i o n i n t o e ve r y wo r d . T h e n ove l p e r f e c t l y e m b o d ies the type of sequel King wa s l o o k i n g t o w r i t e. H e c o m f o r t a b l y s t r i d e s d ow n t h e line that all too many sequels
often c r o s s, that line of h ow mu ch o f the o r i g i n a l s t o r y t o i n c l u d e. H e takes the bits from The Shining , l i ke u s i n g H o r a c e D e r we n t a n d t h e wo m a n f r o m r o o m 2 1 7 i n t h e f i n a l s h owd ow n , and balances them perfectly a g a i n s t t h i s n e w c a nva s. K i n g o bv i o u s l y r e c o g n i s e d t h a t i t wa s v i t a l t h a t h e d i d n o t g l o s s ove r t h e e ve n t s o f t h e f i r s t n ove l , n o r w r i t e t h e m off in a paragraph. As reade r s, we n e e d e d t h e c l o s u r e, a n d h e g l a d l y p r ov i d e s u s i t . What most people are proba b l y wo n d e r i n g i s w h e t h e r o r n o t t h i s s e q u e l l ive s u p t o t h e o r i g i n a l . A n d t h a t ’s a d i f f i c u l t q u e s t i o n t o a n s we r, simply on the grounds that t h e t wo n ove l s a r e n o t a l l t h a t s i m i l a r. T h e S h i n i n g wa s ve r y mu ch a c l a s s i c g h o s t story – haunted hotel, man s l ow l y s l i p p i n g i n t o i n s a n i t y – whereas Doctor Sleep closer t o a t h r i l l e r w i t h i t s p a cke d p l o t l i n e a n d g o o d ve r s u s e v i l s h owd ow n . A n d t h i s i s only to be expected, Stephen King is not the same man that wrote The Shini n g d e c a d e s a g o. A n yo n e who comes into this expecti n g a n ove l e x a c t l y l i ke T h e Shining will be disappointed – f o r o n e t h i n g i t i s mu ch l o n g e r, a n d t h e p l o t t h a t b i t s l owe r a s a r e s u l t , a n d t h a t i s p e r h a p s i t ’s o n l y r e a l f l aw. D o c t o r S l e e p m ay n o t h ave t h e s a m e l e ve l o f s c a r e s a s i t s p r e d e c e s s o r, b u t i t m o r e t h a n m a ke s u p f o r i t i n s u s p e n s e. T h i s i s a d e f i n i t e mu s t - r e a d f o r a n y K i n g f a n .
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Food for Thought Fo l l ow i n g J K Row l i n g ’s a n n o u n c e m e n t t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e m o r e m a g i c r e l a t e d m ov i e s, we d e c i d ed to magic up some spell-bindingly good recipes!
butterbeer W h o n e e d s a t r i p i n t h e c o l d t o H o g s m e a d e w h e n yo u c a n m a ke t h i s p o p u l a r w i z a r d d r i n k a t home? Ingredients: Fo r 2 s e r v i n g s yo u w i l l n e e d : 1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda 1 / 2 c u p ( 4 o z ) b u t t e r s c o t ch s y rup (ice cream topping) 1/2 tablespoon butter
Directions: S t e p 1 : M e a s u r e b u t t e rs c o t ch a n d b u t t e r i n t o a b i g g l a s s - a p i n t g a s s wo r k s b e s t .
S t e p 2 : M i c r owave o n h i g h f o r 1 t o 1 - 1 / 2 m i nu t e s, o r u n til syr up is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.
S t e p 4 : S e r ve i n t wo c o f f e e mu g s or small glasses; a perfectly wa r m H o g wa r t s t r e a t f o r t wo !
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Step 3: Stir and cool for 3 0 s e c o n d s, t h e n s l ow l y mix in club soda. The mixture will fizz quite a bit.
Fever Fudge Feel just like a student of Hogwarts during Umbridge’s reign of terror with this fever-inducing sweet! N o t e: T his fud g e may not ha ve as str ong an ef f ec t on M u g gl es as i t do es o n wi zar ds.
Ingredients: 3 c u p s w h i t e ch o c o l a t e ch i p s 1 c a n s we e t e n e d c o n d e n s e d milk (14oz) Re d p a s t e, p owd e r, o r g e l f o o d color B l u e p a s t e, p owd e r, o r g e l f o o d color 1 teaspoon cinnamon
C ay e n n e p e p p e r - a m o u n t va ri e s ; 1 / 2 t e a s p o o n f o r l ow g r a d e f e ve r, 1 + t e a s p o o n f o r hospital wing 1 / 2 t e a s p o o n va n i l l a e x t r a c t ( i f yo u wa n t a f r o s t i e r c o o l s i d e, m i n t e x t r a c t c a n b e u s e d instead)
1 loaf pan Pa r ch m e n t p a p e r o r f o i l S p r ay o i l
Step 4: Po u r a p p r ox i mately half of the molten fudge into another microwave s a f e b ow l a n d s e t a s i d e.
S t e p 8 : Po u r t h e b l u e f u d g e ove r t h e r e d a n d ch i l l u n t i l s e t . T h e h e a t f r o m t h e wa r m b l u e f u d g e s h o u l d b e e n o u g h t o ‘ we l d ’ t h e colors together at the joint.
Directions: S t e p 1 : L i n e yo u r l o a f p a n w i t h f o i l o r p a r ch m e n t p a p e r. G r e a s e t h e f o i l a n d / o r u n c ove r e d a re a s a r o u n d t h e p a r ch m e n t . S t e p 2 : P l a c e t h e ch o c o l a t e ch i p s i n a m e d i u m m i c r o wave s a f e b ow l . Po u r t h e c o n d e n s e d m i l k ove r t h e ch i p s.
S t e p 5 : To o n e h a l f o f t h e f u d g e, a d d c i n n a m o n , d e s i r e d a m o u n t o f c ay e n n e p e p p e r, a n d r e d f o o d c o l o r i n g. S t i r t o b l e n d i n t h e c o l o r. C o n t i nu e t o a d d r e d f o o d c o l o ring until the desired shade is r e a ch e d . Yo u m ay a l s o wa n t t o t e s t s p i c e l e ve l s a s we l l a n d a d j u s t t h e a m o u n t o f p e p p e r. S t e p 6 : Po u r t h e r e d f u d g e i n t o t h e l o a f p a n . Ta p t h e p a n o n t h e c o u n t e r t o l e ve l the top and release air bubb l e s. Re f r i g e r a t e u n t i l s e t .
S t e p 3 : M i c r owave a t 3 0 s e c o n d i n t e r va l s, s t i r r i n g i n b e t we e n u n t i l ch i p s a r e t h o r o u g h l y m e l t e d a n d t h e s we e t e n e d c o n densed milk is incorporated.
S t e p 9 : O n c e f u l l y s e t , r e m ove t h e s e t f u d g e f r o m t h e p a n . Tr i m t o m a ke n i c e s q u a r e d - o f f e d g e s. S l i c e i n t o l o n g s t r i p s. L ay t h e s e t wo - t o n e d s t r i p s o n t h e i r s i d e s a n d c u t i n t o e ve n p i e c e s.
Step 7: Once the red fudge is s e t , wa r m t h e u n c o l o r e d h a l f o f t h e f u d g e by m i c r owav i n g and stirring as before until the f u d g e i s r u n n y. A d d t h e 1 / 2 t e a s va n i l l a ( o r m i n t ) e x t r a c t a n d b l u e f o o d c o l o r i n g. S t i r u n t i l t h e f o o d c o l o r i n g i s m i xe d in. Add more blue coloring unt i l t h e d e s i r e d s h a d e i s r e a ch e d .
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Say Whaaaaa?! “Wi t we w hout p a firs ould h in, wit t m hou ave onk n t ey s othing sacrifi ce Chu hot .L ck into ike th Pal e spa ahn ce.” iuk, Fig ht C lub
if even ” c i g . a done ll m i s ’ t t s i how “It’s now k at u yo A H , t t che Prat y r y Ter of Sk l l u F
the be found in n a c s s e n i p “Hap only reimes, if one darkest of t light.” turn on the o t s r e b m e m Potter ng, Harry J.K. Rowli zkaban risoner of A and The P
“Pol it Stor ics ies Step
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gh hrou t.” t i o o g nd of t e ot e g to the re v ’ u g Fi n “Yo et i g h o atc it t s, C n i l l e Co ann z u S
“They were h is last words , because Mauric e had disapp e ared thereabouts, l eaving no tra ce of his presense except a littl e pile of the petals o f the evening primrose, which mourned from the ground like an expiring fire.” E.M. Forster, Maurice
list. mplete hen o c y t et w s a pr t one makes use “It wa s i l e p b ca ld of e n i e l k s a e Th all swir nnot f eep one ca houghts k like a t brain s ’ e n one’s ck.” o ough on cra r h s t w g o in rr of spa re bunch vermo e N , son Patter James
on and n o er it be es ev r where o g Road the doo one, The m has g n fro d w a o o D the R an, gan. ar ahead w, if I c t, f lo fee Now must fol ager r way e h I t And ing it wi me large ands o u rr Purs it joins s hs and e t l pa Unti ay. many e r not s e n a c Wh en? I . meet hither th w And ien Tolk . R . J.R
It stru c be cal k me as pre led M r. Dar tty ridiculo your o us to cy and w to sta It’s lik n looking s n d nooty eb at a p on sisting eing called arty. Heath on spe cliff an nding in the di th g bangin arden, shou e entire even nt i g you r hea ing “Cathy” ng d aga a nd inst a Helen tree. Fieldi ng, Br idget J ones’s Diary
“You have brains in y our head. have feet in You your shoes . You can s yourself an t eer y direction you choos You’re on e. your own. And you k what you k now now. And YOU are t one who’ll he decide wh ere to go… ” Dr Seuss, O h The Plac es You’ll G o
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ries ves sto l e s r u ll o “We te to live.” er in ord ite he Wh T , n o i id Joan D Album
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Author Profile This issue, Scottish author Karen Campbell Karen Campbell was born in 1967, in Paisley and was brought up in Glasgow. She comes from a police family, with both her mother and father in the Strathclyde force. Karen studied English, Drama and French at Glasgow university, before joing the police force in 1987. While on the force she worked in a variety of posts, from Community Involvement to the CID at Police HQ.
It was here she met her husband, who had joined on the same day as her!
After taking a break to have two daughters, Karen worked for Glasgow City Council, before deciding to apply to Glasgow University’s Creative Writing Programme.
In 2003, she received a New Writer’s Bursary from the Scottish Arts Council, and this allowed her to work on her debut novel. Her first novel, The Twilight Time, was published in 2008.
In 2009, Karen won Best New Scottish Writer at the Scottish Variety Awards.
Her 2010, This play,
follow-up, and was
After the chosen as
Fire, was a Scottish
published in Summer read.
was quickly followed by her third, Shadowwhich was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger
Her fourth novel, Proof of Life was published in February 2012.
Her fifth novel, This is Where I Am, published in 2013, breaks from the police procedurals that were her first four books, and tells the story of an asylum seeker in Glasgow. It dio
was Four
selected as the Book at Bedtime
BBC in
RaApril.
She currently lives in Galloway with her family.
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Upcoming Releases
Allegiant - Veronica Roth (2014) Number three in the Divergent series, this has been eagerly anticipated City of Heavenly Fire - Cassandra Clare (2014) The sixth installment in the Mortal Instruments Series, and it looks to be just as good as it’s predcessors The Seeker - Stephanie Meyer (2014) Following the success of the film adapatation of The Host, Meyer is releasing a sequel to her novel
Hild - Nicola Griffith (Dec 2013) set in 7th century Britain, in the Synod of Whitby, where people were deciding what kind of Christians to be, this is set to be a fascinating read. The Isle of Youth - Laura van den Burg (Dec 2013) This collection of short stories from the magical writer is sure to be fantastic. On Such a Full Sea - Chang-rae Lee (2014) this debut piece of fiction set in a dystopian future in hwich America is in steep decline and urban neighbourhoods have been turned into walled labour colonies looks to be a classic. Perfect - Rachel Joyce (2014) Joyce is looking to best her great debut (the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) with this story about two boys in the 1970s and a man in the present. Leaving The Sea - Ben Marcus (2014) Marcus has long been a champion of experimental writing and innovative usage of labguage, and this will surely be no different. Silence Once Begun - Jesse Ball (2014) This story of a man who confesses to a string of crimes in writing then never speaks during his arrest and interrogation and the journalist obessed with his case is sounding like it’s going to be one to watch.
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From the award winning Dean Koontz Number 1 New York Times Best Selling Author of TickTock and Intensity
In a dark world, they light each other’s way...
Coming December 10 Pre-order your copy now
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