I am the Very Model of a Modern SF Novelist

By Jim C Hines.

I am the very model of a modern SF novelist,
I've manuscripts space opera, anime, and fantasist,
I know the kings of fandom and the best flamewars historical
From Andrew Burt to LiveJournal, in order categorical;
I'm very well acquainted too, with matters editorial,
I keep my cover letters brief and never too suctorial,
About rejection etiquette I'm teeming with propriety,
With many cheerful facts about your online notoriety,
I'm very good at worldbuilding and proper use of ansibles;
I know the hyphenated names of beings unpronounceable:
In short, in matters space opera, anime, and fantasist,
I am the very model of a modern SF novelist.

I know our genre history, from H. G. Wells to Arthur Clarke,
I've read so much time travel, I've a pretty taste for paradox,
I quote in panel talks the wise advice of Crispin and Miss Snark,
I study wormholes, galaxies and theories about matter dark;
I can tell a work professional from books Publish America,
I know the Eye of Argon from Conan of Cimmeria!
Then I can hum the melody from every last John Williams score,
And whistle all the airs from that infernal film Fantastic Four.
I'll write you books of goblin war and princesses who won't conform,
And tell show you every detail of a goblin warrior's uniform:
In short, in matters space opera, anime, and fantasist,
I am the very model of a modern SF novelist.

In fact, when I know what is meant by "grok" and "droid" and "FTL",
When I can tell at sight the sword Excalibur from Anduril,
When twists in stories I perceive by reading just one paragraph,
And when I know precisely how to pen a clever epigraph,
When I have followed breakthroughs yearly in e-book technology,
When I know more of grammar than my profs from University--
In short, when you run out and buy and read every last book by me--
You'll say a better novelist has never writ a fantasy.
My works even appear in many dialects European,
Thanks to the perseverance of my agent JABberwockian;
In short, in matters space opera, anime, and fantasist,
I am the very model of a modern SF novelist.

Free Books

Wow - if you are fan of Fantasy then pop over to Pat's Fantasy Hotlist and check out this giveaway! There are thirty books being given away and I am seriously impressed. Books include full sets of L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Recluce Saga, Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's The Deathgate Cycle & Stephen R. Donaldson's first two Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Wow.

"A few weeks back, I posted a list of novels/series which I believe should be more widely read, especially by the new generation of SFF fans....I got on the horn and contacted a few editors to see if they would be interested in giving away these "older" titles. I was pleasantly surprised that most were indeed interested and ran along with the idea!

I normally encourage everyone to participate, but this time around I would like that only those who have yet to discover these SFF series register for these giveaways."

I remember reading Tad William's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series just before I went to uni and I could not put the books down. It was my first introduction to SFF (well - an author that was not Tolkein or a book not designed for children) and my copies are battered with the strain of re-reading. Years ago I read the Thomas Covenant Chronicles too and they might be due for a re-read as I see that there is another book on the horizon.

I've not read the Deathgate Cycle so fingers crossed!