s one of the field's most prolific authors—with dozens of novels under her belt and several series on the go at any given time—it is little wonder that Hugo Award-winning author C.J. Cherryh also has one of the largest and most information-rich Web pages of any SF writer on the Internet.
This is no dry and dull encyclopedia; on the contrary, a browse though this site's lengthy table of contents shows it to be far cozier than many author Web pages. All the features a fan could hope for are here—a writer's blog, a list of upcoming appearances, a publications bibliography, a newsletter, a links page—even a helpful guide to the universes in which Cherryh sets her various series. Meanwhile, the other sections of the site give it its intensely personal feel, like the extensive United States travel recommendations, the author's hand-drawn portraits of characters from her novels and a photo gallery.
Cherryh has also distilled a number of panels from various past SF conventions into an informal FAQ that covers an eclectic range of topics. This section of the site has information on getting cats used to car travel, tips on world-building for SF writers, a list of myths about the Roman Empire (and the true historical facts), suggestions on the delicate topic of etiquette at SF cons, grammar rants and a long list of Cherryh's favorite things.
Adventurous Web surfers may want to check out the "Latin the Easy Way" section, wherein Cherryh breaks down the learning of this ancient language into a handful of allegedly simple steps, while new writers may prefer to read the essays and links about the publishing industry and how it works. Offering a vast array of information and whimsy, this site truly offers something for every visitor.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—May 9, 2005
ith 26 Discworld novels under his belt, a British Science Fiction Award and innumerable faithful readers worldwide, Terry Pratchett is deservedly known as one of SF's most influential writers. At Terry Pratchett Books, new readers and devoted fans can find out about his upcoming publications and projects.
At first glance, the site looks beautifully designed but dull, a sort of "just the facts" buffet covering all the basic details: newsletter, message boards, a Pratchett interview, book summaries, cover art and news about author appearances and upcoming releases. Tucked in with all this serious information, though, are flashes of whimsy, like the highly detailed Map of Discworld, a listing of "Pearls of Wisdom" from Thief of Time and the "Discworld on $30 a Day" travel guide, which explains the most important things a new visitor to this world should know up front.
As a tie-in with the release of the novel Going Postal, Terry Pratchett Books also offers visitors a look at a series of stamps from the Ankh Morpork Post Office, along with pictures of the author dressed as a Victorian-era postmaster. The artwork on the stamps is superbly rendered and witty (the 50-pence stamp, for example, offers a salute to the cabbage industry of the Sto Plains). These stamps are also featured on e-cards that fans can send to anyone on the Web.
Finally, this Web page has an in-depth list of links, all related to Pratchett and his writing, which allows the insatiably curious fan to surf elsewhere easily and learn even more about the Discworld creator and his other works.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—May 2, 2005
anity and civilization. The nature of modernism. The legacy of the Enlightenment. The Star Wars universe's fatal flaws. U.S. trade imbalances and the death of mercantilism.
These are just a few of the topics that science-fiction author David Brin delves into on his personal blog, Contrary Brin. The writer of Startide Rising, The Postman and Kiln People uses his blog to ruminate about current events, post rough drafts of his latest essays and keep fans apprised of his current projects.
As the blog's name implies, Brin isn't one to avoid controversy. The man hates Yoda, and drew the ire of millions of Star Wars fans with his 1999 assault on the inherent contradictions, anti-modernist themes and undemocratic nature of Lucas' famous space opera. In his nonfiction book The Transparent Society, Brin acknowledged privacy in the public sphere is declining but advocated that everyone—especially those in power—live equally public lives.
These themes, as well as others from his novels and nonfiction, find a receptive—and thoughtful—audience on the blog. Most entries easily see a dozen to two dozen responses from visitors, which Brin reads and responds to. This back-and-forth is fascinating to watch, and as a fan, it's great to have a chance to interact with an author on a serious, nonsuperficial level.
—Ken Newquist
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