Capclave 2011: Vaughn, Valente, and Terry Too

CapClave 2011 GOH and WSFA Small Press Award Winner: Carrie Vaughn

Author Guest of Honor: Carrie Vaughn
Author/Editor/Poet Guest of Honor: Catherynne Valente
ConChair: Cathy Green
We just got back from Capclave, the DC area’s sf/fantasy lit con, and are reflecting on how well run and interesting this smallish (~400 people) con is. Cathy Green the con chair, put in the usual superhuman effort, with the unusual results that everything went smoothly. The panels this year were a terrific assortment, thanks to Mike and Beth Zipser, and a surprise visit by Discworld author Terry Pratchett was worth the price of admission alone. Continue reading →

Heinlein’s Juveniles – “You see. I had this spacesuit.”

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All the accepted Heinlein Juveniles...except "Between Planets" which I seem to be missing.

Robert Anson Heinlein stormed the bookshelves of the Baby Boomer generation during the Golden Age of SF…which is to say about the time they were twelve years old. Having won the battle for their hearts and minds, he’s had little trouble occupying the territory and making inroads on successive generations over more than fifty years since the last (Have Space Suit Will Travel), was published. It’s still a powerful statement for a reviewer to liken a new YA author to Heinlein, promising a fast moving tale in which the main character leaves their familial homeworld to make a place amid the challenges of the greater galaxy of adults. As a story-type, it offers a voyage of high adventure, and in science fiction, one author blazed the trail to the stars: Robert Anson Heinlein. Continue reading →

Claudia Cahill: Maps of Fantasy @ the Library of Congress

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It turns out that Facebook has actual utility, as proven by its ability to connect two of my favorite people, JC McElveen (Alexandria) and Claudia Carlson (NYC). Claudia is a book designer and illustrator who’s done many maps for fantasy books, and JC is the speaker selector for the Washington Map Society.

Claudia and JC at the LOC

Two of my favorite people together at the Library of Congress: JC McElveen (l) and Claudia Carlson (r). Claudia was at the LOC to give a talk on fantasy maps, which she illustrates.

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DC – Across the Tidal Basin

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I went into DC today to see the Solar Decathlon, which had been moved off the capital mall to a park area down by the Potomac. It was far enough from the nearest metro that bus rides were provided to take visitors to the solar village.

Looking north across the tidal basin towards the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial.

Going back I decided that I could walk across the Potomac and past the Pentagon to where I’d parked just as easily as making the bus to metro shuffle work…so I did. This view caught my eye crossing over a bridge.

It turned out to be about 3 miles back to my car, though 3 miles seems to be getting longer as time goes by.

Soup #34 Chicken, Barley, and Mushroom Soup

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Note: i’ll finish this post up tomorrow, but i just wanted to ge it online for folks to comment on the soup.

Cooler weather, rainy days, and warm, hearty soups. Early autumn is one of my favorite times of year. I hadn’t made a barley soup since last winter’s Beef Barley (#9) which came out pretty well, and recently I’ve had a hankering for a chicken barley soup.

Chicken, Barley Soup with Mushrooms

  • 1 tbs butter
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1 cup onions diced
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms – halved and sliced
  • 1 cup celery – diced

Heat the butter and oil in a medium suzed souppot while you are cutting thenonions, garlic, and mushrooms. Add each tot the potbas theybare cut. Cook ouvr medium high heat for five to seven minutes, stirring frequently to keep them from burning. Ideally the mushrooms should brown a bit.

By the way, this gices off the greatest aroma you can imagine.

Add in the celery and carrots