Tag Archives: Margaret Atwood

Sharp Novel Minds and Pithy First Lines, with Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, Geo. MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, Ray Bradbury, N.K. Jemisin, Nalo Hopkinson, Margaret Atwood and more!

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Brenton Dickieson

Sacrificial Fire for Fickle Gods (2023) by Brenton Dickieson O! to speak life-words of fire In a fashion sweet and plain: For pith-like wit, ink-painted flight, A Titan’s theft of flame. Lo! in conjuring these trickster lords, Who rule not … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative Writing, Memorable Quotes, Reflections | Tagged Albert Camus, books, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, Dorothy L. Sayers, George MacDonald, Harry Potter, Herman Melville, Invisible Man, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, L'Étranger, literature, Lord of the Rings, Margaret Atwood, Moby Dick, N.K. Jemisin, Nalo Hopkinson, Narnia, Pride and Prejudice, Ralph Ellison, That Hideous Strength, The Hobbit, The Voyage of The Dawn Treader, writing | 29 Comments

Blogging the Hugos 2021 (Series Launch)

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

It isn’t often that I get a popular novel as it first finds its way into the world. I’m usually years behind in my TBR and motivated to find new books by book clubs and upcoming classes and film adaptations. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged Black Sun, Canadian literature, Eye of the World, George R.R. Martin, Gideon the Ninth, Harrow The Ninth, Lady Astronaut Universe, Margaret Atwood, Mark Sampson, Martha Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, N.K. Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, Network Effect, Piranesi, Rebecca Roanhorse, Rebecca Rosenblum, Robert Jordan, Science Fiction, Susanna Clarke, Tamsyn Muir, The City We Became, The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments, Wheel of Time | 4 Comments

Ursula K. Le Guin’s Manifesto Against Genre Snobbery

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

One of our greatest speculative fiction writers, Ursula K. Le Guin, has never been one to turn down a fight. A genius in two of my favourite genres, science fiction and fantasy–especially planetary SciFi and magic-world fantasy–Le Guin has also … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, Memorable Quotes, On Writing, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged fantasy, Frankenstein, genre, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, Madeleine L'Engle, Margaret Atwood, Science Fiction, SF, speculative fiction, The Birthday of the World, The Hainish Cycle, The Lord of the Rings, Ursula K. Le Guin | 19 Comments

Three Myths Retold: Madeline Miller’s Song of Achilles, Margaret Atwood’s Penelopiad, and C.S. Lewis’ Till We Have Faces

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

While I love the Odyssey, I always dread returning to The Iliad. I just find all the war and posturing and characters to be ash and dust and thorn for me, just weariness and work and pain. The moments of greatness within … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged C.S. Lewis, feminism, Hélène Cixous, Homer, Madeline Miller, Margaret Atwood, N.K. Jemisin, Nalo Hopkinson, Narnia, Nnedi Okorafor, Percy Jackson, Perelandra, The Four Loves, The Iliad, The Laugh of the Medusa, The Odyssey, The Penelopiad, The Song of Achilles, The Weight of Glory, Till We Have Faces | 35 Comments

Canadian Authors the Prime Minister Forgot to Read (a #canadareads post)

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

Narcity did this little piece last week: “Justin Trudeau Wants Everyone To Read More Canadian Books & Here Are Some Options.” The Prime Minister mentions: Margaret Atwood L.M. Montgomery Douglas Coupland Robertson Davies Heather O’Neill This is all in celebration … Continue reading →