‘The Steampunk Bible’ by Jeff VanderMeer

Some of my favorite science fiction stories (Doctor Who and Star Trek: The Next Generation among them) bring characters from the future into the Victorian age.

The Steampunk Bible by Jeff VanderMeer with S. J. Chambers (Abrams Image, 2011) offers an illustrated guide to an aesthetic that has its roots in the works of Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Originally posted to the Facebook page of the Lake County Library

Make a difference in the lives of animals

As Lake County residents prepare to take part in “Make a Difference Day” this coming Saturday, I hope they will consider ways that they can make a difference daily in the lives of companion animals.

‘Defend the freedom to read -- It’s everybody’s job’

The American Library Association is promoting the importance of reporting challenges with artwork available for download in a variety of formats: “Defend the freedom to read -- It’s everybody’s job.”

“Since 1990, the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom has maintained a confidential database on challenged materials. ALA collects information from two sources: newspapers and reports submitted by individuals. All challenges are compiled into a database. Reports of challenges culled from newspapers across the country are compiled in the bimonthly Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom; those reports are then compiled in the Banned Books Week Resource Guide. Challenges reported to the ALA by individuals are kept confidential. In these cases, ALA will release only the title of the book being challenged, the state and the type of institution (school, public library). The name of the institution and its town will not be disclosed. A list of most frequently challenge books is compiled from these challenges for each annual Banned Books Week.”

To report a challenge, the ALA provides an online Challenge Database Form. People can also print the Challenge Database Form, complete it, and fax it to  the Office for Intellectual Freedom, at  312-280-4227.

For assistance with actual and possible challenges to library materials, services, and programs, the ALA invites libraries to contact Angela Maycock, OIF assistant director, by telephone at 800-545-2433, ext. 4221; fax at 312-280-4227, by email at amaycock@ala.org, or at the Office for Intellectual Freedom, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223.

October is sweater weather

“Pity about the scarf — Madame Nostradamus made it for me — a witty little knitter. Never get another one like it.”

— The fourth Doctor, “Ark in Space”

What better way to spend an overcast autumn Saturday than to put on a comfortable sweater, drape a thick wool blanket over my legs and sit outside reading in the fresh air with the cat stretched out at my feet.

‘Annotated Legends’ by Weis and Hickman

The Annotated Legends by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Wizards of the Coast, 2003), a trilogy of fantasy stories in one volume, offers an intriguing take on the hero’s journey. The main character is an alcoholic because, once home from his earlier adventures (referred to in the authors’ marginalia), no one needed him to perform heroic deeds anymore. As the story opens, his wife has kicked him out, saying he needs to find himself. He now embarks on a quest that will pit him against his twin brother. This book combines three novels: Time of the Twins, War of the Twins and Test of the Twins, which were originally published separately.

Originally posted to the Facebook page of the Lake County Library