Story Tags

Space Opera

Hopeful Science Fiction

The last several years, science fiction has been very dark. Post-Apocalyptic fiction is big. Either the world has been destroyed, and we're all trying to survive in a wasteland, or terrible people have formed a totalitarianism government that lies to us and keeps us down. Now in real life, we’re all socially isolating because a virus. I thought it might be nice to read some hopeful science fiction -- something that shows us doing good things, rather than trying to survive terrible ones.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

One and Done

Famous authors and the lone novels they published in their lifetimes

This list collects a handful of novels that are the only books published by authors in their lifetimes. More specifically, it focuses on bigger name authors, many of whom also wrote short stories, essays and/or poetry, but whom I was surprised to find only published one novel. 

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes

Origin Stories

How people got rain, night, fire and more

People didn’t always know what caused storms or earthquakes, so they invented stories to explain the inexplicable. Perhaps lightning flashes across the sky when Zeus is angry. Perhaps earthquakes are caused by the writhing of Loki who is imprisoned under the surface of the Earth while poison drips on his face.

Epistolary Science Fiction

Novels written as a series of documents

I was thinking about epistolary novels recently. These are novels that are written as a series of documents. In the past, these documents might be letters, newspaper clippings, or journal entries. More recently the form has expanded to include emails, radio broadcasts, and blog entries among others.

The Brief History of the Dead

So, You’ve Died. Now What?

Recently I was watching Beetlejuice, and I found the way death was handled to be a fascinating idea. Initially the Maitland family are unaware that they’re even dead. Nobody tells them. They’re just given a handbook, and limited number of visits with a caseworker to get things figured out as they hang out in their home.

The incantations of Daniel Johnston.

Graphic Novels about Musicians

I love music, and I love graphic novels. This was a fun list to make.  

The Terror by Dan Simmons

Winter Horror

Spooky things hide in the snow.

The snow makes it seem peaceful and quiet… almost too quiet. Weird things abound in the coldness outside. What’s out there? I think I see something in the distance, but the snow is too thick. Is there something moving out there? You go check. I’m going to stay inside by the fire, and drink my hot cocoa.   All is quiet. Nothing is moving. What’s scarier than that?

Dino and Lego

Stuffy Sleepover

Recently, Woodridge Library hosted a sleepover for stuffed animals. The event began with the Family Story Time on Saturday, Sept. 15. The kids brought their favorite stuffed animal to participate. When story time was over we made beds for them by decorating shoe boxes, and gave them all felt blankets to stay warm.

The Barrow will send what it may

Odd Libraries

Libraries can be interesting places. I know, because I work in one. Thankfully, however, they usually aren't as odd as the ones listed below. I've always enjoyed the idea of libraries that have interesting little things tucked away, such as the archive at the end of the first Indiana Jones movie, where the Ark of the Covenant is sent to disappear. Here are some of the more interesting libraries I've read about in fiction.

Ocean at the End of the Lane book cover

Fairy Tales for Adults

New ones, not the ones you know

I love fairy tales. I love the traditional tales, and I like how old characters can be repurposed for new stories like the Fables graphic novels and the Fablehaven series.

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