Fanboys of the Universe

R. I. P. Perry Moore

2011-02-19T07:03:04-05:00

Perry Moore, author of the gay teen superhero book Hero, has died at the age of 39. Although there is no official cause of death, most sources report that he died of an Oxycontin overdose. He was found at home by his partner, Hunter Hill.

Besides writing Hero, Moore was also executive producer on the Narnia film series and was crucial to bringing the films into being. He was working on both a sequel to Hero as well as the first in a series of books about a group of super-powered triplets when he died.

Percy Jackson series

2009-09-04T16:13:54-05:00

Has anyone else read the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan? It’s a five book series that is for teens/juv, but it’s a very interesting take on the whole “Greek Gods in modern day” theme. The series is a quick read, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was just wondering if anyone else has read it.

Decent Gay Literature

2010-06-10T15:28:38-05:00

Was wondering if anyone has any decent gay fiction books they’d like to recommend?
I loved ‘Hero’ by Perry Moore and actually got in contact with him on facebook =)

Any Christopher Moore lovers?

2010-11-17T15:24:25-05:00

I have finished all of Chris Moore’s novels and am totally flabbergasted by his wit and ingenious creativity. I don’t think I have ever read an author’s ouvre before and been as impressed as I am by Mr. Moore. I laughed out loud more than once during every single book that he has written. Would love to hear from others who think he is the best thing out there. My personal favorites are Coyote Blue and Lamb, but Island of the Sequined Love Nun is absolutely hysterical as well. Anyone want to share their fave?

Any other Jasper Fforde lovers?

2009-09-19T21:21:51-05:00

I’ve read all of his books—both the two Jack Spratt novels in the Nursery Crimes series, and the Thursday Next series, of which there are currently five. He’s a truly brilliant writer—something of a Douglas Adams in his understanding of how to use the absurd to slightly ground and deflate fantastic situations. All of his novels take place in a slightly skewed version of (roughly) modern day Earth (whether the series take place in the same version of this world is unclear to me); his world is just like ours, except for when it isn’t. Wales is a separate republic from the rest of the UK. The Crimean War is still raging after 150. There are sections of the police force devoted to time travel, the supernatural, and literary crimes. For anyone who’s tastes run to the comedic, fanciful, slightly askew, and the literary, I highly recommend his work.

If anyone else has read his stuff, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Has anyone read any of China Mieville’s novels?

2010-10-26T11:35:53-05:00

I recently heard of China Mieville and his page on wikipedia has sparked my interest. apparently he’s one of the foremost authors in the ‘new weird’ genre which is a branch off of fiction made popular by HP Lovecraft one of Mieville’s literary heroes.

So i’m wondering if anybody has read him and if there are any recommendations. I hear he has a steampunk series featuring a gay character while others involve detective/mystery/pulp novel styles.

I’ve been looking for a new writer to obsesse over since Chuck Palahniuks new books seem to lack the luster of his previous novels, here’s hoping he comes back with something big but until then will Mieville hold me over?

Thanks in advance.

John Carter of Mars

2010-01-09T21:26:05-05:00

I’ve been re-reading one of my favorite series, the “John Carter of Mars” books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and am now jonesing for the upcoming Disney adaptation. The SFX in Avatar have convinced me that a realistic Barsoom is possible. Not so keen on the casting of Taylor Kitsch in the lead (just don’t find him hot enough for John), but hopefully I’ll be surprised.

I just discovered there is a new C-Movie starring Antonio Sabato, Jr. & Traci Lords. He would have been right for the part 10 years ago, but Lords is absolutely the worst choice for Dejah Thoris. It’s going to be horrible. I can’t wait to get it from Netflix!

Any other fans out there? If you haven’t read them yet, it’s a classic planetary romance series full of half-naked muscular heroes and beautiful damsels in distress. The first book is titled “A Princess of Mars” and there are 11 books in total.

Living the Difference: An enlightening story revealed for people of all ages straight or gay

2010-10-16T18:35:36-05:00

J.C Knudson, father of my friend Jordan, wrote this book, and I is recommending it to ya’ll.. illustrations by, my other bud, Mr. Robert Wood.

Living here in Oklahoma, which is the buckle of the Bible Belt, it get’s really ugly here, with the politics centered around Protestant belief systems, running everything. I feel lucky, fortunate, blessed, and every other word in-between to describe the greatness of my group of friends, who are straight, and that are supportive of gay rights.

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Difference-enlightening-revealed-straight/dp/0578062712/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287250490&sr=1-1

FBOTU Book Club: Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse

2010-08-26T02:16:21-05:00

I’m pleased to announce that the next selection for the FBOTU Book Club is Stuck Rubber Baby by Howard Cruse. Here’s a synopsis:

Art and story combine powerfully in this lyrical tale of a young man caught in the maelstrom of the civil rights movement and the entrenched homophobia of small-town America. Told in flashback, this is the story of Toland Polk, the son of an uneducated white carpenter, who has grown up in the Southern town of Clayfield. It is the 1960s, a time of passionate beliefs and violent emotions, and Clayfield’s citizens are divided in the fight over segregation. As Toland fights on the side of the civil rights activists, he slowly begins to realize and try to deny that he is gay. With a subtle yet intricate plot, and distinctively evocative illustrations, Stuck Rubber Baby is an unflinchingly honest look at one man’s world of fears, dreams and prejudice.

An Eisner and Harvey Award winner, Stuck Rubber Baby is easily considered one of the most important graphic novels of our time.

How It Works
Discussion of the book will begin on Wednesday, September 29 in this thread. That means you have a whole month to get and read the book. I’ll be posting weekly reminders to help keep you on track. But once you start reading Stuck Rubber Baby, I doubt you’ll be able to put it down.

You can buy Stuck Rubber Baby at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Prism Comics, your local comics shop or wherever groundbreaking graphic novels are sold. You should also be able to find it in your local library.

Happy reading!

The Dresden Files

2008-08-04T13:48:27-05:00

Anyone here a fan of “The Dresden Files” books by Jim Butcher?

It’s a great series about a Wizard/Private Detective that lives in Chicago. He solves mysteries and battles all manner of evil, from Vampires and Werewolves to Fairies and even the Mob.

I highly recommend them! It was turned into a series on the Sci-Fi channel briefly, but the TV show wasn’t nearly as good as the books.

-Hardbody
“Six days does not a week make”