Peter Kazmaier

I have had some difficulty classifying The Halcyon Dislocation as Science Fiction or as Fantasy. On the one hand the University of Halcyon, consistent with a Science Fiction story, comes from a time and technological culture that’s slightly in advance of our own, yet when the people of the university are dislocated to a new world, they encounter inhabitants which are much more reminiscent of The Lord of the Rings than they are of Star Trek. Consistent with this ambiguity I characterize The Halcyon Dislocation as SciFi/Fantasy on my Facebook page.

I asked a friend of mine who is an avid reader of both genres “What is the difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction?” He answered: “Science Fiction talks about things that could happen. Fantasy does not. That’s why I like Science Fiction better.” So is this really the essential difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy? (continue reading…)

Why do so many people read Science Fiction? Why do so many more watch movies with Science Fiction themes. This was discussed on a TV Special called Listen Up TV on Global Television yesterday. You can also see it online .

One of the key conclusions was that Science Fiction encourages a sense of wonder and even of hope.

At the end of the special, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Lorna Dueck about The Halcyon Dislocation and my motivation for writing it.

Thanks for reading,

~Peter

Links to other Science Fiction Blogs cited in this episode:

• Gabriel McGee – SF Gospel Blog
• John C. Wright – John C. Wright’s  Live Journal
• Robert Sawyer – Robert Sawyer’s SF Blog

I found out this past week that my novel The Halcyon Dislocation (Wolfsburg Imprints ) has been selected as a finalist in The Word Guild 2009 Canadian Christian Writing Awards in the category of Futuristic Fiction. The award recipient will be selected at the Awards Gala in Mississauga on June 17th.

The other finalist is a novel by Richard Allen Wunderlich of Salmon Arm, B.C. called Tomorrow’s Paper (OakTara Publishers). Mr. Wunderlich has graciously made several chapters of his book available for download on the internet.

For more information about The Word Guild, go to www.thewordguild.com .

For more information on the awards gala contact Jeanette Duncan

Email: twgjeanette@gmail.com

Ph: 519-886-4196

My first novel, The Halcyon Dislocation , has just been published.

After a risky physics experiment transports the island University of Halcyon to a new world, engineer Dave Schuster and his fellow students struggle to survive in this alien, hostile environment. As tyrannical forces within the University use the catastrophe to strengthen their power and control, Dave encounters an even greater menace which threatens the very existence of their fledgling colony.

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Orson Scott Card , known for the classic Science Fiction novel Ender’s Game , gave an excellent interview to Moira Allen on religion in Science Fiction and Fantasy. To my mind Card’s responses, although they were given some time ago, continue to be the best expose on this subject. Here are a few of his quotes from the interview (shown in bold blue) and some of my comments to go with them: (continue reading…)

I just finished Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World , the first book in his Wheel of Time series. I must say I enjoyed reading it very much.

"The Pattern presents a crisis, and at the same time a way to surmount it. If I didn’t know it was impossible, I could almost believe the Creator is taking a hand." ~Moiraine the Aes Sedai

Now I never did figure out why, in this book the Creator would not take a hand. But still this was an exciting read and also it put me into an environment and mindset that is alien to me. (continue reading…)