Author name: Skiffy Fanty

Blog Posts

Book Review: A Quill Ladder by Jennifer Ellis (with an Interview)

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For my May contribution to this year’s focus on female writers, I wanted to feature two young adult SciFi/Fantasy titles written by women authors whose work I enjoy and initially discovered by happenstance:  Jennifer Ellis and Frances Hardinge. Even if you don’t typically read YA, you certainly know some children or young adults who are looking for good reads in the genre, and both of these writers deserve plenty of appreciation. First up for this post is Jennifer Ellis. Ellis is an indie author from Canada who writes both middle-grade science fiction/fantasy novels and adult dystopic novels featuring elements of adventure, romance, and environmental themes. I discovered her work through a Goodreads giveaway listing for her adult novel In the Shadows of the Mosquito Constellation. It looked potentially interesting to me, but looking at her website and blog really sold me on taking the time to check out the novel. Though I didn’t win the giveaway, I was able to get an electronic version directly from her; immediately upon starting it, I was drawn in and impressed through the end.

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

#34. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) — A Shoot the WISB Subcast

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http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/ShootTheWISB34AvengersAgeOfUltron/ShootTheWisb34–AvengersAgeOfUltron.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSVisions, androids, and Hulks, oh my!  The crew assembles to discuss Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel’s newest (and expected) box office success.  We discuss the film’s pace, Black Widow, the film universe, our film grades, and much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Spoiler Alert:  the following podcast contains spoilers for the film being reviewed; if you wish to see the film without having it ruined for you, download this podcast and save it for later.

Announcements and Errata

The New Skiffy and Fanty: Changes to Come on the Show

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A little while ago, we ran a listener survey to learn more about how you access our show, what you listen to, what you like and dislike, and so on.  That survey garnered a lot of wonderful responses — thanks!  As such, The Skiffy and Fanty Show will be changing a bit. These changes aren’t permanent.  They’re an experiment.  We’ll reassess in a few months to see how it’s working out, and we’ll ask you all for feedback again (because you’re awesome). Here’s what you can expect around these parts for the foreseeable future:

Announcements and Errata

Next Month’s Film (and Where to Watch It): The Swimmer (1968)

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As we announced at the end of Episode 4 (on The Shop Around the Corner (1940)), our next film for discussion will be Frank Perry and Sydney Pollack’s The Swimmer (1968).  Episode 5 will drop on the first, which means you’ve got a little under a month to watch the film! Here’s how to watch it: Google Play:  $2.99 (Rent) / $9.99 (Buy) VUDU:  $3.99 or $2.99 (Rent HDX, HD, or SD) / $13.99 or 9.99 (Buy HDX, HD, or SD) Amazon:  $3.99 or $2.99 (Rent HD or SD) / $12.99 or $9.99 (Buy HD or SD) Netflix:  DVD Rental Only We hope to hear your thoughts or questions leading up to the episode. Happy viewing!

Blog Posts

Short and Sublime: April 2015 Round-Up

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April stories include historical fantasies, fairy tales, near futures, and one space fantasy tale. “Wild Things Got To Go Free” (Beneath Ceaseless Skies #170) by Heather Clitheroe works because of, and is refreshing due to, its spare worldbuilding. Soldiers are rounding up and hunting down certain civilians, who are turning into, or have the potential to turn into, other creatures — which includes the young protagonist and her mother. The two young women in “The Ways of Walls and Words” (Tor.com) by Sabrina Vourvoulias are similarly threatened by the yoke of the real world Spanish empire; though they, and their ways of life, couldn’t be more different. It’s a story about friendship, Nahuatl magic, and the power behind language.

Blog Posts

Book Review: Aurora: Darwin by Amanda Bridgeman

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In the Solar system of 2075, the UNF, an extra-national and international force deriving from all of the nations of Earth, handles much of the policing and issues among the variety of space stations and habitats. The UNF handles international disputes on Earth as well, and many who have Earth Duty in the UNF dream of Space Duty. Corporal Carrie Welles is the daughter of one of the first UNF soldiers to ever get Space Duty, an Original. Living up to her father and her family’s name is important to her. Thus, when Captain Harris of the Aurora is assigned Corporal Welles, and two other female recruits in the bargain to a formerly male-only ship, and given mysterious orders to visit a silent space station on the edge of inhabited space, Mars orbit, this is Welles’ big chance. She’s already made a name for herself as a sharpshooter on Earth, but those skills are going to be far more useful than she expects when the mystery of the Darwin is uncovered.

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