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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

A-Z Geek (I): Super Powers and Super Stories

During the April A-Z Challenge, I’m posting six days a week, following the letters of the alphabet. I will share all the movies, books and games I watched, read and played--all the influences that turned me into the geeky person and writer I am today.

BOOKS
Ice Station by Matthew Riley (1998):
This thriller infuriated me. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, and still do. While this highly successful Australian author may not go for the pretty writing, he knows how to write a fast-paced, on-the-edge-of-your-seat story that’s engaging from start to finish. My inner editor was the one who got all riled up. So many times Riley repeated, “And then, right at that moment…” Gah! Enough already! Riley worked hard for his dream. He was one of the first pioneers who decided to self-publish and he did it successfully. His hard work promoting his work and cold canvasing every bookstore caught the attention of a big publisher. The rest is history. Good on ya, Matthew!

In the Red Lord's Reach by Phyllis Eisenstein (1989):
I’ll be surprised if anyone knows this book, though I secretly hope someone will recognise it and tell me they liked it as much as I did. Whenever I’m asked what super power I’d like most, I answer teleportation. This novel is about a character with this ability, though I wouldn’t classify this as a superhero story. It’s pure fantasy. Not an epic fantasy, which was so common for fantasies written at that time.




MOVIES
Indiana Jones (1981): These movies, in particular Raiders of the Lost Ark, gave me brief aspirations to become an archaeologist—until I discovered the profession was more about scrabbling around in the dust and old texts, than about outsmarting cool traps to win the shiny rewards. Harrison Ford brought the character of Indy alive.

Which super power would you choose for yourself if you could? Fictional or real, who is your superhero?

#AtoZChallenge

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38 comments:

  1. RickApril 10, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    I've always wanted them all.

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  2. UnknownApril 10, 2013 at 5:10 PM

    I haven't heard of Matthew Reilly, but well done to him for his successful publishing journey! And that book cover is cool ... (no pun intended!).

    And as for superpowers ... there are too many to choose from!

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  3. Nana PrahApril 10, 2013 at 5:15 PM

    Indiana Jones was fantastic. I will always be in love with Harrison Ford. In the Red Lord's Reach looks like it would have been a good book to read. Teleportation is a good power. But I'd rather be superwoman and have flying, eye laser, super hearing, and strength all at the same time. I'd just have to watch that dag on kryptonite.

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  4. Miss ColeApril 10, 2013 at 5:33 PM

    I've read Ice Station and I remember it being a MASSIVE book I could not put down. It was a very adrenaline-fueled.

    Superpowers... hmmm... telekinesis would be fun ^^

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  5. CynthiaApril 10, 2013 at 5:45 PM

    I loved watching the Indiana Jones movies when I was a kid.

    If I could have any superpower, I'd like to have the ability to extend the 24-hour day. I'd throw in a few more hours so I could get more work done.

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  6. Alex J. CavanaughApril 10, 2013 at 7:47 PM

    Sorry, I don't know either book, but now I'm intrigued by both. You know my fascination with teleportation, so I'll definitely look for the second one.
    Raiders is THE perfect action-adventure film.
    Sorry you missed Inception! You should've seen me going through my DVDs, laser discs, and NetFlix trying to select my favorite. (And yes, I do still have a collection of laser discs.)

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  7. Sheena-kay GrahamApril 10, 2013 at 7:50 PM

    Love Indiana Jones of course.

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  8. UnknownApril 10, 2013 at 9:02 PM

    Hmm, probably go with flying for a superpower. That one's always done it for me. Mind you, that's not the only one I'd like - there's plenty more where that came from!

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  9. Cathrina ConstantineApril 10, 2013 at 9:49 PM

    Admittedly, I haven't read the books mentioned, but I have seen all of the Indiana Jones movies more than once, and loved them all. Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite.

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  10. mooderinoApril 10, 2013 at 10:01 PM

    I'd like the power to turn down the volume on certain people, specifically those in my family.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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  11. DEZMONDApril 10, 2013 at 11:12 PM

    ah, yes, teleportation... so very yes on that :)

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  12. TrishaApril 10, 2013 at 11:14 PM

    I haven't read either of those books. Love Indiana Jones of course :)

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  13. Bish DenhamApril 10, 2013 at 11:21 PM

    I wish I could tell you I've read the second book. What I can tell you is that I'd like to! Indiana Jones is a classic like Star Wars or LotR. Love it.

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  14. Nick WilfordApril 10, 2013 at 11:56 PM

    Indy did overhype archaelogy big time! Still seems fascinating though. Never heard of those books, thanks for the tips.

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  15. Theresa MilsteinApril 11, 2013 at 12:08 AM

    Indiana Jones, man, he was cute.

    I'd like telekinesis because I'm really lazy. Flying would be cool too. Also because I'm lazy. I imagine it would be easy to fly.

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  16. SuzeApril 11, 2013 at 12:27 AM

    Indy!

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  17. FairviewApril 11, 2013 at 1:05 AM

    I can quote lines fom the Indiana jones movies, love them so much!

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  18. moondustwriterApril 11, 2013 at 1:09 AM

    Teleportation (at will) would be pretty cool

    Happy "I" Day

    Inspired by Emily Dickinson today!

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  19. cleemckenzieApril 11, 2013 at 1:50 AM

    Cold canvassing anything sends my heart into shock. It's worse than querying agents! My hat's off to the man. As to Indiana Jones, those movies were such a hit in our family.

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  20. Al DiazApril 11, 2013 at 2:41 AM

    I love Indiana Jones, all his movies. There is an Indiana Jones inside me, I think. :)

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    Replies
    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 11, 2013 at 2:45 PM

      A dragon's tail is kinda like a whip, so yeah, I get it! ;)

      Delete
  21. AnonymousApril 11, 2013 at 2:44 AM

    I was _more_ excited to learn that archaeologists scramble around in dusty old texts, but alas, am not an archaeologist, though I do pay a lot of time in old texts :) I also write a blog on writing, too. I look forward to more of your posts! The Scrappy Blonde.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 11, 2013 at 2:46 PM

      Hi Tara. Thanks for the follow. I'll pop on over shortly!

      Delete
  22. UnknownApril 11, 2013 at 2:59 AM

    I really want to be invisible and be able to read minds and fly.. how can I only pick 1?!?!?

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  23. UnknownApril 11, 2013 at 3:10 AM

    It is so hard to shut that inner editor off, isn't it? I find myself critiquing everything from cereal boxes to signs at Home Depot.

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    Replies
    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyApril 11, 2013 at 2:48 PM

      I wonder if there's a group for us? IEA: Inner Editors Anonymous

      Delete
  24. Julie FlandersApril 11, 2013 at 3:47 AM

    I've never heard of Matthew Reilly before but now I definitely want to check him out. Great story! And the book sounds like something I like too.

    Love Indiana Jones. <3

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  25. nutschellApril 11, 2013 at 3:49 AM

    never heard of Matthew Reilly, but I do love me some iNdy jones!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  26. UnknownApril 11, 2013 at 3:57 AM

    I haven't read any of the books but I do love the Indiana Jones movies.

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  27. Sherry EllisApril 11, 2013 at 5:13 AM

    I haven't read either of those. They look good though.

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  28. Nas April 11, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    These look good. I need to look them up.

    Nas

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  29. AnonymousApril 11, 2013 at 8:03 AM

    These are new to me too, and now I'd like to pick up In the Red Lord's Reach.

    Telekinesis :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Nancy C. WeeksApril 11, 2013 at 11:10 AM

    I want to read all those great books. I wish I had another 24 hours in my day to just read. As for a super power, I have always had such a crush on Superman. The guy can fly. What's not to love.

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  31. Rhonda AlbomApril 11, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    I haven't read these books, but now I might. I do, however love Indiana Jones. Fun topic. I don't think I read enough novels to do an AtoZ like this. :)

    Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
    Visiting from AtoZ #41

    ReplyDelete
  32. UnknownApril 15, 2013 at 1:00 AM

    Oh man, we could have a lot of cups of coffee/glasses of wine discussing this one, Lynda! lol The ability to 'heal' quickly and from almost anything like the Wolverine would be very useful, I think. :)

    Living forever might actually be a drag, though, so idk. Flying is a good one, just because I HATE being trapped inside of vehicles for hours and hours. But I'm not sure it would let me do anything particularly heroic--unless you think getting lunch back to you in record time was heroic! :D

    If I could combine them and BE any super hero, Superman is the obvious answer. He has it all. :)

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I'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks for leaving a comment.