Category Archives: Observations & Opinions

Has Fantasy Overtaken Science Fiction?

Has the fantasy genre overtaken the science fiction genre in popularity? It’s a good question. It might be a question you haven’t even thought about. After all, the two genres are closely related. Many people can’t say one without saying the other. Let’s take a closer look.

It’s Hard to Tell, but the Signs Are Out There

On the surface, it doesn’t seem like much has changed. There are lots of fantasy books and movies out there just as there are lots of science fiction books and movies. Nevertheless, I was surprised to see the vast quantities of fantasy when compared to SciFi when I walked into my local Barnes & Noble.

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Newsletter Update

Hello friends. I know some of you are wondering when you will be able to sign up for the Newsletter. It’s going to take a bit longer, but I’m going to set things up as soon as possible.

Here’s the problem. As you all know, I’m moving to the Northeast very soon. In order for me to set up the mechanism to let you enter your email address, it takes a bit of doing. However, that’s not the main problem.

There are a number of good marketing platforms that will allow me to do this, but first I need to get a P.O. box. By law, I have to put an address at the bottom of every newsletter I send out. How can I do that when I’m still in the process of moving?

As soon as I get to New England, I will go to the nearest post office, get a P.O. box, and finally get the newsletter going. Believe me, I’m looking forward to sending out the first one, but it’s going to take a bit longer than anticipated. I would assume I’ll have it all set up by sometime in March. Thanks.

Art Benson

What I’m Reading Now

Hello Friends. Right now, I’m reading a book called Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee. It’s the last book in The Green Bone Saga trilogy, and I have to tell you, it’s absolutely awesome. The three books in the trilogy are as follows:

Jade City
Jade War
Jade Legacy

This series is a fantasy, but it’s unlike any fantasy you’ve read before. Even though it’s not specifically stated, it’s an Asian fantasy. There are no kings, swords, or dragons. Rather, the book centers around clans that run the mythical city of Janloon, on the island of Kekon.

It is a story that is almost equivalent to modern times, circa 1950. They have air travel, modern cars, and a host of other things that deviates from many of the fantasy books we’re used to. So why is it a fantasy?

The warriors in the clans use a bio-energetic form of jade that when worn on the body, it transforms the wearer into a kind of superhuman fighter.

The characters in these books are phenomenal and you can’t stop reading to find out what’s going to happen to them next. Once I finish the trilogy, I will write a full review on the series.

If you want to get a jump on it, however, go ahead and start reading. This is another series I highly recommend. Until next time…

Art Benson

Where You Can Find Me

Hello friends. A few days ago, someone asked me what social media sites other than this author’s website do I post on. The answer is a simple one. None of them.

Some would say that is not a very smart move on my part. Being an author, you’d figure I’d want maximum exposure. I do, but as you’ve no doubt read in my other posts, time is at a premium.

If I post on a half-dozen other social media sites, it means I’m taking precious time to compose those posts. By limiting the time I spend on other sites, I’ll have more time to do what I really should be doing—writing novels.

My lack of exposure on other sites might not be ideal, but it gives me the opportunity to focus on this site exclusively. So when I’m not writing my novels, I’ll be posting right here. Thanks.

Art Benson

Short, Sweet Reads Seem to Be the Trend

Hello friends, being a long-time science fiction & fantasy reader and writer, there’s something I’ve always been curious about. I’ve found that many books in these two related genres are very long in length.

Are Novels With Hefty Word Counts Really Worth it?

At first, when I’d pick up one of these books that was thick as a brick I’d be ecstatic, thinking I was getting more story for my money. I’d con myself into thinking the story would not end quickly, and I wouldn’t have to search for something new to read.

All of that seemed to justify the hefty price tag that usually went along with these books, many of which are traditionally published by the large publishers. But eventually I started to question the quality of these long, drawn out novels.

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