Blogs

Gale Virtual Reference Library is listed on the first page of our database offerings.  The description says that it is "a general interest database that integrates a variety of sources in one easy-to-use interface."  This rather bland explanation does not indicate the wonderful sources of information it contains.In fact, Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL), was voted “Best Overall Database” by the readers of Library Journal magazine. GVRL’s user-friendly features include an interface that is available in more than 30 languages, ReadSpeaker technology (text-to-speech functionality) for 19 languages, article translation capability, a multi-page viewer for a book-like experience, and the ability to download articles as PDFs to ereaders or MP3 players.

New to our shelves:

The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination by John Joseph Adams, ed. SF, CB, R (SF Mad)
Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian (11, Midnight Breed) F, R, H
Extinction by Mark Alpert SF, M
Fuse by Julianna Baggott (2, Pure trilogy) SF, A, M
Domino Falls by Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due (2, Devil's Wake) H, SF, A, M (Horror Barnes)
Exit Kingdom by Alden Bell H
American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett F, H, R
Farside by Ben Bova SF, M
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan (1, Memoirs of Lady Trent) F, R

CD Barry
     Insane City by Dave Barry.  Read by the author.  7 discs.  8 hours.

BCD Bate
     The Girl’s Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bate.   Read by Meredith Mitchell.  9 discs.  10+ hours.

BCD Mystery Bradley
     Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley.  Read by Jane Entwistle.  8 discs.  10 hours.

BCD Buchanan
     The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan.  Read by Cassandra Campbell, Julia Whelan and Danny Campbell. 
10 discs.  11+ hours.

BCD Chevalier.
    The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier.  Read by Kate Reading.  8 discs.  9+ hours.

BCD Mystery Clark
     Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Behrends Clark.  Read by Therese Plummer.  5 discs.  6+ hours.

BCD Ellory

It's been a few years since I blogged about the resurgence of steampunk, first popularized in the 1980s.  Today I can report that steampunk is not only still going strong in speculative fiction but has been adopted by other genres as well, notably mystery and romance.  Even the superhero cosplay community has seen an increasing number of "steampunked" takes on popular characters.

I'm not sure why, but London (or some alt-history version of it) seems to be the unofficial capital of the steampunk world.  Easily three-quarters of the steampunk I've read has been set there.  Mind you, I have nothing against England's capital city, but it seems a shame that so many other worthy venues are going untapped.  Happily, I'm not the only one seeking new frontiers for my historical-flavored speculative fiction.  The American SF community has been staking their own claim on steampunk by reviving a setting they've dabbled in before: the Weird West.

This past weekend, I was invited to a dinner party and offered to bring dessert.  What to bake?  I just love small bites so I decided upon a medley of bite-sized desserts consisting of pumpkin tartlets, rainbow (tricolored) cookies, chocolate banana bread mini cupcakes, and mini cream puffs.   When the kids were young, cream puffs were always a favorite.  As a matter of fact that was the last time I made them.  As tempting as the other desserts were, the mocha cream-filled cream puffs were a big hit even though it wasn’t as puffy as I would have liked.  No one cared.  Who can resist this light airy cream-laden delight?