MARION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY’S QUARTERLY NEWSMAGAZINE VOLUME 11 | ISSUE 2 | SUMMER 2019 SUMMER READING PROGRAM wordsMarion County Public Library’s Quarterly Newsmagazine Volume 11 | Issue 2 | Summer 2019 a Marion County Public Library 2720 East Silver Springs Blvd. word Ocala, Florida 34470 352-671 -8551 FROM THE email: [email protected] website: library.marioncountyfl.org DIRECTOR Library Director: Julie Sieg By Julie Sieg Publisher: The Friends of The Director, Marion County Ocala Public Library Public Library System Editor: Karen M. Jensen Writers: Jerome Azbell, Suzanne Brown, Pat Lakin, Scott The Potential of Sci-Fi Mason, Susan Reynolds Photos: Pat Lakin I love science fiction! One reason I love science fiction is because when one opens a sci-fi book, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Not only ON THE COVER: can the setting and scenery, language and physical attributes, capabilities and limitations, as well as the timeline, be anything one can imagine but the storyline can mimic any one of the many traditional genres such as mystery, western, drama or romance. Obviously I am not an author but, in my opinion, writing science fiction could be at the same time the most challenging yet the easiest type of fiction to write. Imagine how liberating it would be to have a completely blank page and be able to create whole new worlds, languages, species, etc., with limitless potential. When I began my career 35 years ago, there was limitless potential in science fiction writings but I don’t recall so many labels defining science fiction. Thirty- five years ago we seemed to simply have science fiction or sci-fi. Maybe I was just ill-informed. Today there are so many subgenres of science fiction such as biopunk (futuristic biological technology), dieselpunk (futuristic elements set during the era of diesel technology), cyberpunk (AI) and steampunk (futuristic elements set during the steam engine era). There is also apocalyptic and post- apocalyptic science fiction. These may lead up to an apocalyptic event or take place far after an event. They may be technology free or technology rich after significant time has passed from the event. Cause for an apocalyptic event A world of discovery awaits at ranges from war or pandemic to technological or ecological disaster. Among your public library this summer as a numerous remaining science fiction subgenres are space operas and space “Universe of Stories” unfolds. westerns. Did you know that “Star Wars” is considered a space opera? Check out this issue for information One thing science fiction isn’t: it’s not fantasy. Much has been written about about the summer reading program, the separation between science fiction and fantasy. To quote author Orson summer breakspots and more! Scott Card, “Science fiction is about what could be but isn’t; fantasy is about The Marion County Public Library System is a what couldn’t be.” department of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and is funded by them through general funds. The WORDS newsmagazine is funded by the Friends of the Ocala Public Library, Inc. FIND THE LIBRARY ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER! 2 words Summer 2019 A Universe of Children’s Books BLAST OFF AT OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM BY JEROME ABZELL his summer your public library system will be reaching beyond the clouds to inspire Tchildren’s imaginations. With any of the following books in hand, they’ll be exploring the reaches of space, spending hours with real astronauts and maybe even discovering a few aliens. Join us for “A Universe of Stories.” THE STUFF OF STARS BY MARION DANE BAUER Beginning at the birth of the universe and following a trail of stardust, readers discover the wonder of what lives inside them. Powered by full-page paintings, this book celebrates the connections between life on this planet and the stuff of the cosmos above. TINY LITTLE ROCKET BY RICHARD COLLINGRIDGE Every year a small rocket leaves Earth, with one small seat and one big mission. Beautiful illustrations give young readers an idea of just how big their universe really is as they follow this tiny rocket through space. I LOVE YOU, MICHAEL COLLINS BY LAUREN BARATZ-LOGSTED Everyone in Mamie’s class writes a letter to Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin before the launch of Apollo 11. Mamie, though, chooses to write to Michael Collins, the only member of the crew who will stay with the ship instead of going to the moon’s surface. When her family begins to fall apart around her, Mamie wonders why she, like Collins, seems to be the only one staying behind. library.marioncountyfl.org words 3 SEE YOU IN THE COSMOS PATH TO THE STARS: MY JOURNEY FROM BY JACK CHENG GIRL SCOUT TO ROCKET SCIENTIST When the original Voyager probe went into space BY SYLVIA ACEVEDO Carl Sagan suggested that it should take a Golden A daughter of immigrants born in a time when girls Record filled with sounds from Earth. Now 11-year- rarely became engineers, Sylvia Acevedo graduated old Alex plans to emulate his idol and do the same. with an engineering degree from Stanford University Armed with his spray-painted Golden iPod, Alex and became a rocket scientist at the NASA Jet records his thoughts during a road trip to send a Propulsion Laboratory and the CEO of Girl Scouts of message to whoever might be out there to listen. the USA. Her story of family, loss and perseverance serves as an example to anyone who wants to reach for SANITY & TALLULAH the sky and beyond. BY MOLLY BROOKS Tallulah Vega is a preteen who loves adventure. Sanity EARTHRISE: APOLLO 8 AND THE PHOTO Jones is a bit of a mad scientist. When strange power THAT CHANGED THE WORLD outages threaten life on the space station where they live, BY JAMES GLADSTONE the two best friends go on a mission to discover the cause On December 24, 1968, the three astronauts aboard and save everything they love—which may or may not Apollo 8 were completing their fourth orbit of the include an adorable three-headed science experiment. moon. Rising in the background they saw Earth, and the photograph they took of that moment has inspired people around the world for over 50 years. USDA FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM Belleview Public Library RETURNS TO THE MARION COUNTY Tuesdays, noon, June 4-Aug. 6 PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM The Marion County Public Library System will once Dunnellon Public Library Fridays, noon, June 7-July 26 again partner with Shores Assembly of God Church to provide free, hot nutritious meals, funded by the USDA Forest Public Library Summer Food Service Program/Summer BreakSpot, Fridays, 12:30 p.m., June 7-July 26 to children and teens 18 and younger. The following schedule represents the Summer BreakSpot dates, Freedom Public Library times and public library locations. Wednesdays, noon, June 5-July 10 Headquarters-Ocala Public Library Thursdays, 12:30 p.m., June 6-July 18 (No service July 4) Reddick Public Library Mondays, noon, June 3-July 22 Cover and page art courtesy of publisher(s) and/or author(s). 4 words Summer 2019 book Science Fiction: reviews CHOICES FOR EVERY READER BY SUSAN REYNOLDS he public library is all about a world of story. The story culminates with the ultimate endgame, discovery. Let us help you discover whole, what happens when the “spice must flow?” Tnew worlds with this year’s summer reading Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie’s Hugo Award winning program theme, A Universe of Stories. The theme debut novel masterfully blends artificial intelligence offers the perfect opportunity to explore some with a military science fiction story line. What happens books that can transport readers to other worlds, when a military spaceship AI is forced to commandeer galaxies and even different realities. a human body? A story asking what it really means to This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo be human. Can the sum become more than just the Belleview Public Library moon landing, but what if humankind had continued parts? What is revenge and what is justice? Tuesdays, noon, June 4-Aug. 6 to venture to the moon? That is the setting for Andy Coming back to earth with Station Eleven, it is the Dunnellon Public Library Weir’s novel Artemis, a fast paced thriller set in a end of the world as we know it. Emily St. John Man- Fridays, noon, June 7-July 26 moon-based city where, despite technological ad- del’s story about a pandemic apocalypse is more than Forest Public Library vances and wealth, corporate espionage and greed a simple survival story. The book weaves an intercon- Fridays, 12:30 p.m., June 7-July 26 still exist. Will everyone die in Artemis or can courier- nected story of five individuals moving back and for- smuggler protagonist Jazz Bashara save the only Freedom Public Library ward over a 15-year period. How do you create culture Wednesdays, noon, June 5-July 10 home she has ever known? and meaning in a world no longer recognizable? It is Light years away from our moon on the dessert planet the astonishing beauty in unexpected moments that Headquarters-Ocala Public Library of Arrakis is the setting for the coming of age story of lift this book from a typical apocalyptic tale to a book Thursdays, 12:30 p.m., June 6-July 18 (No service July 4) Paul Atreides or Muad’Dib in Frank Herbert’s space that will haunt you long after reading it. Reddick Public Library opera classic Dune. Dune is the story of empires fight- A Universe of Stories awaits you at your public Mondays, noon, June 3-July 22 ing for the most precious of commodities in the universe, library! Check with one of our library staff who will “Spice,” which is only found on Arrakis.