The Philippine Online Chronicles

While, as I've already mentioned, 2009 was a year that I came across some exemplary fiction, it was also a year where I really began to make a dent in the pile of non-fiction materials I'd compiled for… I hesitate to say "research" because that would imply that the books and their knowledge were merely a means to an end; the truth is that for a non-fiction book (one which doesn't tell a narrative, unlike a biography) to maintain interest, it has to be more than just a collection of facts or principles. It has to be an enjoyable read, in and of itself. What follows is a list of books I read in 2009 that entertained while enlightening, and in so doing, assured that the lessons learned within their pages would stick long after their covers were closed:

The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Scienceby Natalie Angier: I'm actually not sure whether or not I started reading this in 2009 or 2008--I keep re-reading chapters before moving to the next because I find the content so important that I want to embed it in my memory. This book is a condensed version of what an education in science should be like--unified (the connections between the branches of sciences is explored), systematic (there is a reason that Physics should be taught before Chemistry and Biology) and, most of all, fun. Angier loves science, and it's difficult not to share that enthusiasm given how she presents her subject.

Wizardry and Wild Romance: A Study of Epic Fantasy by Michael Moorcock: the subtitle to the book names it a "study" but it is more than just that-- it is also a retrospective and a call-to-arms for epic fantasy (a genre which, while popular, does not command as much respect as other fantasy subgenres) by Moorcock, an acknowledged master in the field… and one who does not mince words, as shown by his characterization of the work of J.R.R. Tolkien as "Epic Pooh." However, the book is more a celebration of the kind of writing that Moorcock does enjoy, and the examples he provides will be helpful for any writer seeking the “inventive intensity” that Moorcock so values.

Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose by Constance Hale: When I was younger I found English lessons in Grade School and High School to be some of the most tedious hours of the class day.When you have some facility in the English language, you can pass tests simply by going with what "sounds right"--not so as someone who wants to make a living out of writing. Good grammar is the foundation of good writing, and in breaking down grammar into its component parts (words, sentences, and the subtypes of each) the book shows us, with a modern sensibility, how to turn page into poetry (the last section deals with such topics as lyricism and melody).

Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kulam by Michael Tan: I've covered this over at Rocket Kapre, but it still bears repeating--this book (published by the University of the Philippines Press) is an excellent resource not just for its intended audience (medical professionals and students) but for anyone interested in the way sickness is viewed in the folk traditions of the Filipino people. The book does this by dividing the perceived causes of illness in Filipino traditions into three: the mystical, the personalistic and the naturalistic. If you ever wondered about the difference between a bangungot, pasma and an egkanto’s mischievous antics, this book is for you.

The Art of the Interview: Lessons from a Master of the Craft by Lawrence Grobel: A few people may be of the belief that doing an interview is easy work, and it's not hard to see why. After all, the majority of the talking is done by the interviewee rather than the interviewer. What the average reader doesn't realize of course, is that the finished product is quite often the end result of a massive investment of time and effort on the part of the interviewer, both before the interview (reading up on your subject) and after (making sure only the best parts make the final cut). And, of course, if you happen to catch the wrong kind of interviewee… well it’s not as if you can go back to your editor empty-handed right? This book is a hybrid memoir and how-to manual that gives insight into the art of interviewing from Grobel, a man who excelled at gaining access to—and the confidence of—some of the world’s most reclusive celebrities.

Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroesby Chris Knowles and Joseph Michael Linsner: When one stops to think about it, while every nation and every age has had superhuman heroes, the concept of the "superhero" as it is now understood in the popular mind--complete with cape, spandex, and overt symbols--has become so ubiquitous. If superheroes have always seemed somewhat strange to you, then this book may shed some light as to why, as Knowles asserts that many of the earliest comic book heroes found their origins in ideas and organizations esoteric and mystical, in societies like the Rosicrucians and in the serials found in pulp fiction.

Why Things Break: Understanding the World By the Way It Comes Apart by Mark Eberhart: Destruction comes naturally to humans--just ask any parent with a two year old child (or two month old Labrador). Eberhart--a quantum chemist/materials scientist who as a child once spent his birthday money on a set of ball bearings so he could simulate atoms breaking apart--chronicles his inquiry into why things break (as opposed to “when” things break) in a journey that touches on such diverse subjects as airplane disasters, the forging of katanas, and the reason why Corelle plates are so dang sturdy.

Treasury of Stories by E. Arsenio Manuel and Gilda Cordero-Fernando, and illustrated by Carlos ValinoJr.: Another book I've covered before, but given how little we know of our local myths and legends--made more forgivable by the fact that our diversity of cultures ensures we have so many of them--it bears repeating that this is one of the best collections of Philippine myths I've yet found. This volume (published by Anvil) contains thirty-three myths, legends and folktales from all across the Philippines, distributed amongst three broad categories: The Mythological Age, The Heroic Age, and Folk Tales from All Ages.The book contains short glossary sections at the end of every story, and each sub-section is preceded by notes on the thematic links between the stories.

The Dreams Our Stuff is Made Of by Thomas Disch: The subtitle of the volume (which won the best non-fiction Hugo Awards in 1999) is “How Science Fiction Conquered the World” and Disch makes a good case for precisely that, showing how science fiction and its ideas and tropes have pervaded modern life. In the process he gives us a walking tour of the development of science fiction--from a beginning he finds in the works of Edgar Allan Poe, to what made Star Trek so popular, to what the future may hold for the fiction that deals in the future--with the confidence (and the commentary) of one whowas an important player, and who knew many of the cornerstones of the genre personally. Of course that doesn’t mean he was particularly fond of some of them…

Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer by Jeff Vandermeer: The title alone should be enough to hook any active writer (budding or bud-ded)--in the Web 2.0 age, writing and publishing are not the same creatures they used to be, and while it is still possible to be the writing hermit who lives in the mountains and never speaks to fans or the press, it would be foolish to ignore the new possibilities for creativity and connection that the Web provides… and almost as foolish to try to navigate the murky waters of the Internet without some sort of guide. Booklife is that guide. Vandermeer, an influential author and editor who maintains his own popular blog even as he contributes to sites such as Amazon, knows the fears and the mistakes authors frequently make. The book provides strategies for you public “booklife” that may be adjusted to suit your degree of comfort with technology or people and general, as well as more traditional tips on how to nurture the inner booklife that fosters the creativity so essential to the writer’s vocation.

Cover image of Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kilam sourced from Kinokuniya Japan.