Jeanne Cavelos
Author of The Shadow Within
About the Author
Before becoming an author, Jeanne Cavelos was an astrophysicist and mathematician, who taught astronomy at Michigan State University and Cornell University and worked in the Astronaut Training Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center. She decided to go into publishing and earned a MFA in creative show more writing. As senior editor of Bantam Doubleday Dell, she was the head of the science fiction/fantasy publishing program and created the Abyss imprint of psychological horror, for which she won the World Fantasy Award. In 1994, she decided to become a full-time author. She has written The Science of Star Wars, The Science of the X-Files, and The Passing of the Techno-Mages trilogy set in the Babylon 5 universe as well as short fiction, essays, and reviews. She also runs the full-service freelance company Jeanne Cavelos Editorial Services, which provides editing, ghostwriting, consulting, and critiquing services. She is the director of Odyssey, an annual summer workshop for fantasy, science fiction, and horror writers, and teaches writing and literature at Saint Anselm College. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Jeanne Cavelos
The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicist's Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books (1999) 246 copies, 3 reviews
Negative Space 1 copy
Coming From Abyss 1 copy
Casting of Shadows 1 copy
Associated Works
Decalog 5: Wonders: Ten Stories, A Billon Years, An Infinite Universe (1997) — Contributor — 76 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1960-05-26
- Gender
- female
- Education
- American University (MFA|Creative Writing)
- Occupations
- writer
editor
astrophysicist
teacher - Organizations
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
St. Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA - Short biography
- From SFF.net: Jeanne Cavelos began her professional life as an astrophysicist and mathematician, teaching astronomy at Michigan State University and Cornell University, and working in the Astronaut Training Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center. After earning an MFA in creative writing, she moved into a career in publishing, becoming a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where she created and launched the Abyss imprint of psychological horror. She also ran the science fiction/fantasy publishing program. In addition, she edited a wide range of fiction and nonfiction and gained a reputation for discovering and nurturing new writers. In 1994, she left New York to pursue her own writing career. Her first published book, "The Shadow Within," went out of print a few years ago but was recently reissued by Del Rey. Other works include a novella, "Negative Space," short fiction, essays, and reviews. Jeanne Cavelos also created and serves as director of Odyssey, an annual six-week summer writing workshop for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror held at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Summit, New Jersey, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- New Jersey, USA
Members
Reviews
This seemed appropriate to read around Halloween!
I was actually surprised at the quality and variety of the stories featured here. You'd think that the concept (asking authors to write a story about Stoker's vampire hunter) might get a bit one-note, but no. There's some really good stuff here, from some excellent authors, and although I believe all the stories were written specifically for this volume, I didn't think any of them felt "commissioned." I guess Van Helsing is just an inspiring show more character!
The only story that I felt really didn't fit was the piece by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. There's no Van Helsing in it, and I didn't really like the story, either.
However, I particularly liked: Joe Hill's "Abraham's Boys" (Stephen King's son, good even before his first novel came out), Kathe Koja's "Anna Lee" (though it's short), Thomas F. Monteleone's "Sideshow," Tanith Lee's gorgeous and heartwrenching origin story, "Remember Me," and Brian Hodge's horror story of Goya, "Brushed in Blackest Silence." show less
I was actually surprised at the quality and variety of the stories featured here. You'd think that the concept (asking authors to write a story about Stoker's vampire hunter) might get a bit one-note, but no. There's some really good stuff here, from some excellent authors, and although I believe all the stories were written specifically for this volume, I didn't think any of them felt "commissioned." I guess Van Helsing is just an inspiring show more character!
The only story that I felt really didn't fit was the piece by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. There's no Van Helsing in it, and I didn't really like the story, either.
However, I particularly liked: Joe Hill's "Abraham's Boys" (Stephen King's son, good even before his first novel came out), Kathe Koja's "Anna Lee" (though it's short), Thomas F. Monteleone's "Sideshow," Tanith Lee's gorgeous and heartwrenching origin story, "Remember Me," and Brian Hodge's horror story of Goya, "Brushed in Blackest Silence." show less
The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicist's Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books by Jeanne Cavelos
This woman is obsessed with Star Wars. I mean, seriously, beyond anyone I've ever known, obsessed with Star Wars. It's not obvious right at first, although on the flyleaf it told about how the author decided to become an astronomer after watching Star Wars for the first time. But as I was reading the book, I realized this was a whole different magnitude of fandom. She has obviously watched the movies hundred of times, and read every single book in all the series, at least once. But the reali show more giveaway was when she referred to Jar Jar Binks as "a loveable goofball." OK, that is just not normal.
But about the book - it wasn't quite what I expected either. It takes the whole Star Wars thing so seriously, and tries to seriously account for every aspect of the movie - the planets, the lifeforms, and so on. There wasn't enough tongue in cheek for me to be able to pay attention to the science. Only recommended for real Star Wars geeks. show less
But about the book - it wasn't quite what I expected either. It takes the whole Star Wars thing so seriously, and tries to seriously account for every aspect of the movie - the planets, the lifeforms, and so on. There wasn't enough tongue in cheek for me to be able to pay attention to the science. Only recommended for real Star Wars geeks. show less
Overall I was really pleased with this collection. There were a couple stories I found boring, and one that I didn't understand, but other than that, I really enjoyed all the unique takes on Van Helsing and his life. I bought this book solely for Tanith Lee's story (which I really loved), but I came away very glad to have read all the other stories.
The Technomages are gathering on the planet Soom for their convocation, only held every few years. All mages will be present that can be, and all the apprentices too. Galen is one among them, and this time is very important for at this convocation he will take his initiation and become a full Technomage. But times aren’t easy for the Technomages – the Shadows have returned to their ancient home and ready themselves for war. Galen and his friend are sent on a task to bring back proof that show more the Shadows have returned...
This Babylon 5 book, the first in the Technomage trilogy, has very little to do with Babylon 5. The Technomages only ever appeared in one or two episodes of the series, and the main character appeared in the ill-fated Crusade. It does link in a little, for the mages are investigating the Shadows, and Morden appears on a couple of occasions, but I don’t believe Babylon 5 itself is ever mentioned. Still, I found this to be the best Babylon 5 book yet written. The Technomages fascinate me, and the story grips me. I would highly recommend this book. show less
This Babylon 5 book, the first in the Technomage trilogy, has very little to do with Babylon 5. The Technomages only ever appeared in one or two episodes of the series, and the main character appeared in the ill-fated Crusade. It does link in a little, for the mages are investigating the Shadows, and Morden appears on a couple of occasions, but I don’t believe Babylon 5 itself is ever mentioned. Still, I found this to be the best Babylon 5 book yet written. The Technomages fascinate me, and the story grips me. I would highly recommend this book. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 11
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 2,094
- Popularity
- #12,289
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 14
- ISBNs
- 17
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