Book Launch for RAGING STAR!

I had the best opportunity to travel down to Moira's hometown of Bath to celebrate with her and many others the publication of Raging Star, the final installment in her Dustlands trilogy. 

Photo by Ferla Paolo

Our 'emotionally repressed narrator who sweeps you off your feet'

Saba's made it to the headlines! Well, to the Telegraph's online culture forum! 

See article: 

At last, girls are at the centre of the action in books and films

This article tackles the issue of gender representation as the heroic character in popular culture, through various types of media. For me, Saba is a near perfect representative of what should be the norm in literature and film: strong, independent women. Why has it taken the world so long to realise?

I recently stumbled across a video of similar subject that I just have to share in relation to this issue:

So let's hope that 2014 brings a better deal for girls. Especially our Saba as we near the release of Raging Star in May! Moira has page proofs starting on Friday, and the excitement is growing!

Look out for the Rebel Heart read-alongs which will be starting up again soon! 

~Ella

The Coliseum: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

'While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand. When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall. And when Rome falls - the world.'

~Lord Byron

This summer, I had the incredible oppourtunity to visit Rome, Italy. Naturally, the Coliseum was the first on the list of places to see: historical, cultural, and simply beautiful, it's rightfully Rome's tourist hotspot. But it also works as the inspiration of the Colesseum where Saba finds herself fighting in the Cage...

The 1st Annual Dustlands.net Fan Fiction Contest!

Welcome Free Hawks!

Today I bring you a new contest from Dustlands.net, this time a proposed annual one. We'll see where this one goes.

Fan fiction. It's one my favorite things invented. Fans of stories, writing their own versions of their beloved books, movies, television shows, etc...

If you haven't ever read any fan fiction, head over to Fanfiction.net right now! That's your homework! Look up your favorite book/movie/TV show and see if there are any stories within that category. Click right here to head to a section of Fanfiction.net with stories dedicated completely to Blood Red Road! 

For this contest, we want you to submit your own Dustlands themed short story! Here are the rules: 

• Each story must be at least 500 words
• Each story must be related to the characters in the Dustlands series. (Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart)
• Each story doesn't have to necessarily take place IN the Dustlands. (Perhaps a story could feature Saba in a jungle? The possibilities are endless)
• Each story must be submitted by July 31st, 2013. 

Get planning and write your story soon so you don't forget! And make sure to make it the best it possibly can, you have the whole month of July!  Submit using the form below and spread the word! It's greatly appreciated.

Cheers, from the Dustlands.net family.

~Jake

Saba's Narrative - The Ins and Outs

'I’m frequently asked about the narrative voice of the Dustlands books....'

The creator of the Dust Lands trilogy, Moira Young, has answered a frequently asked question from fans below - why is the book told the way it is? And what exactly does Saba's voice consist of, and thus symbolise? Find out after the jump...

Friday's Music....?

Hello Free Hawks! Today I decided to try out something new, so instead of a song, you're getting a small comic strip. Meet the chibi version of Saba and Lugh! (click picture to enlarge)

If you have other ideas to be drawn, comment below. Or even better, send in your own commissions! p.s apologies for the hurried colouring, next time will be better, promise.

~Bushra

Read Along: Evaluation & Review

If you're here, reading this, then it's pretty clear that I don't need to write a review, or give a 5* rating to Blood Red Road, because clearly you feel the same. 

It has been a pleasure to re-enter the Dust Lands and really study Saba, Jack, Emmi, and all the rest in great detail. Sometimes you read for the fun of it, and sometimes you read to find some deeper meaning, either in yourself or in the story. Blood Red Road fulfills all of these aims. 

The read along posts remain available as an archive under our menu options. Hopefully they will be useful upon release of Raging Star, so that readers can enter Saba's world once again with ease. 

There are plans to commence with a read along of Rebel Heart, however, this will probably begin in September, due to the business of admins over the next few months.

Hang in there, Free Hawks!

~Ella

Read Along: Freedom Fields

'Get on up here an lead the way.'

As Midsummer rolls around, and the group arrive at Freedom Fields, it's time for Saba and her friends to rescue Lugh, and possibly take down the Tonton and free they slaves whilst they do!

Raging Star

The name of the highly anticipated Book #3 of the 'Dustlands' trilogy has been revealed by author, Moira Young!

RAGING STAR!

We've compiled a list of reactions below as well as the opinions of our admins! If you'd like to tell us what you think, leave a comment or tweet us at @DustlandsFans!

Book #3's Official Title!

Free Hawks, we no longer have to refer to Book #3 as...Book #3! Because as Moira Young has revealed today: it has a title!

RAGING STAR

Check back later on for thoughts from our admins on the title reveal, and share your own below, or tweet us your opinions @dustlandsfans !

Exciting news!

~Ella

Read Along: The Black Mountains

'It's the anger that keeps me goin.'

Saba, Jack and Emmi are headed into the Black Mountains, on their way to Freedom Fields. Ahead lies old friends and new, and...quite a few revelations!

Read Along: Darktrees

'I cain't stop till I find Lugh. I promised him.'

Upon arrival at the camp of the Free Hawks, Saba has to plan the journey she must take to find Lugh from her new starting point. Help comes from an unexpected source...

Read Along: Hopetown - One Month Later

‘They call me the Angel of Death.’

Saba has been fighting in the Cage for a month. Very successfully. Whilst she is separated from Emmi, she maintains her fighting spirit in order to hatch a plan with new allies to escape from Hopetown and head for Lugh. There are some...unexpected twists along the way in the Hopetown we encounter One Month Later.

Poll: What if Saba didn't have Nero?

We all know and love Saba's 'pet' crow, Nero. We talk about him a lot in fact! But what if Saba didn't have a crow? What other animal companion do you think would suit Saba? Cast your vote in this weeks poll! Fun fact: Moira Young originally had a wolf-dog set to play Saba's animal friend! 

Poll Results Are In: Fans Aren't Destined to Believe in Fate!

It seems that most us over here at Dustlands are skeptics when it comes to fate and destiny!

Almost 50% of you, Free Hawks, voted that you didn't believe in fate! Check out the analysis after the jump...

Movie Madness #2: The Hobbit

The Hobbit: Or There And Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Book:

 The Hobbit is a light, fun adventure that I really enjoyed. It's certainly not as dark and complicated as Lord Of The Rings but it's still extremely entertaining. The Hobbit is one of the best fantasy books ever and I can't recommend it enough! I definitely think most people will enjoy The Hobbit and it's easy to see why it's a Classic. 

The Movie:

How do you adapt such a slim novel into 3 movies? I'll tell you how! You add tons of filler scenes that are pretty unnecessary to make these films substantially longer.  There were so many unnecessary scenes in The Hobbit that weren't present in the novel. The Hobbit is an extremely slow-paced movie and I think Peter Jackson basically mutilated the novel. It wasn't a terrible movie but I had way too high expectations. Peter Jackson tried to make The Hobbit a dark film like Lord Of The Rings but the problem is a light, fun novel.

I still will be seeing the sequel but I don't know why I'm going to bother.

Consensus: The Book

Final Opinion:

The Hobbit is a excellent fast paced novel but the movie is ultimately too slow-paced and watered down. I feel like Peter Jackson made the wrong decision turning The Hobbit into 3 films. If you're a Tolkien fan, you'll most likely be disappointed by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!

Is it all written in the stars?

Saba lives in a world where fate and destiny and the writing in the stars, is believed in. At least by some. 

The question this week is: do you believe in fate?

Try It Tuesday: Descendants by Carol Ann Duffy!

This week, we're venturing into another form of literature - the poem. Behold Carol Ann Duffy's 'Descendants':

Most of us worked the Lancashire vineyards all year

and a few freak redheads died.

We were well-nuked. Knackered. The gaffers gave us a 

bonus

in Burgdy and Claray. Big fucking deal, we thought,

we'd been robbing them blind

for months. Drink enough of it, you can juggle with

snakes, no sweat.

Some nights, me and Sarah went down to the ocean

with a few flasks

and a groundsheet and we'd have it off three or four 

times in a night

that barely got dark. For hours, you could hear the

dolphins rearing up

as if they were after something. Strange bastards. I like

dolphins.

Anyway. She's soft, Sarah. She can read. Big green

moon and her with a book

of poetry her Gran had. Nuke me. Nice words, right

enough, and I love the girl,

but I'd had plenty. Winter, I goes, Spring, Autumn,

Summer, don't give me

that crap, Sarah, and I flung the book over the white

sand, and into the waves,

beyond the dolphins. Click-click. Sad. I hate the bastard

past, see,

I'd piss on an ancestor as soon as trace one. What

fucking seasons

I says to her, just look at us now. So we looked. At each

other.

At the trembling unsafe sky. And she started, didn't

she, to cry.

Tears over her lovely blotchy purple face. It got to me. 

Poll Results Are In: North America is YOUR Dust Lands!

Our poll this week asked you where you thought the Dust Lands might be found on the world - or universe- map! North America was the top voted location!

It was definitely a popular choice, but there were many other options that were also considered by fans! Keep on reading to find out just why that is...

Movie Madness: Inkheart!

Movie Madness!

Every single Saturday I will discuss a book that was adapted into a motion picture. This week's book-movie is:

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke