Download - Literary Magazine (Jan)
English Society
Visiting Writer
Alan Gibbons
Famous Works
Literary Magazine January 2013 Issue
Alan Gibbons is a renowned English author who likes to write
about teenagers’ real-life struggles. He lives
in Liverpool, England, where he has over 16 years of teaching
experience.
Gibbons won the Blue Peter Book Award 2000 'The book I
couldn't put down' for his best-selling book Shadow of the
Minotaur and was a judge for the 2001 Awards.
The English Society is excited to announce that Mr. Gibbons will
be delivering two presentations for Form 1 and 2 students and a
workshop for selected Form 3 students at St. Paul’s on 27th
February. This is an excellent chance for students to enhance
their English writing skills by benefiting from the experience and
expertise of a popular author.
An Act of Love
Chris and Imran are childhood friends, but
they have drifted apart. The reason? The
explosive events around them that have
created a whirlpool of danger. This is the
war on terror. It leads them into violence,
danger and an examination of what life
and friendship really are.
Shadow of the Minotaur
Blue Peter Book Award-winning story of
Phoenix, the son of a computer geek, whose
new virtual reality game is just a bit too real.
Phoenix becomes Theseus pursued by the
Minotaur in a life-and-death struggle.
Vampyr Legion and Warriors of the Raven
complete the award-winning trilogy.
Quote Sharing
We live in a society where power and wealth seem to matter most. Our parents urge us to become great
doctors, lawyers, engineers. Success and happiness have been defined for us. But is this how we should
live our lives? Alan Gibbons has told us the true meaning of life. As a lover of story-telling, he became
an author. He may not have become the richest man, or become the fastest runner, or the prime minister
of England. But he lives a life that he finds rewarding; he has found something that makes him happy,
something that he finds worthy and meaningful. We often ask ourselves why we live with dissatisfaction,
but the truth is: we allow ourselves to be defined by others. Our lives belong to us and each of us has
only one. We should live as we want to and do what we long to. Live with passion and roam through this
world with freedom.
Telling stories is what I do, it's one of the things that makes me tick... I now travel the UK and
destinations as far afield as China, Cyprus, Spain, France and Norway talking about books and leading
writing workshops. I can't imagine a better way to earn a living. All power to the imagination!
Alan Gibbons
Book Review
Shadow of the Minotaur is a fast-moving, action-packed adventure, providing many twists and turns,
maintaining reader interest until the last page. The plot is a clever interweaving of ancient Greek
mythology with modern computer technology, combined with personal fears and failings. To Phoenix, a
teenage boy, it seems as if everyone is against him, from the teachers who believe he can do better, to
Adams the school bully who delights in tormenting him at every opportunity. Playing the computer
games his father brings home from work is the one bright point in Phoenix's week. Together with
playing computer games, it is the growing friendship with Lauren that makes his school life marginally
bearable.
Phoenix is invited to test a new game that his father is developing, an interactive game, played wearing
body suits to create an illusion of real life. The game is centred on Greek myths and Phoenix adopts the
character of Theseus whose challenge is to defeat the Minotaur, a terrifying beast with a bull's head and
a human body. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of Greek mythology, Phoenix hopes his role as
Theseus will allow him to become a hero for a change. Unknown to Phoenix, the game has a mind of its
own and creates realistic life-and-death situations that eventually involve his father, Lauren and even
Adams. They are all drawn into the game and come to rely on Phoenix to remember the myths and use
cunning and courage to save their lives. Phoenix finds himself in totally unfamiliar situations and must
draw on his own internal strength to overcome his fears in order to save his friends and family.
Gibbons skilfully weaves the contemporary personal lives of the characters with those encountered
inside the computer game to a point where it is difficult to distinguish between the two.
The true character of Phoenix is progressively revealed as the story unfolds, as each new challenge is
encountered and overcome. Lauren, who plays a minor supporting role both at school and within the
game, helps him. Their friendship adds another dimension to the story, reminding the reader that human
emotions are being examined and tested. The language is well suited to the intended audience and the
scenario of a computer game that is more real than life is presented in a way that seems plausible and
possible.
With a cover to attract the curious reader, Shadow of the Minotaur will be enjoyed by all students, not
only boys interested in computer games. It deserves to be read, not simply for its mythological content
but for its gripping, well-conceived story.
Reference:http://amlib.det.wa.edu.au/webquery.dll?v1=pbMarc&v20=14&v27=26820&v30=20D&v40
=2920&v46=2922
Poetry Appreciation 5F Peter Wang
Frankie Laine (1913-2007)
The Stephens’ Sweet Shop, 1949.
Bald Walt at work, “butterflying” hot dogs -
splitting them lengthwise for the griddle
and serving them up in hamburger buns -
while Boo, his smiling, slightly anxious wife 5
(a rigid perm and excess, too-bright lipstick),
provides to teen-aged guzzlers at the counter
and in an opium den of wooden booths
their sugary poisons, milkshakes thick as tar
and Coca-Cola conjured from syrup and fizz. 10
A smog of smoke. A jingle at the back
of pinball being deftly played. And through
the clamourous and hormone-laden haze
your slick voice, nasal yet operatic, sliced
and soared, assuring us of finding our 15
desire, at our old rendezvous. Today
I read you died, at ninety-three. Your voice
was oil, and we the water it spread on,
forming a rainbow film – our futures as
we felt them, dreamily, back there and then. 20
John Updike
In Frankie Laine (1913-2007) by John Updike, the poet describes in the chaotic, busy setting of The
Stephen’s Sweet Shop the voice of the singer who just died, Frankie Laine, and shows the importance of
him in the lives of teenagers at that time, around 1949. Throughout the poem, Updike uses various
techniques to help convey his feelings. Updike expresses through this poem his gratitude towards
Frankie, whom he has likely also worshipped like his fellow teen in 1940-50s, conveys his sadness for
the loss, and shows that the great effects of the singer will last forever.
Firstly, the setting and atmosphere is well-set by Updike to possible act as a contrast to Laine. The
Stephen’s Sweet Shop is pictured as busy and chaotic. “at work” and the special diction “butterflying”
are examples of word choices that bring out the atmosphere of a place of busy work. In lines 3-4
“splitting them…in hamburger buns”, the steps of Bald’s wife’s work are written in one continuous
sentence, which probably shows the fast and rapid tempo, hence the busy mood in the shop. Then in
lines 9-10, “their sugary poisons…syrup and fizz” is a list of products sold in the shop. The products are
pictures as fake and “poisonous” by various metaphors such as “sugary poisons” comparing sugar to
poison, and “Coca-Cola conjured from syrup and fizz” in which “conjured” shows that the Coca-Cola is
as though done by fake magic from worthless but tempting “syrup and fizz”. These show how the tens,
like “guzzlers”, are bombarded by these temptations. The image of Boo helps the mood as well, a
“slightly anxious” woman with “excess, too bright lipstick”, seems fake and not sincere. Then in line 11,
“a smog of smoke” and in line 13 “the clamorous and hormone-laden haze” conclude the atmosphere as
chaotic and possibly with unknown danger lurking unseen. All these help shape the atmosphere of the
shop, a possible microcosm of the society, fake and chaotic, and make a contrast with Laine’s voice.
The effect of Laine is one of the themes of the poem, and it is conveyed by various lexical choices,
including vivid imagery. Firstly, the name of the singer as the poem’s title shows this poem is devoted to
him, and already shows that importance of the singer as he deserves to be written a poem. Then the year
of birth and death is a clue to the emotion (sorrow) in the poem as the year 2007 is the year the poem
was written. Then in line 14-15, detailed adjectives like “slick” nasal” “operatic” show how the poet,
possibly like many others, admired and worshipped the singer. The adjectives are all picturing an almost
magical and gripping voice, illustrating the overwhelming effect of Laine to the teenagers. “sliced” and
“soared” in lines 14-15 are sibilant words, a soft sound of the words give the feelings of Laine’s
softnessand tenderness in his voice, further shown by the word choice of “assuring” in line 15, showing
how the teenagers are comforted, in the chaotic world pictured in the first half of the poem. Words “us”
and “our” are plural pronouns, showing that the effects of Laine is collective and maybe on the whole
generation of teenagers in 1949. Finally, a vivid metaphor gives a strong image of the positive effects of
the singer. In lines 17-20, Laine’s voice is compared to oil on water, which is the teenagers, and the
rainbow film vividly express the fact that Laine caused as effect on the teenagers that gave teenagers
colorful dreams of their future, and the colorful nature of the rainbow film again contrasting with the
grey “smoke” of the sweet shop. Laine had an overwhelming effect on teenagers that enabled them to
feel colors in the grey world.
Thirdly, language is also used to generate a unique tone of the poem specific to the purposes and
emotions of the poem. In lines 1-13 that are talking about the sweet shop, the third person point of view
is used, like ”Bald Walt, “his…wife”, “teen-aged guzzlers” The tone is distant and not close. Yet in lines
14-20, about the singer Frankie Laine, a startling contrast can be observed. The second person pronouns
“you”, “your” and first person pronouns “we”, “I”,”our” give rise to a very close and personal tone,
reflecting the unique closeness and tenderness of the singer to the teenagers. Moreover, the methods of
fulfilling desires of the sweet shop is providing all kinds of sweets, yet in line 15 merely the voice of
Laine can assure “us of finding our desire”, showing a trusting tone of the poem, reflecting the
teenagers’ attitude towards Laine. In lines 16-17, “Today I read you died, at ninety-three” is a line with
tremendous closeness and emotions, a tone of utmost sadness, very like felt by Updike and other
worshippers of Frankie Laine. All in all, the tender and close tone of the poem’s second half convey the
close feelings of the teenagers in 1949 for Laine.
Finally, Updike also makes good use of the poem’s structure. The whole poem is continuous in one unit,
not separated into verses. This is plausibly reflecting that Laine had a continuous, solid and concrete
effect on the teenagers of 1940s and never stopped or paused. The poem does not stop even at the
mention of Laine’ death in line 17, which is probably showing how the effects of Laine can persist even
after his death in the minds of Updike and others. Most of all, the poem takes a circular structure by
time, The poem started at 1949, then went to “today” in line 16, and the poem ends with “back there and
then”, bringing the readers back, as the poet revived his memories o 1949, to the beginning of the poem.
This ‘infinite loop’ structure of the poem is possibly showing the persistence of Laine’s voice and
effects, that his effects will last forever in the minds of people. In addition, enjambment is used by
Updike to emphasize some phrases or words like “your slick voice” in the beginning of line 14, “sliced”
in the end of line 16, giving a pause for the startling truth of “I read you died” in the beginning of the
line 17. Then the ending “back there and then” emphasizes the circular structure and concepts previous
mentioned.
To conclude, Updike makes good use of a unique setting, language, tone and structure to show clearly
and vividly the great effects of Laine’s voice on the teenagers around 1949, which persists and lasts
forever in the minds of people, shows again his admiration for Laine, and expresses his sadness for the
loss.
Short Story
In the Wink of an Eye
By Mark J. Howard
Chapter 3
They gazed at each other for a long time, separated by half a meter of solid diaglass and an ocean of
regret. They’d worked on this project for six years, admiring one another from afar, each too busy and
too focused and too distracted and too damned scared to make a move. Until four days ago. And now
this. It seemed like just about the worse case of bad timing possible, and yet for some reason she
couldn’t fathom it felt like perfect timing. Either that or an overdeveloped sense of irony, she mused.
Eileen Penoir had invented the metamaterial from which the core of the transmitter had been made.
Without it, the teleportation project would have been impossible. Penoirium, as she had named the
crystalline metamaterial, was an extraordinary substance. Penoirium molecules exist only partially in
our universe and also outside of normal time. Manufacturing metamaterials had always been a
frustratingly slow process of molecule by molecule construction. It could take months to produce a
strand half as thick as a human hair but only a millimeter long, but penoirium proved to be exactly the
opposite, it’s crystals growing almost exponentially and under their own power until fears began to arise
that the whole world faced being totally encased in the stuff. Eileen, though, had worked feverishly on a
solution and finally learned how to control the crystal’s growth with a high degree of precision. Eileen
had done all this before even receiving her doctorate. The girl was a genius, and she applied her talents
to the study of this incredible new material.
She published paper after paper concerning penoirium and its baffling properties, but it was such a
confusing and contradictory substance that nobody could think of any earthly use for it. Nobody until
Becks Palmer had read about penoirium’s theoretical ability to exist in two separate places, and at two
separate times in a completely stable state. What was more, a photon of light entering into a penoirium
crystal that does exist in two places at once itself is split into two. That was the breakthrough the
teleportation project had been waiting for and not long after Eileen had jumped at the chance to join
Palmer’s team. The penoirium based communication system they’d invented as a by-product of the
project had changed the world. Instantaneous communication over practically infinite distances had
become a commonplace, almost mundane thing. The technology had not only revolutionised the
telecommunications industry but also taken computers and all manner of other technologies in radical
and exciting new directions.
Now, looking into Eileen’s dark brown eyes, Palmer wondered if they should have left it at that. Their
place in the history books was secure and they’d never have to worry about money again, but they’d
ploughed ahead anyway. Instantaneous transmission of information is surely a marvelous and
astounding thing, but they wanted more. They wanted a real teleportation system, one that could
transmit goods and perhaps even livestock instantaneously and freely across great distances. They
wanted to transport explorers to Mars and beyond in the wink of an eye. They had reached for the
knowledge of the gods and been punished for their impertinence.
Inside the monitoring suite the lights began to flicker into apprehensive life and several computer
servers and terminals began to boot up, but the damage was extensive and there seemed also to be
several severe casualties. The fires were all but extinguished now and Jack Cooper, the lab supervisor,
was bringing calm and a semblance of order to the situation. Palmer could see his animated face and
hands as he waded through the chaos issuing instructions and encouragement in equal measure. Jack
would sort things out, he was that kind of man and Palmer felt relieved that he was okay. Jack would
make sure Eileen got out if things deteriorated further. He’d make sure all his crew got out.
Almost all.
Palmer gathered her wits with an effort and spoke into the intercom. “What went wrong?”
Eileen, too, had to drag her attention back to the question in hand. She understood the consequences of
the shard of penoirium in Beck’s shoulder and had been turning over possible solutions in her mind,
only to find that there were none. “I don’t know, the computers aren’t back up yet so I can’t see the data.
I think there was an energy imbalance, I’m not sure. It all happened so quickly, too quickly almost.”
“Yes, I understand what you mean. Just before, I don’t know, whatever happened, happened, I thought I
saw a bubble, like a little, solid bubble of light over the number two feed node. It was completely still,
it’s hard to explain, like the room wasn’t in a fixed spot, but the bubble was.” Palmer’s forehead creased
as she tried to remember what had happened, causing fresh blood to run down her face. “It only lasted a
split second, but, it also seemed to have been there for hours. I can’t explain it.”
Reference:http://youwriteon.com/books/samplechapters.aspx?bookguid=decd1e6c-cbc2-4044-b5b9-209
e9f07ab72
New Arrivals in the School Library
The Maze Runner
By James Dashner
A modern classic, for fans of the Hunger Games
When Thomas wakes up, he finds himself in a lift. He only remembers his
first name. His memory is blank. When the lift doors open, Thomas finds
himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open
expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the children don’t know
why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every day, the stone
doors are opened in the morning and closed at night.
Every thirty days, a new boy is delivered in the lift. But one day, a girl appears—the first girl to ever
arrive in the Glade. The message she delivers is even more startling. Thomas might be far more
important than he ever imagines himself to be -- If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within
his mind.
Red Scarf Girl
By Ji-li Jiang
A true story of a Chinese girl's determination to hold her family together during one of
the most terrifying eras of the twentieth century
It is 1966, and twelve-year-old Ji-li Jiang has everything a girl could want:
brains, friends, and a bright future in Communist China. Yet it is in 1966
when Mao Ze-dong, the leader of China, launches the Cultural
Revolution—and destroys Ji-li's world. Over the next few years, people who
were once her friends and neighbors turn on her and her family, forcing them
to live in constant terror of arrest. When Ji-li's father is finally imprisoned,
she faces the most difficult dilemma of her life.
Obernewtyn
By Isobelle Carmody
A must-read for dystopian novel lovers
In an age where technology has been lost and the world is ruled by a
totalitarian regime set on purging the world of anyone with psychic abilities,
life is harsh. And for Elspeth Gordie, it is also dangerous. She has a
secret: born a Misfit, she possesses mysterious mental abilities that she must
keep hidden, under threat of death. Her worries only multiply when she is
exiled to the mountain compound known as Obernewtyn, where—for all her
talents—Elspeth may finally and truly be out of her depth. Then she learns
she’s not the only one concealing secrets at Obernewtyn.
A Fresh Page… A Fresh Start…
Games Corner
Crossword
Aside (uh-SIDE):
- An actor’s speech, directed to the audience that is not supposed to be heard
by other actors on stage.
- An aside is usually used to let the audience know what a character is about
to do or what he or she is thinking.
Effects:
Asides are important because they increase an audience's involvement in a play
by giving them vital information pertaining to what is happening, both inside a
character's mind and in the plot of the play.
Example:
In Othello, Iago gives several asides, informing the audience of his plans and
how he will try to achieve his goals.
Monthly Phrases
Denotation (DEE-no-TAE-shuhn):
- The exact meaning of a word, without the feelings or suggestions that
the word may imply
- The opposite of “Connotation” in that it is the “dictionary” meaning of a
word, without attached feelings or associations.
Effects:
- Denotation allows the reader to know the exact meaning of a word so
that he or she will better understand the work of literature.
Examples:
1. Heart: an organ that circulates blood throughout the body. Here the
word "heart" denotes the actual organ, while in another context, the
word "heart" may connote feelings of love or heartache.
2. Sweater: a knitted garment for the upper body. The word "sweater"
may denote pullover sweaters or cardigans, while “sweater” may
also connote feelings of warmth or security.