2008 Woodie Awards
English instructor has work selected for top-10 fantasy novel list
By David Rueda
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Focus
The work of one of SRU's own faculty members was recently named one of the top 10 fantasy novels of the year.
English department instructor Randall Silvis, who was hailed by The New York Times as a "masterful storyteller," has published 10 books, sold six projects to Hollywood and has two screenplays in development-one of which already has a Hollywood producer and director attached to it.
His new novel, "In a Town Called Mundomuerto," has received praise from sfsite.com, a well-regarded Web site that reviews science fiction and fantasy novels. The reviewers placed the novel among its 10 best fantasy novels of the year.
"Silvis conjures village life out of the air and laces it with sights and sounds, tastes and textures till it bewitches your senses," wrote Sandy Auden, a reviewer for sfsite.com. "His lyrical prose is smooth, vivid and surprisingly delicate at times, drawing you effortlessly from scene to scene, and even the smallest moments become timeless."
The novel tells the story of a small, peaceful Central American village, Mundosuave, which is stricken with hysteria and panic. The village later comes to be known as Mundomuerto, which translates to "dead earth."
The magical realism of the book is based on Mexican folklore that tells of dolphins transforming themselves into men in order to dance with the prettiest girl in a village, Lucia Luna, in Mundosuave's case. Silvis explained that the dolphin and Luna allegedly do a little more than dancing, which eventually sparks the town's downfall. The story is told through the narration of an old man, Alberto, who used to be in love with Luna. He is recounting the legend to his grandson, who interjects many times through the story, adding in his own spin on the tale.
It took Silvis nearly 15 years to complete the 160-page novel.
Silvis explained that the title, which he found rife with possibilities, came to him first. It took him a couple years until he was finally struck with his main character, Lucia Luna.
English department instructor Randall Silvis, who was hailed by The New York Times as a "masterful storyteller," has published 10 books, sold six projects to Hollywood and has two screenplays in development-one of which already has a Hollywood producer and director attached to it.
His new novel, "In a Town Called Mundomuerto," has received praise from sfsite.com, a well-regarded Web site that reviews science fiction and fantasy novels. The reviewers placed the novel among its 10 best fantasy novels of the year.
"Silvis conjures village life out of the air and laces it with sights and sounds, tastes and textures till it bewitches your senses," wrote Sandy Auden, a reviewer for sfsite.com. "His lyrical prose is smooth, vivid and surprisingly delicate at times, drawing you effortlessly from scene to scene, and even the smallest moments become timeless."
The novel tells the story of a small, peaceful Central American village, Mundosuave, which is stricken with hysteria and panic. The village later comes to be known as Mundomuerto, which translates to "dead earth."
The magical realism of the book is based on Mexican folklore that tells of dolphins transforming themselves into men in order to dance with the prettiest girl in a village, Lucia Luna, in Mundosuave's case. Silvis explained that the dolphin and Luna allegedly do a little more than dancing, which eventually sparks the town's downfall. The story is told through the narration of an old man, Alberto, who used to be in love with Luna. He is recounting the legend to his grandson, who interjects many times through the story, adding in his own spin on the tale.
It took Silvis nearly 15 years to complete the 160-page novel.
Silvis explained that the title, which he found rife with possibilities, came to him first. It took him a couple years until he was finally struck with his main character, Lucia Luna.
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