Guest Post- Modern Edge by Phil Stern

Welcome to the first ever Guest Post on The Readdicts. We have with us author Phil Stern who will be talking about the introduction of a new genre in Contemporary writing which could be called as "MODERN EDGE". 
I have read a few of Phil's works, The Bull Years, Witches and Rogue Powers. 

The Bull Years is a contemporary novel that focuses on the contemporary American society. 

Read Sarika's review of The Bull Years. 

GOODREADS SUMMARY OF THE BULL YEARS:

A Novel Of America's Most Disillusioned Generation

For Steve, Sophia, Dave, and Brooke, life hasn't turned out as planned. Rather than easy fame and fortune, these happy-go-lucky teenagers of the 1980's found young adulthood a mystifying series of dead-end jobs, failed relationships, family scandal, and surging frustration.

Now approaching middle age, all they want is to reverse their gradual alienation from life and one another, reconnecting with their earlier, innocent selves.

But there's a catch. Before any of them can move forward, they must collectively confront that one outrageous night back in college that first drove them apart, revealing secrets potentially shattering everything they ever were.

ABOUT PHIL STERN (FROM GOODREADS):

Phil Stern is the author of both Contemporary and Science Fiction.

His debut novel, The Bull Years, was published in 2011. A hard-hitting commentary on both the frustrations and ultimate validation of modern-day life, The Bull Years follows the lives of four people throughout the late 80′s, 90′s, and into the 21st century, directly addressing the gradual alienation and disconnection often experienced during young adulthood.

"I wanted to write about characters everyone could relate to," Stern says. "We've all had our ups and downs. I think people sometimes feel everyone else has experienced more success than they have, or are more firmly grounded in our world than they could ever be. My hope is that everyone will recognize a little part of themselves in Steve, Sophia, Dave, and Brooke."

Born in 1970 in Ossining, New York, Stern grew up with a love of all types of science fiction, including the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, John Wyndham, Piers Anthony, and more.

"Speculative fiction is so different today than it was back then," Stern says. "I wanted to write stuff a bit more recognizable to fans of my generation. Science fiction should be about ideas and alternate worlds, strong characters and good stories.

Going into talk radio after attending SUNY Albany, Stern hosted regular shows in the New York City area, Albany, Utica, NY, and Greenville, NC. He later went into the advertising and sales industries.

Stern now lives in Florida, and is working on his next novel.

GUEST POST: 

It's now time for me to hand over the post to Phil, who has written an excellent article titled "MODERN EDGE", which can possibly be a new genre in reading and writing altogether. 
As we now have New Adult along with Young Adult, Phil says it's time to recognize "MODERN EDGE"  as a genre in itself that will give a boast to Contemporary Fiction. 
 A well crafted article, I found it interesting and informative and I hope the you do as well. 

Modern Edge It’s time to officially recognize the ideal literary genre for our age.  By Phil Stern

American pop culture in 2012 is much, much different than it was twenty years ago.   In 1993, when NYPD Blue first came on the air, there was an almost universal outcry from various conservative and parenting groups. Why, they used slightly colorful language on occasion! And there was even a brief flash of mild nudity at the end of certain episodes! Clearly, this was intolerable.   Now go back and watch those early episodes. By modern standards, NYPD Blue is practically G-rated.   Today’s television landscape is a virtual morass of nudity, foul language, sexual escapades, and broken marriages. But far more importantly, it’s now real. Married With Children showed us the seamy side of life behind the white picket fence. The women of Desperate Housewives admitted the occasional resentment of their own kids, while badly wanting to bang the gardener.  Sex And The City went even farther, giving insights into vibrators and oral sex. Yet beyond mere shock value, today’s entertainment culture clearly reflects a stark rejection of traditional, counterfeit morality. A generation ago, father always knew best. Today, father is stealing money from the office, mother is a closet drunk, daughter is getting pregnant by her high school biology teacher, and son is experiencing flashbacks from sexual abuse suffered at the hands of the local priest.   We’re searching for raw, intuitive reality, a validation of our own conflicted desires and tangled vision. The deeper truth is there, yet needs constant, fervent exploration. Clearly, this searing, modern paradigm is reflected in our electronic media landscape.   So where do modern readers turn, people searching for a similar, even deeper, visceral experience? Unfortunately, no category exists. Contemporary Fiction? Too broad and bland. Comic Fiction? It seems trite, like a clown with a bright red nose and oversized feet tooting a horn.  Modern Edge says it all. Rooted within our contemporary world, it’s gritty, stark, funny, and brutally authentic. It lifts our souls above the daily fray of routine tasks and mundane disappointment, unshackling the true human spirit within.   Many authors, of course, have already made great contributions to Modern Edge. Yet two in particular have spurred my own foray into this dynamic genre.   Douglas Coupland’s Miss Wyoming was a revelation for me, depicting characters as disillusioned about life as I currently felt. Since then I’ve read many of Coupland’s other works, stunned by his vision and compassion.   Jennifer Belle’s High Maintenance is a masterpiece, perfectly capturing the frustration of a 20-something trying to establish herself in life. Irreverent, funny, and brutally poignant, it’s a must read for our generation.   For me, writing The Bull Years was cathartic. As a former talk show host, it proved to be an outlet of similar tone and expression to what I’d done on-air. But I also wanted to connect with the world-at-large in some essential fashion, bringing texture and depth to our collective, modern-day experience. I can only let the readers judge as to how well I succeeded.   It’s time to recognize Modern Edge as a cohesive, vibrant genre in it’s own right.   Because if one listens closely, Modern Edge is the dynamic melody surging beneath our vast, present-day symphony, connecting our past and future in an energetic, progressive whole.

Interesting, right? I like how "MODERN EDGE"   will focus not only on the present, but also the past and future, which matter so much. 
For me, The Bull Years was an eye-opener and an epitome of the contemporary American society. I still find myself going back to rereading the book and I have many quotes from the book that I've highlighted and jotted down which are really more like lessons or statements that I believe in. 
I know that I will definitely be on the look-out for books that would potentially fall under "MODERN EDGE".

PHIL STERN ONLINE:

To know more about Phil and his books, you can check out the following-

Official Website: Phil Stern Official Website

Facebook: Phil Stern Facebook Author Page

Twitter: @PhilStern100

Goodreads: Phil Stern (Goodreads Author)

THE BULL YEARS ONLINE:

To purchase The Bull Years-

Amazon: The Bull Years by Phil Stern 

I'd like to thank author Phil Stern for writing a Guest Post for us. 
Thank you, Phil for sharing your thoughts with us, enlightening us, and introducing us to the new and gripping concept of "MODERN EDGE"  . 
It was great having you here and we hope to see you back soon at The Readdicts!

THE BIG QUESTION!:

Are you intrigued by "MODERN EDGE"  ? 
Phil would like to know whether you think the title "MODERN EDGE" is appropriate or no for this refreshing genre. 
Let us know what you think in the comments! 

Sarika