BN.com’s page for Wastelands has a review from Library Journal, which I knew was coming, but hadn’t seen yet:

Jackie Cassada – Library Journal

From Steven King’s take on the end of humanity through science gone wrong ("The End of the Whole Mess") to John Langan’s horrific tale of a small group’s valiant last stand against an unbeatable enemy ("Episode Seven: Last Stand Against the Pack in the Kingdom of the Purple Flowers"), the 22 stories in this end-of-days anthology run the gamut from nuclear devastation to environmental debacle to the Second Coming. Also featuring Orson Scott Card, Octavia E. Butler, and Gene Wolfe, and including an original story by Jerry Oltion ("Judgement Passed"), this title belongs in most sf or short fiction collections.

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Drat, I was hoping for a star! But can’t complain, a very positive review, one that will hopefully get some library orders so that maybe the Missoula Public Library won’t be the only one to have a copy.

Also, I note that B&N categorizes it as "Alternate Realities – Fiction," a sub-section of Science Fiction/Fantasy. Post-apocalyptic fiction isn’t what I would think of as "alternate reality" fiction, but okay.

Update: Oh, and here it is on the Library Journal page.

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Cindy White wrote up a nice piece about Wastelands for SCI FI Wire. Here’s a snippet:

"I wanted the anthology to demonstrate the range of post-apocalyptic fiction–that it’s not all gloomy, that it’s not only about fighting off mutants and marauders and scavenging cans of pork and beans," he said. "On one end of the spectrum, you have Nancy Kress’ ‘Inertia," which is about the aftermath of a disfiguring plague; on the other end, you have Neal Barrett Jr.’s ‘Ginny Sweethips’ Flying Circus’–a rather light and upbeat foray into the wastelands, about a traveling roadshow that makes its living by selling sex, tacos and dangerous drugs. I think there’s a nice variety of styles represented as well. Most of the stories are traditional narratives, but you’ve also got stylistically ambitious stories John Langan’s ‘Episode Seven’ and Stephen King’s ‘The End of the Whole Mess.’ It’s a nice mix."
 

Read the whole story!

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If anyone’s in the market for business cards, Overnight Prints is having a sale. Or rather, they’re giving away business cards. If it’s the same deal as the one I used late last year, you get a $10 discount, and so if you buy 100 cards for $9.95, they’re free (though you’ll pay shipping). If you want to take advantage of the offer, use the coupon code "NEWYEAR08" (without the quotes) when you check out.

I ordered some business cards for Wastelands from this place, and I was very happy with them. They’ve been quite well received too–which is the effect you’re looking for when you’re using business cards as a promotional tool. The colors all turned out well, and the card stock they use is nice and thick–not the flimsy stuff a lot of these online printers use.

I just took a JPG of the book’s cover and in the black area below the byline, I added some additional information, because the aspect ratio of the cover and the card was not exactly the same, so there was some blank space down at one end of the card (which I just filled in with black). Over the blank black area, I added (in white text) the release date, the publisher, the ISBN, the price, and the website’s URL. Everything someone really needs to know to learn more about the book. And, through the book’s website, people can figure out how to get in touch with me if they don’t know how to already. (And if you know name and can’t figure out how to get in touch with me via email, I’m not sure I want to get in touch. My contact info ain’t hard to find.)

I liked them so much, I just ordered some new ones, with slightly altered text from my original. (See left.) I find it hard to give out regular business cards with just my name and contact info on it, but this I find easier to dispense, since the subject comes up pretty often, and it gives me a perfect excuse to pull out a card.

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The reviews keep rolling in. Today, I discovered two more new reviews of Wastelands. The first, over at Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review, gives the book a nine out of ten rating. Here’s a snippet:

It’s [the] diverse mix of reactions that make the collection a gripping read. […] Wastelands is well worth a look. [whole review]

The other is by Paula Guran at Fantasy Magazine. Here’s a snippet:

If you are looking for a perky, uplifting read, you’d best avoid Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse. But if you are interested in a wide variety of end-of-the-world fiction, you shouldn’t miss it. […] [S]cience fiction should stimulate, start arguments, and incite discussion. Adams has done his job well. [whole review]

Also, I was pleased to discover in my Google Alerts folder this morning that the Missoula Public Library appears to have a copy of Wastelands. Go Missoula!

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