Small Beer Press is having a huge sale.

March is Small Press Month and it’s time to move some books and make space for the new titles. (Must make warehouse space, must pay printers!)

There are only so many of these deals available, so get them while they’re hot and all that. Good reading at unbeatable prices.

Go buy. There’s lots of good stuff. May I recommend the “Get a Massive Box of Books” option? It includes: The Mount, Carmen Dog, Report to the Men’s Club, Travel Light, Mockingbird, Perfect Circle, Trampoline: an anthology, Kalpa Imperial, Meet Me in the Moon Room–9 good books: Only $59.

Read More

Issue 2 of Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show is now available!

Stories include:

In the Eyes of the Empress’s Cat by Brad Beaulieu

The Yazoo Queen by Orson Scott Card

Salt of Judas by Eric James Stone

The Mooncalfe by David Farland

Audience by Ty Franck

I Am the Queen by William Saxton

Zoo by Al Sarrantonio

Audio Bonus: Middle Woman by Orson Scott Card – Read by Mary Robinette Kowal

Special Software Bonus:

I-Wei’s Amazing Clocks

PLUS – COMING SOON TO THIS ISSUE:

From the Ender Saga – Pretty Boy – The story of Bonito Madrid by Orson Scott Card

Read More

Turns out my previous announcement was somewhat premature. Laird Barron piped up in the comments to that post and suggested the title “Camera Obscura,” and I’ve decided to go with that instead of “Laterna Magica.”

Thanks Laird!

Read More

New this month: a tale of religious fervor by Daryl Gregory; two pieces on luck from two Michaels: one from Kandel, the other from Libling; a stunning Cambodian modern day fantasy from Geoff Ryman; post-apocalyptica from Carol Emshwiller; some ghostly Hollywood humor from Ron Goulart; and John Morressy revisits the O’Farrisseys.

Read More

I just witnessed the most obnoxious slush submission EVER. Someone sent us a letter informing us of the impending arrival of his brilliant new story, along with a bunch of quotes from people he knows that say how good it is. But the best (or worst) part about the submission is that it was full of red, white, and blue stars, which got all over the place when I opened the envelope. And to make things worse, they’re made of some material that’s very static-clingy, so they’re very difficult to pick up and/or brush off your hands.

Advice: DON’T DO THIS.

Read More

And the winner is… well, there is no true winner. I decided to go with something of my own. But here are my top five favorite suggestions:

1. JeremyT: The Take-Em-Home Moving Pictures Nickel Revue
2. Kelly Brown: Reel Strong Medicine: DVDs To Ease The Long Road
3. Rob B.: The Reel Elixir
4. Dr. Phil: The Amazing Elixir Vitae Of Doctor John Joseph Adams, D.V.D.
5. Scott: Adams‘ Amazing Zoopraxiscope

#5 is more of an honorable mention–it wasn’t really one of my favorites, but I’ll tell you why it’s up there.  I liked the way he was combining Zoetrope and Praxiscope, and that sent me off googling archaic movie projectors and the like, which led me to my column title. 

All five finalists will receive a prize even though I didn’t end up using their entry. 

The title I chose is: “Laterna Magica.”  I offered this up to Orson Scott Card, and he liked it, but suggested that “Magick Lanthorn” might be more immediately accessible to readers.  In case you don’t know, here’s a definition: “a small optick machine, by means of which are represented on an opposite wall in an obscure place, many monstrous and hideous shapes terrifying to the beholder; and which, by those who are ignorant of the device, are thought to be effected by magick.”  (And here’s another, more complex definition.)

I’m undecided on which is better.  Perhaps a poll will help me decide.  Look for one in the extended entry.

(more…)

Read More

Subterranean Press is having a sale:

We’ve decided to clear some space, pay the taxes and a few vet bills, and let readers in on some great reading at unbelievable prices. Here’s the deal. Not everything is marked sale in our online store, but a ton of items are. Forthcoming and in-stock titles are included. There are a few rules, of course, but not too many:

1. You must order at least four SALE books to qualify for the 40% discount.
2. Limit one copy of each SALE title.
3. Books not marked SALE are at regular price.
4. Regular shipping charges apply.
5. Not valid with other coupons, offers, or savings certificates.

That’s it. This sale won’t last long — we’ll pull it in the next day or two, so have at it.

Read More

So, as I noted in the previous post, I’ll be moderating a panel at Lunacon called “Ask the Editors,” with panelists Douglas Elliott Cohen, Marvin Kaye, Darrell Schweitzer, and Mike Penncavage.

Magazine editors discuss what they’re looking for, what they see too much of, and do’s and don’ts for genre short story writers and poets.

What sort of questions would you ask if you attended this panel? I’d like to go in with a list in case the audience needs a little help getting started. I think most of my readers are in the target audience for this sort of panel, so speak up: what would you want to ask?

Read More

The preliminary Lunacon schedule is now available.  Here’s what panels I’m on:

 

 

Friday 8:00-9:00 p.m. Dunhill (John Joseph Adams, Gregory Feeley [M], Amy Goldschlager)

The Art of Review & Criticism

A panel of experts reviews the state of the “art” of fantasy review and criticism. Is there too much out there? Too little? Are reviews helping or harming the field? Where can a reader go for reliable reviews? And, of course, what practical things can a writer do to insure a fair review?

 

Friday 9:00-10:00 p.m. Yale (John Joseph Adams,  Ian Randal Strock, Walter Hunt, Paul Levinson [M], John Douglas)

Science Fiction about Mars

A discussion of the tradition of Mars exploration stories in SF, exploring the evolution of the subgenre from its planetary romance roots to the current hard SF mission-to-Mars stories.

 

Enemy sleeper agents, suicide bombers, religious disputes, anti-war protesters, abortion debates – the evening news, or the latest episode of our favorite SF TV show? Is BSG the latest example of how SF TV  uses metaphor and a fictional world to create a “safe distance” for discussing contemporary hot-button issues, fears,  and anxieties?

 

Saturday 1:00-2:00 p.m. Harriman (Douglas Elliott Cohen, John Joseph Adams [M], Marvin Kaye, Darrell Schweitzer, Mike Penncavage)

Ask the Editors

Magazine editors discuss what they’re looking for, what they see too much of, and do’s and don’ts for genre short story writers and poets.

 

Saturday 2:00-3:00 p.m. Crown Ballroom (Laura Anne Gilman [M], John Joseph Adams, Wendy Delmater, Jen Heddle)

Escaping the Slushpile

What makes an unsolicited manuscript catch an editor’s eye?

 

Saturday 5:00-6:00 p.m. Yale (Lisa Sullivan, Alex Wittenberg, Helen Keier [M], John Joseph Adams, Jen Heddle)

Lost: Science and Reason vs. Faith

How does the show Lost use conflicts between such characters as Jack vs. Locke to debate this eternal philosophical tug-of-war. (Is Hurley crazy for believing that the Numbers are cursed, or is he right? What is the role of Claire’s baby – savior, shaman, or just an innocent child caught in the wrong place at the wrong time? Was the episode with Charlie’s dreams a valid religious allegory or a clumsy attempt at cheesy mysticism? Are they setting up some kind of conflict between Baby Aaron and young Walt’s creepy powers?)

 

Sunday 11:00–noon Harriman (Douglas Elliott Cohen, John Joseph Adams, Amy Goldschlager [M], Ellen Asher)

Who Are the Next Generation of Writers? 

A look at some of the young and upcoming writers in the genres and what to expect from them. Which youngsters are going to shape the future of the genre, and just what will it look like when they’re through with it?

 

Sunday noon-1:00 p.m. Dunhill (John Hertz, Douglas Elliott Cohen, Marvin Kaye, Wendy Delmater [M], John Joseph Adams)

The State of SF Magazines

Are there signs of a resurgance in the SF magazine market? Where is the magazine field going, and what will it look like when it gets there?

 

Read More

Cory Doctorow is asking people to spread the word about the upcoming Clarion application deadline.  You can help out by posting an ad like this one on your website:

We’re looking for websites that are willing to help us run the campaign by donating some space to host one of these badges (they’re in two standard sizes, 150×150 and 150×58) in a prominent place between now and the application deadline on April 1. Even if you can only run it for part of the time, or in rotation, we’d appreciate your help.

 For more information, see Cory’s post.

Read More