In the Page 123 Meme, I posted an excerpt, but didn’t say where it came from. Here it is again:

“With all the security devices you’ve got?”

The hint was: “This book was published in December 2005 by a well-known author who has won many awards.”

Since no one guessed, I’ll go ahead and tell you.  It’s from Starship: Mutiny by Mike Resnick (which was totally awesome, by the way).  Look for my review of it in my next “Strong Medicine” column in Intergalactic Medicine Show (which should be published Jan. 16). 

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I just realized I forgot to post favorite story polls for December and January, so here they are now (see below).  Vote!

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Now that the preliminary Nebula ballot is out, the F&SF nominees are available on our website.  There’s twelves stories total, including the super-fantastic “Magic For Beginners” by Kelly Link, which, if you haven’t read already, you really should, and now you have no excuse.

As to the rest of the ballot, despite all the frakkin’ books I’ve read this year, thanks to my various reviewing gigs, I’ve only read four of the novels on the ballot, though there are a few on there that I’ve definitely been planning to read but haven’t had the time (Air!  Vote for Air you bastards!).  I’ve read nine of the short stories, seven of the novelettes, and three of the novellas.  Not that I get to vote or anything; I’m just sayin’. 

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I’m writing an article about Clarion-style writing workshops for Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market, and I’m looking a quote from a workshop attendee who had some immediate success afterward ( i.e., that attending the workshop was a revelation, and after attending, the writer almost immediately started selling his/her work). 

To help put this in context, here’s an excerpt from my article:

In my role as assistant editor of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, I’ve seen the results of these workshops first hand.  While some writers don’t show an appreciable increase in skill or craft right away, for others it’s as if their writing experienced a quantum leap forward–as if going to the workshop turned some key that unleashed the writer within.

Does anyone know of any writers that fit the bill?  What I’m saying in the above quote is true, but the writers I’m thinking of–that I’ve seen in the slush both pre- and post-Clarion–have improved dramatically, but haven’t started selling yet (or started selling regularly).  Susan Palwick and David Marusek have been suggested to me, but I have been unable to get in touch with them thus far. 

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I just updated my “Upcoming Appearances” section (which is on the left side of the blog, below the blurb-o-matic).  I’m pretty much certainly going to all those mentioned.  If there are any changes to my plans, I’ll post about it.  Anyone else going to any of these events?

New York Comic-Con
New York, NY
February 24 -26

Lunacon
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
March 17-19

Readercon
Burlington, MA
July 7-9

Worldcon
Los Angeles, CA
August 23-27

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In case you don’t live in the NYC area and don’t hear about this on the news every other day, the Freedom Tower is the thing that’s being built to replace the World Trade Center.  A spokesperson for the construction project says that the tower is being designed to be “impregnable.” 

I hope it’s going to come equipped with iceberg detectors.

Technorati Tags: freedom+tower

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Come on now, people. Do you really not know which side of the envelope the stamps go on?  Do I need to draw a diagram?

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In the comments to the “Whaddya Want” thread, Patrick M. posted an interesting request:

I’d like to see a side scrolling video game where you save manuscripts from the slush, battling bad plot monsters and evil grammar demons while dodging bipedal cows that don’t hold your interest.  And collect paper clips for a power up.

You know, now I want to see that too.  Anyone out there got the chops to make such a thing?  I’m sure the writing community would love you for it.  Or I would anyway.

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…Karl Childers calls it a magazine to subscribe to.

It seems good old Karl Childers from Sling Blade subscribes to F&SF.  That’s very cool, if you ask me.  I mean, he didn’t seem like the reading type, but he sure could fix a lawn mower.  Yeah, he’s trying to be cleverly incognitio by changing the spelling of his name to “Carl Childers,” but he can’t fool me.  I processed his subscription today. 

If you’re reading this Karl, I sure do hope you enjoy the magazine.  You won’t be needing that lawn mower blade (or your kaiser blade). Really.

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So, what do you want out of me in 2006?  What would make the blog better and more interesting? 

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