Last week Gardner Dozois and I sold The New Space Opera II, a sequel anthology to our recently published book The New Space Opera, to HarperCollins Publishers. I’m delighted about this for all sorts of reasons.  First, it was a joy working with the Harper team on the first book, so having the chance to continue working with them is very welcome indeed. Second, The New Space Opera was fun to edit, and I’m sure that working with the eighteen or so authors involved in book 2 will be just as much fun. Third, working with Gardner was a privilege, and getting to do it a second time is even more so. And, finally, the first book has only been out for a month and a half, so I’m guessing readers must be warming to it somewhat, if the publisher is willing to risk a second book. All good news.  And, before you ask, we’re about two years away from publication. Given deadlines and such, I’d guess you’ll see The New Space Opera II in-store sometime in the second half of 2009.