Cover illustration for The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Seven
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Seven

With all of the recent news I’m not sure I had the chance to mention that The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Seven [aka editorial project #51!] has been published and is now in-store and available from your favourite booksellers (including Stefen’s Books here in Perth). I imagine orders are already shipping and on their way, and that if your local bookstore doesn’t have it, they should soon.

In other news, I continue to work on all of my other editing projects, including Reach for Infinity and The New Solaris Book of Fantasy: Volume Two for Solaris Books,  a special issue of Subterranean Magazine for my dear friends at Subterranean Press, as well as continuing to work as Reviews Editor for Locus.   I am also busy planning new projects that aren’t quite ready for the light of day. All in all, with minor reservations, good and busy times!

Eclipse Online to close effective immediately

Seven years ago Eclipse One was published and went on to be part of one of the most respected original science fiction and fantasy anthology series of its time, featuring major awards winners and nominees, stories destined to become classics, and either winning or being nominated for the World Fantasy, Aurealis, Ditmar, and Locus awards.

In October 2012 Jonathan Strahan and Night Shade Books decided to relaunch Eclipse as Eclipse Online, an online magazine featuring two new previously unpublished stories and artwork by Kathleen Jennings each month. Eclipse Online has featured stories by Christopher Rowe, K.J. Parker, Eleanor Arnason, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Lavie Tidhar, Christopher Barzak, Genevieve Valentine, F. Brett Cox, Susan Palwick, Peter M. Ball, E. Lily Yu and An Owomoyela.

It is with sadness, therefore, that we are announcing that Eclipse Online has ceased publication effective immediately. All stories in inventory have been returned to their authors, and no new stories will be considered for publication. All authors have been paid. Any queries regarding other payments should be directed to Night Shade Books.

Editor Jonathan Strahan said today: “While I am disappointed to see Eclipse Online close, I will always be grateful to Jason Williams, Jeremy Lassen, Ross Lockhart, and the team at Night Shade Books for their enthusiastic and energetic support of Eclipse over the past seven years. It was a joy and privilege to work with the authors and with Night Shade to produce such wonderful work, and I am deeply grateful to them all. There are no future plans for Eclipse at this time, but Night Shade will always be a critical, valued part of its past.”

A picture of a rocket, being the logo for Hugo Awards
2013 Hugo Awards

As was reported here yesterday, LoneStarCon3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, announced the nominees for 2013 Hugo Awards.  Many friends and colleagues were nominated and delightfully I was nominated for Best Editor, Short Form and Gary and I were nominated for The Coode Street Podcast in the Best Fancast category.

To say this is an honor and a pleasure, even if it has happened before, doesn’t really begin to cover how I feel about being nominated for the Hugos. This year’s awards have a record number of nominating ballots, topping several recent record setting years, so community involvement is at an all time high. This means that being nominated takes more nominations and means even more, because it means more people appreciate my/our work. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has nominated me and the podcast this year. It does mean a lot to be on the ballot amongst such fine company and to have the respect and support of our community.

There are many conversations to have about the changing awards, their lack of diversity, and how representative they are, but at this point I really just want to say thank you. It does mean a lot. Good luck to everyone in San Antonio this August. I wish I could be there. Lasso a steer for me!