Locus Online has posted the winners of the 2008 Locus Awards.  I’m delighted that The New Space Opera has won for Best Anthology, and would like to thank everyone who voted for it, and everyone who worked on it.  I’d also like to congratulate all of the other winners, and finalists.

For those following the discussions that have surrounded my Eclipse anthology series, there’s a very good summary on Abigail Nussbaum’s journal (which I appreciated). In retrospect, I would have engaged with the discussion about the first book in the series, Eclipse One, very differently if I had the opportunity to do so.  I would also have avoided some of the further discussion, in retrospect. But you cannot undo the past.  I’m not entirely sure what to say about the current discussion.  I don’t want to be defensive or dismissive or belligerent.  There are legitimate points being raised, and they deserve to be discussed respectfully and intelligently.  I hope they are.  If I’m queried directly, I’m happy enough to discuss it. Otherwise, direct queries aside, I think I’m going to do my best to sit this one out.

First, a friend came through some surgery and is recovering well.  That is incredibly good news. Second, another friend just won a major award. That rocks too!

Well, a month or so late, I just emailed in the final manuscript of Godlike Machines to my editor at the SF Book Club. I’m happy with the book, but this is the nerve-wracking part where I wait to see if my editor likes it. Fingers crossed. I’m not going to say that this book had tribulations because, honestly, I’ve recently accepted that they all do. The book should be out before year’s end, and it’s good. My sincerest thanks to all of the authors, who have been terrific to deal with. More on the book soon…