One day to go. You gotta nominate / vote in the 2008 Locus Awards. You can do it here. There’s all sorts of good stuff in the pre-completed dropdowns, but don’t forget you can add whatever you want.  This is one of the biggest public-vote awards in the field, and you can be part of it (no cost, nothing!).

There’s a lot of talking about space opera going on out there. First, the redoubtable Paul Di Filippo takes a look at Gary Wolfe’s Space Vulture for Barnes and Noble. Then, John Clute peers into Peter F. Hamilton’s The Dreaming Void over at SciFi.com. And then, finally, Gwyneth Jones (one of my favorite critics) takes a clear-eyed look at Iain M. Banks’ Matter for Strange Horizons.

What to make of it all? Well, Space Vulture doesn’t look to my taste, in truth.  I’m daunted by the sheer volume of backstory that comes with Hamilton’s book, as much as I’ve enjoyed some of his stuff.  The Banks novel, though, I’ve read and enjoyed. Jones’ comments are on the money too.

Via JJA at the Shade, a very nice review from Bob’s Book Reviews for Eclipse One. I can’t speak for any of the contributors, but I’ve been delighted by the way the book’s been accepted.

I think I need some kind of refreshing / re-energising experience.  Today was the kind of day that all of us have – not at all bad, but tiring and kind of draining.  I’m currently sitting in the backyard, hiding behind the clothes hoist, trying to get a quiet moment while children run around, plundering the house.  The fish are dying again (something I can’t diagnose, but we’re doing everything we can).  There’s nowhere quiet to sit.  I’m not in a reading mood.  And I’m aware of the need to be doing things I’m not.  sigh.  Maybe a quiet night will help.

…I know Jeremy hated the theme, but I needed to do something. I’ll keep looking for something better, when I have time, but this will have to do a for a little while.