I’m trying to think if I’ve ever had a true ‘open reading’ period for an anthology before. Obviously Eidolon magazine was always looking for new work, and Jeremy Byrne and I did have a reasonably long open period for the Eidolon anthology. Books like The Starry Rift, Eclipse One and Godlike Machines, though, were all invitation only. Assembling any kind of anthology has different challenges, but when I posted the information about an open reading period for Eclipse Two and Three, I’m not sure I’d really thought it through.

I certainly had clear reasons for having an open reading period, but I don’t know that I ever actually worked out what it would mean. As those who are interested know, the reading period runs for the month of February (1-29), which seemed reasonable last Thursday. Since it began I’ve received just over 100 submissions, and could well be on target to get 400 or so submissions. That’s potentially four million words of stories (don’t laugh Charles). I’m more than a little overwhelmed.

At the moment I’m also reading through Ellen Datlow’s The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy, which so far is my favorite of her recent anthologies (Inferno is great, but I’m not a true horror fan and this one is better than Salon Fantastique, which was good). Traveling through the stories while occasionally reading submissions seems to be giving me some kind of barometer as I go. I find myself comparing, checking in, and so on.

I am, for what it’s worth, trying to respond quickly too, even though the reading period doesn’t officially start till 1 March. I figure it’s best, rather than letting things build up. This means, usually, that the longer it takes to hear from me, the better things are. Also, if you hear from me very quickly, this doesn’t mean I didn’t fully consider your story. For example, I was at work yesterday, having my lunch break. I had nothing to read with me, but five new submissions had come in that morning and were sitting in my web-mail account, so I read and responded to them all. Hopefully, if I can, I’ll keep things going at that pace.

As to whether I’d hold another open reading period in future – I don’t know. This is almost certainly the only one for Eclipse for the next few years. We’ll see about other things as time goes on. Oh, and a special note to Eclipse invitees. I still want your stories, desperately. Please don’t think ‘he has 400 stories and doesn’t need mine’. I do.

Well, the truth is I haven’t nominated and I haven’t worked out what I’m going to nominate, but nominations for the Ditmar Awards close on Friday. If you are a member of the Australian SF community, you should take the opportunity to nominate.  Please don’t let yourself be discouraged by the fact that you haven’t seen or read everything. Only Bill Congreve and the people at Last Short Story on Earth have done that.  Just nominate something that you think is good and worthwhile.  I certainly will be.

The cover for The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume 2 is here! The art is by the awesome John Berkey, and design is by the extremely wonderful Claudia Noble. Check it out!

I’m really delighted with the way the book has turned out, and can’t wait to see it when it comes back from the printer. Many thanks to Claudia, Jeremy, Jason and Ross at the Shade for the great job they’ve done on it. I’m hoping to have copies at Swancon next month. You can order a copy here. Oh, and just to reassure everyone, I am reading for volume three pretty much even as we speak.

Alison Barrow of Transworld in the UK is quoted in an article about Dan Brown in The Times Online, saying:

“There is never any clause from publisher to a novelist that they have to deliver at a certain time. We would not impose such a thing on a contract.”

Allowing that this is Dan Brown and that she probably is only referring to bestsellers like Brown, has anyone ever heard of a contract with a publisher that doesn’t specify a delivery date?

to Cory and Alice on their very fine news.