I am now thoroughly invested in the whole Read a Whole Buttload of Stories by WFC thing. I spent yesterday afternoon reading, did a bit last night, and then was catching up on F&SF reading this morning when I realised that I’m done with zombies for the moment.  I was reading a perfectly good story by Steven Popkes called “The Crocodiles”, which is all about the Nazis developing zombies as a weapon for WW2, when I realised I didn’t need any more undead for a bit.  I’m half way through Unicorns vs. Zombies, really enjoyed The Loving Dead and stories in Subterranean, F&SF and elsewhere, but I’m sort of done with the whole idea right now.  I find myself craving hard SF.

I fly out for Columbus, Ohio and World Fantasy Convention on Saturday, 23 October.  There are a lot of things that I need to do between now and then. One of the most urgent is to make significant headway on my 2010 short fiction reading. Why?

Well, most urgently, I have to deliver The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume 5 in early December (heck, I expect to get asked about names for the cover shortly and I’m nowhere near ready to hand over that information!).  That means reading a LOT of anthologies, collections, and magazines and FAST. Also chasing down those end-of-year stories I might otherwise miss.

All of this reading  will also directly inform the work I will be doing on compiling the Locus Short Fiction Recommended Reading list, which I expect to start work on in early November when I get home from Ohio. There is also a chance that I may end up doing a panel on the ‘Year in Review’ at World Fantasy. Having been admonished by Sophie, aged 8, that it wouldn’t hurt if I prepared for my panels, I’m eager to be as well-read as I can be when that time comes round.

All of this means I need to read, read, read! And I am.  There’s oceans still to read, and I’m still actively seeking recommendations. Feel free to email me if you’ve seen a story you liked and let me know. I’m reading reviews, checking blogs and Twitter feeds for story recs, but I’d love yours.  Really. I have thousands of stories to read and I’m not going get through them all, so your recommendation would help.

As to how I’m getting through everything? Well, first I’m reading a LOT. Fast (which is not how I read usually). I’ve also been in touch with my colleagues at Not if You Were the Last Short Story on Earth, and it seems we’re working out some deadlines and incentives so we can all get as much covered as possible (that means four or five more sets of eyes looking at things). I’m also considering getting an intern to help. Hmm. An intern. Anyone interested?  I believe we may be tweeting some of our story reading progress, but that’s still up in the air.

In the meantime, could you pass me that book…

Dear neglected blog,

I met someone else – well, two someone elses – and they’ve kept me away from you longer than I’d ever intended. One listens to my short idle thoughts, the other listens to me natter for ages with my pal Gary. But I’ve not forgotten you, even through these months of neglect.

I’ve been in Melbourne. Went there for WorldCon. Conventions fall into two groups: those that energise you and those that drain you. Having been home for almost a week I think I can classify Aussiecon 4 as a convention that drained me.  Not because it was a bad con, or because I had no fun, but because it was busy and demanding. There are some things I’ll treasure as I look back on it, though: the evening at Alex’s house with Tansy, Alisa, Tehani and everyone; long, unexpected and delightful breakfasts with Stan; dinner and lunch and more with Bob and Karen; the Melbourne Aquarium with Barbara, mum, Marianne and the girls; the room service party with Garth, Anna, Shaun, Chris, Chris, Deb, Marianne, and Liza; some real time to talk with Liza; a last minute coffee with Steve; a terrific Voyager party, and an unexpected meeting. All of those were awesome.

And then there were the Hugos. What an honor and delight! As you know, dear blog, I’ve loved the Hugos forever and never once imagined I’d be nominated. The past three years have been a giddy time indeed, in Denver, Montreal and now here.  It was close this year. I know just how close, and that’s even more pleasing. The Hugo voters, my community, rewarded my work more than I ever could have expected.  I was pleased to see Ellen win after another terrific year (even if I hope you can forgive me a tiny twinge of disappointment at not quite making it), and look forward to the years to come. I never take the Hugo voters for granted and assume nothing, but I’m far from done editing yet.

And that’s about it, dear blog. I hear Godlike Machines is printed, the Engineering Infinity copyedits are in my inbox, The Best of Larry Niven is around the corner, there’s a teetering tower of reading for the year’s best and cyberpunk books, people to follow up for Eclipse 4 and Under My Hat, and proposals to write. Busy, busy, busy.

Oh, and Columbus! There’s Columbus. In just seven weeks! Eek.

There’s much to say about the Melbourne weekend, but the main thing is that we’re all home, safe and recovering from jetlag, con crud and so on, and hopefully will be returned to full functionality soon.  After her sojourn in Royal Melbourne Hospital, mum has made a full and complete recovery. We don’t know what happened, but she was given a clean bill of health and seems fine.

I especially want to say something about the Hugos, but not right now. For the moment, it was an honor and a delight to be nominated, a surprising joy to have come so close to winning, and I take my hat off to the winner (congrats Ellen!).  The fan community has been exceptionally kind and supportive to me, and I can only be grateful and happy.