The idea of writing something meaningful in a coffee shop strikes me as pretty unlikely. We were chased out of the office by paint fumes this afternoon, and now I’m sitting across the road from the office doing some stuff until my ride gets here. Even though I wrote the introduction to The Starry Rift in a coffee shop, it took longer than it probably would have otherwise, and I’m not sure what I’m going to write at the moment.

The main things going one here at the moment are finally  getting started on my 2004/2005 taxes. I manage to let these things get sufficiently out of hand every year that this ends up being a major trauma, but it should be done by the middle of next week. Once it’s in the hands of my accountant, the ever reliable Tony, then I can forget about it and get back to worrying about other stuff, like family and books and stuff.  On that front, I think the two Locus Press year’s bests will go to press next week, and copies of Best Short Novels should exist shortly. I’ve not heard back about The Starry Rift from Sharyn yet, but I’m hopeful she’ll like it. Latest news is that Eidolon should also finally be making its way to press in the next week (I know, I’ve said that before, but….), and some of the stories from it will be podcast. What else? Gardner and I have been buying stories industriously for The New Space Opera, including just yesterday a major new short novel from Dan Simmons. It’s shaping up as a good book, and I can’t wait to see it come out next year.

And, other than that, it’s all pretty much full speed ahead. Jessica has another party this Saturday, then I think we have a clear run up till our departure for the US on or around the 18th of August. Of course, we have to get that finalised with the travel agent too. Busy times, as always.

I went to Conflux for a day, and Cat Sparks took photos.

Three new publications entered the house today: a book on vegetable gardening (I’m thinking of losing weight, getting in touch with the seasons etc. and this was a gift), a galley of Gene Wolfe’s Soldier of Sidon, and the third issue of Steve Pasechnick’s Alchemy.

If you’re not familiar with Alchemy it’s one of the classiest and best quality fantasy magazines published today. It’s also devastatingly low key. I know a copy costs seven dollars. I know you can order it from Clarkesworld Books. And I know it’s edited by Steve and worth reading. This new issue contains “Halfway House” by Frances Hardinge, “The Finders of Lost Things” by Tara Kolden, “Steal a Heart” by Hannah Wolfe Bowen, “Letter from Budapest” by Theodora Goss, “You Returned a Changed Person” by Beth Adele Long, “Like the Stars and the Sand” by Sonya Taaffe, “The Seance at Chisholm End” by Sarah Monette, “A Secret Lexicon for the Not-So-Beautiful” by Beth Adele Long, and “The Hollows” by Timothy Williams. I love this magazine quite a bit. Check it out. It’s worth the chase.

The information’s up on Bill Crider’s Pop Culture Magazine. Scott Cupp and Joe Lansdale are co-editing an anthology of stories inspired by Robert E. Howard and his work. To be published as a joint venture between FACT and Chris Roberson’s very fine Monkeybrain outfit, it will feature stories by Howard Waldrop, Neal Barrett Jr, Bradley Denton, Gene Wolfe, Michael Moorcock and others. See a list here. I’ll post ordering details when I see ’em.

Note: Any Locus reviewers reading this post should note that I’ll arrange review copies of I can. No need to contact me directly.

While I wasn’t watching, John Joseph Adams mentioned that The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction has just acquired new stories by Ted Chiang and Bruce Sterling. I’m hoping both will make it out in 2006. Regardless of that, though, you have subscribed, yes?