Well, we’re keeping an eye on this page and this page for information. We’re still not sure whether we’re traveling on Tuesday or not. We probably will, but there’s a lot that’s not to like about the new situation. We don’t know how safe it is, and the changes to travel security are significant. Maybe just going for World Fantasy in November would make more sense.

Dad and daughter

Originally uploaded by Jonathan Strahan.

Last night I spent some time playing around with the girls and taking photos using the laptop’s built-in camera. This is a sweet one with Jess. It’s also a test for upcoming trip reports (I hope).

Given the events of the past 24 hours Marianne and I are reviewing our travel plans, but will almost certainly continue with the trip.

The World Fantasy Award nominations have been posted on the WFC website. Having sat in the judge’s chair myself, I know precisely how much work goes into arriving at a final shortlist, so my hat’s off to the judges. And, while we’d all pick slightly different shortlists (no Jeff Ford!!!), I think it’s a strong, diverse list. Special congrats to: Hal, Graham, Kelly, Deb & Jay, Ginjer, Lou, Chris, and Sean.

Following on from the starred PW review for Science Fiction: The Very Best of 2005, comes a starred PW review for Fantasy: The Very Best of 2005. I’m delighted.

Fantasy: The Very Best of 2005
Edited by Jonathan Strahan. Locus (www.locusmag.com), $16.95 paper (248p) ISBN 978-0-978-62101-8
Strahan’s wonderful “best of” anthology provides a little something for everyone, from traditional fantasy that pays homage to J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and M.R. James to slipstream wackiness that defies categorization. Of the 16 stories, the three standouts are Peter Beagle’s gorgeous return to his Last Unicorn world, “Two Hearts”; Jane Yolen’s scary classic Scotland-infused witch fantasy, “A Knot of Toads”; and Richard Bowes’s “There’s a Hole in the City,” a gripping 9/11 ghost story. Other highlights include Neil Gaiman’s funny epicurean adventure, “Sunbird”; Paul Di Filippo’s delightful cyberfantasy, “The Emperor of Gondwanaland”; Theodora Goss’s bittersweet fairy tale about grief recovery, “Pip and the Fairies”; Bruce Sterling’s powerful fable, “The Denial”; and Kelly Link’s hilarious campfire chiller, “Monster.” Four tales overlap with a rival anthology, Fantasy: The Best of the Year (2006 Edition) (Reviews, July 31). (Sept.)