Category Archives: Science fiction

Science fiction

Updatery

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The blog has mostly descended into a broadcast medium for the podcast, and I apologise for that. I’d thought at one point I might actually podcast the blog, but that never really came together. And, somewhere between tweeting and podcasting I’ve lost the urge/knack to blog much. I did mean to do the culture thing, but the discipline wasn’t there. I put it down to girls wanting swimming lessons, and lots of other things, none of which are likely accurate.

So, how have things been? Well, the dominant thing has been my recurring ear infection. Without whining too much more, I basically have tinnitus and hearing loss in my right ear. Not happy making, and the kind of thing that kicks the heck out of my ability/willingness to focus and concentrate on reading or writing.  I see an ENT specialist tomorrow, so I’m hopeful it’ll be sorted one way or the other (I’m hoping the hearing loss can be dealt with).

This doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy. I have. I’m getting ready to ink the deal on a new project, which is nice. I also have a lot of work going on for most of the other ones I’m involved in.  I do need to clarify one thing. While I’ve made references to the fact that there won’t be any more print volumes of Eclipse, at least for now, there wil be a new incarnation of Eclipse announced shortly, and I’m completely committed to that and a possible return to print at some point.

I also solicited some new artwork this week. Dylan Horrocks and Kathleen Jennings are sketching witches for me. There’s no set plan for using the art at the moment, other than simply enjoying it, but it was a great feeling to ask for new art to be created.  I can’t wait to see the sketches when they’re done.

I have also been planning travel. I will be attending the Australian national science fiction convention in Melbourne this June. I’m going to be there for a week, and will mostly be holidaying with friends and maybe doing a little podcasting, before getting caught up in the con. It should be a great time. I’m also working out my travel plans for World Fantasy in Toronto.  It looks like I’ll go via Dubai, which will be economical, but I’m very sad not to be getting to Sydney and San Francisco. I’m unlikely to head to Chicago for WorldCon, but that’s not impossible. But I should not complain. Melbourne and Toronto will be a lot for 2012.

There’s likely more, but time for coffee!

Science fiction

Hugo and Nebula nominations open…

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Each year at the beginning of the awards season the question comes around about promoting your own work/nominating your own work for awards.  With Nebula and Hugo nominations now open, below is a list of eligible works by category.

Novellas (Nebulas/Hugos)

  • Martian Chronicles, Cory Doctorow (Life on Mars)

Novelettes (Nebulas/Hugos)

  • Dying Young, Peter M Ball (Eclipse Four)
  • Mercies, Gregory Benford (Engineering Infinity)
  • Walls of Flesh, Bars of Bone, Damien Broderick & Barbara Lamar (Engineering Infinity)
  • Creatures with Wings, Kathleen Ann Goonan (Engineering Infinity)
  • The Ki-Anna, Gwyneth Jones (Engineering Infinity)
  • The Vicar of Mars, Gwyneth Jones (Eclipse Four)
  • Tourists, James Patrick Kelly (Eclipse Four)
  • The Old Man and the Martian Sea, Alastair Reynolds (Life on Mars)
  • Laika’s Ghost, Karl Schroeder (Engineering Infinity)
  • A Taste of Promises, Rachel Swirsky (Life on Mars)
  • Fields of Gold, Rachel Swirsky (Eclipse Four)
  • Judgement Eve, John C. Wright (Engineering Infinity)

Short Stories (Nebulas/Hugos)

  • Attlee and the Long Walk, Kage Baker (Life on Mars)
  • Martian Heart, John Barnes (Life on Mars)
  • The Birds and the Bees and the Gasoline Trees, John Barnes (Engineering Infinity)
  • On Chryse Plain, Stephen Baxter (Life on Mars)
  • The Invasion of Venus, Stephen Baxter (Engineering Infinity)
  • The Beancounter’s Cat, Damien Broderick (Eclipse Four)
  • Nine Muses, Emma Bull (Eclipse Four)
  • Slow as a Bullet, Andy Duncan (Eclipse Four)
  • The Double of My Double Is Not My Double, Jeffrey Ford (Eclipse Four)
  • Thought Experiment, Eileen Gunn (Eclipse Four)
  • Old Habits, Nalo Hopkinson (Eclipse Four)
  • Story Kit, Kij Johnson (Eclipse Four)
  • Tidal Forces, Caitlin R. Kiernan (Eclipse Four)
  • Goodnight Moons, Ellen Klages (Life on Mars)
  • First Principle, Nancy Kress (Life on Mars)
  • Digging, Ian McDonald (Life on Mars)
  • A Soldier of the City, David Moles (Engineering Infinity)
  • Wahala, Nnedi Okorafor (Life on Mars)
  • The Server and the Dragon, Hannu Rajaniemi (Engineering Infinity)
  • Mantis, Robert Reed (Engineering Infinity)
  • Larp on Mars, Chris Roberson (Life on Mars)
  • Watching the Music Dance, Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Engineering Infinity)
  • Bit Rot, Charles Stross (Engineering Infinity)
  • The Man in Grey, Michael Swanwick (Eclipse Four)
  • The Panda Coin, Jo Walton (Eclipse Four)
  • Malak, Peter Watts (Engineering Infinity)

Editor, Short Form (Hugos)

  • Jonathan Strahan
    Books (5): The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year: Volume Six; Eclipse Four; Engineering Infinity; Life on Mars; Dangerous Ways: Mystery Novels by Jack Vance)
    Magazines (12): Locus: The Newspaper of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Field, Reviews Editor, Jan-Dec 2011 issues)

Semiprozine (Hugos)

 Fanzine (Hugos)

Fancast (Hugos)

I encourage everyone to look at these and all of the other very fine works that are eligible for awards in 2012 and nominate the works that you loved!  Your nomination and vote are important and the more people that are involved, the better the awards are!

Edited: Edited to remove Live and Sassy from Fancast/Fanzine to match eligibility criteria.

Science fiction

CALL FOR STORIES: THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR: VOL. SEVEN

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I edit THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR anthology series for Night Shade Books. The sixth volume in the series will be published in March 2012, and the seventh should appear in March 2013.

I am currently reading for the 2012 volume, which will cover stories first published between 1 January and 31 December 2012. I am looking for stories from all branches of science fiction and fantasy: space opera to cyberpunk, fairy tales to the slipstream, or anything else that might qualify. If in doubt, PLEASE send it. Please note: This is a reprint anthology.

I work on a tight deadline, and need to see work as early as possible.  With that in mind, the submission deadline for this year’s book is 1 October 2012. Anything sent after this deadline will reach me too late. If a magazine, anthology, or collection you are in or you edit is coming out before 31 December 2012 please send galleys or manuscripts so that I can consider the stories in time.

Where possible, I prefer to receive book-length submissions in print. Anything else can be sent to me via email. I prefer .rtf or .doc files. PDFs are acceptable, but are inconvenient. I strongly suggest that authors check with their publishers that they are sending review copies out to me, as I don’t have the resources to follow-up every publisher to get material.

When sending material please put “BEST SF/F of the Year” on the envelope.

Jonathan Strahan
PO Box 544
Mt Lawley WA 6929
Australia

Email submissions, recommendations, or information on publications can be sent to me via email at: jonathan.strahan (at) gmail (dot) com.

NOTE TO PUBLISHERS

I am eager to see and be able to consider the work you are publishing. If you are producing a magazine, a chapbook, a collection or anthology with any original stories in it please let me know. While I prefer not to accept email submissions for book length works as a rule, I am happy to talk to publishers about making exceptions where necessary. The important thing, for me, is to make sure that I get to consider the best science fiction and fantasy published during 2011.

* I do not need to receive manuscripts from authors of stories from venues that it’s likely I already receive regularly (I get Asimov’s, Analog, F&SF, Interzone, Postscripts etc, but not many of the smaller ‘zines and publications).

** If you are publishing online, please email me copies of your stories at (jonathan.strahan (at) gmail (dot) com). This is particularly important for stories published between October and December, which may otherwise be overlooked. I do not require print-outs of online publications (I regularly read Tor.com, IGMS, Strange Horizons, Clarkesworld, Fantasy, Apex etc online).

*** Please do not send an SASE. This is not a submission, and I’m unable to return manuscripts or respond directly to stories sent to me.