I was browsing the Night Shade site this morning and stumbled over this.  It seems to be the cover for The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume Five, though I’ve not confirmed that. You can pre-order the book, though.

It’s Sunday morning here in Perth. We awoke at 6.30am – traditionally, I know, a fine time to be rising on a Sunday – to discover the power was out (I almost refrain from typing again) and so were briefly forced to depend upon one another’s company.  Happily the power was up again after only a short time, so we could turn again to our electronic distractions.

Saturday was an annoying day. We’re going through assorted variations on rebelliousness and difficulties with young ladies of a certain age, so what could have been a simple, enjoyable day became much more stressful than it needed to be. Such, is a parenthood.

I podcasted with Gary early, before heading out for lunch at an old haunt of Marianne’s and mine, That Food Co in Bayswater.  The weather was warm and humid, making it less than ideal, and the cafe was warmer and stickier. We had a frankly ordinary meal, before heading out to the Margaret River Chocolate Co. This should have proven more successful than it did. After that we picked up some groceries and a movie for Family Movie Night.

I had intended to spend time reading, if I could. Instead I bounced around, not really reading anything. This seems to be the mode I’m in right now. I did spend a little time skyping with my sister in Melbourne, which was good. We then had dinner, watched a fairly awful Eddie Murphy comedy, and the day came to a close.

Today is Sophie’s school fair. It should be fun. I need to do some work before heading out around noon, but if the power stays on that should be fine.

…there’s this, possibly the strangest, most brilliant mashup I’ve yet seen:

I was looking for something to post this morning and wanted something that wouldn’t sound too melancholy, so I thought I’d look through the backpages of this blog and see what I’d been saying and/or doing on (or as close as possible to) November 19 in previous years. This is what I found:

• In 2009, I posted my first and only blog post at Tor.com;
• In 2008, I delivered The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Vol. 3 to Night Shade;
• In 2007, I was working on the Locus recommended reading list and my mother was in hospital with heart trouble. I also was expressing my doubts about the 1st release of the Kindle. Hm. I might have been wrong about that (looks at own Kindle);
• In 2006, I was asking why the heck Microsoft called it the Zune, and expressed optimism about new books from Greg Egan and William Gibson;
• In 2005, I was reading reviews of the now sadly defunct Best Short Novels series, working on the 2006 volume, and pondering Bruce Holland Rogers email subscription service for his short stories; and
• In 2004, I was bothered about how anthologies should or shouldn’t be structured and being dismayed at the then new Australian government’s social policies.

Two things struck me re-reading those blog posts: I always seemed busy and I rarely seemed happy. I wonder if that’s telling.

Well, thanks to some hard work, fast footwork and the tireless efforts of my wife and sometime co-editor Marianne Jablon, The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year: Volume 5 has been delivered to Night Shade Books about nineteen days early, and just thirteen days after I was asked if I could be sure to get it in on time. Done!

There is, of course, a lot still to be done. There’s copyedits to get through, a cover, and we’re still nailing down permissions (we have emailed agreements, but I won’t really rest easy till we have the signed permissions themselves), so respite but no rest for a few weeks.

I will, once all of the permissions are nailed down, post the table of contents for the book here. I’m really quite happy with it.