Podcasts

Episode 167: On Hild, History, Genre and WFC

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This week our two commentators, emerging from the pall of jetlag and the reality of impending deadlines, turn their attentions to what is intrinsic to science fiction as a genre, what SF & fantasy has in common with historical fiction, the terrible burden of having to read lots of books, and Nicola Griffith’s acclaimed sixth novel Hild. 

There is also, towards the end of the episode, a brief discussion of issues related to this year’s World Fantasy Convention, which are outlined in greater depth and with more intelligence over at Cheryl Morgan’s blog.

We also want to remind listeners that we will be going on hiatus for four weeks, starting 14 December 2013 and returning 18 January 2014.

As always, we hope you enjoy the episode.

Science fiction

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

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I edit THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR anthology series for Solaris Books. The eighth volume in the series will be published in May 2014, and the ninth will appear in May 2015.
I am currently reading for the 2014 volume, which will cover stories first published between 1 January and 31 December 2014. 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 15 October 2014. 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 2014 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 ePub, .mobi, .rtf or .doc files. PDFs are acceptable but 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 2014.
* 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, Black Static, 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, Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, Nightmare, Apex, Beneath Ceaseless Skiess, Strange Horizons, Daily SF 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.
NOTE TO WRITERS
If I am considering your story for inclusion in THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR, I will be acquiring non-exclusive World anthology rights in English and foreign languages.
Science fiction

Mixed blessings

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Friday felt like the first real day here in London. I’d woken early and headed out for breakfast at a cafe on Marchmont Street. The area the hotel is in is quite close to the British Museum, so the plan was to have breakfast, see a few things, wait for the traveling companions to arise, and then experience London.

Because jet lag is a cruel mistress, G didn’t emerge till 11am and E till nearly 1pm. We ended up having lunch at a nearby pub (fairly appalling fish and chips), then strolled over to the BM for a long look at their Greek, Egyptian, and European collections, which were fairly breathtaking. We spent hours there, tried and failed to find stuff we needed to buy in the Museum Shop, and then headed off in search of a pub. We found one and the next hours disappeared in a series of pints, some terrific conversation, and then back to the hotel.

Today: Trafalgar Square, DN, and maybe Forbidden Planet.

Podcasts

Episode 165: Questions from the audience

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While our intrepid podcasters brave the wilds of London, a new episode for you (hopefully)! With no specific topic in mind, and having sent a greeting to Sleepless in Wagga, Gary and Jonathan answer questions:

  • from Guy in Toronto about single malt whisky;
  • from Fred in New Jersey on:
    • Clifford Simak. Cordwainer Smith. Fritz Leiber. Are they forgotten?;
    • Agents of SHIELD; and
    • making a pitch for a Greg Egan retrospective short story collection; and
  • from Michael about how crowd-funding has changed the anthology market.
All in all, thanks to the friends of the podcast, it made for an interesting and entertaining episode. We hope you enjoy it. We’ll be back soon!


Download the episode here.

…unavoidable stuff from jonathan strahan…