Fearsome Journeys is out in the world and I’d love to know what you think of it. As part of the publication of the book I’m doing a bit of blog tour and will be posting stuff here and there thanks to a number of extremely kind and generous bloggers.
First up, I’m over at Nerds of a Feather talking about fantasy, where I hopefully don’t make a complete ass of myself, and The G gives Fearsome Journeys itself a terrific review! I’ll more about the blog tour as it unfolds.
This week, following a failed attempt at Wiscon, the incredible M. Rickert and Christopher Barzak make the long Skype-complicated journey to the Gershwin Room to talk to Gary and Jonathan about Wiscon, fantasy, living in the Mid-West, tribalism, Christopher’s fantastic new collection Before and Afterlives,  and all sorts of other interesting things.  Mary also gave the Podcast a huge news scoop. She has sold her first novel, tentatively titled A Taste of Ash and Honey, to Source Books. It should be out in 2014, which is spectacularly exciting news. We can’t wait to read the book and to have her back when it comes out.
The first review of Fearsome Journeys is just in and it’s from Lois Tilton over at Locus: Online and it’s a pretty good one, and make special mention of K.J. Parker’s fabulous novelette “The Dragonslayer of Merebarton”. I love the story just as much as Lois does and am very excited that it’s also available as an audio podcast from Podcastle. Episode 262 of Podcastle is what looks like a terrific reading of the story by Daniel Foley. You can read a short excerpt of KJ’s “The Dragonslayer of Merebarton” there, and of course listen to the whole story. I think it makes for a great taster for the book as a whole!
Today is the birthday (well, publication day) for Fearsome Journeys, my thirty-sixth anthology and fifty-something or other editorial project. Each and every book is special, and this one has been a real joy for me. If you were to ask me to compare it to any of my other books, it’s probably most like Swords and Dark Magic, which I co-edited with my good friend Lou Anders a few years ago.
I celebrated the day by dropping in to Stefen’s Books here in Perth. By sheer chance (honest!) Stef had just put copies on the shelf, so I got to see it out in the world. Dave Cake and Adrian Bedford were there (I’ve known Dave for years, and met Adrian a few years ago in Canada, I think). Adrian graciously bought a copy and asked me to sign it, which I was delighted to do.
There’ll be more on the book here and elsewhere but for the moment I hope you can find it, and like it when you do! Also, if you do like it, tell me and the authors. I know they love to hear when their work is appreciated, and I think they all did a brilliant job.
With Gary just returned from Madiscon, Wisconsin, the glorious Concourse Hotel and the fun of Wiscon 37, where hotel wi-fi frustrated plans for live podcasting, he joined Jonathan in the Waldorf Room high above the Coode Street Motel Six to discuss the role of bookstores in helping readers to find unexpected, books we’ve not read (The Pride of Chanur and Downwards to the Earth!!), and lifetime achievement. With nominations closing in just days, they exhorted listeners to nominate for the 2o13 World Fantasy Awards (nomination ballot here), and made special mention of Mary Stewart and Susan Cooper as possible Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. As always, Gary and Jonathan hope you enjoy the podcast!