This week award-winning authors and celebrated anthologists James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel join Gary and I to discuss their upcoming anthology Digital Rapture, their anthology work generally, and whether science fiction has a mission! As always, we hope you enjoy the podcast.
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One of the most interesting and rewarding books I’ve read in 2012, G. Willow Wilson’s debut novel Alif the Unseen is ostensibly a contemporary young adult fantasy novel about a dissident computer hacker set in an unspecified Arabic country at a time of rising civil unrest. The book has a lot to recommend it – engaging characters, a fast-paced narrative and so on – but what makes it most interesting is the way it interrogates the boundaries between science fiction and fantasy, between what secular and religious worldviews, and about the role of women in traditional societies. That a book focussed on dissent and revolution is so respectful of traditional religious perspectives is a significant strength of the book. Highly recommended.
Note: Check out this review of the book by James Bradley ( http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/b…)
Jeff on editors, influence and power
I’m not especially given to shouting out “me too” or piling in to agree on things, but that’s how I felt when reading Jeff VanderMeer’s post on “Editors, influence and you“. Folllowing on from an SF Signal podcast and discussion of recent events at Readercon, Jeff addresses the issue of editors, the influence they can have on your career as a writer, and harrassment.
I can only say read it. I agree pretty much wholeheartedly. Realistically, no single editor can influence a writer’s career significantly. Any editor who tries to suggest otherwise is either being foolish or a creep. Anyone who tries to trade on that impression in any way (especially physically) is contemptible, damages every editor when he or she does so, and deserves to be ejected from our community for such actions (the punch in the face Jeff suggests would also be appropriate).
I also agree about the editor/writer power balance comments Jeff makes. I still very much feel like the newbie I was 20 years ago, and am always surprised and taken aback when I hear people don’t see me that way. It is something I try more and more to be aware of and to manage as best I can, but it does turn people like me into old farts, and I’m already far too far down that path to need any help so I’d ask anyone I meet to remember I’m just some guy and not to take me too seriously.
Episode 112: Live with Gary K. Wolfe and Genevieve Valentine!
And this week the wonderful Genevieve Valentine joins us in the Waldorf Room to discuss Readercon and harrassment at conventions, steampunk, dystopias and After and the recently released World Fantasy Awards ballot. As always, we hope you enjoy the podcast!
Episode 111: Live with Gary K. Wolfe
Once again Gary and Jonathan ascend to the Waldorf Room high above the Coode St Motel Six, to find there’s not all that much happening in SF right now (where IS that World Fantasy Awards ballot?), and so they discuss books to give to people who are interesting in reading SF for the first time and a possible Coode St Award.