Uneven distribution

The future is not evenly distributed. I’m no longer surprised that when Gary Wolfe and I try to talk to people for the podcast they simply don’t have the internet connectivity to record as we usually do.

Landline recording is always a bit fiddly, and just became fiddlier because the Skype add-on (Call Recorder) I used for many years to record the podcast is not compatible with Macs using Apple silicon. Which means it’s lucky I haven’t re-homed the old MacBook yet, but this next episode (to a distant Welsh valley, I believe) will likely be one of the last to a landline.

First book of the year…

The Sinister Booksellers of BathGarth Nix’s 2021 novel The Left-Handed Booksellers of London was a delight in a challenging year, a compelling tale of mythic Britain filled with terrible danger and the intriguing magic of the eponymous  booksellers. Although it was far more than that, it felt like comfort food right when you needed it most.

This coming May Susan Arkshaw, Merlin, and the booksellers return in The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, this time for an adventure set in Bath that sees Susan (again) in great peril faced by mysterious machinations of the Ancient Sovereigns, and the growing pull of her own heritage. There’s magic, intrigue, lemon drizzle cake, and, just perhaps, hints of the next big change in Susan’s life.

I don’t know if there’ll be a next book in the series, but I hope so.

 

Episode 621: Coode Street’s Books for Look Forward to in 2023

To kick off 2023, Jonathan and Gary share their lists of the books that they’re looking forward to reading in 2023.

They mention a lot of forthcoming titles, ranging books from old masters like Peter S. Beagle, Howard Waldrop, Joanna Russ, Gene Wolfe, and Connie Willis to newer writers like Samit Basu, Vajra Chandrasekera, Alix E. Harrow, Emily Tesh, and Premee Mohamed, as well as essential collections from Kelly Link, E. Lily Yu, Joanna Russ, K.J. Parker, Sarah Pinsker, and others.

The team also cheerfully acknowledge that the year will undoubtedly present us with some complete surprises and that we will be reading fantastic work from authors we haven’t even heard of yet. The field seems as lively and promising as ever!

Pre-order links

Books mentioned in the podcast include:

Cusp of the weekend

I might need a haircut and look a million years old in this photo, and the chair I’m sitting on might be bloody uncomfortable, but it’s the weekend, so let’s have at it!

Today was spent working, editing (a novella called “On Clan Business”, trying to get some stuff finished, and mostly falling behind.  It was also, for a while, bloody hot. Then the wind turned, the westerlies came in, and it looks like it might be ok.

I did watch a bit of cricket and I do have a book I’m reading (which is good, given the past year where I doubt I finished an SF novel I started), so there’s that. But first, I might just edit one more story and then grab a whisky. That could work. Not too much, though. Got a board meeting at 7 am tomorrow.

At home

This morning feels like a million years ago. Had a fairly solid night’s sleep and woke around 5-ish. Daughter was awake so we went down to Mt Lawley to get the mail before home for me, at least to the day job. While daughter had issues with a film project that caused her great anxiety, I tried to work and focus, which was challenging. Was going to watch cricket after but rain delays in Sydney stopped that. And then the car had issues. Can’t close or lock the front door, so now waiting on repair folk. I am, as they say, getting too old for this shit.

In SF, very sadly got news that Suzy McKee Charnas died. I didn’t know her well, but she was smart and tough and funny and wrote wonderfully. She’ll be missed. I did get a contract for a book in the email, so I need to look at that. All in all, not an easy day, but probably one that won’t stand out in memory.

…unavoidable stuff from jonathan strahan…