This is the way it would be, if I could make it this way. This morning I woke a little early, checked the overnight cricket scores, and then decided to get some clerical work done. I’ve had some issues relating to The Starry Rift weighing on me for quite some time, but I got news in the morning email that the main problem had finally been overcome, so I dove into writing letters, drawing up cheques, addressing envelopes and so on. Then the girls got up and, because they were expecting a friend over for a playdate, I decided to bake them some fresh blueberry muffins. By the time they were out of the oven, I’d dealt with the morning email, then jumped into the shower. After that, into the car and down to sunny Mt Lawley. It’s a lovely fresh morning so, after mailing off the various Starry Rift documents, I decided to sit down with the laptop at a local cafe, get a little work done, and then head home. If I didn’t have a day job, this is how every day would be. In fact, if I can arrange it, it’s how I intend to spend a good part of my long service leave next year. For the moment though, I have some long overdue flap copy to finish, an editor bio to write and a few other things. It’s a nice way to spend the morning.
Locus reviews of The Best of the Year
Gary K. Wolfe reviewed The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 1 in the March issue of Locus. I was delighted with the long review and now, thanks to Gary and CHARLES, I’m able to post it here. Because it’s long, I’ve placed it on it’s own page. And, if you don’t already, consider subscribing to Locus. I know I’m biassed, but I think it’s a terrific magazine.
Today I baked a cake. I am rather insufferably pleased with myself. It’s Easter, and it’s an Easter cake. It looks to have come out just right, and all I have to do is decorate it and I’m done. Heh. Also made Easter muffins, with chocolate caramel egg centres. Also pretty pleased about that.
Booklist review The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year
Another cool review for The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, this time from Booklist, who say:
The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year #1. Strahan, Jonathan (editor).
Apr. 2007. 478p. Night Shade, paperback, $19.95 (9781597800686).
REVIEW. First published April 1, 2007 (Booklist).
This is an excellent sampling of some of the most interesting contemporary voices in sf and fantasy, including Neil Gaiman, Cory Doctorow, Kelly Link, and Paul Di Filippo, tackling a pleasingly wide range of subject matter. Jeffrey Ford’s “Night Whiskey” concerns the strange customs of a small town and the terrible things that sometimes come out of the unknown. Christopher Rowe’s “Another Word for Map Is Faith” concerns a future in which the faithful of Christendom traverse the earth, “correcting” geography to conform to the errors on maps. The volume closer, Ian McDonald’s “Djinn’s Wife,” is a lovely fairy tale of the future about a dancer who marries an AI; as the narrator observes, even if it doesn’t have a happy ending like a Bollywood movie, it has a happy enough ending. Editor Strahan has selected a lot of winning stories here, well worth revisiting, often more than once. – Regina Schroeder
This follows on the earlier review from PW, and a good Locus review. All in all, the book’s been very well recieved, and I’m delighted. Now I just need to get to work on Volume 2.
The New Space Opera
Late last year we began to discuss the cover options for The New Space Opera, the anthology that I’ve co-edited with Gardner Dozois for HarperCollins. Harper in the US were interested in using some very cool astronomical art, which would have been fine. But, around the same time I got a call from Stephanie Smith at HarperAustralia, who asked who they should use for the cover. I recommended Stephan Martiniere, who is probably the best big spaceship guy out there right now. Stephanie looked into it and said Stephan was going to do it, and then Harper in the US decided they’d use the same cover, which was great. I got a first look at Stephan’s remarkable artwork earlier this year, and at the US design a little while ago (see their design below). Here’s the Australian version, which I think totally rocks! Many thanks to Stephanie, who made it all happen, and to Stephan for doing such a great cover. I really could not be happier with it.