A lot of people are giving Peter Watt’s new novel Blindsight the nod as best SF novel of 2006. I’ve not read it yet, but you can. It’s available under a Creative Commons license here for free. Go read it and, if you like it, pick up a dead-tree version for yourself or a friend.
Absence of whining…
I like a good blog post as much as the next person, which is why I’ve not been inflicting any of the one’s I’ve drafted over the past week or so on you to read. There are the whiney ones (I’m sick, I’m sick, I’ve got the flu/virus), the complaining ones (I’m too busy, too busy etc), the boring to anyone but me ones (my kids were so cute at their dance recital thing), and the possibly ill-advised ones (I’ve actually done a complete set of Coode Street Awards, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea), and so on.
So, what did I do instead? Memes. Pfeh on memes. I’ve sold two new books. This is cool. One is one that you expected, but I didn’t. After a very rocky genesis, I’m about to start sending out contracts for the fourth volume in the SF Book Club Best Short Novels anthology series. I’d really, really thought this one wasn’t going to happen, but it is, which is good. So, major thanks to Andy, Howard, and Sean for getting behind the book, and to Charles for his determination that it should happen.  The other book is also for Andy at the Book Club. I’m editing an anthology of six original science fiction novellas, tentatively called Godlike Machines, on the theme of ‘big dumb objects’. I think this one should be a lot of fun to do, and am about to send out invitations to writers. Should be fun. I’m also going to get clearance to announce the other project I’ve got going on. All good stuff.
Australia’s Favourite Album – The Top 100
A couple others, including Ben Peek, have ‘memed’ the ABC’s My Favourite Album. The usual drill is you bold it if you liked it, strikethrough if you hated it, and italic if you don’t care. I’ve judged these as albums, so if there’s only one or two good tracks on the album, I’m italicising it.
The Top 100
1–10
1. Pink Floyd — The Dark Side Of The Moon [First bought this at newsagent kiosk in 1975 on cassette. I’ve never completely ‘got’ it. I think you needed a quadrophonic stereo and bong to persuade yourself that it was intelligent]
2. Jeff Buckley — Grace [Whiney whining by a dead whiner. Pfeh]
3. Radiohead — Ok Computer [Whiney whining by a living whiner.]
4. The Beatles — Abbey Road [Some great tracks, but uneven.]
5. The Beatles — Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band [ibid. See the filler. If this had been recorded in 2000, it would have been a triple cd, with a novelty dvd and a game. Gah.]
6. Nirvana — Nevermind [I’m pretty much the wrong generation for this one. Still, it completely kicks. Written by a whiney whiner, it’s still spectacular rock/pop]
7. Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin 4 [Best heavy metal album ever.]
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers — Blood Sugar Sex Magik [This one made no impact at all. I remember “Under the Bridge”, but otherwise, pfeh].
9. Meat Loaf — Bat Out Of Hell [I bought this when I was thirteen years old. As kitch testerone fuelled teen rock opera, it was perfect. I think if I’d first heard it four or five years later it would have been unlistenable, but it’s on the other side of that critical divide. I don’t listen to it much, but I do like it.]
10. U2 — The Joshua Tree [They’re very serious, aren’t they? I mean, really? Thank goodness for the Pet Shop Boys]
Continue reading Australia’s Favourite Album – The Top 100
Virus
The story of this weekend has been the weird virus I’ve had. I’m all sore joints, aching muscles, headaches and such. Lots of fun. Apologies to one and all for emails not returned, phone calls not made etc. I’ll try to catch up soon-ish. I’ve read nothing this weekend, tried to watch a couple videos, but abandoned them both. Had a project fall through, which is mildly disappointing. It wasn’t a major one – just me helping with editing something – but it would have been nice. A couple others are moving towards announcement time, which is nice.
In amongst that, the cricket. The POMS have played much, much better. How will the Aussies turn this around. Punter, as always, is the key.
Music Meme at Eighteen
This one came from Nick Mamatas via Andy.
Instructions: Go to www.popCulturemadness.com and select the year you became 18. Paste the list of the top 75 songs. Bold the ones you liked; strike the ones you disliked; and italicize the ones you know but don’t exactly like nor dislike. The ones you don’t know will stay common text.
The year is 1982, and the greatest era in the history of the 7″ single has come to an end. I’ve stopped working in a record store and got a real job, and this is what there was to listen to:
1. Mickey – Toni Basil
2. Apache – Sugarhill Gang
3. Through The Years – Kenny Rogers
5. You Dropped A Bomb On Me – Gap Band 7. I’m So Excited – Pointer Sisters
6. Open Arms – Journey
9. Ribbon In The Sky – Stevie Wonder
10. On The Wings Of Love – Jeffrey Osborne 13. Hard To Say I’m Sorry – Chicago
11. Eye Of The Tiger – Survivor
12. 867-5309 (Jenny Jenny) – Tommy Tutone
14. State of Independence – Donna Summer 16. Rock This Town – Stray Cats
15. Tainted Love – Softcell
17. We Got The Beat – GoGos
18. One Hundred Ways – Quincy Jones and James Ingram 20. Who Can It Be Now – Men at Work
19. Get Down On it – Kool & the Gang
21. Turn Your Love Around – George Benson
22. Let It Whip – Dazz Band
23. Genius Of Love – Tom Tom Club
24. Everybody Wants You – Billy Squire
25. Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson
26. Planet Rock – Afrika Bambaataa
27. I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World – Ronnie Milsap
28. Up Where We Belong – Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
29. Under Pressure – Queen and David Bowie
30. Goobye To You – Scandal
31. Circles – Atlantic Starr
32. Memory – Barbra Streisand
33. Abacab – Genesis
34. Cool (Part 1) – The Time
35. Kids In America – Kim Wilde 39. Hot In The City – Billy Idol
36. Juke Box Hero – Foreignor
37. Gloria – Laura Branigan
38. I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
40. Shadows Of The Night – Pat Benatar
41. Murphy’s Law – Cheri 42. You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest
43. Jack and Diane – John Cougar (Melloncamp)
44. Leader Of The Band – Dan Fogelberg
45. Maneater – Hall and Oates
46. Workin’ For A Livin’ – Huey Lewis and the News
47. Working For The Weekend – Loverboy
48. Situation – Yaz
49. Truly – Lionel Richie
50. Mama Used To Say – Junior
51. Paperlate – Genesis
52. Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) – Elton John
53. Don’t You Want Me – Human League
54. I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
55. Vacation – GoGo’s
56. I Know What Boys Like – The Waitresses
57. I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) – Hall and Oates
58. Someday, Someway – Marshall Crenshaw
59. Going To A Go-Go – Rolling Stones
60. Love Plus One – Haircut One Hundred
61. Hurt So Good – John Cougar (Melloncamp)
62. Should I Stay Or Should I Go – The Clash
63. Waiting On A Friend – Rolling Stones
64. I Feel Like A Number – Bob Seger
65. I Ran (So Far Away) – A Flock Of Seagulls
66. The Message – Grandmaster Flash
67. Early In The Morning – Gap Band
68. Shakin’ – Eddie Money
69. Centerfold – J. Geils Band
70. Talk Talk – Talk talk
71. Leather and Lace – Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
72. I’ve Never Been To Me – Charlene
73. Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
74. Let Me Tickle Your Fancy – Jermaine Jackson (& Devo)
75. Abracadabra – Steve Miller Band