Sometimes things just leave you nonplussed. Pleased, but nonplussed. I was out browsing the web last week and saw that Asimov’s had posted Jim ‘Casey Kasem’ Kelly’s latest On the Net column, and that it was about blogs. In amongst the article, Jim names his top 40 blogs based on the criteria that ‘the posts be interesting, regularly updated and touch on genre, at least occasionally’. I was flattered, grateful, and more than a little surprised to see this blog on the list. It weas coo- … Um, very pleasing and rewarding.

I’ve edited a quarterly semiprozine, a one-shot critical ‘zine, some convention/conference materials, and nine reprint anthologies over the past ten years or so. They all have there own pitfalls and rewards, and I’ve enjoyed doing them. Currently, though, I’m working on my first ever, solo original anthology. It’s an exciting idea and I love the project, but until the last few days I’ve been feeling a tad stressed because I’ve not actually received any submissions and the book is due in mid-year.

As you can imagine, I’ve been very happy and more than a little relieved, to see the first submissions trickle in, and they’re good. If (if!) things hold steady, this is going to be a wonderful book.

The final Locus Recommended Reading List for 2004 is now available online at Locus: Online. Working on the annual list is a major job that I get to work on each year, and it’s a real highlight. Books are set aside throughout the year, stories are noted and so on, and then things go crazy sometime in September. Draft lists get prepared, essays are requested, correspondence with editors, writers, critics and so on begins. Throughout September, October, November and into December lists are updated, revised and such, and then Charles gets on a plane. During the week around New Year’s he flies out to Australia and we sit in air-conditioned luxury at his hotel and begin sorting through lists, recommendations etc. and work towards the final, final lists. This year I think it took two or three recommendations minimum from Locus reviewers, critics etc to get on the list, and in some short fiction categories it took three and even four recommendations to make it.

And, for any potential flaws the list may have, I’m pretty proud of it. It’s a very honest list. I know there’s no trickery or flim-flammery. I’ll be very interested to see what everyone thinks of it. You can see it here. I should also mention that the annual Locus Poll and Survey is online too. Please, please fill it out. Especially the question about the best fantasy short stories of all time.

Chris Rowe reports that Science Fiction: Best of 2004 and Fantasy: Best of 2004 are on sale at the Lexington, Kentucky branch of Borders. I’m yet to see the books myself, and it is a bit far to travel to pick up copies, but I’m happy to hear that they’re out there. Maybe my copies are on their way…

I am not indefatigable…which is rather disappointing really.