Day: February 22, 2011

People send me books! I tell you about them. It’s a pretty good deal for me. Here’s some of what’s come by recently:

* The King of the Elves, Philip K. Dick (Subterranean Press): You’ve heard of this guy, right? (The answer is “yes” even if you think you haven’t, by the way.) This collection of his work includes 22 stories and novellas including Dick’s first published story, “Beyond Lies the Wub.” For PKD collectors and those who wonder what the fuss is for this guy. Out now.

* Leviathans of Jupiter, Ben Bova (Tor Books): This sequel to Bova’s Jupiter has our heroes looking for the giant, mysterious creatures in the planet’s oceans — but there are those who are hoping for their failure. Why can’t everyone just get along? Oh, right — because conflict is fun! This is also out now.

* The Cloud Roads, Martha Wells (Night Shade Books): A lonely shape-shifter who can fly finally meets more of his kind, and discovers that joining their community has repercussions he did not expect. Amazon says this is out now, and Wells be along in a couple of weeks to talk about her book here at The Big Idea.

* Revolution World, Katy Stauber (Night Shade Books): It’s a tale of the love between a computer programmer and a genetic engineer, where one thing leads to another and the next thing you know, Texas has declared independence. Well, that was only a matter of time, was it? This is out March 1.

* Thirteen Years Later, Jasper Kent (Pyr): The sequel to Kent’s Twelve, which took place in the Russia of 1812, takes place — anyone? anyone? — thirteen years later. That would be in 1825, for those of you flummoxed by numbers. Hey, I know how it is, they get the best of me to. Also, for those of you who are wondering, yes, it’s a historical novel… with vampires. Who do not sparkle. Russia really does seem congenial territory for vampires. Who do not sparkle. Out now.

* Graveminder, Melissa Marr (William Morrow): YA author Marr tries out the adult market with this gothic tale of families, ghosts and, of course, evil. But if you’re a Marr fan you have a bit to wait — it’s not out until May 17.

* The Boy at the End of the World, Greg van Eekhout (Bloomsbury): This is also a book I got long before its pub date — this is for June — but I think it’s worth noting that when it showed up in my mail, it was one of those books I went “Ooooooh, coooool” about. And, you know. When that happens, you gotta talk about it.

* Above/Below, Stephanie Campisi and Ben Peek (Twelfth Planet Press): Twelfth Planet continues to press the nerd pleasure centers of my brain with their packaging of two tales in a single volume in classic “Ace Double” style. These two stories, about the cities of Loft and Dirt, also interrelate with each other in interesting ways, so there’s that as well. Fun concepts. This is out now.

So, I have some things I want to draw attention to at the moment, promotion-wise, and as long as I’m doing that I’m going to go ahead and open up a promotion thread for everyone else, too, in which you can talk about cool things you or others are doing. But me first. Here’s what I’ve got:

1. Some of you might remember that about a year ago I was profiled for a Geek a Week card, by artist Len Peralta. Some of you wondered if the cards would ever be available in real life. The answer is yes! Think Geek has compiled the first eight cards into an actual, real world trading card pack, with cards you can touch, smell, fling across the room like ninja stars and even put into the spokes of your Huffy, if you want.

In addition for this cool thing for yourself, Len and Think Geek have also put together a very cool set of eBay charity auctions featuring stuff from folks profiled in Geek a Week cards. The proceeds from these auctions will be split between the Child’s Play, which gives toys and games to children in hospitals, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The auctions are here, and include the first Geek a Week packs with each card signed by its subject, including me.

2. Speaking of charitable auctions, my friend Kate Nepveu reminds me that the Con or Bust auctions are now up and running, with cool auctions by science fiction and fantasy authors and fans to support Con or Bust, which helps folks of color get to science fiction and fantasy conventions and build diversity in our little community. Check out the auctions and make a bid if there’s something you like in there. Also, here’s more information if there’s something you would like to offer for auction.

3. My friend and former editor Joe Rybicki has an alternate identity as Johnny High Ground, who is a purveyor of fine musical products. And he’s got another fine musical product for you, specifically a 3-track EP named lorem ipsum (you can tell he was an editor now, can’t you), each track featuring acoustic guitar and some very fine lyrics. Check him out on Bandcamp and iTunes, and if you like what you hear, make that download for under $3.

There, I’m done for now. Now it’s your turn — in the comment thread below, tell folks about something you want to promote. It can be something you’re doing, something someone you know is doing, or even just something you know about that you think is cool. Note that if you do more than a couple of links in a comment, you might get the message punted into the moderation queue. I’ll be checking that queue from time to time today to release those messages, so don’t panic if it doesn’t immediately post. I recommend one link per comment, and making more than one comment if you have more than one thing to promote.

So: What cool thing do you want to share with the rest of the class?

Here’s our official press release. Feel free to post it and otherwise share it.

SFWA Announces 2010 Nebula Awards Nominees

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
P.O. Box 877
Chestertown, MD 21620-0877 

http://www.sfwa.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2011

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America is proud to announce the nominees for the 2010 Nebula Awards.

The Nebula Awards are voted on, and presented by, active members of SFWA. The awards will be announced at the Nebula Awards Banquet (http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-weekend/) on Saturday evening, May 21, 2011 in the Washington Hilton, in Washington, D.C. Other awards to be presented are the Andre Norton Award for Excellence in Science Fiction or Fantasy for Young Adults, the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation and the Solstice Award for outstanding contribution to the field.
Short Story

• ‘‘Arvies’’, Adam-Troy Castro (Lightspeed Magazine 8/10)
• ‘‘How Interesting: A Tiny Man’’, Harlan Ellison® (Realms of Fantasy 2/10)
• ‘‘Ponies’’, Kij Johnson (Tor.com 1/17/10)
• ‘‘I’m Alive, I Love You, I’ll See You in Reno’’, Vylar Kaftan (Lightspeed Magazine 6/10)
• ‘‘The Green Book’’, Amal El-Mohtar (Apex Magazine 11/1/10)
• ‘‘Ghosts of New York’’, Jennifer Pelland (Dark Faith)
• ‘‘Conditional Love’’, Felicity Shoulders (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine 1/10)

Novelette

• ‘‘Map of Seventeen’’, Christopher Barzak (The Beastly Bride)
• ‘‘The Jaguar House, in Shadow’’, Aliette de Bodard (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine 7/10)
• ‘‘The Fortuitous Meeting of Gerard van Oost and Oludara’’, Christopher Kastensmidt (Realms of Fantasy 4/10)
• “Plus or Minus’’, James Patrick Kelly (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine12/10)
• ‘‘Pishaach’’, Shweta Narayan (The Beastly Bride)
• ‘‘That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made’’, Eric James Stone (Analog Science Fiction and Fact 9/10)
• ‘‘Stone Wall Truth’’, Caroline M. Yoachim (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine 2/10)

Novella

• The Alchemist, Paolo Bacigalupi (Audible; Subterranean)
• ‘‘Iron Shoes’’, J. Kathleen Cheney (Alembical 2)
• The Lifecycle of Software Objects, Ted Chiang (Subterranean)
• ‘‘The Sultan of the Clouds’’, Geoffrey A. Landis (Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine 9/10)
• ‘‘Ghosts Doing the Orange Dance’’, Paul Park (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction 1-2/10)
• ‘‘The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen’s Window’’, Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Magazine Summer ’10)

Novel

• The Native Star, M.K. Hobson (Spectra)
• The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit UK; Orbit US)
• Shades of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• Echo, Jack McDevitt (Ace)
• Who Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor (DAW)
• Blackout/All Clear, Connie Willis (Spectra)

The Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

• Despicable Me, Pierre Coffin & Chris Renaud (directors), Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul (screenplay), Sergio Pablos (story) (Illumination Entertainment)
• Doctor Who: ‘‘Vincent and the Doctor’’, Richard Curtis (writer), Jonny Campbell (director)
• How to Train Your Dragon, Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders (directors), William Davies, Dean DeBlois, & Chris Sanders (screenplay) (DreamWorks Animation)
• Inception, Christopher Nolan (director), Christopher Nolan (screenplay) (Warner)
• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Edgar Wright (director), Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright (screenplay) (Universal)
• Toy Story 3, Lee Unkrich (director), Michael Arndt (screenplay), John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, & Lee Unkrich (story) (Pixar/Disney)

Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy

• Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi (Little, Brown)
• White Cat, Holly Black (McElderry)
• Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press; Scholastic UK)
• Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword, Barry Deutsch (Amulet)
• The Boy from Ilysies, Pearl North (Tor Teen)
• I Shall Wear Midnight, Terry Pratchett (Gollancz; Harper)
• A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner (Greenwillow)
• Behemoth, Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse; Simon & Schuster UK)

For more information, visit http://www.sfwa.org/
Postal queries to: P.O. Box 877, Chestertown, MD 21620-0877

About SFWA

Founded in 1965 by the late Damon Knight, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America brings together the most successful and daring writers of speculative fiction throughout the world.

Since its inception, SFWA® has grown in numbers and influence until it is now widely recognized as one of the most effective non-profit writers’ organizations in existence, boasting a membership of approximately 1,800 science fiction and fantasy writers as well as artists, editors and allied professionals.  Each year the organization presents the prestigious Nebula Awards® for the year’s best literary and dramatic works of speculative fiction.