Archive for July, 2007

Trivium & Protest the Hero

I was just discussing music with Paul Tremblay via email, and I noticed that Trivium has their instrumental nigh-masterpiece The Crusade up on their MySpace page. I demand you go listen to it. Look, it’s instrumental, okay? There’s no screaming vocals, just blistering, bad-ass guitar work.

Also, while you’re at it, check out the video for “Heretics & Killers” by Protest the Hero. It’s bizarre–it’s got the band dressed up as the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz, but they’re all in the real world and out of work. It really must be seen. Now, I’ll warn you all with delicate auditory sensibilities: They’re not nearly as accessible as the instrumental Trivium track, though they’ve also got some blistering, bad-ass guitar work.

Protest the Hero‘s rapidly becoming my favorite band, despite their limited amount of output thus far in their young careers. They seem to pilfer the conventions of various metal and punk subgenres, which when combined together form a unique sound. The instrumentation is complex, and so are the lyrics. Check out what it says about their album Kezia on Wikipedia:

Kezia is a “situationist requiem”, similar to a concept album in that it tells a story. It is an elegy of a young woman named Kezia, the supposed savior of mankind, and her execution that is thought to be able to save mankind from its poverty, after the killing of God. The story is chronicled in the perspective of three characters: The Prison Priest, The Prison Guard/Gunman, and Kezia herself. Each character is designated a section containing three songs, with a single retrospective finale concluding the album. The three characters represent an aspect of the bandmembers themselves, endowing artistic fingerprints to a deeply personal album.

Check out the lyrics too; they’re wild.

Incidentally, if anyone knows how to get a hold of PTH’s Search for Truth album, or any of the other songs listed under “other songs” on that lyrics page, let me know!

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Slush Reader Job Openings

When asked for advice, I always tell writers that one of the best things they can do is read lots of slush. Well, I just told this to someone recently, and he reasonably asked: Do you know of anyone who needs a slush reader? As it happens, I don’t, but perhaps someone out there does.

So how about it? Does anyone have need of a slush reader?

UPDATE: Actually, if you’re interested in *becoming* a slush reader, feel free to comment or email me also. I’ll play Slush Cupid for all, since I am kind of doing that anyway.

UPDATE 2: Okay, so it seems like I’m just making myself kind of a middleman here, receiving emails which I then forward to interested parties. How about I just post a note for whatever magazines are looking for readers? That way anyone who’s interested can contact them directly. I mean, unless I know you personally, what’s the point of involving me in this process? I’m happy to play Slush Cupid, but that’s probably more easily accomplished by just posting a notice about the open positions, wouldn’t you all agree?

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F&SF: September 2007

We got the first batch of the September 2007 issue of F&SF at the office the other day, which contains:

NOVELETS

Wrong Number by Alexander Jablokov

Episode Seven: Last Stand Against the Pack in the Kingdom of the Purple Flowers by John Langan

The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate by Ted Chiang

SHORT STORIES

Envoy Extraordinary by Albert E. Cowdrey

Atalanta Loses at the Interpantheonic Trivia Bee by Heather Lindsley

Requirements for the Mythology Merit Badge by Kevin N. Haw

If We Can Save Just One Child by Robert Reed 

It’s kind of a special issue for me in a couple of ways:

  1. The John Langan story (which I’m reprinting in Wastelands) thanks me at the end, because Langan was inspired to write it for the original post-apocalyptic anthology I’d been trying to sell; also, Gordon mentions me and Wastelands in the header note.
  2. The Kevin N. Haw story is a new slush survivor.
  3. Heather Lindsley is the second F&SF publication of one of my slush survivors.
  4. I came up with the title for the Cowdrey story.
  5. And it’s got a Ted Chiang story in it, which doesn’t have anything to do with me, but it really, really rocks.

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Beggar Confronts Culture Shock

July 12 —

SF author Susan Palwick, whose novel The Necessary Beggar is a finalist for this year’s Mythopoeic Awards, told SCI FI Wire that is about a family from another dimension who are sent into exile after one of their members is convicted of a crime.

More …

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Wil Wheaton on the Apocalypse

Wil Wheaton has an interesting article up at Suicide Girls about post-apocalyptic SF (and zombies). Some discussion spills over onto his blog too.

Since I’m the editor of such a book, I mentioned that it might be something he’d enjoy (and offered to send him an advanced copy when they’re ready). He wrote back right away expressing an interest in seeing it and gave me an address to send it to.

You know, there’s just something surreal about getting an email from someone you’ve seen on television. What’s the most surreal experience you’ve ever had when meeting someone famous?

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Ace/Roc Senior Editor Position Filled

My friend Alyssa Smith, who was up for the open Ace/Roc senior editor position, is reporting that the position has been filled (and not by her):

The job has been filled; I received a message from Susan this afternoon letting me know that they’ve chosen to downgrade the position a bit and promote internally.

Alyssa speculates that the position has been filled by the former assistant, Jessica Wade. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

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A Much-Less Delayed Than Usual Con Report: Readercon ’07

So, back from Readercon. Had a lovely time. Saw lots of old friends. Met lots of new ones. Avoided running into enemies, but possibly made some new ones. Did typical con activities. Some highlights:

  • Attended first Kaffeklatch. Was disappointed that there was no Kaffee.
  • Prior to hosting first Kaffeklatch, dubbed it “Klatch of the Titans,” then retitled it “Klatch of the Titan,” since there was only one of me.
  • Hosted first Kaffeklatch. Infuriated that there was no fucking Kaffee.
  • Took Kaffeeklatch attendees to dinner at Korean BBQ place due to extreme lack of Kaffee and extreme desire for food
  • Discovered Kaffee in Con Suite and Green Room. Felt better.

And here are some non-Kaffee-related highlights:

  • Saw with my own eyes, and touched with my own hand, the fabulous, the spiffy, the astounding Kowal Portable Typewriter and Adding Machine, which I’d previously seen on Mary Robinette Kowal’s blog (and subsequently on Boing-Boing)
  • Chatting with Wastelands‘ publisher Jason Williams
  • Listening to Gary K. Wolfe of Locus discuss the interesting life of Cordwainer Smith
  • Dinner with Sean Wallace and Stephen Segal of Wildside Press/Prime Books at a restaurant with an animatronic moose
  • Having Elizabeth Bear write me a rejection haiku on her autographing name tent, in essence creating for me a 1 of 1 limited edition poetry chapbook
    • The haiku, “Slush Haiku in the Style of JJA,” reads: Thank you for your submission / But I am afraid / Your story “did not grab me.”
  • The phrase (spoken with orgasmic glee): “Oh, Mr. Gernsback!”
  • The Traveler Book Restaurant, where I got not only free books, but also some kick-ass pizza as well
  • Getting a review copy of RADIO FREEFALL by Matt Jarpe hand-delivered
  • Hanging out in the bar with Paolo Bacigalupi and others

No doubt there were many more excellent things that happened, and apologies here if I didn’t drop your name, but it’s getting late and I have to work tomorrow. Can’t be falling asleep when I’m supposed to be reading slush.

Oh, and one other thing: At the con, I also llearned that I can now announce that I’ll be editing an original SF anthology for Prime. More details on that soon!

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