Slush Cupid
Pursuant to my previous post about slush readers:
Noctem Aeternus is still looking for HORROR readers.
Anyone who is interested should contact Kelly Green.Position has been filled!
Author Archive
Know You Compiles Marusek Stories
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!
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?
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 ChiangSHORT 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:
- 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.
- The Kevin N. Haw story is a new slush survivor.
- Heather Lindsley is the second F&SF publication of one of my slush survivors.
- I came up with the title for the Cowdrey story.
- And it’s got a Ted Chiang story in it, which doesn’t have anything to do with me, but it really, really rocks.
Beggar Confronts Culture Shock
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?
Offspring Concludes Fourlands
Jessica Wade New Editor at Roc
Yesterday, I posted about the Roc editor position being filled, along with an informed speculation about the identity of the new editor. Well, a Roc author confirmed to me today that the new editor is, in fact, Jessica Wade.
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?