April 2010

Another edition of the Haul of Books has arrived, featuring stuff I bought or received for myself! This particular edition is magazine-heavy, since I bought a whole bunch of magazines and what not some time back and have since received a few special copies of magazines in the last month or so. A lot of the stuff below might be unfamiliar to a lot of you, and that’s really unfortunate. GUD and Tales of the Unanticipated really are top notch venues that haven’t received nearly as much attention as they should. That’s enough from me. Here’s the image, followed by the descriptions:The descriptions are, from left to right, top to bottom (taken from Amazon or publisher websites): 1. Tales of the Unanticipated, Number 30 signed by Jason Sanford (won) Includes fiction by Eleanor Arnason, Stephen Dedman, Martha A. Hood, Patricia S. Bowne, Patricia Russo, William Mingin, Jason Sanford, Catherine Lundoff, Patricia Russo, Cornelius Fortune, Douglas J. Lane, T. J. Berg, Barbara Rosen, Terry Faust, Kurt Kirchmeier, Matthew S. Rotundo, and Sarah Totton; poetry by F. J. Bergmann, Ann K. Schwader, Ruth Berman, P M F Johnson, Ann Peters and Ellen Kuhfeld, Alexis Vergalla, G. O. Clark, KC Wilder, Zoë Gabriel, and Sandra Kasturi. Featuring the Art of Jules Hart. 2. Tales of the Unanticipated, Number 21: Ghosts and Machines Issue Our “Ghosts and Machines” issue, including fiction by Eleanor Arnason, Stephen Dedman, Martha A. Hood, Judy Klass, R. Neube, Fred Schepartz, Sandra Rector & P.M.F. Johnson, Manfred Gabriel, Naomi Kritzer, Kelly David McCullough, Robert H. Beer, Douglas M. Stokes, Steven E. Burt, and William Laughlin; and poetry by John Calvin Rezmerski and Ruth Berman. 3. Crossed Genres, Issue 12: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Issue – 10 diverse stories of queer characters– “Heinlein’s Friday: A Trans Novel?” by Cheryl Morgan– “Why Gay Sci Fi and Fantasy Is Important” by Lee Wind– Interview with author & outlaw Kate Bornstein– Astounding cover art by Julie Dillon– 7 pieces of creative art & comics by Megan Rose Gedris, David Willis, Michelle Gruben and Katoo Deziel 4. Tales of the Unanticipated, Number 18: Myths, Folk Tales, and Legends Issue Spring 1998. “Myths, Folk Tales, and Legends” issue, including Ursula K. Leguin interviewd; fiction by Neil Gaiman, Stephen Dedman, Martha A. Hood, Patricia Russo, Mark W. Tiedemann, Judy Klass, Gerard Daniel Houarner, and Amy Benesch; and poetry by John Calvin Rezmerski. 5. Greatest Common Denominator, Issue 4 (Spring 2009) (subscription) Issue 4 begins with the end of the world and moves on from there. From the unromantically magical take on Ragnarøk in the lead story “Unbound” to the curious history of squid in “A Man of Kiri Maru”, this issue is steeped in mythos, making use of the old familiar tales and some new ones, mixing cosmologies from around the world–and from other worlds as well. But the focus, be it of prose, poetry, or art, is always on the human–on the clashes between imagination and reality, on choices and redemption, on what the Other can tell us about ourselves. And like any GUD magazine, this one’s eclectic; browse around between the covers and you’re sure to come upon some things you’ll like, whether you’re a genre junkie or a generalist. We hope you’ll find some beauty, something uncommon, and that, for just a moment, the angle of the light will seem a little bit different. 6. Greatest Common Denominator, Issue 5 (Winter 2009) (subscription) Issue 5 wraps a scientific core with our most eclectic selection to date—including two mini graphic novels and a script that will have you bubbling over with mirth. We open with Rose Lemberg’s “Imperfect Verse”, a tale of poetry, deception, and warring gods; then span the years to Andrew N. Tisbert’s “Getting Yourself On”, which sees mankind taken to the stars but suffering new forms of wage-slavery. There’s science fiction that stretches to the fantastic, science that once stretched the fantastic and has now become brilliantly pervasive, and dollops of science in otherwise mundane lives (see “The Prettiest Crayon in the Box”). Of course, we’ve got fantasy, psychological horror, humor, and drama; poetry serious, sublime, and satirical; and art that stretches from the real, to the surreal, to the violently semi-abstract. 7. Electric Velocipede, Issue 15 & 16 (Winter 2008) Issue #15/16, our first double issue, 164 pages and almost 100,000 words of content! Featuring an amazing color wraparound cover from T. Davidsohn. There’s also fiction from people like Patrick O’Leary, Patricia Russo, William Shunn, Rachel Swirsky, and more. Lucius Shepard takes our Blindfold Taste Test this issue. The issue debuted at the 2008 World Fantasy Convention in Calgary, Oct 30 – Nov 2, 2008. 8. The Sense of Falling by Ezra Pines This is our first chapbook. Readers of the zine should already be familiar with Ezra Pines, particularly his Mr. Brain stories. Ezra is a curmudgeonly sort, and it shows in his writing. He also has an amazing imagination that can literally stun a reader. The chapbook features 10 previously published stories and two brand-new stories: “Antevellum,” a response to Hal Duncan’s excellent novel, Vellum, and “Of Light and Snow.” 9. Life’s Simple Pleasures by John Klima I don’t have a description for it, but the story inside can be found at Diet Soap. 10. Psychological Methods To Sell Should Be Destroyed Stoires by Robert Freeman Wexler “Psychological Methods To Sell Should Be Destroyed: Stories” by Robert Freeman Wexler. This is our third chapbook. Six stories in all, with a new novellette: “Sidewalk Factory: A Municipal Love Story.” Cover art by Tim Robinson. Introduction from Zoran Živković. 11. Gents by Warwick Collins (won) Ezekiel Murphy takes up a job as an attendant in a London lavatory. The other two attendants explain that they are under pressure from the council to reduce the amount of casual sex that goes on in the cubicles, but in doing so, they risk putting themselves out of a job as turnstile takings fall. 12. Subtropics, Number 2, Spring/Summer 2006 Fiction

After this post I will be all caught up on books for review, with only a few more to go to do the same for things I’ve bought or received for myself. The cool news about this particular edition is that I recently won a book that comes later in the series for one of the books below. I’m quite happy about that! But who wouldn’t be? People who don’t like books, that’s who. But we’re not going to talk about them on this blog anymore. They know who they are. Anywho, the four books below are from a lot of strange places (one from Tor, two from small presses, and one from a very unusual place indeed). I’m looking forward to reading most of these, and some I hope will provide some surprises. I’ll shut up now and give you the books:Here are the descriptions, from left to right, top to bottom (taken from Amazon.com): 1. The Silent Gift by Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley The 1930s were a decade of enormous uncertainty–for the world, for America, and in particular for one lonely, struggling mother and her disabled son. Their story is one of love and enormous sacrifices in the face of circumstances horrendous beyond belief. When her husband leaves her for someone whose time isn’t wrapped up in a silent, handicapped kid, Mary and little Jack are out on their own in a world that has no room for the poor and disabled. Especially not at a time when most Americans are simply trying to survive their economic woes and job losses. But then arrives The Gift…where has it come from, and why? How can a young boy who can neither hear nor speak provide comfort, direction, and sometimes challenges to seekers who learn of the special ability? Whatever the source, its presence brings a single shaft of light and hope to Mary and her beloved Jack. Will it be enough? (By the way, this is written by the son of the other Michael Landon, which is quite cool!) 2. The Sin of Addison Hall by Jeffrey A. Onorato Breaking the Mold of a Traditional Hero Results in a Gripping Tale of Fiction… First-time author soars with his spellbinding story of a man fighting with human nature… Residing in a country where beautiful people are considered superior, Addison Hall is an anomaly. A mildly repugnant man, he is forced by the twisted hierarchy of his dictator to live in less than adequate living situations. The days become increasingly arduous as he toils in an unpleasant job, stricken with the disappointment of his current situation. Besides the dark comedy of his disastrous attempts at romance and his friend s antics, Addison s life is fairly dull. Then he meets Otka, a beautiful woman who owns the local coffee shop. After witnessing a chance encounter where Addison risks his life to save the life of a dog, Otka takes an obvious interest in him. Addison is perplexed by her reciprocated intrigue. Past experiences with such a valued creature of the opposite sex has left him tainted and doubting her motives. Jeffrey Onorato sensationally draws us into his world of relatable characters and witty dialect. He victoriously shatters the conventions of the true-blue hero to create a story that has both depth and originality. The Sin of Addison Hall entrances the reader with delicious conflicts of human wanting and wavering uncertainty with an ending that will leave you begging for more. 3. The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan THEY KILLED THE KING. THEY PINNED IT ON TWO MEN. THEY CHOSE POORLYThere is no ancient evil to defeat, no orphan destined for greatness, just two guys in the wrong place at the wrong time. Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater make a profitable living carrying out dangerous assignments for conspiring nobles until they become the unwitting scapegoats in a plot to murder the king. Sentenced to death, they have only one way out…and so begins this epic tale of treachery and adventure, sword fighting and magic, myth and legend. 4. Secret of the Dragon by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman New gods are challenging the old high god, Torval, for rulership of the world. The only way to stop these brash interlopers lies with the five Bones of the Vektia Dragons—the five primal dragons hidden away by the dragon goddess, Vindrash, during the creation of the world. Without these dragons, one of the new gods, Aelon, cannot seize power. The only hope of the Vindrasi lies in finding the dragon bones before the followers of Aelon can use them to destroy the old gods. But the Vindrasi gods have a traitor in their midst… In the land of mortals, Raegar, a Vindraisi turned Aelon warrior-priest, searches for the spirit bones. The gods have a champion of their own—Skylan Ivorson, sea-raider and high chief of the Vindrasi clans, and sworn enemy to Raegar. But Skylan is a prisoner on his own ship. The ship’s dragon, Kahg, has vanished and some believe he is dead. Skylan and his people are taken as captives to Sinaria, where they must fight in a game known as the Para Dix. The fates of men and gods and are dragons are rushing headlong to destruction. Skylan can stop the calamity, but only if he discovers the secret of the dragon. So, any of these grab your interest?