Haul of Books 2010: Stuff For Me v.18

Once again I have things that have arrived in my mailbox that I think you all might be interested in, not simply because some of the items listed below will become part of a giveaway I will be running soon. But you’ll just have to wait to find out about that.

Now for the image (after the fold, hopefully):

And now for the descriptions, from left to right, top to bottom:

1. Spectra Pulse Magazine, Fall 2008/Winter 2009, Issue No. 2 (2 copies; given to me by one of the makers)

The second and last issue of one of the best fan-oriented SF/F literature-based magazines contains an excerpt from Scott Lynch’s The Republic of Thieves, an original piece of short fiction by Kelley Armstrong, and a number of articles on the changing face of fantasy, Arthur C. Clarke, some must-read books, and much more. I loved the first issue, so I have no doubt that I’ll love this one too.

2. Spectra Pulse Magazine, Spring/Summer 2008, Premiere Issue (given to me by one of the makers)

The first issue of this magazine contains an exclusive excerpt from George R. R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons and articles on some forgotten science fiction novels, the progression of science fiction, and a lot of other fascinating stuff. As I mentioned above, I’ve already read this issue and it is quite good.

3. The Journal of Popular Culture, June 2010, Vol. 43, No. 3 (subscribed)

This issue contains articles on Eminem, fat culture, Hellboy, Right-wing blogging after 9/11, and intertextuality, ambiguity, and fear and loathing in the work of Hunter S. Thompson, among other subjects. I don’t think this issue has as many interesting things for me as the previous issue, but there might still be some good reading here regardless.

4. Interzone Magazine, #229, July-August 2010 (subscribed)

The latest issue of Interzone contains fiction by Paul Evanby, Antony Mann, Toby Litt, Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, and Richard Wagner, plus book and media reviews. As usual, I suspect that this issue will be quite good. I’ve yet to dislike an issue of Interzone. You should subscribe. Seriously. Do it.

5. The Journal of American Culture, June 2010, Vol. 33:2 (subscribed)

This issue contains articles on the Gettysburg ghost tours, the negotiations of love and work in Jayne Ann Krentz’s work, tuberculosis memoirs, Teddy Roosevelt and the golden age of children’s literature, coon songs and the performance of race, and more. There are also some book reviews buried in there somewhere. I don’t think this particular issue has much for me, except perhaps that article on coon songs (I study the “other” in science fiction, so it might provide some background). We’ll see.

6. Science Fiction Studies #111, Vol. 37, Part 2, July 2010 (subscribed)

The latest issue of Science Fiction Studies contains articles on defining science fiction, the death ray in history and science fiction, Gibson’s Neuromancer, and the imperial theme in early anglophone science fiction. There are also loads of book reviews and announcements. As usual, the issue looks interesting.

And that’s that. Hopefully some of these look interesting to you. If not, then that’s unfortunate.

Have you acquired anything of interest lately? Let me know in the comments.