Speculative Fiction 2014: Announcement and Call for Submissions!
Update: Submissions will close at 12 PM EST on January 2nd, 2015. Get those submissions in ASAP! Update 2: A previous version of this article did not include a notice about payment for selected works. That has been corrected below. Speculative Fiction: The Best Online Reviews, Essays and Commentary is an anthology that celebrates online science fiction and fantasy non-fiction and its influence on the community. Each year, a collection of the anthology will be curated by rotating editors. Last year, Ana and Thea from The Book Smugglers created Speculative Fiction 2013. This year, we’re pleased to say that we — me and Renay from Lady Business — will be editors of Speculative Fiction 2014. The first volume of Speculative Fiction, released in 2012, collected 52 pieces from authors, bloggers, and critics. The second volume, Speculative Fiction 2013, collects 53 pieces and will be released in April 2014 (details coming soon). All profits from the sales of Speculative Fiction will be donated to Room to Read. Each edition is published by Jurassic London, a small press run by Jared Shurin. The 2013 edition contains an afterword written by us, which explains what we will be looking for as the conversation surrounding sf/f continues throughout 2014. As we edit, we will follow those stated guidelines: We will continue the work of previous editors in finding symmetry between long term, ongoing debates and original discussions spurred by new developments in genre culture, both in creative content and fan response. We will embrace the rich diversity of voices both from within SF fandom and beyond, with the recognition that important genre conversations are happening outside standard literary SF community culture and its platforms. We will do our best to strive for parity in gender, sexuality, race, and nationality in recognition that as a fandom, SF is stronger when it includes the perspectives that may lie outside U.S. and U.K. cultural narratives. With our goals in mind, we’re happy to announce that we’re open for submissions! Send us the best reviews, commentaries, and other non-fiction works using this form. What we’re looking for in 2014: We’re looking for non-fiction reviews, essays, and criticism (“works”) with speculative fiction at their core. This can include science fiction, fantasy, horror, and topics that fall under or align with those topics. We welcome works about all forms of media, including but not limited to: books; film; television; all forms of games from tabletop to games next-gen consoles; and comics and manga. The work must have a publication date between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Anyone is eligible for inclusion: authors, fans, bloggers, critics who blog, bloggers who are authors, etc.), and all identifications are welcome, from full legal names to fannish pseudonyms. Everyone is welcome to submit any link they find interesting even if they are not the author. There is no limit on nominations. If you see five relevant posts, we’ll take them! If you see 50, we’ll take those, too. We’re aiming for pieces between 800 – 1500 words, but longer pieces are absolutely welcome. Payment is $0.01 a word (up to $10) for non-exclusive reprint rights. Submitted works can be from anywhere in the world, although we do need an English translation for consideration. SPECIAL NOTE: we are very interested in receiving commentary on speculative fiction from the young adult community, media fandom (mainstream film/television), academia, and nonwestern fandoms, such as anime/manga, as well as content on a wide array of platforms, including tumblr and other nontraditional writing spaces. And there you have it. Submit away!
I’m a Hugo Award Nominee — Holy Moly on a Stick!
If you didn’t know already, then you’re probably living in a hole, don’t know what a Hugo Award is, or don’t care. Or maybe you’re secretly plotting to keep me forever in obscurity. *glare* In any case, my podcast, The Skiffy and Fanty Show, is a finalist for the 2014 Hugo Awards in the Best Fancast category. We’re up there with a bunch of other amazing podcasts, too; there’s something really cool about being in a category with Galactic Suburbia, The Writer and the Critic, and The Coode Street Podcast. Heck, even SF Signal, who is the big boy (or girl) in town, is worthy of admiration for being a powerhouse in the sf/f podcast field. Plus, there’s Verity Podcast (Doctor Who FTW!) and Emma Newman’s adorable Tea & Jeopardy. If this isn’t a varied list of cool podcasts, I don’t know what is! So my name is among a sea of wonderful names. My crew is among a sea of wonderful crews. My podcast is among a sea of wonderful podcasts. It’s a good day. And, indeed, that’s all this post is about: celebrating the awesomeness that is this whole ordeal. I don’t know if I’ll win, and in a lot of ways, I kind of don’t care. Obviously, I want to win, but I never thought I’d sit here and write this sentence and think “yeah, I really do feel deeply honored that I got nominated and get to see this thing I’ve spent so much time on among a host of amazing shows that have worked hard to be where they are too…and even if I don’t win, I’m still going to feel great.” But I really feel that way right now. It feels amazing. I’ve never been nominated for anything important. Hell, when I played baseball in my youth, I was the kid you’d give that silly participation trophy to because I couldn’t play worth a damn (though I had the lowest strikeout record in my last season because I was so short and hardly anyone could pitch within my strike zone — I wear that with pride). But now I’m a Hugo nominee! That’s not a participation award. That’s a “people like what you do and voted for you” plaque. I may not win, but I’ll get to wear my little Hugo pin like a badge of friggin honor. And you better believe I’m going to wear that thing everywhere. Cue transition to new thing…. And that brings me to the very important fact that I’m still trying to raise funds to attend Worldcon. Now, I have a new reason: to attend the Hugo ceremonies! Right now, I need to make enough to pay for the plane ticket this month. The food and (now new) hotel expenses can come later. But it does mean I really really really need help. As of this post, I’m about $600 short of the amount I need for the plane ticket.* If you’ve got $10 to spare, please consider donating. It would help me out a lot, but it would also help The Skiffy and Fanty Show do a lot of wonderful things at Worldcon, including attending the Hugo Award ceremonies.** And on that note, I’m going to go for a walk and grin like a fool all day! ——————————- *Pretty sure I can get a ticket for between $1250 and $1400 right now, but that will change after April, I imagine. **Also on the docket: lots of interviews with international authors and a few walk-by sessions! P.S.: I’ll have another post about the awards later. Right now, I’m riding the happy.
Fundraiser Updatery: 18 Days and Counting…
There are 18 days left in my Worldcon fundraiser for The Skiffy and Fanty Show. And I’m $1552 short. That’s a lot to make up in less than a month, but it’s still doable. $87 a day will do it! But that means I really need everyone’s help on this. A *lot* of help. And on that subject, I want to thank all the folks who have helped out thus far: Fred Kiesche Scott Pohlenz Matthew Sheahan Louise Lowenspets (there are two dots on the last “o,” but I can’t figure out how to put it in there on my tablet — sorry 🙁 ) Andrew Liptak Stina Leicht Maureen Kincaid Speller John Pitts Linda Nagata Mike Martinez Fabio Fernandes Rachael Acks David Annandale Sue Armitage Joe Monti Catherine Hill Amy Fredericks Note: I have only listed donations that were made public. I would also like to thank all the folks who didn’t want to be named. You are equally as awesome for every little bit you’ve given me for this. Note 2: I also want to say an enormous thank you to Myke Cole, who offered to share his hotel room at Worldcon with me free of charge. It’s people like Myke and the folks above (and the unlisted folks) who make this community so wonderful: giving up money or things or whatever to help someone out. And that’s not just for me. This community has helped all kinds of people. It’s a great thing. As of right now, I’m holding off on scheduling interviews and the like, but if it starts to look that the fundraiser will get close to the goal, I’ll get all of that started. My hope is to host walk-by sessions and interview as many international authors, editors, and so on I possibly can. Likewise, it’s possible I’ll be on programming this year, which is pretty darn awesome! In any case, this month, we’re recording a Torture Cinema review of Highlander II at the end of the month with special guest Mike Martinez (who donated and was selected to pick the movie for the 3rd Milestone). Other perks are already available and listed on the page. And that’s all the updates I’ve got at the moment. If you can spare some cash, please help out. Even $5 helps. Anywhoodles.
2014 Hugo Nominees Incoming: Criteria and Notes
A lot of folks have been sharing their nominees. I’m going to do the same, but woefully late, such that all the information I’ll provide will be completely useless to you in the end. After all, you won’t have time to read any of the books I nominate. Oh well! In any case, I do have criteria and notes to preface these selections: You may disagree with my selections, but I hope readers of this blog will understand that they are a reflection of a) what I was able to read/view/etc. from last year, and b) my personal taste. There are enormous gaps in my reading. However, if I missed a truly exceptional work, please share it with me! I will only nominate works that I believe were “the best.” I don’t care how popular a book was in 2013; if it is not as good as a book that sold 1/100th the number of copies, then it will not get a nomination. I believe the Hugos are an award to celebrate the best, not the most popular. Some of my sections will contain empty slots for various reasons, but the most obvious will be this: I can only think of X number of things to nominate. As I’ve noted above, I will only nominate works I consider to be “the best.” If I liked a work, but I don’t think it’s award worthy, then it’s not getting a nomination. In some cases, however, I may not have enough to nominate in a category. As such, you’re free to suggest something (there isn’t much time, obviously, but I still appreciate the gesture). Some categories may be quite empty, such as fan artist. Why? Because I don’t follow that particular field and haven’t the foggiest what I should select anyway. And I really don’t have the time to go through the Internet looking, either… There will be no pissing and moaning about what others are nominating in the upcoming posts on this subject. I’m sure I disagree with what others have on their ballots, but I’m really not interested in pissing all over other people’s personal tastes this week. That’s for later (not really :P). And that’s it, really. Let the games begin!
Fundraiser Updatery
We’re almost one month away from the deadline for my Worldcon fundraiser for The Skiffy and Fanty Show and the World SF Tour. And we’ve got a long way to go before the thing is fully funded. As of the writing of this post, we’re $42 (ha!) $52 (aww) short of the 3rd Milestone and $1700ish from the goal. And that means I really need your help. If you’re a reader of this blog, please consider donating a little bit to the fundraiser. Even $5 goes a long way. There are milestone perks, in case you’re looking for more incentive than “I’m moderately amusing on Tuesdays.” Likewise, if you could spread the word, that would be amazing. Noise is just as important, I’m told. Now back to regular programming on WISB…
Note on Temporary Blog Silence of Doom
It is currently rather quiet around here. The main reason is a time limitation issue: I am trying to finish last minute arrangements for ICFA (the International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts), where I am expected to present (on Makoto Shinkai’s The Place Promised in Our Early Days) and where I intend to conduct interviews and the like for The Skiffy and Fanty Show. On top of that, I’m working on PhD dissertation stuff, which I want to complete before heading off to ICFA. So that’s why it’s quiet. Things should resume again next week!