SFScope reports that F/SF distributor Anderson News is having revenue issues. To compensate, they wanted to add a 7c surcharge on all magazine sales. Many magazines, including Gordon Van Gelder’s F&SF refused to pay, so Anderson has now suspended all operations.

The publishing industry is getting hit hard, and pro sci-fi magazines, already ailing in good times, are now having to face set back after set back. If a venture is struggling when the economy is rosy, I fear for it when the economy is in recession. I love the magazine and would love to be published in it (it was after all, the magazine that published The Gunslinger before it was a book by stephen king), but at this point I fear it might not be around long enough for me to break through.

Tags: Anderson News, FSF, Gordon Van Gelder, The Gunslinger

So I was lucky enough to exchange stories with Emery Huang, the Q42008 first place winner of WotF. I sent him a copy of my winning story and in return he let me read his. It was a wonderful experience, and one that got me thinking that I should approach Matthew Rotundo and Donald Mead and suggest the same thing.

Emery’s story was absolutely awesome. I can certainly see why it won first place. It was classic sci-fi, but would fit comfortably into the pages of any modern collection of “Best-Of” anthologies as well, which is a pretty thin tightrope to walk. Emery’s story is also topical, making commentary on today’s economic crisis.

In my opinion, this story is a cut above what appeared in WotF 23 (which was itself spectacular), and I’m proud to be in the same anthology with it. Seeing as how I’m also in the running for the Gold Award, am I worried about the competition? Well, no, since I don’t really expect to win. Emery’s story has great ideas, great prose, and a commentary on today’s society, which is exactly what sci-fi should attempt to do.

I’m not saying my story isn’t any good (I’m not THAT humble). I re-read it last night after the exchange, and despite having read the darn thing probably forty times I still can’t get to the last page without tearing up. Emery’s story is much more cerebral, whereas I like to think that my piece connects more on an emotional level. Apples to Oranges springs to mind. I’d hate to be the judge that has to pick between them.

I have been an apartment dweller for nearly fifteen years now, and there is a certain pattern that I’ve noticed. You can tell how nice your apartment is (and, consequently, determine your station in life) based on how many amenities on this list are fulfilled.

1) Deck of Cards – This is the first thing you should get when you move into a new place. If you have nothing else, you can always play solitaire and weep softly into a can of beer.

2) A Toaster – Your first appliance! Congrats! Pop Tarts become a major food group

3) A Bedroom – This feels like luxury after living in a studio/bachelor suite. Better yet, if you run out of sofa space, people aren’t likely to spill beer on your clean sheets (cause they’re all the way in that other room).

4) A Dishwasher – Hundreds of hours of washing dishes are now gone. You begin to wonder why no one has yet invented a “potwasher”.

5) Washer/Dryer – No more begging the dour-looking clerk at the corner store for precious, precious change. You can use the dryer to make your pajamas warm and toasty before you go to bed.

5) Stairs – Owning stairs means you own multiple levels of house. You are your own upstairs neighbor. Who cares if the bed squeaks? Go to town.

6) A Garage – Your very own car-hole. Coupled with underground parking at work, you can stay entirely suntan-free. No need to cordon off a parking space with broken white plastic buckets, you are lord and master of eight feet of concrete.

7) A Lawn – Congrats. You own grass. However, you must now purchase a lawnmower, weed-eater, fertilizer, …etc. Get ready for hours of caddyshack-esque gofer-based fun!

8 ) A Two Car Garage – Your car has a mate. Hopefully you do too. If not, well, there’s now room for an in-home gym. Use it. If you’re at point 8, you’ve pretty much made it. (Apparently, there’s a bug in WordPress that cuts off anything after point 8, so: If you have anything to add at any point in this list, please mention it in the comments, and I’d add it in the appropriate location.)

Tags: Apartments, Hierarchy of the Howeowner

I would be remiss if I didn’t report this to you:

The Nebula Award Rules have changed.

You can find a summarized version by SFWA President Russell Davis here. The most significant change that I can see is the elimination of the “rolling eligibility” feature of nomination which allowed older books onto the ballot. It’s straight Jan 1st to Dec 31st from now on, which, if you ask me, is the way it should be.

Of additional interest is this post from SciFiWire which tells you how much you need to spend to buy your very own Hugo award! I’m starting a piggy bank for this one, folks!

Tags: Hugo, Nebula

Looks like they caught our fleeing rat. From millionaire to homeless fugitive living in a campsite, his Hollywood escape plan had a New York ending.