SFPA Announces 2022 Grand Masters

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) has named Akua Lezli Hope and Mary Soon Lee as their 2022 Grand Masters.

The title is given “to an individual living at the time of selection whose body of work reflects the highest artistic goals of the SFPA, who has been actively publishing within the target genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy for a period of no fewer than 20 years, ...Read More

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Vernacular Books To Close

Vernacular Books, the SF/F publisher founded in 2019 by Eric M. Bosarge & J.M. McDermott, is closing.

Bosarge announced:

After three years and over a dozen titles published, we’ve decided we can no longer continue as a viable business. Kids, work, and other obligations have made continuing impossible.

Vernacular Books published work by A.M. Muffaz, Paul Jessup, Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, and many more, and their site also included book reviews. ...Read More

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2023 Clarion West Workshop Going Virtual

Clarion West announced via email that the 2023 Summer Workshop will be held virtually. Per the announcement:

The workshop dates are June 25 – August 5, 2023. We accept 15 students in virtual classes to keep the workload and screen time manageable for all. Tuition is $3,200, and applicants can apply to scholarships through the workshop application. Applications are open January 4 – March 1.

No changes to the instructor ...Read More

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New York Library Top Borrows

The New York Public Library (NYPL), the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Queen’s Public Library have each released lists of their most-borrowed books of 2022.

The most borrowed book across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island was Mat Haig’s fantasy The Midnight Library (Viking). Other titles of genre interest that ranked high in the lists include Anthony Doeer’s Cloud Cuckoo Land (Scribner), Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House (Scribner), and The ...Read More

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Kindle Subscription Program Ending

Amazon has notified magazine publishers that they will be ending their Kindle Publishing for Periodicals Program in September 2023, which means subscribers will no longer be able to receive their print or digital magazines through the site.

Publishers Weekly reported that they “learned that [Amazon] is ending its print textbook rental program, which was established about a decade ago, and will phase out print and digital magazine and newspaper subscriptions ...Read More

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People & Publishing Roundup, December 2022

MILESTONES

SF writers J. DIANNE DOT­SON & GARETH L. POWELL were married November 5, 2022 in a small ceremony held in Los Angeles CA. Dotson designed her wedding dress herself: “I chose red as it is my favorite color and it honors Gareth being half-Welsh, given the colors of the Welsh flag.”

ALICIA WANSTALL-BURKE is now represented by the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

 

AWARDS

STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES is the ...Read More

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The Guardian’s Best SF/F of 2022

The Guardian has listed the best SF and fantasy books of 2022, as selected by Adam Roberts. The five-title list has:

  • Deep Wheel Orcadia, Harry Josephine Giles (Picador)
  • Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution, R.F. Kuang (William Morrow)
  • Sea of Tranquility, Emily St. John Mandel (Knopf)
  • Beyond the Burn Line, Paul McAuley (Gollancz)
  • Goliath, Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom)
...Read More Read more

2023 Clarion Applications Open

Applications for Clarion’s six-week summer workshop are open now through March 1, 2023.

The workshop will be held June 25 – August 5, 2023 in San Diego CA, and the instructors are Andy Duncan, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Anjali Sachdeva, and Rae Carson & Charles Coleman Finlay. Jac Jemc is faculty director.

The application fee is $55 until February 15. From February 16 to March 1, the fee is ...Read More

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The New York Times Best Books of 2022

The editors of The New York Times Book Review selected their ten best books of the year, including titles of genre interest, such as The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (Scribner), Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver (Harper), and The Furrows by Namwali Serpell (Hogarth).

For more information, including the complete list, see The New York Times website.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a ...Read More

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Agents Support HarperCollins Strike

More than 150 literary agents have signed an open letter to the leadership of HarperCollins, in support of the HarperCollins Union strike. They have vowed not to submit work until the strike is resolved. It reads:

We, the undersigned literary agents, are writing to express our support for the HCP Union, now on strike since November 10. We and our clients have benefited greatly from the passion and expertise of ...Read More

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New York Public Library Best Books of 2022

The New York Public Library has announced its lists of the best books of 2022 in various categories, including 75 Best Books for Adults, 50 Best Books for Teens, and 135 Best Books for Kids. There are also lists of the top 10 for each category.

The Adult category includes genre titles, such as The Change by Kirsten Miller (Morrow) and Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom), with T. Kingfisher’s Nettle ...Read More

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NPR’s Best Books of 2022

NPR’s Books We Love (formerly Book Concierge) has an extensive list of Best Books in an assortment of categories, including It’s All Geek to Me, The Dark Side, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, and many more, with hundreds of titles recommended by “NPR staff and trusted critics.” The Sci Fi, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction category includes titles by authors like Sarah Gailey, Alexis Henderson, Marlon James, Shehan Karunatilaka, T. Kingfisher, R.F. ...Read More

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Amazon Best Books of 2022

Amazon has published its yearly array of lists to promote the best books of 2022, with editors’ selections in various categories. Titles and authors of genre interest follow, in ranked order.

Science Fiction and Fantasy

  • Fairy Tale, Stephen King (Scribner)
  • Sea of Tranquility, Emily St. John Mandel (Knopf)
  • The Atlas Six, Olivie Blake (Tor)
  • The Kaiju Preservation Society, John Scalzi (Tor)
  • The Measure, Nikki Erlick
...Read More Read more

Clarion 2023 Instructors

The Clarion Workshop in San Diego CA has announced the instructors for its 2023 session: Andy Duncan, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Anjali Sachdeva, and Rae Carson & Charles Coleman Finlay. Jac Jemc is faculty director.

The workshop will be held June 25, 2023 – August 5, 2023. Applications for the workshop open on December 1, 2022.

The Clarion West Summer Workshop previously announced its instructors and dates.

While you ...Read More

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People & Publishing Roundup, November 2022

MILESTONES

JEFF VANDERMEER’s liter­ary interests are now represented by Joe Veltre of the Gersh Agency, who was already his film and TV agent. VanderMeer has also joined the Gersh Speakers Bureau as a client. Alex Kohner of Yorn Levine provides additional representation as VanderMeer’s entertainment at­torney.

DEREK KÜNSKEN is step­ping down as programming co-chair of Can*Con, Ottawa’s liter­ary SF/F conference, after 11 years working on the conference. Co-chair MARIE

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Arizona Recognizes Speculative Poetry Day

Governor Douglas Ducey has declared November 30th Speculative Poetry Day in the state of Arizona.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) spearheaded the effort, and seeks to “highlight the vibrant legacy and extraordinary achievement of speculative poets,” as well as “introduce communities to the delights and benefits of reading and writing speculative poetry.”

For more information, see the SFPA post.

While you are here, please take a moment ...Read More

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Barlowe Retrospective

Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra CA is hosting a retrospective exhibition on the work of Wayne Barlowe from November 19 – December 3, 2022.

The show will feature “various reproductions from some of Wayne’s notable book projects and film work” and “a curated selection of original drawings and paintings,” available for purchase. The opening reception will be held November 19. Admission to the reception and the exhibit is free.

A world-renowned ...Read More

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SFWA Mentorship Program Open

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) Mentorship Committee has announced that the SFWA Career Mentorship Program is now taking applications for mentors and mentees for three-month-long mentorships set to run January 10 – April 10, 2023.

This all-volunteer service is provided free of charge. We aim to connect emerging writers with each other and established professionals for community, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities. This endeavor is focused on ...Read More

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Pemmi-Con Announces First Nations Travel Fund

Pemmi-Con, the 15th North American Science Fiction Convention, has announced the First Nations Travel Fund.

The announcement says:

Pemmi-Con has committed to reserve 10% of their Adult Attending memberships, or CAD $4,000, whichever is greater, to assist indigenous science fiction and fantasy fans to travel to Winnipeg to attend Pemmi-Con.  This fund will be under the direction of indigenous groups who will contact Pemmi-Con to request funds for individuals whom ...Read More

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Donato Giancola Exhibit

The Huntsville Museum of Art in Huntsville AL is hosting an art exhibit, “Donato Giancola: Adventures in Imagination,” from October 30, 2022 – January 22, 2023. The artist will give a lecture and the museum will host a reception on November 1, 2022, and there will be a cosplay night and costume contest on November 17.

Donato Giancola is an American artist specializing in narrative realism with science fiction and ...Read More

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Publishers Weekly Best Books 2022

Publishers Weekly has announced its list of the best books of 2022, divided into 13 categories. Their overall Top 10 includes The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty (Knopf), The Birdcatcher by Gayl Jones (Beacon), and The Furrows by Namwali Serpell (Hogarth).

The best books in the SF/Fantasy/Horror category are:

  • The Hacienda, Isabel Cañas (Berkley)
  • Leech, Hiron Ennes (Tordotcom)
  • Moon Witch, Spider King, Marlon James (Riverhead)
  • Ocean’s
...Read More Read more

People & Publishing Roundup, October 2022

MILESTONES

MARYANN HARRIS, artist, musician, and wife of Charles de Lint, became ill on September 6, 2021 with encephalitis, and was eventually diagnosed with the rare, tick-borne Powassan virus. She spent eight months in intensive care before being transferred to a com­plex care facility, where she is on a ventilator and almost entirely para­lyzed. Fundraising efforts are un­derway to defray the considerable costs; details, and updates on her condition,

...Read More Read more

Ellison Auction

On October 21, 2022, Heritage Auctions “will proudly present the Harlan Ellison Comics & Comic Art Signature® Auction,” offering more than 100 comics and pieces of original art from the collection of the late author, who died in 2018 at age 84. The auction was organized by Ellison’s executor J. Michael Straczynski.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Harlan and Susan Ellison Foundation, a nonprofit created by Straczynski. The ...Read More

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New Co-Editor at Baffling

Baffling Magazine has announced that Craig Laurance Gidney is stepping down as co-editor, with Kel Coleman taking over as the new co-editor, joining dave ring.

The twitter announcement stated:

We’re so lucky to have had Craig’s discerning eye with us for so long. We can’t wait to see where Kel takes us next.

For more information, see the official announcement.

While you are here, please take a moment to support ...Read More

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HWA 2022 Election Results

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has announced the results of the election for its open officers’ positions. John Edward Lawson was elected President, and Becky Spratford was re-elected Secretary. Linda Addison, James Chambers, and Ellen Datlow were all re-elected to the Board of Trustees.

The election team volunteers were Rhonda Jackson Joseph, Nicole Kurtz, and Lisa Marie Wood. The Ballot Master was Angel Leigh McCoy, and the election verifiers were

...Read More Read more

Ring of Fire Press to Close

Ring of Fire Press, the publishing company founded by the late Eric Flint, is closing. Flint’s widow Lucille Robbins posted:

Our Fellow Members of the Ring of Fire Press Family,

It has taken the staff and the family to both assess and absorb the sad passing of our friend and mentor, Eric Flint. In the wake of his passing, we have looked at the finan­cial realities of the publisher 1632, ...Read More

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New Jo Fletcher Books Publishing Director

With Jo Fletcher stepping down from Jo Fletcher Books, the imprint she founded 11 years ago, Anne Perry will be taking over as publishing director.

Quercus fiction publisher Cassie Browne says of the hire:

We are all completely over the moon to be welcoming Anne to Quercus Fiction as the new imprint head of Jo Fletcher Books.

Anne’s reputation as one of the very best in the SFF community is ...Read More

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People & Publishing Roundup, September 2022

MILESTONES

WENDY N. WAGNER is now represented via Lane Heymont of The Tobias Agency.

AWARDS

IDZA LUHUMYO’s “Five Years Next Sunday”(Disruption) won the £10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing, “awarded for a short story via an African writer published in English,”presented July 18, 2022 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

MONICA BYRNE’s The Actu­al Star (Harper Voyager) won the 2022 Manly Wade Wellman Award, ...Read More

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NASFiC 2023 Site Selection

Winnipeg in 2023 has won the bid to host the next North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC). Pemmi-con 2023, the 15th NASFiC, will be held July 20-23, 2023 at the Delta Hotels Winnipeg and the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Winnipeg ran unopposed after the Orlando FL bid withdrew in August.

Confirmed guests of honor include Julie Czerneda, Waubgeshig Rice, and Nisi Shawl, John Mansfield, Philip John Currie, ...Read More

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Worldcon 2024 Site Selection: Glasgow

Glasgow 2024 won the bid to host the 2024 Worldcon. The 82 World Science Fiction Convention will be held August 8-12, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Guests of honor announced so far include Chris Baker, Claire Brialey & Mark Plummer, Ken MacLeod, Nnedi Okorafor, and Terri Windling.

For more, see the Glasgow 2024 website.

While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. ...Read More

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SFWA Givers Fund Applications Open

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) is now accepting applications for their Givers Fund Grants until October 1, 2022.

The annual grants are awarded to projects that support SFWA’s mission to “promote, advance, and support science fiction and fantasy writing in the United States and elsewhere, by educating and informing the general public and supporting and empowering science fiction and fantasy writers.”

Grant amounts are usually $1,000 to ...Read More

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People & Publishing Roundup, August 2022

MILESTONES

RUDY RUCKER sold his liter­ary archive to the Special Collec­tions of the UCR Library at UC Riverside. “The Rudy Rucker Ar­chive includes marked-up drafts of forty books, story drafts, letters, videos, audio, scientific papers, rare ’zines, and email.” Henry Wessells of James Cummins Bookseller ne­gotiated the deal with Cherry Wil­liams and Andrew Lippert of UCR.

AWARDS

JESMYN WARD will receive the 2022 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction ...Read More

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