http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ F&SF Forum » Recent Topics en Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:35:39 +0000 http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=444#post-5423 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:43:45 +0000 BrianCrowley 5423@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Saw this on another board &amp; thought it such a good question that I would ask here pretty much verbatim:</p> <p>Any story in F&amp;SF ever make you cry? Ever make you feel despair about life, the Universe, and Everything? Make you lose all hope, at least for five minutes? </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=416#post-5090 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:16:01 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 5090@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Contents of the Dec. 2009 issue</p> <p>NOVELETS<br /> Dragon’s Teeth -9- Alex Irvine<br /> Hell of a Fix -81- Matthew Hughes<br /> Inside Time -184- Tim Sullivan<br /> I Needs Must Part, The Policeman Said -225- Richard Bowes</p> <p>SHORT STORIES<br /> Bad Matter -49- Alexandra Duncan<br /> Farewell Atlantis -69- Terry Bisson<br /> Illusions of Tranquility -126- Brendan DuBois<br /> The Blight Family Singers -142- Kit Reed<br /> The Economy of Vacuum -163- Sarah Thomas<br /> Iris -177- Nancy Springer<br /> The Man Who Did Something about IT -211- Harvey Jacobs</p> <p>DEPARTMENTS<br /> Editorial -5- Gordon Van Gelder<br /> Books to Look -35- Charles de Lint<br /> Books -43- James Sallis<br /> Films: Post-modern Hasidism . . . with Puppets! -159- Kathi Maio<br /> Coming Attractions -254-<br /> Index to Volumes 116 &amp; 117 -255-<br /> Curiosities -258- F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre</p> <p>Cartoons: Arthur Masear (34), Bill Long (68), S. Harris (224).<br /> COVER BY KENT BASH FOR “HELL OF A FIX” </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=442#post-5407 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:07:51 +0000 BrianCrowley 5407@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>I really enjoyed the editoral about the 2010 award. That was a great idea for a contest and it is awesome that the magazine kept this on their radar for 30 years. Gordon's closing lines were awesome too.</p> <p>For those who don't have access to the paper copy yet, it is avaialable online -</p> <p><a href="http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/2009/gvg0912.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/2009/gvg0912.htm</a> </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=443#post-5420 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:47:17 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 5420@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Can anyone identify this book?</p> <p>I recently accessed your website trying to find details of a particular science fiction novel dating I believe from either the late sixties or early seventies. Having had a copy and which has now sadly been thrown out in a massive clearout we undertook at home in recent years I'm desperately trying to replace it.</p> <p>I can remember the cover being predominantly red with a spaceman on it floating in space with if I remember rightly a planet in the background. The spaceman was wearing a suit and helmet very similar to the ones worn in 2001 A Space Odyssey.</p> <p>Would you happen to know of this novel's name and author? I thought it might have been Michael Moorcock. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=434#post-5319 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:26:37 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 5319@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Subscribers, please know that the December subscription mailing went out late. I'll have more info for you soon. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=433#post-5300 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:15:36 +0000 econtheory 5300@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Mr. Van Gelder,<br /> One of the aspects I like about Analog (actually one of the qualities which sets them apart in the current market), and other classics like Galaxy and Worlds of If is the accompaning art. Now historically FSF has never been strong in this area. Is there ever a possibility that art could take a more active role beyond the cover? </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=441#post-5393 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:57:16 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 5393@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Paul Di Filippo remembered that I edited an anthology of Mars stories (FOURTH PLANET FROM THE SUN) and brought this NASA link to my attention: <a href="http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov/welcome" rel="nofollow">http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov/welcome</a></p> <p>---GVG </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=438#post-5374 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:23:06 +0000 GusG 5374@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>My random discussion topic for the week...what is your favorite FSF story that takes place primarily on or within the ocean?</p> <p>Three nominees from me:</p> <p>I am having troublle finding it, but there was a story from the early fifties with a title much like "The Man Who Smelled the Sea." It was reprinted from a naval magazine. Interesting take on an unique speculative skill. Let me know if you can locate this one for me. </p> <p>"The Wild Ships of Fairny" by Carolyn Ives Gilman (March 1994) was one of those adventures that sweeps you along and makes you as excited to see what happens as the characters in the story are. </p> <p>When I chose my nominees, I did not realize that two of them were by the same author. Carolyn Ives Gilman also wrote the stunning "Arkfall" for the September 2008 issue. I loved "Fairny", but "Arkfall" has even better character and plot development. </p> <p>I have read 170 issues in my quest to read them all, so I consider my authority to be good. I am sure there are others that I have yet to discover. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=440#post-5392 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:35:46 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 5392@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>A long time ago I read a story about a very, very old, blind archaeologist in search of the evolution of the human race. She talks to her young protege' about either a competing simian species or an older step in the course of human evolution. (It's been a decade or so since I read the tale.) Does anyone remember this story? Because I have no clue which issue it was in. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=439#post-5383 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:28:55 +0000 John Joseph Adams 5383@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>If you're the author of the story "A Holo Victory," which was submitted to us recently, please email us at <a href="mailto:fandsf@aol.com">fandsf@aol.com</a>, as your manuscript does not have your name or address printed on it anywhere, and there was no SASE, so we don't know who to contact about it. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=436#post-5333 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:04:27 +0000 BrianJackson 5333@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Hi gang,</p> <p>I'm sorry I've been away and unable to pick on people &amp; spread negativity lately. For those who hate me you'll want to print this one out and put it in your wallet to look over and relish: </p> <p>I caught my girlfriend cheating on me with someone. Not fun. I guess she's been at it for 3 years. I don't really have any friends anymore, so I have been internalizing it. I haven't got anyone to talk to and I don't know what I could say if I did except to get into gory details of her duplicity that I don't want to talk or think about.</p> <p>It's been a hard time for me lately. I haven't slept since before Halloween hardly. I can't get into my bed because they had sex in it so much. I can't touch most of my things because the 'other man' played with all of them. I feel like nothing is mine anymore.</p> <p>The worst is that he or they read from my diaries, mocking me and my writing ability.</p> <p>No, probably the worst for me is that I have been with her for 12 years and I have never told her a lie or even really flirted with any girls, let alone have sex with them.</p> <p>So that's where I'm at, in case anyone was wondering.</p> <p>Brian Jackson </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=437#post-5363 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:41:32 +0000 jason 5363@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Nominations for the 2009 nebula Awards are now open through Feb. 15, 2010. I urge every SFWA member to make their nominations, since the quality of the stories and novels on the final ballot depends on which stories and novels are nominated.</p> <p>I just made my nominations, which you can see at <a href="http://www.jasonsanford.com/jason/2009/11/nebula-award-nominating-period-opens.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.jasonsanford.com/jason/2009/11/nebula-award-nominating-period-opens.html</a> (that link also includes more info on nominating stories and novels). From F&amp;SF, I nominated "The Art of the Dragon" by Sean McMullen, Aug-Sept. 2009. In addition, my nomination last year for "The Political Prisoner" by Charles Coleman Finlay, Aug. 2008, has carried over due to the rule change (see my post for more on this).</p> <p>I'm behind on my 2009 F&amp;SF reading--and still haven't received my Dec. 2009 issue--so it's possible I'll nominate another F&amp;SF story before all this is done. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=435#post-5325 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:15:52 +0000 SuperWhitePill 5325@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>I'm just wondering...</p> <p>Many of the stories that are published nowadays are set in America, or if not in America have American-type characters, be they in space, the moon, on a ship, in a medieval fantasy, etc. Are there any stories that have really stuck out that do not have American characters or are set in the US? I'm also interested in fantasies written by non-Americans to see how they deal with the subject or perhaps incorporate different myths, legends, and thoughts in their work. Thanks for any suggestions. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=432#post-5292 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:41:27 +0000 dtruesdale 5292@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>But more specific to the subject title of this topic, congratulations to World Fantasy Award winner in the Novella category, Richard Bowes, for "If Angels Fight," from the Feb. 2008 issue of our beloved F&amp;SF (and thus congrats go also to our esteemed editor Gordon Van Gelder). </p> <p>This marks Richard's -second- World Fantasy Award trophy, his first coming in 1998 for his 1997 F&amp;SF story "Streetcar Dreams." Which, I not so humbly add, was the year (1998) in which I was honored to be chosen as one of the five WFA judges for work appearing in 1997. I loved "Streetcar Dreams" and was the first to bring it to the attention of my fellow judges. After a thorough vetting and discussion among the judges (with several other high caliber works in the running), it ended up being one of our easier picks, with nearly zero horse trading--if any--needed to give it its well deserved win.</p> <p>Believe me, this year's contenders in the novella category were a tough bunch with which to contend, with F&amp;SF co-contender Albert Cowdrey's deeply moving "The Overseer" from the March, 2008 issue, and the elephant in the room coming by way of the highly popular and in vogue Neil Gaiman with his "Odd and the Frost Giants."</p> <p>Rick indeed achieved a monumental victory against such other worthy stories--along with the other nominees--and he (and F&amp;SF) should be doubly proud.</p> <p>For those who may not have read Rick's World Fantasy Award winning story, I again most humbly point to my short review of it from my SF Site column from last year here: <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/columns/tangent276.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.sfsite.com/columns/tangent276.htm</a></p> <p>Heartfelt commiserations to Bert Cowdrey for not winning (there's nothing like winning, but let me tell you from experience, it truly *is* an honor to be nominated), for his story will undoubtedly be reprinted many times elsewhere down the road for the excellent piece of work it is, and a rousing Well Done to Rick Bowes for his second, well-deserved win.</p> <p>The complete list of the 2009 WFA winners and nominees can be found here (among other places):</p> <p><a href="http://www.locusmag.com/News/2009/11/world-fantasy-awards-winners.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.locusmag.com/News/2009/11/world-fantasy-awards-winners.html</a> </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=429#post-5245 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:52:54 +0000 BrianJackson 5245@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>I saw a few moments of a movie where Sandra Bullock has a magic mailbox that allows her to correspond across time with Keanu Reeves or something, on television not long ago.</p> <p>Yet here I sit, trying to imagine a *good* idea. I think all the money and heat is in really stinky ones. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=431#post-5272 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:52:43 +0000 econtheory 5272@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Having never seen the first issue anywhere, is there a way it could be posted on this site even if only for a short time? Of course a reprint (hint, hint) would be even better, but just looking at it would be cool. Any help/links from other fans would be welcome. Thank you in advance to all forum members, GVG, and/or other staff. (If this cover should happen to have a dragon on it, I ask that all artists develop potential tatoo stencils as I am sure Brian would like to get a full sleeve of this :) </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=383#post-4749 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:52:09 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 4749@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>For anyone who's curious, here are the contents of the 60th anniversary anthology that Tachyon Publications is bringing out:</p> <p>THE VERY BEST OF F&#38;SF</p> <p>Of Time and Third Avenue Alfred Bester<br /> All Summer in a Day Ray Bradbury<br /> One Ordinary Day, with Peanuts Shirley Jackson<br /> A Touch of Strange Theodore Sturgeon<br /> Eastward Ho! William Tenn<br /> Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes<br /> Harrison Bergeron Kurt Vonnegut<br /> This Moment of the Storm Roger Zelazny<br /> The Electric Ant Philip K. Dick<br /> The Deathbird Harlan Ellison<br /> The Women Men Don't See James Tiptree, Jr.<br /> I See You Damon Knight<br /> The Gunslinger Stephen King<br /> The Dark Karen Joy Fowler<br /> Buffalo John Kessel<br /> Solitude Ursula K. Le Guin<br /> Mother Grasshopper Michael Swanwick<br /> macs Terry Bisson<br /> Creation Jeffrey Ford<br /> Other People Neil Gaiman<br /> Two Hearts Peter S. Beagle<br /> Journey into the Kingdom M. Rickert<br /> The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate Ted Chiang </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=375#post-4600 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:41:12 +0000 Gordon Van Gelder 4600@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>THE MAGAZINE OF<br /> FANTASY &#38; SCIENCE FICTION<br /> October/November • 61st Year of Publication</p> <p>NOVELLAS<br /> Halloween Town -129- Lucius Shepard</p> <p>NOVELETS<br /> The Far Shore -9- Elizabeth Hand<br /> Bandits of the Trace -51- Albert E. Cowdrey<br /> The Way They Wove the Spells in Sippulgar -71- Robert Silverberg<br /> I Waltzed With a Zombie -232- Ron Goulart<br /> Another Life -274- Charles Oberndorf</p> <p>SHORT STORIES<br /> Logicist -96- Carol Emshwiller<br /> Blocked -105- Geoff Ryman<br /> Mermaid -197- Robert Reed<br /> Never Blood Enough -222- Joe Haldeman<br /> The President’s Book Tour -259- M. Rickert<br /> Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot LXXI -273- Ron Partridge<br /> Shadows on the Wall of the Cave -304- Kate Wilhelm</p> <p>DEPARTMENTS<br /> Editorial -7- Gordon Van Gelder<br /> Books to Look For -36- Charles de Lint<br /> Musing on Books -44- Michelle West<br /> Plumage From Pegasus: Sugar and Spice -125- Paul Di Filippo<br /> Coming Attractions -213-<br /> Science: Seeing Red -214- Pat Murphy and Paul Doherty<br /> Films: Anti-Trek -253- Lucius Shepard<br /> Competition #78 -319-<br /> Curiosities -322- David Langford</p> <p>Cartoons: Bill Long (35), Arthur Masear (128), S. Harris (258), Frank Cotham (318).</p> <p>Cover: “Retro Rocket” by David A. Hardy </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=417#post-5113 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:03:52 +0000 BrianJackson 5113@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Thanks Laura,</p> <p>I'd like the disc, I just don't know why it's so expensive, or why it's not in print right now. It seems illogical.</p> <p>I would change the plastic case the minute it got here. At the end of the day I'm paying all the money for two little sheets of paper and a 10 cent plastic disc. I can't see spending damn near $40 (after shipping costs) for that. It's just not worth it. I'll bet before too long, some seller in Oklahoma or something will agree with me and post a copy of this CD for a reasonable price. </p> <p>I'll buy *that* one, and sidestep being gouged. And shame on you for gouging, actually. You know that disc isn't worth what you're charging, you're just milking it for everything at the expense of true fans of the music, whereas you only see the disc as a commodity; value determined by the marketplace.</p> <p>Well, if more buyers like myself keep their money in their wallets, the prices will drop. That's the way it works.</p> <p>Brian Jackson </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=426#post-5207 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:34:45 +0000 GusG 5207@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Don't even pretend that you all didn't see Gordon Freeman win the greatest video game hero contest at Gamespot. Us nerds have similar surfing habits. It was a travesty...only Mario could ever claim that title. </p> <p>Which leads me to my new thought...who is the greatest sci fi hero of all time?</p> <p>Paul Atreides?<br /> Luke Skywalker?<br /> Arthur Dent?<br /> HAL 9000? (greatest villan?)<br /> I'd mention Harry Potter but Brian has been seen lurking about again...</p> <p>Thoughts? </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=430#post-5269 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:26:25 +0000 John Asperger 5269@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>I remember a poem which appeared in an issue of F&amp;SF abound the late 1980s , 1987 , 1988 , perhaps .<br /> It was a rather poetic (well --- duh !!!!!!!!!) thing about " the necessity of death " --- Why , in a sense , we all must die .<br /> I quite got to me , rather struck me . </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=399#post-4979 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:09:41 +0000 rturner 4979@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>1. We reserve the right to remove offensive posts without notice. We will move posts not directly related to the forum to another at the discretion of the moderator. We will rename posts that give away too much of the story plot in order to warn future visitors.</p> <p>2. We will not tolerate rudeness, insults, personal attacks or inflammatory posts that lack purpose. Our decision is final in these matters.</p> <p>3. Advertising, spamming and trolling is not allowed. (This rule does not apply to announcements of fantasy and science fiction events or recent sales by regular forum users.)</p> <p>4. We hope that the rules and guidelines cover common situations that may arise. However, they cannot anticipate everything. Thus we reserve the right to take any actions we deem appropriate to prevent disruption or abuse of any kind.</p> <p>5. We also reserve the right to ban any user that violates the forum rules and guidelines.</p> <p>Anyone wishing to report those in violation of the forum rules and guidelines should contact us via <a href="http://www.fandsf.com/contact.htm">http://www.fandsf.com/contact.htm</a> </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=428#post-5241 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:53:46 +0000 John Asperger 5241@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Especially assuming that it has been or will be reviewed in F&amp;SF's Film section , has anybody here seen the The Time Traveler's Wife Movie - or , read the book ?<br /> I did the former .<br /> The book author's new book is flopping , incidentally , apparently...<br /> I suppose the story (or TTTW) could be seen as interesting as " a female'romance-chick flick' take upon an SF concept" or maybe no?? </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=427#post-5240 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:50:34 +0000 John Asperger 5240@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Especially since I lost my initial one and had to get a new one anyhow , I'd like to know how to reset my rather " code "-esque passport into something which I can easily remember , please .<br /> Thank you ! </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=413#post-5061 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:10:48 +0000 BrianJackson 5061@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>I thought of an interesting game based on an earlier post, if anyone wants to play. I have handwritten journals going back to late 2003 (and even a few from before that, going back to 5/92). The current set is 29 volumes @ at least 200 pages per notebook. If you shout out a volume # and page # I might possibly type it here without too many redactions. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=407#post-5012 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:31:07 +0000 JordanHartnett 5012@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>What's up with the F&amp;SF Workshop that is supposed to be coming online?</p> <p>I am hoping that it still happens as I'm interested in signing up. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=425#post-5199 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:22:20 +0000 jjjahool 5199@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Since I'm not a current subscriber a classic reprint is the same as a new story to me. I did subscribe in the 70s. I welcome them back, thanks. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=391#post-4920 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:13:18 +0000 MattHughes 4920@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>This might be of interest to those of you who are writing or trying to sell an sf novel. I've just signed the contracts for a multi-novel deal with HarperCollins that account for my nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first book deals (not counting book club or foreign rights sales), and I have got them all without having an agent pitch and secure an offer. Sometimes, as with this one, I have had an agent negotiate terms after I've received an offer, but I have never yet followed the standard pattern of first get agent, then get deal.</p> <p>I've done it largely by schmoozing, at cons (at panels and in the dealers room), at writers conferences, via introductions from one writer or editor to another, sometimes through a query letter. Here's how I took my latest step forward:</p> <p>It began with getting to know Lou Anders, before he was at Pyr. I used to see him at cons and we would schmooze. When I was pitching my three Henghis Hapthorn novels, Lou was interested but my numbers were not good enough to appease the bean counters at Prometheus, which owns Pyr. But at the 2007 World Fantasy Convention in Saratoga, he very kindly introduced me to Marc Gascoigne, then publisher of Solaris Books. I followed up by pitching Marco with an idea for a theologically based fantasy. He was considering it when the game company that owned Solaris decided they could operate it with just a few interns. End of that opportunity.</p> <p>But a few weeks later, I saw in the trades that HarperCollins UK had very sensibly scooped up Marco to head a new boutique sf imprint called Angry Robot. I renewed the pitch for the theologically based fantasy and, after a very long time, the response from Marco's team was that it sounded a little too literary for their style. </p> <p>When I got that news I was writing a contemporary fantasy novelette about a man who accidentally causes Hell to go on strike and comes out of it as what he'd always wanted to be: a caped crimefighter. Believing in the "get right back on the horse" rule, I instantly shot the 15,000 words of rough draft to Marco. He got back to me in a couple of days and said he liked it. When it was 21,000 words and polished (and ready to send to Gordon Van Gelder, the editor I'd had in mind when I started writing it), I sent Angry Robot the full version.</p> <p>Angry Robot liked it a great deal. Could I flesh out where the story would go? I did. More weeks went by. I emailed, and yes they were definitely interested, would work up a few numbers and get back to me. Weeks later, I heard from GVG; he was buying the novelette, so I relayed that news to Marco and said, "I appreciate your interest, but perhaps I should be showing this to other houses." </p> <p>That rang the bell; Marco said AR would definitely be making a two-book offer with an option for a third. At that point, realizing that this would be a more complex deal than the small press contracts I've been dealing with, I went looking for a UK-based agent. The agent made the deal as three books with an option for a fourth and now the formalities are finished.</p> <p>The novelette I sent to F&amp;SF , now abridged to 16,000 words and entitled "Hell of a Fix," will be the cover story in the December/January issue.</p> <p>Now I just have to write the books. </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=387#post-4803 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:43:30 +0000 rowsdower 4803@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Found an ebay auction for a complete (minus 3 issues) 40 year run of F&#38;SF, from the first issue in 1949 to Dec, 1989. No takers on the auction but I made the guy an offer on the side. He listed the auction at 2K and I offered $750. He replied that he could take 1K and throw in free shipping. </p> <p>I am thinking about this seriously. It's around 450 issues so I'd be paying $2.22 per. Is this worth it? Is it too much? </p> <p>I am new to this board, obvioulsy, but I've been lurking the past few weeks. My name is Jeff and I restarted my F&#38;SF sub recently. I used to read the mag back in the late 80's/early 90's and have come and gone from the mag a few times in the interim. Ironically, the last issue in the ebay run (Dec '89 issue) was the first F&#38;SF I ever read. </p> <p>I've been grabbing up the anniversary anthologies (I just got the 60th in the mail yesterday and it is beautiful, btw, with the 50th and 40th anniversary anthologies on the way) and I am quickly restoring my enjoyment of this mag. </p> <p>Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. </p> <p>Jeff </p> http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/topic.php?id=382#post-4733 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:40:45 +0000 BrianJackson 4733@http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/forum/ <p>Weird. I haven't even posted much in the past two weeks or submitted since mid-July. I've totally had my mind elsewhere, but last night I dreamed of Gordon Van Gelder.</p> <p>How odd. I've never dreamed about Gordon or John or *any* editors in the past. I don't even think I've dreamed of writers like Burroughs or artists like Frank Zappa.</p> <p>It wasn't anything to do with sex, in fact, I've never had a sex dream in my whole life, I don't think. Certainly not to completion. And besides, I'm not into dudes.</p> <p>I don't know what it was about. GVG was animated and unpredictable in a way that he is not represented or does not popularly present himself. That's all I can recall.</p> <p>Today I heard "A Dream", by DeBarge. I listened to that keyboard hook that has been interpolated into so many hip-hop songs, the one that's in Blackstreet's "Don't Leave Me", and 2Pac's "I Ain't Mad At Cha", and I began to wonder over what my own dream had been last night / this morning.</p> <p>As often happens when I grab for a dream memory, I got the pillowcase but none of the stuffing. I know that GVG was there, and that he was fired up. Beyond that, I don't know what the deal was.</p> <p>So I am posting to ask GVG what he was doing in my dream? Gordon, please explain yourself! This was about 10AM California time, so it would've been about lunch for you. Did you eat something funny or get into a fist-fight or something? I received a strong signal from you today and I'm just checking in.</p> <p>I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.</p> <p>In case you're wondering, I'm fine, myself.</p> <p>Brian Jackson </p>