Comments for Genreville

Comment on Respectful Submission by Andrew Porter

Andrew Porter — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:53:14 +0000

I still have a “Weird Stuff” file from when I read the slushpile at F&SF, 1966-74, and later received submissions for my own ALGOL and SF CHRONICLE. You would not believe the cover letters, nor their contents. There was one person who wanted the lead role in the X-rated film they were sure to make of his story, which comes back to your title, in all the wrong ways…

Comment on SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint by The Dangers of Bad Contracts | The Raynfall Agency

The Dangers of Bad Contracts | The Raynfall Agency — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:40:03 +0000

[...] This lead to the SFWA declaring that Hydra would not count for membership. [...]

Comment on SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint by Electronic books rights | Anders Monsen

Electronic books rights | Anders Monsen — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:13:37 +0000

[...] while also selling print rights to a major publisher. Most publishers demand exclusive rights, and according to SFWA, in the case of Random House’s imprint Hydra and Alibi, seem unreasonable and [...]

Comment on SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint by Hydra: Random House’s Monster | Kyrin's Insight

Hydra: Random House’s Monster | Kyrin's Insight — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 08:29:42 +0000

[...] SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint [...]

Comment on SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint by Betsy Mitchell

Betsy Mitchell — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:15:28 +0000

One thing I haven’t heard discussed is whether Hydra is taking on anything and everything that comes their way or whether there’s some form of editorial sifting going on. To me SFWA’s objections are linked to the question of what “vanity publishing” means in today’s digital world.

Comment on SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint by 5 Top Publishing News Stories of the Week: 3/4 - 3/8 | Publishing Trendsetter

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:06:10 +0000

[...] America denouncing and refusing to recognize publication by Random House imprint Hydria as a credential for SFWA membership. From Random House on Thursday, Publishing Director Allison Dobson responded to SFWA, saying, [...]

Comment on SFWA Slaps Random House’s Digital SF Imprint by Pressing Matters: March 8, 2013, Edition | Candlemark & Gleam

Pressing Matters: March 8, 2013, Edition | Candlemark & Gleam — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:07:59 +0000

[...] in the SF/F world can sometimes be an adventure. The latest wrinkle is the kerfluffle over the SFWA disallowing Hydra, Random House’s digital-only, royalties-only SF/F imprint – but not disallowing its [...]

Comment on A Dream Come True by Robert Harken

Robert Harken — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 04:55:54 +0000

This project sounds interesting, and I love when people pursue their dreams. Good luck Rose!

Comment on A Dream Come True by Alana Joli Abbott

Alana Joli Abbott — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:12:38 +0000

Oh, how exciting, Rose! I know just what you mean about watching the Kickstarter — mine just finished yesterday, fully funded with one stretch goal hit. I wish you even better luck (and will go over and make my pledge now *g*).

Comment on Food in Speculative Fiction by Andrew Porter

Andrew Porter — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:27:52 +0000

“Crottled Greeps” is a very old fannish invention, dating to the 1940s, I think. It involves chocolate cake dissolved in tomato soup. Then, of course, there’s Damon Knight’s classic story—adopted brilliantly by TV’s “The Twilight Zone—”To Serve Man”.

Dinner is served!

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by M. Hiltgen

M. Hiltgen — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:32:58 +0000

I read several of the comments regarding self-published works. It appears that some have an innate bias towards self-published works.

I recently read a Fantasy novel titled “The Prophecy Of Zepherous”. It is a self-published work. I consider it far superior to some Mainstream Novels. A self-published work should not be automatically dismissed as inconsequential.

I believe well-written books should be considered for book awards despite the fact that they don’t get the publicity they well deserve.

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Mike Allen

Mike Allen — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:47:41 +0000

Regarding novellas, the major webzines don't publish them, presumably because of the expense of paying for them by the word. Giganotosaurus pays a flat fee, which makes an author-submitted novella affordable. Getting self-published work on the ballot is an interesting challenge. Do the authors who vote for the Nebulas read much in the way of self-published work uploaded to Amazon? Catherynne Valente's The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making is the notable exception -- originally published as free-to-read web installments as part of a high-profile fundraiser by a writer with a huge fan base.

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Sean Wallace

Sean Wallace — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:11:44 +0000

Even if we look at the Locus Recommended Reading List a few self-published works popped up there, too, so it seems like an increasing trend. (But it’s been done since forever. Recent examples might include Kelly Link’s first collection, though.)

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Rose Fox

Rose Fox — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:09:43 +0000

Some self-published books are genuinely good. People have reasons for going that route other than “every publisher in the world rejected me”.

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Andrew Porter

Andrew Porter — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 05:12:17 +0000

Zero self-published stories in various categories? Ever go to a convention and see those self-published authors sitting in the Dealers Room, with no one stopping by to buy their stuff?

What I like best are the massive first volumes of planned trilogies, with their horrible covers and inept appearance. Of course, if they’d gone to a real publisher and editor, instead of trusting the reactions from their relatives that their writing was the greatest thing since sliced bread…

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Sean Wallace

Sean Wallace — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:19:07 +0000

I was belaboring under the original standard, as I had read in PW, that anyone with six million dollars of sales or less was considered small press. That’s what I’ve been using as the standard for more than a decade, though of course it may have been rather dated, I suspect, in retrospect. I do see that according to wikipedia the standard is now fifty million dollars (with no citation), which does rather limit it to the big five. If anything the term “independent press” is more appropriate? But there’s a big difference between someone like Norilana Books or PS Publishing or Small Beer Press or Tachyon Publications against something like C&R, whose gross sales are probably on the magnitude of ten or twenty million dollars, at least, especially in our field :p

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Rose Fox

Rose Fox — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:02:03 +0000

It is in the sense of “not one of the big six… er, five”. But I agree it’s debatable.

Comment on 2012 Nebula Award Finalists by Sean Wallace

Sean Wallace — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:53:08 +0000

Question: How is Mammoth small press? Constable & Robinson is one of the largest and oldest (independent) publishing companies in the UK, and Running Press ain’t exactly small . . . and the Mammoth anthologies sell 5,000 to 100,000 copies. :p

Comment on Link Roundup by Bob @ Beauty in Ruins

Bob @ Beauty in Ruins — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 15:14:54 +0000

I’ve drifted away from Feist over the years, but Magician’s End has me itching to find my way back. There are far too many books to catch up on the entire series, but I’ll be giving this final trilogy a read to see if he and Pug and recapture the magic.

Comment on Link Roundup by An Index of Dozens of Maps from Epic Fantasy Novels

An Index of Dozens of Maps from Epic Fantasy Novels — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:12:42 +0000

[...] Want to kill a couple hours poring over imaginary topography? Over at The Fantasy Reader, there’s an amazing index of maps from fantasy novels, covering everybody from Patrick Rothfuss to George R.R. Martin. Prepare to be drawn into realms of wonder. And mountains. Lots of mountains. [A Fantasy Reader, via Saladin Ahmed and Genreville] [...]