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This Just In....News from The Agony Column
12/15/02 Timothy Ferris Seeing in the Dark one of the NYT Top Books of the Year, Jerry Brown on the Media |
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I may have mis-remembered the commentator's words -- but not Jerry's. -- Rickk |
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While I've never understood why people do it this way, the NYT has released their list of the ten best books of 2002, at least according to our local bookstore. Included in the list was Timothy Ferris' 'Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril'. I talked to Mr. Ferris upon the release of this wonderful book, and I'll try to see if I can get a copy of the interview online. If you're itnerested in amateur astronomy -- a a wonderfully poignant look at home science -- you might want to pick up this book. If you give you kid a telescope for Crhistmas, definitely pick up this book -- it really helps suck in the reader to the lure of using the damn things! |
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12/14/02 It Can't Happen Here |
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Thanks to the fine folks at http://homepage.mac.com/leperous/PhotoAlbum1.html for these inspirational messages.
I know, I know -- "They're coming to take me away..." |
12/12/02 PS Publishing Announces Powers & Etchison |
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According to their website, PS Publishing has plans for a major collection by superstar writer Tim Powers..I quote the inestimable Mr. Crowther:
For lots more exciting releases -- to me at least, check out their website at http://www.pspublishing.co.uk/news.htm. |
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Today's graphic of the day is also stolen from the PS Publishing Website. This is what happens when you do a column on short books. It's the cover of the new China Mieville novella, which is NOT aset in Bas Lag. Much thanks also to Andy Richards over at Cold Tonnage. They have a new catalogue out with a collection of many signed and limited Jonanthan Carroll books. If you have too much money hanging out, here's your chance to lose a little. |
12/11/02 Horror Blooms in Bad Times? |
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The 1980's were a heyday for the horror genre. As the United States girded itself for a Final Showdown with the Evil Empire and the world watched in horrified fascination, writers like Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Peter Straub became household names and bestellers. Leisure Publishing led the way with foil and holographic covers. Clive Barker was an enfant terrible, the "future of horror". How many times can we hurl that prediction from Time magazine back at the venerable Mr. King? The near future of horror, at least, turned out to be a downturn that took Leisure down to the bare bones so often described in its novels, while the enfant terrible grew up to be a fantasy writer. Only the strong survived the 1990's. The rest dissolved in a bitter backwash of bile that results in articles like the recent rant by Paula Guran over at Locus Online. Many of us liked the 1990's. Peace and prosperity seemed like good things, and there was still plenty of good horror to be found as well. But since we've apparently had enough of boom time economics, and since we've found another Evil Empire that we can engage in a near apocalyptic Final Showdown -- with many of the same players working the levers and dials -- isn't it fitting that horror should once again bloom? The small press horror publishers can't seem to get books out fast enough.and the big-time publishers are once again beginning to fuel the paperback fire. Leisure has graduated to a hardcover release schedule with some very prestigious titles in the offing. Even the venerable Arkham House, which spent so much on science fiction has once again returned to its roots. Witness these recent arrivals in my mailbox. And realize that we're still in the horror-boom equivalent of 1982. There's a long cold economic winter ahead. Let's hope this doesn't go all nukular on us. |
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One of the most familiar and felicitous combinations from the 1980's was the small press and J. K. Potter. This new collection featuring stories based around Potter's artwork is now finally available from Subterranean press. The contributors include Michael Marshall Smith, Poppy Z. Bright, Dennis Etchison, Kim Newman, James Morrow and even John Crowley.
Arkham House is the father of all the small horror presses, but took a heavy turn towards SF. The most recent novel from Arkham however, is the beginning of a horror trilogy. A horror trilogy? Things have come to a pretty pass indeed!
I've also recently come into two new paperback horror novels. Remember when you could insulate your houses with these things? Evan Kingsbury's 'Fire and Flesh' looks like a fun little cheapie about one of my favorite Fortean events, spontaneous human combustion, or as we call over on the Forteana list, SHC. And what to make of Thomas Sullivan, whose novel 'The Phases of Harry Moon' was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize? A couple of years ago 'The Martyring' heralded the return of the gerund title. Now we've got ourselves a Chair of Evil. It's going to be a long, long economic winter. |
12/10/02 PS Publishing and Thomas Ligotti |
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I promise I won't always have this much crap to talk about. I'm just catching up. |
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PS Publishing |
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12/09/02 New New Books and New Old Books |
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I'm adding a section to the website where I can dispense of news that I think readers will find of interest. I'll let readers know what books I'm getting, and what books of interest are coming out. I'll also cover various reading and publishing related stories as well. If you have something to contribute, email me. The plan is to update during the week as required. |
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