Book purchases at Loncon 3

I did my fair share to support the book publishing industry, especially the small press community, when I was in the dealers' room at Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, held August 14-19, 2014, in London.

The books pictured here represent some of the amazing vitality of small press publishing in Australia. As anyone who has tried to purchase books from Australia knows, shipping costs are remarkably high. I was very pleased to purchase these in person. Click to enlarge images.

Five paperbacks from Twelfth Planet Press, Australia.

A double, in the style of the old Ace Doubles, with Above by Stephanie Campisi 

back-to-back with Below by Ben Peek. 

 Cracklescape, four stories by Margo Lanagan, 

with an introduction by Jane Yolen.

 Love and Romanpunk, four stories by Tansy Rayner Roberts, 

with an introduction by Helen Merrick.

 

 Thief of Lives, four stories by Lucy Sussex, 

with an introduction by Karen Joy Fowler.

Caution: Contains Small Parts, four stories by Kirstyn McDermott, 

with an introduction by Kij Johnson.

 Two books, a hardback and a trade paperback,
from Ticonderoga Publications, Australia.

Matilda Told Such Dreadful Lies: The Essential Lucy Sussex, 

a collection of 25 stories.

 The Bride Price, a collection of 13 stories by Cat Sparks.

Related links:
Twelfth Planet Press website
Ticonderoga Publications website

Related link on this blog:
Book purchases at Loncon 3, part 2

2010 World Fantasy Award Winners

The World Fantasy Awards were announced on October 31, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio. Eligible works were published in 2009.

NOVEL WINNER
The City & The City by China Miéville (Macmillan UK/Del Rey)

NOVELLA WINNER
“Sea-Hearts” by Margo Lanagan (X6, coeur de lion publishing)

SHORT STORY WINNER
“The Pelican Bar” by Karen Joy Fowler (Eclipse Three, Night Shade Books)

This gives me a chance to say again that the World Fantasy Awards judges do an excellent job year after year of finding outstanding work to recognize. All the winners and nominees are listed at Locus Online.

The City & The City was a fine novel and “The Pelican Bar” was exceptional, one of the best short stories of the decade. I haven't read “Sea-Hearts” by Margo Lanagan. I did purchase the X6 anthology in the dealers room at Aussiecon 4.

By comparison, the Hugo Awards seem inconsistent, frequently unable to find and recognize the best work. The 2010 Hugo Awards was a pretty good year, especially if we overlook the short story shortlist.

Next year the World Fantasy Convention will be in San Diego. That's too nearby to have any excuse not to go.

Related posts:
The 2010 Hugo Awards: Short Story Shortlist
The Pelican Bar by Karen Joy Fowler
The City & The City and The Other City

Ferryman by Margo Lanagan

A gem of a story, told in evocative prose, it is a literalization of the ferryman of the River Styx. To bring the ferryman his lunch, his daughter, Sharon (which I don't think rhymes with Charon, but nevermind), descends a dark stairway while singing. This is excellent throughout. My minor protest is that the story seems too hermetically sealed. I wondered what might be visible outside the windows of Sharon's house.

"Ferryman" by Margo Lanagan first appeared in the anthology Firebirds Soaring (Firebird-Penguin, 2009) edited by Sharyn November.

Related post: The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume Four, table of contents