T A B L E o f C O N T E N T S October 2017 • Issue 681 • Vol. 79 • No. 4 50th Year of Publication • 30-Time Hugo Winner CHARLES N. BROWN Founder (1968-2009) Cover and Interview Designs by Francesca Myman LIZA GROEN TROMBI Editor-in-Chief KIRSTEN GONG-WONG Managing Editor MARK R. KELLY Locus Online Editor-in-Chief CAROLYN F. CUSHMAN TIM PRATT Senior Editors FRANCESCA MYMAN Design Editor LAUREL AMBERDINE ARLEY SORG Assistant Editors BOB BLOUGH JOSH PEARCE Editorial Assistants JONATHAN STRAHAN Reviews Editor TERRY BISSON LIZ BOURKE STEFAN DZIEMIANOWICZ GARDNER DOZOIS AMY GOLDSCHLAGER FAREN MILLER RICH HORTON Staffers at the Worldcon 75 Staff Weekend at the Messukeskus Convention Center KAMERON HURLEY RUSSELL LETSON I N T E R V I E WS ADRIENNE MARTINI COLLEEN MONDOR James Patrick Kelly: Alterations / 10 RACHEL SWIRSKY Annalee Newitz: Reprogramming / 32 GARY K. WOLFE Contributing Editors M A I N S T O R I E S / 5 ALVARO ZINOS-AMARO Jerry Pournelle (1933 - 2017) • 2016 Sidewise Awards Winners • 2017 Dragon Awards Winners • Roundtable Blog Editor Joan Aiken Prize • 2017 National Book Award Longlist • SFWA Call for Grants • Women Injured WILLIAM G. CONTENTO at Dragon Con • 2017 Man Booker Shortlist Computer Projects Locus, The Magazine of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Field (ISSN 0047-4959), is published monthly, at $7.50 TH E D A T A F I L E / 7 per copy, by Locus Publications, 1933 Davis Street, Suite 297, San Leandro CA 94577. Please send all mail to: Locus Publications, 1933 Davis Street, Suite 297, San 2017 WSFA Small Press Award Finalists • Sarem Removed from Times List • Patterson Grants • Leandro CA 94577. Telephone (510) 339-9196; (510) Awards News • Publishing News • Announcements • Financial News • International Rights • 339-9198. FAX (510) 339-9198. E-mail:
C O R R E C T I O N S T O L O C U S In our September 2017 issue we mistakenly listed the publisher of Carrie Vaughn’s novel Bannerless as Saga Press. It was published by John Joseph Adams Books.
Staffers at Worldcon 75...... (HT)3 David G. Shaw, Aliette de Bodard, Paul Kincaid...... (MKS)4 P H O T O L I S T I N G Scott Edelman, Nalo Hopkinson, David Marusek...... (ED)4 Messukeskus...... (FM)34 Fran Wilde, Barry Goldblatt...... (FM)36 Melinda JY Yang...... (AS)4 Major Ursa, Masumi Washington, Taiyo Fujii....(FM)36 Snodgrass (2016) Melinda Snodgrass...... (LT)4 Convention Mascot...... (F/JIK)35 Bradford Lyau, Liu Pei...... (FM)36 Jerry Pournelle...... (CNB)5 Opening Ceremonies...... (F/JIK)35 Rivqa Rafael, Lewis Hutton Aidan Doyle, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven...... (BG)5 Signing Area and Alex Hong, Robert Hood, Ben H. Winters...... (F/MYT)6 Dealer’s Room...... (FM)35 Tsana Dolichva...... (CS)36 Locus Online Adam Rovner...... (F)6 Aliette de Bodard, Pat Cadigan, Jane Ian McDonald, Bagge, Jonas Berg, James S.A. Corey: Johnson, Scott Lynch & Elizabeth Ian Sales...... (LT)37
LOCUS October 2017 / 5 2016 Sidewise 2017 Dragon Awards Winners Winners of the second annual Dragon Awards Winners Awards were announced during Dragon Con, Sept 1-4, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta GA. Best Science Fiction Novel: Babylon’s Ashes, James S.A. Corey (Orbit). Best Fantasy Novel: Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge, Larry Correia & John Ringo (Baen). Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel: The Hammer of Thor, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion). Best Military James S.A. Corey: Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck (2012) Ben H. Winters (2014) Adam Rovner (2010s) Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel: The winners for the Sidewise Iron Dragoons, Richard Fox (self-published). Best Alternate History Novel: Fallout: Awards for best alternate history The Hot War, Harry Turtledove (Del Rey). Best Apocalyptic Novel: Walkaway, Cory have been announced. Doctorow (Tor). Best Horror Novel: The Long Form: Underground Changeling, Victor LaValle (Spiegel & Airlines, Ben H. Winters (Mul- Grau). Best Comic Book: The Dresden holland). Short Form (tie): ‘‘Trea- Files: Dog Men. Best Graphic Novel: sure Fleet’’, Daniel M. Bensen Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files: (Tales from Alternate Earths); Wild Card, Jim Butcher, Carlos Gomez ‘‘What If the Jewish State Had (Dynamite). Best Science Fiction or Been Established in East Africa’’, Fantasy TV Series: Stranger Things. Adam Rovner (What Ifs of Jew- Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie: Daniel M. Bensen (2010s) ish History). Wonder Woman. The Sidewise Awards have been presented annually Winners in various gaming-related since 1995 to recognize excellence in alternate historical categories were also announced. For fiction. This year’s judges were Stephen Baxter, Karen Larry Correia (2011) John Ringo (2000s) more:
SFWA encourages programs sup- Women Injured At Dragon Con porting and promoting fantasy and Two convention attendees, Jamie Temple- stating they were ‘‘grateful that the injuries were not more science fiction writing and writers Thompson Amador and Kelly McDaniel, severe,’’ and expressing pride in Dragon Con attendees for to apply for a 2017 grant. We look were injured September 3, 2017 around stepping in quickly to assist the victims. for non-profit, diverse projects that 1:30 a.m. by chairs thrown from the 10th span a range of ages and publishing approaches and that reach a large floor of the Marriott Marquis hotel into the group of individuals. atrium during Dragon Con, held September 2017 Man Booker At this time we are asking all those 1-4, 2017 in Atlanta GA. Both women who might be qualified to submit their were taken to hospitals and treated for Shortlist grant proposals for consideration in the current fiscal year. their injuries. The six-title shortlist for the Man Booker Prize includes Details of the request should The Atlanta Police Department is 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster (Faber & Faber), Exit West include the Recipient’s tax status, investigating the incident. Anyone with by Mohsin Hamid (Hamish Hamilton), and Lincoln in information about the project or work video or information should contact the Bardo by George Saunders (Bloomsbury). The award, proposed, how the project promotes science fiction and fantasy, the in- them. Tips can be anonymous and may which comes with a £50,000 prize, is presented annually to tended audience for the project, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000 the best original novel in the English language by a living how the grant will be managed. via Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577- author. This year’s judges are Sarah Hall, Tom Phillips, Co- 8477, text information to 274637, or lin Thubron, Lola Young (chair), and Lila Azam Zanganeh. Last year SFWA “provided over visit
6 / LOCUS October 2017 THE DATA FILE 2017 WSFA Small Press Award Finalists bulk from booksellers to resell them later of Baen books. The winner was honored at the • Finalists for the 2017 Washington Science at events. Writer’s Symposium at Gen Con 50, August Fiction Association (WSFA) Small Press Award She further said, ‘‘I honestly believe the steps 19, 2017, at the Indiana Convention Center in for Short Fiction have been announced����������: ‘‘A Sal- I took are well within the rules.’’ The Times Indianapolis IN. For more:
LOCUS October 2017 / 7 PEOPLE & PUBLISHING Milestones ROBERT J. SAWYER was invested as a member of the Order of Canada, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Canadian Government, on August 25, 2017. David Johnston, the Governor General of Canada, presented the award at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. MEL MELCER is now represented by the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Awards The TV adaptation of MARGARET ATWOOD’s A Dominica Phetteplace (2017) N.K. Jemisin (2016) V.E. Schwab (2017) Handmaid’s Tale won five Emmy JULIET MARILLIER sold in a pre-empt, via Kristin Nelson FRANCESCO VERSO’s Awards, including the coveted the Warrior Bards trilogy to Anne of Nelson Literary Agency. Film dystopian Nexhuman went to award for Outstanding Drama Sowards at Ace via Russell Galen rights went to Paramount Studios at Jason Sizemore at Apex. Series, presented September 17, of Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary auction, with Roy Lee and Barbara MICHAEL HODGES sold 2017 at a gala ceremony in Los Agency. Muschietti to produce and Andy SF Mawholla to Gary Lucas at Angeles CA. Atwood received a KATE ELLIOTT sold three Muschietti to direct, via Nelson, Severed Press via Lane Heymont of standing ovation when she appeared books in the Sun Chronicles – Angela Cheng Caplan of Cheng the Tobias Literary Agency. onstage. ‘‘genderbent Alexander the Great Caplan Company Inc, and lawyer JAMES AQUILONE sold Dead DOMINICA PHETTEPLACE as a space opera’’ – to Devi Pillai at Wayne Alexander. Jack and the Pandemonium is the 2017 recipient of the Rona Tor with Miriam Weinberg editing HUNTER SHEA’s horror Device to Alisa Gus at Curiosity Jaffe Award, which includes a trip via Russell Galen of Scovil Galen collection Don’t F–- With Mother Quills Press via Lane Heymont of to New York and $30,000 to support Ghosh Literary Agency. Nature went to Gary Goldstein at the Tobias Literary Agency. the writing of her novel in progress, ROWENA MILLER’s Torn Kensington via Louise Fury of the PATRICK GREENE sold Red Project Empathy. and two more books in a new epic Bent Agency. Harvest, first in the Chronicles of GREG BEAR received the fantasy series went to Sarah Guan EDMUND GLASBY’s epic Haunted Hollow, and two more 2017 Forry Award for lifetime at Orbit via Jessica Sinsheimer of fantasy series The Deamondamned books to Michaela Hamilton at achievement in the field of SF, the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Trilogy sold to James Faktor at Lyrical Underground. presented September 14, 2017 by Agency. Venture Press via Phil Harbottle. JULIE TUOVI’s SF Night Lily the Los Angeles Science Fantasy EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL’s CAITLIN STARLING sold and a second book went to Alisa Society. The Glass Hotel sold to Jennifer SF novel The Luminous Dead to Gus at Curiosity Quills Press via N.K. JEMISIN’s ‘‘The City Jackson at Knopf and Jennifer David Pomerico at Harper Voyager Moe Ferrara of BookEnds. Born Great’’ (Tor.com 9/16) won the Lambert at Harper Canada via via Caitlin McDonald of the Donald CHARLIE ADHARA sold 2017 Eugie Foster Memorial Award Katherine Fausset of Curtis Brown, Maass Literary Agency. paranormal romance The Wolf at for short fiction, which ‘‘honors and to Sophie Johnathan at Picador stories that are irreplaceable, that in the UK via Anna Webber of inspire, enlighten, and entertain,’’ United Agents. presented at Dragon Con, ROBIN COOK’s SF thriller September 1-4, 2017 in Atlanta Pandemic went to Putnam via GA. Jemisin received a plaque and Erica Spellman Silverman of a $1,000 prize. Trident Media Group. Editor NAVAH WOLFE of Saga LAIRD BARRON’s Blood Press was named a 2017 ‘‘Rising Standard went to Sara Minnich at Star’’ by Publishers Weekly. Putnam via Janet Reid of New Leaf Literary & Media. NICK MAMATAS sold Books Sold Sabbath to Brendan Deneen at Tor MICHAEL SWANWICK sold via Alec Shane at Writers House. The Iron Dragon’s Mother, set in ANDREW MICHAEL the world of The Iron Dragon’s HURLEY’s ‘‘modern gothic’’ Daughter and The Dragons of Devil’s Day sold to Helen Atsma Babel, to Jennifer Gunnels at Tor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Martha Millard of Sterling Lord via Joanna Kaliszewska of John Literistic. Murray. V.E. SCHWAB’s new trilogy DACRE STOKER & J.D. Threads of Power, a spin-off from BARKER sold Dracul, a Dracula the Shades of Magic series, sold to prequel authorized by the Bram Miriam Weinberg at Tor for seven Stoker Estate, to Mark Tavani at figures via Holly Root of Root Putnam at auction, and to Simon Literary. Taylor at Transworld in the UK Greg Bear (2014) Michael Swanwick (2017)
8 / LOCUS October 2017 rights to Summerland to Patrick Nielsen Hayden at Tor via Jessica Purdue at UK publisher Orion. Books Delivered ADAM CHRISTOPHER delivered I Only Killed Him Once, the final Ray Electromatic mystery, to Diana Gill at Tor. S.L. HUANG turned in Zero Sum Game to Diana Gill at Tor. Publishing Editor JAMES L. SUTTER left Paizo after 13 years to become a full-time writer, effective Caitlin Starling (2017) S. Jae-Jones (2017) Kim-Mei Kirtland (2017) September 12, 2017. the Door and two more titles to between The Shining and Titanic,’’ Reverse sold to Holly West at SAMANTHA BEIKO has Angela James at Carina Press. to Anna Roberto at Feiwel & Swoon Reads via Brent Taylor of stepped down as co-publisher of LAURIE FOREST sold two Friends via Andrea Somberg of the TriadaUS Literary Agency. ChiZine Publications to focus on more in the Black Witch Chronicles Harvey Klinger. NATALIE LUND’s first YA her own writing, but remains as a YA series to Lauren Smulski at AMY ROSE CAPETTA & novel We Speak in Storms and a consultant and freelance contractor. Harlequin Teen via Carrie Hannigan CORI McCARTHY sold the second book sold to Liza Kaplan at SANDRA KASTURI is now sole of Hannigan Salky Getzler. Once and Future duology to Aubrey Philomel in a pre-empt via Sarah publisher. S. JAE-JONES sold four books Poole at Jimmy Patterson via Davies of the Greenhouse Literary KIM-MEI KIRTLAND has in the East Asian-inspired YA Sara Crowe of Pippin Properties Agency. been promoted to full agent at the fantasy series Guardians of Dawn for Capetta and Sarah Davies of ROB DIRCKS sold audio Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. to Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Greenhouse Literary Agency for original You’re Going to Mars! Books via Kateleyn Detweiler of McCarthy. to Steve Feldberg at Audible Jill Grinberg Literary Management. PINTIP DUNN sold YA Malice, Originals. Media ALYSSA WEES sold YA The ‘‘The Dead Zone meets The MARIE O’REGAN will edit ALEX WHITE sold Alien: The Witch of Wishes to Monica Jean Sixth Sense,’’ to Liz Pelletier at Phantoms: Haunting Tales from Cold Forge to Steve Saffel at Titan at Delacorte via Penelope Burns of Entangled Teen via Beth Miller of Masters of the Genre for Miranda via Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Gelfman Schneider/ICM. Writers House. Jewess at Titan Books via Jamie Literary. RICH LARSON’s YA SF trilogy ELIZABETH PRIEST sold Cowen of the Ampersand Agency. Mothership went to Brit Hvide at three YA novels in the Troutespond Orbit via John Silbersack of Trident series, beginning with Concrete Media Group. Faery, to Francesca Tristan Barbini Books Resold CHELSEA BOBULSKI sold at Luna Press via the John Jarrold HANNU RAJANIEMI sold US YA Remember Me, ‘‘a cross Literary Agency. LAURA SNIDER sold YA fantasy Witches’ Quarters to SF in SF Callie Metler Smith at Clear Daryl Gregory and Rebecca Gomez Farrell read at SF in SF on September Fork via Stephanie Hansen of 10, 2017 in San Francisco, with Terry Bisson moderating a discussion Metamorphosis Literary Agency. afterward. Proceeds from the door went to the American Bookbinders ABBY REED sold two more in Museum. the YA Stars Fall Circle to Debby Gilbert at SoulMate. KATARINA BOUDREAUX sold SF YA Platform Dwellers to Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press. Playwright NATHAN MAKARYK’s first novel Nottingham, a reimagining of Robin Hood ‘‘in the tradition of The Mists of Avalon by way of Game of Thrones,’’ sold to Bess Cozby at Forge via Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. SHERRI WOOSLEY sold first novel Walking Through Fire to Beth Canova at Talos Press via Jennifer Azantian of Azantian Literary Agency. Hannu Rajaniemi (2014) SHANA SILVER’s debut SF Daryl Gregory, Terry Bisson, Rebecca Gomez Farrell
LOCUS October 2017 / 9 ames Patrick Kelly was born April 11, 1951 in Mineola NY. He (2006), Rewired: The Post-Cyberpunk Anthology (2007), The Secret What I loved about the experience was, the time from Steve’s final offer earned a BA in English Literature at the University of Notre Dame History of Science Fiction (2009), Kafkaesque: Stories Inspired by to publication was just five months. That’s magazine turnover time, not Jin 1972, and attended the Clarion Writers’ Workshop in 1974 and Franz Kafka (2011), Digital Rapture: The Singularity Anthology book turnover. I just couldn’t resist. On top of which, I’m a huge Audible ’76. He began writing full time in 1977. In 2005 he joined the Stonecoast (2012), and Nebula Awards Showcase 2012 (2012). fan. Audible has been very good to me – I have a lot of stuff in their store. Creative Writing MFA program as an instructor. Kelly has also written a handful of novels: Messenger Chronicles ‘‘Cory Doctorow showed the way, and I had other friends like Mur Kelly’s professional career began with ‘‘Dea Ex Machina’’ for Galaxy Planet of Whispers (1984) and sequel Look into the Sun (1989); Free- Lafferty who directed me down the path that led to this audio opportunity. (1975), followed by scores of stories for major anthologies and SF maga- dom Beach (1985, with John Kessel); and Wildlife (1994). His latest They pointed out that there were people self-publishing their novels who zines. Major short works include Hugo winners ‘‘Think Like a Dinosaur’’ novel, Mother Go, appeared as an audiobook original in July 2017. were not validated by the market, who weren’t necessarily published in (1996) and ‘‘1016 to 1’’ (1999); Nebula Award-winning novella Burn magazines, or who didn’t have novel credits – I was the first one who had (2005, also a Hugo finalist); Hugo and Nebula Award finalists ‘‘Rat’’ ‘‘The audiobook of my new novel Mother Go came out in July. I finished novel credits and some awards and some validation from the field to give (1986), ‘‘Itsy Bitsy Spider’’ (1997; also a Locus Award winner and Stur- the book about a year before that and went in search of an agent, and my stuff away for free in audio. That was for my novella Burn, which geon finalist), ‘‘Undone’’ (2001), and ‘‘Plus for Minus’’ (2010); Hugo found a very fine one, John Silbersack. We brought the book to market, won the Nebula Award. It was published by Tachyon, a wonderful small finalists ‘‘Bernardo’s House’’ (2003; also a Sturgeon Award runner-up), but the marketing did not go as smoothly as I would’ve liked. Some press, but publisher Jacob Wiseman gave me permission to podcast it, ‘‘The Best Christmas Ever’’ (2004); Nebula Award nominees ‘‘Saint people were not interested, and I don’t think it was the book – I think it with Chapter One going up on the day of publication, and then a chapter Theresa and the Aliens’’ (1984), ‘‘Mr. Boy’’ (1990), ‘‘Standing in Line was the market for science fiction. At one point we still had a couple of a week. 20,000 people downloaded it, so do the math. I think that’s why with Mister Jimmy’’ (1991), ‘‘Ninety Percent of Everything’’ (1999, with editors thinking about it, and Audible stepped up with an offer that was it won the Nebula Award. Combine how many copies Jacob published, Jonathan Lethem & John Kessel), ‘‘Men Are Trouble’’ (2004), ‘‘Don’t actually very nice, but it came with a six-month blackout where they and how many podcast listeners heard it, and it adds up to some buzz. At Stop’’ (2007), and ‘‘Going Deep’’ (2009); Asimov’s Award-winner ‘‘The wanted exclusivity for their audiobook. Not to read into their minds, but the Nebulas, Steve Feldberg came up, introduced himself, and said, ‘I’m Prisoner of Chillon’’ (1985); Sturgeon Aaward honorable mentions I think they were interested in being the owners of some things, instead from Audible. We really like this podcast you made, and we’re interested ‘‘Heroics’’ (1987), ‘‘Dancing with the Chairs’’ (1989), and ‘‘Faith’’ of the reprinters. I worked with Steve Feldberg, who is a good friend. in putting you in the store.’ I was like, ‘I’m a total Audible head, I’ve been (1989); Tiptree Award finalist ‘‘Chemistry’’ (1993); and Sturgeon and We’ve worked together on a lot of reprint projects, and now he’s edited a subscriber since day one, but is my podcast of quality? You guys are Tiptree finalist ‘‘Lovestory’’ (1998). my book. I hope he got some pleasure out of it, and he certainly was professionals.’ He said, ‘Yours is pretty good, and better than some in Some of his short fiction is collected in Heroines (1990), Think Like very good at it, but how many books does he edit? Usually he acquires our store.’ That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Eventually a Dinosaur and Other Stories (1997), Strange But Not a Stranger a book that’s been published, and then passes it along to a narrator. He’s I ended up narrating 50 of my short stories for Audible. (2002), The Wreck of the Godspeed and Other Stories (2008) and a sharp reader, and he made some good points, and I was pleased to do ‘‘There is a sort of intimacy to narrating: ‘I’m whispering in your ear.’ Masters of Science Fiction: James Patrick Kelly (2016). New collection most of what he said. It’s specifically different if an author can do that for his or her work. The Promise of Space is forthcoming. He co-edited several anthologies ‘‘Publishing in audio first was kind of a risky move – I acknowledge You’re not only listening to the story, you’re registering that this is the with John Kessel: Feeling Very Strange: The Slipstream Anthology that – and at the moment we still do not have a print publisher lined up. p. 64
LOCUS October 2017 / 11 GARDNERSPACE: A SHORT FICTION COLUMN BY GARDNER DOZOIS
A Flight to the Future, Kathryn Cramer, ed. ‘‘Transitions’’ by Eileen Gunn. Although they The July/August issue of Asimov’s is stronger (XPrize/ANA). suffer from the above problems to one degree overall. Best story here is probably ‘‘An Eve- or another, and few of them can stand alone, the ning with Severyn Grimes’’ by Rich Larson, a Asimov’s 5-6/17, 7-8/17 following make for interesting reading if you can suspenseful, fast-paced tale in which a kidnapped F&SF 7-8/17 make allowances: ‘‘Incorruptible’’ by Peter billionaire has to try to outwit his kidnappers Watts, ‘‘Gap Year’’ by Justina Robson, ‘‘The while in captivity, and at the same time deal with The Best of Subterranean, William Schafer, ed. Urge to Jump’’ by Karl Schroeder, ‘‘Tomorrow an angry young woman who has some very real (Subterranean Press) July 2017. and Tomorrow’’ by Mary Anne Mohanraj, ‘‘A personal reasons for wanting him dead. The story Passing Sickness’’ by Paolo Bacigalupi, and features some nicely inventive technology, and is, Flight to the Future is a multimedia proj- ‘‘The Trouble with Brothers’’ by Jon Courtnay as they used to say, ‘‘a page-turner.’’ R. Garcia y ect edited by Kathryn Cramer (although Grimwood. A Flight to the Future also fea- Robertson was one of the mainstays of Asimov’s AEric Desatnik is also listed as ‘‘Creator tures work by Bruce Sterling, Gregory Benford, in the ’80s and ’90s, selling many stories there, and Producer’’). Sponsored by XPrize and the Brenda Cooper, Kathleen Ann Goonan, James L. and it’s good to see him returning after a long Japanese airline company ANA, A Flight to the Cambias, Sheila Finch, Hannu Rajaniemi, Chen silence with a lighthearted space opera romp, Future collects 30 very short stories, many by Qiufan, and others. ‘‘The Girl Who Stole Herself’’. It features one leading science fiction authors, all working from of Robertson’s trademark plucky and resourceful the same starting point: ANA flight 008 takes The May/June issue of Asimov’s is an average teenage heroines, one who clearly has Robert A. off from Tokyo on June 28, 2017, and, having issue, with a couple of standout stories. Best Heinlein’s Podkayne lurking somewhere in her inadvertently passed through a space/time warp story here is ‘‘Triceratops’’ by new writer Ian literary bloodstream. Although it deals with grim of some kind, lands in San Francisco on June 28, McHugh, taking us to a near-future in which subjects such as slavery, kidnapping, military 2037 – a literal flight to the future. The stories then hybrids of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens have conquest, and murder, there’s something of a concern themselves with how the passengers deal been created, forming an entirely new race which YA atmosphere about the story, which lightens with and react to the future world they’ve been doesn’t fit comfortably into either world – and who things up, and it’s fun to see our heroine tricking abruptly dumped into. may be developing a way of life that their creators and out-maneuvering those who mean to do her Considered as an anthology – there doesn’t couldn’t have anticipated, which may have unfore- harm. New writer Cadwell Turnbull turns in a seem to be a separate physical book available, but seen implications for the future. Also substantial poignant story about a man who learns to navigate the stories are all online:
12 / LOCUS October 2017 LOCUS LOOKS AT SHORT FICTION: RICH HORTON
Lightspeed 8/17, 9/17 a really nice story by Italian writer Giovanni de to a philosophically... interesting... conclusion. Tor.com 8/17 Feo. Cynthia is an English girl who wants to be Apex 7/17 a figure skating star. From early in her life she Andy Dudak offers ‘‘Cryptic Female Choice’’ in Interzone 7-8/17 occasionally encounters a strange boy named the July August Interzone, which has an intriguing McSweeney’s #49 Ugo, who claims to know their common future. central idea – women can be altered so that they Eventually he tells her that he experiences ‘‘Leaps’’ can shuffle together, more or less intentionally, Mightier than the Sword, K.J. Parker (Subter- through time, when his older self goes into a sort genetic contributions from multiple men before ranean) June 2017. of fugue and travels into his younger mind. The fertilizing an ovum and bearing a child. This is story follows their life, and their love affair, and controversial, to say the least, and the story fol- Totalitopia, John Crowley (PM Press) July 2017. careers – with the question always as to how it lows one such woman, a fighter for the process, will end, for Ugo’s knowledge of the future only on the run after a new political/religious order The Book of Swords, Gardner Dozois, ed. (Ban- goes so far. There’s an obvious hint of The Time has mostly outlawed it. There’s desperation, and tam) October 2017. Traveler’s Wife here, but with a somewhat darker mystical near-transcendence. An involving look at tint – and with an ambiguous ending twist. This a neat idea, it’s its own story, and strong, though here’s a good set of stories in the August is a very effective, moving, and thoughtful piece. it’s one of those ideas that seems to demand further Lightspeed. Ashok Banker’s ‘‘Tongue’’ is investigation from different direction. Tan uncomfortable and rather over-the-top A new Greg Egan piece is always worth your satire on the horrors of a traditional Indian mar- time. In Tor.com for August he offers ‘‘Uncanny McSweeney’s #49, Cover Stories, features stories riage, set on an asteroid. The over-the-top elements Valley’’. This is the story of Adam, who, we soon based on other stories. The most SFnal of the batch are part and parcel of satire, though I also thought gather, is a recreated version of a famous writer, is ‘‘One Hour, Every Seven Years’’ by Alice Sola the portrayal of Indian culture seemed a wincing based on memory uploads and the like. Adam faces Kim, based on Ray Bradbury’s ‘‘All Summer in a cliché, as did the corporate menace target; still, opposition from his original’s family, and from Day’’ (a personal favorite of mine). In Kim’s ver- it shocks and scares. Christopher East’s ‘‘An the law, which doesn’t recognize his personhood, sion, the narrator is Margot, the girl locked in the Inflexible Truth’’ is set in a near future in which but the emotional center of the story concerns his closet during the one day of sunshine of Venus. The the twin menaces of climate change and fake news realization that he isn’t his original – and why – as story is opened up, and we learn about Margot’s have further poisoned our environments (physical well as his encounter with his original’s husband’s parents. Her father, a terraforming expert whose and mental). Roland Zhang works for the Neutral family in El Salvador. failure on Venus changes their family’s future, and News Institute, which attempts to disseminate her mother, end up taking her to Mars, where she, actual news. He’s on a tour of the ‘‘citywreck’’ Apex in July features another new Rich Larson among other things, is able to time travel back to of Las Vegas, ostensibly as a tourist but actually story, ‘‘L’Appel du Vide’’, a solid thriller in her formative Venusian day and try to fix her life, following a fellow journalist he greatly admired, which Pau, who is working on a promising proj- which means we get a really effective mix-up of a who was lost in Vegas. Zhang finds something he ect for Ceylan Industries, is kidnapped – even bunch of cool SF ideas with a well-depicted family doesn’t expect, that challenges his ideals. ‘‘The though his brain is locked down in a way that with issues. I liked it a lot. Shining Hills’’ by Susan Palwick is a moving nothing can be extracted from it. He eventually story of a teenaged girl who wants to escape our learns who his kidnapper is, which leads to the One of my favorite novellas of the year is Mightier world via a rumored portal, and of the cop who rather wrenching motive, predictably closely tied than the Sword by K.J. Parker. This is told by tries to talk her out of it, pointing out that even if to the nature of the research project. By this time the nephew of the current Empress, who is pretty the portal is real, nobody knows what it’s like on experienced readers can more or less plot the rest much in charge of the Empire as her husband’s the other side, and it could be pretty awful. But of the story – but that doesn’t matter all that much, health fails. She sends her nephew, a surprisingly people usually are that desperate to get away for a as Larson, if indeed working familiar territory, capable general, on a mission to figure out why reason – and the story turns effectively on the cop’s handles things very well. There is also a very raiders are ransacking monasteries. At the same personal reasons for his efforts. ‘‘Ink’’ by Bruce intriguing piece from Eric Schwitzgebel, ‘‘The time, our protagonist is trying to save the whore he McAllister is a subtly realized tale of a boy with Turing Machines of Babel’’, which actualizes loves to distraction... while he slowly realizes, to hemophilia who collects stamps, and, while living a notion that should have been obvious to me, a p. 56 in Italy, asks for old stamps from an old lady – and software engineer – that the Library of Babel can the letters she finds bring up memories of her past, be seen as the substrate for a Turing Machine, THIS MONTH IN HISTORY and of her husband and son, lost during the War. if you allow for a read/write function – which October 29, 2076. Skin in the game. San- disc stock soars as USDA approves new Schwitzgebel presents as, of all things, rabbits. Flashcreme™, the first certified organic Ugo was the name of the old woman’s son in The story follows the life of a man who becomes biodevice to use human epidermis as stor- McAllister’s ‘‘Ink’’, so I was amused to find that obsessed with one rabbit, and then with the true age medium. Also safe sunscreen. the September issue of Lightspeed features ‘‘Ugo’’, structure of the universe, which leads eventually
LOCUS October 2017 / 13 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: GARY K. WOLFE
Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr, John Crow- For Dar Oakley and his fellow crows, dogs and another gold mine for the crows that feed on it. ley (Saga 978-1-4814-9559-2, $28.99, 464pp, hc) wolves are ‘‘carcass openers,’’ since they provide Finally, Dar Oakley befriends the narrator, whose October 2017. opportunities for fresh food – they’re sort of First wife Debra has recently died of one of the ‘‘new Responders in the tooth-and-claw world – while diseases’’ and who himself suffers from another. Tool of War, Paolo Bacigalupi (Little, Brown humans are a puzzle, killing but not eating each It seems important to keep in mind that the narra- 978-0-316-22083-5, $17.99, 378pp, tp) October other and leaving behind much of what they do tor’s own elegiac story, revealed in bits throughout 2017. eat. Dar Oakley’s tale begins in ancient Europe, the novel, actually contains Dar Oakley’s entire when crows first encounter the human world, narrative, and the narrator repeatedly calls into Quillifer, Walter Jon Williams (Saga 978-1-4814- which they call Ymr (the world of crows is called question his own reliability – which is a way of 8997-3, $27.99, 544pp, hc) October 2017. Ka). Witnessing the aftermath of a brutal battle calling our attention to the sheer story-ness of Dar between two warring tribes, the crows realize that Oakley’s account. A Long Day in Lychford, Paul Cornell (Tor.com humans can provide them with untold riches in the There is much more to this rich and complex 978-0-7655-9518-0, $14.99,128pp, tp; -9517-3, form of carrion, and thus the crows ‘‘joined the novel than I can begin to describe here, and as $5.99, ebook) October 2017. history of People, and their own history began.’’ original as Crowley’s approach is, parts of it Dar Oakley’s own long history with People begins reflect familiar fantasy tropes: Fox Cap, for ex- A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life of Harlan El- when he learns to talk with a couple of humans, a ample, discovers that after she returns from the lison, Nat Segaloff (NESFA Press 978-1-61037, shamanistic figure called the Singer and a young forest where she sought her stolen cap, years have $35.00, 416pp, hc) July 2017. girl called Fox Cap (because when he first meets passed in the village, in good fairytale form. She her she wears a foxhead as a cap), who gives him also accompanies Dar Oakley on an otherworldly oward the end of John Crowley’s aston- his name, Dar of the Oak by the Lea. They are the journey, and later Dar Oakley himself visits the ishing new novel Ka: Dar Oakley in the first of a series of allies that Dar Oakley finds in underworld, Orpheus-like, to bring back the TRuin of Ymr, the immortal crow of the the human world. Later, in what appears to be the love of his life, a crow named Na Cherry. Other title asks a Coyote what they have ever got from Middle Ages, he befriends a monk simply called animals figure into the narrative – ravens, owls, a the humans whose world has encroached upon Brother – who gets in a fair amount of trouble coyote – in ways that suggest a kind of hierarchy and finally displaced their own, and the Coyote because of his consorting with a crow – and still of hermetic knowledge involving the intersection responds, ‘‘Stories.... We’re made of stories now, later, after he makes his way to the New World of different worlds, another favorite theme of brother. It’s why we never die even when we through a series of fabulously unlikely adventures, Crowley’s. Covering thousands of years of human do.’’ Certainly Dar Oakley’s long life is made of he falls in with a young man called One Ear (so- history, Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr may stories – not always his own – as is the life of the called because of a mutilation suffered when he seem at times more like a chronicle than a tale, but dying human narrator who ostensibly transcribes is captured as a child by the rival tribe called the the tales within it, from Dar Oakley’s own love and translates his tale – although even this nar- Crow clan, and then is later raised by the clan as stories, to his acerbically distanced view of human rator admits to the possibility that ‘‘this is only one of their own) – but, like Dar Oakley himself, development, to the nearly self-contained tales a story I have told myself.’’ The stories that we he is always something of an outsider. Through- of figures like Fox Cap, the Brother, Anna Kuhn, tell ourselves, and how they define us, have been out, Dar Oakley finds himself aligned with the and the narrator himself, recapitulate its central abiding concerns in Crowley’s fiction, and his outsiders in the human communities he visits themes of death, survival, and the value of story first full-scale return to fantasy since completing – not too surprising, since even today claiming in ways that are as haunting and provocative as his Aegypt sequence a decade ago explores the to talk with a crow would earn more than a few anything Crowley – or almost anyone else in the idea in complex and elegant ways, and with some sideways glances. last several years – has written. It may be some of the most beautiful prose that Crowley, always All these humans grow old and die, of course, sort of masterpiece. a master stylist, has yet produced. It’s partly a but Dar Oakley repeatedly returns to the human novel about the discovery of consciousness, partly world, even when he himself faces death a few Paolo Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker trilogy, which about the discovery of language, partly about the times. Eventually the narrative takes us through concludes with Tool of War, began as a disturbing discovery of time, and in no small part about the the American Civil War, where he meets an Emily ecological fable of young people trying to survive discovery of story. Dickinson-like poet named Anna Kuhn and later by mining ruined oil tankers for copper and other Animal stories are a risky business. When her son, who becomes a famous crow-hunter. He resources in a devastated southeastern US, mostly they work, it’s almost in spite of themselves; the witnesses the urbanization of America, which around New Orleans, then moved to an almost tendency to anthropomorphize or allegorize bun- creates so many sources of sustenance that crows equally devastated DC area in The Drowned nies, toads, mice, bears, moles, or entire barnyards no longer need to fly south in winter, and finally Cities. Over the course of the trilogy, though, the can get pretty grating very quickly. But as Olaf sees the growing decay of human civilization, inundation of the coastlines began to serve mostly Stapledon realized as long ago as Sirius and which gives the novel its subtitle and its absolutely as background to the violent post-government as Ursula K. Le Guin realized with her animal stunning opening line: ‘‘There has come to be a society dominated by brutal corporations and even stories, they also provide the closest opportunity great mountain at the end of the world.’’ That more brutal fiefdoms, religious cults, warlords, we have at hand to imagine an alien intelligence. mountain, we soon realize, is made of waste, yet and criminal gangs. Tool, the superhuman ‘‘aug-
14 / LOCUS October 2017 ment’’ who protected the youthful protagonists and Bacigalupi’s own AgriGen among SF’s most lebight, but is also something of a classic 18th- of Ship Breaker, was the only major character venal corporate villains), Tool is intellectual prop- century rake, and the novel opens with his comical held over in The Drowned Cities, but he becomes erty gone rogue; from Caroa’s point of view, he’s escape out the window of the young woman with the central figure in Tool of War, which, with a threat to the survival of humanity. whom he’s currently in love, as her father unex- the aid of a bit of plot-coupon cashing, manages As in the earlier novels, the wider world is pre- pectedly returns. Cautioning us that the story of to reintroduce characters from both the previous sented only in occasional glimpses; we learn of his life ‘‘may reveal more folly than wisdom,’’ he novels, thus providing a conclusion that unites the Patel Global, which for a while shields Tool from seems to be preparing us for a series of headlong three novels narratively as well as thematically. his pursuers, and of other economic entities such picaresque adventures, but things quickly begin to The central theme of the trilogy turns out to be as the Chinese Co-Prosperity Sphere, the West Af- change when Ethlebight is invaded, plundered, and one of SF’s most venerable: the power differential rican Technology Combine, and the Mediterranean destroyed by pirates from the rival empire of the between the creator and the created, between Free Trade Zone, but reference to any traditional Aekoi. Quillifer survives, but is later captured by the owner and the owned, between freedom and nation-states is notable by its absence. But in the a notorious bandit calling himself Sir Basil, who compulsion. There are times when Tool, a far end, the novel depends less on this background, in addition to his bloodthirsty brutality and drip- more complex character here than earlier, calls and less on its action setpieces (such as a terrific ping sarcasm, shows an odd streak of didacticism, to mind everything from the latest Planet of the battle aboard that dirigible), than on the character complaining, for example, that Quillifer’s copy Apes reboots, all the way back to Bladerunner, of the humanized monster Tool, his allies and en- of a famous literary satire is the wrong transla- Capek’s R.U.R., and even to the ur-text of such emies, and on the moral dilemma faced by Ariel tion. (There are a good many such one-off bits of tales, Frankenstein. What Bacigalupi adds to this Jones, whose ambition to advance in the Mercier absurd humor throughout the tale, which add a familiar dynamic is a level of raw brutality that Corporation conflicts with her own sense of hu- darkly comic tone to what often gets pretty grim.) seemed surprising for a YA novel even from the manity and justice. None of this is particularly With the aid of a nymph-goddess who finds him first volume, and – perhaps more important – a new in SF – in fact, it seems an almost deliberate appealing, he manages to escape again, but rejects clear line of causation between environmental revisiting of classic themes – but Bacigalupi’s her advances as he realizes that joining her in her catastrophe and the disintegration of civiliza- execution of these themes grandly concludes a kingdom might result in his returning to his world tion. There’s a mad scientist of sorts in the novel, trilogy which is as thrilling and thought-provoking as much as a century later (one of the few classic which gives Tool a personal stake in his mission as anything in recent young-adult SF. fantasy motifs that Williams employs). Spurning of revenge, but the trilogy as a whole suggests her sets up a threat that will hang over Quillifer in quite direct terms that a single madman, or a In one of Donald Barthelme’s funnier stories, for the rest of the novel, which consists largely single vicious corporation, couldn’t gain this kind a hapless would-be writer finds that one of the of fully realized independent episodes: Quillifer of power were it not for the bad decisions we’re questions on the National Writer’s Examination finds his way into the court of Duisland, where making right now. (In an unsettling way, the series (‘‘a five-hour fifty-minute examination, for his he assumes the title ‘‘Groom of the Pudding’’ began moving toward the Trump era well before certificate’’) involves recognizing at least four and almost accidentally proves himself to be a there was a Trump era.) Many YA dystopias (and archaic words for sword. On the basis of his new champion stag-killer (drawing on his background they’re still coming along with the regularity of novel Quillifer, Walter Jon Williams would get as a butcher), later a brilliant naval strategist, and Poke Monsters at an outdoor music festival) tend that certificate with flying colors. His vocabulary eventually an effective field-marshal in a crucial to mutter vaguely that something bad happened of antique weaponry is formidable, as well as his land battle to save the kingdom from usurpers – all in the past in terms of our stewardship of the command of archaic military and naval terminol- the while finding more willing bed partners, the planet, leading somehow to the current malaise; ogy: the tale is packed with enough chebeks, most important of whom is Amalie, the pregnant Bacigalupi wants to show us exactly how we can dirks, calivers, pollaxes, and demiculverins to win wife of the Marquess of Steyne. get from here to there. The drowned cities that a dozen Scrabble or trivia games, not to mention Quillifer isn’t quite comical or hapless enough provide the controlling metaphor of the entire such neologisms as ‘‘gastrologist,’’ ‘‘logomania,’’ to come across as a picaresque antihero – though series are far too convincing for mere background ‘‘poetastical,’’ ‘‘credent,’’ and others which, as he has his moments of slapstick hilarity, as in that or scene-setting. Quillifer and others proudly announce, they ‘‘just opening scene – nor is he cowardly enough to echo That said, it does make for some terrific scene- made up.’’ As should be evident, there’s a good Fraser’s Flashman, but he’s not quite a traditional setting. The novel opens with two alternating deal of infectious playfulness involved here, and romantic hero, either, despite his apparent amo- points of view: Ariel Jones, an intelligence analyst the question that quickly arises is whether this is rous skills. His antecedents probably go back as far for the ruthless Mercier Corporation trying to going to be infectious enough, or Quillifer himself as Fielding’s Tom Jones – the querulous narrative track down Tool from her station in the corpora- ingratiating enough, to power us through what voice echoes both Fielding and Sterne – but there’s tion’s war-dirigible, and Tool himself, still in promises to be at least three hefty volumes of also a bit of the science fictional problem-solver Washington, DC (never directly named) leading episodic adventures. Williams has been cheerfully in his makeup, as he figures out from whole cloth the improvised army with which he fought against genre-hopping for most of his career, sometimes military and naval strategies that he’s never stud- the Army of God at the end of The Drowned even in the same novel (see Implied Spaces), ied, and a bit of the self-mythologizer in his often Cities. Mahlia, the young woman whom Tool had but he began that career by writing a series of shady narrative voice. All this helps to make him rescued and protected in that novel, is escaping closely researched historical sea-stories, and that a complex enough character that we’d be happy with her friends Ocho and Van on a ship en route research has clearly stuck with him in Quillifer. to meet him again in subsequent volumes. Of to the Boston area. This ongoing cat-and-mouse There’s one key difference: rather than situated in a the secondary characters, the most interesting is chase is the framework of the entire plot, with particular time and place, Quillifer belongs to the that literary bandit Sir Basil. Although Amalie is Jones growing more suspicious of the motives of ranks of what we might call displaced historical appealing enough, most of the women characters her obsessive boss General Caroa – who clearly fantasies, stories which make meticulous use of don’t have a great deal to do apart from their rela- has a personal vendetta against Tool, for reasons actual historical detail (Williams’s character quote tionship with Quillifer, and the vengeful goddess that become apparent later – while Tool, with his Elizabethan poets, and his weapons and ships are Orlanda finally emerges more as an archetype heightened senses, lightning reflexes, and not- all historically real), but which are set in imaginary than a character, the one figure of pure fantasy in quite-invulnerable body barely manages to escape nations or kingdoms, often with restrained use of what is for the most part a thoroughly enjoyable the ridiculous amount of ordnance deployed fantasy elements – such as we see from writers series of historical adventures in a faux-Europe against him. Enough stuff gets blown up to put like Ellen Kushner, K.J. Parker, or Guy Gavriel that is as meticulous in its details as it is vague in Michael Bay or Roland Emmerich to shame, and Kay (although Kay is far more specific in his time and place. Tool himself suffers mightily before revealing historical analogues). new powers that we hadn’t suspected in the earlier In classic adventure-novel tradition, Quillifer When we first met Paul Cornell’s engaging trio novels. From the point of view of the Mercier comes from modest beginnings: the son of a of witches defending their Cotswolds village Corporation (which joins the Tyrell Corporation butcher, he studies law in the port city of Eth- p. 57
LOCUS October 2017 / 15
LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: FAREN MILLER
The Queen of Swords, R.S. Belcher (Tor 978- into action: swiftly disguised, felling them in The new prologue points toward a third narra- 0-7653-9009-7, $25.99, 366pp, hc) July 2017. different ways, melding back into the crowd. She tive, with verbal legerdemain we’ve seen before. Cover by Raymond Swanland. turns out to be a widow heading from Golgotha to Where The Fifth Season said it starts with ‘‘the Charleston SC, where her mother died giving birth end of the world,’’ book three intends to ‘‘end The Stone Sky, N.K. Jemisen (Orbit 978-0-316- to her and she was largely trained as polymath with the beginning.’’ Though this sounds just as 22924-1, $16.99, 420pp, tp) August 2017. and fighter by her great-great-great-great Gran. tricky, the ‘‘Syl Anagist’’ episodes (set in Earth’s It’s not a closely guarded secret that Gran (still a distant past and numbered like a countdown from The Last Magician, Lisa Maxwell (Simon Pulse potent memory for Maude) is also the gloriously Five to Zero) show Jemisin at her most direct: 978-1-4814-3207-8, $18.99, 500pp, hc) July foul-mouthed, offbeat force of nature known as resolving crucial mysteries and confronting our 2017. Cover by Craig Howell & Cliff Nielsen. Anne Bonny. worst fear – the doom we bring upon ourselves. Over the course of The Queen of Swords its Over the course of the trilogy, that threat looms The Strange Bird, Jeff VanderMeer (Farrar, three leading women – including Maude’s preteen over everyone across great spans of time, and it’s Straus & Giroux 978-0-374-714932 $2.99, 86pp, daughter Constance – undergo something like fascinating to see how The Stone Sky resolves eb) July 2017. the classic stages in the Hero[ine]’s Journey, but our planet’s fate Belcher doesn’t turn them into Maiden, Mother, hile R.S. Belcher’s bold debut The or Crone. Maude’s literal trial takes place in a The Last Magician is billed as YA and its Six-Gun Tarot and sequel The Shot- Charleston courtroom whose judge belongs to chief protagonist is a girl in her late teens, but Wgun Arcana take place mostly in the the same social elite as the father she’s suing for Lisa Maxwell doesn’t write down or pull many interdimensional, genre-mixing cattle town of custody of Constance (with help from a female punches. Only after reviewing Belcher did I notice Golgotha NV, his return to that world in The lawyer who brilliantly exploits the vagaries of how the dialog sidesteps around Anne Bonny’s Queen of Swords moves further afield on planet law) in scenes that warrant their extended cover- favorite word, while allowing an occasional Earth, and looks even deeper into the monstrous, age, despite their very different tone from the ‘‘shit.’’ Although most of the action takes place fabled creators and destroyers who haunt the frantic adventure that follows: when the girl is in Manhattan, the first 70 pages flit between lost past and lurk on the fringes of more recent kidnapped for a magical rite that could kill her. timelines (across a span ranging from the present centuries. The books all take chapter headings Throughout both plotlines, big issues like to the late 19th century) in chapters with distinc- and motifs from tarot cards, but the new title feminism and slavery provoke varied responses tive storylines. suggests another, more intimate shift in focus, but don’t inspire polemics. I’ll give Anne the Maxwell deftly turns the miscellany into a designed to humanize an archetype. With alternate last word. While her oaths can be joking, horny, central narrative set in 1901, without diminish- (convergent) plotlines whose main characters are casual, or peeved, here it’s the only alternative ing its richness. Players and viewpoint characters quite distinctive, Queen won’t turn individuals to speechless rage. An episode introduced with include a wide variety of thugs (gangsters and into embodiments like Heroine, Mentor, Ruler, period eloquence (‘‘If there were a place upon the politicians, along with some more covert elite Goddess – though it invokes them when action earth where Hell had pierced the skin of this world controllers) and an underclass of unconventional and emotion transcend the mundane. and festered, it was the slave market in Badagry.’’) magicians (both natives and immigrants) whom One such point appears in chapter one, which concludes: ‘‘‘Fuck,’ she said to no one at all.’’ their enemies deride as ‘‘maggots,’’ and imprison introduces Anne Bonny and a plotline mostly set in Manhattan with a spell-wall called the Brink. in 1721. She’s in her early twenties, beyond rough N.K. Jemisin ups the ante even more in The Stone Main protagonist Esta is a young thief from a girlhood yet still not a seasoned adult, when it Sky, finishing The Broken Earth trilogy with the modern band of time-traveling criminals, ruled chronicles her escape from a Jamaica prison and fate of the planet in just a few hands and time run- by an enigma known only as the Professor. While abrupt motherhood on the island’s shore. Here ning out. Here millennia of history and lore stand they all have unique magical gifts, hers makes life merges with myth, until ‘‘she was the uni- behind gritty dramas of the moment – though the subtlest and most productive use of time. The verse – her, a petty thief, a liar, pirate, adulteress, perspective shifts feel even more jarring when Professor knows its full value when she sends murderess. In this final effort of breath, she was a all foreground action occurs in present-tense and her back to 1901 with this imperative: ‘‘Find the goddess, the creator, and all the cogs spun in the the background mingles science fiction, history, Magician.... And stop him before he destroys our heavens just for her.’’ and myth. p. 58 Though Anne knows many weapons (from The Stone Sky returns to a story introduced knife, cutlass, and flintlock to street-fighting in The Obelisk Gate, where Essun lost daughter THIS MONTH IN HISTORY skills), chapter two has its own titular ‘‘Queen of Nassun to estrangement and kidnapping. Jemisin October 3, 2111. Pilgrims’ progress. Only Swords’’ for a plotline set almost 150 years later. gives them separate plotlines for treks around (and a year after leaving Annapolis, Mendicants Sitting alone on a train moving through Northern through) the world. When they finally meet again, Ecumenical reach Memphis, halfway point Utah in 1870, Maude Stapleton seems mature, at the heart of a desert waste, the balance of power on their pilgrimage to Lake of the Zark. Forbidden to speak or stand, the estimated unglamorous, quietly mysterious to a keen young has shifted: mother and child have different ideas 125,000 ‘‘crawlers’’ are known for leaving reporter on his way back east after covering events of ‘‘healing,’’ and either one could decide whether their waste and dead behind. on the frontier. When bandits attack, she springs Earth lives or dies.
LOCUS October 2017 / 17
LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: RUSSELL LETSON Provenance, Ann Leckie (Orbit, 978-0-316- of plans and schemes, and her talents 38867-2, $26.00, 393pp, hc) September 2017. – of which she is unaware and which Cover by John Harris. it is the job of the story to unfold and develop – are rooted in her under- Iain M. Banks, Paul Kincaid (University of standing of individuals and her urge Illinois Press 978-0-252-04101-3, $95.00, hc; to deal with the here-and-now, even -08250-4, $22.00, 190pp, tp) May 2017. Cover as she comes to grasp larger contexts by Mark J. Bradley. and conflicts. Accordingly, much of the novel nn Leckie’s Provenance takes place turns on Ingray’s encounters with in the same far future as her Ancillary cultures and situations that she needs Anovels and shares some of that trilogy’s to understand (including aspects of underlying issues: legal versus actual identity her own), and I kept thinking of Jack and citizenship status; the burdens, benefits, Vance’s idiosyncratic societies. The and oddities of cultural artifice or convention; opening sequences, for example, the ways that polities can be subverted or per- reveal Tyr to be a meticulously rule- verted. But there are no ancillaries or emerg- following, contract-based commercial society: interstellar-empire-and-space-opera universe ing AIs here. The main setting, Hwae System, make a deal (almost any deal), keep the deal, that hosts these stories, Leckie’s strong suit is is a healthy (and safe) distance from Radch expect minimal courtesies and no unpaid extras. the smaller-scale dramas that take place against space, and while the novel’s plot machineries Similarly (though for different reasons), Ingray that background. Ingray’s motives start out fam- do eventually involve interstellar tensions and finds in Captain Uisine a scrupulous navigator of ily based, and her original scheme is relatively rivalries, those are not the first matters of con- rules and regulations – not that he won’t stretch modest in scope, even if her actions gradually cern. Instead, our closely controlled viewpoint a point, or the truth, when he needs to. Later she involve larger matters. Much depends on her character, Ingray Aughskold, worries about how has to cope with more strange humans (includ- understanding of what drives the various be- to pull off a scheme that will gain the respect ing a Radchaai diplomat) and representatives ings she encounters and her gradual recognition of her foster-mother and offer some advantage of alien species with opaque values and urges. of what she can do in the face of a particular in her rivalry with her slick, self-assured foster- All the while, thanks to the book’s tight situation. That is not to say that the big-picture brother Danach, who everyone assumes will be viewpoint control, the reader is challenged to as- elements or the defamiliarizing effects of this named heir and thus eventual head of the family semble a picture of the history-saturated society milieu’s range of gender roles and identities, and furtherer of its political ambitions. of Hwae, which obsesses over its past in the form family relationships, local folkways, and general Ingray has traveled to the neighboring Tyr of ‘‘vestiges’’ – documents, souvenirs, stray exotica don’t saturate every corner of the story. System to illegally extract from ‘‘Compassion- bits and bobs of domestic life, or even pieces of Jack Vance, remember, and Ursula K. Le Guin, ate Removal’’ (a euphemism for a familiar kind wreckage that memorialize important events and Eleanor Arnason, and C.J. Cherryh, and of exile-imprisonment) a Hwaean criminal who and relationships for individuals, families, or Walter Jon Williams, and all the other writers might provide information that will embarrass the entire planetary society: the physical signs who have expanded our notions of what might a rival family. When the prisoner appears to of historical connection, legitimacy, and status. constitute humanity or normality in a universe be someone else altogether, Ingray is forced Stolen family vestiges and the scandal that ac- of endless possibility. If I had to engage in one to improvise her way out of a sticky situation: companied their disappearance were at the heart of those Facebookish literary games, I might accompanying a person with an uncertain legal of Ingray’s initial plan, and larger events revolve suggest that Provenance makes me think of status aboard a homeward-bound ship whose around possession of the contents of Hwae’s Jane Austen in the Ekumen, or the Oikumene, captain has citizenship-status problems of his System Lareum, which contains objects that or even the Culture. Leckie juxtaposes a range own. Nothing is what it seems at first, though, ‘‘had been touched by certain people, actually, of scales – personal, familial, world-wide, cross- and the story offers fake identities, disguises, physically been there when pivotal, system- cultural, deep-historical – and reminds us that hidden agendas, family secrets, shapeshifting shaking events had happened, events that had those who experience or even affect great or bio mechs, political and sibling rivalries, a nice led to the founding of Hwae, that had made all terrible or world-changing events are also living murder mystery, alien diplomacy, and various of them who they were today.’’ These include the interior lives as significant and exciting as the puzzles to be solved and tight spots to be got- document that established Hwae’s independence larger dramas. ten out of. from the neighboring Omkem Federacy, the The cast’s central trio are all marginalized Rejection of Further Obligations, a metaphori- Paul Kincaid’s Iain M. Banks takes on the task in some way. Starship Captain Uisine, who cal firearm that is not allowed to remain a mere of accounting for a writer whose career sprawled becomes an unlikely ally, is an exile (or es- decoration over the novel’s mantelpiece. across at least two literary categories and whose capee?) from the homeworld of the hermetic, Vestiges are only one manifestation of the primary gifts (at least in the view of this reader) alien Geck. The sprung criminal who accepts novel’s fascination with matters of identity, are a dizzying verbal adroitness married to a the fake identity of ‘‘Garal Ket’’ seems to have legitimacy, and belonging. Who has jurisdic- relentless and hard-edged philosophical stance no legal status or safe haven anywhere. Ingray tion over the criminal who accepts the fake compounded of materialism, secularism, and in particular feels adrift, an unfavored adopted identity of ‘‘Garal Ket’’? Does it matter that left-wing politico-economics. Banks’s work is child suffering from imposter syndrome, despite Captain Uisine’s vessel is stolen if the papers famously divided into genre pigeonholes sig- what should be a safe position in the ranks of documenting his ownership are probably (but naled by the presence or absence of his middle her family. Although she has done ‘‘competent’’ unprovably) forgeries? In fact, exactly what is initial in the byline: M meant science fiction, staff work for her mother’s organization, she Uisine’s citizenship status? How might an ex- no-M meant mainstream (whatever that means). amination of the composition of the ‘‘ruin glass’’ The M in Kincaid’s title (well, along with its had always felt like she didn’t belong.... that that is part of Hwae’s geology contribute to the Ingray would never have the kind of daring status as part of the University of Illinois Press’s brilliance [her mother] Netano Aughskold Omkem Federacy’s program of re-establishing Modern Masters of Science Fiction series) prized.... [C]ompetent was not brilliant. its hegemony over Hwae? And in the back- marks it as a study of Banks-the-SF-writer, but Brilliant was taking all that knowledge and ground, questions about who or what qualifies Kincaid is not comfortable with such an easy those contacts and finding a way to use it as a ‘‘significant’’ species under the treaty that bifurcation, and his career overview asserts the to advantage. To come up with a plan, a keeps the dreaded, potent, inscrutable Presger continuities in Banks’s work, with or without the scheme.... from treating everyone else as vermin. M, with the non-SF novels getting considerable Ingray will be required to devise a number There’s a case to be made that despite the p. 58
LOCUS October 2017 / 19 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: ADRIENNE MARTINI
The Stone in the Skull, Elizabeth Bear (Tor 978- plot. The sequel Mind Over Ship dropped four virtual experience. The Real World struggles to 07-6538-0135, $27.99, 368pp, hc). October 2017. years later. Then, apart from publishing a couple compete with the wonders of the Shine, rebranding Cover by Richard Anderson. of quiet short story collections, Marusek stepped British towns to make them more exciting – Read- back from the business for reasons that have never ing, for example, is now R!-town – and carving Upon This Rock: Book 1 – First Contact, David been completely clear. faces into what seem to be the white cliffs of Dover. Marusek (A Stack of Firewood Press 978-0- He’s back with Upon This Rock: Book 1 – First It’s also an England with malicious bioengineering. 9988633-0-6, $9.99, 574pp, eb). June 2017. Contact, which he has self-published. The story An ancillary case of Alma’s involves a client who is set in Alaska, where Marusek lives, and shot eats voraciously, yet loses weight. And then there’s The Real-Town Murders, Adam Roberts through with the sense of isolation, jaw-dropping Alma’s partner, Marguerite, who, like Nero Wolfe, (Gollancz 978-14-73221-45-1, £16.99, 234pp, beauty, and rugged individualism for which the never leaves their flat. hc). August 2017. state is known. But her reasons don’t stem from mere eccen- Ranger Jace Kuliak witnesses what he thinks trism. Marguerite has been infected – we don’t Vallista, Steven Brust (Tor 978-0765324450, might be the start of an alien invasion out in the know why or how – with a virus that could poten- $25.99, 336 pp, hc). October 2017. forest. Self-styled mouthpiece of God Poppy tially kill her every four hours if Alma does not Prophecy witnesses the same event and concludes administer an antidote that only she can deduce. ull disclaimer: I haven’t read Elizabeth it’s a message from the Lord that the last days have It’s a nice device that brings urgency to Alma’s Bear’s first trilogy set in the Eternal Sky begun. The conflict between those two points of story. As she gets deeper into the case and tossed, world (Range of Ghosts, etc.) but am also view drive the plot. at times, far from home, that drive to get back to Fnot sure it matters. While I’m sure a read- The problem, however, is how much of the book Marguerite is the pulse that drives her. ing of The Stone in the Skull would be enhanced is devoted to Marusek noodling around with telling by knowing about this world before dropping into voluminous stories about Alaska and these men So here we are, 15 books into Brust’s Vlad Taltos it, that knowledge is not required to enjoy the visit and the park service and tourism and religion. series. In Vallista, Vlad is still on the run because there. And it is enjoyable. While Marusek’s prose is fun to read, it takes a it seems like pretty much all of Adrilanka wants to The story opens with the Gage, a brass automa- good long time to really get any sense that this kill him. He’s still not able to do sorcery because ton, and the Dead Man, a drifter, of sorts, trudging story is going someplace. Then, by the time the it would give his location away, and he is still over ice-choked mountains to deliver a message to plot picks up speed, this volume of what clearly mixed up in some weird bollocks that seem to be a queen in the damp land of Sarathai-tia. Mrithuri, is a larger saga just sort of ends without resolving underwritten by this world’s gods. Those statuses said queen, is undertaking a public ritual involv- much of anything. are quo. ing lotus flowers – and the results of said ritual That isn’t to say it’s an unpleasant experience – While hiding out, Vlad is visited by Devera, the indicate that changes are about to come. Thus, the Marusek is a really good writer – just that Upon adolescent girl who may be far older (and who can plot is launched. This Rock aspires to be a Faulknerian glimpse travel through time). She’s trapped in mysterious What works so well in just about every Bear of all of the lives in a unique part of the world. house by the sea and needs Vlad to come to her book are her characters, which always feel finely If you’re prepared to settle in and enjoy all of the rescue, so he does. drawn and solidly connected to the story they are diversions into, say, a couple of the characters’ What follows is all you’d expect from Vlad Tal- in. The plot hews closely to the whole band-of- masturbatory habits, without feeling like the plot tos and his flying familiars. There is witty banter. rogues-assemble-to-fight-stronger-band-of-foes, is advancing at all, then this series is for you. There is derring-do. Vlad remains entertaining but this is a feature rather than a bug. Bear noodles to hang out with, which is really what drives the around that trope like a jazz master and takes the Adam Roberts’s The Real-Town Murders is his whole series. story to some interesting places where she can version of a locked-room mystery, which is to say, What doesn’t work quite as well is that Val- examine privilege, toxic pasts, and gender identi- it is both familiar and strange by equal turns. It is lista feels like a D&D game. Vlad spends a lot ties – with, of course, magic and mayhem and mud. also delightful. of time walking down halls, opening doors, and Lots and lots of mud. What is familiar is the set-up. Alma, a near- discovering what the DM put there. That is true of It’s hard to talk about the first book in a trilogy, if future private investigator, is delivered a case about all novels, really, but the author’s hand is (maybe only because it isn’t intended to feel like it comes a body found in the trunk of a car. Given that these intentionally) incredibly obvious here. Toward the to a complete closure. This book ends by setting particular cars are made entirely by robots while end of this episode of Vlad’s story, the mystical the next part of the story up well and making this under surveillance from all sides, there is no way bits about the Paths of the Dead start to veer into reader wish she had the next book within arm’s a dead human could have wound up in the boot. the esoteric. Those immersed in the Taltos cannon reach so that she can find out what happens next. And, yet, there it is. will love it; casual waders might just skim through. The case itself meanders and turns, as all good Above all else, however, any trip back to Brust’s David Marusek’s first big impact on the SF/F land- mysteries should, and its conclusion is satisfying. world is a fun one, even if some of the individual scape was 2005’s Counting Heads, a book about What is even more satisfying is the world Roberts moments are less engaging. genetic engineering peopled with strong, interest- builds around it. This is an England where the bulk –Adrienne Martini ing characters and a meandering yet purposeful of the population stays in the Shine, an immersive
20 / LOCUS October 2017 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: STEFAN DZIEMIANOWICZ Haunted Nights, Ellen Datlow & Lisa Morton, eds. (Blumhouse/Anchor 978-1-101-97383-7, $16.95, 368pp, tp) October 2017.
Gwendy’s Button Box, Stephen King & Richard Chizmar (Cemetery Dance 978-1-58767-610-9, $25.00, 176pp, hc) May 2017.
Fever Dream, Samanta Schweblin (Riverhead 978-0-399-18459-8, $25.00, 192pp, hc) Janu- ary 2017.
n the horror field it’s pretty much a given that every writer has at least one good Halloween Istory up his or her sleeve. Haunted Nights, edited by Ellen Datlow & Lisa Morton under the auspices of the Horror Writers Association, is an on the moon attempt to replicate the traditions of Langan’s “Lost in the Dark”, the book’s longest anthology of 16 previously unpublished stories the holiday as it was celebrated long ago on the story, is also concerned with matters of authentic- on the Halloween theme that bears this out. earth, only to discover that the moon has more ity. It’s an account recorded on Halloween by a The stories offer a wide variety of approaches than its share of darkness to contribute to Hal- reporter named John Langan, who is interviewing to Halloween and all its trimmings, and several loween’s horrors. the director of a cult horror movie entitled “Lost in are arguably among the strongest work that their Other selections are more conventional tales the Dark” that was supposedly based on a strange- authors have produced and are likely contenders whose horrors are intensified by their Halloween but-true event involving murders and a woman’s for consideration for year’s-best roundups. settings. Seanan McGuire’s “With Graveyard unexplained disappearance in upstate New York in The majority of stories offer imaginative riffs Weeds and Wolfbane Seeds” concerns a group the late 1960s. In the course of the interview the on Halloween lore and traditions. There are two of kids who trespass in the local haunted house director reveals that she originally shot the film as a tales on the origin of the jack-o-lantern, based for a night of Halloween mischief and who suffer documentary but that its approach resonated more on the western European legend of Jack-o’-the the grim fates that usually befall those who are strongly with a film industry and audience with an lantern, a man who tricked the devil out of taking too confident to be scared. Jonathan Maberry, in insatiable appetite for true-seeming found-footage his soul and who, upon his death, was cursed to “A Small Taste of the Old Country”, convenes horror movies. The legend of “Bad Agatha” that wander eternity carrying a candlelit turnip to light former Nazis in exile in Argentina for a Halloween the film elaborates has become much better known his way. In Joanna Parypinki’s “Wick’s End”, feast where revenge against them is a foregone and more popularly believed than the unexplained Jack is a wily modern serial killer who lures new conclusion (although the form that it takes is not). true events on which it was based, blurring the victims to their death each Halloween so that he S.P. Miskowski’s “We’re Never Inviting Amber boundaries between truth and fiction. Langan can steal “the burning flame of a human soul” to Again” is a tale of a fortune-telling stunt gone moves back and forth between the events that keep his lantern lit. In Pat Cadigan’s “Jack”, the bad at a Halloween get together, and Garth Nix’s inspired their documentary treatment and how eponymous character is a Wandering Jew-type “The Seventeen-Year Itch” is a tale of misguided they were shaped into a horror movie (as well figure who tries to trick the souls of the newly professional arrogance in which a new administra- as into his fiction), setting up his narrative like a dead to exchange places with him. Cadigan’s tale tor at a hospital for the criminally insane foolishly series of mirrors turned toward one another that is especially fun because of its narrator, a jaded decides that it’s time to break the annual cycle of make it impossible to tell which is the original occult sensitive who has thwarted Jack’s mischief one notorious inmate’s imprisonment in a high- source and which a reflection or distortion of it. on more than one occasion and who speaks in the security cell every Halloween. These are stories It’s a marvelous bit of authorial magic that has as world-weary voice of someone familiar with all of whose Halloween trappings telegraph to the reader much to say about the creation of horror stories his subterfuges. Kelley Armstrong’s “Nos Galen from the outset that the horrifying climax to which as it does about the popular culture in which those Gaeaf” is, as its title suggests, a story steeped in events seem to be building is inevitable. Inter- stories find traction. It’s a fitting cap to an anthol- Welsh legendry – in this case, the tradition of spersed among them are Paul Kane’s “The Turn”, ogy whose stories more often than not transcend an entire town placing stones with the names of which beguiles with its account of an imaginary the expectations for their Halloween theme. its people written on them around a Halloween boogeyman on the prowl on Halloween before de- bonfire to determine who among them will die flty overturning reader expectations, and Stephen Gwendy’s Button Box is a novella-length col- within the year. Armstrong has adapted this lore Graham Jones’s “Dirtmouth”, in which a grieving laboration between Stephen King (who needs no to her contemporary series of Cainsville stories, husband believes that his wife has returned from introduction) and Richard Chizmar (who for more so naturally there are unforeseeable occult con- the dead one Halloween evening to console him, than 30 years has been the publisher of specialty sequences for the characters in her tale. Brian only to discover how badly he’s underestimated press Cemetery Dance, as well as a fiction writer Evenson’s “Sisters” is a mordantly funny look at her true intentions. in his own right). It’s a partnership that has been Halloween through the eyes of two sisters who, as The merits of all of the stories Datlow & Morton going on for 25 years, albeit in a different form, they prepare to go trick-or-treating to blend in with have selected notwithstanding, there are several ever since King submitted a story over the transom the kids in their new community, gradually reveal standouts. Jeffrey Ford’s “Witch Hazel” is an for consideration for the horror magazine fom that their family is of the Addams sort, and that account of a tradition supposedly followed by which Chizmar’s press takes its name. Since then, they have a comparably creepy perception of what residents of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens of pinning Chizmar has published several more of King’s represents “normal.” Halloween festivities overlap a sprig of the witch hazel plant to their clothing stories and limited editions of his novels. A col- celebrations of the Mexican holiday Dia de Los during the Halloween season. It’s a horror story, laboration between Chizmar & King on a work of Muertos, which Eric J. Guignard acknowledges to be sure, but Ford writes it as though it were a fiction was not inevitable, but it is felicitous, since in “A Kingdom of Sugar Skulls and Marigolds”, non-fiction feature piece for a mainstream publi- anyone familiar with Chizmar’s fiction knows that an exhilirating hiphop rhapsody to the memory cation, backing up its horrifying revelations with it resonates harmoniously with King’s tales of of family and friends that reads like a woodcut of citations from the historical record and supposed horrors that convulse the everyday world. Some posturing Posada skeletons come to life. Among eyewitness testimonies. It’s a wonderfully effec- readers will parse the text of Gwendy’s Button the book’s most novel stories is John R. Little’s tive story that bears out Lovecraft’s observation Box, trying to figure out where King ends and “The First Lunar Halloween”, a Bradburyesque that the best horror stories are those written like a Chizmar begins, or vice versa, but this is one of tale of the future in which the children of settlers hoax to convince readers of their authenticity. John p. 58
LOCUS October 2017 / 21 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: LIZ BOURKE
The Black Tides of Heaven, JY Yang (Tor.com Abbot Sung’s successor and begins a relationship story about growing up, growing out, and coming Publishing 978-0-7653-9541-2, $3.99, 240pp, tp). with him, when Mokoya begins to have a life back to face your family on your own terms – The September 2017. Cover by Yuko Shimizu. apart from Akeha, a life that doesn’t necessarily Red Threads of Fortune is a coming-to-terms include him. They are also divided in their ap- story: a story about grappling with, and coming The Red Threads of Fortune, JY Yang (Tor.com proaches to the Protector’s rule. Neither of them to terms with, grief and loss, a story about learn- Publishing 978-0-7653-9539-9 $3.99, 216pp, tp). is exactly happy about it, but Mokoya wants to ing to live again. September 2017. Cover by Yuko Shimizu. stay and help Abbot Thennjay provide some kind It’s also a story about falling in love again, of counterweight. learning to trust (or not) your new lover, and sav- Horizon, Fran Wilde (Tor Books 978- Akeha doesn’t. Akeha leaves. It’s not until ing a city full of revolutionary Machinists from 0765377876, $27.99, 416pp, hc). September years later, after he meets Yongcheow – and destruction at the hands of a giant flying monster 2017. Cover by Tommy Arnold. rescues him – that Akeha finds a place where he that may or may not be a weapon of the Protector. might belong again. Yongcheow is a Machinist, Mokoya is a Tensor, one of the masters of the In Evil Times, Melinda Snodgrass (Titan 978- and part of a movement opposed to the Protector’s elements. She used to be a prophet, though she 1-7832-9584-5, $14.95, 400pp, pb). July 2017. iron rule. And Yongcheow and Akeha become could never change the future that she saw – and Cover by Alex Ronald. closely involved very quickly. nor could anyone else. But she never foresaw the The Machinists are involved in mechanical tragedy that killed her young daughter and left Y Yang’s first two Tensorate novellas, technological development. This mechanical her emotionally wounded, unable to cope with The Black Tides of Heaven and The Red development threatens the monopoly that the the grief. Now she sees no more prophecies. JThreads of Fortune, provide an interesting Tensors, essentially magicians, have on certain Estranged from her husband, Abbot Thennjay, contrast to In Evil Times. Although the world ways of doing things – the Machinists and the she hunts deadly naga in the harsh lands at the the Tensorate novellas are set in is one that’s ruled Tensors can have competing technologies, but edges of the Protector’s kingdom, far from the by an autocrat, and there is plenty of evidence the Machinists’ technologies might democratise capital in which she used to dwell. for violence and oppression, Yang is writing some of them. As the Tensors generally support Mokoya and the team of naga-hunters with an inclusive world – one in which people form the Protector’s rule, this social tension also pro- whom she works have heard rumours of a giant communities and adapt to the circumstances in duces political tension. naga, one that might be a weapon the Protector which they find themselves. The climax and dénouement of The Black has sent to destroy the city of Batanaar and its I mention these novellas together, since they’re Tides of Heaven involves love, sibling connec- community of Machinists – including Akeha. set in the same continuity and have some overlap tions, magic superweapons, Akeha confronting The Machinists enjoyed the protection of the in their characters, but they can be read either his mother and trying to kill her, and the prospect city’s former leader, but since her death, the city alone or together, in either order. of revolution. has been ruled by her husband, who opposes the The Black Tides of Heaven opens with an It’s a really good book. Yang’s prose carries Machinists and who may well have asked the abbot and a birth – a twin birth, in fact. Protec- the reader along, opening up a world full of giant Protector for help suppressing them. tor Sanao, who rules from the Great High Palace flying beasts (naga), riding lizards, cool elemen- While hunting naga, Mokoya comes across the with an iron fist, promised Abbot Sung of the tal magic, interesting politics, and compelling enigmatic Rider, who rides a flying naga of their Grand Monastery that she would send one of characters. Yang’s characterisation is excellent, own. Rider tells Mokoya that she has it wrong: her children to the monastery in return for his especially in young Akeha’s bemusement at the flying beast they’re hunting isn’t part of a support at a critical time. Rather than send the Mokoya’s choices, and their/his slowly growing conspiracy to destroy Batanaar, but is the result child the abbot expected, she gives birth to the puzzlement and resentment that Mokoya is mak- of an experiment by Tensors seeking to imitate twins Akeha and Mokoya – and hands them over ing choices that are different to the choices that something that Mokoya herself did. The city to the monastery to settle her debt. Akeha would make (for both of them), but also in should be safe. The Black Tides of Heaven follows Akeha the older Akeha’s relationship with Yongcheow, It turns out it isn’t. As Mokoya develops an and Mokoya as they grow together – and apart and his distant, but still deeply tied, relationship attraction to – and feelings for – Rider, she finds – over the course of 30-odd years. The heart of to his sister – and the choices he makes in con- her ability to trust the other person complicated this story is the sibling relationship, the deep sequence of both relationships. by Rider’s secrets, and the fact that Rider is wrong closeness between the twins that develops into about Batanaar’s safety. Mokoya needs to find out uncomfortable tension as their lives diverge. This Unlike The Black Tides of Heaven, The Red the truth among politics and figure out a way to comes to the fore at adulthood, when Mokoya’s Threads of Fortune takes place over only a few fix things while her twin prepares the city to do prophetic talent is co-opted by their mother’s days. It is a completely different sort of book, battle with a deadly flying beast. When she learns regime, and when Mokoya decides to leave the and yet it deals with many of the same themes: that grief and a young woman’s unwillingness to gender-neutral ‘‘they’’ of childhood behind and relationships based on love but strained by cir- let go of her late mother is partly responsible – chooses womanhood (Akeha, less sure of their cumstance and personality, family, and conflict. when she has a prophetic vision that shows her gender and in no hurry to have to choose, decides But where The Black Tides of Heaven is, in that the death of someone she’s just come to care that he is a man), when Mokoya falls in love with more than one sense, a coming-of-age story – a for will come as part of the price for fixing the
22 / LOCUS October 2017 problem – she has to figure out how to unmake by a haze, and other people live there, people that and wrong, his honour, and his pride, bring her prophecy, and choose what, and who, she’s have different ways and goals, and with whom him into direct conflict with Princess Mercedes willing to sacrifice. neither Kirit nor Wik can communicate. They – who’s the one person who actually supports Much as I enjoyed The Black Tides of need to find a way forward, to build a future on his military career, and who might have been Heaven, I loved The Red Threads of Fortune. hope and trust and collaboration, rather than persuaded to work with him, maybe. In the end, Emotionally, it feels tighter, even if there are a lies – but that’s going to be difficult, because Tracey’s military career will come to an igno- few moments where, pacing-wise, it could have the power-hungry magister Dix has reached the minious conclusion, in a frame-job orchestrated used more space to breathe. Perhaps it is just ground ahead of them, and may have already by Mercedes herself. that the emotional arc is more compelling to me poisoned the well for future co-operation rather This outcome is not why I findIn Evil Times because the story of learning to live again after than conflict. alienating. Rather, I come away from it with a grief – and then finding the perilous post-grief As Nat and Macal deal with factions in the sense of intense dislike because of the choices accommodation threatened by fresh loss – is one clouds and the tensions of evacuating a whole of its worldbuilding, and the elements on which I’ve seen less often, and so it is more striking to society, and Kirit and Wik try to navigate through Snodgrass chooses to focus. This is an enor- me when I do. the minefield of new and strange perils on the mously bigoted universe. Not only is it painfully This is a fantastic novella. They both are, re- ground – and navigate first contact with a com- sexist, but all the human characters, even the ally: I can’t wait to see what else Yang will do in pletely different culture, too – they must come sympathetic ones, are incredibly prejudiced their Tensorate universe. to terms with the destruction of their old world. against aliens. The sexism is, of course, tied Horizon makes social collapse literal, bringing up with xenophobia: the fear that the aliens Fran Wilde’s Horizon marks the end of her Kirit and Nat’s city crashing down in totalising outnumber humanity, and the idea that humans Bone Universe books – at least for now. Hori- destruction. Out of that destruction, Horizon need to breed – with natural, not genetically zon follows last year’s Cloudbound and 2015’s finds hope and co-operation, friction and strife modified body-births, because otherwise they award-winning Updraft for a strong conclusion but also community. Horizon is apocalyptic in might not be really human – fast enough to re- to this powerful trilogy about bone towers, social its visions of destruction, but it is apocalyptic in main on top of the power heap. (This makes for upheaval, and building the kind of society you another way, too: Horizon gives us apocalypse an uncomfortably close parallel with the logic of want to live in. as revelation of truths long hidden or forgotten, white nationalism, now marching under a fresh Updraft was a novel about uncovering se- a re-visioning of society. Horizon doesn’t so spotlight in all its murderous horror.) This is crets, challenging injustice, and bringing down much turn from destruction to renewal as it sees a novel in which a female officer is raped by a hierarchies grown corrupt on their own power. destruction and renewal going hand in hand – and colleague, and where we are treated to Tracey’s Cloudbound was a novel about consequences, that makes it a really hopeful book. outrage and horror – not the officer in question’s about the political and social conflict that comes Though Horizon sometimes stumbles on its – that the rapist will face no consequences, and with a sudden power vacuum – and about fear, pacing – and while it could use a more gener- that the officer will have to continue to work scapegoating, and the destructive effects of fac- ous helping of humour, or at least interpersonal alongside her attacker. tionalism in a fragile society. Horizon? banter, to leaven its unrelentingly serious tone – it This is also a novel in which we’re treated to a Horizon is a novel about apocalypse. features compelling characters in a fascinating portrayal of how the empire incorporates ‘‘lost’’ Kirit, Wik, Nat, and Ciel have fallen to the world. It ends with hope and rebuilding: building human colonies into its hegemony. The colony ground, below the clouds. They’ve fallen out of differently. It’s a worthy and gripping conclusion we see is one founded by lesbian separatists, es- the world they knew, where their constructed to the trilogy. sentially – an Amazonian society that manages wings of bone and hide let them fly, into another its reproduction through artificial reproductive one entirely – a world of dust and unknown I wanted to have good things to say about In Evil techniques, involving genetic manipulation, that dangers, full of strangeness. In their fall they’ve Times, sequel to Melinda Snodgrass’s The High are outlawed in the empire. The empire manages discovered the true nature of the city from which Ground (2016). Instead, I found reading it to be a the incorporation of lost human colonies through they fell. It’s alive. But it’s dying, and in its death very alienating experience. This is not, I hasten to lies, deceit, and overwhelming military force. it will kill the world Kirit, Nat, and the others add, because of any insufficiency in Snodgrass’s Once they have established imperial pre-emi- knew. Unless they can climb back into the clouds, prose or skill as a novelist. Rather, it’s because of nence, they remove all children from the colony back up to the high reaches where people live to the kind of novel In Evil Times is. and foster them with imperial citizens, while warn them of the coming catastrophe, everyone In Evil Times is, I understand, the middle supporting mass immigration into that colony – they ever knew or cared about will die. As they novel of a trilogy. It’s a book of transitions. thus destroying the culture of that colony. will die if the warnings aren’t heeded. Protagonists Princess Mercedes de Arango, the In Evil Times doesn’t necessarily promote In the city’s heights, Macal, a tower council- daughter of the emperor, and Thracius ‘‘Tracey’’ the sexist and bigoted worldview of the uni- lor, strives to hold his tower together in the face Belmanor, the son of a tailor, have graduated verse in which its events take place. And it is a of increasing shortages of food and trust, as from the elite military training facilities of the well-constructed middle book, with interesting two separate factions of violence-prone ‘‘black- High Ground and entered the navy. Mercedes characters (although they’re all horrible people wings’’ compete for resources. Macal tries to is making a political marriage with Beauregard who are horribly bigoted). But reading it, for me, achieve consensus, and tries to figure out what’s ‘‘Boho’’ Cullen, aristocrat and coward, despite resembles the experience of being punched in the physically wrong with the city, but he doesn’t her dreadfully unsuitable attraction to Tracey, face with a hammer, repeatedly. It’s not Snod- realise that all his efforts are doomed unless he and is focused on a) avoiding having children in grass’s fault – my face-tenderness experience is can physically evacuate all the tower residents a society where contraception is illegal until after a side-effect of her interest in exploring the trials below the clouds – to a world that he doesn’t she’s done her military service, and b) proving and constraints of a strongly hierarchical, strati- even know exists. herself to the old guard during her military ser- fied world within a military-aristocrat milieu. Not, at least, until Nat and Ciel climb back up, vice. She’s the first woman to join the space navy But as a woman – as a queer woman – I find the bringing the terrible news of the city’s fate, and a and has to be very careful, since her father the world I live in quite alienating enough without short timetable for survival. Nat’s main concern is emperor is upsetting a whole swathe of society having fiction punch the ‘‘there’s no room for his family: his mother Elna, his partners Beliak in making his daughter his heir, in the absence you to exist, much less be happy’’ up to 90. In and Ceetcee and their infant child. He’s willing of a male heir of his body. Evil Times really doesn’t work for me, but its to sacrifice anything for their safety, including Tracey, meanwhile, graduates at a lower rank approach to worldbuilding and storytelling may himself. than his schoolmates despite his skills, because well work perfectly fine for people who’re feeling Kirit and Wik, meanwhile, have set out to find a of his social status. His military service is a little less sensitised by current global politics. safe place for the city’s inhabitants to evacuate to. marked by constant humiliations and abuse, –Liz Bourke The ground is a sunless desert, the sky obscured and eventually his bull-headed sense of right
LOCUS October 2017 / 23 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: COLLEEN MONDOR Sovereign, April Daniels (Diversion Books 978- believable. Readers will cheer for her 1-682-308-240, $14.99, 314pp, tp) July 2017. just as much when her totally dysfunc- tional family goes up in legal flames Wild Beauty, Anna-Marie McLemore (Feiwel as they do when she saves the world. and Friends 978-1-250-12455-5, $17.99, 352pp, Daniels has created such a compelling hc) October 2017. protagonist and continues to surround her with such a diverse and complicated eenage superhero Danny Tozer returns cast, that all the superhero hijinks are for more adventures as the mighty Dread- just icing on the cake. We want Danny to Tnought in Sovereign, a sequel that packs win not because she is Dreadnought and a ton of personal and professional drama (plus Dreadnought always wins, but because superhero smashdowns) into its 300+ pages. she is Danny and we love to see Danny The first thing, and most important, is that read- and Calamity together (still kicking ass ers absolutely must read Dreadnought before on that motorcycle!), we love the new tackling Sovereign. Trust me, you’re going to be family of friends that Danny is building, hopelessly lost otherwise and will miss out on and we love that Danny is coming into how well this title builds on what came before. her own as a beautiful young woman who just And later: The sequel picks up a few months after the also happens to be a cape. Nothing good came from the love of No- first book and, for everyone wondering just how April Daniels has done something quite won- meolvides women. things are going for Danny after Dreadnought’s derful with these books and, yes, she has also Five years ago, Calla’s father had van- epic ending, well, it’s complicated. Basically, done something very important. Danny Tozer ished. Before him, the traveling salesman who’d stayed at La Pradera longer than he’d being a transgender teen superhero in the wake is a transgender teen superhero and she is also, stayed anywhere in a decade, all because of a murderous attempt to destroy your city isn’t without a doubt, on her way to being one of the he’d fallen in love with Abuela Flor’s bright easy. Have no fear though, Danny is nothing if more beloved superheroes for young adults since laugh. And before him, a man who collected not resilient and while her parental issues might Robin first showed up in the Batcave. Danny is the old maps, and who became more a father have gone from bad to worse (lawyers and a real deal and this author just keeps getting better to Gloria than the man who’d given her half judge are involved), and a new villain is breathing and better at telling her story. her blood. down her neck, Danny’s love life has some po- Clearly, there is something dark at work in La tential and she’s getting more comfortable in her Entering into the lush, gorgeous garden of writ- Pradera, a place where Estrella and her cousins, transformed skin. The problem is that she might ing that infuses Anna-Marie McLemore’s Wild just like their mothers and grandmothers, create end up tortured to death or in prison before this Beauty, readers are lulled into thinking that what immense beauty through their magical connec- new adventure ends and, consequently, Danny is lies before them is a diversionary romance with tion to the ground, yet can never leave and are really getting tired of the epic levels of crap be- moments of peril neatly inserted into a plot whose doomed to literally lose those whom they love. ing thrown her way. So, while she is happy with happily-ever-after ending is pre-ordained from the Now the youngest generation loves Bay, placing her physical transformation, the near continuous start. This, of course, is probably what McLemore her in danger, and without Bay’s stewardship of need to defend herself, either against a maniacal wants readers to think; how she wants to initially the estate the entire family’s future is in peril. The villain or in a courtroom or on a talk show, is fool them with her tale of five cousins in love with young Nomeolvides women need La Pradera to simply exhausting. It’s the many-pronged war the same girl and consumed with apparently child- set them free from the curse and so, in the open- for freedom that Danny is facing that author April ish and predictable trials and tribulations. But ing pages, the five cousins work a spell which Daniels presents so well here, which elevates the then, as the cousins reveal the mysterious past of results in the garden giving them a young man book above standard hero vs. villain fare. the Nomeolvides women and their unbreakable named Fel who has no memory of his life before, As far as the action-packed plot goes, that is all ties to the grounds of La Pradera, McLemore’s but knows that something terrible happened to about the lingering problems with questionable true purpose becomes clear. Wild Beauty is about him and everything is about to change. Just what hero (and definite transphobic jerk) Graywytch, a mystery rooted in a curse with more than a this means to the gardens, the Nomeolvides, and and a new character, the uber wealthy power mad passing nod to Alice Hoffman’s sharp and decep- Bay is unclear, but something is most certainly Richard Garrison (because being uber wealthy tive romantic fantasies. Every description in this going to happen. isn’t enough for anyone these days, which is novel is beautiful, except the horrific tragedy at As Wild Beauty’s slow spell is revealed to not hard to believe). Exploration of the Nemesis its center and the dangerous villain determined to readers, there is also an undercurrent of straight question, concerning just how the super powered rip the Nomeolovides women apart. up mystery to follow as Bay’s home is invaded become super powered, is a main focus, and so The cousins are the five only daughters of five by a marauding family member intent on his own is the nuts-and-bolts difficulty of being the sole only daughters of five only daughters and the three dark purpose. As everyone searches for various, superhero left standing in the city. All of this generations have always lived on the grounds of stubbornly hidden truths, from Bay’s Nancy means that Danny spends a lot of time kicking the La Pradera estate, working the gardens for Drewesque research to the cousins studying butt and getting her butt kicked, as well as trying their benefactress, estate owner Marjorie Briar. the earth (and poor Fel just trying to remember to figure out just how to navigate the super world, Marjorie has recently passed away, however, something), McLemore ratchets up the tension both politically and from a business standpoint. (A leaving the property to her granddaughter Bay, with each page. The big reveal is equal parts girl’s got to eat after all and she’s no rich kid with and it is Bay that 16-year-old Estrella and her four historically intriguing and fantastically power- a last name of Wayne.) Just like Dreadnought cousins all love. Their immediate problem is not ful, giving a payoff to all those who fall for these however, while all the action is intense, it is the the inherent conflict of a mutual crush, however, complicated, passionate and quite entertaining quiet dramas facing Danny that propel the plot but that the teens are the subject of a curse and lov- characters. along and even when she’s fighting for her life ing Bay could mean her death. McLemore writes: p. 59 readers will be wondering how she feels. This is For as long as anyone had memory, longer the continuation of the coming-of-age-story that than the Nomeolvides women had been at THIS MONTH IN HISTORY began so brilliantly in the first book and it’s what La Pradera, each generation had borne five October 25, 2117. Soviet Union reboot. gives Sovereign its true power. daughters. Only daughters, always five, like Russia, Scotland, Ukraine, and Oregon form new USSR to enable AI economic Honestly, though, aside from all the literary the petals on a forget-me-not. And ever since La Pradera had gotten its hold on them, sure planning. Soviet CEO Intel666 petitions analysis, I just love this kid. Danny is so real that and hard as a killing frost, every generation of NATO and InterCloud for brand ID and even when she is flying around in space throwing five daughters had been trapped in these gar- patent flag. punches at a bazillion miles per hour, she is 100% dens, like their hearts were buried in the earth.
24 / LOCUS October 2017 LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: CAROLYN CUSHMAN Ben Aaronovitch, The Furthest Station (Sub- Kate Elliott, Buried Heart (Little, Brown 978-0- That magnificent canine detective, Oberon the terranean Press 978-1-59606-833-9, $40.00, 316-34441-8, $17.99, 465pp, hc) July 2017. Cover Irish wolfhound, returns in this second novella in 139pp, hc) June 2017. Cover by Stephen by Sammy Yuen. the Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries series, an offshoot Walters. of the Iron Druid series. Oberon’s heading to Jessamy finds the path to victory more complex Portland with canine buddies Orlaith and Star- his new novella in the Peter Grant (AKA in real life than in a Fives competition in this buck, and of course his faithful human sidekick, Rivers of London) fantasy series finds concluding volume in the Court of Five series. Atticus the Druid, when a squirrel on the train TPC Peter Grant of the Folly (AKA the Jessamy and Kal, the Saroese prince she loves, catches his eye. Such peculiar behavior is clearly Special Assessment Unit of the Metropolitan briefly take refuge with her mother and the Efean suspicious, so when the train arrives in Portland Police) and British Transport Police officer Jaget rebels, but leave to warn Jessamy’s father, the the dogs chase the squirrel, and stumble across a Kumar investigating unusually disruptive ghosts Efean general, that Prince Nikonos has claimed body that looks surprisingly like Atticus. Their appearing on the London Underground. The the throne. It starts to look like Kal will have investigation into this disturbing murder leads two get help from Peter’s very smart adolescent to claim the throne to stop Nikonos – and that them to a bear-shifter with clues, sausage (with cousin Abigail, on her summer hols, determined the highborn Saroese at court will never accept clues!), pot pies with gravy, and other delicious to learn magic, and glad to lend a hand with her half-breed Jessamy, no matter her victories in the detecting. And more squirrels. The slightly up-to-date tech skills. Things go slow at first – Fives and in battle. So she decides to leave, only skewed dog’s-eye-view keeps things fun, while the people who see the ghosts forget quickly, no to face more trials. Ultimately she ends up with the serious mystery provides a solid plot. matter how terrified they are when they call the the Efean rebels, as various forces meet to decide police. Then Peter realizes there may be a liv- the county’s fate. Separately, many of Jessamy’s Marshall Ryan Maresca, The Imposters of ing person involved – a kidnapping victim who adventures are very involving, but it’s tough to Aventil (DAW 978-0-7564-1262-3, $7.99, 389pp, might end up a ghost herself if they can’t find keep up with their role in the overall conflict. It’s pb) October 2017. Cover by Paul Young. her, fast. It’s a solid mystery, if not as harrowing understandable that Jessamy should feel torn be- as some of the novels in the series. There’s also tween different sides, but it gets frustrating when Maresca’s books of Maradaine have developed a nice side bit involving a “preschool river god” she can’t pick one; her vaunted ability to see the into three different series at this point, but this adding a sweet touch of humor, for a fun, fast winning path in the Fives or in battle deserts her one brings things together where it all began, read for fans of the series. too quickly elsewhere. Her talent does make a with the Thorn, AKA Veranix, a student mage huge difference in the big final battle, which is at the university who spends his free time as a Cassie Beasley, Tumble & Blue (Dial 978-0- satisfying, but then things don’t wrap up tidily masked vigilante bent on wiping out drug deal- 525-42844-2, $17.99, 390pp, hc) August 2017. afterwards, either. I appreciate that Elliott avoids ers, except as the story opens he’s being forced Cover by Hari & Deepti. clichés and easy answers, but in this case the to help out as the University of Maradaine hosts story wanders uneasily towards a happy ending the Grand Tournament of the High Colleges. The A quirky Southern family afflicted by fate pro- that didn’t ring true for me. campus and nearby town are packed with visitors vides a fascinating focus for this middle-grade come for the sporting event. It’s summer, hot, fantasy novel, which manages to deftly mix Erin M. Hartshorn, Ghost Garages (Eimarra and too many outsiders are wandering around a humor and a definite Southern Gothic touch. Press, 978-1545598832, $10.99, 332pp, tp) May crime-ridden part of town, and then the Thorn Members of the Montgomery family have either 2017. turns up and very publically kills one constable a curse or a gift. Blue Montgomery always loses, and injures another. Since the crime can’t be just as his dad always wins – and his dad’s go- Urban fantasy and cozy mystery mix amusingly investigated in-house, Inspectors Minox Welling ing off on the car racing circuit, leaving Blue in this first novel in the Boston Technowitch and Satrine Rainey are called in. The Thorn may at the family home in Murky Branch, Georgia. series. Pepper Karalis’s a witch whose magic be my favorite character, but Minox is a close The house stands near the swamp where their works with electrical current – she even pro- second, a dogged detective with a sharp mind, ancestor met a magic alligator and chose to have grammed her own app for it. She’s also an and possessed of a strange, untrained magic. a great fate years before, only balance demanded Assistant Manager at the Wicked Whatever Which would be trouble enough for Veranix, but others in the family have curses, and some of Coffeehouse in Boston. She has a tough time he didn’t commit the crime. There’s an imposter them are strange indeed: where one cousin’s balancing work and caring for her twins, but out there – or maybe two. People keep dying, new unnaturally good with animals, another can’t go she’s reasonably happy with her life, though drugs turn up, and the local gangs and corrupt near even the friendliest beast without getting lately it seems like everyone wants her to make local constabulary complicate things. It’s a fun, attacked. Every 100 years, there’s a chance for a more of herself. Then she spots an angry ghost fast-paced adventure with lots of disguises, se- family member to find the alligator and change of a murdered woman in a parking garage, and crets, tragic romance, humor, goofy sports, and their fate, and the next chance is only weeks realizes it’s making people in the neighbor- a big hint of bad things to come. A great romp, away. All sorts of family members with weird hood stress out. Similar ghosts keep turning but best for those familiar with at least one of curses turn up, hoping to get a great new fate. up around the city, and it’s clear something has the series involved. Blue knows he can’t win a race to the alligator, to be done before anger and violence spread. but practices running anyway, and runs into a Even as Pepper works to dispel the ghosts and Linsey Miller, Mask of Shadows (Sourcebooks new neighbor, a girl named Tumble. She’s de- find the killer, other witches are blaming her for Fire 978-1-4926-4749-2, $17.99, 343pp, hc) Au- termined to be a hero, and decides to end Blue’s them. And then there’s the mystery of the good- gust 2017. Cover by Sasha Vinogradova. curse, only things keep going wrong, horribly looking guy who comes into the coffee shop and wrong. It seem the only way to fight fate is to makes sparks fly for Pepper – literally. Some A young thief decides to join the auditions to find the alligator – and just maybe Blue has a aspects of Pepper’s life are a little absurd, such be one of the queen’s assassins in this lively chance. The odd characters, weird fates and as her relationship with her magic-hating ex, for YA fantasy adventure. Genderfluid Sal is a rare curses, and Tumble’s fixation with being a hero whom she agreed to have kids so his Chinese survivor of Nacea, a country attacked by magical keep things funny, even hilarious at times, but family could avoid a dragon death curse. But if shadows and left to die as the nobles and their in a tragi-comic way, as it becomes clear even you can handle them, the quirks and over-the-top armies retreated – nobles against whom Sal has great fates have their dark sides – but curses bits add a lot to the fun, for a very entertaining sworn revenge, and a court position would pro- aren’t necessarily all bad. It’s a nice blend of start to a new series. vide access. At the same time, Sal worships the light and dark, all too rare in books aimed at queen who banished the shadows by banishing younger readers; unfortunately the conclusion, Kevin Hearne, The Squirrel on the Train (Sub- magic from the land. The plot centers on a com- though sweet, is left much too open-ended for terranean Press 978-1-59606-847-6, $25.00, petition for the assassin’s job, with 23 contestants my taste. 114pp, hc). November 2017. Cover by Galen Dara. p. 60
LOCUS October 2017 / 25
LOCUS LOOKS AT BOOKS: DIVERS HANDS RICH HORTON Campbell’s Lost Fleet, and Charles R. Infinite Stars, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, ed. Gannon’s Caine Riardon stories. (Titan 9781785655937, $24.95, 688pp, hc) Oc- Which, then, of the original stories are tober 2017. best? Two in a row feature space navy members going on shore leave: ‘‘Cadet ryan Thomas Schmidt’s new anthol- Cruise’’ by David Drake and ‘‘Shore ogy Infinite Stars is a big collection of Patrol’’ by Jack Campbell. That allows Bspace opera stories, split roughly evenly for a self-contained event space with between reprints and originals. The reprints plenty of potential for action. In both serve to some extent as an introduction to the cases, the stories show eventual series subgenre, with examples from such classic series heroes early in their career dealing with as Cordwainer Smith’s Instrumentality of Man- the foggy ethical/legal/moral situations kind, Anne McCaffrey’s Ship Who Sang books, regarding shore leave from the POV of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series, A.C. a non-local navy. In each case (and in Crispin’s Starbridge, and Larry Niven & Jerry very different ways) our heroes navigate Pournelle’s Codominium. In addition there this space successfully, and in a way that are a couple of standalone reprints by major illuminated their developing characters. Jean genre, crossing boundaries with narrative con- authors (Poul Anderson’s ‘‘Duel on Syrtis’’ and Johnson’s ‘‘How to be a Barbarian in the Late fidence that reminds me of Michael Swanwick’s Robert Silverberg’s ‘‘The Iron Star’’), and one 25th Century’’ amusingly views Mitch Turman’s absurdity. Their prose and characters aren’t major, very recent reprint, Nnedi Okorafor’s struggle writing an Action Report about his alike, but their free-wheeling, energetic gonzo Hugo winning novella ‘‘Binti’’ (which itself is Platoon’s latest adventure on a colony world. approach is similar and fun. becoming a series). Rounding out the reprints is Turman would rather write it up as if it was a Another common (though not universal) a collaboration between two of the earliest and pulp adventure story about a team of barbarians theme is a focus on what might be marginalia greatest authors of space opera, Leigh Brack- battling fantastical beasts – and it works quite in a more traditional piece. Her plots sometimes ett & Edmond Hamilton, their posthumously well that way, even if regulations require some- dwell in unexpected corners, related by unex- published mashup of their two separate series: thing much drier. The best of all the new stories pected narrators. ‘‘Stark and the Star Kings’’. is Alastair Reynolds’ ‘‘Night Passage’’, a dark The first story, ‘‘The Fermi Paradox Is Our These serve their purpose very well – they story about what goes wrong when a spaceship Business Model’’, is overtly comic, told from the are a set of significant stories and showcase carrying both the hivemind-like Conjoiners and perspective of two aliens coming to Earth. It’s a space opera from the ’50s to the present day the more conventionally ‘‘human’’ Demarchists clever thought experiment, amusingly executed. nicely. Curiously, in that I generally think the breaks down in mid-journey to the planet Yel- ‘‘Instestate’’ is an oddly quiet story about subgenre works best at greater lengths (the lowstone, coincidentally close to a significant the daughter of a mad scientist. He has replaced late, great Brian W. Aldiss talked of the ‘‘wide alien artefact. The Conjoiners are suspected his human parts with mechanically enhanced screen baroque’’ feel of space opera, and ‘‘wide of sabotage or mutiny, and war threatens. The ones, which the narrator’s greedy siblings are screen’’ at least seems to call for, if you will, Captain is also forced to make a morally fraught eager to inherit. The combination of far-fetched ‘‘wide books’’), the two best of these reprints decision affecting the fate of the entire set of science and mundane family detail provides a might be the shortest: Cordwainer Smith’s ‘‘The crew and passengers, if there is going to be any thoughtful, surprising setting for contemplating Game of Rat and Dragon’’ and Poul Anderson’s continuance of the mission. It’s unsettling and loss and inheritance. ‘‘Duel on Syrtis’’. This may be partly because effective work. The highlight of the collection is the titular both stories are self-contained (though there is a Taken all in all, Infinite Stars is a strong Hugo-winner ‘‘Six Months, Three Days’’, a sequel of sorts to ‘‘Duel on Syrtis’’, ‘‘War-Maid celebration of the variety and power of the doomed romance between a psychic who sees a of Mars’’). If I confess that I don’t like ‘‘The Ship space opera subgenre, both in its history and its fixed future and another who sees many possible Who Sang’’ all that much, or that I think ‘‘Stark ongoing vitality. outcomes. The story is exceptional. Word-by- and the Star Kings’’ is a less than successful, –Rich Horton word, every sentence is beautiful. The charac- and rather contrived, marriage of Brackett’s Eric ters are intimately sharp and detailed. Still, its John Stark and Hamilton’s Star Kings universes, RACHEL SWIRSKY most startling achievement is making abstract I still concede that they represent important Six Months, Three Days, Five Others, Charlie philosophical questions palpable and personal. parts of our field’s history. (In the interest of full Jane Anders, (Tor.com 9781250099068, $12.99, The three other stories – ‘‘As Good As New’’, disclosure, I will add that Schmidt discussed the 185pp, tp) October 2017. ‘‘The Cartography of Sudden Death’’, and ‘‘Clo- project with me (and several others) and asked ver’’ – are also good stories, though weaker than for recommendations for possible reprints.) harlie Jane Anders is ridiculously bril- the best. ‘‘Clover’’ in particular is plotted in an As I hint above, lots of space opera is best liant. exciting, unexpected way, veering between ideas appreciated in big novels, or indeed in extended C Yes, this is going to be one of those and points of view. The weakest of the bunch is series. And most of the other stories in this book reviews, full of glowing praise. Six Months, ‘‘As Good As New’’, which seems more bisected are also parts of series. Sometimes this hampers Three Days, Five Others collects six stories than enhanced by its cross-genre turn. them a bit – they can seem either incomplete, or a by Charlie Jane Anders, all edited by Patrick The unfortunate thing about this collection’s bit overdetermined, or just kind-of marking time. Neilsen Hayden for Tor.com. Although some are narrow scope is that it doesn’t allow space for A lot seem almost designed as teasers for the better than others, they’re all good reads. Anders’s other brilliant stories like ‘‘Ghost full series they represent. These series include Anders’s unique humor provides a uniting Champagne’’ from Uncanny or ‘‘The Super some really major SF landmarks: Orson Scott theme. Only some of the stories are explicitly Ultra Duchess of Fedora Forest’’ from the an- Card’s Ender universe, Brian Herbert & Kevin comic, but all benefit from her linguistic wit thology The Starlit Wood. I hope Anders has J. Anderson continuing Frank Herbert’s Dune and her quirky but generous characterization. the opportunity to publish a fuller collection at series, David Weber’s Honorverse. There are Her stories seem to say with affection, ‘‘People. some point. stories from some more recent series that I’ve We’re weird. What can you do?’’ She’s particu- In other words: Charlie Jane Anders is ridicu- really enjoyed – Elizabeth Moon’s Vatta’s War, larly good at tailoring prose to her characters, lously brilliant. for example (which she has just returned to), and revealing their lives through their diction. Char- –Rachel Swirsky David Drake’s Leary/Mundy (or RCN) series. It acters go to ‘‘one of those mom-and-pop Portu- was nice also to be introduced to some work new guese places’’ and ‘‘the kinda-sorta gay bar.’’ to me, such as Linda Nagata’s Red stories, Jack Some of the stories take a fluid approach to
LOCUS October 2017 / 27 LOCUS LOOKS AT AUDIOBOOKS: AMY GOLDSCHLAGER Meddling Kids, Edgar Cantero; Kyla Garcia, and an exploration of more serious subjects, such financially after her mentally ill mother dies and narrator (Random House Audio 978-152478119- as how a corporation can ruin a charming little her mother’s lifelong annuity dies with her. Re- 4, $22.50, digital download, 13 hr., unabridged) town, and how people in their twenties can have viewing her late father Dr. Henry Jekyll’s papers, July 2017. a hard time finding their direction, whether or not she finds what she thinks are clues to locating otherworldly influences are at play. Edward Hyde, Jekyll’s murderous associate, his Lovecraftian/Kid Detective Club The end product has some interesting and which might allow her to collect the reward for pastiche is riddled with references to thoughtful ideas mashed up with comforting his capture. Instead, she discovers the half-sister TScooby-Doo, Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, references from our childhood, to form a whole she never knew, who is merely the first of several Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. (My favor- that can’t entirely manage to be satisfying. young woman who are both the creations and the ite shout-out is the Zoinks River, named after victims of a secret society of scientists conducting Shaggy’s favorite expression – I didn’t really have Julia Defiant, Catherine Egan; Erin Spencer & biological experiments. to explain that, did I?). Will Damron, narrators (Listening Library 978- Goss brings together elements of H.G. Wells’s Thirteen years ago, in 1977, Andy (never An- 110191719-0, $70.00, 10 CDs, 12 hr., unabridged The Island of Doctor Moreau, Mary Shelley’s drea), Kerri, Peter, Nate, and Kerri’s faithful dog [also available as a digital download]) June 2017. Frankenstein, Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Sean were the Blyton Summer Detective Club, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Na- a team of tweens and teens who solved myster- In the second volume of the Witch’s Daughter thaniel Hawthorne’s, ‘‘Rappaccini’s Daughter’’, ies and unmasked villains every summer in the trilogy, the former thief and spy Julia finds herself and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes charming Oregon town of Blyton Hills. After one in the distant land of Yongguo, searching for the stories. Goss has clearly done her research, al- final case, the capture of a gold hunter disguised monk who might be able to remove an elemental though I am tired of authors who employ Sherlock as the Sleepy Lake Monster, the Blyton Summer magical tome from the toddler Theo without kill- Holmes as a character always dropping in that Detective Club disbanded. Somehow, after that ing him. As she inadvertently plunges deeper into reference to the monograph Holmes wrote about apparent triumph, nothing was ever the same. the politics of Yongguo and her own homeland of cigarette ash. Newman and Moore incorporate a Now in their mid-twenties, these young people’s Frayne, Julia learns frightening truths about her more obsessive level of detail into their works, but promise appears blighted. Brilliant Kerri, who ability to magically vanish, and the power’s ap- their stories tend to be a bit more clinical. Goss always dreamed of becoming a biologist, is a parent link to her witch mother’s mysterious past. uses the threads of these classic stories to tell a waitress; Andy has just escaped from prison for As in the previous book, Julia Vanishes, Erin warmer, more human tale, despite the violent a violent episode; Nate is in a mental hospital; Spencer is first-person narrator Julia, a brave and and gory incidents that occasionally punctuate and after a brief but successful career as an actor, usually self-reliant person whose confidence is the novel. Peter committed suicide. They’re haunted by ter- undermined when she discovers a link between That tale is beautifully rendered by Kate Read- rible dreams and the growing belief that maybe herself and the demonic creature Lidari, and ing’s lovely, genteel voice, the sort that always the events of their final case were more sinister begins to suspect that everything she thought makes me feel more cultured just by listening. I than they’ve chosen to remember. she knew about herself and her mother is a lie. also have an preference for alto narrators: it’s a Andy is convinced that in order to move for- Spencer’s voice is well suited to Julia’s character: pitch that falls nicely on the ear, and can usually ward, the Blyton Summer Detective Club must it’s sweet but strong, and believable as a young be smoothly adjusted lower or higher as neces- confront its demons (figurative and/or literal). woman emerging from her teens. sary. Reading uses well-bred but firm tones for She convinces the surviving members (and Once again, narrator Will Damron plays the Mary, and tough young Cockney for her half- possibly the deceased one as well; Nate is ac- most minimal of roles – in fact, it’s even more sister Diana Hyde. She provides a convincing companied by Peter’s ghost, who may or may not minimal than in book one; he reads the very short French accent for the Swiss Justine Frankenstein, be a hallucination) and Tim, the great-grandson prologue and never reappears. I’m not quite sure and a slight but distinct Italian accent for Beatrice of Kerri’s dog Sean, to return with her to Blyton why the publisher bothers to use Damron here, Rappaccini. Hills, where they uncover an apocalyptic plot even if that section is third person while the rest Other volumes in the series will be forthcom- of an immortal sorcerer to summon an eldritch of the book is first. Perhaps they’re laying the ing, and I’ll be waiting. abomination from another dimension. groundwork for a more substantial narrative role Narrator Kyla Garcia does a fine job here, in book three? Gwendy’s Button Box, Stephen King & Rich- particularly in expressing the characters’ hyste- I very much enjoy the layered morality of this ard Chizmar; Maggie Siff, narrator (Simon & ria as they confront various perilous situations. series, which darkens considerably in this book. Schuster Audio 978-150824204-8, $14.99, 1 CD; Her voices are easily distinguished during long Julia works for Mrs. Och, who ruthlessly exploits 2.75 hr., unabridged [also available as a digital passages of dialogue. She also deftly articulates those in her employ; Mrs. Och is supposedly download]) May 2017. the tortured, many consonanted syllables of protecting Theo and his mother, but she makes Lovecraftian names (e.g., Thtaggoa) and chanted it ever more clear that she’ll kill Theo before In 1974, Gwendy Peterson, a chubby 12-year- spells. letting the magical book fall into enemy hands. old desperate for social success, meets a strange I wanted to like this book more than I did. Like We know and like Julia, but she’s a survivor who man named Richard Ferris. Unfortunately, any child of the 1970s, I loved Scooby-Doo, and sometimes has to do morally dubious things to Gwendy doesn’t know what any good King fan there’s a good dose of fun to be had here. How- survive, and the evidence is growing that some knows – that anyone with the initials RF is bad ever, despite my previous use of the word ‘‘Love- part of her might be monstrous. news, an incarnation of the wandering demon craftian’’ twice, the nods to Lovecraft are actually Sign me up for whatever comes next. who torments the protagonists of most of King’s pretty shallow; I think too many authors refer to major works. Ferris gives her a beautiful wooden Arkham Asylum and Miskatonic University as a The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s box studded with levers and buttons. One lever kind of easy shorthand, and don’t do the research Daughter, Theodora Goss; Kate Read- dispenses animal-shaped chocolates that satisfy that writers like Charles Stross or Ruthanna Em- ing, narrator (Simon & Schuster Audio her cravings for sweets and one lever produces rys do. Occasionally the author broke the fourth 978-150823891-1, $23.99, digital download, 13.5 rare silver dollars; and then there are the buttons, wall and made odd shifts in tense; I think Cantero hr., unabridged) June 2017. capable of destroying continents or any specific wanted this to play like the episode of a TV show, target Gwendy chooses. As Gwendy becomes or perhaps the very special TV movie that reunites Theodora Goss enters the late 19th-century/early trim, athletic, and academically and socially the cast of a beloved but long-cancelled series. 20th-century detective and horror pastiche realm successful, she is also haunted to the point of The pacing was a bit slow, which can be the kiss that Kim Newman and Alan Moore have made obsession by the box’s darker potential. Will she of death to an audiobook, and the story felt un- their own for so long, and stakes out her own, succumb and press one of those deadly buttons? comfortably stretched out at times. There was also entirely delightful territory there. This novella is my favorite sort of King story – an uneasy tension between broad horror parody Mary Jekyll doesn’t know how she’ll manage about temptation and how it can mess with your
28 / LOCUS October 2017 head – in the vein of ‘‘I Know What You Need’’ including the human will to live (those afflicted garian witch, the machine can now be employed and ‘‘Everything’s Eventual’’. However, I was with the incurable apathy it causes are shot im- to send agents back in time to create present expecting a much nastier end to this story, and mediately out of mercy). outcomes favorable to the US government. was disappointed when it didn’t occur. Although All employees are bound by a contract that From a small agency, D.O.D.O. balloons into some terrible things happen to Gwendy, her enforces strict secrecy and absolutely forbids a unwieldy bureaucracy, menaced by its own red ultimate fate is fairly benign for a King work. ‘‘fraternization’’ between coworkers; the penal- tape, a powerful and centuries-old banking fam- Perhaps that’s the influence of his co-author ties for violating the contract are quite unpleas- ily with its own knowledge of magic, and an early Richard Chizmar, whom, as they recount in a antly stringent. 17th-century Irish witch with her own agenda. short interview at the end of this production, Dakota ‘‘Dak’’ Prentiss, voiced by Ashlie I cannot dictate how an author chooses to spend King turned to when he’d written himself into a Atkinson, is the first-person protagonist. She is his creative energies, but after Neal Stephenson’s corner when developing the story. the no-nonsense chief of security, accustomed to epic Seveneves (which cries out for a sequel), this Narrator Maggie Siff has a pleasantly calm making the ruthless decisions necessary to keep book is really a tremendous letdown as his next voice, which serves as perfect counterpoint to Quill Marine secure and secret. She certainly work. Co-authored with historical fiction writer the fantastical and horrific aspects of the story doesn’t expect to find herself immediately and Nicole Galland, the book is a too-long, mediocre she narrates. Her character voices aren’t strongly dangerously attracted to new recruit Matt Salem. mashup of Kage Baker’s Company novels and distinct, but they’re subtly effective. She’s also Their inability to keep their hands off each other, Deborah Harkness’s All Souls trilogy, with a very good at voicing teen dialogue; she sounds and the increasing likelihood that Quill Marine’s dash of Charles Stross’s Merchant Princes series. realistically young and lacking in the condescen- CEO will shut down the institute, put the alien Obviously, Harper Audio thought this book sion that can mar some narrators’ evocation of body in a sideshow, and weaponize the Harp significant enough to spend the cash on multiple child characters. against his many enemies, lead the couple to a narrators, who read the various letters, reports, In addition to the title novella and the interview dangerous decision. Exactly what that decision memos, and journal entries that comprise the with the co-authors, the production includes is, I’m not sure, because I only had access to book. I particularly enjoyed the narrators for King’s solo-authored story ‘‘The Music Room’’, the first five episodes, but I have a pretty good crotchety Bostonian Rebecca East and the which apparently was nominated for an Edgar idea. (Hint: it has something to do with the word officious, oblivious head of D.O.D.O. human Award, but I can’t see why. It’s a fairly weak and ‘‘Steal’’ that’s in the title.) resources. The Irish witch Grainne’s narrator obvious story about a couple’s new (and deadly, A narrated audiobook and a fully realized was solid with Irish and English accents, and natch) source of income during the Depression. audio drama are really quite different, because acceptable with American, but clearly has no idea It’s not at all up to King’s usual standards. the latter takes advantage of a three-dimensional how Hungarians talk – vaguely German isn’t it. On balance, this is a relatively decent, but not audio landscape in a way that an audiobook can’t. The narrator for the hacker/coder Mortimer is outstanding, little diversion. There’s a true sense of place: you are witnessing slightly better at it, and Mel’s narrator is consider- events in front of you with your ears, sometimes ably better at it. As I’ve mentioned in a previous Steal the Stars: Episodes 1-5 (of 14), Mac Rog- nearby, and sometimes in the distance. column, I hate it when narrators don’t bother to ers; performed by a full cast (Tor Labs with The cast members are all excellent. I particu- research less common foreign accents, apparently Gideon Media, free, approx. 0.5 hr. per episode) larly enjoyed Atkinson and also Brian Silliman assuming that not enough of their listeners will be August–November 2017. as Rosh, who takes an exaggeratedly sarcastic conversant enough in those languages to notice. approach to his posting at a security checkpoint. As my mother is Hungarian-American, I can I typically do not review podcasts for this column, Unfortunately, I don’t think I can really give catch them when it’s Hungarian, but that always except in the yearly roundup, because, after all, a complete review of the production, because so makes me worry about all the other accents that there are so many audiobooks out there and much of these first five episodes is a set up for narrators are able to slip by me. there just isn’t space to cover the entire audio what’s to come. These episodes lay out the rules There was one great sound effect worthy of universe here. But I felt it would be relevant to for this universe, and also deliver a hefty dose of note: the scratchy noise employed when Mel is our readership to discuss Steal the Stars, the melodrama, from Dak and Matt’s relationship to crossing out words or phrases in her journal. It first podcast put out by Tor Labs (a new planet the doomed, discovered relationship between two isn’t always easy to convert text formatting or in the ever-growing Tor publishing solar system) other employees and the horror of witnessing the visual images into sounds, and I thought this in conjunction with Gideon Media. Traditional experience of two people who are drained by the particularly clever. publishing has clearly decided to provide content Harp. The story only works if you buy into the The novel’s pacing is almost excruciatingly for the growing reappreciation of serialized audio lust/love at first sight experienced by Dak and slow. The authors make it more than clear who drama. (The podcast is also being adapted into a Matt; I don’t know why I find it easier to believe our protagonists’ opponents are very early in the novel, to be published later.) Perhaps they were in aliens than that kind of instant connection book, and waiting for the characters to catch up encouraged by enthusiasm for John Scalzi’s The (maybe my youth just wasn’t misspent enough). is annoying, so annoying that I had to take long Human Condition, previously offered as both However, I’m totally open to subscribing and breaks from listening. And although some very a text and audio serial (the latter covered in my discovering what comes next. violent scenes happen, and the fate of a timeline column a few years back), or by the success of with modern technology is at stake, the general fiction podcast dramas such asWelcome to Night The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., Neal Stephenson tone was so lighthearted it was difficult to really Vale and Homeland, both of which now feature & Nicole Galland; Laurence Bouvard, Shelley take the stakes seriously or believe that our heroes spinoff novels. And, of course, SerialBox has al- Atkinson, Laural Merlington, Joe Barrett, Will were ever in any real danger. ready made audio part of its publishing program; Damron, & Luke Daniels, narrators (Harper Also, it’s perhaps not fair for me to point this I’ve covered several of their serials here, includ- Audio and Blackstone Audio,978-153841927-4, out, but it vexed me that no one in the book ing Bookburners, Tremontaine, and ReMade. $55.99, MP3 CD, 24.5 hr., unabridged [also avail- overtly brings up the obvious argument as to Steal the Stars is a science fiction romantic abled as a digital download) June 2017. p. 60 thriller, featuring a full cast and audio effects. Quill Marine is a formerly military, now private, Linguist Melisande ‘‘Mel’’ Stokes is invited by super-secret research institute, kept secure by Tristan Lyons to join D.O.D.O., a secretive (and THIS MONTH IN HISTORY retired elite soldiers. Its sole area of study is very small) government agency searching for October 19, 2204. Free-range planet? An interstellar object 2/3 the mass of Mars, an alien (possibly alive but dormant, possibly evidence of the existence of magic and witches. thought to be black hole ejecta, speeds dead), and the spaceship in which it crashed Apparently, all magic died out one day in 1851, through Solar System at .947C. Trajectory some years ago. Inside the spaceship is the Harp, but a discredited scientist has invented a machine of 77 degrees off ecliptic leaves home orbit- a mysterious machine, maybe the engine, which inside which magic is still possible. Thanks to the als unscathed. Pope Regent thanks God. periodically drains all the energy in its vicinity, discovery of one ancient and obstreperous Hun-
LOCUS October 2017 / 29 30 / LOCUS October 2017 KAMERON HURLEY WHAT COMES AFTER THE SHIP IS SUNK? n 1692, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Port Royal, that swallows people every hundred years…. And yet. plunging over half the city into the sea and flooding what remained Humans are infinitely irrational and complex creatures. We are driven Iwith a sizable tidal wave. Port Royal was infamous for its reputation largely by emotion, as any marketer will tell you, and we use logic as a rollicking pirate haven, and the disaster that descended upon it merely to justify and rationalize our decisions. Studies have shown that day was largely tacked up to God’s vengeance. It’s always easier that when presented with evidence of sexism, many professors in the to blame God than poor planning or simple sciences reject this assertion outright, even when ignorance. confronted by evidence, because they believe Same as it ever was. themselves to be too rational to even consider The disaster, on reflection, was inevitable. such a thing. Imagine being so rational that you Port Royal lay at the intersection of two tectonic reject rational data! plates. It was built not on a volcanic snub of rock, There is no logical basis for many of the social but what was, in essence, merely a sand bar. The and political movements that shape our lives, violent shaking of the earthquake caused lique- from racism to climate change denial. We can faction of the surrounding land mass, effectively yell “the white walkers are coming!” until we turning the sandbar the city lay upon into quick are blue in the face, but even if the white walker sand. Entire buildings were swallowed, and is pounding down the ruler’s door, it’s actually people with them. There remains one lonely, quite probable the ruler still isn’t going to believe half-sunken structure from a later date that you it’s happening. We are human, and fallible. Once can visit today, a reminder that the stolidity of we tell ourselves a story of what is, we are loathe the land beneath your feet on this spit of earth to change it. is merely an illusion. Paula Volsky wrote a book called The White That structure, of course, sits among plenty Tribunal, which is a fantasy novel loosely based of many new structures in Port Royal. Hu- on The Count of Monte Cristo. As a teenager, man beings still live there, even knowing and I found the book delightful but frustrating, as understanding the potential consequences of every character upon whom the protagonist got doing so, knowing the very ground could reach their revenge continued to deny they’d done up and swallow them. This would seem to be a wrong even as they succumbed to death or contradiction at best, foolish at worst. But human committed suicide. I was far more familiar with beings set up cities in the shadow of volcanoes, the story of repentance, of those brought to the on sunny fault lines, and travel – as I am doing light in the moment they were punished. This now – into hurricane-prone regions even know- is a nice story, a fun trope, and very Christian, ing a potential disaster is imminent. Why we do Kameron Hurley but I’ve seen enough of real people now that I this continues to baffle me, even as I do it myself. realize we all cling to the stories that we’ve told As individuals, certainly, many of us simply have limited options. ourselves about why we’ve done the horrible things we have, until the We don’t have control over where we are born, or the economic and absolute bitter end. It’s these stories of ourselves and our actions that political circumstances that conspire to keep us inhabiting areas more literally make up our consciousness and create who we are. Losing likely to murder us than others. As a species that has gotten far through them and admitting we were in the wrong, we were mistaken, feels cooperation, however, it’s frustrating to watch us clamor for short-term like the death of the self. profit and comfort rather than plan ahead and strive to create a future As we go forward as writers, as human beings, it behooves us to we may never live to see. consider what stories we’re telling ourselves about our actions and the And yet. actions of those around us. It’s vital that we understand that we are not We have done just that many times over. We have built cathedrals and rational, and that our emotions play a much greater part in driving us pyramids, aqueducts and highway systems. We have traveled to space, than we’d like to admit. When your protagonist is confronted with the to the moon. We have collectively endeavored to create – for better or evidence of the Big Bad, they may never wake up to the reality of it. worse – sprawling civilizations. Brought together by religious fervor, They may go down in its jaws swearing they are in the right, that it’s patriotism, and alas, at times, nationalist furor, we can achieve the im- all a dream, that it’s still some trick, the same way we face down hur- possible. So why aren’t we striving together to create cities and nations ricane after hurricane, disappearing island after disappearing island, that will outlast even another century of shifting weather patterns? insisting that our weather patterns aren’t changing. The rise of the state, historically, occurred not to protect ordinary I have great love for all that humanity is capable of, but I understand citizens, but to protect the interests of the elite and their property. Little that our biggest hurdle in achieving our true potential is ourselves. Our has changed in practice today, but on paper, citizens in many countries fears. Our stories. We can change only when we embrace a new story of expect more from their governments than taxes and militaries They ourselves, not as fearful enemies but as colleagues on the same sinking expect public transit, healthcare, regulation of labor and food produc- ship. We can all jump off the boat and hope to survive, or we can start tion, and social services in exchange for laboring under the state. We bailing together. But it’s going to take great collective action, and a want to see states not as tools of the elite, but voices elected by and complete change in how we view other human beings. for ordinary people. I want that future. I cling to that expectation. But For my part, going forward, I am working on creating more interesting when I look out at who is being protected, and who exploited, in my narratives, and stories about people who have worked or are working current timeline, I’m certainly not optimistic about where we’re headed. together to stave off disaster. I have seen the apocalypse, and I have read I share these stories and observations because in our fictional uni- it a million times, and alas, I feel more and more today like I’m living verses, many readers continue to expect perfect logic and sense from in its earliest days. I’ve seen the very worst in us. I see it now whenever the societies that we, as writers, build. We bring expectations to our I scroll through the news. But there is still good out there. There’s still text that politicians have to at least pretend to be rational, governments a future after this. We’re all still on the ship. It hasn’t sunk yet. need to act like they have the people’s interests at heart, and there’s just Keep bailing. no way that anyone would still be living outside that haunted temple –Kameron Hurley
LOCUS October 2017 / 31 nnalee Newitz was born May 6, 1969 in Santa Monica CA, and barrio areas. That was what she really believed in, getting kids interested grew up in Huntingon Beach and Irvine. She attended UC Berkeley, in reading who didn’t feel like reading mattered to them. Even though she Awhere she completed a Ph.D. in English and American Studies in was this little white southern lady, she somehow managed to engage all 1998; her dissertation was published as Pretend We’re Dead: Capitalist these kids. It was pretty cool. My dad taught community college. Literature Monsters in American Pop Culture (2006). She began freelance writing was a big deal in our house, and we didn’t have a TV. We had a ginormous in the mid-’90s, and has written full-time since 1999, mostly as a journalist bookshelf in our living room that my dad built himself. It literally covered focusing on technology and science. She wrote for the San Francisco Bay an entire wall. We had a living room that was two stories, because it went Guardian for many years, serving as culture editor from 2000-2004, and was up to the second floor, so it was two stories of books. awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship for 2002-2003, serving “My parents really encouraged me to read. They took me to the library a as a research fellow at MIT. She was a policy analyst for the Electronic lot and I discovered science fiction at my library, basically because I had read Frontier Foundation from 2004-2005. everything in the YA section and I didn’t want to go to the adult section yet. Newitz founded SF website io9 in 2008, and served as editor-in-chief One summer a kindly librarian put out a small shelf that was labeled science for its entire tenure. io9 was combined with Gizmodo in 2015, and Newitz fiction. It was maybe 30 books, and I found this anthology calledMutants left shortly after to join Ars Technica, where she is Tech Culture Editor. that was edited by Robert Silverberg, a collection of stories about mutants, She co-founded print magazine other with Charlie Jane Anders, and also which I really identified with. I was like, ‘What is this awesomeness?’ It’s collaborated with Anders on anthology She’s Such a Geek (2006). Her non- called science fiction. I read The Martian Chronicles, and I got full-bore fiction bookScatter, Adapt, and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a into science fiction. I would seek out the sci-fi section at bookstores. That Mass Extinction appeared in 2013. was actually okay for a while, but when I got into high school, my parents While best known for non-fiction, Newitz has published a handful of short started to get really nervous about it. They were concerned that I was stories, beginning with “The Gravity Fetishist” (2010). Her debut SF novel immature and was never going to read literature, because of course they Autonomous came out in September. would prefer me to be reading Faulkner and Jane Austen and things like that. They really discouraged me, and it took a couple years, and then when “When I was young my family moved to the planned community of Irvine, I was 16, I started reading literature and they were very happy about that. which Jean Baudrillard described in an essay as being a ‘terrifying simulated “I was in the English department at Berkeley, and about halfway through environment.’ It was a totally planned community, which means everything my PhD, which was going to be about medieval literature, I discovered Star in it had been determined by committee, and there were a lot of rules like, Trek through a friend of mine. We were both stoners, and we found each for example, McDonald’s couldn’t have the golden arches. You couldn’t other in the graduate program. He said, ‘You’ve got to watch Star Trek: have signage that was too big. That meant all of the shopping centers looked The Next Generation.’ I hadn’t had a TV, ever. I’d watched a lot of movies, kind of the same. Also you couldn’t paint your own house – that was taken but never watched TV, and I watched it and said, ‘That’s awesome. Fuck care of by the Irvine Company, so every housing tract had the same color this whole literature thing.’ I love pop culture and I love science fiction. I scheme. When I was growing up, my housing tract was dark brown and changed the course of my studies and I wound up doing my dissertation on light brown, and they later changed it to sort of a nougat and gray. It was representations of monsters in pop culture. It was the source of a rift with like growing up in a science fiction novel. You were not allowed to change my family that has never healed. There were a lot of other problems with things. You couldn’t put solar cells on the roof, and you couldn’t change my family, believe me, but that was the last straw, and we barely talked to the lawn. It was supposed to be utopian, by reducing the visual pollution each other after that. To them it represented the fact that I didn’t want to and making everything look clean and matching, so you wouldn’t have be an academic, which was what they wanted for me. conflict between the neighbors about the colors of the houses, or fences. “While I was in grad school I co-founded an online ’zine called Bad The idea was that it would reduce conflict and be this beautiful community. Subjects where I wrote about pop culture and the politics of pop culture, Obviously it wasn’t. Growing up there was super weird. so I had already been doing a lot of journalism on my own. Now they call “I grew up during the heyday of punk, sort of postpunk and ska, and a it blogging, but at the time they called it ‘making a ’zine because it was lot of kids became punks or metalheads, because they needed some way the ’90s, but it was on the Internet. It got a lot of attention because it was to not conform. Everything was so conformist – it was like that scene in A one of the first online magazines of any kind. I wanted to be published, Wrinkle in Time where they go to the world where all the kids are bounc- and I couldn’t get anyone to publish me, so I decided to just publish my- ing balls at the same time. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, that’s where we live.’ self. Then I started freelancing. It wasn’t overnight – it took me years of Luckily, I had science fiction and fantasy to read – that was my form of self-publishing in Bad Subjects before my writing was good enough to be escapism when I was a kid. I found other nerdy kids to play D&D with, published in the San Francisco Bay Guardian. and we’d all escape through that. My parents are both English teachers. My “I started doing a column called Techsploitation about the Bay Area tech mom taught junior high and high school, and most of her life she taught scene at the turn of the century. That was fun, and I learned a lot. I trained at schools in low-income areas. She started her career teaching in Watts myself to be a tech writer, or more like a tech commentator. I would talk right around the time of the Watts riots, and the whole time I was growing a lot about how technology and culture were affecting each other, and that up she was teaching in areas that were pretty much entirely Latino, sort of p. 66
LOCUS October 2017 / 33 panel, with speakers dressed as characters from their works. A smorgasbord of Russia, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States). Seventeen The ceremony opened with ‘‘Darth Finn’’ saying, ‘‘You have incorrectly pro- topics were listed, such as Religious Diversity in Fiction, Contemporary Chinese had never exhibited in a Worldcon before.’’ The reported auction gallery and print nounced Kiitos for the last time,’’ and then welcoming toastmistress ‘‘Lord Karen’’, Science Fiction, and Bad Romance. Film screenings started with the ‘‘alternate shop sales totaled €15,000. who greeted the crowd in a number of languages. She asked this year’s Hugo final- realities’’ film festival Wednesday and played throughout the convention, including ists to raise their hands, saying, ‘‘Whether or not you take home a rocket, I want orldcon 75, the 75th World Science Fiction Convention, took place Au- segments like animation from around the world, strange new worlds, and feature PARTIES you to savor that moment when we speak your name out loud on stage…. There’s gust 9-13, 2017 at the Helsinki Messukeskus in lovely Helsinki, Finland. films. Programming went smoothly, but the higher-than-expected attendance 12 official parties were scheduled by bids and others, including New Zealand always someone out there who hasn’t heard of you yet, and you are going to be their WGuests of honour were John-Henri Holmberg, Nalo Hopkinson, Johanna overwhelmed the space available at times: rooms were too small for the crowds in 2020, a combined Croatian/Australian/Fan Funds party, the Chinese Fandom great discovery of 2017.’’ As Lord introduced Hugo administrator Nicholas Whyte, Sinisalo, and Walter Jon Williams, with astronaut Dr. Kjell N. Lindgren as special and hallways filled with lines of people waiting to go into panels. party, and the Japan party. First-time concom member Kylie Ding said, ‘‘Most of Darth Finn returned to the stage with an entourage of Imperials to arrest him, but guest and Ian Stewart as science guest. Guest of honour Claire Wendling was unable TAFF administrator Anna Raftery reported nearly €2,300 were raised for fan the parties I ran were in the Rauhanasemea, an old railway station a five minute was appeased by an offer of a comical selfie with Worldcon chair Jukka Halme. to attend. There were 5,949 attending members (up from MidAmeriCon II’s 4,602), funds: €1,994 from the auction and the rest from the fan fund table and donations. walk away…. This had a sauna in the basement, and I got to Whyte presented some Hugo statistics: 3,319 voters for the including day-pass holders, hall admissions, and dealer passes. Adding support- ‘‘Some items were sold for specific funds but the majority of the cash raised was experience the cultural difference associated with that, with final ballot, third highest in the history of the Hugos (beaten ing memberships and paid no-shows, the total registered membership was 8,753. split evenly, with DUFF thus getting €660.80 in total, TAFF €778.30, and GUFF the odd nude or towel-draped person wandering out into the by 2014 & 2015) and the longest ballot ever, with six finalists The weekend began with a glitzy reception at city hall in the downtown area €838.30.’’ main party space!’’ in each category. He thanked everyone for participating and south of the convention center where Deputy Mayor Nasima Razmyar welcomed Karen Lord hosted the Masquerade Saturday night and acapella group Sassa- With a spacious outdoor area outside the main entrance of the people who helped with the Hugo process, including the congoers to Helsinki. Set in an industrial area a short train ride north of downtown, frass performed for half-time. The Workmanship Awards for Best in Class went to the con, the Holiday Inn restaurant served as a hub for lunch- former administrators. The 2017 Hugo Award base designer the convention center comprised an array of nondescript wings, levels, and passages, Michelle ‘‘Miki’’ Dennis and Best in Show went to Leena Pieppo. time mingling and evening socializing. There were no large and Finnish artist Eeva Jokinen then discussed her design and and was attached to the Holiday Inn; the rest of the con hotels were downtown. publisher parties – for the first time in a very long time, no big received an award. Walter Day was introduced by Guinness Outside temperatures swung between hot with bright sun and cool with sudden EXHIBITS & DEALERS’ ROOM Tor party. This year’s Hugo Losers Party was run by Kevin World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday (via video from windy rainstorms. The convention center itself had efficient air conditioning but Exhibits Deputy Division Head Terry Neill said, ‘‘We displayed the small alu- Roche and Andrew Tremblay of Worldcon 76, and sponsored London) to present the Hugo Awards with a certificate for being opened later than congoers wanted, resulting in lines of attendees waiting to get minum Hugo rocket that Sasquan sent to the International Space Station with Dr. by George R.R. Martin. Held at Steam Hellsinki, a steampunk- the longest running science fiction award in history. in each morning. From the second day onward, notes were posted announcing Kjell Lingren for the entire convention for the first time. Worldcon 75 donated the themed bar downtown, the party was boisterous and densely Nikhil Singh presented the first Hugo Award of the night, that the con had sold out of day passes, with the expected 3,000-4,000 attendees locked display case we purchased for it to the Worldcon Heritage Organization crowded, and featured tasty bites, SFnal drinks, a DJ, and a Best Fan Artist, to Elizabeth Leggett. Rebecca Hewett accepted practically doubled. for the use of future Worldcons. Knitter Ellen T. Andresen designed a Major Ursa cake designed with a crashed rocket and an astronaut. on her behalf, saying how honored Leggett was. She thanked Dining options at the con itself were often overrun, opening later and closing hat especially for Worldcon 75. We ran a scavenger hunt that loads of members voters, John Joseph Adams, Mur Lafferty, Blake Hausladen, earlier than expected. Fazer’s excellent coffee shop sustained many, but a number had fun with – both adults and children…. It was a highlight of volunteering at CON PUBLICATIONS David Thayer, Sidney Sinclair, Kristin Wood, Julie Dillon, the of the food kiosks served fare that was overpriced and of lower quality. Real the Exhibits desk to see hundreds of photos of members with polar bears, listen The souvenir book was 176 pages, with the cover art by Bubonicon staff, the Worldcon organizers, and her husband variety awaited intrepid congoers willing to take a tram or train to any other part to scores of Polar Bear poems, and cheer everyone on as they completed tasks.’’ Wendling. Contents included a greeting from Mayor Jan Va- Allan and her kid Em, ‘‘They are my light and my heart.’’ of a beautiful (despite it’s heavy blockish buildings) and walkable Helsinki, and The dealers’ room felt spacious, a cordoned section of a massive hall which held paavuori, GoH biographies, sections on Finnish SF, fandom, The award for Best Fan Writer was presented by Tanya Tyn- the concom provided a thorough restaurant guide as well as a free local transit the fan lounge, autographing areas, and art show, with its own coffee shop overlook- and culture, a list of Hugo Awards and Retro Hugo Awards jälä to Abigail Nussbaum. Nussbaum thanked award adminis- ticket to each attendee. There was no hospitality suite, but a small green room was ing the space. There were 35 dealers listed, with Locus one of the only US vendors winners since 1939, the full committee list, a brief on the art trators, voters, and fellow nominees. ‘‘As a critic and essayist, available for panelists and participants. present. Expensive international shipping, complex customs regulations, and the of Wendling, and a WSFS business material insert. Worldcon I am enriched by a community of writers whose ideas I am spector of massive VAT charges kept many of the usual US hucksters from coming. 75 also provided a printed 120-page ‘‘pocket programme’’ Major Ursa, Convention Mascot designed in constant conversation with.’’ She thanked Nina Allan, Erin PROGRAMMING Francesca T. Barbini of Luna Press said, ‘‘The organisers of the traders’ hall were with listings and maps, a 64-page restaurant guide, and a short by Maya Hahto Hórakóva, Adam Roberts, Aishwarya Subramanian, Samira The program schedule and convention guide was available via a mobile app and very accommodating and assisted me promptly when I needed their help…. Having ‘‘Welcome to Finland’’ newspaper. Each congoer received an- Nadkarni, Vajra Chandrasekera, Niall Harrison, and others for website interface. The 14 tracks included academic, art, costuming, games, litera- the hall opened to non-con public meant even more visitors and, therefore, sales.’’ thology Giants of the World: A Showcase of Finnish Weird, edited by Johanna ‘‘their inspiring, enlightening words. Long may they continue.’’ ture, writing, and science, plus tracks for children. There were 850 total program Locus’s Francesca Myman said, ‘‘The dealers room was very well trafficked. Sinisalo & Toni Jerrman and published by Worldcon 75. Marta Markowska, Magdalena ‘‘Serathe’’ Grajcar, and Marcin ‘‘Alqua’’ Klak, participants (plus three geek choirs). The schedule showed 931 items (down from In the later days of the con there was a strict cap on one-day passes, but an excep- The awards programme was 26 pages, with a ‘‘Hei’’ from toastmistress Lord, a members of Polish SF group Slaski Klub Fantastyki Silesian, presented the Best 2016’s 1,029) with 62 items for kids (up from 38), and included 7 readings, 125 tion was made for members of the public to visit the dealers room. It was the only short explanation of the awards, biographical info on the base designer and award Fancast Hugo Award to Tea and Jeopardy. Emma Newman thanked Dave Probert solo presentations, 21 concerts/filk performances, 36 kaffeeklatsches, 4 Strolls with area of the convention easily accessible to those unable to obtain the coveted day presenters, lists of finalists, a rundown of additional Worldcon 75 awards & recogni- and Matt Dillon – ‘‘They gave me so much advice and taught me how to use the Stars, six writing workshops, 44 meet-ups, and more. Program head Marianna passes. There weren’t many US dealers, and I heard multiple complaints that guest tions (Big Heart, Atorox, Seiun, and more), and an autograph page. Audacity’’ – logo creator Dom Camus, and their guests. Peter Newman thanked ‘‘Kisu’’ Leikomaa said, ‘‘I think we succeeded in our goal of highlighting science of honor and autographing participant books were hard to come by, but that meant Painopiste, the at-con newsletter, had morning and afternoon editions for a total of patrons and listeners. They said, ‘‘If the chickens were here, we suspect they would fiction and fantasy around the world…. One new thing we tried were the scheduled an increased volume of sales for the vendors present. As for the Finnish vendors, 10 issues, including editions for the Masquerade and the Hugo Awards. The news- express it this way,’’ and launched into harmonious squawking. meet-ups of various fan-groups: a specific time & place in the programme for fans there was a good mix of craft items, from handmade ceramic mugs to steampunk letters featured programming changes, events, train strike information, and more. GUFF delegate Donna Maree Hanson and TAFF delegate John Purcell presented of (for example) Robin Hobb to meet.’’ Events Division Head Maciej Matuszewski paraphernalia to Finnish-language books both vintage and modern.’’ Best Fanzine to Lady Business. Ira and Susan accepted, thanking ‘‘everyone who said, ‘‘The Opening Ceremony featured traditional Finnish dancing and music, HUGO AWARDS has supported Lady Business throughout the years in ways large and small, includ- which were also a big part of the convention’s Dance Programme alongside more ART SHOW The 64th Hugo Awards Ceremony took place at 7:30 p.m. on August 11, 2017 at ing our readers, commenters, and guest columnists.’’ They thanked John Scalzi, traditional elements such as the Regency Ball.’’ The art show exhibited 275 pieces from 44 artists, with work by GoHs Nalo the Messukeskus Hall 1. The stage was set as a living room with a couch, chairs, Ana Grilo, Kate Elliott, Justin Landon, and Zachariah Carlson. They said, ‘‘We Highlights included the Blacksmith Workshop, the Clipping concert, the Tea Hopkinson and Claire Wendling also on display. Neill said, ‘‘We had artists from bookshelves, and plants, and throughout the ceremony presenters and speakers are incredibly honored that the Hugo voters find our intersectional feminist work and Jeopardy interview of George R.R. Martin, and the Fantastical Travel Guide 12 different countries (Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, Norway, next in line were seated on-stage.
Opening Ceremonies with Vice-Chair Colette H. Fo- Messukeskus, Helsinki’s Expo and Convention Center zard, Chair Jukka Halme, Vice-Chair Karo Leikomaa Signing Area and Dealer’s Room Aliette de Bodard, Pat Cadigan, Jane Johnson, Daryl Gregory, Elizabeth Hand & Gregory Manchess & Irene Gallo, Scott Lynch & Elizabeth Bear, Hal Duncan Hannes Riffel John Clute Victo Ngai & Yao valuable.’’ They dedicated the award to Jodie Baker and Ana Silva. The award for Best Professional Artist went to Julie Dillon. Halme accepted Xia Jia presented the Best Semiprozine Hugo Award to Uncanny. Julia for Dillon, who thanked the WSFS, Worldcon, art directors and indie authors Rios and Michi Trota accepted, first reading the acceptance speech of editors who have hired her, and ‘‘everyone who still thinks my work is worthy of Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas. ‘‘A magazine is the work nominating and voting for. My love and gratitude to my mom, for her support of numerous people, so we want to thank our 2016 staff of Michi, Julia, Erika and friendship and love.’’ Ensign, Steven Schapansky, Amal El-Mohtar, and Deborah Stannish, all of The Best Editor Short Form Hugo went to Ellen Datlow, who thanked the our submissions editors and guest podcast readers, Cathy and Carolyn for writers and readers of short fiction. ‘‘I’m honored, I thank you all. I think my moral support, and of course our Ombudsman, and world’s greatest daughter, fellow finalists are fantastic.’’ Caitlin.’’ Rios thanked everyone who is part of her SF community, El-Mohtar John-Henri Holmberg presented the Best Editor Long Form Hugo Award who bought her first poem in 2008, all the editors and authors she’s worked to a gobsmacked Liz Gorinsky. She thanked everyone there, saying, ‘‘Though with, friends and family, queer community, latinx and POC communities, and the science fiction and fantasy field has experienced some unusual challenges everyone who has a passion for this genre: ‘‘we are diverse, and diversity is over the past few years, which our category still bears the marks of, I am im- our strength.’’ Trota thanked the amazing unicorn community, husband Jessie Lex, fellow Filipina Hugo finalist Likhain, ‘‘Thea and Alyssa, I love you guys, and I’m so proud to know you.’’ Lord pointed out the bookshelves on the stage, full of the works of present- ers and finalists. She interviewed the international presenters: Singh about his book, art, and music; Tynjälä about writing in Spanish and being translated into Finnish; Jia about running SF writing workshops; and Slaski Klub Fantastyki Silesian about their organization. Hanson and Purcell talked about the Fan Fund auction and selling the signed books from the bookshelf. Vincent Docherty then introduced the In Memoriam video and thanked Steven H Silver for maintaining the list. He presented the Big Heart Award to Carolina Gómez Lagerlöf, met with loud applause. Lagerlöf was surprised and grateful. Docherty inducted Les & Es Cole into the First Fandom Hall of Fame; Tove Marling accepted on their behalf. Jim Harmon was inducted into Ellen Kushner, Julia Rios Farah Mendlesohn, GoH: Nalo Hopkinson the First Fandom Posthumous Hall of Fame and Jon D. Swartz was honored with the Sam Moskowitz Award.
Panel: Guy Consolmagno, Helen Pennington, Kjell N. Lindgren
Skylar Click, Chloe Smith, Panel: Emma Newman, Mur Lafferty, Daryl Gregory, Kathleen Ann Goonan Carrie Vaughn Kameron Hurley Donna Lord, Jonathan Strahan, Karen Lord Robert Shearman
Panel: David G. Shaw, Aliette de Bodard, Scott Edelman, Nalo Masumi Washington, Bradford Lyau, Rivqa Rafael, Lewis Hutton, Aidan Doyle, Hopkinson, Fran Wilde, Barry Goldblatt Taiyo Fujii Liu Pei Alex Hong, Robert Hood, Tsana Dolichva 36 / LOCUS October 2017 Ian McDonald, Bagge, Jonas Berg, Pat Cadigan, Ed McDonald, David Thomas Moore, Michael Swanwick & Ian Sales Shawna McCarthy Jon Oliver Marianne Porter mensely proud to be working in it and empowered to publish such incredible tive producer Naren Shankar, the cast and crew, the LA writing room, parent books – and, consequently, to have some small part in making science fiction company Alcon, ‘‘who took a chance on us from the beginning,’’ and SyFy. He a better, brighter, and more inclusive place.’’ She expressed gratitude to her then thanked James S.A. Corey: ‘‘we did not create this world, we are simply authors, thanks to her friends and loved ones, especially James, Julian, and channeling an amazing set of books.’’ Nina, co-workers at Tor including Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Chris Morgan, Tom Sibel Kekilli presented Best Dramatic Presentation – Long to Arrival. Vice- Doherty, and her dad who ‘‘didn’t get to see me win this award but watched chair Colette H. Fozard accepted for the screenwriter, saying, ‘‘Were it not proudly for all of the many years in which I lost it.’’ for the Hugos, I might have skipped over Ted Chiang’s collection of stories. Astronaut Lindgren announced the winner of Best Dramatic Presentation This is how my journey with Arrival began: reading the words ‘Hugo Award- – Short: The Expanse: ‘‘Leviathan Wakes’’. Hawk Ostby accepted, saying, winning author.’’’ ‘‘Even to be mentioned with these fellow nominees is an honor, which it is. The Seiun Awards for Best Translated Long Story and Best Translated Short We’re huge fans of your shows, and more importantly, we steal from them Story were presented by Takayuki Tatsumi, Takeshi Ikeda, Mari Kotani, and liberally!’’ He thanked the crowd, on behalf of cowriter Mark Fergus, execu- Taiyo Fujii to ‘‘Backward, Turn Backward’’ by James Tiptree, Jr., translated by Kazuko Onoda; ‘‘Simulacrum’’ by Ken Liu, translated by Yoshimichi Furusawa; and United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas, translated by Naoya Nakahara. Pat Murphy accepted for Jeff Smith, executor of the James Tiptree, Jr. estate, and Ken Liu said, ‘‘I’m very thankful for all the Japanese readers, editors, and publishers who have supported my work over the years. And most of all… my translator, Furusawa-san, deserves this award as much as I do, because it is his words, not mine, that the Japanese readers are reading.’’ Anna Mattila and Juhani Mönkkönen presented the Atorox award to Maiju Ihalainen for ‘‘Itkevan taipan temmppeli’’ [Temple of Heavenly Tears]. Over- whelmed, Ihalainen said that she had never attended a convention before, and on her first day thought, ‘‘I hope something really exciting will happen to me. I GoH: Walter Jon Williams Robert Silverberg, Gay Haldeman ended up here! This is really something that I never even dreamt of or thought possible.’’ She thanked the readers, Finnish fandom, and the Turku Science Fiction Society. Maura McHugh presented Best Graphic Story to Monstress, Volume 1:
Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes at the Clipping Concert Finnish folk music Finnish folk dancing Waiting for panels
Future Affairs Administration Table: Sui Sui, Civet Li, Crystal Huff, Lawrence M. Schoen, Edward James, Kari Sperring at the Follycon, Lynn Sun, Raeka, Axunnn, Bucheng Li Hugo Exhibit Finnish blacksmithing demonstration Eastercon 2018 table
Jenny Preinitz and Jenny Engwall at the Juha Pietiläinen (Finnish Publisher Terra Cheryl Morgan, Toni Jerrman Science Fiction Bokhandeln table Cognita) in front of the Locus table Sang-Joon Park at the SF from Korea table LOCUS October 2017 / 37 Novelette: Story: Editor (Long Form): Editor (Short Form): Semiprozine: Michi Trota, Fanzine: Fancast: Peter Newman & John W. Campbell: Fan Writer: Big Heart: Atorox winner Maiju Ihalainen, Ursula Vernon Amal El-Mohtar Liz Gorinsky Ellen Datlow Julia Rios Susan, Ira Emma Newman Ada Palmer Abigail Nussbaum Carolina Gómez Lagerlöf Juhani Mönkkönen, Anna Mattila
Con Chairs: Vice-Chair Colette H. Nalo Hopkinson & Johanna Sinisalo, Alvaro Zinos-Amaro & Annalee Newitz & Tom Doherty & Devi Pillai, Fiona Van Verth, Fozard, Chair Jukka Halme, Vice-Chair Taiyo Fujii, Ken Liu Karen Lord Kjell N. Lindgren John-Henri Holmberg David Findlay Jyrki J.J. Kasvi Rebecca Swart Fowler Charlie Jane Anders Tanya Doherty Patrick Nielsen Hayden Mur Lafferty Karo Leikomaa
Penny Reeve, Michael R. Underwood, Julia Rios, Robin Kelly Robson, JY Yang, Likhain, Takayuki Tatsumi, Mari Kotani, Lisa Tuttle, Maura McHugh, Betsy Wollheim, Margaret Dunlap, Stephanie Erin Roberts, Erin Underwood, Emma J. King, Lee Harris, Verity, Nicola Clarke & Kloos & Marko Kloos Aliette de Bodard Hirohide Hirai Martin Feeney Neely & Max Gladstone, Sheila Gilbert James Bacon Niall Harrison Xia Jia, Debi Chowdhury
William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes, George R.R. Martin, Daveed Diggs
Ann VanderMeer, Tamara Vining, Jennifer Gunnels, Hugo Presenters Tanya Tynjälä, Xia Jia, Marcin Klak, Magdalena Grajcar, Marta Markowska, GUFF delegate Donna Maree Hanson, Erin Kennedy Pat Cadigan Robert Silverberg & Karen Haber Micaela Tobin, Cristina Bercovitz, Navah Wolfe Pat Murphy, Taiyo Fujii Carolyn Ives Gilman TAFF delegate John Purcell Cixin Liu, Victor LaValle, Liz Gorinsky, Miriam Amal El-Mohtar, Brooke Irene Gallo & Hanna Hakkarainen, Mike Fury, Tom Doherty Ellen Datlow Weinberg Bolander Gregory Manchess Daria Medved
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, J. Robert Tupasela, Alyx Dellamonica, Navah Wolfe, Rashida Smith, Derek Muir Ursula Vernon Karen Lord Nina Niskanen
Navah Wolfe, Vanessa Len, Rose Jukka Särkijärvi, Hartley, Alexandra Pierce Ninni Aalto Sarah Gailey, Max Gladstone Tim Phin & Vanessa Rose Phin
Michael Lee, Brian Nisbet, David Gallaher, Jon Oliver, David Thomas Moore, Caroline Stevermer, Dale Hanes, Anson Saulino, Vincent Docherty Emma England Sam Bradbury Nikhil Singh Gary K. Wolfe Hugo Losers Hugo Losers Pablo Miguel Mark Linneman, Charles Stross & Micaiah ‘‘Huw’’ Evans, George R.R. Martin, Party Sign Party Cake Alberto Vazquez Janeen Webb Feòrag NicBhrìde Rashida Smith Erle Korshak Awakening by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda. Nicole Kimberling accepted GoH Nalo Hopkinson presented the Best Novella Hugo for Every Heart for Liu and Takeda, thanking everyone for voting, as well as their publishers. a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. Kate Secor read from McGuire’s speech, Ian Stewart presented Best Related Work to Words Are My Matter: Writ- thanking editor Lee Harris, the Tor.com staff, especially Mordicai, Katherine, ings About Life and Books, 2000-2016 by Ursula K. Le Guin. Halme accepted and Irene, as well as Kate, Tara, Vixy, and Chris, Sheila Gilbert and Betsy for Le Guin, who sent ‘‘heartfelt thanks’’ to her readers. Wollheim of Daw, and girlfriend Amy. She said, ‘‘There is a power in seeing GoH Johanna Sinisalo announced the Best Short Story winner: ‘‘Seasons of yourself represented in fiction that has been absent for too many people for too Glass and Iron’’ by Amal El-Mohtar. Tearful, El-Mohtar thanked Navah Wolfe long. There is an empathy that comes from seeing people who aren’t like you and Dominik Parisien, Max Gladstone, Uncanny Magazine, especially Julia represented in fiction. None of us can change these things alone, but bit by bit Rios, readers, husband Stu, her family, and her ‘‘fairy god sisters’’ Alexandra we’re chipping away at the difference….’’ Rowland – who made her dress – and Meg Frank. Finally, she thanked Lara George R.R. Martin presented Best Series to The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois West, ‘‘without whom this story wouldn’t exist.’’ McMaster Bujold. Caroline Stevermer accepted for Bujold, thanking editors GoH Walter Jon Williams presented the novelette award to ‘‘The Tomato Betsy Mitchell, Jim Baen, Toni Weisskopf, and agent Eleanor Wood. Thief’’ by Ursula Vernon. Vernon thanked Apex and her husband Kevin, and The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer was presented by regaled the audience with an upbeat discourse on whale fall and the ecosystem Lisa Tuttle to Ada Palmer. Through tears that were ‘‘three quarter joy but it creates, finishing with, ‘‘Isn’t that cool?’’ – to enthusiastic applause.
Liz Gorinsky, Grace Fong, Kristin Henley & Charlie Jane Anders DongWon Song Scott Edelman, Anya Martin Hugo Losers Party Venue: Steam Hellsinki Bar
Michi Trota, Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Bella Pagan Dena Taylor, Rachel Monte, Zen Cho, Aliette de Bodard, Likhain Mary Robinette Kowal & John Berlyne Robin Johnson
Pete Sutton, Claire Fisher, Cheryl Morgan, Sam Hawke, Andrew Tremblay & Stephen Jones, Ted Chiang, Dale Hanes & Gary K. Wolfe Jennifer Gunnels Kevin Roche Maura McHugh Alexandra Pierce
Ehud Maimon, Keren Landsman, Rika Graziani Teichholtz, Yoav Landsman, Didi Chanoch WorldCon 76, San Jose Party Aussie Dinner LOCUS October 2017 / 41 Best in Class, Open: Honorable Mention for Best Prop: Best in Show Workmanship: Best in Class, Novice: Best Recreation: ‘‘Tuonetar’’ ‘‘Louhi and the Sampo’’ ‘‘Dwalin the Dwarf’’ ‘‘Skeletor’’ ‘‘Doctor Strange’’ one quarter pain,’’ she spoke about ‘‘invisible disability,’’ saying, ‘‘If anyone out there who is listening is living with a disability, or loves someone who has, please never ever let that make you give up on working toward what you want more than anything in the world, which for me was this.’’ Jyrki J.J. Kasvi presented Best Novel to The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin. Lord accepted, reading, ‘‘At the time that I wrote The Obelisk Gate I was juggling two full-time careers and a dying parent…. So everyone who helped me survive this period deserves thanks, because they all contributed to getting this book done. That includes friends, family, and of course, my agent and editor. But also, the home health care folks, the grocery delivery folks, the coworkers who put up with my absences for family leave, my students, my therapist, the convention and event organizers who made my travel and appearances run smoothly, and even my loctician. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but in my case it took two cities and an industry to keep an author from rage-quitting her career. So it’s fitting that this time the Hugo has been awarded to my most community minded book so far. I think my favorite line in The Obelisk Best in Show Presentation: ‘‘When Halley Came to Jackson in 1910’’ Gate is when Essun tells the people of Castrima, ‘This is a community. You will be unified. You will fight for each other.’’’ The planned Hugo Awards ceremony broadcast via YouTube did not happen as planned.
Robin Hobb, Jeff VanderMeer & Ann VanderMeer Ian Drury & Jo Fletcher, Ginjer Buchanan & John R. Douglas Barry Goldblatt, Fran Wilde, Elizabeth Joanne Jing Li, Crystal Huff, K.Tempest Bradford, Arley Bear, Anne Lyle, Didi Chanoch Regina Kanyu Wang Sorg, Rosemary Claire Smith
Charles Stross, Ada Palmer, Cristina Macía & Ian Watson Greg Machlin
Jayson Utz & Kameron Hurley
Past and present World Science Fiction Convention Chairs (l to r): front row: Kent Bloom (2018), Sally Woehrle (2015), Ruth Lichtwardt (2016), Martin Easterbrook (1995), Rose Mitchell (2010), Dave McCarty (2012); middle row: Jukka Halme (2017), Kevin Roche (2018), Robin Johnson (1975), James Bacon (2019), Michael Walsh (1983), Rene Walling (2009); back row: David W. Clark (1993), Perry Middlmiss (1999, 2010), Vincent Docherty Gay Haldeman, Yooichi Shimada, (1995, 2005), Kevin Standlee (2002), Steve Cooper (2014), Todd Dashoff (2001), Colin Harris (2005). Note Joe Haldeman, Taiyo Fujii S.B. Divya, Cat Sparks, Ian Whates that there were other past Worldcon chairs present at the convention who did not attend the photo session 42 / LOCUS October 2017 Kevin Standlee & Yiwen Zhang, Vesa Lehtinen, Ilkka Pättiniemi, Kali Wallace, Gregory Sheyna Gifford, Keffy Kehrli, Lisa Hayes Ken Liu Orjo Pättiniemi Norman Bossert Veini Lehkonen WORLDCON 2018 AND BEYOND Convention Center, with guests of honor Frank Hays, Pierre & Sandy Pettinger, After the final programming on Sunday, Worldcon 75 handed over the official John Picacio, Spider Robinson, and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, and ghosts of honor gavel of WSFS to Worldcon 76 at the closing ceremonies. The 76th World SF Edgar Pangborn and Bob Wilkins. Convention will be held August 16-20, 2018 in San Jose CA in the McEnery –Arley Sorg
Closing Ceremonies with Science Guest Ian Stewart, GoH Walter Jon Williams, GoH Johanna Sinisalo, GoH GoH Walter Jon Williams addressing the crowd at Closing Nalo Hopkinson, GoH John-Henri Holmberg, Colette H. Fozard, Karen Lord, Karo Leikomaa, Jukka Halme Ceremonies 2017 WSFS Business Meeting by Kevin Standlee he 2017 World Science Fiction Society Business Meeting created a new Other changes ratified this year: permanent Hugo Award Category for Best Series, ratified the proposal to • The deadline for being a member eligible to make Hugo Award Tcreate a new WSFS-sanctioned non-Hugo Award for Best Young Adult nominations was moved to the end of the previous calendar year. (It Book, rejected further changes to the Hugo Award nominating process, and created previously was the end of January of the current year.) a committee to undertake a comprehensive study of all Hugo Award categories. For the third year running, the meeting went into ‘‘overtime,’’ holding an extra • Beginning in 2019, only members of the previous and current meeting on the final day of the convention to deal with the crush of business Worldcon will be eligible to nominate for the current year’s Hugo submitted to it. Initial concerns that the room scheduled for the meeting would Awards. not be large enough to hold all members who wanted to attend turned out to be • The Retro-Hugo Awards can now be presented for years after 1939 unfounded, which was a great relief to the convention organizers, because the when no Hugo Awards were given, even if there was no Worldcon held Business Meeting is the only function at a Worldcon to which every member that year. The 2018 Worldcon could thus hold the 1943 Retro-Hugos is entitled to attend if they wish to do so. Given the crowded conditions at (for works published in 1942). Worldcon 76 San Jose has not yet an- Worldcon 75, finding a larger venue for the Business Meeting on short notice nounced whether they will exercise this authority. would have been difficult. • The ‘‘grey zone’’ between Best Novel and Best Novella was ef- The Best Series category was ratified on a 51-39 vote and is now a permanent fectively increased from 5000 to 8000 words. category. Worldcon 75 used its authority to create a Special Category to present a Best Series award this year using substantially the same rules as were ratified • A resolution expressing the sense of the meeting regarding what this year. It remains unclear whether winning the special Best Series award this Worldcon publications are included in a membership passed as a year or making the final ballot makwes a work ineligible in future years, as it recommendation to future committees. will for the new permanent category. The WSFS Mark Protection Committee reported that the service marks for The new Award for Best Young Adult Book was ratified on a 65-27 vote and ‘‘Worldcon,’’ ‘‘Hugo Award,’’ and the Hugo Award logo are now registered in is now part of the awards administered on the Hugo Award ballot along with the EU as well as in the USA. the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. This new award is not a Other technical and procedural changes were ratified or received first pas- Hugo Award (thus being a finalist in this category would not preclude a work sage. Full details of the changes to the WSFS Constitution will be available from also being a finalist in the Best Novel Hugo Award), but will be admin- in due course on the Society’s website,
LOCUS October 2017 / 43 COMPLETE 2017 HUGO VOTING
Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND THIRD FOURTH 5TH 6TH NOVEL (2,339 ballots counted) The Obelisk Gate, N.K. Jemisin 480/295.97 427 427 470 543 690 1019 1664 All the Birds in the Sky, Charlie Jane Anders 399/251.47 429 430 483 567 729 976 e 527 529 608 728 1009 Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee 363/215.05 403 404 440 538 671 e e 484 485 544 683 935 621 624 742 989 A Closed and Common Orbit, Becky Chambers 166/93.35 400 403 448 511 e e e 474 477 541 645 e 581 584 682 890 819 825 1045 Too Like the Lightning, Ada Palmer 244/146.35 341 341 373 e e e e 389 389 436 e e 482 482 569 e 642 644 799 971 Death's End, Cixin Liu 156/109.78 290 291 e e e e e 350 351 e e e 436 438 e e 560 565 e 806 1442 No Award 49 e e e e e 143 53 e e e e 61 e e e 77 e e 122 182
NOVELLA (2,178 ballots counted) Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire 511/344.75 727 727 784 829 927 1115 1649 The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, Kij Johnson 302/154.33 335 335 385 428 560 715 e 473 473 526 654 917 Penric and the Shaman, Lois McMaster Bujold 167/104.85 384 385 399 440 487 e e 593 594 656 720 844 733 736 819 975 The Ballad of Black Tom, Victor LaValle 227/111.83 238 239 295 332 e e e 328 329 363 479 e 465 466 533 782 658 670 801 A Taste of Honey, Kai Ashante Wilson 224/113.08 220 220 e e e e e 326 326 358 e e 435 437 492 e 636 641 756 971 This Census-Taker, China Miéville 187/147.17 234 235 256 e e e e 290 292 e e e 334 336 e e 452 456 e 613 1240 No Award 40 e e e e e 124 43 e e e e 48 e e e 82 e e 122 217
NOVELETTE (2,057 ballots counted) ‘‘The Tomato Thief’’, Ursula Vernon 129/94.75 732 735 739 780 892 1140 1655 ‘‘You'll Surely Drown Here If You Stay’’, Alyssa Wong 268/185.92 402 407 407 453 561 681 e 641 649 651 738 983 ‘‘Touring with the Alien’’, Caroline Ives Gilman 74/52.67 320 329 331 378 430 e e 483 495 497 598 781 629 644 648 858 The Jewel and Her Lapidary, Fran Wilde 160/103.25 276 278 278 315 e e e 416 422 423 498 e 632 641 645 837 855 871 879 ‘‘The Art of Space Travel’’, Nina Allan 78/57.83 206 210 213 e e e e 309 313 319 e e 469 480 487 e 779 807 825 1440 No Award 76 81 e e e e 120 84 89 e e e 96 101 e e 121 128 e 166 1137 Alien Stripper Boned From Behind by the T-Rex, Stix Hiscock 77/76.50 45 e e e e e e 52 e e e e 62 e e e 78 e e 103 274
orldcon 75 received 3,319 valid ballots, year – not surprising, since their much-reduced slate Common Orbit took fourth in three rounds, Ada the third highest total in the history of the stuck mainly to their core, and more controversial, Palmer’s Too Like the Lightning took fifth in one, WHugos, up from 3,130 at MidAmeriCon nominees. Eight of their finalists finished below No and Cixin Liu’s Death’s End ended up in sixth. The II. (The record is 5,950 ballots cast in 2015.) Some Award. Without their dominance in certain catego- closest runner-up to the ballot was Mary Robinette 32% of eligible members voted, down from 52%. ries, though, No Award didn’t actually win any of Kowal’s Ghost Talkers, which was 24 votes back There were 2,464 valid nominating ballots, down the categories, after two winners last year, and five of the ballot, though considerably closer in terms from last year’s record 4,032. the year before that. of points: with another 17.75 points, it could have The procedure for counting nominations changed Once again, it’s time to explain the Australian bumped Death’s End from the ballot. This was this year, in an effort to minimize the effect of bloc ballot preference system used for the Hugo awards. Jemisin’s fourth Hugo nomination and second win voting. Instead of just counting the actual number of First-place votes (including those for No Award) are after last year’s win for The Fifth Season. nominations as before, the new system (known as E counted in column one. If no entry has the majority Pluribus Hugo, or EPH) added a complicated point of the vote then the entry with the fewest votes is BEST NOVELLA system that gives a single point to each voter’s ballot, dropped (e). The dropped entry’s second-place votes Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire dividing that point among the nominees. The points now become first-place votes (column two) and the came in with the most nominations and a strong lead are counted, the two nominees with the fewest points process is repeated until a nominee has a majority in votes from the first round on, winning easily in are compared, and (points notwithstanding) the one of the votes (usually six drops, with six finalists), the sixth round. Penric and the Shaman by Lois with the fewest nominations (votes) is dropped. The deciding first place. Second place is determined by McMaster Bujold led the voting for second place process repeats until down to six finalists – up from dropping the winner, counting their second-place for the first four rounds, but when The Ballad of five in previous years. This system makes discussing votes as if they were first, etc. Therefore, the item Black Tom by Victor LaValle was dropped, enough how close a runner-up is more complicated, as some that originally placed second doesn’t necessarily votes went to The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe nominees might have eliminated others earlier on if win second place. Likewise, third place is decided by Kij Johnson to give it second place in the fifth they’d had just a few more points, until it comes to by dropping both first- and second-place winners, round. The Bujold then took third in four rounds, the last position on the ballot, which is determined promoting the next eligible entry, and counting all the LaValle took fourth in three rounds, and A Taste strictly by votes, unless it’s a tie. All this leads to over again. The system ensures that the winner is of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson took fifth in one instances with several combinations of points and liked by a majority of voters, even though it may round, leaving China Miéville’s This Census- votes that could have changed the ballot. For the not have received a majority of first-place votes. Taker to take sixth. The closest runner-up to the purposes of this write-up we will summarize how ballot was The Dispatcher by John Scalzi, which close it was. Other changes include limiting any BEST NOVEL missed the ballot by 38 votes. This was McGuire’s author, group, or dramatic presentation series to The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin won, but it sixth nomination and third win, if you count her two a maximum of two finalists in any one category. was a bit of a battle with second-place All the Birds nominations and wins as a member of SF Squeecast. The Rabid Puppies, the bloc of most concern in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. The Jemisin to the Hugos, did their best to adjust. Vox Day, came in with the most nominations and nominat- BEST NOVELETTE announcing their slate, noted, ‘‘The rules are ing points, but in the first round was second to the ‘‘The Tomato Thief’’ by Ursula Vernon was third different this year, and so tactics have to change Anders by two points, and the gap kept widening in nominations, but led the voting all the way to accordingly… it’s now important to limit nomina- bit by bit until Yoon Ha Lee’s Ninefox Gambit was win in six rounds. ‘‘You’ll Surely Drown Here If tions to one per category in the bigger categories, dropped after the fifth round, giving the Jemisin You Stay’’ by Alyssa Wong (first in nominations) and an absolute maximum of three in the smaller the win in the sixth round by 43 votes, the second- led the voting from the start to take second place. ones.’’ In fact, their slate offered two nominees in smallest margin for a win in any category this year. ‘‘Touring with the Alien’’ by Caroline Ives Gilman only five categories, sticking to a single nominee All the Birds in the Sky then led all the way in the was second in the first round of voting for third in the rest. Eleven made the final ballot; another voting for second place, taking it in five rounds, place, behind The Jewel and Her Lapidary by five were withdrawn or disqualified. None of the and Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee took third Fran Wilde, but the Gilman pulled ahead by three Puppies’ nominees won a Hugo, down from six last in four rounds. Becky Chambers’s A Closed and votes in the second round, and kept the lead to take
44 / LOCUS October 2017 Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND THIRD FOURTH 5TH 6TH SHORT STORY (2,211 ballots counted) ‘‘Seasons of Glass and Iron’’, Amal El-Mohtar 155/105.17 558 568 570 644 741 1048 1786 ‘‘The City Born Great’’, N.K. Jemisin 98/64.17 492 497 499 544 624 e e 664 667 674 776 1009 ‘‘That Game We Played During the War’’, Carrie Vaughn 88/64.67 616 624 627 657 715 962 e 774 777 795 866 1007 1024 1047 1056 ‘‘A Fist of Permutations in Lighting and Wildflowers’’, Alyssa Wong 106/67.50 222 226 227 264 e e e 317 318 323 416 e 541 549 552 1006 ‘‘Our Talons Can Crush Galaxies’’, Brooke Bolander 182/125.83 202 205 207 e e e e 294 296 303 e e 414 422 425 709 1467 No Award 63 75 e e e e 159 65 e e e e 74 88 e 136 240 1253 ‘‘An Unimaginable Light’’, John C. Wright 87/87.00 58 e e e e e e 66 69 e e e 72 e e 135 185 394
RELATED WORK (1,903 ballots counted) Words Are My Matter..., Ursula K. Le Guin 133/70.45 436 438 455 511 635 857 1454 The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher 123/75.00 464 465 492 523 584 825 e 564 565 599 660 815 The Geek Feminist Revolution, Kameron Hurley 424/288.87 477 477 527 542 564 e e 591 591 651 691 803 763 763 890 The View from the Cheap Seats, Neil Gaiman 130/101.17 189 189 200 241 e e e 273 273 292 378 e 406 406 449 619 619 858 Women of Harry Potter series of posts, Sarah Gailey 88/50.37 139 139 e e e e e 156 156 e e e 237 237 e 531 531 602 736 Traveler of Worlds..., Robert Silverberg & Alvaro Zinos-Amaro 119/73.03 158 160 164 e e e e 222 225 235 e e 293 297 315 401 405 e 632 1040 No Award 40 e e e e e 75 44 e e e e 51 e e 61 e e 71 128 GRAPHIC STORY (1794 ballots counted) Monstress, Vol. 1, Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda 221/140.87 517 517 547 628 712 864 1272 Ms. Marvel, Vol. 5, G. Willow Wilson, art by Takeshi Miyazawa 106/60.00 300 300 335 378 490 638 e 393 393 446 558 815 Saga, Vol. 6, Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples, lettered by Fonografiks 147/97.95 279 280 294 366 413 e e 380 381 410 558 673 484 485 545 803 Paper Girls, Vol. 1, Brian K. Vaughn, art by Cliff Chiang, color by Matthew Wilson, lettered by Jared Fletcher 100/54.28 215 215 242 e e e e 321 321 372 e e 398 398 465 e 576 576 718 Black Panther, Vol.1, Ta-Nehisi Coates, art by Brian Stelfreeze 109/64.28 257 257 281 305 e e e 362 362 407 468 e 488 488 560 690 599 601 716 837 The Vision, Vol. 1, Tom King, art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta 72/41.70 149 150 e e e e e 206 207 e e e 231 233 e e 301 303 e 485 978 No Award 77 e e e e e 117 79 e e e e 83 e e e 91 e e 111 155
DRAMATIC PRESENTATION – LONG FORM (2,885 ballots counted) Arrival 1030/572.02 1278 1281 1307 1361 1455 2318 Hidden Figures 402/173.38 564 564 616 664 764 e 963 964 1043 1153 1401 Rogue One 660/313.73 294 294 316 394 e e 584 587 635 807 1156 912 917 1135 1475 Stranger Things, Season One 240/103.57 354 355 363 398 492 e 621 622 642 713 e 791 792 865 1019 1022 1025 1223 Deadpool 350/201.72 233 233 252 e e e 397 398 434 e e 524 526 620 e 779 785 1067 1268 Ghostbusters 297/116.40 143 143 e e e e 204 204 e e e 454 455 e e 681 683 e 974 1745 No Award 19 e e e e 75 29 e e e e 44 e e e 76 e e 132 258 third place in four rounds. The Wilde took fourth in same number of nominating votes as the Vaughn, BEST GRAPHIC STORY three rounds, ‘‘The Art of Space Travel’’ by Nina but would have needed over one point to displace Marjorie Liu’s Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening, Allan took fifth in one round. No Award ended up in it; it was less than one point behind the Jemisin, as illustrated by Sana Takeda, came in with the lead in sixth, with Alien Stripper Boned from Behind by well, but had ten fewer votes, the determining factor nominations, and the most first place votes, and was the T-Rex by Stix Hiscox coming in seventh. The for the last spot. This was Amal El-Mohtar’s first never seriously challenged, winning in six rounds. closest runner-up to the ballot was ‘‘Sooner or Later nomination and win. Ms. Marvel, Vol. 5: Super Famous by G. Willow Everything Falls Into the Sea’’ by Sarah Pinsker, Wilson with art by Takeshi Miyazawa led the voting just one vote behind ‘‘Touring with the Alien’’. This BEST RELATED WORK for three rounds, briefly tied in the fourth round with was Vernon’s second nomination and second win. Words Are My Matter: Writings About Life Saga, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Fiona and Books 2000-2016 by Ursula K. Le Guin took Staples and lettered by Fonografiks, but regained BEST SHORT STORY the Hugo despite starting out in third place in the the lead to take second place in the fifth round. ‘‘Seasons of Glass and Iron’’ by Amal El-Mohtar first round; leading the pack wasThe Geek Femi- Saga took third place despite starting out behind won with a bit of a fight, second in first-place nist Revolution by Kameron Hurley, which also Black Panther Vol. 1: A Nation Under Our Feet votes in the first round behind ‘‘That Game We led the nominations, followed by The Princess by Ta-Nehisi Coates with art by Brian Stelfreeze, Played During the War’’ by Carrie Vaughn, which Diarist by Carrie Fisher. They held their relative only pulling ahead in the fourth and final round. continued to lead until Alyssa Wong’s ‘‘A Fist of positions until Neil Gaiman’s The View from the Black Panther led the first two rounds for fourth Permutation in Lightning and Wildflowers’’ was Cheap Seats was dropped after the fourth round; place, but lost again in the last round, this time by dropped after the fourth round, giving the El- Le Guin picked up enough votes to take the lead, only two votes, to Paper Girls, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Mohtar enough votes to take the lead in the fifth and finally won in the sixth round by 32 votes – the Vaughn with art by Cliff Chiang, color by Matthew round, holding on to win in the sixth. The Vaughn smallest margin for a win this year. The Hurley led Wilson, and lettered by Jared Fletcher. Black Pan- led the voting for second place through the first the contest for second through the fourth round; ther then took fifth place in one round; leavingThe four rounds, but when the Wong was dropped, N.K. again, the Gaiman was dropped, and this time the Vision, Vol. 1: Little Worse Than a Man by Tom Jemisin’s ‘‘The City Born Great’’ picked up enough Fisher moved into the lead, taking second place in King with art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta in sixth. votes to take second by two votes in the fifth round. the fifth round. The Hurley took third easily in the The closest runner-up was webcomic Stand Still. The Vaughn then took third easily in three rounds, third round and the Gaiman followed in fourth; Stay Silent by Minna Sundberg, which would have and the Wong took fourth in a single round. Brooke Sarah Gailey’s Women of Harry Potter series of needed over 2.86 points to make the ballot. This was Bolander’s ‘‘Our Talons Can Crush Galaxies’’, posts snagged fifth place in one round, leaving the first nomination and win for Liu andMonstress . which led in nominations, won fifth place in one Traveler of Worlds: Conversations with Robert round. No Award took sixth in one round, leaving Silverberg by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro in sixth. The BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION – ‘‘An Unimaginable Light’’ by John C. Wright in closest runner-up was ‘‘Writing Women Characters LONG FORM seventh. The runner-up to the ballot was ‘‘Things into Epic Fantasy Without Quotas’’ by Kate Elliott, Arrival won easily: it started with a solid lead with Beards’’ by Sam J. Miller, which would have seven votes from the ballot. This was Le Guin’s in nominations, and a big lead in votes, winning in made the ballot under the old system; it had the 23rd nomination and sixth win.
LOCUS October 2017 / 45 Complete 2017 Hugo Voting Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND THIRD FOURTH 5TH 6TH DRAMATIC PRESENTATION – SHORT FORM (2,279 ballots counted) The Expanse: ‘ ‘Leviathan Wakes’’ 193/139.95 614 617 677 734 812 1009 1475 Black Mirror: ‘‘San Junipero’’ 149/112.67 466 466 548 578 636 770 e 600 600 715 779 897 Game of Thrones: ‘‘The Door’’ 122/67.87 318 319 334 489 561 e e 421 422 451 721 852 532 533 607 1017 Game of Thrones: ‘‘Battle of the Bastards’’ 126/74.62 282 283 290 e e e e 393 395 416 e e 511 513 558 e 864 868 966 Doctor Who: ‘‘The Return of Doctor Mysterio’’ 116/89.83 292 294 310 335 e e e 387 389 419 463 e 516 518 624 710 594 596 736 949 Splendor & Misery 91/72.45 251 252 e e e e e 291 292 e e e 387 389 e e 413 416 e 525 870 No Award 56 e e e e e 118 63 e e e e 81 e e e 90 e e 127 205
EDITOR – LONG FORM (1,593 ballots counted) Liz Gorinsky 201/103.25 398 401 458 459 541 707 1201 Sheila E. Gilbert 140/83.82 394 398 435 445 505 607 e 544 548 558 637 770 Devi Pillai 155/79.55 212 213 244 248 299 e e 277 279 282 356 474 458 463 473 609 Miriam Weinberg 131/54.25 168 169 e e e e e 230 233 235 e e 371 375 379 538 653 660 675 Navah Wolfe 161/76.72 203 205 233 234 e e e 252 255 256 313 e 348 354 361 e 486 492 503 1061 No Award 183 194 195 e e e 240 199 208 e e e 246 255 e e 256 265 e 281 1148 Vox Day 83/83.00 32 e e e e e e 35 e e e e 39 e e e 41 e e 49 97
EDITOR – SHORT FORM (1,480 ballots counted) Ellen Datlow 201/106.73 368 369 402 481 566 736 1098 Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas 179/127.28 320 322 339 356 386 482 e 383 385 413 478 555 Neil Clarke 155/79.57 214 214 251 284 361 e e 252 252 306 373 536 349 349 463 616 John Joseph Adams 229/125.65 145 145 e e e e e 187 187 e e e 242 273 e e 391 392 551 Jonathan Strahan 165/90.57 175 175 201 230 e e e 239 239 282 343 e 291 291 350 e 358 358 e 525 526 Sheila Williams 149/80.70 172 173 187 e e e e 238 239 265 e e 310 311 365 473 397 398 504 517 520 887 No Award 86 e e e e e 105 91 e e e e 94 e e e 99 e e 106 e 127
PROFESSIONAL ARTIST (1,633 ballots counted) Julie Dillon 143/95.75 337 337 389 475 546 767 1318 Sana Takeda 98/65.08 329 329 375 401 494 658 e 400 400 464 569 670 Galen Dara 143/92.75 267 267 291 322 417 e e 336 336 400 527 642 477 477 602 734 Victo Ngai 92/58.75 260 260 272 289 e e e 291 291 313 e e 395 395 450 540 589 589 700 Chris McGrath 75/56.67 172 172 e e e e e 220 222 e e e 285 287 e e 415 417 529 667 674 John Picacio 53/40.17 217 217 236 e e e e 281 281 321 367 e 323 323 384 e 410 410 e 658 660 1221 No Award 51 e e e e e 86 56 e e e e 58 e e e 61 e e 75 e 99
SEMIPROZINE (1,500 ballots counted) Uncanny 434/222.02 577 577 585 587 664 762 1193 Strange Horizons 336/155.27 403 403 418 418 478 595 e 637 637 637 666 837 Beneath Ceaseless Skies 259/109.45 205 209 222 223 244 e e 342 347 349 370 434 590 603 605 The Book Smugglers 116/49.22 177 180 194 195 e e e 271 275 276 298 e 427 434 435 650 GigaNotoSaurus 82/26.15 52 54 e e e e e 75 77 78 e e 122 125 126 279 612 No Award 69 75 75 e e e 96 71 77 e e e 75 82 e 96 140 472 Cirsova Heroic Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine 80/79.50 17 e e e e e e 19 e e e e 33 e e 62 134 274
only five rounds. Hidden Figures led all the way BEST EDITOR – LONG FORM third, Victo Ngai fourth, Chris McGrath fifth, and in the voting for second, Rogue One took third Liz Gorinsky started with the lead in nominations John Picacio sixth. Two nominees who might have with similar ease, followed by Stranger Things and a narrow lead in first-place votes, and held on made the ballot were disqualified: neither Tomek in fourth, and Deadpool fifth, withGhostbusters to win in six rounds. Sheila D. Gilbert kept a solid Radziewicz nor JiHun Lee had qualifying publica- ending up sixth. The closest runner-up was Kubo lead through five rounds to take second place, and tions in 2016, making John Picacio a finalist. The and the Two Strings, which needed nine votes to Devi Pillai took third in similar fashion, followed by closest runner-up was Tommy Arnold, who needed make the ballot. Miriam Weinberg in fourth place, and Navah Wolfe six more votes to make the ballot. This was Dillon’s in fifth. No Award was sixth, leaving Vox Day in fourth nomination and third win. BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION – seventh. Patrick Nielsen Hayden was runner-up, SHORT FORM needing 13 more votes, or over 11.3 more points, BEST SEMIPROZINE The Expanse: ‘‘Leviathan Wakes’’ won handily to make the ballot. This was Gorinsky’s seventh Uncanny came in with the most nominations, with the most nominations, and the voting all the nomination, and first win. had a substantial lead in first-place votes, and held way to win in six rounds. Black Mirror: ‘‘San the lead to win in six rounds. Strange Horizons led Junipero’’ led all the way to take second in five BEST EDITOR – SHORT FORM all the way in the voting for second, taking it in rounds. Game of Thrones: ‘‘The Door’’ led the Ellen Datlow had the most first place votes, and five rounds.Beneath Ceaseless Skies took third in first two rounds of voting for third place; then stayed ahead to win in six rounds. Lynne M. Thomas only three rounds, while The Book Smugglers only Doctor Who: ‘‘The Return of Doctor Mysterio’’ & Michael Damian Thomas took second in five needed one round to take fourth; GigaNotaSaurus took the lead in the third round, but Game of round, leading all the way, and Neil Clarke took took fifth in one round as well. No Award came in Thrones: ‘‘The Door’’ picked up most of the votes third in five rounds without serious challenge. Sheila sixth, leaving Cirsova Heroic Fantasy and Science when Game of Thrones: ‘‘Battle of the Bastards’’ Williams led the first two rounds of voting for fourth Fiction Magazine in seventh. Tähtivaeltaja was dropped, taking third with a solid lead. Game place, but John Joseph Adams pulled ahead to win runner-up, needing over 5.53 points to make the of Thrones: ‘‘Battle of the Bastards’’ then took in the third round. Jonathan Strahan kept a narrow ballot. Lightspeed Magazine got enough nomina- fourth without challenge and Doctor Who: ‘‘The lead for two rounds to take fifth place, and Sheila tions to make the ballot, but was ineligible, as it is Return of Doctor Mysterio’’ took fifth, leaving Williams ended up in sixth. The closest runner-up now considered a professional magazine by Hugo the Splendor & Misery album sixth. The current was P. Alexander, who needed over 4.20 points to rules. This was the second nomination for Uncanny rules allow only two episodes of any show to be make the ballot. This was Datlow’s 20th nomination and its second win. finalists in this category, so the makers of Game and eighth win. of Thrones withdrew the episode ‘‘The Winds BEST FANZINE of Winter’’, which actually tied for the highest BEST PROFESSIONAL ARTIST Lady Business was top in nominations, and led number of votes and was second in points, and Julie Dillon led in nominations, started with a all the way to win in six rounds. Journey Planet had was also the Rabid Puppy recommendation. modest lead in first-place votes in the first round, no serious competition for second place. Third was That left Luke Cage: ‘‘Manifest’’ as the closest and kept the lead through six rounds to win. There more of a contest, with SF Bluestocking leading runner-up; it would have needed 6.03 more points wasn’t much contest for any of the lower places in the first round by five votes, only to fall back to make the ballot. either, as Sana Takeda took second, Galen Dara in the second round, three votes behind nerds of
46 / LOCUS October 2017 Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND THIRD FOURTH 5TH 6TH FANZINE (1,341 ballots counted) Lady Business 159/103.83 392 393 394 431 502 636 942 Journey Planet 57/47.00 345 350 356 386 416 478 e 409 414 421 469 575 nerds of a feather, flock together 77/38.58 148 150 150 183 233 e e 256 258 258 317 e 370 382 385 508 SF Bluestocking 53/27.50 156 157 158 170 e e e 288 289 290 319 474 375 379 382 439 529 542 548 Rocket Stack Rank 82/54.00 147 147 148 e e e e 175 175 176 e e 234 236 240 e 373 385 393 719 No Award 131 138 e e e e 206 137 144 e e e 178 185 e e 201 209 e 279 850 Castalia House Blog 85/84.00 22 e e e e e e 22 e e e e 33 e e e 43 e e 67 118
FANCAST (1,211 ballots counted) Tea and Jeopardy 93/55.03 314 316 316 348 407 542 819 The Coode Street Podcast 87/59.37 254 255 257 291 340 416 e 317 318 321 372 475 Fangirl Happy Hour 88/58.33 191 193 194 230 276 e e 257 260 261 331 425 303 306 307 424 Galactic Suburbia 109/62.62 141 143 143 e e e e 188 191 191 e e 271 274 275 e 426 431 433 Ditch Diggers 76/57.28 195 195 195 210 e e e 247 247 247 282 e 318 321 323 421 396 402 405 691 No Award 101 106 e e e e 138 104 109 e e e 119 126 e e 125 132 e 140 523 The Rageaholic 76/76.00 15 e e e e e e 16 e e e e 20 e e e 23 e e 37 139 FAN WRITER (1,571 ballots counted) Abigail Nussbaum 152/104.28 258 262 263 321 488 676 942 Foz Meadows 122/65.03 262 263 263 318 e e e 337 342 342 477 658 Mike Glyer 122/65.03 381 385 391 411 469 e e 417 425 431 468 e 494 504 510 683 Chuck Tingle 90/61.50 406 409 412 422 476 610 e 443 449 453 479 609 524 531 535 654 669 678 688 Natalie Luhrs 84/43.53 160 160 160 e e e e 226 228 228 e e 358 364 365 e 520 547 554 816 No Award 84 90 e e e e 180 88 94 e e e 92 98 e e 131 140 e 182 702 Jeffro Johnson 80/80.00 20 e e e e e e 29 e e e e 31 e e e 50 e e 65 195 Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND THIRD FOURTH FAN ARTIST (1,493 ballots counted) Elizabeth Leggett 34/24.00 364 364 365 392 423 456 617 977 Vesa Lehtimäki 70/53.92 277 278 278 293 304 438 534 e 409 410 410 449 474 657 Likhain (M. Sereno) 121/109.42 291 291 291 309 328 349 e e 410 410 411 451 486 535 552 553 557 591 731 Ninni Aalto 48/35.42 214 215 215 227 240 e e e 238 239 239 260 289 e 347 349 349 377 463 497 502 505 594 Spring Schoenhuth 39/28.25 116 117 118 e e e e e 155 156 157 e e e 251 252 253 301 e 449 450 456 550 Steve Stiles 33/29.00 167 167 167 189 e e e e 187 187 187 213 e e 207 207 207 e e 289 289 291 e No Award 59 59 e e e e e 122 66 66 e e e e 70 70 e e e 89 89 e e Mansik Yang (disqualified) 58/30.00 5 e e e e e e e 5 e e e e e 6 e e e e 8 e e e 5TH 6TH 7TH Spring Schoenhuth 656 Steve Stiles 400 904 No Award 103 157 358 Mansik Yang (disqualified) 16 19 28 Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND T HIRD FOURTH 5TH 6TH BEST SERIES (2,340 ballots counted) The Vorkosigan Saga, Lois McMaster Bujold 326/218.67 853 862 901 992 1106 1675 The Expanse, James S.A. Corey 257/187.17 506 508 545 583 661 e 693 698 786 947 1152 The Temeraire series, Naomi Novik 167/97.83 174 176 e e e e 340 346 e e e 470 477 622 860 The Craft Sequence, Max Gladstone 168/112.33 249 250 272 316 363 e 355 356 402 e e 456 458 562 705 545 549 753 The Peter Grant/Rivers of London series, Ben Aaronovitch 130/82.50 242 244 268 301 e e 351 354 415 490 e 461 466 548 e 567 575 720 734 744 The October Daye Books, Seanan McGuire 129/79.67 223 225 244 e e e 357 359 418 510 657 426 428 e e 527 529 e 725 728 1139 No Award 93 e e e e 134 106 e e e e 126 e e e 146 e e 155 e 204 a feather, flock together, which held onto the lead BEST FAN WRITER in 2016. Yang notified the administrators late; he to take third place in the fourth round, leaving SF This was a hard-fought contest. Chuck Tingle had was replaced on the ballot by Elizabeth Leggett, Bluestocking to take fourth place in three rounds. a solid lead in first-place votes in the first round, 25 but some votes for him had already come in online Rocket Stack Rank snagged fifth place in one points ahead of Mike Glyer. The two held the top and were included in the count, as shown here. round, and No Award took sixth, leaving Castalia two spots for four rounds, but when Foz Meadows His disqualification turned out to be fortunate for House Blog in seventh. The closest runner-up was was dropped, Abigail Nussbaum vaulted into the Leggett, who despite her late nomination had the Galactic Journey, which needed six more votes lead, and stayed there, winning the Hugo in six most first-place votes, and led through all seven to make the ballot. File 770 would have made the rounds. Tingle again led the voting for second place, rounds to win. The race for second place was a ballot, but editor Mike Glyer declined nomination. followed by Glyer and Meadows, the three holding close contest between Vesa Lehtimaki and Likhain This was the second nomination for Lady Business, their relative positions until Meadows pulled ahead (M. Sereno); Likhain led by one vote in the first and its first win. of Glyer in the Fourth round, and passed Tingle round, they tied in the second, Likhain pulled in the fifth and final round. Tingle and Glyer then ahead by one vote in the third and kept a slim lead BEST FANCAST duked it out for third place, with Tingle leading until for the fourth and fifth rounds, but then Lehtimaki Tea and Jeopardy led the voting all the way Glyer pulled ahead and won in the fourth and final jumped ahead to win in the sixth. Likhain took to win the Hugo in six rounds. The Coode Street round. Tingle then led all three rounds for fourth third place, leading through all five rounds. Ninni Podcast took second place in five rounds without place. Natalie Luhrs took fifth place in one round. Aalto took fourth place in four rounds, Spring a real challenge. Ditch Diggers put up a good fight No Award took sixth, and Jeffro Johnson ended up Schoenhuth took fifth in one round, and Steve for third place, leading in the first three rounds, but in seventh. Runner-up Camestros Felapton was three Stiles ended up in sixth. The closest runner-up Fangirl Happy Hour pulled ahead in the fourth votes away from the ballot. This was Nussbaum’s was Ariela Housman, who only needed one more round, taking third place by three votes. Galactic fourth nomination, including two nominations for vote to make the ballot intead of Leggett. This Suburbia snuck in to take fourth place, and Ditch Strange Horizons; it was her second nomination as was Leggett’s second nomination and second win. Diggers ended up taking fifth place in a single a fan writer, and her first win. round. No Award then took sixth place, leaving The BEST SERIES Rageaholic in seventh. Closest runner-up Verity! BEST FAN ARTIST This was the first year for this category, and Lois would have needed 3.91 more points to make the Both Alex Garner and Mansik Yang were initially McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga won easily, ballot. This was the third nomination for Tea and announced as finalists, but determined to be ineli- having the most nominations and a solid lead in Jeopardy, and its first win. gible as they had no non-commercial art published p. 71
LOCUS October 2017 / 47
MAGAZINES RECEIVED – AUGUST
Analog Science Fiction and Fact– US/C$45.00 overseas a year to On small-press magazine. This issue in- Clarkesworld
48 / LOCUS October 2017 BOOKS RECEIVED – AUGUST
Compiled by Liza Groen Trombi & (Overlook Press 978-1-4683-1488- College of Letters, Arts, and Sci- able. First US edition (Orchard UK Carolyn Cushman. Please send all 5, $16.95, 497pp, tp, cover by Larry ences;
LOCUS October 2017 / 49 Books Received edition with US and UK prices; five troubled teens, unaware they’ve in the Inheritance series. A print- e-book also available. been given a serum that gives them on-demand edition; e-book also 978-1-61695-827-5, $26.00, 296pp, psychic powers as part of an FBI available. Lovelight Press,
50 / LOCUS October 2017
Books Received tales, first in the Books of Bayern *Judd, Walter S. & Graham A. Judd (Harper Voyager) edition. E-book series. This includes an extras Flora of Middle-Earth : Plants of also available. Martin’s 2016) fantasy novel about a section with a reading group guide. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium woman’s ghost seeking vengeance. (Oxford University Press US 978- *Le Guin, Ursula K. The Hainish Hale, Shannon River Secrets 0-19027631-7, $34.95, 406 +xvpp, Novels & Stories, Volumes I & II *Gates, Jaym & J. Daniel Batt, (Bloomsbury USA 978-1-68119- hc, cover by Graham A. Judd) Non- (Library of America 978-1-59853- eds. Strange California (Fal- 318-2, $9.99, 290pp, tp, cover by fiction, a guide to plants in Tolkien’s 537-2, $80.00, 1,113 +808pp, hc) staff Books 978-0-9906385-8-2, Peter Strain) Reissue (Bloomsbury The Lord of the Rings and related A slipcased set of two volumes $24.99, 445pp, tp, cover by Galen USA 2006) young-adult fantasy in works, primarily written by bota- gathering Le Guin’s Hainish nov- Dara) Original anthology of 25 The Books of Bayern series. This nist Walter and illustrated in b&w els and stories. Volume I (-538-9, weird stories about strangeness in includes an extra scene and an woodcut style by Graham, with 100 $40.00, 1,113pp) is an omnibus of California. Introduction by Yonatan author’s note. plants treated in detail, each with a the first five Hainish novels:Ro - Zunger & A.V. Flox. Authors include full-page illustration, a quote from cannon’s World (1966), Planet Laura Anne Gilman, Nick Mamatas, Hamilton, Laurell K. Star Trek, the Tolkien and notes on the plant’s of Exile (1966), City of Illusions Seanan McGuire, and Tim Pratt. Next Generation: Nightshade role in the works, the etymology of (1967), The Left Hand of Darkness Illustrated by Galen Dara. Funded (Simon & Schuster/Gallery 978- its common and scientific names, (1969), and The Dispossessed through Kickstarter. A print-on- 1-5011-8229-7, $18.99, 276pp, tp) a botanical description, and notes (1974), plus four stories and an demand edition. Falstaff Books, Reprint (Pocket 1992) Star Trek on its history, distribution, ecology, appendix with seven pieces: intro-
52 / LOCUS October 2017 of Memories (Houghton Mifflin Har- *McGuire, Seanan The Brightest court 978-0-544-93248-7, $9.99, Fell (DAW 978-0-7564-1331-6, 259pp, tp) Reprint (Houghton Mifflin $26.00, 354pp, hc, cover by Chris 1998) middle-grade non-fiction, an McGrath) Fantasy novel, #11 in autobiography illustrated with b&w the October Daye series. Toby’s photos. This is the 2016 expanded mother, Amadine, takes Toby’s edition with foreword by Alice Hoff- fiancé Tybalt and the Raven-maid man. Jazz hostage to force Toby to find a sister who disappeared in 1906. *Magre, Maurice The Call of the This also includes the original no- Beast (Black Coat Press 978-1- vella ‘‘Of Things Unknown’’. E-book 61227-653-3, $23.95, 307pp, tp, also available. cover by Mike Hoffman) Collection of three novellas with fantasy or *Milán, Victor The Dinosaur Prin- hallucinatory elements, translated/ cess (Tor 978-0-7653-3298-1, adapted from the French by Brian $26.99, 463pp, hc, cover by Richard M. Stableford, who provides an Anderson) Fantasy novel, third in introduction and notes. This is the the Dinosaur Lords series. E-book second in a 12-volume series of also available. Magre’s works. A print-on-demand edition. Hollywood Comics.com, *Miller, Linsey Mask of Shadows PO Box 17270, Encino CA 91416; (Sourcebooks Fire 978-1-4926-
LOCUS October 2017 / 53 Books Received and Robert J. Sawyer. Foreword by CA 91416;
54 / LOCUS October 2017
Books Received novel. E-book also available. +185pp, tp) Reissue (Coffee House August 2017 Year to Date Press 1990) literary fantasy/magical SF Novels 17 SF Novels 203 tural climate that made them particularly Wells, H.G. The Time Machine (Pen- realism black comedy novel of three Fantasy Fantasy popular in the late 1940s and 1950s. guin Random House/Vintage Classics strange men and disasters that destroy Novels 27 Novels 305 978-0-525-43235-7, $10.00, 86pp, tp) the rain forest in Brazil. Introduction by Horror Novels 5 Horror Novels 69 Verano, M. Diary of a Haunting: Pos- Reprint H. (Heinemann 1895) classic Percival Everett. E-book also available. Paranormal Paranormal session (Simon Pulse 978-1-4814- SF novel. E-book also available. Coffee House Press, 79 13th Ave. NE, Romance 6 Romance 77 6442-0, $10.99, 340pp, tp) Reprint Suite 110, Minneapolis MN 55413. Anthologies 8 Anthologies 58 (Simon Pulse 2016) young-adult ghost *Willett, Edward The Cityborn (DAW Collections 8 Collections 71 novel, second in the Diary of a Haunt- 978-0-7564-1177-0, $26.00, 405pp, hc, Yamashita, Karen Tei Tropic of Orange Reference 2 Reference 4 ing series. cover by Stephan Martiniere) Dystopian (Coffee House Press 978-1-56689-486- History/ History/ SF novel set in a highly stratified society 9, $16.95, xvii +230pp, tp) Reissue Criticism 0 Criticism 41 *Wandschneider, Tyler Lockheed Elite in a corroding metal city. E-book also (Coffee House Press 1997) satirical Media Related 5 Media Related 43 (Stars in Hand 978-0-692-90959-1, available. literary fantasy/magical realism mystery Young Adult 23 Young Adult 270 $12.14, 402pp, tp) SF novel. Anders novel. Introduction by Sesshu Foster. SF 10 SF 63 Lockheed takes his team on their big- *Wilson, Daniel H. The Clockwork Coffee House Press, 79 13th Ave. NE, Fantasy 10 Fantasy 162 gest salvage job yet, unaware they’re Dynasty (Penguin Random House/ Suite 110, Minneapolis MN 55413. Horror 2 Horror 20 being used as bait to draw out a criminal Doubleday 978-0-385-54178-7, $26.95, Paranormal Paranormal mastermind. E-book also available. 309pp, hc) Secret-history SF novel of *Yee, F.C. The Epic Crush of Genie Romance 1 Romance 16 mechanical men hiding among human- Lo (Abrams/Amulet 978-1-4197-2548- Other 0 Other 9 *Wang, Corrie The Takedown (Disney/ ity for centuries. E-book also available. 7, $18.99, 310pp, hc, cover by Vincent Omnibus 4 Omnibus 29 Freeform 978-1-4847-5742-0, $17.99, An export-only edition (-54299-9) was Chong) Young-adult fantasy novel Art/Humor 2 Art/Humor 38 371pp, hc) Young-adult near-future announced but not seen. about a Chinese-American teen in the Miscellaneous 6 Miscellaneous 61 SF mystery novel. Someone posts a San Francisco Bay Area who discovers Total New: 113 Total New: 1,258 damaging – and fake – video of super- Yamashita, Karen Tei Through the she’s a celestial spirit destined to fight Reprints & Reprints & popular Kyla Chen having sex with a Arc of the Rain Forest (Coffee House hellspawn out of Chinese folklore. Reissues: 48 Reissues: 630 teacher on the school website. A first Press 978-1-56689-485-2, $16.95, xv Total: 161 Total: 1,888 although the result lacks the impact that Heinlein’s from the annals of Subterranean Magazine. It’s a Short Fiction: Gardner Dozois story had. pricey anthology, but also a big one, with 30 stories p. 12 from the magazine spread over 752 pages, a reason- people, with only a nearly subliminal fantastic ele- Subterranean Magazine, intended mainly to attract able proposition considering the almost-universally ment, in ‘‘Field Studies’’; and in ‘‘Gale Strang’’, potential customers to check out Subterranean Press high literary quality of the stories contained within. Michael Bishop tells probably the only story you’re books by authors who also appeared in the magazine, The contents are eclectic enough that almost everyone ever going to read narrated by a bird cage. was launched in 2005 and for ten years was one of will have their own list of favorites, but mine would the best of all the online magazines. Although Sub- include ‘‘A Small Price to Pay for Birdsong’’ by The July/August issue of F&SF is somewhat weak. terranean Press is still going strong, editor William K.J. Parker, ‘‘The Bohemian Astrobleme’’ by Of the nine stories here, eight are fantasy, with only Schafer decided to pull the plug on Subterranean Kage Baker, ‘‘A Long Walk Home’’ by Jay Lake, one real SF story, ‘‘In a Wide Sky, Hidden’’ by Wil- Magazine in 2014. I still miss it. In its day it published ‘‘The Last Log of the Lachrimosa’’ by Alastair liam Ledbetter, about a man obsessively searching a wide variety of excellent short fiction, from hard Reynolds, ‘‘Hide and Horns’’ by Joe R. Lansdale, among the stars for his older sister, a famous artist science fiction to fantasy to horror, perhaps the most ‘‘Valley of the Girls’’ by Kelly Link, ‘‘The Truth who had disappeared to a unknown world to create eclectic editorial mix of any of the online magazines. of Fact, the Truth of Feeling’’ by Ted Chiang, and her masterpiece, with a whole planet for a canvas. Although this is loosening up a bit now, with e-zines ‘‘The Tomb of the Pontifex Dvorn’’ by Robert Of the fantasy stories, probably the most interesting such as Tor.com and Clarkesworld beginning to fea- Silverberg. The anthology also contains an unpro- is David Erik Nelson’s ‘‘There Was a Crooked ture longer stories, Subterranean was for a while also duced Twilight Zone script by George R.R. Martin, Man, He Flipped a Crooked House’’, which injects one of the few online magazines, if not the only one, plus good work by Daniel Abraham, Joe Hill, Rachel a horror element into the basic concept of Robert willing to run novellas and long novelettes. Swirsky, Ian R. MacLeod, John Scalzi, Kelley Arm- A. Heinlein’s famous story, ‘‘He Built a Crooked The Best of Subterranean, edited by William strong, Catherynne M. Valente, and others. House’’ (the shout-out is obvious from the title), Schafer, is a retrospective reprint anthology culled –Gardner Dozois
which turns out to be in the hands of an engaging Lynch, C. J. Cherryh, Garth Nix, and more – this is Short Fiction: Rich Horton woman who is preaching revolution. Is there a way out one of the anthologies of the year. p. 13 of Apollo’s problem? In ‘‘The Triumph of Virtue’’, his horror, that he might just be the most logical heir to Walter Jon Williams introduces the hero of his new Recommended Stories his uncle’s throne. It’s pure Parker, cynicism married fantasy series, Quillifer. The young Quillifer, studying ‘‘The Mocking Tower’’, Daniel Abraham with a certain offhand idealism – and featuring desper- to be a lawyer, and in love with a beautiful woman (The Book of Swords) ate love of a perhaps unworthy woman (this theme of the new Queen’s court, gets involved in a mystery ‘‘This is Our Town’’, John Crowley (Totalitopia) goes back at least to Tom Holt’s incomparable diptych aimed, apparently, at the Queen’s inappropriate lover. ‘‘Cryptic Female Choice’’, Andy Dudak The Walled Orchard, one of the great unappreciated Quillifer must navigate the shoals of court intrigue to (Interzone, 7-8/17) historical novels of the past few decades). Somehow, solve the crime – and he learns to his discomfiture that ‘‘An Inflexible Truth’’, Christopher East amidst all the cynicism, this is quite a moving novella. solving the crime is much easier than dealing with (Lightspeed, 8/17) an embarrassed Queen. Daniel Abraham’s ‘‘The ‘‘Uncanny Valley’’, Greg Egan (Tor.com, 8-17) John Crowley is the latest author featured in PM Mocking Tower’’, concerns two men coming to the ‘‘’I am a Handsome Man’, said Apollo Crow’’, Press’s Outspoken Authors chapbook series, with title tower to find the sword in which the Imagi Vert, Kate Elliott (The Book of Swords) Totalitopia. The original story here is ‘‘This is Our a great wizard and friend of the well-loved old King, ‘‘Ugo’’, Giovanni de Feo (Lightspeed, 9/17) Town’’, told by a girl who grew up in Timber Town, is said to have imprisoned the King’s soul. Finding ‘‘One Hour, Every Seven Years’’, Alice Sola Kim which, she tells us, can be found in a book called This the sword might help one of the King’s son’s win the (McSweeney’s #49) Is Our Town, part of the Faith and Freedom series of war of succession that is tearing apart their Empire. ‘‘The Shining Hills’’, Susan Palwick (Lightspeed 8/17) readers for 4th and 5th grade Catholic students. The But perhaps the King’s son needs a lesson more than Mightier Than the Sword, K.J. Parker story concerns faith, and loss of faith, and miracles, he needs the sword? (Subterranean) and guardian angels, and problematic family mem- The rest of the book is also strong, of course. One ‘‘Night Passage’’, Alastair Reynolds bers – it’s a John Crowley story, which is really all particular standout is ‘‘Waterfalling’’ by Lavie Tid- (Infinite Stars)* the recommendation required. har, in which the drug-addicted gunslinger Gorel of ‘‘The Turing Machines of Babel’’, Gorilis has been engaged to ‘‘send a message,’’ i.e. Eric Schwitzgebel (Apex, 7/17) Gardner Dozois’s new doorstop anthology The Book to kill a man who stole something from Gorel’s cli- ‘‘Waterfalling’’, Lavie Tidhar of Swords is full of long and fun sword-and-sorcery ent. Alas, what he stole was the Black Kiss, Gorel’s (The Book of Swords) tales, and is entertaining throughout. Particular weakness, and the end result has Gorel visiting the *See my review elsewhere in this issue. highlights include three consecutive stories from title town, in which the local god sometimes ‘‘calls’’ –Rich Horton the middle of the book. ‘‘‘I am a Handsome Man’, its residents to climb a cliff to the top of a waterfall and said Apollo Crow’’ by Kate Elliot features the title dive to their death. The action is effective and brutal, Semiprofessional magazines, fiction fanzines, origi- character, whose nature delightfully shifts from man the scheming interesting, the characters nicely hard- nal collections, and original anthologies, plus new to woman to a full murder of crows, and who is cursed boiled, and the fantastical imagination – the various stories in outside sources should be sent to Rich to serve anyone who pays them. Apollo is engaged by races, the gods, the deep history – absorbing. Add Horton, 653 Yeddo Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119, the Emperor of Rome to retrieve a stolen sketchbook, strong work from Elizabeth Bear, Rich Larson, Scott
56 / LOCUS October 2017 those voluminous anecdotes and memoirs that have Gary K. Wolfe peppered his speeches, introductions, and essays p. 15 almost since his first story collections and conven- against supernatural incursions in The Witches of tion appearances. His response, at least when I Lychford, the village was also troubled by the ar- asked him, was that it was all out there already, in rival of a big-box chain retailer which threatened the all those short pieces. Terry Dowling did an admi- village’s individual character while promising jobs rable job of assembling a mosaic portrait through in a strained economy. This provided an early clue fiction and nonfiction in the massiveThe Essential that Cornell’s charming village wasn’t simply an Ellison (revised edition 2001), but it was just that: archetype, but was subject to the real-world stresses a mosaic of his writing career (even including some of life in contemporary Britain. With A Long Day juvenilia), but not a biography. Nat Segaloff’s lively in Lychford, he makes this even more explicit: the and entertaining A Lit Fuse: The Provocative Life magic-shop owner Autumn is worried about being of Harlan Ellison isn’t really a biography either, as able to afford supplies from the continent following Segaloff cheerfully admits in his preface: ‘‘Rather, the Brexit vote, while the crotchety senior witch it is intended as a portrait of the man, his creative Judith refuses to say how she voted and a cranky process, the world in which he lives, and the world old villager named Rory muses that maybe Donald he would prefer it to be.’’ It succeeds in some of Trump had a good idea in building a wall against those ambitions more than in others, and is more immigrants, even though in Britain ‘‘nobody, what- likely to satisfy fans who have long wondered about ever their politics, flew a flag for the most ridiculous the Ellison of oral tradition than readers seeking to American of them all.’’ Rory’s racist xenophobia discover where that vast body of often brilliant fiction takes on a certain ironic dimension, however, when and journalism comes from. Quoting heavily from we are reminded by Autumn that the trio’s entire mis- Ellison’s own published accounts and comments and sion, in the first two novellas, consisted of ‘‘defending from ‘‘dozens of hours of interviews over five years,’’ the borders of this town’’ and deterring outsiders from as well as interviews with Ellison’s colleagues and getting in. Of course, protecting a way of life from the family members, it’s as close as we’re likely to come depredations of fairyland is a different matter from to that autobiography – or at least to some aspects despising immigrants from other countries, but you of that autobiography. have to wonder if Cornell isn’t making at least a sly Segaloff begins traditionally enough: Ellison’s comment about the fantasy tradition he’s writing in; father establishing his dental practice in Cleveland after all, in that first novel Judith tells the others that Heights OH during the Depression, with his beloved it’s up to them to protect everyone from ‘‘the things mother Serita, and the birth of their children Beverly that are out there, that want to get in.’’ and her younger brother (by some eight years) Har- Cornell doesn’t really dwell on these uncomfort- lan, but it’s not long before we encounter the first able parallels, but rather deepens the tale of the and perhaps longest-lasting of Ellison’s contentious three women – Judith, the aging witch, Autumn, the relationships, with his sister, who died in 2010. We magic-shop owner and the only non-white resident learn a few scraps about Ellison’s early reading – a of Lychford, and Lizzie Blackmore, the local curate cat book, Dr. Seuss, Lorna Doone – but mostly – as yet another incursion from fairyland threatens. the chapter recounts Ellison’s memories of having This time the mystery begins with the unexplained been bullied in school after the family moved to disappearance of a lorry driver (Cornell has some Painesville, and how some of these experiences later fun with what might happen to GPS systems and made their way into some lesser-known stories like fitbits when you cross into the other world) and the ‘‘Free with This Box!’’ He discovered science fiction aforementioned old codger Rory. The next day Finn, through a Jack Williamson story in 1946, and by the the ‘‘Prince of the Fairies’’ whom we met in The Lost early 1950s was involved in fandom with his own Child of Lychford, visits Lizzie to complain about fanzine, and made plans to meet Robert Silverberg the loud music which is keeping the fairies awake at the 1953 Philadelphia Worldcon. Scarcely a year even in fairyland, and to tell her that something seems later, after three disastrous semesters at Ohio State, to have gone wrong with the border protecting Lych- Ellison was living in New York, selling stories to ford from fairyland. Piecing the evidence together, the digest magazines and trying his hand at the Judith concludes that something Autumn did after then-popular ‘‘juvenile delinquent’’ market, includ- an evening of drinking at a local pub ‘‘messed up ing spending some time with a Brooklyn gang. By the borders,’’ and the three of them, separately and now we’re clearly into territory that Ellison has together, set about once again to make things right. written about repeatedly – his involvement with the While Cornell’s plot doesn’t move substantially men’s magazine Rogue, his early failed marriages, beyond the hazards outlined in the earlier novellas, his discovery of the community of SF writers, his his heroes are facing new challenges of their own, thrill at being treated as a serious writer by Dorothy both separately and together. Judith, for example, Parker’s review of his collection Gentleman Junkie, seems to be developing memory problems and is his eventual move to California and involvement alienating customers at Autumn’s store, where she with the screenplay of the admittedly awful 1966 works part time. The most touching moment in the film The Oscar. tale is when she gets up in the morning to find a note Segaloff does an efficient and very readable pinned to her refrigerator reminding her – in her own job of linking this narrative to Ellison’s own later handwriting – that her parents are dead, and not liv- commentaries and interviews (and much of the bio- ing next door as she believes. The strongest part of graphical material necessarily depends on Ellison’s A Long Day in Lychford is easily the deepening own impressively detailed but sometimes enhanced relationships between the three principles, and the memory), but he’s clearly more comfortable once preparations for a succeeding generation to inherit the story moves into the far more public arena of TV the magic that, until now, Judith has held pretty close and film. Most of Segaloff’s earlier work involves to the vest. As she’s known all along, and as Autumn film and media (studies of Arthur Penn and William and Lizzie have to learn on their own, there are huge Friedkin, books of Hollywood trivia), and he pro- costs involved in messing around in the supernatural vides knowledgeable context for Ellison’s film and world, with its fairies, cherubs, and shardlings, and TV criticism, as well as his later involvement with wonky GPS coordinates are the least of it: substantial programs like The Outer Limits and Star Trek, the roaming charges may apply. famous Terminator litigation, L.Q. Jones’s film of A Boy and His Dog, and various unrealized projects For decades, people (myself included) have asked such as films of ‘‘The Whimper of Whipped Dogs’’ Harlan Ellison when he might get around to writing or Ellison’s screenplay for I, Robot. This also an autobiography, bringing together in one volume
LOCUS October 2017 / 57 attention because of the film projects attached to far more space than necessary to what amounts to a Gary K. Wolfe them, while some of Ellison’s most accomplished forensic analysis of a fan videotape of the notorious and revealing later stories, such as ‘‘The Man Who Connie Willis incident at the 2006 Hugo Awards. But leads to a bit of celebrity-mongering, as Segaloff Rowed Christopher Columbus Ashore’’ and ‘‘Adrift by now that shouldn’t be surprising: this isn’t, as I spends more time discussing Ellison’s friendships Just off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38˚ 54' said at the outset, a full biography, and it’s certainly with Steve McQueen, Robert Blake, Robert Culp, N, Longitude 77˚ 00' 13" W’’, barely earn passing not a literary biography, but rather a good-humored or Bruce Lee than he spends discussing Ellison’s mentions. Segaloff’s discussion of Ellison’s work celebration, with testimonials quoted from a variety literary relationships with writers from Silverberg as an editor provides only a vague sketch of the of sources, of a friend whose kindness, generosity, to Moorcock to Octavia Butler (arguably Ellison’s literary climate into which the Dangerous Visions and absolute talent often seems overshadowed by most important discovery as an editor). anthologies appeared, and his account of the long- public antics, urban legends, and inflated contro- It’s evident that Segaloff is far less familiar with unrealized The Last Dangerous Visions, rather than versies. Segaloff goes a long way toward explain- the SF world than with Hollywood, and the few straining to make excuses on Ellison’s behalf, more ing the public Ellison and sorting out all those short stories he discusses in detail, such as ‘‘Paladin or less retells the story as meticulously chronicled rumors and often apocryphal tales, but the fiction of the Lost Hour’’ or ‘‘A Boy and His Dog’’ earn by Christopher Priest. On the other hand, he devotes still has to explain itself. –Gary K. Wolfe
Company Wars. The title character was conjured in you’re made of.’’ Later experiments seem more like Faren Miller a lab where what had been a woman is turned into deconstruction, reducing Bird to something like a p. 17 a creature that’s part avian and capable of flight. robe designed for camouflage. future.’’ Over the course of the book, her mission Though the lab won’t release its creations, she finds Yet even ill-used remnants hold onto shreds of gets tangled up in two heist plots (both aiming to a way to escape, and early episodes chronicle her past consciousness – thanks to surreal ‘‘Dreams’’ steal the Brink’s true power source: artifacts and a brief freedom. where she is still a woman, talking with a close book). This allows familiar archetypes like Thief All too soon she gets wounded, and seized by friend. One object from those dreams also makes the and Magician to reveal notably human faces – and new captors: first The Old Man (a sadist with a leap into waking life: an enigmatic ‘‘compass’’ that their inner selves. manic compulsion to write on a typewriter that serves more like a beacon or alarm, calling for help. doesn’t really type); next the bizarre ‘‘bat-faced Eventually, what’s left of Strange Bird get caught Jeff VanderMeer’s short novel The Strange Bird man’’; then that creature’s boss, someone we’ve met up in the Wars, with surprising results. To say more is a spinoff from the novel Borne, with the same before. The Magician seems to be a mad scientist, would be a spoiler. background: a wrecked, far-future Earth, now be- and plays a major role in Borne. Lying helpless in –Faren Miller ing devastated by techno/magical, quasi-mythic her lab, Strange Bird endures probes to show ‘‘what
no-M books in a movement or school or category notions of utopia – to push at the contradictions Russell Letson he calls the ‘‘Scottish fantastic,’’ which sounds a in the Culture’s own view of itself. Excession, p. 19 bit like a northern cousin of magical realism. He for example, attention alongside their ‘‘genre’’ siblings. also traces patterns of doubleness (and its cousin, is about presenting the Culture with barriers After The Wasp Factory (1984) and two more ambiguity), duplicity, splits and divisions, and it is reluctant to cross.... We begin to get a ‘‘Iain Banks’’ novels that featured ‘‘narrative vigor, counter-narratives that run through both sides of picture of the Culture as a deeply conservative an often black humour... and huge vistas,’’ there Banks’s writerly identity. Some of this he traces to society, too attached to its comforts and plenty appeared Consider Phlebas (1987), a sure-enough the ‘‘underlying influences’’ (perhaps not direct) to be easy with the idea of risk or change.... we space opera and the first of a long string of books of the semi-pop psychology of R.D. Laing and see that it is far less a utopia, far less perfect, set in the Culture. Thereafter, M and no-M books Erving Goffman. than it likes to present itself. more or less alternated, right up to the author’s Nevertheless, it is Banks’s science fiction that we Like the Culture itself, Banks’s thinking about death in 2013. But Kincaid’s biographical sketch came here for, and Kincaid does not disappoint. attempts to square the circle of power, freedom, reveals that before the composition of The Wasp The clearest through-line is his treatment of the and ethical behavior in an imperfect world results Factory Banks had already been working on Culture – how and for what purpose the milieu in unresolved contradictions. science-fictional material – an unfinished novel was devised, how its significance shifted across While Kincaid takes Banks’s work seriously, at university, Against a Dark Background soon the years, how its themes and motifs are echoed neither the writing nor the viewpoint of his study after, drafts of The State of the Art and The in the other novels, regardless of genre. Kincaid is academic-hermetic – he had met and liked his Player of Games – before he started work on his outlines how the Culture was devised as a delib- subject and places him in the social world of SF first-published novel in 1981. Kincaid argues for a erate counter to earlier (particularly American) and its fandom. He engages the literature-so-far continuity of themes, attitudes, atmospherics, and space-adventure conventions that Banks saw as on Banks, from contemporary book reviews to technical adventurousness across the Banks canon: militarist and imperialist and infected with ‘‘gran- the handful of more formal scholarly studies, diose superhero thinking that has no place in the and appends an extended interview with Banks Banks’s work revealed a dizzying, exuberant variety of styles, devices, and effects.... from communal, socialistic approach that Banks takes conducted in 2010 by Jude Roberts, so we get to the gothic grotesqueries of The Wasp Factory in his fiction.’’ He also argues for a break in that hear the artist in his own voice – engaged, relaxed, to the chilly postmodern games of Walking group of books – that the Culture sequence was unpretentious, funny, and very smart. I’ll let Banks on Glass.... [W]ithin all of this diversity there essentially finished before the last three books have the last-to-last word: ‘‘I’ve long since decided are continuities, resonances, references, and (Matter, Surface Detail, and The Hydrogen that people like me just write what we do and let links, that ideas raised in a mainstream novel Sonata, 2008-2012) were written – that the project other people worry about the analytical side.’’ will be further explored in a science fiction was complete and that the later books represent a W i t h P a u l K i n c a i d , h e ’ s i n p r e t t y g o o d h a n d s . novel, that there are issues that crop up again kind of retreading of old ground. –Russell Letson and again. The job of the first set of Culture novels would Nor does ‘‘mainstream’’ necessarily mean seem to be to deconstruct not only the political ‘‘representational realism.’’ Kincaid locates the notions behind traditional space opera, but also
Farris, a writer whose influence King has acknowl- an indeterminate amount of time. Stefan Dziemianowicz edged), an enigmatic man in a black hat who seems Readers will surmise very early that the button box p. 21 to know more about her than a stranger should and shares a common pedigree with a much better-known those instances where two writers with similar incli- who has personally selected her to be the recipient box out of Greek mythology, and that Gwendy is as nations and approaches to their craft have produced of a button box: a squarish box decorated with rows susceptible to personal curiosity as that other box’s a seamless marriage of their talents. multi-colored buttons, each (as he tells her) corre- guardian. Farris virtually anticipates this when The story is set in Castle Rock ME, the everytown sponding to a specific continent. The box also has a Gwendy queries him about pushing the red button, setting for nearly a dozen of King’s solo works. Its red button which, when depressed, will do “whatever and he replies, “you will want it, the owner of the heroine is Gwendy Peterson, a local 13-year-old you want,” and a black one whose purpose is left box always does. It’s normal. Wanting to know when the story opens in 1974. On a morning after unspoken, and probably with good reason. Farris things is what the human race is all about. Explora- her summertime outdoor exercise workout, Gwendy disappears almost as mysteriously as he appeared, tion, Gwendy! Both the disease and the cure.” But is accosted by Richard Farris (surely a nod to John and Gwendy is left in charge of his button box for Gwendy’s adventures are not Pandora’s – nor are
58 / LOCUS October 2017 they horrific in the way that readers might expect, local healing woman who recommends “a migra- based on other works by the two authors. tion,” or transfer of his spirit to another body: “If we Gwendy’s Button Box is more a contemporary could move David’s spirit to another body in time,” coming-of-age story in which its title character’s she says, “then part of the poison would also go with growth from adolescence to maturity, and the doubts him. Split into two bodies, there was the chance he and insecurities she must grapple in its course, are could pull through.” There’s only one drawback: no refracted through the presence of the button box and one knows whose body David’s spirit will end up the burden of responsibility it poses. At the time that in. The David talking with Amanda is, apparently, Gwendy accepts the button box she’s an awkward the physical shell of Carla’s son five years after the teenager, worried about her weight and appearance migration – the same amount of time for which Carla and concerned about her parents, whose marriage has completely disowned him. is deteriorating under the influence of drink and the At first it’s not entirely clear what is happening anxieties of middle age. When Gwendy begins ac- in Schweblin’s novel. Events toggle back and forth cepting gifts of candy and valuable vintage coins that between the past of Carla’s ordeal with David and the the box dispenses – recompense, she assumes, for the apparent present in which the sympathetic Amanda responsibility of guarding what it represents – she listens while tending to her young daughter Nina. finds her personal and home situation improving. Is David interrogates Amanda attentively, seeking clues this a boon that the box controls? Or is it just the way in her choice of words as she relates the story that these things work out in real life? It’s impossible to Carla told her about his poisoning. The narrative say. Eventually, her curiosity piqued, Gwendy will compels reader attention to keep the two time frames try out that red button, and the infamous historical separate and distinct from one another, a difficult task event that coincides with it will haunt her forever. since it’s sometimes not clear from the profusion of “What if the button box is like the monkey’s paw in pronouns used who is speaking or when. There’s that story,” she wonders to herself afterward. “What also one genuinely creepy episode that Amanda if it makes things worse instead of better? What if describes involving Nina and David that Amanda she makes things worse?” As drawn affectionately by belatedly dismisses as a recalled nightmare of hers, King & Chizmar, Gwendy is an ordinary adolescent and not part of the running narrative that it seems to who has yet to develop adult defenses, someone be. Portentous events also unfold on the periphery who examines the problems in her own little corner of the story, among them a scene of men unloading of the world – and the larger world it impinges on plastic barrels full of something from a truck and – and wonders if she isn’t in some way responsible accidentally dropping one. The shifts of time and for them. perspective, the indeterminacy of events, and the sug- The fantasy element of the story is not completely gested supernaturalism of David’s spirit migration ambiguous. King & Chizmar give Gwendy a nem- give the story the texture of the titular fever dream. esis, an obnoxious classmate named Frankie Stone But whose dream, and what has given rise to it? who torments her continually over the years and Schweblin’s novel is one with a gradually expand- whose increasingly antagonistic behavior sets up ing perspective. As the story proceeds and more a spectacular confrontation at the end of her high details emerge, the focus on its events draws farther school years that confirms the button box is not back and a bigger and grimmer picture emerges. something to be trifled with. As a plot point for a tale At its center is the story of Carla, a mother driven of the macabre, the button box serves its purpose. As to desperation to save the son whom she loves, and a symbol, it’s even more potent. Toward the novel’s who, in doing so, loses him in a way that is emotion- end, Gwendy, who aspires to be a writer, regards ally devastating. That relationship proves the key her typewriter as a different sort of button box. It’s to understanding how the story of David and Carla a nice touch that King & Chizmar ultimately merge relates to the story of Amanda and Nina, and why the item that brought so many anxieties and concerns David is asking Amanda the specific questions her to the surface in Gwendy as a child with a tool that puts to her regarding how Carla handled his poison- the adult Gwendy will use to channel those concerns ing and its aftermath. But even as Carla and David’s constructively into a legacy that defines her. fate becomes more relevant to that of Amanda and Nina, the certainty of narrative events becomes more The title of Samanta Schweblin’s first novel,Distan - tenuous – especially once the reader learns where cia de rescate, translates as “the rescue distance,” David is supposedly conversing with Amanda and the term a character uses to describe the amount of what her condition is. Questions arise: How reliable ground she would have to cover in order to reach her is Amanda’s recollection of events? Did David’s soul young daughter and whisk her away from danger. migration really happen? Does David even exist The title of the English-language edition of the book, outside of Amanda’s feverish imagination? Increas- however, is Fever Dream, which speaks to both to ingly the narrative comes to seem an echo chamber its theme and narrative style. in which memories within the consciousness of a The book opens in mid-story with a conversa- single person find validation by conjuring people tion between a woman identified as Amanda, and and events to justify them. Ultimately that’s what David, an interlocutor whose speech displays in makes Schweblin’s novel so eerie and unsettling. italics. Amanda is a vacationer to an unnamed It’s worth pointing out that Schweblin’s novel rural countryside where she has befriended David’s was shortlisted this past April for the Man Booker mother, Carla, who relates her experience from five International Prize, and deservedly so. years earlier when David, her son, was accidentally –Stefan Dziemianowicz exposed to what appears to have been toxic waste that has run off in a nearby stream. With David on death’s doorstep the desperate Carla gives him to a
love story (actually stories!) that readers will sus- Colleen Mondor pect from its early pages, but it is also a dark and p. 24 rich puzzle filled with language that suffuses the Finally, on top of everything else, McLemore’s senses with both luxuriant beauty and the horrors straightforward introduction of the gender diverse of decay. This is a beautiful book and Bay and the Bay, and the grand sweeping lesbian romance Nomeolvides women (all of them), are complex that fills her heart, is a wonderful addition to this characters most welcome to YA literature. thoroughly complex and outstanding collection of –Colleen Mondor characters. Wild Beauty is, indeed, the sweeping
LOCUS October 2017 / 59 tale, a first novel. Eric Harper’s life has been overset treating the “differently alive” – vampires, mummies, Carolyn Cushman enough: his beloved grandmother had to go into a weres, ghouls, etc. – working out of the London p. 25 nursing home, and to pay for it the family had to sell office she inherited from her family (formerly the battling to the death for the post. It’s a Battle Royale/ off a chunk of land with the main farmhouse and barn Van Helsings). The application of modern jargon to Hunger Games sort of scenario, except the contes- that had been in the family for 200 years. It’s been such beings is just one source of humor; none of the tants get disqualified if they’re caught killing. Plus, turned into a veterinary clinic, and the vet’s annoying supernaturals we encounter are quite what’s you’d they all have to attend classes part of the day. It’s daughter is posting a few too many“no trespassing” expect from the literature or movies, and the contrast an interesting setup, at least, but I’m getting a little signs all over. But then Eric spots a unicorn passing gets quite amusing. Noted vampire Lord Ruthven tired of the romanticising of assassins in YA fiction by, going to the vet’s barn. Eric follows, and ends (not a fan of Polidori’s “The Vampyre”) calls Greta these days, and in this case the whole scenario is a up taking an after-school job helping out at the to his luxurious home to help Sir Frances Varney, a little improbable – Sal is totally untrained and new clinic, learning about animals magical and normal. rare “lunar sensitive” vampyre, who was attacked to killing in the midst of skilled competition, but Unfortunately, he has trouble dealing with suffering and stabbed, but isn’t healing. Greta finds foreign has little trouble getting through. The issue of Sal’s and death, and the idea that it’s not always OK to use substances in the wound and takes them away for gender hardly comes up, except that he/she/they a unicorn’s healing powers – an issue not just with analysis, disturbed by Varney’s tale of being attacked wants people to use the pronouns that match his/ the ailing animals, but also with his grandmother. by monks. A strange killer has been leaving dead her/their wardrobe for the day, and it seems like the There are some tense moments involving dangerous women with rosaries stuffing in their mouths, and issue could have been explored a bit more; instead, creatures, fear of discovery, and hunters, but overall she worries the two might be connected. Ruthven it becomes one more label (thief, last survivor, bent this is a poignant and down-to-earth tale, aimed at calls in a friend, August Cranswell, at the British on revenge, loyal) instead of part of a personality. younger readers than we usually cover, kept simple Museum to help investigate; Greta ends up bringing Still, as wish-fulfillment fantasy adventure goes, this but with surprising depth. in Fastitocalon, an accounting clerk with chronic is a fun, fast read, and a pretty decent first novel. bronchitis and some interesting talents of his own. Vivian Shaw, Strange Practice (Orbit US 978-0- This odd crew faces serious danger as they work Jacqueline K. Ogburn, The Unicorn in the Barn 316-43460-7, $14.99, 353pp, tp) July 2017. Cover to solve the crimes, but their distinct personalities, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 978-0-544-76112-4, by Will Staehle. growing friendships, and plenty of monster-based $16.99, 290pp, hc) July 2017. Cover by Rebecca humor make this one of the most engaging new urban Green. Some of the classic monsters of literature get revis- fantasy series I’ve seen in a while, a first novel that’s ited in this highly entertaining urban fantasy novel, not just promising – it delivers. A rural boy meets a unicorn and learns a lot about the first in a series, and the first novel from fanfic –Carolyn Cushman loving and letting go in this charming middle-grade author Coldhope. Dr. Greta Helsing specializes in
witches, the advantages of magic are enjoyed by a from the complexity I expect from Stephenson’s Amy Goldschlager very few. In contrast, technology tends to be shared worldbuilding. p. 29 over a much wider area because you don’t need an The ending is somewhat open-ended, suggesting why a world of technology is superior to a world of innate ability to use it after it’s built. It is both more possible sequels. But then, the ending of Seveneves magic in most universes. The witches in the novel useful and more dangerous on a much larger scale. was, too, and a sequel to that would be much more operate on a small scale, employing their magic for I have not read any of Galland’s solo work, but gratefully received by me. themselves, their families, or at maximum, their vil- points such as I noted above, as well as the general –Amy Goldschlager lage or neighborhood; given the relative scarcity of structure of the story, are considerably diminished
BRITISH BOOKS – JULY
Note: This information, unlike the 1-78496-511-2, £8.99, 494pp, tp, cover Xeelee universe. Xeelee use time travel * Chait, Gavin Our Memory Like Dust Locus main list, is put together by Ian by Shen Fei) Omnibus of two gaming to try to eliminate wormhole engineer (Transworld/Doubleday UK 978-0-857- Covell; send corrections to him at 24 tie-in novel in the Space Wolves series: Michael Poole in 3646. This is an export 52368-6, £14.99, 382pp, hc) Near- St Pauls Road, Middlesbrough TS1 Warhammer 40,000: Curse of the edition; a hardcover edition (-21717-1, future, post-apocalyptic African SF novel. 5NQ, England. First world editions Wulfen by David Annandale (2016) and £20.00) was announced but not seen. Millions of refugees, with their stories marked with an asterisk. Comments Warhammer 40,000: Legacy of Russ by E-book also available. and myths, flee Africa, but Europe has by Ian Covell. Robbie MacNiven (2016). An international problems of its own. A paper-over- edition with US, UK, EU, Australian, and Beaulieu, Bradley Of Sand & Malice boards edition. Simultaneous with the US Annandale, David Warhammer 40,000: Canadian prices. E-book also available. Made (Orion/Gollancz 978-1-4732-1846- (Qwyre) edition. Space Marine Legends: Lemartes 8, £8.99, 216pp, tp) Reprint (Gollancz (Black Library 978-1-78496-459-7, Baxter, Stephen Obelisk (Orion/Gollancz 2016) fantasy novel in the Song of the * Christopher, Adam Killing Is My £19.00, 222pp, hc, cover by Neil Roberts) 978-1-4732-1276-3, £9.99, 309pp, tp) Shattered Sands series, a prequel to Business (Titan 978-1-7832-9691-0, Reprint (Black Library 2015) gaming tie-in Reprint (Gollancz 2016) collection of 17 Twelve Kings in Sharakhai. £7.99, 277pp, tp, cover by Will Staehle) novel. A paper-over-boards edition. This is SF stories. SF novel, second in the LA Trilogy/Ray an international edition with US, UK, EU, Electromatic series. Simultaneous with Australian, and Canadian prices. * Baxter, Stephen Xeelee: Vengeance Chait, Gavin Lament for the Fallen the US (Tor) edition. (Orion/Gollancz 978-1-473-21718-8, (Transworld/Black Swan 978-1-784- * Anonymous, ed. Warhammer 40,000: £14.99, tp, cover by blacksheep) SF 16133-0, £8.99, 424pp, tp) Reprint Clapham, Mark Warhammer 40,000: Legacy of the Wulfen (Black Library 978- novel, the first book in a duology in the (Doubleday UK 2016) SF novel. Space Marine Battles: Tyrant of the
60 / LOCUS October 2017 Hollow Worlds (Black Library 978-1- series, two previously published in dif- * Lostetter, Marina Noumenon (Harper after This Savage Song. Simultaneous 78496-538-9, £9.99, 525pp, tp) Reprint ferent form. Simultaneous with the US Voyager 978-0-00-822335-9, £12.99, with the US (Greenwillow) edition. (Black Library 2016) gaming tie-in novel (Del Rey) edition. 415pp, hc, cover by Steven Messing) based on the far-future roleplaying game, SF novel. A 2088 mission to explore Scull, Luke Dead Man’s Steel (Head of part of the Space Marine Battles series. * Hounsom, Lucy Heartland an anomalous star relies on a cloned Zeus 978-1-7818-5161-6, £8.99, 458pp, This may be the first print edition; an e- (Macmillan/Pan 978-1-4472-6862-8, crew. Simultaneous with the US (Harper tp) Reprint (Head of Zeus 2016) fantasy book appeared 12/16, and no previous £7.99, 482pp, tp) Fantasy novel, sec- Voyager US) edition. novel, third in the Grim Company series. ond in the Worldmaker trilogy. Sequel exclusive edition is known. Copyrighted Slatter, Angela Vigil (Quercus/Jo by Games Workshop. This is an interna- to Starborn. * May, Elizabeth The Fallen Kingdom (Orion/Gollancz 978-0-575-13050- Fletcher 978-1-78429-404-5, £8.99, tional edition with US, UK, EU, Australian, Hounsom, Lucy Starborn (Macmillan/ 371pp, tp) Reprint (Jo Fletcher 2016) fan- and Canadian prices. 0, £16.99, 310pp, tp, cover by Gene Pan 978-1-509-84168-4, £8.99, 532pp, Mollica) Steampunk fantasy novel set tasy novel, first in the Verity Fassbinder De Jager, Mark Infernal (Random House/ tp) Reprint (Tor UK 2015) fantasy novel, in 19th-century Scotland, third and final series. the first book in the Worldmaker trilogy. Ebury/Del Rey UK 978-1-785-03335-3, in the Falconer trilogy. Simultaneous * Snodgrass, Melinda In Evil Times £8.99, tp) Reprint (Del Rey UK 2016) Hunter, Sylvia The Midnight Queen with the US (Chronicle Books) edition. (Titan 978-1-7832-9584-5, £7.99, 392pp, fantasy novel. (Allison & Busby 978-0-7490-2046-0, E-book also available. tp, cover by Alex Ronald) SF novel, Dembski-Bowden, Aaron Warhammer £7.99, 477pp, tp) Reprint (Ace 2014 as * McDonald, Ed Blackwing (Orion/ second in the Imperials series after The 40,000: The Horus Heresy: The Master by Sylvia Izzo Hunter) fantasy novel, Gollancz 978-1-473-22201-4, £12.99, High Ground. of Mankind (Black Library 978-1-78496- the first book in the eponymous trilogy. 378pp, hc) Fantasy novel, the first in the Raven’s Mark series. * Tingey, Sue Bound (Quercus/Jo 536-5, £12.99, 366pp, tp, cover by Neil * Iggulden, C.F. Darien: Empire of Salt Fletcher 978-1-78429-076-4, £9.99, Roberts) Reprint (Black Library 2016, not (Michael Joseph 978-0-718-18646- 355pp, tp) Fantasy novel, the third and seen) gaming tie-in novel based on the Meyer, Stephenie The Chemist (Little, 3, £12.99, 340pp, hc, cover by Larry Brown UK/Sphere 978-0-7515-7004-5, final in the Soulseer Chronicles trilogy. far-future roleplaying game. Apparently Rostant) Fantasy novel, the first book E-book also available. originally published as an online-exclu- £7.99, 518pp, tp) Reprint (Sphere 2016) in the Empire of Salt trilogy. Twelve associational thriller. sive hardcover collector’s edition with an families essentially run the great city Weeks, Brent The Blood Mirror (Little, exclusive author afterword. Copyrighted of Darien, now at the end of its golden Nix, Garth Goldenhand (Hot Key 978- Brown UK/Orbit 978-0-356-50463-6, by Games Workshop. This is an interna- age. Iggulden also writes historicals as 1-4714-0446-7, £7.99, 422pp, tp, cover £9.99, 650pp, tp, cover by Lauren tional edition with US, UK, EU, Australian, Conn Iggulden. by Larry Rostant) Reprint (Hot Key 2016) Panepinto) Reprint (Orbit 2016) fantasy and Canadian prices. young-adult fantasy novel, fifth in the Old novel, fourth in the Lightbringer series. Kincaid, S.J. The Diabolic (Simon & Kingdom series. Drake, David The Way to Glory (Titan Schuster UK 978-1-4711-4715-9, £7.99, * Worley, Alec Judge Anderson: Year 978-1-7856-5223-3, £7.99, 521pp, tp) 403pp, tp) Reprint (Simon & Schuster Oakes, Colleen Blood of Wonderland One (Rebellion/Abaddon 978-1-78108- Reprint (Baen 2005 as The Way to Glory) 2016) young-adult SF novel, the first in (HarperCollins Children’s Books UK 555-4, £7.99, 379pp, tp, cover by Gary military SF novel, fourth in the Republic of the eponymous series. 978-0-00-817542-9, £7.99, 322pp, Brown) Tie-in novel based on the SF Cinnabar Navy (or Leary & Mundy) series. tp, cover by Ruben Ireland) Reprint world of the Judge Dredd comics. [First UK edition] King, Stephen It (Hodder 978-1-4736- (SparkPress 2014 as Queen of Hearts: 6694-8, £10.99, 1166pp, tp) Reprint Goulding, Laurie, ed. Warhammer Volume Two: The Wonder) young-adult July 2017 Year to Date (Hodder & Stoughton 1986) horror fantasy novel, second in the Queen of SF Novels 6 SF Novels 41 40,000: The Horus Heresy: Eye of novel. A film tie-in edition. Terra (Black Library 978-1-78496-373-6, Hearts series. Simultaneous with the Fantasy Fantasy US (HarperTeen) edition. Novels 9 Novels 69 £7.99, 471pp, pb, cover by Neil Roberts) * Laumer, Keith Three by Laumer: Reprint (Black Library 2016) anthology Horror Novels 0 Horror Novels 12 Worlds of the Imperium, Retief: O’Guilin, Peadar The Call (David Paranormal Paranormal of 16 stories based on the roleplaying Envoy to New Worlds, Bolo (Orion/ Fickling Books 978-1-910200-98-8, game. An international edition with US, Romance 0 Romance 8 Gollancz 978-1-4732-1599-3, £14.99, £8.99, 331pp, tp, cover by blacksheep) Anthologies 0 Anthologies 7 UK, EU, Australian, and Canadian prices. 507pp, tp) SF omnibus of the novel Reprint (Fickling Books 2016) young- Copyrighted by Games Workshop. Collections 1 Collections 19 Worlds of the Imperium (1962) and adult fantasy/horror novel. Reference 0 Reference 0 two collections: Retief: Envoy to New History/ History/ Graudin, Ryan Blood for Blood (Orion Worlds (1963) and Bolo (1976). * Pulley, Natasha The Bedlam Stacks Children’s Books 978-1-78062-206-4, (Bloomsbury Circus 978-1-4088-7844-6, Criticism 0 Criticism 5 £6.99, 481pp, tp, cover by La Boca) Liu, Ken The Wall of Storms (Head of £12.99, 332pp, hc) Humorous Victorian Media Related 2 Media Related 20 Reprint (Orion Children’s Books 2016) Zeus 978-1-78497-327-8, £7.99, 852pp, fantasy novel, set in the world of The Young Adult 0 Young Adult 21 young-adult alternate history SF novel, tp, cover by Sam Weller) Reprint (Saga Watchmaker of Filigree Street. A SF 0 SF 6 second in a duology after Wolf by Wolf. 2016) fantasy novel, second in the paper-over-boards edition. Fantasy 0 Fantasy 14 Dandelion Dynasty trilogy. Horror 0 Horror 1 Hamilton, Peter F. Night Without Stars * Ryan, Anthony The Legion of Flame Paranormal Paranormal (Pan 978-1-4472-3275-9, £8.99, 767pp, * Lloyd, Tom Princess of Blood (Orion/ (Little, Brown UK/Orbit 978-0-356- Romance 0 Romance 0 tp, cover by Larry Rostant) Reprint Gollancz 978-1-4732-1320-3, £14.99, 50640-1, £18.99, 558pp, hc, cover Other 0 Other 0 (Macmillan UK 2016) SF novel, second 516pp, hc, cover by Jon McCoy) Fantasy by Christian Bravery) Fantasy novel, Omnibus 2 Omnibus 12 in the Chronicle of the Fallers duology, set novel, second in the God Fragments second in the Draconic Memoria series. Art/Humor 0 Art/Humor 0 in the Commonwealth universe. series. A paper-over-boards edition. Simultaneous with the US (Ace) edition. Miscellaneous 0 Miscellaneous 8 Total New: 19 Total New: 219 * Hearne, Kevin Besieged (Little, Brown Lore, Pittacus United as One (Penguin * Schwab, V.E. Our Dark Duet (Titan Reprints & Reprints & UK/Orbit 978-0-356-50957-0, £8.99, UK 978-0-718-18489-6, £8.99, 348pp, 978-1-7856-5276-9, £7.99, 470pp, tp, Reissues: 23 Reissues: 150 288pp, tp) Original collection of nine tp) Reprint (Harper 2016) fantasy novel, cover by Julia Lloyd) Fantasy novel, Total: 42 Total: 369 stories in the Iron Druid Chronicles seventh in the Lorien Legacies series. second in the Monsters of Verity duology
LOCUS October 2017 / 61 LOCUS BESTSELLERS
months last months last HARDCOVERS on list month TRADE PAPERBACKS on list month 1) The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., Neal Stephenson & 1) Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (Simon & Schuster) 41 2 Nicole Galland (Morrow) 2 2 2) The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Thirty-fourth Annual 2) The Witchwood Crown, Tad Williams (DAW) 1 - Collection, Gardner Dozois, ed. (St. Martin’s Griffin) 1 - 3) The Delirium Brief, Charles Stross (Tor.com Publishing) 1 - 3) Ready Player One, Ernest Cline (Broadway) 18 - 4) Beren and Lúthien, J.R.R. Tolkien 4) A Darker Shade of Magic, V.E. Schwab (Tor) 10 7 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) 2 1 5) All the Birds in the Sky, Charlie Jane Anders (Tor) 2 - 5) New York 2140, Kim Stanley Robinson (Orbit US) 5 8 6) The Sumage Solution, G.L. Carriger (Gail Carriger) 1 - 6) Assassin’s Price, L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Tor 1 - 7) Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie (Orbit US) 33 - 7) A Conjuring of Light, V.E. Schwab (Tor) 3 - 8) American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition, 8) Walkaway, Cory Doctorow (Tor) 4 4 Neil Gaiman (Morrow 4 6 9) Assassin’s Fate, Robin Hobb (Del Rey) 3 3 *) Library of Souls, Ransom Riggs (Quirk) 2 9 10) The Fall of Shannara: The Black Elfstone, 10) Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Terry Brooks (Del Rey) 2 6 Ransom Riggs (Quirk) 29 - PAPERBACKS MEDIA-RELATED & GAMING-RELATED 1) American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition, 1) Star Wars: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad, Neil Gaiman (Morrow) 30 1 Christie Golden (Del Rey) 1 - 2) The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss (DAW) 46 3 2) Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn (Del Rey) 4 2 3) The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger, Stephen King 3) Forgotten Realms: Homecoming: Maestro, (Pocket) 6 2 R.A. Salvatore (Wizards of the Coast) 2 - 4) Heroine Complex, Sarah Kuhn (DAW) 1 - *) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Enigma Tales, 5) A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 79 - Una McCormack (Pocket) 1 - 6) An Oath of Dogs, Wendy N. Wagner (Angry Robot US) 1 - 5) Star Wars: Bloodline, Claudia Gray (Del Rey) 5 - 7) Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine (Tor) 2 4 8) Injection Burn, Jason M. Hough (Del Rey) 2 6 television show, Charlaine Harris’s Midnight Crossroad (Ace), book one in 9) Dune, Frank Herbert (Ace) 14 10 the Midnight, Texas trilogy, was the new runner-up. There were 46 nominated *) White Hot, Ilona Andrews (Avon 2 8 titles, down from 58 last month. Classic novel and last month’s second-place finisher, Fahrenheit 451 by The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson & Nicole Galland rose Ray Bradbury, took first place on the trade paperback list, withThe Year’s from second place on the hardcover list last month to first place this month, Best Science Fiction: Thirty-fourth Annual Collection edited by Gardner followed by Tad Williams’s The Witchwood Crown. Spoonbenders by Da- Dozois in a close second. The new runner-up was Lost Boy by Christina Henry ryl Gregory (Knopf) was the first runner-up. There were 55 nominated titles, (Berkley). We had 44 nominated titles, down from 68 last month. up from 53 last month. New release Star Wars: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden On the paperback list, Neil Gaiman’s American Gods: The Tenth An- barely squeaked past second-place finisher Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars: Thrawn niversary Edition firmly held onto first place with a large lead over second to claim first place on our media-related & gaming-related list. There were no place finisher The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Buoyed by the new runners-up; 23 titles were nominated, up from 15 last month.
Compiled with data from: Bakka-Phoenix (Canada), Barnes and Noble (USA), Borderlands (CA), McNally Robinson (two in Canada), Mysterious Galaxy (CA), Toadstool (NH), Uncle Hugo’s (MN), University Bookstore (WA), White Dwarf (Canada). Data period: July 2017.
GENERAL BESTSELLERS NY Times Bk Review Publishers Weekly Los Angeles Times HARDCOVERS 7/2 9 16 23 30 7/3 10 17 24 31 7/2 9 16 23 30 Dragon Teeth, Michael Crichton (Harper) 5 8 12 12 - 8 12 14 15 13 8 - 20 - - The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., Neal Stephenson & Nicole Galland (Morrow) 11 ------10 - - 12 10 The Silent Corner, Dean Koontz (Bantam) - 2 8 9 11 2 7 8 11 11 - - - - - Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, Diana Gabaldon (Delacorte) - - 5 13 9 - 5 16 10 21 - - - - - Norse Mythology, Neil Gaiman (Norton) - - - - - 22 - - - - - 18 - - - The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead (Doubleday) - - - - - 23 25 - - - 13 - - - 19 Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders (Random House) ------9 9 11 - - Exit West, Mohsin Hamid (Riverhead) ------19 - - PAPERBACKS The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood (Anchor) • 1 2 2 2 3 14 12 11 16 16 2 1 1 5 2 The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger, Stephen King (Pocket) ------16 9 10 - - - - - The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger, Stephen King (Scribner) • ------17 - - - - - American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition, Neil Gaiman (Morrow) • ------4 14 14 - - 1984, George Orwell (Signet) ------5 5 5 4 3 Ready Player One, Ernest Cline (Broadway) • ------13 - - - 7 The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare, Generation One by Pittacus Lore, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, & John Tiffany made the hardcover YA list. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs made the mass market/trade paper YA list. See Locus Online for weekly charts of genre books on these and eight other general bestseller lists! • trade paperbacks
62 / LOCUS October 2017 NEW & NOTABLE Nina Allan, The Rift (Titan US 7/17) Allan explores changing the world. “Sarah Rees Brennan has created friend’s suicide in a utopian community of squatters in the difficulty of sifting truth from tales and memories a nearly perfect YA fantasy…brilliantly subversive, Freedom, Iowa. in this novel, mingling elements of tantalizing mystery assuredly smart, and often laugh-out loud funny.” Ursula K. Le Guin, The Hainish Novels & Stories, Vol- and SF in the story of a woman who hears from a sister [Colleen Mondor] umes 1 & II (Library of America 9/17) The prestigious who disappeared 20 years previously, and now claims to N.K. Jemisin, The Stone Sky (Orbit US 8/17) The fate Library of America’s second selection of works from have traveled by rift to another world. Parts of her story of the Earth is at stake in this concluding volume in noted author Le Guin is a two-volume set collecting are told as pure SF, while glimpses of the past show how the acclaimed Broken Earth trilogy, which finds Essun seven Hainish novels and 16 stories, along with some her disappearance affected those left behind, and bits reunited with her daughter Nassun, but the two have introductions, essays, and an alternate version of one and pieces in various formats provide clues, some sup- radically different ideas of how to heal the planet, lead- story. Le Guin also provides informative new introduc- porting the SF story, others hinting at hoax or delusion. ing to a poignant and powerful conclusion. tions for both volumes. Stephen Baxter, The Massacre of Mankind (Crown Holly Goddard Jones, The Salt Line (Putnam 9/17) Ben Loory, Tales of Falling and Flying (Penguin 9/17) 8/17) The Martians are back and they’ve learned from Extreme tourism goes dystopian in this literary thriller The second collection from a noted author of distinc- their defeat in this sequel to H.G. Wells’s classic SF set in a near-future world where centers of civilization tive and imaginative short fiction, this gathers 40 short novel The War of the Worlds. Baxter turns his substan- are surrounded by giant bands of scorched earth in an stories, most originally published in literary venues, tial skill at creating SF worlds to recreating the world of attempt to keep out ticks carrying a deadly disease. A many with elements of SF, fantasy, fairy tales, or fables. Victorian physics and cosmology, and extrapolates the group of wealthy tourists cross the line in search of Naomi Novik, Golden Age and Other Stories (Sub- world’s history in the 15 years following the original nature and instead become hostages to outside survivors invasion, creating a fascinating novel with the authentic terranean Press 8/17) Fans of the Temeraire series will protecting their community, providing a taut tale of rejoice at this original collection, which features six new feel of Victorian SF, plus plenty of action and human survival and social commentary. relationships in the face of epic devastastion. stories and 26 drabbles set in Novik’s popular series, il- Cassandra Khaw, A Song for Quiet (Tor.com Publish- lustrated by various fan artists. Tales visit characters and Peter S. Beagle & Jacob Weisman, eds., The New ing 8/17) This novella, the second standalone volume times both familiar and new, including a bit of American Voices of Fantasy (Tachyon 8/17) Famed fantasy author in the Lovecraftian Persons Non Grata series, follows history, some parliamentary politicking by Temeraire, and editor Beagle teams with noted editor Weisman to Georgia bluesman Deacon James, who meets trouble on an alternate-world version of how he and Laurence met, present their pick of 19 stories published since 2010 a train ride to Arkham, then at his gig calls up monsters and a charming take on Pride and Prejudice -- with by some of of the best new authors working in fantasy, with his sax, and finds he may not be able to escape his dragons, of course. including Max Gladstone, Maria Dahvana Headly, fate and the dark thing inside him. A powerful mix of Robin Sloan, Sourdough (MCD 9/17) Elements of Hannu Rajaniemi, Ursula Vernon, and Alyssa Wong. music, noir, and eldritch horror. SF, fantasy, and satire blend in this novel about a San Sarah Rees Brennan, In Other Lands (Big Mouth Margaret Killjoy, The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion Francisco software engineer given a gift of sourdough House 8/17) Judgmental 13-year-old Elliott gets into (Tor.com Publishing 8/17) Utopian anarchists face off starter that not only leads her to learn to bake bread, but magic school in the Other Lands, where he finds their against demon deer in this hard-hitting fantasy novella also to discover a strange underground scene fusing food lack of modern conveniences and pointless wars annoy- full of atmosphere and attitude, the first in a series. and technology. “Delicious fun.” [Elizabeth Hand, The ing, and by studying hard and making friends ends up Queer punk traveler Danielle Cain investigates her best Washington Post]
AUDIBLE.COM (AUDIO) BARNES & NOBLE (PRINT) SCIENCE FICTION HARDCOVERS 1) All These Worlds, Dennis E. Taylor (Audible Studios) 1) A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 2) Ready Player One, Ernest Cline (Random House Audio) 2) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 3) We Are Legion (We Are Bob), Dennis E. Taylor (Audible Studios) 3) The World of Ice & Fire, George R.R. Martin, Elio Garcia & Linda Antonsson 4) 1984, George Orwell (Blackstone) (Bantam) 5) For We Are Many, Dennis E. Taylor (Audible Studios) 4) The Clockwork Dynasty, Daniel H. Wilson (Doubleday) 6) Will Save the Galaxy for Food, Yahtzee Croshaw (Audible Studios) 5) Beren and Lúthien, J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin) 7) The Sirens of Titan, Kurt Vonnegut, narrated, Jay Snyder (Audible Studios) 6) Monster Hunter Siege, Larry Correia (Baen) 8) The X-Files: Cold Cases, Chris Carter & Dirk Maggs (Audible Studios) 7) The Black Elfstone, Terry Brooks (Del Rey) 9) Wild Seed, Octavia E. Butler, narrated, Dion Graham (Audible Studios) 8) An Echo of Things to Come, James Islington (Orbit US) 10) The Stand, Stephen King, narrated (Random House Audio) 9) The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin) FANTASY 10) A Conjuring of Light, V.E. Schwab (Tor) 1) A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin (Random House Audio) PAPERBACKS 2) The Dark Tower, Stephen King (Simon & Schuster Audio) 1) A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 3) A Clash of Kings, George R. R. Martin (Random House Audio) 2) A Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 4) Monster Hunter Siege, Larry Correia (Audible Studios) 3) The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss (DAW) 5) The Emperor’s Soul, Brandon Sanderson (Recorded Books) 4) Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card (Tor) 6) A Storm of Swords, George R. R. Martin (Random House Audio) 5) The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (Del Rey) 7) The Drawing of the Three, Stephen King (Simon & Schuster Audio) 6) A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 8) A Dance with Dragons, George R. R. Martin (Random House Audio) 7) A Dance with Dragons, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 9) A Feast for Crows, George R.R. Martin (Random House Audio) 8) American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition, Neil Gaiman 10) The Waste Lands, Stephen King (Simon & Schuster Audio) (Morrow) 9) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (Del Rey) 10) The Wise Man’s Fear, Patrick Rothfuss (DAW) SMASHWORDS (EBOOK)* TRADE PAPERBACKS SCIENCE FICTION 1) Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (Simon & Schuster) 1) The Survivalist: Judgment Day, Arthur T. Bradley 2) A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 2) The Survivalist: Madness Rules, Arthur T. Bradley 3) American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition, Neil Gaiman 3) The Survivalist: Battle Lines, Arthur T. Bradley (Morrow) 4) The Survivalist: Finest Hour, Arthur T. Bradley 4) A Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin (Bantam) 5) The Survivalist: Last Stand, Arthur T. Bradley 5) A Darker Shade of Magic, V.E. Schwab (Tor) 6) The Survivalist: Anarchy Rising, Arthur T. Bradley 6) The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden (Del Rey) 7) The Survivalist: Dark Days, Arthur T. Bradley 7) The Martian, Andy Weir (Broadway) 8) The Survivalist: Freedom Lost, Arthur T. Bradley 8) The Fifth Season, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US) 9) 1/2986: The Climate Fiction Saga, A. Wendeberg 9) The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) 10) Dead Soul, Michael R. Hicks 10) Red Rising, Pierce Brown (Del Rey) FANTASY MEDIA & GAMING-RELATED 1) The Frey Saga Book II: Pieces of Eight, Melissa Wright 1) Star Wars: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad, Christie Golden 2) The Frey Saga Book IV: Venom and Steel, Melissa Wright (Del Rey) 3) The Mapmaker’s Apprentice, C.J. Archer 2) Star Wars: Phasma, Delilah S. Dawson (Del Rey) 4) A Lady Most Dangerous, Caroline Hanson 3) Star Wars: Rogue One, Alexander Freed (Del Rey) 5) The Frey Saga Book III: Rise of the Seven, Melissa Wright 4) Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn (Del Rey) 6) Redemption, Book III of the Arotas Trilogy, Amy Miles 5) Star Trek: Rise of the Federation: Patterns of Interference, 7) Rapture, Quinn Loftis Christopher L. Bennett (Pocket) 8) Her Majesty’s Necromancer, C.J. Archer 9) Reckoning, Amy Miles 10) Legend of the Sword, Michael R. Hicks *Every month, Smashwords reports the Top 20 Bestselling Science Fiction and the Top 20 Bestselling Fantasy titles based on gross dollar sales. Sales from the previous month are aggregated across Smashwords’ global network of ebook retailers and public library platforms including iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Scribd, Gardners, OverDrive, Odilo, Baker & Taylor, the Smashwords store and others. Smashwords is the world’s largest distributor of ebooks by indie authors.
LOCUS October 2017 / 63 James Patrick Kelly 14-year-old girl, says, ‘Who the hell are you? I’m much of the science in my book is what people p. 11 your clone, but you were never here. You never laughingly call hard science. There’s no worm- changed my diapers, you never made me any hole for us to go through yet, but everything else way it must have sounded to him in his head, or birthday cakes, so why are you telling me what should work, more or less. I wanted to reach out her head, when he was writing. There’s a certain I need to do?’ Her story starts out with a very to that young female audience. My daughter is value to that. Some people can’t do narration, but YA feeling, and she does something foolish and now 36, and I never wrote a story for her, so in we live in a culture now for writers where you dangerous that thrusts her into the adult world. some ways I wrote the story I should’ve written, need something more to offer. It helps if you’re She hibernates, because as the clone of the star- had I had the time and inclination when she was a a charismatic speaker, or you’re the guy they ship officer, she has the ability to hibernate at kid. I would have loved for her to read this novel always want on a panel, or you’re handsome as all will. She’s supposed to hibernate in a controlled when she was young. I wanted to start out with get-out. None of those things actually work for situation, with the hibernation pod around her so a gateway to some young reader who could feel, me, but the charisma that I have is my reading. I she can be protected, but she decides, ‘Oh well. ‘Woah, that’s kind of like me.’ Then Mariska’s teach at an MFA program, and I tell my students, I’ll just hibernate for six months, Mom will go world changes, in the same way many of our ‘Find the other thing you can do, besides being a young women make a transition in high school writer.’ There are talented, smart writers doing to a much different world in college. great work, but there are lots of them, so you have We live in a culture now for ‘‘Space is a young person’s domain because to find some way to stick out from the crowd. they’re going off to this colony, and they’re never ‘‘I turned down narrating Mother Go. It’s writers where you need some- coming back. Mariska fights against going, falls third-person, from the point-of-view of a young in love with a Martian, and eventually decides girl named Mariska who grows to woman- thing more to offer. It helps if to go on this trip. All of the people going to hood, so I thought it would be better narrated the colony are in their twenties, because why by a woman. They found a wonderful narrator, you’re a charismatic speaker, would you send people in their forties or fifties January LaVoy, an actress working in New York. on a 12-year mission, and then found a colony? She does a lot of theater, she’s been in soaps and or you’re the guy they always They need to reproduce. Everyone on the crew prime time network TV, and she does voices is in their twenties, so it’s like a giant college/ very well. There are accents in my book, and want on a panel, or you’re graduate school starship to another galaxy, with she does convincing male characters – every a few professor mom and dad types. They’re all woman narrator does male voices, but it’s hard handsome as all get-out. None sexually active in future ways where they’re for any narrator to do a bunch of voices of the not bound by some of the constraints that bind opposite sex well. of those things actually work so many people in our times. They’re going to ‘‘I don’t know if this happens to you, but another galaxy. They’re not bringing kids. Kids sometimes I’m reading and it’s boring, and I flip for me, but the charisma that will happen when they get to the colony. They’re a page, just to see, does it pick up here? Lyrical I have is my reading. I teach not going to have a kindergarten on this space- description of the forest – who cares? One of the ship. In a starship crew, there are no rugged skill sets I have as a teacher and a writer is that at an MFA program, and I tell individualists. You’re part of a team, because a I’m a speed reader. If I go into speed reading rugged individualist can make decisions that put mode, I go very quickly. You can’t speed read my students, ‘Find the other everyone in danger. and retain everything, so I love audio books be- ‘‘Mariska has a chronological age, and a psy- cause I have to slow down. If I’m asked to blurb thing you can do, besides chological age, because she doesn’t really age something I will read it, but most of what I read much when she’s hibernating, and she hibernates for pleasure is on audio. Put your fiction on audio being a writer.’ There are three times in the book. The first time is for three because I probably won’t read you otherwise! years, and the second time for maybe six months, There are so many books I really want to read talented, smart writers doing so when she says, ‘I’m chronologically 18,’ she’s that aren’t out yet. maybe 15 psychologically. But she grows up fast. ‘‘I also write plays. When I work in the theater, great work, but there are lots In our culture, the idea that a 15-year-old might my thought is, let the actors who are trained be contemplating having consensual sex and in this profession do their thing. I’ve seen bad of them, so you have to find getting married is kind of like, ‘I don’t think so.’ productions of my plays, but mostly I discover But this is the future, and especially in space, something in the way actors interpret my words, some way to stick out from people grow up faster because they’re worried and I think that’s one of the thrills of being a about galactic cosmic radiation. The longer you playwright: to see your own play, and hear your the crowd. wait, the more likely you are to have kids with words spoken by other people. A good actor can genetic problems, so people have children earlier. convince me their reading is better than I thought away, and all of my problems will be solved.’ ‘‘One of the notions I’ve been writing about for the material was. Mariska does a very willful and foolish thing, a while is the posthuman notion that there will be ‘‘There was always the question about whether and it thrusts her into the rest of the book where somebody after us, or that we’ll alter ourselves. Mother Go should be YA. The editors who read she’s in adult situations of terror, and she has The demands of living in space, weightlessness, it said, ‘This isn’t really YA.’ But it starts with to make decisions that will change her life and and low gravity worlds, or worlds where it’s a young woman protagonist, and that makes it a other people’s lives. She grows up very quickly, not the comfy environment we have on Earth peculiar book. Mariska is a young woman living but the book does start with that high-school feel. mean that we’ll have to alter ourselves. Thank on the Moon, and she’s the clone of a starship ‘‘Before I wrote this book, I was rereading you very much genetic engineers who invented doctor who’s off on a mission. Mariska has Heinlein juveniles, not to study how Heinlein did CRISPR technology – it came just in time to never actually met her ‘mother,’ her original. it, but to look at my own past and figure out, what make this golden age of altered human science She’s been brought up by a surrogate dad. She was it that made me want to be a science fiction fiction. That time is coming, and it’s not very far has a life and a boyfriend and she goes to high writer? What warped me at an impressionable away. The more able we are to alter our DNA, school, and she’s about to go to college to become age and pointed me in this direction, instead of the more likely we are to alter ourselves for other a spacer, when her mom comes back and says, towards mysteries or sports stories? I wanted environments and become not exactly the way ‘We’re going to found a colony.’ It’s a one-way to write a contemporary book that had a young we are now. The question is, who’s human, and trip, like Elon Musk’s trip to Mars, only this is woman protagonist that was a hard science, near- how much alteration can you have before you through a wormhole to another galaxy. They’re future solar system-based space novel that would become something else? Certainly in a lot of my taking a very expensive starship full of colo- appeal to young women, because I wasn’t seeing fiction, and in a lot of the fiction I read, people nists and they want her to go. Mariska, like any a lot of hard SF about women. I like to think that are asking that question. Who is the uploaded
64 / LOCUS October 2017 person? Who is the person who has an implant another thing to do what Elon Musk is talking people go all the way to having surgical changes that allows him to connect to other people? This about, to found a colony and sustain it. One of made to their bodies, and some just assume roles is an issue science fiction has to face, because the things that happened in the history of this – that whole spectrum is played out in the culture. the culture and the technology are dragging us novel was that we colonized Mars but there was There are new kinds of ideas about what gender toward that world. a massive die-off because during an economic is, because some people want to pretend they’re ‘‘I’ve been swimming in this soup of ideas for depression we couldn’t sustain the colony – we bots. Some women want to pretend they’re the a long time. One of the nice things about being a couldn’t keep sending the ships they needed to bots that are doing some of the work, because science fiction writer is when you put the idea of survive before they could be self-sustaining. the bots are also intelligent, so why can’t women a contract marriage out there, most of the reader- Science fiction has never been good at econom- express their bot-ness? These are the questions ship doesn’t have to say, ‘How would a contract ics, and I’m not an economist myself, but I am I’m asking in the background. In the foreground marriage work?’ Readers know something about interested in the economic impact of some of the is a PI who is happily married but dealing with it, and when they see it on the page, even if it ideas that we blithely toss around as if we know these questions herself. looks a little different, they get the general idea. how they would work. ‘‘My friend John Kessel just published a book They get the general idea of a wormhole. They ‘‘In our case, what will happen is we’ll hear dealing with gender in many interesting ways, get the general idea that you’re printing your news reports that Martians are starving and need The Moon and the Other, and I think this is food. My favorite futureological line in Mother water, and we’ll have to send a rescue ship. How a time to try that. It’s dangerous ground. Some Go is when Mariska is talking to a cook and asks, much will that cost? As I watched The Martian, people feel proprietary about this kind of writ- ‘What was that stuff on the menu last night? I did some back-of-the-envelope calculations: ing, and I’m an old white guy – I’m not that old, Sweetbreads?’ The cook says, ‘We’re bringing what did it cost to save Mark Watney? If you but I’m a guy, anyway. It’s been a learning curve goats to the new world, and we had to kill one, extrapolate what it costs to launch a space shuttle, to write this too, and in a good way. so we decided to make sweetbreads.’ Mariska and think about the missions that got aborted ‘‘The real job of science fiction is to unpack says, ‘I like my food cooked the old fashioned to make the rescue’s timetable, it’s billions of and challenge some of our assumptions. Greg way: printed.’ If you grow up on printed food, dollars to save one person. What’s it going to Egan said that one of the jobs of science fiction the idea that there would be bloody meat is off- take to save a Mars colony when it starts to fail? is to burn the motherhood statement. That means putting – ‘I don’t want flesh, I want the stuff that ‘‘I know what happens on the colony world in that things we think are part of the molecular comes out of the vat.’ Mother Go, and I’m interested in it, but I want structure of the universe are just stories we tell ‘‘In space, you’re making your own environ- to see if there’s interest in the publishing world each other. There’s very little that is absolutely ment. Environmental engineering is the basic before I write a sequel. I’m actually working true about morality. Everything else is a story function you need in space. You need to get to on another novel, which is a series of linked that we all agree on, but from time to time that space, but after that you need to build an envi- novellas – a couple of them were cover stories consensus has changed. Things like how old you ronment. They’re not worried day-to-day about for Asimov’s, ‘Men Are Trouble’ and ‘The Last should be to get married, whether you should how much it costs to turn the lights on. What Judgment’. It’s a world in which aliens come the keep slaves, what is the role of men and women they’re worried about is what it takes to sustain day after tomorrow, and want to improve the hu- together – those stories have changed over time. a technological culture that encompasses the man race. They have a plan, and the plan is, they How much body mutilation is acceptable? In whole solar system. They need a lot of macro disappear all the men. The women are left, and some religions it’s mandatory, and other faiths energy. How do you power a starship? How do of course are horrified in the aftermath of this, recoil in horror. One never goes wrong com- you power an ore ship coming from the belt and so there are wars, women killing themselves, plimenting the science fiction reader, but I do bringing back ice to the near colonies? There’s missing their husbands and sons, but the aliens believe science fiction readers seek out moral handwaving about antimatter, and that is on our realize how difficult they made things, so they questions, and enjoy them. Some people say far horizon, but antimatter is the oil of my future. create bots to fill in the economic holes left by the it’s an escapist genre, and others say ‘Give me It’s incredibly efficient but expensive to produce. men. Slowly but surely the women rebuild human more Star Wars and military fiction,’ which is ‘‘If there’s anything I’m trying to do here that’s civilization. The aliens maintain our population fine. The people who fall deeply in love with the a little different, it’s thinking about the econom- by seeding women involuntarily. Some women genre are into it for the sense of wonder, but also ics of starship travel. When you think about what resist this, and some want to continue the human for the interrogation that science fiction does so it took for Queen Isabella to send Columbus to race, so it’s fraught. The novellas happen 30 or skillfully about the prejudices and the assump- the New World, some fraction of that nation’s 40 years after the change, and they feature a tions that we take as given in our lives. economy was invested in those three ships. Co- hardboiled private eye. I was interested in the ‘‘I have a short story collection coming out, lumbus sold the expedition by saying, ‘I’ll find male gender stereotype professions: if there were The Promise of Space, with 14 new stories from stuff we can sell. We’ll make a lot of money.’ In no men to fill them, what would women be like the last four or five years. I’m very proud of that. this novel, the starship is never coming back. in those jobs? What would a woman hardboiled It’s coming out next year from Prime. It will Starships are incredibly expensive to build, so PI in a world where there were only women do- have one new story along with stories that have what’s the economic impact on a culture that ing crimes be like? What sort of crimes would been in Year’s Best Science Fiction volumes of encompasses the entire solar system of sending women commit that men didn’t? There’s a lot of various incarnations, and there’s one story that the most advanced thing they ever devised, using similarity in the society, but there are interest- was nominated for a Nebula. I’ve been a short a huge amount of the most expensive fuel, on a ing differences, too. The aliens prevent women story writer for so long that I’m very excited to one-way trip? It’s basically like taking hundred from having boys with genetic manipulation, have a novel coming out, and I’m excited to be dollar bills and burning them, because they’re but a lot of women transition to be men. In the writing another novel now. Mother Go is my first never getting anything back from this colony. third novella, which I’m writing now, the aliens full-length novel since 1996. Burn comes after The idea we have in science fiction that humans finally decide to let boys be born. The question that, but it’s a novella. Insofar as people know must expand to the stars? Humankind expand- that one asks is, ‘What would men be like if me, they know me as a short story writer. Writing ing to the stars means taking a lot of resources they were born into a world with no men? What a novel was a reaffirmation of the fact that I’ve out of our lives and sending them to the stars kind of men would women make if they could written four other novels. Meanwhile, I’m still and we’ll never see any payback. Theoretically, make them?’ I’m hoping that people will be in- writing short stories. In order to celebrate the in 100 years they might get a payback, but it’s terested in that, because I certainly am. It’s been publication of Mother Go and The Promise of a dicey proposition. There’s not going to be any a journey for me. Certainly writing the middle Space, I have stories in Asimov’s and Tor.com return for a long, long time, if ever. part, about transgender people, how that works, coming out. My idea of my career at the start, and ‘‘In the novel there are political forces riled and the psychology of that, taught me a lot. My to some extent again, is to use the short stories up about the fact that they are sending those daughter is a professor of sociology at Portland as advertisements for the novels.’’ resources away. They’re riled up about the eco- State University, and gender is her work. She’s –James Patrick Kelly nomic impact of making a colony. It’s one thing vetted the book, and many of her trans friends to send a probe out. We do that all the time. It’s have read the book and given me feedback. Some
LOCUS October 2017 / 65 Annalee Newitz got really serious a couple of years ago when Tor They’re not gay, they’re just vampires who have p. 33 approached me and said, ‘Do you have a novel?’ to drink blood in a really sensual way. “I believe that people are more influenced by “I like exploring the way romantic connections, was really fun. I spent several years as a staffer culture and social cues than they’re willing to and friendship connections, develop in and around at the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Then I got a admit, even people who are loners and live out power imbalances. Sometimes those imbalances fellowship at MIT, the Knight Science Journal- in the middle of nowhere. One way of looking at are acknowledged, and sometimes they’re not. ism Fellowship, and kind of retrained as a sci- that is to think of it as programming. It’s not the There’s the relationship between my pharma- ence journalist. It sounds like tech and science same as computer programming – it’s not what ceutical pirate Jack and Threezed: Threezed is journalists are the same thing, but they actually you do with a robot. It’s cultural. The more we an indentured servant who escaped from his cover really different areas, so I had to do more understand stereotype priming, or the ways that situation because Jack killed the guy who owned self-educating, which was really fun. Since then cultural knowledge helps you succeed or not, or him. That relationship is a nice parallel to Paladin I mostly have written about science. I write about how much education plays into how much money and Eliasz, because Paladin is also indentured. tech too, but not as much as I once did. The cross- you’re able to make later in life – the more we Both Jack and Eliasz have some control over the over is there, especially with biotech and some understand how culture changes who we are, and people who become their lovers. I wanted that of the stuff I write about in my novel, but a lot of changes our destiny. I wanted to tweak people to be kind of uncomfortable, especially between the times the science I’m interested in, like envi- who think the thing that makes us different from Jack and Threezed. Threezed is fully dependent ronmental science, geoscience, and archaeology, robots is that we’re not programmed and we have on her. She has rescued him, in a sense. Jack has you can use technology to do them, but tech isn’t already demonstrated that she’s not interested in the point. I founded io9, partly because I wanted a hurting him, or abusing him, or owning him. He’s place to write science journalism that was specu- The more we understand grown up indentured, and when he was young he lative, and I finally found it by making it. I got was trading sex for favors from the people who to work with Charlie Jane Anders, and that was stereotype priming, or the owned him. He views Jack as a very nice slave great. Now I’m working at Ars Technica, where owner. His interest in her sexually is suspicious. I cover science again. My whole career has been ways that cultural knowledge He probably figures, ‘If I have sex with her, that tricking people into letting me write about cool will guarantee that I make it safely ashore.’ She’s shit. So far it’s working. I hope it keeps working. helps you succeed or not, or like, ‘Hey, whatever.’ She’s already screwed up “I’ve always been a fan of fiction, and a vora- pretty badly, and I wanted to capture the fact that cious fiction reader, but as a writer my trajectory how much education plays her screw-up, which we learn about in the first has been toward non-fiction. I did write some chapter, has left her feeling like she’s a bad person, fiction in high school, and I wrote poetry as well, into how much money you’re so she starts doing things that are more ill-advised but it was a dead end. I got super into writing than what she normally would. They get into this non-fiction instead. I love writing the truth when able to make later in life – screwed-up relationship that ends up turning out I can, and helping people understand the reality the more we understand how well because both of them are sane and able to of how the universe works, which is what science survive and keep their wits about them, which is journalism is about. I was always writing about culture changes who we are, not always possible. He’s young, he’s trying to stuff that could be science fiction, but I liked to survive, and he’s been a hustler. There are a lot of keep it in the realm of, ‘Let’s speculate very re- and changes our destiny. I young men who’ve done that, and guys I’ve known alistically about this.’ One of the things that was who’ve done that. It’s a good way to survive, if fun about writing for io9 was that I got to bridge wanted to tweak people who you’re smart about it, but it can also be very dan- the gap, whereas before, when I was writing for gerous. He’s also super smart. I wanted the reader Wired and Popular Science, I couldn’t get too think the thing that makes us to understand he’s not just a sex toy. He is a very speculative. I could write stuff that was fun and lovely sex toy, as many characters know, but he’s futuristic, but it had to be grounded in what’s different from robots is that more. He’s basically a blogger of the future – he’s happening now, or in the next year. Once I was at using this futuristic version of LiveJournal to write io9, I was able to start writing articles to cover a we’re not programmed and about his experiences. I wanted it to be clear that subject and say what this might mean in 30 years, he is on the cusp of understanding that he doesn’t where would things go if this mouse experiment we have free will. I just don’t have to be a hustler. There are other options. But turned out to be relevant to people, what would he was going to be dead if Jack hadn’t rescued it mean for our brains? think that’s true. him and killed his owner. “I started writing fiction because I wanted to “The relationship between Paladin and Eliasz is tell stories about people. A lot of my non-fiction free will. I just don’t think that’s true. Of course a little more complicated, only because Paladin has writing has to do with biotech and environmental we have choices. Our choices are limited by what a very different consciousness from a human. Both stuff, but the results of the experiments won’t we understand, and we can’t choose things that we Paladin and Threezed have been programmed by be known for decades, or even centuries. We’re don’t know exist. Occasionally people choose to their circumstances. Paladin’s biological brain is at a stage where we understand how the carbon do things they’ve heard of as being bad, like when just used for visual processing. I think of Paladin’s cycle works, but we’re really at the dawn of that people chose to be gay in the 19th century – that story as a kind of coming-of-age story. He’s a understanding. In 300 or 400 years we might was a forbidden thing – but no one ever chooses person who is enslaved, and a person who knows be like, great, ‘We finally have enough data to to do something that is an absolute unknown. (I’m he’s been programmed to want certain things. really understand how the carbon cycle works.’ sure there’s some amazing exception and people “As people come of age, for example when they It may not be too late to save the environment – will tell me about it.) My dissertation was about become teenagers, they start questioning what it’s hard to say. We might be in a state where we how pop culture reflects changes in the economic they’ve been taught. They start questioning what can intervene in a productive way instead of just fortunes of people. We’ve had different periods in people are ordering them to do, and start finding accidentally screwing everything up. US history – times of great affluence, depressions, new sources of information beyond their parents “I finally reached a point, around 2009, where I recessions – and during those periods, stories and teachers, so that is a way in which we become thought, ‘I’m going to write fiction.’ I started out change. The stories teach people about what sort autonomous. We start changing our programming. by writing short stories and very quickly started of expectations to have and what’s possible, even That’s a really important moment in growing up, on Autonomous. I had an early, ugly, sad version when the stories are about monsters and robots and Paladin is in a position to know that he can’t in 2010. It lived on a USB drive that I got from – maybe even more so, because when you watch change his programming. He knows that a lot of the SyFy Channel that just said “SyFy.” I stuck or read a story that is fantastical, it can get under his feelings and desires are things that have been it on my bookshelf and every once in a while I your skin more because it’s not real. I don’t have put into him by bot admins who have terrible would look at it and say, ‘I wrote some SyFy.’ I to defend a terrible ideology – they’re just dragons. names for a lot of programs they put into him,
66 / LOCUS October 2017 just as they would in real life. At the same time, There were awesome lesbians. John Varley’s Gaia AI, even the super dumb crappy AI we have now, he has to keep going, to try to be as much himself series, which starts with Titan and continues in are fantastic decision-makers. They can make mil- as he can, even knowing that part of who he is was Wizard – both have heroic lesbians. There’s in- lions of decisions a second. In fact, the way many determined by someone else, probably by a bunch terspecies romance. I love sex with aliens – that’s algorithms are trained is to make a decision over of people. I wanted to make fun of the Robocop been a big part of science fiction, especially in and over again. Researchers tell them, ‘That was idea, where you have a robot with a human brain, the ’70s and ’80s when I was coming of age. I’m a dumb decision.’ The AIs get trained by doing and the robot starts accessing the human brain, and a very sex-positive person, so I wanted my novel that. What’s neat is thinking about how AI intel- that’s the moment the robot becomes sympathetic. to have positive moments of bonding through sex. ligence is starting in a really different place than I thought, ‘No, that’s bullshit.’ The human brain Octavia E. Butler’s Lilith’s Brood trilogy has a our intelligence. They start with, ‘I can absolutely in Paladin, as other robots keep telling him, is an lot of hot tentacle sex. It’s hot because it’s people make a decision, no problem.’ Humans are like, advertising gimmick. It’s there to make people articulating their closeness with each other. It’s ‘Blah, I have feelings, what is decision?’ Decision think Paladin is vulnerable and has feelings, but not, ‘I’ve captured you and put a collar on you.’ making for us is a really sophisticated skill. That’s all of Paladin’s feelings come from his processor. It’s two people who have a complicated relation- true with AI, too – the more data they have, the He’s just using the brain for facial recognition, so ship – negotiating a complicated relationship with more processing power they need to make the it’s like a chip in a computer. He can’t remember a tentacled lover who is feeding them pheromones decision, and of course AIs are able to deal with any memories from the human the brain came and showing them images. First of all, it actually is a huge amount of data we aren’t able to imagine. from. The file system of the human brain is totally hot, but it’s an important scene in the book to show That’s a super exciting thing to think about. I do incompatible with his file system. It’s a joke on all how these characters are moving forward with think the ways humans come of age, and the way the people who are like, ‘You have a brain, that’s their relationship. It explains what the characters we start to perceive ourselves as autonomous be- so important.’ are dealing with and going through. ings who can make our own decisions about our “It’s the same attitude Paladin has toward gen- “Paladin learns about sex the way a lot of people lives and make ethical decisions, is really different der, as well. Everybody wants to gender Paladin. do, hearing some stuff and looking up a bunch of from how AI will develop. AIs will be born with Originally he’s gendered male because that’s what stuff online or in whatever sexology books they a complete adult consciousness, in some ways. people assume – he’s military, big and bulky and can get their hands on. I put a little of myself into They’ll have a ton of data, and software that guides butch, so he must be male. As the book goes on, Paladin’s thinking, because when you’re growing decision-making, but they’ll still have to grow up. Eliasz starts to gender Paladin as female, and up female, there’s not a lot out there on how to They’ll still have to gain experience. Paladin takes that on. In reality I think Paladin figure out what feels good for your body. There “Med is a really interesting robot. I might write is non-binary. If Paladin lived in San Francisco are a million representations of men learning about more about her later. She was raised by radicals in they would say ‘I’m a non-binary organism. I’m sex, but not much about women. Sometimes it Anchorage. She’s 20 years old, so she’s Threezed’s going to date whoever I want.’ Paladin makes a feels like having a female body is like having un- age, and I love that they become friends because choice, which I love: he finds a loophole in his documented software. ‘Wait, that feels good? No she’s a robot who grew up autonomous, which programming where no one ever thought anybody one told me.’ Especially because Paladin’s body almost never happens – almost all robots go would ask a robot what gender they wanted to be, was not designed for sex, he or she was like, ‘What through indenture. Threezed is a human who because the people who program robots are basi- do I do?’ I had a lot of fun coming up with what grew up indentured, and that’s not supposed to cally sexist guys, still, in the future. They would the robot equivalent of an orgasm is. She figures happen, either – you’re not supposed to be able never think the robot would want to change gender. it out, and it’s amazing. It’s something she can to be indentured until you’re an adult. Med has They think, ‘We’ll assign a gender, the way we do enjoy with a human but is totally different from always had a lot of guilt because she’s never been to people. Maybe people want to change gender, what humans experience. indentured. She feels like, ‘I’m not a real robot. I but this is a robot. It’s just a piece of machinery.’ “We’re going through a phase in culture where never had this experience.’ Threezed’s says, ‘You “Because no one’s ever programmed Paladin we’re talking about artificial intelligence, and don’t want that. You’re an okay person even though to have a specific answer or desire about gender, some people in Silicon Valley say we’re right on you didn’t go through this horror.’ I like that they he has the chance to choose, out of his own feel- the cusp of having a human-equivalent artificial were able to help each other to see what their lives ings and his own experiences, that he is cool intelligence. The big fear we hear a lot from people might have been like if things had been different. with becoming a woman, and is now able to have like Elon Musk is that we’re going to develop a I think they’re going to stay friends for a while. some experiences that she couldn’t have before. super intelligence, it’s going to be like Skynet, “I have always had ideas in my head for novel. Basically, she wants to get laid. She thinks that and it’s going to crush us – it’s going to be some Interestingly, Autonomous is not that novel. My some dudes like Elias only want to have sex with cold, calculating machine. The idea lurking behind next novel is an idea I’ve been thinking about for women for some weird reason, and she’s like, that is that we will create an intelligence that is maybe 20 years. The working title is The Future ‘Sure, whatever, if that will let me have sex.’ That superior to ours and it will enslave or destroy us. of Another Timeline. It’s an alternate history is not actually what she thinks in the book – that The reality of the way we’re developing AI right in which the 1980s have been changed by lots is my reading – but a lot of us who have gone now is, if it ever does lead to human-equivalent and lots of time travel. It’s about a woman in the through the world basically being non-binary, intelligence, it’s more likely to lead to somebody contemporary era who goes back to talk to herself that is kind how gender is. Okay, you need me to like Paladin: neurotic, confused, and in love with when she was a teenager about how fucked up high have a gender? If that will make things easier for the wrong guy, because we’re programming AI, or school is. She has other stuff she’s doing too, like you, let’s do whichever gender makes you happy, training algorithms that will eventually become AI, saving the world, but there are bad things happen- if that will let me get laid, that’s a bonus. Some on human data. AIs are being programmed with ing in her teenage life. I’m in process now – I wish of Paladin’s experiences are what a non-binary the same cultural baggage we have. A lot of AIs it were done. I have it mapped out. It’s time travel, person deals with. Now non-binary people are are being trained on data sets from the Internet, so I so it’s super complicated. I’m pretty much done coming out and saying, ‘Actually, no, I don’t have wanted this book to say, ‘Look, I think intelligence with the worldbuilding. I know the twist ending, to choose.’ Paladin doesn’t have that option. She’s is really fragile.’ That’s partly because it can be unless it changes. I’m happy with it now, and I indentured and she doesn’t know she has the op- programmed, and partly because the data sources hope to have it done in a year or a year and a half. tion not to choose. are the same ones that we have, that are flawed and Autonomous, in real time, took about two years, “One of the unfortunate things about Golden full of lies and misunderstandings. We’re going to and I wrote a non-fiction book in there. My hopeful Age science fiction is that it was full of sex that end up with a bunch of creatures who think differ- plan is that the next book will be non-fiction. I’d was super heteronormative and patriarchal... but ently, but have a lot of the same problems we do. like to keep alternating non-fiction and fiction, but I learned about sex from science fiction. I would Paladin is my effort to show a true AI. we’ll see. I really enjoy doing fiction. Liz Gorin- not be the person I am today if I had not been “As people, we absolutely need to have feel- sky is my editor, and she’s fantastic – she’s like exposed to John Varley, Robert Silverberg, and ings to make decisions. Our brains are pieces of Paladin in that she’s focused on details, which is Rudy Rucker. Science fiction was the first place meat, mostly about emotions. We’ve got this thin really pleasing, and she can make a sentence go where I saw polyamorous families being treated as cerebral cortex over the top, but basically we’re all from blah to really amazing.” ordinary – ‘This would be the way of the future.’ feelings, hungers, desires, all the good stuff. But –Annalee Newitz
LOCUS October 2017 / 67 to downloadable audio, up 24.5% YTD, and up The first half of 2017 saw revenue increase 10.5% The Data File 28.6% for the month. Physical audio also gained, to $367 million and earnings rise 8% to $42 mil- p. 7 up 32.2% for the month, and up 9.5% YTD. Adult lion, compared to the same period in 2016. E-books Initial film queries will be handled by Christine e-books fell, down 6.0% for the month and down continued to decline, but with digital audio up 34%, Cohen at the Kidd Agency, then passed on to the 4.3% for the year. Digital audio sales rose $5 million digital sales held steady. Sanford Ehrlich Company. for the month, almost making up for the $7 million Audiobook publisher Audible is expanding into drop in ebooks. International Rights • Polish rights to Child- Canada with a new site for the country, providing Barnes & Noble’s sales dropped 6.6% in their first hood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke sold to Rebis via ‘‘a price break for Canadians (who can now use fiscal quarter ending July 29, with sales of $853.3 Dominika Bojanowska of Anna Jarota Agency War- their own currency), increased profits for Canadian million, down from $913.9 million in the same pe- saw on behalf of Giulia Bernabe of David Higham publishers and authors,’’ and more, including a free riod a year ago. Their net loss was $10.8 million, an Associates. download of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s improvement over the previous year’s $14.4 million Greek rights to Dune and five more books by Tale narrated by Claire Danes. The company has loss. The biggest cut in losses was in the Nook divi- Frank Herbert went to Compupress via Nike Dava- pledged to invest $12 million toward recording Ca- sion, with operating losses of $2.7 million, compared rinou of the Read ’n’ Right Agency in association nadian work over the next three years, and is now a to $14.0 million; their sales were $29.5 million, down with Martin Rouse of Trident Media Group on behalf co-sponsor of the Giller Prize. from $41.0 million. Overall, core retail stores had of John Silbersack. sales of $830 million, down 5.9%; comparable store Complex Chinese rights to Gwendy’s Button Box Announcements • The New York Science Fiction sales dropped 4.9%. Book sales fell 2.8%, while non- by Stephen King & Richard Chizmar sold to Home- Society (the Lunarians (2), Inc.) has decided not book sales, previously strong, dropped around 8%. ward via Whitney Hsu of Andrew Nurnberg Associ- to hold Lunacon in 2018. Lunacon was previously BN.com sales fell, leaving them with an operating ates on behalf of Lara Allen of the Lotts Agency. canceled for 2015 but was held again in 2016 and loss of $12.5 million, up from $7.4 million. Complex Chinese rights to The Silent Corner by 2017. In a press release, Lunarians (2) president HarperCollins reported sales down but earnings Dean Koontz sold to Global at auction via Whitney Stuart C. Hellinger said, “Our organization has up for their fiscal year ending June 30. Revenue Hsu of Andrew Nurnberg Associates on behalf of the future of Lunacon under complete review and dropped slightly to $1.64 billion, a 0.6% drop from Lyndsey Blessing of InkWell Management. evaluation. Once a decision has been finalized $1.65 billion the previous year. Earnings (EBITDA) Chinese rights to William Gibson’s Neuromancer as to how and if to proceed, we will make an rose 7.6% to $199 million. Sales were impacted sold to Beijing Dook via Gray Tan of the Grayhawk announcement to the public in all the appropriate somewhat by an extra week in fiscal 2016, which Agency on behalf of Szilvia Molnar of Sterling Lord venues.” cost fiscal 2017 $19 million. Currency fluctuations Literistic, and Bulgarian rights went to Intense via The Economic Security Project has launched cost another $34 million, while acquisitions added Molnar on behalf of Martha Millard at Sterling the Into the Black short story contest to explore $23 million. Digital audio saw double-digit gains, Lord Literistic. the impact of basic income on future society. The countering e-book declines; total digital revenue was Polish rights to Michael Crichton’s Dragon Teeth grand prize winner will have their story published essentially flat, making up 19% of sales. sold to Rebis via Dominika Bojanowska of Anna on io9 and will receive a $12,000 “basic income” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s trade division saw Jarota Agency Warsaw on behalf of Marie Steinbach for 2018. Additionally, short list winners will each sales rise 9.8% in the second quarter, compared to of ICM Partners. receive $1,000 and have their story published on the the same period in 2016. Revenue went up 9.6% Russian rights to Logan’s Run and two more Economic Security Project website or io9. Deadline to $42.4 million. Earnings (EBIDTA) rose from books by William F. Nolan & George Clayton sold for submissions is November 1, 2017. Winners will $0.3 million to $2.7 million. Their net loss of $0.7 to AST via Ludmilla Sushkova of Andrew Nurnberg be announced in January 2018, and will be honored million was an improvement over $2.9 million the Associates Moscow in association with Martin at an awards ceremony in San Francisco CA on a date year before. Improved sales were credited in part Rouse of Trident Media Group on behalf of John to be determined. For more information, including to Tolkien’s Beren and Luthien, plus improved Silbersack. complete contest rules:
68 / LOCUS October 2017 Ruff went to Eksmo via Zuzanna Brzezinska of Fritz Agency on behalf of Rebecca Eskildsen of than 9 hours : 30 minutes, 978-1884612-68-8). Anna Jarota Agency Warsaw on behalf of Melanie JABberwocky Literary Agency. Unabridged audio version of The Year’s Top Hard Jackson of Melanie Jackson Agency. Simplified Chinese rights to The Dragon with Science Fiction Stories, read by Tom Dheere, Nancy Simplified Chinese rights to Central Station by a Chocolate Heart and The Girl with a Dragon Linari & Henrietta Meire. Lavie Tidhar went to Citic at auction via Gray Tan Heart by Stephanie Burgis went to Guomai in a of the Grayhawk Agency on behalf of John Berlyne pre-empt via Clare Chi of the Grayhawk Agency Publications Received • The BSFA Review No. at Zeno Agency. on behalf of Molly Ker Hawn of the Bent Agency. 1 (August 2017), quarterly publication of BSFA French rights to Kameron Hurley’s The Stars Simplified Chinese rights to Mark Sullivan’sBe - dedicated to reviews and opinions in the realm of Are Legion sold to Gilles Dumay at Albin Michel neath a Scarlet Sky sold to Shanghai Literature and SFF. Information: Susan Oke, editor, 61 Ivycroft via Stefano Sampietro of Eliane Benisti Agency on Art at auction via Alexandra Levenberg of Amazon Rd, Warton, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 0JJ UK; behalf of Liza Dawson Associates. Publishing, and Norwegian rights went to Cappelen e-mail
LOCUS October 2017 / 69 Photo Listing George R.R. Martin, Brooke Bolander...... (FM)40 Charlie Jane Anders...... (ÖAP)41 p. 4 Daveed Diggs...... (FM)38 Irene Gallo & Gregory Manchess...... Grace Fong, Kristin Henley & Robert Silverberg & (FM)40 DongWon Song...... (ÖAP)41 Robert Silverberg, Karen Haber...... (FM)38 Hanna Hakkarainen, Mike Fury, Scott Edelman, Anya Martin.... (ÖAP)41 Gay Haldeman...... (F/MUL)37 Micaela Tobin, Cristina Bercovitz, Daria Medved...... (FM)40 Rachel Monte, Zen Cho, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Navah Wolfe...... (LT)38 Rashida Smith, Derek Muir...... (FM)40 Aliette de Bodard, Likhain..... (ÖAP)41 Jonathan Snipes...... (NW)37 Pat Murphy, Taiyo Fujii...... (FM)38 Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Michi Trota, Finnish folk music...... (F/MUL)37 Ann VanderMeer, Erin Kennedy.(FM)38 Ursula Vernon...... (FM)40 Mary Robinette Kowal...... (FM)41 Finnish folk dancing...... (F/MUL)37 Tamara Vining, Pat Cadigan...... (FM)38 Hugo...... (LT)40 Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Bella Pagan & Waiting for panels...... (FM)37 Peter Newman & J. Robert Tupasela, John Berlyne...... (ÖAP)41 Sui Sui, Civet Li, Crystal Huff, Emma Newman...... (FM)39 Karen Lord...... (FM)40 Dena Taylor, Robin Johnson.... (ÖAP)41 Lawrence M. Schoen, Lynn Sun, Ada Palmer...... (FM)39 Alyx Dellamonica, Navah Wolfe, Pete Sutton, Claire Fisher, Raeka, Axunnn, Bucheng Li....(FM)37 Abigail Nussbaum...... (F/HYS)39 Nina Niskanen...... (FM)40 Cheryl Morgan, Dale Hanes & Hugo Exhibit...... (F/MUL)37 Carolina Gómez Lagerlöf..... (F/RSP)39 Navah Wolfe, Vanessa Len, Rose Gary K. Wolfe...... (FM)41 Finnish blacksmithing Maiju Ihalainen, Juhani Mönkkönen, Hartley, Alexandra Pierce...... (FM)40 Sam Hawke, Jennifer Gunnels...(CS)41 demonstration...... (F/IEG)37 Anna Mattila...... (FM)39 Jukka Särkijärvi, Andrew Tremblay & Edward James, Kari Sperring...... (LT)37 Alvaro Zinos-Amaro & Ninni Aalto...... (F/PAH)40 Kevin Roche...... (FM)41 Jenny Preinitz, Jenny Engwall....(FM)37 Rebecca Swart Fowler...... (FM)39 Sarah Gailey, Max Gladstone.....(FM)40 Stephen Jones, Juha Pietiläinen...... (FM)37 Annalee Newitz & Tim Phin & Maura McHugh...... (FM)41 Cheryl Morgan, Toni Jerrman.....(FM)37 Charlie Jane Anders...... (FM)39 Vanessa Rose Phin...... (FM)40 Ted Chiang, Alexandra Pierce....(CS)41 Sang-Joon Park...... (FM)37 Tom Doherty & Tanya Doherty....(FM)39 Michael Lee, Brian Nisbet, Ehud Maimon, Keren Landsman, Ursula Vernon...... (FM)38 Devi Pillai, Vincent Docherty...... (FM)40 Rika Graziani Teichholtz, Yoav Amal El-Mohtar...... (FM)38 Patrick Nielsen Hayden...... (FM)39 David Gallaher, Emma England.(FM)40 Landsman, Didi Chanoch...... (FM)41 Liz Gorinsky...... (FM)38 Fiona Van Verth, Mur Lafferty.....(FM)39 Jon Oliver, David Thomas Moore, Worldcon 76, San Jose Party.....(FM)41 Ellen Datlow...... (FM)38 Colette H. Fozard, Jukka Halme, Sam Bradbury...... (FM)40 Aussie Dinner...... (LT)41 Michi Trota, Julia Rios...... (FM)38 Karo Leikomaa...... (FM)39 Caroline Stevermer, ‘‘Tuonetar’’...... (F/MUL)42 Susan, Ira...... (FM)38 Betsy Wollheim, Margaret Dunlap, Nikhil Singh...... (FM)40 ‘‘Louhi and the Sampo’’...... (F/LNP)42 Taiyo Fujii, Ken Liu...... (F/HYS)38 Stephanie Neely & Max Gladstone, Dale Hanes, Anson Saulino, ‘‘Dwalin the Dwarf’’...... (F/LNP)42 Karen Lord...... (F/HYS)38 Sheila Gilbert...... (FM)39 Gary K. Wolfe...... (FM)40 ‘‘Skeletor’’ ...... (F/LNP)42 Kjell N. Lindgren...... (F/HYS)38 Erin Roberts, Erin Underwood, Hugo Ceremony...... (F/MUL)40 ‘‘Doctor Strange’’ ...... (F/LNP)42 John-Henri Holmberg...... (F/HYS)38 Emma J. King, James Bacon...(FM)39 Hugo Losers Party Sign...... (FM)41 ‘‘When Halley Came to Nalo Hopkinson & David Findlay.(FM)38 Lee Harris, Verity, Nicola Clarke & Hugo Losers Party Cake...... (FM)41 Jackson in 1910’’...... (F/MUL)42 Johanna Sinisalo, Niall Harrison...... (FM)39 Pablo Miguel Alberto Vazquez.(ÖAP)41 Robin Hobb, Jeff VanderMeer & Jyrki J.J. Kasvi...... (FM)38 Xia Jia, Debi Chowdhury...... (FM)39 Mark Linneman, Ann VanderMeer...... (FM)42 Penny Reeve, Michael R. Underwood, Jennifer Gunnels, Janeen Webb...... (ÖAP)41 Ian Drury & Jo Fletcher, Julia Rios, Robin Kloos & Carolyn Ives Gilman...... (FM)39 Charles Stross & Ginjer Buchanan & Marko Kloos...... (FM)38 Tanya Tynjälä, Xia Jia, Marcin Klak, Feòrag NicBhrìde...... (ÖAP)41 John R. Douglas...... (FM)42 Kelly Robson, JY Yang, Likhain, Magdalena Grajcar, Marta Micaiah ‘‘Huw’’ Evans, Barry Goldblatt, Fran Wilde, Aliette de Bodard...... (FM)38 Markowska, Donna Maree Hanson, Rashida Smith...... (ÖAP)41 Elizabeth Bear, Anne Lyle, Takayuki Tatsumi, Mari Kotani, John Purcell...... (F/PAH)39 George R.R. Martin, Didi Chanoch...... (FM)42 Hirohide Hirai...... (FM)38 Cixin Liu, Tom Doherty...... (FM)40 Erle Korshak...... (FM)41 Joanne Jing Li, Crystal Huff, Lisa Tuttle, Maura McHugh, Victor LaValle, Ellen Datlow...... (FM)40 Hugo Losers Party Venue: Regina Kanyu Wang...... (FM)42 Martin Feeney...... (FM)38 Liz Gorinsky, Miriam Weinberg...(FM)40 Steam Hellsinki Bar...... (LT)41 K. Tempest Bradford, Arley Sorg, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes, Amal El-Mohtar, Liz Gorinsky, Rosemary Claire Smith...... (FM)42
70 / LOCUS October 2017 Cristina Macía & Ian Watson...... (FM)42 Sheyna Gifford, Keffy Kehrli, Veini Robert Silverberg, Jerry Pournelle, (AS) Arley Sorg, (LT) Liza Trombi, (CNB) Charles Stross, Ada Palmer, Lehkonen...... (FM)43 1984...... (CNB)73 Charles N. Brown, (BG) Beth Gwinn, Greg Machlin...... (FM)42 Ian Stewart, Walter Jon Williams, Jerry Pournelle, 1980s...... (BG)73 (F/MYT) Mallory Talty, (FM) Francesca Past and present Johanna Sinisalo, Nalo Hopkinson, Jerry Pournelle, Alex Pournelle, Myman, (F/JAM) Jenna Maurice, (F/ WorldCon Chairs...... (LHS)42 John-Henri Holmberg, Colette H. 2016...... (FM)73 BOC) Beth Olson Creative, (F/DKK) Gay Haldeman, Yooichi Shimada, Fozard, Karen Lord, Karo Leikomaa, Arley Sorg, Dale Hanes, Chloe Smith, Derek Künsken, (CFW) Cliff Winnig, (F/ Joe Haldeman, Taiyo Fujii...... (LT)42 Jukka Halme...... (F/JIK)43 Gary K. Wolfe, Jonathan Strahan, JIK) Jari Kuskelin, (F/IEG) Irene Gallo, Jayson Utz & Kameron Hurley....(FM)42 Walter Jon Williams...... (F/MUL)43 Daryl Gregory & Liza Groen Trombi, (F/MUL) Markku Lappalainen, (CS) Cat S.B. Divya, Cat Sparks, Donald Eastlake, Linda Deneroff, Farah Mendlesohn...... (FM)74 Sparks, (NW) Navah Wolfe, (F/HYS) Ian Whates...... (FM)42 Kevin Standlee, Paul Dormer....(LT)43 Francesca Myman ...... (FM)74 Henry Söderlund, (F/RSP) roos@swed- Kevin Standlee & Lisa Hayes...... (FM)43 Jerry Pournelle, Gregory Benford, Liza Groen Trombi, ishphotography, (F/PAH) Paula Heinonen, Yiwen Zhang, Ken Liu...... (FM)43 1980...... (PN)72 Jonathan Strahan...... (LT)74 (ÖAP) Ömer Acer Photography, (F/LNP) Vesa Lehtinen, Ilkka Pättiniemi, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven, Liza Groen Trombi...... (F/DLG)74 Lincoln Peters, (LHS) Lisa Hayes, (PN) Orjo Pättiniemi...... (FM)43 2008...... (AB)72 Paul Nelson, (AB) Amelia Beamer, (F/ Kali Wallace, Poul Anderson, Jerry Pournelle, Photo Listing: (HT) H. Taino, (MKS) Mau- DLG) Daryl Gregory, (F) Furnished Gregory Norman Bossert...... (FM)43 1970...... (F)73 reen Kincaid Speller, (ED) Ellen Datlow,
2017 Complete Hugo Voting p. 47
Nom/Pts FIRST PLACE SECOND T HIRD FOURTH 5TH 6TH JOHN W. CAMPBELL AWARD [NOT A HUGO] (1,487 ballots counted) Ada Plamer 255/187.28 526 533 535 570 634 719 1092 Malka Older 179/105.95 243 246 246 278 352 516 e 333 344 344 401 537 Sarah Gailey 101/66.70 225 230 231 265 325 e e 297 305 307 373 480 402 412 414 528 Laurie Penny 88/51.17 174 176 176 e e e e 263 265 265 e e 335 341 342 e 497 522 525 Kelly Robson 156/99.37 219 220 221 255 e e e 269 273 275 340 e 343 353 355 488 478 493 495 818 No Award 74 78 e e e e 116 80 85 e e e 86 92 e e 90 96 e 102 382 J. Mulrooney 91/91.00 26 e e e e e e 35 e e e e 41 e e e 59 e e 79 339 first-place votes, winning in only five rounds. The and Vox Day’s Arts of Dark and Light series, which with the most nominations, over twice the first- Expanse series by James S.A. Corey had no real needed over 6.50 points to make the ballot. (Day’s place votes of any competitor, and led all the way competition for second place, taking it in five series had only 77 votes compared to Stross’s 104, to win in six rounds. Malka Older took second rounds. The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik fol- but Day amassed 76.00 points compared to Stross’s with no real challenge in five rounds, Sarah Gailey lowed, taking third in four rounds. For fourth place, 65.83, showing that Day’s followers were definitely took third place with similar ease, Laurie Penny Max Gladstone’s Craft Sequence started out behind paying attention to making only one nomination per followed in fourth, and Kelly Robson in fifth. No Ben Aaronovitch’s Peter Grant/Rivers of London ballot, and the tactic could be effective.) This was Award then took sixth, leaving J. Mulrooney in series, only pulling ahead in the third round to Bujold’s 15th nomination and sixth win. seventh. The closest runner-up was Cassandra win. Aaronovitch’s series took fifth in two rounds, Khaw, who would have needed another 30 votes leaving Seanan McGuire’s October Day Books in JOHN W. CAMPBELL AWARD to make the ballot. This was Palmer’s first year of sixth. The closest runners-up were Charles Stross’s (NOT A HUGO) eligibility. The Laundry Files, 25 votes back of the ballot, Ada Palmer dominated this category, coming in
Magazines Received ed. Issue #88, September 2017, free #58, August 2017, bimonthly. Online SF/ Okorafor, Ausma Zehanat Khan, and p. 48 online or $3.99 e-book, monthly. Online fantasy magazine, access is by sub- Douglas Wynne; graphic novel excerpts SF/fantasy magazine. This issue includes scription only. This issue includes fiction from Ben Hatke and Alex Alice; and Fireside
LOCUS October 2017 / 71 Jerry Pournelle (1933-2017) Niven – nor did any Worldcon ever p. 5 ask him to be a Guest of Honor, another acknowledgment he fully heroics; I did aliens and madness, mad characters deserved. I suspect he felt some and mad background. He did more of the plotting; chagrin at this, but he covered it I covered standout details. by saying: "Money will get you He phoned me at ten one night, while we were through times of no Hugos more working on the last half of Lucifer’s Hammer: ‘‘I than Hugos will get you through need to show how awful it is outside the Strong- times of no money." hold. How do I do that when everyone has gotten I'm sorry to lose him. He was used to it?’’ one of those guys who, when he I thought about it. I tried a little writing. I phoned spoke, you listened because you him back at two in the morning. ‘‘They’ll notice a knew he would have something dead kangaroo!’’ important and useful to say. You When his sons reached a certain age, he drafted might not always agree with it, but me into the Boy Scouts as an assistant scoutmaster. it was almost always important We went on seven-day hikes. to hear. Our habit of drinking coffee and brandy while I'm gonna miss him a lot. Jerry Pournelle, Gregory Benford (1980) we plotted our stories turned to hiking and plotting –David Gerrold after Jerry quit drinking. Hiking and talking story world-renowned computer expert – and a passion- was a wonderful combination: it kept us concise REMEMBERING JERRY POURNELLE ate advocate of the space program and critic of its and ran blood to our brains. Sometimes we hiked by Tim Powers shortcomings. He once said, “I always knew I’d live with others, such as Steven Barnes. We got a terrific to see the first man on the moon, but I never thought kick out of lecturing him: it told us what we knew, When I think of Jerry Pournelle, one of the things I’d live to see the last.” and didn’t. It was better than lecturing each other, I remember best is the Nebula Awards event on the He was opinionated, often irascible, endlessly kind though we did that. Queen Mary in April of ’96. At the banquet, A.E. and generous, and more wide-rangingly competent I believe Jerry saved civilization twice, both Van Vogt was up on the podium receiving the Da- and industrious than any half-dozen of the rest of us. times with help. If we can eventually divert the next mon Knight Grandmaster Award, and after a brief I’m afraid they don’t make them like that anymore. giant meteoroid impact, I claim credit for Lucifer’s thank-you speech, Van Vogt stepped to the edge of –Tim Powers Hammer, but maybe that’s just me. But he certain- the podium – but missed the steps, and stepped out ly drove the Soviet Union into bankruptcy. He was into empty air. MEETING JERRY the spearpoint of the Citizens Advisory Council for Everybody stared in horror – except for 62-year- Gregory Benford a National Space Policy: his idea, his the leader- old Jerry, who was instantly out of his chair in a ship, and his the work of turning our scribblings long fencer’s lunge, caught Van Vogt and turned him A single moment encapsulates Jerry’s many-faceted into text. His best student was going to be Presi- toward the steps, and in a perfect recovery relaxed self. dent Ronald Reagan’s Science Advisor, and on the back into his chair. After a few seconds, as Van Vogt My brother Jim and I came to Corona CA in June strength of that prediction, we made it happen. made his way back down to the deck without further 1963 to do research at the US Naval Surface Warfare I was shocked, but not startled, when Jerry’s son incident, the rest of us belatedly caught on that action Lab. We noticed a Los Angeles SF Society (LASFS) Alex told me the news. He’d been fighting hard, had been called for. And just a few years ago, Jerry meeting was next Thursday in LA. In this era, a mile following the tumor and the radiation treatment and rolled a jeep out in the Mojave Desert and, alone and was a minute in the LA Basin, so we jaunted over. the stroke. Making progress. injured, walked some miles back to the highway and Approaching the public building in a park where I miss him terribly. calmly hitched a ride back to civilization. LASFS met, I saw a tall man leaning on a cane, hotly –Larry Niven And he could recite all of Chesterton’s Lepanto debating something with a shorter but more massive by heart. man. Jerry used logic, while the LASFSian used JERRY POURNELLE He was a brilliant writer – from non-fiction books, emotion, and was plainly losing. Jerry’s opponent by David Gerrold one of which was used as a textbook at West Point got physical, advancing on Jerry with raised fists. and the US Air Force Academy, to bestselling, end- Jerry grasped his cane and – presto! – slid out a I first met Jerry Pournelle in the late ’60s. From lessly entertaining science fiction and fantasy novels, short-sword with an evil sharp gleam on its edges. the very beginning, I found him loud and opinion- many in collaboration with Larry Niven – and a “And so I better you again!” Jerry cried. The fan ated – but as unpleasant as some of our early slunk off. encounters were, pretty soon I began to rec- I went over and shook his hand, once the ognize that his heart was as big as his mouth. sword was safely back in the cane. “Your accent He did a lot of quiet kindnesses for a lot is... Tennessee? Or Texas? I’m from Alabama.” of people, acts of generosity that will likely He nodded, head tilted in that self-deprecating never be known. He genuinely cared about way he had. Thus are friends made. the people in his life. He wanted to see them –Gregory Benford succeed. The more I knew Jerry, the more I came to POURNELLE understand him and respect him and finally by Stephen Kotowych just love him as a great friend. He was in frail health these past few years, but he never let I only met Jerry Pournelle a few times, at that slow him down. Writers of the Future events, but they were He was a savvy guy in a lot of ways. For memorable. In his capacity as a long-time judge years, he wrote ‘‘Chaos Manor’’, the single for the contest, Jerry took it upon himself to most popular column in the computer maga- ensure that no one got too big a head (Jerry zine, Byte – it was the first part of the ’zine was heard to shout: ‘‘Remember Caesar – thou that most people turned to. His commentary art mortal!’’ throughout the ceremony) and to was personal and chatty and unique. prank the grand prize winner each year – a fact Jerry Pournelle was passionately com- I only learned after he'd pranked me. mitted to the SF community, both fans and Just before the dinner that precedes the award authors. He rarely missed a Thursday night ceremony (10 years ago now), Jerry and Dr. Yoji LASFS meeting. He was president of SFWA, Kondo walked over to talk to me and struck up and he changed the organization to be far a conversation about my story. Jerry had some more efficient, including creating the much- nice things to say about it, but explained how coveted Grand Master Award. all the science was wrong, and how I really The SF community never found time to ought to just teach myself calculus since it award him a Hugo for any of the marvelous wasn't that hard. hard-science novels he wrote with Larry Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven (2008) ‘‘Who did win the Grand Prize?’’ Kondo
72 / LOCUS October 2017 Poul Anderson, Jerry Pournelle (1970) Robert Silverberg, Jerry Pournelle (1984) Jerry Pournelle, (1980s) asked Pournelle, as if I wasn’t standing there. Then In the world of SF, his contributions included their start as a writer. Pournelle named the winner (not me). editorship of many anthologies and multiple New In Jerry’s words, “There’s no such thing as instant ‘‘Sorry to be the one to tell you,’’ said Pournelle. York Times bestselling novels, notably with fellow success in writing, and it’s still important to learn While disappointing, the news had the effect of Contest judge Larry Niven – The Mote in God’s the craft, but one of the best ways of doing that is calming me down – nothing was on the line any- Eye, Lucifer’s Hammer, Footfall, and Oath of through success in WOTF with its no-nonsense more, so I could just enjoy the evening. Fealty. workshops and advice from working successful But then a couple of hours later I did win, and Throughout the years, Contest organizers called writers (including me). Not every WOTF winner their little subterfuge only added to the shock. Much upon Jerry to vote for the winning stories, to attend becomes a successful writer, but an astonishing of what happened immediately after that is – as a the annual awards event and writer’s workshop, and number of them have managed that. I’m glad Algis result – a blur, but I do recall that as people lined best of all, to impart his wisdom based on years as talked me into being a part of it.” up for pictures after the ceremony Jerry sat down a successful writer to the newly published winners –John Goodwin in a chair next to me. of the Writers of the Future Contest. In return, Jerry ‘‘You tricked me!’’ I said. With a mischievous always enthusiastically accepted and presented very glint in his eye he said, in his Louisiana drawl, informative information. ‘‘Yeah, I did do that didn’t I?’’ One of Jerry’s favorite talks to Contest winners Farewell, Jerry. Thanks for the memories. was the talk given him by Robert A. Heinlein on how –Stephen Kotowych to be a writer. While these are commonly known, it was Jerry’s way of paying it forward in his recount- JERRY POURNELLE: LEAVING A LEGACY ing of how they were presented to him. And in Jerry’s OF HELPING NEW WRITERS mind, these points were all you really needed to By John Goodwin know to make it as a writer. For those interested, this speech by Jerry can be found on YouTube at
omics writer and editor LEN WEIN, 69, Ultimately, I came to see him as the kind of man died September 10, 2017 in Los Angeles CA. Other Obituaries whose friendship I always wanted to be worthy of. C Leonard Norman Wein was born June 12, Hall of Fame in 2008. Wein is survived by Christine Watching him interact with friends, I saw he had the 1948 in New York City. He earned an art degree from Valada (married 1991). most remarkable skill. Whoever he was talking to, Farmingdale State College and began freelancing whoever he was listening to, he always made that for DC Comics in 1968 and Marvel in 1970. He co- LEN WEIN person feel as if they were the most important person created iconic characters Swamp Thing with Bernie by David Gerrold in the world – and in that moment, they were. When Wrightson (1971) and Wolverine with John Romita he said, ‘‘Hey, you're family,’’ that was the highest Sr. and Herb Trimpe (1974). As editor-in-chief at I've known Len Wein for as long as I've been in compliment anyone could receive – and he had the Marvel in 1974, he helped revive the X-Men, and fandom – the 1968 Worldcon in Berkeley. So I don't largest extended family of anyone I know. while at DC in 1979 he edited Alan Moore & Dave remember actually meeting him. He was just always Len was a blessing to everyone – especially his Gibbons’s Watchmen. He co-wrote several comics- there, always part of the world – a big goofy grin and wife, Christine Valada. And she was a blessing to related novels, including Spider-man title Mayhem an always witty conversation and a spirit so generous him, in turn. The two of them together were as per- in Manhattan (1978, with Marv Wolfman), Incred- that I think he must have been shocked to discover fect a match as I have ever seen in my life. ible Hulk novel Stalker from the Stars (1978, with there was a word for ‘‘no.’’ So... the idea that Len is gone – that's when my Wolfman & Rob Goulart writing as Joseph Silva), He was a man of boundless enthusiasm. If you conversation devolves into incoherency. A world and film novelization Swamp Thing (1982, with were interested in something, if you shared it with without Len Wein is an impoverished world, for sure. David Houston). He won many industry awards, him, then he was interested too. He was always –David Gerrold and was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book willing to discover the next thing, whatever it was.
LOCUS October 2017 / 73 Editorial Matters
Arley Sorg, Dale Hanes, Chloe Smith, Gary K. Wolfe, Jonathan Strahan, Daryl Gregory & Liza Groen Trombi, Farah Mendlesohn Francesca Myman Liza Groen Trombi, Jonathan Strahan
didn’t write about Helsinki much in the last weekend. Saturday ended up being kind of a slog part of the vote that isn’t complicated to describe. editorial, so I’ll do a little more now. It was a with not enough sleep and a post-gin headache EPH does seem to do a good job of keeping any Imajestic city, in a way, but not the way you’d (note: Finns making a charming g&t with cran- one bloc from overrunning the ballot, though the think. The buildings were handsome, but all of berries and rosemary garnish and their local gin, RPs still got a single candidate onto many of the them were immense blocks of a similar height, no Napue, but it packs a punch), and was also one of categories. Of course, punching a hole through skyscrapers or tall spires really, like an embattle- my most booked up days for meeting with people. the awards system with a title by someone call- ment against the wind and snow. Sidewalks were I did get to see a bunch of folks during the con, ing themselves Stix Hiscox doesn’t win any other asphalt or made of large, cut blocks of stone, with at least very briefly, although I feel like the list of work or person on the same slate any respect, or downspout drains carved into the banquette, while people I missed getting to talk to may be longer. help their career for that matter. streets were mostly cobbled. These seemed to be And even though I know that the larger a con is, Both our interviewees Jim Kelly and Annalee the marks of a town that sees serious weather regu- the less likely I am to meet new people, I was a Newitz’s new SF titles deal with issues around larly. Despite the heat and sun of August, the deep little sad that I met so few Finns. I did happily talk autonomy and how we think about personhood – in and wide snow grates outside public buildings and to a number of Japanese and Chinese authors and very different but compelling ways. I recommend the lip at every doorway gave a clear sense of the editors, who seemed to have made it to Helsinki both, and they are out already, though Jim’s is only amount of snow the city suffers during the winters. in larger numbers than usual. The Locus table did available on Audible. The narration is excellent. A The double-glazed windows in the houses we saw well at the con, helmed handily by Francesca My- small part of me wishes Jim had read it himself, while wandering around were so deeply set apart man and her crew of volunteers, and there weren’t since he’s such a good reader and I love listening it looked like a house wearing another house as any hiccups getting in and out with stock. There to his voice, but with the protag being a teenage a coat. During August, however, the streets and were almost no other US dealers in the room, so girl at the beginning of the book, I can see why promenades were full of vendors and buskers, I’m sure that helped us a little. Our many thanks he didn’t. Having read Annalee’s non-fiction for with people wandering around in the sunshine to Chloe Smith, Gregory Norman Bossert, and a long time, it was great to see her foray into fic- or enjoying the outdoor, street-side seating of the Rebecca Suart Fowler for all of their help – we tion come out so well. Next month, we plan to restaurants. At the water there were vendors sell- couldn’t do it without you! have interviews with David Marusek and Aliette ing Finnish crafts and goods, and kiosks selling SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE de Bodard, along with all of our usual news and water-bus and -taxi tickets to the islands nearby. We had our subscription drive in August and it reviews. See you then! On our last day in Helsinki, Daryl and I took the was a success! Of course, we always need new –Liza Groen Trombi ferry to the sea fortress island – originally named readers any time of year, but we hit our goal of Sveaborg by Frederick I, or Fortress of Sweden, over 250 subscribers that month, so a huge, heart- then changed to the even more original Suomen- felt thanks to everyone who retweeted, blurbed, linna – Castle of Finland – as it changed hands. or supported us in our goal. We will be changing We wandered around poking our heads into laby- our subscription offerings in the coming months, rinthine bunker tunnels built out of rock and had limiting the shipping to periodical and dropping lunch near the dry dock and boatyards while the the six-month subscription, to cut shipping and weather changed overhead. It was swell. administrative costs. I’m still trying to keep The convention center itself was a little tight subscription rates the same, but we’ll need your for the surprisingly high attendance with folks support as we ask for donations, if you are able to lining up in hallways well ahead of time to attend pay a little more to keep this ship afloat. Thanks as panels and sometimes ending up turned away. The always – our readers are our greatest asset. concom was perhaps the most surprised of all, THIS ISSUE/NEXT ISSUE though they reacted nimbly and shutdown sales of We’ve got the Hugo Voting breakdown in this day passes to stem the flood of attendees. For Lee issue, put together by Carolyn who did the chal- Harris’ SF version of Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, there lenging job of sifting through and describing was a line for almost two hours outside the door, the results of the voting and the way the new and seating was done under close supervision by nomination system affected the ballot. Let me tell a crew of con staff so the room could fill quickly you – it’s complicated. The ballot is assigned to and smoothly. Even my Saturday morning panel the top earing candidates by points until the last on reviewing (after a very late night at the Hugo slot, at which point the next two are assigned by Losers’ Party) had a line waiting to get in, so sur- number of votes, unless it’s a tie, so there are often prising I had to go double check I was in the right several combinations of ways that the runners-up place. I have to say that having the Hugo Awards could have made it on “if only.” Tack that onto on the Friday night was not my favorite part of the the Australian voting system, there isn’t a single Liza Groen Trombi
74 / LOCUS October 2017 Liza Groen Trombi 76 / LOCUS October 2017