tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68868888476174031192024-03-12T21:36:00.771-04:00Matthew Cook's Author SpotMatthew Cook is an artist and author living in Columbus, Ohio. His first novel, the dark fantasy Blood Magic, was published by Juno Books in September of 2007. A sequel, Nights of Sin, was released in August of 2008.Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-85597873894470268282013-10-21T10:30:00.002-04:002013-10-21T10:31:06.260-04:00Bad news - Under Steel Skies CANCELED I have some bad news guys... A few days ago, I got an email from Sean Wallace at Masque Books, which began:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Part of being a publisher is making decisions that one does not really want to make. We are re-evaluating and re-aligning our direction with Masque Books. Unfortunately, this means we are dropping a number of titles we had already acquired. Your </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Under Steel Skies</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;"> is one of them.</span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333015441895px;"> </span>I have no idea what's going on over at Masque, but suspect that other authors may be in the same boat. Obviously this is incredibly disappointing - I've been just about killing myself trying to get the final manuscript into shape on top of trying to get a software startup off the ground at the same time. At this point, Under Steel Skies has no publisher and no prospects, unfortunately, and with the startup sucking down so many mental processing cycles the idea of starting a new search for a publisher or an agent is, quite frankly, overwhelming. For now, I plan to finish the final work on the manuscript of course - I'm a writer and that's just what I do, and then.... I don't know. Probably start from scratch with an agent search. Maybe make a few calls around to my contacts.<br />
<br />
Thank you very much to everyone who's supported me by being a first reader. I'm sorry you'll have to wait to see the stories in print or on your e-reader, but please know that your efforts are not in vain; the work is truly much, much better for your involvement. Keep an eye on this space, as well as my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/matthewcookauthor?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, for updates.Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-6939649404619009822013-04-10T15:19:00.001-04:002013-04-11T13:22:33.184-04:00New book on the way: UNDER STEEL SKIES <b>BIG NEWS! BIG NEWS!</b><br />
<br />
I'm pleased to announce that I just signed a book deal with <b><a href="http://paulaguran.com/">Paula Guran</a></b> over at <a href="http://masque-books.com/index.html">Masque Books</a> (a new digital imprint of <a href="http://www.prime-books.com/">Prime Books</a>)!<br />
<br />
Masque will be releasing my new book, <i>UNDER STEEL SKIES</i>, due (tentatively) in December of this year! I'm thrilled to be working with Paula again: long-time readers will remember that Paula was the editor who gave me my big break, when she purchased my debut novels <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Magic-Ballad-Kirin-Widowmaker/dp/0809572001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365621215&sr=8-1&keywords=matthew+Cook+blood+magic">Blood Magic</a><i> </i>and its sequel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nights-Of-Sin-Matthew-Cook/dp/0809572826/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y">Nights of Sin</a>, for Juno back in 2007-2008. Paula is a consummate professional and I can't wait to get the final version of manuscript to her (..."<i>it'll be done by (((mumble, mumble, mumble))), Paula... HONEST!</i>")<br />
<br />
<b> ABOUT <i>UNDER STEEL SKIES</i></b><br />
<br />
<i> Under Steel Skies</i> is a novel-length series of linked science fiction novellas, set in a near-future world that very much resembles ours. Stories in the collection will focus on issues of ethics and the unintended consequences stemming from society's embrace of technology, including the pitfalls of drone warfare, the challenges (and perils) inherent in developing artificial intelligences smarter than ours, and the surprising sub-cultures that spring up around web celebrities, tech inventors, and recipients of artificial limb technology. If you've read and enjoyed my sci-fi work for <a href="http://ttapress.com/interzone/">Interzone Magazin</a>e ("The Shoe Factory", "Railriders", and "Insha'Allah"), then you'll probably feel right at home <i>Under Steel Skies</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>FIRST E-BOOK EDITION </b><br />
<br />
The first edition of <i>Under Steel Skies</i> will be available, appropriately enough, as an e-book, with a "dead tree" version following thereafter if sales warrant. Be sure to tell all your friends with Kindles, iPads and PCs to be on the lookout for it around Christmastime!<br />
<br />
The table of contents, pricing, and other nuts-and-bolts issues are still being worked out with the publisher, but as they are I'll definitely be posting more details. Until then, be sure to check out Masque Books <a href="http://masque-books.com/index.html">website</a>, and keep your eye on this site. While your at it, be sure to Friend my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/matthewcookauthor">author Facebook page</a> as well!Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-31861340869677162522013-04-03T17:05:00.001-04:002013-04-03T17:06:06.524-04:00Important announcement! Watch this space for an important announcement about a NEW BOOK, coming soon! No specific details yet (sorry), but I should have something more concrete in a few days. Sorry this space has been so quiet lately, but it's going to get busy soon! Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-75233708171782810872012-04-24T11:41:00.004-04:002012-04-24T15:16:21.168-04:00Another SPACE BATTLES Review - Readers' Realm.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-shadow: rgb(204, 255, 255) 2px 2px 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pauline Creeden over on </span>Readers' Realm just posted a very positive review about the just-published SPACE BATTLES anthology I'm in. <br />
<br />
Money quote:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4c1130;">"<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">In </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098459275X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=readreal-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=098459275X" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Space Battles: Full-Throttle Space Tales #6</a><span style="border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-width: initial !important; height: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" original="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=readreal-20&l=as2&o=1&a=098459275X" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=readreal-20&l=as2&o=1&a=098459275X" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; height: auto; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="1" /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">, the reader is privy to tales of characters who are attacked because of race or religion, hunted by an avenger, hunted for food, attacked by an unknown enemy, and given no quarter. Each of the stories in this anthology brings the reader into the life or death struggle of war in the Sci-Fi medium of space travel. This is a book both to be enjoyed as well as savored.</span>"</span></blockquote>
<br />
..Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-8711748912823910252012-04-18T12:28:00.002-04:002012-04-18T12:32:41.534-04:00Space Battles Anthology ON SALE NOW at Amazon!<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">. </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">The new anthology collection, which includes my short story "The Book of Enoch" (a tale of the Seventeen Systems featuring Amish space truckers...) was just released in non-electronic, genuine "dead-tree" format. Get it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Space-Battles-Full-Throttle-Tales/dp/098459275X/ref=gfix-submit-correction-product-detail">Amazon</a> TODAY!!!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">Product Details:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; "><br /></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: small; "><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; "><b>Paperback:</b> 264 pages</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; "><b>Publisher:</b> Flying Pen Press LLC (April 18, 2012)</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; "><b>Language:</b> English</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; "><b>ISBN-10:</b> 098459275X</li><li style="margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0em; "><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-0984592753</li></ul><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span >..</span></div></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-56617174563527642872012-04-18T10:08:00.002-04:002012-04-18T10:13:33.582-04:00First SPACE BATTLES Review....<div><br /></div><div> The very first review for the Space Battles anthology was just posted - <a href="http://oddengine.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/review-space-battles-anthology/">CHECK IT OUT HERE</a>. If you're a lover of sci-fi you should check out the collection, which includes 17 stories of intergalactic warfare and strife. Mmmmmm.... strife.</div><div><br /></div><div> Individual reviews for each of the stories is behind the link. </div><div><br /></div><div> Assorted author profiles, info on the collection, and purchase links can be found <a href="http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/tag/space-battles/">HERE</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-61902157582779177332012-04-17T19:49:00.003-04:002012-04-17T19:56:46.950-04:00Follow up: Who Needs Publishers?<span style="font-size: 100%; ">.</span><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">Penny Arcade just posted<a href="http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/how-valve-devalued-video-games-and-why-thats-good-news-for-developers-and-p"> an interesting (and timely) article</a> on how Steam's use of discount pricing for downloadable video game sales has, paradoxically, seems to have increased buyer's valuation of certain products. It's an interesting discussion particularly in light of my <a href="http://bloodmagicbooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/publishers-who-needs-em-hint-we-do.html">last post regarding the rising trend of e-publications at lower price points</a> that I hope my writer friends will take the time to mull over.</div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "> Money quote:</div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="font-family: verdana; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(20, 20, 20); "><blockquote>Dejobaan founder Ichiro Lambe told the Penny Arcade Report that this subject came up in a discussion at Business in Gaming recently. “Someone lamented that gamers weren’t willing to pay enough to support us game developers, and my response was, ‘So what? That’s not their job,’” he said. “Steam’s not unique in offering games at these price points—you see Apple selling these wonderful little experiences for under the price of a latte.”</blockquote></span> </div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">and...</div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; background-color: rgb(20, 20, 20); "><span><blockquote>“The market doesn’t care what I think any more than it cared what buggy whip salesmen thought when the automobile came around,” Lambe explained. “Bottom line: I can rail against lower prices, or I can adapt to how people are willing to pay for what I create. I’d rather do the latter.”</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><br /></blockquote><blockquote style="font-size: 14px; ">..</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="font-size: 14px; "></blockquote></span></span> </div><div style="font-size: 100%; "> </div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-65084080150144652982012-04-14T11:34:00.005-04:002012-04-14T11:38:12.663-04:00Publishers... Who Needs 'Em? (Hint: We Do... Sometimes)<span style="font-size: 100%; ">.</span><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div><span><span style="line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A recent post on Sullivan's blog titled "<a href="http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/04/our-publishers-ourselves.html">Our Publishers, Ourselves</a>" makes an EXCELLENT point on publishing, particularly:</span><br style="line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><blockquote><span><br style="line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"...if traditional publishers — of all kinds, not just the book industry — want to maintain some of the value they have had in the past, they will have to stop thinking about controlling the process of distribution or the delivery platform, and think more abou</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">t the services they can add for authors and readers."<br /></span></span></blockquote><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br />One such value: DEVELOPING A SOLID BUT STILL HALF-COMPLETED MANUSCRIPT INTO A FULLY-REALIZED ONE.<br /><br />From what I've seen from the self-published world, the majority of work is riddled with errors (which a good copy editor could have caught), and, worse, with poorly-realized concepts, plots, character arcs and ideas. Historically, editors and publishers have performed the crucial service of vetting the mountains of crap in search of the nuggets of good stories (at least, the good ones have - the bad ones were just "public distributors" of varying skill and effectiveness as described in the article). I have to ask: in a world where any moron can crap out a 120k word "magnum d'oh-pus" and then sell it on Amazon for $.99 (thereby lowering expectations in vast swaths of the reading public for both what a book's QUALITY as well as the COST should be, as fellow writer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646579156" hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=646579156" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">Melissa Long</a> recently pointed out), who - IF ANYONE - is going to fulfill this role? I worry, more and more, that the answer is "nobody".</span></span> </div><div><span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">..</span></span></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-53395047197957486772012-04-14T10:47:00.002-04:002012-04-14T10:49:39.672-04:00"SPACE BATTLES" - 40% off 'till Tuesday!!<span style="font-size: 100%; ">.</span><div style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Get 40% off Space Battles if you preorder by next Tues </span><a href="http://bit.ly/IBkcjM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow" avglsprocessed="1" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">http://bit.ly/IBkcjM</a><span style="line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> Plus free short story from Bryan Thomas Schmidt (@BryanThomasS) </span><a href="http://bit.ly/IBkdE4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow" avglsprocessed="1" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; line-height: 10px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">http://bit.ly/IBkdE4</a></span> </div><div><br /></div><div>Space Battles features a new tale of the Seventeen Systems: "The Book of Enoch". What's it about, you ask? Three words:</div><div><br /></div><div>Amish</div><div><br /></div><div>Space</div><div><br /></div><div>Truckers</div><div><br /></div><div> That is all...</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-58526996089537980522012-04-12T21:51:00.003-04:002012-04-12T22:03:13.263-04:00"Welcome to Bordertown" in mass market paperback!<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-style: normal; "><span style="font-weight: normal; "> The excellent new </span><b>Bordertown</b> collection (</span><i>Welcome to Bordertown, </i>which, you may recall, I <a href="http://bloodmagicbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/lettered-curmudgeon-reviews-welcome-to.html" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; ">reviewed last April</a>) just came out in mass market paperback!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> Ellen Kushner, co-editor </span>extraordinaire, is running a contest over on her blog in honor of the edition - all you gotta do is tell a friend about the collection, blog about it (real difficult for you guys, I know...), and then copy the URL of the post on the contest's<a href="http://bordertownseries.com/contest.php?news=bring-a-friend-to-bordertown"> Official Comments Thread</a> to be entered. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "> Here's the prize list as per <a href="http://ellen-kushner.livejournal.com/389134.html">Ellen's announcement post</a>:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><ul><li style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span ><span style="font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">New </span><em style="font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Welcome to Bordertown</em><span style="font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> paperback, signed by Holly & Ellen</span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span >A flyer we found in the gutter on Carnival Street announding Eldritch Steel playing at The Dancing Ferret last year (“1 free drink for noobs”)</span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span >A ticket for the Unicorn Trolley (expired, alas!)</span></span></li><li><span ><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">A Bordertown necklace by Chimera Fancies </span><a href="http://chimera-fancies.livejournal.com/28433.html" target="_blank" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; ">Bordertown necklace by ChimeraFancies</a></span></li><li><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1em; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span >A Bordertown T-shirt</span></span></li></ul></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 1em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; "><div> <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "> I don't know about you, but I think those <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/betterw2/8180739">official B'town shirts</a> look pretty sweet...</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, serif; "> Good luck, and Welcome to the Border!</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-72711174512468785042012-04-12T12:54:00.002-04:002012-04-12T13:04:16.933-04:00Interzone Reader's Poll - "Insha'Allah" takes fourth!.<div><br /></div><div>I just heard that last year's "Insha'Allah" took a whopping FORTH PLACE in the annual Interzone Reader's Poll... Wow! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> <a href="http://ttapress.com/1259/readers-poll-results/0/4/">http://ttapress.com/1259/readers-poll-results/0/4/</a> </div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><br /></div><div>Given the quality of the stories the 'Zone published last year as well as the plethora of well-established authors who appeared in the magazine in 2011 (Jason Sanford, Mercurio D. Riveria, Suzanne Palmer, and others) this is, I think, a huge, huge event. Thanks go to everyone who voted for my story, and I'm so very happy that you liked it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I plan to continue submitting to Interzone (as well as to Interzone's sister publication, Black Static), and hope that any future stories they may choose to publish are as well-received. Without an audience, every story I write is only half-finished. Again, thank you.</div><div><br /></div><div>..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-29141031661183933152012-04-10T19:59:00.002-04:002012-04-10T20:03:32.284-04:00Another "Railriders" review: Fantasy Literature<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%;">.</span></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; ">Terry Weyna just posted a great review of Interzone #239 over on Fantasy Literature (including a very positive review of my story "Railriders". Here's the review:</div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">"</span><span >Another powerful story in this issue is “Rail Riders” by Matthew Cook. In the far future, hobos ride the rails – which, in this time and place, means that they sneak onto interstellar ships and move from planet to planet, the eternally homeless, looking just for a meal and a warm place to sleep. It’s a dangerous way to live, as it has ever been; the dangers aren’t just the “bulls,” the enforcers who come looking for stowaways, but the possibility that the holds in which the hobos ride will suddenly be deprived of oxygen if the cargo doesn’t require it. Drugs and sex hold their sway, as always, and death is omnipresent. It’s a grim way to live, and a grimmer way to die. The more things change, the more things stay the same.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-size: 100%; ">"</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 0, 51); font-size: 100%; "></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; "> More reviews can be found here: <a href="http://www.fantasyliterature.com/magazine-monday/interzone-issue-239/" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://www.fantasyliterature.com/magazine-monday/interzone-issue-239/</a></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; ">..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-18813331147904312902012-04-04T18:02:00.004-04:002012-04-04T18:08:29.766-04:00SPACE BATTLES Anthology - Final Cover!<a href="http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Space-Battles-front.jpg"></a><div style="font-style: normal; ">.</div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; ">Bryan Thomas Schmidt, the editor of the forthcoming SPACE BATTLES anthology (where my new Seventeen Systems short story "The Book of Enoch" will soon appear), just posted the final cover design for the book - soooooooooooo pulpy!! </div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><a href="http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Space-Battles-front.jpg"><img src="http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Space-Battles-front.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 321px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div><i>(Click for bigger..)</i></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; ">Read more about the forthcoming anthology project on BTS's blog:</div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><a href="http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/2012/03/30/space-battles-official-release-announcement-cover/">http://bryanthomasschmidt.net/2012/03/30/space-battles-official-release-announcement-cover/</a> </div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; ">..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-1360280984593217542012-04-04T17:26:00.005-04:002012-04-04T17:28:54.737-04:00Another "Railriders" review (John's Reading)Well, they say you're doing something right when you start getting bad reviews.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://johnsreading.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/interzone-239-mar-apr-2012.html">http://johnsreading.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/interzone-239-mar-apr-2012.html</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-88466010572870324752012-03-28T18:06:00.002-04:002012-03-28T18:10:39.225-04:00"Railriders" Review at Neonomicon<span >.</span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; ">Neonomicon has a strange little review of "Railriders" (Interzone #239) up at: <a href="http://nullimmortalis.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/interzone-239/" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://nullimmortalis.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/interzone-239/</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; ">Money quote:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; "><blockquote><span >"<span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">This story effectively comprises an atmospheric, cut-throat narrative via a rappy, expletive-sown monologue by one of the cobra- or blade-running female railriders, a member of a well-characterised (almost Dhalgren-like?) group, with whom we grow in sympathy as they negotiate the trials and tribulations of crude chancers and chancey drugs in this New Earth which is perhaps a Tem-type ’escarpment’ shading in and out of our Old Earth: while we, as readers, also ride the links (or rail points) through some “</span><em style="font-size: 100%; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto; ">public ‘net</em><span style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">” of blending in empathy with amenity-ghosts and chancers alike: luckily fixed for us here to aim at by actual, rather than electronic, print.</span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">"</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; ">..</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 100%; "></span></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-60878758720466571252012-01-15T16:50:00.002-05:002012-01-15T16:56:27.190-05:00"Insha'Allah" nominated for BSFA "Best Short Story 2021".<div><br /></div><div> Wow... I just learned that my short story "Insha'Allah" (which appeared in Interzone #235) was just nominated for the 2012 Best Short Story award by the British Science Fiction Association. The rest of the nominees can be found here:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.bsfa.co.uk/news/bsfa-awards-nominations-update/">http://www.bsfa.co.uk/news/bsfa-awards-nominations-update/</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>This is a great honor, indeed. Best of luck to all the other nominees - just like last year I'm up against some INCREDIBLE competition. </div><div><br /></div><div>..</div></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-68146521444358793032012-01-03T08:09:00.003-05:002012-01-03T08:11:21.169-05:00Review: Shoe Factory on SF SiteHappy New Year!<div><br /></div><div> Just saw this review of The Shoe Factory in Interzone #231 over at SF Site:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.sfsite.com/01a/izo359.htm">http://www.sfsite.com/01a/izo359.htm</a> </div><div><br /></div><div> Money quote:</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: small; "><blockquote><span > "The Shoe Factory" by Matthew Cook is the similarly compelling story of a young pilot in a doomed asteroid mining ship who remembers his youth as a scavenger in a dilapidated future China. All five stories this issue are approaching best-of-the-year award quality.</span></blockquote></span> </div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-25207816477581690302011-08-02T11:10:00.005-04:002011-08-02T11:22:55.428-04:00And another for "Insha'Allah"....<div><br /></div><div>This time over on <a href="http://neilwilliamson.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/julys-reading/">Neil Williamson's blog</a>. There are several reviews posted there, but here's the money quote for "Insha'Allah":</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; "><strong style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></strong><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; ">Insha’Allah</strong> by Matthew Cook (Interzone) – This is the second Matthew Cook story I’ve come across in Interzone this year, and I’ve been impressed with the quiet sure-footedness of his writing. There may be question over whether the society of the Muslim-settled planet under threat from alien attack is enough of an extrapolation from a similar contemporary society to warrant being drawn as science fiction, but I greatly enjoyed the story nevertheless.</span></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br /></span></span></div><div>I'm not sure I completely agree with the assertion that my fictitious society MUST be sufficiently different from any contemporary society to warrant its inclusion in a science fiction story, but obviously if I said that the story is not at least in part an echo of our current world's troubles I'd be lying. That said, I do feel that the specific tropes available in sci-fi add to the story. The real question seems to be: should I have made the story MORE "science-fiction-y" than it already is? Some reviewers seem to feel so. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for what *I* feel, well... </div><div><br /></div><div>.. </div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-64986333972403198692011-07-29T18:55:00.003-04:002011-07-29T19:00:12.546-04:00Another Insha'Allah review....<div><br /></div><div>...this time over on <a href="http://robmccow.livejournal.com/157088.html">Rob McCow's blog</a>. Snippet:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; "><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" >Insha'Allah by Matthew Cook addresses concerns about Islamic society, in particular the role of women and the potential strength of the Mullahs in dictating the law. Science fiction often uses metaphor or extrapolation to make serious points about the way we live today. This story makes its points absolutely straight up with only a sprinkling of sci-fi in the background. It could be set in modern Afghanistan and be about a crashed fighter pilot, but the enemy being fought are the E'k, the fighter pilot has implants and technology under her skin and there are hints that the battle is taking place in the near future. </span></blockquote></span> There's a bit more, but you get the point... And for what it's worth I think Rob makes a good point: I do think that good storytelling should, wherever possible, deal with universal issues and must contain characters that the reader can relate to. As such, I tried to consciously tell a story that COULD be "transplanted" from a sci-fi setting. As always, I leave it up to the reader to decide if I actually MET this goal. </div><div><br /></div><div>..</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-26205629072960297302011-07-29T16:25:00.002-04:002011-07-29T16:28:04.608-04:00"Insha'Allah" in the news...Anthony Williams has a mini-review of all the stories in Interzone #235 on his <a href="http://sciencefictionfantasy.blogspot.com/2011/07/interzone-235.html">blog</a>. Money quote:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" ></span></em><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" ><em>Insha'Allah</em> by Matthew Cooke, illustrated by Richard Wagner. A female doctor-turned-body-washer on a fundamentalist Muslim world is faced with treating a crashed female spaceship pilot, fallen from a battle for the planet raging overhead. A most unusual story which sticks in the mind.</span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></blockquote></span></div><div>...</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-33318908772430500972011-07-27T13:39:00.003-04:002011-07-27T13:49:08.046-04:00Interzone #235 - First Review!A review of all stories in Interzone #235 is up at:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://johnsreading.blogspot.com/2011/07/interzone-235-jul-aug-2011.html">http://johnsreading.blogspot.com/2011/07/interzone-235-jul-aug-2011.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div> Money quote:</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(92, 92, 92); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">The stories open with the best of the bunch in my opinion, ‘<i>Insha’Allah</i>’ from Matthew Cook and if it opens feeling rather derivative of current events in North Africa and Afghanistan, Cook eschews a story based on a science fictiony peace-keeping mission with high tech kick-assery, dwelling instead on the effects the conflict’s having on the local population</span>"</div><div><br /></div><div>What's interesting is that I wrote the story almost two years ago, well in advance of the current struggle in Libya/Egypt, etc. But I agree that I did certainly want to tell a different version of this sort of "Enemy Mine" type story, using themes based on our current overseas... ah... "adventurism". Whether I was successful or not is, as always, in the eyes of the reader.</div><div><br /></div><div>More details on "Insha'Allah" and the other great stories in Interzone #235 are at the linked URL.</div><div><br /></div><div>... </div><div></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-12960947184681542592011-07-12T07:10:00.002-04:002011-07-12T07:22:53.260-04:00Interzone #235 Details and LineupThe lineup for issue #235 of Interzone is up with illustrations - see <a href="http://ttapress.com/1105/interzone-235/0/4/">HERE</a> for details.<div><br /></div><div> I'm thrilled to be sharing this edition with <a href="http://thingaboutchickens.blogspot.com/">Jon Wallace</a>, <a href="http://www.garethlpowell.com/">Gareth L. Powell</a>, <a href="http://www.alrobertson.co.uk/">Al Robertson</a>, and reader-favorite <a href="http://mercuriorivera.com/">Mercurio D. Rivera</a>. There are also details on the page about where to buy the issue in the US, as well as information on how to take out a subscription (annual or even lifetime). </div><div><br /></div><div>...</div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-88479651374959024422011-07-08T09:25:00.004-04:002011-07-08T09:45:09.138-04:00Insha'Allah Illustration - Interzone #235<a href="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270546_10150241403959444_174449774443_7144386_2613833_s.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 130px; height: 90px;" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/270546_10150241403959444_174449774443_7144386_2613833_s.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>TTA Press has the first page and illustration from my short story on their Facebook page... If anyone can tell me how to link to the bigger version, please let me know -since this is on Facebook, the full-size version doesn't seem to be right-clickable to access the "Copy Image Address" menu choice. <div><br /></div><div>Graphic by Richard Wagner, who also, I'm told, also did the cool, retro-pulp cover (thanks, Richard!)<div><br /></div><div>I'd link you to Richard's website but I'm having trouble locating it this is a rough morning for me for some reason, sorry... If you know Richard's web site address, please post it in the Comments section.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-39894991049114411352011-07-08T09:07:00.005-04:002011-07-08T09:16:54.493-04:00Insha'Allah in Interzone #235<a href="http://jimsteel.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/interzone-235.jpg?w=450&h=620" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="http://jimsteel.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/interzone-235.jpg?w=450&h=620" border="0" alt="" /></a>If you're on Facebook, check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TTAPress">TTA Press's page</a> for news on the summer issue (#235) - my short story, "Insha'Allah" will appear in there soon. <div><br /></div><div>Although I'm not mentioned in the article, a partial lineup can be found over on Jim Steel's blog: <a href="http://jimsteel.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/interzone-235/">Panglossian Hubris</a>. Jim's the book review editor over at the magazine... not sure why he didn't think to mention me... Hmmmmm. But hey - check out that name placement - top billing this time!<div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway. I'm thrilled to once more appear in Interzone - my first short story there, "The Shoe Factory", was very well received and made various long lists for assorted awards. I hope you'll enjoy "Insha'Allah" even more.</div><div><br /></div><div>.. </div></div></div>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886888847617403119.post-28113428489435186592011-04-22T10:27:00.013-04:002011-04-22T16:47:10.238-04:00The Lettered Curmudgeon Reviews: Welcome To Bordertown<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l223/ImagoX/welcometobordertown_sm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 318px;" src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l223/ImagoX/welcometobordertown_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Welcome to another exciting eposide of my ongoing series: <b>The Lettered Curmugeon</b>. Here, you'll find reviews on books, movies, TV shows and games, all told from a writer's perspective. In this installment, I'll be taking a look at a new series, set to debut in May: the contemporary fantasy anthology: <i><a href="http://bordertownseries.com/">Welcome To Bordertown</a></i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><b></b>1986 was an exciting year for geeks.<span> </span>Movies like <i>Aliens, Big Trouble in Little China, Labyrinth</i>, and <i>Highlander </i>were in the theaters.<span> </span>William Gibson’s <i>Count Zero</i> hit the shelves that year, and Orson Scot Card’s <i>Ender’s Game</i> won the Hugo, while Miller’s <i>The Dark Knight Returns</i> and Moore’s <i>Watchmen</i> changed comic books forever.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">It was also a good year for anthologies.<span> </span>1986 marked the debut of an ambitious “shared world” anthology created by Terri Windling and Mark Allen Arnold: <i>Bordertown</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">The original collection was a slender volume: four short stories filled with spell-powered motorcycles and rock-and-roll bands fronted by elven frontmen, set in a city on the edge of our world and the realm of faerie. Both magic and technology blended together in Bordertown, working sporadically, if at all, creating a place where curses turned runaway human boys into werewolves (sort of), and where the red waters of the Mad River, flowing out of faerie, were as addictive as unfulfilled dreams.<span> </span>It was, in many ways, the birthplace of “urban fantasy”, a sub-genre where traditional fairy-tales were updated for a modern audience through the amazing storytelling of Charles de Lint, Terri Windling, Emma Bull, and countless others.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Over the years, I’ve purchased thousands of books, but only a few stand out so strongly that I remember exactly where I was when I bought them.<span> </span><i>Bordertown</i> is one such volume, one of the rare few.<span> </span>To say the anthology and the ones that followed (two other short story collections and a handful of novels) were influential on my own writing is an understatement.<span> </span>To say that I was excited when I learned that the Bordertown series was being resurrected for a modern audience equally so.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">At 2010’s World Fantasy Convention, I was handed a copy of<span> </span><i>Welcome To Bordertown</i>, the latest collection by the series’ current editors <a href="http://www.sff.net/people/kushnersherman/kushner/">Ellen Kushner</a> and <a href="http://www.blackholly.com/">Holly Black</a>.<span> </span>It’s a massive collection: twelve new short stories from accomplished authors Cory Doctorow, Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Tim Pratt, and Charles de Lint, as well as from relative newcomers such as <span class="apple-style-span"><span>Annette Curtis Klause, Janni Lee Simner, Alaya Dawn Johnson, and Nalo Hopkinson.<span> </span>The volume also includes poems by Neil Gaiman, Patricia A. McKillip, Delia Sherman, Jane Yolen, as well as a short, illustrated comic by Sara Ryan & Dylan Meconis.<span> </span>But does this latest incarnation of the beloved franchise not only capture the “where magic meets rock-and-roll” wonder of the original series (hey, the 80’s were a long time ago) while adding something new and fresh for the current generation of urban fantasy readers?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="apple-style-span"><span></span></span>I’m happy to report that it does.<span> </span><b><i>In spades</i></b>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">In this latest collection, Black and Kushner have resurrected the series, updating the setting and providing a fertile playground for a new generation of writers, all while preserving much of the nostalgic feelings of old.<span> </span>It’s a good trick, accomplished via a clever explanation of the city’s disappearance from the world we know.<span> </span>During this period, Bordertown skipped across time, like a stone tossed on a still pond, re-emerging over a decade later, a period its inhabitants experienced not as thirteen years, but as thirteen days.<span> </span>For that time, the roads leading back to the human world were closed.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Once re-opened, a new crop of miscreants and runaways find their way to the City Beside The Border. These misplaced dreamers, however, are different than the ones who came before: wired teens armed not with guitars, but with cell phones and Facebook feeds; girls with daydreams of darkly romantic vampires and smoldering werewolves; entrepreneurial network geeks driven by visions of sending data packets across the forbidden border into faerie.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">No story uses the “lost in time” mechanism better than Alaya Dawn Johnson’s “A Prince of Thirteen Days”.<span> </span>It’s a poignant coming-of-age tale, populated by haunted statues, a wise and kindly Grandmother, and a family torn apart by space and time.<span> </span>In Johnson’s tale, star-crossed lovers pass messages across impossible borders, using art as their medium, leading to a resolution that, for all its inevitability, still manages to set its melancholy hook.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Other tales, such as Nalo Hopkinson’s “Ours Is The Prettiest”, and Cory Doctorow’s “Shannon’s Law”, take the series in fresh, thoroughly unexpected, directions.<span> </span>Hopkin’s story adds a refreshing dose of multiculturalism, drawing inspiration<span> </span>not from the traditional European faerie story, but rather the dark magic of New Orleans voodoo.<span> </span>What emerges is a sometimes confusing yet oddly memorable tale, one that lingers on the mind, spicy and sweet, like the taste of <span>etouffee</span> long after the last page is turned<span>.<span> </span>In contrast, Cory Doctorow offers up a tale that could have come out of Silicon Valley, if it had been overrun by myth, where a visionary entrepreneur seeks a novel approach to circumventing the impenetrable border into faerie through high technology.<span> </span>It’s a story only Doctorow could have given us, full of inside jokes about web culture and technology. His progatonists are likable, if unlikely, heroes, wrapped in a narrative that seamlessly blends the wonder of our current-day achievements with a healthy respect for the traditional rules of the fairy tale.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span></span>Fans of the original series will be pleased by stories such as Emma Bull’s<span> </span>“Incunabulum”,<span> </span>Holly Black and Cassandra Clare’s “The Rowan Gentleman”, and Will Shetterly’s “The Sages of Elsewhere.”<span> </span>All three are classic Bordertown through-and-through, clear nods to what came before, harkening back to the glory days of urban fantasy.<span> </span>All are fun reads, but it’s Shetterly’s “Sages” that’s the stand-out, primarily due to the return of Wolfboy, one of my all-time favorite B’town characters.<span> </span>“Incunabulum” and “Rowan Gentleman” also deliver memorable moments, usually through the interaction of original characters and archetypes with the new-breed of Bordertown runaways.<span> </span>It’s culture-clash-as-metaphor, applied with artful skill by Bull, Black and Clare, offered up to the reader’s continued delight.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="apple-style-span"><span>Alongside the collection’s stories are poems and song lyrics, written by past Bordertown alums and leading voices in the fantasy genre.<span> </span>The editors have stated that it is their desire for the Bordertown community to take these words and set them to their own music, creating new and original works.<span> </span>How this will work is still up in the air, however it is my understanding that space will be provided on the new Bordertown website (</span></span><a href="http://bordertownseries.com/">http://bordertownseries.com/</a><span class="apple-style-span"><span>) for these new creations, a move that promises to leverage the power of social media for the series’ newest fans.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%"><span class="apple-style-span"><span></span></span>That said, as poems the works spoke less to me than the short stories, despite their strong imagery and varied styles.<span> </span>Maybe when set to music they’ll truly come alive.<span> </span>I certainly can’t wait to hear what musicians will do with such strong and diverse source material.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Reading this latest Bordertown collection, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of readers the editors hoped to target.<span> </span>Aging fantasy fans like me, who think “de Lint and Bull”, not “Meyers and Hamilton”, when they hear the words “urban fantasy”?<span> </span>Teens and YA readers who came up on tales of Jacob, and Edward, and Anita Blake?<span> </span>The answer, of course, is <i>both</i>, a tricky proposition, but one that Kushner and Black manage, somehow, to pull off.<span> </span>Reading <i>Welcome to Bordertown</i>, I couldn’t help but wonder what’s next… what other stories might spring from the minds of writers established and new, inspired by the fruit of their dedication and hard work.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%">Personally, I can’t wait.</p>Matt Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773766533584920452noreply@blogger.com0