Locus, February 2013

by Locus Publications

  Liza Groen Trombi, Karen Haber, Francesca Myman, Heather Shaw, and Caitlin Beck examine art books

  And then there is the list. The year-end, annual Recommended Reading List is our moment to highlight our favorite titles for the year. It’s not an easy task, and every year there are titles that people can’t believe didn’t make it (some we didn’t see or saw too late to read and recommend, or simply didn’t like as much). It is a labor of love though, and we hope you find some new authors to read, and some exciting titles to look for. Even though it is our busiest and most work intensive part of the year, for most of us it is also our favorite time to be working in the SF field – we get to see the full breadth of the genre publishing in fine form. Thanks to everyone who helped us out with it, especially Jonathan Strahan and Gary Wolfe for their ready assistance, above and beyond.

  2012

  Looking back at the big changes from 2012, we saw Amazon move even more firmly into publishing, launching several new imprints and picking up smaller houses backlists. Most of the big houses settled on the DOJ agency suit, Penguin just in December, and are back in business with ‘‘agency lite.’’ We still have to see what comes of Macmillan and Apple holding strong and defending their actions. The biggest news in publishing was the merger agreement between Penguin and Random House, though when that will be finalized is still in question, since it is awaiting for approval by the various governments in countries that host those companies before it can become a reality. This was the time in five years that the print books number did not go up – probably a good sign, since the past few years have felt like the numbers were growing out of control, throwing (too many) books at the wall to see what would stick. Science fiction books were up, paranormal was down, e-books continue to stabilize as a format, but aren’t driving print out of business entirely, and all in all it felt like a good year.

  Not to be forgotten, though, we lost some of our greatest contributors to the field this year, Ray Bradbury in June and Harry Harrison in August. Also artist Jean Giraud AKA Moebius, Ralph McQuarrie, and Leo Dillon. Writers Boris Strugatsky, Josepha Sherman, Adam Niswander, photographer Jay Kay Klein, K.D. Wentworth, and so on.

  POLL & SURVEY

  Once again it’s time for the Locus Poll & Survey. We are reworking some of the questions to include more about electronic formats. There is the annual paper pullout, but you can also fill out the survey online from the link at . It saves us an immense amount of work if you do and the Locus minions will thank you for it.

  Subscribers of record who return ballots will receive a free issue when we count ballots in May, so be sure to include your name and subscription number (print subscribers) or e-mail (digital subscribers) exactly as we have it in your subscriber information. To qualify, you must make an effort to vote in some categories at least and fill out the Survey as well. Photocopies are acceptable from ultimate collectors. Deadline is April 15, 2013.

  Please don’t vote for any item more than once, with the exception of first novels, which can also be included in best SF, fantasy, or YA categories. The lists on pages 38-40 are recommendations only, and they also populate the pull-down lists online, but remember: you can vote for anything else you want. There is space for it if you want to write in votes; the pull-down just makes it easier to tally. Please fill in as completely as you can, with at minimum title and author. The categories are mostly self-explanatory, except for short fiction: a novella runs 17,500 to 60,000 words, a novelette 7,500 to 17,500 words, and a short story up to 7,500 words. A book containing stories by several different authors is an anthology; a book with multiple stories by a single author is a collection. These are different from the Hugo and Nebula Awards eligibility requirements. We will tally all the votes and present the winners at the Locus Awards Weekend.

  Editorial Matters continues after ad.

  LOCUS AWARDS

  The Locus Awards events are scheduled for the weekend of June 28-30 in Seattle, with panels, parties, readings, an autograph session, and, of course, the awards banquet emceed by the fabulous Connie Willis. This year we are very pleased that Norwescon 36, , has stepped forward to sponsor the awards, allowing us to keep the event in Seattle. (As far as the SF Museum, it’s unclear whether they will hold a Hall of Fame event at all, but we will let you know.) As for our weekend, it will be better than ever, scheduled to be bookended by a writing workshop with Connie Willis and another special guest, including associated events by Clarion West, and of course the ever-outlandish Hawai’ian shirt contest. Memberships are available for the weekend now, at for $40 apiece, and will go up to $50 on May 1 so buy yours today. More information below in the ad.

  NEXT ISSUE

  Our next issue is a Forthcoming Books issue, with publishing schedules of titles through December 2013, with planned interviews with Lavie Tidhar and Isobelle Carmody, the Nebula Awards ballot if we get it in time, and our usual news, reviews, and articles.

  Don’t forget to recommend Locus to a friend and help us keep our subscriber numbers strong – you, our readers, are our best advertising, so please tweet about a favorite review, blog about reading the mag, and mention/loan Locus to another reader today!

  –Liza Groen Trombi

  Subscribe, or renew your subscription, at http://www.locusmag.com today.

  Help Locus expand its readership: tell a friend about our free digital samples, available at http://www.locusmag.com/Magazine/DigitalSamples.html, and join us on twitter by following @locusmag and @locuschat

  Mention Locus in your blog, website, or favorite form of social media.

  Please consider donating to the Locus Science Fiction Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Donations support Locus magazine as well as a variety of related SFnal projects. For more information, and to make donations through Paypal, please visit our new website at http://www.lsff.net.

  Return to In This Issue listing.

  PHOTO LIST

  Brian Slattery (LT)

  Catherynne M. Valente (BG)

  Karen Lord (BC)

  Christopher Barzak (EL)

  Frances Hardinge (F)

  Adam Roberts (F/GS)

  Catherynne M. Valente (BG)

  Peter David (F/LN)

  Junot Díaz (F)

  Tanya Huff (BG)

  Ross Lockhart (LT)

  Joe R. Lansdale (BG)

  Diane Turnshek (F)

  John Kessel (F/KM)

  John Kessel (F/KM)

  Liza Groen Trombi (FM)

  Gary K. Wolfe (BC)

  Faren Miller (F)

  Jonathan Strahan (LT)

  Russell Letson (AB)

  Graham Sleight (AB)

  Adrienne Martini (F/JM)

  Carolyn Cushman (FM)

  Tim Pratt (HS)

  Karen Burnham (FM)

  Gardner Dozois (EL)

  Rich Horton (LT)

  Amy Goldschlager (LT)

  Steven Utley (F)

  Jacques Sadoul (CNB)

  Liza Groen Trombi, Karen Haber,Francesca Myman, Heather Shaw, Caitlin Beck (FM)

  Brian Slattery (LT)

  Photo Listing: (BG) Beth Gwinn, (LT) Liza Groen Trombi, (FM) Francesca Myman, (BC) Bill Clemente, (EL) Ernest Lilly, (F/GS) George Seguin–furnished under a Creative Commons license, (F/LN) Luigi Novi– furnished under a Creative Commons license, (F/KM) Kate Maddelena, (F/JM) Jamey Novick, (HS) Heather Shaw, (CNB) Charles N. Brown, (F) Furnished.

  AD LIST

  Ace/Roc

  Baen

  Clarion

  Clarion West

  E-Reads

  The Celaeri Song Trilogy

  Locus

  Tor

  Return to In This Issue listing.

  MASTHEAD

  CHARLES N. BROWN

  Founder

  (1968-2009)

  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

  HEATHER SHAW

  Assistant Editor

  JONATHAN STRAHAN

  Reviews Editor

  TERRY BISSON

  GWENDA BOND

  JAMES BRADLEY

  JOHN CLUTE

  GARDNER DOZOIS

  AMY GOLDSCHLAGER

  RICH HORTON

  RUSSELL LETSON

  ADRIENNE MARTINI

  FAREN MILLER

  GRAHAM SLEIGHT

  GARY K. WOLFE

  Contributing Editors

  KAREN BURNHAM

  Roundtable Blog Editor

  WILLIAM G. CONTENTO

  Computer Projects

  Locus, The Magazine of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Field (ISSN 0047-4959), is published monthly, at $6.95 per copy, by Locus Publications, 34 Ridgewood Lane, Oakland CA 94611. Please send all mail to: Locus Publications, PO Box 13305, Oakland CA 94661. Telephone (510) 339-9196; (510) 339-9198. FAX (510) 339-9198. E-mail: . Individual subscriptions in the US: $34.00 for six issues, $60.00 for 12 issues, $108.00 for 24 issues via periodical mail. First class individual subscriptions in the US: $42.00 for six issues, $72.00 for 12 issues, $130.00 for 24 issues. In Canada: $43.00 for 6 issues, $73.00 for 12 issues, $134.00 for 24 issues via International Surface Air Lift (ISAL). Individual international subscriptions are $50.00 for six issues, $95.00 for 12 issues, $160.00 for 24 issues via ISAL. Digital subscriptions pricing available at . Institutional subscriptions are $4.00 extra per year. Make checks payable to Locus Publications. All subscriptions payable directly in US funds only. Overseas checks must be drawn on a US bank and include computer encoding numbers at bottom. When converting from periodical mail to first class delivery, please convert all remaining issues on your present subscription ($1.00 per issue). The later date on the mailing label is that of the last issue on your present subscription. If you change your address, please notify us immediately. Periodical mail is not forwarded; it is either returned or destroyed. We subtract one issue from your subscription for each returned copy. We keep expired addresses on file for one year, so tell us if your subscription is a renewal or completely new. British Subscription Agent: Fantast Three, 23 Listers Road, Upwell, Wisbech, Cambs PE14 9BW, UK. Japanese Subscription Agent: Yoshio Kobayashi, 3-34-14-301, Kitasenzoku, Ohta-ku, Tokyo, 145, Japan; Australian Subscription Agent: Justin Ackroyd, Slow Glass Books, PO Box 1280, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, Australia. Bookseller discounts available. Display advertising rates on request. We take no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. Printed in the United States. Periodical postage paid at Oakland, California, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Locus Publications, PO Box 13305, Oakland CA 94661. © 2011 by Locus Publications.

  Letters, information, and credit card subscriptions can be sent via e-mail to or by fax to (510) 339-9198. Subscriptions by phone are available at (510) 339-9196; 9:30AM to 5:00PM PST, Monday – Friday.

  Official Locus Website: ; Locus Index to Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror 1984-1999: ; The Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards is at .