Libertarian Futurist Society to Honor Vernor Vinge
Science fiction writer Vernor Vinge will receive a Special Prometheus Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Libertarian Futurist Society.
SFWA Blog
Grievance Committee Update
In the last few months we have seen reports of possible issues with several publishers including late or non-payment, contract violations and a lack of promised publicity support. We would like to remind members that while the Board is definitely concerned about these reports, we cannot act without first-hand information.
In Memoriam: Eugie Foster
Nebula Award winning author Eugie Foster (b.1971) died on September 27 from respiratory failture. Foster’s work was collected in Returning My Sister’s Face: And Other Far Eastern Tales of Whimsy and Malice.
Guest Post: Does Book Touring Still Matter?
by John Scalzi
When I’m out and about and recount my tour adventures to people (I can reel off my itinerary just about in my sleep at this point), the question often arises about whether all this touring is actually still useful and/or desirable in an age where so many people get their books electronically, and when one (or at least, one like me) can show up to a comic con, at which between 20k and 50k people will show up in one place, where you also happen to be.
Copper Cylinder Award Winners
The Sunburst Award Society is pleased to announce the winners of the third annual Copper Cylinder Awards. The Copper Cylinder Award is an annual member’s choice award selected by members of the Sunburst Award Society for books published during the previous year.
Variations of Villainy
by Nancy Fulda
Villains are challenging to write. Make them too heartless, and no one will find them believable. Make them too empathetic, and the audience will end up rooting for the wrong team. It can be difficult to create an antagonist with enough human virtue to be interesting and enough human foibles to be, well, villainous.
New Market: Ares Magazine
The first issue of Ares Magazine is now in the hands of subscribers and available for purchase. The 84-page first issue features nine original science fiction and fantasy stories, an interview with game designer and author Bruce Cordell, and an article on singularity written by best-selling science fiction author William H. Keith (who also writes under the pseudonyms Ian Douglas and H.J. Ryker).
National Book Foundation to Give Lifetime Achievement Award to Ursula K. Le Guin
The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, will award its 2014 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters to Ursula K. Le Guin at the 65th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner. The event will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at Cipriani, 55 Wall Street, in New York. Neil Gaiman will present the award.
Science Fiction Stories Night
Friday is Sci-Fi Stories Night at 100 Year Starship 2014 Public Symposium featuring award-winning authors— Yoon Ha Lee, Les Johnson, Nisi Shawl, and Edward Lerner—book signings and a special screening of the original The Day the Earth Stood Still.
To Vlog or Not To Vlog
by Alethea Kontis
Luckily, there are many other outlets for writers to alternately channel their particular brand of creativity: Blogging, podcasting, memes, fan fiction…in this day and age, the possibilities are endless.
