Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction

The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy here for us. Two weeks ago we did a double – two interviews at the same studio session. Last week we did the same thing. Both times we had to get set up, shoot the interviews, and tear down and be out of there exactly on time for the next show to get in. The current studio class at AIM worked crew for us both times and were a big help. We all (Kathi in particular), worked really hard to get this done. And we did it! Both times!

The first set was with Tom Doyle and Michael Swanwick. Tom is a new writer who has published short fiction. He won the WSFA Small Press Short Fiction award at last year’s Capclave. You should look for his stuff, he’s very good. Turns out to be a very nice fellow and we had a good time during the interview talking about all kinds of things. As soon as I finished with Tom, it was time for Michael. As usual with him, it was a very easy interview, Michael Swanwick is not only a great writer (one of my all time favorites), but one of the great storytellers. This time we talked about Hope Mirlees, an amazing woman and writer of a seminal fantasy novel, among other topics. After we were all done, we all went to dinner with the crew and Michael’s wife, the incredible Marianne.

One week later, we did it again with Maria Snyder and Mindy Klasky. This time, Tom interviewed Maria and Mindy was mine. They have both been on before and are both a lot of fun and a joy to talk to. Maria’s daughter Jenna was with her. I think she enjoyed seeing how the ‘magic’ of television happens. She was a lovely, intelligent young lady and we really were glad she was there. Tom did the Maria interview first and talked about her new book (and beginning of a new series) Storm Glass. Then it was Mindy’s turn and we had a good time talking about the end of the Jane Madison Series and the start of her new As You Wish series. Then, as we often do, we all went to dinner (in the rain).

So, a busy couple of weeks, but we got some good interviews ‘in the can’.

We’re sorry that we haven’t been updating the blog recently.  Real life got in the way.  Things got so crazy that we never even completed a show for the month of June.  We will be catching up on the blog soon, however, with information on the July and August episodes.

It is a sad day when a publishing house has to shut down. Meisha Merlin has announced they will be closing shop in May, 2007. The company started in 1996 and has published authors such as Jody Lynn Nye, Mike Resnick, and Robert Asprin, some as reprints, some original titles. I hope that Stephen Pagel, Kevin Murphy and Brian Murphy will find another outlet for their various talents and that this is not the start of a trend in small press publishing.

Confused about Pluto’s recent demotion to “dwarf planet”? What qualifies as a planet, anyway? Here’s a nifty animated ScienceCast from NASA that gives you the basics:

What is a planet?
http://science.hq.nasa.gov/sciencecast.html

Fast Forward is tentatively planning to include a short tribute to Mr. Vonnegut in the May 2007 episode.

I attended the American Library Association mid-winter meeting in Seattle, Washington and was pleased to see a program that highlighted science fiction and fantasy authors. On Jan. 19, R.A. Salvatore, Tim Zahn and soon-to-be-published author Laini Taylor talked about “The Rise in Popularity of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Genres in our Post-9/11 World”. It was a good presentation that was well attended, focusing on why fantasy and science fiction is growing in popularity. A fuller report is available at the ALA Cognotes. This is the first science fiction or fantasy author program I have seen at an ALA mid-winter: hope this is the beginning of a trend.
On Monday I travelled down to Portland, Oregon to visit a friend and spend a few days exploring the city. First on our list of places to see was Powell’s City of Books, a hugh store of both used and new books. It was great to find that the used and new books were interfiled on the shelves, so I could see all the copies on any author’s work in one place. After several hours, I managed to walk away with only minimal damage to my book budget. Certainly those on the West Coast are well aware of this treasure trove and I recommend to anyone going to Portland area to put aside a few hours for a visit.

Colleen

Writer Peter S. Beagle gives an impromptu solo performance of “The Elderly Gentleman’s Song”

Writer James Morrow talks about his latest novel, The Last Witchfinder. A marked departure from his earlier Godhead Trilogy, he describes the new book as historical fiction with a science fiction twist.