The DC Area Speculative Fiction Writers Scene
Here’s a summary of some recent books and activities of local writers in the greater Washington area:
Scott Edelman’s short story, “Petrified” is on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Award.
I’ve finished reading the novels of Jeri Smith-Ready. I’ve already noted how much I enjoyed Wicked Game (“Nick Hornsby for blood suckers”), and I look forward to its sequel Bad to the Bone. Now I’ve also read her Aspect of Crow trilogy and Requiem for the Devil. Though these appear to have been marketed in the epic and urban variations of the “fantasy romance” category, they present far richer worlds of action and ideas than that niche would suggest, and offer much more enjoyment for a male reader than others in that sub-genre. And those aspects one would expect (the romantic/erotic) were fully and intensely realized to contribute to the emotional punch of these works.
Craig Gidney has a collection of his short stories out, Sea Swallow Me. He’ll be reading from it on February 19th. I’ve bought a copy, and expect to read soon.
I’ve read the first two Jane Madison books (Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft and Sorcery and the Single Girl) by Mindy Klasky. The premise and DC area descriptions are fun; the writing (as always with Ms. Klasky) is excellent. These books do skew more to the distaff taste, which added an almost anthropological interest for me.
I’ve listened to the Audible.com version of Poison Study by Maria Snyder. The setting (a revolutionary state under a military junta) and the premise (the protagonist is the military leader’s trained food taster) gives this story a nice edge throughout. The series continues with Magic Study and Fire Study.
Veteran short-fiction writer Bud Sparhawk has published his what I believe is his first novel, Vixen. I think I’m going to get the electronic version for my Sony Reader.
We can expect the second book in David Williams’s trilogy, The Burning Skies, this summer.
Balticon will be Memorial Day weekend, and Charlie Stross will be the GOH -- more on that later.
Any DC writers, SF/F or otherwise, who would like me to post events and publishing information, please just let me know.
Scott Edelman’s short story, “Petrified” is on the preliminary ballot for the Bram Stoker Award.
I’ve finished reading the novels of Jeri Smith-Ready. I’ve already noted how much I enjoyed Wicked Game (“Nick Hornsby for blood suckers”), and I look forward to its sequel Bad to the Bone. Now I’ve also read her Aspect of Crow trilogy and Requiem for the Devil. Though these appear to have been marketed in the epic and urban variations of the “fantasy romance” category, they present far richer worlds of action and ideas than that niche would suggest, and offer much more enjoyment for a male reader than others in that sub-genre. And those aspects one would expect (the romantic/erotic) were fully and intensely realized to contribute to the emotional punch of these works.
Craig Gidney has a collection of his short stories out, Sea Swallow Me. He’ll be reading from it on February 19th. I’ve bought a copy, and expect to read soon.
I’ve read the first two Jane Madison books (Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft and Sorcery and the Single Girl) by Mindy Klasky. The premise and DC area descriptions are fun; the writing (as always with Ms. Klasky) is excellent. These books do skew more to the distaff taste, which added an almost anthropological interest for me.
I’ve listened to the Audible.com version of Poison Study by Maria Snyder. The setting (a revolutionary state under a military junta) and the premise (the protagonist is the military leader’s trained food taster) gives this story a nice edge throughout. The series continues with Magic Study and Fire Study.
Veteran short-fiction writer Bud Sparhawk has published his what I believe is his first novel, Vixen. I think I’m going to get the electronic version for my Sony Reader.
We can expect the second book in David Williams’s trilogy, The Burning Skies, this summer.
Balticon will be Memorial Day weekend, and Charlie Stross will be the GOH -- more on that later.
Any DC writers, SF/F or otherwise, who would like me to post events and publishing information, please just let me know.