Bookish Links On A Friday Night
- Well, the most interesting book world story right now is surely the whole hardball face-off between Amazon and Macmillan. I expect the most interesting discussion at Making Light.
- It’s been a pretty depressing week in the book world: too many stories of authors dying. I guess there will only be more and more stories about the passing of authors who have meant something to me as I get older myself. Robert Parker (see this, this, this) was part of my life ever since I started working in Boston, and got into the Spenser series from a “local” angle. Paul Quarrington‘s books have been part of my life ever since (like lots of Canadians of a certain age) I first ran into Whale Music. Salinger‘s books have been part of my life since high school. Howard Zinn changed the way I look at history, as part of the post-Chomsky-mind-blowing that happened in my undergraduate year, and I’ve followed him since. And while she hasn’t actually died yet, the news about Kage Baker, whose books have been with me since the SFBC did an omnibus of the first two Company books–I have all her published stuff, is pretty final. Too many holes in the future opening up all at once.
- I was also saddened, speaking of dead authors, about the Poe visitor not showing up this year. Saddened in a much more abstract the-world-is-less-interesting way.
- While I’m being morbid, there’s a kind of dark fascination in the Writer & Musician Suicides gallery at Life.
- OK, I need something to cheer me up after all that. How about one of the classics: Dan Brown getting positively skewered. That always makes me feel better.
- What else would make me feel better? Seeing some of Da Vinci’s sketches, and a codex of his? Seeing some of Lewis’ manuscripts for Alice? Blakes;s poetry notebooks? The British Library is doing a good thing here.
- I read Brust’s latest the day it came out–I had forgotten just how much I like hanging out with Vlad. Great stuff. Jo Walton, who recently did a series of reviews of all Steve’s Dragaera books on Tor.com has a short interview with him, which teases some things about Tiassa, the next one. I’d like that now please, instead of in a year.
- I’ve mentioned Matt Hughes here before. I’m a fan of his stuff, and I was thus excited to receive his latest–even if the publisher did screw up the limited edition…and present it with the lamest excuse ever, but let’s not get off on a rant.. Rick Kleffel reviews the new book and the series, which will give you an idea if you don’t know Hughes. If it sounds at all up your alley, pop over to Fantasy Book Critic and take a shot at wining one of two sets of the whole series, or do a bit of reading at Hughes’ site and then take a crack at winning a ridiculously cool prize.
- I’ve mentioned before that my “most anticipated comic” of 2009 was the reissue of Eddie Campbell’s Alec in a snazzy omnibus. For my money it completely lived up to my anticipation, and I’m delighted to have it on my shelf (near my super-swankest Campbell). NPR has a review (with preview) that covers the details for those not familiar, and I find it suitably in awe of the work.
- While we’re on comics, apparently Kean Soo’s publishers are letting the first volume of Jellaby go OOP. There are two big fans of that book, and the second one as well, in my household, and we’re shocked and disappointed that sales apparently weren’t strong enough to suit the publisher. (Of course maybe rights will revert now that it’s OOP and Kean can own his own backlist… but I think the publisher is Disney, so maybe not).
- Sticking with comics, can I say that I’m really looking forward to actually being able to go to the Toronto Comic Art Festival this year. Looks like a good program this year.
