tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24040693177252456622009-11-06T15:31:09.703-08:00Mark Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08278489325928998940noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-81749474639275495942009-11-06T14:17:00.000-08:002009-11-06T15:31:09.715-08:00

Borders Group Inc. will close 200 Waldenbooks stores in January, cutting 1,500 jobs. The company plans to focus on more profitable superstores, and will leave only about 130 mall-based stores open. Borders shut down 112 stores during the 2008 fiscal year, and closed an average of 66 stores per year between 2001 and 2007. CEO Ron Marshall said, "We believe there remains an opportunity to

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-91202748758251727642009-11-05T11:16:00.000-08:002009-11-05T13:45:48.499-08:00

British fantasy author Louise Cooper, 57, died October 21, 2009 of a brain aneurysm at home in Cornwall. Cooper was a prolific author who wrote over 80 books for adults and children. She was best known for her Time Master trilogy, and for her Indigo Saga series. Louise Antell was born May 29, 1952 in Hertfordshire. She married first husband Gary Cooper in 1970. After working as a secretary and as

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-7678301566347784782009-11-02T16:13:00.000-08:002009-11-04T10:52:39.954-08:00

Artist Dean Ellis, 88, died October 12, 2009 at home in Saratoga Springs, New York. Born 1920 in Detroit MI, Ellis studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts, and served in the Pacific during WWII. He worked as an illustrator and painter after the war, and in 1950, Life included him in a list of the 19 most promising young American artists. He moved to New

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-60699351225905883632009-11-02T13:49:00.000-08:002009-11-02T15:24:23.752-08:00

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Translation Awards, for works of foreign-language speculative fiction translated into English, were announced at the World Fantasy Convention in San Jose on October 29, 2009. The first awards are expected to be presented in 2011, for works published in 2010.Two awards will be presented: one for long form literature (40,000 words and above) and the other for short

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-54447175915345526962009-11-01T15:29:00.001-08:002009-11-05T06:45:37.778-08:00

The 2009 World Fantasy Award winners were announced today at the World Fantasy Convention held October 29 - November 1, 2009, in San José, California.LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTSEllen AsherJane YolenNOVEL (tie)The Shadow Year, Jeffrey Ford (Morrow)Tender Morsels, Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin; Knopf)The House of the Stag, Kage Baker (Tor)The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins; Bloomsbury)

Mark Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08278489325928998940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-77492640624118035122009-10-28T16:00:00.001-07:002009-10-28T16:21:32.341-07:00

Artist Don Ivan Punchatz, 73, died of a heart attack in Arlington, Texas, on October 22, 2009. Punchatz was known for his illustrations for magazines ranging from Boy's Life to Penthouse, for his advertising work, and for his book covers for Ace, Warner, Berkley, and Dell. He created the cover art for the Avon editions of Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels and Philip José Farmer's Riverworld books

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-74842981397229723412009-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:002009-10-27T12:29:16.330-07:00

Realms of Fantasy is now open for fiction submissions after a seven-month hiatus. The subscription price is increasing on November 15, 2009, so subscribe now if you want to get the old rates of $16.95 for a six-issue subscription in the US ($28.95 overseas), and $29.95 for twelve issues ($53.95 overseas). New rates will be $19.99 for six issues ($29.99 overseas), and $34.99 for twelve issues (

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-73121502915068782102009-10-21T13:06:00.000-07:002009-10-21T15:13:49.536-07:00

Google Inc. plans to launch Google Editions, a new online store that will enable Google to act as a distributor, selling hundreds of thousands of e-books, in direct competition with e-retailer Amazon.com Inc. However, unlike Amazon, Google has no plans to launch a proprietary e-book reader comparable to Kindle. Google's e-books will be searchable and available to read on any device that supports

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-88706571275326627962009-10-19T15:34:00.000-07:002009-10-19T17:14:49.719-07:00

Writer Patrick Rothfuss is holding a fundraiser for his favorite charity, Heifer International, which provides goats, sheep, chickens, and other livestock to families in need. The fundraiser is launching with a raffle for a chance to be Tuckerized in Rothfuss's forthcoming book, The Wise Man's Fear. For further details, or to donate, visit Rothfuss's blog.

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-69408260500001788412009-10-16T12:40:00.000-07:002009-10-16T13:22:28.202-07:00

Prime Books has announced the launch of new online SF magazine Lightspeed, a sister publication to their Fantasy Magazine. John Joseph Adams will edit fiction, while Andrea Kail will edit non-fiction. Adams is leaving his position as assistant editor at F&SF at the end of 2009, and Lightspeed will open to fiction submissions and non-fiction queries on January 1, 2010, with guidelines appearing at

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-11889847115242150782009-10-15T11:36:00.000-07:002009-10-15T11:47:42.726-07:00

Phil Klass, who writes as William Tenn, is in the hospital in Pittsburgh PA with congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and gall bladder difficulties. His wife Fruma Klass reports that he is recovering, but will spend time in a rehabilitation facility.

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-59146525803203585592009-10-13T11:51:00.001-07:002009-10-14T09:42:07.394-07:00

The winner of the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction's "Win $2010 in the year 2010" contest is Allen MacNeill, for his prediction that handheld computers would exist by 2010. In 1980, under then editor Ed Ferman, Fantasy & Science Fiction held a 30th anniversary contest, asking readers to choose the science fiction concept most likely to be realized by the year 2010. The approximately 2,700

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-88704827463721892522009-10-12T15:00:00.000-07:002009-10-12T15:58:02.607-07:00

Writer Mary Hunter Schaub, 66, died of cancer September 25, 2009 in hospice. Schaub wrote The Magestone (1996) with Andre Norton, and solo novel Exile (1992), both set in Norton’s Witch World universe. She also published several stories beginning in the ’70s, with work in Analog and various anthologies, many set in Norton’s fictional worlds.

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-15254222437569214292009-10-06T12:32:00.000-07:002009-10-06T12:25:59.013-07:00

Richard Corben is the winner of the 2009 Spectrum Grand Master Award. Spectrum runs a series of art contests, exhibits, and publications designed to promote contemporary fantastic artists. Corben’s first professional sale was a cover for the September 1967 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. He illustrated R. Crumb’s Underground Comix. His broad-ranging art career spans comics,

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-27853448409191557362009-10-02T14:07:00.000-07:002009-10-02T16:16:20.961-07:00

Octavia Butler's papers are being added to the holdings of Huntington Library, located in San Marino, California.Butler, who died in 2006 at age 58, included the Huntington in her will after curator of literary manuscripts Sara “Sue” Hodson approached her regarding the dispensation of her papers. “I was over the moon about it, but I’m crushed to see it come true so soon," Hodson said. "We are so

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-9896328247884230962009-09-29T09:42:00.000-07:002009-09-29T14:34:28.475-07:00

The 2009 Sunburst Award winners have been announced: Adult: The Gargoyle, Andrew Davidson (Random House Canada) Night Child, Jes Battis (Ace) The Alchemist’s Code, Dave Duncan (Ace) Things Go Flying, Shari Lapeña (Brindle & Glass)Half a Crown, Jo Walton (Tor)Young Adult: Little Brother, Cory Doctorow (Tor)The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong (Doubleday Canada)Dingo, Charles de Lint (Viking)Wild Talent

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-66489547864356592732009-09-28T11:18:00.000-07:002009-09-28T13:11:57.493-07:00

Joe Haldeman and John Varley are the winners of the Robert A. Heinlein Award for 2009. The award is for "outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings to inspire the human exploration of space." Winners are selected by a committee of science fiction authors chaired by Robert Heinlein's friend Dr. Yoji Kondo. Members of the committee were originally selected by Mrs.

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-14506066837077260802009-09-28T09:34:00.000-07:002009-09-28T09:40:27.983-07:00

Joe Haldeman is in the ICU at a Cincinnati hospital, following surgery last week for a twisted bowel, which led to the discovery of severe pancreatitis. Gay Haldeman is posting regular updates at Joe's SFF.net newsgroup.

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-63923441019452510942009-09-25T15:01:00.000-07:002009-09-25T15:10:52.227-07:00

Literary agent Barbara Bova (born Barbara Berson Rose), wife of SF writer Ben Bova, died September 23, 2009 of cancer in a Naples, FL hospice. She married Bova in 1974, the same year she founded the Barbara Bova Literary Agency (which will continue to operate). She was also a columnist for the Naples Daily News. A full obituary will appear in the November issue of Locus.

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-63273064387332072072009-09-23T12:15:00.000-07:002009-09-26T09:48:25.791-07:00

The short lists for the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire 2009 awards have been announced:French NovelLe Déchronologue, Stéphane Beauverger (La Volte)Paysage sombre avec foudre, Alain Claret (Robert Laffont)Gagner la guerre, Jean-Philippe Jaworski (Les Moutons électriques)Lilliputia, Xavier Mauméjean (Calmann-Lévy)Foreign NovelThe Raw Shark Texts, Steven Hall (Robert Laffont)King of Morning, Queen of

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-55871357555669258272009-09-22T13:55:00.000-07:002009-09-24T10:44:53.260-07:00

The winners of the British Fantasy Awards 2009 are: Best Novel (The August Derleth Fantasy Award) Memoirs of a Master Forger, William Heaney/Graham Joyce (Gollancz)Midnight Man, Simon Clark (Severn House)Rain Dogs, Gary McMahon (Humdrumming)The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman (Bloomsbury)The Victoria Vanishes, Christopher Fowler (Little, Brown)Thieving Fear, Ramsey Campbell (PS Publishing)Best

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-24433002159229909822009-09-21T15:49:00.000-07:002009-09-21T16:49:42.528-07:00

The deadline for rightsholders to opt out of the proposed Google Book Search Settlement Agreement passed on September 4, 2009. That was also the date for interested parties to lodge objections to the settlement, and Judge Denny Chin says he received around 400 filings from groups and individuals objecting to or supporting the deal, or asking him to consider assorted legal issues. Google has made

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-29646750025490215812009-09-21T15:47:00.000-07:002009-09-21T16:02:25.789-07:00

Tim Powers has confirmed earlier rumors with the following news: "I can now say that Disney optioned On Stranger Tides and will use elements of the book in the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I can also say that I did not ever specify that Serena and I get parts in the movie or have dinner with Johnny Depp! (Not that we'd mind.)"The fit is an obvious one, as On Stranger Tides is about a

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-75860990468849705392009-09-13T14:19:00.000-07:002009-09-14T11:07:41.520-07:00

Media powerhouse Warner Brothers has created a new division, called DC Entertainment, Inc., "a new company founded to fully realize the power and value of the DC Comics brand and characters across all media and platforms." Barry Meyer, Warner Chairman & CEO, states that "DC Comics and its super hero characters are truly touchstones of popular culture, and the formation of DC Entertainment is a

Locus HQhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05414181600316587940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2404069317725245662.post-63878832083176605952009-09-10T13:49:00.000-07:002009-09-11T17:35:12.265-07:00

Year's Best Fantasy 9, edited by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer, is Tor.com's first print-on-demand publication. According to Tor.com producer Pablo Defindini, Year's Best Fantasy 9 marks "Tor.com's debut as a publishing entity, distinct from Tor Books and as a separate imprint under our shared corporate overlords at Macmillan. YBF 9 is available only as a print-on-demand book, in keeping

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