Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Thomas M. Disch article on Strange Horizons

Here's a compelling coda to the life of Thomas Disch. Sam J. Miller did a truly admirable job with this piece, giving a number of thorough answers to the question, "Who killed Thomas M. Disch?" It's still a question Tom's friends, family, and fans are asking.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Tachyon's 13th Anniversary party wrap-up














(left to right: Jill Roberts, Cindy Cohn, Alan Beatts, Jude Feldman, Richard Lupoff, Jack Rems, Jacob Weisman, and Pat Lupoff)

The Tachyon 13th anniversary party came and went so quickly! As in previous years, we had an excellent and well-attended soiree at Borderlands Books. Highlights included readings from Kage Baker and Terry Bisson and the presentation of the sixth annual Emperor Norton Awards (more about that below), going to Dark Carnival's proprietor Jack Rems, and author Cory Doctorow, whose award was accepted by Cindy Cohn from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Also on the scene were Ellen Klages, Grania Davis, Rudy Rucker, Nick Mamatas, Michael Kurland, Vy Kaftan, Cary Heater, Jeremy Lassen, Espana Sheriff, Charlie Anders from io9, and Amelia Beamer from Locus (who displayed admirable patience and humor in herding us into the picture above). Tachyon publisher Jacob Weisman and Borderlands owner Alan Beatts hosted the event, Borderlands' General Manager Jude Feldman kept everything running smoothly, and SF in SF's Rina Weisman provided a delicious buffet spread (and boundless good cheer). Many thanks to you all for celebrating with us.

More about the Norton Awards: the Emperor Norton Awards are a San Francisco Bay area specific award given for "extraordinary invention and creativity unhindered by the constraints of paltry reason."

Two awards are given. The first is for a single work of SF/F/H or to an author in these genres, given this year to Cory Doctorow for Little Brother. The second, given to any creation, creator, or service relating to those genres, went to to Jeck Rems of Dark Carnival bookstore.

The award is named after and commemorates the memory of Joshua Norton I, Emperor of the United States of America and Protector of Mexico, and is represented by a bust of Norton sculpted by Paul Groendes. The physical award is called a Joshua. It is a juried award, and this year’s judges were Richard Lupoff (author), Alan Beatts (book store proprietor), and Jacob Weisman (editor/publisher).

One of the most memorable parts of the party was Cindy Cohn's acceptance speech for Cory Doctorow's Norton Award. Cindy Cohn is the Legal Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and we were lucky to have her talk about Cory, Little Brother, and the EFF's lawsuit against the NSA:

Acceptance Speech for Emperor Norton Award on behalf of Cory Doctorow
By Cindy Cohn
September 21, 2008 @ Borderlands Bookstore

Thank you so much. I received a somewhat frantic call from Cory Friday night telling me that he’d won this award and asking if I could accept it on his behalf. He was so honored to have been chosen and very sad that he could not attend in person. He gave me both a small statement to say and instructions to tell you about a case that we launched this week at EFF, which relates well to Cory’s amazing book. Here’s what Cory asked me to say:

Many, many thanks to Tachyon, Borderlands and the city and readers of San Francisco for all that you've done over the years to nurture and inspire so many writers and so many activists -- and so many writer/activists! I'm deeply honored by this, and by the chance to join the ranks of the writers who've made San Francisco their homes and muses.

When Cory first told me about Little Brother, I told him that if anyone figured out what he was really doing here – teaching the next generation of kids how to make technology work for them instead of against them – it would be likely banned. I figured that as the Legal Director of the EFF I’d be the one he’d call first when it got banned, so I asked him to send it to me as soon as it was written, which he did. Luckily, I think he’s still in the clear, in part because the people who are likely to be most concerned don’t often read science fiction aimed at young adults. But I also think he’s in the clear in large measure because he wrapped all the teaching in such a great story.

I also think that the link to San Francisco is important. Personally, I can no longer walk through the Civic Center without seeing vampires, visit the Sutro baths without thinking of key signing, or go to Dolores Park without wondering if someone is going to gas us. Cory changed the way I look at the city I live in and love, something only great stories can do.

And here’s where EFF comes in. Cory’s work and EFF’s mission have long been intertwined, not just because he was with us for so long and drank so much of our Kool-Aid, but even before that. And the same is true for Little Brother. While we thankfully haven’t yet had the next terrorist attack, the use of digital technology against ordinary people by an overreaching government is well underway. This week at EFF we filed a new lawsuit, called Jewel v. NSA, aimed at stopping one such invasion of our privacy, the NSA’s dragnet surveillance of all of us, especially those of us in San Francisco.

That’s because the strongest evidence in the case is about San Francisco, specifically the installation of a fiberoptic splitter in an AT&T facility on Folsom Street that is making copies of all of the internet traffic that goes through that facility and giving it to the NSA. Those of you who watch EFF know that we filed suit against AT&T with this same evidence in 2006, but in the last year AT&T and the Administration bullied Congress into passing something called “retroactive immunity” for the telecommunications companies, trying to let them off the hook. We’re fighting that immunity in court, but this week we opened a second front, suing the government and government officials directly. This includes Bush, Cheney, and the other architects of this dragnet surveillance of millions of ordinary Americans, you, me and Marcus Yallow alike.

I know Cory sends his heartfelt thanks to Tachyon and Borderlands and to all of those who chose his work to honor today. And I add my thanks to Cory for allowing me to accept this on his behalf. I’m truly honored and I think you made a wonderful choice.

***

Also, you can learn more about EFF's lawsuits against warrantless wiretapping and join EFF or otherwise support their work.

The EFF takes on the NSA

Bloggers' Rights at EFF

One of the highlights of the Tachyon anniversary party was Cindy Cohn's acceptance speech for Cory Doctorow's Norton Award. Cindy Cohn is the Legal Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and we were lucky to have her talk about Cory, Little Brother, and the EFF's lawsuit against the NSA:

Acceptance Speech for Emperor Norton Award on behalf of Cory Doctorow
By Cindy Cohn
September 21, 2008 @ Borderlands Bookstore

Thank you so much. I received a somewhat frantic call from Cory Friday night telling me that he’d won this award and asking if I could accept it on his behalf. He was so honored to have been chosen and very sad that he could not attend in person. He gave me both a small statement to say and instructions to tell you about a case that we launched this week at EFF, which relates well to Cory’s amazing book. Here’s what Cory asked me to say:

Many, many thanks to Tachyon, Borderlands and the city and readers of San Francisco for all that you've done over the years to nurture and inspire so many writers and so many activists -- and so many writer/activists! I'm deeply honored by this, and by the chance to join the ranks of the writers who've made San Francisco their homes and muses.

When Cory first told me about Little Brother, I told him that if anyone figured out what he was really doing here – teaching the next generation of kids how to make technology work for them instead of against them – it would be likely banned. I figured that as the Legal Director of the EFF I’d be the one he’d call first when it got banned, so I asked him to send it to me as soon as it was written, which he did. Luckily, I think he’s still in the clear, in part because the people who are likely to be most concerned don’t often read science fiction aimed at young adults. But I also think he’s in the clear in large measure because he wrapped all the teaching in such a great story.

I also think that the link to San Francisco is important. Personally, I can no longer walk through the Civic Center without seeing vampires, visit the Sutro baths without thinking of key signing, or go to Dolores Park without wondering if someone is going to gas us. Cory changed the way I look at the city I live in and love, something only great stories can do.

And here’s where EFF comes in. Cory’s work and EFF’s mission have long been intertwined, not just because he was with us for so long and drank so much of our Kool-Aid, but even before that. And the same is true for Little Brother. While we thankfully haven’t yet had the next terrorist attack, the use of digital technology against ordinary people by an overreaching government is well underway. This week at EFF we filed a new lawsuit, called Jewel v. NSA, aimed at stopping one such invasion of our privacy, the NSA’s dragnet surveillance of all of us, especially those of us in San Francisco.

That’s because the strongest evidence in the case is about San Francisco, specifically the installation of a fiberoptic splitter in an AT&T facility on Folsom Street that is making copies of all of the internet traffic that goes through that facility and giving it to the NSA. Those of you who watch EFF know that we filed suit against AT&T with this same evidence in 2006, but in the last year AT&T and the Administration bullied Congress into passing something called “retroactive immunity” for the telecommunications companies, trying to let them off the hook. We’re fighting that immunity in court, but this week we opened a second front, suing the government and government officials directly. This includes Bush, Cheney, and the other architects of this dragnet surveillance of millions of ordinary Americans, you, me and Marcus Yallow alike.

I know Cory sends his heartfelt thanks to Tachyon and Borderlands and to all of those who chose his work to honor today. And I add my thanks to Cory for allowing me to accept this on his behalf. I’m truly honored and I think you made a wonderful choice.

***

Also, you can learn more about EFF's lawsuits against warrantless wiretapping and join EFF or otherwise support their work.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Addendum to the Steampunk curriculum

All right, *first* read Stephen Segal's very funny Five Thoughts on the Popularity of Steampunk. Then read Bruce Sterling's The User's Guide to Steampunk. Then read Steampunk and do the stuff I outlined in my last post (at this point, you've covered all of the essentials).

Then come to Tachyon's 13th Anniversary Party/Bar Mitzvah tomorrow. Wear your new steampunk goggles, it's a special occasion.

The User's Guide to Steampunk

Bruce Sterling. May I say - wow. If you've read nothing else about steampunk, first read this.

And no matter if you're into the cosplay (who doesn't love a cool pair of steampunk goggles?) or at the pinnacle of the upcycling movement, (or like me, contentedly yet curiously in-between) check out the first annual Steam Powered: The California Steampunk Convention.

But first read Chairman Bruce's essay, above. Then read Steampunk. *Then* build your own unique version of something like (but not identical to) a steampunk laptop. To understand (or become a) steampunk, you gotta know the rules so you can break them. It's the "punk" in steampunk, and it's flourishing in a garage near you.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Tachyon's Bar Mitzvah
Sunday 11/21, 2-6 p.m. at Borderlands Books

It's not every day that a publisher celebrates its thirteenth anniversary. This Sunday might be the *only* day a publisher has a bar mitzvah. OK, I'm not saying there will be a boring service, or any actual religious content at all. It's just that though it's really hard to tell, our rhino (logo) is wearing a teeny tiny yarmulke. If you don't believe me, just ask Mike Dashow.

The Tachyon Publications 13th Anniversary Party
Sunday, September 21
2:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Borderlands Books
866 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
415.824.8203

With Tachyon authors Kage Baker and Terry Bisson, other sf celebrities, and the Emperor Norton Awards
Food, drink, books, fun. Probably no rabbis attending.

Monday, September 08, 2008

(C)ontent - what it is, how you can get it, and why you still need it even if you're not sure what it is


OK, I'm scooping Cory Doctorow for the first and only time in my life (I was briefly cutting-edge due to the eight hour time difference between San Francisco and London).

Newly available, here is Cory Doctorow's first nonfiction collection, (C)ontent: Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future.

What is (C)ontent? It's why Microsoft should stop treating their customers as criminals; how America chose copyright and Happy Meal toys over jobs; why Facebook is taking a faceplant; how Wikipedia is a poor cousin of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy; and of course, why free ebooks kick ass.

If you're a geek, you already know you want this book. If you're a noob, well, you don't know what that means and you *need* this book.

And yep, you can also get a free ebook of (C)ontent directly from Cory. Then, without even noticing you've whipped out your credit card (that happens to you too?) you'll happily buy our dead tree version. Cory explains it ... and after all, he's a New York Times bestseller who's also giving his work away. The man *knows* things....

Friday, September 05, 2008

Tachyon Publications 13th Anniversary Party

From Rina, our erstwhile party goddess:

Tachyon Publications has survived and flourished to celebrate THIRTEEN YEARS in business! That's right, 13 years of smart science fiction! Seems our motto "Saving the world...one good book at a time" is working!!

Tachyon Publications 13th Anniversary Party
Sunday, September 21st, from 2-6 PM.
Borderlands Books
866 Valencia Street between 19th/20th
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.824.8203

Our Bar Mitzvah has finally arrived, and it begs the question - shall we do an effigy of Jacob in potato salad or chopped liver? Maybe an ice sculpture of the Rhino logo?!!! Join us for food, drink, fabulously entertaining authors and anecdotes, and of course, the Annual Emperor Norton Awards! Darling, all this for FREE! Plus - we'll be holding a drawing for a Tachyon T-shirt, some Tachyon books, and as always, there's a special freebie giveaway - don't miss it, bring your friends, your family, and check SF in SF for updates over the next couple weeks for our guest list!!

SF in SF movie night - The Princess Bride and Ghostbusters

(Wheeeeee!!!)

Wednesday, September 10
Cash bar and doors open at 6:00PM - early!
Movies begin at 7:00 PM - there is a twenty minute intermission between films

SF in SF - Science Fiction. San Francisco. A Perfect Fit

PRESENTS FREE SCI FI FILM NIGHT

PRINCESS BRIDE & GHOSTBUSTERS

WITH SPECIAL RAFFLE FOR COOL PRINCESS BRIDE STUFF!!!!

We'll be holding a raffle for a hardcover copy of the book by William Goldman, a VERY nifty t-shirt, and a few other special things during the movie night. The winner will be drawn after the movie.

Tickets are $2 each. Buy as many as you want!

All proceeds of the raffle will go directly to Variety's Childrens' Compassion Fund - a primary provider of essential funds often required by families of children with cancer. Variety has partnered with Mix 106.5 KEZR of San Jose. More info at
http://www.varietync.org/programs/mix106_5_compassion_fund.php

You can purchase tickets for the raffle from 6:00PM to the end of the movie. You must be present to win!

THE PRINCESS BRIDE - (1987, 98 mins.) Scaling the Cliffs of Insanity, Battling Rodents of Unusual Size, Facing torture in the Pit of Despair. True love has never been a snap. Heroes. Giants. Villains. Wizards. True Love. - Not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fairy tale. And funny! Oy, is it funny. Even with all the kissing.

GHOSTBUSTERS - (1984, 105 ins.) Who ya gonna call? Let's Get Slimed One More Time! Still the funniest movie with marshmallows, ever.

FREE POPCORN! CASH BAR! SPECIAL RAFFLE!

Seating is limited, so first come, first seated.
Bar proceeds benefit Variety Children's Charity - learn more at www.varietync.org

The Variety Preview Room
The Hobart Building, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, SF
Entrance is between Citibank & Quiznos

We REALLY encourage you to take BART into the City, or use MUNI to get here - parking is just awful in San Francisco...and fines have just been raised again. We are less than ½ block away from the Montgomery St. station. Trust us - you don't want to be looking for parking and be late for the movie!

Phone (night of event) 415-572-1015
questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

SF in SF: Mamatas and Levine on 9/20

Coming up...

Presented by Tachyon Publications
A FREE monthly SF/F author reading series
SF IN SF - Science Fiction. San Francisco. A Perfect Fit.

NICK MAMATAS
DAVID LEVINE

Saturday September 20
Lounge/cash bar opens at 6:00PM
7:00 PM readings
The Variety Preview Room
The Hobart Building, 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, SF
Entrance is between Citibank & Quiznos

Nick Mamatas is currently the editor for Viz Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, an anime, manga and Japanese entertainment company. Heck, we all have a day job...but in his spare time he's written extensively for Razor Magazine, The Village Voice, various Disinformation Books and BenBella Books' Smart Pop Books anthologies. His short novel Northern Gothic (Soft Skull, 2001) was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Long Fiction in 2002. His first full-length novel, Move Under Ground in 2006, was nominated for both the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and the International Horror Guild Award for Best First Novel in 2005, and, in 2007 he decided to distribute it online for free under a Creative Commons license. Other titles include 3000 MPH In Every Direction At Once: Stories And Essays, Under My Roof, and the forthcoming anthologies Spicy Slipstream Stories (with Jay Lake) and Haunted Legends (with Ellen Datlow). And do visit his blog.

David Levine - a science fiction and fantasy writer who's sold over thirty short stories so far. David won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 2006, for 'Tk'tk'tk' (Asimov's Mar 2005), the Writers of the Future Contest, the James White Award, and the Phobos Fiction Contest, and he has been nominated or shortlisted for the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award, the Aeon Award, an earlier Hugo Award, and the John W. Campbell Award (twice). His first book Space Magic, a collection of his short stories, is available now from Wheatland Press. Together with his wife, Kate Yule, he produces the fabulous little fanzine, Bento - you can read back issues online.

Each author will read a selection from their work, followed by Q&A from the audience moderated by author Terry Bisson
Authors will schmooze & sign books after in the lounge - Books available for sale (courtesy of Borderlands Books)
Seating is limited, so first come, first seated
Bar proceeds benefit Variety Childrens Charity - learn more about Variety

We REALLY encourage you to take BART into the City, or use MUNI to get here - parking can be problematic in San Francisco, to say the least. We are less than 1/2 block away from the Montgomery St. station. Trust us - you don't want to be looking for parking and be late for the events!

Phone (night of event) 415-572-1015
questions? Email sfinsfevents@gmail.com
__________________________________________

For those of you who missed the last SF in SF event, with Michael Shea and Michael Blumlein:

Michael Blumlein Reads at SF in SF: Drama in Three Voices

Michael Shea Reads at SF IN SF: The Demiurge: God Wakes Up

SF in SF Panel Discussion With Michael Blumlein, Michael Shea, and Terry Bisson

Michael Shea Interviewed at SF in SF: Speaking of Demiurges

Michael Blumlein Interviewed at SF in SF: Doctor in the House