The Slipstream Question

One of my favorite books in the Tachyon arsenal is Feeling Very Strange: The Slipstream Anthology. I like to recommend it when people ask me for book suggestions, but this always leads to the question "But what is Slipstream?" and apparently I'm not the only one getting asked this question.

Short Answer: Fiction that straddles genres, hanging out somewhere between literature, science fiction, fantasy, and pop culture

Joke Answer: Gene Roddenberry's alternative to Warp Drive

Long Answer: ...well, for that I will now hand you over to the Science Fiction Research Association. Ready to get schooled in Slipstream? This is the class for you: Slipstream 101.

Tachyon Turns 15!

Happy Anniversary! Yesterday, Tachyon Publications celebrated 15 years of smart science fiction and fantasy, and it was a blast!

Books! Cake! Authors! CAKE! The Norton Awards! CAKE WITH RUM IN IT!
Check out Amelia Beamer and Jacob Weisman's flickr pages to see what you missed.

15 years in publishing, especially for an independent press, is a big deal. As Jacob said at the party, we were so happy for the chance to emerge from our office and celebrate it with all of you friends and booklovers.

The party was fantastic, and many thanks are in order. Thank you to Borderlands Books in San Francisco for being fabulous hosts. Thank you James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel, who came a long way to celebrate with us and give their speech. Thank you to Madeleine Robbins for the awesome rum cake, to Rina Weisman for cooking and organizing the event, and Amelia Beamer for taking pictures. And thanks to everyone who came and celebrated this with us, you made this birthday a Birthday Party and we loved celebrating with you.

Of course the biggest thanks goes to the readers, to all the fans of smart science fiction and fantasy. 15 years strong! We'll be thanking you by continuing to save the world, one good book at a time.

Starred Library Journal review for Jeff VanderMeer's The Third Bear

Jeff VanderMeer receives a rare starred Library Journal review for The Third Bear:

In the title story, a monster of seemingly supernatural powers threatens a small village, forcing its leader to find the only way to save his home, while in "Fixing Hanover," a seaside salvage reconstructionist balks at repairing a mechanical device he fears will bring about his own doom. These 15 elegantly crafted stories ably demonstrate VanderMeer's skill at telling tales of wonder in language that enhances the reading experience. VERDICT: Fans of imaginative literature and true speculative fiction should appreciate this groundbreaking collection by a World Fantasy Award winner that calls to mind the works of Borges, Kafka, and Stanislaw Lem.

SF in SF double feature--It's Anime Night!

Love anime? We know you do. That's why next Wednesday night's SF in SF double feature is Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo, followed by The Wings of Honneamise. Either movie is great on it's own, but put them together--plus free popcorn--and you have yourself a damn fine Wednesday.

Admission and popcorn are FREE, and yes, you can bring the kids. But come early! It's first come first seated. Doors open at 6, the first film starts at 6:30 and there will be a brief intermission between the films.

Wednesday September 22nd
The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor - - entrance between Quizno's & Citibank
582 Market St., at 2nd @ Montgomery, San Francisco
Steps from Montgomery St. BART/MUNI station!

As always, proceeds from the cash bar will go to Variety Children's Charity, and if you don't plan on patronizing the bar, there's a suggested donation of $5 to help Variety provide pediatric wheelchairs to kids in need.

Tachyon's anniversary bash in less than one week

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday...

Once again (or maybe for the first time), we invite you to Tachyon's anniversary party on Sunday September 19th at Borderlands Books. That's our *fifteenth* anniversary in publishing. Whoa. So come on by and say hi, grab a free limited-edition novella, and have some fantastic birthday cake (created by a bakestrix extraordinaire).

The Tachyon Publications
Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration

Sunday September 19th
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Borderlands Books
866 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110-1739
(415) 824-8203

Special guests:
Peter S. Beagle
Michael Blumlein
James Patrick Kelly
John Kessel
Madeleine Robbins

Featuring the Eighth Annual Norton Awards for achievement in Bay Area science fiction. And cake.

SF Signal's Exclusive Interview with Chares de Lint

Hello Internet, did you know a daily dose of Charles de Lint is important--nay, essential for maintaining good health?

But if you haven't had any de Lint today, don't worry. The fine folks at SF Signal have got you covered with an exclusive interview. Enjoy! (You can thank us later.)