Small Press Spotlight in The New York Times and news from the Agony Column

"The best work in dark fantasy and horror fiction these days is being published by small presses", says today's New York Times. And that includes Tachyon and The Bible Repairman and Other Stories, just in time for Halloween....

Meanwhile, over in The Agony Column, Rick Kleffel finds Future Media "fascinating, intelligent and engaging" and The Uncertain Places is "an excellent examination of magic, stories and family...a perfect example of social surrealism that approaches the fairy tale as a hidden family history."

SF in SF: The Ackermonster Chronicles and William F. Nolan

Tomorrow night, SF in SF has something special for you.

Come see the FIRST San Francisco screening of The Ackermonster Chronicles. This will be a special preview of the working cut. Featuring interviews with Ray Bradbury, John Landis, Ray Harryhausen, and more, this film has everything you need to know about noted science fiction author, editor, collector and critic, Forrest J. Ackerman.

And before the movie, there will be a special author appearance by William F. Nolan (author of Logan's Run, soon to be a major motion picture for a second time). He will be hosting a meet and greet/book signing for The Last Quark.

Wednesday, October 19th
Doors and bar open at 6PM
Author event at 7PM
Movie at 8PM with FREE popcorn!

Proceeds from cash bar and suggested donations go to Variety Children's Charity

This event takes place at:
The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance next to Citbank on Market St.
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Kafkaesque in Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly has just reviewed Kafkaesque, calling it an "eclectic, mind-blowing collection." Mind-blowing! I'd stick in a bunch of happy-face emoticons if this wasn't a work blog. Suffice it to say, we are very happy PW loves Kafkaesque as much as we do.

Read the rest of the review here.

Future Media (and Litquaaaaaake!)

Pop Matters has reviewed Future Media today, and they like it as much as we do! It's "Recommended for Anyone Who Has a Smartphone, Watches TV, or Uses the Internet." Here's a clip:

"This book makes connections—connections between past and present, fiction and nonfiction, what is real and what is not (or at least, not yet). It’s about predictions—those that have come to pass and those that still might. And as the nonfiction makes clear, much classic science fiction isn’t as far from reality as we might like it to be." Read more.

Litquake wraps up tomorrow, but the Kafkaesque panel is TONIGHT, so come join us! Rudy Rucker, Carter Scholz, and Terry Bisson will be discussing and reading from their contributions to the upcoming Kafkaesque, our anthology of stories inspired by Franz Kafka, coming out this November.

SF in SF presents
Kafkaesque at Litquake
Friday, October 14th
The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance next to Citibank on Market St.
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Doors and cash bar open at 6, event starts at 7. First come first served, proceeds from the bar and suggested $5-$10 donations at the door go to Variety Children's Charity.

Tim Powers! Kafka! Urban Fantasy! Litquake!

"The name of Tim Powers has been a secret talisman for a select group of readers for decades..."

This line, which I love, starts off a fantastic review of The Bible Repairman and Other Stories in the Barnes & Noble Review. Who doesn't love secret talismans? The review continues:

"Superb....Here, in potent, distilled form, you will find Powers's trademarked secret histories, heroically damaged (or damagedly heroic) losers, creepy supernatural phenomena, and macabre humor." Read the rest here.

And speaking of reviews, the Green Man Review took a look at The Urban Fantasy Anthology:

"Every single story in this collection has been well chosen and polished brightly.... I highly recommend those with even a vague interest in urban fantasy add The Urban Fantasy Anthology to their collection." Read more.

Now then, did you know that this week is Litquake? Litquake is the largest independent reading festival on the West Coast. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, there are lots of amazing author and book events every day this week (check out www.litquake.org for a full schedule).

This Friday, SF in SF's reading series joins with Litquake to bring you Rudy Rucker, Carter Sholz, and Terry Bisson, in one amazing panel. They will be discussing and reading from their contributions to the upcoming Kafkaesque, our anthology of stories inspired by Franz Kafka, coming out this November.

SF in SF presents
Kafkaesque at Litquake
Friday, October 14th
The Variety Preview Room Theatre
The Hobart Bldg., 1st Floor — entrance next to Citibank on Market St.
582 Market Street @ 2nd and Montgomery
San Francisco, CA 94104

Doors and cash bar open at 6, event starts at 7. First come first served, proceeds from the bar and suggested $5-$10 donations at the door go to Variety Children's Charity.

Tobacconistic magic

Excellent news. Michael Swanwick has made a video of his infamous performance of his infamous story, "Cigar-Box Faust." Michael also performed "Cigar-Box Faust" at Tachyon's 8th Anniversary party in 2003. This time around he is joined by his multitalented wife, Marianne Porter. For the libretto (I mean, the story Marianne is reading), as well as many other bite-sized Swanwickian treats, you'll want to check out Michael's Tachyon collection, Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures.

The Wall Street Journal on The Bible Repairman

In today's Wall Street Journal, Tom Shippey reviews The Bible Repairman, aptly concluding:

"Most fantasy authors aim at persuading you of the reality of their invented worlds. Mr. Powers makes you doubt the reality of your own. Are there still sin-eaters and ghost-talkers quietly pursuing their trade in tenements and behind weed-infested yards, with regular tariffs and specializations? If there are, what do they know that you don't? That's what creates a true frisson."

Read the rest of the review here.