Liza Groen Trombi, Karen Haber, Francesca Myman, Heather Shaw, and Caitlin Beck examine art books
And then there is the list. The year-end, annual Recommended Reading List is our moment to highlight our favorite titles for the year. It’s not an easy task, and every year there are titles that people can’t believe didn’t make it (some we didn’t see or saw too late to read and recommend, or simply didn’t like as much). It is a labor of love though, and we hope you find some new authors to read, and some exciting titles to look for. Even though it is our busiest and most work intensive part of the year, for most of us it is also our favorite time to be working in the SF field – we get to see the full breadth of the genre publishing in fine form. Thanks to everyone who helped us out with it, especially Jonathan Strahan and Gary Wolfe for their ready assistance, above and beyond.
2012
Looking back at the big changes from 2012, we saw Amazon move even more firmly into publishing, launching several new imprints and picking up smaller houses backlists. Most of the big houses settled on the DOJ agency suit, Penguin just in December, and are back in business with ‘‘agency lite.’’ We still have to see what comes of Macmillan and Apple holding strong and defending their actions. The biggest news in publishing was the merger agreement between Penguin and Random House, though when that will be finalized is still in question, since it is awaiting for approval by the various governments in countries that host those companies before it can become a reality. This was the time in five years that the print books number did not go up – probably a good sign, since the past few years have felt like the numbers were growing out of control, throwing (too many) books at the wall to see what would stick. Science fiction books were up, paranormal was down, e-books continue to stabilize as a format, but aren’t driving print out of business entirely, and all in all it felt like a good year.
Not to be forgotten, though, we lost some of our greatest contributors to the field this year, Ray Bradbury in June and Harry Harrison in August. Also artist Jean Giraud AKA Moebius, Ralph McQuarrie, and Leo Dillon. Writers Boris Strugatsky, Josepha Sherman, Adam Niswander, photographer Jay Kay Klein, K.D. Wentworth, and so on.
POLL & SURVEY
Once again it’s time for the Locus Poll & Survey. We are reworking some of the questions to include more about electronic formats. There is the annual paper pullout, but you can also fill out the survey online from the link at
Subscribers of record who return ballots will receive a free issue when we count ballots in May, so be sure to include your name and subscription number (print subscribers) or e-mail (digital subscribers) exactly as we have it in your subscriber information. To qualify, you must make an effort to vote in some categories at least and fill out the Survey as well. Photocopies are acceptable from ultimate collectors. Deadline is April 15, 2013.
Please don’t vote for any item more than once, with the exception of first novels, which can also be included in best SF, fantasy, or YA categories. The lists on pages 38-40 are recommendations only, and they also populate the pull-down lists online, but remember: you can vote for anything else you want. There is space for it if you want to write in votes; the pull-down just makes it easier to tally. Please fill in as completely as you can, with at minimum title and author. The categories are mostly self-explanatory, except for short fiction: a novella runs 17,500 to 60,000 words, a novelette 7,500 to 17,500 words, and a short story up to 7,500 words. A book containing stories by several different authors is an anthology; a book with multiple stories by a single author is a collection. These are different from the Hugo and Nebula Awards eligibility requirements. We will tally all the votes and present the winners at the Locus Awards Weekend.
Editorial Matters continues after ad.
LOCUS AWARDS
The Locus Awards events are scheduled for the weekend of June 28-30 in Seattle, with panels, parties, readings, an autograph session, and, of course, the awards banquet emceed by the fabulous Connie Willis. This year we are very pleased that Norwescon 36,
NEXT ISSUE
Our next issue is a Forthcoming Books issue, with publishing schedules of titles through December 2013, with planned interviews with Lavie Tidhar and Isobelle Carmody, the Nebula Awards ballot if we get it in time, and our usual news, reviews, and articles.
Don’t forget to recommend Locus to a friend and help us keep our subscriber numbers strong – you, our readers, are our best advertising, so please tweet about a favorite review, blog about reading the mag, and mention/loan Locus to another reader today!
–Liza Groen Trombi
Subscribe, or renew your subscription, at http://www.locusmag.com today.
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Mention Locus in your blog, website, or favorite form of social media.
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PHOTO LIST
Brian Slattery (LT)
Catherynne M. Valente (BG)
Karen Lord (BC)
Christopher Barzak (EL)
Frances Hardinge (F)
Adam Roberts (F/GS)
Catherynne M. Valente (BG)
Peter David (F/LN)
Junot Díaz (F)
Tanya Huff (BG)
Ross Lockhart (LT)
Joe R. Lansdale (BG)
Diane Turnshek (F)
John Kessel (F/KM)
John Kessel (F/KM)
Liza Groen Trombi (FM)
Gary K. Wolfe (BC)
Faren Miller (F)
Jonathan Strahan (LT)
Russell Letson (AB)
Graham Sleight (AB)
Adrienne Martini (F/JM)
Carolyn Cushman (FM)
Tim Pratt (HS)
Karen Burnham (FM)
Gardner Dozois (EL)
Rich Horton (LT)
Amy Goldschlager (LT)
Steven Utley (F)
Jacques Sadoul (CNB)
Liza Groen Trombi, Karen Haber,Francesca Myman, Heather Shaw, Caitlin Beck (FM)
Brian Slattery (LT)
Photo Listing: (BG) Beth Gwinn, (LT) Liza Groen Trombi, (FM) Francesca Myman, (BC) Bill Clemente, (EL) Ernest Lilly, (F/GS) George Seguin–furnished under a Creative Commons license, (F/LN) Luigi Novi– furnished under a Creative Commons license, (F/KM) Kate Maddelena, (F/JM) Jamey Novick, (HS) Heather Shaw, (CNB) Charles N. Brown, (F) Furnished.
AD LIST
Ace/Roc
Baen
Clarion
Clarion West
E-Reads
The Celaeri Song Trilogy
Locus
Tor
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MASTHEAD
CHARLES N. BROWN
Founder
(1968-2009)
LIZA GROEN TROMBI
> Editor-in-Chief
KIRSTEN GONG-WONG
Managing Editor
MARK R. KELLY
Locus Online Editor-in-Chief
CAROLYN F. CUSHMAN
TIM PRATT
Senior Editors
FRANCESCA MYMAN
Design Editor
HEATHER SHAW
Assistant Editor
JONATHAN STRAHAN
Reviews Editor
TERRY BISSON
GWENDA BOND
JAMES BRADLEY
JOHN CLUTE
GARDNER DOZOIS
AMY GOLDSCHLAGER
RICH HORTON
RUSSELL LETSON
ADRIENNE MARTINI
FAREN MILLER
GRAHAM SLEIGHT
GARY K. WOLFE
Contributing Editors
KAREN BURNHAM
Roundtable Blog Editor
WILLIAM G. CONTENTO
Computer Projects
Locus, The Magazine of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Field (ISSN 0047-4959), is published monthly, at $6.95 per copy, by Locus Publications, 34 Ridgewood Lane, Oakland CA 94611. Please send all mail to: Locus Publications, PO Box 13305, Oakland CA 94661. Telephone (510) 339-9196; (510) 339-9198. FAX (510) 339-9198. E-mail:
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Locus, February 2013 Page 29