Great article on Cosplay Central. With regard to "Covid-ready" cosplay, I have to say I'm already set for this Halloween. I'll be donning a recreation of a WWI era field nurse's uniform, complete with (updated) surgical mask. (And, yes, I'm wearing it to work.)
Given your education, persuing the history of sf/f was a natural impulse, and a joy for us to read. I'm excited to see what your analysis of today's offerings predicts for the future of the genres.
Also, sometimes we can shape the future by predicting it persuasively.
This sounds great! I always enjoy reading your posts, and they often lead me to great new reads in addition to thinking more deeply about books I've read. I was wondering if you might consider, as an accommodation to those of us who can't always afford to buy books when they are first published in hardcover, a round-up not just of new and up-coming books, but of new books that are being published in paperback? I get so excited about seeing new releases (like the new Kim Stanley Robinson!) but I have to be deliberate about which books I buy ASAP and which ones I wait on, and then sometimes I forget or don't hear about it when they are released. I know this is a selfish thing to request, so I don't want to add more busy work to your job! But if it were easy, I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your devotion to the imaginary worlds and to the people who create them. I really enjoy it!
As far as rounding up books when they hit paperback: it's a good thought, but probably not, for a couple of reasons. The main one is just that keeping track of a book's first release is pretty time-consuming: I have lists and whatnot, but the priority of publicists is almost always a title's first release, rather than a paperback — if they get one. There are ways to track down books when they do hit paperback, but it's a whole lot more work to sort out which books are being reprinted and which ones are being released as a PB for the first time.
My recommendation here is to do what I do: set up a list on Amazon or Goodreads (or some other book platform). I have a wishlist on Amazon that I'll set up for books that I want to get but just can't (or just isn't a huge priority for me), which I'll check back on every now and again. You can also generally "follow" an author on Amazon or Goodreads, which should alert you to new releases, and it's also often worth signing up for an individual author's newsletter. Most have them, even if it's to alert readers to new releases!
Great article on Cosplay Central. With regard to "Covid-ready" cosplay, I have to say I'm already set for this Halloween. I'll be donning a recreation of a WWI era field nurse's uniform, complete with (updated) surgical mask. (And, yes, I'm wearing it to work.)
Nice!
Given your education, persuing the history of sf/f was a natural impulse, and a joy for us to read. I'm excited to see what your analysis of today's offerings predicts for the future of the genres.
Also, sometimes we can shape the future by predicting it persuasively.
*evil laugh*
I definitely want to dig into some history. I have a couple of posts in the works that I'm excited for.
I’m intrigued by this deliberate forward looking approach as pertains to technology and SciFi and eager to see how it plays out.
I am as well! I think it’s something that’s overlooked.
This sounds great! I always enjoy reading your posts, and they often lead me to great new reads in addition to thinking more deeply about books I've read. I was wondering if you might consider, as an accommodation to those of us who can't always afford to buy books when they are first published in hardcover, a round-up not just of new and up-coming books, but of new books that are being published in paperback? I get so excited about seeing new releases (like the new Kim Stanley Robinson!) but I have to be deliberate about which books I buy ASAP and which ones I wait on, and then sometimes I forget or don't hear about it when they are released. I know this is a selfish thing to request, so I don't want to add more busy work to your job! But if it were easy, I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your devotion to the imaginary worlds and to the people who create them. I really enjoy it!
I'm glad they've helped!
As far as rounding up books when they hit paperback: it's a good thought, but probably not, for a couple of reasons. The main one is just that keeping track of a book's first release is pretty time-consuming: I have lists and whatnot, but the priority of publicists is almost always a title's first release, rather than a paperback — if they get one. There are ways to track down books when they do hit paperback, but it's a whole lot more work to sort out which books are being reprinted and which ones are being released as a PB for the first time.
My recommendation here is to do what I do: set up a list on Amazon or Goodreads (or some other book platform). I have a wishlist on Amazon that I'll set up for books that I want to get but just can't (or just isn't a huge priority for me), which I'll check back on every now and again. You can also generally "follow" an author on Amazon or Goodreads, which should alert you to new releases, and it's also often worth signing up for an individual author's newsletter. Most have them, even if it's to alert readers to new releases!
Thanks! That's a great idea -- I really like Goodreads as a way to share and read about books I've heard of.
It certainly has its issues, but it's how I keep track of what I've read or am reading at any given point.