* Overheard in the Store:
"You're kidding! I got all dressed up, and NO ONE'S going to notice, because there's a three-drink minimum!"
"After this, ice cream first? Or chai?" #ValenciaStreetProblems
* Someone has mapped the most read book in each of the fifty states, and some of these choices . . . .
https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/1/16585432/most-popular-books-50-states-map
* Do you like San Francisco? Do you like Jello? Why not combine them! http://mymodernmet.com/stunning-models-of-san/
* Nick Mamatas' noted writing workshop, "Fabulist Fiction" begins November 4th, and they're accepting late signups. From the organizers: "Exciting plots and larger-than-life characters are the cornerstones of popular fiction and the emphasis of this course. In this course, we’ll workshop your short stories and novel chapters, explore the history of the genres, perform writing and idea-generating exercises, and discuss the magazines and publishers looking for your sort of fiction. Classes will run on Saturdays from November 4th through December 16th from 2 - 5 PM at 25 Taylor Street in San Francisco." https://sfwriting.institute/fabulist-fiction-fall2017/
* Horror is bleeding into science fiction and fantasy, says PW. Although some would argue there has always been a very close relationship between the two. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/75016-horror-bleeds-into-speculative-fiction-science-fiction-and-fantasy-2017-2018.html
* Friend of the store and all-around delightful person Charlie Jane Anders has closed a deal with Tor Teen for a Space Adventure trilogy. We can’t wait! https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/10/tor-teen-acquires-trilogy-by-charlie-jane-anders.html
* Invisibility might be happening soon! (Thank goodness. We're done with all these people and their eyes with their looking.) https://qz.com/1105538/five-methods-for-turning-invisible-ranked-by-the-inventor-of-a-real-life-invisibility-cloak/
* Fall Flashback! Ursula K. LeGuin’s classic 2015 essay "Up the Amazon with the BS Machine" http://bookviewcafe.com/blog/2015/06/01/up-the-amazon/
* Huge congratulations to our neighbor and fellow San Francisco indie bookstore Dog Eared Books on 25 great years! https://missionlocal.org/2017/10/a-cultural-oasis-at-dog-eared-books-celebrating-25-years-in-business/
* A collection of science fiction featuring Iraqi writers imagining their country 100 years after the 2003 invasion by the U.S. http://www.ozy.com/presidential-daily-brief/pdb-81545/dunes-81554
* What (could) happen to your body when you donate it to science? The answer may be darker than you think. http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-bodies-brokers/
* When the dead do rise? It'll likely be in Colma. https://ww2.kqed.org/news/2017/10/26/why-are-so-many-dead-people-in-colma-and-so-few-in-san-francisco/
* Another month, another piece about inventions that science fiction predicted. (Although this list has a couple that others forget about.) https://sanvada.com/2017/10/23/eight-ground-breaking-inventions-that-science-fiction-predicted/
* It's not October anymore, but everyone knows that hauntings happen year 'round. If you're planning to visit Britain, why not test your mettle by staying in a haunted hotel? https://www.visitbritain.com/us/en/halloween-britain-most-haunted-hotels#OUjbmIK1OzBI8tXA.97
* Horror can be so great, but not when it's relying on outdated stereotypes. That's why you should check out this list of horror stories with complex women characters. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/7-horror-stories-women-victims/
* Listen to N.K. Jemisin, Annalee Newitz and Cory Doctorow talk about world building: if it has changed, and experiencing those worlds in different ways. https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/writing-the-fantastic-in-2017/
* What if we zoned all of the planet as residential? That's what some are saying would solve the energy crisis Australia is going through. http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/tv-scientist-offers-outthere-solution-to-australias-energy-crisis/news-story/bfcd87aacbdde85e336e6943e1ad9d7a
* A fun and interesting guide for anyone with an interest in science fiction -- 31 essential terms and where they all came from. https://io9.gizmodo.com/31-essential-science-fiction-terms-and-where-they-came-1594794250
* Female robots, their history in fiction, the disturbing truth, and the hope for the future or robotics: http://theconversation.com/robotics-science-fiction-and-the-search-for-the-perfect-artificial-woman-86092
* Women warriors take center stage in three new fantasy novels! https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/books/3-new-science-fictionfantasy-titles-about-warrior-women/
* "Beyond Skyline" sounds like the best of trashy mind candy science fiction. If you need a distraction from the world? Check it out! https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/3/16603736/beyond-skyline-review-cinepocalypse-premiere-frank-grillo-iko-uwais
* If you have an interest in mad scientists (and let's be honest -- who doesn't?) this article seems like a gateway to deeper and darker research. http://www.abc2news.com/newsy/these-reallife-mad-scientists-are-straight-out-of-science-fiction
* The JFK papers are being released on a rolling basis. Which science fiction theory do you think came closest to the truth of how he died? Time travel? Mutant? Alien? Or is he still living on the moon? https://www.inverse.com/article/37792-jfk-assassination-scifi-conspiracy-theories-quantum-leap-xfiles
* If you have time on your hands, and an interest in history and science fiction? Why not transcribe one of the hundreds of science fiction fanzines the University of Iowa has scanned and put up online? More information here: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/10/the_university_of_iowa_s_hevelin_collection_of_science_fiction_fanzines.html
* The Evening Standard claims that these ten films are the best science fiction films of all time. Na'amen disagrees -- what do you think? https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/the-10-best-scifi-films-of-all-time-from-blade-runner-to-the-matrix-a3660911.html
* The reboot of the Jetsons in comic book form looks like an interesting and well thought-out look at dystopia and survival, (unlike the horrible Scooby Doo comic). https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/3/16598440/jetsons-dystopia-dc-comics-future-apocalypse
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Award News
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* Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the World Fantasy Awards! Clare North won the Best Novel award for THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE. http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/most-recent/
* The WSFA (Washington Science Fiction Association) has announced the winner of the Small Press Short Fiction award. Congratulations to Ursula Vernon for her story "The Tomato Thief": http://www.wsfasmallpressaward.org
* Congratulations to Carmen Maria Machado, who won the Bard Prize for her collection HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES. The award comes with a $30,000 check and becoming writer-in-residence for one year. http://www.bard.edu/bfp/
* The 2017 Sunburst Awards have been announced! http://www.sunburstaward.org/2017-sunburst-winners
* Colson Whitehead's great award-winning novel THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD has won another award! This time it's The Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy Award. http://www.hurstonwright.org/hurstonwright-foundation-announces-2017-legacy-awards/
* The shortlist for the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence has been released and there are a couple titles on the fiction list. Check it out here: http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/carnegieadult/short-lists
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