Paradigms Dying: An Observation On Diversity and Science Fiction

by Mark W. Tiedemann

[Editor's Note: August's From the Office piece was penned by guest contributor Mark W. Tiedemann.  Mark W. Tiedemann is an accomplished science fiction writer; the author of ten novels as well as numerous short stories and novellas.  Mark's newest collection, GRAVITY BOX AND OTHER SPACES, was just released from Walrus Publishing.  Looking for the common theme within the stories in this speculative fiction collection, Mark was pleasantly surprised to learn that the connecting thread was families.  Learn more about the new book here: http://www.walruspublishing.com/for-readers/gravity-box-spaces-talking-mark-tiedemann/.  Mr. Tiedemann is also a skilled photographer who has spent four decades working with a camera.  You can read more about Mark and see some of his incredible work here: http://www.marktiedemann.com/.  As always, the opinions of guest contributors are their own, and do not necessarily represent those of the owner, staff, or store.  But frankly, we usually agree with them. - Jude Feldman]

Some things seem so obvious, so self-evident that for anyone to react to them as if they were unexpected and, worse, unwelcome is puzzling.  Take for instance the idea of diversity -- in science fiction.

One would be forgiven for assuming this would be one of the Automatic Givens in a field that has made its bed in the Valley of Strange since it began, what with everything from Arrisians to Martians to Vulcans to Cyborgs.  How could such a literature not be thrilled at the idea of inclusion?  Of variation?  We should, all of us, have long ago gotten over the sense of revulsion at the presence of all the manifold Others that must surely make up the universe, genocidal alien invaders notwithstanding.

But I suppose, being humans, we compartmentalize even in this, our chosen precinct of the imagination.  All well and good for the page to be open and welcoming, but when it comes to who is writing the new stories and getting nominated for awards and, gasp, changing the nature of the field, tolerance can be just as scarce as among any other segment of so-called mundane society.

Link from a Student

This is a bit unusual!  A student from Ms. Ward's classroom in Indiana is working on a website information-sharing project.  She used some links from Borderlands' site as a resource, so in exchange she gave us this link about Stephen King's work, which she thought might be of interest to our customers:

http://www.best-horror-movies.com/news?name=horror-legend-stephen-king-his-best-novels

Thanks to the student and Ms. Ward - we wish you success with your project!

World Horror Convention Roundup

by Alan Beatts

Though they are terribly tiring, one of my favorite things about the genre book business are the yearly conventions that I get to attend.  At the least, each year I go to the three "world" conventions.  Each convention is different, from the casual and enthusiastic World Horror Convention in the spring to the huge and bustling World Science Fiction Convention in the summer to the World Fantasy Convention in fall with its consummate professionalism, but they all have one strong common quality -- it's a chance to visit and catch up with many, many old friends and a chance to meet new ones.  Oh, yes, and along the way we'll sell a few books, too.

This year's World Horror Convention in Phoenix, Arizona was no exception.  Though smaller than usual this year (perhaps due to being over Easter weekend), WHC was as pleasant as always and convention chairman Mike Wilmoth did a wonderful job.  Surprisingly, given the smaller attendance, sales in the dealer's room were very brisk and, at least for Borderlands, new sales records were set.

Jack Cady, Life and Memories

by Jeremy Lassen

Jack Cady died on January 14th.  He was 71.  On that day, the Sf/fantasy/horror community lost one of its great writers.  As is usually the case with great writers, the genre paid him little attention during his lifetime.  Likewise, he had little time for the genre.  He was too busy living and writing.  He spent a career writing damn good stories and novels, without regard for marketing categories and genre boundaries.  While writing these stories and novels, he worked a variety of blue collar jobs. In his own words, from a 2001 bio-blurb: