Book News Archives


	Pocket Reviving Banzai Book 07-18-01 Pocket Books announced that it would publish a new paperback edition of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai by Earl Mac Rauch, based on Rauch's movie of the same name, on Dec. 4. Banzai has been out of print for years. The new edition will be published in large-format paperback and will feature a new introduction by the author and a full-color insert of images from the film. It will retail for a suggested price of $12.95. MGM Home Video, meanwhile, will release a widescreen collectors' edition DVD and video of the movie later this year. The DVD will feature deleted scenes and other extras.

	Mythopoeic Finalists Named 05-18-01 The Mythopoeic Society announced the finalists for its 2001 Mythopoeic Award, honoring fantasy works published in 2000. The society is a non-profit international literary and educational organization for the study, discussion, and enjoyment of fantasy and mythic literature. Winners will be announced at Mythcon XXXII, taking place in Berkeley, Calif., Aug. 3-6. A full list of finalists follows. Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, Adult Literature •ravenShadow by Win Blevins •Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint •The Sarantine Mosaic (Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors) by Guy Gavriel Kay •The Innamorati by Midori Snyder Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, Children's Literature •Aria of the Sea by Dia Calhoun •Night Flying by Rita Murphy •Beast by Donna Jo Napoli •Growing Wings by Laurel Winter •Boots and the Seven Leaguers by Jane Yolen Mythopoeic Scholarship Award for Inklings Studies •C.S. Lewis: Writer, Dreamer & Mentor by Lionel Adey •J.R.R. Tolkien and His Literary Resonances, George Clark and Daniel Timmons, eds. •The Crisis and the Quest: A Kierkegaardian Reading of Charles Williams by Stephen N. Dunning •Tolkien's Legendarium: Essays on The History of Middle-earth, Verlyn Flieger and Carl F. Hostetter, eds. •J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by T.A. (Tom) Shippey Mythopoeic Scholarship Award for Myth and Fantasy Studies •King Arthur in America by Alan Lupack and Barbara Tepa Lupack •The Fantasy Literature of England by C.N. Manlove •The Quest for the Grail: Arthurian Legend in British Art 1840-1920 by Christine Poulson •The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales, Jack Zipes, ed.

	Potter Books Hit Milestone 05-02-01 J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of children's fantasy novels has sold 100 million copies worldwide, placing them among the best-selling books of all time, the Reuters news service reported. The books have topped best-seller lists from Argentina to China and have been translated into 42 languages, from Albanian to Zulu, the news service reported. "This is an unprecedented publishing achievement anywhere in the world--either for adult or children's books," Rowling's agent Christopher Little said in a statement. "To put this into perspective, imagine that every man, woman and child in the United Kingdom had two Harry Potter books." Rowling submitted the manuscript for her first Harry Potter book in 1995. Since then, she has written three more Potter novels, and the first one is being adapted into a feature film, to be directed by Chris Columbus.

	Hugo Stories Free Online 05-02-01 Electronic book retailer Fictionwise.com announced that it will release three 2001 Hugo-nominated short stories free on its Web site. The stories will be offered free only for a limited time. To obtain the free stories, visitors must register at the site. The stories are listed below. •"Kaddish for the Last Survivor" by Michael A. Burstein •"The Elephants on Neptune" by Mike Resnick •"Redchapel" by Mike Resnick

	Ireland Spawns New Kid Wiz Book 04-27-01 In a Harry Potter-like success story, Irish schoolteacher Eoin Colfer's fantasy children's novel Artemis Fowl is being published internationally in May and is already slated for development as a feature film, the Reuters news service reported. Miramax films will develop the movie based on the first book by Colfer. Reuters reported that the book's rights have sold in 18 countries for advances totaling more than $1.5 million. Unlike Potter, however, Artemis Fowl is an anti-hero who kidnaps a leprechaun and steals his secrets, Reuters reported. The book is about a battle between Artemis and a band of fairies, dwarfs and trolls seeking to rescue the kidnapped leprechaun Holly Short. Colfer said he had not read J.K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter novels until after he had completed Artemis Fowl.

	Hugo Finalists Announced 04-26-01 The Millennium Philcon announced the nominees for the 2001 Hugo Awards, recognizing achievement in science fiction. The awards are named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, the magazine editor credited as "the father of science fiction." The awards will be presented at the 59th World Science Fiction Convention, or The Millennium Philcon, in Philadelphia, Aug. 30-Sept. 3. A full list of nominees follows. Novel •A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin •Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer •Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling •Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson •The Sky Road by Ken MacLeod Novella •"A Roll of the Dice" by Catherine Asaro •"Oracle" by Greg Egan •"Radiant Green Star" by Lucius Shepard •"Seventy-Two Letters" by Ted Chiang •"The Retrieval Artist" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch •"The Ultimate Earth" by Jack Williamson Novellette •"Agape Among the Robots" by Allen Steele •"Generation Gap" by Stanley Schmidt •"Millennium Babies" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch •"On the Orion Line" by Stephen Baxter •"Redchapel" by Mike Resnick Short Story •"Different Kinds of Darkness" by David Langford •"Kaddish for the Last Survivor" by Michael A. Burstein •"Moon Dogs" by Michael Swanwick •"The Elephants on Neptune" by Mike Resnick •"The Gravity Mine" by Stephen Baxter Related Book •Concordance to Cordwainer Smith, Third Edition by Anthony R. Lewis •Greetings from Earth: The Art of Bob Eggleton by Bob Eggleton and Nigel Suckling •Putting It Together: Turning Sow's Ear Drafts Into Silk Purse Stories by Mike Resnick •Robert A. Heinlein: A Reader's Companion by James Gifford •Terry Pratchett: Guilty of Literature, ed. by Andrew M. Butler, Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn Dramatic Presentation •Chicken Run •Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon •Frank Herbert's Dune •Frequency •X-Men Professional Editor •Ellen Datlow •Gardner Dozois •David G. Hartwell •Stanley Schmidt •Gordon Van Gelder Professional Artist •Jim Burns •Bob Eggleton •Frank Kelly Freas •Donato Giancola •Michael Whelan Semiprozine •Interzone edited by David Pringle •Locus edited by Charles N. Brown •New York Review of Science Fiction edited by Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell, and Kevin Maroney •Science Fiction Chronicle edited by Andrew I. Porter •Speculations edited by Denise Lee and Susan Fry; published by Kent Brewster Fanzine •Challenger edited by Guy Lillian III •File 770 edited by Mike Glyer •Mimosa edited by Nicki and Richard Lynch •Plokta edited by Alison Scott, Steve Davies and Mike Scott •Stet edited by Dick Smith and Leah Zeldes Smith Fan Writer •Bob Devney •Mike Glyer •Dave Langford •Evelyn C. Leeper •Steven H Silver Fan Artist •Sheryl Birkhead •Brad Foster •Teddy Harvia •Sue Mason •Taral Wayne John W. Campbell Award •James L. Cambias •Thomas Harlan •Douglas Smith •Kristine Smith •Jo Walton

	Prometheus Finalists Listed 04-24-01 The Libertarian Futurist Society announced the finalists for its Prometheus Award for Best Novel. The winner will be announced over the Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia at the World Science Fiction Convention. The award honors outstanding science fiction or fantasy that explores the possibilities of a free future, champions human rights (including personal and economic liberty), dramatizes the perennial conflict between individuals and coercive governments or critiques the tragic consequences of abuse of power, especially by the state, the society announced. A list of finalists follows. •Lodestar by Michael Flynn •The Sky Road by Ken MacLeod •The Truth by Terry Pratchett •Forge of the Elders by L. Neil Smith •Eagle Against the Stars by Steve White

	Smith Wins PKD Award 04-16-01 Michael Marshall Smith's novel Only Forward, published by Bantam Spectra, won the Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished science fiction, given to a 2000 book published for the first time in the United States as a paperback original. Smith won a certificate and a check for $1,500. Evolution's Darling by Scott Westerfeld, published by Four Walls Eight Windows, received a special citation honor. The awards were presented at Norwescon 24 in SeaTac, Wash. The award is named for legendary SF author Philip K. Dick and is jointly sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Northwest Science Fiction Society.

	2001 BSFA Awards Announced 04-16-01 The 2001 British Science Fiction Association Awards were presented at a ceremony on Sunday, April 15, at Britain's annual science fiction convention, Eastercon. Mary Gentle earned the Best Novel award for her book Ash: A Secret History (Gollancz), Peter F. Hamilton won in the Best Story category for "The Suspect Genome" (Interzone No. 156), and Dominic Harman won for Best Artwork for his work "Hideaway" (cover of Interzone No. 157). Also presented at the ceremony was the second Richard Evans Award, which went to Gwyneth Jones. This award--which includes a check for 2,000 pounds--is given to an author whose body of work within the genre has attracted critical acclaim without the commensurate financial rewards. Finally, the winner of the Paper Tiger Art Award (best single piece in the Eastercon/Paragon artshow) was Jay Hurst for "Despatch Day." Honorable mentions went to Jackie Burns, Fred Gambino and Dave Hardy. The BSFA Awards are presented annually by the British Science Fiction Association, based on a vote of BSFA members and members of the British national SF convention (Eastercon).

	Stoker Nominees Announced 04-03-01 The Horror Writers Association announced the nominees for this year's Bram Stoker Awards, recognizing outstanding writing in the dark fantasy, horror or occult genre published in 2000, Locus Online reported. Winners will be announced at the 2001 Stoker Banquet in Seattle in conjunction with the World Horror Convention May 25-28. The Horror Writers Association is a worldwide group of writers and publishing professionals dedicated to promoting the genre. The Bram Stoker Awards are named in honor of the Irish author of Dracula. A full list of nominees follows. Novel •The Deceased by Tom Piccirilli •The Indifference of Heaven by Gary A. Braunbeck •The Licking Valley Coon Hunters Club by Brian A. Hopkins •Silent Children by Ramsey Campbell •The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon First Novel •House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski •The Licking Valley Coon Hunters Club by Brian A. Hopkins •Nailed by the Heart by Simon Clark •Run by Douglas E. Winter Long Fiction •"God Screamed and Screamed, Then I Ate Him" by Lawrence P. Santoro •"In Shock" by Joyce Carol Oates •"The Man on the Ceiling" by Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem •"Riding the Bullet" by Stephen King Short Fiction •"Dead Cat Bounce" by Gerard Daniel Houarner •"Fallen Angel" by Robert J. Sawyer •"Gone" by Jack Ketchum •"Mexican Moon" by Karen E. Taylor Fiction Collection •City Fishing by Steve Rasnic Tem •Magic Terror: Seven Tales by Peter Straub •Up, Out of Cities That Blow Hot and Cold by Charlee Jacob •Wind Over Heaven and Other Dark Tales by Bruce Holland Rogers Anthology •Bad News, Richard Laymon, ed. •Brainbox: The Real Horror, Steve Eller, ed. •Extremes: Fantasy and Horror From the Ends of the Earth, Brian A. Hopkins, ed. •The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Thirteenth Annual Collection, Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, eds. Nonfiction •At the Foot of the Story Tree: An Inquiry Into the Fiction of Peter Straub by Bill Sheehan •Hellnotes by David B. Silva and Paul F. Olson •Horror of the 20th Century by Robert Weinberg •On Writing by Stephen King Illustrated Narrative •Cable 79-84 by Robert Weinberg •The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore •Red Romance by Joe R. Lansdale •Spuds by Bernie Wrightson Screenplay •The Cell by Mark Protosevich •Pitch Black by David Twohy, Ken Wheat and Jim Wheat •Requiem for a Dream by Darren Aronofsky and Hubert Selby Jr. •Shadow of the Vampire by Steven Katz •Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan Work for Younger Readers •Be Afraid!, Edo van Belkom, ed. •The Christmas Thingy by F. Paul Wilson •Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling •The Power of Un by Nancy Etchemendy Poetry Collection •Burial Plot by Sandy DeLuca •The Complete Accursed Wives by Bruce Boston •Paratabloids by Michael A. Arnzen •A Student of Hell by Tom Piccirilli Other Media •Back to the Black Lagoon by David J. Skal •Chiaroscuro by Patricia Lee Macomber, Steve Eller and Sandra Kasturi •Gothic.net by Mehitobel Wilson •Twilight Tales Reading Series, Tina L. Jens and Andrea Dubnick, producers

	Bear Raising Darwin's Children 03-21-01 Author Greg Bear is at work on an upcoming novel called Darwin's Children that will pick up the story where his critically acclaimed book Darwin's Radio left off. "Darwin's Children takes up some eight years after the coda of Darwin's Radio and focuses on Stella Nova Rafelson, who will enter adolescence in a world deeply affected by the so-called Virus children," Bear said. Rafelson is one of a new breed of biologically evolved children who are growing up in a United States that Bear said "has entered a state of amended constitutional law, a vaguely disguised and quasi-legal martial [law], and not without reason--biology and evolution are far more complex and disturbing than anyone could possibly have imagined!" Bear said he hopes to finish the novel by the end of the year, adding that he has no plans for further Darwin books after that. "But it's possible that a third volume will be needed to take the story into Stella's adulthood, and follow her own children." Bear sold Darwin's Children to Del Rey as part of a three-book deal. But he was mum about the other novels, "whose subjects and names I prefer to keep under my hat for now." Bear said readers can expect to see Darwin's Children on store shelves in late 2002. Meanwhile, his next book due out is another Del Rey title, called Vitals, which will be published in February 2002. "It involves a quest for immortality and bacterial mind control and is the most paranoid conspiracy novel ever written, in my humble opinion," Bear said.

	Aurora Nominees Announced 03-20-01 The Canadian SF and Fantasy Association announced the final nominees for the 2001 Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy (Aurora) Awards. The Auroras recognize excellence in Canadian SF and fantasy. Auroras will be presented at Canvention 21, held in conjunction with V-Con 26, May 4-6 in Burnaby, British Columbia. A full list of nominees follows. In each category, judges may also select no award. Best Long-Form Work in English •Changing Vision by Julie E. Czerneda •Hunted by James Alan Gardner •The Snow Queen by Eileen Kernaghan •Calculating God by Robert J. Sawyer •The Playback War by Lisa Smedman Best Long-Form Work in French •L'Ange écarlate by Natasha Beaulieu •Un voyage de Sagesse by Guy Sirois •Demain, les étoiles by Jean-Louis Trudel •La Maison au bord de la mer by Ilisabeth Vonarburg Best Short-Form Work in English •"Down on the Farm" by Julie E. Czerneda •"Squat" by Donna McMahon •"The Shoulders of Giants" by Robert J. Sawyer •"Surrendering the Blade" by Marcie Tentchoff •"Coming of Age" by Edo van Belkom Best Short-Form Work in French •"La Danse des esprits" by Douglas Smith •"La première cicatrice" by Jean-Louis Trudel •"Oneiros" by Élisabeth Vonarburg Best Work in English (Other) •Northern Horror, Edo van Belkom, ed. [anthology] •On Spec, Jena Snyder, general ed. [magazine] •Science Fiction: The Play by David Widdicombe [play] •Edo van Belkom editing Be Afraid! anthology •Writing Horror by Edo van Belkom [how to book] Best Work in French (Other) •Solaris, Joël Champetier, ed. •"Le cinéma au pays des rêves" by Mario Tessier •Élisabeth Vonarburg, critiques Artistic Achievement •James Beveridge •Glenn Grant •Mike Jackson •Adrian Kleinbergen •Jean-Pierre Normand •Robert Pasternak •Ronn Sutton Fan Achievement (Fanzine) •BCSFAzine, John C.H. Wong, ed. •Made in Canada Newsletter, Don Bassie, ed. •The Neutral Zone Journal, Lisa McGovern, ed. •Opuntia, Dale Speirs, ed. •Voyageur, Karen Bennett, ed. Fan Achievement (Organizational) •R. Graeme Cameron (BCSFA president and V-Con 25 chair) •Larry Hancock (Toronto in 2003 Worldcon bid) •Peter Johnson (U.S.S. Hudson Bay/IDIC) •Lloyd Penney (Torcon 3 committee) •Yvonne Penney (Torcon 3 committee) Fan Achievement (Other) •Made in Canada by Don Bassie [Web site] •Donna McMahon, book reviews •Lloyd Penney, fan writing •Pioneers of Mars by Lloyd Landa and Karen Linsley [music] •Garth Spencer, fan writing

	Wild Life Wins Tiptree 03-19-01 Wild Life by Molly Gloss won the 2000 James Tiptree Jr. Award, which recognizes SF or fantasy that explores the roles of women and men. The award is named for SF author Alice B. Sheldon, who wrote under the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr. Sheldon helped break down the barrier between women's and men's writing, the award's official web site said. Gloss' novel is the fictional diary of a woman in the early 20th century who joins the search for a young girl in the Oregon woods, only to encounter a band of giant semihuman creatures after getting lost in the deep forest.

	Del Rey Revives Web Workshop 03-16-01 Del Rey Books launched the newly enhanced Del Rey Digital Writing Workshop, an online service to nurture new writers of fantasy and science fiction. Growing out of its first online workshop, which ran from March 1999 to September 2000, the new workshop offers a new interface and more resources for aspiring writers and reviewers. The free service offers writers a place to receive constructive feedback and a venue to post original works, to which they will retain their rights. Once a month, the Del Rey Digital Editorial Board--made up of Del Rey editors and writers--will select the most promising three submissions from the categories of science fiction novel, fantasy novel and short story, and highlight them as editors' choices. Twice a year, the editors' choices in the categories of science fiction and fantasy novel will be showcased on the site. Readers will be invited to vote for their favorites, and winners in each category will be offered the chance to have their novels published as original Del Rey e-Books.

	Oz Ditmar Nominees Announced 03-14-01 Final nominees have been announced for the 2001 Australian National SF ("Ditmar") Awards, according to Eidolon.net. The awards recognize Australian works published in 2000 and were named after Martin James (Ditmar) Jenssen, a founding member of the Melbourne Science Fiction Club. This year, award organizers reported that they received insufficient nominations to run best novella or novelette as a separate category; eligible nominees have been included in the best short story category, Eidolon reported. Organizers also eliminated the category of best fan achievement this year, due to a lack of eligible nominees. In each category, judges may also select a "No Award" option. A full list of nominees follows. Best Novel •Cyberskin by Paul Collins •The Miocene Arrow by Sean McMullen •Sea as Mirror by Tess Williams •Evergence 2: The Dying Light by Sean Williams and Shane Dix Best Short Story •"That Old Black Graffiti" by Robert Hood •"The Devotee" by Stephen Dedman •"The First and Final Game" by Deborah Biancotti •"The King With Three Daughters" by Russell Blackford •"The Saltimbanques" by Terry Dowling •"Basic Black" by Terry Dowling Best Collected Work •Tales from the Wasteland, ed. Paul Collins •Blackwater Days by Terry Dowling •White Time by Margo Lanagan Best Artwork •The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan •Australia Post SF Stamp Set by Otto Schmidinger •Tales from the Wasteland by Marc McBride Best Fan Writer •Grant Watson •Robin Pen •Bruce Gillespie •Alan Stewart Best Fan Artist •Grant Watson •Jade Todd •Dick (Ditmar) Jenssen Best Fan Production •The Rhizome Factor by Cathy Cupitt •First Sight by Chris Dickinson •Angriest Video Store Clerk in the World by Grant Watson •SwanCon 2001 Launch Video •The Unrelenting Gaze: SF Commentary 76, ed. Bruce Gillespie •Mitch? Short Stories for Short Attention Spans by Mitch? Best Professional Achievement •Farscape •Spinouts Bronze, eds. Paul Collins and Meredith Costain •The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan William Atheling Jr. Award •Waking Henson: A Jim Henson Retrospective by Grant Watson and Simon Oxwell •The Unrelenting Gaze: SF Commentary 76, ed. Bruce Gillespie •Reviews in Locus by Jonathan Strahan •Transrealist Fiction by Damien Broderick •"Time Travel, Time Scapes and Timescape," in The New York Review of Science Fiction, by Russell Blackford Best New Talent •Deborah Biancotti

	German Prize Nominees Announced 03-12-01 Nominations for the German Kurd Lasswitz Prize--chosen by SF writers and professionals in Germany--have been announced by prize trustee Udo Klotz, according to the Phantastik Web site. The award is named after the German author Kurd Lasswitz, who wrote such SF classics as Auf Zwei Planeten (Two Planets). The winners will be announced at PentaCon, August 25, in Dresden, Germany. A full list of nominees follows. Novel •Der Opal by Marcus Hammerschmitt •Farnhams Legende by Helge Kautz •Googol by H.D. Klein •Lord Gamma by Michael Marrak •Jaegerwelten by Ulrike Nolte •Die Lebenden Steine von Jargus by Barbara Slawig •Cosmo Pollite by Andreas Winterer Short Story •"Kommen Sie oft Hierher?" by Myra Cakan •"Unter Olympiern" by Gisbert Haefs •"Anschlag auf die Goetter" by Ronald M. Hahn •"Troubadoure" by Marcus Hammerschmitt •"Die Reiter des Mars" by Andreas Moehn •"Paradiesvoegel" by Ulrike Nolte •"Happy Independence Day" by Michael Szameit Best Foreign Work First Published in German in 2000 •Feersum Endjinn by Iain Banks •Inversionen by Iain Banks •Diaspora by Greg Egan •The Reality Dysfunction/The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton •Fairyland by Paul J. McAuley •The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell •The Alien Years by Robert Silverberg •Der Himmelblaue Speck by Wladimir Sorokin Best Translation Of A Foreign Work •Inversionen by Iain Banks •Armageddon-Zyklus by Peter F. Hamilton •Feersum Endjinn by Iain Banks •Schismatix by Bruce Sterling •ABC Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh •The Sparrow/Gottes Kinder by Mary Doria Russel Artwork •Babbarammdas for Raumschiff Promet--Neue Abenteuer 10 •Gerhard Boernsen for Herr der Welten 1 •Klaus Brandt for Die Saat des Himmels •Peter Domanski for Kirinja •Arndt Drechsler for Das Orakel vom Berge •Fred-Juergen Rogner for Der ewige Frieden •Thomas Thiemeyer for phantastisch! Radio Play •Mission Argo by Richard Farber •Das Genauigkeitsprinzip by Marcy Kahan •Making Babies by Bruce Thomson •Irrlaeufer by Morti Vitzki Special Prize •Bruno della Chiesa •Wolfgang Jeschke •Martin Kempf •Else Laudan •Joerg Weigand •Freundeskreis SF Leipzig e.V. •Phantastische Bibliothek Wetzlar

	Episode II Book Previewed 03-09-01 Best-selling author R.A. Salvatore--who is writing the novelization of the upcoming Star Wars: Episode II film--offered tantalizing tidbits about the film's tightly guarded plot, according to the Star Wars Homing Beacon newsletter. "When Amidala first sees Anakin again, I really enjoyed writing that scene," he told the newsletter. Salvatore added, "I know that the most powerful scenes in the movie are going to be when those two are together. ... Their relationship is very complex. Here's a guy we know is heading for darkness. I was afraid that the turnover for Anakin was going to be just a simple thing. People don't snap like that and go over to the dark side. Maybe they have temporary rage, but they don't become Darth Vader because of that. But with Anakin, there's a lot more to it. That's the real beauty of it. She's a big part in what's going on in him. It's all with the best intentions; they're just misplaced. I think that was a nice touch with the script." Salvatore has written about half of the upcoming novelization, which will appear in the summer of 2002. "Sure, it's high-profile, so in that instance it's good for my career," Salvatore told the newsletter. "But more than that, it's high-creativity. Even though it's a novelization, and I'm playing off someone else, I get to sit down with George Lucas and listen to the guy who created all this. That's a life experience. You don't turn things like that down." Salvatore will expand the story of the film and tell of events not shown on the screen. With Lucas' guidance, he is getting insight into the characters and complexities of Episode II, the newsletter reported. "I was able to add in a lot of things that I think will complement [Lucas'] vision," Salvatore said. "Some of them might not be approved, and I'll have to make some changes, but that's part of the process, too."

	Nebula Final Ballot Announced 03-07-01 The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America announced the final ballot for the Nebula Awards, to be given to the best novel, novella, novelette and short story published in 2000. One of SF's most prestigious awards, the Nebulas will be voted on and presented by active members of the SFWA. Winners will be announced at the 2001 Nebula Awards weekend in Los Angeles April 27-29. SFWA will publish an anthology including the winning pieces of short fiction and several runners-up. A full list of nominees follows. Novels •Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear •A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold •Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson •Crescent City Rhapsody by Kathleen Ann Goonan •Infinity Beach by Jack McDevitt •Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint Novellas •"Fortitude" by Andy Duncan •"Ninety Percent of Everything" by Jonathan Lethem, James Patrick Kelly and John Kessel •"Hunting the Snark" by Mike Resnick •"Crocodile Rock" by Lucius Shepard •"Argonautica" by Walter Jon Williams •"Goddesses" by Linda Nagata (originally published in SCIFI.COM's SCI FICTION) Novelettes •"Daddy's World" by Walter Jon Williams •"Stellar Harvest" by Eleanor Arnason •"A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows" by Gardner Dozois •"How the Highland People Came to Be" by Bruce Holland Rogers •"A Day's Work on the Moon" by Mike Moscoe •"Generation Gap" by Stanley Schmidt •"Jack Daw's Pack" by Greer Gilman Short Stories •"macs" by Terry Bisson •"Scherzo With Tyrannosaur" by Michael Swanwick •"You Wandered Off Like a Foolish Child to Break Your Heart and Mine" by Pat York •"The Golem" by Severna Park •"The Fantasy Writer's Assistant" by Jeffrey Ford •"Flying Over Water" by Ellen Klages Scripts •Galaxy Quest by David Howard and Robert Gordon •Being John Malkovich by Charlie Kaufman •The Green Mile by Frank Darabont, from the novel by Stephen King •Dogma by Kevin Smith •Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki and Neil Gaiman •Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan

	Aurealis Winners Named 03-06-01 The Aurealis Awards 2000--honoring Australian SF works published in 2000--have been announced, the Eidolon.net Web site reported. The awards were presented March 2 at a ceremony in Prahran, Victoria. A full list of winners follows. Division A: Science Fiction Best Novel •The Miocene Arrow by Sean McMullen Best Short Story •"Infinite Monkey" by Damien Broderick Division B: Fantasy Best Novel •Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier Best Short Story •"The World According to Kipling (A Plain Tale from the Hills)" by Geoffrey Maloney Division C: Horror Best Novel •The Resurrectionists by Kim Wilkins Best Short Story •"The First and Final Game" by Deborah Biancotti Division D: Young Adult Best Novel •Thursday's Child by Sonya Hartnett Best Short Story •"The Queen's Notice" by Margo Lanagan Convenor's Award (Joint Winners) •Spinouts-Bronze, edited by Paul Collins and Meredith Costain •The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan

	PKD Award Judges Announced 03-06-01 The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society announced the five judges for the Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished science fiction published in paperback original format in the United States in 2001. The nominees will be announced in January 2002. The awards ceremony will be held in Seattle at Norwescon 25 in April 2002. The judges are Constance Ash of New York; Greg Beatty of Coralville, Iowa; Jan Lars Jensen of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Louise Marley of Redmond, Wash.; and Scott Westerfeld of New York.

	Rowling Receives OBE 03-02-01 J.K. Rowling--author of the best-selling Harry Potter series of children's novels--received the Order of the British Empire on March 2 from Great Britain's Prince Charles, the Reuters news service reported. Rowling was honored for services to children's literature, Reuters reported. Rowling also praised the new teaser trailer for Warner Brothers' upcoming feature-film version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which went up on the Web March 1. "I saw the trailer early and thought it was absolutely wonderful, so I was really happy," Rowling told ITN news. The film opens Nov. 16.

	Special Dreamthief Edition Coming 02-23-01 Michael Moorcock has written The Dreamthief's Daughter, a new adventure featuring his fantasy character Elric of Melniboné, specialty press publisher American Fantasy announced. To mark the new book, American Fantasy is releasing a special edition featuring illustrations by eight fantasy artists in March. Randy Broecker, Donato Giancola, Gary Gianni, Robert Gould, Michael Kaluta, Todd Lockwood, Don Maitz and Michael Whelan will illustrate the volume, which will be published in a limited edition of 600 numbered copies, signed by the author and artists and retailing for $125.

	Aurealis Winners Named 03-06-01 The Aurealis Awards 2000--honoring Australian SF works published in 2000--have been announced, the Eidolon.net Web site reported. The awards were presented March 2 at a ceremony in Prahran, Victoria. A full list of winners follows. Division A: Science Fiction Best Novel •The Miocene Arrow by Sean McMullen Best Short Story •"Infinite Monkey" by Damien Broderick Division B: Fantasy Best Novel •Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier Best Short Story •"The World According to Kipling (A Plain Tale from the Hills)" by Geoffrey Maloney Division C: Horror Best Novel •The Resurrectionists by Kim Wilkins Best Short Story •"The First and Final Game" by Deborah Biancotti Division D: Young Adult Best Novel •Thursday's Child by Sonya Hartnett Best Short Story •"The Queen's Notice" by Margo Lanagan Convenor's Award (Joint Winners) •Spinouts-Bronze, edited by Paul Collins and Meredith Costain •The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan

	PKD Award Judges Announced 03-06-01 The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society announced the five judges for the Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished science fiction published in paperback original format in the United States in 2001. The nominees will be announced in January 2002. The awards ceremony will be held in Seattle at Norwescon 25 in April 2002. The judges are Constance Ash of New York; Greg Beatty of Coralville, Iowa; Jan Lars Jensen of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Louise Marley of Redmond, Wash.; and Scott Westerfeld of New York.

	Navy Creates Heinlein Chair 02-21-01 The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., is taking applications for its first Robert A. Heinlein Endowed Chair in aerospace engineering, named in honor of the famed SF novelist (Starship Troopers) and academy alumnus (1929). The inaugural Heinlein Chair "will provide vision and direction for the USNA's astronautical engineering curriculum, our small satellite program and our satellite ground station," the academy said in a statement. Applicants must have a strong background in designing, building, testing, launching and operating spacecraft, along with demonstrated research ability, a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and excellent communications skills. An earned doctorate is desirable, but applicants with strong industrial or laboratory experience will be considered, the academy announced. Interested applicants can check the academy's Official Web Site for more information.

	SFWA Honors Sheckley 02-15-01 The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America selected SF author Robert Sheckley to be this year's author emeritus, SFWA President Paul Levinson announced on the association's official Web site. Sheckley dominated the 1950s' science-fiction short form, with more than 100 stories in that decade, including "The Academy," "The Accountant," "The Altar" and "A Ticket to Tranai." Sheckley's stories appeared in the period's leading pulps, including If, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and Galaxy, as well as in mainstream magazines, such as Esquire and Playboy, Levinson reported. The SFWA's author emeritus program recognizes senior writers who have made significant contributions to the field. Previous recipients include Emil Petaja, Wilson "Bob" Tucker, Judith Merril, Nelson Slade Bond, Philip Klass (William Tenn) and Daniel Keyes. Robin Bailey, who as then south-central regional director of SFWA suggested the program, is editing an SFWA author emeritus anthology. Sheckley and his wife will join SFWA members at its Nebula Awards banquet in Los Angeles on April 28, Levinson reported.

	Soft SF Winners Announced 02-09-01 The Soft SF Writers' Association <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Den/5752/> named the winners of its 2000 Best of Soft SF competition. The award recognizes the best in the genre, which is defined as science fiction in which characters, emotional content or artistic effect are emphasized over plot and deterministic science. The association presents an award for first place ($100), second place ($50) and third place ($25). A full list of winners follows. •First place: "The Meek Inherit" by Stephen D. Rogers •Second place: Infodict by James Van Pelt •Third place: "Dust Station Omega" by Pete Manison •Honorable mentions: "Murder Absolute" by Mary Soon Lee, "The Find" by Ken Rand

	King's Plant Grew Money 02-07-01 Horror author Stephen King has posted a financial statement to his official Web site to show that his online serial novel, The Plant, actually made money. King suspended the project in December after writing six installments, leading some to speculate that the venture wasn't financially successful. The statement shows that King netted $463,832.27 from the experiment in direct Web publishing. King vowed to resume the project. "The Plant is not finished online," King wrote. "It is only on hiatus. I am no more done than the producers of the TV show Survivor are done. I am simply in the process of fulfilling my other commitments. In my view, The Plant has been quite successful. You can form your own opinion based on the story itself and our complete financial records."

	Clarke Short List Announced 02-05-01 Organizers have announced the short list for the 2001 Arthur C. Clarke Award for best SF novel published in Great Britain in 2000, according to the Locus Online Web site. The prize--named for the venerable SF author--will be presented at a ceremony at the Science Museum in London on May 19. A complete list of nominees follows. •Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle •Cosmonaut Keep by Ken MacLeod •Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler •Perdido Street Station by China Mieville •Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds •Salt by Adam Roberts

	BFSA Short List Announced 02-01-01 The British Science Fiction Association announced the short list for its 2000 annual awards. The awards are presented annually by the association, based on a vote of BFSA members and members of the British national SF convention, Eastercon. The awards will be presented April 15 at the 2001 Eastercon in Leicestershire, Great Britain. A complete list of nominees follows. Best Novel •Perdido Street Station by China Miéville •redRobe by Jon Courtenay Grimwood •Paradox by John Meaney •Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds •Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle Best Short Fiction •"Destiny on Tartarus" by Eric Brown •"La Vampiresse" by Tanith Lee •"Adventures in the Ghost Trade" by Liz Williams •"Singing Each to Each" by Paul di Filippo •"The Suspect Genome" by Peter F. Hamilton Best Artwork •Physiognomies of Flight by China Miéville •Hideaway by Dominic Harman •Afetere's Eyes by Gerald Gaubert

	Warchild Wins Award 02-01-01 Warner Aspect announced that Warchild author Karin Lowachee is the winner of its inaugural Warner Aspect First Novel Contest. Lowachee's book bested more than 1,000 manuscripts from all over the world, the publisher announced. Tim Powers, winner of the World Fantasy Award for Last Call and the Philip K. Dick Award for The Anubis Gates, made the final selection. The contest was open to authors who have not previously published a novel. Warchild, an epic SF tale, is scheduled for publication in February 2002.

	Aurealis Nominees Announced 02-01-01 The editors of Aurealis magazine have announced the short list for the Aurealis Awards 2000, recognizing excellence in Australian speculative fiction. The winners of the Aurealis Awards will be announced on March 2 at a ceremony in Melbourne, Australia. A complete list of nominees follows. Division A: Science Fiction Best Novel •The Deep Field by James Bradley •The Miocene Arrow by Sean McMullen •Evergence 2: The Dying Light by Sean Williams and Shane Dix •Sea As Mirror by Tess Williams Best Short Story •Nominees to come. Division B: Fantasy Best Novel •The Nameless Day by Sara Douglass •The Darkness by Anthony Eaton •Medalon by Jennifer Fallon •Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier •Vixen by Hoa Pham Best Short Story •"Goddess and the Geek" by Louise Cusack •"The Fruits of Habit" by Chris Kenworthy •"The Boy Who Didn't Yearn" by Margo Lanagan •"The World According to Kipling (A Plain Tale from the Hills)" by Geoffrey Maloney •"The Left Behind" by Kaaron Warren Division C: Horror Best Novel •Blackwater Days by Terry Dowling •The Resurrectionists by Kim Wilkins Best Short Story •"The First and Final Game" by Deborah Biancotti •"Marilyn" by Jack Dann •"A Sentiment Open to Doubt" by Stephen Dedman •"That Old Black Graffiti" by Robert Hood •"Sewercide" by Michael Pryor Division D: Young Adult Best Novel •Horsehead Soup by Rory Barnes •Ferren and the Angel by Richard Harland •Omega by Christine Harris •Thursday's Child by Sonya Hartnett •The Green Prince by Sophie Masson Best Short Story •"Avalon" by Brian Caswell •"The Boy Who Didn't Yearn" by Margo Lanagan •"Midsummer Mission" by Margo Lanagan •"The Queen's Notice" by Margo Lanagan •"White Time" by Margo Lanagan Convenors' Award •Transrealist Fiction--Writing in the Slipstream of Science by Damien Broderick •Spinouts--Bronze, edited by Paul Collins and Meredith Costain •SF Commentary #76 (The Unrelenting Gaze--George Turner, Non-fiction: A Selection), edited by Bruce Gillespie •White Time by Margo Lanagan •The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan

	Gordon R. Dickson Dies 02-01-01 Prolific SF author Gordon R. Dickson died Jan. 31 at his home in Richfield, Minn. He was 77, according to Todd Davidson, director of the Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel in Richfield. In a career that spanned a half century, Dickson published more than 80 novels and many short stories, and was publishing new work as late as last year, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America reported. His best-known work is the Childe Cycle series of novels, which were intended to present an evolutionary blueprint for humanity's ultimate expansion throughout the galaxy, according to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Dickson also collaborated frequently with SF author Poul Anderson, with whom he attended the University of Minnesota, most notably on the Hoka series, about a race of furry aliens who mimic human culture, according to the SFWA. Dickson, a native of Canada who became a U.S. citizen after immigrating at age 13, was president of the SFWA from 1969 to 1971. In the course of his career, he received a Nebula Award and three Hugo Awards. Last year, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Dickson is survived by a brother, Craig Dickson; three nephews; and one niece. Services will take place Feb. 3 at the Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel in Richfield.

	Rowling To Meet Queen 01-29-01 J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling Harry Potter series of children's novels, will meet Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on March 22, the SFX Network reported. The Queen will visit a library, a school, a book shop and Bloomsbury Publishers' London headquarters, where she and Rowling will meet, the site reported. There will later be a reception for 600 people in the publishing industry at Buckingham Palace. Rowling will also visit Buckingham Palace on March 2 to collect her Officer of the British Empire honor. Rowling had to postpone a previous meeting because her daughter was ill.

	Farmer Named Grand Master 01-25-01 Philip José Farmer will be the new Grand Master for 2001, the highest honor of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the SFWA announced on its official Web site. Farmer will receive his Grand Master Award at the Nebula Awards banquet in Los Angeles on April 28. All former SFWA presidents and current members of the board of directors voted on the designation. Beginning with his publication of "The Lovers" in the August 1952 issue of Startling Stories, Farmer has pioneered the exploration of crucial human relationships and dimensions in science fiction and inspired generations of writers from Chip Delany to Jonathan Lethem, the SFWA said. Farmer joins previous Grand Masters such as Robert A. Heinlein, Jack Williamson, Clifford D. Simak, L. Sprague de Camp, Fritz Leiber, Andre Norton, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Bester, Ray Bradbury, Lester del Rey, Frederik Pohl, Damon Knight, A.E. van Vogt, Jack Vance, Poul Anderson, Hal Clement and Brian Aldiss.

	Oz School Bans Potter 01-23-01 An Australian Christian school has banned J.K. Rowling's best-selling Harry Potter series of children's novels, saying they are violent and dangerous, the Associated Press reported. Chas Gullo of the Christian Outreach College, a private school in Queensland state, told the AP that he read one chapter from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and was exposed to four murders. Parents' groups and academics criticized the school's decision, arguing that the books pose no threat.

	Sapphire Awards Announced 01-19-01 The Science Fiction Romance newsletter announced the winners of the fifth annual Sapphire Awards for best science fiction romance of the year, according to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Web site. The Sapphire honors books from any genre that had a first publication date between December 1999 and November 2000 and that featured both science fiction and romance as intrinsic elements. A full list of winners follows. Novel First Place: Heir to Govandhara by Saira Ramasastry Second Place: The Veiled Webby by Catherine Asaro Third Place: Star-Crossed by Marilynn Byerly Short Fiction First Place: "Love's Prisoner" by MaryJanice Davidson Second Place (tie): "A Roll of the Dice" by Catherine Asaro"Gambit" by Linnea Sinclair and "Ghost of Love" by Jane Toombs

	McCaffrey Finishes New Pern Book Anne McCaffrey has completed The Skies of Pern, the 16th installment in her best-selling Dragonriders of Pern novel series, according to publisher Del Rey Books. Del Rey editorial director Shelly Shapiro told SCI FI Wire that the book will be available in stores on April 3, 2001. "The Skies of Pern follows on All The Weyrs of Pern and The Dolphins of Pern, continuing the saga of the dragonriders after they've moved the Red Star," Shapiro said. "Thread is still falling--though we won't see much of it in this book--but after the end of this Pass, it will never fall on Pern again." But something does fall on Pern, Shapiro said, "leading F'lessan, rider of bronze Golanth and son of F'lar and Lessa, along with green rider Tai (F'lessan's love interest), to realize a possible future role for dragonriders on a Threadless Pern--especially once they discover a new draconic talent." Shapiro said that McCaffrey has plans for more novels that will continue the Pern story into a time when the Thread has ceased falling for good. McCaffrey's son Todd is also working on a dragonriders book that takes place in a past era of Pern.