Alan Baxter's Blog, page 101

September 10, 2010

Worldcon panel – Novellas

This is the first in a series of posts I plan to write on my Worldcon panel experiences. I sat on a number of panels and was in the audience for several more and I learned a lot. Some of the discussions were just awesome and I want to share some of what was discussed. Firstly, I'll talk about the Novellas panel I was on. This was the big fanboy moment for me as I got to be on a panel with Robert Silverberg, moderating it no less. Also on the panel were Keith Stevenson, Coeur De Lion

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Published on September 10, 2010 01:58

September 7, 2010

Worldcon wrap, part two

So the last post left things with me getting an early night on Saturday. Man, that seems like a lifetime ago! I'm sitting in my hotel room now, listening to the Vangelis Blade Runner soundtrack to ease my aching brain, jotting down a few thoughts about the rest of the Con, which is now sadly over. I'll actually post this tomorrow I expect, when I get some wifi, but I'm writing it while still blurry with the last day of the Con, so excuse any gibberish. And yes, Worldon, Aussiecon 4, is over. ...

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Published on September 07, 2010 01:04

September 4, 2010

Worldcon, the story so far

Worldcon is well under way and I've found myself taking an early break on Saturday night to recover a bit. This gives me a chance to blog a few comments and pictures about what's been happening at Aussiecon4, the 68th Annual World Science Fiction Convention, here in Melbourne.

I am exhausted and still suffering from last night (hence the early night tonight) so I apologise for any omissions or nonsensical lines.

It all began on Thursday. I flew in to Melbourne Thursday morning and managed to...

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Published on September 04, 2010 12:47

September 1, 2010

Worldcon is imminent

I'm packing my bags for Aussiecon4. I leave for Sydney tonight, to stay with a mate in order to be up early tomorrow for my flight to Melbourne. It's really happening. With that in mind, things might be a bit quiet around this site for a week or so. They may not – I intend to blog about the Con as much as possible – but the truth is that these things invariably become a maelstrom of activity and blogging becomes a luxury of time that often can't be afforded.

However, I do intend to live Tweet ...

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Published on September 01, 2010 02:13

August 31, 2010

Ebook revolution well under way

Oxford English DictionaryExactly a year ago, I wrote about how ebooks are the future. Today I read that the Oxford English Dictionary, the mighty volumes that record our very language itself, will only be available online. You can read a bit about that here.

Now, I'm a speculative fiction writer. I love science fiction. I've said this before – my iPhone does way more than Captain Kirk's communicator could ever do. The iPad is suspiciously like Star Trek: The Next Generation's PADD (Personal Access Display Device)...

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Published on August 31, 2010 08:38

August 30, 2010

Flesh and Bone is here

You know how the other day I was going on about how much I love to receive books? I was talking about what a joy it is to get books in the mail, especially books that are works of art in themselves, as well as containing awesome stories? Well, there's one thing better. Getting a book in the post that contains awesome stories, one of which is written by me. I still get such a thrill seeing a book with my name in the Table Of Contents. This one arrived today:

flesh and bone Flesh and Bone is here

Flesh & Bone: Rise Of The...

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Published on August 30, 2010 01:30

August 27, 2010

Friday Flash – Jeff Newman's Headaches

FrdayFlashBadge Friday Flash Jeff Newmans HeadachesThis is a little bit cheeky, but as I don't have a new flash fiction piece for today, I thought I'd redirect people to the piece that was published at 52 Stitches on Monday. It's still the same week and it's still flash fiction, so it counts, right? The story is called Jeff Newman's Headaches and you can find it here. I hope you like it.

If you already read the story after I posted an announcement about it on Monday, I apologise for wasting your time. For you, just so you don't feel cheated...

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Published on August 27, 2010 00:12

August 25, 2010

It's a drive-by!

You may remember Angela Slatter from such posts as yesterday's glowing review. Well, some time ago she sent me five questions as part of her drive-by series of interviews. She's been doing this for a while now, asking people five questions, the last of which is always about donuts. Some awesome writerly folk have been included, and I'm rather humbled to have been cast among them. In one of those synchronicity moments, my little drive-by has been posted today.

It's a good bit of fun, so pop...

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Published on August 25, 2010 02:14

August 24, 2010

Sourdough & Other Stories by Angela Slatter – review

SourdoughYou may remember a few days ago I was bleating on about the awesome book I'd received in the post, Sourdough & Other Stories. As you can see from the picture here, it truly is a work of art in and of itself. Well, now I've read it and Angela Slatter's stories inside are works of art too.

I'm a sucker for a good fairy story. And I mean a proper fairy story, where nasty things happen, even to the good people. It makes my teeth flex to see these sanitised Disney fairy tales, where it's all...

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Published on August 24, 2010 01:37

August 23, 2010

The King's Accord in Flesh & Bone: Rise Of The Necromancers

Flesh & BoneWriting is a bit like a gruelling series of floods and droughts. I write all the time, but I go through months without getting anything accepted for publication, then I get a flood of acceptances all at once. The same thing seems to happen with publication. Nothing comes out for ages, then loads happen at once. As well as my flash fiction piece, Jeff Newman's Headaches, being published today at 52 Stitches and the recent release of the Best Of Friday Flash anthology, featuring my story...

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Published on August 23, 2010 03:34