(date: 2024-07-27 10:18:03)
date: 2024-07-26, from: Interesting, a blog on writing
The hard-hitting humor of Action Comedy.
https://inneresting.substack.com/p/210-punches-and-punchlines
date: 2024-07-26, from: Locus Magazine
Kertomukset, Jorge Luis Borges, translated by Anu Partanen (Teos) is the winner of the 2024 TĂ€htifantasia Award, presented by the Helsinki Science Fiction Society for the best Finnish fantasy book published in the previous year. Other nominees were
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-tahtifantasia-award-winner/
date: 2024-07-26, from: Locus Magazine
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) announced the 2024 inductees to the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame: Nicola Griffith and Nnedi Okorafor were honored as Creators. Inductees are added to the SF&F Hall of Fame display in the museum.
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame was founded in 1996 and then relocated from the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction and Fantasy at the University of âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-sff-hall-of-fame-inductees/
date: 2024-07-26, from: Locus Magazine
The shortlist for the seventh annual Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award has been announced. Authors and titles of genre interest include:
Clytemnestra, Costanza Casati (Michael Joseph)
The Square of Sevens, Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Mantle)
The winning title will be announced on September 26, 2024, and the author will receive a handmade glass bell and a cash prize of ÂŁ2,000. For more information, including the full shortlist, see the Goldsboro âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-glass-bell-award-shortlist/
date: 2024-07-26, from: John August blog
Weekend Read, our app for reading scripts on your phone, features a new curated collection of screenplays each week. This week, we look at the series nominated across all categories at the upcoming 76th Emmy Awards. (In some cases, weâre using the pilot, so you donât worry about spoilers for later seasons.) Our collection includes: [âŠ] The post Featured Friday: Emmy Nominees first appeared on John August.
https://johnaugust.com/2024/featured-friday-emmy-nominees
date: 2024-07-26, from: Locus Magazine
If you have a few minutes, weâve got the top genre books hitting shelves, IRL and digital, this week! Help us keep doing this weekly round up by liking and subscribing!
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/check-out-the-new-books-video-for-7-23-24/
date: 2024-07-26, from: Locus Magazine
The Sky on Fire, Jenn Lyons (Tor 978-1-250-34200-3, $29.99, 448pp, hc) July 2024. Cover by Michael Rogers.
Jenn Lyons made her debut with The Ruin of Kings, first of a five-book series (âthe Chorus of Dragonsâ) that took epic fantasy, shook it, subverted it, and played entertaining games with the pieces that fell out. The Sky on Fire is not at all related to that series, except that âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/liz-bourke-reviews-the-sky-on-fire-by-jenn-lyons/
date: 2024-07-26, from: Locus Magazine
TikTok has announced its winners for its second annual Book Awards for the UK and Ireland, including two winners of genre interest. In total, 82,000 TikTok users voted on their favorites within the app.
BookTok Book of the Year (International)
BookTok Creator of the YearÂ
Nominees were chosen by an industry panel, including TikTok âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-tiktok-book-awards-winners/
date: 2024-07-25, from: Final Draft blog
Every screenwriterâs goal is to see their screenplay make it onto the silver screen. But how do you sell a screenplay in such an oversaturated market? It can seem like a daunting journey, but there is hope. Shelby Oaks, the debut documentary-found footage crossover film from Chris Stuckmann, a YouTuber and filmmaker, was acquired by Neon, a studio on everyoneâs mind thanks to the impressive marketing of Longlegs.
https://blog.finaldraft.com/make-your-movie-sell-it-later-neon-picks-up-this-youtubers-first-feature
date: 2024-07-25, from: Locus Magazine
Finalists for the 2024 Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA) Small Press Award for Short Fiction have been announced:
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-wsfa-small-press-award-finalists/
@Locus Magazine (date: 2024-07-25, from: Locus Magazine)
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Frankie Barnet, Mood Swings (Astra House 5/24) This biting debut is set on a âpreapocalypÂticâ Earth where all non-human animal life has become extinct⊠but a billionaire in California claims to have a time machine and a plan to save the world. âFor a novel that doesnât feature a single paradox, time loop, or change to history, Mood Swings offers up an incisive critique of time-travel narratives⊠[A] âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/150799/
date: 2024-07-25, from: Locus Magazine
Shanghailanders, Juli Min (Spiegel & Grau 978-1-95411-860-7, 270pp, $28.00, hc). May 2024. Cover by Charlotte Strick.
In the first chapter of Juli Minâs Shanghailanders, another novel-in-stories, Leo Yang, a successful real estate developer, boards the maglev train from Pudong International Airport to downtown Shanghai. It is January 2040, and he is returning home after seeing off his wife, Eko, his eldest daughter, Yumi, and his middle daughter, Yoko, âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/niall-harrison-reviews-shanghailanders-by-juli-min/
date: 2024-07-24, from: Final Draft blog
The term âelevator pitchâ has been popular in Hollywood for decades.Â
https://blog.finaldraft.com/your-elevator-pitch-just-got-shorter
date: 2024-07-24, from: Interesting, a blog on writing
Avoiding incorrect assumptions based on limited evidence.
https://inneresting.substack.com/p/silent-evidence
date: 2024-07-24, from: Locus Magazine
The winner for the annual Arthur C. Clarke Award, celebrating the best science fiction novel published in the UK, has been announced:
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-clarke-award-winner/
date: 2024-07-24, from: Locus Magazine
Ghostroots, âPemi Aguda (W.W. Norton & Company 978-1-324-06585-2, $26.99, 224pp, hc) May 2024.
Ghostroots, âPemi Agudaâs spectacular deÂbut collection, is an instant classic. These 12 stories feature hauntings, reincarnaÂtions, invisible markets, dancing masquerades, shapeshifting houses, miracles, and magical transformations. Even the stories that arenât overtly speculative possess a speculative, surreal sensibilÂity. But regardless of the degree of imaginative calisthenics employed, the roots of every narrative in this collection âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/wole-talabi-reviews-ghostroots-by-pemi-aguda/
date: 2024-07-24, from: Literature & a Latte blog
<p>At the time of this writing in July 2024, eight of the 15 books on the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/combined-print-and-e-book-fiction/" target="_blank">New York Times combined print & e-book fiction best-seller list</a> are crime or thriller fiction. It’s summer, and this sort of book is popular for beach or vacation reading, but if you look at best-seller lists at any time, you’ll find mysteries and thrillers prominently featured.</p>Crime sells
It is estimated that one in eight novels sold are in the crime genre, and this genre is responsible for about 20% of audiobook sales, and more than a third of ebook sales, according to a Nielsen study in the UK. Crime and thriller fiction has been growing in recent years, as the popularity of some sub-genres has increased. Psychological thrillers have become very popular, especially among women, and cozy mysteries - books like those of Agatha Christie, who is estimated to have sold between two and four billion books - have had a recent revival.
According to Nielsen, âOverall, the crime & thriller buyer skews older,â though crime and thriller novels appeal to all ages. The study points out that psychological thrillers are most popular among younger readers (25 - 44), and âdark countryside,â or rural noir, is most popular among older readers.
Crime fiction has many sub-genres
The crime and thriller genre is broad, and covers many sub-genres: classic mysteries, thrillers, psychological thrillers, spy novels, legal thrillers, historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, and police procedurals; from the whodunit to the detective story, there is something for everyone.
Readers who may not want to read a gritty urban thriller might be attracted by a mystery set in the 16th century or a cozy mystery with little or no violence. And readers who want action have plenty to choose from, with larger-than-life characters, such as Lee Childâs Jack Reacher or Vince Flynnâs Mitch Rapp.
With this vast range of sub-genres, crime and thriller fiction can appeal to many types of readers. With traditional murder mysteries, readers try to figure out whodunit and accompany a detective as they amass clues. A good mystery is an intellectual game the writer plays with the reader, and readers are satisfied when the guilty party is found, but when they arenât too obvious. Readers want to be fooled, but not cheated, and itâs important that, as Raymond Chandler said, a mystery âmust baffle a reasonably intelligent reader,â but also âmust be honest with the reader.â
With psychological thrillers, readers can identify with the characters, which are often everyday people thrust into unexpected situations. Legal thrillers give a view of the justice system, which most readers never encounter personally. And many readers of crime fiction like to read novels set in unfamiliar locations, or even in historical settings.
A unique element of crime fiction is that it can be written in series, with a recurring police officer or private detective. Series readers appreciate returning to new cases with familiar characters, and many popular series have more than two dozen novels. This type of novel is usually a police or detective procedural, featuring characters like Ian Rankinâs Rebus, Peter Robinsonâs DCI Banks, and Laura Lippmanâs Tess Monaghan, who readers get to watch as they grow and change over time.
Through their presence in novels and films, some crime fiction characters have become iconic: think of Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, and Miss Marple, not to mention the best-known of all, Sherlock Holmes, and serve as templates for modern detectives.
Why do readers like crime and thriller fiction?
Crime and thriller fiction gives readers the opportunity to experience unfamiliar parts of the world. They may be transported into dangerous areas where criminals thrive, and they may experience the thrill of the heist or the adrenaline rush of an exciting spy story. Or they may look over the shoulder of a detective as he or she tries to determine who is guilty.
Crime fiction delves into the complexities of human behavior, exploring both the best and worst of humanity. It can look at parts of society that readers donât know with a high level of realism, and can be a tool for examining social norms and injustices. In some sub-genres, such as the noir or hardboiled detective genre, crime fiction explores the lower depths of society, and readers can learn about vice and corruption from a safe distance.
Crime fiction almost always presents legal and moral quandaries, allowing readers to gauge their own feelings about the gray areas of right and wrong. In most crime fiction, the resolution is satisfying, and readers can feel vindicated when theyâve seen how crime is punished. However, some crime fiction - especially in the noir sub-genre - does not offer neat resolutions, and this, too, can be satisfying.
Psychological thrillers are a sub-genre where readers can experience danger and suspense from a safe distance. Many of these novels feature everyday people thrust into dangerous situations, and this can allow readers to immerse themselves in thrilling scenarios that they would never experience. Readers can imagine themselves in these situations, and figure out what they would do without any of the risks involved.
The crime and thriller genre is firmly established as one of the main forms of storytelling, not just in novels, but also in movies and TV series. Many crime fiction authors are considered among the greatest writers, and this genre offers a rich history for readers to discover. The genreâs ability to adapt and incorporate contemporary issues keeps it relevant and engaging, while the vast trove of crime and thriller fiction written over the past decades and centuries offers a valuable canon for anyone who wants to discover this genre.
<p>Kirk McElhearn is a <a href="https://kirkville.com" target="_blank">writer</a>, <a href="https://kirkville.com/podcasts/" target="_blank">podcaster</a>, and <a href="https://kirkville.com/kirks-photos-2/" target="_blank">photographer</a>. He is the author of <a href="https://www.literatureandlatte.com/store" target="_blank">Take Control of Scrivener</a>, and host of the podcast <a href="https://podcast.scrivenerapp.com" target="_blank">Write Now with Scrivener</a>.</p>
https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/why-is-crime-and-thriller-fiction-is-so-popular
date: 2024-07-23, from: Locus Magazine
Kathryn Gossow has won the 2024 Australian Fairy Tale Society (AFTS) Award, honoring âher many contributions to the field of fairy tales in Australia, particularly in building and nurturing the community of fairytalers.â
The other finalists were were glass artist Spike Deane and performer Em Chandler.
For more information, see the announcement.
While you are here, please take a moment to support Locus with a one-time or recurring donation. We âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/gossow-wins-2024-afts-award/
date: 2024-07-23, from: Locus Magazine
Seattle Worldcon 2025 has announced Brandon OâBrien as their poet laureate, a special guest position that aims to âelevate our proceedings and help us spotlight and emphasize the craft and literary tradition of speculative poetry at this Worldcon.â
Seattle Worldcon 2025 will be held in August 13-17, 2025. The theme is âBuilding Yesterdayâs Future â For Everyoneâ
For more information, see the announcement.
While you are here, please take a âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/seattle-worldcon-2025-announces-poet-laureate/
date: 2024-07-23, from: Locus Magazine
Winners have been announced for the Frank R. Paul awards, honoring âoutstanding work in book and magazine cover art.â Paul was a prominent cover illustrator for Golden Age science fiction magazines.
Best Book Cover
Best Magazine Cover
The awards were presented on July 20, 2024 at the 16th North American Science Fiction âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-frank-r-paul-award-winners/
date: 2024-07-23, from: Authorâs Union blog
By Dave Hansen Today Iâm pleased to introduce to the Authors Alliance community Yuanxiao Xu, who will be taking on the role of Authors Allianceâs Staff Attorney.  Over the past few years, Authors Alliance has been more active than ever before advocating for the interests of authors before courts and administrative agencies. Our involvement has [âŠ]
date: 2024-07-23, from: Locus Magazine
Aira, CĂ©sar: Festival and Game of the Worlds (New Directions 9780811237307, $15.95, 192pp, formats: trade paperback, ebook, 07/23/2024)
Collection of two novellas, one about a director of SF films, the other a far-future SF story set in a regimented world where an immersive video game encourages players to exterminate the inhabitants of distant worlds. Translated from the Spanish by Katherine Silver.
Â
Anderson, Kevin J. & Longueira, Allyson, eds.: Feisty âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/new-books-23-july-2024/
date: 2024-07-23, from: John August blog
John and Craig finally become writing partners and edit the opening to one chapter of the upcoming Scriptnotes book live on-air. They wrestle with word choices, adapting the phrasing of a spoken conversation and finding a unified voice as they pass the keyboard back and forth. We also catch up Craig on what heâs missed [âŠ] The post The Live Edit first appeared on John August.
https://johnaugust.com/2024/the-live-edit
date: 2024-07-23, from: Locus Magazine
In Universes, Emet North (HarperCollins 978-0-06331-487-0, 240pp, $26.99, hc) April 2024.
Much like time travel, the multiverse, as a scientifiÂcally originated but unproven theory, can be used as a narrative conceit with varying degrees of rigour. For every Timescape a Doctor Who; for every Anathem an Everything Everywhere All at Once. I donât think a workâs placement on this spectrum is a predictor of its quality, but âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/niall-harrison-reviews-in-universes-by-emet-north/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
Winners for the 2024 Imadjinn Awards have been announced.
Best Science Fiction Novel
Best Fantasy Novel
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-imadjinn-awards/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
Jo Callaghan has won the 2024 Harrowgate Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for In the Blink of an Eye (Simon & Schuster UK).
The Award âcelebrates excellence, originality and the very best in crime fiction from UK and Irish authors.â The winner receives ÂŁ3,000 and an engraved oak beer cask. For more information, including the full list of winners, see the award website.
While you are âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/callaghan-wins-2024-theakston-old-peculier-crime-novel-of-the-year/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
The Ignyte Awards Committee has announced the finalists for the 2024 Ignyte Awards, which âseek to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the current and future landscapes of science fiction, fantasy, and horror by recognizing incredible feats in storytelling and outstanding efforts toward inclusivity of the genre.â
Outstanding Novel: Adult
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/2024-ignyte-awards-finalists/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for our Futures, released the following statement today:
In the course of tallying the votes on the final ballot for the 2024 Hugo Awards, the Glasgow 2024 Hugo Administration team detected some unusual data.
Paragraph 6.2 of the WSFS Constitution states that âIn all matters arising under this Constitution, only natural persons may introduce business, nominate, or vote, except as specifically provided otherwise in this Constitution. âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/hugo-awards-disqualification-statement/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
Two books debut in the top ten on lists at New York Times and Publishers Weekly this week. Sarah Beth Durstâs The Spellshop (Bramble) ranks #7 and #6 respectively, on fiction hardcover lists. And Tricia Levensellerâs The Darkness Within Us â second in a trilogy, following The Shadows Between Us, being released at monthly intervals by Feiwel & Friends â is #1 and #4 respectively, on young adult lists.
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/weekly-bestsellers-22-july-2024/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/new-orbit-horror-imprint/
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
The Cautious Travellerâs Guide to The WasteÂlands, Sarah Brooks (Flatiron Books 978-1-25087-861-8, $28.99, 336pp, hc) June 2024.
I was surprised to discover that there are few novels, vintage or contemporary, set on the Trans-Siberian Express. There are plenty of memoirs and travel guides, but, unlike the Orient Express, with its Agatha Christies and Graham Greenes, very little fiction. The irony is that Sarah Brookâs eerie debut novel, The Cautious âŠRead More
date: 2024-07-22, from: Locus Magazine
AT THE END OF MARCH 2024, the romance writer K. Renee discovered that she had been locked out of her Google Docs account, for posting âinappropriateâ content in her private files. Renee never got back into her account and never found out what triggered the lockout. She wasnât alone: as Madeline Ashby recounts in her excellent Wired story on the affair, many romance writers were permanently barred from their own âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/cory-doctorow-unpersoned/
date: 2024-07-21, from: Locus Magazine
Twice Lived, Joma West (Tordotcom 978-1-250-81032-8, $26.99, hc, 256pp) February 2024. Cover by FORT.
Author Joma West explores the idea of parallel worlds in an unexpected way in her science ficÂtion novel, Twice Lived. Canna and Lily are one person, a ââshifterââ who uncontrollably moves back and forth between the two worlds. Her mothers detected her nature when they were pregnant, as the fetus would disappear and reappear âŠRead More
https://locusmag.com/2024/07/colleen-mondor-reviews-twice-lived-by-joma-west/