And if the pizza tastes nice then ask to be hit twice, ask for amore!

This is true. Lets try both. I can pitch the panel idea to the con, and in parallel we staring looking into an online event. Besides us 3, anyone else you know with a hivemind book out this year?

🙂

Not yet...

17 hours on a plane, 4 hours on a train and 3 hours in an automobile. Its been a day.

Not really. But I should. Most cons seem to struggle with virtual these days. Maybe worldcon?

Thats a good sign. I dont think she appreciated that whole temporary second moon situation a while back though.

You know, I should probably get both.

So is this when we find out that actually, the moon isnt a harsh mistress, she's just been feeling a bit abandoned?

I read Shigidi like a year ago and am still recommending it to people. I've read & recc'd plenty of other good stuff since but that book just stays with me.

Best stand-alones in the last 5 years :
The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz, as well as Automatic Noodle by same
Shigidi & The Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughan
The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Bass

This would be most excellent. But first we have to figure out how to sync our minds. Or prepare for and rehearse answers to every possible question in advance.

In October.
I feel like we should try to get on a panel together or something. 🙂

I've been thinking hiveminds are back - there was Pluribus and this year theres your novel, @reasie.bsky.social book MULTITUDES and my forthcoming THE FIST OF MEMORY all featuring hiveminds.

Cover for The Many by Sylvain Neuvel

Let's talk hive minds! The Many comes out 4/21 and it's a hive mind story from the perspective of the "hiveminded" (think reverse Pluribus). First question, what are your favorite hive minds from any kind of fiction? (books, movie, tv, games...)

Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by @wtalabi.com is queer inclusive.

Why Locus Matters More Than Ever  - Reactor Locus plays an essential role in the ecosystem that keeps genre book publishing vital and innovative.

In a world where savvy book coverage and short fiction reviews are becoming harder to find, Locus' critics are working to keep genre publishing healthy and innovative--but as @charliejane.bsky.social reminds us, they need our support to keep going:

Emily Tesh and I are seated at a table looking up on either side of a large screen on which a projected image of a smiling Wole Talabi looms.

My joyful Eastercon is over, and I’m at the Birmingham airport ready to start my travels home, but before I take flight, one final photo — my reading with @emilytesh.net and a virtual @wtalabi.com. We had some connectivity issues, but still, it was a delight to see them both.

Weird weather today. But good for tea and reading, at least.

Congratulations @genni.bsky.social the entire @sauutiverse.bsky.social is ringing with joy.

Congratulations to my oga at the top @tadethompson.bsky.social! The Apologists is a brilliant story that builds on a wonderful idea and if you havent read or listened to it already, you should.

The award for Best Shorter Fiction goes to…

Tade Thompson for The Apologists

I hope so too! Perhaps Montreal or Brisbane. Glad to see you made it out to the UK and I hope you have had an excellent time.

can never thank you enough for suggesting Shigidi. definitely is a favorite recent read and the last few pages of the ending chapter, FOLDED me

Couldn't complete my scheduled reading at @easterconuk.bsky.social, due to technical difficulties. Made 2 attempts, no luck. But at least I could hear @emilytesh.net and @scottedelman.bsky.social read from their brilliant stories. Apologies to everyone who showed up expecting to hear from me. 🙏🏾

Great visual reminder that despite all the noise and chaos, we're all in this together. All on this earth living our fragile interconnected lives. And we have to keep finding better ways to coexist, as hard as it may seem sometimes.

You think I'm kidding but if a convention books me to do it I'll TED Talk the shit out of Jason's speculative timeline.

Allow me to throw one of my favourite books of the last couple of years your way then.

@wtalabi.com's absolutely tremendous first novel Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon is a rollicking & smart modern fantasy that revolves around a low-level Yoruba god (Shigidi) looking to better his life.

Yep. For the small price of a donation to Locus, I'll talk with you for 42* minutes about the meaning of life, the universe and everything else**.
Or whatever you want.

*actually its 30 mins. But you get it.
**depending on how much time we have, which is 30 mins, but what really is time anyway?

AI & TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING: A SURVEY

I was curious about how people in traditional publishing are feeling about AI. I would love input from authors, editors, agents, booksellers, translators, narrators, designers and more. Thanks for sharing and participating!