Here's something I've been kicking around of late.  Where do you see the future of fantasy fiction heading?  I'm not talking about print vs. electronic, or the magazines dying, what we can do to bring new readers in, etc.  I'm talking about the actual literature of fantasy.  What trends in terms of stories do you predict in the coming years?  For example, in the last batch of slush I passed along to Shawna, one of the pieces could probably be classified as new weird.  It's probably the first time I came across anything like that in the slush, and certainly the first time I passed something like that along.  Maybe that story was an oddity, or maybe it's a sign of submissions (and publications) to come.  Who can say?

Actually, you can, because I want to hear what you think.  Editors may choose what to accept, but we can only take what the writers send us, and the readers must enjoy the fiction for a magazine to continue.  So what do you think?  For the purposes of this discussion, I'm interested in keeping the focus on short fiction (i.e. anything shorter than novels). 

Poll #1181343
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 68

What is Your Favorite Form of Speculative Fiction?

  I'm curious what sort of readers I have here.  Please take part in the poll if you're so inclined.  If you don't see your topic (or would like to elaborate on it, perhaps telling me how I've disrespected horror by giving it just one category) let me know under comments.

I never sleep well on Sunday nights of football season.  I sleep in on Sunday mornings, and quite honestly, I'm much too amped from a day & night of football to just go right to sleep.  Yesterday it was even more difficult, because of great late-night Yankees-Red Sox game, and, most of all, learning about the death of Robert Jordan.  I probably didn't fall asleep until around three in the morning.  I was tossing and turning, just thinking about those books.

As I've already noted, Robert Jordan was seminal in my development as both a fan and writer of speculative literature.  And this got me to thinking about other speculative authors who have been seminal to me in this regard.  So I present to you my top ten.  This is in order of exposure, from first to most recent, not in order of importance (I don't even want to try to do those rankings).  I've never started a meme before and don't really participate in them, so I'm unfamiliar with all the rules, but feel free to take this and use a meme if you want, even if I'm doing it wrong.  I'll note before I begin that this is not a list of favorites (although many of them are favorites as well).  This is a list of authors who have proven the most influential in shaping my tastes as a speculative reader, and teaching me what I'd like to achieve as a speculative writer. 

So right now I'm having a bit of discussion with Nancy Fulda (editorial associate at Baen's Universe) as to how much a short story editor should select stories based on what the readers are asking for vs. what the editor likes.  I'm of the opinion that while readers aren't to be ignored, ultimately an editor must remain true to the vision of the magazine, and trust the stories s/he likes will satisfy the readers.  Obviously no editor will satisfy everyone with every story, and I also feel that in most cases if an editor tries to listen to what an audience is asking for too much, it can lead to a dip in quality in the story content (only so many good stories of a certain type to go around, says I).  Ultimately, I think to make the numbers to the genre magazines go up it's less about adjusting your editorial vision, and more about finding ways to get the magazine into the hands of fresh readers.  Less about editing, more about marketing.

All this said, I don't want to discount our readers.  So I'm asking: What would you like to see more of in  Realms of Fantasy?  What would you like to see less of?  Or is a status quo more to your liking?  I'm not saying anything is suddenly going to change, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Mind you, I'm not asking what you would do if you were the editor (or assistant editor).  I'm asking for your opinions as readers.  This isn't a thread to post about subscription issues or our website.  Don't argue with me about how much an editor should or shouldn't cater to his/her readers' demands (follow the link I provided above if you wish to do that).   I simply would like to hear what  you want as a reader of fantasy fiction when it comes to Realms of Fantasy.  You can talk about sub-genres, authors, styles, storytelling techniques, whatever.  So long as it pertains to the fiction I'm curious as to your thoughts.  And please everyone, this is only people's opinions.  No one is wrong.  No one is to be shouted down.   Polite discussion is encouraged, arguing is frowned upon.

Now have at it (and God help me for opening Pandora's Box).

I'd like to think I know something about the fantasy genre. I'd like to think that most of the people submitting to Realms of Fantasy, whether they are published or not, also know something about the fantasy genre. Therefore, it is a source of constant amazement and frustration how often during the course of my slushing I come across one particular element in people's stories that I find lacking in substance.

I speak of the fantasy element. And I'm not just referring to stories by unpublished authors. I've read stories by published authors--authors with credits the majority of fantasy writers will envy with enough green to rival Snow White's wicked stepmother--where the fantasy element is so poorly handled it boggles my mind. While it goes without saying, I feel I must say it anyway. The fantasy element in a fantasy story cannot be ignored or taken for granted (repeat this to yourself three times, as it shall prove the most important sentence in this long rant).

( Read more... )

Yes, well. The wonderfully talented Cherie Priest (read her book, FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS, if you've yet to do so) has summed up Livejournal in a single word: Livecrack! Livecrack, indeed. I already find myself addicted, checking to see how many friends I have ("Oh, man, I sure hope people like me!") and how many people have responded to my posts ("If they respond, that means I'm interesting!").

What the hell is wrong with me?

Answer: livecrack. It's in the bloodstream, baby. No escape. Gotta have more friends, more replies to my posts. (Starts sweating). "Must . . .be . . .most popular . . .person . . .on internet." If I still smoked, this is the part where I'd light up. (shudder)

Now, John Joseph Adams (JJA), my good buddy and constant instigator, has, in an obvious attempt to get my goat, posted that question that so many editors hear: "What does it take to get out of the slush pile?" JJA is the assistant editor at the Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine, a fine publication that I recommend to anyone in search of a good story. He has encountered this question plenty of times, more than yours truly, so I'm sure he too is tired of hearing it. But yes, at some point I will answer this, because goats aside, I'm sure a few of you are curious.

But this is a discussion for another post, and the reply so far amounts to nothing more than a shameless attempt to whet your appetites, to amass more friends and more replies (Mmmm . . .livecrack).

But the true point of this post pertains to a completely unrelated topic, so different from the previously written paragraphs that the editor in me is already shuddering at the ugly, abrupt transition that is about to take place.

Let's discuss rap music. As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be tweaking my livejournal as time goes on. With this latest visit, I added a few tidbits to my interests. Afterwards, I took a moment to consider the current list. Reading. Writing. Editing. Fantasy. Science fiction. Movies. Simpsons. Family Guy. Sports. Boondocks. Rap music. Which of these, I ask you, is the proverbial soar thumb?

Sure, most people don't associate geeks with sports, but most people are idiots. I'm an avid sports fan, and I can throw down statistics the way some of you can quote Frodo Baggins. And I've met more than a few geeks with similar tendencies. So no, the answer is not sports. The answer is rap music.

Are there other speculative geeks that like rap music? Sure! I'm not unique. But you must admit that, given my other interests, this one is a bit by its lonesome. Or is it?

Fantasy and rap music may have more in common than the casual observer may first suspect. Rap is poetry converted to music. Fantasy is arguably poetry converted to prose. It explains why so much fantasy displays such flowery (and usually abominable) prose. So they share a poetic link. Also, fantasy often features a goodly amount of violence. So does rap music. And yes, both of them are trying to speak to you on some level. Of course, there are far more differences than similarities, but even so. I'm clearly not the first to reach these conclusions. Do a little online searching and you'll find some dudes performing a Lord of the Rings rap. Good for a chuckle, if nothing else.

But the slushmaster has never been the biggest LOTR fan (another topic for another time), so don't expect something like that from me. My raps are a bit more . . .original.

Yes, the slushmaster raps. I came on to the scene late, last year in fact. Around that time I made some friends that soon became very good friends. These friends, it turned out, could rap. Soon after, despite the fact that I never had displayed any musical ability in my life, I discovered that I could rap. Wrote a few songs, even freestyled a little (very little). I was really into it for about three months . . .and then I became the slushmaster, i.e. I started working for Realms of Fantasy. From here, a host of new projects were heaped upon my plate, and, sadly, I had to give up the rapping game. Time became precious, and something had to give. But, I plan to return to it one of these days, because it's a lot of fun.

Of course, there may be some doubters out there. "Come on? A Jewish white boy who reads fantasy books is going to tell me that he raps? Please!" So, to all you doubters, I present to you a demonstation of the "mad" skills. A few things to keep in mind before I get into it. First, since I imagine many of the people reading this post are the bookish sort, be advised that the grammatical mistakes and misspellings are intentional. Listen to a rap song and you'll notice this is a common occurrence, as doing this better lends itself to the flow of the music. So it's simply in keeping with the conventions. Second, I'm leaving out the chorus, because it still needs work. Third, don't be offended. It's all in good fun. Anyone offended by these lyrics has no sense of humor and is kindly advised to bugger off. So, without further adieu, I present to you all, "Spittin'."

Off the jump gotta be spittin', hittin', words fittin', connections easy, seamlessly breezy, no freebies to leave me uneasy 'bout my title or style. I gotta dial it up, Eight Mile it up, pile it up, beguile enough while you wile time away to my rhymes. Vocabulary climbs like vines, a diamond mine, lines dressed to them nines, lettin' you dine on so fine a find as this kind of mind divine while it defines and defies convention. Got that penchant for invention. Words be henchmen. Not to mention how they be bewitchin' and cinchin' your thoughts like lynchpins. This kingpin of spittin' he be swishin' and dishin', Jason Kidd vision with every decision. Make you listen 'cause his flow be so bitchin'. Cookin' up better than a bitch in a kitchen. Cuttin' up words like the doctor's incision. Measurin' lines with a crackhead precision. Blastin' these sounds in them streets or a prison. Stringin' pearls of wisdom like a man on a mission determined on spittin' every verse written, so kick back, relax, 'cause we just beginnin'.

[Insert Chorus]

Spittin' shit, come see. Be ready. This medley be mad deadly. Steady already with wicked ease I pimp these words as I so please. They'll seize you, give you seizures, knee jerks and amnesia, freeze ya, leave ya, buy me pizza at my local Little Caesar. Eat them slices at my leisure, on the jukebox play Aliyaah. Mac it to a senorita: "Hey, it's nice to meet ya, but ya know that I don't need ya." Smiles and says her name be Deirdre. Hour later she screams deeper. After says that I complete her, suddenly I get a fever, tell psycho-bitch I gotta leave her. Grab my T-shirt, draws, and pants, dress and run while there's a chance. Save my branch. Avalanche of words fantastic, turnin' fans into fanatics, flippin' words like they gymnastics. Verbal tactics, no schematics, got more tricks than 'Specta Gadget, so erratic, almost manic, even so you know I mac it.

[Insert Chorus]

This has been D-White, comin' at ya live! Peace, dog!

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