So I received issue 216 of Interzone in the mail today.  This is their guest-edited mundane sf issue.  More relevant to me is the fact that it also contained the results for the annual IZ reader poll.  This one polled all the stories published in IZ during 2007, a grand total of 40.  The top 10 had already been posted over at the IZ forum, so I knew I hadn't placed this high.  The results only listed the top 20 though, and "Feelings of the Flesh" failed to place here either.  So all I know for certain is that my tale placed in the bottom half.

That, and the following tidbit mentioned in the reader poll summary: "The most controversial stories were probably Hal Duncan's 'The Whenever at the City's Heart' and Rachel Swirsky's 'Heartstrung' - both received respectable positive votes ('Heartstrung' was in the top five of positive votes) but also the highest number of negative votes.  'Feelings of the Flesh' by Douglas Cohen also split opinions sharply."

This is interesting for a couple of reasons.  First, the way IZ runs its reader polls, a positive vote is a point in favor of the story in question, but a negative vote is a point taken away.  So splitting opinions sharply will certainly impact where my story finished.  Second, while it would be wonderful if everyone loved my story (yeah right!), I'll take the consolation victory of apparently pushing people's buttons.  It's easy to vote for a story you liked, but to actively vote against a story is a whole different animal.  Splitting votes in this manner says to me I was pushing buttons.  That's fine with me.  If I'm pushing buttons, it'll be harder to forget me.  Any writer wants people to like their stories, but I'll take active dislike over indifference any day of the week!  Indifference is the easiest way to be forgotten.

I must admit that while I wasn't stressing the reader poll, I was certainly curious to read it.  I mean, this is my first published story, so you can't blame me.  

And speaking of my first published story, I should mention that you haven't heard the last of "Feelings of the Flesh."  I wish I could share more, but I've taken the oath of secrecy.  So for now I must remain mysterious.  But rest assured when the time comes, I'll share ... 
     

In the editing department, I came across a submission today with a proper SASE.  But in addition to the proper SASE, the author also enclosed another envelope, marked with nothing but the word "DISPOSABLE."

And in the writing department, a writer friend of mine asked for me to email her a copy of my story in Interzone, "Feelings of the Flesh."  I heard back from her today, telling me how much she enjoyed the story.  Then she asked me if I had anything else she could read.  This is the first time I ever had a non-family member request more of my writing.  It's extremely gratifying.

So it's my birthday today.  Technically I'm in my 20s for another eight hours, but today marks "the big 3-0."  Honestly, I don't feel any different.  A few months ago I was quite aware of this looming number, but then personal tragedy struck the life of one of my best friends, in the form of his wife of 28 (someone I'd known 14 years) passing away.  Now you all know why there has been so little blog activity here of late.  Anyway, after something like that happened, the old "3-0" held and holds absolutely no power over me.  Just another number.  I might as well be 20.

But I'm not posting for sympathy.  Birthday wishes are welcome, but even more welcome would be a present, in the form of a translation.  One of my fellow contributors to Interzone 212, Garth Lynn Powell, came across an online review of the issue in question and posted it on his blog:

Começa com "Feelings of the flesh" de Douglas Elliott Cohen mas confesso que gostei mais da short story de Gareth Lyn Powell com o titulo "Ack-Ack Macaque". Em apenas quatro paginas este conto descreve-nos a historia de Tori e seus namorados Andy e Josh, em que numa animação por computador criada por Tori e postriormente transformada num jogo on-line pela empresa de Josh, sai fora de controlo e tras o caos e o apocalipse perante a impotência e desespero deles.

Outros contos se seguem como "A handful of pearls" de Beth Bernobich ou "Jihad" de Will McIntosh, este com o tema tão em voga do eco-terrorismo.
Após "The Algorithm" de Tim Akers vem a parte final com as esperadas criticas a livros, filmes e até podcasts.

As you can see, it's not quite English.  Portuguese, actually.  Anyone care to give me the birthday present of translation?

Oh, and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Learning that my two best friends of some fifteen years both enjoyed my premiere story.  That's cool.  It's nice that my family likes it, but they're supposed to.  They're family.  These two jokers would let me know if they had a problem with the story.  Only they didn't.  Because they liked it.  What's even cooler is learning that this means more to me than what any reviewer has to say, whether the commentary be good or bad.

Just so cool.

 So.  One day after I received my first ever literary panning, I've now received my first ever  complimentary review.  Funny how things even out. :)  Many thanks to fellow fiction contributor Beth Bernobich for bringing this review to my attention.

Today I came across the first review for Interzone 212, which contains my first published story.  In the process, I also received my first literary panning (WARNING: the review does contain a spoiler or two).  It could've been worse, there's no question about that, because the reviewer does offer a compliment or two as well.  But his review makes it pretty obvious he didn't like this piece.  Well, believe it or not, I'm relieved.  I very much wanted to get my first ever negative review out of the way.  Now it is.  Thanks, dude.

And now, in this age of the internet, comes that tricky question each author is faced with when this happens (and for me, I'm facing it as an author for this first time--I've faced it already as an editor): Do I respond to this?

My answer: nope.

 First, there won't be any brooding over this.  As I said, I wanted to get the first one out of the way (I'm allowed to brood about subsequent negative reviews all I want).  And more importantly, Andy Cox & co. liked my story enough to publish it.  That's always what counts in the end.  Beyond this, I'm going to refrain from commenting on this review.   Literary critics are entitled to their opinions.  They're expected to give them, in fact.  And at least he does this instead of summarizing  and thinking this is a review, as some critics seem to think when "reviewing."  Whether I get a good or bad review, all I can really expect is that the critic actually knows what he's talking about, and that he makes his points (both positive and negative) clear to the reader.  If the critic likes my story, that's just gravy.  If I decided to defend my piece in any way whatsoever, I think it would amount to nothing more than me trying to boost/stroke my own ego.  No need.  I like "Feelings of the Flesh" just fine, and still do after reading his review.  No hard feelings (pun intended) either.

Onward.

That said, if anyone can offer me any information regarding the "Red Dwarf" he mentions (the link doesn't work), I would be obliged.  I've never read or heard of this.

Also, a very interesting observation about myself: I've just realized it bothers me a lot more when I read a negative review for one of my slush survivors that has been published in Realms of Fantasy.  Perhaps that seems ludicrous, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense.  I've been reading this stuff for years.  I know what I like.  I consider myself an educated fantasy reader.  So as an editor, I really have to bite my tongue when one of my slush survivors gets a negative review.   "How can you can you call this a bad story?" is my basic thought process.  "I read it and liked it.  I don't like bad stories!"  And it's this sort of thinking that makes me okay with a bad review of my fiction writing.  A bunch of educated fantasy readers over at Interzone decided my story was good.  They, I'm sure, are also of the opinion that they don't  like bad stories. :)  Maybe this particular story didn't agree with this particular reviewer, but that changes nothing for me as a writer.  This said, if I wasn't an assistant editor as well, I find myself wondering whether I as a writer would be more sensitive regarding this review ...