Weekly Update #104

Editor's Note

Well guys the countdown has begun for the publication of my new short story "The Enchanted Bean" that can be found in Once Upon a Clockwork Tale. This anthology is brought to you by the good folks at Echelon Press. You can current get electronic formats from Smashwords and Createspace, with Amazon and other retailers happening later this week.

All this week and into the month of June I will be sharing with you guest posts, interviews and reviews of the anthology. Starting this Wednesday, I will be interviewing the three other authors whose stories you can also find in Clockwork Tale. I hope you guys enjoy learning more about these wonderful authors.

And now the news...

Update: The Red Plague Affair by Lilith Saintcrow

Released last week was the second book in the Bannon and Clare series, The Red Plague Affair by Lilith Saintcrow. Here is the description from Amazon:

The service of Britannia is not for the faint of heart--or conscience... 

Emma Bannon, Sorceress Prime in service to Queen Victrix, has a mission: to find the doctor who has created a powerful new weapon. Her friend, the mentath Archibald Clare, is only too happy to help. It will distract him from pursuing his nemesis, and besides, Clare is not as young as he used to be. A spot of Miss Bannon's excellent hospitality and her diverting company may be just what he needs. 

Unfortunately, their quarry is a fanatic, and his poisonous discovery is just as dangerous to Britannia as to Her enemies. Now a single man has set Londinium ablaze, and Clare finds himself in the middle of distressing excitement, racing against time and theory to find a cure. Miss Bannon, of course, has troubles of her own, for the Queen's Consort Alberich is ill, and Her Majesty unhappy with Bannon's loyal service. And there is still no reliable way to find a hansom when one needs it most... 

The game is afoot. And the Red Plague rises. 

The fantastic follow-up to The Iron Wyrm Affair, set in an alternate Victorian world where magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head.

Reviews so far have been generally good. Falcata Times said the book was "well thought out, the characters are a sheer delight to be around and when backed with delightful dialogue, some fiendish twists alongside bringing some added light with characters of the time period all round makes this a book that is a sheer delight." Marleen at More Than a Reading Journal said "[t]his is more than just another intriguing mystery set in an alternate Victorian England; this is a well thought out tale in a fully realised world with characters that are as intriguing as they are relatable."

David Marshall at Thinking about books was slighty more critical saying "[t]his is an interesting book with an intriguing premise, but the author has made the strategic decision to focus on the narrative rather than the exploration of the ideas."

Have you read The Red Plague Affair? What did you think?

LoneStarcon Announcements

Couple of announcement from the good folks at LoneStarCon 3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"), and home to the Sidewise Awards. First, they are pleased to announce the release of the 2013 Hugo Voter Packet, an electronic package of nominated works made available to voters by Hugo Award nominees and their publishers.

The Hugo Awards are the premier award in the science fiction genre, honoring science fiction and fantasy literature, media, artists, and fans. The Hugo Awards were first presented at the 1953 World Science Fiction Convention in Philadelphia, PA (Philcon II), and they have continued to honor science fiction and fantasy notables annually for 60 years.

The 2012 Hugo Voter Packet is available to Supporting, Attending, Military, and Young Adult members of LoneStarCon 3, so as to inform them about the works under consideration before they vote. The packet will remain available for download by members until voting closes on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

Finally, LoneStarCon 3 has published Progress Report 4 (PR4). The progress report is available now for immediate download from the LoneStarCon 3 website, while the printed version will be posted to members in approximately one week's time. Members who are uncertain whether they have requested electronic or paper progress reports may check their status with the membership team by emailing registration at LoneStarCon3 dot org.

Progress Report 4 contains a number of important items for LoneStarCon 3 members. This includes the Hugo Award Final Ballot and the Site Selection Ballots for both the 2014 North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) and the 2015 Worldcon. The Hugo Award Final Ballot process is open to all Adult, Military, Young Adult and Supporting members of LoneStarCon 3 who join by the voting deadline of Wednesday, July 31, 2013.

Progress Report 4 also includes articles and news from across the convention. This starts with new features on the Guests of Honor, Special Guests, and Toastmaster who will be at the heart of the convention. The Events, Exhibits, and Program Divisions have released new insights into their plans to make LoneStarCon 3 a truly memorable celebration of science fiction, while Member Services has confirmed the details of accessibility and childcare arrangements. Last, but by no means least, is a reminder that Worldcons are run entirely by volunteers. Working behind the scenes is a unique and rewarding experience, and LoneStarCon 3 invites willing fans to contribute a little of their time and energy to help make the convention a success.

Calender

May 31: Steampunkinetics Exhibition Reception at Northeast Arc at Lowell, MA.

June 1: Last showing of the steampunk version of Don Giovanni in Hagerstown, Maryland.

June 15: JayCon XIII, celebrating author Jay Lake's birthday, in Portland, Oregon, and the deadline for funding the The Ministry Initiative - Steampunk Role-Playing & Fiction on Kickstarter.

July 27: Jay Wake, the premortem wake for Jay Lake, a somewhat morbid, deeply irreverent, but joyous celebration of the life of Jay Lake, in Portland, Oregon.

Links to the Multiverse

Articles

Coming Soon! “In the Company of Thieves” by Kage Baker at SF Singal.
Counterfactual Architecture (From the Archives) by Gavriel Rosenfeld at The Counterfactual History Review.
Excerpt Thursday: Inceptio by Alison Morton at Unusual Historicals.
Harry Turtledove at Mike's Reading Blog.
I Think I Speak for the Entire Class When I Say "Holy Crap!" by Charles P. Pierce at Esquire.
Martian Sands e-book now available! by Lavie Tidhar.
Three Short Stories With Stranded Time Travellers by Jo Walton at Tor.com.

Book Reviews

Age of Voodoo (Pantheon #5) by James Lovegrove at The Ranting Dragon.

Apacheria by Jake Page at Other Times.
Empire State by Adam Christopher at B&N Review.
In the Courts of the Crimson Kings by SM Stirling at Third Point of Singularity.
Machina Mortis: Steampunk’d Tales of Terror edited by Ryan Miller at Andy Erupts.
W.A.R.P. Book One: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer at BC Books.

Comics

Husband and Wife Comic Book Creators Talk ‘Shadowbinders’; a Steampunk Young Adult Graphic Novel Series at PR Web.

Films

Concept art from the J.J. Abrams Superman movie that never was by Meredith Woerner at io9.
FORGOTTEN FILM: Iron Sky (2012) at Missions Unknown!
UK film student seeks steampunk props by Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing.

Games

If American McGee Doesn't Get Alice He'll Put Zombies In Oz by Adam Gauntlett at The Escapist.

Interviews

John Claude Bemis at Daily Tar Heel.
James P. Blaylock at Dread Central.
Ian Tregillis at #sffwrtcht.

Music

Tesla Coils to Unsettling Steampunk: The Music of Comicpalooza by Jef With One F at Houston Press.

Podcasts

Episode 24 Yak Hair for Better Movement at SF Squeecast (with Mary Robinette Kowal).
Ratchet RetroCast Episode 9 – Getting Lost in our own T.A.R.D.I.S. at Earth Station One.
Writing Excuses 8.20: The Short Story, with Mary Robinette Kowal.

Television

Elementary Demonstrates the Right Way to Update a Classic Hero by Genevieve Valentine at io9 (plus I have a review for episodes 23 and 24.
Revolution 1.18: Whodunnit? at Paul Levinson's Infinite Regress.

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Matt Mitrovich is the founder and editor of Alternate History Weekly Update and a blogger on Amazing Stories. His new story "The Enchanted Bean" is coming out on June 1st in Once Upon a Clockwork Tale from Echelon Press. When not writing he works as an attorney, enjoys life with his beautiful wife Alana and prepares for the inevitable zombie apocalypse. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter.