Capclave

Why the Dodo:
When we started our annual convention and named it Capclave, we decided we needed a mascot.  It took a couple of years, but suddenly it was 2005 and our Guest of Honor that year was Howard Waldrop who’d written a very funny and poignant story called “The Ugly Chicken.” So, we had lots of dodos at the convention.

We decided that the Dodo would make a good mascot for Capclave because Capclave celebrates short fiction and reading. We also began to use the phrase: Capclave, where reading is not extinct. While the Dodo lives in our hearts, we’ll continue to celebrate reading, good stories, and good fellowship because they should never be allowed to go extinct.

As we’re gearing up for Capclave 2010, we tend to take our Dodos out to conventions to talk about Capclave. (Did I mention the Dodos are puppets?) Capclave this year will have three Guests of Honor: Connie Willis, Ann VanderMeer, and Jeff VanderMeer. The convention will be held 22-24 October 2010 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville, Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. (Check our website for registration information.)

Dodo Photos:
Just how did we get a photo of Connie Willis with our Dodos? Well, as I said, members of WSFA are attending conventions and bringing Dodos with them — after all Dodos make very good companions. One WSFAn spotted our Guest of Honor and asked for a photo. Connie being a very good sport posed with these two very friendly and well-read Capclave Dodos.

So, if you see us at a convention with a Dodo, ask about our convention, and we’ll be more than willing to tell you what a great time you’ll have if you join us for Capclave 2010. We may even take your photo with one of our Dodos for our website.

NOTE: We’re capping membership at 500 this year. Also, WSFA Press will be premiering two books at Capclave (details here). We’re only printing 500 copies of each book and they are available for preorders to Capclave members and will be available for purchase at Capclave. The books are: The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod, by Jeff VanderMeer and Fire Watch by Connie Willis.

Steampunk has gotten quite popular. Jeff and Ann VanderMeer have edited a new collection of steampunk fiction, Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded, which will be available in October … just in time for Capclave.

With their interest in steampunk fiction, it’s no surprise that Jeff VanderMeer reviewed Dexter Palmer’s The Dream of Perpetual Motion in The New York Times Sunday Book Review. To read the full review go to the article, Malevolent Design. Here’s the first paragraph of the review:

In his tragicomic first novel, “The Dream of Perpetual Motion,” Dexter Palmer takes elements from Nabokov, Neal Stephenson, Steven Millhauser and “The Tempest,” tosses them into a retro-futuristic blender and hits “purée.” The result is a singular riff on steampunk — sophisticated, subversive entertainment that never settles for escapism.

Barnes and Noble publishes an interview Ann VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer (in his Evil Monkey persona) as they discuss their newest collaboration, The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals: The Evil Monkey Dialogues.

The book description:

Whimsically illustrated, this bite-sized bestiary is the deciding vote on which fantastical creatures are kosher. Embarking on an undomesticated romp from A to Z, the ritual cleanliness of E.T., hobbits, Mongolian Death Worms, and the elusive chupacabra are discussed. This hilarious kashrut is the offspring of a debate that began on Jeff Vandermeer’s blog, between his alter-ego, Evil Monkey, and his editor/wife. Addressing questions such as Is a vegetable-lamb a vegetable or a lamb? Does licking the Pope make you trayf? What exactly is a Pollo Maligno? and Is Sasquatch roast stringy? this irreverent abecedary is a perfect gift for anyone seeking to broaden their imaginary culinary experiences guilt-free. The guide also features Duff Goldman of the popular series Ace of Cakes.

We made a typo on last night’s post that needs to be corrected. The price for last year’s Reincarnations is $28.00 including shipping and handling, rather than the $23 which was specified in that post. We’ve also updated the previous post to avoid any additional confusion.

But in addition to the the offerings previously listed, we have added yet one more option. This year for $60, you can pre-order a special bundle including all three books, which will also be delivered to you at Capclave.

Last year, WSFA Press was resurrected to help celebrate Capclave 2009’s Guest of Honor Harry Turtledove. The book Reincarnations premiered at Capclave and sold well. We have very few of the signed and numbered volumes left in stock.

This year, WSFA Press is publishing two books: Fire Watch by Connie Willis and The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod, by Jeff VanderMeer (with an afterwards by Ann VanderMeer–our 3rd Guest of Honor). Each book will be a limited signed and numbered edition of 500 copies, chosen to match the Capclave membership, which is being capped at 500 members. The books will be released at Capclave and only available to non-attendees after the convention.

WSFA Press Special Offer on Capclave Registration:
Included this year is the ability to pre-order WSFA Press’ two newest books, The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod, by Jeff VanderMeer–

The Wizard Sarnod has lived in isolation on an island in the middle of a lake for centuries. But one day, the Nose of Memory arrives to destroy his calm by dredging up the past, and he must send three of his familiars to the subterranean Underhinds on a quest to find two people, long banished: his brother and a former lover. In the Underhinds, they will encounter living dirigibles, fire dragons, the Bloat Toad, unimaginable perils, and long-buried secrets . . . Based on Jack Vance’s Dying Earth series, The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod is a longer and very different version of a story published in the Dozois-Martin edited Songs from the Dying Earth.

The Three Quests of the Wizard Sarnod will be published by WSFA Press in 2010, and released at WSFA’s annual Capclave convention as a special 500-copy limited and signed hardcover edition, with an introduction by Jeff VanderMeer and an afterward by Ann VanderMeer.Designed by John Coulthart, a well-known British graphic artist, illustrator, author and designer, the book will be signed by Ann VanderMeer, Jeff VanderMeer, and John Coulthart. (Capclave special price: $20).

and Fire Watch by Connie Willis:

Fire Watch is a science-fiction story written in 1982 by Connie Willis, involving a time-traveling historian who goes back to The Blitz in London, to participate in the fire watch at St. Paul’s Cathedral. This story is in the same universe as Willis’ newly released novel Blackout and the upcoming October release, All Clear.

Fire Watch will be published by WSFA Press in 2010, and released at WSFA’s annual Capclave convention as a special 500-copy limited and signed hardcover edition, with an introduction by James Patrick Kelly, designed by John Coulthart, a well-known British graphic artist, illustrator, author and designer, and signed by all Willis, Kelly, and Coulthart. (Capclave special price: $20).

Both of these volumes will be premiering at Capclave, and now is your chance to reserve a copy for yourself. In addition, we are again offering a special deal on last year’s WSFA Press special book, Reincarnations, by Harry Turtledove. There are only a small number of these signed and numbered, limited-edition copies remaining. The special Capclave price includes $3.00 for shipping and handling (Total: $28), and this volume will be mailed to you now.

For those now registering to attend Capclave, the option to pre-order the two new WSFA Press books or a copy of last year’s book is listed on the registration form.

If you have already registered for Capclave 2010 and wish to pre-order a book, send email to webmaster@capclave.org to receive information on how to pre-order.

The March 11th 2010 issue of the Washington Post had a review of Connie Willis’ new novel Blackout. You can read the full review at the Washington Post website.

Here’s a quote:

“Blackout” plunges the reader right into the middle of three key happenings of 1940: the rescue of the British troops from Dunkirk, the evacuation of children to rural villages and country houses, and the life of ordinary Londoners during the Blitz. Every detail rings true, with the kind of authority that only intense research can bring. Still, all of Willis’s knowledge is subsumed in her bravura storytelling: “Blackout” is, by turns, witty, suspenseful, harrowing and occasionally comic to the point of slapstick.

The book in in stores now and

That said, “Blackout” does end with a cliffhanger, which may leave some readers dissatisfied: The whole story won’t be completely resolved till October when Ballantine/Spectra publishes a second and concluding volume titled “All-Clear.” Still, this is Connie Willis, my friends, which means she’s worth reading now, and she’s worth reading in the future.

So, you’ll want to have read Blackout prior to Capclave 2010 and depending on the release date All Clear.

Connie Willis admits she was first drawn to time travel out of a desire to go back and fix her own mistakes. Now she loves using it to allow her characters to experience history. She reads from her upcoming novel, Blackout, in which she sends time travelers back to World War II and the London Blitz.

Blackout is part of her time traveling novels which includes Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog.

The Washington Science Fiction Association (www.wsfa.org) has established a literary award to honor the work done by small presses in promoting and preserving science fiction. The award, now in its forth year, is given annually for short fiction works (17,500 words or fewer) of imaginative literature (e.g., science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative fiction or like literature) published by a small press. Stories may be nominated by SF authors and small press publishers. Details of the nomination process and contact information can be found at www.wsfasmallpressaward.org. If you have any question email: admin (at) wsfasmallpressaward (dot) org.

Just found out today, Ann VanderMeer (one of Capclave 2010’s GoH) has just been promoted to editor in chief of Weird Tales magazine. The press release said:

JAN. 25, 2010 — Wildside Press, publisher of the Hugo Award-winning Weird Tales magazine, today announced the promotion of fiction editor Ann VanderMeer to the position of editor in chief.

“Ann has done an outstanding job since joining the Weird Tales editorial team three years ago,” said publisher John Betancourt. “For two decades she’s been one of the most talented, cutting-edge editors in the business, so we’ve been thrilled to see her finally burst onto SF’s center stage, both with Weird Tales and with her recent run of high-profile anthologies. We could not be more pleased to have Ann representing the proud tradition of the world’s oldest fantasy magazine.”

Editorial and creative director Stephen H. Segal, who has collaborated with VanderMeer for the past three years in leading the 21st-century revamp of Weird Tales, will remain a valuable part of the team as the magazine’s senior contributing editor. He is stepping away from the magazine’s day-to-day operations to accept a new full-time position as acquisitions editor for Quirk Books, publisher of the 2009 international bestseller Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

The Weird Tales masthead will be rounded out by two new, though very familiar, additions to the management team serving under VanderMeer. Campbell Award-winning author, artist, designer and performer Mary Robinette Kowal will serve as the magazine’s new art director. And two-time Stoker Award nonfiction winner Paula Guran, editor of the Pocket Juno fantasy imprint, will serve as Weird Tales’s new nonfiction editor.

You’ll find the full article on the Weird Tales website.

Everyone’s a Rebel: An Interview with Jeff VanderMeer By Cynthia Hawkins in Strange Horizons, 4 January 2010.

Shortly after detective John Finch first hustles up five flights of steps and right into the impossible minefield of his next assignment, author Jeff VanderMeer details Finch: “Written on a wall at a crime scene: Everyone’s a collaborator. Everyone’s a rebel. The truth and the weight in each. Sweating under his jacket, through his shirt. Boots heavy on his feet. Always a point of no return, and yet he kept returning. I am not a detective. I am not a detective.”* Finch, unwittingly working for the fungal enemy invaders, must investigate the murder of a human and a “gray cap,” an investigation which nudges him into the crosshairs of both sides while he grapples with doing what’s right.

Go to Strange Horizons to read the full interview.