Down in Chattanooga

I'm finished with the three mornings of workshopping and can catch up on my reading of months of The New Yorker plus (I hope) finishing Jack O'Connell's novel, The Resurrectionist and possibly even read Liz Hand's Rimbaud novel mss.
I think/hope that the writers (ten of them) got what they had hoped to out of the critique process.

There have been heavy summer showers on and off --it's lovely sitting on the porch and watching sheets of rain. Or hearing it while inside. It cools off and then is sunny and humid again.

This evening some of the workshoppers are playing word games. I thought I'd catch up here (I hate games) and then skim more New Yorkers. I took a nap this afternoon before helping with dinner. Very relaxing.

There's at least one non-weather storm about to break though, once Dave Truesdale posts his review of The Del Rey Book of SF&F (on SF Site) which will include a rant (he's already provided a foreshadowing on the Asimov's Message Board) about Margo Lanagan's brutal horror story, "The Goosle."

I'll post a link to his rant on my blog. And would be happy to hear other opinions about the story when the time comes. I am fully aware it's not an "enjoyable" story. It's not meant to be, and I certainly don't expect everyone to appreciate it. Perhaps at some point Margo will come by to comment on the comments.

a mixed review from a blogger

alankria

I think it's fascinating that different reviewers are pointing out completely different stories as favorites and sometimes stories they hate. To me, it shows that the book has a wide enough appeal to be enjoyed by more than one audience and that most of the stories are making an impact, something I advocate.

Alankria found a few of the stories "lousy" but it's obvious from comments about those stories that Alankria didn't "get" them. eg. Alankria calls the "ending of [The Passion of Azazel] utterly unbelievable and daft."

Ah... unlike the rest of the story wherein a goat golem is created.
Alankria apparently missed the climax of "Gladiolus Exposed."

Just fyi, my mom (not a science fiction reader) ONLY really liked the Cadigan story because she could get into it more easily that an sf story such as "Special Economics" and because she knew boys like Jimmy when she was young. I hope the contributors aren't too insulted by my mom. Never fear, I'm insulted enough for all of you! :-)