News and Blog Updates: June 13, 2008

Special Feature (repost)
Michael G. Munz: "Playing with Hubris," appears in the June-July issue of NexGen Pulp Magazine
The latest short story by Seattle based speculative fiction author Michael G. Munz is now published in the June-July issue of NexGen Pulp. Munz's story, "Playing with Hubris," is a humorous tale of a man who meets the god Apollo in a modern cafe. The story was referenced in a recent interview by Crystal's Book Reviews. Below is a little teaser/excerpt from the story:

"You're saying you're Apollo. The god."
He smiled disarmingly. "Well, not 'god' in the sense that people use the word these days, but…yes."
I gave him a couple more blinks of cynical disbelief. He certainly seemed a well-dressed psychotic. "God of music…of medicine…drives the sun across the sky and all that?"
"None other than," he agreed. "Though I don't actually drive the sun anymore. They've got that whole thing all automated now. Upkeep on the chariot got to be too much of an expense. Progress, you know."
"Right…"
"You don't believe me," he said, unsurprised.
"Does that bother you?" I asked.
He laughed once and waved his hand in dismissal. "Oh, certainly not. I've had temples built in my honor. I don't need your approval."
"Oh? I thought you guys were supposed to be all ego. And shouldn't you be appearing in the form of a bull or something?"
"Hey, don't be confusing me with my dad. That whole 'carry off the maiden in bull form' was his favorite pastime." He rolled his eyes. "Every Wednesday night."
(special feature and below)


News Headlines:
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“Get Smart” - Monday June 16, 2008, 7:00 PM, Bellevue, WA. "Our friends at Terry Hines & Associates ask if we want to see "Get Smart" for free on Monday, June 16th on the Eastside? Go to www.gofobo.com and enter this code: FILM0024 then all you will need to do is register (which is FREE) and print out your ticket! www.gofobo.com SEE MOVIES FIRST, WIN PRIZES FAST! Arrive Early! Seating is first-come, first-served. You'll need to sign up for a Gofobo account"

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Phoebe Matthews - First two chapters of Tarbaby Trouble up on my website
This is the first ebook in the Mudflat series and available July 2 from BookStrand:

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Anghara - New Cover Art!
"Check out Alma Alexander's LiveJournal blog (http://anghara.livejournal.com/) for cover art for the third and final Worldweavers book" http://phoebematthews.com/


News Worth Reposting
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Are We Alone - "Building Better Brains"
Forgot your own birthday? Misplaced your Shih Tzu? Did you put the milk in your backpack and the iPod in the fridge? Age may bring wisdom but - alas - not a boost in RAM. But there's hope - scientists are discovering that the brain is more malleable than thought. We'll hear about the science of neuroplasticity and what you can do to slow that cerebellum slide. Ever been to a brain gym? Plus, why the brains of London cabbies are bigger than those of your average commuter. Guests:

• Michael Merzenich - Professor Emeritus Neuroscientist, University of California, San Francisco
• Gordy Slack - Science journalist and author of The Battle Over the Meaning of Everything: Evolution, Intelligent Design, and a School Board in Dover, PA
• Sam Wang - Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Molecular Biology at Princeton University and the author of Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget how to Drive and other Puzzles of Everyday Life
• Lisa Schoonerman - Co-founder, VibrantBrains
• Jan Zivic - Co-founder, VibrantBrains

You can listen to this and other episodes at: http://radio.seti.org/

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Are We A Blog? - Sam Wang writes about appearing on the show, & Bad Alien Evidence -- The Denver Video


Headlines From SF News Sites:
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British Fantasy Society News: Night of the Hell Hamsters

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io9: Save the Aliens! Don't Litter! [Space PSA], Glass Gowns Will Be the Height of 2000s Fashion, According to 1930s Experts [Retro Futurism], Science That Became Fiction in 2600 Anthology [Best Of 2600], Claymation Science Heroes Wallace And Gromit Are Coming Back! [Wallace And Gromit], The Prisoner May Be The One Scifi Show Worth Remaking [The Prisoner], Top Ten Most Realistic Planets in Science Fiction [Alien Planets], R.I.P. Algis Budrys, Pioneering Cyber-Novelist And Magazine Editor [Algis Budrys], A Nerdy Scientist and a Hot Secretary on Mars in 1957 [Retro Futurism], & Six Astounding Young Adult Novels of the Pre-Potter Era [Young Adult Fiction]

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Locus Online: Monitor: This Week's Bestsellers

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Science Fiction Awards Watch: Campbell and Sturgeon Short Lists

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SciFi Scanner: With SciFi Movies, Classic Does Not Equal Good, Daily Scan: 06.12.08 - SciFi Movie Misfires; Rosario Dawson Signs on for Gemini Division, K Is for Klaatu Barada Nikto, & Daily Scan: 06.11.08 - Hover Car Racer Still a Go for Disney; a Defense of Ang Lee's Hulk

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SF Novelists: Whistling in the Dark-Or More On The Pace of Publishing

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SF Signal: Thursday YouTube: David Bowie Sings Starman, SF Tidbits for 6/12/08, MIND MELD: Who Are Tomorrow's Big Genre Stars? (+ The Top 18 Genre Authors To Keep an Eye On),
NOMINEES: The 2008 Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, NOMINEES: 2008 John W Campbell Memorial Award, & SF Tidbits for 6/11/08

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SFScope: World Fantasy Convention issues Progress Report #3, Dave Duncan sells two new fantasy novels to Tor, Warrior Wisewoman tells sf stories of powerful women, Audible's Frontiers's June offerings, Arcana Comics June newsletter, Old Earth publishing second Howard Waldrop collection, Arcana Studios taking proposals for horror anthology Velvet Rope, Asylum's newest title: Warlash: Dark Noir, Mike Allen's The Hiker's Tale serialized by Papaveria, Publicity promotions at HarperCollins Eos, & Campbell and Sturgeon Award finalists announced

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StarShipSofa: Jeff VanderMeer Secret Life mp3

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The Website at the End of the Universe: Bradbury doesn't see a future for electronic books, & J.K. Rowling shares her wisdom with Harvard graduates


Selected Blog Updates:
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Alethea Kontis - "Sale -- ""The Giant & The Unicorn"" to Shimmer", & "Hypericon Schedule"

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Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest - "Apex Editors - Justin Stewart", & "Acqusitions announcement"

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Cynthia Leitich Smith - "YA Author Interview: Suzanne Harper on The Juliet Club", "Dancing with the Star Wars Stars", & "The Remarkable Rewards of Writing"

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Dark Horse Comics - "R. Black Scooter & Book Tour!", & "New Items Shipping from Dark Horse - 6/11/2008"

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David Louis Edelman - "In What Order Should You Read the Series?"

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Donna Barr: All Things Barr - Hurricane Doris

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Fantagraphics Books - "Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery: 'Now Serving Cheesecake'", & "Now in stock: new titles from T. Ott & Johnny Ryan!"

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Holly Cupala - "Tag me with a Spoon!", & "I’m on my way..."

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Horror! Fullmoondirect.com ROAD SHOW Seattle, WA - "DUDES! FATHER’S DAY SALE! SIX ROAD SHOWS TO GO!"

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J Erwine - "Even More Stories at Anthology Builder"

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Jeff Carlson - "Still writing..."

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Karina L. Fabian - "Chicago Printer’s Row Book Fair Report"

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Lois McMaster Bujold - "another interview", & "It’s *four* books, drattit."

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Louise Bohmer - Lachesis Publishing - "New Jersey Conference: Put Your Heart in a Book", & "Lachesis / LBF Books Facebook Page"

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Luna Books - "Review - Magix Study"

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Marianne De Pierres - "Gen Con Oz"

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Melissa Marr - "London events updated"

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Paul S. Kemp - "Paul S. Kemp will contribute to Fall 2008 Issue of Heliotrope Mag"

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Planet Pride - "Saturn in hot water: viscous evolution of the Enceladus torus", & "Plutoid fever", & "Distant Moon"

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Portland Steampunk Society - "Steampunk Night at the Theatre", "Steampunk/Victorian picnic and trap shoot", & "Not Steampunk, but still a great upcoming event"

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Robin Hobb - "Paris and Epinal"

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Robert J Sawyer's Blog - "Suddenly, it's almost 3:00 p.m.", & "Rollback nominated for Campbell Memorial Award"

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Shroud Magazine - "Shroud gets reviewed at Fear Zone...", & "New Hampshire Hiker’s Body Found..."

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Spokane Comicon - "Spokane Comicon 2008 PHOTO ALBUM.", & "Spokane Comicon 2008 survey"

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Tor Books - "Podcast with John Scalzi about Zoe's Tale"

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TREI Literary Magazine - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS........OMG! THIS IS SO GOING TO ROCK THIS JOINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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w1n5t0n - "How internet security works (explained with tennis balls)"

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Willie Meikle - "Isaac Asimov and Me :) "

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Word Weavers - "Fiction Anthology"
Publish Post
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Yasmine Galenorn - "Stream of Consciousness--Luna, New Interview with Me, and Other Good Stuff", "Male Characters We Lust & Interview With Smoky", "Playlists for Night Huntress and Etched in Silver", & " Night Huntress Available For Pre-Order!"