2012 The Kitschies Awards

Yesterday, in a ceremony held at the Free Word Center, London, the winners of the 2012 Kitschies Awards were announced:

Red Tentacle (Novel): “Angelmaker” by Nick Harkaway (William Heinemann)

Golden Tentacle (Debut): “Redemption in Indigo” by Karen Lord (Jo Fletcher Books)

Inky Tentacle (Cover Art): “A Boy and a Bear in a Boat” by Dave Shelton, illustrated by the author (David Fickling Books)

The Black Tentacle, the discretionary prize for an outstanding contribution to the conversation surrounding genre literature, was awarded to The World SF Blog.

Congratulations to all the winners!

TOC - "The Best Horror of the Year Volume 5" edited by Ellen Datlow

I come back to the list of my favorite year’s best collections with one of the top titles. Ellen Datlow’s year’s best are always at the highest level of quality and I can’t honestly recall a collection of hers that disappointed me, even for one bit. This year, Ellen Datlow’s “The Best Horror of the Year” sees its fifth volume being released, by Night Shade Books in April, and as always the table of contents looks strong and full of memorable stories. On the note, the cover accompanying this post is not the final one. Since the final table of contents was only recently announced the names appearing on the cover are those of last year’s volume. The only thing not subject to change on the cover is the artwork.

Darkness, both literal and psychological, holds its own unique fascination.  Despite our fears, or perhaps because of them, readers have always been drawn to tales of death, terror, madness, and the supernatural, and no more so than today when a wildly imaginative new generation of dark dreamers is carrying on in the tradition of Poe and Lovecraft and King, crafting exquisitely disturbing literary nightmares that gaze without flinching into the abyss—and linger in the mind long after.

Multiple award-winning editor Ellen Datlow knows the darkest corners of fiction and poetry better than most. Once again, she has braved the haunted landscape of modern horror to seek out the most chilling new works by both legendary masters of the genre and fresh young talents. Here are twisted hungers and obsessions, human and otherwise, along with an unsettling variety of spine-tingling fears and fantasies. The cutting edge of horror has never cut deeper than in this comprehensive showcase of the very best the field has to offer. Enter at your own risk.

“Nikishi” by Lucy Taylor (Postscripts #28/29: Exotic Gothics 4)

“Little America” by Dan Chaon (Shadow Show: All-New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury)

“A Natural History of Autumn” by Jeffrey Ford (Fantasy & Science Fiction – July/August 2012)

“Mantis Wives” by Kij Johnson (Clarkesworld Magazine – August 2012)

“Tender as Teeth” by Stephanie Crawford and Duane Swierczynski (21^st Century Dead)

“The Callers” by Ramsey Campbell (Four For Fear)

“Two poems for Hill House” by Kevin McCann

“Mariner’s Round” by Terry Dowling (Postscripts #28/29: Exotic Gothics 4)

“Nanny Grey” by Gemma Files (Magic -An Anthology of the Esoteric and Arcane)

“The Magician’s Apprentice” by Tamsyn Muir (Weird Fiction Review – July 2012)

“Kill All Monsters” by Gary McMahon (Shadows & Tall Trees – Issue 3)

“The House on Ashley Avenue” by Ian Rogers (Every House is Haunted)

“Dead Song” by Jay Wilburn

“Sleeping, I Was Beauty” by Sandi Leibowitz (Goblin Fruit – Winter 2012)

“Bajazzle” by Margo Lanagan (Cracklespace)

“The Pike” by Conrad Williams (Born with Teeth)

“The Crying Child” by Bruce McAllister 

“This Circus the World” by Amber Sparks (Corium Magazine – Summer 2012)

“Some Pictures in An Album” by Gary McMahon (Chiral Mad)

“Wild Acre” by Nathan Ballingrud (Visions Fading Fast)

“Final Exam” by Megan Arkenberg (Asimov’s – June 2012)

“None So Blind” by Stephen Bacon (Shadows & Tall Tress – Issue 3)

“The Ballad of Boomtown” by Priya Sharma (Black Static – Issue 28, April/May 2012)

“Pig Thing” by Adam Nevill (Postscripts #28/29: Exotic Gothics 4)

“The Word-Made Flesh” by Richard Gavin (At Fear’s Altar)

“Into the Penny Arcade” by Claire Massey (Into the Penny Arcade)

“Magdala Amygdala” by Lucy Snyder (Dark Faith: Invocations)

“Frontier Death Song” by Laird Barron (Nightmare Magazine – Issue 1, October 2012)

"One Hundred Years of Vicissitude" by Andrez Bergen

"One Hundred Years of Vicissitude"

by Andrez Bergen

Publisher: Perfect Edge Books

The review is based partially on an ebook copy received through the courtesy of the author, Andrez Bergen, and partially on a bought paperback copy of the book

“First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man. I have meagre proof, no framed‐ up certification, nothing to toss in a court of law as evidence of a rapid departure from the mortal coil. I recall a gun was involved, pressed up against my skull, and a loud explosion followed.”

Thus begins our narrator in a purgatorial tour through twentieth-century Japanese history, with a ghostly geisha who has seen it all as a guide and a corrupt millionaire as her reluctant companion.

Thrown into the milieu are saké, B-29s, Lewis Carroll, Sir Thomas Malory, Melbourne, The Wizard of Oz, and a dirigible - along with the allusion that Red Riding Hood might just be involved.

Some of the most rewarding books I read over the years proved to be the ones that didn’t come with too many recommendations or from the authors I picked in the whim of my reading caprices. One such novel was “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”, a wonderful novel for which I didn’t have any recommendation and implicitly with any expectations from my part. Of course, after the initial encounter with an author it proves to be very difficult to read the writer’s next work without any expectation and only with the anticipation of opening a door to a new world. There is no wonder then that it was impossible for me not to set the bar of expectations high for Andrez Bergen after his debut novel, but if that changed the way I perceive his future works it also made me await them with eagerness. The first in line, Andrez Bergen’s new novel, “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”.

“First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man.” What the main character only suspects in the beginning becomes obvious immediately after that. Wolram E. Deaps is dead and he finds himself in a limbo. A transitional situation for which he has no explanation or from which he has no escape yet. But the state Wolram E. Deaps is in it’s not completely cut off from the state of living Wolram is familiar with. Along the story of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” Wolram learns on his own that the state of transition in which he is found comes with childhood dreams reflected on this limbo, with significant physical needs, for instance cold and hunger. But nb  also is a place with new possibilities, such as meeting new people. And Wolram E. Deaps meets Kohana. Together they begin a journey through the memories of the former geisha, a pilgrimage to the significant moments of her life, the events that shape Kohana’s character and her former existence. Is the recounting of a life, with the good, the bad and in between, a flash of an existence before death exerts its final toll.

With the only two main characters on the scene “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” is similar in many aspects with a play. Much of the story’s magic consists in the relationship between these two characters, but without neglecting the story in the least. Each act of the story takes place in a different setting, the props are changed from one moment in Kohana’s life to another, with the necessary revisiting of the most important ones. The entire odyssey is made in the accompaniment of witty dialogues, delightful characters and captivating story. Or little stories, since the entire picture of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” is made by smaller parts that could easily make a tale on their own. But the characters do not make solely a voyage through Kohana’s life memories, it is also an expedition through a certain era of Japan’s history. It is a hymn brought to this wonderful country and to some of the elements that define its individuality. Customs, history, legends, literature, music and pop culture receive homage in Andrez Bergen’s novel. The ritual of drinking saké, geishas, kabuki, monster movies, yakuza or sumo are some of the things that find their way into the novel one way or another.

There are only two characters in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”, but one of them makes a connection between Andrez Bergen’s two published novels. Wolram E. Deaps is a character from the authors’ debut novel, “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”. As a matter of fact, he is the antagonist of that book, ambitious and greedy. However, not in a single moment I could see Wolram E. Deaps as the character with an unsated appetite for power and money. He even becomes an agreeable character in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. I would not register this aspect as complaint however, because until I experience a state of limbo or any other post-mortem situation first-hand I cannot rightfully affirm how such an instance affects the character of a human being. Wolram E. Deaps not only makes a connection with “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”, but he also gives both Andrez Bergen’s novels metafictional qualities. It is early on in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” when Wolram spots a book among others with certain characteristics: “On a small round table next to the sofa was a pile of books, at the top of which sat a hardback titled Dead Yellow Women. Peeking out beneath that was a cartoonish goat with a cigarette, on a dirty brown cover.”

I said that after reading an author for the first time it is almost impossible for me to start the writer’s other works without some expectations. Such was the case with Andrez Bergen too, but nothing I expected based on “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat” could have prepared me for what I found in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. Yes, both novels have witty, intelligent and delightful dialogues, both show a mastering of language and an assured writing technique from Andrez Bergen, both with various odes brought to the things I can only guess that the author loves at personal level. But “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” reveals new qualities of Andrez Bergen, in particular a warm and wonderful sensibility. The description of Asakusa 1945 firebombing and the reminder of the cruelties of Nanking massacre are touching and emotional. These would have been enough to show Andrez Bergen ability to create emotion, but there many more sensible moments. Distinctly, two scenes from the end of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” bring the reader close to tears.

Globalization is very far from the milk and honey heaven we are led to believe it brings, but I am thankful for the possibility it gives me to discover writers such as Andrez Bergen, an Australian, living in Japan and enchanting the readers across the globe, such as myself, with the stylish noir post-apocalyptic “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat” or this little gem that is “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”.

TOC - "The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2013" edited by Paula Guran

The list of year’s best titles I follow increased constantly over the years. Not dramatically, but still there are quite a few such collections that I enjoy reading. They are a great source of excellent fiction and over the years I discovered some of the authors I became fond of with the help of the year’s best collections. The first such anthology to announce its 2013 line-up of stories is “The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror” edited by Paula Guran and published by Prime Books. Paula Guran’s collection is at its fourth volume, it gathers 35 stories this year and it will be released on June. Here is the table of contents, listed alphabetically by author:

“Hand of Glory” by Laird Barron (The Book of Cthulhu 2)

“Great-Grandmother in the Cellar” by Peter S. Beagle (Under My Hat)

“Glamour of Madness” by Peter Bell (The Ghosts & Scholars Book of Shadows)

“Down in the Valley” by Joseph Bruchac  (Postscripts #28/29: Exotic Gothic 4)

“Bigfoot on Campus” by Jim Butcher (Hex Appeal)

“Iphigenia In Aulis” by Mike Carey (An Apple for the Creature)

“Nightside Eye” by Terry Dowling (Cemetery Dance #66)

“The Bird Country” by K. M. Ferebee (Shimmer #15)

“The Natural History of Autumn” by Jeffrey Ford (F&SF, July/August 2012)

“The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury” by Neil Gaiman (The Shadow Show)

“England Under the White Witch” by Theodora Goss (Clarkesworld, Issue 73)

“Game” by Maria Dahvana Headley (Subterranean, Fall 2012)

“Escena de un Asesinato” by Robert Hood (Postscripts #28/29: Exotic Gothic 4)

“Welcome to the Reptile House” by Stephen Graham Jones (Strange Aeons #9)

“Fake Plastic Trees” by  Caitlín R Kiernan (After)

“The Education of a Witch” by Ellen Klages (Under My Hat)

“Forget You” by Marc Laidlaw (Lightspeed, June 2012)

“Renfrew’s Course” by John Langan (Lightspeed, April 2012)

“The Tall Grass” by Joe R. Lansdale (Dark Tales of Lost Civilizations)

“Slaughterhouse Blues” by Tim Lebbon (Nothing As It Seems)

“The Eyes of Water” by Alison Littlewood (The Eyes of Water)

“Good Hunting” by Ken Liu (Strange Horizons, October 2012)

“No Ghosts In London” by Helen Marshall (Hair Side, Flesh Side)

“Blue Lace Agate” by Sarah Monette (Lightspeed, January 2012)

“End of White” by Ekaterina Sedia (Shotguns v Cthulhu)

“Pearls” by Priya Sharma (Bourbon Penn 04)

“Bedtime Stories for Yasmin” by Robert Shearman (Shadows & Tall Trees 4)

“When Death Wakes Me to Myself” by John Shirley (Black Wings II)

“Sinking Among Lilies” by Cory Skerry (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Issue #92)

“Go Home Again” by Simon Strantzas (Fungi)

“The Sea of Trees” by Rachel Swirsky (The Future Is Japanese)

“Dahlias” by Melanie Tem (Black Wings II)

“Who is Arvid Pekon?” by Karin Tidbeck (Jagganath: Stories)

“Armless Maidens of the American West” by Genevieve Valentine (Apex, August 7, 2012)

“Everything Must Go” by Brooke Wonders (Clarkesworld, Issue 74)

Cover art - "One Small Step" edited by Tehani Wessely

Last year I presented the table of contents of the upcoming anthology form FableCroft Publishing, “One Small Step” edited by Tehani Wessely. Now we can admire the cover artwork for Tehani Wessely’s anthology, one made by Amanda Rainey. It is quite a treat, a wonderful artwork that matches perfectly the theme of the collection. As a matter of fact, after seeing this amazing artwork done by Amanda Rainey for “One Small Step” I can’t imagine a better or more suitable cover for the anthology. And although the year is still at its beginning it is already one of my favorite covers of 2013.

Another piece of news regarding Tehany Wessely’s “One Small Step” is that the stories from the initial table of contents were joined by another, Cat Sparks’ “Daughters of Battendown”. Here is the final TOC:

“Sand and Seawater” by Joanne Anderton & Rabia Gale

“Indigo Gold” by Deborah Biancotti

“Firefly Epilogue” by Jodi Cleghorn

“The Ways of the Wyrding Women” by Rowena Cory Daniells

“The ships of Culwinna” by Thoraiya Dyer

“Shadows” by Kate Gordon

“By Blood and Incantation” by Lisa L. Hannett & Angela Slatter

“Ella and the Flame” by Kathleen Jennings

“Original” by Penny Love

“Always Greener” by Michelle Marquardt

“Morning Star” by DK Mok

“Winter’s Heart” by Faith Mudge

“Cold White Daughter” by Tansy Rayner Roberts

“Baby Steps” by Barbara Robson

“Number 73 Glad Avenue” by Suzanne J Willis

“Daughters of Battendown” by Cat Sparks

Title spotlight - "The Reading Lessons" by Carole Lanham

“The Reading Lessons” – Lucinda and Hadley are two friends, whose destinies are not meant to cross, with a love for forbidden books and readings. Lucinda, despite her caprices, is the gravitating point for Hadley and their usual play almost an addiction. And like any addiction no good can come out of it. (My review of the short story published in Carole Lanham’s “The Whisper Jar”.)

“The Reading Lessons” is one of the stories of Carole Lanham’s excellent debut collection, “The Whisper Jar”, but it is also the starting point for the upcoming first novel of the author. I’ve seen over the years a couple of short stories that led to longer pieces of fiction, but “The Reading Lessons” is the first in a long time that I await with fervent anticipation. It cannot be otherwise since “The Whisper Jar” was one of the best books I read last year and a collection that revealed a very talented writer. It is true that after reading “The Whisper Jar” my expectations for Carole Lanham’s works are high, but by the looks of her debut collection I have a certain belief that I would not be disappointed. With a first-hand experience on Carole Lanham’s subtle and challenging works I think that “The Reading Lessons” would touch a few very important issues in the author’s uncomfortable but excellent manner. If I am right or wrong or if my expectations are too high remains to be seen when Carole Lanham’s novel will be released by Immortal Ink Publishing on May. Maybe these are a little besides the point too, since “The Reading Lessons” is now one of my most anticipated releases of 2013.

Mississippi 1920: Nine year old servant, Hadley Crump, finds himself drawn into a secret world when he is invited to join wealthy Lucinda Browning’s dirty book club. No one suspects that the bi-racial son of the cook is anything more to Lucinda than a charitable obligation, but behind closed doors, O! she doth teach the torches to burn bright. What begins as a breathless investigation into the more juicy parts of literature quickly becomes a consuming and life-long habit for two people who would not otherwise be left alone together. As lynchings erupt across the South and the serving staff is slowly cut to make way for new mechanical household conveniences, Hadley begins to understand how dangerous and precarious his situation is.

The Reading Lessons follows the lives of two people born into a world that is unforgiving as a Hangman’s knot. Divided by skin color and joined by books, Hadley and Lucinda are forced to come together in the only place that will allow it, a land of printed words and dark secrets.

Premio Minotauro 2013

Yesterday, the winner of Premio Minotauro 2013 has been announced. The jury chose as the winner of the award’s 10^th edition the novel “Panteón” (Pantheon) by Carlos Sisí, submitted under the pseudonym of Alicia Sotomonte.

“Panteón” (Pantheon) is a novel of space adventures with Lovecraftian accents. It is a space opera with elements of cosmic terror in the style of “Alien” and its sequel “Prometheus”. As usual, the winning novel will be published by Ediciones Minotauro on March.

Earth, the original planet exploded over 10 millions of years ago. At that time the man had already begun the journey through space. In this new Era, the war and the peace are elements carefully kept in balance by The Colony, the quintessential scientific enclave. From there, the controller Maralda Tardes detects a military activity on a planet away from any trade route and decides to initiate a standard protocol inspection.

In the meantime, Ferdinand and Malhereux, two young junkmen, wait patiently under the surface of the planet for the war to end and to begin the plundering of the remains of combat and extract a succulent profit. Among the remains of the battle they discover a strange artifact that seems to belong to an ancient and unknown civilization, also desired by both the atrocious sarlab mercenaries and the scientists of The Colony. Mal and Fer are unaware that the artifact in their possession could be the key for unlocking a threat older than the galaxy…

Carlos Sisí was born in Madrid in 1971 and currently lives in Calahonda (Málaga). He made his debut in 2009 with “Los Caminantes” (The Wanderers), the first novel in the eponymous series. Since then Carlos Sisí published the next two novels in “Los Caminantes” (The Wanderers” trilogy, “Los Caminantes: Necrópolis” and “Los Caminantes: Hades Nebula”, another novel, “La Hora del Mar” (The Time of the Sea), and a novella, “Edén Interrumpido” (Disrupted Paradise). His debut novel, “The Wanderers”, is also available in English, released by Permuted Press in 2011.

Congratulations!