Simon Petrie

It had been known since the early 1950s that high levels of radiation could induce gigantism in certain species. But since most of the early cases had involved arthropods and poisonous lizards of, it has to be said, a rather aggressive disposition, the commercial implications of this line of research were not as obvious as they might otherwise have been.

“Nuclear Physics for Market Gardeners,” p. 126, by Hank Bremsstrahlung

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Trent Jamieson

The Prosperity Act needed good people. Not everyone could handle the work. Not everyone could kill children.

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Patrick Hew

Hell to a violinist is the ticking of a metronome, the robotic, relentless and remorseless tick, beating out the time, beating the soul out of the music. And in every tick of the metronome, you can hear The Devil. Practising.

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Lets just say the last 4 months haven’t been ideal in the electronic land of ticon. First we were randomly trashed by the beige hats of hackerdom, then our webhost* deleted everything.

It’s a new year, and we’d like to put 2009 behind us, but not before graciously and gratefully acknowledging the efforts of those who contributed last year, many wonderful folk whose efforts sadly didn’t receive the attention they so richly deserved. We’re sorry, and will do our best to make sure it won’t happen again.

It’s going to be a busy few months at Ticonderoga. We’ve got a whole lot of great fiction and reviews to put up here at ticon4, as well as the expected publication of 3 new books. You’ll hear more about them shortly.

Please, grant us a little patience as we iron out a few teething issues, and take the time to have a look around at the wonders this site offers.

Many thanks!

* the web host was 3ix, thoroughly not recommended, and we’re no longer hosting through them.

Things are busy here but we should have some updates shortly.

Kieran Morgan

1

A child’s foot stepped hesitantly onto the quicksand, and began to sink, ever-so-slowly.

“Howie… you’re sinkin’,” a small voice piped up.

The foot spread its small toes as wide as it could, and moved just a little bit sideways, and the sinking slowed. It didn’t completely stop, but it was unhurried now, as imperceptible as one of those slow bubbles that form on the surface, taking hours to pop in a sloppy belch.

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As promised, some that were missed. and apologies to all those missed this time, too, as I’m going through a rather disorganised week. Thansk to nyssa p for throwing lots of these my way, but all ommissions remain my fault.

And, please, pass these around, tell your friends. This month is tell your pals about how great sf is month. Every month is tell your pals how great sf is month.

And another interview:

http://hydrolith.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/interview-with-a-writer/

ROR writing team have set up a shared blog at http://ripping-ozzie-reads.blogspot.com/

Carol Ryles a little chat with Satima at: http://satimaflavell.blogspot.com/2009/02/lady-of-contrasts.html

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/02/16/justine-just-says-no/

John Scalzi on writers’ time and saying no: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/02/16/justine-just-says-no/

podcasts – www.tisf.com.au

enjoy the reading!

If this month is a fairly scant list, consider it due to taking this on at short notice, and being lazy, and not because the last month hasn’t been exciting times. I’ve called this Part 1, and if folks want to end more links through I’ll make a part 2.

No Second Prize…

Tin Duck nominations opened http://2009.swancon.com.au/tinducks

and everyone said “pick me, pick me!”

http://martinlivings.livejournal.com/329364.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathrynlinge/sets/72157604344415407/

http://editormum.livejournal.com/164721.html

http://jiraiyanews.blogspot.com/2009/02/tin-ducks.html

Wanna go to swancon? you can buy tix online at http://www.indiebooksonline.com

Ellen Datlow has been doing a great job coordinating the Shirley Jackson Award raffle: http://ellen-datlow.livejournal.com/160233.html

SwanAid for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal happened http://mynxii.livejournal.com/673306.html

Gillian Polack was besotted by recognition: http://gillpolack.livejournal.com/477100.html

Paul Haines is still alive http://paulhaines.livejournal.com/94474.html

Romance writers Victorian Bushfire Book appeal http://badgermirlacca.livejournal.com/127767.html

Russell B Farr pondered why some writers suck http://punkrocker1991.livejournal.com/199471.html

The Aurealis Awards were announced to the usual much gushing and backslapping http://www.aurealisawards.com/Winners.htm

Australian Shadows nominees http://www.australianhorror.com/index.php?view=151

Pretend the water is champagne…

There was much on reviewing, reviewing reviewers, and what not to do about it:

Reviewing reviewers: http://cassiphone.livejournal.com/211978.html

A shitstorm: http://cassiphone.livejournal.com/211583.html

Telling it straight: http://angriest.livejournal.com/307436.html

A dummyspit: http://benpeek.livejournal.com/704678.html

Memories…

Lee Battersby has been hosting a series of reminiscences by Clarion South 2007 students at the Battersblog: http://battersblog.blogspot.com

Hey Lord, Don’t Ask Me Questions…

This is by no means exhaustive and I don’t know if anyone’s tracking them, but a bunch of folks wanted other folks to quiz them.

http://jasonfischer.livejournal.com/156241.html
http://jasonfischer.livejournal.com/158906.html
http://jasonfischer.livejournal.com/160339.html
http://battblush.livejournal.com/150418.html
http://battersblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/satimas-questions.html
http://battersblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/callistras-questions.html
http://battersblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/grants-interview.html
http://tanaudel.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/the-interview-continues-courtesy-jason-fischer/
http://tanaudel.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/facts-and-questions/
http://callistra.livejournal.com/511555.html#cutid1
http://callistra.livejournal.com/511238.html
Satima also interviews Sarah Parker here:
http://satimaflavell.blogspot.com/2009/02/universal-woman.html but I
don’t know if that was part of the meme.

It’s the last piece of the puzzle but you just can’t make it fit

http://voyageronline.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/kim-falconer-animal-vegetable-mineral-part-i-the-science-of-sentience/ – Kim Falconer, The Science of Sentience

http://voyageronline.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/sara-douglass-escape-from-the-starship-enterprise/ – Update on Sara Douglass

New complete LJ syndication for writergoesonajourney http://syndicated.livejournal.com/thesfjourney/

Tim Duck nominations http://editormum.livejournal.com/164721.html

Shadow award nominations: http://jasonfischer.livejournal.com/164639.html

Bushfire relief fanzine – http://chrisbarnes.livejournal.com/94728.html

Conflux 6 banquet http://gillpolack.livejournal.com/475687.html

Hugo awards semiprozine being killed? http://girliejones.livejournal.com/1262046.html

CallMyAgent – Adult fantasy writers – http://callmyagent.blogspot.com/2009/02/ya-fantasy-and-australian-agents.html

ROFLMAO – to cheer you up in all the dark times happening – http://jasonfischer.livejournal.com/162797.html

Dirk returns to New Ceres http://flinthart.livejournal.com/60380.html

More stuff on the gender debate – http://jasonfischer.livejournal.com/161943.html

Justine Larbalestier book tour http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/02/06/melbourne-perth-sydney-i-am-everywhere/

Web goddess Fiona McLennan joins Awritergoesonajourney.com with her first article http://syndicated.livejournal.com/journeyarticles/5192.html

Judging quality in writing: http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2009/02/emergency-you-tell-me-king-vs-meyer-and.html

Persistence by Sean Williams – http://ladnews.livejournal.com/109263.html

Free book download – http://halspacejock.livejournal.com/114798.html

Kate Orman on Mary Sue http://kateorman.livejournal.com/1002492.html

Patty Jensen on the Future of Publishing: http://pattyjansen.blogspot.com/2009/02/future-of-publishing.html

a link to a few (non-Aus) articles with my brief (Aus) thoughts on
offensive books, ordinary characters and empathy between characters:
http://tanaudel.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/offence-sympathy-and-ordinariness/

Happy St valentines day — especially to all the mummies ;)

Howard Jones – Everlasting love

The publishing industry looks set for lean times, from the top down. Large, advertising-driven magazines are in the frontline, but I doubt any player, right down to the smallest and most irregular indie press will not feel it at some point.

In January Realms of Fantasy announced its demise, and Wheatland Press announced a hiatus. Even without a crystal ball, I can comfortably predict that these won’t be the only casualties this year.

It’s up to all of us; me, you, the person at the office, the person on the train, to join the fight.

I killed Realms of Fantasy. I never bought an issue, read an issue, advertised in an issue or encouraged anyone to check it out. While I wasn’t the only killer, I must take some responsibility for this.

We can all make a difference. We don’t have to buy everything, but we can talk about the presses doing the good stuff, let people know what great books and magazines are around. I’m not asking everyone to save every publisher single handedly, just that each one of us do a bit.

Each day, each week, each month.

Don’t shift the blame. How many publishers are we going to kill this year?

Rachel Holkner

Briony chose the room. There were three similar upstairs, but this was the smallest and did not even come with a decent view. Her mother had intended it for storage. The room was slightly longer than it was wide, with wooden floorboards, pale yellow walls, one small square window and a cupboard built in to one wall.

“Briony,” her mother said, “You’ll never fit anything in that tiny cupboard. It doesn’t even have shelves.”

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