| Author | Message | ||
     Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
I still can't believe I'm saying this, but I received my author copies of Best New Horror 19 this morning, and it looks terrific. Here's a photo, just to prove this isn't simply the deluded fantasy of a damaged mind: http://www.garymcmahon.com/ Simon's in there too, but he can provide his own picture. :-) | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.46.19 |
Yayyyyyyy!!!!! | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.161.253.149 |
You've creased your spine! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.199.0.117 |
Bravo my dear sir! | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.157.91.38 |
Well done young fellah... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Thanks, folks. | ||
| Matthew_fell (Matthew_fell) Username: Matthew_fell Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 216.232.189.45 |
Just as a matter of interest: how can something titled Best NEW Horror consist of nothing but reprints? And how can an anthology that consists of nothing but material from a previous year be considered for a 'Best Anthology' award in the year following the stories' original publication? Christopher | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.161.253.149 |
Don't! It'll be another Shirley Jackson award thing! Maybe best of RECENT new horror is what they meant. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Why don't you take that up with Stephen Jones? This thread is for Zed who's worked hard to achieve this credit and deserves a little kudos rather than petty crowing. Well done, mate. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.161.253.149 |
I meant that seriously though, Gary. I'd think it daft if a 'best new' book was all new; the quality would not have been gauged. I think the title is fine. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Yes, the title is fine. Christopher's second question is legitimate, but it's not the place to discuss it here. Even if we could resolve it, what good would it do? I suggest Christopher gets in touch with Stephen Jones personally. Here's his contact info: SteveMandy[at]compuserve.com | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.108.23.54 |
It's notable that books published in the UK tend to do better in the British Fantasy Awards than books published elsewhere, because more BFS members have read them. That's a result of the Awards being determined by a membership vote rather than a judging panel. Again, As regards the anthology's nomination for awards, that's down to the people who nominated it, and I really can't blame Steve for not saying "No, don't nominate this book, it's not worthy." In fairness, one year when the book won a British Fantasy Award he named another anthology (Ellen Datlow's THE DARK) that he felt should have won instead. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
"And how can an anthology that consists of nothing but material from a previous year be considered for a 'Best Anthology' award in the year following the stories' original publication?" It would be pretty difficult for it to contain work published after it came out. Or am I misunderstanding the question? It's obvious to me that a "Best Of" anthology must contain work from the year before, as otherwise it would preclude work that is published after the book came out. Ask Steve Jones. Or Ellen Datlow. They're a lot wiser than me, and have been winning awards for these books since before I was even submitting. All I know is, I'm fucking thrilled. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.108.23.54 |
It's also notable that books published in the UK tend to do better in the British Fantasy Awards than books published elsewhere, because more BFS members have read them. That's a result of the Awards being determined by a membership vote rather than a judging panel. But don't blame the books themselves, poor things. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Aye. In the samw way that the Stokers seem to favour American books and authors... Are my chips being pissed in? Good job I didn't organise a parade. ;-) | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
The stories may be a year older (and reprints) but the book is actually published a year later - as usual with all awards, there's a dichotomy there. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.203.130.130 |
Never mind - look! It's Gary McMahon in Best New Horror! Gary McMahon! Bleak, bitter, nihilistic, horror-loving Gary McMahon! Our Gary McMahon! Who totally deserves it. Again - bravo my friend! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Thank you, John. I think I love you. :-) | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
Sorry, my postings above got scrambled due to hasty keyboard handling on my part. I had another point but it didn't come through. Just ignore me. Well done, Zed! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Ta, Joel Your story in the book is one of my favourites from your recent output, btw. It's an absolute killer. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.50.191.46 |
I'm baffled by Christopher's questions.  | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Isn't the second question about whether a collection of short stories, each of which was eligible for an individual award the previous year, should be eligible for another award the following year? Someone could therefore win two awards for the same story: one individually, and then again by inclusion in a best-of antho. I suppose it's worth debating. The BFS website is probably the best place. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
What about reprints in "original" anthos? Isn't that the same thing? It is a valid issue for debate, though. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.50.191.46 |
Maybe it should be renamed the best of the best. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
BEST OF LAST YEAR'S HORROR AND THEREFORE NOT, STRICTLY SPEAKING, ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS THIS YEAR, THOUGH THE ISSUE ISN'T REALLY A BIG ONE IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS edited by Stephen Jones. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
Gary, by 'the grand scheme of things' are you referring to the random shitstorm of meaningless events in a world without sense or direction? If so, fine. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Put it this way, I'd rather focus on the activities of the IMF than on those of the BFS. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.50.191.46 |
Methinks we have a conspiracy theorist in our midst. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
They just want us to think we do. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.156.32.207 |
BFS Awards Politics are fascinating. I'm also fascinaed by the Sub-Prime Mortgage Market in USA. And leverage of the alphabetical instruments as they affected the results of The Royal bank of Scotland today, | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
Let's keep this clear: the British Fantasy Awards are based on a membership vote. No preference, no politics, no secret cabal, no bribery and corruption. If people miss out on good stuff or don't appreciate it enough, that's a shame. Remember that the popular vote went in favour of Barabbas. I remember that back in 1975, LOOK-IN magazine held a readers' poll to determine which was the greatest pop group of all time: the Beatles, Abba or the Bay City Rollers. Needless to say, the Rollers won hands down. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.156.32.207 |
You're right, Joel. Meanwhile, the Politics of anything are what people say about things not the things themselves. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.157.91.38 |
Needless to say, the Rollers won hands down. And quite rightly. How could anyone not win that with such wonderful trousers. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
Be prepared to forsake a little love. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
Westlife, don't talk to me about Westlife. The Bay City Rollers, there was a boy band. Cute, sexy and as common as dirt. When Les started to sing 'Bye Bye Baby' on TOTP, he looked in the eyes of an imaginary lover and then let his gaze drop, just for a moment, to crotch height. No wonder the fans screamed. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Personally, I prefer the BFS system. It's reader-based, so a good judge of what readers have actually enjoyed that year. The Stokers and World Fantasy awards are often populated by a lot of people I've never heard of and whose stuff I've not read. At least I've usually read a lot of what makes the BFS award shortlist, and to me that's a good thing. A lot of UK publishers can't even afford to send the requisite several copies to the panels on these US-based awards - if you're only selling 80 copies of a book, then the cost of postage alone to send 4 or 5 copies to America is going to hurt. So, in my opiniob, despite its flaws, the BFS system is the better one. People who've actually paid money to read a book cast the votes - where's the wrong in that? I do think the actual way the voting works should be changed - ie. you shouldn't be able to vote for your own work, and we really do need more people actually voting in the thing - but otherwise it strikes me as fair. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
You can't vote for your own work, as author or as editor/publisher. But you can vote for an anthology or magazine that included a story of yours. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
That 'Where are they now?' TV programme about the Bay City Rollers was the most depressing thing I've ever seen. Sic transit (van) gloria mundi. I swear, if you passed Eric in the street now you wouldn't give him a second glance. And as for how Les was treated after he left the band – oh, never mind. The sadness of life is infinite. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
Back on-topic very briefly - congratulations, Gary, on getting in, very well done and well deserved but as someone else pointed out, you've creased the spine! Well done, of course, to everyone else who was included too. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I've only creased the spine of my reading copy, Mark - the other copy is sitting on my bookshelf, un-creased. :-) | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.227.172 |
Don't tell me you were into the Rollers, Joel  The ultimate boyband for me is The Sweet  There, too, nothing but sadness near the end. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
Not as cute as the Rollers. But yes, their end was even sadder. A badly damaged singer eking out a living on the nostalgia circuit. I have a battered copy of 'Action' lurking somewhere. It's crap however. 'Fox on the Run' was much better. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.115.213 |
Totally agree with Gary about the voting. A small press can't afford to send all those copies off to panels from a small print run. Also - now that it has been made clearer ( although it wasn't clear on the online voting form) that anyone who attended the BFSCon 07 and 08 can vote too - they can feel part of the process. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
The nig thing is that more people need to cast a vote. I've heard that a work can win by a single vote because there are so few. It saddens me that in a society with over 400 members hardly any of them bother to vote. :-( | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.227.172 |
I remember their singles - Hell Raiser, Ballroom Blitz, guilty pleasures all. Even people who were into the Floyd and Genesis bought them. Chinn and Chapman were a hell of a writing team. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
This thread has turned surreal...and it isn't even Albie's doing. :-0 | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.227.172 |
 | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.50.191.46 |
Unsanctioned non-union surrealism? Right. Tools down, lads. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
We weren't even talking about the small press... | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Conspiracy theorist? You do know that Bay City Rollers is an anagram of "Labor Lyrics Yet". It was those guys who ushered in Tony Blair, you know. With their secret messages designed to program the minds of future voters. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
>>>It saddens me that in a society with over 400 members hardly any of them bother to vote. Hee, hee, the fun we could have with this in paranoid schizo conspiracy theorist-ville. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
So why exactly did they usher in Blair, a right-wing PM whose career objective was to annihilate the Labour Party? | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.160.23.143 |
There are no conspiracies. The ruling class fuck over the world in broad daylight, smirking and chanting as they do so. | ||
| Albie (Albie) Username: Albie Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.50.191.46 |
To put people off voting altogether? They'll make it law that we have to vote next. Then we'll be in the streets protesting about not wanting to vote...women will be chaining themselves to railings demanding their right to vote being taken from them. | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.227.172 |
That "Bye-bye, baby" curiously makes sense now. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.3.65.135 |
Like all pop bands they wanted to crack America, but knowing it wasn't possible, they plotted the only alternative: letting America crack them. Hence Tony Blair. See - it all fits. You've just got to look for it. | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.74.96.200 |
>>You've creased your spine! No, he always stands like that, Tony. Serious congratulations, Zed. I bet you've been sleeping wiht the copy under your pillow, haven't you? Richly deserved. Sometimes hard work pays off. You don't always get what you deserve in this life, but sometimes you get what you work for. (Simon obviously fluked it . . . But a big well done to him too!) | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.17.14.64 |
I'm so woefully out of what's current in horror, but I still recognize - and they're always in every bookstore in the States (even OOP ones are!) - Jones' Best New Horror. Congrats, Zed! | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
But Tony Blair MP is an anagram of "I'm Tory Plan B" so the Bay city rollers conspiacy falls down there. Michael heseltine is an anagram od "Elect him he's alien" or "I am the senile lech". Greatest of all is Virginia Bottomley (powerful tory mp a decade or so ago) is an anagram of "I'm an evil tory bigot" | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
Well done mr Zed by the way | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.193.52 |
Congratulations, Zedney! My friend Simon (a different Simon, not the Canadian!) is really excited about being in there too (he's also just found out that his first-published story has just been nominated for a World Fantasy Award, so he's doing cartwheels right now, I bet). It seems all my friends are hitting the big time! | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.98.179 |
Congrats, Gary. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.242.126 |
Cheers, folks - and congrats to the others in there, too. Particularly Joel, Mark Samuels, Ramsey (of course), and that Strantzas fella. All better writers than me. |