Something Wicker This Way Comes*

Image © copyright Jim Champion and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons License.
The original was cropped for use in this blog post.

(* Yes, I still have Ray Bradbury on my mind...)

My story "How the Wicker Knight Would Not Move," a somewhat grim tale from the world of Persimmon Gaunt and Imago Bone, is now up at Beneath Ceaseless Skies. It shares issue #99 with a cool-looking Asian-themed fantasy by Alex Dally MacFarlane evocatively titled "Fox Bones. Many Uses."

It's great to see BCS nearing 100 issues, a tribute to the hard work of its staff, Editor Scott H. Andrews and Assistant Editor Kate Marshall. Thanks for making it all happen.

Knights and Tourists

Some good writing news... First, the May/June 2012 Fantasy and Science Fiction has appeared, and includes my science fiction story "Grand Tour," along with a lot of very cool-looking stuff, including a new novella by author and poet Fred Chappell.

"Grand Tour," like "The Mote-Dancer and the Firelife" (Beneath Ceaseless Skies #90) and the upcoming "Star Soup," share a universe I figure I'll call the "Nightgift" universe, after the starship many of the characters will serve aboard at some point in their lives. I'm not sure how extensive the series will eventually be, but I like the idea of telling the tales of various people who cross paths aboard a starship, including aspects of their lives before and after their stints on board.

The second bit of good news is that Beneath Ceaseless Skies has accepted a new fantasy story, "How the Wicker Knight Would Not Move," which, like "The Lions of Karthagar" from Black Gate 15, is a standalone story set in the world of Persimmon Gaunt and Imago Bone. Needless to say, I am a very happy camper.

Under Strange Skies

The current issue of Beneath Ceaseless Skies has something by me, alongside the intriguing-sounding story "Scry" by Anne Ivy, as part of their special science-fantasy month. I hope you'll check them out. (Plus, next issue, there'll be even more science-fantasy, courtesy of Yoon Ha Lee and Megan Arkenberg.)

I also got the great news recently that my story "Grand Tour," featuring a younger version of the protagonist of the BCS story, is slated for the May/June 2012 Fantasy & Science Fiction. And just to make me downright giddy, a third story in that universe (though not featuring that particular character) is in inventory at Asimov's.