WWWednesday: October 14, 2020

Cover, Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick

Conventions:

World Fantasy Con 2020 submitted a draft program that was riddled with problematic language and assumptions, to put it politely, and not for the first time. This is an increasingly troubled event with a history of sexual harassment, sexism, racism, other bigotry and accessibility errors. The conference is online this year, but the WFC is seeing a dramatic, public drop in participation.

While I was browsing some other material for the column, I stumbled over the Sirens Conference, being held next week. It’s online, free and it looks interesting.

Books and Writing:

Rhonda Wray: Raptor Wrangler, is available from Amazon, and here is a blog post from its authors.

Crimereads shares a column about hi-tech hauntings. No matter how advanced our tech becomes, it brings our ghosts with it.

Tor.com hosted an interview with the editors of The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthology; Diana Gabaldon and John Joseph Adams. By the way, is the new acronym SFFH, for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror? Is the superseding Speculative Fiction? I have trouble keeping up.

Last week it was announced that N.K. Jemisin received a MacArthur genius grant, along with Jacqueline Woodson.

As part of her ongoing nonfiction book on writing, Charlie Jane Anders shares a column on writing about versus appropriating another culture. I’m really eager to read this whole book.

From last month: ten fantasy novels with witchy black women protagonists.

Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms are collaborating on a complex, mulit-layered, swashbuckling, high-costume fantasy trilogy called ROOK AND ROSE. The first book, forthcoming in January, is called Mask of Mirrors. Here’s the website for it. Check out that lush cover!

Pumpkin Panorama, Photo Argus

TV, Movies, Streaming:

The Mary Sue has an article about reactions to the BBC’s attempt to adapt the Night Watch books from Sir Terry Pratchett’s DISCWORLD series.

The Stand! Again! Courtesy of CBS All Access. Honestly, this looks pretty good. Lots of details in the article.

Star Trek: Prodigy will bring back Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway.

And, in time for Halloween, here is a long (10 minute) preview for Hulu’s Helstrom. There is the preview and then a panel with the actors. Enjoy. And I think that poltergeist activity in the opening is because the spirits are angry hat Dr. Hastings uses such bad ergonomics while she’s clicking away on that laptop.

Internet:

The position may be filled, but in case it isn’t, The Mary Sue is hiring a news editor.

This image from space of Salt Lake City’s salt pans is just plain pretty.

Thanks to Kat for this delightful essay.

The Oregonian gives us pumpkin carving tips from a professional carver. I was startled by how he did the top!

The jack o’ lantern image is from this Photo Argus article. There are many more cool images!