Mythpunk: An Interview with Catherynne M. Valente By JoSelle Vanderhooft

Since its coining in 2006 by author Catherynne M. Valente, the term “mythpunk” has been used among an ever-growing number of fantasy readers to describe speculative fiction and poetry that melds elements of myths, folk tales, and fairy tales with postmodern literary techniques and, quite often, feminist and multicultural perspectives. In this first of our four part series about mythpunk literature’s history and future, Strange Horizons sat down with Valente to discuss what inspired her to call this movement mythpunk, her favorite mythpunk authors, and mythpunk’s relationship to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Read the full interview on Strange Horizon’s website.

New Zealand speculative fiction author Philippa Ballantine is visiting the Baltimore area and will be reading from her popular fantasy novel Geist at the Baltimore Science Fiction Society on January 8, 2011 at 8:00pm. She will also share news about her upcoming steampunk novel Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and her multiple podcasting projects.

Come celebrate the 48th anniversary of the Founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society at the formal meeting following the reading. This free event is at the BSFS Building located at 3310 East Baltimore Street.

Directions http://www.bsfs.org/bsfsdrct.htm
Info by email dale (at) bsfs (dot) org or day of event call 410-563-2737.

According to a national study, Washington D.C is America’s most literate city. It is followed by Seattle, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. Boston, once considered the hub of American literary culture, was only ranked 12th. The study looked at six key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources. DC was 17th in bookstores by population, 15th in libraries, and seventh in education level. But we are first in newspaper circulation, magazines, and Internet resources. So every WSFAn who subscribes to a DC paper or magazine (or looks on the paper’s site online) or bought a book in D.C. contributed to the victory. However, all the measures have been in decline in recent years, especially book-buying and newspaper circulation, so a city with D.C.’s 2010 showing would have been rated at only seventh in 2004. In 2003 there were almost nine bookstores per 10,000 people nationwide, in 2010 just under six. The study was conducted by the Center for Public Policy and Social Research at Central Connecticut State University.

Click the link for the full text of the January 2011 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the December 3, 17 2010 meetings.

WSFA Journal January 2011

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes

What: WSFA Theater Trip – A Wrinkle in Time

When: Sunday, December 19, 2010 2:30 PM

Where: Round House Theatre Bethesda
4545 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
240-644-1100
More information: http://www.roundhousetheatre.org/performance/a-wrinkle-in-time/

Round House Theatre presents the stage adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Award-winning young adult novel A Wrinkle in Time. Written in 1962, this sci-fi classic has remained a staple of juvenile fiction to this day. It is the story of the Murry children, who, with the help of supernatural beings, travel through space and time to rescue their father and to fight the darkness that is attempting to take over the universe.

John Glore’s delightful, wildly theatrical adaptation brings this acclaimed story magically to life.

This date also has a special post-performance discussion with the cast.

At A Wrinkle in Time, kids are $10 Monday thru Friday, $15 Saturday and Sunday — call 240.644.1100 for tickets. This specially discounted price is available for all patrons age 30 and under.

NOTE: You need to purchase you’re own ticket. Then join us in enjoying the show.

Ticket prices range
ORCHESTR * $55.00
SIDEORCH * $35.00
SIDEBALC * $25.00

In addition, there are special discount tickets at
http://www.goldstar.com/events/bethesda-md/a-wrinkle-in-time.html

The October 1st First Friday meeting was called to order at 9:19. Someone said today is 38 in binary.

There was no quorum. Sam Lubell read the last minutes. Sam S asked, “Are we solvent?” Steve answered, “You have a background in chemistry. If not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate.” Treasurer’s report is in the print version: Steve emailed saying, ‘I filed reports with Virginia (on time) and Maryland (late) to bring us up to date with all our State stuff. John Pomeranz is working on getting things straightened out with the Feds — the long-awaited amnesty has come around, and will end on October 15th, so it has to get done by then.” Specific details are in the print version. Don’t owe anything other than paper.

Click the link for the full text of the November-December 2010 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the October 1, 15 / November 5, 19 2010 meetings.

WSFA Journal November-December 2010

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes

Last night at Capclave’s Award Ceremony, the winner of the WSFA Small Press Award for 2010 (for works published in 2009) was announced.

And the winner is:
“Siren Beat” by Tansy Rayner Roberts, published in Twelfth Planet, edited by Alisa Krasnostein (October 2009)

Alisa Krasnostein accepted the award for Tansy Rayner Roberts.

Also present at the ceremony were:
Kevin Lauderdale, author of “James and the Dark Grimoire” published in Cthulhu Unbound, and Scott H. Andrews, editor of Beneath Ceaseless Skies, which published “The Pirate Captain’s Daughter” by Yoon Ha Lee.

All of the stories were excellent works. Congratulations to Tansy Rayner Roberts for her story and to Alisa Krasnostein for publishing it.

Capclave is Washington DC’s annual science fiction and fantasy convention. Learn more about it on our website: Capclave.org. Our guests of honor are: Connie Willis, Ann VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer.

The convention which will be held at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville, Executive Meeting Center,
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, starts on Friday and if you are not already a member you can purchase a membership at Capclave. There are day rates and special rates for active military and students with valid IDs.

Hope to see you there.

From a friend of Bryan:
Bryan Puterbaugh recently joined the Washington Science Fiction Association, about which he was very enthusiastic. He went to at least a couple of meetings since April, I’m not sure how many, nor how many people with whom he interacted.

Most likely the funeral will be on October 2nd, but details will be forthcoming.

Bryan indeed did come to WSFA Meetings. He was enthusiastic and met and talked with many of us. If you got a chance to meet Bryan, I’m sure you’ll remember him.

The Washington Science Fiction Association is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2010 WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction (published in 2009):

“each thing i show you is a piece of my death” by Gemma Files and Stephen J. Barringer, published in Clockwork Phoenix 2, edited by Mike Allen, Norilana Books (July 2009).

“Images of Anna” by Nancy Kress, published in Fantasy Magazine, edited by Cat Rambo (September 2009).

“James and the Dark Grimoire” by Kevin Lauderdale, published in Cthulhu Unbound, edited by Thomas Brannan and John Sunseri, Permuted Press, (March 2009).

“Race to the Moon” by Kyell Gold, published in New Fables, Summer 2009,  edited by Tim Susman, Sofawolf Press  (July 2009).

“Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” by Eugie Foster, published in Interzone (January 2009) / Apex Magazine (August  2009), edited by Andy Cox (Interzone,) / Catherynne M. Valente (Apex).

“Siren Beat” by Tansy Rayner Roberts, published in Twelfth Planet Press, edited by Alisa Krasnostein (October 2009).

“The Pirate Captain’s Daughter” by Yoon Ha Lee, published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue #27, 10/08/2009, edited Scott H. Andrews.

“The Very Difficult Diwali of Sub-Inspector Gurushankar Rajaram” by Jeff Soesbe, published in DayBreak Magazine, edited by Jetse de Vries (October 2009).

The award honors the efforts of small press publishers in providing a critical venue for short fiction in the area of speculative fiction. The award showcases the best original short fiction published by small presses in the previous year (2009). An unusual feature of the selection process is that all voting is done with the identity of the author (and publisher) hidden so that the final choice is based solely on the quality of the story.

The winner is chosen by the members of the Washington Science Fiction Association (wsfa.org) and will be presented at their annual convention, Capclave (capclave.org), held this year on October 22-24th in Rockville, Maryland.

The First Friday meeting in July (7-2-10) opened with VP Sam Scheiner presiding. The meeting was called to order at 9:15, but Sam said his watch runs fast. “Our esteemed president is at a party so might be late or not show.” Secretary Sam summarized last meeting. Treasurer Steve told about the money.

Gayle for Capclave present said her committee is working on programming, and talking about appreciations for our GoHs. There are four or five new members. We have a person willing to do filking. Capclave future said board is reviewing hotel contract to clean up a few details. The room cost is favorable and a fixed two-year contract so it won’t go up. The date is Oct 12, 13, 14 moving back a week. Far future: ditto – two year contract.

Click the link for the full text of the August-September 2010 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the July 2, 16 / August 6, 20 2010 meetings.

WSFA Journal August-September 2010

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes