DATLOWEEN SALE Now through Halloween, all Ellen Datlow anthologies are on sale!
Rick Klaw
About Rick Klaw
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Happy birthday to the essential, award-winning Suzy McKee Charnas
Hugo, Nebula, and Tiptree award–winning author Suzy McKee Charnas is best known for her groundbreaking Holdfast Chronicles, a four-volume story written over the course of almost thirty years (1974-1999) which addressed the oft-controversial topics of feminist dystopia, separatist societies, war, and reintegration, and her critically acclaimed exploration of the vampire mythos, The Vampire Tapestry.
The first and second volumes of the Holdfast Chronicles, Walk to the End of the World (1974) and Motherlines (1978), each won a 1996 Retrospective James Tiptree, Jr. Award. The final volume The Conqueror’s Child (1999) won the James Tiptree, Jr. Award. The series as a whole which also included The Furies (1994) was given the 2003 Gaylactic Spectrum Hall of Fame Award. Her young adult novel The Kingdom of Kevin Malone earned the Aslan Award for Best Children’s Book of 1993. The novella “The Unicorn Tapestry,” that was part of The Vampire Tapestry, won a 1980 Nebula.
Other works include The Sorcery Hall trilogy (The Bronze King [1985], The Silver Glove [1988], and The Golden Thread [1989]), the short story collections Moonstone and the Tiger-Eye (1992), Music of the Night (2001), the memoir My Father’s Ghost: The Return of My Old Man and Other Second Chances (2002), and STAGESTRUCK VAMPIRES AND OTHER PHANTASMS (2004). Charnas adapted The Vampire Tapestry into the two-act play Vampire Dreams. It enjoyed runs in both San Francisco and New York, debuting as part of Springfest in San Francisco in 1990.
All of us at Tachyon wish the sensational Suzy a happy birthday!
Make it a Datloween by celebrating BODY SHOCKS with the award-winning, superstar editor Ellen Datlow
The undisputed queen of horror anthologies Ellen Datlow hits the road, both figuratively and literally, in celebration of the “wholly original and truly chilling” BODY SHOCKS.
Thursday, October 21
Mysterious Galaxy with Livia Llewellyn (Virtual)
Friday, October 22
The Ghost Writers Podcast with Brian Keene (Virtual)
Tuesday, October 26
Body Shocks: A Discussion on Horror Fiction
Los Angeles Public Library
with Nathan Ballingrud, Cassandra Khaw, and Alyssa Wong (Virtual)
Saturday, October 30
Storyfest (virtual)
The Wesport (CT) Public Library
November 4-7
World Fantasy Convention Montreal
Wednesday, November 24th
The Second Life Book Club (virtual)
December 15-19
Discon III Washington, DC
This coming April, the inimitable Daniel Pinkwater (alongside his artistic cohort Aaron Renier) returns to Tachyon with CRAZY IN POUGHKEEPSIE
Design by Elizabeth Story
CRAZY IN POUGHKEEPSIE
by Daniel Pinkwater
ISBN: Print ISBN: 9781-61696-374-2, Digital ISBN: 978-1-61696-375-0
Published: June 2022
Available Format(s): Hardcover and Digital
Pinkwater is the uniquest. And so are his books. Each uniquer than the last . . . A delight in oddness. A magic that’s not like anyone else’s.
—Neil Gaiman
The inimitable Daniel Pinkwater (The Big Orange Splot; The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) brings his zany wit and wisdom to a gentle middle-grade adventure following a kid’s off-the-beaten-path journey, featuring an unfocused spiritual guide, a not-quite-dwarf, a graffiti “artist,” a ghost whale, and mystical shenanigans galore.
Mick is a good kid, but maybe he can use just a little guidance. But it’s unclear who will be guiding whom, because Mick’s brother came home from Tibet with the self-proclaimed Guru Lumpo Smythe-Finkel and his dog Lhasa―and then promptly settled both of them in Mick’s bedroom.
(The thing about this kind of guru is that he doesn’t seem to know exactly what he’s trying to do. He sure does seem to be hungry, though.)
Anyway, Mick agrees to something like a quest, roaming the suburbs with the oddest group of misfits: Lumpo and Lhasa; graffiti-fanatic Verne; and Verne’s unusual friend Molly. Molly is a Dwergish girl―don’t worry if you don’t know what that is yet―and she seems to be going off the rails a bit. But she knows that she is definitely not Verne’s girlfriend.
Along the way, the gang will get invited to a rollicking ghost party, consult a very strange little king, and actually discover the truth about Heaven. Or a version of the truth anyway, because in a Daniel Pinkwater tale, the truth is never the slightest bit like what you’re expecting.
Daniel Pinkwater is so obviously the funniest writer of children’s books that he should be made a Living National Treasure.
—Washington Post Book World
Win a copy of BODY SHOCKS, the latest from the undisputed queen of horror anthologies Ellen Datlow. “BODY SHOCKS is sure to delight horror fans from every walk of life” —Phantastiqa
With the help of the fine folks at GOODREADS, we’re giving away award-wInning editor Ellen Datlow’s shockingly good BODY SHOCKS.
[STARRED REVIEW] “Hugo Award–winning editor Datlow (Edited By) brings together 29 spine-tingling tales of body horror to terrify even the most seasoned horror reader. These visceral works take myriad approaches to the genre, but all revel in the grotesque possibilities of the human body. ‘The Old Women Who Were Skinned’ by Carmen Maria Machado is an eerie, cautionary fable about the pitfalls of vanity. Terry Dowling’s stomach-churning ‘Toother’ follows the grim exploits of a serial killer who collects the teeth of his victims. The woman in Kirstyn McDermott’s ‘Painlessness’ feels no pain when injured and makes her living giving men an outlet for their violent fantasies. In ‘The Lake’ by Tananarive Due, a woman metamorphoses into a predatory sea creature. A confectioner transforms his fiancée’s ghost into delectable treats enjoyed by the Parisian elite in Lisa L. Hannett’s grossly gluttonous and deliciously weird ‘Sweet Subtleties.’ Cassandra Khaw’s intense ‘The Truth that Lies Under Skin and Meat’ follows a werewolf who takes distinct pleasure in devouring her victims, much to the dismay of her handler. And Simon Bestwick’s bizarre alternate history ‘Welcome to Mengele’s’ takes readers into a Nazi doctor’s movie theater where patrons watch their sickest fantasies play out on screen. These wholly original and truly chilling tales are not for the faint of heart.”
—Publishers Weekly
Bestselling editor Ellen Datlow (Lovecraft’s Monsters) presents body horror at its most wide-ranging and shocking best. Discover twenty-nine intricate, twisted tales of the human body, soul, and psyche, as told by storytelling legends including Carmen Maria Machado, Richard Kadrey, Seanan McGuire, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Nathan Ballingrud, Tananarive Due, Cassandra Khaw, Christopher Fowler, and many more.
[STARRED REVIEW] “The stories in the latest collection edited by horror veteran Datlow run the gamut from ethereal creepiness (‘La beauté sans vertu,’ by Genevieve Valentine), to haunt-your-dreams gross-outs (‘Welcome to Mengele’s,’ by Simon Bestwick). One has even been made into an episode of Hulu’s series Monsterland (‘You Go Where It Takes You,’ by Nathan Ballingrud). There are some absolutely stellar stories that will follow readers for days, and not a single dud to weigh down the collection. John Coulthart’s interior illustrations of anatomical mysteries add to the overall ambiance. Contributors include all the big names in body horror as well as some lesser-known authors, making the collection a must-have for body horror neophytes and experienced readers alike. VERDICT: This authoritative collection is a must for any library, as an introduction to body and extreme horror for readers and librarians alike. Recommend to readers who love horror stories that make their skin crawl while they read about skin literally crawling.”
—Library Journal
The most terrifying thing that you can possibly imagine is your own body in the hands of a monster. Or worse, in the hands of another human being.
In these 29 tales of body horror selected by World Horror Grandmaster Ellen Datlow, you’ll find the unthinkable, the shocking, and more: a couture designer preparing for an exquisitely grotesque runway show; a vengeful son seeking the parent who bred him as plasma donor; a celebrity-kink brothel that inflicts plastic surgery on sex workers; and organ-harvesting doctors who dissect a living man without anesthetic.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction by Ellen Datlow
- “The Travellers Stay” by Ray Cluley
- “Toother” by Terry Dowling
- “Painlessness” by Kirstyn McDermott
- “You Go Where It Takes You” by Nathan Ballingrud
- “A Positive” by Kaaron Warren
- “La beauté sans vertu” by Genevieve Valentine
- “Subsumption” by Lucy Taylor
- “Spar” by Kij Johnson
- “It Was the Heat” by Pat Cadigan
- “Atwater” by Cody Goodfellow
- “The Transfer” by Edward Bryant
- “Welcome to Mengele’s” by Simon Bestwick
- “Black Neurology: A Love Story” by Richard Kadrey
- “Cuckoo” by Angela Slatter
- “Cinereous” by Livia Llewellyn
- “The Truth That Lies Under Skin and Meat” by Cassandra Khaw
- “Natural Skin” by Alyssa Wong
- “The Lake” by Tananarive Due
- “I’m Always Here” by Richard Christian Matheson
- “The Look” by Christopher Fowler
- “The Old Women Who Were Skinned” by Carmen Maria Machado
- “Spores” by Seanan McGuire
- “Sweet Subtleties” by Lisa L. Hannett
- “Elegy For a Suicide” by Caitlín R. Kiernan
- “Skin City” by Gemma Files
- “A True Friend” by Brian Evenson
- “What I Found in the Shed” by Tom Johnstone
- “Fabulous Beasts” by Priya Sharma
- “Tissue Ablation and Variant Regeneration: A Case Report” by Michael Blumlein
Join Lavie Tidhar and James Morrow for Les Imaginales
Lavie Tidhar 
James Morrow
Join the always exceptional and at times enigmatic award-winners Lavie Tidhar (CENTRAL STATION, UNHOLY LAND, THE ESCAPEMENT) and James Morrow (SHAMBLING TOWARDS HIROSHIMA, THE MADONNA AND THE STARSHIP, THE ASYLUM OF DR. CALIGARI) at the international fair for imaginary literature Les Imaginales in Épinal on October 14-17.
Founded in 2002, the Imaginales festival is one of the first international fairs for imaginary literature.
Discover the festival
For four days, more than a hundred guests from various backgrounds (France, Europe, United States, etc.), writers or artists, authors of fantasy, science fiction, fantasy, historical novels, tales and legends, share their passion with an increasing audience every year.
More than 45,000 visitors came in 2019 to immerse themselves in these imaginary worlds, between exhibitions, conferences, literary cafes and unusual activities, in a shaded park, bordered by the curves of the Moselle.
The festival naturally found its place in a town, Épinal, which has always been dedicated to culture and image.
Visit with David Liss and Rick Klaw at ArmadilloCon 43
Join David Liss, author of THE PECULIARITIES and Rick Klaw, editor of THE APES OF WRATH and Tachyon Hap and Leonard crime series by Joe R. Lansdale, for ArmadilloCon 43, October 15-17 at Austin Southpark Hotel in Austin, TX.
Design by Elizabeth Story 
Cover art by Alex Solis Design by Elizabeth Story
ArmadilloCon is an annual literary convention sponsored by the Fandom Association of Central Texas, Inc. The primary focus of ArmadilloCon is science fiction and fantasy, but we also pay attention to art, animation, science, media, and gaming. Every year, dozens of professional writers, artists and editors attend the convention. We invite you to attend the convention, especially if you are a fan of reading, writing, gaming, and generally having fun.
ArmadilloCon offers a large selection of readings, signings, and panels. To find Liss and Klaw events, check out the entire schedule on their site.
Join David Ebenbach, author of HOW TO MARS, for the 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention
For the 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention, David Ebenbach, author of HOW TO MARS, presents (virtually) The Role of Science-Fiction in Reaching Mars Successfully on Thursday, October 14 at 4PM PDT.
Photo by Rachel Gartner 
Cover by Elizabeth Story
Imagining the Journey: The Significant Role for Science-Fiction in Reaching Mars Successfully
Science fiction has long played a surprising and important role in science itself, inspiring young people to pursue STEM careers as well as shaping ideas that have led to technological advances; imagining a bright future helps us to attain it. In that same vein, science fiction has plenty to teach us in our pursuit of Mars.
The most obvious role for fiction is to help us think through technical and logistical hurdles, and there’s plenty of relevant work to turn to on these points. Perhaps less obvious, but potentially even more important, science fiction can help us appreciate the complicated and central human element that will shape any endeavor to visit or colonize the red planet. This includes paying attention to individual psychology—what it will really be like for a person to go on a journey like this—and also attending to social dynamics and to the ways that we carry culture, tradition, and human nature wherever we go, for better and for worse.
The speaker, author of the novel HOW TO MARS, will discuss fiction by authors such as Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, Ellen Klages, and Kim Stanley Robinson. He will also discuss discoveries derived from his own creative process and share from his work.
The Mars Society is pleased to announce that the 24th Annual International Mars Society Convention will be convened Thursday-Sunday, October 14-17, 2021, all over the world via the Internet! The International Mars Society Convention presents a unique opportunity for those interested in the planet Mars to come together and discuss the science, technology, social implications, philosophy and a multitude of other aspects of Mars exploration.
Following up on our wildly successful 2020 Virtual Convention which boasted over 10,000 people attending, and more than 150 papers presented, we will again be using unique technology, to not only hold presentations, panel discussions and debates, but also to allow people from around the world to participate, posing questions and interacting with one another.
The Mars Society’s four-day international conference will bring together leading scientists, government policymakers, commercial space executives, science journalists and space advocates to discuss the latest scientific and technological developments and challenges related to the human and robotic exploration of Mars and the eventual human settlement of the Red Planet.
This March, the boys are back in Joe R. Lansdale’s BORN FOR TROUBLE: THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF HAP AND LEONARD
Coming your way in March 2022, Hap and Leonard return in Joe R. Lansdale’s newest story collection BORN FOR TROUBLE. The boys are back, with more righteous ass-kickings, highly improbable adventures, and disastrous fishing trips. These never before collected tales showcase the dynamic duo as a little bit older, but not a whole lot wiser—Hap and Leonard were truly born for trouble.
BORN FOR TROUBLE
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF HAP AND LEONARD
by Joe R. Lansdale
ISBN: Print 978-1-61696-370-5; Digital 978-1-61696-371-2
Published: March 2022
Available Format(s): Trade Paperback and Digital
“A folklorist’s eye for telling detail and a front-porch raconteur’s sense of pace.”
New York Times Book Review
When you meet him, Hap Collins seems just like a good ol’ boy. But even in his misspent youth, his best pal was Leonard Pine: black, gay, and the ultimate outsider. Together, they have mostly found their way as partners in crime-solving—and at least as often, as hired muscle.
As Hap wrestles with his new identity as a father, and Leonard finds love in a long-term relationship, the boys continue their crime-solving shenanigans. They uncover the sordid secret of a missing bookmobile, compete in a warped version of the Most Dangerous Game, regroup after Hap’s visit to the psychologist goes terribly awry, and much more.
So sit yourself back and settle in—Born for Trouble is East Texas mayhem as only the master mojo storyteller Lansdale could possibly tell.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction: “The Boys” by Joe R. Lansdale
- Coco Butternut
- Hoodoo Harry
- Sad Onions
- The Briar Patch Boogie
- Cold Cotton
Join the award-winning, superstar editor Ellen Datlow at NEW YORK COMIC CON
Hugo award-winning editor Ellen Datlow (BODY SHOCKS, NIGHTMARES, LOVECRAFT’S MONSTERS, and more) is attending the 2021 New York Comic Con on October 7-10 at the Javits Center, New York City.
Beyond the many guests and dealers, the convention also features a vibrant event schedule, includung a panel discussion featuring Ellen Datlow.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 8
2PM Editing advice with Ellen Datlow
Multi-award-winning editor of sf/f/h Datlow started as Fiction Editor of OMNI magazine but these days edits mostly horror. (including the annual Best Horror of the Year for example) and currently acquires stories and novellas for Tor.com and others. If you’re curious about what an editor does how they choose their stories and contributors and/or have questions about horror fiction Ellen has the answer. Ask her anything. You won’t be disappointed.
Ellen Datlow, Emily Whitten