A look back at 2016
It was a hectic and amazing year at Tachyon.
2016 started much like 2015 ended with more rave reviews for Nalo Hopkinson’s strong FALLING IN LOVE WITH HOMINIDS. This would become a norm as the book continue to garner fantastic reviews throughout the year.
- Los Angeles Public Library: Best of 2015 Fiction
- The Conversationalist: Best Books of 2015
- Open Letters Monthly, Top 2015 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Read, Steve Donoghue, editor
- A Locus 2015 Recommended Reading List: Best Collection
- A Bustle Recommendation “20 Books Every Star Wars Fan Will Love”
- Featured in Strange Horizons – the Nalo Hopkinson featured issue
“Falling in Love with Hominids is a wonderful treat for Nalo Hopkinson fans and a fantastic introduction for new readers.”
—New York Journal of Books
“Falling in Love With Hominids is yet another extraordinary collection of short stories that is well worth your time and rapt attention. The writing is beautiful, the message important, and its delivery is page-turning.”
—The Warbler“Falling in Love with Hominids is truly a magical collection of short stories which brings the reader completely different and new worlds to explore.”
—A Universe in Words“Falling in Love with Hominids is an entertaining and humane book that affirms why Junot Díaz refers to Hopkinson as “one of our most important writers.”
—Room Magazine“I can’t wait to read more of [Hopkinson’s] work in the future because I loved the speculative worlds in this short story collection.”
—Paper Wanderer
We offered Lavie Tidhar’s mosaic CENTRAL STATION for review through NetGalley in early January.
Excitement for the book was almost immediate. Andrew Liptak at IO9 typified the response.
We loved Lavie Tidhar’s novel VIOLENT CENTURY a couple of years ago, and we can’t wait to see what he does with his science fiction novel, CENTRAL STATION. In a worldwide diaspora, Boris Chong returns home to Tel Avivi from Mars, where the virtual and the real mix.
The abundant acclaim for the novel became a yearlong affair.
A May 2016 My Bookish Ways Must Read in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
A Kirkus Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror Books You’ll Want to Read in May
An io9 May Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Book That Will Blow Your Mind
An Amazon Featured Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Book of May
A Publishers Weekly Staff Pick
A Bookskill Recommended Book
A Tor.com Five Mosaic Novels You Should Read
[STAR] “World Fantasy Award–winner Tidhar (A Man Lies Dreaming) magnificently blends literary and speculative elements in this streetwise mosaic novel set under the towering titular spaceport. In a future border town formed between Israeli Tel Aviv and Arab Jaffa, cyborg ex-soldiers deliver illicit drugs for psychic vampires, and robot priests give sermons and conduct circumcisions. The Chong family struggles to save patriarch Vlad, lost in the inescapable memory stream they all share, thanks to his father’s hack of the Conversation, the collective unconscious. New children, born from back-alley genetic engineering, begin to experience actual and virtual reality simultaneously. Family and faith bring them all back and sustain them. Tidhar gleefully mixes classic SF concepts with prose styles and concepts that recall the best of world literature. The byways of Central Station ring with dusty life, like the bruising, bustling Cairo streets depicted by Naguib Mahfouz. Characters wrestle with problems of identity forged under systems of oppression, much as displaced Easterners and Westerners do in the novels of Orhan Pamuk. And yet this is unmistakably SF. Readers of all persuasions will be entranced.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review[STAR] “… a fascinating future glimpsed through the lens of a tight-knit community. Verdict: Tidhar (A Man Lies Dreaming; The Violent Century) changes genres with every outing, but his astounding talents guarantee something new and compelling no matter the story he tells.”
—Library Journal, starred review“It is just this side of a masterpiece — short, restrained, lush — and the truest joy of it is in the way Tidhar scatters brilliant ideas like pennies on the sidewalk.”
—NPR Books“A marvellous, multi-faceted story that flows gently from one character to another like an intimate private tour of Tel Aviv and the spaceport at its centre.”
—SF Crowsnest“A fantastic mosaic novel.”
—New York Review of Science Fiction
James Purefoy and Michael K. Williams as the titular characters in SundanceTV’s HAP AND LEONARD
After months of speculation, an air date for the premiere season of Sundance TV’s HAP AND LEONARD was finally announced. All the while, reviews for the book HAP AND LEONARD kept coming in.
“Seven laid-back adventures, one of them brand new, for “freelance troubleshooter” and good old boy Hap Collins and his gay black Republican partner Leonard Pine… . No one currently working the field demonstrates more convincingly and joyously the deep affinity between pulp fiction and the American tall tale.”
—Kirkus[STAR] “Last seen in the novel Honky Tonk Samurai, Lansdale’s incomparable East Texas crime fighting duo show their chops in this remarkable story collection. Hap Collins, a straight, white liberal, and Leonard Pine, a black, gay conservative, have long challenged genre conventions, and the friendship and camaraderie between these two hard cases as they suit up against injustice and hypocrisy is at the heart of these seven tales. In the novella “Hyenas,” the boys help save a client’s impressionable younger brother from the clutches of a group of psychotic robbers. “Dead Aim” finds the pair taking on the Dixie Mafia after a seemingly straightforward cheating spouse case gets a tad more complicated. “Not Our Kind” is set against the backdrop of the late 1960s, when a teenage Hap first befriends Leonard and faces the racism and intolerance of his peers up close. Readers can also look forward to the debut of the TV show Hap and Leonard on the Sundance Channel in March.
—Publishers Weekly, starred review“An essential Hap and Leonard addition”
—The Novel Pursuit“… it’s great to have all of these wonderful stories together in one nifty volume”
—Horror Drive-In“It has all the hard to find short stories featuring Hap & Leonard, the most enjoyable mismatched pair of private eyes since Spenser and Hawk.”
—Son of Spade
In January, we said goodbye to the legendary David G. Hartwell.
David Hartwell with Jacob and Rina Weisman at James Cummins Bookseller (photo: Ellen Datlow)
Later that month, we announced Lauren Beukes’ debut collection SLIPPING: STORIES, ESSAYS, & OTHER WRITING.
In early February, we offered Patricia A. McKillip’s new collection of lyrical and powerful stories DREAMS OF DISTANT SHORES for review via Netgalley.
The effuse praise was almost instantaneous.
[STAR] “McKillip (Wonders of the Invisible World), winner of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, collects nine dazzling shorter pieces (both originals and reprints) in this outstanding collection. The brief, creepy “Weird” opens the volume, merging an oddly romantic picnic in a bathroom and a mysterious threat outside into something that exists in a darkly beautiful interstitial place. The longest piece, “Something Rich and Strange,” which appeared originally as a standalone novella in Brian Froud’s Faerielands series, is an ecological fairy tale that contains the most gorgeous of McKillip’s prose (“her blind stare of pearl and wormwood”)—and the weakest of her plots, but even weaker McKillip is well worth reading. The newer stories also shine. “Mer” is a small gem about a nameless witch, a fishing village, and a mermaid statue. “Edith and Henry Go Motoring” features a toll bridge that leads travelers on an unexpected journey. Beyond the short fiction, the volume finishes with an essay on writing high fantasy, and an appreciation of McKillip’s work by renowned fantasist Peter S. Beagle. Fans of exquisite prose and ethereal fantasy will need to own this.”
—Publishers Weekly“A young couple trade odd stories in a bathroom as something rages outside. An artist calls upon his muse, who answers him through an unfinished painting. A musical band of witches takes on a dark force during their bar performance. The seven ethereal tales (including three new ones), collected here touch on people’s dreams and desires. Also featured is McKillip’s 2002 essay on writing high fantasy and Peter S. Beagle’s afterword, “Dear Pat,” an appreciation of McKillip’s work. VERDICT: McKillip (Wonders of the Invisible World) once more enchants with this volume, which fantasy readers will devour as they are transported into multiple realities.”
—Library Journal“VERDICT This collection of fascinating and haunting tales that will linger with readers is a strong addition to short story and fantasy collections; hand to fans of Holly Black, Robin McKinley, and Donna Jo Napoli.”
—School Library Journal“Elegant and absorbing, [McKillip’s] work never reads as stiff or formal, as some fantasy stories can lean toward, and the language, while beautiful, never loses the reader, but instead remains both lyrical and deeply visceral.”
—Manhattan Book Review“Absolutely spellbinding. It has been a very long time since we read a gathering of short stories as perfect and beguiling as these.”
—Starburst, 10 of 10 stars
We announced the forthcoming of the new Michael Swanwick collection THE DALA HORSE, which saw publication under the title NOT SO MUCH SAID THE CAT.
Prior to book’s “official” announcement, John Coulthart’s iconic cover to Bruce Sterling’s forthcoming PIRATE UTOPIA was revealed.
The mesmerizing HAP AND LEONARD premiered on March 3 amid glowing reviews.
Michael Swanwick began sharing a series of travel photos with Beelzebub.
Beelzebub at a whiskey tasting party at Roscon, Russia’s national science fiction convention. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that he’s clutching a bottle of Writers’ Tears.
Beelzebub, preparing for his trip to Russia. He was named in homage to Mikhail Bulgakov, who put a similarly attired cat in THE MASTER AND MARGARITA.
Legato, distributor of Tachyon titles, was acquired by Ingram.
We offered World Fantasy Award winner Michael Swanwick’s NOT SO MUCH, SAID THE CAT for review via Netgalley in April. Magnificent reviews rolled in quickly.
[STARRED REVIEW] “Another collection of speculative fiction from Swanwick (Chasing the Phoenix, 2015, etc.), one of a handful of writers whose short pieces are as impressive as their novels. Versatility, craftsmanship, a dollop of weird, and a delightfully askew sense of humor are key to the 17 pieces here, all of which appeared between 2008 and 2014, together with an introduction that illuminates the contents without revealing too much. Certain themes, of course, are authorial favorites, such as time travel, aliens, and artificial intelligence. There’s a man who, having suffered a crushing loss, finds solace after accidental contact with a time traveler; a group of time travelers hunkered down at the end of the Cretaceous period—where, oddly, nobody’s interested in the dinosaurs; and a scientist who finds a partner worthy of her genius. We also get a fascinating glimpse (which feels like a novel fragment) of a far future populated by humans and centipedelike aliens, narrated by the intelligent space suit of a woman who’s dead as the story begins; and another future where human lives resemble those in fairy tales while advanced, hidden AIs battle for supremacy. Elsewhere, in a literary-games vein, the characters in a fairy tale discuss whether they prefer to remain in books, and immortal, or enter history; there’s a famous Gene Wolfe story stripped down, turned inside out, and rebuilt to perfection; and, in a marvelous conceit, the writer Alexander Pushkin appears as he may have been—in an alternative universe. To round out the collection, we meet a dutiful young woman who, entering hell to challenge the devil to return her father, discovers that things are not as she assumed; Darger and Surplus, those good-hearted rogues with a propensity to shoot themselves in the foot, make an appearance, as does “The House of Dreams,” an entry from Swanwick’s splendid Mongolian Wizard e-book series. Tales that, through their extraordinary clarity of thought and expression, showcase precisely why this multiaward-winning author is held in such high regard.”
—Kirkus“Michael Swanwick shows his extraordinary range in Not So Much, Said the Cat (Tachyon) … Swanwick’s stories are wistful and weird, at times tragic yet still hopeful as the mythic and scientific intertwine.”
—Washington Post“Swanwick excels at satisfying conclusions that cause readers to take pause and consider the actions of the characters. Thoughtful, witty, and, at times, disturbing, this collection will appeal to those who enjoy short fiction, no matter the genre.”
—Booklist“An entertaining read from beginning to end, with plenty of tales to amuse, making for a great collection of short stories. Besides, who wouldn’t want to spend some time with a sly seductive circus performer, some con artists and a robotic scarecrow with a conscience, and all without leaving the comfort of your sofa!”
—Starburst
Reviews for Jacob Weisman’s visionary and thought-provoking anthology INVADERS: 22 TALES FROM THE OUTER LIMITS OF LITERATURE began appearing.
A Kirkus Science Fiction and Fantasy Book You’ll Want to Read in July
A 2016 Publishers Weekly Best Summer Read
A Foreword 4 Great Indie Sci-Fi Titles for Summer 2016[STAR] “In this very fine reprint anthology, Weisman has brought together 22 SF stories by authors who, although not generally associated with the genre, are clearly fellow travelers (not the ominous invaders suggested by the title). Among the major names are Pulitzer Prize–winner Junot Díaz, George Saunders, Katherine Dunn, Jonathan Lethem, Amiri Baraka, W.P. Kinsella, Steven Millhauser, Robert Olen Butler, and Molly Gloss. Among the best of the consistently strong stories are Díaz’s “Monstro,” the horrifying tale of a disease outbreak in Haiti; Gloss’s near-perfect first-contact story, “Lambing Season”; Kinsella’s totally bizarre “Reports Concerning the Death of the Seattle Albatross Are Somewhat Exaggerated”; Ben Loory’s fable-like “The Squid Who Fell in Love with the Sun”; and Saunders’s “Escape from Spiderhead,” a deeply sexy tale of wild experimental science. In general, the stories tend toward satire and emphasize fine writing more than hitting genre beats—technology is usually a means to an end rather than the center of the story—but most of them could easily have found homes in SF magazines. This volume is a treasure trove of stories that draw equally from SF and literary fiction, and they are superlative in either context.”
—Publishers Weekly“Further proof, if any more were necessary, that the line between genre and literary fiction is simply speculative.”
—Library Journal“Invaders is a playful and imaginative exploration of what it means to write in the field of science fiction”
—AV Club“Well, damn. From the first page to the last, Invaders surprised and intoxicated me, offering one stirring, visionary, warm-hearted, funny, probing story after another. Reading them in quick succession made me feel as if the world was flickering before my eyes, ricocheting from one possible reality to another, beneath a dozen different suns. It would be hard to devise a better survey of those contemporary short fiction writers, both celebrated and undersung, who have worked to smuggle the methods of science fiction into the mainstream.”
—Kevin Brockmeier, author of A Few Seconds of Radiant Filmstrip
Alastair Reynolds’ SLOW BULLETS, Ellen Datlow, John Joseph Adams, and Sheila Williams garner Hugo Award nominations.
SLOW BULLETS among several of the other nominations become embroiled in some controversy.
We announced Peter S. Beagle’s long awaited new novel SUMMERLONG.
Tim Powers and Jacob Weisman spoke at the Philip K. Dick Conference 2016.
Alastair Reynolds’ SLOW BULLETS, Ellen Datlow, John Joseph Adams, David Hartwell, Julie Dillon, John Picacio, and Michael Whelan receive Locus Award nominations.
Ellen Datlow was a Guest of Honor for the first annual StokerCon.
Ellen Datlow with Robert McCammon at StokerCon
We said goodbye to the acclaimed Katherine Dunn.
Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images
Beelzebub made sure to make two votes for every candidate. He is a true lower-case democrat.
Tachyon’s resident social media maven and sometimes editor Rick Klaw sat down with the extraordinary Sarah Anne Langton to discuss working with Lavie Tidhar, the creative process, comics, and British Pop Art.
We offered review copies of the World Fantasy Award winner Peter S. Beagle’s new novel SUMMERLONG via Netgalley. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
A Kirkus September 2016 Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction Book You Won’t Want to Miss
A Washington Post Best Science Fiction and Fantasy to Read in September
A Verge Most Exciting Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Coming Out
“A rare story of summer that feels like the summer—like dreamy intense passions rising and arcing and then spinning away; like beauty underlaid with a tinge of sadness because it is ephemeral. Beagle has captured that seasonal warmth here, beautifully, magically.”
—New York Times“[STARRED REVIEW] Retired history professor Abe Aronson and his longtime lover, Joanna Delvecchio, encounter an enigmatic young beauty, Lioness Lazos, waitressing in a local diner. Abe offers her his old garage as a temporary home. From the moment she becomes part of their lives, changes—some miraculous, some devastating—begin affecting Abe and Joanna. Lioness’s presence inspires Abe to fulfill his cherished dream of playing second harmonica with a small jazz band and Joanna to learn the dicey sport of kayaking, even though she can’t swim. As their heady summer phases into early autumn, Lioness’s mysterious husband appears on the ferry from Seattle, bringing with him the chilly and inevitable resolution to Beagle’s strange and lovely lyric vision.”
—Publishers Weekly“Best-selling fantasy-author Beagle crafts a tantalizing picture of an atypical Pacific Northwestern couple whose lives are interrupted by myth and mystery. When Joanna and Abe meet a young waitress named Lioness, they are immediately drawn to her primavera aura and offer her a home in Abe’s garage. Life on Gardner Island blooms in an endless summer during Lioness’ stay. The couple’s lives and their relationship continue as usual until Lioness’ attempt to run from her past begins to unravel when her mother and husband arrive in town … Themes of love, loss, nurturing, and adapting are wrapped up in this deliberate and bittersweet tale of what it is to love in your own time, in your own way.”
—Booklist“In his first new novel in more than a decade, Beagle creates an intimate drama … A beautifully detailed fantasy.”
—Kirkus“A quietly glowing and elegantly written revelation of the magic beneath everyday life.”
—Chicago Tribune
Both the Chesley and British Fantasy Awards announced their nominations with Tachyon artists Julie Dillon, Sarah Anne Langton, Lius Lasahido, Reiko Murakami, and John Picacio, not to mention editor Ellen Datlow all receiving recognition.
Walk the plank with Michael Swanwick and Beelzebub.
On May 30th STRANGE HORIZONS ushered in a week long celebration of Nalo Hopkinson.
SLOW BULLETS, David Hartwell, James Tipree, Jr., Julie Dillon, and Michael Whelan win Locus Award.
The beloved Clyde, who filled the most important role at Tachyon Publications: reminding us of the foolishness of our own vanity, passed away at the ripe old age of 20.
Poetic CENTRAL STATION was named one of the Best Sci-Fi Books of 2016 So Far.
Join us tomorrow for the rest of our year long journey.
For more information on FALLING IN LOVE WITH HOMINIDS, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover art by Chuma Hill
Design by Elizabeth Story
For more info about CENTRAL STATION, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover by Sarah Anne Langton
For more info on HAP AND LEONARD, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover by Elizabeth Story
For more information about SLIPPING: STORIES, ESSAYS, & OTHER WRITING, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover art by Clara Bacou
Design by Elizabeth Story
For more info about INVADERS: 22 TALES FROM THE OUTER LIMITS OF LITERATURE, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover by Goro Fujita
Design by Elizabeth Story
For more information on NOT SO MUCH, SAID THE CAT, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover design by Elizabeth Story
For more info on SUMMERLONG, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover by Magdalena Korzeniewska
Design by Elizabeth Story
For more info on PIRATE UTOPIA, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover by John Coulthart
For more info about SLOW BULLETS, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover art by Thomas Canty
Design by Elizabeth Story
For more on THE MONSTROUS, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover by Reiko Murakami
Cover design by Elizabeth Story
For more information on HANNU RAJANIEMI: COLLECTED FICTION, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover art by Lius Lasahido
Design by Elizabeth Story
For more information on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, visit the Tachyon page.
Cover art by Julie Dillon
Design by Elizabeth Story
