Some of you may already have read the essay I wrote with Kelley, “War Machine, Time Machine,” which was first published in Queer Universes: Sexualities and Science Fiction, edited by Wendy Gay Pearson, Veronica Hollinger, and Joan Gordon.
It a cool book but it’s an academic text and therefor wicked expensive. So for the book to get read, for it to get out into the world and into the hands of those who might benefit, people like you need to order it from their library. (Just in case you’re rich, the above link takes you to Amazon.ca where, because of vagaries of the exchange rate and strange economic and political considerations, the book costs about $30 less than it does in the US. Buy a copy and donate it.) If enough people buy the hardcover–which really is ridiculously priced–the publisher, Liverpool University Press, will bring out a more affordable trade paper edition. Then it will really get read.
To encourage this process, Wendy Pearson has built a blog. I hope you’ll visit and offer encouragement or consider linking from your own blog. If enough people go play, it could become a nexus of queer sf criticism and commentary. I hope so. We certainly need one. (If anyone has any good queer sf links please suggest them here or in the comments on Wendy’s blog. Let’s get this web of queer sfanistas hooked up.)
Nicola Griffith 
I read your essay before and loved it. I’m full of middle class, white assumptions and it annoys the hell out of me. But I at least TRY to throw them out when I can. I think I mentioned I’m writing a gay mc in my latest novel. No statement intended, really. It’s a futuristic, and he’s Episcopalian and well-respected, so most people in his world could care less that he’s gay. It’s a non-issue for him. But my critiquers, bring it up all the time. These are educated, liberal, fairly worldly people. I mean, we live in BOULDER, for crissake. But they still do.For instance, the character has a younger adopted brother. Space is tight, so they share a bedroom. One of the critters brought up the fact that a homosexual guy sleeping in the same room with a teenage boy would be frowned upon, at best. “It’s just not realistic,” she said. Even though they’re brothers. I tried to compare it to letting my son and daughter sleep in the same room when they’re older. I mean, I wouldn’t think anything of it. They’re SIBLINGS. They share a room all the time.“Not the same thing,” she said. Even discussing the world in my book didn’t convince her. I finally just shook my head. For once in my life, I was speechless. So I covet this book because the whole topic of breaking down all kinds of social barriers fascinates me. I might have to put it on my birthday list.BTW, I’m forever jealous of anyone who attends Clarion.
This is a great idea. If I give up smoking, I can afford to buy the book. Now there’s a thought. Any way, I am going to ask my local library to buy it. I would have told Wendy directly, but I am a techno-idiot and couldn’t figure out the sign -in process. What’s an Open ID?
Gah. Covet is right. I tried all morning to locate the book in Maine, and I can’t even get an inter-library loan. This is one area in which this state seriously lacks. .sigh.
Oops. Forgot to mention that I added some photos to < HREF="http://gallery.me.com/tennjd#100505" REL="nofollow">A View of One’s Own<>. When the ice on the ocean starts to melt, it does awesome things during low tide. Caught these pictures on my way home from teaching.
Yes, <>Queer Universes: Sexualities and Science Fiction<> is definitely cheaper if you buy from Amazon.ca at the moment. And I tell you it won’t last long, I’m pretty sure it will get re-priced around the $100s. Amazon.ca has already modified prices on most bestsellers to match the current 1.3 exchange rate. If you earn US dollars, seize the chance; if you don’t, seize the chance to purchase at the old .82 exchange rate because it will be short-lived.I went and ordered a copy of <>Queer Universes<> after I read this post. I’m not rich (I’m sure many of you would freak out if you saw my bank statement :-D), but I haven’t spent any money on clothes or Starbucks or gas in the last 4 years, I don’t have TV or cable or even a land line, don’t smoke, etc. I can afford books; book-related things are by far my biggest monthly expense after housing (especially now: the last two copies of < HREF="http://www.payseurandschmidt.com/catalog_andnow.html" REL="nofollow"><>ANWAGTHAP<><> that I ordered at $50 USD came to $80 CND). So, yeah, if you live in the US, go buy a book today knowing you’re in the one country in the world where literacy is most affordable. < HREF="http://asknicola.blogspot.com/2009/01/dont-be-fucking-cheap-rant.html" REL="nofollow">Don’t be cheap!<>
You can preview the book < HREF="http://books.google.com/books?id=QKMS9j6I7GcC" REL="nofollow">at Google Books<> — including the table of contents & some pages of the essays. And also, through the “Find this book in a library” link (in the menu box to the right of the screen) will link you to Worldcat, which will list out the nearest libraries that carry the book, from whom you can request interlibrary loan. This seems to be automatically calculated (based on your ISP?) — anyway, I'm in Anchorage, & I can see the nearest library copies of the book are at Simon Fraser U. in BC & U/Wash in Seattle. Maybe this will help you find one near Maine?
Followup: silly me — you can enter your zipcode to find the nearest libraries for the book.I entered the zip for Bangor, ME, & found copies in Quebec, New Hampshire, at both Harvard & MIT libraries in Cambridge, MA….
<>ssas<>, it does get tedious dealing with all those people who sincerely believe they’re not heterosexist/racist/ableist (etc. etc. etc.). I find them harder to cope with than flaming arseholes, because they’re so smug and *convinced* of their righteousness. Mostly I smile and nod and ignore them completely. Occasionally they show up in my book :)<>barbara<>, Open ID is a way to use the same online identity across all kinds of websites. To get one go < HREF="http://openid.net/get/" REL="nofollow">here<>.I thought you didn’t want to give up smoking. Are you beginning to reconsider?<>janine<>, the Seattle library won’t do interlibrary loan until the book is at least one year old. Tuh.Those photos are v. cool. I see lots o’ people have been adding good stuff. I should drag out the camera and take a few pix.<>karina<>, all good points. And the queer sf community thanks you for your purchase.
Liverpool really puts out some nerdy academia– I have a number of their books.
Which ones do you have? Anything in particular you think readers of this blog would enjoy?
That reminds me — Liverpool published a book on Joanna Russ, called <>Demand my writing<> by Jeanne Cortiel. I got it from the library but didn’t get around to reading it. And I believe it included a list opposite the title page of other books they’d published, some of which sounded interesting.
If smoking gets too much in the way of my love affair with books, we’ll see….
<>Occasionally they show up in my book :)<>Ooo, the ultimate revenge.
ssas, yes. Never piss off a writer.