Matt’s Bookosphere 6/12/08

In Which Jeff VanderMeer announces plans to colonize “Second Life,” and seeks recruits.

Official website for Marie Brennan’s “Midnight Never Come!” Puzzle contest with $500 bookstore gift voucher! (http://www.midnightnevercome.com)

Jeff VanderMeer: “Personally, Batman’s always been a favorite because he’s ultimately almost as twisted as the villains he pursues.”

Paul Jessup Signs with Fine Print Literary Management.

Rick Klaw: Jedi booksellers!

Nick Mamatas launches “Uncle Nick’s Crazy-Ass Critique Service.”

(TONS MORE AFTER THE JUMP!)

Meditations on the creative process from Chekhov, Borges, Yeats, more. Cool pics, too.

Conversation continues over that list of 18 genre writers to look out for.

Interview with Brendan Koerner, author of “Now the Hell Will Start.”

Shaun Tan is illustrating Kelly Link’s new collection.

High praise for Low Gods: “The Mall of Cthulhu”

Jeffrey Thomas’ “Deadstock” up for Campbell Award.

On the effectiveness of book trailers.

Look out for Darin C. Bradley’s “The Dust and the Red” in Polyphony 7.

…Oh, and Stehanie Campisi’s “The Possibility of Love!”

…And Ben Peek’s “There is Something So Quiet and Empty Inside You It Must Be Precious.”

Orson Scott Card on religion and science.

Favorite Steampunk books at FlamesRising.com

Science Fiction Round-up at SFlare. Yeah, I’m linking their list of links. How meta is that?

Catch up with Barth Anderson in Portland.

Warrior Wisewoman: “Explore the truth of what it means to be female, and discover the wisdom and the strength of a woman in a grand universe without limits. Far-ranging scientific speculation meets action and adventure, grand space opera, thrilling discovery, and intelligent protagonists.”

Staying true to your voice while writing in different genres.

We love you too, Paul Goat Allen.

Should we care about book reviews?

Learn to be a better writer by becoming a better critic.

“‘A Companion to Wolves’ is full of win.”

Not enough women in “18 Genre Authors to Keep an Eye On”

In which we peek in on Jay Lake…

…and in which we follow up on Jay’s advice that “Arcaedia is teh awesome.”

“The next exciting panel that I attended was at 10:00 Sunday morning and featured five brilliant and experienced white women…” (More WisCon notes).

Ballardian? Or Not?

Enter the Scian Science Fiction Short Story Contest 2008. (Indian).

You’ve got Fantasy in my Mystery! You’ve got Mystery in my Fantasy! (Philip K. Dick Francis?)

On the anniversary of Robert E. Howard’s death (how did I forget this yesterday?)

Elizabeth Bear rounds up some WisCon photos.

Science links from author Mike Brotherton.

Rhymin’ and stealin’: Remix Culture.

It’s like YouTube for picture books.

“A Nuclear Family Vacation: Travels in the World of Atomic Weaponry.”

Maud Newton on “Conversations You Have at Twenty”

Edward Champion on “Why George Lucas Should Be Punched in the Face.”

Things Making Libraries Look Stupid.

Friends, Peers and Professionalism.

Jeremiah Tolbert’s beautiful beach photos.

Caitlin R. Kiernan on writing and publisher’s time frames. (Really cool piece shows how long it took for her to write her various novels).

“When the readers take over.”

“I’ll take The Rapists for $500, Alex!”

“Finding the Phillippines in Western Speculative Fiction.”

Review of James A. Moore’s “Deeper.”

Nominations have ended for Feminist SF’s “Top Ten Obscure F/SF Authors.”

Advance intel on “Best American Fantasy 2.”

Big ol’ honkin’ update from Fantasy Book Critic!

“My Elves are Different” takes a good-natured swipe at Paul Jessup!