Cover by Rocky Kelley
As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of Rayguns Over Texas at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.
Today’s selection comes from Stina Leicht‘s “Texas Died for Somebody’s Sins But Not Mine.” Continue reading
Cover by Rocky Kelley
As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of Rayguns Over Texas at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.
Today’s selection comes from Matthew Bey‘s “Babylon Moon.” Continue reading
Cover by Rocky Kelley
As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of Rayguns Over Texas at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.
Today’s selection comes from Scott A. Cupp‘s memoir “Books Are My Thing: Adventures in Texas Science Fiction.” Continue reading
Cover by Rocky Kelley
As we barrel toward the August 29 premiere of Rayguns Over Texas at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, I am presenting book excerpts, one contributor per day.
Today’s selection comes from Bruce Sterling’s introduction “Texas Over Rayguns.” Continue reading
After months of rumors and innuendo, Rayguns Over Texas, the new anthology of science fiction by Texas authors, will finally premiere in just 24 days on August 29 at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio.
Cover by Rocky Kelley
Starting tomorrow and for most of the rest of August leading up to the convention, I will publish an excerpt a day from a different contribution to Rayguns Over Texas. Continue reading
The magnificent Rocky Kelley cover to the forthcoming Rayguns Over Texas can finally be revealed!
Premiering at the LoneStarCon 3 (aka The 71st Annual World Science Fiction Convention) in San Antonio, TX, August 29 – September 2 2013, Rayguns Over Texas, an anthology of predominantly new science fiction tales by Texas authors, features 17 original stories, 2 reprinted tales, 2 introductions, a history of Texas science fiction, and 3 appendices. Contributors include Bruce Sterling, Michael Moorcock, Joe R. Lansdale, Bradley Denton, Stina Leicht, and many other fantastic scribes.
Design by Sara Felix
I turned in the completed Rayguns Over Texas earlier this week. Weighing in at nearly 100,000 words, the all Texas writers anthology contains 17 original stories, 2 reprinted tales, 2 introductions, a history of Texas science fiction, and 3 appendices. Continue reading
I am the guest speaker for The San Antonio Writers Guild‘s April meeting. The topic purports to be Apes & Rayguns: A Conversation with Acclaimed Editor Richard Klaw about the 21st Century Anthology, whatever that means. Since they call me an “editor/anthologist and essayist,” I’m guessing the talk will be about why whys and wherefores of anthology construction along with liberal ape mentions. Possibly even a few references to Texas science fiction.
The Thursday, April 4 meeting is open to the public, so I look forward to seeing all you San Antonio area people there.
The skinny:
April 4, 2013 at 7pm
Bethany Congregational Church
500 Pilgrim Dr
San Antonio, TX 78213
Got this via Lawrence Person:
I just received word from Jessica Reisman:
Molly let me know that Steve passed last night at about 10:40 pm, eastern. His family was with him.
I’ll miss him.
As will we all.
Utley announced to his friends that he had been diagnosed with Type 4 cancer in his intestines, liver, and lungs, and a lesion on his brain on December 27, 2012. On January 7, he sent out an email saying that he was losing his motor skills and designated Jessica as his literary executor (and hopefully she’ll be able to get some of his swell stories back in print). On the morning of January 12 he slipped into a coma and died that night.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t know Steven Utley that well. In the 90s, we really only corresponded at the annual Armadillocon and then when he moved to Tennessee in 1997, only rarely through email. What I do know is that it was always a pleasure to chat with him, good for a laugh and a piece of obscure geek trivia.
Professionally, Steve and I crossed paths numerous times. He adapted Howard Waldrop’s “Green Brother” (with art by John Lucas) for my anthology Weird Business. Then later I included his one page strip collaboration with Kevin Hendrix “Custer’s Last Love” for Wild West Show. Beginning with “Beyond the Sea,” Utley published several stories at RevolutionSF, first with me as the editor and then with several of my successors.
In recent years, Steve has frequently been in my thoughts. When I first started putting together The Apes of Wrath, he was one of the first contributors I contacted. I wanted to include his futuristic tale of alternative education “Deviation from a Theme” for my new book. (The story also appeared in the only other ape-themed collection The Rivals of King Kong) Since Steve referred to himself as the impatient ape both in print (title of one of his short story collections) and as a part of his email address, he was not surprisingly thrilled to be part of the book. I’m just sad he didn’t see the final product (book ships in two weeks). I know he’d love the book and be proud to be a part of it.
Steve alongside Geo W. Proctor edited the first all Texas science fiction anthology Lone Star Universe. Having been immersed recently in a similar project myself, I’ve thought much about that book. I only hope Rayguns Over Texas is similarly well received and fondly remembered.
So here’s to Steven Utley, may you be happily swinging with the apes.
It’s time to play the music
It’s time to light the lights
It’s time to reveal the story list for
After an exhaustive search, here is the final list of the 19 short stories that will be included in Rayguns Over Texas. All but two of them are originals. The completed book will also include a history of Texas science fiction and a guide to Texas sf writers.
Rayguns Over Texas, an anthology of original science fiction by TX authors, is scheduled for release at LoneStarCon 3 (aka the 2013 Science Fiction Worldcon in San Antonio, TX).