Women in Science Fiction

I came across this very interesting panel discussing women in science fiction. If you have an hour to spare it's definitely worth watching. They make some very interesting points. The marginalization of female science fiction authors can't be attributed to just one thing, but it's rather lots of little things that add up to a much bigger problem.

From my own perspective the gender of the author doesn't matter to me, at least it's not something that plays a role in my buying decisions. However, looking at my shelves, it might be a good idea to make more of a conscious effort to read more work by female science fiction authors.

Cover Reveal: Reach for Infinity

REACH FOR INFINITY
Release date: 27 May 2014 (US and Canada) / 5 June 2014 (UK)
ISBN: 9781781082034 (US) /  9781781082027 (UK)
Order a copy from The Book Depository (Free international shipping)

What happens when humanity reaches out into the vastness of space? The award-winning anthologies editor, Jonathan Strahan, is back with a stellar list of best-selling SF authors in a collection of all-new original stories.

The brightest names in science fiction contribute new original fiction to this amazing anthology, including new stories by Alastair Reynolds, Greg Egan, Ian McDonald, Ken Macleod, Pat Cadigan, Karl Schroeder, Hannu Rajaniemi, Karen Lord, Adam Roberts, Kathleen Ann Goonan, Aliette de Bodard, Peter Watts, and others!

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The full table of contents:

• Break My Fall, Greg Egan
• The Dust Queen, Aliette de Bodard
• The Fifth Dragon, Ian McDonald
• Kheldyu, Karl Schroeder
• Report Concerning the Presence of Seahorses on Mars, Pat Cadigan
• Hiraeth: A Tragedy in Four Acts, Karen Lord
• Amicae Aeternum, Ellen Klages
• Trademark Bugs: A Legal History, Adam Roberts
• Attitude, Linda Nagata
• Invisible Planets, Hannu Rajaniemi
• Wilder Still, the Stars, Kathleen Ann Goonan
• ‘The Entire Immense Superstructure’: An Installation, Ken MacLeod
• In Babelsberg, Alastair Reynolds
• Hotshot, Peter Watts

Cover Reveal: Best SF and Fantasy of the Year Vol. 8

THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY OF THE YEAR 8
Release date: 8 May 2014
ISBN:9781781082164 (US) /  9781781082157 (UK)
Pre-order a copy from The Book Depository (Free international shipping)

From the inner realms of humanity to the far reaches of space, these are the science fiction and fantasy tales that are shaping the genre and the way we think about the future. Multi-award winning editor Jonathan Strahan continues to shine a light on the very best writing, featuring both established authors and exciting new talents. Within you will find twenty-eight incredible tales, showing the ever growing depth and diversity that science fiction and fantasy continues to enjoy. These are the brightest stars in our firmament, lighting the way to a future filled with astonishing stories about the way we are, and the way we could be.

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The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Vol. 8 edited by Jonathan strahan has found a new home at Solaris. The latest volume of this anthology contains stories from the biggest names in genre, including Neil Gaiman, Joe Abercrombie, Madeline Ashby, Greg Egan, Lavie Tidhar, Robert Reed; as well as some of its newest rising stars.

The full table of contents:

• Some Desperado, Joe Abercrombie
• Zero for Conduct, Greg Egan
• Effigy Nights, Yoon Ha Lee
• Rosary and Goldenstar, Geoff Ryman
• The Sleeper and the Spindle, Neil Gaiman
• Cave and Julia, M. John Harrison
• The Herons of Mer de l’Ouest, M. Bennardo
• Water, Ramez Naam
• The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling, Ted Chiang
• The Ink Readers of Doi Saket, Thomas Olde Heuvelt
• Cherry Blossoms on the River of Souls, Richard Parks
• Rag and Bone, Priya Sharma
• The Book Seller, Lavie Tidhar
• The Sun and I, K J Parker
• The Promise of Space, James Patrick Kelly
• The Master Conjurer, Charlie Jane Anders
• The Pilgrim and the Angel, E. Lily Yu
• Entangled, Ian R Macleod
• Fade to Gold, Benjanun Sriduangkaew
• Selkie Stories Are for Losers, Sofia Samatar
• In Metal, In Bone, An Owomoyela
• Kormak the Lucky, Eleanor Arnason
• Sing, Karin Tidbeck
• Social Services, Madeline Ashby
• The Road of Needles, Caitlín R Kiernan
• Mystic Falls, Robert Reed
• The Queen of Night’s Aria, Ian McDonald
• The Irish Astronaut, Val Nolan

This looks like a promising and diverse selection of the best short stories of the past year and, if past editions are anything to go by, this will be a must read for fans of short fiction.