What day is the meeting taking place this month? On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 3:45 PM, Eric Scoles <[email protected]> wrote:
> This month, I'd like to discuss 2012 Nebula nominees (full text of many > of the shorter pieces is available > online<http://www.sfwa.org/2012/02/2011-nebula-awards-nominees-announced/>) > -- but I'm particularly interested in one nominee, Jake Kerr's "The Old > Equations <http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-old-equations/>," > a recasting of the old Tom Godwin chestnut "The Cold > Equations<http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/13-TheBalticWarCD/TheBalticWarCD/The%20World%20Turned%20Upside%20Down/0743498747__19.htm>." > As usual, attempts to derail will be entertained (and encouraged in > proportion to their enthusiasm). > > Also of interest: Microsoft invests heavily in Barnes & > Noble.<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303916904577375502392129654.html> > What > (if anything) does it mean for publishing -- particularly independent > publishing? > ------------------------------ > > Kerr's story, an alt.history whose plot hinges on trying to travel at very > high velocities without the benefit of a certain theoretical framework > *(Warning: > spoilers!)*, is getting widely praised for the ingenuity of its premise > (and is no doubt garnering notice for its similarity to a classic). Indeed, > this isn't the first time in recent memory that "The Cold Equations" has > inspired an award finalist: R-SPEC founder Jonathan Sherwood's 2006 novella > "Under the Graying > Sea<http://gramophiction.blogspot.com/2007/02/under-graying-sea-full-version.html>", > which applies a 'cold-equations'-style logic in an even higher-stakes > scenario, was a finalist for the Hugo in 2007. So there's something about > this story that keeps bringing people back to it. > > What does the Kerr story bring to the table that's new? > > To avoid spoilers, I recommend you read the story first, but when you > have, you may be interested in Kerr's account of the revision > process<http://www.inkpunks.com/2012/02/21/guest-post-by-jake-kerr-behind-the-scenes-of-the-old-equations/> > he > engaged in with astrophysicist Mike Brotherton. (Brotherton has also given > his side of the > story<http://www.mikebrotherton.com/2012/03/01/science-and-science-fiction-the-old-equations/> > . > ------------------------------ > > We'll be meeting in the usual place: The Community Room at thePittsford > Barnes & Noble <http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2790>; > we'll start the meeting in earnest at about 7:30. > > -- > -- > eric scoles | [email protected] > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R-SPEC: The Rochester Speculative Literature Association" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/r-spec?hl=en.
