by Jason Fischer | Aug 19, 2010 | Announcement, Pimping, Winner!
Well, it’s been a week since I announced the Gravesend haiku competition, and it’s judging time. There’s been some great entries from a bunch of folks, and I’ve enjoyed them all. Still, I had to get down the serious business of judging these poems. I weighed up emotional resonance, usage of seasons, and sneaky Romero references, but mostly I counted syllables 🙂
Without further ado, the winners are:
Nature upended,
now snowflakes curl on undead
flesh; unmelting, still.
-Jess Irwin
Til death do we part;
chewing on my dear wife’s brains
silencing her screams
– Peter M Ball
Skulls are way too hard.
Softest way to get at brains:
through the eye sockets.
– Lisa Hannett
And a bonus winner, because it’s just too awesome, and captures perfectly the true angst of zombie haiku composition:
Brains brains brains brains brains
Brains brains brains brains brains brains brains
Brai- ai- ai-ai-ns
-Lee Battersby
Your zombielicious copies of “After the World: Gravesend” will be in the post shortly. Congratulations!
ETA: Because he’s a classy haiku-loving kind of guy, Peter M Ball has donated his prize back into the contest. Here’s a poem that narrowly missed out on a spot in the top 3, which I’m now pleased to add to the winner’s circle.
Roused to seek fresh meat
As winter freshens the air:
I shall hunt you; hide.
-Chris
by Jason Fischer | Aug 17, 2010 | Announcement, Interview
I’ve just been interviewed as part of the Drive-By series, over at Angela Slatter’s website:
http://angelaslatter.com/2010/08/17/the-undead-camel-drive-by-jason-fischer/
While you’re over there, why don’t you check out some of the other interviews she’s done – she’s rounded up some great authors and creative folk, and it’s well worth your time. Angela’s Drive-Bys include a tonne of Aussie talent, and folks such as Robert Shearman, Kelly Link, Gavin Grant, Aliette De Bodard, China Mieville, etc etc.
It will be an ongoing series of interviews (with a new one each working day) right up until World Con. That’s what I call a rock-star effort!
by Jason Fischer | Aug 12, 2010 | Announcement, Pimping
To celebrate the shortlisting of “After The World: Gravesend” in this year’s Ditmar Awards, Black House Comics are offering you the chance to win a copy of the book.
To enter, simply compose a haiku – the only catch is it must be zombie or apocalypse themed. Post your haiku in this comments thread (either at jasonfischer.com.au or on the LJ feed, it’s all good). As long as you meet the 5-7-5 rule, I’m not too fussed if you mention a seasonal reference – though if you mention winter and brains, it will earn you bonus points 🙂
The best three haikus as judged by me will win themselves a copy of the book. It’s that easy! Contest closes one week from today (Thursday 19th August)
(PS sorry, Australian residents only for this competition – overseas postage is too painful)
by Jason Fischer | Aug 11, 2010 | Reviews
Just got the latest issue of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, the 44th instalment of my favourite Aussie pulp mag. Not only does ASIM #44 contain my latest story “Sebastian” (love lost, love found, and an evil equestrian encounter), the book reviews section includes a look at my novella, “After the World: Gravesend”.
Among other things, reviewer Simon Petrie says:
“Tamsyn’s strength of character is one of the novella’s strengths: in fact the characterisation, throughout, is marvellous, with at least a dozen of the townspeople emerging as fully three-dimensional, living, breathing characters during the course of the story.”
and
“Fischer’s portrayal of society’s shambling disintegration is disconcertingly plausible”.
The full review (and as usual, several awesome stories) can be read in the print copy, which can be purchased here: http://www.andromedaspaceways.com/issue-44/
by Jason Fischer | Aug 11, 2010 | Announcement, Publication
My story “for want of a jesusman” (from Aurealis issue #42) will soon be appearing in the Year’s Best Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy, Vol 5. This is always a handsome anthology, and I’m absolutely chuffed to have my story appearing in the next volume. Bill Congreve’s introductory essays alone are worth the admission, and I’ve really enjoyed the stories collected in the first four books.
This story also recently scored an Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow’s Best Horror of the Year Vol 2. My reading of “for want of a jesusman” can still be listened to over at Terra Incognita Speculative Fiction, via this link: http://www.tisf.com.au/
