In which we rise above a chorus of dogs, babies and technological glitches to discuss Grand Conversations, why we have no opinions about Robert Heinlein, and why we’re crazy enough to be part of a project which means reading (almost) ALL the short stories.

News Windup Girl wins Campbell Award: http://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/campbell.htm

Jeff VanderMeer announces the closure of the Best American Fantasy anthology series - http://www.jeffvandermeer.com/2010/08/12/best-american-fantasy-series-to-end/

The WSFA shortlist for small press: http://www.capclave.org/blog/?p=210

Controversy caused by Sarah Hoyt’s Tor article on why all those women who don’t like Heinlein are actually wrong (yes, really) - http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/08/what-do-heinlein-women-want Hoyt also blogs here similarly, with a bit more revelation as to why she is so pro-Heinlein and again why those who are not are just WRONG http://theeternalgoldenbraid.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-name-is-inigo-montoya-administrative.html

What have we been reading/listening to? Alisa: Watching - District 9, Caprica, Scott Pilgrim, The Grand Conversation, Timmi DuChamp, Alex: Permutation City, Greg Egan; Galactic Suburbia, Lisa Yaszek (http://www.randomalex.net/?p=1284); Shadow Unit (www.shadowunit.org); When it Changed, ed. Geoff Ryman; Swords and Dark Magic, ed. Jonathan Strahan Tansy: Joanna Russ, How to Suppress Women’s Writing; Rosemary & Rue, Seanan McGuire Listening - Angry Robot #2 with Kaaron Warren & Lauren Beukes

Pet Subject How To Find the Best Short Fiction, and the Not If You Were the Last Short Story On Earth Project (LSS) (http://community.livejournal.com/lastshortstory/) Why we LSS   What we learned from LSS What we’re looking for in a great short story, where to find them, and what we have liked so far this year.

Rich Horton (part of our inspiration): http://ecbatan.livejournal.com/

Feedback, etc: galacticsuburbia@gmail.com

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In which we discuss girl heroes, boy books, sexy zombies with whips, why proofing makes Alisa’s brain hurt, how many limbs get hacked off in David Eddings novels, and analyse what SF awards actually mean to us.

News Ditmar nominations now up:  http://members.optuszoo.com.au/~dudcon/nominees.html

Author Hannah Moskowitz complains at the lack of and treatment of boy characters in YA: http://hannahmosk.blogspot.com/2010/07/boy-problem.html Tamora Pierce responds with a discussion of why she writes girl protagonists: http://tammypierce.livejournal.com/40594.html

What have we been reading/listening to? Tansy: The King’s Bastard, Rowena Cory Daniells; The Loving Dead by Amelia Beamer.  Listening to: Starship Sofa 142 & 144, Notes from Coode St Alisa: books she is publishing, including SPRAWL Alex: the Belgariad, David Eddings. Worlds Next Door, edited by Tehani Wessely.

Pet Subject The value in awards for writers/publishers/readers. The value in awards when they become a long-running thing (ie does it mean more to get a Tiptree now that it’s been going for a long time?). Difference between fan-voted, peer-voted, and judged awards.

Feedback, etc: galacticsuburbia@gmail.com

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