Fantastic Metropolis

Then, finally, I was told the project was going forward and that EP was expanding. Then, when I finally demanded a contract over a year since getting that informal acceptance, I was told that “expanding” actually meant “shrinking.” Luckily, Prime picked up the book right away, though it wouldn’t pay the rate I had already agreed to pay my writers. I’m a big believer in staying true to my word, so I’ll be paying the writers out of pocket, rather than doing what many micropress editors in my position do, which is whining and making excuses about how Big Daddy Publisher won’t pay the allowance after all.

What I’m trying to say is please pre-order the book at Shocklines, because I really need the money!

Nicholas Kaufmann: What are your thoughts about the future of science fiction and horror writing? Are there any new writers out there you are enjoying? Do you have any long-time favorites?

Nick Mamatas: The future is bright. Frequently we hear that the genres are dead and that they need to borrow from contemporary American realism in order to be reinvigorated. I’d say that this time around, the exact opposite is happening. Realism has hit the brick wall of the bourgeoisie’s own end of history. I recently went through the list of New York Times Notable Books for 2002 and 55 of them take place in the past, with many of those being either in the 1970s or just as the Cold War ends. Some take place long before. “Nowness” is missing, except in “shopping and fucking” novels that depend on detailing the up-to-the-minute consumption habits of the narrators, or in novels where technology and globalizations have to be addressed. And they’re being addressed increasingly using fantastic, horrific, and speculative tropes.

New writers? Zoe, of course. Tim Pratt, I like. Daphne Gottlieb writes amazing poetry, and all the “horror poets” out there should buy her book Final Girl to see how it is done by someone who actually knows poetry. Douglas Lain is very good. Sarah Langan is an excellent writer. Paul Tremblay is good. Ann Sterzinger has more energy per story than entire dubious “movements” in SF do.

Long-time favorites? Eh, the same folks all the other Fantastic Metropolis readers like.

Nicholas Kaufmann: Any last words you’d like to leave us with before I put this electric drill through your skull?

Nick Mamatas: Put on your smock first, bubbeleh.