ROBIN HOBB

One of my first introductions to short works of fantasy and science fiction was in the pages of the digest sized magazines that my mother also loved. I was 11 or 12 when I first started reading them.  Amazing Stories!  FANTASTIC! Analog. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.  Those were some of my favorites.  And then that new one came along: Asimov's Science Fiction.  The short stories in those magazines introduced me to many of my favorite authors. And, in time, they offered me some of my first publication opportunities.  I still subscribe.

The fantasy and science fiction genres have seen many magazines come and go over the decades.  Sometimes I feel old when I think that one of my first commercial publications was in FANTASTIC! a magazine gone for many years now.  So I am always happy to see a new magazine open its pages.  This one is for French readers and writers.

Chimeres will commence publication on September 27, 2024.  Victor Battaggion will be editor in chief.  And I am very pleased to say that I had a very enjoyable time being interviewed, and that interview will appear in the first issue of the magazine.

We all love a sale, don't we?   If you are a Barnes and Noble Premium Member, they will give you 25% off all preorders from September 4 to 6.  And of course, among the books you could buy is the Dark Horse Comics Volume 2 of Assassin's Apprentice.  This is the second collection of the comics in a nice hardback format.  Jody Houser did a great job of adapting my books to this form as the writer, and the entire Dark Horse team did wonderful work on this.  

Kat and I are safely home from International Comic Con, held every year in San Diego. We both had a good time. The weather was fine to a 'bit too hot' for us.  Highlights included discovering a fascinating artist studio on one of our walks, a story telling security guard outside a bank, and a late evening ride in a very swift Pedicab with the theme to Star Wars blasting as we zipped through the streets of San Diego.

For me, conventions are about connecting with friends, old and new.  I signed books at the Del Rey booth and reconnected with Anne and David.  When I signed at Dark Horse, Jody Houser was alongside me, and Brett Israel was our support.  In between, we went to panels we thought would be interesting, such as Tim Powers spotlight.  It was fun to introduce Kat to Tom Taylor and Neo Edmund and spend time with newer friends  Shanna and Jenn.  I met Jessica Brawner just as she was vacating the chair I would occupy for a signing.  Due to Chris Paolini being unfortunately unable to attend, I filled in for him on a panel about dragons and had a very enjoyable time.

Mysterious Galaxy  in San Diego was the book seller for the signing floor, and before I left, I signed a lot of books that will become part of their store stock.  So if you didn't attend the con, but would still like an autographed book, check out what they have.  I was not the only writer siging stock for them.

It was a great pleasure to know that Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo won an Eisner for their work on Nightwing #105.  And to see Tim Powers with an Inkpot Award from International Comic Con.  

And we met readers.  At every signing I did, readers came, and often we had time to chat for a bit.  Kat and I had decided that when I did my signing in the Sails Pavilion, we would take the opportunity to give back thanks to readers. So many of them had followed Fitz through the years and years, reading the entire span of Elderling books. No keychains or stickers.  We decided on sensory gifts. So, for the first 100 readers, we offered a choice of either a Sees Lollipop or a bar of scented soap.  I know, a bit strange, but it made sense to me, so we went with it.  Readers seemed to enjoy it as much as we did, so we will (Packing space allowing!) repeat it at Rose City Comic Con and Dragon Steel Con.

I am now going to stay home for a time and focus on finally finishing some long delayed projects.  Kat, however, will be off to Worldcon in Glasgow and maybe she will pitch her new book while she is there.  (Yes, Kat, I am revealing that you have a novel that I believe is truly excellent, even beyond being related to you!)  I am still daring myself to go to World Fantasy Con in September in Niagara Falls.  I am still leery of long airline flights and crowded airports.

For SDCC, Kat and I both masked for the flight, and for walking around the crowded merchandise hall and in the packed halls.  We used a large quantity of hand sanitizer.  So far (fingers crossed) neither of us have come down with any form of Con Crud, Covid or otherwise. Unfortunately, I have heard from several fellow attendees that they were not so fortunate.  So, as the old saying goes, A word to the wise is sufficient.  

So.  That is my very short SDCC report.  I met so many wonderful people.  If you didn't make it there, perhaps I will see you at another convention.