ince embarking on his Periodic Table of Science Fiction, Michael Swanwick claims that other writers "turn pale and cross themselves" when he enters a room. And for good reason—with four Hugo nominations in three categories in 2003 alone, he has made himself an acknowledged powerhouse of the SF field.
Created by a handful of dedicated fans with the author's full cooperation, Michael Swanwick Online assembles everything a Web surfer might want to know about this prolific and scarily talented writer. Like most author sites, this one has plenty of data on his fiction and other work: bibliographies, links to reviews, snapshots of book covers and biographical essays. There is an article on the chameleonic nature of Swanwick's writing by Gardner Dozois (other contributors include James Patrick Kelly, Roz Kaveney and Nick Gevers) and links to several interviews the author has given over the years.
It would be easy to think that, with such a large volume of factual information on offer, a reader could come to know this author rather well. But the site does not restrict itself to the formality of biographies and interviews: It also has a number of sections where Swanwick answers mail from fans directly—sometimes seriously, sometimes with tongue firmly in cheek. The responses he gives to questions about writing and his work are not sugar-coated; they show Swanwick's sharper edges, as well as a great sense of fun. One reader asks: Is Swanwick a cyberpunk? Visit the site to get the answer from the person who knows best.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—August 4, 2003
he Horror Writers Association is an organization dedicated to promoting dark literature and the people who write it. The group's Web site, not surprisingly, gathers together a formidable array of resources for horror fans, veteran writers and those just breaking into the genre.
A thoughtful essay defining the parameters of horror fiction—an ambitious task in its own right—is one of the first things encountered by any visitor beginning to explore this site. With that definition in mind, the next logical step may be to sign up for free excerpts from new horror novels (recent choices include Michael Romkey's The Vampire's Violin and Edo van Belkom's Scream Queen). One need not sample the fictional fare without comment, either—it is possible to read and contribute notes about the work at the site's discussion forums.
The HWA has published a number of books about the art and business of writing dark literature, as well as fiction anthologies edited by luminaries like Peter Straub and Robert Bloch. Details about these books are on the Web page, of course, as is information about the HWA yearly conference, where the Bram Stoker Awards (which recognize the year's best achievements in horror fiction in a variety of forms) are bestowed. The site has links to articles for beginning writers, and a recommended reading list, too.
Literature in its prose form is the foundation of every genre—that is to say, written horror stories are the spawning ground from which horror comics, films, video games and television programming all arise. By offering a serious site for serious writers, the Horror Writers Association creates a much-needed entry point for anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of
this genre, starting deep in its haunted basement.
— A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—July 28, 2003
ince the publication of Shards of Honor in 1986, Lois McMaster Bujold has gained an increasing and devoted following of readers. The Bujold Nexus is the creation of those readers—fans working in concert with their favorite author to explain the complicated worlds and multifaceted individuals Bujold has created, all for the benefit of those not yet initiated. The site gathers all the facts about this award-winning SF writer and her work.
Virtually an online encyclopedia, so exhaustive is its detail, the Nexus covers every conceivable aspect of Bujold's life and career. Expected features like a biography, bibliography, foreign translations information and scans of book covers form the core content, naturally. But this dry nuts-and-bolts information co-exists with a wealth of fan creations: merchandise, art, filk lyrics, fanfic and even an index that lists the dedications of Bujold's various novels (and tells who has dedicated books to her in return). Whether a site visitor is a researcher, a hardcore fan or merely wondering about Bujold's fiction, this Web page can fully satisfy his or her curiosity.
The reason, of course, is that the Bujold Nexus is less a Web site than it is the public face of a lively Internet community. Created by an impressively large group of fans, it has an active comments section. It also conducts outreach by maintaining a hefty links section, participating in the Lois McMaster Bujold Webring, and running a mailing list for anyone whose
appetite for Bujold arcana isn't sated by the site itself.
— A.M. Dellamonica
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