Review of The Four Profound Weaves by R. B. Lemberg
It’s been a rough year. For far too many people in the world, it’s been a rough few decades capped by an even worse year. And when we say 2020 is painful what we’re really saying is that not only are we hurting, we’re being actively harmed in a time of crisis by those with power.
I’ve been reading as many stories as I can this year as a form of something I can’t even describe. As escape? Therapy? A search for wholeness or meaning? So many great stories have been published in 2020, almost as if life understands that fictional creations — that fantasies and myths and dreams — are a powerful way to not only to heal each other but the very world itself.
And the stories I’ve read have helped. Some. A bit. Because I’m still making it through. Still alive.
Now I’ve read The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg. And when I finished this novella I cried because it was so joyful and beautiful and moving that for the first time in a long while I caught a glimpse of the path forward.
The Four Profound Weaves is set in the Birdverse, a diverse world of feathered gods and mysterious deserts and magical names which bind people together and tear them apart. The story follows the lives of two people — Uiziya e Lali and an initially nameless man — who are in their sixties and trying to change their lives. But they’re up against a world which far too often believes change is a bad thing. That life should remain static and unyielding. That who others believe we are at one single moment of our life is who we must be for all our lives.
This is a lyrical, poetic, mystical journey which features some of the most beautiful writing I’ve encountered recently. In Lemberg’s hands a simple phrase like “The dawn is never far away” gains added depth and resonance to both stir the soul and make you pause your reading to reflect on what has been written. And the story also features two extremely endearing and relatable characters who you can’t help rooting for.
The Four Profound Weaves is queer as hell and fluid as hell and refuses to let anything stand in the way of what we can be, no matter is that means going up against an all-powerful dictator, the gender expectations of our family and friends, or even the world itself.
This is both a joy of a book and a joy of a reading experience. I came away feeling more healed than when I started. I won’t pretend one book can solve all the world’s problems, but The Four Profound Weaves was definitely the book I needed to read right now in my life. I think many other readers will respond the same way.
I expect I’ll reread The Four Profound Weaves over and over in the years to come. The novella will also be among my nominations for the upcoming Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards.
There is always a path forward. Unfortunately, many times we can’t see it until something brings our eyes back to where we’re walking.
The Four Profound Weaves illuminates for all of us the path forward.
Giveaway for "The Eight-Thousanders"
My short story "The Eight-Thousanders" is out in the Sept./Oct. 2020 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. The story focuses on the ethical issues surrounding mountain climbing and the destructive tech bro attitudes found within elite industries.
Or tl;dr: VAMPIRE ON MOUNT EVEREST!
So far the story is receiving excellent reviews, with SFRevu calling it “Hugo worthy” and Sam J. Miller calling it “a chilling, exciting story of climbing Mount Everest, and the internal demons that drive you to do so, and the external ones that might confront you when you do.”
If you want to read more about the story, the Asimov’s blog did an interview with me about it including the story’s origins and my thoughts on masculinity (which, spoiler, is a major plot point of the story).
Copies of the magazine are currently available in bookstores and digital marketplaces.
I’m also giving away 10 signed copies of the Sept./Oct. issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, plus a few digital copies, as thanks to my readers.
If you want to take part in the drawing for these copies, complete this form.
NASFiC 2020 virtual convention schedule
The North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) starts Friday, August 21 and runs through Sunday, August 23. Originally slated to be held in Columbus, Ohio, this year’s NASFiC is now totally virtual. And best of all, it’s free for people to attend and take part!
I’ll be taking part in the three sessions below during the convention. For more information and to take part, go to columbus2020nasfic.org.
Office Hours with Jason Sanford
Friday August 21 , 5:00-7:00pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
I will answer questions about getting published, places to get published and so on. This is your chance to ask me any questions about the many topics I cover in my Genre Grapevine column.
The Future of Anthologies
Saturday August 22, 11:00 am (Eastern Daylight Time)
Moderator: Jason Sanford
Panelists: Dominik Parisien, Lucy A. Snyder, and Neil Clarke
Our highly-regarded panel of editors discuss current trends in and future of anthologies.
Weathering the Storm: Creating in Times of Trouble
Saturday August 22 , 8:00pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
Moderator: Jason Sanford
Panelists: Ace Ratcliff, Amanda Makepeace, John Medaille, John Wiswell, Raven Oak
Description: A mixed panel of writers and artists discuss the challenges of making art and stories during a pandemic, as well as strategies for managing health and being active creators.
I look forward to seeing everyone there.
The literary scams my grandfather faced nearly a century ago
Time for a reminder that scams against writers and other artists and creatives have been around for a long time. As always, money should flow to the writer, not from the writer to an agent or publisher. But scammers have always tried to pervert that relationship.
My grandfather Ray Childress was a professional musician in the American South. He played the piano and organ in a number of orchestras and swing bands and was a member of the American Federation of Musicians. Not a famous musician by any means. Closest he came to fame was being at a party with Hank Williams a few hours before Williams died.
But in the 1930s and early ‘40s, my grandfather was an aspiring song writer. He regularly submitted his songs to sheet music publishers and agencies. Some were legit. Others were scammers.
My grandfather kept many of these letters and I’ve scanned them to share. Here’s a rejection he received in 1938 from a legit music agency, Song Mart. Note this publisher doesn’t ask for money and gives actual feedback to help my grandfather.
However, my grandfather was also the victim of scammers. Note this 1930s letter from Larry Conley in New York. The letter praises my grandfather’s songwriting but is actually a generic letter likely sent to tons of writers. Messages like this still go out today.
Many questionable agents and publishers have generic letters they send to new writers, praising their work even though they likely haven’t read a word of it. These letters and emails are to sucker you in. The content of these scam messages hasn’t changed in a hundred years.
Here’s a more personalized scam letter my grandfather received from a Burrell Van Buren in 1935. If you look closely, the letter is mass-produced with my grandfather’s name typed in at the top — note slightly different font size and style of grandfather's name.
Unfortunately, my grandfather must have fallen for this scam because in his file is a letter asking for the price to order 1000 copies of his song. This is similar to the scam publishers of today who make authors pay to publish their own books.
My grandfather must have realized Burrell Van Buren was a scammer because it appears he didn’t mail in any money. Instead, I found a note where he wrote to the Chamber of Commerce in Chicago asking about the guy. Remember, no Google back then.
But my grandfather was taken in by one scammer, Mildred Seeley of US Music in New York. In 1941 he sent a money order for $34 to US Music for copies of his song “Blue Clouds.” This was a ton of money back then.
Ironically, one of those letters was dated Dec. 7 1941, the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. Even though my grandfather was too old to be drafted, he joined the Army Air Corps. He also threatened to involve the Postal Authorities if US Music didn’t return his money & song.
These scammers took his money, didn’t send him the contract, and when he threatened to involve the authorities they suddenly mailed a letter saying there’d been a delay in publishing his songs. Typical of scammers even today.
Moral of the story is to beware of scams when you’re a writer, artist or creative. You should not pay agents or publishers to consider or publish your work.
Research agents and publishers through places like Writer Beware. Also ask other writers, including their clients, about them. Because scammers have a long history in the literary world and they’re always going to be around.
COVID-19 resources, info, and assistance for the science fiction, fantasy, & horror communities
Updated 3/6/2021
Note: This resource was published in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such some of the information below may be dated.
This is a listing of resources and information which can help people in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror communities deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of these resources focus on genre writers and artists, but my ultimate goal is to include information which can help anyone in the greater SF/F/H fandom.
If you know of resources or info you’d like added to this listing, email it to me at jasonsanfordsf@gmail.com.
General Resources
The COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources website is quickly becoming the essential clearing house for resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to freelancers of all disciplines. The site includes listings of international resources and advocacy and legal information.
A large number of arts organizations have launched Artist Relief, a nonprofit fund that will award $5,000 grants to individual artists facing economic need due to Covid-19. Artist Relief will also do a survey on how the pandemic is affecting artists and creative workers.
Mary Robinette Kowal created a wonderful “4-seam, no-elastic, don't-have-to-pin-fiddly-things, easy-fit mask pattern.” This is easiest-to-make mask I’ve seen.
Conventions
Locus Magazine is maintaining an updated listing of all genre convention cancellations and delays.
Locus is also maintaining an updated listing of virtual SF/F events.
Inside Higher Ed offers a good overview of what you need to know if you want to shift your convention from in-person to virtual. Wired also has an article exploring the start-up companies which can help you do this.
SL Haung started a thread on the Codec Writers forum listing virtual conventions. While you must be a Codex member to access that link, the Codex Writers Group is a supportive place for new writers so consider joining.
The Everywhere Book Fest aims to be one of the first virtual conventions in early May. For kidlit authors, books, and readers.
The 2020 SFWA Nebula Award Conference will now be virtual from May 29 to 31. Complete details in this press release, with info on registering on the conference website.
Free Online Classes
As a community service, Clarion West is offering free live online classes for adults and teens through April 30.
Scholastic is offering free online courses for kids.
Freelancing Opportunities
Note: I’m not listing sites like Toptal or Gigster here, although obviously those and many other freelancing sites have their pros and cons. Instead, I’m trying to focus on freelance opportunities specific to the SF/F/H genres.
The Submission Grinder is a good resource for where to submit genre fiction and poetry.
My #SFF2020 report includes information about a number of genre short fiction markets which are open to submissions.
The SFWA Blog is a paying market open to nonfiction submissions on topics of interest to new and/or established writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy. You don’t have to be a SFWA member to contribute.
Grants and Emergency Assistance
Note: Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in the US stimulus bill, freelancers and 1099 creatives are now eligible for unemployment pay plus an extra payment through 7/31. Essentially, freelancers are eligible to receive half the average unemployment benefit in their state and an extra $600 per week. Contact your local unemployment office to apply.
Also, I’m hearing that many of the granting organizations listed below are struggling to meet the needs of so many applicants. So its possible for the grants below to no longer have available funds. If you discover this let me know and I’ll update this list.
Artists of color in the USA financially affected by COVID-19 can apply for the Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund.
The Authors Guild is maintaining a page of economic resources for authors and journalists during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Creative Capital has a very good list of emergency resources for artists.
KQED has compiled a good list of emergency funds for freelancers and creatives.
The Learned Fangirl has created a Freelance Emergency Fund to support freelance culture writers who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.
The New York Foundation for the Arts lists numerous emergency grants across the USA.
PEN America has a listing of emergency funds for writers. In addition, PEN America has expanded its Writers' Emergency Fund for US writers.
Ijeoma Oluo has organized the Seattle Artist Relief Fund Amid COVID-19. Funds will be distributed by Langston Seattle. Go here to take their survey and apply for relief.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America are offering grants of up to $1,000 for SFWA members financially affected by COVID-19. SFWA also runs a medical fund and offers other grants and also offers membership relief. Finally, donations are also requested.
The Society of Authors has an emergency fund for UK writers.
Springboard for the Arts offers a Personal Emergency Relief Fund for artists in Minnesota who experience career-threatening emergencies. In addition, this resource page lists other emergency funds around the USA artists can access.
TOArtist COVID-19 Response Fund provides emergency support for Toronto artists whose gigs/events were cancelled.
Libraries
Libraries around the world are offering special lending assistance, expanded e-book lending, and other services. Check your local library to learn more.
Publisher and Bookseller Info
Note: Amazon is currently delaying the shipping of items they consider non-essential, including books. Here are alternative ways to order books and support authors.
In an attempt to mitigate the impact of the outbreak on the book industry, many publishers are promoting free titles and other special offers. Publishers Weekly is keeping an updated listing of these offers.
Order books through IndieBound or Bookshop.
Half Price Books is offering curb-side pickup for books at most of their stores. Also note that Half Price Books laid off much of their staff with no notice in early April, so keep that in mind.
When you buy audiobooks through Libro, you can choose the local bookstore you would like to buy from (Libro splits the profits with indie bookstores). Libro is also making this special offer.
Virtual Readings
Short Story Club is a virtual book club for short stories. Every two weeks they feature a different live discussion with an author on Zoom. All proceeds donated to COVI-19 relief efforsts.