Putting their enthusiasm for William Gibson to good use, science fiction fans have re-invented the critical wheel.
BookNinja reports how some webby readers created a carefully tagged collection of criticism that acts more like an A.I. Book Reviewing Machine than a boring old archive of reviews.
Dig it (along with a 1980's programming reference):
"an aggregator of sorts that organizes searchable critical reception on his new novel, Spook Country, into a “cloud” of responses that record reading paths through the novel. The article’s author thinks this could be the future of literary criticism. I am getting sort of dizzy thinking about it."
SlushPile has some simple advice that most writers don't think about until it is too late. BACK UP YOUR WORK!
Over the weekend, author Peter Sacks has a heartbreaking and inspiring essay about the mid-list authors who toil in the thankless corners of the publishing industry. It's a reality-check for all fledgling writers:
"Meanwhile, a thousand splendid authors, working in relative obscurity, have written a thousand splendid books that you will never hear about. We splendid authors dwell on the dark side of the publishing world, clinging to our precious bones of good news."
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