Cone Zero reviewed

[realthog]

D.F. Lewis's anthology Cone Zero, in which I have a story, has been reviewed by David Hebblethwaite (thisplacehere) over on the Serendipity site. His conclusion:

What difference does it make not knowing who wrote which of these stories? Speaking personally, I'm not sure, because I'm unfamiliar with the work of all the listed authors (bar one) anyway. However, the stories in the book are what really count, and... Well, I'm usually wary of saying things like this, but I expect to see Cone Zero on the lists of this year's best anthologies. It will richly deserve any such place.

Comments

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Nice!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

As you'll imagine, Des Lewis's Chuffedom Quotient is high today.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Chuff away, my friend. It's well earned. ;)

Some day I hope to shake your hand in person. Yours and Pam's.

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

I hope to shake your hands, too... and you are entitled to chuff your heart out -- chuff away, my dear friend! I'm chuffed with you!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Wewll, it's Des who's the one who's (rightly) chuffed.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

And you aren't? I'd be pretty well proud to be included in the antho. It's a fine one. I haven't read a clunker yet. But I'm only eight stories in. I doubt I'll find one in the mix, though.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I was very chuffed to be included in the antho -- as so often, terms like "insufferable" were being bandied about -- but the current chuffedom is rightfully Des's.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Agreed. He's put together a wonderful anthology of weird tales. The stories are engaging. I noticed there are four tales entitled "Cone Zero" in the PDF you sent me. Is this the final published version of the antho?

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Is this the final published version of the antho?"

Yes. From the outset Des stated that stories could be called "Cone Zero", and several authors opted for that.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

On an entirely unrelated subject, I like your recently up-loaded user pic, "Get a brain, moron". Most excellent! ;)

But back to Cone Zero -- I'm still working on identifying your story. I've narrowed the choices down, but am still working my way toward the last tale. I'm studying each story for "telling" clues, actually marking up each story as I go with a red pencil, writing comments to myself, circling examples of usage, phrases, punctuation, etc., while examining style in each story.

You're not an easy anonymous writer to track, Paul, but you do leave distinct clues in your writing in general. Of course, when I finally arrive at a conclusion I'll no doubt make an ass out of myself!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Of course, when I finally arrive at a conclusion I'll no doubt make an ass out of myself!"

One of the great advantages of my being contractually obliged to preserve anonymity until Des tells me otherwise is that, even if you do, I can't tell you so!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

You don't need to be so damned gleeful about it, :P!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

I found your story.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

You think.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

I know.

It's my leetle gray cells, Hastings. It's the way they work, but they might be wrong. I doubt it, though. I'll give myself twenty lashes if they are.

I could use more lashes.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"I'll give myself twenty lashes if they are."

Oh, no, let me help! I've got a Wal*Mart S&M Bondage Kit somewhere.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

You have a debauched mind, P. I was talking about false eyelashes. I will reward myself with false eyelashes if I'm right.

You writers are a sick bunch of weirdos, editors even more so . . . ;)

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

I do believe, Sarcobatus, that we agree on which is Paul's story...

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Since you're both being coy, how the heck can you make this claim, Dave?

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you, David. I appreciate the feed back. ;D

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! (This assumes, of course, that I said complementary things about your story...)

That was also my hundredth published review; I'm glad it was for such a good book.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"That was also my hundredth published review"

As I said on your own site, congrats on the ton!

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

I'm just telling the world...

[thisplacehere.livejournal.com]

Serendipity have decided to change their URL system, so the link you have to the review no longer works. The new link is http://www.magicalrealism.co.uk/view.php?story=89&issue=11

(Thanks to Des Lewis for tipping me off that the review had vanished, otherwise I'd never have known...)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info!