Archives for posts with tag: Gordon Van Gelder

Paul Di Filippo’s Review of WELCOME TO DYSTOPIA, Edited by Gordon Van Gelder, With a Mention of My Story, “Dangerous” Lisa Mason #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #speculativefiction #womenssciencefiction #feminist

December 23, 2018 //

Another good way to wind down 2018! Here we go, Paul Di Filippo’s write-up on WELCOME TO DYSTOPIA, edited by the award-winning Gordon Van Gelder, at Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/future-is-nearly-now-science-fiction-2018

“While the four books above (in the review) display definite desires to tackle social themes in parallel with their narratives, or as subtext, they don’t necessarily foreground such concerns, nor wear their injured hearts so nakedly on their sleeves as do the writers in the hard-hitting anthology Welcome to Dystopia, helmed by the noted and accomplished editor Gordon Van Gelder. Solicited outright in the wake of the 2016 election under the rubric of extrapolating worse times from current bad times, these stories display passion, craft, wit and commitment. But taken all at once, since they are generally unleavened by humor or a sense of proportion (being pretty much USA-centric and focused on short-term outcomes only), they administer a moral and civic drubbing that can leave the reader exhausted and even dismayed. Best to imbibe them in small homeopathic doses, considering their dire effectiveness in limning troubled times ahead.

Unable to synopsize all forty-five tales, I’ll point out a few that hit some major riffs common to others.

Immigrants and borders of all kinds are prime topics. In Michael Libling’s “Sneakers,” two hapless Canadians run afoul of despicable US guards carrying out a conspiracy, while in Janis Ian’s “His Sweat Like Stars on the Rio Grande,” a plot to retain rather than discourage immigrant labor is warped by a callous woman to ensnare her lover. And the quiet tragedy of a deportation splits a family in Mary Anne Mohanraj’s “Farewell.”

Women, minorities, and the poor all take it on the chin. Lisa Mason’s droll “Dangerous” imagines the process of “vagina registration.” Its epistolary format is employed by quite a few of the tales herein, perhaps betokening the bland lethality of bureaucratic messages. Ted White’s “Burning Down the House” gives a hardnosed cyberpunk account of the travails of a member of the underclass, a girl named Nicole. And TS Vale riffs ingeniously on the Boko Haram abductions of female students in “BK Girls.””

The review, obviously, covers several books and more stories in the anthology, and includes Di Filippo’s extensive expertise on the science fiction field, in which he has been a long-time critic and reviewer.

From the author of Summer of Love (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Love-Travel-Lisa-Mason/dp/1548106119/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-of-love-a-time-travel-lisa-mason/1104160569.

The Gilded Age (a New York Times Notable Book and New York Public Library Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Age-Time-Travel/dp/1975853172/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gilded-age-a-time-travel-lisa-mason/1106038566.

The Garden of Abracadabra (“Fun and enjoyable urban fantasy . . . I want to read more!) On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1978148291/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-garden-of-abracadabra-lisa-mason/1108093507

Arachne (a Locus Hardover Bestseller) is an ebook on US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle worldwide in France Kindle, Germany Kindle, Italy Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, Spain Kindle, Mexico Kindle, Brazil Kindle, India Kindle, and Japan Kindle. Back in Print! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/198435602X or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arachne-lisa-mason/1000035633.

Cyberweb (sequel to Arachne) is on US Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also Kindle worldwide on UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Brazil Kindle, France Kindle, Germany Kindle, India Kindle, Italy Kindle, Japan Kindle, Mexico Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, and Spain Kindle. Back in Print at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984356941 or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cyberweb-lisa-mason/1001932064

Strange Ladies: 7 Stories (“A must-read collection—The San Francisco Review of Books). On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle world wide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Ladies-Stories-Lisa-Mason/dp/1981104380/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strange-ladies-lisa-mason/1115861322.

One Day in the Life of Alexa (“Five stars! An appealing narrator and subtly powerful emotional rhythms”). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. Order the beautiful trade paperback NOW IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/One-Life-Alexa-Lisa-Mason/dp/1546783091 or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-day-in-the-life-of-alexa-lisa-mason/1126431598.

Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition, A Lily Modjeska Mystery (Five stars) On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. SOON IN PRINT!

Shaken (in Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Hummers (in Fifth Annual Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror) On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

Daughter of the Tao (in Peter S. Beagle’s Immortal Unicorn) on US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Every Mystery Unexplained (in David Copperfield’s Tales of the Impossible) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

Tomorrow’s Child (In Active Development at Universal Pictures) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

The Sixty-third Anniversary of Hysteria (in Full Spectrum 5) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

U F uh-O (Five Stars!) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

Tesla, A Screenplay on US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

My Charlotte: Patty’s Story on Barnes and Noble, US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands, and Mexico.

“Illyria, My Love” is on US Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Germany Kindle, France Kindle, Spain Kindle, Italy Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, Japan Kindle, Brazil Kindle, Mexico Kindle, and India Kindle.

Please visit me at Lisa Mason’s Official Website for all my books, ebooks, stories, and screenplays, reviews, interviews, and blogs, adorable cat pictures, forthcoming works, fine art and bespoke jewelry by my husband Tom Robinson, worldwide links, and more!

And on Lisa Mason’s Blog, on my Facebook Author Page, on my Facebook Profile Page, on Amazon, on Goodreads, on LinkedIn, on Twitter at @lisaSmason, at Smashwords, at Apple, at Kobo, and at Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

If you would like to receive Lisa Mason’s quarterly newsletter, New Book News, please respond by email to lisasmason@aol.com, enter “Add Me” on the subject line, and it shall be done. You may unsubscribe at any time.

If you enjoy a title, please “Like” it, add five stars, WRITE A REVIEW on the site where you bought it, Tweet it, blog it, post it, and share the word with your family and friends.

Your participation really matters.
Thank you for your readership!

Tags "Dangerous", "Dangerous" in Welcome to Dystopia, Feminist, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Twitter, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Speculative Fiction, Welcome to Dystopia

Categories "Dangerous", 2018, Artificial Intelligence, Authors, BarnesandNoble.com, Book Review, Booksellers, Bookstore, bookstores, dystopia, Ebooks, Facebook Author Page, Facebook Personal Page, Feminist, Gordon Van Gelder, Librarians, Libraries, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Print Book, Published Book, Published Story, Reviewers, Stories, Story Collection, Welcome to Dystopia

#Readers! Here’s An Introduction to “The Bicycle Whisperer” by Lisa Mason in the May-June 2018 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction @fandsf @ccfinlay #nearfuture #magazinestory #runaways #homeless #fantasyandsciencefiction #bicycles

April 21, 2018 //

My contributor’s two copies came in the mail on Wednesday. I spent yesterday looking over the magazine, reading several stories. The magazine will be on the newsstands as of May 1, but you subscribers may already be receiving your copy.

Here’s a more informative Introduction to my story, “The Bicycle Whisperer”:

After Lisa Mason encountered a homeless teenager begging for money in the parking lot of her Piedmont grocery store, a character stepped out of her imagination and demanded that Mason write about her. The Lone Rangerette, her sentient bicycle, and her mobile AI may get her own YA novel in the future. Mason’s five-star novella, One Day in the Life of Alexa, was published in 2017 by Bast Books in print and an ebook. Visit her at www.lisamason.com for all her books, ebooks, stories, screenplays, interviews, blogs, cute cat pictures, and bespoke art and jewelry by her acclaimed artist husband, Tom Robinson.

From the author of Summer Of Love (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Love-Travel-Lisa-Mason/dp/1548106119/

If you enjoy a title, please “Like” it, add five stars, WRITE A REVIEW on the site where you bought it, Tweet it, blog it, post it, and share the word with your family and friends.

Your participation really matters.
Thank you for your readership!

Tags "The Bicycle Whisperer", "The Bicycle Whisperer" in May-June 2018 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, C.C. Finlay, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, mainstream, May-June 2018 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Near Future, science fiction

Categories "The Bicycle Whisperer", "The Bicycle Whisperer" in May-June 2018 FandSF, 2018, A.I., About Writing, Authors, Bicycles, Far Future, Fiction, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Magazine Story, May-June 2018 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Near Future, New York Public Library Recommended Book, New York Times Notable Book, One Day in the Life of Alexa, Philip K. Dick Award Finalist, Published Stories, Published Story, San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book, Science fiction, The Bicycle Whisperer, The Bicycle Whisperer in May-June 2018 FandSF Magazine

New Review of “Welcome To Dystopia: 45 Visions Of What Lies Ahead” Ed. by Gordon Van Gelder! My story “Dangerous” Gets A Mention of the Dozen Favorites Picked Out! Lisa Mason #dystopia #nearfuture #hilarious #sciencefiction #womenssciencefiction #humor #sexistsociety

April 13, 2018 //

Welcome To Dystopia: 45 Visions Of What Lies Ahead edited by Gordon Van Gelder

April 11, 2018 |By EamonnMurphy at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/welcome-to-dystopia-45-visions-of-what-lies-ahead-edited-by-gordon-van-gelder-book-review/

Gordon Van Gelder says in his preface to ‘Welcome To Dystopia’ that he wanted lots of short stories for this anthology rather than just a few long ones. He succeeded. There are forty-five tales packed in here and even the most meticulous reviewer isn’t going to cover all of them, though I have read them all. My favourites are listed below in no particular order.

Everyone knows immigrants are the source of all a country’s problems so in the future the crackdown on foreigners, except those needed as cheap labour, will be more severe. The book opens strongly with ‘Sneakers’ by Michael Libling. Two innocent Canadians go south to buy a pair of sneakers, which are cheaper in the United States. Regrettably, things have changed on the border and their situation becomes difficult, even scary. This has a great kick in the tail and may be a warning for those ex-colonials in the savage north. They should have stayed under the rule of good Queen Bess. We Brits would have taken care of them.

‘Glow’ by S.S. Breukelaar has real aliens from another planet who are under threat on election night from Bud Towers and the Humanity First Party. Some actually support him, assuming that Bud is only out to get lowlife aliens and not respectable folks like themselves. Bud’s opponent is an alien-loving woman, who will go to jail for financial misdemeanours if he wins. The theme of this anthology invites allegory.

In my extensive reading, I haven’t come across many female protagonists mad for sex (I don’t read those sort of books) but there’s one in ‘His Sweat Like Stars On The Rio Grande’ by Janis Jan. Working for Local Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the famous Wall, she meets a hot Mexican, fourth generation with a rare green card. She’s ruthless in pursuit of her libidinous longings but, despite her job, this is really about slavery. We do like our cheap food.

A scarier story of slavery is ‘The Adventure of You’ by Paul la Forge. It consists of a list of instructions to coal miner John Arnold Arnold (that is his name). They come from the Synod which forbids certain things, not least among them escaping to the surface which is a myth and doesn’t exist anyway. As dear old Harold Macmillan knew, the best way of keeping the oppressed down is to convince them they’re actually very lucky.

‘Newsletter’ by Jennifer Marie Brisset is in the form of a newsletter to a book group from the community bookstore. It warns them that the state now monitors which books they buy and that certain titles are no longer available. The prospect is chilling for readers but hopefully, things won’t get this bad.

‘Loser’ is by Matthew Hughes who writes many good stories for ‘The Magazine Of Fantasy & Science Fiction’. Loser 114 is in a camp doing hard labour. He used to work for ‘National Commentator’ magazine and wrote an interesting piece on how people switched from ‘citizens in a society’ to ‘consumers in an economy’. He’s recruited to betray his old comrades who have fled to Canada with his wife and child held hostage to make sure he complies. This is a thoughtful and interesting narrative from an author more noted for his humour.

‘Dangerous’ by Lisa Mason is a hilarious story about compulsory vagina registration with the federal government. No mention of male reproductive organs which are presumably free to hang out wherever they like.

‘Statues Of Limitations’ by Jay Russell is a conversation between Sal and Bobby in New York. Incorrect statues are being replaced all over the city. Atlas is removed from Rockefeller Center for being ‘an insidious three-dimensional trope for two thousand years of hegemonic patriarchy’. This was hilarious, the best thing in the book and a warning to look left as well as right when guarding your freedom of speech.

One of the longest here is ‘Burning Down The House’ by Ted White. Nik’s block is burnt down by armed gangs so she goes to see Jonny, a pimp. She won’t work for him but they are sort of friends. He arranges for her to meet a One Percenter who’s doing an IQ experiment to prove that poor people aren’t stupid. A sad story of exploitation but Nik’s struggle makes an interesting yarn.

Ron Goulart enjoys himself with ‘The Amazing Transformation Of The White House Dog.’ Like FDR and Nixon, the President wants to have a dog but he’s allergic to them. Norbert’s Uncle Josh is an inventor and has made Fido #7, a clever talking robot canine. J. Edgar Nofzinger, head of the Alternative FBI comes to check it out. Fido is approved and will keep the president company in the wee small hours while he tweets. Great fun and a pleasant change from the myriad bleak visions, though I admit there’s a lot to be bleak about.

‘Designed For Your Safety’ by Elizabeth Bourne is told in the form of emails from Sophie Goldstein to Emily Wilson. Sophie has obtained a good job in a fantastic new office building that’s solar-powered with a huge roof garden which uses the workers own processed poo as manure. It’s practically self-sufficient which is just as well when the outside world falls apart and they are locked in by the building for their own safety. This is almost an updated ‘Lord Of The Flies’ with adults. The crisis worsens steadily in a clever plot and if it was stretched out a bit it might make a good film.

Overall, this is a worthy anthology. In fact, there wasn’t a duff story in the bunch but as many are very short the book as a whole is a bitty read. The brief to keep it brief led many writers to go the epistolary route, usually e-mails between parties but also a newsletter and even a story told in Facebook posts. The general tone was inevitably serious, that’s the nature of dystopian fiction, but the loaf is leavened by bits of humour.

Eamonn Murphy
April 2018
(pub: OR Books. 406 page ebook. £ 7.21 (UK), $10.11 (US). ASIN: B0797YR1KF)

check out website: www.orbooks.com

Tags "Dangerous", Feminist, future, futuristic fiction, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Twitter, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Welcome to Dystopia

Categories "Dangerous", Ebooks, Feminist, Futuristic Fiction, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Welcome to Dystopia

Another Review of “Riddle” in the Sept-Oct Issue and Then We’re Off to the January-February 2018 of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Lisa Mason #SFWApro #magazinestory #darkfantasy #horror #F&SF @fandsf @SFWAauthors

December 16, 2017 //

This just came in today from the website, sfcrowsnest:

“Lisa Mason’s ‘Riddle’ is a short fantasy story about a struggling San Francisco artist who is dumped by his ambitious lawyer girl-friend. He goes out, gets drunk, fails to score with the bar’s new waitress and staggers home, only to find a half-naked woman hiding behind the bins outside his apartment. He lives in a crummy end of town, so doesn’t want to leave her outside. However, he’s also suspicious of being robbed by a stranger. Common humanity eventually triumphs and he lets her in for the night, only to find out that she’s a lot stranger than he could possibly have imagined. This is a well-executed supernatural story which brings a fascinating mythical being into a contemporary context and has a lot of fun with what happens next. The main characters are convincingly portrayed and the plot plays out remorselessly to a dramatic conclusion.” http://sfcrowsnest.info/the-magazine-of-fantasy-science-fiction-sept-oct-2017-volume-133-733-magazine-review/

Here are the rest of the reviews of “Riddle,” which was published in the September-October 2017 68^th Anniversary issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Rich Horton’s column in Locus Magazine:
There’s plenty more good stuff this issue. Lisa Mason’s ‘‘Riddle’’ is a slickly executed horror story about a declining painter whose girlfriend has left him, and who meets another woman – or is she a woman? The title hints at what she really is – and what she really does is pretty scary. (Don’t have the link, this may be only in print.)

From Goodreads:
“Riddle” by Lisa Mason: a charged story about a down-and-out artist who meets an unusual female who speaks in riddles. Physical and emotional mayhem ensues. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36123438-the-magazine-of-fantasy-science-fiction-september-october-2017

And another review From Goodreads:
In all honestly, most of these had intriguing concepts and all of them were very well-written, but there were only a few that I would actually say I enjoyed. Just because of my personal tastes. Those being Lisa Mason’s “Riddle” and Michael Swanwick’s “Starlight Express”. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36123438-the-magazine-of-fantasy-science-fiction-september-october-2017

From Amazing Stories Online:

Lisa Mason’s “Riddle” is set in a city we both love, San Francisco. (If you have been paying attention, you’ll remember that her book Summer of Love has a special resonance for me, because I spent that particular Summer in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.) This story takes place in North Beach, where in the ‘60s, Carol Doda (a 44DD, thanks to implants!) danced topless at the Condor Club. (If you remember the movie Dirty Harry, North Beach is near where the church was.) Edwin Stone is an artist; his girlfriend Nikki has left him. She did so partly because of his lack of ambition, because he was content to just get by with his talent—but there are always multiple reasons for breakups—but Stone has decided his best friend is the boilermaker. (I had my first boilermakers in San Francisco, which residents call The City; never “Frisco.”) One night, completely drunk, Edwin rescues a vagrant sphinx. Part woman, part lion, all riddle. If you remember what happens to those who can’t answer The Riddle of the Sphinx, you might guess this story’s end. (Or not.) Nicely written! http://www.amazingstoriesmag.com/2017/10/review-fsf-sept-oct-2017/

From sfrevu:
“Riddle” by Lisa Mason -+- Edwin Stone is a down-down-on-his-luck artist whose girlfriend has left him. Drunk, he takes home a very different woman, a sphinx, part cat, part woman. She asks him riddles, he answers, they have passionate sex. But she does something else, too. Unsettling little horror tale. http://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=17551

From Tangent Online
“Riddle” by Lisa Mason
Edwin is an artist who has broken up with a woman and is trying to hook up with a waitress but fails. Then he meets a strange something in the alley on his way home which turns out to be a sphinx. Lots of riddles and weird sex and horrific things follow.
Some may see this as a tale of one screwed-up clueless nutcase. Others may see it as a defense of women who want to “fix up” their projects of boyfriends. Some may see this as a really powerful embedding of ideas in imagination. . . . [P]oints for a memorable sphinx and a vividly nightmarish quality. http://www.tangentonline.com/print–bi-monthly-reviewsmenu-260/221-fantasy-a-science-fiction/3569-fantasy-a-science-fiction-septemberoctober-2017

So there you have it, my friends. I just received my two contributor’s copies of the January-February 2018 issue of F&SF in which I’ve got another modern dark fantasy, “Aurelia.” What a way to start the New Year!

From the author of Summer Of Love, A Time Travel (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW BACK IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Love-Travel-Lisa-Mason/dp/1548106119/

The Gilded Age, A Time Travel (a New York Times Notable Book and New York Public Library Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW BACK IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Age-Time-Travel/dp/1975853172/

One Day in the Life of Alexa. On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/One-Life-Alexa-Lisa-Mason/dp/1546783091.

Strange Ladies: 7 Stories (“A must-read collection—The San Francisco Review of Books). On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. ORDER IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Ladies-Stories-Lisa-Mason/dp/1981104380/!

Arachne (a Locus Bestseller). On US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle in France Kindle, Germany Kindle, Italy Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, Spain Kindle, Mexico Kindle, Brazil Kindle, India Kindle, and Japan Kindle. SOON BACK IN PRINT.

Cyberweb (sequel to Arachne). is on US Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Brazil Kindle, France Kindle, Germany Kindle, India Kindle, Italy Kindle, Japan Kindle, Mexico Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, and Spain Kindle. SOON BACK IN PRINT.

Celestial Girl, A Lily Modjeska Mystery (Five stars) On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Shaken On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Hummers On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

Daughter of the Tao On US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Every Mystery Unexplained On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

Tomorrow’s Child On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

The Sixty-third Anniversary of Hysteria On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

U F uh-O On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

Tesla, A Screenplay On US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.

My Charlotte: Patty’s Story On Barnes and Noble, US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands, and Mexico. SOON IN PRINT!

If you enjoy a title, please “Like” it, add five stars, write a review on the site where you bought it, Tweet it, blog it, post it,, and share the word with your family and friends.

Your participation really matters.
Thank you for your readership!

Tags 68th Anniversary Issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, C.C. Finlay, dark urban fantasy, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Nov-Dec 2015, Magazine story, Riddle, Riddle by Lisa Mason, September-October 2017 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

Categories 2017, 68th Anniversary Issue of Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Authors, dark urban fantasy, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Magazine Story, Magazines, Published Story, Riddle, Riddle by Lisa Mason, Riddle in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Uncategorized

Proofs for My Story “Dangerous” in Welcome to Dystopia Anthology Have Arrived! Lisa Mason #SFWApro #dystopia #anthology #sciencefiction

September 22, 2017 //

Look what arrived in my email yesterday! Welcome to Dystopia, Forty-five Visions of What Lies Ahead edited by Gordon Van Gelder. I’ve got a flash fiction story, “Dangerous,” in the anthology.

I’ve never been in anthology with Jane Yolen, Barry N. Malzberg, Harry Turtledove, Eileen Gunn, Paul Witcover, and James Morrow! Look at this lineup:

Sneakers by Michael Libling

re: Your Wedding by Ruth Nestvold

Everything Is Fixed Now by K. G. Anderson

His Sweat Like Stars on the Rio Grande by Janis Ian

Agnosia by J. M. Sidarova

The Adventure of You by Paul La Farge

[Symbol for Cancer] by N. Lee Wood

Birds by Deepak Unnikrishnan

The Only Constant by Leslie Howle

The Terrific Leader by Harry Turtledove

Two Explicit and Three Oblique Apologies to My Oldest Daughter One Month Before Her Eighteenth Birthday by Heather Lindsley

The Levellers by Deji Bryce Olukotun

No Point Talking by Geoff Ryman

Glow by J.S. Breukelaar

Precaution at Penn Station by Michael Kandel

Newsletter by Jennifer Marie Brissett

Statues of Limitations by Jay Russell

Suffocation by Robert Reed

Application for Asylum by Eileen Gunn

Welcome to Triumph Band by Yoon Ha Lee

Loser by Matthew Hughes

We All Have Hearts of Gold® by Leo Vladimirsky

Notes on Retrieving a Fallen Banner by Marguerite Reed

Ticket to Ride by Eric James Fullilove

Burning Down the House by Ted White

Dangerous by Lisa Mason

Class Assignment by Thomas Kaufsek

Walls by Paul Witcover

The Passion According to Mike by Scott Bradfield

Bright Sarasota Where the Circus Lies Dying by James Sallis

The Name Unspoken by Richard Bowes

The Elites by Stephanie Feldman

January 2018 by Barry N. Malzberg

Farewell by Mary Anne Mohanraj

The Amazing Transformation of the White House Dog by Ron Goulart

Handmaid’s Tale by Jane Yolen

Sanctuary by Brian Francis Slattery

One Fell Swoop by James Morrow

BK Girls by TS Vale

Isn’t Life Great? by Don D’Ammassa

The Men Will Be Hungry Afterwards by Ray Vukcevich

The Road South by Madeleine E. Robins and Becca Caccavo

Skippy’s Visit East by Michael Kandel

Designed for Your Safety by Elizabeth Bourne

Extreme Bedding by David Marusek

Whee! Can’t wait to read them all!

From the author of Summer Of Love, A Time Travel (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT at https://www.createspace.com/7257603 or Order in Print on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Love-Travel-Lisa-Mason/dp/1548106119/

The Gilded Age, A Time Travel (a New York Times Notable Book and New York Public Library Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT at https://www.createspace.com/7511748 or Order in Print on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Age-Time-Travel/dp/1975853172/

One Day in the Life of Alexa. On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. Order on Amazon in Print at https://www.amazon.com/One-Life-Alexa-Lisa-Mason/dp/1546783091 or direct from the Printer: https://www.createspace.com/7181096

If you enjoy a title, please “Like” it, add five stars, write a review on the site where you bought it, Tweet it, blog it, post it,, and share the word with your family and friends.

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Tags "Dangerous", anthology, dystopia, Forty-five authors, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Published Stories, Stories, Welcome to Dystopia

Categories "Dangerous", 2017, A.I., anthology, Authors, Books, dystopia, Ebooks, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Published Stories, Science fiction, Stories, Story Sale, Welcome to Dystopia, Women's March

Wow! Look what came in the mail today! The Sept-Oct Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction with My Story, “Anything For You” Lisa Mason #SFWApro

August 17, 2016 //

Wow! Look what came in the mail today! The September-October Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction with my story, “Anything For You.” You can order the magazine at The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

In 2015, I published two well-received stories in F&SF, “Teardrop” in the May-June 2015 issue and “Tomorrow is a Lovely Day” in the November-December 2015 issue. These were both chosen by Gordon Van Gelder, Hugo Award-winning American science fiction editor.

The new story was chosen by C.C. Finlay. Thanks for the great introduction, Charlie!

I’ve sold previously to F&SF when yet another editor, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, was helming the magazine. One story, “Destination,” appears in my five-star rated collection Strange Ladies: 7 Stories.

I’m so honored and excited to publish again in one of the most highly respected science fiction and fantasy magazines continuously in publication since 1949.

From the author of Summer Of Love, A Time Travel (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo.
Summer of Love, A Time Travel is also on Amazon.com in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

The Gilded Age, A Time Travel on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords.
The Gilded Age, A Time Travel is also on Amazon.com in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

The Garden of Abracadabra, Volume 1 of the Abracadabra Series, “Fun and enjoyable urban fantasy,” on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords.
The Garden of Abracadabra is also on Amazon.com in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) includes all four books. On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo;
Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) is also on Amazon.com in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, five-star rated, “A fantastic collection,” on Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo.
Strange Ladies: 7 Stories is also on Amazon.com in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.

Please visit me at Lisa Mason’s Official Website for all my books, ebooks, stories, and screenplays, reviews, interviews, and blogs, adorable pet pictures, forthcoming works, fine art and bespoke jewelry by my husband Tom Robinson, worldwide links, and more!

If you enjoy a title, please “Like” it, add five stars, write a review on the site where you bought it, Tweet it, blog it, post it,, and share the word with your family and friends.

Your participation really matters.
Thank you for your readership!

Please note: Advertisers are posting ads on my blogsite without my knowledge, permission, or endorsement. Please ignore them.

Tags Anything For You, authors, C.C. Finlay, Gordon Van Gelder, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Twitter, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May-June 2015 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Nov-Dec 2015 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September-October 2016 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Teardrop, Tomorrow Is A Lovely Day

Categories 2016, Anything For You, Authors, Gordon Van Gelder, Hugo Award, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Literary science fiction, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction November-December 2015, Magazine Story, Magazines, May-June 2015 Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Science fiction, September-October 2016 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Teardrop, Teardrop by Lisa Mason, Tomorrow Is A Lovely Day, Tomorrow Is A Lovely Day by Lisa Mason

My #NYC Trip to the #SFWA Author-Editor Reception Part 6: My Dinner With The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Folks Lisa Mason

November 6, 2014 //

In September, 2014, I sold a story, “Teardrop,” to The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, one of the oldest and most respected venues for speculative fiction. F&SF, as it’s called, is presently edited and published by Gordon Van Gelder.

I mentioned to Gordon that I was flying in from California for the SFWA Author-Editor Reception. He invited me to a small dinner party he was hosting prior to the Reception at Little Town, a tavern a block and a half away from the Reception. He told me several writers who, like me, had recently sold stories to F&SF would be there. Little Town was also walking distance from the Wyndham Garden Hotel, so I was good to go.

Gordon was there, as well as his wonderful editorial assistant, Matthew Blackburn (a Princeton graduate, no less), Nick Wolven (who will publish a story in the same issue as me, the May/June 2015 F&SF), Marie Vibbert (who just published a story in Lightspeed), Alyssa Wong (who published a story in the May/June 2014 F&SF), and Leo Vladimirsky (who published a story in the March/April 2014 F&SF).

I had a chance to tell everyone about my experiences with Locus Magazine, the long-standing review trade magazine of the science fiction and fantasy field, and its founder and publisher, Charles N. Brown, who died in 2009. Charley was a hugely influential force in the field and I’m privileged to have known him. As I told Gordon, I miss him terribly! He did more to connect people in the field, especially writers, than anyone.

So there you have it, my friends. A good time was had by all. It was terrific for me to get revved up for the Reception with a light meal and conversation.

Next: The SFWA Reception, on October 6, 2014, at The Manhattan Penthouse. Also, I’ll write up what I told the dinner party about Locus and Charley.

From the author of Summer Of Love, A Time Travel (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo.
Summer of Love, A Time Travel is also on Amazon.com in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Australia..

The Gilded Age, A Time Travel on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords.
The Gilded Age, A Time Travel is also on Amazon.com in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and India.

The Garden of Abracadabra, Volume 1 of the Abracadabra Series, “Fun and enjoyable urban fantasy,” on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords.
The Garden of Abracadabra, Volume 1 of the Abracadabra Series, is also on Amazon.com in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and India.

Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) includes all four books. On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo;
Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition (A Lily Modjeska Mystery) is also on Amazon.com in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and India.

Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, five-star rated, “A fantastic collection,” on Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, and Sony.
Strange Ladies: 7 Stories is also on Amazon.com in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and India.

My Charlotte: Patty’s Story on Barnes and Noble, US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo;
My Charlotte: Patty’s Story is also on Amazon.com worldwide in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and Mexico.

Visit me at Lisa Mason’s Official Website for books, ebooks, stories, and screenplays, reviews, interviews, and blogs, adorable pet pictures, forthcoming projects, fine art and bespoke jewelry by my husband Tom Robinson, worldwide links, and more!

And on Lisa Mason’s Blog, on my Facebook Author Page, on my Facebook Profile Page, on Amazon, on Goodreads, on LinkedIn, on Twitter at @lisaSmason, at Smashwords, at Apple, at Kobo, at Sony, and at Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

If you enjoy a title, please “Like” it, add five stars, write a review on the site where you bought it, Tweet it, blog it, post it,, and share the word with your family and friends.

Your participation really matters.
Thank you for your readership!

Tags authors, books, Dinner with the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, ebooks, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, New York City Trip, SFWA, SFWA Author-Editor Reception

Categories Authors, Books, Ebooks, Gordon Van Gelder, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, SFWA