Size Matters

Last night at 8.00 p.m. I sat on a panel called Size Doesn't Matter to discuss how small press operations are filling a niche for beautiful editions or unusual content. Most of the audience had a familiar look about them. In fact over half the audience had eaten dinner with me directly beforehand.
Despite that it was a lively and interesting panel. Jacob Wiesman (apologies for the spelling if necessary) from Tachyon Publications told us about his latest product - a novella by Jim Morrow called Stumbling Towards Hiroshima. The premise sounded fascinating: the US government during WWII ran a secret project to breed fire brreding dragon from genetically altered lizards. Unfortunatley they were too docile to use as a weapon so the gov. hired an actor - based on Lon Chaney Junior - to don a Godzilla suit and kick the shit out of a mocked up Tokyo to scare the crap out of the enemy.
Also on the pael were Ben Jeapes, formerly of Big Engine and Ron Drummond whose company, Incunabula, are producing a 25th anniversay edition of Little, Big by the incomparable John Crowley. This edition will feature 300 illustrations adapted from the art of Peter Milton and will be cloth bound on acid-free paper. It sounds beautiful and at least two of the Albedo team will be buying copies when available. The bad news is that it will cost $95.00 plus a lot of postae - the book weighs in at seven pounds apparently. It is also unlikely to be ready for a while. It has been in proscess for six years so far. Check it out at www.littlebig25.com.
Then of course we went to the Delta hotel to party. I may be wrong but I think that for the first time I went to a party at Worldcon to which I was actually invited. Will wonders never cease. The host was Claude Lalumiere whgose latest latest collection, Objects of Worship was being launched by CZP. Lots of free beer and great company. Claude is a wonderful host and may actually be part -Irish. He certainly drank like it. Also there was Neil Clarke who chatted long into the night and introduced me to Mary Robinette Kowal winner of the 2008 Campbell Award.
Robert Silverberg dropped by but I unfortunately did not get the opportunity to speak to him. Probably just as well as i may have been a bit the worse for wear. Hard to believe, but true.