Babbling Point

. what a cool job! Michael Chabon is back with a brand-new collection that reinvigorates the stay-up-all-night, edge-of-the seat, fingernail-biting, page-turning tradition of literary short stories, featuring Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Peter Straub, David Mitchell, Jonathan Lethem, Heidi Julavits, Roddy Doyle, and more! McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories Margaret Atwood- Lusus Naturae David Mitchell- What You Do Not Know You Want Jonathan Lethem- Vivian Relf Ayelet Waldman - Minnow Steve Erickson- Zeroville Stephen King- Lisey and the Madman Jason Roberts - 7C Heidi Julavits- The Miniaturist Roddy Doyle - The Child Daniel Handler - Delmonico Charles D’Ambrosio - The Scheme of Things Poppy Z. Brite - The Devil of Delery Street China Mieville- Reports of Certain Events in London Joyce Carol Oates - The Fabled Light-house at Vi–a del Mar Peter Straub - Mr. Aickman’s Air Rifle

. XXXII 32 is supposedly a magical number. 3 + 2 is a 5. Compounds of 5 (14 and 23) are “usually associated with combinations of Nations and People. If the person representing it holds his own judgment and point of view, it is a very fortunate number. It is favorable when it appears in connection with future events, dates and name numbers.” This is what Astrospeak said about the number 32. Today is Day One of my 32nd year. Will this be a “magical” year for me? Today is Neil Gaiman’s birthday. Neil Gaiman has a cat. T.S. Elliot had a cat. J.R.R. Tolkien had a cat. Maybe if I get a cat for my birthday I will become a great writer. Maybe. I texted July last night. I asked him, “It was a good year, right?” J: Your asking me? ME: Yeah. Well, I think aside from the fact that I didn’t get to do a comic book or an award-winning ad, I think it was a pretty good year. J: Hahaha! Then you can start writing your comic book and award-winning...

. Look who's back... minus his fractal cow Dino Ignacio is back online with a site that's optimized for viewing on a really small screen. Click and bring your magnifying glass, please.

. Found at THE BEAT *** press release*** ST. MARTIN’S PRESS AND BYRON PRIESS VISUAL PUBLICATIONS COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A NEW ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY THE YEAR'S BEST COMICS AND MANGA In the tradition of St. Martin’s venerated anthologies such as the Locus Award- winning The Year¹s Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dozois and the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology The Year¹s Best Fantasy and Horror edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link & Gavin Grant, comes The Year¹s Best Graphic Novels, Comics and Manga. Since 2000, graphic novels, comics and manga have been one of the largest growing areas in the book industry. It maintains one of the most diverse readerships -- from fortysomething male superhero fans to girls 14-25 and has been growing annually since its emergence as a mainstream bookstore commodity. More significantly, graphic novels and manga have garnered critical acclaim from every major national publication for such works as Maus, Persepolis and Aki...