Tuesday, December 28, 2021

The Business: The Collapse of OldPub By Convergence Is On Schedule

The leading Latino voice in Science Fiction, Jon del Arroz, has good news.

The numbers aren't lying, even if the Death Cultists do without a hint of shame.

They can't sell, so they cost the publishers money to publish them, and as that sweet SocJus venture capital isn't coming their way the results are plain to see: declining fortunes, followed by consolidation, and eventually the sole survivor will buckle under the weight of all this parasitic consumption of the institution and down it goes at last. We've already seen the Big Six become the Big Four, so it is happening and faster than some would expect.

Even Amazon--already afflicted--is noticing and that's why it isn't doing what it can to artificially boost these books; Amazon's margins are thin, and even with access to that ESG money it's too tight to go hard on cooking the books (hah), so the languishing is allowed to be seen by dissidents and competitors like Jon here. You can bet that publishers outside the Cult's control also see these numbers and enjoy some schadenfraude.

In short, we are winning, but we haven't won yet.

This is good news indeed, and it's time to step up support for our clean alternatives at home as well clean competitors abroad. The sooner we finish this fight, the sooner we can begin rebuilding a stronger successor.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

The Business: You Sure About That China Con There, Chief?

I'd forgotten all about the Hugos. That's to be expected from something that is no longer relevant to the world at-large. So imagine my surprise when I saw this come across my socials.

Which lead to an astute observation.

Fucking OldPub. Ready and willing to do anything but write proper Science Fiction that actually entertains the audience and not be Death Cult propaganda. So, here's my reponse:

This assumes that West Taiwan will want aliens and foreigners by 2023, as that country's economy collapse makes the insanity of the West look like the pinnacle of stability. In short, don't get your visas, flights, and accomodations sorted just yet.

Saturday, December 4, 2021

Signal Boost: Kit Sun Cheah's "Saga of the Swordbreaker: Dawn of the Broken Sword" On IndieGoGo

Another indie author has a campaign going.

What is Saga of the Swordbreaker?

I am Singapore's first Hugo and Dragon Award nominated author, with 15 published novels under this name and 4 successful crowdfunding campaigns.

Saga of the Swordbreaker is a six-volume series blending Chinese cultivation with futuristic aesthetics. Li Ming and his comrades battle hordes of beasts and bandits, uncover secret plots, and climb the ranks of the jianghu in the quest for immortality.

But their greatest battle to see through the red dust clouding the rivers and lakes.

To see this concept for yourself, download the prequel story here!

This campaign covers the first three books of the series: Dawn of the Broken Sword, Lord of Beasts, and Spear of the Night. Future volumes will be funded through stretch goals and / or following campaigns.

There's a video.

You'll find more at the campaign page, which is here.