Babel Clash

John, thank you for joining us on Babel Clash.  It’s been fun.  Before you go, would you like to take this opportunity to circle back to a pair of topics that we discussed briefly but you expressed interest in covering later?

First, how do you go about putting together your anthologies?  Second, what’s the “secret” to success for your anthologies?  Perhaps these topics aren’t so different.

If you’d prefer, just let us know anything else that you’d like us to keep an eye out for in 2010.

Enjoy the holidays!

John,

With the focus on Lightspeed, will we continue to see more of your anthologies?  From Wastelands to the Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, you’ve edited some of the bestselling and most noteworthy collections that we’ve seen in awhile.  If more are forthcoming, can you offer any hints to the topics?

Also, what’s your secret to putting together such great collections?

OK, off topic, but I’m curious.  Will you go see Avatar this weekend?

Verging away from the Sherlock Holmes topic momentarily, can you tell us more about Lightspeed?

You’re starting a new online SF magazine called Lightspeed in 2010.  Can you tell us a little bit more about how this idea came about, when to expect it and how it will stand out from other SF pages?

Based on what little of the new Holmes movie that we’ve seen in the trailer, it appears as if the supernatural plays some part.  Now, that may all turn out to be smoke & mirrors, but it does look to involve the occult in some way.  So, what’s your preference on the good doctor and the supernatural?  Do you prefer a game committed to deductive reasoning and cold, hard logic. or does a healthy dose of mysticism pose a suitable challenge for the genius detective?

John, after reading and editing so many Holmes stories, will you approach the movie with a different set of expectations?

Also, to all, feel free to jump over to the Borders Ink Facebook page and weigh in on which big December film you’re more excited to watch:  Sherlock Holmes or Avatar.

Here’s the link: Sherlock Holmes vs. Avatar on Facebook

Professor Moriarty

How quickly you’ve unveiled my master plan.  Little did you know that “Morgan” was a carefully crafted moniker to hide my true identity, that of Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmses’ arch-nemesis.  OK, I’ll cut the megalomaniacal laughter now.

Have you written any comic book anthologies?  I was very tempted to ask who’s the greatest of detectives, Sherlock Holmes or Batman?

So tell me more about these anthologies.  You assemble quite the rogue’s gallery for each one.  How do you pull together such a notable gang of contributors?

OK, so Sherlock Holmes has outwitted Gandalf.  Score one for the master detective.

Now he’s met his match.  For round 2:  “Who has more luck with the ladies, Sherlock Holmes or Captain Kirk?”

Steve, thank you once again for all of the great posts and for spending time with us on Babel Clash.  Good luck with Elegy Beach and other books to come.  I’m looking forward to seeing what you try next.

Our next guest is John Joseph Adams, highly regarded editor and critic.  He has edited several highly successful anthologies, include Wastelands, Federations, By Blood We Live and the brand new Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Tune in tomorrow to learn our next topic.