Ebook Anthologies and the new Story Bundle

I'm developing quite a stack of books I've bought via special deals/kickstarters online, that I haven't had time to read yet.  But there are always more deals and more books to buy and (not) read.  :P

Here are a few you might find interesting:

1. Story Bundle has their new package up and it's packed full of science fiction.

The bundle includes:

• Hopscotch by Kevin J. Anderson
• In Hero Years...I'm Dead by Michael A. Stackpole
• On My Way to Paradise by David Farland
• Santiago by Mike Resnick
• Swarm by B. V. Larson
• The Disappeared by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

You can pay what you want for the books, but if you pay over $10 you get these as well:

• The Stars in Shroud by Gregory Benfore
• High-Opp by Frank Herbert

They're calling High-Opp "an edgy dystopia of class warfare", which not only forces me to buy this bundle, but to get the upgrade.  Definitely worth it!

2. Long Hidden, an anthology by Crossed Genres, had a successful kickstarter campaign.  They're leaving a paypal option up until the end of July if you didn't sign up before and are interested in getting it.  What's it about?  From their website:

Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world. 

There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.

There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.
- See more at: http://longhidden.com/#sthash.AhryUbze.dpuf

Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world.
There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.
- See more at: http://longhidden.com/#sthash.AhryUbze.dpuf

Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world.
There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.
- See more at: http://longhidden.com/#sthash.AhryUbze.dpuf

Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world.
There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.
- See more at: http://longhidden.com/#sthash.AhryUbze.dpuf

Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world.
There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events.
- See more at: http://longhidden.com/#sthash.AhryUbze.

The ebook (in multiple formats) is $10, if you want the paperback as well it's $25 (for US), $32 (international). They're still accepting submissions for the anthology until the end of the month.

3. Finally there's Upgraded, "an original science fiction anthology for the cyborg age. Edited by a cyborg. Stronger. Better. Faster. We will rebuild you."

Edited by Hugo nominated Clarksworld Magazine editor Neil Clarke, the collection boasts stories by:

• Elizabeth Bear 
• Helena Bell 
• Tobias S. Buckell 
• Xia Jia 
• Yoon Ha Lee 
• Ken Liu 
• Chen Qiufan 
• Robert Reed 
• E. Catherine Tobler 
• Genevieve Valentine 
• Peter Watts 
• E. Lily Yu

This has already reached its funding goal, so it's going to be made.  But if you want in there are still a few days left on its kickstarter campaign.  Again, ebook copies start at $10.

Interesting Tidbits

I recently heard about two kickstarter campaigns that I thought I'd mention here, as they sound interesting.  I haven't committed to either one yet, but the first one especially interests me.

Bart Leib of Crossed Genres wants to fund an anthology with a very interesting theme:

Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction From the Margins of History 

Most written chronicles of history, and most speculative stories, put rulers, conquerors, and invaders front and center. People with less power, money, or status—enslaved people, indigenous people, people of color, queer people, laborers, women, people with disabilities, the very young and very old, and religious minorities, among others—are relegated to the margins. Today, mainstream history continues to perpetuate one-sided versions of the past while mistelling or erasing the stories of the rest of the world.

There is a long and honorable legacy of literary resistance to erasure. This anthology partakes of that legacy. It will feature stories from the margins of speculative history, each taking place between 1400 and the early 1900s and putting a speculative twist—an element of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or the unclassifiably strange—on real past events. 

Our plan is to include about 20 stories, or about 100,000 words. The anthology will be released in trade paperback and DRM-free digital formats in the first quarter of 2014. 

They've got quite a line-up of international authors for this, including Aliette de Bodard, Ken Liu and Nnedi Okorafor.  At the $10 pledge mark you get a digital copy of the collection.  Check out their page for more information.

The next kickstarter is for a film called Fire Clouds by Hawt Sawce, a Toronto director.  Here's a short video that shows the style of art they want to use and the film's premise:



I'm not sure I'm keen on the art style, but the story sounds interesting.  You don't get the film (even in digital format) until the $50 mark, which seems high to me.  You can find more info about the project here.

Finally, I love Old Spice's marketing.  They have fantastic commercials and then my husband noticed this on his deodorant:

Oh yeah. :D