The Winter of Hope and Discomfort

From NYRSF ISSUE #244, December 2008

There has not been a lots of good economic news in the world since our last editorial, but the political landscape is somewhat altered, and the heads of states seem to be taking the economic crisis seriously. And there is a large amount of what we hope is temporary pain and discomfort. In the microcosm of NYRSF, our economic situation is a bit improved, since some of you really did order back issue and renew your lapsed subscriptions.  Not enough of you for comfort, but enough to keep us only on the brink of printing delays for the present month or two, but not delayed. We still can’t afford to upgrade our software or equipment.

     And we know we are not alone. Anecdotes from other publishers, both book and magazines, and from book dealers large and small, seem to indicate that a crisis of some sort is being delayed, but not yet avoided.  The big commercial publishers are pale with anxiety over the possible demise of the Borders bookstore chain. Lots of ordinary people have lost lots of money in their pension plans and investments and savings, and some of them their jobs as well. It is a bad time to be a freelancer just now. We don’t know anyone who isn’t cutting expenses, even if only just in case. Volunteer labor is scarce.

     But to judge from the three conventions we attended in the last month, the SF community is not in too bad shape. The community does not seem to be in denial, but fairly well in touch with the problems, and being carefully abstemious, yet not just staying home. At Capclave and Albacon, there was general happiness among the fans, and although the first was a bit smaller than usual, and the other a bit larger, the halls and program rooms were generally filled with energetic discussion. I was particularly impressed that Capclave showed such unusual good taste and careful planning in giving Michael Dirda and James Morrow, the guests of honor,  each an appropriate painting commissioned from a talented local artist of professional quality. And I felt that Tod McCaffery, filling in as Albacon GOH alone when his mother could not attend, was gracious, hard-working, and enthusiastic.

The World Fantasy Convention in Calgary was as good as usual, which means very good indeed, and had a distinctly Canadian air, as was appropriate. We couldn’t get into the hotel a day early, and so drove to Banff and stayed across the street from the public hot springs in a Spa Hotel offering discounts, which made it cheaper than the con hotel in Calgary. Frankly, though, we anticipate less travel in 2009 than in 2008. Our next con is Boskone in February.

Do remember to renew your subscription if you are set to expire in the next couple of months. It looks as if we are all going to be short of money in the near term. And  we close with a sincere wish for a happy holiday season.

David G. Hartwell

& the Editors