Am editing like a maniac, but a successful and productive maniac thanks to shipping one of my children off to play in a creek with her Glammer for the weekend.

When I’m not powering through my chapters, I have been reading:

Annalee Newitz over at io9 on how working women could change the future – a great piece of political & science fictional theory.

Jeff VanderMeer on anthologies from a reader’s POV

JJ of Uncreated Conscience talks about the re-jacketing of Cindy Pon’s historical Asian fantasy – which in paperback now looks like just another teen supernatural thriller without obvious cultural markers. JJ has written a balanced piece which looks at why such a compromise may be the best thing for the author, despite it being so very objectionable from an ethical standpoint.

Ari from Reading in Colour picks up on the same story, with alarm at how much power the few people who buy books for Barnes & Noble and Borders have over the entire publishing industry, and why this is bad news for diversity in fiction.

An in-depth discussion over at Shakesville looks at the bullying and harassment experienced by redheads, especially in British and Australian culture – the discussion is particularly readable for the way that the many (mostly American) participants who were previously unaware of this issue are so open to being educated about it, and it also looks at the way redheads are treated as exotic or comical figures in pop culture. A lot of anecdotal experience here which is quite powerful to read – though could be triggering to those who have experienced bullying or harassment.

Vonda MacIntyre on writing one of the first Star Trek tie in novels.

Oh, and it’s Big Finish Day! Until the end of Saturday, British time, the first 50 Doctor Who Big Finish audio plays are available for only 5 pounds each (including postage about AUS $11). If you’ve been meaning to check some of these out, now is the time! I can particularly recommend Storm Warning (the first 8th Doctor and Charley Pollard adventure) and Eye of the Scorpion (Peri and the 5th Doctor hook up with new companion the near-Pharoah Erimem).

Tags: cover art, doctor who, feminism, listening, race, science fiction