{"id":424,"date":"2007-02-09T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2007-02-09T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/johnpicacio.com\/onthefront\/2007\/02\/09\/fast-forward-1-hits-the-streets\/"},"modified":"2014-12-14T18:49:43","modified_gmt":"2014-12-14T18:49:43","slug":"fast-forward-1-hits-the-streets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/johnpicacio.com\/onthefront\/2007\/02\/09\/fast-forward-1-hits-the-streets\/","title":{"rendered":"FAST FORWARD 1 hits the streets"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p> $\"\"$ <\/a>
I offered the following thoughts (or words to the effect) over in a comment on Lou Anders\u2019 blog<\/a>. Lou\u2019s new anthology, FAST FORWARD 1: FUTURE FICTION FROM THE CUTTING EDGE<\/a>, (published by Pyr<\/a>), debuted this week via booksellers everywhere, and in fact, I just recently received a few comp copies from the publisher over here. In a nutshell, I\u2019m so thrilled to be a part of this book. When I saw the finished product for the first time, I felt very fortunate to do what I do for a living. The reviews for the book are starting to roll in and it\u2019s getting raves<\/a> from many corners. I couldn\u2019t be happier for Lou and Pyr.\n

As far as the cover goes, it\u2019s no secret how much I admire Richard Powers<\/a> and his art. Here\u2019s an expanded version of my comment from Lou\u2019s blog, regarding this cover:<\/p>\n

Lou and I talked a lot about this one. More than anything, we talked about the editorial direction of the book and what territory he was trying to explore. I read his introduction early in the process. Incredibly inspiring. He and I talked a lot about Richard Powers and his effect on Ballantine\u2019s covers in the \u201950s. On Lou\u2019s blog, he mentioned something about the cover \u201capproximating some of Powers\u2019 energy for our time.\u201d I don\u2019t want anyone to think that I equate myself with Powers, so I might clarify that by saying that the thing I love about Powers\u2019 covers is that they challenge their audience. They refuse to be beauty pageant pieces that desparately preen to be liked for their surface polish. I think that\u2019s one of the most powerful lessons in his art\u2026.they spoke to the audience of their time, and they did it on their own terms. So I guess if anything, I was attempting (and attempting is the keyword) to do the same with this cover. Lofty as that may sound. Of course, in the end, I look at the FF1 cover and as much as it\u2019s one of my recent favorites, I see my own glaring shortcomings more than anything. I\u2019ve got a long way to go\u2026.I\u2019m already looking forward to FF2, so I can try again.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"