The first review of The Last Reef is now online at The Fix, and it’s positive. The reviewer, Rae Bryant, writes:

“In The Last Reef, Powell holds a cross-section of science, nature, and technology in his quintessential human hand and gives it a roll across the universal table. What turns up is an eclectic mix of possibility, tragedy, and hope—a gamble worth betting on.”

And:

“Powell’s depth and breadth of characterization work, and his settings are truly impressive. His work displays a willingness to show truths and flaws for what they are, rather than gratuitously exaggerating only strengths. With his instinct for subtlety, Powell is an author to watch. His work is the spyglass of science fiction, the ship just over the horizon.”

Read the full review here: http://thefix-online.com/reviews/the-last-reef/

The new issue of Interzone is here, including the results of the 2007 Readers’ Poll.

As you already know, my story “Ack-Ack Macaque” came first in the poll, closely followed by stories from Grace Dugan and Alastair Reynolds.

Included with the results in the magazine this year are a selection of comments from the voters. There were a couple of complimentary ones about “Ack-Ack Macaque” – and only one negative one, which made me laugh out loud because it described the characters as “petty and unpleasant hipsters“.

Coming first in this poll means a great deal to me, as it was my ambition for many years to sell a story to Interzone, and I’m absolutely delighted that now I’ve had two featured in the magazine, both have enjoyed an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from the readership.

I’m delighted to see the readers of Interzone have voted “Ack-Ack Macaque” as their favourite short story of 2007.

I’m very pleased and surprised with this accolade for three reasons: 1) because my story was up against some very strong writing from some excellent authors, 2) because Interzone’s always been the standard against which I’ve measured my success, and 3) because this poll was voted for by the readers of the magazine, and shows there’s an audience out there for the kind of stuff I’m writing.

This is the second year running I’ve had a story placed highly in this poll, and I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me.

You can see a list of the full results here: http://ttapress.com/441/2007-interzone-readers-poll-results

If you are a member of the British Fantasy Society, you may like to know that my short story “Ack-Ack Macaque” is eligible to be recommended in the short fiction category for a BFS Award…

If you missed the printed version, you can read my short story “Ack-Ack Macaque” by purchasing an electronic copy of Interzone 212 from Fictionwise.

Don’t forget to vote for my short story “Ack-Ack Macaque” in the Annual Interzone Reader’s Poll: You can cast your vote online at: http://ttapress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=456

I’m very proud and pleased to say that my short story “Ack-Ack Macaque” has been nominated for a British Science Fiction Association award for best short story of 2007. This is the second consecutive year that one of my stories has been nominated for this prestigious award.

I would like to remind you that you can vote for my short story “Ack-Ack Macaque” in the Annual Interzone Reader’s Poll. Voting starts with the new issue of Interzone, available next week. I came sixth in this poll last year with my story “The Last Reef” – and I hope to do well again this year.

And while we’re on the subject, the following stories are all eligible for the Preditors & Editors reader’s choice poll, should you feel like nominating any of them.

• Ack-Ack Macaque – Interzone
• Distant Galaxies Colliding – Infinity Plus
• Six Lights off Green Scar – Infinity Plus
• Pod Dreams of Tuckertown – Byzarium
• The Redoubt – Aphelion
• A Necklace of Ivy – Fiction Magazine

2007 was the year my story – “Ack-Ack Macaque” – appeared in Interzone.

It also saw the following publications:

• Distant Galaxies Colliding – Infinity Plus
• Six Lights off Green Scar – Infinity Plus
• Pod Dreams of Tuckertown – Byzarium
• The Redoubt – Aphelion
• The Last Reef – Best SF
• Thai Curry – Efimero
• A Necklace of Ivy – Fiction Magazine

Plus, I:

• Attended my first SF&F convention
• Was interviewed by Pink Raygun and SciFi Uk Review
• Had a short story featured on American radio
• Appeared on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.
• Set foot in Spain for the first time.

In July, I started writing flash fiction. The idea started out as an exercise to keep my writing muscles toned up, by forcing me to produce 100-1000 words of fiction each and every week. It was just a bit of fun, really, and I didn’t expect anyone else to take much notice – but within a few weeks the idea had spread and there were seven other writers doing the same thing – The Friday Flash Fictioneers:

• Shaun C. Green
• Neil Beynon
• Gareth D. Jones
• Martin McGrath
• Dan Pawley
• Justin Pickard
• Paul Raven

Of the stories that I personally contributed, my favourites were:

• The Point Furthest From The Sun
• The Long Walk Aft
• Thai Curry
• Stranded In Time
• Snowball
• Providence
• Paper Moon
• My New Eyes
• Driving To The Moon
• Dead Twin

I also published my second collection of poetry – Los Muertos & Other Poems – five of which were included in the October issue of the BSFA’s Focus magazine:

And last but not least, 2007 saw the announcements that:

1. My short story collection “The Last Reef” will be published in October 2008 by Elastic Press
2. My novel “Silversands” will be published in 2009 by Pendragon Press.
3. The short story I co-wrote with Robert Starr will appear in his latest collection – due from Stonegarden in January.

“Ack-Ack Macaque” gets another mention in Colin Harvey’s review of Interzone 213 on Suite101.com.