Ever since Tor failed to send out review copies of High Aztech for
mysterious reasons, I get anxious about reviews.
Seeing reviews, like holding a copy of a book in your hands, is
more solid proof that, yes, this chingadera actually has been published. I’m a
“real” writer, not some loser scribbling away for my own deranged amusement.
So far, there has only been one review of Guerrilla Mural of a Siren's Song: 15 Gonzo Science Fiction Stories, on Amazon, and it’s a good
one:
Ernest Hogan is one of the best fiction writers you've probably
never read; which is tragic, since you inevitably need more of what he has,
guaranteed.
This is one of the best single author short story collections in
the past decade.
There's cyberpunk, werewolves, Aztec gods, culture recomboid
nuttiness, and just plain wild flights of imagination.
Non-stop fun, not a boring story in the collection.
Cheap at twice the price; Ernest makes fiction fun again!”
- Paulie
My favorite kind of review, a string of quotable sentences. You’d
be surprised how academics can write an entire paper, and not come up with one
phrase that I can exploit.
Just one review, and two ratings on Amazon, and one rating on
Goodreads. I need more. . .
Yeah, I understand that it takes time for professional reviewers
to get around to something, but reactions are important to me. Writing isn’t
alive until it’s touched someone.
Thank Tezcatlipoca for the social media. Just while I start
feeling down, I get feedback.
Here are some from Facebook:
Like a Madhatter’s guided trip thru a kaleidoscope!
- Laura Crawford
Congratulations to Ernest Hogan on his new collection of 15 gonzo
science fiction stories, Guerrilla Mural of a Siren's Song. And I would be
remiss not to mention the first edition of his novel, Smoking Mirror Blues, is
still available through Wordcraft of Oregon. Read him and find much delight.
- David Memmott
I ordered this 3 days ago. Two days ago it was created in Monee IL
and shipped, and it arrived today. Great stuff!
- Chris DeVito
In case you were unaware, Guerrilla Mural of A Siren Song is on
the BSFA Award longlist for Best Collection.
Just bought it so I can read it before I make my nominations.
- Ole Andreas Imsen
I used the title story, "Guerrilla Mural of a Siren's
Song," in my Alien Contact anthology, which was published by Night
Shade Books in 2011.
- Marty Halpern
I love it! Fun, offbeat tales from a Mexican future. The old Gods
are made new, the old haters find new tricks, and the vatos always find a path
forward. Beautiful lush prose and crazy diversity in the storylines and
characters. Thank you for enlightening and entertaining me. Your intros offer a
revealing look into your twisted mind and in themselves are worth the price of
the book.
- Tom Banger
It's apparently Ernest Hogan day at the US Latinx Science Fiction
Collection, and why not? His collection arrived among new books bought for
archiving. It's been longlisted for Best Collection by the British Science
Fiction Association and the stories I already know here are excellent--you
should get your hands on it! I was also responding to edits on a chapter I
wrote for Los Angeles: A Literary History, forthcoming from Cambridge
University Press, on Science Fiction in SoCal. I was happy to point to native
son Hogan’s achievements--his novel Cortez on Jupiter (1990) is the first US
Latinx sf novel from a major genre press--beside local sf luminaries from the
LA Sprawl like Octavia Butler and Ray Bradbury. I'll be teaching his funny and
profound "Chicanonautica Manifesto" next week in my Afro- and
Latinxfuturisms course this term. And I know a student will pick this book for
an assigned end of term video review! I advise you to check this book out!
- David Sandner
Meanwhile, keep those comments coming.