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Proposed Regulations Change Calculation of Unrelated Business Taxable Income, Reducing Administrative Burden and Taxes Paid by Some Exempt Organizations
Treasury and the IRS recently published proposed regulations with welcome guidance regarding how exempt organizations are to calculate unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). The proposed regulations clarify the calculation under Section 512(a)(6), which requires exempt organizations to compute UBTI separately for each unrelated trade or business. Section 512(a)(6) and the proposed regulations will affect all organizations with more than one unrelated trade or business and investment income, regardless of the amount of UBTI. The proposed regulations specifically reject a carve-out proposed by tax practitioners for exempt organizations with less than $100,000 of gross UBTI. All organizations should, therefore, be aware of the proposed regulations and may want to consider strategically restructuring unrelated trades or businesses and investment activities to minimize UBTI and to comply with the many detailed rules contained therein.
In general, the proposed regulations will decrease the administrative burden on exempt organizations to calculate UBTI, as compared to the rules provided in Notice 2018-67. The proposed regulations will also decrease the UBTI of some exempt organizations, as compared to Notice 2018-67, because the proposed regulations reduce the number of "silos" for separate unrelated trades or businesses, resulting in a greater aggregation of income and losses. Despite this relative decrease in taxation, the tax community and exempt organizations have already expressed their discontent with the proposed regulations for not exempting smaller organizations from the onerous requirements of Section 512(a)(6) and for not temporarily suspending Section 512(a)(6) for all exempt organizations during the pandemic and related economic downturn.
Section 512 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") imposes a tax on gross income derived from unrelated trades or businesses regularly carried on by exempt organizations. An unrelated trade or business is any trade or business that is not substantially related to the exercise or performance by the exempt organization of its charitable, educational, or exempt function.
Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the IRS required exempt organizations to aggregate the gross income (and associated deductions) for all unrelated trades or businesses. Through aggregation, exempt organizations could use losses from one trade or business to offset income from another trade or business. The TCJA, specifically the new Section 512(a)(6), changed this aggregation rule and required organizations to compute UBTI separately for each trade or business, in separate silos. Treasury and the IRS provided interim guidance and solicited comments regarding the new Section 512(a)(6) in Notice 2018-67. The proposed regulations respond to these comments and provide details regarding (i) what is a separate unrelated trade or business, (ii) how are businesses to calculate UBTI for these separate unrelated trades or business, and (ii) how are investment activities, including partnership income, and net operating losses to be treated.
What Is "Siloed" as a Separate Unrelated Trade or Business?
The proposed regulations provide that exempt organizations are to use a two-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code to identify separate unrelated trades or businesses. There are twenty separate two-digit NAICS codes. Common two-digit codes include: Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, Educational Services, Accommodation and Food Services, etc. Exempt organizations are to use the code that identifies the specific unrelated trade or business and not the code that describes the organization's overall exempt activity. Therefore, for example, a museum with UBTI from a café and a restaurant would use Code 72, Accommodation and Food Services, and not Code 71, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation to calculate the UBTI for the café. Furthermore, if an organization operates multiple unrelated trades or businesses in different geographic areas, such as a tax-exempt hospital with pharmacies in different states, the hospital would calculate the UBTI for all pharmacies using a single two-digit code, even though the separate pharmacies may be distinct, separate trades or businesses for other tax purposes.
Previously, Notice 2018-67 provided that exempt organizations were to use a six-digit NAICS code. The six-digit system required significant siloing and prevented most aggregation because there are over a thousand six-digit NAICS codes with varying levels of specificity. For example, under Notice 2018-67, the museum discussed above would be unable to offset losses from the café against income from the restaurant as the six-digit codes distinguish between Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets, 722514, and Full-Service Restaurants, 722511.
Notice 2018-67 put a substantial burden on exempt organizations to correctly categorize and calculate UBTI for all separate unrelated trades or businesses. In response to taxpayer comments and concern, the proposed regulations significantly reduce the maximum number of trades or businesses from thousands to twenty, thereby reducing the administrative burden of reporting UBTI. However, as the proposed regulations note, the NAICS codes are revised periodically, and exempt organizations must be mindful of such revisions and annually evaluate which codes apply to all separate trades or businesses, thereby increasing the administrative burden on exempt organizations. Please find all NAICS codes here.
How to Calculate UBTI for Separate Trades or Businesses
Even with the simplified two-digit system, calculating UBTI across trades and businesses remains complicated. After determining the proper two-digit classification, exempt organizations are to determine which costs (and therefore deductions) apply to that trade or business. Exempt organization can generally deduct costs directly connected with the carrying on of the separate unrelated trade or business, silo-by-silo.
The proposed regulations look to Treasury Regulation § 1.512(a)-1(c), which outlines special rules for allocating expenses that are shared between an exempt activity and an unrelated trade or business and provide that the exempt organization is to allocate expenses using any reasonable basis. Notice 2018-67 stated that Treasury and the IRS were considering modifying the underlying reasonable basis allocation method of Treasury Regulation § 1.512(a)-1(c) as it applied to separate unrelated trades and businesses. The proposed regulations provide that Treasury and the IRS are continuing to consider the reasonable basis allocation method and intend to publish forthcoming guidance. Until Treasury and the IRS publish such separate guidance, exempt organizations may continue to allocate expenses using any reasonable method. However, the proposed regulations also specify that the unadjusted gross-to-gross method of allocation is not a reasonable allocation method. Treasury and the IRS further request comments regarding (i) whether any other allocation method, in addition to the unadjusted gross-to-gross method, should be considered unreasonable, and (ii) the methods or rules that could be adopted instead of a reasonableness basis standard for allocation.
For example, if the museum discussed above included a gift shop in addition to a café, then the museum would need to allocate overhead expenses between "Accommodation and Food Services" and "Retail Trade," including expenses for employees, commercial supplies, and the like using any reasonable basis. This will require the museum, like all exempt organizations, to closely monitor and track income and expenses for the different trades and businesses. In some instances, the compliance costs may exceed the income and benefit derived from smaller trades or businesses.
The proposed regulations confirm that, generally speaking, an exempt organization's investment activities are treated as a separate unrelated trade or business for purposes of Section 512(a)(6). The proposed regulations further provide that exempt organizations may aggregate specified investment activities and treat the activities a single unrelated trade or business. The proposed regulations then list activities that may be aggregated in that single investment trade or business, including qualifying partnership interests, debt-financed income, and qualifying S corporation interests. The proposed regulations exclude investment income from controlled entities under Section 512(b)(13) and controlled foreign corporations under Section 512(b)(17) from this list and provide that such income is not to be aggregated with other investment income.
Qualifying Partnership Interest
An exempt organization's interest in a partnership or other pass-through entity is a qualifying partnership interest (QPI), which may be aggregated as one investment trade or business if the exempt organization meets the requirements of either the "de minimis test" or the control test. The de minimis test requires that the exempt organization (i) hold no more than 2 percent of the profits interest and (ii) hold no more than 2 percent of the capital interest of the partnership directly or indirectly.
The control test requires that the exempt organization (i) hold no more than 20 percent of the capital interest in the partnership and (ii) not have control over the decision making of the partnership. The proposed regulations provide that the 20 percent threshold was included as a proxy to identify partnership interests in which the exempt organization does not significantly participate and therefore considers as an investment activity. Notably, exempt organizations are no longer required to combine certain related interests to determine whether the partnership interest passes the de minimis or control test. For example, exempt organizations no longer need to combine the interests of disqualified persons (e.g., foundation managers, major contributors, and their families) with that of the exempt organization to determine if the exempt organization controls the partnership. However, exempt organizations now are to combine the interests held by supporting organizations and controlled organizations to determine if the organization meets the 20 percent threshold for the control test. In general, for the control test, the IRS will continue to look to all facts and circumstances to determine if an exempt organization controls a partnership. In addition to the two tests, the proposed regulations contain many other detailed rules for partnership interests, including "look-through" rules for indirect interests in lower-tier partnerships and rules related to reliance on Schedule K-1.
Debt-Financed Income
The proposed regulations provide that exempt organizations may include debt-financed income as a single trade or business, similar to QPI discussed above. Debt-financed property is any property that is held to produce income and which resulted in acquisition indebtedness. The Code taxes debt-financed income as UBTI generally. The proposed regulations specifically provide that interest and dividend income, and the like, which is UBTI because the income is derived from debt-financed property, may be treated as income from investment activity and included in a single investment silo. However, the proposed regulations also provide that if the debt-financed income would be UBTI even if the income was not debt-financed income, such as rents from real and personal property, then the income is to be treated separately from investment activity, with a separate two-digit NAICS code (i.e., Code 52, Real Estate and Rental and Leasing).
Net Operating Losses
The proposed regulations also address net operating losses (NOLs). The proposed regulations provide that NOLs that arise in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 (the "post-2017 NOLs") are to be applied to each separate trade or business, silo by silo. In comparison, NOLs arising in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018 (the "pre-2018 NOLs") are to be deducted from the total aggregated UBTI. Exempt organizations are to maximize utilization of pre-2018 NOLs before deducting any post-2017 NOLs.
The proposed regulations do not discuss in detail the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") and the provisions of the CARES Act that changed the deduction of NOLs generally. The CARES Act temporarily suspended the limitation on NOLs (i.e., NOLs limited to 80 percent) enacted with the TCJA. The CARES Act also allowed organizations to carry back NOLs for 2018, 2019, and 2020 for the five years preceding the loss. These rules also apply to exempt organizations. The proposed regulations provide that Treasury and the IRS may issue additional guidance regarding NOLs, including guidance relating to ordering rules of NOL carryovers and excess contributions, and the overlap of the CARES Act and the proposed regulations.
Applicability of Proposed Regulations
Exempt organizations may rely on the proposed regulations in their entirety until Treasury and the IRS promulgate final regulations. Treasury and the IRS have indicated that they anticipate finalizing the proposed regulations in 2020. The proposed regulations in turn ask that practitioners and exempt organization submit any comments and any requests for a public hearing by June 23, 2020. The proposed regulations also provide that, in the interim prior to promulgation of the final regulations, exempt organization may alternatively rely on Notice 2018-67 and upon the methods of aggregating or identifying separate trades or businesses contained therein. Therefore, exempt organizations that have already undertaken the administrative burden of determining UBTI under Notice 2018-67 may continue to rely on Notice 2018-67 and do not need to recalculate UBTI under the proposed regulations and thereby incur additional administrative costs.
For more information, please contact the professional(s) listed below, or your regular Crowell & Moring contact.
Charles C. Hwang
Partner – Washington, D.C.
Email: chwang@crowell.com
Eleanor Moran McWaters
Associate – Washington, D.C.
Email: emcwaters@crowell.com


You don't have to spend much time in Horsham to realise what hot topics the Christmas decorations and, in particular, the absence of a Christmas tree are.
This year, for the first time in many years Horsham Town Centre will have a real Christmas Tree. This is thanks to a group of local businesses, traders and individuals, who realised how popular previous trees were and how sorely missed they were.
The 25 foot tall cut Norway Spruce, is set to be hung with lights and baubles and will look stunning next to the Stocks opposite Swan Walk.
All this would not have been possible without the sponsors The District Post, Lello Business, AToM, Wakefields Jewellers, The Rotary Club of Horsham, Swan Walk, Visit Horsham, Byjove Media, Mansell McTaggart, South East Hearing Care Centres, Henfield Hire, Mancini Legal, Slinfold Golf and Country Club, The Horsham Mortgage Centre, Muffin Break, Mungo's Bar, Fresh Traditions, Cote Brassiere, Piries Bar, Set4Success, Bill's and Mia Philips Therapy.
It should be stressed that this project is run on a not for profit basis, the costs are privately underwritten, however a big thank you is due to Garry Mortimer Cook HDC Town Centre Manager, who has kindly lent time and resources to enable the project to happen.


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Abonnement / Achat pérenne des archives
J. Phys. Théor. Appl.
Radium (Paris)
J. Phys. Radium
J. Phys. Phys. Appl.
J. Phys.
J. Phys. Colloques
Rev. Phys. Appl. (Paris)
J. Physique Lett.
J. Phys. I France
J. Phys. II France
J. Phys. III France
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 02, Numéro C2, Septembre 1991
Proceedings of the Eighth European Conference on Chemical Vapour Deposition / Actes de la 8ème Confèrence Européenne sur les Dépôts Chimiques en Phase Gazeuse
C2-155 - C2-165
https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:1991219
J. Phys. IV France 02 (1991) C2-155-C2-165
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:1991219
SOME INSIGHT INTO THE NATURE OF THE SURFACE CHEMICAL PROCESSES INVOLVED IN THE MOVPE GROWTH OF GaAs FROM ARSINE AND TRIMETHYL- OR TRIETHYL-GALLIUM
M.E. PEMBLE, D.S. BUHAENKO, H. PATEL, A. STAFFORD and A.G. TAYOR
Department of Chemistry and Centre for Electronic Materials, University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 88, Sackville St, GB-Manchester M60 1QD, Great-Britain
A now established method of studying reaction pathways in GaAs growth is via the use of surface science and related techniques. This paper sets out to review progress made to date via the use of such techniques in terms of the two primary aims of any mechanistic investigation, the identification of reaction intermediates and the measurement of kinetic processes. A comparison is made between trimethylgallium (TMGa) and triethylgallium (TEGa) in terms of their behaviour upon adsorption at GaAs (100) surfaces. Both metallorganics adsorb readily at 300 K in a manner which depends only slightly upon the As-coverage of the substrate surface, indicating that there can be only small barriers to adsorption although clear differences in the subsequent chemistry are observed for As-rich and Garich GaAs (100) surfaces, with more rapid uptake at the As-rich surface and the spontaneous loss of one alkyl unit (i.e. C1 for TMGa and C2 for TEGa). For TMGa, some evidence of multilayer formation at 300 K is presented. Triethylgallium adsorption and thermal decomposition on GaAs (100) surfaces under high vacuum conditions results in clean, intramolecular surface chemical pathways involving intermediates in which the ethyl groups remain intact. For trimethylgallium, the evidence suggests that adsorption leaves the methyl groups intact yet subsequent thermal decomposition does not occur cleanly in the absence of a source of surface hydrogen, although methyl radical recombination is clearly identified as a possible alternative route to the loss of surface carbon. Reflection IR spectroscopy has been used for the first time to study TMGa adsorption on GaAs (100) at 300 K and has produced vibrational data that are shown to agree with EELS data for the adsorption of TMGa on Si surfaces, also implying that the methyl groups remain intact. As a source of surface hydrogen, arsine adsorption and reaction is shown to lead to a surface sub-hydride phase represented as AsHn, which is shown to be consistent with the concept of stabilisation of GaAs (100) surfaces at high temperatures via an arsine (and not arsenic) overpressure. Finally, recent data obtained using the non-linear optical surface diagnostic technique of second harmonic generation are reported for the interaction of trimethylgallium with GaAs (100) surfaces at 300 K, which are discussed in the light of the available surface science data.
© EDP Sciences 1991
REFLECTION-ABSORPTION IR SPECTROSCOPY AS AN IN-SITU PROBE OF THE SURFACE CHEMISTRY OF SEMICONDUCTOR GROWTH INTERMEDIATES : THE ADSORPTION OF TRIMETHYLGALLIUM AT GaAs (100) SURFACES AT 300 K
J. Phys. IV France 02, C2-167-C2-173 (1991)
Site-specific chemistry of gallium arsenide metalorganic chemical vapor deposition
J. Phys. IV France 09, Pr8-3-Pr8-14 (1999)
Mécanismes de croissance épitaxiale en phase vapeur aux organo-métalliques de InP
J. Phys. III France 2, 2333-2347 (1992)
Interaction of ionized hydrogen with cleaved GaAs. Comparison with atomic hydrogen interaction
Rev. Phys. Appl. (Paris) 22, 285-291 (1987)
PARAMETRIC STUDIES OF GaAs GROWTH BY METALORGANIC MOLECULAR BEAM EPITAXY
J. Phys. Colloques 43, C5-339-C5-349 (1982)
Journal de Physique IV
Copyright / Publiée par : EDP Sciences

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It's already been a wild week in Metro Vancouver… and it's about to get worse.
On Monday, a snowfall warning in effect for the region stated a long period of snowfall with total amounts of 10 to 15 cm expected.
The warning states that a long period of snowfall with total amounts of 15 to 25 cm is now expected.
A second warning keeps the 10 to 15 cm warning for Surrey and Langley as well as Richmond and Delta.
The snowfall has forced most of the region's colleges and universities to close, as well as the region's public schools.


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The global watch manufacturer "Timex" on Wednesday 15/11/2017 has launched a new Activity Tracker in collaboration with domestic consumer technology startup Blink.
This smartwatch can bend to any style making it a worthy opponent to other fitness bands in the market. Though technology has become easier to track your fitness, thanks to the fitness bands company for an extensive range of activity trackers you find in the market.
This band comes in two different styles. One is Leather style and another Bracelet style.
Now the main point to consider is the pricing factor. This is not expensive as much you think. The leather style is just Rs 4495 and Bracelet Style is Rs4,995.
If you are looking for a good fitness band primarily, then your search ends here itself. Timex Blink has to be one of the finest activity tracker currently running in the market.
With great design comes great comfort. Timex Blink is extremely light weight and you won't feel its weight some times. The adjustable straps make it more easier to fit it any hand.
The 0.9-inch OLED display has a single tap function. The display is motion-activated, so every time you lift your wrist to see the time, the OLED display will show you the time. Just like other fitness tracker when you tap once tracker will show you steps taken, Calories burnt and distance covered on foot for the day.
It supports Android and iOS from the Timex mobile app. You need the app to set according to your need. Like Name, Bio, gender, weight, age, height most important stride length (in cms), which will help you track steps more accurately.
Pairing is just simple as turning Bluetooth on.
After the design, battery's life is to be considered which is quite impressive. With 24/7 tracking, we are able to run the trackers for 7 days. Charging the tracker took almost 90 minutes. So as long as our opinion is concerned, it is a fair deal.
There's a microUSB charging port under the display covered with a rubber flap.
Question for the users whether to buy it or not. Given the pros and cons of the blink, We'd still favour its a good fitness band in a reasonable price. The bracelet certainly adds the winning touch to the Blink, so you'll never have to ditch your tracker the next time you put on that tux. The battery life is also impressive, so charging is never a problem.
Overall, even with few misses, we would say that Blink has the potential to reach amount the top 5 worthy fitness band activity tracker in 2017.


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Spotlight on APEX MAGAZINE—an interview with editor-in-chief Jason Sizemore and managing editor Lesley Conner (plus: check out that sweet sweet Kickstarter!)
This week, I have a special treat for you. It's an interview with the dynamic duo behind Apex Magazine: editor in chief Jason Sizemore and managing editor Lesley Conner. Apex is a brilliant SFF zine, and they're running a Kickstarter right now to finance their work for 2022. If you haven't supported them yet, head over and pick up a subscription or some of the other rewards available.
Huge thanks to both Jason and Lesley for answering some of my questions about the zine and the business of running an SFF publication!
Q. What's your background apart from being the people running Apex Magazine?
Jason: The roots of the magazine trace to the year 2004 with the birth of my first kid and my 30th birthday. I had something of an early mid-life crisis and needed a creative outlet. I was big into the saddle stitch zine world at the time and thought it would be fun to do something like that. It was fun. And fulfilling. Here we are in 2021, that kid is now a senior in high school, and I'm still doing the zine.
Lesley: I grew up in a small town in West Virginia, and graduated in 2004 from WVU with a BA in English. I've been lucky enough to call Apex my full-time gig for nearly ten years now. Other than that, I fill my time with keeping up with two teenage daughters and volunteering for Girl Scouts. I run an incredibly active troop, and volunteer for multiple levels within the organization.
Q. How did you first decide to get into the SFF-zine business?
Lesley: I wouldn't say that it was a conscious decision on my part. Jason and I had become friends after bumping into each other at multiple conventions over the years. He mentioned on Facebook needing someone to help out with marketing. At the time I was a stay-at-home mom and I thought it sounded fun! I'd get to help a friend, and do something new and exciting. So I volunteered. I had no idea that it would lead to a career that I am absolutely in love with, but I'm incredibly grateful. I couldn't imagine doing anything else.
Q. Can you tell us a bit about Apex's history as a zine and what you feel some of its most important accomplishments are as a SFF publication?
Jason: There's a certain amount of hubris required to answer a question like this. Fortunately, I have hubris in great supply...
Honestly, though, defining achievements is difficult. We've entertained many readers over the years. We've had stories win the Hugo and Nebula awards. I think we've done some positive things in helping boost the voices of marginalized and under-represented writers in SFF. We've published very early work from notable writers such as Lavie Tidhar, Rebecca Roanhorse, Alix E. Harrow, and Cherie Priest.
All of these are things I'm proud of. Things I want to continue doing. Things I want to do better.
Q. You're running a Kickstarter campaign for Apex's next year, 2022. Can you talk a bit about the financial side of running a magazine like this and why you decided to finance your publication through a Kickstarter rather than the subscription model or other alternatives.
Jason: Prior to our hiatus in 2019 (due to personal health stuff), we financed the publication completely through subscriptions and advertising. Thanks to longevity, brand awareness, and quality of our content, we had accomplished the unthinkable—making an online zine profitable.
When we did our relaunch Kickstarter in 2020, I had hoped we would pick up right where we left off. This was a ridiculous hope. We've had a phenomenal 2021, but having to rebuild your subscriber base to pre-hiatus numbers will take awhile. I'd venture to say it's more difficult this time due to the pandemic, social discontent, and the evey-rising amount of noise on social media. A week doesn't pass where I speak with someone who doesn't not know that we're publishing again.
For these reasons (and multitudes more), we're relying on a hybrid model of direct subscribers and crowdfunding. I love Kickstarter and the opportunities it provides, but a crowdfunding project is a lot of work, so I hope we won't need another after this one. I wouldn't be surprised if we do, though. Maybe it's the future of online zines?
Q. What are some cool perks you offer in your Kickstarter for those who might want to support you? What are the stretch goals?
Jason: We have the usual cool stuff like tuckerizations, critiques from Lesley Conner and myself, and swag packs. There's dinner with Apex at Worldcon. Signed hardcovers. Fancy bamboo bookmarks. Subscriptions.
The stretch goal I'm most excited about is funding an Asian and Pacific Islanders bonus issue. A very close second is including spot art by Justin Stewart with every story!
6. Every zine has its own voice and vibe, its own personality if you will. How would you describe what Apex Magazine is all about?
Lesley: Apex's vibe is definitely dark. Jason and I both love those stories that push the edge of being almost too much to take. The darkness appeals to us. But that doesn't mean that they're stories without hope or emotion. Actually, I'd say that the perfect Apex stories are the ones that have the biggest emotional impact. The ones that feel like a gut punch or leave the reader reeling in an emotional storm. There are no rose-colored glasses in the Apex offices. Instead, we're looking for the gritty reality taken apart and put back together in a speculative story.
Q. Could you pick three stories from past issues that in your opinion captures what you look for in stories for Apex and represents the kind of tales you want to publish?
Jason: I love questions like this!
"Without Wishes to Bind You" by E. Catherine Tobler — I want to be surprised by the fiction we publish. This is a work that could be campy and silly, but comes across as sweet, earnest, and gritty with realism.
"Curse Like a Savior" by Russell Nichols — Subtly dark. Coated with a veneer of humor. A scary bit of prognostication by the author.
"So Sings the Siren" by Annie Neugebauer — Here's another that took me off guard. It's a really short piece, but strong enough to pick up a Stoker Award nomination!
Q. If you could give advice to the writers wanting to submit stories to Apex, what would you say?
Lesley: 1. Read a few of Apex Magazine's newer issues to get a feel for what kind of stories we're looking for. They're available to read online for free. 2. Follow the submission guidelines. They're also online for you to read for free.
I know that answer seems too simplistic or maybe even flip, but the amount of submissions we get where it is obvious the writer has never read an issue of the magazine or ones where the author blatantly didn't follow the guidelines is baffling. Doing these two things really will give you a step up.
Q. If you could go back in time and talk to yourself when you got into the business of running a zine, what insights – warnings or advice or otherwise! – would you give yourself?
Lesley: To know my own self-worth! If we're going to be completely honest, I owe a LOT to Jason Sizemore because he saw something in me that took me years to see for myself. He believed in me when I didn't. A huge part of my early years working for Apex was me building self-confidence, both in myself as an individual and in my own talent. It changed me as a person and in how I interact with the world. So yeah, if I could have learned that sooner, that would be great. The fact is, though, past-Lesley would never believe me. It took someone else endlessly challenging my self-deprecation to finally start to believe in myself.
10. In your opinion, how has the SFF field on the whole evolved in the time since you became part of it? What trends and changes have you seen?
Jason: The field has become more diverse and much more interesting. The genre short fiction I read now is lightyears better than it was in 2005. The old print digests are still producing great work and now we have Clarkesworld, Apex Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Lightspeed...
Read Apex Magazine
Support the Kickstarter
Support Apex on Patreon
Find Apex Magazine on Twitter
Editor bios:
The man with the titanium jaw, Jason Sizemore is a three-time Hugo Award-nominated editor, writer, and publisher who operates the genre press Apex Publications. He currently lives in Lexington, KY. For more information visit www.jason-sizemore.com or you can find him on Twitter @apexjason.
Lesley Conner is a writer/editor, managing editor of Apex Publications, and a Girl Scout leader. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and is currently working on a new novel. To find out all her secrets, you can follow her on Twitter at @LesleyConner.
Labels: FridayReads, interview, short fiction, speculative fiction
#FridayReads: check out the July issue of Flash Fiction Online
I love flash fiction and I adore Flash Fiction Online. The zine's July issue is a gosh-darn fantastic read and you can pick it up right now for $3.99 or pick up a subscription from Weightless Books, or maybe become a Patreon supporter.
Read the July issue
Buy the July issue
Support Flash Fiction Online
In this issue you'll find a roster of outstanding fiction:
Editorial: Escape! By Editor-in-Chief Wendy Nikel
"Ember" by Anjali Patel
"The Wizard's Book Tastes of Flight" by Jennifer Hudak
"Breathe" by Adam Fout
"This Will Not Happen to You" by Marissa Lingen
"Flash Fiction Flashback: "Listen and You'll Hear Us Speak" by A.T. Greenblatt" by Wendy Nikel
Flash Fiction Online consistently publishes some of my favourite speculative fiction, and while each issue might feel bite-sized because of the word count, the stories have range and heft and can also pack a punch. Back in 2015 and 2016 when I was working hard on getting myself back into writing and reading speculative fiction, I read a lot of fiction in FFO. There's something about the format of flash fiction, the way it condenses a story to its essence, and the way it can be infinitely flexible with so few words, telling epics and funny stories, adventures and heart-piercing prose-poems, that appeals to me deeply as both a reader and a writer.
I confess that FFO also has a special place in my heart because they were my first fiction pro-sale. And because I've had five stories published with them over the years, but beyond that, they are legitimately one of my favourite SFF venues.
My stories in Flash Fiction Online, from the newest to the oldest:
"Six Dreams About the Train"
"Silver and Shadow, Spruce and Pine"
"The Ghost in Angelica's Room"
"The Machine of the Devil"
"Scent"
🕮
Become a Patreon / Support me on KoFi
Labels: FridayReads, speculative fiction
#WeekendReads July 10, 2021 - brand new issues of INTERZONE and BLACK STATIC
Due to some computer issues, I didn't get my usual #FridayReads post in yesterday, so instead I'm posting this as a #weekendread post.
Cover art by Vincent Sammy.
There is a new issue of Interzone in the world (issue #290/291), and a new issue of Black Static is coming soon (you can preorder issue #80/81 on the TTA Press website), and they are well worth your time and money if you have an interest in excellent speculative fiction. Interzone has been around since 1982, and has been edited by Andy Cox since 2004. Black Static was founded in 1993, and is also edited by Andy Cox. In a world where most speculative fiction is posted in digital format online, these two magazine stand out because they are still committed to delivering print issues and illustrations for those print issues as well.
Cover art by Richard Wagner.
You can get the magazines (both are fully-loaded double issues) in digital format, but if you can get your hands on the print issues, they are gorgeous: each story comes with an illustration and the artwork is always excellent.
Table of contents for Interzone #290/291:
A Hollow in the Sky by Alexander Glass
A Stray Cat in the Mountain of the Dead by Cécile Cristofari
The Andraiad by Tim Major
Without Lungs or Limbs to Stay by Shauna O'Meara
Nemesis by Matt Thompson
An Island for Lost Astronauts by Daniel Bennett
Pace Car by Lyle Hopwood
The Mischief That is Past by John Possidente
The Egg Collectors by Lavie Tidhar
Columns by Aliya Whiteley (x2) and David Langford; guest editorial by Lavie Tidhar; book reviews by Maureen Kincaid Speller, Duncan Lawie, Val Nolan and several others; film reviews by Nick Lowe
Wraparound cover art by Vincent Sammy, interior colour art by Jim Burns, Ev Shipard, Richard Wagner, Vince Haig, Dave Senecal and others
I'm still reading my way through this issue, but it is excellent so far. (A new story by Shauna O'Meara is an automatic must-read for me!)
Get the issues, and subscriptions, from TTA Press.
Preorder Black Static #80/81 (from TTA Press)
Get issues and subscriptions from Weightless Books: Black Static / Interzone.
While you're waiting for that new issue of Black Static, check out the previous double issue (#78/79) which is an excellent read right through. You can order both the current and upcoming issue for a special price right now.
Full disclosure: I've had stories in both Interzone and Black Static.
"And You Shall Sing to Me a Deeper Song" was in Interzone #280
"Cleaver, Meat, and Block" was in Black Static #73 (reprint/audio-version at PseudoPod, and forthcoming in Ellen Datlow's The Best Horror of the Year Volume 13)
Labels: FridayReads, personal, short fiction
The artwork for this roundup is a detail of Paul Kellam's cover art for Fiyah #19. More about the artist here: https://www.artstation.com/deericku
An audio version of this roundup is available on YouTube:
To Rest, and to Create by L.A. Knight in Fiyah #19
If you don't disclose, you can't ask for accommodation…
We understand things are difficult, but these accommodations just aren't reasonable…
We're sorry, you're just not the right fit for this company…
There are so many ways to say the same thing. So many ways to lie so very sweetly and tell me that of course the company doesn't mind hiring a disabled autistic person, of course they encourage a diverse work environment, of course they're accessible.
Knight's story delves deep into real world problems about accommodations and employment, about living and making a living when you are disabled and autistic. It is also truly and legitimately a feel good story, as in: this story made me feel good when I read it. In the everyday world of this story, there are doorways to be found to other worlds, but the process of finding one and going to those other worlds has been regulated by the government until it is not easily accessible to everyone, and if you miss your opportunity when you're young... well, then you might feel like it's too late and it's never going to happen and you're doomed to struggle through as best you can. But maybe there is hope, and maybe there are possibilities you didn't even know existed. If you're feeling down, this story might just make your day a whole lot better. This story is from the Sound and Color issue of Fiyah, and as it turns out, sound and colour play a vital role in this story and how it ends.
SPF by Justine Teu in Reckoning
Apricot died, three days into the heat wave. She had just turned three, with no underlying health issues, but temperatures had soared to 120 degrees that weekend, and not even the full strength of Dani's air conditioner could keep the cat cool, much less alive. One minute, Apricot was a spry thing, young enough to live forever, and the next, she was gone, immobile under a bed sheet, claws still clinging to thread.
This is a story about the impact of climate change, wrapped up in a story about relationships and maybe even love. Dani and Hugo are on again, off again, maybe happening, maybe not as a couple, and there are so many things about Hugo that drive Dani nuts. Including how he seems unable to allow death and tragedy to really touch him, just as he seems unable to admit even to himself that climate change is having a serious, and terrible, impact on everyone's lives. Quietly powerful, with so much complexity beneath the surface.
How To Become a Witch-Queen by Theodora Goss in Lightspeed (originally pub'd in Hex Life)
After the funeral services are over, you return to your rooms in the castle, escorted by your ladies-in-waiting. As you walk down a corridor, you pass the chamber where your own coffin, the one made of glass, is displayed. Visitors are allowed to see it Mondays through Thursdays, from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, along with other national treasures...
What is there to say about this magnificent story, except WOW. Goss spins a beautiful, steely tale about Snow White. Snow White the widowed queen, the mother of several children, the strong and capable woman who has spent her life in the shadow of the fairytale she became part of, and who has also spent most of her life being quiet in order to avoid strife and struggle. But once her husband the king dies, she seizes the chance to make herself anew.
Empty Houses by Caspian Gray in Nightmare
I caught a glimpse of us over his shoulder in one of the mirrors. But where I was wrapped around Austin, my reflection was momentarily still: watching us and smiling gently. And I know, I know, I know, but: at the time, it felt like a gesture of welcome.
I love stories about mirrors, and its one of those horror tropes I find both fascinating and creepy as heck no matter what the context. This story uses the mirrors, and the idea of a haunted house, perfectly while also skewing the tale until it becomes something different than I might have expected as I started reading.
As I Wait For the Killing Blow by M. Shaw in Fireside
My first feathers came in just a few days after my granddaughter Sima was born. Black as a raven's, but that doesn't mean much in the beginning. I could end up black all over, or a stormy grey color, or violet with blue speckles, for all I knew. The turning never brings the exact same form twice, just as no two children need the exact same monster to help them come into adulthood.
Shaw's story is fierce and wondrous as it imagines a world where grandparents turn into monsters after their grandchildren are born. Tradition says that once a grandchild comes of age, they must hunt down this monster and slay it, or be slain by it. What seems brutal and terrible, is cherished as a rite of passage here, and yet, what happens between monster and monster-hunter does not always go according to plan, or tradition. I love the way this story deals with family relationships (odd as that may seem!) and the way Shaw twists the tale in the telling.
The Middening by Allyson Shaw in Fireside
We made our own way, made our own fun, Mhairi and me. This was our place, the disused swimming pool built into the cliffside. Sure, there were junkies there before us, shooting up in the changing pavilion. There's the wifey spray painted on the majestic hillside, her paps like two empty bags and a turned-up hair-do dripping down. But if you ignore all that, you can imagine that you are in some Planet of the Apes situation, and it's just you left, and your survival is a triumph of things put right.
A wrenching and intense story about two friends growing up in a small community. It's also about the lure and power of the ocean, and about the pool they escape too, together. Mhairi and Kylie sometimes talk about a horse appearing near the pool, the Nucklelevee. Both Mhairi and Kylie have thoughts and dreams about getting away from the community, but when one of them finally leaves, it doesn't happen the way either of them might have thought. There's a grimness to this story, but it's also a love story, and I adore every bit of it.
Machine Learning by Sylvia Heike in Stupefying Stories
A tiny, perfect sci-fi micro fiction that packs a real punch. I love flash and micro fiction so much and I am always amazed at how much emotion and nuance and depth can be contained into a Very Small Story.
Final Warnings in Open Fields by Xander Odell in Daily SF
1. Plants want you dead. Don't waste time wondering why they turned against us. It is what it is.
A brilliant piece of flash fiction, written as a list of instructions and warnings, that packs a whole lot of emotion and backstory and world-building into a small word count. Odell captures the horrors and devastation of a post-apocalyptic world in a sparse, haunting story that tells you so many things without dwelling on them. I also really love this opening line and the way it does away with the whole "but why and how would that happen?" Dwelling on that is not what this story is about, and it's such a great writer-choice to put that out front like this.
The Penitent by Phoenix Alexander in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction July / August 2021
This is a mindbending story about a cat, a seagull, and an electron. It's also about the value of each life in the grand scheme of the world and the universe. It's about love and wrongs to be righted, and it has one of the trippiest shapeshifting scenes (and multiple POV scenes) I have encountered in a story. It's a twisted, mysterious, and ultimately enlightening tale.
Whatever Happened to the Boy Who Fell Into the Lake? by Rob Costello in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction July / August 2021
Picture Tick at twelve years old, on the day he nearly drowns himself to join Mama.
I give this story a rating of five broken hearts, meaning, I loved it. Costello's devastating tale about a boy called Tick, a boy who lives with his violent father; who has lost his mother under mysterious circumstances; and who almost, almost finds love, is beautiful, painful, and powerful. It's a story about transformation (Tick's and his mother's), it's a story about family and violence, and about curses. It's also about the call of the sea, and about how sometimes, it is impossible to escape the consequences of wrongs that were committed in the past, even before your birth, no matter how hard we try, or how much we wish things could be different.
(emet) by Lauren Ring in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction July / August 2021
Ring's story is an enchanting and quietly gripping blend of science fiction and fantasy. The main character is a software programmer working for a big company that is designing a new facial recognition system. She also makes golems out of clay to help her out around the house, just like her mom taught her. I love how Ring weaves together these strands of fantasy and scifi into a story that explores personal responsibility and the possibility to resist, even in situations where a person might feel like only a very small cog in a very big machine.
Note: This whole issue of the magazine is outstanding and my advice is really to buy it and read the whole thing because it has fabulous stories by Lauren Ring, L.X. Beckett, Chimedum Ohaegbu, Rob Costello, Michael Swanwick, Yukimi Ogawa, Bo Balder, Phoenix Alexander, Lisa Lacey Liscoumb, Priya Chand, S. Cameron David, Paula Keane, Maia Brown-Jackson, Rowan Wren, and Tato Navarrete Diaz. I will highlight three of these stories, but like I said, the whole issue is well worth your time and your money.
The Far Side of the Universe by noc at TOR.com (translated from Chinese by Michelle Deeter)
To quote the blurb for this story:
When young Ira arrives for her appointment, she is prepared to be transported to The Gateway to Heaven, 6,070 light years away. But the technicians shepherding her through the process fear there's more to it than what's advertised.
A gentle and devastating story about a future where society allows people to leave the world, essentially die, but where their consciousness is sent into space to live near another star, or at least, that's the sales pitch. It's the gentleness and quiet devastation of this story that really gets to me, and the way we understand so much about what kind of society it takes place in, even though noc tells us so little about it. Deeply haunting.
Armed With Such Stories, I Roamed Into The Woods by Evan Marcroft in Cast of Wonders narrated by Elie Hirschman
The content warning for this story is "multiple profanities" and oh gosh, there are multiple, meaty, massive profanities here. Atticus has grown up with his mother's stories and tales about the creatures lurking in the woods beyond their home. "There was a fable for every lesson I should know." Now, Atticus's mother is sick and he must head into the woods to find an herb called fairymead, but in the woods he meets a stranger, and the stranger is Trouble. Marcroft spins a scary, dark and darkly funny story about growing up and parenting, about finding our courage, and about how we sometimes try to shelter children too much from reality when they'd be better served by some hard truths. I love the twisted fairytale vibe of this story and I love, LOVE the conclusion.
Ascend, Exalt, Love, Propagate, Rise! by Sarah Kumari in Escape Pod narrated by Hollis Monroe
This is an amazing story about resistance and revolution, and... sex with plants. It is absolutely bonkers in a way that I love. Jehanne is trying to start a revolution by causing the downfall of the EverReach company. He is doing this by participating in the drug-fuelled and ecstatic pollination event that involves a planet-encompassing plant called Mother Elethra, "our Beloved Patron, the Phloem of Invention, Oil Bringer, Loving Devourer, our Great Vine". Dive into this story and let its madness envelop you, maybe even devour you...
My Mirror, My Opposite by Y.M. Pang in Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Fairytale retellings and reimagined fairytales is very much my jam and this is an exquisite and powerful reframing of The Little Mermaid. Here, the main character is the prince, not the mermaid, and his desire, or obsession, to join the sea. There is a lot of magic in this story and yet it is so firmly rooted in the real world, a world where abuse and trauma is inescapable for the prince. "...sometimes, when I stood on tiptoes and peered through my bedroom window at the water, I wanted the sea to sweep past rock and sand and reach where I stood, to drown my world in blue and carry me away on its waves." When the "fishgirl" and the prince meet, nothing goes the way the fairytales said.
Welcome, Karate by Sara Saab in The Dark
This story has haunted my thoughts since I read it. Jock is back in her old hometown after years away, and she is buying a gym to set up a martial arts studio. On the surface, things seem OK, but Saab makes us feel just how brittle reality and life and Jock are beneath that surface. When she meets old acquaintances, you can feel Jock's hold on herself and her own past start to crack, and once she's back in the gym, trying to open the locked doors to the pool area, the revelation of what's inside seems both unavoidable and thoroughly surreal.
The Chicken House by Jenny Fried in Strange Horizons
Today I will tell you that Sleep was a boy. It's easier that way.
He was a boy. And he would collect broken glass and wear shoes with Velcro and a few of his teeth were fake, but he always forgot which ones. He lived on a small farm. It had once grown chickens for food and Christmas trees for money, but now it grew nothing.
A gloriously strange and heart-piercing story about Sleep who lives on a property where there are three buildings: a farmhouse, a tractor shed, and a chicken house. There's a new awful smell in the farmhouse where Sleep lives, and Sleep is afraid of the chicken house for reasons he can't quite articulate. The tractor shed, where the tractor sleeps, holds memories of Sleep's dad. There is a red dress made of feathers in that shed too, but Sleep doesn't know who it belongs to, but he can't stop thinking about it. Fried's unsettling, yet gentle story has the feel and rhythm of a fairytale, and there is a curse and a transformation at its heart.
Scoria by Liza Wemakor in Strange Horizons
In a low mountain quarry, an exile memorized the story of her shadow play. When means are few, motion pictures are stripped to light and limb. Scoria was a filmmaker without a camera, so she had to be the cinema herself: prop, stage, and animus gesturing in front of a fire. There was no other way. Civilization had rolled her away from itself like a festering log at a cooperage. What was she to do? Survive and die with only mourning in between?
A subtle lovely story about Scoria who is exiled from her community for not being productive enough. Mostly, it seems, the Council that exiles her doesn't know what to make of her, how to make her fit into their society and their notions of what and who she should be. Exile turns out to be not so bad after all and Scoria finds a place to belong instead of wilderness and loneliness. There's such a wonderful soft vibe to this story, and it has so much to say about creativity and art and relationships, and about finding a place to belong.
Labels: short fiction, short story roundups, speculative fiction
Read my latest Short Fiction Treasures Column at Strange Horizons
My latest Short Fiction Treasures column is now at Strange Horizons! The theme is time travel, portal fantasies, and alternate universes.
Labels: at Strange Horizons, short fiction
#FridayReads July 2, 2021 - F&SF's July/August 2021 issue!
This week's post is a bit late because it's just been that kind of week, and all I'm going to say is this: right now I'm reading through the new July/August issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and it is a stunning. Chockfull of amazing stories by outstanding writers.
Get the issue / subscribe:
from the F&SF website
from Weightless Books
I'm still reading my way through this issue but some of the stories that have impressed the heck out of me so far are
"The Penitent" by Phoenix Alexander (a mindbending story about the value of each life, about love and wrongs to be righted, and about a cat and a seagull and... an electron)
"Whatever Happened to the Boy Who Fell Into the Lake?" by Rob Costello (a story about transformation, family, violence, curses, and about the call of the sea, and it's also a story that absolutely destroyed me)
"(emet)" by Lauren Ring (a story about facial recognition software and golems and yes, these things go together)
I could go on forever about this issue and the stories in it, because so far every story I've read is a knockout. Just all around fabulous fiction.
Stories in this issue by Lauren Ring, L.X. Beckett, Chimedum Ohaegbu, Rob Costello, Michael Swanwick, Yukimi Ogawa, Bo Balder, Phoenix Alexander, Lisa Lacey Liscoumb, Priya Chand, S. Cameron David, Paula Keane, Maia Brown-Jackson, Rowan Wren, and Tato Navarrete Diaz. Also a poem by Mark Rich.
Labels: FridayReads, novellas, short fiction, speculative fiction
YA books and children's books: recommendations from me (and my kids)
Summer break is just starting here in British Columbia, Canada, where I live and in many other parts of the world. With all that time off looming, maybe your kids or teens are looking for books, or maybe you feel like reading some YA / Middle Grade/ children's books yourself (there's a lot of good stuff in the kids/YA section).
Here are some of my favourites and some of my kids's favourites (they are 14 and 18 right now). Some are old, some are new, and of course, this is only a small fraction of what's available out there.
I want to start off with a special shoutout to Rick Riordan's books (my daughter loved the Percy Jackson series and I tore through the Magnus Chase books) and his imprint Rick Riordan Presents which is teeming with amazing writers and books for kids and teens. You can start off with:
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
This is a gripping, hugely entertaining read and the first in a series of books about Tristan's adventures.
Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he's going to spend on his grandparents' farm in Alabama, where he's being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie's journal. Tristan chases after it–is that a doll?–and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature's hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?
Some of the best writers of speculative fiction today have books out with the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, including Yoon Ha Lee, Roshani Chokshi, and Rebecca Roanhorse, so there is a real treasure chest of stories to explore here, including:
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe and Sal & Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Sal & Gabi Break the Universe (and its sequel) is funny, sharp, smart, and full of magic, science, food, friendship, family, life, love, and even death, and Hernandez keeps the story moving at a great pace throughout. It's a zany book, but there's real heart in it, too, and the laughs are good laughs – with jokes that are irreverent, hilarious, and thoughtful in a way that I really appreciated as I read the story. (Read my full review of the first book from 2019.)
The Ninety-Ninth Bride by Catherine Faris King
Dunya is fifteen when her father, the Grand Vizier, gives her over to the mad Sultan for his bride. Ninety-eight Sultanas before Dunya have been executed, slaughtered at the break of dawn following their first night with their new husband. But on her own wedding night, the ninety-ninth bride finds help from the mysterious and beautiful Zahra, who proposes to tell the Sultan a story…
A lovely and beautifully told twist on One Thousand and One Nights: "...a story of sisters and magic, and a kingdom on the brink of disaster."
The Evil Wizard Smallbone by Delia Sherman
I loved this book and so did my daughter (she was 10 when we read it). It's got magic, spells, shapeshifting, a very intriguing bookshop, a werewolf with a coyote pack riding motorcycles, plus a lot more. All of it is mixed with a lot of real life tragedy and comedy, and all the children in it (especially the main character Nick) are engaging and realistically ornery characters. It is moving without being maudlin, and a real page-turner. Highly recommended for kids and adults.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelly Barnhill
Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic.
An amazing story about family, magic, and what happens when you keep secrets (even from yourself). It's beautifully written with a lot of tragedy and sorrow and strife beneath the beauty of the prose. I loved this story so much, and it made my daughter a Barnhill fan (check out Barnhill's other books: they're all fantastic)!
Astrid Lindgren's books
Some of Lindgren's books, like Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, Mio, My Son, and The Brothers Lionheart take place in fantasy worlds. Others, like The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, and Karlson on the Roof blend fantasy elements and the real world. And many, like Lotta on Troublemaker Street, take place in the real, Swedish world of the early 20th century. No matter what the setting, they're all great reads for kids. (Confession: I detested Karlson of Karlson on the Roof as a child and I still do. Nothing to do with the writing, but the character of Karlson infuriated me even as a child: I thought he was just too tude and selfish and mean. Lots of people love him and the books, though, and find him funny rather than annoying!)
The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
It's six books now, all outstanding works of literature, and the original trilogy were part of what made me fall in love with fantasy in the first place. Le Guin pitches you into a vivid and mesmerizing world with magic, dragons, wizards, "true names", and dark undercurrents of death and fear. Both the older books, and the newer ones (starting with Tehanu), are brilliant works of fiction. The Tombs of Atuan in particular absolutely floored me as a teenager and still does.
The books in the series are:
The Tombs of Atuan
The Farthest Shore
Tehanu
Tales from Earthsea
The Other Wind
Read my review of Tales From Earthsea.
The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
These books were part of what turned me into a huge fan of fantasy fiction in my tweens/teens. Cooper weaves together fantasy with bits of Celtic folklore, and strands of the King Arthur legend. The story is set in 1970s Britain, as well as ancient Britain, and other fantasy-realms in-between the worlds.
The books in the series:
Over Sea, Under Stone
The Dark Is Rising
The Grey King
Silver on the Tree
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved.
Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.
This is a wonderful tale about some very unusual rats, and how they end up helping Mrs. Frisby move her house, and save her family. It was made into a Disney movie as well, but (at least in my opinion) the book is far superior.
The Wrinkle In Time Quintet by Madeleine L'Engle
Madeleine L'Engle's classic middle-grade series, A Wrinkle In Time Quintet, follows the lives of Meg Murry, her youngest brother Charles Wallace Murry, their friend Calvin O'Keefe, and her twin brothers Sandy and Dennys Murry. Beginning with A Wrinkle In Time, each novel features the characters encountering other-worldly beings and evil forces they have to defeat in order to save the world. The characters travel through time and space and even into Charles Wallace's body in this beloved series that blends science fiction and fantasy.
If you're looking for a classic read for kids, check out the Wrinkle in Time Quintet by Madeleine L'Engle. I read all these books with my kids, and they are fantastic (though some of them get pretty darn weird. I'm looking at you, Many Waters!)
A Wind in the Door
Many Waters
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
An Acceptable Time
Comet in Moominland (and all the other Moomin-books), by Tove Jansson
Finland's Tove Jansson created a unique, strange and enchanting (strangely enchanting? enchantingly strange?) world in her stories about the Moomin-family and their life in Moomin-valley. If you haven't checked out this particular fantasy-realm, it's well worth a visit.
Tove Jansson (1914–2001) was born in Helsinki and spent much of her life in Finland. She is the author of the Moomin books, including Comet in Moominland and Finn Family Moomintroll. Born into an artistic family—her father was a sculptor and her mother was a graphic designer and illustrator—Jansson studied at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm, the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, and L'École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In addition to her Moomin books, she also wrote several novels, drew comic strips and worked as a painter and illustrator. In 1966, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her body of work. Jansson had a studio in Helsinki but spent most of her time at her home on a small island called Klovharu.
Beezus and Ramona, by Beverly Cleary
Having a little sister like four-year-old Ramona isn't always easy for Beezus Quimby. With a wild imagination, disregard for order, and an appetite for chaos, Ramona makes it hard for Beezus to be the responsible older sister she knows she ought to be…especially when Ramona threatens to ruin Beezus's birthday party. Will Beezus find the patience to handle her little sister before Ramona turns her big day into a complete disaster?
This book was published way back in 1955, but it holds up really well all these years later. Maybe because it's so honest about what sibling-hood and family life can really be like: full of chaos and strife and love, all at the same time. Beezus and Ramons is absolutely delightful and at times hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny. Ramona is the quintessential trouble-making little sister, and Beezus is her long-suffering older sister. The stories about their trials and tribulations are so close to real life, I feel I might have lived some part of this.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?
My kids already loved Hayao Miyazaki's movie version of this story before we read the book, but the book is a masterpiece in its own way. The story and characters are rather different than in Miyazaki's adaptation, but I think that the differences just makes the reading more interesting (my kids agreed). Also, Sophie's adventures after she's cursed by the witch of the Waste, her encounter with the wizard Howl, and the fire demon Calcifer, make for a great story to read aloud.
The Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland
My daughter was obsessed with this series for a long time, and why not? It has dragons, dragons, and MORE dragons. Also, Sutherland has a real knack for writing stories that are very hard to put down. "Just one more chapter", my daughter would say when I read these books to her, and usually, I kept reading because I wanted to know what would happen next too. This is a huge series by now, with a ton of books, maybe enough to last a voracious reader through the summer?
More about the world of these books:
Pyrrhia is a world ruled by dragons. Dragons are everywhere, from the depths of the sea to the mountain peaks, from the icy arctic to the tropical rainforest. Each tribe has adapted to their habitat and is fiercely hostile to outside dragons. For instance, SeaWings can breathe underwater, but they can't produce fire like the SkyWings. SandWings have poisonous tails like scorpions, but they'd die quickly of the cold in the frozen caves of the IceWings. But all the tribes have a matriarchal system where each is ruled by a queen—and all dragons, no matter where they live, have a powerful love of treasure.
There are humans in this world, but the dragons think of them as prey, like the cows and deer and buffalo. Then again, the dragons have noticed that human prey acts a little odd sometimes. Humans keep showing up outside dragon caves, waving tiny swords and trying to start a fight (which doesn't bother the dragons much; if the prey chooses to come to them to get eaten, that's quite all right). The humans also seem as enamored of treasure as the dragons are themselves, and will run off with gold or jewels if they get anywhere near the dragons' hidden hoards. As a result, the dragons see humans as annoying magpies and refer to them as "scavengers."
Red Shift, by Alan Garner
Three separate stories, three utterly different lives, distant in time and yet strangely linked to a single place, the mysterious, looming outcrop known as Mow Cop, and a single object, the blunt head of a stone axe: all these come together in Alan Garner's extraordinary Red Shift.
This book is a twisting, trippy and hard-to-describe tale that winds through three different historical times, all set in the same place. It's a story that I first read in my teens, but it has stayed with me over the years. It is tragic and brutal and unsettling, and also full of sadness and loss, beauty and love. I really love how Garner uses the same area for each storyline, and the connection to the land, to the landscape, is strong here and part of the story's innate magic.
My daughter read her way through three series of books by Neal Shusterman recently. I haven't read the books myself, but based on her reaction, and if your teen is into the darker side of things, I'd recommend them:
Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman
In a future where no one dies unless a Scythe mandates it, Citra and Rowan are chosen to learn the "art of killing" in preparation for the scythedom. What follows is a thrilling adventure where the two must work together to uncover the corruption in their supposed utopian society.
The Unwind Dystology by Neal Shusterman
In Neal Shusterman's New York Times bestselling Unwind Dystology series, three friends fight to change their fate in a world where all teenagers are at risk of being unwound—having their bodies dismantled and all the parts distributed for transplant.
The Skinjacker trilogy by Neal Shusterman
Nick and Allie don't survive the car accident—and their souls don't exactly get where they're supposed to go. Instead, they're caught halfway between life and death, in a sort of limbo known as Everlost: a shadow of the living world, filled with all the things and places that no longer exist. It's a magical, yet dangerous, place where bands of lost kids run wild and anyone who stands in the same place too long sinks to the center of the Earth.
When they find Mary, the self-proclaimed queen of lost souls, Nick feels like he's found a home, but Allie isn't satisfied spending eternity between worlds. Against all warnings, Allie begins learning the "Criminal Art" of haunting, and ventures into dangerous territory, where a monster called the McGill threatens all the souls of Everlost.
Labels: book reviews, speculative fiction
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"Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters" Clips Released, Available To Own August 20, 2019
James HarveyAnimated Movies, Batman (General Brand), Blu-ray/DVD/Digital, DC Animated Movie, Lego DC: Batman - Family Matters, Site News, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment dc batman, dc comics, Lego, lego dc, lego dc: batman, lego dc: batman - family matters, warner bros. animation, warner bros. home entertainment 0
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has provided two from Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters, the all-new animated feature hitting DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on August 20, 2019. The Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD releases of Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters feature an 84-piece LEGO Mini Ultimate Batmobile premium set, available while supplies last. Check out the clips in the players below, along with additional details for the animated movie.
The first clip features the entire Bat-family in action, including Troy Baker (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman: Arkham Origins) as the voice of Batman, Alyson Stoner (Phineas and Ferb) as Batgirl, Scott Menville (Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!) as Robin, Will Friedle (Boy Meets World, Kim Possible) as Nightwing, Nolan North (Young Justice) as Alfred, and Tara Strong (Batman: The Animated Series, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!) as Batwoman. The second clips has Red Hood (voiced by Jason Spisak of Young Justice fame) delivering the classic villain monologue to the Bat-family, including Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, Alfred and Batwoman. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment describes Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters as follows:
Suspicion is on high after Batman, Batgirl, Robin and other Super Heroes receive mysterious invitations. However, family values must remain strong when Batman and his team encounter the villainous Red Hood, who is obsessed with destroying the Bat-family and all of Gotham City.
Lego DC: Batman – Family Mattersarrives DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on August 20, 2019. Stay tuned for select further coverage on Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters right here at The World's Finest!
"Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters" Trailer Released, Hits Home Media On August 6, 2019
James HarveyAnimated Movies, Blu-ray/DVD/Digital, DC Animated Movie, Lego DC: Batman - Family Matters, Site News, Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment batman, Lego, lego batman, lego dc, lego dc super heroes, lego dc: batman - family matters, warner bros. animation, warner bros. home entertainment 0
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released the trailer for the upcoming Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters direct-to-video animated feature. The title will hit DVD, Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on August 6, 2019. The Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD releases of LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters feature an 84-piece LEGO Mini Ultimate Batmobile premium set, available while supplies last. Check out the trailer in the player below, along with official press details for the animated movie.
THE BONDS OF FAMILY ARE TESTED AS
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT,
DC ENTERTAINMENT AND THE LEGO GROUP RELEASE
LEGO DC:
BATMAN – FAMILY MATTERS
AUGUST 6, 2019 ON DIGITAL, BLU-RAY COMBO PACK & DVD
Batman, Robin and Batgirl must stick together even when Gotham's most dangerous villains attempt to pull them apart in LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters, the latest animated adventure in the LEGO DC series. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment and the LEGO Group, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment starting August 6, 2019 on Blu-ray Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP), DVD ($19.98 SRP) and Digital.
The Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD releases of LEGO® DC: Batman – Family Matters feature an impressive 84-piece LEGO Mini Ultimate Batmobile premium set ($10 value), while supplies last.
In LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters, suspicion is on high after Batman, Batgirl, Robin and other Super Heroes receive mysterious invitations. However, family values must remain strong when Batman and his team encounter the villainous Red Hood, who is obsessed with destroying the Bat-family and all of Gotham City.
Troy Baker (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman: Arkham Origins), Alyson Stoner (Phineas and Ferb) and Scott Menville (Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!) lead the cast as the voices of Batman, Batgirl and Robin. Jason Spisak (Young Justice) heads the rogues' gallery as the voice of Red Hood (and Jason Todd). Also along for the fun are actors Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Star Wars Rebels) as Scarecrow, Zach Callison (Steven Universe) as Billy Batson, Cam Clarke (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Brother Eye & Bat Computer, Will Friedle (Boy Meets World, Kim Possible) as Nightwing, Ralph Garman (Family Guy) as Wizard, Jake Green (The Boss Baby: Back in Business) as Fred, Josh Keaton (The Spectacular Spider-Man) as Board Member, Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Gordon & Penguin, Christian Lanz (Elena of Avalor) as Two-Face/Harvey Dent, Nolan North (Young Justice) as Alfred & Killer Croc, Andre Sogliuzza (American Dad!) as Riddler, Tara Strong (Batman: The Animated Series, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!) as Batwoman and Fred Tatasciore (DC Super Hero Girls) as Solomon Grundy.
LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters is produced by Rick Morales (LEGO Scooby-Doo!: Haunted Hollywood) and directed by Matt Peters (LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis) from a script by Jeremy Adams (LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash). Jim Krieg is co-producer. Executive producer is Michael Uslan. Sam Register and Jason Cosler & Jill Wilfert are executive producers.
"LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters is another shining example of the fun, action-packed, family entertainment that results when you combine DC's extensive library of Super Heroes, Warner Bros. Animation's creative vision and LEGO's unique take on these characters and situations," said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing.
The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, UK., Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials. Guided by the company spirit: "Only the best is good enough", the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure and the Brick & Knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2019 The LEGO Group.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. BATMAN and all pre-existing characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
The LEGO DC SUPER HEROES: BATMAN program and all new characters and elements are trademarks of and © WBEI.
Home to iconic brands DC (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), DC Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, DC is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and WarnerMedia. DC works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.
Please note the August 6, 2019 release date was changed to August 20, 2019 shortly after the above press details were issued. Stay tuned for select further coverage on Lego DC: Batman – Family Matters right here at The World's Finest!


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Bizarre Festivals in the Philippines
May 12, 2017 | Travel
There's no denying that we, Filipinos, love to celebrate. We love it so much that we even find reasons or make up ways just to put up a fun occasion. So don't be surprised if we have fiestas that are worthy of a Ripley's Believe it Or Not episode. With that, we've rundown some of our most bizarre fiestas that you may want to join, if ever you're interested.
1.	Parada ng Lechon
'Pag may piyesta, may lechon. Pero sa Balayan, Batangas, ang piyesta doon ay lechon.
The Parada ng Lechon is held every 24th of June. It is also a commemoration of St. John the Baptist but with hundreds of roasted pigs parading the streets. Many of them are decorated in creative costumes, while some have had the heads removed and placed on mannequins.
Pero don't worry. No lechons were put to waste because after the parade, all of the lechons are brought to the local church to be blessed and distributed to the public afterwards. Oh alam na ha. Save the date.
2.	Aswang Festival
While some millennials fancy good-looking (or sparkling) vampires, nothing beats our very own drop dead gorgeous Aswangs, the most famous mythical creature in the Philippines. If you're not convinced, you can visit Roxas City, Capiz in October and see for yourself.
The unique festival started in 2004. It aims to change people's perception of Capiz as the home of these beautiful yet dangerous creatures by using them as a tourist attraction with people parading in aswang costumes.
Unfortunately, the festival was short-lived. It had to be shut down just three years later, fearing that the festival could sway people towards evil. KJ ba?
3.	Taong Putik Festival
Just to be clear, malaki ang pagkakaiba ng taong putik sa taong grasa. The latter is what you usually see in the streets of Manila covered in dirt. While the former is what you'll see in the streets of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija covered in mud, vines, and banana leaves during the feast day of St. John the Baptist.
So ang tanong, bakit nila ginagawa yun? The tradition was said to have begun during the World War II, when the Japanese were about to execute all male residents as revenge. But just as the execution was about to start, umulan ng malakas. And the Japanese took it as an ominous sign, so 'di na nila tinuloy. And they just set the prisoners free.
The villagers then attributed the miracle to St. John the Baptist and celebrated by rolling in the mud. Since then, the residents celebrated the day in such muddy fashion.
4.	Baliw-Baliw Festival
True to its name, this festival is cray-cray in a lot of ways. It includes people carrying phallic symbols and cross-dressing men who simulate giving birth in the sea. But the most kabaliw-baliw of all is the selling of (pasintabi po sa kumakain) cow poop topped with ketchup. Weird, 'no?
Heto pa, based on hearsay, this crazy festival has been celebrated since the 18th century to help the townsfolk cope with the madness of life. Well, as they say, you fight fire with fire. But in this case, you fight madness with more insanity.
5.	Lukayo Festival
From one crazy festival to another, the Lukayo festival is actually a play on the words "loka-loka kayo". The crazy difference of this outrageous festival from Baliw-Baliw is it's for women. And the tradition is said to increase the likelihood of a couple to bear children. So ano'ng crazy doon, you might ask?
For one, women of all ages would dress up while waving around wooden phalluses, eggplants, or other things that could depict the male sexual organ. Ang mas nakakaloka pa diyan, they then sing innuendo-filled songs while parading the streets. Ayan.
Though this festival appear scandalous, according to Filipino anthropologist and National Artist Ramon Obusan, the ritual symbolizes the power of women against male domination by satirizing the phallus, which is often considered as the male symbol of power.
Now that you know our bizarre festivals, which ones are you most likely to join? If you ask us, it's the Parada ng Lechon. Heck, we might start or our very own later. Game?
Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Travel


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By Capt. George A. Hussey
On July 1, 1863, the stern chase of the Army of the Potomac after that of Lee was soon to result in another trial of battle, though few of the enlisted men knew at the time that the great struggle was imminent; at least such was the belief of the men of the Ninth New York. The regiment was then encamped at Emmitsburg, Md., and at about 8 o'clock a. m. started on the march towards Gettysburg, Penn., some nine miles distant. But a few miles had been covered when the well-known sounds of battle were heard, each step almost increasing the indications. The troops hurried along the pike without special orders until near the Codori • House, when, turning into the fields to the left, they continued on towards the Seminary Building, which was reached about noon. The Ninety-seventh New York and Eleventh Pennsylvania, of the brigade, were almost immediately sent to the front, followed soon after by the remaining regiments, including the Ninth New York. Buford's Cavalry, with the First and Third Divisions of the First Corps had, up to then, sustained the brunt of the fight, and now the Second Division was placed to extend the line, in the expectation of covering the open ground to that point occupied by the Eleventh Corps, which, at this hour, 1 o'clock, was in position farther to the right and rear, on Oak Ridge.
The Ninth New York, under command of Lieut. Col. Joseph A Moesch, belonged to Baxter's Brigade of Robinson's Division, First Corps. It was first put into line of battle facing the Mummasburg road; but the appearance of several brigades of the enemy, to the left and rear, necessitated a corresponding change of front, and it was then formed on the top of Seminary Ridge, protected by a stone wall which, for a while, concealed the men from the enemy's view.
The enemy, advancing in line of battle, opened fire on the Ninth, charging "up the hill with desperation." The men of the Ninth stood their ground like heroes, encouraged by the bravery of their lieutenant colonel, who rode along the line cheering on his men. The men displayed great coolness, reserving their fire until the enemy came within fifty yards, when a murderous volley was poured into their ranks, which sent them reeling back in utter confusion, followed closely by the brigade, whose cheers rent the air.
The enemy at this point consisted of the North Carolina Brigade of Iverson, supported by Ramseur, and to the right by O'Neal, of Ewell's Corps, whose men marched as on parade towards the boys in blue. Such a concentrated fire was poured into Iverson's troops that they became at once totally demoralized, and lost a large number of prisoners.
At this time the regiment captured 150 prisoners, besides many officers. The enemy rallied, making another stand, when an incessant fire was kept up by both sides. After being engaged nearly three hours Baxter's Brigade was relieved by the First Brigade, commanded by General Paul, of the same division.
The Ninth took into this battle 148 men, including officers. Its loss, as far as ascertained, is 2 officers killed, 2 wounded, and I missing; 4 enlisted men killed, 15 wounded, and 44 missing. Many of the missing were taken prisoners while falling back through the town, where they were hotly pursued by the enemy, who had received heavy reinforcements. Captain Quirk and Lieutenant Clark were killed, Lieutenants Jacobs and Whitney wounded, and Lieutenant Barnes was taken prisoner.
Too much praise cannot be given to both officers and men for their bravery on this occasion, which was particularly noticed by General Baxter, who took occasion to thank the regiment. General Baxter won the admiration of every member of the Ninth Regiment for his bravery and coolness on the field, and stands in their estimation among the bravest of the brave.
Upon the retreat from Seminary Ridge the remnant of Robinson's Division stopped near the position of Stewart's U. S. Battery long enough to prevent its capture; then, with those who had preceded them, they took position at Ziegler's Grove, near Cemetery Hill, at about 5 p. m., and remained there for the night.
During July 2d the Ninth, about seventy-five strong, supported a battery of the Eleventh Corps upon Cemetery Hill, going later to help patch out the line in rear of where Sickles' Third Corps was engaged, until that day's fight turned in favor of the Union army.
On July 3d, from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m., the regiment again supported a battery of the Twelfth Corps, being ordered at the latter hour into position on the right of Hays' Division, Second Corps, also this time to aid a battery. Here the handful of men were witnesses of Pickett's charge, which having failed of its object (to pierce the centre of the battle-line), the Ninth was sent out on picket duty.
During that night and the succeeding day the horrors of " after a battle " were on every side, and then came to notice the many instances of relief and kindness soldiers show towards disabled enemies, which few other wars have developed in so noticeable a degree.
Hill and Ewell are said to have believed the troops being brought to oppose them were only militia, whom they expected to soon brush from their paths. It is true a number of militia regiments were present, viz., the Second, Ninth, Fourteenth and Twentieth, from New York. Of their fighting qualities let the standard work, " Regimental Losses in the Civil War," by Col. William F. Fox, speak, which records all of them as belonging to the " Three Hundred Fighting Regiments." They, together with equally brave volunteer organizations of the army, handled Lee's veterans to their discomfiture and final retreat from Northern soil.
The Ninth Militia dates its origin from 1800, having been formed from the Second Regiment of that time; since which period it has taken part in the War of 1812, various riots in the city of New York, and the great War of the Rebellion.
Regimental orders No. 5, issued in March, 1861, directed the members to assemble at the City Armory for battalion drill. On April 19th, the regiment voted to enlist for the war. Meanwhile the firing upon Fort Sumter had taken place, and the proclamation calling for 75,000 militia was issued by President Lincoln.
Repeated efforts to obtain marching orders were at last successful, and on Monday, May 27th, the command started for the capital of the Nation. Such, though, was the mixed condition of military affairs there, it was not until twelve days after that the Government would officially accept the regiment's services. Then, on June 8th, 837 men were mustered in by Capt. William D. Whipple, U. S. A., as the Ninth New York Militia, to serve during the war, unless sooner discharged. At a later period, in 1862, the regiment was known as the Eighty-third New York Volunteers, but at no time were the men re mustered for duty under this latter designation.
During the years 1861-1864, the Ninth served mainly in the First and Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, taking part in all the battles, engagements, marches, etc., which these corps shared in. Finally on June 7, 1864, the welcome notice came by special orders No. 156, Headquarters Fifth Corps, for the regiment to proceed to New York City to be mustered out.
On that day only 92 men were with it entitled to a discharge; but, with those away, wounded or detailed, the number was swelled to 254 by the time they reached home. As proof that these men had been " at the front," the records show that 85 of them had been wounded. The Empire City has reason to feel proud of such sacrifices for the Union.
On June 11th the gallant survivors arrived in New York, and on the 23d they were released from further military service to the United States. Capt. Henry A. Ellis, U. S. A., mustered them out, after having served three years and twenty-seven days. Many, though, continued to do duty as a part of the militia for years afterwards, and even now a few of the old veterans are still in the ranks of the regiment.


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Press Releases>Sports>Tennis>Racquet World Inc.>
Racquet World Inc.
Sony Ericsson Open Chooses TennisPlaza.com to Continue as the Tournament's Top-Caliber Racquet Retailer
Miami, FL, August 15, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The Sony Ericsson Open, recognized since 1985 for its excellence and innovativeness, has signed a four-year contract extension with TennisPlaza.com to carry on as the official tennis racquet retailer at the Tournament. TennisPlaza.com has been part of the Tournament for the last six years, beginning with a modest 200 square foot on-site tent (offering Babolat and Prince products), now expanded to a 2,600 square foot store on Tournament grounds, representing Babolat, Prince, Head, Wilson, Dunlop, Volkl, Fischer, Tecnifibre, Yonex, Luxilon, Kirschbaum and Gamma products.
In 1999, the Tournament was purchased by IMG and in August 2006, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications announced the signing of a four-year, contract with IMG to become the tournament's title sponsor. With $7.54 million in prize money, the Sony Ericsson Open is the largest tournament in the world with title sponsorship. Each Spring, since 1987, the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, a beautiful 30-acre complex in Miami, is transformed from a public tennis facility into a full-fledged festival for the Open. The Open's excitement, and unique format, has led to it being awarded "Tournament of the Year" by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for eight out of the last nine years, and for the last five years straight. Participating in and winning the Tournament is considered one of the most coveted distinctions in professional tennis.
A Good Match: Leon Echavarria, CEO of Racquet World, Inc., the parent company of TennisPlaza.com, comments: "We are excited to continue our relationship with the Sony Ericsson Open as their official tennis racquet partner, as we again demonstrate our shared commitment to bring all of the best to the world of tennis. We are constantly improving TennisPlaza.com to make sure it remains the most convenient, one-stop tennis equipment destination on the web. We cater to customers who are seeking the best products for their game at the best prices. Free shipping, free stringing, an unsurpassed price guarantee, and a comprehensive selection are some of the ways we keep TennisPlaza.com ultra-competitive and in the game."
A Winning Proposition: Earl "Butch" Buchholz, Tournament Chairman, echoes the strong customer focus at TennisPlaza.com: "Every year, we bring the players who are at the top of their game to the Sony Ericsson Open, providing fans thrill after thrill. That's our value proposition. TennisPlaza.com shares that spirit. In much the same way, they bring the highest caliber of tennis equipment to the web - the tennis racquets and tennis accessories that the best players in the sport use. TennisPlaza.com remains competitive in price, while offering the ultimate in service to tennis players everywhere at all levels, 24/7. That's an unbeatable combination, and one we support."
More About TennisPlaza.com: TennisPlaza.com is owned and operated by Racquet World, one of the largest, most reputable tennis stores in the country. In 2005, it was named as the #1 Tennis Retail Store in the United States by Racquet Sports Industry magazine. For 16 years, Racquet World has been based in Miami, Florida, "the gateway to the Americas," building a reputation with tennis enthusiasts who demand the highest quality and level of service, both locally and abroad. Racquet World is known for its wide selection, competitive prices, knowledgeable personnel, and dedicated service. Likewise, on the web, TennisPlaza.com is known as the best link for on-court essentials.
More About The Sony Ericsson Open:
The Tournament offers $7.54 million in prize money ($3.77 million for men and $3.77 million for women). The men's and women's finals are broadcast live on CBS. In 2007, the Sony Ericsson Open received over 97 hours of live and taped television coverage in the United States. Worldwide, over 1,200 hours of coverage was broadcast in over 200 countries. The 2007 defending champions include Novak Djokovic (Men's Singles), Serena Williams (Women's Singles), Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan (men's Doubles), and Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur (Women's Doubles). In 2007, the Sony Ericsson Open drew 288,025 attendees, a new tournament record. The 2008 Sony Ericsson Open will be held March 26 - April 6 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. For more information about the Sony Ericsson Open, call Sam Henderson at 305-446-2200.
Leon Echavarria
www.tennisplaza.com