New Ancillary Story, but there's a catch...

[davidgillon]

There's a chance to get an new Ancillary story by Ann Leckie, but it's tied-up in some unusual conditions.

Strange Horizons are holding a crowd-funder, if they get to $9000 (currently at $6500) they'll publish it. If they get to $13,000, they'll publish the second half.

Now I'm a fan of Ancillary Justice, and I've backed several anthology crowdfunders recently, but (and it may just be me and my loathing at feeling compelled to do anything) there's something about the two halves thing leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Are they really proposing to publish only half a story if they get to $9K but not $13K?

Comments

[yhlee]

You're not the only one. I don't donate to Strange Horizons for completely different reasons (it feels bizarre to donate to a market that I hope will then pay me--I've sold poetry and, years ago, reviews there, although not any stories), but the half-a-story thing here annoys me. Especially since there's $4,000 between the two goalposts and even if they make $9k I am kind of doubting the $13k. (I could be wrong; I haven't really tracked their funding drives in the past, so I don't know how much they tend to make.)

[axilet]

From Ann Leckie's blog:
"And never fear being left hanging. Now the first part is up, I am determined the second will be, eventually. For now, let’s see how the fund drive goes."

[kaberett]

Hah. Good.

[kaberett]

Here it is! (Part 1, at least.)

[damerell]

Also, now that Leckie is approximately the hottest property in modern SF, does new material by her really need crowdfunding to get it into print?

[davidgillon]

Agreed, suspect it's more an attempt to use her success to support the magazine, rather than vice versa.

[axilet]

I've just finished reading, and am I ever so glad that we aren't going to be left hanging no matter what. I thought it was going to be another worldbuilding story like Night's Slow Poison, until I realized that the setting, and one of the characters, sounded very familiar O.O

[davidgillon]

It certainly seems to potentially cast new light on a certain religious icon in a certain person's possession...