I have nothing bad to say about Sloane Crosley, except that I’ve yet to receive The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps (and that’s really more my fault, because I didn’t voice my affinity for that pulp period). Apparently nobody else has any dirt either. Normally, I’m suspicious of such people. But since this is a piece from Observer journalist Leon Neyfakh and Ms. Crosley has the additional imprimatur from a figure known only as “Mr. Park,” I believe that Mr. Neyfakh did pound the pavement and looked vigorously for a contrarian take, only to find none. Perhaps there are quids pro quo going on that we simply do not know about that have involved certain muckrakers disappearing into the East River. Either way, I don’t know whether to be skeptical or sanguine in this case. There’s nothing here beyond hosannas.

The 50 greatest fictional weapons of all time. (via Quiddity)

The Independent: “The frustrated efforts of Catherine O’Flynn, a former postwoman who tried and failed 15 times to get her work published, were finally rewarded yesterday when her first book was shortlisted for the £25,000 Costa Book Awards.”

Incidentally, Rupert Thomson made the shortlist too.

(via Keir Graff)

My review of Paula Kamen’s Finding Iris Chang appears in this Sunday’s Los Angeles Times.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am holed up writing like a maniac, trying to meet deadlines and cackling like a misunderstood nymphomaniac. So if it ain’t exactly a snow day, it’s certainly a light blogging day. But I will try to check in later.