SFWA Bulletin 202: A more general review

The last issue of the SFWA Bulletin was mailed out to SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) members last week, and has, to put it mildly, generated a bit of a stink, even going so far as to become a trending topic on Twitter until tornadoes hit Oklahoma City again. Most of the outcry has focused on an article by Mike Resnick and Barry Malzburg. Other people have written about this more eloquently than I can. A related but significant point is that the organization spends a fairly significant part of its annual budget on the Bulletin, and that its articles are solicited and paid for. This being the internet, various comments were also made about squid and were-badgers. [1]

John Scalzi, the current president of SFWA (Steven Gould does not replace him until July) has issued a reply explaining the background. With this, I hope the organization can move forward.

Overlooked in all the uproar about the column was another question: how well did the rest of the Bulletin meet its mission?

Let's find out!

( Cutting to spare those of you with no interest in my analysis of a single issue of the Bulletin. )

Game of Thrones, Season 3, episode 9

And on a happier note, Episode 9 of Season 3 of Game of Thrones!

( Cut for those of you who have not read the books or the explosive Twitter reaction to the episode. Also, minor spoiler for a later detail from Book 3. )