BARRY B. LONGYEAR

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The opening tale of the Jaggers and Shad mysteries, "The Good Kill," appeared in the November 2006 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine. A limited number of copies of this issue, with Barry's award-winning story autographed, are available though this website. Payment can be made through Paypal. For those outside the US, or wanting to pay by other means, send an Email for information.

AnLab Award "The Good Kill"

On my 65th birthday I was supposed to be in New Mexico going through Carlsbad Caverns. Then I got an Email from Stan Schmidt, editor at Analog, labeled TOP SECRET. My Jaggers and Shad story, "The Good Kill," had won Analog's readers' vote for best novella of 2006. Show up May 12th in New York for the ceremony and tell no one. . . . well, I didn't tell everyone.

Some friends at home waved good-bye and some friends in Portland gave me a mini birthday send off, which was much appreciated. I was just a bit nervous because something had been added to the trip.

A TV pilot for Analog's proposed Science of Fiction series was to be taped the day before the award ceremony, and I was invited to participate in that. It was a round table luncheon discussion at the Stone Street Studios on W. 21st Street hosted by Stan and Assistant Editor Trevor Quachri. The other participants were James Gunn, Joe Haldeman, and Jack McDevitt. It was a really hot, really entertaining discussion that went on for a couple of hours from which they hope to snip out an hour's worth. Not a job I would envy, I enjoyed the entire discussion that much. So much for being nervous.

Afterward, the mysterious Jean (Did I mention we just celebrated our 40th Anniversary?) ate at Giovanni's near the Marriot and had an absolutely delicious meal. Then we crashed.

Next morning came the award ceremony at the restaurant in the hotel. The food was excellent, and doubly so at the award ceremony because that tab was picked up by Dell Magazines (Thanks!)

I had a pretty good speech prepared for when I was supposed to accept my award, but Stan Schmidt is sneaky. He took the opportunity in presenting the award to announce a bit of a birthday surprise: He is purchasing the latest of the Jaggers and Shad stories I had on his desk, "The Purloined Labradoodle." All I could do was give him a hug and spend the rest of the event grinning.

That night around 11:30 we awakened to a bunch of explosions coming from outside. We went to our window which had an excellent view of Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty above which a whole mess of fireworks were going off. The fireworks kept up for another fifteen minutes or so. Haven't quite figured out how Stan arranged that.

Jean gave me a new hat, too.