But of course. The Moor has done his work, the Moor can leave …

I was shamefully douchey to the author when I discovered the book when it won its 2009 Nebula. The last chapters were ganked from the web before I’d finished reading. I would not, I said, have begun reading it, had I known the last pages of the book were to be virtually ripped out. I was the archetypical whiny entitled fanboy.

The author in her reply was lovely to me. She even offered to email me a copy (I declined, having cooled down and realized how ghastly I’d been). She explained that the removal was against her wishes, but since she lacks Corey’s clout, it was the best she could negotiate with the publisher: she felt lucky to get away with so much more than just the first chapter, and only signing away her own rights to republish her work for a limited duration.

I’m totally buying this book, and supporting this author. I *want* her to become one of the Coreys of this world! :) I want to read more of her. I want her to be able to work by crowdfunding and open publishing, without having to deface her own work by taking parts of it down.

http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/blog/

Yeah, I know that by posting about it here, I’m shooting down any chance I might have had of winning it – but really: she’s worth it! I haven’t been this excited about an author since I discovered Gaiman, and he thinks she rocks, to :)

Anybody lucky enough to have gotten a copy, hang on to it! (and email it to me…)