International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day
Encyclopedia
International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day is a commemoration declared by author Jo Walton
, held on April 23 and first celebrated in 2007, in response to remarks made by Howard V. Hendrix
stating that he was opposed "to the increasing presence in our organization [the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
] of webscabs, who post their creations on the net for free". The purpose of the day, according to Walton was to encourage writers to post "professional quality" works for free on the internet.
The name of the day originates from the assertion by Hendrix that the "webscabs" are "converting the noble calling of Writer into the life of Pixel-stained Technopeasant Wretch."
Many notable authors contributed to International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day 2007, including Chaz Brenchley
, Steven Brust
, Emma Bull
, Debra Doyle
, Diane Duane
, Naomi Kritzer, Jay Lake
, David Langford
, Sharon Lee
, Beth Meacham
, Steve Miller
, Andrew Plotkin
, Robert Reed
, Will Shetterly
, Sherwood Smith
, Ryk Spoor, Charles Stross
, Catherynne M. Valente
, Jo Walton
, Lawrence Watt-Evans
, Martha Wells
and Sean Williams.
, created by UNESCO
in 1995 to promote reading, publishing and copyright. UNESCO chose its date partly in honour of St George's Day
as celebrated in the Spanish
region of Catalonia
, when sweethearts traditionally exchange gifts of books, what derived in the "Book Day" celebration in all the Spanish country. Walton chose April 23 in recognition of the Catalan celebration, and because the date is traditionally considered William Shakespeare
's birthday, but she was unaware of the pre-existing United Nations observance.
Jo Walton
Jo Walton is a Welsh-Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2002 and the World Fantasy award for her novel Tooth and Claw in 2004. Her novel Ha'penny was a co-winner of the 2008 Prometheus Award...
, held on April 23 and first celebrated in 2007, in response to remarks made by Howard V. Hendrix
Howard V. Hendrix
Howard Vincent Hendrix is an American scholar and science fiction writer. He was born in Cincinnati. He is a cousin of blues musician Mike Tetrault. He is author of the novels Lightpaths and Standing Wave, Better Angels, Empty Cities of the Full Moon, The Labyrinth Key, and Spears of God...
stating that he was opposed "to the increasing presence in our organization [the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, or SFWA is a nonprofit association of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. It was founded in 1965 by Damon Knight under the name Science Fiction Writers of America, Inc. and it retains the acronym SFWA after a very brief use of the SFFWA...
] of webscabs, who post their creations on the net for free". The purpose of the day, according to Walton was to encourage writers to post "professional quality" works for free on the internet.
The name of the day originates from the assertion by Hendrix that the "webscabs" are "converting the noble calling of Writer into the life of Pixel-stained Technopeasant Wretch."
Many notable authors contributed to International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day 2007, including Chaz Brenchley
Chaz Brenchley
Chaz Brenchley is a British writer of novels and short stories, associated with the genres of horror, crime and fantasy....
, Steven Brust
Steven Brust
Steven Karl Zoltán Brust is an American fantasy and science fiction author of Hungarian descent. He was a member of the writers' group The Scribblies, which included Emma Bull, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly, Nate Bucklin, Kara Dalkey, and Patricia Wrede; he also belongs to the Pre-Joycean...
, Emma Bull
Emma Bull
Emma Bull is a science fiction and fantasy author whose best-known novel is War for the Oaks, one of the pioneering works of urban fantasy. She has participated in Terri Windling's Borderland shared universe, which is the setting of her 1994 novel Finder...
, Debra Doyle
Debra Doyle
Dr. Debra Doyle is an American author writing in multiple related genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. Many of her stories are co-written with her husband, James D. Macdonald...
, Diane Duane
Diane Duane
Diane Duane is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her works include the Young Wizards young adult fantasy series and the Rihannsu Star Trek novels.-Biography :...
, Naomi Kritzer, Jay Lake
Jay Lake
Joseph E. Lake, Jr. is a science fiction and fantasy writer. In 2003 he was a quarterly first place winner in the Writers of the Future contest. In 2004 he won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction. He lives in Portland, Oregon and currently works as a product manager...
, David Langford
David Langford
David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible.-Personal background:...
, Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee (writer)
Sharon Lee is an American writer. She is the co-author of the Liaden universe novels and stories, as well as other works, and individually the author of two mystery novels....
, Beth Meacham
Beth Meacham
Beth Meacham is an American writer and editor, best known as a longtime top editor with Tor Books.-Life, education and family:Meacham was born November 14, 1951 in Newark, Licking County, Ohio. She studied Communications in Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where she met her husband, Tappan...
, Steve Miller
Steve Miller (writer)
Steve Miller is the grandson of poet and WBAL radio personality Dorothea Neale. He graduated from Reisterstown, Maryland's Franklin Senior High School in 1968 after learning how to make chapbooks as editor of the school’s literary magazine, Junto.- Biography :Steve attended University of Maryland,...
, Andrew Plotkin
Andrew Plotkin
Andrew Plotkin , also known as Zarf, is a central figure in the modern interactive fiction community. Having both written a number of award-winning games and developed a range of new file formats, interpreters, and other utilities for the design, production, and running of IF games, Plotkin is...
, Robert Reed
Robert Reed (author)
Robert David Reed is a Hugo Award-winning American science fiction author. He has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Nebraska Wesleyan University. Reed is an "extraordinarily prolific" genre short-fiction writer with "Alone" being his 200th professional sale...
, Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel Dogland . The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents...
, Sherwood Smith
Sherwood Smith
Sherwood Smith writes fantasy and science fiction for young adult as well as adults. She has participated in and organized writing groups for many years.Smith's works include the YA novel Crown Duel...
, Ryk Spoor, Charles Stross
Charles Stross
Charles David George "Charlie" Stross is a British writer of science fiction, Lovecraftian horror and fantasy. He was born in Leeds.Stross specialises in hard science fiction and space opera...
, Catherynne M. Valente
Catherynne M. Valente
Catherynne M. Valente , is a Tiptree–, Andre Norton–, and Mythopoeic Award–winning novelist, poet, and literary critic. Her short fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld Magazine, the World Fantasy Award–winning anthologies Salon Fantastique and Paper Cities, along with numerous Year's Best volumes...
, Jo Walton
Jo Walton
Jo Walton is a Welsh-Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet. She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2002 and the World Fantasy award for her novel Tooth and Claw in 2004. Her novel Ha'penny was a co-winner of the 2008 Prometheus Award...
, Lawrence Watt-Evans
Lawrence Watt-Evans
Lawrence Watt-Evans is one of the pseudonyms of American science fiction and fantasy author Lawrence Watt Evans...
, Martha Wells
Martha Wells
-Biography:Martha Wells was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1964 and has a B.A. in Anthropology from Texas A&M University. She has published eight fantasy novels, two Stargate Atlantis tie-in novels, and several short stories...
and Sean Williams.
Other occasions marked on the date
April 23 is also World Book and Copyright DayWorld Book and Copyright Day
World Book and Copyright Day is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright...
, created by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in 1995 to promote reading, publishing and copyright. UNESCO chose its date partly in honour of St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
as celebrated in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
region of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, when sweethearts traditionally exchange gifts of books, what derived in the "Book Day" celebration in all the Spanish country. Walton chose April 23 in recognition of the Catalan celebration, and because the date is traditionally considered William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's birthday, but she was unaware of the pre-existing United Nations observance.
External links
- LiveJournal group for publishing International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day works
- Howard V. Hendrix's remarks on Livejournal.com
- Monday 23 April is International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day (Jo Walton's blog entry on Livejournal)
- List of creations (not updated since 2007)
- Another list of International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day works (not updated since 2007)