But sadly, though I'm certain it's for the best, no random swordfighting

I couldn't make it to Mac's Backs last week. Austin Kleon did, though, and he's posted a good (certainly better than anything I'd have offered) write-up about the Maureen McHugh/Ellen Klages Tiptree Award Anthology reading, complete with sketches. Maureen also posts about the reading, complete with thoughts on the hipness of the independent bookstore, and a cookie recipe that, if you're like me, will have you looking for a friend who isn't a complete kitchen failure to try to convince them they need to do some baking.