A look at various covers over the years for 16 sci-fi classics. One commenter: “I’m really digging the War of the Worlds that just straight-up stole the Enterprise for the cover.” (Via Casual Optimist) . . . A village in England has opened a lending library in a phone booth. . . . Aleksandar Hemon is interviewed about a new anthology of European fiction that he edited. (“The project depends on scouts and translators, which I think is great: we have people in the field. Translation requires networks — much like spy networks.”) . . . The Millions introduces its “Year in Reading” series for 2009, and posts the first entry, by Hari Kunzru. . . . Nigel Beale considers getting into the rare books game, and wonders where he should put his money. . . . Scott Esposito understandably snoozes at the New York Times’ list of 100 notable books from 2009. . . . The Bad Sex Award has been given to Jonathan Littell. . . . The BBC asks why writing about sex is such a dicey proposition, and elicits this great quote from reviewer Melissa Katsoulis: “When you have a dream about someone you fancy, it’s because they sat down next to you on the bus or something, not because you were at it, hammer and tongs.”