Fantasy novelist Patrick Rothfuss posted photographs of dueling author inscriptions on his Facebook today, sparring playfully with Wheel of Time series co-author Brandon Sanderson.

In one reader’s copy of The Wise Man’s Fear, Rothfuss took a crack at a book written by Sanderson: ” more majestic than Way of Kings.” Sanderson wrote a funny comeback in a copy of The Way of Kings: “1000% less sex with random goddesses than Wise Man’s Fear.”

Rothfuss surrendered after this inscription, writing “Well played, Sanderson…. Well played….” on Facebook this morning. (Link via elquesogrande)

Photographer Lauren Zurchin (pictured, via) has lined up fourteen well-known fantasy fiction writers for a charity calendar.

At the moment, Zurchin is fundraising on Kickstarter to cover the cost of producing this calendar. Once the calendar has been assembled and marketed, the proceeds will be donated to First Book and Worldbuilders.

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To raise money for the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation, a team of five novelists posed for a gender-flipped posed copy of a sexy science fiction cover.

You can bid on an autographed copy of the photograph at eBay. Photographer Al Bogdan shot the picture, imitating the cover of Young Flandry by Poul Anderson. The io9 blog has more about the history behind the pin-up photograph.

Check it out: “This is one of only two 16″ x 16″ high-quality prints, and has been autographed by John Scalzi, Mary Robinette Kowal, Jim C. Hines, Patrick Rothfuss, and Charles Stross, as well as photographer Al Bogdan. This would be a GORGEOUS piece to frame and hang over your couch, in your bedroom, or even in your office at work. You’ll be the envy of everyone you meet! Best of all, every penny raised from this auction will go to the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation, supporting the girls and families fighting this condition and helping to fund research into the cause and, some day, a cure.”

Friends of science fiction author Jay Lake have united to raise money for his battle with cancer. They have already doubled the original fundraising goal of $20,000 for Lake (pictured).

As various levels of funding were reached, fellow science fiction writers unlocked special fundraising treats. For instance, author Patrick Rothfuss shared an excerpt from his high school novel and novelist John Scalzi sang a lost Bob Dylan song.

Here’s more from the fundraiser: However, a new technology is becoming available—one that may offer his doctors a better option for treating the cancer. We’re trying to raise funds to allow Jay to have whole genome sequencing. There is a small possibility that the results of such a test, which is more comprehensive than conventional genetic testing of tumors, may suggest a treatment path that Jay’s doctor’s may not have considered, and that could be life saving. It’s a really small chance, and Jay knows that. For this fundraiser, we have asked some science fiction and fantasy writers to donate an “Act of Whimsy” which they will share with the community as we reach milestones in our fundraising.

To raise money for the Lupus Alliance of America, authors John Scalzi and Wil Wheaton have teamed up with Subterranean Press for a fan fiction contest. To enter, you have to write a 400 to 2,000-word story exploring the mythological event pictured here (after the jump, view a much larger version).

All kinds of stories will be accepted, except slash fiction. The winner will earn 10-cents a word for the story, take home a set of Subterranean Press books, and get published in a special eChapbook with stories by Scalzi, Wheaton, Catherynne Valente and Patrick Rothfuss. Deadline is 11:59 pm EST on June 30, 2010. Read all rules and submit here.

Here’s more about the picture: “[W]hat is Wil Wheaton doing astride a unicorn unicorn pegasus kitten, in the INFAMOUS clown sweater, aiming a spear at an Orc version of me? … neither Wil nor I know how we got to the point where we are in the picture. We are open to theories. Theories in the form of fanfic. That’s right: We’re looking for fan fiction which explains what the holy hell is going on in that picture. Because if ever a work was made for fan fiction exegesis, it is the image above.”

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