My friend and SFWA running mate (and now VP) Mary Robinette Kowal is getting some great reviews for her debut novel Shades of Milk and Honey (“the grace of Sense and Sensibility, a touch of classic fairy tale magic, and an action-packed ending” — Library Journal), and is getting ready for the novel’s debut on August 3rd. But why should you wait? You are special. Yes you are. And because you’re special, here: The first chapter of Shades, available for your perusal, right this very second, by way of the author herself. The link takes you to the html version of the chapter, but if you prefer, at the link .pdf and .epub versions await you, and your favorite eReader.

Enjoy, and if you enjoy, be sure to pick up a copy a month from now.

Oh, hey, this is nice: A review of “Judge Sn Goes Golfing,” by the San Francisco Book Review. Pro reviews of short story chapbooks are fairly rare, so I’m glad the Review made the effort. And it’s a positive review as well:

Judge Sn Goes Golfing is the hilarious chapbook by the Hugo and John W. Campbell award-winning author John Scalzi… Illustrated throughout by The New Yorker cartoon contributor Gahan Wilson, this short story is a side-splitting must read.

Excellent. And I’m happy to say the Subterranean Press still has copies of the chapbook available for your reading and collecting pleasure (it’s also available via Amazon). Each copy comes signed, which makes things awfully convenient if you’re looking for a signed thingie from me.

This concludes the commercial portion of today’s postings. Thank you for your attention.