It totally is! I have a proclamation from the United Nations and everything! Actually, it’s not from the UN, it’s from my cat. And he didn’t so much proclaim it so much as stare at me unblinkingly with his implacable predator eyes. But that’s not important now. What is important is that I’m giving away an ARC of Fuzzy Nation here on Whatever. Today. March 30. 2011. I will even sign and personalize it for you, you lucky, lucky dog, you.
How can you win it? Easy:
1. I have thought of a number between 1 and 1,000 and told it to my wife WHO DOES NOT LIE for third party verification of that number.
2. In the comment thread, guess which number I thought of.
3. If you guessed right, you win!
4. You can only guess one number, and you can only guess once.
5. If two people post the same correct number, the first person who posted it wins (if two people post the same wrong number, then, well. You’re both wrong).
6. If no one picks the number, the closest number to the number I picked will win. In the event that there are two people picking numbers equidistant from the winning number (i.e., one higher, one lower), the winner will be the lower number. Because I said so, that’s why.
7. Contest open until 11:59:59pm Eastern, March 30, 2011.
8. I’ll announce the winner sometime tomorrow.
So: Pick a number.
752?
*fingers crossed*
Sounds like 278 would be the optimal guess to me :)
My guess is 538
42 duh!
865
327
572
663!
597
476.
837
My guess? 418 (not that you’d stoop to using your wife’s birthday as a way of ingratiating yourself yet again…)
Pi
354
728
789
Did I know? No, no I did not. :)
But the number is obviously, definitely 521. Ish.
665
772
897
3
I’m going to go with pi.
346.
This prime choice: 691
428
1.000020344
666
47
(I’ve re-read the Fuzzy canon in preparation)
697
432
637
is it 623?
Ummm…739?
262
762
457
Is it 223?
43
I guess 642.
The number is 583.
333
Errr 731
701
11
22
367
374
517.
229
99
123
501
647 shall be my guess, and my guess shall be 647.
732
113
001
As in “Sector” as in “Earth” as in “We will assimilate your culture.”
481…
983
37
6
263
673
181, and not a penny over.
613
392
21
634
I can’t wait to read Fuzzy Nation!
My guess is 120.
Thanks for the contest
330
669
The tumor in my colon says it’s 317, but he’s usually wrong.
383!
4
Thanks for having let me win.
562
735
818
698.
29
42
282
I like 451
740
17
526.
472
because I said so
355
264
Assuming by “numbers” we mean “integers”..
6
I’m going with 412
974?
44
467
537
777
My guess is 778.
401
According to my precise and arbitrary calculations based on arbitrary mind control factors… 313!
I will say 666 as the dark one is on my team!
869
273
Puts two fingers against forehead … 377!
6
143
Clearly it is #479
594 (thanks, random.org!)
7
471 *crosses fingers*
238. Close the thread.
336
376
I’ll stick with my number, but I wanted to say $1 because I love it when people win the price is right’s contestants row with that.
736
782, on the nose.
732
257
149
583!
632
442
There’s no chance it’s- 123.
387!
I’ll stick with 472, but I wanted to say $1 because I love it when people win the price is right’s contestants row with that.
667
1
11
510.
That’s what I would have picked.
777
227
734
38
653
602
192
131
I’ll go with 854
227
763!
239
0421
452
744 ! It must be right!
274
510 (aka Fuzzy Nation release day)
852
989
23!!!!
345
842
853
34!
222
684
333
582
I know regular expressions!
^([0-9]|[1-9][0-9]|[1-9][0-9][0-9])$
Legitimate guess, Benford’s Law-compliant: 123.
815
461.
937
512.
Hi,
I’m thinking: 823
843
867
There is only one number equidistant between 1 and 1,000, that is 500.
Please send me my book now, I am almost finished with my other one and need something to read.
222
333
247
242
Because it’s twice as good as 42. In certain numbering systems.
639!
357
743
101
414!
202
Damn it @ #149 by Jason. You beat me by seconds.
My guess is 287
Thanks for the opportunity
804
901
599
779
I’ll say 768
500
510
1
Crap. I just saw 510 was taken. I’ll say 509 (Midnight release?)
372
She’s real fine (my 409).
6
516
903
Opps, 1 is taken, 600
My random number generator says: 327
530
446
420
430
My number is 88.
656
121
304
based on the number of pages in the hardcover according to amazon
723
990
912
846
911!
291
349
(And thank you!)
813!
542
279
787
256
1000!
996.
245
Put me down for a 561 please!
686.
530 is my lucky number
749
528 is hubby’s b-day who I would be giving this ARC to.
391
I was going to say 867, but I see that is already taken. I will go with 7 instead
Again, my number is 7.
Also, I just got around to reading Zoe’s Tale yesterday. I am glad I added it to my library!
99
923
Looks like 423 is not yet taken, so I claim it as mine!
231
415
my guess is number 11.
My number shall be 899
994
I’m going with 27 as the number.
347. I am win.
342
my guess: 4
689
276
870. Numbers.
217
987
393
It is number 1, and I’ll even tell you why – because that was Little Fuzzy’s number. :)
279
741
It’ll be interesting doing a stat plot of the guesses vice the actual number.
821. Good luck to me!
Random guess … 742!
368
John is the best!
My answer of 42 was already chosen above, so I’ll have to go for 69.
19
826 is still free, so that’ll be mine then.
354!
759.
I think I can, I think I can…
999
479
I’ll go ahead and guess 189.
Gavin says 189
878
525 , because. Just because.
369
I’ll say 358.
521!
718
286
678
582
799
543
I’ll guess 997.
I didn’t look at any of the previous comments, either.
978
18!
Here’s my guess for the key to the Fuzzy Nation review copy:
64
(03+30+20+11).
thanks for giving us suckers a chance.
232
702
337
666
994
800 because you are the 800 pound gorilla of sci-fi
255
My guess is 404.
My guess is 499
729
119
267
611
738. It must be.
165
384
Thanks!
Oh darn, it’s 30 isn’t it?
My guess is 434
254
382 obviously
I somehow feel quite sure it’s 327, but since that’s already taken (damn!), I’ll go with 857.
632
742
25!
872
Made my friend pick the number, so it’s her fault when I lose: 738
671
520
499
768, sir.
I’m a big H. Beam Piper fan, so I’m looking forward to this book either way.
347, no good reason
534. Was going to go with 42, but that’s already spoke for.
462
703
ONE DOLLAR!!!
Wait, I mean… 397.
237!
Three, the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop.
1,000
723.
Gonna go with 496
352 for me ! I feel highly telepathic today !!!
13. Final answer.
142
My 3d10 think that it’s 543.
If they win, I’ll read the book aloud to them.
I humbly submit the number 12.
713, which is my birthday.
309
386
942
474
I’ll go with 711.
330
224
I hope…
467
427
850
748
42
591
12
127!
3
137
596, but only because 374 has already been taken.
986
410
Holy crap there are a lot of numbers! I choose 217.
617
Because it’s The Hub of the Universe (or so I’ve been told)
639
329
#10
641
I love you! (kiss kiss). I love your wife! I love your daughter! I even love your cat and his predatory stare!
(and I mean this is in a totally non-creepy way!)
4
444 – Lucky Dog!
128
48
204. Then number of cans of Coke Zero in a Scalzi.
783
113
143
That’s definitely it.
555
813
57
473.
427
6
13
370
998. For sure.
It’s a book, therefore I guess 451
712. Thanks.
919
163
117
233, of course!
581
2
456
573
51
345
714
210
721
288
555 :)
141
271
658
816 has been good to me before.
668 – the Neighbor of the Beast.
117
343
480
#567
313
337
98.
333 because it is the number of atoms in a hokfusine molecule
332
I’m going with 277. Because it’s as awesome as I am.
295
428
Drat, on iPhone, can’t search to see if it’s been chosen already. :(
My first 4 guesses were already taken, so.
992
352
646
593
393
364
i’m guessing 346 ?
652
627
39
675
631
847
841
886
I’ll say 823.
Me want some fuzzy!
222 even though you’re not old enough to remember it, but I love the symmetry of the number.
Ummmm…728
764
587
My guess is 80
I requested #80 for ST press’ special edition of Zoe’s tale. If I win there is something cosmic going on!
666 (just to be wicked)
334
532
324. Because my first several choices were already taken.
403
pi
527
776
454.
(Your wife is the coolest, eveh!)
564
235
467
529
178!
962
927 :)
659
888
My top two choices already taken, so #18
312
38
389.
404!
616
I’m going to hope my “Find on this page” search was correct and go with 727.
830 my birthday – nice advance present.
404
I’m liking 281 :)
604
629
781
435
443
497
Just skimmed through many comments before I realised I could ctrl-F my number …
745 FTW!
Well, probably not, but…
243
463!
805
746
815
416.
314. I like pie, too.
I’d guess 1223 (Athena’s birthday) but that doesn’t work. So I’ll say 223.
997
Although I probably should choose a number that Daisy can bark out, just as an extra confirmation of your beautiful wife’s veracity. But the existence of such a back-up plan was not mentioned in the text, so 997.
107
768
I’m going to go with 950.
Oh, great. All the good numbers are gone. I guess I’ll have to pick 437.
I’ve just realize that number 3 was already taken :( (fist guess post #329 )
my new guess is the number 111
517
433
007 sherioushly
824
258
384
227!
859
956.
105
(My son’s birthday is 5/10/2000 … but as that # has already been picked (! Left Coast penalty !) I’ll go w/ another version of it & hope for the best.
Good luck all!
419
241?
235
2
Which has the advantage that nobody else has picked it, anyway. ;)
789
510
62!! (I think I likely don’t have a chance. Fun to play anyhow.)
810 – (changing from my comment # 452)
724. Because Ctrl-F tells me no one else has guessed it yet…
I’m going with 3.
623
315
424
813, please.
249
874
402
683
995
82.
I can’t believe I had to try 6 different numbers until I found one not already taken.
737. Like the jet. But not, because it’s just a number and not in fact an airplane.
129
511
Come onnnnnnnn 614!
934 is clearly the correct answer.
8
839
;-)
563
My guess – 922.
In the unlikely event of winning, I’m quite happy to chip in for international shipping!
323
626?
487
337
209.
Bah.
My first three choices were taken.
649
55
511!
789. Thanks!
i didn’t hear anything about whole numbers…
3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510
58209749445923078164062862089986280348253421170679
82148086513282306647093844609550582231725359408128
48111745028410270193852110555964462294895493038196
44288109756659334461284756482337867831652712019091
45648566923460348610454326648213393607260249141273
72458700660631558817488152092096282925409171536436
78925903600113305305488204665213841469519415116094
33057270365759591953092186117381932611793105118548
07446237996274956735188575272489122793818301194912
98336733624406566430860213949463952247371907021798
5
69
486
812
918
10*√2*√5 (31.6227766 …)
Oh, come now Mr. Scalzi. The correct number is obviously 492.
468
688
502
the answer is clearly 413. (unless it is 612. But 1st answers only)
272
135
74
I would like to see a histogram of the guesses when it is all said and done.
601.
3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 0938446095 5058223172 5359408128 4811174502 8410270193 8521105559 6446229489 5493038196 4428810975 6659334461 2847564823 3786783165 2712019091 4564856692 3460348610 4543266482 1339360726 0249141273 7245870066 0631558817 4881520920 9628292540 9171536436 7892590360 0113305305 4882046652 1384146951 9415116094 3305727036 5759591953 0921861173 8193261179 3105118548 0744623799 6274956735 1885752724 8912279381 8301194912 9833673362 4406566430 8602139494 6395224737 1907021798 6094370277 0539217176 2931767523 8467481846 7669405132 0005681271 4526356082 7785771342 7577896091 7363717872 1468440901 2249534301 4654958537 1050792279 6892589235 4201995611 2129021960 8640344181 5981362977 4771309960 5187072113 4999999837 2978049951 0597317328 1609631859 5024459455 3469083026 4252230825 3344685035 2619311881 7101000313 7838752886 5875332083 8142061717 7669147303 5982534904 2875546873 1159562863 8823537875 9375195778 1857780532 1712268066 1300192787 6611195909 2164201989 3809525720 1065485863 2788659361 5338182796 8230301952 0353018529 6899577362 2599413891 2497217752 8347913151 5574857242 4541506959 * 3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164 0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 0938446095 5058223172 5359408128 4811174502 8410270193 8521105559 6446229489 5493038196 4428810975 6659334461 2847564823 3786783165 2712019091 4564856692 3460348610 4543266482 1339360726 0249141273 7245870066 0631558817 4881520920 9628292540 9171536436 7892590360 0113305305 4882046652 1384146951 9415116094 3305727036 5759591953 0921861173 8193261179 3105118548 0744623799 6274956735 1885752724 8912279381 8301194912 9833673362 4406566430 8602139494 6395224737 1907021798 6094370277 0539217176 2931767523 8467481846 7669405132 0005681271 4526356082 7785771342 7577896091 7363717872 1468440901 2249534301 4654958537 1050792279 6892589235 4201995611 2129021960 8640344181 5981362977 4771309960 5187072113 4999999837 2978049951 0597317328 1609631859 5024459455 3469083026 4252230825 3344685035 2619311881 7101000313 7838752886 5875332083 8142061717 7669147303 5982534904 2875546873 1159562863 8823537875 9375195778 1857780532 1712268066 1300192787 6611195909 2164201989 3809525720 1065485863 2788659361 5338182796 8230301952 0353018529 6899577362 2599413891 2497217752 8347913151 5574857242 4541506959
786!
12
321
92
526
722
426
228
177
556
// Instant win? I do this to avoid flooding the messages here and help you do it quickly,
for( int i = 0 ; i < 1000 ; i++ )
PostNumberMessage( "whatever.scalzi.com", i );
385
527
All the other numbers have been picking on my number and making it feel bad.
There, there, 527, don’t cry.
You’ll show them.
304
753
982.
Also, I have a friend who works at the UN and he assures me that they call your cat for help with those proclamation things.
832
465
777
i’ll take whatever’s left.
289
422!
969
322
683. Not clever enough by half, but at least no-one else guessed it yet. I hope.
My guess is 244.
207 Not sure if it’s already taken, but I’ll go with it.
45. As good a calibre as one might need.
734
766
999? Hey, I’m not very original when it comes to numbers…
579
417
37
414
429
310
211
21
212
Jober, your regex covers 0-999, not 1-1000. Perl hacker fail.
I’ll go with 49.
876
132
102
And I’ll take 147 because nobody else has yet.
674!
864 – I feel it in my water…
Although, The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is…42. It has already been given.
I choose 123. (No, it is no the combination to my luggage).
892
293
577
555
In honor of these guys:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555th_Parachute_Infantry_Battalion_(United_States)
153 is the ticket!
819.
717!
976
957
283
911.
795. Chosen by random number generator.
187
316
699
743
765
Seven Hundred and sixty-five
733
873
440
Yeah, okay. 924.
Um. 488?
781.25963
717
627
51
730
902, days since “Day Zero”
758
my guess is 668
(The Neighbour of the Beast)
925 for me if you please, sir!
529
356
198! Not my first choice but I wanted to pick one that wasn’t used yet!
This would be easier if everyone just guessed their comment number, which is what I’ll do.
76
991, the penultimate prime number in the range.
314
921!
828
720
(My first guess was 437, but someone’s beaten me to it :-))
615
474 which is my birthday
379
877
893 … primarily because it hasn’t been chosen yet according to Firefox’s find functionality ;-)
863
938
373
John, given that the # of posts is going to (easily) be over 1000, can we have a consolation prize? How about the person whose post-index-number(you know what I mean) matches your number gets an autographed cat photo?
623
I choose 6. Because single-digits aren’t getting enough love here.
985
also, will you post a graph of picks? it would be interesting to see if there is a skew towards a specific point (s) ..
328 ?
556 :)
8
398
My guess: 268.
371. If you didn’t pick that number, you know you meant to, so go ahead and change your mind – I won’t tell.
I’ll go with 510
495
726… since my other guesses were already taken…
879
522
114
326
534
341
174
86!
248
152
478
803
325
213.
861
215
188
11
234
No whammies, no whammies….
444.
946
88
466
46
311
8377
822
628 :)
992
And now I grovel for a free book. I have left my dignity at the door.
305
339 .. since 3*3 = 9 and 9/3 =3
736.
Because “42″ is too obvious.
459 Why not?
523!
439. So there.
Awesome! I was post 666, which was my first choice until I saw someone else had already taken it.
606 if you please.
801.
725
872 – Congrats to the winner, and tell your cat thanks, too!
898.
Dammit, I don’t usually comment but this was too good to resist. 449.
575
(Following the haiku idea of previous contests.)
PICK ME! please.
687
333
73
433.
742.
It’s not the taking part – it’s the winning that counts…
679
300
418
275 ftw
834?
791
769.
K
103
541.
483
I was going to guess 691 since that was the next comment number, but it was taken.
Upright Infinity … er, 8.
225
447
436 yEA!!!!!
246
104
41; hey, it was Ben-Hur’s number in the galley. “Row well and you will live.”
532
826
I love browsers with a ctrl+f feature. :)
501
717
2
Darn it! All the good numbers are already taken, so…
59
2
100 please :-)
829. Woooo
522
986
825, if overseas is allowed.
785
Gotta be kidding me! Dude picked 2 right before I did. What are the odds of that?
Do we get a prize just for being cosmically in tune on your website?
433?
How about 491?
829
438
437
303
613
135
895
723 !
88
106
574
397
153
200
719
622 Yeah, baby!
584
33
289
1998
833
45
30?
99
827
214!
775
421
317
26
How about 140?
512
Hmmmmmm……999
i think someone already said 42 AND 23 so I feel the best answer would be “e”
opps that’s more than a 1000…. (91)
104.
259 (First string of numbers that my find function didn’t show as already having been chosen. I would also like to win a bonus prize for MOST AWKWARD SENTENCE.)
978
762
745
929!
515
#751, please
912
330
369, sounds like a winning number to me.
378!
I’m going to go with 237.
This is because when I began this comment 732 people had responded.
number 13
442
513.
Which cat?
682
619
78
412
513
685
458
Cheers & thanks for the contest!
66
923
42
487
308
John,
Outside of taking a road trip to Bradford and knocking on your door, how can we verify that the number you wife knows, and would not lie about, is accurately reported on this blog by you?
Lucky numbers will already be chosen, as will unlucky numbers (if you are the superstitious type). Of course Douglas Adams has been invoked a few times…
So since I can’t use any of the numbers I would normally have used, lets just go with 667.
By now, it’s too late to read all these hundreds of comments to check for duplicates, so I will guess the ultimate 3-digit number. It just has to be 666.
Do I hear 175?
784
612
894…Love your work. Plowing through Old Man’s War and can’t wait to read them all!!!!
972. Can’t wait for the new book and hope to meet you in Columbus during your “world tour.”
153
173
108
All of my usual guesses were taken… Dastardly number-stealing psychics, snatching my favorite numbers right out of my mind like that!
849
145
873
671
1, because why the hell not.
374
710; please and thank you are the magic words.
253. I think that’s not been picked, but that guy who decided to enter that long string of decimals made it a little more difficult to tell. Boo!
NOW I find my number. So much for that. Y’know John, maybe 1 to 1000 wasn’t a large enough spread.
Oh well, you know I’ll be here for the next giveaway!
951
507
8
33
226
711 is my guess
i
331.
Because my birthday is 3/31, and then you could announce me the winner ON my birthday, WITH my birthday.
362
72
27
458
576
916
809.
And…wow. Maybe it shoulda been a number between 1 and 10,000.
510
The publication date is 5/10/11.
503
539
@bcarrigan
If you mean “i” as the imaginary number, then remember that complex numbers cannot be ordered, so a complex number between 1 and 1000 will not work.
524
Let’s try… 119.
2! Thats right, two!
150
649
I’ll pick 662 please.
747
It SAYS 783 comments, but MY number is
235
519
362
620 is not taken!!! Well now it is, whew…
817 !!
607
889
291
399
186 Love this contest. Brings me back.
613
791
There are already 803 comments (not, I think, completely nonredundant), and I’m not going to go through them searching for vacancies. Iconoclasm is therefore my recourse; I choose not to assume the number is an integer (Scalzi doesn’t appear to have said it is, after all). I would choose pi, but a few people have gone there before me – a couple spammed large numbers of digits, and one even spelled it “pie”. I’ll therefore go for 33 1/3. Just for the record.
371
777
73
I’ll play… 216.
961
294
774
9
855
20… as the age of your lovely wife
692!
359
You crack me up! 330 is my guess.
381
773
What the hey. 97.
406
Darn – someone took pi already.
S’all good, though. I already got one.
840
739
315
761
9 :)
462
759
335
109
One.
508
857
716
396
867
812
849
285
ヘ(^_^ヘ)(ノ^_^)ノ
42
505
It has to be 144
(12 is the best number–the only possible way to come close is 12 x 12, so there you go)
458
130
17
Why? Because.
Cheers
98.6
549
It must be 257
3
84
I love the comments from people about not wanting to read all of the comments to see if their number is taken. A simple search is all that it took!
142
I don’t think I saw a 72 up there, so……. why not?
118
728
655!!!!!
2001
19.84
Just in case it’s NOT a whole number.
41
411
891
881
672
742
763
321
116 plz
516 please. :)
I’ll go 866.
904
317
89
569
793
928
470
317
673
729
909
424
643
968
777
93
My infallible (unless it’s not) guess is 614.
30
457
953
858!
321
125.
589
15
374
473
743
133.
Let’s go with 14.
Seeing as pi has been guessed like 5 times, i’m going to go with the number e (~2.718…)
221 Fireball. Great cartridge, the Remington XP-100 is a fine handgun. Hard to conceal, though!
645
88
Put me down for 151 good sir!
was going to pick 330 in honor of this contest and my wife’s birthday, but will have to settle for 621, our anniversary. :) Cheap and easy, it’s how I roll.
My guess is 640, please!
390
405, which is my husband’s birthday!
281
805
34
871
1001! I’m betting it was a trick question.
307
450 sounds like a good number! (my first choice was taken….)
2
719?
337
993!
308
85
0 ? for your love of cokezero?
666
822
592
201!
I’ll go with 954.
961 for being the 961st guess.
7644
570
193
965
423
954
633
234
I’m late to the game, but I submit:
17
960
423
251.
977
431!
802
Let’s try…814.
555.
888
73
545, I hope.
95
788.
677
1
714
9
I’m feeeling like…..696
14782
78
916
455
767
451
971
722
289
665 (The number of the beast’s little brother)
362
54
Dude. 1,000 comments!
1000
445 seems free. I’ll take that one!
831.
348
I was going to pick 330, but that’s so 3 hours ago. I’ll go for 414.
How about 942?
469
487
371
Or bribery with a Get Out Of Lent Free pass, allowing you and a family member special dispensation from requiring any specific ritual cleansing authorized by the Catholic Church.
(Hey. It’s a good idea, no?)
100
467
327
41
808
768
Smack dab in the middle… 500.
5
724 !!!!!!
360
763
546
216 (representin’, as the youngsters say)
892
Over 1000 comments, wonder how many are repeats…
311
963
The number 220
885?
856
648.
654
1
Well it works on the Price is Right……..
464
5
674!
638
369
780!
318
126
Wow. There’s a lot of pressure here!
482
I cannot follow the conversation in this thread AT ALL!
854
hmmmm…..i want…..7!
110
With over 1000 guesses so far, the pickings are slim.
609 :)
53
117. I hate this number, so here’s hoping it can redeem itself, somehow.
966
2
John, are you conducting an experiment to see how many guesses are needed to put at least one guess into each of the thousand bins labeled 1..1000, and then you’ll reveal the answer?
256
531
Let’s go with 149.
705
42!!!!
56
236!
374
544 doesn’t seem to be taken yet.
478
Any number times zero?
Infinity plus 1?
#1 lamest way to chose a winner? ;D
Oops, I lost!
122
Oh my God. Uhhmmm….. 722?
112 (the first number that I couldn’t Find on this page except as a post number)
553
805
557
691
397
569
Since there are already over 1000 comments the likelihood of getting a unique number between 1 and 1000 is pretty slim. That said, today is my mother’s birthday so I’ll guess 66 in her honor.
122 please!
I pick Zero. Wait … what!?
DAMNIT BRAIN!!!
998.
555
395
501
Based on my search, I think my lucky number, 35, might still be available! I’ll take 35.
I’ll take 375
915
792!
657 – fun, thanks!
432 is my guess. I hope no one else picked it, I’m not going to check.
77
565
624
186
hope it’s not a dupe
685
144
670!!
885
835
407 is my guess.
I know it was 676.
26
535
There’s only one number worth mentioning and its….
42
535
I shall pick the number, “and.” Thank you good sir!
79
400
871
27
739
330
63
More than a hundred posts over the number range’s max… some people around here need to learn Ctrl-f.
At least it’ll be easy enough to determine who won.
667
I’ll be going with 636 please.
365
218
97
312
Blast, my first search missed the 97 OP!
435
860
216
183
999
546
77
914
625!
It wasn’t taken!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
625
239
Damnit, now I have to search for another free number!
571 – for the same reason as AlanM. It wasn’t taken.
228
637
13
130. Please be 130!
353 (and I hope this doesn’t count as guessing twice)
437!
630
560!
862
932
6
403
412
It’s the area code for Pittsburgh. That’s why.
76.5 (the number of liters in a Scalzi)
7
997
It’s the largest prime less than 1000.
344
498 – the first number I could find that isn’t taken.
931
947
39
23
413
71
e
348
475
988
Apparently not yet taken (fingers crossed).
456
340
704
With the 1162nd pick in the Fuzzy Nation draft, I select 296!
637
690, Sucks to show up after there are over 1000 posts.
Random.org says 951
259 ( If is isn’t already taken).
991! duh.
14
of course : 644
how can it be otherwise ?
453!
89
4721
wow I need to work on my reading comprehension. I thought it said between 1 and 10,000. Can I cange my answer to 333?
468 is my guess. Looking forward to what you have done with H. Beam Pipers world.
222
32 – Thankfully you can use a search function to find your number without actually have to read all the posts.
191
739?
138
651! Thanks!
Let’s say: 933
888!
693
905
My guess is 617.
753
136 (took a while to find a number that hadn’t been guessed)
This is kind of self-limiting – I didn’t see this until now, there are already over 1000 comments and by my searching it appears all numbers have been picked. Therefore, any number I post will be at least the second post of that number, and by the rules of the contest above, I cannot win.
so I will guess 42 for no other reason than because I can.
887 Thanks
Hello, I’m guessing 908. But I’d be very surprised if that even came close.
Is there a consolation prize for the comment that had to travel the farthest around the world? That would give me a better chance, since this comment comes from halfway across the globe – Belgium (proud holder of the world record “days spent trying to form a federal government”, and increasing it every day – we’re at day 260-something, i’ve lost count)
Louis Krijnen
896
319
611
585
632.7
You didn’t specify “a whole number between 1 and 1000″. So, anything not forbidden is mandatory.
A, the letter not the number….sheesh!! Like you picked a number…..
350
905
Guessing 77.
Ye gods – it’s only been a few hours and there’s already over a thousand comments?! I’m staking my claim on 536 before anybody else gets to it. :)
I count just under 200 integers still unclaimed at this point.
967.
Because CTRL-F can’t possibly have failed me!
Hah! More than enough people to have guessed every single number in the queue!
I’m guessing 12!
478
408
230
Long list of taken numbers. A number, not yet taken then is:
661
96
My guess is 888
432
624
159.
550
979
442
4!
88
478
700
42
148
770
756. *nod*
Hey, it’s as good as any other number.
16.
145
514
I note that each comment is automatically assigned a number – for the first 1000 comments, that number is an integer between 1 and 1000, inclusive. By commenting, you are “choosing” a unique number – the number assigned to your comment. It is therefore possible that all the thought and effort given to choosing a number was unnecessary; merely by commenting, you have chosen the number on which your eligibility depends. It may be relevant that Scalzi was careful not to post a comment himself within the first 1,000 comments, and that he stated that he would be rounding down – potentially, this would be a solution for a situation in which fewer than 1,000 people commented, not that such a situation was especially likely.
There are a couple of corollaries to this theory:
1) If the theory is right, the contest may be over. 1,000 comments were made, and one of those comments had the integer Scalzi was thinking of, or the integer closest to and less than it. So maybe there’s no longer a point to entering.
2) On the other hand, the rules say:
By this reasoning, the many people who selected a number by commenting and also proposed a number of their own choosing have in fact named two numbers. They’ve broken the rules, and must be disqualified from winning (or worse, somehow!). Still some people have commented without naming a number; as I recall, at least one person just said “pie”, which was a delightfully tasty non-sequitur and not a number at all. Of course, I commented previously, and in that comment I named a number, so I would be among the disqualified (twice over, assuming the number of this comment is counted).
3) The third corollary, to be seen in the rule quoted in my second corollary, is that Professional Writer John Scalzi was misleading or careless in his use of the word “guess”, as no active guessing would in fact be involved. This seems rather unlikely, so I choose to disregard this third corollary.
Best of luck to all who have eligible entries!
301 with Pretty Please on top!
333
121
338 sounds reasonable
123 ?
542.
186
941
518
Thank you for the opportunity.
My guess is 832.
737
494!
825
41
244
Gotta go with my area code: 505
124
634 BABY!
194
330
463
Over 1000 comments, so theoretically every number may be taken, and I have no chance. However, I shall choose lucky 13.
632
980
713.
742
And for no particular reason whasoever.
So there!
510 seems to be your birthday + the release day… what are the odds of that?
487
Trying to check all the thousand-plus entries so far just made me tired and sad, so I’ll just go with 331 cuz it’s my birthday.
I’m gonna go with 126
791
642
IRT Warren Terra he did not actually say *inclusive* those people who have guessed 1 or 1,000 might also be sorely disappointed. Other than that I liked your analysis.
Now then; 815 for me.
146
493
The pi twins made the search a little longer.
I’ll live.
17
156
984. Because it’s not taken, even after thousands of comments.
868, yes, please, and thank you.
Why 32 of course!
389
134
726
388
664
The number of the guy who lives downstairs from The Beast.
219.
197
348, Bob.
679
388, if you please.
490
Don’t forget, folks, that your browser includes a “Find” function that lets you search for text on a page. So, you can check before you post if your proposed integer is claimed.
And, I note that John didn’t say “integer”, he said “number”. So, that would mean that technically, real numbers are an available option. I saw pi and maybe e.
635
273
453
I’ll guess 167.
199
547
0.9999999….
How about 1?
7
Gads, I gotta go through 1200 comments to see if someone posted my number?? x.O
723
875.
And who’d have thought that so close to 1300 comments there are still some free numbers left.
900 shall be mine.
573
3, the magic number. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0irL1M15DH8
Chances are I’ve doubled up on like 27 people, but my lunch break is only so long…
eleventy-one
(1000-50)+49-32*0.5
128
42
800 I think it’s not taken yet.
my guess is 269
771
721
49
260
916
73
24
going for the super lucky…. 777
489 please.
427. The rest of you can now stop applying.
I choose phi, the golden ratio, appoximately = 1.61803
851
334
955, because I have to try.
Seven Hundred Thirty Two. (732)
10
No thanks, I’d rather give you cash when it comes out. Cool idea though. Have fun.
Dave
650
919
327
791
297
796
300.
317
972
503
333
477
280
909 is the answer, and 909 it shall be !
257
684
7.
437
23
777
320
265
485
bummer!
330!
I guess: 970!
What does it say about my day that this is the most fun I’ve had in it? *sigh*
Thanks, John!
681
9 3/4.
He didn’t say it was an integer, after all. Just a number.
605 because it’s the first number in the set random.org generated for me that I couldn’t ctrl+f (it took a while to find).
My guess is 586
I say 180
78
284 – that’s my wedding anniversary (in german notation) and my lucky number
Um, 750 doesn’t seem to be taken yet. 750.
182
69
618
801
The winner is revealed here. Thanks, everyone, for playing!