And they look happy to see you!

Folks, the München event was fantastic. Another great reading in German from another great actor (whose name, I believe, is Alexander Meiler, although I may have messed up the last name, so if anyone who was there can correct me, please let me know), a fine crowd, more excellent moderation from Sascha Mamczak, my German editor, who at the end the event also announced that Heyne, my publisher in Germany, would be buying Redshirts, so how awesome is that. And then dinner, where I ate Blutwurst because no one at the table seemed to think I would actually do it. Well, I did. So take that, sparkly vampires.

I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but wow, Germany is just plain awesome. I love this place. I’ll be sad to leave on Sunday. Happy to be going home, to be sure. But sad to leave.

Now off to collapse. See you all tomorrow.

München, of course, being what the Germans call Munich, and when in Germany, etc.

It occurs to me that during my entire trip here in Germany I have not done one of my customary “view from the hotel window” pictures, so let me rectify that right now, lest I incurr the Wrath of the Internets at a time when I am least able to point and laugh at the Internets for being all wrathified. The view is of the back of some building, but as building backs go, it’s really not that bad. My hotel room is charming, and in roughly an hour I pile myself into a taxi to visit my German publisher’s offices, where I’ll meet the fine folks who put my books out into the German bookstores, and then it’s off to the Amerika Haus, where I have my last public appearance. And then, yes, we’re going to a Hofbrauhaus. Because when in Bavaria, etc.

Your plans for the day? Share with the crowd.

I mentioned last night, just before I collapsed into sleep, that if writers can do an event at a planetarium that they should really try it. The reason I suggest it, and particularly for science fiction writers, is that there’s something primal about telling stories while the stars turn overhead — it’s very much a return to the original days of storytelling, when making stuff up and sharing it with people helped pass long nights. Also, look: You get a planetarium of your own for a whole night. How cool is that. Yes, I really am a nerd. This should not be a surprise at this late date.

And as you might imagine, I thought Freiburg was pretty wonderful. The event went very well, and once again there was a fantastic reading in German, this time by Peter Haug-Lamersdorf, who I recommend for all your reading needs, should you ever be in Freiburg, and who knows? Perhaps you might. Last night was also special because my friend and fellow writer Ben Rosenbaum came up from Switzerland, where he now lives, and he and I wandered the city, talking, laughing our asses off and generally alarming the populace by talking at a rate of speed that’s probably not entirely human. It was fun. Fun, I tell you.

Today: Off to München and to my final public event, tonight at 7:30 at the Amerika Haus. The event admission is free — free! Free! — so if you’re in or near München, why not come? It’ll be the last you see of me, Germany. So if you want to see me at all, then is the time. See you there.