Find the Old Man’s War Trade Paperback in the Wild: A Contest
Posted on December 14, 2005 Posted by John Scalzi 14 Comments
At the doorstep today: The trade paperback edition of Old Man’s War, which looks excellent and smells like lilacs. All right, it doesn’t smell like lilacs, but it looks great and generally I’m extremely happy with it, although if you get it (or get it for someone else), I’d like to add a small caveat: Don’t read the 4-page excerpt from The Ghost Brigades that’s tacked on at the end, because it gives away a plot point I think is better not to be given away. Now, I personally don’t read excerpts, nor know anybody who does, but someone must, otherwise they wouldn’t put them in there. So if you are one of those people, don’t read this one. Trust me. Pass it on.
Aside from this minor thing, the book is gorgeous and will make a lovely gift for the seasonal holiday of your preference. The official release date is 12/27, but as with the hardcover last year, it’s likely to be out a couple of weeks prior, which is to say imminently. Indeed, its arrival is so imminent, that I am right this very second announcing a contest: The Find the Old Man’s War Trade Paperback in the Wild Contest. The contest is thus: The first three people who send me photographic evidence of the OMW trade paperback in the wild will receive my chapbook “Sketches of Daily Life: Two Missives from Possible Futures” signed not only by me but also by Athena, which I figure will make it a super ultra collectible, and also, I know you all like her better anyway. In addition, I promise to mail the winners their prize before the end of the year (or have Krissy mail them, which is what’s going to happen).
The only caveat is that each picture has to be from a different bookstore. Three pictures of the book from the same bookstore will not stoke my monstrous, monstrous ego. You know how it is. Alternately, should you choose to buy the book, you can send a picture of the book doing something exciting, like going to the beach, or performing elective surgery, or making out with Angelina Jolie or whatever. I’m not picky (hint: Go with the Angelina thing. Please.).
Anyway, that’s the contest. Have fun with it, you crazy, crazy kids.
Wow, I couldn’t wait, I bought it in hardback after stumbling on your site. Awesome book, enjoyed it a lot. Good luck with the capture of all those wild paperbacks!
Well, I don’t mind that you couldn’t wait, of course. And thanks!
Does that mean TGB should be out too?
TGB will be out in February. Be strong until then.
Aw, man!
For some reason I thought they were coming out at the same time.
I’m running out of good things to read…
I haven’t seen the Old Man’s War trade, but I did find a copy of The Rough Guide to Science Fiction in a shop in the UK. Didn’t have my camera with me that time, unfortunately…
You will share with us those pictures that you receive, right? (Especially the Angelina one?)
Well, of course!
Now, I personally don’t read excerpts, nor know anybody who does, but someone must, otherwise they wouldn’t put them in there.Huh. That’s…odd. I often read exceprts at the ends of novels, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that wasn’t the very beginning of the excerpted book. I’m completely with you on not reading random excerpts from somewhere in the middle.I learned through painful experience not to read the excerpt that sometimes is right at the beginning of a book, presumably to entice browsers to buy it, because they invariably come from the most exciting scene in the book.
I almost always read the excerpts, but I’m also not freaked out by revealed plot points (which is a very good thing, given my tendency to reread books at least once, and more often two or three times).
John H. I understand your despair completely. However, as much as I love John’s work and pass it on to others, have you read any of the Takeshi Kovacks novels? I highly recommend them and am working on the third one right now.
And John, thanks for the Accelerando suggestion. I am loving that novel.
“The only caveat is that each picture has to be from a different bookstore.”
How about a library? :-)
Heh. I’d prefer bookstores, actually; the idea is to be able to let people know when they can buy it. But naturally I’m thrilled if it shows up at the library!
http://www.clarkesworldbooks.com/book_0765315246.html Was it good for you? Your ego I mean.