Because I Haven’t Talked About Me Enough Recently
Posted on November 8, 2006 Posted by John Scalzi 31 Comments
Allow me to take a moment in all this election dorkery to make mention a few things going on with, uh, me:
1. There’s a lovely review of The Android’s Dream over at Bookslut:
The Android’s Dream is a galloping caper that is very funny and very satisfying. Often caper books fall apart at the end, the plot flying apart from the stress of all of its complications. Thankfully, The Android’s Dream avoids ending with a whimper. Watching all of the plot threads wind back together into an integrated whole is delightful. By combining a tight ending with sympathetic characters and sharp, funny writing, The Android’s Dream delivers top-notch entertainment.
The reviewer’s one complaint about the book is that the main character is one of those hyper-competent guys that riddle SF, and I think that’s a fair cop. I tried to compensate for his hyper-competence basically by kicking the crap out of him over the course of the book. I’m not sure my character would appreciate this if he knew.
2. Got my royalty statement for Old Man’s War, and it came with a check. Yay! Christmas is saved! Shoes for everybody!
3. Reminder to all in and around the Columbus, Ohio area that I will be making an appearance at the Barnes & Noble at the Easton Town Center on Thursday at 7pm. For God’s sake, please come. There’s nothing more pathetic than an author doing a reading/signing for just the bookstore staff. Not that they’re not wonderful, fabulous people, mind you. Because they are.
Anyway, I promise to be entertaining. So come on down. And bring a friend. Heck, bring two. And if you can trick a busload of seniors into showing up, so much the better.
4. Oh, hey: When perusing the Barnes & Noble page for The Android’s Dream, I came across the Library Journal review of the book, which reads in part:
The author of Old Man’s War delivers a tongue-in-cheek sf adventure that delivers serious action and intrigue as well as clever comedic barbs aimed at diplomatic airs, sf cults, and other foibles of the modern era.
That it does, people. That it does. And sheep! But by now, you know that last part already.
OK, I wear size 10 shoes. I’d like the latest style and comfy ones so that I can walk seriously again.
Seriously, I have been looking for a copy of The Android’s Dream and could not find any here in San Diego. Can you tell your publishers to increase the supply or make it available in more bookstores?
Lee:
“I have been looking for a copy of The Android’s Dream and could not find any here in San Diego.”
Have you tried Mysterious Galaxy? I’m pretty sure they have some in stock.
Other than that I can’t tell you why you can’t find it. The first printing is larger than the first printing of my other two Tor books combined. It shouldn’t be scarce. Maybe people are buying it? Or, alternately it might be shelved somewhere else than SF. Apparently that’s happening in some places.
Once again I learn that my review is up at Bookslut through your blog. I bow to your ego-surfing and/or Dot’s marketing ways.
Once again I learn that my review is up at Bookslut through your blog. I bow to your ego-surfing and/or Dot’s marketing ways.
Will I get my shoes if I come on Thursday?
I’m bringing a couple of kids with me. Do they get shoes too?
Will I get my shoes if I come on Thursday?
I’m bringing a couple of kids with me. Do they get shoes too?
I’m not sure my character would appreciate this if he knew.
cf. Gene Wolfe’s “The Last Thrilling Wonder Story.”
For God’s sake, please come. There’s nothing more pathetic than an author doing a reading/signing for just the bookstore staff.
Tell ya what, next time you’re in Seattle, I’ll take you up on your offer. But till then, pfah..
For God’s sake, please come. There’s nothing more pathetic than an author doing a reading/signing for just the bookstore staff.
Tell ya what, next time you’re in Seattle, I’ll take you up on your offer. But till then, pfah..
Just finished TAD tonight. Very fun read. :)
I didn’t mind the fact that the main character was competent.
Just finished TAD tonight. Very fun read. :)
I didn’t mind the fact that the main character was competent.
Would dearly love to attend if I could swing it. Waiting to see if one my local bookstores brings in TAD before going to Amazon.
On a side note it looks like the The “Hell Yes, I Voted” Thread has surpassed Bacon cat in the number of responses and in a much shorter time.
I tried to compensate for his hyper-competence basically by kicking the crap out of him over the course of the book.
I think I saw, quite a few years ago (And that’s why my memory is hazy, not due to early advanced senility), an interview with Kurt Vonnegut, where he said something along the lines of that the way to write a book is to get the readers starting to sympathise with the protagonist, and then to start torturing him.
Ah, nothing like a good tongue in cheek slutty review. Uh, I think I said that wrong?
Congrats on all the praise, man. I’ve only read TGB so far and I think if you turned to a more humorous style that you had the chops to do it well. Also congrats on earning through the advance. Shoes for industry!
I just happened to be at the Easton Barnes & Noble last weekend, and in the SF section they had 4 copies of TAD and 3 copies of TGB facing out on a top shelf, and 2 copies of OMW in trade paperback. They also had signs trumpeting your visit all over the store. And, I’m not sure, but you might have also been on the scrolling marquee on the outside of the Towne Centre building.
Good luck.
K
I just happened to be at the Easton Barnes & Noble last weekend, and in the SF section they had 4 copies of TAD and 3 copies of TGB facing out on a top shelf, and 2 copies of OMW in trade paperback. They also had signs trumpeting your visit all over the store. And, I’m not sure, but you might have also been on the scrolling marquee on the outside of the Towne Centre building.
Good luck.
K
“I didn’t mind the fact that the main character was competent.”
And I don’t mind that you kicked the crap out of him over the course of the book.
“I didn’t mind the fact that the main character was competent.”
And I don’t mind that you kicked the crap out of him over the course of the book.
KevinQ: Did you miss the Rough Guides in Science and in TV/Movies, and the Books of the Dumb in Humor. Shop around, people. Think outside the bun.
I believe that Android’s Dream also made the top 20 Booksense pick for December. It’s getting out there. It was a great, fun read!! And, if you ever come to Milwaukee I am sure we could get more than bookstaff to show up- but you would have to go to an independant.
I picked up a copy at my local sci-fi bookstore, Pandemonium Books and Games in Cambridge, MA (conflict alert: I work there), and I laughed so hard on the subway that I freaked some people out (and advertised the book to boot)
Nothing like cracking up on the subway…
I picked up a copy at my local sci-fi bookstore, Pandemonium Books and Games in Cambridge, MA (conflict alert: I work there), and I laughed so hard on the subway that I freaked some people out (and advertised the book to boot)
Nothing like cracking up on the subway…
John,
I’m about halfway thru Android’s Dream and am really loving it, especially the extended fart joke cum first chapter. I have laughed out loud at least a few times, something I haven’t done over a book in a long time (ummmm, perhaps the last time was Agent to the Stars? I think so)
The read is enjoyable as hell, and as filled with good social commentary and bad puns as a Spider Robinson “Callahan” story. High praise indeed.
If you keep setting the bar this high you’ll never keep up with yourself.
So, yes, I am loving the book and enjoying your political commentary on The Whatever. Keep up the great work.
Cheers
Steve Chambers
Austin TX
So I went to the local B&N to buy Charlie Stross’s latest to read on the plane. They didn’t have it. But facing out on the shelve is “Android’s Dream”. I’m about half way through it. Good stuff. Charlie will have to wait until next months book allowance to get my money.
Finished TAD last night while watching the talking heads. Fun! – good antidote to the baby-talk posing as punditry on the TV.
Finished The Dream a coupla days ago (there ARE advantages to volunteering in your local library). Thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, John, coming to Austin or San Antonio any time soon?? There are around 2 million people here and one large fan group (FACT) that could probably provide a few shills for your signing…
Dave
Finished The Dream a coupla days ago (there ARE advantages to volunteering in your local library). Thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, John, coming to Austin or San Antonio any time soon?? There are around 2 million people here and one large fan group (FACT) that could probably provide a few shills for your signing…
Dave
No immediate plans, I’m afraid. But who knows? Maybe for Lost Colony I’ll try to whomp a tour of some sort.
I went to my local (Dublin, OH) B&N this afternoon, and they didn’t have a single one of your sci-fi books. So I hope they are well stocked at Easton.
I imagine they will be, seeing that I am coming for an appearance, and it would be sort of lame not to have me reasonably well-represented in the store.
I saw Android’s Dream at B&N a few days ago and it looked tasty but I decided to start with Old Man’s War since they had it in paperback.
I liked it so well I immediately read Android’s Dream and Ghost Brigades.
The book jacket blurb led me to this site and I have taken the liberty of joining the discussion.
My local B&N had your new book shelved in the Mystery section. Not sure why but that’s where I saw it first.
Serendity I guess.
Anyway. Like the books. Like the blog.Quit fooling around an write another book right away.LOL