Monthly Archives: March 2008
Hugo Thoughts, 2008
Posted on March 21, 2008 55 Comments
Some thoughts on this year’s Hugo nominations: * First, I think it’s a pretty good year for the Best Novel nominees, but then I don’t suppose that’s entirely surprising, is it. You can do far, far worse than Charles Stross, Robert J Sawyer, Ian McDonald, Michael Chabon and whoever that other guy is. That said, […]
2008 Hugo Nomination List
Posted on March 21, 2008 38 Comments
Okay. Here’s the thing. The 2008 Hugo Nomination List was sent out to a whole bunch of us, with an embargo of noon Pacific time, but Denvention 3 — at which the Hugos will be awarded — has posted the list on its own site and linked to it several places, including its own front […]
Hello, Goodbye
Posted on March 20, 2008 131 Comments
I’m heading back to Ohio; several hours of travel followed by, you know, some real life and all. May or may not update again today. To keep you amused, a question: What’s your favorite Beatles song? Pick only one. Explain your choice. Mine: “Something.” Because the bliss of love is undercut with just a hint […]
What Else I Was Going to Say About Arthur C. Clarke
Posted on March 19, 2008 22 Comments
Basically, that he was not my favorite of the old time science fiction writers (that honor went to Heinlein, obviously, but also Ray Bradbury, which is something I don’t think a lot of people have guessed), but on the other hand I remember quite vividly faking a sprained ankle in 8th grade gym class in […]
Of Interest to Barry Hughart Fans
Posted on March 19, 2008 12 Comments
The author of Bridge of Birds has penned an intro for Subterranean Press’ upcoming Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox omnibus, which gathers together all three of the novels featuring the characters. In the new intro we learn how Hughart came to write the Master Li/Number Ten Ox novels, and whether there will […]
Obama and Presidential Smarts
Posted on March 19, 2008 134 Comments
I thought it was a pretty damn good speech, both in content and in delivery; the latter, at least, assures me that if Obama wins the presidency, I might actually be able to sit through watching a live presentation of a State of the Union address, which is something I’ve not been able to do […]
RIP, Arthur C. Clarke
Posted on March 18, 2008 34 Comments
Via Charles Stross, who got it via AP, Arthur C. Clarke has died. Too much to say about it — it’ll have to wait until I don’t have a splitting headache. But in short, we owe him for helping make some of the good parts of the world we live in. Ad astra, sir. Update: […]
I’m Alive
Posted on March 18, 2008 17 Comments
Made it to Chicago — I’m actually a little past Chicago, actually, since the hotel I’m at is one of those a mile out from the airport. It’s technically Chicago but it feels more like Irvine, with much worse weather. The trip was fine except the last hour, which was the Kennedy Expressway crawl, which […]
The Big Idea: Caitlin Kittredge
Posted on March 18, 2008 9 Comments
I wish I could tell you something about Night Life, the dark fantasy novel by Caitlin Kittredge, but I can’t, because I haven’t read it. And the reason I haven’t read it is that when it came in, my wife looked at it, thought it looked interesting, and took it. And since then she’s entirely […]
The Writer’s Dream
Posted on March 18, 2008 10 Comments
Last night, I dreamed I was in a supermarket, and they had two of my books in the book racks. And I remember that I actually stopped all the action in my dream, went back and counted the number of individual copies (four copies of The Ghost Brigades, two copies of The Android’s Dream). Because […]
The Big Idea: J.F. Lewis
Posted on March 18, 2008 15 Comments
Vampire novels: ever get tired of reading the gothic angst of the undead? J.F. Lewis did — a minor issue, because, you see, he sort of wanted to write a vampire novel himself. So what do you do when you’re in a situation like that? You go back to first principles and re-examine what it […]
Tuesday Travel Twofer
Posted on March 18, 2008 13 Comments
Today (Tuesday) I am traveling to Chicago for secret nefarious purposes of my own (read: doing some early publicity stuff for Zoe’s Tale) and thus will be busy doing things like driving, driving and driving some more. And YET, even driving I’ll spend less time traveling than if I flew into Chicago, and this way […]
I Have the Ears of a Teenager, and Boy, Do the Police Have Questions For Me
Posted on March 17, 2008 46 Comments
I don’t usually do quizzes online, but this one made me curious: What’s the highest tone you can hear? You are the typical teenager You can hear the frequency of the mosquito teen repellent – but probably not for much longer! The highest pitched ultrasonic mosquito ringtone that I can hear is 17.7kHz Find out […]
And What Came in the Mail Today, Scalzi?
Posted on March 17, 2008 22 Comments
I’m glad you asked! 1. The SWFA Election Ballot — The whole mailing package included the ballot, an envelope for the ballot (which we are not supposed to seal), a cover letter which has to be returned with the ballot, an envelope for ballot, ballot envelope and cover letter, and a six page mailing with […]
Possibly the Most Terrifying Headline of the Week
Posted on March 17, 2008 64 Comments
From the MSNBC Web site: BREAKING NEWS: Bush says administration is ‘on top of the situation’ in dealing with the economy Yes, I have no doubt they will handle this with all the competence and confidence-inspiring action we’ve come to expect from this crew over the last seven years. If anyone needs me, I’ll be […]
An A to Z of Irish Culture
Posted on March 17, 2008 48 Comments
As most of you have noted by now, I’ve greened up the Whatever to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But as most of you didn’t know, technically, this year St. Patrick’s Day was last Saturday — the Vatican moved it up a couple of days to avoid conflicting with Holy Week. However, today is still […]
Attention Kindlers and Other eBook Reading Types
Posted on March 16, 2008 19 Comments
It has come to my attention that Old Man’s War is now available on the Amazon Kindle eBook reader. And doing pretty well: at the moment it’s #10 on the Kindle SF bestseller list (The Ghost Brigades is #19). Now, what that translates to in actual sales, I have no idea. But it must be […]
And Remember, This is Her at Nine
Posted on March 16, 2008 27 Comments
Earlier today: Athena: [Tells me some trivial and obvious lie] Me: Really? You expect me to believe that? Listen, sweetie, if you’re going to lie to me, make it big lie. [Beat] Athena: I love you, daddy.
The Ghost Brigades: Now Out in Audio
Posted on March 16, 2008 6 Comments
The audiobook version of Old Man’s War apparently sold well — which makes me happy — so now The Ghost Brigades is out in an audio version as well. As with Old Man’s War, this one is narrated by William Dufris. I haven’t listened to it yet, but I thought Dufris did a bang-up job […]
My Cat Has Issues
Posted on March 16, 2008 58 Comments
First, here’s Zeus trying very very hard to get his way into the drawer in which I have my stash of catnip. There are two things going against him here. First, the contents of the drawer are heavy enough that he has no chance of pulling it open with his teeth, and second, he lacks […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying