Monthly Archives: May 2008
Also, Not That Anyone Asked Me
Posted on May 31, 2008 61 Comments
But I still think Florida and Michigan should get bupkus. Just saying.
If We’d Been Abducted By Aliens, The Internet Would Dim for a Week
Posted on May 31, 2008 17 Comments
(picture by Ron Hogan of Galleycat) Here you see Patrick Nielsen Hayden, me, Markos Moulitsas and Cory Doctorow on that BEA panel about writers and their online communities. Yes, I talked about you. Yes, I said only good things about you, and said you were a wonderful online community. Except for that one time. Let […]
June 17 is Marriage Day
Posted on May 30, 2008 35 Comments
Hey, I just noticed that the day that California will start allowing same-sex couples to marry is June 17. By coincidence, June 17 is the day I got married. And in California, no less. So to same-sex couples in California planning to get married as fast as they possibly can: I will be absolutely delighted […]
Why BEA is the Happiest Place on Earth (If You Like Books)
Posted on May 30, 2008 25 Comments
Because: just by going to dinner last night, I came back to the hotel room with six new books. Yeah, that doesn’t suck. The books, by the way: 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, by Tom Moon; The Book of Lies, by Brad Meltzer; The Fire, by Katherine Neville; Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs; […]
Communities, Etc
Posted on May 30, 2008 23 Comments
Hey, before I forget, I’m having a panel tomorrow here at BEA on online communities, and it makes sense that, duh, I’ll talk about Whatever and the community that’s sprung up here. I know what I’m going to say about it, but just in case some of you folks have some thoughts on it — […]
Hello, LA
Posted on May 29, 2008 44 Comments
I’m in LA, staying at that most LA of LA hotels, the Westin Bonaventure. I’m here not five minutes, literally on the elevator ride up to my room, when a total stranger turns to me and says “it’s like being sucked into the 70s, isn’t it?” Well, yes. Yes, that’s kind of the point. Now […]
Book to Film
Posted on May 29, 2008
Before I submit myself to the gaping maw of O’Hare International Airport, devourer of men, allow me to link you over to this week’s column over at AMC, which provides three reasons (but not the only three reasons) why the film of your favorite science fiction book is generally nothing like the book you love. […]
BookLog 5/28/08
Posted on May 28, 2008 32 Comments
It seems like I just got home, but now I have to get ready to leave again, on account that I will be in Los Angeles at Book Expo America tomorrow through Sunday, having dinner with librarians, doing a panel on online communities with Cory Doctorow, Patrick Nielsen Hayden and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, doing interviews […]
If Dunkin Donuts Could Afford to Be Honest
Posted on May 28, 2008 123 Comments
Their press release for this would read as follows: Because Michelle Malkin is so appallingly stupid and/or ignorant that it appears that she can’t tell the difference between a paisley scarf and a kiffiyeh, we’re pulling our ad of Rachel Ray enjoying our iced coffee. We do hope that once Ms. Malkin extracts her head […]
Yes, I’ve Seen the NEW Canned Bacon
Posted on May 28, 2008 47 Comments
Not the bacon that was canned a terrifying 20 years ago and has since waited, a stealth botulism bomb, for an unwary consumer, but all-new tinned nitrated pork belly: That said, I think I still fear it. Please, none of you send it to me, and trust me, this isn’t one of those reverse-psychology, “no […]
Let Sleeping Cats Lie
Posted on May 28, 2008 13 Comments
Zeus wakes up Lopsided Cat and wants to start a fight. Unfortunately for Zeus, Lopsided Cat obliges him. The moral: Don’t wake up Lopsided Cat. Ever.
New Short Short Fiction (From Me)
Posted on May 28, 2008 12 Comments
Why yes, as it happens, I am writing a bit of short fiction these days, namely a series of short-shorts (i.e., less than 2k words) that will appear in the Subterranean Press e-mail newsletter over the next few months. Even better, some of this short fiction will be interactive: One of the recurring bits will […]
Free E-Book, Me Spouting Off
Posted on May 28, 2008 16 Comments
Two quick bits: * Australian science fiction writer Simon Hayes and Freemantle Publishing have posted the first of Hay’s satirical Hal Spacejock novels online for you to download and try. Simon sends me copies of the series from time to time (the last one he sent was an ARC wrapped in bacon — thankfully just […]
Reminder: Get Your Viable Paradise Applications In
Posted on May 27, 2008 12 Comments
We’re about four weeks out from the close of the admissions window for Viable Paradise, the one-week writing workshop (September 21 – 28) I’ll be teaching at this year. In addition to me, you’ll also be taught by current Hugo nominee Elizabeth Bear, Steven Gould (writer of Jumper, which was a hit film earlier this […]
The Big Idea: David J. Williams
Posted on May 27, 2008 17 Comments
Terrorism is alive and well and living in the 22nd century — and if you don’t believe that, check out The Mirrored Heavens, in which one of the US’ proudest technological achievements is attacked and US scrambles to respond. Library Journal is calling it a “stellar hard sf debut,” which must make David J. Williams, […]
A Final Memorial Day Link
Posted on May 26, 2008 6 Comments
A story about “Taps” and the people who play it and why.
Oasis 21 Wrap-Up
Posted on May 26, 2008 10 Comments
As most of you know, I spent Memorial Day weekend in Orlando, Florida for the Oasis 21 science fiction convention, at which I was a special guest. I’m happy to say I had a really good time. Oasis was intimately-sized, and I tried to make myself available as much as possible just by hanging out, […]
RIP, Syndey Pollack
Posted on May 26, 2008 9 Comments
Oh, hell. Sydney Pollack has died. He was among other things the director of Tootsie, which with The Philadelphia Story is my favorite comedy of all time. Pollack played a role in the film as well (Michael Dorsey’s agent), and his chops in front of the camera offer some suggestion why he was so good […]
Various & Sundry 5/26/08
Posted on May 26, 2008 9 Comments
Bite-sized things for your consideration: * First, look what arrived while I was out: It’s the ARC for Agent to the Stars (in case you couldn’t guess) and it looks great, and it’s out waaay ahead of the October 28 release, but like I care because now I have a copy for myself. I’m greedy […]
Back at Home
Posted on May 26, 2008 12 Comments
And here’s Ghlaghghee, having a good laugh about the “surprise” she’s left me in the house as a “reward” for being away for four and a half days. I fear to see what Lopsided Cat’s left me. It’s probably a deer. Flights back surprisingly painless: Both left on time, both arrived on time. Can’t ask […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying