Monthly Archives: January 2009
Where I’m At
Posted on January 15, 2009 41 Comments
The view from my chair: You can tell it’s a swanky hotel because the plants aren’t plastic (yes, I just checked). I’ve actually stayed here before, although the last time was back in the early 90s, for a Disney movie press junket. That was the junket where I got to see the sets for The […]
The Nebula Awards: Less Logrolling, More Relevance
Posted on January 15, 2009 17 Comments
This will be of interest only to hardcore SF geeks, but that’s me, so: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) have revised the rules for their Nebula Awards, and I have to say I approve. First, it gets rid of the “rolling eligibility” rule (in which a Nebula could be won by […]
When SF TV Series Become Movies, And Fail
Posted on January 15, 2009
Thursday is AMC SF movie column day, and this week I’m looking at science fiction TV series which — unlike Star Trek, above — tried to make the transition to film and did a nice fat faceplant instead. What did they do wrong? Well, I’ll tell you. Warning, Browncoats: Serenity is in there. Oh, don’t […]
More on the Creative Consultant Thing
Posted on January 14, 2009 40 Comments
Joe Mallozzi of Stargate has updated his blog with more information about me joining the Stargate: Universe production as Creative Consultant, what the gig is all about, and what we had for dinner last night, including his most unusual dessert. It’s all pretty accurate, except for the part explaining in what form of money I’d […]
He Will Be Buried in Rich Corinthian Leather
Posted on January 14, 2009 35 Comments
KHAAAAAAAAAAAN! Rest in Peace, Ricardo Montalban.
One of My Big Announcements for January
Posted on January 14, 2009 119 Comments
First, to everyone who looked at the picture in the last entry and said to yourself, “why, John Scalzi is in Vancouver, Canada, of course,” give yourself a pony. A pretty pony. Indeed that’s where I am at the moment. For those who additionally tried to guess at which hotel and specific floor of said […]
Where is John Scalzi?
Posted on January 13, 2009 48 Comments
Perhaps this picture out my hotel window will give you a clue: Anyone? Anyone? I’m having as pretty good day, thanks for asking. I’ll tell you more about it soon. But now I’m off to dinner.
Travel Day Audience Participation Question, 1/13/09
Posted on January 13, 2009 276 Comments
I travel all morning and when I land I go straight into meetings. Seems likely I’ll post here again today late if I post at all. To keep yourselves amused in my absence, a question: Name a movie that made you laugh so hard you almost peed yourself. Not just a chuckle. Not just a […]
Announcements, 1/12/09
Posted on January 12, 2009 19 Comments
Hey, you like announcements. 1. Posting may be light through the 26th or so, because I am doing what is technically called “a metric buttload” of travel, basically traveling the width and breadth of this great continent of ours, doing whatever it is that I do when you guys aren’t looking (and what do I […]
Viable Paradise 2009
Posted on January 12, 2009 22 Comments
Last year I taught at Viable Paradise, the one-week speculative fiction writing workshop in scenic Martha’s Vineyard, and I had such a good time that I thought a second helping would be groovy. And even better, the folks running the joint invited me back. So, I’ll be teaching at Viable Paradise again this year, from […]
Like Being Big in Japan, Only More Teutonic
Posted on January 11, 2009 37 Comments
Hey, look what’s the #1 science fiction novel at Amazon Germany right this very second: That would be the German version of The Android’s Dream, in case you were wondering. Which makes me sehr glücklich (that’s “very happy”), if you must know. I love TAD to little bits, but it’s had a tendency to be […]
This is Your Brain on Cities
Posted on January 11, 2009 25 Comments
The Boston Globe looks at how cities hurt your brain. I would not be entirely surprised to discover that the Internet enervates the brain in very much the same ways, which may explain why I’ve taken to yanking out the DSL line in the mornings until I’ve written a sufficient amount of pay copy for […]
Because It’s Been a While Since There’s Been a Sunset Picture Here
Posted on January 10, 2009 15 Comments
Here you go. It’s from yesterday. But it’s still good. Also, since people sometimes ask if they can see larger versions of sunsets, I’ll note I have a Flickr set of some of the sunsets here. Includes my favorite sunset picture to date: Feel free to use ’em for wallpapers, etc.
Yeah, Like There Will Be Anything Else Going on in San Francisco on a Friday Night
Posted on January 9, 2009 46 Comments
Citizens of San Francisco and the greater “Bay Area”! A reminder to you that in precisely one week, I and the lovely and talented Mary Robinette Kowal will descend upon your town, as if from a cloud of rose petals and gum, and land at Borderlands Books, whereupon those among you lucky and brave enough […]
The Printed Metatropolis
Posted on January 9, 2009 27 Comments
It’s been a busy day for updates about Metatropolis, and here’s the biggest update of all, which is also one of my big January announcements: I’m pleased to announce that Subterranean Press is taking pre-orders for the printed, hardcover version of the Metatropolis anthology, which will ship this August. It includes all the stories in […]
Shame On Me
Posted on January 9, 2009 76 Comments
While I was on my two week semi-hiatus, I got a phone call that went like this: Me (picking up the phone): Hello. Some random dude: You should be ashamed of yourself. Me: Well, okay. (Dude hangs up) I thought this phone call was pretty rude, not because this fellow told me I should be […]
Metatropolis Reviews; Award Pimp Addendum
Posted on January 9, 2009 4 Comments
Two new reviews of Metatropolis in the last week. The first, over at Green Man Review, is ecstatic (“METAtropolis will win a Hugo if there’s any justice in the universe. Yes, it’s that good”); the second, at Strange Horizons, is somewhat more tempered. It’s nice to see people still talking about our little project in […]
Since at Least One Person Has Asked
Posted on January 9, 2009 17 Comments
The reason I’m not writing much about politics at the moment is mostly because I’ve decided I’m on a politics vacation until the first of two following things occurs: 1. I finish the novella I’m working on; 2. The new guy gets sworn in. Mind you, I reserve the right to change my mind about […]
Because You Need to Know
Posted on January 8, 2009 29 Comments
And before you ask, yes, I’ve seen this.
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying