Monthly Archives: April 2011
Behold the Spectrum of Male Pattern Baldness
Posted on April 30, 2011 40 Comments
I think the picture speaks for itself, don’t you? (Pictured, from left: Saladin Ahmed, Al Bogdan, Dave Klecha, me, Jim C. Hines and Howard Tayler. And all our hair follicles or lack thereof. At Penguicon.)
The Other New Acquisition
Posted on April 29, 2011 45 Comments
I figured, as long as I was spending a diaphragm-seizing amount of money on a new car, I might as well slip in another acquisition as well, because then it wouldn’t seem as large, relatively speaking. Also, my birthday is coming up and I recently finished a novel, so those were additional excuses to buy […]
The New Car Arrives
Posted on April 29, 2011 66 Comments
We took delivery yesterday on the Mini Cooper Countryman All4 we ordered a while back, which makes me happy, since this means I get to drive it a little bit before I trundle off on my three-week book tour. As you can see here, it’s a pretty little machine — but more than that it’s […]
Various and Sundry, 4/28/11
Posted on April 28, 2011 155 Comments
Short thoughts on three things: Obama’s Birth Certificate: It’s times like these that one has to make a conscious act of will to remember that in fact Americans are not getting stupider, they’ve always believed idiotic things about the politicians they hate. Believing that Obama was not born in the US long ago got placed […]
Supplementary Portraiture, 4/28/11
Posted on April 28, 2011 16 Comments
Just a couple other snaps from the morning:
All the Mammals in the Same Room
Posted on April 28, 2011 23 Comments
Although just barely, since Ghlaghghee can be spotted as a dark mark to the left of Krissy, walking out the door (I, as the photographer, am present but not visible). This is actually a daily morning occurrence: I’m usually in my office in the morning, and then Krissy comes in to talk to me, and […]
5/24 New York Public Library Event: Venue Change!
Posted on April 27, 2011 10 Comments
The following note just landed, from the New York Public Library, regarding the “Speculating on Fiction” event on May 24, featuring me, Lev Grossman, Scott Westerfeld and Cat Valente: Due to overwhelming popular response, the event has been moved from the Mid-Manhattan Library to the Stephen A Schwarzman Building, located at Fifth Avenue at 42nd […]
New Fuzzy Review + Note to UK Fans
Posted on April 27, 2011 21 Comments
First things first: A very nice review of Fuzzy Nation over at Wired’s GeekDad column, in which reviewer John Booth also reads Piper’s Little Fuzzy, the book mine is rebooting. The verdict: [Scalzi’s] style and skill make it a highly entertaining read. It succeeds both as a new novel from a talented writer and as […]
The Big Idea: Jennifer Estep
Posted on April 27, 2011 55 Comments
Here’s a crazy idea: Books should be fun. That’s Jennifer Estep’s philosophy, and today she’s here to tell you how it informs her “Elemental Assassin” series of novels, including the latest, Tangled Threads. And she has questions of her own for you at the end. Be ready! JENNIFER ESTEP: So here’s my Big Idea – […]
Spring Has Sprung
Posted on April 27, 2011
Over at the FilmCritic.com column today, I recount the science fiction films of late winter and spring, and see how they did before the wave of summer films comes along and wipes them all from memory. Won’t you join me in my pleasant little recap?
Zeus is Dubious About the Return of the Coke Zero
Posted on April 26, 2011 52 Comments
“I… I thought we were rid of this stuff,” he seems to be saying. Guess again, cat! It’s back! In carbonated form! People asked me how difficult it was to give up Coke Zero for the Lenten season, and the answer is: Not as hard as I expected. The first couple of days I did […]
Hugo Entitlement
Posted on April 26, 2011 21 Comments
Question in e-mail: Are you upset that you’re not on this year’s Hugo ballot? You’ve been on it a lot recently. Short answer: No. Longer answer: No, and also, really? Are you serious? It’s a fine ballot, in terms of the work, and as a special added bonus it’s filled up with a bunch of […]
Minicon Wrapup
Posted on April 26, 2011 41 Comments
First, the daughter models the Minicon 46 convention shirt, whilst staring dramatically into the distance. She’s going places, that kid. With my head in a jar to boot! And yes, it was a little… odd to see folks wondering around the convention with my pickled head on their chests. Nice, mind you. But… odd. Minicon […]
Spanish Android
Posted on April 25, 2011 17 Comments
Waiting for me when I got home from Minicon: A whole box of the Spanish-language version of The Android’s Dream. It is very pretty in person. And now I know how to say “fart” in Spanish. Truly, a fantastic day. Also, hello: I am home from Minicon. More about that later, almost all of it […]
Heading Home
Posted on April 25, 2011 14 Comments
Minnesota has been lovely but now the police are closing in it’s just time to head back to home sweet home. I’ll catch up with you all probably in the evening. Try to continue to respire until then.
The 2011 Hugo Nominees
Posted on April 24, 2011 74 Comments
For your edification, this year’s nominees: Best Novel Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis (Ballantine Spectra) Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold (Baen) The Dervish House by Ian McDonald (Gollancz; Pyr) Feed by Mira Grant (Orbit) The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit) Best Novella “The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers beneath the Queen’s Window” by Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Magazine, Summer 2010) The Lifecycle […]
Happy Easter
Posted on April 24, 2011 13 Comments
Just a quick check-in here to let you folks know I am still alive and kicking, just busy with stuff here at Minicon, which has been a lovely convention so far. Full report on that later, when it’s done (we still have stuff on the schedule for today). Hope your Easter is everything you want […]
For the Doubters
Posted on April 22, 2011 53 Comments
I say, I’m in Minnesota. Doubters say, pics or it didn’t happen. I say, FINE. Here’s yer lousy, stinkin’ view from the hotel room picture. I hope you’re happy. Also, someone needs to explain to me that ski jump over there on the left.
In Minnesota + Interview
Posted on April 22, 2011 17 Comments
Arrived yesterday at the Minicon hotel, met the con chair and my liaison, and was taken to a suite large enough that you have to take light rail to get from one room to the next (all right, maybe not actually that large, but damn, it’s very nice). This was followed by dinner with the […]
Off to Minnesota
Posted on April 21, 2011 25 Comments
Where, as noted several times, I’ll be the Substitute Guest of Honor at Minicon 46. Come by! We’ll be having good, old-fashioned geeky fun. I’ll be sad if you’re not there. People will come up to me, concerned, asking why I am so inconsolable and weepy. And I’ll say, “Why, it’s because [insert your name […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying