This is What a Nice Guy I Am

I was going to mention the fact that I printed up some personal galleys of Redshirts, to give to my wife and in-laws and maybe might have an extra copy that I will at some point in the reasonably near future auction off for charity, although not yet because I have to figure out which charity. But then I thought, that would just be mean, to mention that other people are enjoying that book right now and not you guys. And I don’t want to be mean. So I decided not to mention it at all.

I think that was the right thing to do, don’t you?

Man, it feels good to be virtuous.

54 Comments on “This is What a Nice Guy I Am”

  1. pancreatic cancer – american cancer society
    planned parenthood

    did you REALLY need more choices? LOL

    can we place bids here? NOW!!!!!
    500$

  2. Read Hex yet ?

    btw. you’re the reason why I started reading Allan Steele in the first place, can’t remember which book of his you recommended, but it got me started;-)

  3. I’m not so sure that virtuous is the right word for this announcement of not announcing a subject designed and intended to tease/aggravate your faithful followers. Fiendish is the word you were looking for I’m sure. ;-)

  4. “John” you say? And the last name is “Scalz–” something? Hmm. Doesn’t ring a bell. How do you spell that?

  5. I’m torn between

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    and

    “this is obviously some strange usage of the word virtuous that I wasn’t previously aware of.

    and

    “Damm you, Damm you to hell….”

  6. #12 – I’m not Mr. Scalzi, but since Irene who discusses covers at #2 appears to be from TOR, my suspicion is that it is being published by TOR. Just a suspicion, though.

  7. Did you actually print out those book spines, or did you just photoshop them into the picture? I think Evil Scalzi just made this whole story up to mess with us.

    Also, if there was a cat in the frame, Chang != chang would be maaaaad.

  8. The actual book will indeed be published by Tor and out in June 2012 (tentatively). I however, ran them off at Lulu. And have already deleted the documents (which were private anyway), so don’t bother looking.

  9. That’s ok. I’ve already given the money I would have spent on your book to a even cooler charity. :-D

  10. Alas, I may have to resort to my very deep and ever growing to be read pile. Although it will jump right to the top of the pile when I get my hands on a copy.

  11. Besides the only, “I wish it was this date, so I can read this,” thoughts I have right now are reserved for Terry Pratchett’s new book. So there Scalzi. Tease all you want.

  12. Wasn’t there a thread here the other week about how saying “I am an #adjective person” is strong evidence that you are not an #adjective person?

    This is What a Nice Guy I Am

  13. …and anyway that was a very nice thing you did, printing up a few copies for your family. So have a nice weekend sir, I’m going to go pout now.

  14. John, I will be releasing a horse on your property tonight and throwing a bag of carrots and apples underneath your window. It’s a Big animal and couldn’t fit in my apartment anymore, and they Need lots of room to run on.
    See, some of us out here can be virtuous, too.
    sincerely yours,
    Cowboy Tim

    Disclaimer: aforementioned horse MAY be fictional, releasing horses onto other peoples’ property is probably against the law, and should not be done, even if young ladies wish it were a frequent occurence.

  15. Yeah, you’re a real stand up guy. I hope when I (cross fingers) have an eagerly anticipated novel, that I am just as good about announcing my non announcement of a charity auction for my book.

    Though I’d probably be too busy running down the streets squealing about someone actually publishing my book.

  16. Ron @ #23
    I am so with you on that. At least we have dates for Pratchett and Scalzi. Who knows when a new Bujold is to arrive…

  17. I’d mention that this is an example of paralipsis, and that use of paralipsis and being a meany mean mean-face are often related, but that would be over the line.

  18. Ron Mitchell @ 23: Ditto. And PTerry will be in Seattle, doing a reading/talk, on Oct. 11th, so there’s my nearly-nonexistent book budget for the next couple of months, completely blown.

    Sean Eric Fagan @ 26: I know. I want to see those two in a joint appearance. *grin*

    (Seriously though, thanks, John; I didn’t know about the Hobb/Lindholm book until I saw the spine in that photo, so there’s something to pester my library to order.)

  19. You? Evil? Naaaaah… After all you weren’t evil enough to share the beginning of the book with hundreds if not thousands of people already. Next you’ll be doing something absurd like taping bacon to a house pet or something.

  20. Pterry is going to be in SEATTLE!!!!!??? Wait, does that mean he’s gonna be in SF too? (Oh, right, this is Scalzi’s blog, not Pratchett’s. *skibbles off elsewhere to find out*)

  21. I can survive the exemplar of virtue that is John Scalzi. If Pat Rothfuss starts doing this sort of thing, though, I may die.

  22. Wow, The Other Keith, usually I have to know someone a little longer before wanting to kill them. Redshirts is only the next AMAZEBALLS Scalzi novel, that’s what! GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

    And I’m only kidding about wanting to kill you.

  23. Only just got round to reading comments. @#10 – recommendation for Allen Steele.
    It only just struck me (I’m slowww) that, unlike almost all aother professionals, you author-type guys really aren’t in competition with each other. Because it takes say 50 times as long to write a book as read it. So as long as you don’t recommend more than 49 other authors whose work I end up liking better than yours, I’m still gonna buy your next book…

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