My First Tour Appearance and Already I’m Clearly Punchy
Posted on October 16, 2011 Posted by John Scalzi 12 Comments
“I can’t read this book! It’s like it’s written in another language or something!”
The book, incidentally, is upside down for a reason, which is that I had commented that I read German so poorly that it would probably sound better if I turned the book upside down. And it did. I’m sorry, Germany, for slaughtering your language with my tongue.
This picture was taken at yesterday’s reading. The fellow on the stage with me is my German editor Sascha Mamczak, who introduced me and asked me questions and gave away copies of my books to a lucky audience member. The photo is by Judith Wallerius, who was (obviously) in attendance and nice enough to send it along to me so I could show it to you.
Tomorrow: Saarbrücken. See you there. Unless, I suppose you don’t live in or near Saarbrücken. But if you do, well. You should come. See here for details.
Needs more spaceships.
And lasers. Don’t forget lasers.
Wait, you mean I shouldn’t have cropped those?
It was quite interesting listening to a completely new and faszinating sounding language, so no need to feel sorry. *gg*
Thanks for an awesome evening, though they threw everyone out of the room waay too soon. No idea what reading or whatever took placer after yours, but I could’ve sat easily for an hour or two more listening to what you had so say about…everything?
Do they not have Diet Coke in Germany?
I believe you mean Coke Zero, my friend.
How much German did you take in h.s./college anyway? I had a terrible German teacher and was an indifferent student wasting his time and mine for three years, but I’m amazed how much I do remember when I have the chance to speak it (badly).
Wow, in that picture you look like you could be Wil Wheaton’s older brother.
Großvater came here at 16 & was a stickler for pronunciation. I practiced hard when I new I was going to Germany on vacation in hopes of ‘passing’. At the airport I asked a guy for directions to the Hauptbahnhof & he gave them to me in German. Then as the light changed he said in accented English “And mind the curb, it is quite steep”
Ah yes, Coke Zero it is. Brain cramp.
LOL You hold the book backwards.
That’s a really nice picture. :)
Are you growing a beard now?