Monthly Archives: April 2012
The Big Idea: A.M. Dellamonica
Posted on April 13, 2012 11 Comments
Magic has been variously described and quantified, and we hear about white magic, black magic, good magic, bad magic — but how often is it compared to toxic waste? In Blue Magic, author A.M. Dellamonica makes that comparison, and expands on what that unusual approach to magic means for the world (our world, or one […]
In Which I Decline a Nerd Fight
Posted on April 13, 2012 66 Comments
My inbox is filling up with people e-mailing me about Nick Mamatas’ broadside against Geek Pride, in which he says, among other things: A subculture is not a counterculture. A consumer culture is not a subculture. We are not all in this together. Your social Laws (Godwin’s, etc.) are as insipid as any aphorism your […]
My Thoughts on Book Tours
Posted on April 13, 2012 41 Comments
Via Metafilter, I found and read this article on The Awl in which several authors (and a couple of publicists) discussed the pros and cons of book tours. As someone who tours and otherwise does lots of author appearances I found it interesting, with some of the points lining up with my own experience and […]
That Ann Romney Thing
Posted on April 13, 2012 160 Comments
In which DNC strategist CNN Analyst* Hilary Rosen criticized Ann Romney on CNN because Mrs. Romney was a stay-at-home mother and “has actually never worked a day in her life”: 1. Wow, Ms. Rosen, you must really like the taste of your own toes. Also, if this is you exercising strategy for the Democrats, you […]
Dear Consumers Who Apparently Think the Current Drama Surrounding eBooks is Like a Football Game
Posted on April 12, 2012 91 Comments
Please stop, seriously. You’re driving me a little bit nuts. Amazon is not on your side. Neither is Apple, or Barnes & Noble, or Google, or Penguin or Macmillan. These are all corporations, not sports teams, and with the exception of Macmillan, they are publicly owned. They have a fiduciary duty to their shareholders to maximize value. You […]
Daisy in the Yard
Posted on April 12, 2012 25 Comments
She certainly can be photogenic, when she makes an effort. This particular picture captured by the cell phone, incidentally. The camera on it isn’t bad in a pinch.
Look! A Spontaneous Podcast!
Posted on April 12, 2012 6 Comments
In which I answer questions from Twitter! About God Engines, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts and whether or not I will wear a dress to Worldcon. About 17 minutes.
Reminder: I’m Guest of Honor at Penguicon in Two Weeks
Posted on April 12, 2012 8 Comments
If you’re within three states of Dearborn, Michigan and wondering what you’re going to do with yourself on the weekend of April 27 -29, I have an idea: Why not hang out with me at Penguicon 2012, America’s foremost science fiction and open-source computing convention? I’m the author guest of honor (click here to see […]
And Now, Perhaps the Most Important Poll You’ll Take All Day
Posted on April 11, 2012 334 Comments
This is a very serious question. Explain your answer in the comments.
Macmillan CEO on the Justice Department Suit Against Macmillan, Apple, et al
Posted on April 11, 2012 89 Comments
First, the news story on the antitrust suit the Department of Justice is bringing against Apple and several publishers, including Macmillan, who owns Tor, which publishes my novels. Second, Macmillan CEO John Sargent’s letter on the suit, directed at authors, illustrators and agents. Third, my comments from a month ago regarding the then-possible, now-apparently in […]
The Big Idea: Lynne M. Thomas
Posted on April 11, 2012 15 Comments
When one’s last book of feminist essays on pop culture (Chicks Dig Time Lords) walks off with Hugos for you and your co-editor, what do you do next? If you say “maybe co-edit another book of feminist essays on pop culture,” then you’re thinking like Lynne M. Thomas, who with Sigrid Ellis has edited Chicks […]
The Aliens’ Film Festival
Posted on April 11, 2012
Over at FilmCritic.com this week, I imagine that aliens have come down and have threatened to destroy the planet unless I can show them five science fiction films to convince them otherwise. As they would. Here are the five science fiction films I would pick. Agree? Disagree? Have a suggestion of your own? Put it […]
Santorum’s Out: Have a Thread to Talk About It
Posted on April 10, 2012 97 Comments
Here’s the CNN story. My two brief thoughts: One, that took longer than I expected; Two, thank God he’s done. I’ll have more thoughts, but I’m at my daughter’s orthodontist appointment at the moment. Go ahead and chat amongst yourselves. I’ll check in later.
The Big Idea: Mary Robinette Kowal
Posted on April 10, 2012 9 Comments
Hugo-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal had a pretty problem to solve with Glamour in Glass. The first book in Kowal’s series, Shades of Milk and Honey, had been a Nebula-nominated success, but she knew some people would come to Glamour without having read it. How to give those new readers a complete reading experience without […]
Redshirts Chapters 1 – 4 Now Out in eBook Form
Posted on April 10, 2012 25 Comments
For those of you who missed the Tor.com excerpts, or simply want to carry my words everywhere you go, Tor has released an eBook excerpt of the first four chapters (and also the prologue) of Redshirts into electronic book form. Right now it’s available on Kindle, Nook, Google and iTunes (warning: opens iTunes link). The […]
Participatory Thread: New Music
Posted on April 9, 2012 308 Comments
I was just kvetching on Facebook about not having a whole lot of time to find new bands I could like, and then I smacked my head and went, duh, I have tens of thousands of people to recommend music to me. So: Hey what newer bands are you listening to these days? Share a […]
Hugo News For Those Coming In Late
Posted on April 9, 2012 21 Comments
The Hugo nominations were announced over the weekend, but inasmuch as the weekends are when people aren’t on the Internet, especially when there’s a major religious holiday in there, I thought I’d make mention of it again for those of you just now straggling back into the Webs. So: Hey! The Hugo nominations have been […]
It’s Easter
Posted on April 8, 2012 19 Comments
And I got nothing for you. Go enjoy the day and I’ll see you tomorrow.
Hugo Nomination Thoughts, 2012
Posted on April 7, 2012 74 Comments
Now that the cats are out of their proverbial bag, a few thoughts. * First, as regards my short story nomination for “The Shadow War of The Night Dragons: Book One: The Dead City: Prologue,” I want to be very clear of my thought on this nod, for this work: AH HA HA HA HA […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying