Monthly Archives: August 2012
The Big Idea: Adam Christopher
Posted on August 31, 2012 11 Comments
You know superheroes. You love superheroes. But if you want to write about superheroes, sometimes it’s hard to put a spin on a subject that hasn’t already made the rounds. Adam Christopher faced the Superhero Challenge in his latest novel, Seven Wonders; here’s how he defeated it on his own terms. ADAM CHRISTOPHER: Sometimes the […]
And So It Begins
Posted on August 30, 2012 30 Comments
My day today: SFWA board meeting, 9am – 2pm. Prep for Chicon 7 Opening Ceremonies, 2pm – 3pm. Opening Ceremonies for Chicon 7, at which I am host, 3pm – 4pm. SFWA board meeting, 4pm – 6pm. Opening night get together at the Adler Planetarium, 6:30 – onward. Yeah, it’ll be a busy day. A […]
The View From the Hotel Window, Chicon 7 Edition
Posted on August 29, 2012 81 Comments
Not so bad. In other news, hi, I am in Chicago and ready for Chicon 7. Where are you?
The Big Idea: Richard Kadrey
Posted on August 29, 2012 20 Comments
Are you a loser? You just may be! If you are, Richard Kadrey argues, you are in some fine company — and indeed, some of your favorite fictional heroes may just be there in the loser camp with you. Kadrey gets under the skin of Devil Said Bang, his latest installment in his excellently deranged Sandman […]
An Assignment to Keep You Occupied, 8/28/12
Posted on August 28, 2012 383 Comments
Another day of offline writing and preparing for Chicon 7. So, again to keep you amused whilst I scribble, an assignment: Pick any author, living or dead, to remake (or do a sequel to) any book, play or script not originally done by them. Caveat: Don’t use me or my books, because, come on, that’s […]
Neil Armstrong and Futures Past
Posted on August 27, 2012 120 Comments
I was two months old when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon and 43 when he died, and inbetween those two events the future changed. When Armstrong landed, a human future in space seemed inevitable — we’d landed on the moon, after all. How long could it possibly be until we had moon colonies, space […]
A Question to Keep You Occupied, 8/27/12
Posted on August 27, 2012 315 Comments
Because I have lots to do today but don’t want you bored. YOUR QUESTION: You have the ability to, for one night, reanimate any two historical personages (“historical” = “not currently alive”) and have them discuss/debate a topic of your own choosing. Which two historical personages do you choose, and what subject do you have […]
My Plans For the Weekend Do Not Impress Ghlaghghee
Posted on August 24, 2012 47 Comments
Well, fair enough. She is a hard cat to impress. Be that as it may, I do have plans for the weekend, and they do not include being here. See you Monday.
My Chicon 7 Programming Schedule
Posted on August 24, 2012 23 Comments
Hey, did you know I am the Toastmaster of Chicon 7, the 2012 Worldcon, which happens next week? Well, it’s true, I am! And here’s my schedule of events while I am there. Thu Aug 30 3:00:pm Opening Ceremonies (Grand Ballroom) I welcome everyone to the show, interview most of our Guests of Honor, and […]
John Scalzi (Not Me) Reads John Scalzi (Me)
Posted on August 23, 2012 116 Comments
Look, it’s John Scalzi! Or, a John Scalzi, one that’s not my dad, or a weatherman down in Florida, or a (by now I assume retired) boxer, or the now-deceased masonry scientist, or me. This one lives in New England, and I have been aware of his existence for some time now, since back when […]
Athena at the Fair
Posted on August 23, 2012 21 Comments
She enjoyed herself. As did we all, although my enjoyment, as those who followed the Twitter feed last night know, mostly revolved around foods that were fried and/or on a stick. The ironic thing is that I weighed myself this morning and managed to have lost weight since yesterday. So clearly I know my diet […]
Feral Kitten Update, 8/22
Posted on August 22, 2012 82 Comments
It is thus: One, it’s not a kitten. Based on wear on the teeth, the vet guessed it (and it is a he, incidentally) was five or six years old. It just happens to be small (5.6 pounds), which I would suppose is consistent with a long-term largely feral lifestyle. Two, aside from being small […]
“John Scalzi’s Blog” Now Set to Music
Posted on August 22, 2012 31 Comments
Because how could it not be set to music? Words by Steven Brust. Music by That Neil Guy. Well done, sirs. Well done. Update, 8/23: Look! Another, different one!
For No Particularly Good Reason, My Ranking of Pixar Films, From Best to Least Quality
Posted on August 22, 2012 190 Comments
1. Toy Story 2 2. The Incredibles 3. Wall-E 4. Toy Story 5. Monsters, Inc. 6. Up 7. Inside Out 8. Ratatouille 9. Toy Story 3 10. Finding Nemo 11. Monsters University 12. Finding Dory 13. Brave 14. Cars 15. The Good Dinosaur 16. A Bug’s Life 17. Cars 2 Not ranked because not yet […]
Todd Akin
Posted on August 21, 2012 567 Comments
Representative Todd Akin has decided to stay in the Missouri senatorial race, bucking the national GOP, which desperately wants him tossed under the bus for the spectacularly stupid “legitimate rape” thing, and you know what? Good for him. Leaving aside my own love of political schadenfreude here, the dude did win the Republican primary fair […]
Steven Brust Pens a Ditty For You
Posted on August 21, 2012 26 Comments
About this very site! Apropos to the some of the comment excitement we’ve had here today. It’s called “John Scalzi’s Blog.” Enjoy!
I’m Plotting. Here’s the New Muse Single to Keep You Busy
Posted on August 21, 2012 29 Comments
It’s called “Madness.” It’s pretty good, if you like Muse, which I do.
Feral Kitten Update, 8/20/12
Posted on August 20, 2012 91 Comments
Feral Kitten has a vet appointment on Wednesday for shots and a general checkup, at which point we’ll find out more about his/her condition (I haven’t checked to see if FK is a him or her). Kitten also still evidently seriously pissed at me. Also has absolutely no interest in the catnip mouse I got […]
RIP, Tony Scott
Posted on August 20, 2012 49 Comments
If you’re a fan of film, take a moment in your day to remember Tony Scott, who apparently committed suicide yesterday in San Pedro by jumping off a bridge. Scott left notes explaining his actions but at the moment what’s in those messages hasn’t been made public. Scott’s probably best known for the film Top […]
(Not) Reviewing Books
Posted on August 19, 2012 38 Comments
The literary world appears to be having one of its semi-predictable spasms about writers criticizing writers — or writers not criticizing writers enough, as the case may be — and all the various associated emotions that go with that. We get these bouts of novel gazing fairly regularly because very often the people who write reviews of […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying