Monthly Archives: March 2014
The Big Idea: Leah Cypess
Posted on March 11, 2014 8 Comments
In this edition of The Big Idea, author Leah Cypess has a shocking confession about the genesis of her new novel Death Sworn! Which isn’t, uh, actually all that shocking for those of us who are writers, because I think most of us do something like it. I mean, I do. But even so! Remember […]
Two Things, Relating to Me, 3/10/14
Posted on March 10, 2014 10 Comments
And they are: 1. John Harris is the artist who does the cover for my Old Man’s War books (and the individual episodes of The Human Division), and he does such a great job of it that I co-dedicated the compiled edition The Human Division to him in appreciation. He has an upcoming art book […]
The New Cosmos Series
Posted on March 10, 2014 95 Comments
A couple of years ago it was announced that there would be a new Cosmos series, patterned after the 1980 series by Carl Sagan, this time featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson. I’m on record as being a huge fan of the original series — I would say that it’s one of the most influential TV series […]
Daylight Savings Sunset
Posted on March 9, 2014 26 Comments
Just a few minutes ago. I like having the sun in the sky later in the day again, I have to admit.
Still Houseguesting
Posted on March 9, 2014 6 Comments
Which means more of me not being here! I know! It hardly seems fair. I’ll be back tomorrow.
With House Guests Today
Posted on March 8, 2014 16 Comments
So I won’t be here. Try to find meaning in your life anyway.
New Books/ARCs, 3/7/14
Posted on March 7, 2014 48 Comments
Quite a few books and ARCs came in while I was on the boat last week, so here they are, over three pictures. Anything look good to you? Share in the comments!
The Big Idea: Marjorie M. Liu
Posted on March 7, 2014 10 Comments
Short form intro: Marjorie M. Liu is awesome, and her Hunter’s Kiss series of books is awesome, and now there’s a new book in the series, Labyrinth of Stars. Marjorie takes a moment to look at the series and its heroine and where they both are, after all this time. MARJORIE M. LIU: The concept […]
Because I Like Helping!
Posted on March 6, 2014 106 Comments
Once upon a time, about a half hour ago, this guy said to me on Twitter: @scalzi @exjon: Remind me to never buy 1 of your books. — Shawn Smith (@Zaklog) March 7, 2014 Well, okay! .@Zaklog NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER BUY ONE OF MY BOOKS EVER EVER EVER. #Never #Ever PS: […]
The New Nook Glowlight, With Cat for Scale
Posted on March 6, 2014 44 Comments
Yes, it is a tiny little thing, isn’t it. Although in point of fact it has the same screen real estate as my first-gen Nook; what it’s missing is the bottom third, which included the little LCD screen. It’s also (and not surprisingly) substantially thinner and lighter the first-gen Nook, which was not especially hefty […]
The Big Idea: Stephen Leigh
Posted on March 6, 2014 11 Comments
When writers start a book, there’s the idea, person or event that the book centers on. But when the writing starts in earnest, does that initial idea stay at the center? Does it have to? Stephen Leigh confronted these very questions while writing his latest novel, Immortal Muse. Here he is to talk about how […]
And Now, a Brief Recap of Our JoCo Cruise 4 Vacation
Posted on March 5, 2014 30 Comments
Inasmuch as this picture was taken from the top of a zipline somewhere in the Caribbean, you may assume it was in fact perfectly lovely. That’s our boat over there in the top left corner, the Independence of the Seas, which when you add up passengers and crew, has more than three times the people […]
What I Am Giving Up For Lent
Posted on March 5, 2014 95 Comments
I’m not Catholic, or, really, religious in any sense at all, but I like the idea of Lent — giving up something that you like in order to reflect on the idea of sacrifice (note this is a very abbreviated version of what Lent is). A few years ago my daughter wanted to experience Lent […]
Things That Pass Me By
Posted on March 5, 2014 50 Comments
In e-mail, an (excerpted) comment from a reader: You didn’t have much to say about the Jonathan Ross/Hugo dust up. That’s not like you. Well, you know. Two things: One, I had literally just gotten off a boat from a week at sea and was playing catchup on everything, including things that directly related to me, […]
Molly Lewis’ “The Year of the Beard”
Posted on March 4, 2014 11 Comments
In which I have a cameo, because I wasn’t wearing a beard at the time. So there’s irony. Anyway. An amusing encomium to hirsuteness.
The Big Idea: Lynne Matson
Posted on March 4, 2014 4 Comments
Having just come back from a weeklong cruise that included stops at tropical islands, I can say they’re lovely to visit. But would I want to live there? Especially if I didn’t exactly choose to be there? It’s a question Lynne Matson considers in NIL — and here, she digs into the story behind a […]
Finally, to Round Out a Busy Day of Posting Things, a Picture of the Missus
Posted on March 3, 2014 12 Comments
Taken on one of the formal nights of the cruise. Yup, she’s gorgeous.
The End of the Nook
Posted on March 3, 2014 45 Comments
I was given a first generation Nook by a friend of mine in 2010, and yesterday, after a week at sea and in the sun, the thing gave up the ghost. I got roughly three and a half years of use out of it. On one hand, for a piece of handheld electronics, that’s not […]
Get Your Official Insect Army Coffee Mugs!
Posted on March 3, 2014 19 Comments
Due to popular demand, Ursula Vernon and I are making Ursula’s fabulous “Roachie the Riveter” art available on coffee mugs, perfect for quaffing your favorite beverages while you clack your way into the literary world. We’re doing the mugs through Zazzle, because it’s easy and because we know they do a pretty good job with […]
In Case You Rely On Me For These Things: The 2013 Nebula Awards Nominees
Posted on March 3, 2014 42 Comments
And I have to say, it’s an excellent slate this year. All information taken from here. The winners will be announced at the Nebula Weekend this May, in San Jose. Congratulations to all the nominees! Best Novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, Karen Joy Fowler (Marian Wood) The Ocean at the End of the […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying