Back From Chicago
Posted on April 27, 2014 Posted by John Scalzi 18 Comments
Where I had a lovely time at C2E2, seeing friends and fans and the occasional random person who had no idea who I was but was perfectly nice to me anyway, because most people are, you know, nice people. My panels were also a bunch of fun, and it was especially enjoyable watching Lydia Kang rout Pat Rothfuss, Keven Hearne and Seth Fishman in the Geek Geek Revolution game show panel (seriously, she kicked their asses). Also, I got to use the word “Hegelian” in the “Science Fiction” panel with Daryl Gregory, M.D. Waters and Gary Wolfe. So I have that going for me, which is nice.
I also had a meeting with Patty Garcia, Tor’s utterly fabulous head of publicity, in which we talked about potential book tour dates. I can’t talk much about it at the moment because we’re still looking at what’s possible (and please don’t ask me if I’m coming to your town because the answer at this point will be “uh, maybe?”), but I can say that if we get the tour we’re thinking on, a whole lot of you in the US will get a chance to see me, including some of you in places I’ve never toured before. So I have that going for me too.
And I also had Harold’s Chicken, which was the best.
So: Thanks Chicago. You remain, as always, the greatest.
GMKotG it was a pleasure meeting you. You really got into taking the group photos (rothfuss) and I appreciated it. How would you have fared in GGR?
I am having trouble writing a proper comment, must be the weekend’s effects.
Really good to see that you had a great time !
If you ever come down south to McAllen, TX you will get the best Mexican food. However, I seriously doubt your book tour will come this way? Why? We are at the end of the world… :)
I remember when you explained Hegelian synthesis to me at Clarion. Always stuck with me.
John bumped into you passing in the hallway outside of the main elevators. I expected more marine and less Doughboy. Oh well, still nice to have chatted for a few seconds while we waited. Glad you enjoyed Chicago again.
Expected more Marine and less doughboy? What the heck does that mean?
You realize you can write well about something without living it, right?
Oh yes, for sure. That’s why I expected something (and if you google John Scalzi, the first image returned is a head shot at an angle which tends to support the first image) and was surprised it was not what was expected.
I assume you mean this image:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/John_Scalzi.jpg/220px-John_Scalzi.jpg
I guess I could see how you’d get “Marine” from that, since he does have his hair high-and-tight in that picture. But lots of people shave their heads who aren’t vets.
Taylor: Interesting. I just googled John Scalzi. I haven’t looked at the list on the left side of the page. I just noted the summary of his particulars, which shows seven pictures. The most obvious one is of a clean-shaven man with extremely short hair. Five of the others show him with varying lengths of hair and amount of facial hair. The sixth picture was rather startling: when did our host take on the appearance of Malcolm Reynolds? Well, apparently in 2012 when, in response to this post, the owner of the Byzantium’s Shores blog posted this.
Much respect and admiration for anyone who can use “Hegelian” in a sentence and then follow it with a Caddyshack quote.
Hegel, an opportune time to use a Caddyshack quote and Harold’s Fried Chicken……that is a by definition a successful trip!
Don’t forget your mention of the Hapsburg dynasty!
Love the fact that you quoted Bill Murry’s Caddyshack line correctly.
Well, I know you won’t be coming to my town, so there’s no point in asking. Itty bitty towns just never seem to make the author tour appearance lists. I wonder why that is :)
Now that you’ve achieved “Hegelian” are you going to start shooting for “Marxian” or “Engelian”. Bonus points apply if you can properly insert “reified” in the same sentence!
John, what is your typical Harold’s order? Haven’t had it in a long time, but always went 1/2-White w/ Everything and extra bread and RC in a bag, if you please.
I was glad to finally catch an event that you were at. Whenever you’ve had a signing in my area I always end up missing it. Not only did I get to see you, but I got to see Pat Rothfuss and Stan Lee. That was a fantastic first convention experience.
Thanks for signing my copy of “Old Man’s War” that my son took to C2E2. He enjoyed reading it on the trip to Chicago, and is excited at the prospect of reading the sequels!
Aargh, can’t believe I missed you at C2E2!! Wish I knew you were going to be there, hopefully I can meet you and bug you with questions about writing Old Man’s War next time you’re in Chicago :)