Monthly Archives: July 2014
Starred Review of Lock In at Booklist
Posted on July 31, 2014 13 Comments
It’s up at the magazine’s Web site now (albeit behind a paywall), so I can acknowledge it here: Lock In has received its third starred review, this time from Booklist. I won’t quote the whole thing (read it at the Web site if you have access, or in the August 2014 print edition), but here’s a […]
Old Man’s War and Trans Folk
Posted on July 31, 2014 110 Comments
Note: This entry will have spoilers about my book Old Man’s War — which, inasmuch as the book has been published for nearly ten years now probably shouldn’t been seen as spoilers anymore but never mind that now — so if you haven’t read Old Man’s War and don’t want a relatively important aspect of […]
The Big Idea: Joshua Roots
Posted on July 31, 2014 7 Comments
Reponsibility! It’s a drag, right? Not so, argues Joshua Roots, who explains how responsibility, and all the things around it, inform his latest novel, Summoned Chaos. JOSHUA ROOTS: Growing up, life worked pretty hard to instill in me a sense of responsibility for my actions. Don’t eat your veggies? No dessert. Forget to call Mom […]
Amazon’s Latest Volley
Posted on July 30, 2014 331 Comments
Another day, another volley in the Amazon-Hachette battle, this time from Amazon, in which it explains what it wants (all ebooks to be $9.99 or less, for starters) and lays out some math that it alleges shows that everyone wins when Amazon gets its way. Some thoughts: 1. I think Amazon’s math checks out quite […]
The Big Idea: Arianne ‘Tex’ Thompson
Posted on July 30, 2014 14 Comments
When you introduce magic into a real-world setting, you don’t only have to deal with the problems that magic introduces — you have to deal with the problems that already existed in that real world setting. When Arianne ‘Tex’ Thompson wanted to introduce magic to an American milieu in One Night in Sixes, she took […]
The Lock In Hardcover Has Arrived at the Scalzi Compound
Posted on July 29, 2014 13 Comments
And it appears Athena has arrived at a particularly surprising part of the narrative! The hardcover looks great, by the way. The story inside of isn’t bad, either. You’ll all be able to judge for yourself, a little less than a month from now.
Athena Reviews “Peter and the Wolf”
Posted on July 29, 2014 22 Comments
Athena watched the 2006 animated version of “Peter and the Wolf,” which won the Oscar for Best Animated Short, and felt compelled to write her very first film review. Here it is. As a former professional film critic, I’m very proud. (Also: If you’d like to see the film for yourself, here it is on […]
Dayton Appearance August 2nd; Hugos; GenCon
Posted on July 29, 2014 10 Comments
Some short bits for you folks: 1. A reminder for you Dayton area folks that this Saturday (August 2nd), I will be making an appearance at the Beavercreek Barnes & Noble at 2pm, at which time I will read from Lock In and other things, answer questions, and sign things, probably books, but hey, if you […]
Help Kickstart Uncanny Magazine
Posted on July 29, 2014 7 Comments
My pals Lynne and Michael Damian Thomas (3-time Hugo winner and 3-time Hugo nominee, respectively), are hoping to start a new science fiction and fantasy magazine and are also hoping you’ll help them kickstart this ambition. They’re here to tell you about their plans, in the hope you’ll like what they have planned. Also, consider […]
The Big Idea: Nick Harkaway
Posted on July 29, 2014 7 Comments
Buckle in, kids. Nick Harkaway, the critically acclaimed, award-nominated, and best selling author of the brand new book Tigerman, is about to get deep on y’all — and also, tell you a little about his new book, which is already racking up envious reviews. NICK HARKAWAY: You know what’s really a big idea? Making life. […]
“The Failure of Flappy Bird”: A Very Short Short Story By Me, in Popular Science
Posted on July 28, 2014 12 Comments
The magazine Popular Science asked me to write a very short story about the future, on the topic of technology, so I did. It’s called “The Failure of Flappy Bird” and you can find it at the Popular Science Web site. Oh, plus very short stories from Ian Tregellis, Ann Leckie, Melinda Snodgrass, Elizabeth Bear, Seanan […]
What Happened After I Reported: Elise Matthesen, WisCon, and Harassment
Posted on July 28, 2014 328 Comments
My friend Elise Matthesen last year filed a report at the WisCon science fiction and fantasy covention, because she believed that (then) Tor editor Jim Frenkel had sexually harassed her. Harassment policies are not only about what those policies say, but how those policies are administered and those reports handled. Here’s Elise telling you how WisCon, […]
A First Class Trip to Hell is Still a Trip to Hell
Posted on July 28, 2014 44 Comments
So, the good news about yesterday’s flight home is that I was bumped to first class. Yay! Extra leg room! The bad news about yesterday’s flight home: It left 30 minutes late because they hadn’t finished (or possibly even begun) fueling the plane before we boarded; a dual line of thunderstorms diverted hundreds of miles […]
Ohiobound
Posted on July 27, 2014 4 Comments
San Diego’s been fun — and many other positive things which I will be able to relate, soon — but now I need to find my way back home to the family. You all have a good Sunday. I’m getting on a plane.
Saturday in San Diego
Posted on July 26, 2014 2 Comments
There are worse places to be. Today I have business meetings and time with high school friends. Hopefully the former will be productive, and the latter, relaxing. We’ll see! Catch you all later.
Yesterday in San Diego
Posted on July 25, 2014 17 Comments
Walk to go get a hat and a Coke Zero. Walk back to hotel. Walk to go find out where my event is. Walk back to hotel to hang out at the Wired Cafe. Walk to event. Walk back to hotel. Walk to bar to hang out with friends. Walk with friend to his next […]
San Diego Comic-con Addendum
Posted on July 24, 2014 1 Comment
I’m quoted today in this Los Angeles Times piece on San Diego Comic-con and issues of harassment. It’s an interesting article and worth reading if you’re not up to date on the issue. I have a couple of addendums to it which I think I worth noting briefly now (I will have some longer thoughts […]
Hello San Diego
Posted on July 24, 2014 11 Comments
And you are looking lovely this evening. I am in town. I have signed books for Tor to give away at its booth. I am going to get something to eat, and then I am going to go to sleep, because my brain is still in the Eastern time zone. See some of you, hopefully, […]
New Books and ARCs, 7/23/14
Posted on July 23, 2014 21 Comments
I am in the sky as you read this, headed to San Diego. While I fend off gremlins, please enjoy this latest stack of new books and ARCs that have arrived at the Scalzi Compound. If you see something that looks excellent to you, share with the class in the comments.
Paul & Storm: Ball Pit is Out!
Posted on July 22, 2014 9 Comments
A friendly reminder to you all that my pals Paul & Storm have a new album out called Ball Pit, and it’s terrific and funny, and I’m not just saying that because it features two songs I commissioned from them (“Fuzzy Man” and “(The Shadow War of the Night) Dragons of the Night”), nor am […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying