Monthly Archives: November 2015
Whatever Holiday Shopping Guide 2015, Day One: Traditionally Published Books
Posted on November 30, 2015 118 Comments
Welcome to the first day of the Whatever Shopping Guide 2015 — My way of helping you folks learn about cool creative gifts for the holidays, straight from the folks who have created them. Today’s featured products are traditionally published books (including graphic novels and audiobooks); that is, books put out by publishers who ship books to stores […]
The Stamos Connection
Posted on November 29, 2015 90 Comments
For years I’ve been told that a certain picture of me as a teenager (on the left) suggested that I was (and suppose am) an unauthorized clone of actor John Stamos. I have never really seen it, personally, but then over Thanksgiving John Stamos released his prom picture (on the right; he’s in white), and… well. I […]
Poverty and the Appropriation Thereof
Posted on November 28, 2015 100 Comments
I was pointed to this article entitled “The Troubling Trendiness Of Poverty Appropriation,” in which the author, July Westhale, notes her discomfort with what she sees as the hipsterization of things that she considers to be poverty markers, such as modular housing (now upsold as “tiny houses”) and cheap foods. She notes: In writing this, and […]
Whatever Holiday Shopping Guide 2015 Starts Monday!
Posted on November 27, 2015 19 Comments
Every year in the first week of December I run a shopping guide for the holidays, and over the years it’s been quite successful: Lots of people have found out about excellent books and crafts and charities and what have you, making for excellent gift-giving opportunities during the holiday season. I’ve decided to do it again […]
Spice Takes Over the Doggy Bed, 11/27/15
Posted on November 27, 2015 19 Comments
It’s just barely big enough for her. Barely. So, how’s the post-Thanksgiving food coma recovery coming along? I personally went to bed at 9:30 and woke up 12 hours later.
Athena, Thanksgiving 2015
Posted on November 26, 2015 22 Comments
Looking fairly regal, I have to say. I’m thankful for her and her mother, and all our family and friends, this year as in all years. For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope you have much to be thankful for and that you lives are filled with happiness today and every other day. For […]
The Deal Is Done
Posted on November 25, 2015 81 Comments
So, here they are. These five contracts you see above encompass thirteen books and ten years. The general details of these contracts were agreed to six months ago, but the fiddly bits took time to sort. I got the final versions of the contracts, signed by me and the folks at Tor, just this morning. […]
A (Science Fictional) Thanksgiving Prayer for You
Posted on November 25, 2015 21 Comments
So it’s Thanksgiving tomorrow, when the family will be all around the table, ready to dig in — but someone will have to say grace first! And it might be you! And if you’re worried that you will draw a blank in the heat of the moment, sputtering nonsense until the gravy grows cold, fear […]
The Big Idea: Michael Livingston
Posted on November 24, 2015 6 Comments
In his debut novel The Shards of Heaven, author Michael Livingston is hunting some big game indeed. And possibly changing the course of history — and myth — in the bargain. MICHAEL LIVINGSTON: My Big Idea in The Shards of Heaven was to make mythic artifacts real — and that meant killing God. Hold up! Put […]
In Which I Select a Current GOP Presidential Candidate to Vote For, 2015 Edition
Posted on November 23, 2015 172 Comments
Four years ago this month, I took a look at the field of Republican candidates for the office of President of the United States and ranked them, from the one I would be least likely to vote for to the one I would be most likely to, if it came to that, (i.e., if a […]
Not Sure This Counts as the Actual First Snowfall of the Season
Posted on November 22, 2015 87 Comments
But I post this here for archival purposes nevertheless. I mean, I did see snowflakes in the air last night, and this is snow accumulation, of a sort. But it seems sort of a poor showing to honor with the title of First Snowfall of the Season. So let me ask you: What do you […]
Ten Thoughts on the Steam Controller
Posted on November 21, 2015 31 Comments
I bought a Steam controller last week, mostly because I was curious about what it would be like. Scattered impressions follow. 1. I actually like it as a controller, and found it pretty intuitive, but there is a very large caveat here in that I’ve primarily been a PC video game player for the last […]
Announcement: The Kittens Have Official Names
Posted on November 21, 2015 59 Comments
Thing One and Thing Two are now officially: Sugar (Thing One) and Spice (Thing Two). Please update your files appropriately. For those of you about to say “but I like calling them Thing One and Thing Two!” look, I have no control what you do inside your head. Keep calling them that if you like. […]
Frightened, Ignorant and Cowardly is No Way to Go Through Life, Son
Posted on November 20, 2015 273 Comments
So, this week. The last few days are a reminder that a large number of Americans are in fact shrieking, bigoted cowards, and that's a sad thing, indeed. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) November 19, 2015 Seriously, I don’t think the bedwetting about Muslims has been this bad in a very long time, which is saying something, […]
The Big Idea: Martin Rose
Posted on November 19, 2015 6 Comments
The politics of modern life are difficult. Are they more difficult when monsters are thrown into the mix? For the answer to that question, we turn to Martin Rose, and My Loaded Gun, My Lonely Heart. MARTIN ROSE: On the surface, My Loaded Gun, My Lonely Heart looks and seems like carefree pulp, disguised in […]
An Announcement Regarding Award Consideration for 2015 Work of Mine
Posted on November 18, 2015 63 Comments
So, yesterday, I kinda sort of hinted that maybe people voting in the Goodreads Choice Awards should vote for other books than mine. Today, let me make it unhinty: The Goodreads Choice Awards? In the category of Science Fiction? Pick another book, please (you can do that even if you’ve voted for me; Goodreads lets you […]
In Which The Doubleclicks Tell You What an Awful Person I Am — In Song!
Posted on November 18, 2015 54 Comments
As you may recall, a couple of months ago I did a fundraiser for Con or Bust, in which you lovely folks raised over $10k to help science fiction and fantasy fans of color go to conventions and conferences in exchange for me recording audio for a satirical eBook that talked about terrible I was, […]
How You Should Vote for the Final Round of the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards, SF Category
Posted on November 17, 2015 48 Comments
Oh, look, The End of All Things has made the final round of the Goodreads Choice Awards this year, along with nine other books in the science fiction category. How excellent, and thank you to everyone who has voted so far. Now the question becomes: What should you vote for in this final round? Well, […]
The Big Idea: Matt Mikalatos
Posted on November 17, 2015 7 Comments
Sometimes the unexpected shows up right in front of you, and as Matt Mikalatos discovered in the writing of Sky Lantern, where it takes you from there can be equally unexpected. MATT MIKALATOS: My Big Idea crashed in my front yard. On a rainy day last November, I found a flattened, burnt-out sky lantern on […]
I Was Busy Today With the Dentist and the Accountant, So Here is a Kitten Picture Instead of Me Blathering
Posted on November 16, 2015 31 Comments
Thing One is coming to end you. Better watch out. And before you ask: I cracked a tooth and had to get it repaired (everything’s all right), and I had to sit down with my accountant and figure out what to do with my taxes this year because ZOMG TAXES THIS YEAR (everything’s all right […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying