Monthly Archives: January 2016
View From the Hotel Window, 1/14/16: Boston
Posted on January 14, 2016 15 Comments
Not a bad view of Boston’s downtown, either. In other news, hello, I am in Boston now, for Arisia. See you there.
Oh, and Alan Rickman
Posted on January 14, 2016 61 Comments
Like most Americans, my first cognizance of him was in Die Hard, which he could have stolen away from Bruce Willis if he’d wanted to, but gracefully didn’t, merely choosing almost to do so (he even let Willis’ character win in the end, which was nice of him). He did steal away Robin Hood: Prince […]
Off to Boston
Posted on January 14, 2016 3 Comments
Airport sunrise. pic.twitter.com/wwHdsliboR — John Scalzi (@scalzi) January 14, 2016 Here at the Dayton airport for my first trip, and first convention, of the 2016: Off to Boston for Arisia, where I’m the author Guest of Honor. If you missed it earlier, here’s my schedule when I’m at the convention. If you’re in the Boston […]
Duuuuuh Brain
Posted on January 13, 2016 24 Comments
Progress on the new novel has been pretty good — 20k words so far, which is where I want to be prior to being at Arisia, which will trim back my writing speed at bit — but one consequence of this is that when I’m done, and have done some other necessary work for the day […]
In Case You Were Wondering How Close You Can Get to a Sleeping Kitten With a Full-Sized DSL Camera Before She Wakes Up
Posted on January 13, 2016 24 Comments
The answer is: Pretty close.
The Big Idea: Jake Kerr
Posted on January 12, 2016 7 Comments
Is being the chosen one all it’s cracked up to be? Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t, and in this Big Idea for Tommy Black and the Coat of Invincibility, author Jake Kerr has choice thoughts on being “chosen” and the choices the chosen ones (and their authors) might have. JAKE KERR: When you are […]
My Arisia Schedule
Posted on January 11, 2016 24 Comments
My first science fiction convention of the year is this weekend: Arisia, at which I am the author Guest of Honor. Wheee! Here are the panels I’ll be on and the events I’ll be doing. Friday: 8:30pm: The Future of Mars – Literature, Panel – 1hr 15min – Faneuil (3W) We grew up reading about […]
David Bowie
Posted on January 11, 2016 59 Comments
Part of me genuinely believed he was an alien who would live forever. Part of me still does.
Well, Look Who Just Showed Up For Work
Posted on January 10, 2016 49 Comments
Oh, hello, Winter. Nice you could make it. And only — (glances at watch) — three weeks late! Huh. What? Something something El Nino something? Sure. Whatever. Look, if you won’t want the job, both Autumn and Spring are more than happy to pick up some extra shifts. They’re good workers. Happy to be here. […]
The Scamperbeasts on Twitter
Posted on January 9, 2016 25 Comments
Someone last night made a jokey comment on Twitter about the Scamperbeasts having their own account on that service, which served as a reminder to me that I should probably get on that before someone else did (someone else made a Twitter account for Ghlaghghee, after all). So I did, and as of this morning […]
I Had Such Ambitions For This Week On Whatever But Instead I Used My Brain To Write 12,000 Words on the New Novel, So, Look, Here Are the Scamperbeasts
Posted on January 8, 2016 37 Comments
Seriously, I had several topics I was planning to write on! But then there was the novel, and business emails, and that award thingie, and yesterday I was running errands, so, really, poof, where does the time go. At least the Scamperbeasts are still cute as hell. Maybe I’ll write some stuff here on the weekend. […]
I’m One of the Recipients of the 2016 Governors Awards for the Arts in Ohio
Posted on January 7, 2016 74 Comments
Which is a nice thing to be able to announce after a morning of writing on a novel. The official announcement is here, and I’m cutting and pasting it below for those of you who don’t want to link through, and adding with some personal comments. Now, the announcement: WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 GOVERNORS AWARDS FOR […]
How to Manifest a Kitten
Posted on January 6, 2016 77 Comments
For when you absolutely, positively need a kitten to magically appear instantly. This is an incomplete list. 1. Close an interior door. 2. Open an exterior door. 3. Use the toilet. 4. Run a bath. 5. Type on a keyboard. 6. Clean the catbox. (They will immediately poo in it) 7. Feed the dog. 8. […]
Scribble Scribble Scribble
Posted on January 5, 2016 40 Comments
So, I started a new novel on Monday and so far, so good; the writing is coming along nicely and it’ll be nice to keep it coming at this clip. For me, the major problem is not writer’s block or plot issues or anything structural involving the novel; I generally don’t have problems with those […]
The Big Idea: Eric James Stone
Posted on January 5, 2016 26 Comments
Welcome to the first Big Idea of 2016! And while the title of Eric James Stone’s novel promises that it will be Unforgettable, Stone asks an opposing question: If you wanted to make a character who was destined to be forgotten, how would you do it, science fictionally speaking? ERIC JAMES STONE: When I came […]
New Books and ARCs, 1/4/16
Posted on January 4, 2016 35 Comments
A new year and a new stack of books and ARCs that have come to the Scalzi Compound, including several novellas — the hot new format. What here looks good to you? Tell me in the comments.
The 2016 Awards Consideration Post
Posted on January 4, 2016 21 Comments
As is my annual tradition, here’s what I have in terms of work I produced in 2015, for you to consider for science fiction and fantasy awards here in 2016: Nothing. Which is not to say I didn’t produce work in 2015. There’s a novel (The End of All Things) which was made out of […]
I Forgot to Update Today, So Here is the Apology Kitten Pic
Posted on January 3, 2016 18 Comments
Please enjoy as Spice stares into the very depths of your soul. See you tomorrow.
And Thus Do the Holidays End, As Ever They Do, With the Ritual Decapitation of a Snowman
Posted on January 2, 2016 45 Comments
What? You don’t end your holidays this way? Huh. Krissy is in fact mildly annoyed with this, as this is in fact her favorite seasonal snow man decoration. But it’s not too badly broken, I think. Nothing that can’t fixed with love, and a little glue. Mostly glue, I think. But yes, Krissy is putting […]
2016 Plans, Appearances, Resolutions, Etc
Posted on January 1, 2016 25 Comments
A quick update on the things I’ve got planned for the next year: Work: I have a young adult novel I need to write, and an adult novel I need to write. So, uh, that’s two novels (as I have mentioned previously). That’s one more novel than I usually write in any given year, so […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying