Monthly Archives: June 2016
What is the Great American Novel?
Posted on June 30, 2016 77 Comments
As part of my Los Angeles Times critic-at-large gig, I was asked — and answered — the perennial question: What is the Great American Novel? And not only did I answer this question, but so did eight other of the critics-at-large, in the process suggesting a number of books that make for an excellent reading […]
Let’s Talk About July For Just a Second
Posted on June 29, 2016 15 Comments
And what I want to say about July is: Hey, I’m still not done with the books, so I’m probably going to stick to the semi-hiatus schedule a little bit longer. It seems to be working reasonably well for me, and in particular trimming comment threads back to two days has made things substantially more […]
New Books and ARCs, 6/29/16
Posted on June 29, 2016 14 Comments
Hey, you like books? I like books. Here are some books and ARCs that recently came to the Scalzi Compound. Which of these is calling your name? Tell me in the comments!
The Big Idea: Bob Proehl
Posted on June 29, 2016 4 Comments
In today’s Big Idea, for the novel A Hundred Thousand Worlds, author Bob Proehl ponders not only the stories that we have to tell, but the stories we choose to tell — and why the difference between those two matters. BOB PROEHL: My book, A Hundred Thousand Worlds is about comic book conventions. It’s about a […]
A Girl and Her Dog
Posted on June 28, 2016 18 Comments
And both of them pretty happy. It’s a fine summer so far.
The Big Idea: Rob Boffard
Posted on June 28, 2016 10 Comments
In today’s Big Idea, author Rob Boffard explains how a quartet of animated Testudines inspired him for his novel Tracer. And what, pray tell, is a Testudinata? Just you wait. ROB BOFFARD: It all started with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I’m thirty-one now, and for the past twenty-five years or so, the Turtles have been […]
Sunset, 6/27/16
Posted on June 27, 2016 10 Comments
It’s a nice one. In other news, I am back home — for three whole days! And then I’m off to Portland, Oregon, for Westercon 69. I think I’ll spend most of the next couple of days sleeping.
View From a Hotel Window, 6/25/16
Posted on June 25, 2016 14 Comments
I’m in Connecticut at the moment, for a wedding, and the view is leafy, and also, of my feet. Hope your weekend is fabulous, folks.
A Few Thoughts Post-Brexit
Posted on June 24, 2016 195 Comments
In no particular order, as I’m writing them off the top of my head: 1. So, the pound has crashed to a 30 year low, trading was halted on the Japanese stock market, other markets are plunging, David Cameron is resigning, Scotland wants another independence referendum, Sinn Fein is pushing for Irish reunification, Nigel Farage went […]
Samsung S7 Edge First Impressions
Posted on June 23, 2016 25 Comments
On Monday my old phone, a Droid Turbo, met up with an accident, and it became incumbent upon me to replace it. Fortunately, life had prepared me for this because I spend a lot of time looking at reviews of new phones just in case my current phone should be carelessly dropped, or hurled, or […]
The Big Idea: Christopher Husberg
Posted on June 23, 2016 2 Comments
Don’t let Christopher Husberg near a wood chipper. Or, as he explains regarding his novel Duskfall, maybe… do? CHRISTOPHER HUSBERG: In some ways, I’ve been writing Duskfall my entire life. Wait, that sounds too grandiose. It’s not like Duskfall is my darling or anything. … … … …okay, it is in a way, but more […]
Hey Scalzi, Do You Have an Opinion on Brexit?
Posted on June 22, 2016 115 Comments
Why, yes! Yes, I do! Bear in mind that the United Kingdom is not my state, and there may be some subtleties to the arguments for and against the UK leaving the European Union that I don’t get. Nevertheless I’ve been following the back and forth for a few months, not only out of my […]
The Big Idea: E. Catherine Tobler
Posted on June 22, 2016 5 Comments
Family. Most of us have them, does that mean we do well with them? Sometimes we don’t — and as E. Catherine Tobler explains in this Big Idea for The Kraken Sea, that can offer an interesting area to explore in writing. E. CATHERINE TOBLER: I’ve never been good at family. My parents divorced when I […]
Brazilian OMW Swag
Posted on June 22, 2016 13 Comments
Old Man’s War recently came out in Brazil as Guerra Do Velho, and is apparently doing pretty well there, I suspect in no small part thanks to the efforts of publisher Editora Aleph, who made some nice swag for it, as you can see here along with the books itself. I especially like the poster. […]
The Big Idea: Curtis C. Chen
Posted on June 21, 2016 7 Comments
Hey! Curtis C. Chen is a former student of mine! And now he has his debut novel, Waypoint Kangaroo! Naturally I take all credit for his success. Now, pay attention while Curtis tells you about his book. CURTIS C. CHEN: My debut novel Waypoint Kangaroo exists because of a robot cat from the future. Lemme […]
First Sunset of Summer 2016
Posted on June 20, 2016 13 Comments
It’s a pretty good one, I have to say.
Whoops
Posted on June 20, 2016 46 Comments
Someone’s phone met with a bad end today. Guess whose! Spoiler: It was mine. And now I am the owner of a band new phone, specifically the Samsung S7 Edge, which is a very nice phone although it will take me a bit to get used to it since I’ve been on Motorola phones (specifically […]
My Next Album
Posted on June 19, 2016 31 Comments
Perfect for Father’s Day! Album art courtesy of Troy Z, whose work might be familiar to readers here.
New Books and ARCs, 6/17/16
Posted on June 17, 2016 16 Comments
Just in time for the weekend, another fine stack of new books and ARCs that have come to the Scalzi Compound. Which of these books call to you? Tell me in the comments!
The Big Idea: Yoon Ha Lee
Posted on June 17, 2016 13 Comments
Within the novel Ninefox Gambit is a battle of wits between two very accomplished characters — and making that struggle work was no small task for author Yoon Ha Lee. What’s the secret? Read on! YOON HA LEE: Once upon a time, as a young, impressionable Yoon, my boyfriend-now-husband introduced me to BattleTech. One of the […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying