Monthly Archives: January 2017
A Fortnight of Trump
Posted on January 31, 2017 201 Comments
It’s been two weeks since I’ve written about Trump here! And what a two weeks it’s been! Herewith, not-especially-well-organized thoughts on a fortnight of a not-especially-well-organized administration: 1. I mean, these are remarkable times, aren’t they? There are moments in life when you are very truly aware that you are living in history — things […]
The Big Idea: Mur Lafferty
Posted on January 31, 2017 16 Comments
Rules for clones? According to Mur Lafferty, you need to have them. But why do you need to have them? And what are the rules, as far as they apply to her new novel Six Wakes? She’s here to give you the details. MUR LAFFERTY: Cloning stories are hard to tell because they’re such a […]
Sun Pillar, 1/30/17
Posted on January 30, 2017 18 Comments
The first sun pillar of the year! I thought you might enjoy the view.
New Books and ARCs, 1/30/17
Posted on January 30, 2017 33 Comments
As the month of January draws to a close, there’s just enough time to get in one more stack of new books and ARCs! What here looks tempting to you? Tell us all in the comments!
This is My Life This Weekend
Posted on January 28, 2017 32 Comments
Signing signature sheets, drinking Coke Zero and watching Teen Titans Go. Hope your weekend is similarly activity-filled.
Publishers Weekly Review of The Collapsing Empire
Posted on January 27, 2017 11 Comments
It’s out and it’s good, and that always makes me happy. Here’s what I imagine the pull quote will be: “Scalzi (the Old Man’s War series) delivers a strong opener for his fast-paced new space opera series… Expect several future works set in this sprawling universe.” Well, and in fact I am contracted for at least […]
I Was Going To Post a Roundup of All the Nonsense of Trump’s First Week as President, But Then I Decided You’d Probably Like These Pet Pictures Better
Posted on January 27, 2017 47 Comments
First off, here’s Zeus, winking saucily. Oh, Zeus! You Lothario! And here’s Daisy, appearing to be having a bit of an existential crisis, with luggage. She’s not really having an existential crisis, by the way. She just has Resting Existential Crisis Face. There, I think this was a much better choice! For each of us […]
The Big Idea: Charles Stross
Posted on January 26, 2017 28 Comments
Hey! It’s Charles Stross! One of my favorite writers! And he has a new book! Empire Games! And it’s cool! And he’s here to talk to you about it! Yeah, and that’s my intro today. Take it away, Charlie. CHARLES STROSS: Take one science fiction series setting with parallel universes where history has proceeded along […]
New Books and ARCs, 1/24/17
Posted on January 24, 2017 25 Comments
You look like you could use an interesting stack of books and ARCs to peruse! Fortunately, I happen to have one right here for you. See anything in this stack that calls to you? Let us all know in the comments!
2017 First Pass Oscar Predictions
Posted on January 24, 2017 41 Comments
It’s that time of year again where I dust off my “film writer” hat and make guesses on what and who are going to win Oscars in the six major categories (Picture, Director, Actor and Actress, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor). I usually end up getting five out of six correct! So I’ve got that […]
The Big Idea: Lawrence Millman
Posted on January 24, 2017 2 Comments
A horrific event took place decades ago — but could the key to explaining it exist in the modern day? Author Lawrence Millman asked himself that question as he undertook the writing of At the End of the World, and the answer to it surprised even him. LAWRENCE MILLMAN: Here are the bare bones of […]
RIP, Larry Smith
Posted on January 23, 2017 27 Comments
I learned on Friday that bookseller Larry Smith had passed away and it’s fair to say I was more than a little shocked by the news. I’d seen him and Sally less than a week before at Arisia and had conversation with both. It’s fair to say that Larry and Sally were two of my […]
Kirkus Review of The Collapsing Empire
Posted on January 23, 2017 20 Comments
It’s here, it’s positive, and it’s at the Kirkus site. Here’s the link. My favorite line is the last: “Scalzi continues to be almost insufferably good at his brand of fun but think-y sci-fi adventure.” “Almost insufferably good.” I love this sooooooo much.
ConFusion 2017 in Photos
Posted on January 23, 2017 8 Comments
I got sick the last day of ConFusion and have thus spent yesterday and today in a state of minimal brain activity, but it turns out I had just enough brain power to curate and post a bunch of pictures I took at the convention. You’ll find the Flicker set of those photos here. The […]
What I Did With My Weekend
Posted on January 22, 2017 51 Comments
This was at ConFusion, just before Joe and I did our respective readings. Because who doesn’t want to see a pillow fight between two best-selling authors? How was your weekend?
The Big Idea: Tim Lees
Posted on January 20, 2017 4 Comments
For today’s Big Idea, author Tim Lees thinks on the interactions of gods and humans, what the gods represent, and what it all means for his new novel, Steal the Lightning. TIM LEES: So, in my last couple of books, I solved the energy crisis. No big deal; you just dig up a few ancient […]
New Books and ARCs, 1/18/17
Posted on January 18, 2017 23 Comments
Here’s a fine-looking stack of new books and ARCs for your delight. See anything that particularly appeals to you? Tell me in the comments!
The Beginning of the Trump Years
Posted on January 18, 2017 145 Comments
And for this one I’ll use the Q&A format I’d used in some earlier pieces about the incoming Trump administration. I knew you’d be back! Yes, fine. Let’s get to it. How do you feel about Trump taking office on Friday? I’m sort of relieved. Bwuh? Look, we’ve known this day was coming for two […]
The End of the Obama Years
Posted on January 18, 2017 62 Comments
I was asked in e-mail if I had any particular thoughts about the end of Obama years. I have quite a few, some of them complicated, but the short version is that I’ll be sad to see Barack Obama go. He was arguably the smartest president of the nine whose administrations I’ve lived through, and […]
The Big Idea: Veronica Roth
Posted on January 17, 2017 8 Comments
It’s no surprise that fantasy and science fiction authors do a lot of worldbuilding for their novels, but it’s one thing to say “worldbuilding” and another thing to offer a glimpse of what the work of worldbuilding entails. The good news is, bestselling author Veronica Roth is here you to offer that very same glimpse, […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying