Monthly Archives: December 2018
Out Until January 2, 2019
Posted on December 29, 2018 17 Comments
Smudge has the right idea. I’m talking the next few days off and probably won’t be back until January 2, 2019. That’s next year! Just in case you didn’t know. I hope you enjoy these next few days of seasonal downtime and that your new year is bright and full of hope. See you on […]
New Books and ARCs, 12/27/18
Posted on December 27, 2018 29 Comments
It’s the final stack of new books and ARCs for 2018, so it’s no surprise it’s a big one. What here would you be happy to help you bring in the new year? Tell us all in the comments. (And if you need a larger version of the picture, here you go.)
Looking Back on 2018, Looking Forward to 2019
Posted on December 27, 2018 38 Comments
Hey, remember when The Consuming Fire was supposed to have been titled The Widening Gyre? It turns out that both my US and UK publishers kind of hated that title (not the least because no one could agree on how to pronounce the word “gyre”), so we changed it. I have to say now I […]
Top Whatever Posts and Social Media Stats, 2018
Posted on December 26, 2018 44 Comments
Every year I post stats on traffic for Whatever, and every year it gets harder to see how it accurately reflects my actual readership, because of the way people read things I post here. Bluntly, relatively few people visit the site directly at this point in time — As of this moment, for 2018, Whatever has […]
It’s Christmas!
Posted on December 25, 2018 13 Comments
And if you celebrate it, I hope it’s a wonderful day for you and those you love. Merry Christmas!
Whatever Best of 2018
Posted on December 24, 2018 5 Comments
Well, that was a year, wasn’t it: a dark cloud of crap with a silver lining in the November elections. I’m kind of hoping it represented the bottom and that 2019 sees us clawing our way back toward the light, but, well. We’ll see, won’t we. In the meantime, here’s a collection of some of […]
20
Posted on December 23, 2018 22 Comments
My daughter is officially no longer a teenager. Which, wow, as the kids say, that’s a mood. Please enjoy your Athenamas in a manner pleasing to you.
New Books and ARCs, 12/21/18
Posted on December 21, 2018 16 Comments
Just in time for your Solstice celebrations and/or last minute shopping, a nice stack of new books and ARCs for your wintertime consideration. See anything here you’d love to have under the tree? The comments are the place to note them!
A Christmas Tale, Told On Twitter, Involving Burritos
Posted on December 21, 2018 12 Comments
This really happened. All of it. 1. So, true story, which has a point. Last night, I had a dream where I was reading a piece of mail with Athena and Krissy that informed us that we had been awarded a $1,000 arts grant. And we were all "wha"? Because a) we'd not applied for […]
Have Yourself a Smudgy Little Christmas
Posted on December 20, 2018 11 Comments
He’s reaching out to you in the spirit of Christmastime cheer! And also for that food you’re eating. Yeah, he’ll take some of that. Isn’t Christmas really about giving? No? Humph. Well, then, expect a special gift under the Christmas tree, if you know what I mean. He’ll make it himself!
An Interview With Santa’s Lawyer
Posted on December 17, 2018 65 Comments
Please state your name and occupation. My name is Marta Pittman, and I’m a partner at Xavier, Masham, Abbott and Stevens. And you’re Santa Claus’ lawyer. That is correct. More accurately, I’m the partner in charge of our firm’s Seasonal Litigation and Clearances practice, which has as a client NicolasNorth LLC, Santa’s corporate entity. I […]
Thoughts on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Posted on December 16, 2018 28 Comments
In no particular order: 1. I was entertained by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse all the way through, but about two-thirds in, this actual thought surfaced in my brain: Jesus, this film is entertaining. By which I mean that the part of my brain that stores the skills I used for years as a professional movie […]
My Wife is an Angel
Posted on December 15, 2018 24 Comments
I mean, obviously. (In case you’re wondering, this is part of her costume for the Longest Night Masque next month, which, incidentally, you can totally attend if you like.)
A Christmastime Blast From Waaaaaay Back In The Past
Posted on December 13, 2018 13 Comments
An airband competition from my high school back in 1986, in which roughly half the school is up there lip-syncing to “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” If you’re wondering which one I am, look for the kid air-drumming. That’s me!
Virtue Signaling eBook Now Available (and Hardcover Almost Sold Out!)
Posted on December 12, 2018 5 Comments
In case you missed the announcement on Twitter yesterday, the eBook version of Virtue Signaling is now out in the world and available, both from Subterranean Press directly, and also from other eBook retailers. The eBook edition is just $4.99, which makes it a perfect “splurge” purchase for you or the people you love, who […]
Brief Administrative Note
Posted on December 11, 2018 5 Comments
This Friday is basically my last working day of the year, so if you want/need something from me in 2018, you should contact me about it real soon. Like, uh, by Friday. That’s all. (PS: If you’ve requested a January Big Idea, don’t panic, I’ll be processing those soon(ish).)
The Big Idea: Chad Orzel
Posted on December 11, 2018 6 Comments
I liked Breakfast With Einstein so much I gave it a blurb, which you can see in the image above. But why did I like it? Because it explores the esoteric realm of quantum physics — here in the everyday world. Here’s the author, Chad Orzel, to dig deeper into it all. (PS: The UK […]
DELICIOUS MADNESS
Posted on December 10, 2018 25 Comments
This happened tonight. Tonight's burrito: Pecan pie. YES I DID IT AND IT IS AMAZING THEY SAID I WAS MAD BUT WHO IS MAD NOW I ASK YOU pic.twitter.com/WLKLw7QRSs — John Scalzi (@scalzi) December 11, 2018 PLEASE NOTE: It was Krissy who prepared the thing, after I suggested it to her. I believe her words […]
New Book and ARCs, 12/10/18
Posted on December 10, 2018 25 Comments
They keep coming! Here’s the latest stack of new books and ARCs that have arrived at the Scalzi Compound. What here is something you’d enjoy having in your own hot little hands? Tell us all in the comments.
In Which This Cat is an Accurate Metaphor For My Brain at the Moment
Posted on December 9, 2018 13 Comments
Me: Hey, brain, I think I’d like to write a Whatever piece. Brain: Eh… I’d rather not, thanks. Me: But people are clamoring to know my opinion about many things! Brain: Are they? Really? Me: I assume so! Brain: Then they’ll still be clamoring later, won’t they? Me: But — my thoughts on politics! Brain: […]
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying