Monthly Archives: July 2019
The Big Idea: Derryl Murphy and William Shunn
Posted on July 31, 2019 7 Comments
Authors Derryl Murphy and William Shunn weren’t necessarily looking to collaborate on a story. But then a chance encounter on the road set events into motion that would result in Cast a Cold Eye. I’ll let the two of them take it from here. DERRYL MURPHY and WILLIAM SHUNN: Derryl Murphy: My mind often wanders […]
Sunset Clouds, 7/30/19
Posted on July 30, 2019 6 Comments
Thought you might like to see them. Have a good evening, folks.
The Big Idea: Christian McKay Heidicker
Posted on July 30, 2019 8 Comments
How scary is too scary? Or not scary enough? And does the calculus change when you’re writing for a younger audience? These are the questions that Christian McKay Heidicker confronted when writing Scary Stories for Young Foxes. Don’t be frightened: His answers await you below. CHRISTIAN McKAY HEIDICKER: When I started work on Scary Stories […]
We Interrupt This Evening’s Program to Bring You Cows
Posted on July 29, 2019 42 Comments
On my walks on my street these days, I pass by a dairy farm. Mostly the cows keep near the barn but yesterday they were down by the road, and they were very very interested in me as I walked by. I kind of wanted to pet them! But I suspect that would have been […]
Last Night’s Sunset
Posted on July 27, 2019 1 Comment
Because I forgot to post it last night. Not bad. Also, I’m outta here for the weekend. See you on Monday.
New Books and ARCs, 7/26/19
Posted on July 26, 2019 15 Comments
Here’s a nice healthy stack of new books and ARCs to head into the weekend with — what here is catching your eye? Tell us all in the comments!
My Dublin 2019 Schedule
Posted on July 26, 2019 7 Comments
As many of you already know, I will be attending the Dublin 2019 Worldcon, where I will hang out with friends, maybe watch some of them win Hugos, and — oh! By the way! — do a few events as well. Here’s my schedule at the convention. 15 Aug 2019, Thursday 14:00 – 14:50, Level […]
A Couple of Bits on Hugo Award Proposals and Attempted Wikipedia Deletions
Posted on July 24, 2019 57 Comments
Because I’m thinking about them and might as well get them out now before I focus on nothing else besides novel writing: * Over at File 770, and on the subject of the Hugo Awards, they’re talking about a proposal that will come up at the WSFS Business Meeting at the Dublin Worldcon, to roll […]
My 300 Mile Lyft Ride From Chicago to Bradford
Posted on July 23, 2019 87 Comments
I mentioned this on Twitter yesterday: My car reservation was cancelled. There are no one way rentals in Chicago for love our money. My rescheduled flight doesn't get me home until tomorrow. So, fuck it, I'm taking a Lyft home. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) July 22, 2019 Here’s the full story on it. Yesterday I […]
The Big Idea: Jeffrey A. Carver
Posted on July 23, 2019 9 Comments
For his Big Idea for The Reefs of Time, the first of his Out of Time series, Jeffrey A. Carver talks about structure — of his story, the universe, and other important things. JEFFREY A. CARVER: Big ideas are the meat and potatoes of classical science fiction, but sometimes they collide with one another like […]
Taking Pictures of the Moon
Posted on July 20, 2019 8 Comments
Whenever I take pictures of the moon, I get asked how I did it and what equipment I use. So I wrote a piece about that in the current issue of the fanzine Journey Planet, which is focused on the moon and (also) the moon landing of Apollo XI, which took place 50 years ago […]
The Big Idea: Heather Webber
Posted on July 18, 2019 2 Comments
As a well-known pie enthusiast, I believe pretty much all pie is magic. But in Midnight at the Blackbird Café, author Heather Webber takes the “pie is magic” concept even further than that — and in the process opens doors to questions far beyond what might be in the pie filling. HEATHER WEBBER: Have you […]
Greetings From Aviles
Posted on July 17, 2019 19 Comments
It’s pretty here, and also, I wrote a chapter this morning, so it’s also apparently conducive to getting work done, so that’s nice too. How are you?
View From a Hotel Window, 7/16/19: Aviles, Spain
Posted on July 16, 2019 9 Comments
Here I am in Aviles, Spain. It’s very pretty here. Also, I’ve been up for 24 hours, so I am very tired. I’m going to have a nap now.
The Big Idea: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Posted on July 16, 2019 9 Comments
In today’s Big Idea, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone are feeling epistolary, which, considering the letter-writing format of their collaborative novella This is How You Lose the Time War, is entirely appropriate. AMAL EL-MOHTAR and MAX GLADSTONE: Dearest Max, I write to you from the past—knowing you’re presently asleep while I’m awake, three hours’ worth […]
Off to Spain
Posted on July 15, 2019 10 Comments
Where I am a guest of the Celsius 232 Festival. I expect to be mostly busy with that for the next week, but may post a few pictures here and there (and there are a couple Big Idea pieces for you to look forward to this week as well). You kids have fun while I’m […]
New Books and ARCs, 7/12/19
Posted on July 12, 2019 28 Comments
A tall and fairly impressive stack of new books and ARCs this week. What here is something you’d want to take into the weekend with you? Share in the comments!
They’re Not Middle Class, They’re Well-Off, and That Should Worry You
Posted on July 12, 2019 52 Comments
The New York Times last week ran a piece called What Middle-Class Families Want Politicians to Know, which featured interviews from a number of Americans, discussing their economic concerns and fears. The thing is, the large majority of the households represented in the piece have a six-figure income; while there is one fellow whose reported […]
The Big Idea: Sean Grigsby
Posted on July 11, 2019 6 Comments
Author Sean Grigsby has a theory about people. It’s… not terribly optimistic. But it does have relevance for his latest novel, Ash Kickers, which features firefighters in a slightly alternate version of the world. One with dragons! SEAN GRIGSBY: Whatever catastrophe nature throws at us, people always seem to make it worse. Not all of […]
I Totally Forgot to Update Earlier Today, So Here, Have a Picture of This Nice Flower
Posted on July 10, 2019 3 Comments
Nothing like a little late night horticulture. Sleep well!
Whatever Everyone Else is Saying