Today SCI FI Wire published a story I wrote about Matthew Hughes’s new novel, Majestrum, which is the first of a trilogy from Night Shade which will feature Old Earth’s foremost freelance discriminator, Henghis Hapthorn. I just read it, by the way, and I have to say, it ROCKS.
Jim Freund, host of the radio show Hour of the Wolf, posted a few photos from my appearance (along with Doug Cohen) on the show.
John Scalzi is auctioning off a bound manuscript of his new novel The Last Colony (which is months and months ahead of the May 2007 pub date) to benefit the John M. Ford Book Endowment. Last bid I saw was $460. The higher the bid price goes, the more free stuff Scalzi throws in. At the level it’s at now, you not only get The Last Colony, but you get a copy of Scalzi’s limited edition chapbook, Questions for a Soldier, and it’s very close to being eligble for an ARC of his novel Agent to the Stars.
Good cause! Bragging rights! Scalzi stuff!
Go bid!
Some commenters asked some questions about Gully, so here’s what I know:
He’s around seven years old.
He’s a German Shepherd mix. When I questioned what he might be mixed with, Hannah suggested that he looks labrador-like, and I agree (after looking at some lab photos). So I’m going to go with German Shepherd/Labrador mix.
He doesn’t seem to know any tricks, except that he will sit when he thinks you want him to (though telling him to sit doesn’t seem to be what makes him do it), and he’ll also come to you when you snap your fingers, slap your leg, or make smoochie noises. Can’t seem to fetch, and shows no interest in the chew toy bone or the tennis ball-like balls I bought him. However, I ordered a dog training book to see if there’s stuff in there I can use, as I have no real idea how to train an animal to do something. Though just by reading reviews to some of these books, I picked up some stuff, such as: you’re not actually supposed to say “No” to a dog when they do something wrong; instead you’re supposed to reinforce what the correct thing to do is. Or something like that. I suppose it’ll all become clearer once I read the book.
One bit of concern is that he seems frequently listless, and mostly lays around. When I let him outside into the yard, he sniffs around, but doesn’t seem to want to stay out there (and, as I said, he shows no interest in fetching–perhaps I need to get one of those tug-of-war toys). He does seem to enjoy going for walks, though; he’s a very eager walker, and seemed to like smelling the smells of the neighborhood. If I were inclined to run with him, I expect he’d like that; because he was so eager, I started jogging for a little while so he could go faster.
And as you can see from this photo, he’s obviously a literary sort of pooch. His preferred place to crash appears to be right next to my bookcases. Curiously enough, on the top shelf of that particular case are two copies of the book of his namesake…
Here he is, Gully Foyle, the stereotype Common Dog. At the pound, he lifted his mute face to me and barked, as if to say: “What’s a matter, me? Help, you goddamn gods! Help, is all.”
And help I did. I adopted the poor wretch, saving him from the ignominy of euthanasia or a lifetime consumed by an undying thirst for vengeance against those who callously left him for dead (in the park).
His animal shelter chart had the following information about him:
Education: None
Skills: None
Merits: None
Recommendations: None(Personnel Comments)
A dog of physical strength and intellectual potential stunted by lack of ambition. Energizes at minimum. The stereotype Common Dog. Some unexpected shock might possibly awaken him. Frequent trips to Petsmart might do it; he loves to go there.
Not very useful. But I’m told that the key to his awakening is in the lock. (And that presently, it would turn and open the door to holocaust.)
If by “holocaust” they meant “a lifetime of companionship with his new human,” then that’s cool. Otherwise? Ulp.
SCI FI Wire just published a piece I wrote about Jon Courtenay Grimwood’s novel Stamping Butterflies.
Pirates say “Arrr!”, damn it: no “gh.” “Argh!” is a cry of frustration (it is, also apparently a fungeoid esoteric programming language). I keep seeing this error over and over, and as the editor of a piratical periodical, this bothers me.
Strangely enough, there’s a pirate poster at F&SF’s bank which has the same error. When I asked about it, they said they have to answer the phone that way because they’re doing some promotion. How confusing would that be, to call the bank and have them go all pirate on your ass? In any case, I corrected them. One of the tellers said “Oh, that [poster] came directly from the main office.” Sounds to me like someone at the main office needs a good keelhauling.
this is a test post, please ignore
Faithful readers of my blog may recall me talking about the new SF audio magazine, MechMuse (which I wrote about for SCI FI Wire and reviewed for IGMS). Well, they’ve just announced a free edition, which is supported by advertising, I believe. They also just published their second issue.
From the press release:
MechMuse Ltd. today announced the launch of the MechMuse Audio Magazine Free Edition, www.MechMuse.com, which offers a new standard in quality, format, and technology for online publications, its first two issues including stories from New York Times Best Selling Authors David Farland and Kevin J. Anderson.
MechMuse Audio Magazine publishes serialized novels, short stories, columns and interviews all in audio format, for easy transfer as podcast streams to jukebox applications such as iTunes and portable music players like the iPod. Each MechMuse Free Edition issue includes between 12 and 15 hours of audio content compressed in MP3 and AAC formats, written by best selling authors alongside rising newcomers. In addition to audio content, MechMuse offers full-page graphical layouts featuring artwork from contributors spanning the globe.
If you like audiobooks, go check it out. I haven’t heard the second issue yet, but I’m sure it’s well done (and the price is certainly right).
This looks interesting:
Masters of American Comics is the most comprehensive exhibition of its kind showcasing classic and contemporary comic strips and books, including hundreds of originals created by influential comic artists.
This landmark, two-part exhibition, presented simultaneously at The Newark Museum and The Jewish Museum, is the first major museum examination of one of America’s great art forms. Focusing on 14 of the most innovative and influential American comics artists, it vividly shows how comic strips and books developed as a serious and popular art form over the last century.
Nearly 600 original drawings, rare proofs, printed newspaper pages, comic books and graphic novels represent the work of several pioneering artists. Comic strips from the first half of the 20th century will be shown at The Newark Museum, and comic books and graphic novels from the 1950s onward will be featured at The Jewish Museum.
For more info, see the website.
