Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 3,174 entries, all of them here in full.
March 8, 2020 · 103 words
Free Audio
Normally I’d have a contest or something for this, but I’m up to my elbows in tax forms right now and don’t have the mental leisure. I happen to have here some codes for the audiobook of Quillifer the Knight, read by the wonderful Ralph Lister. So the first three people to reply to this post […]
Read entry →March 5, 2020 · 201 words
Alternate Reality Show
So when the Wild Cards series was relaunched in the early 21st, one of the plot elements involved a reality show called American Hero, in which 28 super-powered individuals competed for a million-dollar prize. The program followed the conventions of the form, with plenty of soap opera and conflict between the participa
Read entry →February 29, 2020 · 482 words
Is Music Math?
Lately there’s been a blizzard of litigation about violations of song copyright, all based on the melody of pop tunes. I thought the Chiffons had a point when they claimed “My Sweet Lord” infringed “He’s So Fine”— listen to them back to back and I bet you’ll agree— but now there are so many online […
Read entry →February 24, 2020 · 77 words
Groove Me
Getting a jump on Mardi Gras, it’s Etta James, Dr. John, and the ever-dapper Allen Toussaint on “Groove Me.” All passed now, alas. I was surprised to see Dr. John on guitar. The legend has it that he started as a guitar player, but had to switch to piano after some of his fingers were […]
Read entry →February 22, 2020 · 575 words
Scottish Cyrano
Last night I thought I’d see what’s up with Britain’s National Theater, so I nipped up to Albuquerque to see James McAvoy in a new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac. This was a performance of the play, allegedly live, broadcast to select theaters in North America. I’m not sure about the live part, because that would [&h
Read entry →February 18, 2020 · 124 words
I Am Invaded
I’m in a general state of non-compliance with the universe right now, a result of a full schedule of panels, meals, malt beverages, and fun at Boskone, plus jet lag following yesterday’s ten hours in a steel tube crossing the country while battling a 120-knot headwind, which turned the aircraft into a kind of hard-side
Read entry →February 12, 2020 · 408 words
Boskone Schedule
This weekend I will be at Boskone 57, which I imagine is the longest-lasting Boston SF convention. And guess what! Unlike some conventions— I’m looking at you, Worldcon— I’m actually on the schedule! So if you want to see me at any point, here’s where to look. Memorable Minor Characters Format: Panel 14 Feb
Read entry →February 10, 2020 · 99 words
Getting Serious About the Toolbox
There are still places available at Taos Toolbox, master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy, taught this year by Nancy Kress and Walter Jon Williams, with George RR Martin and indiepub guru EM Tippetts. Taos Toolbox has a proven record of helping writers develop into full-fledged professionals. If you’re
Read entry →February 9, 2020 · 193 words
Miss Shelley Presents
I’ve had an interest in Mary Shelley and her circle for something like ever, an interest that resulted in my novella “Wall, Stone, Craft.” (Which I recommend to you all.) But I also recommend to you this intriguing Kickstarter project, a graphic novel series called Mary Shelley Presents. Each of the four volumes will f
Read entry →February 7, 2020 · 813 words
Feeding
Some notes on what I’ve been viewing. The Feed, on Amazon, is about a phone-free future in which practically everyone has social media implanted in their heads. Not only are they online all the time, but the Feed records their lives continually on “mundles” (which I’m guessing is a portmanteau of “memory bundles”) so t
Read entry →February 2, 2020 · 945 words
Reviews Too Late: Witcher
This is probably the most gratuitous review ever, because if you gave a damn about Witcher you’ve already seen it and formed your own opinion. Probably a lot of you never got past the first episode, which had by far the worst writing of any episode of the series, and made no attempt to clarify […]
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