Dispatches since 2005
The journal
Announcements, new editions, travel, diving, cooking and the working life of a novelist — 268 entries, all of them here in full.
August 31, 2010 · 49 words
First Observation from Bubonicon
The number of self-published authors hawking their works from tables in the dealers’ room considerably outnumbered book dealers. Some of them were really aggressive about dragging me to their tables and pitching me their books. I know you’re desperate, guys, but please. Try not to let the desperation show.
Read entry →August 26, 2010 · 70 words
Plagued
I’ll be spending the weekend at Bubonicon 42, billed as the answer to Life, the Universe & Everything. Joining me at New Mexico’s largest and most venerable SF convention will be GoHs Peter David, Mario Acevedo, and Sarah Clemens. Also attending will be mascot Perry Rodent (pictured). I’ll be reading from Deep State on
Read entry →August 25, 2010 · 56 words
Time for Grownups?
The Onion announced that Time, the beloved children’s magazine, will now be accompanied on the stands by Time Advanced, a magazine for grownups that contains actual journalism! (The video comes with special added zombie for extra bite.) [Makes me glad I subscribe to The Economist, actually] TIME Announces New Version O
Read entry →August 24, 2010 · 51 words
The Skunk Works Reads Hardwired
Thanks to friend of the blog DensityDuck, I discover that the brilliant folks at Lockheed’s Skunk Works seem to have been reading my 1986 novel Hardwired. How else to explain their re-creation of the aircraft from that work, here called Various? Complete with the pop-up— or rather pop-down— weapons bay?
Read entry →August 24, 2010 · 217 words
Going a-Viking
If all goes well, in the very near future Denmark will become the fourth nation to put a man into space. Copenhagen Suborbitals, headed by Kristian von Bengtson and Peter Madsen, hope to launch the world’s first amateur-built rocket for human space travel. As of this writing, the launch countdown clock on the Copenhage
Read entry →August 24, 2010 · 520 words
Droves, Fleeing In
Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article noting that small investors were fleeing the stock market in droves, taking $33.12 billion with them. Could it be that they’re looking for more secure investments, such as perpetual motion machines, the Dean Drive, and the Danish space program? After past recessions, ordin
Read entry →August 23, 2010 · 90 words
Egg Salad
So I saw What’s Up, Tiger Lily?, the Woody Allen film about a bunch of Japanese spies running around looking for the world’s greatest egg salad recipe. This inspired me to make some egg salad, which I ate on a bagel for lunch. But this started me thinking: What is the world’s greatest egg salad […]
Read entry →August 20, 2010 · 45 words
Looking For a Few Good Men
North Korea now has a Facebook page! And look . . . North Korea says it’s male, and that it’s “interested in men!” Perhaps it’s only a phase. Maybe it’s only confused. But it’s just possible that some of you guys could get lucky tonight.
Read entry →August 20, 2010 · 89 words
From the Farmers’ Market
So a visit to the local farmers’ market produced beefsteak tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, and sweet corn. I would have bought more but we’re flat out of space on the counters and in the refrigerator. So I’m thinkin’ roast chicken tonight, with a tomato-and-cucumber salad and roasted ears of sweet corn. Maybe the tomatoes a
Read entry →August 20, 2010 · 48 words
Talking About Jack
Fred Pohl, whose blog features many stories of the dawn of science fiction and fandom, has begun a series of posts on his blog about Jack Williamson. I note they’re titled “Jack the Wonderful Williamson,” and I can’t fault Fred’s choice of words. The story starts here.
Read entry →August 19, 2010 · 472 words
Gatsby: the Prequel
I just watched the first few episodes of Season Six of Entourage, which features the premiere of Vinnie Chase’s new movie, The Great Gatsby, directed by Martin Scorsese. I am unclear whether Vinnie is playing Gatsby or Nick Carraway. (I sure as hell can’t see him as Gatsby.) In fact I can’t really see anyone […]
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