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.
September 26, 2016 · 891 words
Friday Night Lights
I spent two nights this last weekend at Globalquerque, our annual world music fiesta. There were eighteen bands rotating on three stages, which meant there was always music being played somewhere, and because I was often somewhere listening to music, that meant I couldn’t be everywhere. So I’m going to describe only wh
Read entry →September 21, 2016 · 692 words
Another Formula
So former publishing person Jodie Archer and analyst Matthew L. Jockers have developed an algorithm to isolate features common in bestsellers, and will reveal their new formula in their soon-to-be- published work, The Bestseller Code. What does the algorithm (and the public) like? Young, strong heroines who are also mi
Read entry →September 17, 2016 · 270 words
BoA Physics
Friend of the blog Michael Wester tells me that noted science foundation Bank of America has issued a report to its clients that there is a 20-50% chance we are living in a Matrix-style simulation. (Where are my cool shades and shiny leather coat?) The report cites Elon Musk, Neil de Grasse Tyson, philosopher Nick [&he
Read entry →September 10, 2016 · 89 words
Long Weekend
I’m up at the Ski Valley this weekend, soaking in that peaceful autumn high-mountain vibe. My usual venue is closed, so I’m staying in a mountain chalet so retro that it has no wi-fi. (Yeah! I was surprised, too!) So unless I drive down to Arroyo Seco’s coffee house (as I just did), it’s unlikely […]
Read entry →September 6, 2016 · 449 words
Watch List
As you might have been able to tell from my last couple of posts, I’m getting a little grumpy about my entertainment options. Just look at TV. We are really in television’s golden age, with dozens of channels programming 24 hours per day, and an unprecedented number of high-quality series on networks or available for [
Read entry →September 4, 2016 · 441 words
Kings and Kings
Went off to “the historic” El Rey theater last night to see the Gipsy Kings. (I won’t claim to have actually heard them.) I’m aware of the claim that rumba-flamenca is merely flamenco-lite, and I don’t care. I like me that Afro-Peruvian-Aragonese-Andalucian-Havana-Provençal sound, so sue me. So I went to The King (El R
Read entry →September 3, 2016 · 699 words
Reviews in the Nick of Time: Stranger Things
Netflix’s Stranger Things has been widely appreciated for its deft appropriation of 1980s film and music (much of which is actually Seventies film and music, but nevermind), and one acquaintance of mine called it “the movie that Stephen King and Steven Spielberg never made.” I understand that people might enjoy a serie
Read entry →August 30, 2016 · 102 words
Free Books!
I have some advanced reading copies of Impersonations, my new novel, and I’m happy to give them away to eager readers. So I’ll be running a contest, but the contest will be available only to readers of my newsletter. So if you want the books, you should sign up. And even if you lose the contest, […]
Read entry →August 26, 2016 · 112 words
Days of Romping About
I’ll be spending this weekend romping about Bubonicon 48, New Mexico’s plague-friendly science fiction convention, which means I’m unlikely to be posting here. You, however, are welcome to join me at the convention, which is scheduled to be awesome. In the meantime, please remember that my 99-cent sale on Ambassador of
Read entry →August 24, 2016 · 360 words
Thoughtful Question
I had a lovely Worldcon, held in Kansas City, a town which I’ve always found congenial. The event was full of friends, many of whom I don’t get to see nearly often enough, and the days and nights were full of bustle, chat, drinks, and fun. I also got to eat some really good steaks, which you […]
Read entry →