The old blog, active from 2006 through 2012.
Wikipedia Page and Guardian Review
Two nice pieces of recognition to go along with my Campbell nomination… From the old media side of things, the renowned U.K. newspaper The Guardian reviewed The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume 2, and gave a nice little shout out to my story “Mathralon.” It’s a capsule review, but I’m told it was very prominently placed in the issue. You can read the review on the Guardian website here, but it’s short enough... Continue reading→
More on the Campbell Nomination
As my previous coupla-sentence blog post sorta indicated, I’m hella pleased to be nominated for the Campbell Award for Best New SF/F Writer. In case you’re stumbling across my blog for the first time, um, hey there. I’m the author of Infoquake and the soon-to-be-released MultiReal. But wait! Before you click on either of those links, allow me to say some good words about my fellow nominees. I read on somebody’s blog this afternoon that... Continue reading→
Campbell Award for Best New SF/F Writer Nomination
Lookit me! I got nominated for the Campbell Award for Best New SF/F Writer. More later.
Will the Novel Die?
I can’t find any current piece of journalism to use as a springboard for asking whether the novel will die. But considering that the question gets asked every 14 seconds somewhere on the blogosphere, I’m not going to worry. Just follow the trail of rent garments and gnashed teeth and you’ll find someone blathering about it. The question’s on my mind this morning, so that’s good enough for me. Will the novel die? I won’t... Continue reading→
On SF Signal: Are SF Series a Barrier to New Readers?
Today on SF Signal, I’ve got a mini-essay on their “Mind Meld” series. The question: are science fiction and fantasy series a hindrance to new readers? Do they leave the casual bookstore browser high and dry because inevitably not all of the books in a series will be available? Quick excerpt from my response: From a publishing perspective, series are absolutely not a barrier to gaining new readership. And there’s a simple reason why: more... Continue reading→
Gary Gygax: An Appreciation
You may have heard that E. Gary Gygax, the creator of Dungeons & Dragons, lost his final saving throw with the great dungeon master in the sky this morning. Perhaps I should have called this post “Dungeons & Dragons: An Appreciation,” since I really didn’t know Gary Gygax from Elric of Melniboné. I don’t think I ever heard the guy speak or saw his picture until this afternoon. I may have read an interview or... Continue reading→
My Introduction to the Reissue of Mervyn Peake’s “Titus Alone”
Late last year, I was asked to write the introduction to Overlook Press' new edition of Mervyn Peake's "Titus Alone," last novel of the so-called Gormenghast Trilogy. So, with the permission of Overlook Press, I've posted the introduction in its entirety here. Continue reading→
An Introduction to “Mathralon”
This past week, I had the privilege of reading my short story “Mathralon” at the U.S. Library of Congress, as part of the “What If… Science Fiction & Fantasy Forum” run by the fabulous Colleen Cahill. Alas, my plans to videotape the event and stick it up on YouTube fell through, but those who are curious can look at some photos on my Flickr account. (Okay, so they’re not professional quality photos, and they give... Continue reading→
This Thursday: My Reading at the Library of Congress
My first science fiction short story has just been published, and if you’re in the Washington, DC area, you can see me read it at the Library of Congress this Thursday. The story is called “Mathralon,” and it’s available as part of The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Volume Two, edited by the incomparable George Mann. “Mathralon” is a somewhat unusual story. I’ve been tinkering with it for a year or two, off and... Continue reading→
How to Help Promote Your Favorite Author
We often latch on to the authors we love. We realize this is a tough business, and we don’t want them to starve. We want them fat and happy, sitting on cushions stuffed with hundred dollar bills. But what’s the best way to help them? People who aren’t in the writing and publishing business often have skewed ideas of how the business works. I’ve had to educate more than one eager friend or family member... Continue reading→