Lois McMaster Bujold's Blog, page 48
February 21, 2016
mitochondria matter maternally
While I'm on the subject of my favorite pop bio-sci...
For readers who did not catch the significance of the mitochondria issue in the first chapter of Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, or for those who did but want to know more, may I strongly recommend Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life by Nick Lane, who will give you chapter and verse.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Lane is a very lucid writer, which is a good thing, because he doesn't dumb his material down -- but if you give him your whole attention, he will reward it.
For a condensed version of the story, there is also one of the sections in his Life Ascending,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
His Oxygen: the molecule that made the world is also very fine.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Mitochondria. Not to be confused with midichlorians. Really.
Ta, L.
For readers who did not catch the significance of the mitochondria issue in the first chapter of Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, or for those who did but want to know more, may I strongly recommend Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life by Nick Lane, who will give you chapter and verse.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Lane is a very lucid writer, which is a good thing, because he doesn't dumb his material down -- but if you give him your whole attention, he will reward it.
For a condensed version of the story, there is also one of the sections in his Life Ascending,
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
His Oxygen: the molecule that made the world is also very fine.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Mitochondria. Not to be confused with midichlorians. Really.
Ta, L.
February 20, 2016
sale at downpour.com on physical media
I'm told that downpour.com , which is Blackstone's e-arm, is having a half-price sale till next week on their physical media -- CDs and MP3s. They have all of my books, somewhere.
I don't see a sale page as such, but I was given this:
http://www.downpour.com/catalogsearch...
Ta, L.
I don't see a sale page as such, but I was given this:
http://www.downpour.com/catalogsearch...
Ta, L.
February 16, 2016
happy dance, writer-style
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen had a terrific first week of sales -- thanks, folks!
For week ending Feb. 7th.
Lists separating out new hardcovers:
Barnes & Noble - Arboretum -- #6
NYTimes -- #18
Washington Post -- #7
Publishers Weekly -- #11
Midwest Independent Bookseller's Association -- #15
USA Today's list piles all categories of books together:
USA Today -- # 102
From prior outings, it might have had a good second week as well -- I'll find out in a few days. Very seldom does a genre book with no media tie-in manage to sustain the pop before being overrun with the next wave of new releases -- I think the best that one of mine has done in the past was three weeks on the NYTimes extended list. But at least it looks like my publisher isn't going to take a bath for supporting my quirky book.
On the subject, beloved old readers, please stop telling everyone they have to read a mountain of old books before cracking this new one. It simply isn't so.
The one -- one! -- review from a new reader, the only sort who can actually testify to the point, that I have seen so far said this:
" ...The lovely thing about Gentleman is that it doesn't require you to have read all the books to follow what's going on. It's quite a self-contained story on its own. Bujold is a seasoned writer - she drops hints and reminders of what has happened before in such a way that you don't feel you've missed anything from not reading those earlier books, but at the same time, you have the urge to pick it up because it sounds so darned interesting. (By the sound of it, though, some of these are new to followers of the series. Hm.)"
I actually suspect that many new readers might get a better first reading than some old ones, as they would be spending more time reading the words in front of them and less looking around for some other book to start happening based on prior expectations. (I grant you, one data point is not really enough to construct a theory. More would be good. If anyone spots another such review, do pass it along.)
Ta, L.
For week ending Feb. 7th.
Lists separating out new hardcovers:
Barnes & Noble - Arboretum -- #6
NYTimes -- #18
Washington Post -- #7
Publishers Weekly -- #11
Midwest Independent Bookseller's Association -- #15
USA Today's list piles all categories of books together:
USA Today -- # 102
From prior outings, it might have had a good second week as well -- I'll find out in a few days. Very seldom does a genre book with no media tie-in manage to sustain the pop before being overrun with the next wave of new releases -- I think the best that one of mine has done in the past was three weeks on the NYTimes extended list. But at least it looks like my publisher isn't going to take a bath for supporting my quirky book.
On the subject, beloved old readers, please stop telling everyone they have to read a mountain of old books before cracking this new one. It simply isn't so.
The one -- one! -- review from a new reader, the only sort who can actually testify to the point, that I have seen so far said this:
" ...The lovely thing about Gentleman is that it doesn't require you to have read all the books to follow what's going on. It's quite a self-contained story on its own. Bujold is a seasoned writer - she drops hints and reminders of what has happened before in such a way that you don't feel you've missed anything from not reading those earlier books, but at the same time, you have the urge to pick it up because it sounds so darned interesting. (By the sound of it, though, some of these are new to followers of the series. Hm.)"
I actually suspect that many new readers might get a better first reading than some old ones, as they would be spending more time reading the words in front of them and less looking around for some other book to start happening based on prior expectations. (I grant you, one data point is not really enough to construct a theory. More would be good. If anyone spots another such review, do pass it along.)
Ta, L.
February 10, 2016
Note to SFWA members on Gentleman Jole year-eligibility
This is information for SFWA members, some of whom may read this blog. It isn't pertinent to anyone else, so the rest of you may skip it.
I was notified last night that the Nebula rules committee has determined Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen to be eligible to be nominated for the 2015 Nebula Award. Not, as many have assumed, 2016, which won't go to a vote till this time next year. This is I gather consequent to the eARC going on sale to the public in October of 2015. I was extended the opportunity to appeal the decision, which I declined.
2015 nominations close on February 15th, just five days from this posting, so any SFWA members interested in the book might like to know about this year-shift before then.
bests, Lois.
(No, I do not wish to chat about this further till after Feb. 15th, thanks.)
Later: I will note that although, as was correct, only my book was discussed with me, this rules-change may impact a number of other early 2016 titles that had eARCs for sale in late 2015. A scan of Baen's catalog should be able to suss out which ones. I do not know the status of their writers' notifications and responses.
Ta, L.
I was notified last night that the Nebula rules committee has determined Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen to be eligible to be nominated for the 2015 Nebula Award. Not, as many have assumed, 2016, which won't go to a vote till this time next year. This is I gather consequent to the eARC going on sale to the public in October of 2015. I was extended the opportunity to appeal the decision, which I declined.
2015 nominations close on February 15th, just five days from this posting, so any SFWA members interested in the book might like to know about this year-shift before then.
bests, Lois.
(No, I do not wish to chat about this further till after Feb. 15th, thanks.)
Later: I will note that although, as was correct, only my book was discussed with me, this rules-change may impact a number of other early 2016 titles that had eARCs for sale in late 2015. A scan of Baen's catalog should be able to suss out which ones. I do not know the status of their writers' notifications and responses.
Ta, L.
February 8, 2016
B&N summation
There's a nice summation up on the B&N blog about starting the Vorkosigan series,
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sc...
but alas they mix up the novella "The Borders of Infinity" with the collection Borders of Infinity, the way you do, you know. If I'd known back when how much confusion those two similar titles were going to create in the future, I'd have named the collection something else, but, too late now.
The link the poster was trying for was this one: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/borde...
Feel free to correct it in the comments, I suppose. It wouldn't let me log on without signing up for stuff.
Ta, L.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sc...
but alas they mix up the novella "The Borders of Infinity" with the collection Borders of Infinity, the way you do, you know. If I'd known back when how much confusion those two similar titles were going to create in the future, I'd have named the collection something else, but, too late now.
The link the poster was trying for was this one: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/borde...
Feel free to correct it in the comments, I suppose. It wouldn't let me log on without signing up for stuff.
Ta, L.
February 6, 2016
Russian fan art for GJ&RQ
My long-time Russian fans sent me this last night...
"Dear Lois
Many thanks to you for the new marvelous novel!
We are glad to present you the Russian fan cover to GJ&RQ
http://barrayar.slashfiction.ru/wtfc-...
PS Its artist stays anonymous till the end of the large multi-fandom fest (March 20 2016).
----
on behalf of yours affectionately Russian fan club,
jetta-e"
When the artist is revealed, I will pass it along. Meantime, enjoy...
Oliver looks wonderfully Russian in this version, which is, of course, just right for a Barrayaran.
Not all of the best rewards of a writing career are financial.
Ta, L.
"Dear Lois
Many thanks to you for the new marvelous novel!
We are glad to present you the Russian fan cover to GJ&RQ
http://barrayar.slashfiction.ru/wtfc-...
PS Its artist stays anonymous till the end of the large multi-fandom fest (March 20 2016).
----
on behalf of yours affectionately Russian fan club,
jetta-e"
When the artist is revealed, I will pass it along. Meantime, enjoy...
Oliver looks wonderfully Russian in this version, which is, of course, just right for a Barrayaran.
Not all of the best rewards of a writing career are financial.
Ta, L.
February 5, 2016
new podcast interview is up
More of Me, if you can stand it. (But also book talk.)
A recorded podcast interview of me by editor Tony Daniel, discussing Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen and the Vorkosiverse generally. It wasn't easy to avoid spoilers, though we tried not to give away everything.
http://www.baen.com/podcast
Runs about an hour; my part is in the first half of it.
When I am being verbally interviewed, I always sound totally incoherent to my own ears, but somehow it comes out OK. Maybe because there's more noise in my head than comes out of my mouth? Anyway, Tony is generally pretty soothing to talk with.
Ta, L.
A recorded podcast interview of me by editor Tony Daniel, discussing Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen and the Vorkosiverse generally. It wasn't easy to avoid spoilers, though we tried not to give away everything.
http://www.baen.com/podcast
Runs about an hour; my part is in the first half of it.
When I am being verbally interviewed, I always sound totally incoherent to my own ears, but somehow it comes out OK. Maybe because there's more noise in my head than comes out of my mouth? Anyway, Tony is generally pretty soothing to talk with.
Ta, L.
Dr. Tatiana
Just a side note (non-spoilerific) to readers of Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, the (alas, not appearing on-stage) minor character of Dr. Tatiana the Ex-pat Betan Therapist is a shout-out or homage to this book.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...
Been meaning to mention that, but it slipped my mind in all the interviews.
Highly recommended reading, by the way. I think it's a stitch.
Ta, L.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...
Been meaning to mention that, but it slipped my mind in all the interviews.
Highly recommended reading, by the way. I think it's a stitch.
Ta, L.
interview with Annie's Book Stop
One of my several recent e-mail interviews is now up, here --
https://anniesbookstopworcester.wordp...
I had a very memorable book signing at their store, last book tour. We had a major snowstorm; I very nearly didn't make it, and only about four other customers did. There was lots of food. So I converted the program to a conversation on the fly, and we all had a good time anyway.
All of these interview links are meant to be shared around, by the way.
Ta, L.
https://anniesbookstopworcester.wordp...
I had a very memorable book signing at their store, last book tour. We had a major snowstorm; I very nearly didn't make it, and only about four other customers did. There was lots of food. So I converted the program to a conversation on the fly, and we all had a good time anyway.
All of these interview links are meant to be shared around, by the way.
Ta, L.
February 4, 2016
Signing at Uncle Hugo's, MPLS, Sat. 1 PM
Date: February 06, 2016 01:00PM
Venue: Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore, 2864 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Website: http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/index.s...
Book signing, from 1 PM till we run out of customers.
There is no space at Hugo's for a program, so there will not be a reading. Q&A will be informal, as the line permits. I will sign old books as well as new ones, and personalize by request.
The signing will be first-come-first-served, but as I don't have to rush away, you should relax about getting there. Instructions for parking may be found on the Hugo's website.
For persons outside the Twin Cities area, note that Hugo's does mail orders.
See you Saturday!
Ta, Lois.
Venue: Uncle Hugo's Science Fiction Bookstore, 2864 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
Website: http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/index.s...
Book signing, from 1 PM till we run out of customers.
There is no space at Hugo's for a program, so there will not be a reading. Q&A will be informal, as the line permits. I will sign old books as well as new ones, and personalize by request.
The signing will be first-come-first-served, but as I don't have to rush away, you should relax about getting there. Instructions for parking may be found on the Hugo's website.
For persons outside the Twin Cities area, note that Hugo's does mail orders.
See you Saturday!
Ta, Lois.
