S. Andrew Swann's Blog, page 32
February 5, 2010
Two Blogish Things
Blogish Thing #1: The Amazon/Macmillan thing continues rolling on, making Amazon look more and more the villian to those of us who write for a living. Reactions are varied, and I'd like to endorse Scalzi's call not to boycott, but to buy books from the affected authors.
Also like Scalzi, I've decided to stop with the default use of Amazon as the "book buy" link on my pages. I've tweaked my template to give you the option to get my stuff from Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Powell's, and
February 3, 2010
We interrupt this blog to bring you an important message. . .
Today I've a guest blog post up @ SciFiGuy.ca wherein I go and mull over my current obsessions on religion and space opera in the Apotheosis Trilogy.
Can you write SF about religion? It's an interesting question because when people tend to think of Religion and SF, it almost always in terms of opposition. It is a dichotomy that tends to find advocates on both sides, from those of a religious bent decrying the inherent atheism of SF, and those SF partisans looking on and saying "yeah, so, your...
Audio Goodness Coming in March
Here we see the cover of the Blackstone Audio version of Wolfbreed coming out March 20th. Much coolness, and it's interesting seeing a cover that's clearly influenced by Spectra's cover, yet different. I can't wait to get this on my iPod.
February 2, 2010
Heretics is out today!
Zoe doesn't seem too impressed, but it may be because she can't read.
If you want to buy it on-line, but you're pissed at Amazon's antics of late, you can buy it here. Or here.
February 1, 2010
One of the most dangerous ideas in SF. . .
I recently read a rather interesting sfnal riff on Obama's state of the union speech, based on an administration reference to a "New Foundation":
But I recall reading here or somewhere that Paul Krugman and several other leading economic and legal academic-policymakers had come to their professions wanting to be … Hari Seldon. Deeply attracted to the idea of a mathematically-based psychohistory.
It reminded me of other references to Hari Seldon I've heard at convention panels and such, very...
January 27, 2010
Juggling
Well finally got to updating the counters for the WIP. And I am now feeling the main issue that faces every writer with a day job, time. There just isn't enough of it. Once you take time for commuting, writing, taking care of the animals and the day job itself, there's barely a couple hours left to do everything else. Including writing blog posts like this.
Here's hoping for that movie option. . .
January 25, 2010
January 22, 2010
Security asshats on parade.
There is a certain class of people who combine stupidity, deep-seated insecurity with a pathological need to control. The worst place to put these people is in a position where they are charged with keeping people safe.
Case in point: We have a report (found here) of an unnamed vice principal at Millennial Tech Magnet Middle School saw a student's science project and, because there were wires in it, called the bomb squad and had the school on lockdown for two hours while the pros determined t...
January 20, 2010
Of course the big story is Joe Kennedy's loss in Mass.
I'm not up for much of a blog post for reasons I won't go into, but since I opine on politics, and the Massachusetts senate race is probably the biggest political story for this half of 2010, I should probably make a comment about it.
To every Republican and Democrat out there: get over yourselves. Guess what? It is not some sort of sign from God that Massachusetts actually elected a progressive Republican, especially when the Democrats nominated a train wreck of a candidate. Forget...
January 18, 2010
PROPHETS up for the Phillip K. Dick award!
In case you hadn't seen me twitter about this or posting on Facebook, the shortlist for the 2009 Phillip K. Dick awards were announced, and Prophets is on the list!
Here's the press release:
Philip K. Dick Awards
c/o 153 Deerfield Lane
http://www.philipkdickaward.org2009 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced The judges of the 2009 Philip K. Dick Award and the Philadelphia SF Society, along with the Philip K...
