George R.R. Martin's Blog, page 218

Odds and Ends

Still not 100%, but I'm up to at least 98%, as the last of the crud fades away.

However, my assistant Ty is now sick. He went home early today. A pity, since he has a lot to celebrate right now -- the sale of his first novel (well, half-novel, it was a collaboration. And no, not with me, don't get all wiggy out there).

Please STOP posting comments to the Health Care topic. I let that one run a good long while, more than four hundred messages and lots of impassionated debate, but I don't wan...

A Few Last Words

Okay, we've had a huge politcal debate about the health care bill, close to 400 comments on my post. I think all the points have been made. We're starting to go around in circles.

Since this IS my Not A Blog last time I looked, I get the last words here. (You may have the last words on your own Live Journals and blogs, if you wish).

I am pleased that most of the debate remained civil, if sometimes vigorous. Ty and I only had to delete a relative handful of abusive posts.

I find it telling th...

Health Care at Last

I watched the House pass the health care bill earlier tonight. The talking heads all claimed it had the votes to pass, but I still found myself a case of nerves as the numbers piled up oh-so-slowly. The feeling of relief when the count hit 216 was palpable.

A great night for Obama, for the Democrats, for America.

Is it a perfect piece of legislation? By no means. It's deeply flawed. What we really need in this country is a single payer system, like Canada and Australia. Failing that, a vi...

Hear Him Roar

Jaime Lannister has defeated Cthulhu! He's 2-0.

How's that for an upset!

Next round he has to face a dragon, though. Naomi Novik's Temeraire. Oh, well. Should be good training for when Dany invades Westeros.

British Fantasy Awards

The British Fantasy Society has released its Long List of nominees for its 2010 awards.

It is a very long list, mind you, but I am pleased to say that SONGS OF THE DYING EARTH is among the nominees for Best Anthology, and three of the stories therein have been nominated as well -- Matthew Hughes and Walter Jon Williams in Best Novella, and Robert Silverberg in Best Short Story. (There is no "novelette" category in the BSFS awards. Not sure what the word limits are).



The full list can be see...

Grey Days

Strange days here in Santa Fe. One night we get a blizzard that dumps six inches of snow on us, the next day is so bright and warm that the snow is gone by noon. Many grey days, damp, overcast, chilly without being freezing. Winter is holding on.

I cannot seem to shake this crud. Taking vitamin D and C, taking various cold remedies and allergy meds, and all of them help, but I'm still congested and coughing. It's more annoying than anything else. The worst part is how tired it makes me f...

Suvudu Cage Matches, Round Two

The great Suvudu cage match continues.

In round one, Jaime Lannister made short work of short stuff Hermione Granger, thanks in large part of all of you. Thanks!



In round two, however, Jaime faces somewhat larger opposition. The big green guy himself, Cthulhu of R'lyeh.



To read Suvudu's account of their clash, and register your vote, go to:

http://www.suvudu.com/2010/03/cage-match-2010-round-2-2-cthulhu-versus-15-jaime-lannister.html

As for my own version of how things might go, here 'tis:


"Books...

On Sale Today

WARRIORS was officially released today, and should be available at your favorite local bookstore.

For the latest adventure of Dunk & Egg, a new Lord John story from Diana Gabaldon, an Emberverse tale from S.M. Stirling, and original stories by Joe Haldeman, Howard Waldrop, David Morrell, Tad William, Naomi Novik, Lawrence Block, James Rollins, Robin Hobb, and many many others, go ye forth and snag a copy.



Enjoy the read!

Creeping Crud

Been fighting the crud for the past week. Nothing major, just annoying. Started as a slight sore throat which crept down into my chest and now has me hacking up phlegm. The sore throat is gone now and I keep expecting the rest to be gone any day now, but the damn thing is lingering. Pisses me off. It is slowing me down at the time when I desperately need not to be slowed down. I'm running at maybe 75%, my sleep cycle is screwed to hell, and I am tiring much too easily.

Well, never mind. ...

Hugo Nomination Deadline

Just a reminder: tomorrow is the last day to get in your Hugo nominations for works first published in 2009. There's an online nominating ballot on the Aussiecon 4 website at
http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/

If you were a member of Anticipation, last year's Montreal worldcon, you can nominate without being a member of Aussiecon 4. Of course, all members of Aussiecon 4 can nominate as well.

I know I sound like a broken record about this, since I say the same thing every year... but nominating is t...