Walter Jon Williams's Blog, page 130
January 25, 2015
Reviews Too Late: Catch Them When You Can
I often use this space to complain about the wretchedness of what I’ve been watching, so I thought I’d do a change-up and praise a couple films that practically everyone else seems to hate. Both movies have colossal star power and intelligent scripts, but the problem seems to be that they’re much more intelligent than their audience and, I suspect, most of the critics.
First up is “Into the Woods,” from Disney, taken from the musical by Stephen Sondheim, and directed by Rob Marshall, who direc...
First up is “Into the Woods,” from Disney, taken from the musical by Stephen Sondheim, and directed by Rob Marshall, who direc...
January 23, 2015
The Next Contest
I have more free copies of audio Praxis books to give away!
Whoever solves the following puzzle will receive codes to give him free downloads ofThe Praxis, The Sundering, and Conventions of War.
I decided to reference my ownDeep State and provide a crossword-style clue. Be warned: this is an English-style crossword, similar to White Eyebrow Kung Fu, where “One hand lies, one hand tells the truth.” One part of the clue may be taken literally, the other is, um, something else.
The clue also refere...
Whoever solves the following puzzle will receive codes to give him free downloads ofThe Praxis, The Sundering, and Conventions of War.
I decided to reference my ownDeep State and provide a crossword-style clue. Be warned: this is an English-style crossword, similar to White Eyebrow Kung Fu, where “One hand lies, one hand tells the truth.” One part of the clue may be taken literally, the other is, um, something else.
The clue also refere...
January 21, 2015
A Night for Joiking
Rain turning to snow.
Some nights you just want to pop open a bottle of Scotch and listen to some joiking. So that’s what I’m going to do.
Mystery Plane Contest!
TheDread Empire’s Fall audio books, comprising The Praxis, The Sundering,andConventions of War,have just been released.I’ve got some free downloads of the complete set to give away, and the first set will go to the first person who can identifythis aircraft.
Sorry about the quality of the photograph. It was the best I could do on the day.
The insert on the lower right, besides masking a sign identifying the plane, shows the aircraft’s distinctive nose.
And yes, that’s a Lewis gun mounted up top,...
January 20, 2015
Prudence and Others
My recent highway odyssey from Long Island to New Mexico reminded me of the first few times I crossed the country, in a beat-up, mechanically dubious, bright red 1972 Chevy van with something like a hundred thousand miles on it.
Nothing on this machine worked except the drive train, and that unreliably. The radio was defunct, there was a bracket for an eight-track but no eight-track, and the engine was practically in the passenger compartment and hence very noisy.
What was I to do for entertain...
Nothing on this machine worked except the drive train, and that unreliably. The radio was defunct, there was a bracket for an eight-track but no eight-track, and the engine was practically in the passenger compartment and hence very noisy.
What was I to do for entertain...
January 17, 2015
Hear Me!
Behold, I am podcast!
The interview was scheduled for half an hour, but apparently I was so fascinating that Jeremiah and Jason let it run for full sixty minutes.
Although much of the latter part the interview has to do with my Star Wars novel, folks uninterested in the Star Wars universe (all three of you) can of course listen up to that point. And even so, a lot of the Star Wars bit is about my process, so if my process is of interest, then hey, may it bring joy to your ears!
The interview was scheduled for half an hour, but apparently I was so fascinating that Jeremiah and Jason let it run for full sixty minutes.
Although much of the latter part the interview has to do with my Star Wars novel, folks uninterested in the Star Wars universe (all three of you) can of course listen up to that point. And even so, a lot of the Star Wars bit is about my process, so if my process is of interest, then hey, may it bring joy to your ears!
January 15, 2015
Jimmy Hits the Big Time
Here’s the trailer for the new TV series based on James S.A. Corey’sExpansestories.
Are you excited? I’m excited. I’m ready for this, like, right now.
Are you excited? I’m excited. I’m ready for this, like, right now.
January 12, 2015
Trama Idiota
So how often have you seen, or read, this?
Your stalwart detective protagonist is on the trail of the bad guys, who are maybe serial killers, or anyway are known to kidnap and torture people. The bad guys then threaten not the detective, who is of course too stalwart to pay attention to such threats, but the detective’s spouse and/or children. The detective pays no attention to the threat, because he’s stalwart I guess, and maybe doesn’t even warn his family about the threat because . . . beca...
Your stalwart detective protagonist is on the trail of the bad guys, who are maybe serial killers, or anyway are known to kidnap and torture people. The bad guys then threaten not the detective, who is of course too stalwart to pay attention to such threats, but the detective’s spouse and/or children. The detective pays no attention to the threat, because he’s stalwart I guess, and maybe doesn’t even warn his family about the threat because . . . beca...
January 9, 2015
Taking the Bullet
I got a bunch of free premium channels for a limited time, and I saw “The Lone Ranger” so you’ll never have to.
I don’t know why I keep taking these bullets for you people. It’s not like I’m paid for this, and it’s not like the bullets are real silver.
I thought, as I viewed it, that this might in fact be the worst movie ever made. It’s well past the “It’s so bad it’s good,” and well into the “It’s so bad it’s perfectly unspeakable.”
Eventually I decided that there may be worse movies that I hav...
I don’t know why I keep taking these bullets for you people. It’s not like I’m paid for this, and it’s not like the bullets are real silver.
I thought, as I viewed it, that this might in fact be the worst movie ever made. It’s well past the “It’s so bad it’s good,” and well into the “It’s so bad it’s perfectly unspeakable.”
Eventually I decided that there may be worse movies that I hav...
January 8, 2015
The Toolbox Cometh
Just a reminder that the submission period for Taos Toolbox, the master class for writers of science fiction and fantasy, is well under way. There have been submissions and acceptances, and we’re looking to increase the number of both!And that, my friends, is whereyou come in. If you’re serious about making your mark in the science fiction and fantasy field, Taos Toolbox is here to help you.
Finish up that manuscript, and get it in the mail!
