Walter Jon Williams's Blog, page 208

Mr. Goldberg, Your Dominoes are Falling

Trendspotting

One interesting thing I discovered from looking at my financial data this year is that in 2010 I earned far more in foreign sales than in any other category.   I could make a decent, if not spectacular, living writing just for translation into other languages.It would spare me all the weird second-guessing that comes with American publishers and their sad, useless charting of trends.   "No, you can't sell a book with space ships this week, it's all near-future."  "No, you can't do vampires...

Reviews Too Late: the IRS Edition

Once again I've been slogging through hundreds of inadequately-labeled bits of paper in an effort to get my taxes in good enough shape for the accountant to make sense of them.   And once again, I've been watching action films in order to make the time pass, if not more quickly, at least with more entertaining explosions than the sight of me shouting at the incomprehensible scribble on some old receipt.  So here are some quick reviews of what passed before my eyes while I was engaged with...

Meanwhile, in a Galaxy Some Distance From Here . . .

I am interviewed again! But this time the questions are all about Destiny's Way, the Star Wars novel I wrote about ten years ago.
Those unfamiliar with the Star Wars Expanded Universe are forgiven, in advance, for being bewildered.

Another Fine Signing

I'll be at a signing at Page One in Albuquerque this coming Saturday, beginning at 2:30.
Firstly, I'll be part of a crowd of fine writers signing the new Saberhagen-themed anthology Golden Reflections.  On hand will be Daniel Abraham, Robert Vardeman, John Maddox Roberts, and Jane Lindskold.
Secondly, I'll be signing (and talking about) my new novel Deep State.
Come on Saturday, and get a double dose of Waltery goodness!

"I, for one, welcome our new robot overl—- CHOMP!"

Two signs of the coming Robot Apocalypse.First (via Robert) the US Navy has issued a proposal calling for scientists to create:  " . . . swarms of little semi-autonomous machines that can team up to manufacture complex objects (including, presumably, more robots). "That's right, the only thing scarier than a swarm of intelligent military mini robots is a swarm of intelligent military mini robots in control of the means of production . . . "Plus, over in Japan, a cute little gastronomic...

Reviews Too Late: Damages

Season One of Damages is the best first season of  dramatic television since Season One of Veronica Mars. Which, if you know me, is really saying something.I've been obsessively watching this three-year-old series courtesy of Netflix.  It apparently never quite found an audience on FX, and has recently moved to a network I never heard of, and suspect do not receive.  (Oh well— there will still be Netflix.)The first episode of the season opens with Ellen Parsons, the protagonist, half-naked...

Middle-East Mashup

So here's the viral video that's sweeping the Arab world, Muammar Gaddafi's speech mixed with "Hey Baby" by Pit Bull and T pain.  This sucker hit huge.
(Imagine their surprise when they found out it was created by an Israeli.)

Balkan Television is Very Exciting!

Molto vitelli!This is the sound of Young Szegerely!Hip-hop!  Ho-bob!  Spin-my-hat!We're dancing it all at the Crazy Loquat!(Well, that's the lyrics to "Fiz'n" as I understand them, anyway.)The Mystery Virus is raging through my veins and in my brain, and I am beginning to believe that I am in the Szegerely Town Hall Annex, perhaps in 1988.  It is the last concert before the band is smuggled away in refrigerators.  The event is covered by Balkan Television Service!  3 Mustaphas 3 plays...

Struck by a Virus!

I haven't been posting because I've caught a virus, and am having trouble writing simple sentences.
While waiting for my belated antibodies to swing into action, enjoy watching Laurel and Hardy dance to the musical stylings of Carlos Santana.