Walter Jon Williams's Blog, page 47
November 17, 2020
New and Better Than Ever!

The subtitle is a little misleading, since it’s actually thirty-four years since the book came out, and thirty-seven since I started writing it. But the marketplace likes nice round numbers, doesn’t it?
If you already have the ebook, I believe most ebook retailers ...
Published on November 17, 2020 20:36
November 12, 2020
Record Numbers
So New Mexico today posted another record number of Covid cases. Most days we post a new record number.
Our lowest numbers were in early September. Since then, daily reported cases have risen by a factor of 45. That’s 45 TIMES THE NUMBER WE HAD JUST TWO MONTHS AGO.
The hospitals are at full capacity. Any more cases, we just toss ’em in tents or something. There’s some talk of opening up a recently-closed hospital. There’s enough equipment there, but we’ve run out of medical personnel. The...
Our lowest numbers were in early September. Since then, daily reported cases have risen by a factor of 45. That’s 45 TIMES THE NUMBER WE HAD JUST TWO MONTHS AGO.
The hospitals are at full capacity. Any more cases, we just toss ’em in tents or something. There’s some talk of opening up a recently-closed hospital. There’s enough equipment there, but we’ve run out of medical personnel. The...
Published on November 12, 2020 21:01
November 8, 2020
Diwali was Early
Next Saturday is the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights that symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.”
I think Diwali came a week early this year.
I think Diwali came a week early this year.
Published on November 08, 2020 15:23
November 1, 2020
Two Bulletins

Fleet Elements.
By Walter Jon Williams
Dec. 2020. 512p. Harper Voyager, paper, $16.99 (9780062467041); e-book (9780062467065)
This follow-up to The Accidental War (2018) fulfills the promise of the first book, which seemed to be more about opera than space, by delivering two exciting fleet battles. Terrans have been declared outlaws by the Convocation of the Praxis and are gathering their battered fo...
Published on November 01, 2020 19:44
October 30, 2020
Last Few Hours


Published on October 30, 2020 12:32
October 29, 2020
World Fantasy
Another weekend, another virtual convention. This weekend is the World Fantasy Convention, which would be held in Salt Lake City if there weren’t a pandemic, but which will now be held online.
Here’s my schedule:
Norse and Germanic Fantasy: The Northern Thing
Date and Time: Friday Oct 30, 6:00 p.m.
Panelists: Ann Chamberlin, Jessica Day George, Greg Bear, David Drake, Walter Jon Williams
Norse and Germanic fantasy has held British, American, and Northern European readers in thrall for centu...
Here’s my schedule:
Norse and Germanic Fantasy: The Northern Thing
Date and Time: Friday Oct 30, 6:00 p.m.
Panelists: Ann Chamberlin, Jessica Day George, Greg Bear, David Drake, Walter Jon Williams
Norse and Germanic fantasy has held British, American, and Northern European readers in thrall for centu...
Published on October 29, 2020 21:35
October 28, 2020
Black Ice
Kathy had an appointment in Albuquerque on Monday, and I had some business in town as well, so we drove up together. We knew the weather would deteriorate over the course of the day, but Kathy’s business should have been over by 2pm, and that would have got us to our warm hearth in plenty of time.
Unfortunately Kathy’s appointment time was delayed by four hours, so we didn’t leave till six, at which point the snow was pouring down and a nasty cold wind was blowing. The highway was coated in bl...
Unfortunately Kathy’s appointment time was delayed by four hours, so we didn’t leave till six, at which point the snow was pouring down and a nasty cold wind was blowing. The highway was coated in bl...
Published on October 28, 2020 22:31
October 22, 2020
At MileHiCon
I am at MileHiCon this weekend, at least in virtual. The guests of honor Rebecca Roanhorse, Mur Lafferty, Cory Doctorow, and artist Alan Pollack. It’s a full weekend with lots of programming and begins at 10am Friday, Mountain Time.
Here’s my schedule:
Fri, 1:00-2:00pm: Neverland – Planning Your Series
You have an idea – and it’d make a great trilogy, or longer! Now what? Join our panelists as they discuss how to successfully plan and plot a series that your readers will be excited about and c...
Here’s my schedule:
Fri, 1:00-2:00pm: Neverland – Planning Your Series
You have an idea – and it’d make a great trilogy, or longer! Now what? Join our panelists as they discuss how to successfully plan and plot a series that your readers will be excited about and c...
Published on October 22, 2020 22:58
October 10, 2020
The Word From Annie
Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester, MA, has kindly offered me an Author’s Spotlight Interview.
Annie rejoices in the slogan “The little bookstore that’s bigger on the inside,” so they very likely have what you want Please consider Annie’s for all your bookshop needs.
Annie rejoices in the slogan “The little bookstore that’s bigger on the inside,” so they very likely have what you want Please consider Annie’s for all your bookshop needs.
Published on October 10, 2020 22:46
October 8, 2020
Sanity Trip

As for why I needed this trip, just look at the headlines for the last couple weeks.
Trump’s income taxes were excavated by the New York Times, and weren’t that much of a surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention the last five years. They also revealed that I pa...
Published on October 08, 2020 23:05