Walter Jon Williams's Blog, page 86

Punch-Drunk

I haven’t been posting for several days, because I’ve been trying to finish  The Accidental War, which (according to the publisher) is Book IV of the Praxis series, but which (according to me alone, apparently) is Book VI, because I count Impersonations and Investments, and they don’t. See?  It even has a cover!  Though this may not be the actual cover when it’s released, at the moment it’s just sort of a cover suggestion the art department is playing with. Wow!  Sure looks like MilSF, doesn’...

I Sign

I will be signing book this coming Saturday, October 21, at Page One Bookstore in Albuquerque.  We’ll be kicking off the festivities at 4pm. I’ll be talking about Quillifer.  Accompanying me will be SM Stirling, who will discuss his latest in the Change series. Fun will be had.  You should come.

When Stars Collide

Want to see some “astrophysical ecstasy?”  I think you do. Back in August, Caltech’s Laser Interferometer Gravity-wave Observatory (LIGO) detected a massive disturbance in the Force powerful ruction in space-time, the result of two neutron stars colliding a zillion and a half years ago, off in a galaxy far, far away.  LIGO had detected collisions before, but these were of black holes, so there was nothing to look at.  Neutron stars are visible, so the vast explosion was confirmed within hour...

A Heartening Sight

Courtesy of UPS, a Big Box o’ Quillifer and the new Voice of the Whirlwind paperback.

Swords on Your Shelf

Some people (like me) have swords on their shelves.  Now you have the chance! The Book of Swords, with my story “The Triumph of Virtue,” is now available at your favorite bookstore, or online. My story is an adaptation of a couple chapters of Quillifer, but even if you’d read the novel, you might want to get this book for stories by Daniel Abraham, CJ Cherryh, Robin Hobb, Garth Nix, George RR Martin, and the rest of a fabulous cast.

October Surprise #3!

I’ve indiepubbed a new trade paperback edition of my novel Voice of the Whirlwind. The book is printed in very readable type on cream paper, is a generous 6×9″, sells for a very reasonable $13.99, and features a glossy cover.  It will make a handsome addition to your library. The book may be ordered from Barnes & Noble or from Amazon.  Completists will want both!

Quillifer Contest!

Paul Di Filippo wrote a lovely review of Quillifer for Locus Online.   Here’s your takeaway: ” . . . chockful of derring-do, blood and thunder, swashbuckling, and other good stuff evocative of Rafael Sabatini, Sir Walter Scott, and the penny-bloods: venomous and dangerous court politesse, reversals, betrayals, cowardice, heroism, illicit sex, allegorical theatrical productions, dangerous hunting expeditions, privateering and, at last, open warfare against the forces of Clayborne. During all o...

Quillifer’s A Guest

The ever-charming John Scalzi is very kindly allowing me to fill up his blog today with a very long essay about Quillifer.  By all means check it out.

Wild Cards at the Jean Cocteau

This Sunday, at 4pm at the Jean Cocteau Theater in Santa Fe, 20-odd Wild Cards writers will be present for a signing.  The cost of admission is to buy a book. I don’t know if any of my other books will be available, but no one will object if you bring your own. The latest list of attendees is as follows: GEORGE R.R. MARTIN (Lohengrin, Popinjay, the Great and Powerful Turtle)
MELINDA M. SNODGRASS (Dr. Tachyon, Dr. Finn, Double Helix)
WALTER JON WILLIAMS (Golden Boy, Modular Man, Pop Tart)
VI...

Angel Sale

October’s been completely packed, and it’s only three days old.  Not only did Quillifer drop just yesterday (I trust you already have your copy), but I’ve just put my classic novel Angel Station on sale for 99 cents. Angel Station was my first attempt at setting a story entirely in space, and I set myself the task of writing a space opera without guns, missiles, or bombs. Though there’s plenty of action, there’s no gunplay or missile attacks, because that would just be too easy.   A...