CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-14 14:57:55 (11 comments, 4 reshares, 48 +1s)

Today the hardcover (and compiled eBook edition) of The Human Division is out and available at your favorite bookstore, online and in the real world! If you want a signed copy but are not able to get to a signing event of mine, most bookstores on my tour will have signed stock, so you can order it from them -- or from Jay & Mary's Book Center in Troy, Ohio, my hometown bookstore. 

Happy reading!

2013-05-13 16:05:07 (12 comments, 3 reshares, 32 +1s)

A reminder to folks here on Google Plus that my book tour for The Human Division starts tomorrow in Los Angeles and travels to 14 additional cities through the United States, including four (Memphis, Raleigh, Atlanta, Cleveland) I haven't yet visited on tour. Please check the tour dates and times and if you can make it, come down and see me. I'll be reading, doing a Q&A and of course signing books. Hope to see you there!

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/03/28/the-human-division-tour-official-itinerary/

2013-05-01 14:00:41 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

It's May! I have a photo-caption contest in which the winner gets an ARC of The Human Division! Go!

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/05/01/first-of-may-time-for-a-contest-to-win-an-arc-of-the-human-division/

2013-04-30 21:19:36 (20 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

Come learn about the "Renfield," the latest villain in Morning Star, the game I am making with Industrial Toys. 

http://www.industrialtoys.com/meet-the-renfield/

2013-04-23 20:45:40 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

If you were hoping for a signed hardcover edition of The Human Division but are not going to be near one of my tour stops, you can pre-order the book through my local bookstore by 4/28 and I will sign and personalize the book for you. Details: 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/19/pre-order-signed-personalized-human-division-hardcovers-from-jay-marys-book-center/

2013-04-18 17:07:59 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

D'oh!@joe_hill and I have to cancel our joint appearances in SF, 5/15 BUT will be doing separate events.

Details: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/18/some-unhappy-news-about-joe-hill-and-john-scalzi-in-san-francisco/

2013-04-18 14:15:49 (15 comments, 0 reshares, 39 +1s)

The final episode of The Human Division, "Earth Below, Sky Above," hit the USA Today Bestseller list today. This means that all the episodes charted on that particular list; 13 in all. I think that's pretty neat. If you read along with the episodes, thank you!

2013-04-16 18:32:29 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

If you're in/around LA, I'll be in town for the Festival of Books this weekend, to sign books and do an event. It's all free BUT my event is ticketed, so if you're coming, plan ahead. Here are the details. See you there!

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/16/my-appearance-schedule-this-weekend-at-the-la-times-festival-of-books/

2013-04-15 21:50:31 (19 comments, 8 reshares, 173 +1s)

Deploying Emergency Cat Photo, Google Plus Edition. Because you might need one today. 

2013-04-15 17:08:40 (13 comments, 11 reshares, 29 +1s)

I've done some apologizing in my time. I have thoughts on how to do it well: 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/15/apologies-what-when-and-how/

2013-04-12 16:33:24 (3 comments, 6 reshares, 16 +1s)

If you live in or near San Francisco, put May 15 on your calendar, because Joe Hill (Heart Shaped Box, NOS4A2) and I are doing TWO bookstore events that night! Together! Don't miss the greatest team-up since peanut butter and chocolate, or maybe guns and roses. The details (and a request) are here:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/12/joe-hill-i-teaming-up-for-two-shows-in-san-francisco-may-15/

2013-04-10 19:08:17 (1 comments, 7 reshares, 21 +1s)

The Locus Awards poll is up, and you (yes, YOU!) can vote in it for 2012's best science fiction/fantasy works, creators and publishers. Choose from the recommended works in the categories (including Redshirts in the novel category), or write in your favorites. Voting goes through the 15th of April, so get your votes in. 

http://www.locusmag.com/Magazine/2013/PollAndSurvey.html

2013-04-09 11:39:02 (16 comments, 8 reshares, 35 +1s)

The last episode of The Human Division is being released electronically today, and with that final release comes an announcement about the future of the series:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/09/the-human-division-episode-thirteen-earth-below-sky-above-is-now-live-an-announcement-about-the-future/

2013-04-05 13:59:03 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 37 +1s)

A nice five star review of The Human Division (full novel) over at SFReviews.net. The pull quote:

"The Human Division turns out to be not only a career-best for [Scalzi], but one of SF's most electrifying space operas of the new century."

http://sfreviews.net/scalzi_human_division.html

2013-04-04 21:03:01 (8 comments, 16 reshares, 84 +1s)

Roger Ebert died today. I've written an essay on why he was important to me.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/04/roger-ebert-rip/

2013-04-03 17:33:32 (11 comments, 12 reshares, 89 +1s)

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the cover of my upcoming essay collection The Mallet of Loving Correction, drawn by Nate Taylor. I love it. The book itself will be out on September 13 and is available for pre-order here:

http://subterraneanpress.com/store/product_detail/the_mallet_of_loving_correction

2013-04-01 13:25:19 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 45 +1s)

The highly questionable "journalists" at Tor.com have posted a rather egregious collection of rumors and stolen work tapes to slander to me and my creative process, here: 

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/04/shadow-war-musical-john-scalzi

I set the facts straight on my own site, here:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/04/01/addressing-the-rumors/

And yes, I have my legal team on this. 

2013-03-30 20:27:36 (11 comments, 4 reshares, 101 +1s)

Hey, look at that: Redshirts has been nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novel. I'm very happy and honored, of course. I have the full list of nominees over at Whatever.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/03/30/redshirts-nominated-for-the-best-novel-hugo-award/

2013-03-28 18:04:11 (16 comments, 6 reshares, 34 +1s)

Hey, look! Dates (and in most places, times) for my book tour for The Human Division. If I'm coming to a town you're near, come see me! I promise to be amusing. If I'm not coming to a town you're near, uh, sorry. Maybe next time. 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/03/28/the-human-division-tour-official-itinerary

2013-03-14 15:50:55 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 25 +1s)

BLATANT PLUG: The pre-order page for the signed, limited hardcover edition of  "The Mallet of Loving Correction," my second collection of Whatever entries, is now up at Subterranean Press. It'll be published on September 13, which is the 15th anniversary of Whatever. These limited editions tend to sell out, so if you want one, pre-ordering is a good idea.

http://subterraneanpress.com/store/product_detail/the_mallet_of_loving_correction

2013-03-07 14:12:38 (18 comments, 22 reshares, 55 +1s)

As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I got my hands on a contract from Alibi, Hydra's sibling imprint, which by all indications uses the same boilerplate contract. I review the contract, and the review comes down to OMG RUN AWAY SO FAST. Random House should be ashamed to offer this contract to people. 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/03/06/a-contract-from-alibi

2013-03-06 18:34:43 (15 comments, 46 reshares, 72 +1s)

If you're a writer of science fiction/fantasy or would like to be (or know someone who is either) you might want to read my thoughts on Random House's new "Hydra" eBook imprint, which offers flatly terrible terms to writers. And feel free to pass it along to others.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/03/06/note-to-sff-writers-random-houses-hydra-imprint-has-appallingly-bad-contract-terms

2013-02-25 14:21:26 (19 comments, 19 reshares, 72 +1s)

UK author Terry Deary recently proclaimed that libraries "had run their course" as useful entities, and were detrimental to writers. He's (appallingly, stupidly, embarrassingly) wrong. Here's why.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/02/23/a-personal-history-of-libraries/

2013-02-20 16:04:00 (6 comments, 17 reshares, 34 +1s)

Look! This year's Nebula Award nominees! Congrats to them all!

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/02/20/this-years-nebula-award-nominees/

2013-02-19 16:58:12 (10 comments, 6 reshares, 47 +1s)

Today I get to announce a secret project: A next-gen graphic novel I've written, set in the universe of Morning Star, the video game I have also been working on. I'm very excited. 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/02/19/announcing-morning-star-alpha-a-next-generation-graphic-novel/

2013-02-18 23:38:43 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

I've been away from the Internet for more than a week, because I was on a boat. Let me tell you about what it was like.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/02/18/what-i-did-with-my-winter-vacation/

2013-02-02 19:47:49 (33 comments, 80 reshares, 232 +1s)

There's a bigot out there who likes to invoke my name to whip up his followers. I can't change that, but what I can do is make sure some good comes out of it. This is what I'm going to do:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/02/02/solving-my-racist-sexist-homophobic-dipshit-problem/

2013-01-26 17:40:35 (21 comments, 18 reshares, 96 +1s)

I've been asked what I think about JJ Abrams being slated to direct the next Star Wars film. The answer awaits you on Whatever.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/01/26/all-right-fine-heres-what-i-think-about-jj-abrams-directing-star-wars-episode-vii/

2013-01-15 18:05:22 (17 comments, 11 reshares, 98 +1s)

GOOGLE PLUSIANS: This is me letting you know that "The B-Team," the first episode of my new novel The Human Division, is now live and out in the world, ready for you to read and enjoy and tattoo on your skin (note: don't tattoo on your skin. It's 22,000 words long). Here are details: 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/01/15/the-human-division-episode-one-the-b-team-is-live/

2013-01-13 21:31:19 (2 comments, 6 reshares, 26 +1s)

As part of the Jay Lake "Acts of Whimsy" fundraiser (we're sequencing his genes!), I have performed a long-lost Bob Dylan song, in the style of Bob Dylan. You are probably not prepared for the Dylanosity of what's about to ensue. 

2013-01-03 19:42:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

For those of you nominating works for awards this year, I've put up a list of works of mine for you to consider. It's here:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/01/03/the-2013-award-consideration-post/

2013-01-01 11:49:14 (11 comments, 8 reshares, 96 +1s)

Rumor has it that it is now 2013. I am waiting to hear that confirmed by a reputable source. Until it is, have a wonderful December 32nd.

2012-12-30 14:58:20 (19 comments, 11 reshares, 94 +1s)

Fun fact: Today is the tenth anniversary of me selling Old Man's War to Tor Books. I wrote about selling that book, and what it's meant to my life since, over on my site:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/30/the-offer-on-old-mans-war-a-ten-year-retrospective/

2012-12-25 19:43:26 (17 comments, 3 reshares, 109 +1s)

CITIZENS OF GOOGLE PLUS: Ghlaghghee deigns to wish you a merry Christmas! Be honored! However, DO NOT attempt to take her catnip toys. SHE WILL CUT YOU. And she would be right to do it. THAT IS ALL. You may now DISPERSE. 

2012-12-24 19:02:35 (3 comments, 4 reshares, 19 +1s)

I've written a bunch of Christmas-related bits over the years, mostly humor stuff but also one real tear-jerker of a story. If you're curious and/or bored and/or in the need of Christmas-y reading material, here you go. 

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/01/a-very-scalzi-christmas/

2012-12-22 18:03:45 (11 comments, 3 reshares, 62 +1s)

Nice news right before the holidays: Old Man's War is #1 in Locus Online's poll of the top science fiction novels of the 21st century (so far). See the entire list, plus the votes for the top fantasy novels of the 21st century and the best SF and F novels of the 20th century, at the link:

http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCenturyPollsResults.html

Also for my personal thoughts, go here:

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/12/22/old-mans-war-tops-locus-onlines-21st-century-sf-novel-poll

2012-12-18 19:26:16 (3 comments, 9 reshares, 19 +1s)

Two pieces of commercial news today. One, today and today only the Old Man's War eBook is available (in the US) for $2.99. Head to your favorite eBook retailer for that. Two, today marks the release of Rip-Off!, which is an audiobook anthology I am part of. Details on that, including a contest that will net you a free audio chapter, are at the link. 

2012-12-13 15:04:59 (8 comments, 5 reshares, 78 +1s)

As President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, I am delighted to announce that Gene Wolfe is our organization's latest Grand Master.

2012-12-12 13:56:30 (0 comments, 4 reshares, 9 +1s)

Reminder to folks here in the US that today is the last day to order signed/personalized books from me for the holidays. Here are the details:

2012-12-11 14:05:40 (5 comments, 4 reshares, 25 +1s)

Hey, want to see the trailer for MORNING STAR, the video game I'm writing for Industrial Toys? I'll answer that for you: Yes, yes you do. Very much. RIGHT NOW.

2012-12-07 20:11:39 (16 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Seriously now, what is it with all these group invites in the last 24 hours? I've gotten several dozen, and I may have to start cutting people. 

2012-12-07 01:38:09 (6 comments, 5 reshares, 48 +1s)

Oh, hey, did I mention that I now have the release dates for each of the episodes of my upcoming novel The Human Division PLUS kickass episode cover art to display from artist John Harris?

2012-12-05 21:21:43 (15 comments, 6 reshares, 41 +1s)

Hey! Hey! Hey! Me and +Wil Wheaton and Jenny Lawson and Patrick Rothfuss decided to talk on the Internets ABOUT the Internets. For an hour and a half because NONE OF US CAN EVER SHUT UP. You're gonna love it.

2012-12-04 01:18:33 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Every holiday season I do a shopping guide over at Whatever. It started today and today's installment is Traditionally Published Books. Follow the link below and you'll find over 100 authors telling you why their book would make a perfect gift from someone you know (including possibly you).

2012-11-27 15:17:15 (5 comments, 8 reshares, 17 +1s)

If you're a science fiction/fantasy reader (and if you're following me, chances are pretty good you are), then you'll be happy to know LOCUS magazine is doing a poll to determine the greatest SF/F works of both the 20th and 21st centuries. Here's a chance to say what's good and/or influential in the genres in two separate centuries. Give it serious thought and then go and vote. The poll runs through November 30.

2012-11-22 15:34:41 (7 comments, 26 reshares, 82 +1s)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2012-11-19 20:21:56 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 29 +1s)

Redshirts is one of the finalists for the best Science Fiction book of the year over at Goodreads. If you would like to vote for it (or any of the other finalists) click on the link below and then hover over the book of your choice to make the vote button appear.

2012-11-12 18:30:34 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

As I do most years, I am teaming up with my local bookseller to make signed, personalized books of mine available to you for seasonal gift-giving purposes. If you're interested, follow the link for more information.

2012-11-06 15:24:16 (22 comments, 41 reshares, 154 +1s)

US Citizens! Lt. Worf has a special message for you!

2012-11-05 16:05:54 (8 comments, 14 reshares, 48 +1s)

COMMERCIAL BREAK: Subterranean Press has bundled up all its Scalzi titles in eBook form, for just $7.99, this month ONLY. Details at the link!