44. Air Logic, Laurie J. Marks
43. Water Logic, Laurie J. Marks
42. The Art of Theft, Sherry Thomas (e)
41. GuRu, Ru Paul
40. Earth Logic, Laurie J. Marks
39. The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
Blog Without A Name
State of the Command Chair
October 22, 2019
Books read in 2019
43. Water Logic, Laurie J. Marks
42. The Art of Theft, Sherry Thomas (e)
41. GuRu, Ru Paul
40. Earth Logic, Laurie J. Marks
39. The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
Books read in 2019
42. The Art of Theft, Sherry Thomas (e)
41. GuRu, Ru Paul
40. Earth Logic, Laurie J. Marks
39. The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
Books read in 2019
41. GuRu, Ru Paul
40. Earth Logic, Laurie J. Marks
39. The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
What to expect hereabouts for the next while
Asyouknowbob, I will be having my left foot surgically repaired on Friday, October 18. This has been in the works for some time. Per the surgeon, I will be off my feet for eight to ten weeks following this event.
I have a Command Chair and a laptop, so theoretically, I should just be able to continue on with Facebook, and Twitter, and updating this blog.
Notice the use of the word “theoretically.”
I believe that, instead of leaping right! back! in! to the online action, I will be taking those eight to ten weeks off.
But, why? you say.
But don’t you love us? you say.
Well. . .
Frequent auditors of this blog will perhaps recall that my younger sister died last December, whereupon I was tapped to take up the affairs of our father, in hospice and dying of cancer, said affairs being in a great state of muddlement due to the unexpected death of my sister and its immediate aftermath. My father died in March, whereupon two surprise! stepsisters arose, brandishing paperwork, and throwing my, ah…legitimacy…under a bus of their own connivance. This — all of this — was disturbing. Yes. Disturbing.
Also in March, Steve had his I(mplantable) C(ardioverter) D(efribrillator), the machine that keeps his heart beating, replaced. This, though sworn by the doctors to be routine, was also disturbing.
In, among, and during all of this, I was lead on a book — Accepting the Lance — which we submitted in February. Because of how …Lance had gone together, another book — its mirror-twin, Trader’s Leap — was due on the publisher’s desk in September, and I was also the lead on it. So, I have basically had my head in a novel constantly for the last 18 months, except when I was dealing with deaths, and major medical events, in my family. Not to mention the stepsisters.
Now, though it’s fun, for definitions of fun, to write a novel, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it’s twice as much fun to write two novels back-to-back. IMHO. It’s helpful to rest your brain and your nervous system, occasionally, and while Steve and I did manage a couple days at the ocean, and a couple more at Lubec, those were stop-gaps. I know that some people run on adrenaline; I had used to run on adrenaline. Those days are not these days, and I am, frankly, exhausted.
Steve is lead on the next two books — the first of those is the direct sequel to Trade Secret. It’s due sometime next year — I’m not sure we’ve worked out a date with the publisher, yet.
So, this seems like the best chance I’m going to have to rest, as rest is being enforced.
I may poke my head in occasionally; certainly, I’ll be updating my books-read list, but don’t expect to see me largely around hereabouts for the next while. Rest and recuperation comes first, now, after having being last too long.
Thank you all for your support over the years that we’ve been together — and for your understanding.
See you on the flipside.
Books read in 2019
40. Earth Logic, Laurie J. Marks
39. The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
Books read in 2019
39. The October Man, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
Books read in 2019
38. Sapphire Flames, Ilona Andrews (e)
37. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
36. Silver Silence, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
35. Faking It, Jennifer Crusie (read aloud with Steve)
34. Fire Logic, Laurie J. Marks
33. Cats in Cyberspace, Beth Hilgartner (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
32. Dread Nation, Justine Ireland (e)
31. Masque World, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
30. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden
29. The Thurb Revolution, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
28. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-read)
27. Star Well, Alexei Panshin (read aloud with Steve; re-read for both)
26. The Cat Who Wasn’t There, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
24. The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner (re-read)
23. The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (re-read)
22. Maiden of the Machine, Volume 1, Caitlin Like
21. The Sandman: Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman
20. The Franchise Affair, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
19. City of Whispering Stone, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
18. Allegiance of Honor, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
17. Storm Cursed, Patricia Briggs (e)
16. Who Slays the Wicked, C.S. Harris
15. The Warlock in Spite of Himself, Christopher Stasheff (re-read)
14. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
13. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
12. Shadow of a Broken Man, George C. Chesbro (read aloud with Steve)
11. How Much for Just the Planet?, John M. Ford
10. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
9. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik
8. Lies Sleeping, Ben Aaronovitch
7. The Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas
6. Release the Virgins, Michael A. Ventrella, editor (read aloud with Steve)
5. Becoming, Michelle Obama
4. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first read for him)
3. the unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Ryan North, Erica Henderson
2. Alliance Rising, CJ Cherryh & Jane S. Fancher (read out loud with Steve)
1. A Shilling for Candles, Josephine Tey (read out loud with Steve)
Tree-and-Dragon Half Price Sale!
Need Liaden Gear? Of course you do! Offworld Designs has a 50% off sale on all Tree-and-Dragon t-shirts, polo shirts, denim (black and blue), AND! the ever-popular Tree-and-Dragon coffee mug: