66. Clockwork Dagger, Beth Caton (e/l)
65. Ink and Bone, Rachel Caine (e/l)
64. The Crime at Black Dudley, Margery Allingham (e)
63. Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon (e)
62. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read)
61. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read) (e)
60. Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine
59. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (Gahan Wilson) (re-re-&c-read aloud with Steve)
58. The Paladin, C.J. Cherryh (re-read) (e)
57. Fire Touched, Patricia Briggs (e)
56. Sweet Masterpiece, Connie Shelton (e)
55. Serpentine, Cindy Pon (e)
54. Mirabile, Janet Kagan (re-read) (e)
53. The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Chris Wiltz (e)
52. Monstress, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
51. Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop (e)
50. Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy), J. M. Barrie (e) (read aloud with Steve)
49. The City of Lightning, Kaja & Phil Foglio
48. Disenchanted & Co., Lynn Viehl
47. Tell me a Dragon, Jackie Morris
46. Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
45. Vision in Silver (e), Anne Bishop
44. Murder of Crows, Anne Bishop
43. Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
42. Queen of the Deep (e), Kay Kenyon
41. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
40. Lightning that Lingers, Sharon & Tom Curtis writing as Laura London (re-read for both; first time reading aloud)
39. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
38. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
37. Tiger’s Chance, Jan Henry, illustrated by Hilary Knight (re-read)
36. Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee (1st read for pleasure)
35. The Fall of Kings, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (e)
34. Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
33. Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
32. Swordspoint, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
31. Incarnate, Jodi Meadows (e)
30. Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire (e)
29. Tiger Eye, Majorie M. Liu (e)
28. Visitor, C. J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9. Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7. Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6. Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4. Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3. Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2. The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1. A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson
Category: Blog
Books read in 2016
64. The Crime at Black Dudley, Margery Allingham (e)
63. Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon (e)
62. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read)
61. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read) (e)
60. Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine
59. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (Gahan Wilson) (re-re-&c-read aloud with Steve)
58. The Paladin, C.J. Cherryh (re-read) (e)
57. Fire Touched, Patricia Briggs (e)
56. Sweet Masterpiece, Connie Shelton (e)
55. Serpentine, Cindy Pon (e)
54. Mirabile, Janet Kagan (re-read) (e)
53. The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Chris Wiltz (e)
52. Monstress, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
51. Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop (e)
50. Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy), J. M. Barrie (e) (read aloud with Steve)
49. The City of Lightning, Kaja & Phil Foglio
48. Disenchanted & Co., Lynn Viehl
47. Tell me a Dragon, Jackie Morris
46. Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
45. Vision in Silver (e), Anne Bishop
44. Murder of Crows, Anne Bishop
43. Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
42. Queen of the Deep (e), Kay Kenyon
41. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
40. Lightning that Lingers, Sharon & Tom Curtis writing as Laura London (re-read for both; first time reading aloud)
39. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
38. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
37. Tiger’s Chance, Jan Henry, illustrated by Hilary Knight (re-read)
36. Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee (1st read for pleasure)
35. The Fall of Kings, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (e)
34. Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
33. Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
32. Swordspoint, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
31. Incarnate, Jodi Meadows (e)
30. Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire (e)
29. Tiger Eye, Majorie M. Liu (e)
28. Visitor, C. J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9. Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7. Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6. Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4. Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3. Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2. The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1. A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson
How I spent my Veterans Day Weekend
Our publisher sent Steve and me to the Rhode Island Comic Con, to be seen, and to see, and to sell books.
Comic Cons are the Coming Thing. They’re huge; they’re noisy; they’re distracting, and they’re expensive. These are features, and perhaps they are features — I’m an old stick-in-the-mud, and an introvert, besides, so bear that in mind when reading my comments.
For instance, standing behind a table and, um…vigorously coaxing people to cross a crowded aisle to look at our books (and the books of the four other authors represented on a six-foot table, in an eight-foot space)…requires a level of energy that is difficult for me to maintain. I can certainly talk to people about our books, or about our cats, or about being married to one’s co-author, or if I think Trad Publishing is Ded and Indie the Wave of the Future, or. . .
But shouting, and selling — and selling hard — for 22 hours out of 72 possible weekend hours, essentially non-stop. Nope. No can do.
Apparently the con had. . .decided to reallocate vendor space in midstream, and then stopped talking to vendors whose space had been down-sized*.
Thus, there wasn’t any room for the usual booth accoutrements, including a Ginormous Tower of Nerd, which in the usual way of things can be seen from any point on the sales floor.
It was rather crowded behind that small table (four authors! no waiting!), and standing on a cement floor for hours at a go tends to make your feet, your knees, your hips, and your back hurt. I’ve done huckstering at cons before — though none of them in excess of 60,000 attendees — and mostly we had a bit of carpet or other concrete-softener to stand on. It’s amazing what a difference a bit of indoor-outdoor carpeting can make.
For reasons best known to its concom, the RICC decided not to host a literary track, so there were no panels, or readings, available to any of us author-types, which might have increased recognition, and thereby sales.
All that said, books were sold, with Carousel Tides being a surprise bestseller among the Lee-and-Miller, and Lee offerings. This may be the first con at which I sold books where fantasy was preferred to space opera. Which probably tells us something about the average attendee of Rhode Island Comic Con.
On the plus side, there were a lot of interesting costumes, though I lacked the cultural knowledge to recognize most of them. Of those I did recognize, Harley Quinn was very well represented, as was the Joker. There were a good number of storm troopers, and Jawas; many Reys, and only one slave-girl Leia, thank ghod. Black Widow was well-represented, and Hawkeye; also Spidey, Cap, Bats, and the Power Puff Girls.
I particularly liked the woman who was dressed up as a white fox with nine tails; and another woman who was carrying a storm cloud as an umbrella.
Many strange and wonderful things were for sale in the vendor area, including pearls — you choose an oyster from the tank, said oyster having been pre-seeded with the body part of an enemy (which is what makes pearls, and not sand — who knew?), and whatever pearl is found within is used in the piece of custom jewelry that they’ll be making for you on the other side of the table.
There were many, many stuffies on offer. I was attracted particularly to a three-tailed fox, that came in about two zillion colors, but, since I had no idea what the character was, I thought it safer to leave them all alone.
The con closed at 5 pm on Sunday. Steve and I left Rhode Island after breakfast on Monday, pausing at Old Orchard Beach to view the Super Moon, before continuing up to the Cat Farm, where we were greeted with pleasure by all the resident felines. We ate a late lunch, read a section of Jingo aloud, and sought our bed, tired, but exhausted.
I woke up at about four o’clock this morning with a splitting headache, sore throat, fever, and upset stomach — which is what you get when you mix a stupid immune system with dry, canned air being rebreathed by a large crowd of your closest friends. Or at least, it seems to be what I increasingly get. My batting average (will she get sick? won’t she?) used to be somewhat better than .250. Might be getting old.
A judicial application of aspirin nailed the headache and the fever. Stomach still wants to be argumentative, and of course I can’t talk. Well. I have ginger tea, and honey, and I’m not afraid to use either. In the meantime, con report written, I will repair to the couch, to nap and read. For?
Tomorrow, I write.
Here, have a picture of the Super Moon as it rises behind Cape Elizabeth. Taken from 2 Brown Street, Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
_________
*Pro Tip: This is never a good idea. Closing the lines of communication because you don’t want to endure an Unpleasant Scene will not make the temper of the wronged party any cooler when they find out What’s Happened, and! you will have to deal with them at the beginning of the con, when everything is crazy, instead of six months ago, when you had time to be diplomatic, and they had six months to adjust their mix of wares.
Books read in 2016
63. Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon (e)
62. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read)
61. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read) (e)
60. Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine
59. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (Gahan Wilson) (re-re-&c-read aloud with Steve)
58. The Paladin, C.J. Cherryh (re-read) (e)
57. Fire Touched, Patricia Briggs (e)
56. Sweet Masterpiece, Connie Shelton (e)
55. Serpentine, Cindy Pon (e)
54. Mirabile, Janet Kagan (re-read) (e)
53. The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Chris Wiltz (e)
52. Monstress, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
51. Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop (e)
50. Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy), J. M. Barrie (e) (read aloud with Steve)
49. The City of Lightning, Kaja & Phil Foglio
48. Disenchanted & Co., Lynn Viehl
47. Tell me a Dragon, Jackie Morris
46. Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
45. Vision in Silver (e), Anne Bishop
44. Murder of Crows, Anne Bishop
43. Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
42. Queen of the Deep (e), Kay Kenyon
41. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
40. Lightning that Lingers, Sharon & Tom Curtis writing as Laura London (re-read for both; first time reading aloud)
39. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
38. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
37. Tiger’s Chance, Jan Henry, illustrated by Hilary Knight (re-read)
36. Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee (1st read for pleasure)
35. The Fall of Kings, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (e)
34. Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
33. Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
32. Swordspoint, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
31. Incarnate, Jodi Meadows (e)
30. Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire (e)
29. Tiger Eye, Majorie M. Liu (e)
28. Visitor, C. J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9. Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7. Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6. Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4. Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3. Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2. The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1. A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson
Pinbeam Books on Sale at Baen
The last bundle of five Pinbeam Books titles has gone up for sale today at Baen ebooks. Here’s your link.
The November bundle includes:
Master Walk, by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Surfside, Archers Beach #4, by Sharon Lee
The Gift of Magic, Archers Beach #5, by Sharon Lee
Spell Bound, Archers Beach #6, by Sharon Lee
TimeRags, by Steve Miller
You may also buy each title separately, if you prefer.
Books read in 2016
62. Agnes and the Hitman, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read)
61. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read) (e)
60. Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine
59. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (Gahan Wilson) (re-re-&c-read aloud with Steve)
58. The Paladin, C.J. Cherryh (re-read) (e)
57. Fire Touched, Patricia Briggs (e)
56. Sweet Masterpiece, Connie Shelton (e)
55. Serpentine, Cindy Pon (e)
54. Mirabile, Janet Kagan (re-read) (e)
53. The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Chris Wiltz (e)
52. Monstress, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
51. Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop (e)
50. Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy), J. M. Barrie (e) (read aloud with Steve)
49. The City of Lightning, Kaja & Phil Foglio
48. Disenchanted & Co., Lynn Viehl
47. Tell me a Dragon, Jackie Morris
46. Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
45. Vision in Silver (e), Anne Bishop
44. Murder of Crows, Anne Bishop
43. Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
42. Queen of the Deep (e), Kay Kenyon
41. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
40. Lightning that Lingers, Sharon & Tom Curtis writing as Laura London (re-read for both; first time reading aloud)
39. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
38. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
37. Tiger’s Chance, Jan Henry, illustrated by Hilary Knight (re-read)
36. Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee (1st read for pleasure)
35. The Fall of Kings, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (e)
34. Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
33. Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
32. Swordspoint, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
31. Incarnate, Jodi Meadows (e)
30. Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire (e)
29. Tiger Eye, Majorie M. Liu (e)
28. Visitor, C. J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9. Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7. Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6. Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4. Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3. Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2. The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1. A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson
Wednesday To-Do List
Do dishesClean cat fountainClean bathroomPrint out section to be hand-editedPrep Number Ten Ox and load thumb drive with working filesPackExplain the schedule for the next few days to Trooper and Scrabble(also to Belle and Sprite,who will immediately forget all about it, and start to panic about elevensies on Thursday, whereupon Trooper or Scrabble will have to talk them down and Review)
Steve and I will be handing the Keys to the Cat Farm to the housesitter early tomorrow morning, after which we’ll be getting on the road to Providence, and the Rhode Island Comic Con. Since this convention doesn’t have a literature track, we will not be doing any panels, or readings, but we will be at the Wordfire Press booth in the Dealer’s Room at Booth 124, signing books and creating mischief.
Everybody stay safe.
Books read in 2016
61. Wild Ride, Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer (re-read) (e)
60. Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine
59. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (Gahan Wilson) (re-re-&c-read aloud with Steve)
58. The Paladin, C.J. Cherryh (re-read) (e)
57. Fire Touched, Patricia Briggs (e)
56. Sweet Masterpiece, Connie Shelton (e)
55. Serpentine, Cindy Pon (e)
54. Mirabile, Janet Kagan (re-read) (e)
53. The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Chris Wiltz (e)
52. Monstress, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
51. Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop (e)
50. Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy), J. M. Barrie (e) (read aloud with Steve)
49. The City of Lightning, Kaja & Phil Foglio
48. Disenchanted & Co., Lynn Viehl
47. Tell me a Dragon, Jackie Morris
46. Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
45. Vision in Silver (e), Anne Bishop
44. Murder of Crows, Anne Bishop
43. Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
42. Queen of the Deep (e), Kay Kenyon
41. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
40. Lightning that Lingers, Sharon & Tom Curtis writing as Laura London (re-read for both; first time reading aloud)
39. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
38. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
37. Tiger’s Chance, Jan Henry, illustrated by Hilary Knight (re-read)
36. Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee (1st read for pleasure)
35. The Fall of Kings, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (e)
34. Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
33. Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
32. Swordspoint, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
31. Incarnate, Jodi Meadows (e)
30. Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire (e)
29. Tiger Eye, Majorie M. Liu (e)
28. Visitor, C. J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9. Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7. Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6. Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4. Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3. Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2. The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1. A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson
Neckties, Contracts, High Mountains!
Audible lets us know that!
There’s a free excerpt available of the audiobook edition of Alliance of Equals. Here’s your link. Enjoy — and tell your friends!
I had planned to go to the ocean today, but that wasn’t possible, because Reasons. Steve and I did go cat-shopping (as opposed to shopping for cats), because one of the sisal-bound (you notice I say “one of”) scratchers has gone to that great sisal forest in the sky. So, naturally we need to replace it.
We knew what we wanted, we had found what we wanted on the web last night, but — we wanted to take a look at it before committing. According to the web, the item was available at PetSmart, so off to Augusta we went, to discover that —
You see where this is going, right?
Right. Plenty of devices made for the grooming of cat claws, but of the perfect scratcher there was no sign.
Since we were in Augusta, where there are two pet supply emporiums, we went down to the other one, but — no luck.
So, after stopping for lunch, we came home and ordered the dern thing off of the internet, anyway.
Neogenesis. . .stands at about 85,000ish words. Maybe. You know what I’m going to wind up doing, and so do I, and I might as well just make my bow, and Do It, instead of wasting energy trying to do it the other, more comfortable, way. But — old habits. Anyway. Back to writing scenes with an eye toward building bridges after I’ve written enough to know where everybody is, and when.
Next book — one character who sits in a room and pets his cat for 100,000 words.
Oh, no. . .wait.
About today’s blog title: AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” has long occupied a Special Place in my Heart, which pretty much proves that I am Not a Nice Person. And the rendition that I know best includes, at the end of the third stanza, where our narrator is listing the services offered, he says:
Concrete shoes, cyanide, TNT
Done dirt cheap
Neckties, contracts, high mountains!
Done dirt cheap
Google Lyrics renders “high mountains” as “high voltage,” which just isn’t the same. And what does Google know, anyway?
So, I have used that line as I know it, for the blog title. And now? I’m going to send you to Joan Jett’s cover, which she ends at the bottom of the third stanza. Here’s your link.
#
“Indeed not!” Bechimo sounded scandalized. “It is the captain’s place to order for ship and crew.”
Books read in 2016
60. Arabella of Mars, David D. Levine
59. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (Gahan Wilson) (re-re-&c-read aloud with Steve)
58. The Paladin, C.J. Cherryh (re-read) (e)
57. Fire Touched, Patricia Briggs (e)
56. Sweet Masterpiece, Connie Shelton (e)
55. Serpentine, Cindy Pon (e)
54. Mirabile, Janet Kagan (re-read) (e)
53. The Last Madam: A Life in the New Orleans Underworld, Chris Wiltz (e)
52. Monstress, Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
51. Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop (e)
50. Peter Pan (Peter and Wendy), J. M. Barrie (e) (read aloud with Steve)
49. The City of Lightning, Kaja & Phil Foglio
48. Disenchanted & Co., Lynn Viehl
47. Tell me a Dragon, Jackie Morris
46. Feet of Clay, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
45. Vision in Silver (e), Anne Bishop
44. Murder of Crows, Anne Bishop
43. Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
42. Queen of the Deep (e), Kay Kenyon
41. Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel
40. Lightning that Lingers, Sharon & Tom Curtis writing as Laura London (re-read for both; first time reading aloud)
39. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
38. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
37. Tiger’s Chance, Jan Henry, illustrated by Hilary Knight (re-read)
36. Carousel Tides, Sharon Lee (1st read for pleasure)
35. The Fall of Kings, Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman (e)
34. Play of Passion, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
33. Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
32. Swordspoint, Ellen Kushner (re-re-&c-read) (e)
31. Incarnate, Jodi Meadows (e)
30. Discount Armageddon, Seanan McGuire (e)
29. Tiger Eye, Majorie M. Liu (e)
28. Visitor, C. J. Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
27. To Have and to Hold, Nalini Singh (e)
26. The House of Shattered Wings, Aliette de Bodard
25. Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly (e)
24. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire (e)
23. Maximum Ice, Kay Kenyon (e)
22. War for the Oaks, Emma Bull (re-re-re-re-read)
21. Wheel of the Infinite, Martha Wells (e)
20. Algonquin Cat, Val Schaffner, illustrated by Hilary Knight
19. Karen Memory, Elizabeth Bear
18. Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie
17. When Falcons Fall, C.S. Harris
16. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Winifred Watson (re-re-re-&c-read)
15. Uprooted, Naomi Novik
14. Strong Poison, Dorothy L. Sayers (re-re-re-read)
13. Written in Red, Anne Bishop
12. Andy & Don, Daniel de Visé
11. The Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
10. Foxglove Summer, Ben Aaronovitch
9. Broken Homes, Ben Aaronovitch
8. Soul Music, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
7. Whispers Underground, Ben Aaronovitch
6. Moon Over Soho, Ben Aaronovitch
5. Reaper Man, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
4. Conflict of Honors, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (e) (re-read)
3. Mort, Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve)
2. The Sculptor, Scott McCloud
1. A Short History of a Small Place, T.R. Pearson