The Cambias Digression

Notes and thoughts on everything from what I had for breakfast to the fate of the Universe.

  • Morons With Bullhorns

    A few days ago John Scalzi put up this blog post, commenting (in the usual tail-chasing fashion of the Internet) on someone else's Twitter comment about yet a third person's magazine article — all wrestling with the question of whether writers should or should not try to be apolitical. John says no. I disagree with…

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  • What’s That I Hear?

    It's barely audible . . . or rather, it's barely Audible.com. The audiobook version of Corsair is ready for pre-order. I've been in touch with Victor Bevine (the narrator) so I know recording is finished. I was very impressed with how careful Mr. Bevine was to check with me about how to pronounce some of…

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  • Congratulations Nebula Nominees!

    Congratulations to this year's Nebula Award nominees. The final winners will be announced June 6 in Chicago, after a series of bloody, last-man-standing battles with knives and bricks. Or maybe voting. Anyway, congratulations to: Novel The Goblin Emperor, Katherine Addison (Tor) Trial by Fire, Charles E. Gannon (Baen) Ancillary Sword, Ann Leckie (Orbit US; Orbit…

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  • High Stakes Boredom

    One thing which has begun to bother me about a lot of recent science fiction and action films is that they always go straight to putting the whole world in peril. In Guardians of the Galaxy the climax is an attempt by the villain to destroy the Good Guy Planet. In Interstellar the hero is…

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  • A Darkling Audiobook

    If moving your eyes from side to side is too much work, now you can enjoy A Darkling Sea while lying completely immobile! It's now available as an audiobook from Audible.com. 

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  • Boskone: Realm of the Ice Demons!

    Later this week I will make the epic journey through the snow-cursed wilderness of Massachusetts to attend this year's Boskone convention. I may have to eat the sled dogs and my faithful Sherpa guide, but the lure of the exotic Westin pleasure-dome draws me onward, and the Ice Demons will learn to fear my axe.…

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  • Arisia 2015, Featuring MEE!

    The venerable Arisia convention gets underway at the Westin on Boston's waterfront tomorrow, and once again I will be a program participant. If you want to see me perform for your entertainment, here's where and when the monkey will dance: Friday (January 16) at 5:30 p.m.: Do We Need Science Fiction? Panel discussion on whether…

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  • Looking Forward

    "And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future." It's traditional to make predictions for the New Year, and I'm a man who respects tradition. So, here are my predictions for 2015. I PREDICT that on or around February 3 of this coming year, you will be able to…

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  • Tis The Season

    . . . for the NORAD Santa Tracker once again! The countdown clock is running, and NORAD personnel are already giving deadpan media interviews about this year's operation. 

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  • The Harmonic Convergence of Geekery

    There are science fiction geeks. Hi, my name is Jim and I'm a science fiction geek. ("Hi, Jim!" says everyone gathered in the church basement.) There are typography geeks. I'm not a typography geek, though I am a fan. (I lack the knowledge to be an actual typography geek.) ("What a poser!" thinks everyone gathered…

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The Worldbuilding Index