Boskone, the Boston-area SF convention that Kate and I go to every year, is the weekend after next. Once again, I’ll be doing a few panels and one talk. For those who might be attending, or who care about this for some reason, here’s my preliminary schedule:
Category: Books
The Graveyard Book Wins Newbery Medal
In what will surely come as a surprise to the people who say mean things about the award, the John Newbery Medal for children’s literature was awarded to Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. Mr. Gaiman, 48, won for “The Graveyard Book,” a story about a boy who is raised in a cemetery by ghosts after… Continue reading The Graveyard Book Wins Newbery Medal
13 Things That Don’t Make Sense, by Michael Brooks
Michael Brooks’s 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense turned up on a lot of “Best science books of 2008” lists, and the concept of a book about scientific anomalies seemed interesting, so I ordered it from Amazon. It’s a quick read (a mere 210 pages, and breezily written), but ultimately a frustrating book. It took… Continue reading 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense, by Michael Brooks
“Must-Read” SF Novels
Via a bunch of people, but most directly Matt Ruff, the Guardian has published a list of “1000 Novels Everyone Must Read“. Which has triggered the usual flurry of procrastinatory blog posts indicating which books from the science fiction and fantasy sub-list one has and hasn’t read. I have other things I really ought to… Continue reading “Must-Read” SF Novels
Icarus at the Edge of Time, by Brian Greene
Or, Brian Greene Writes a Kid’s Book… This is a very odd book. It’s printed on boards, like a book for very small children, but the story is a bit beyond what I would imagine reading to a normal kid of the age to want books of that format. It’s too short and simple, though,… Continue reading Icarus at the Edge of Time, by Brian Greene
Hugo Nomination Suggestions
As Kate notes, I am a paid-up member of this year’s Worldcon, and thus entitled to nominate works for the Hugo Awards. Of course, there are a zillion categories, and I’m not entirely sure what to nominate for any of them. So, if you are a reader or watcher of science fiction and/or fantasy, this… Continue reading Hugo Nomination Suggestions
Incompleteness by Rebecca Goldstein
Rebecca Goldstein’s Incompleteness: The Proof and Paradox of Kurt Gödel is another book in the Great Discoveries series of short books by noted authors about important moments in the history of science, and the people behind them. Previous volumes include Everything and More and A Force of Nature, both of which were excellent in their… Continue reading Incompleteness by Rebecca Goldstein
Donald E. Westlake, RIP
Many years ago, when I was a kid growing up, I used to be a regular at the Mary Wilcox Memorial Library in town, and tore through most of their kids’ books before mounting an assault on the adult section. The librarian at the time, Mrs. Sinclair, was a terrific woman who knew pretty much… Continue reading Donald E. Westlake, RIP
A Well Deserved Hono(u)r
Terry Pratchett knighted: Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series of novels that have sold more than 55 million copies worldwide, said he was “stunned, in a good way” after receiving a knighthood in the New Year’s Honours List. The 60-year-old writer, below, whose first book was published in 1971, told The Independent last… Continue reading A Well Deserved Hono(u)r
Recent Reading
I was up late watching my Giants play the Carolina Panthers (they won in OT– now you see the importance of Brandon Jacobs), and today is a Baby Day, so I have no deep thoughts to blog. So here are some quick comments on recent reading: The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. This is… Continue reading Recent Reading