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Happy Birthday, Athena

Another year, another instance of Krissy and I waking up our daughter with a cake on her birthday. It’s nice to have little traditions like this. This is also where I reiterate that my kid is the best and that I’m really glad I get to be her dad. That, too, is tradition. I believe that most of you know that Athena is now a full-time employee of Scalzi Enterprises. We have some pretty interesting…

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Sunset, 12/22/24

As the year winds down, at least we’re getting some good sunsets to see us off. — JS

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Krissy Retires

Today is a big day in the Scalzi household: After 22 years, Krissy is retiring from her job as claims adjuster at the Buckeye Insurance Company. This had been a move that was some time in coming; Krissy originally thought to retire a few years ago, but the pandemic and a few other things scrambled those plans. But now it’s time, and today’s the day. Krissy is officially in her company’s system…

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And Now, the (Virtual) Scalzi Family Holiday Card for 2024

I had big plans for holiday cards this year but then the book I’m currently writing wanted to fight me, and here we are on December 19th and I’m still writing it. So for 2024, please accept this virtual card, which, although made only of electrons, is still heartfelt in its intent. We wish you a joyous December and a wonderful Christmas and/or Hanukkah and/or Solstice and/or whatever holiday you…

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The Sock Flip

While we are on the general topic of gifts I would like to know what age you were when socks went from "worst gift ever" to "actually this is a really useful and thoughtful gift" Early 40s for me, and would have been earlier if I had bought into all the anti-socks-as-a-gift propaganda— John Scalzi (@scalzi.com) 2024-12-18T14:29:21.239Z I posted this over at Bluesky and I thought it was worth…

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The Big Idea: Chris Gerrib

A parental request embarked author Chris Gerrib on a new literary adventure, one without spaceships or flights of fantasy. How did that adventure turn out? The author explains all in this Big Idea for his latest novel, Strawberry Gold. CHRIS GERRIB: I blame my dad for this novel. Don’t get me wrong – he’s a great person and dad, but not much of a reader.  He finds science fiction especially…

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A Poem For a Tuesday: So We Go Outside

It’s 10am and I am reading the newsAnd the dog comes into my officeShe makes a noise that meansI know the world is on fireAnd you have a hard time looking awayBut if you don’t take me outside right nowI am going to drop a massive shit in the dining roomAnd neither of us wants that for the other. So we go outside. Now it’s 4pm and I have a book deadlineThe dog sets her head in my lapWith a…

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"When The Moon Hit Your Eye" Gets a Starred Review in Booklist

Can’t share the full review yet — it comes out in about three weeks — but here’s a nifty quote I can share: “When the Moon Hits Your Eye does what science fiction does best: offers a mirror up to society and explores how humanity might respond to sudden and seemingly impossible things.” I mean, I agree. So now all the trade magazines have checked in on Moon and the end result is two starred…

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The (Three Day Only) Return of the Scalzi Humble Bundle

Last year, Tor and Humble Bundle ran a deal where you could get a whole bunch of my books for cheap, and some of the proceeds would go to First Book, a terrific literacy charity whose goals (give books to kids!) I fully support. It did extremely well. So well, in fact, that Tor and Humble Bundle decided to bring it back for a three day encore this year, and those three days start… (checks…

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Almost Certainly the Earliest Photo Of Me

I am the infant in this picture. The toddler is my sister Heather, and the woman holding both of us is my great-grandmother Kay, who I don’t think I have any real memories of. My mom posted this photo on Facebook and I went into Photoshop to clean it up a bit. Regardless, 55 years, more or less, separate us from this particular photo. Weirdly, I have about the same amount of hair now as then.…

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The Big Idea: Fiona Moore

Change will always happen, but how we deal with change — well, for Fiona Moore, that’s the interesting part. In this big idea for Rabbit in the Moon, Moore looks at change, and our responses to it, and whether there is space for hope in an increasingly unsettled world. FIONA MOORE: “Change is inevitable”—that’s what we’re told, isn’t it? My day job involves teaching in a business school, and so…

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Here, Have a Song That's Been Running Around In My Brain For the Last Several Days

It’s very pleasant drum n’ bass electronica with ethereal vocals, what’s not to love? For more of Boxplot, here is their Bandcamp page (which also features this single). For Honeycrush (the vocalist), here’s her Bancamp page. And now back to novel writing for me. Hello! Hope you’re well. — JS

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An Oblique Comment For a Friday Evening

If you hear or see any rumors about a possibly good or at least interesting thing involving me, maybe wait for confirmation by me (or a reputable news source) about it, please. It would be something I would not be shy about. This has been your deeply oblique Friday evening comment. — JS

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New Books and ARCs, 12/6/24

Just in time for the holiday season — a stack of new books and ARCs at the Scalzi Compound! What here would you like to find at the seasonal holiday gift-giving opportunity of your choice? Share in the comments! — JS

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The 2024 Whatever Holiday Gift Guide, Day Five: Charities

For the last four days, the 2024 Whatever Gift Guide has been about helping you find the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones. But today I’d like to remind folks that the season is also about helping those in need. So this final day is for charities. If you’re looking for a place to make a donation — or know of a charitable organization that would gladly accept a donation — this is the place…

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The 2024 Whatever Holiday Gift Guide, Day Four: Fan Favorites!

For the first three days of the Whatever Gift Guide this year, We’ve had authors and creators tell you about their work. Today is different: Today is Fan Favorites day, in which fans, admirers and satisfied customers share with you a few of their favorite things — and you can share some of your favorite things as well. This is a way to discover some cool stuff from folks like you, and to spread…

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The 2024 Whatever Holiday Gift Guide, Day Three: Arts, Crafts, Music and More

The Whatever Holiday Gift Guide 2024 continues, and today we move away from books and focus on other gifts and crafts — which you can take to mean just about any other sort of thing a creative person might make: Music, art, knitting, jewelry, artisan foodstuffs and so on. These can be great, unique gifts for special folks in your life, and things you can’t just get down at the mall. I hope you…