Customers who purchased digital books from the Microsoft store will soon be forced to return them.
Already widely reported.
Note that if you buy ebooks *directly from the author – or *from Smashwords – then you get to keep them.
Yet another reason to cut out the middle man, especially if the middle man is a huge corporation that doesn’t care about its consumers.
via Microsoft’s ebook store closes, and will take all customers’ ebooks with it —
April 3, 2019
Now that Trudeau has agreed to help out, if anything goes wrong we can always “Blame Canada!”
No, no, it’s a joke, alright, eh. Sorry, sorry.
March 3, 2019
“Attachment was made to a new type of mating adaptor on the ISS’s Harmony module. ”
Yes, we’ve matured so much as a species that we still insist on resorting to sexual metaphors to describe intricate technological details on our space vehicles.
But anyways, good for Space X and NASA. Now let’s hope other companies get into the act so we can kickstart this whole expand and populate the galaxy thing.
February 24, 2019
Although the book Er Ist Weider Da (Translated into English as “Look Who’s Back,” although literally it should be “He’s here again”) was published in 2012, the German language movie released in 2015, Netflix picked it up in early 2016, I just now stumbled across this movie over the weekend. Probably an algorithmic thing (don’t ask).
Normally, I blog about either family history or science/science fiction. But in this case, let’s just call it science fictiony-historical satire with a dark edge.
It’s good. Scarily good. Hysterically funny in parts. Deeply, darkly disturbing in many others.
And completely misunderstood by most reviewers. Especially the ones writing only in English. Continue Reading
February 23, 2019
Ten years ago, Alan Moore (and Dave Gibbons)’s Watchmen finally made it out of development hell and onto the big screen.
Only it wasn’t Alan Moore’s Watchmen, but Zack Snyder’s. Well, some of it. Maybe. Continue Reading
Residents across the island are complaining about the state of city sidewalks. They say they are dangerous and that the city is taking too long to clean them.
OK, the original article doesn’t say residents are whingeing.
But they are.
Wow. And here I thought this was an American thing.
As for me, I dealt with the recent rain/ice/snow/ice/more rain mess by wearing big boots outside when I had to, and mostly staying inside with hot chocolate and books.
No prob.
via Icy Montreal sidewalks still a problem after recent winter storm, residents say —
January 26, 2019
Yes, I have finally gotten around to “being interviewed” (by, er, myself) at Smashwords. In which I lay bare my literary influences. Ah, and also revel in my geekdom. Yeah.
Which means that, yes, I am preparing to (re)publish some of my work in ePub format. Hopefully, Adam’s Stepsons will be soon available for iBooks, Kobo, and some other apps/devices. Aiming at April 1st (since Adam’s Stepsons is currently enrolled in Amazon’s “KDP Select,” which prohibits me from distributing it as an ebook through other services until March 31st).
The Kindle (.mobi) price will be lowered to ONLY US $0.99 from Sunday! (I hope. Maybe Monday. Definitely by January 31st).
In the meantime, work proceeds apace on Bringer of Light! More coming soon. Very soon.
January 8, 2019
Looks like the new Picard series will make sure to use the supernova of Romulus’s sun as part of its storyline.
Here’s hoping they also explain why the Romulans were using a name from ancient Earth legends about the foundation of the Roman Empire.
Read all about it at trekcore.com/blog/2019/01/picard-star-trek-series-heavily-influenced-by-2009-romulan-disaster/
January 1, 2019
Yes, it’s been yet one more year of writing, rejection, and reflection.
But let’s focus on the writing! Fortunately, more is on the way in 2019.
That’s right: If you forgot to give a gift to a friend, relative, or neighbor, you’ll have your chance to gift a free ebook for five straight 24-hour Earthdays in January. I’d post the actual dates, but due to the laws of physics the dates change depending on where in the universe you are.
Titled Destiny in the Future, this 240+ page book also features a preface and introduction by yours truly that also analyzes and places it in proper time/place/societal context. All proceeds from this book will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Check back here for a preview in February 2019.
Check back here for free downloadable previews in March 2019. Advance review copy readers will get a free ebook and paperback copy. More info on the way!
December 24, 2018
Yes, climate change is real.
Yes, some of these five classic SF novels from Tor are really about pollution and not climate change per se.
Yes, that doesn’t really matter.
The Sheep Look Up is still the best of the bunch. And (not surprisingly) somewhat prophetic.
Le plus chose change…
(P.S. Happy Yuletide. Bwah ha ha…)
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