The Crotchety Old Fan

Well, admittedly my title is perhaps (perhaps) a tad premature, as the book store I’m referring to has only been open for a few months, but from what I’m seeing so far, I think that at least one formula for the continued and future survival of the independent book store is being proved right [...]

I’ve just spent close to an hour reading much of the posts and comments responding to International Science Fiction Reshelving Day (11/18/09 – go there for details), and I must say that I am a bit bemused and befuddled by the energy that so many seem to have devoted to dissing a group of people [...]

This morning’s Google Reader roundup brings yet another declaration of science fiction’s slow and agonizing, death rattle infused, demise, this time in the form of commentary from Amy Sterling Casil over at the Book View Cafe’s Blog site (via Charles Tan’s link roundup).
I have decided that enough is enough.  Most of this prognostication and eulogizing [...]

Underland Press just sent me along an advance copy of Jeff VanderMeer’s latest Ambergris novel – Finch.
Jeff has been billed as a fantasy author though (one of the best) and with limited budget, limited time and a publicly acknowledged preference for science fiction, he has not been high on my acquisition list. Definitely in [...]

Nick Mamatas – also known as the Nihilistic Kid in his Livejournal incarnation – is one of those contemporary renaissance men you hear about but rarely meet; editor, writer, subverter of higher education, multiple award nominee (in multiple genres), multiple translatee and champion of the Creative Commons.
Nick has several well-received novels under his belt (Northern [...]

Every time I see that Air Force commercial featuring a Predator drone, real-time battlefield mapping and Minority Reportesque computer displays – the one that ends with the tagline “It’s Not Science Fiction” – THIS is what keeps on appearing on the screen in my head:

(Check out the new version here)
Seems to me that there’s a [...]

Mary Kowal (among many, many others) is participating in International Blog Against Racism Week.
I only mention Kowal because I recently reviewed one of her short stories (the first I’ve read by her) and I’m very impressed. (She also friended me on Facebook and is a frequent mention of Scalzi’s – so why not help [...]

Reading a science fiction novel by an excellent author: $8.95 (paperback)
Attending Worldcon and meeting some of you faves: $2500 (est)
Seeing some of them at poolside – PRICELESS
You can see this and many more excellent convention photos of authors, editors and artists on Mike Resnick’s facebook page HERE
~ ~ ~
All I can say is -
JEEZ!
~ ~ [...]

My (non-fiction) book – A Parent’s Guide To Paintball, (published by Liaison Press) was released to Kee Action Sports on May 15th of this year.
They’re a rather largish paintball product distribution and manufacturing company (one of the largest in fact).
Liaison and I agreed to give them a bit of a grace period to market the [...]

It’s early (a bit after 3 am) and I’ll probably regret writing this almost immediatelyafter waking up, but my mental notes are rapidly fading so I want to get this down.
Warehouse 13.? My general reaction was a resounding “MEH” (which is a major cut above Totally Sucks, so give it some credit).
Specifics?? Secret Service agents [...]