Tania | January 22, 2007 03:26 PM

I think my soup-stained TPB copy just muttered "pushy little blighter."

However, Tania says "WOOT!! Go Scalzi!"

Neth | January 22, 2007 03:32 PM

Try to swing by the Phoenix area on one end of the trip and do a signing. We have double-double's too.

strugglingwriter | January 22, 2007 03:34 PM

Can we gird our loins even if we aren't in the Los Angeles area?

Also, I really like the artwork on the Festival of Books image.

Jenny Rae Rappaport | January 22, 2007 04:06 PM

I agree; the artwork for the Festival of Books is lovely!

Jim C. Hines | January 22, 2007 04:13 PM

Wow -- shiny indeed! Congrats!

AliceB | January 22, 2007 04:15 PM

#4! Congratulations! That is stupendous!

Jeff | January 22, 2007 04:17 PM

Awesome news about your novel John! I have yet to read anything by you, but your name is on my radar and Old Man's War is on my reading list, thanks to Wil Wheaton.

I blogged about some of your writing advice today, and was waiting for an appropriate entry to respond and tell you how much I enjoy your blog from my reading today. Wil's right, your advice on how to write better without work and advice for teenage writers are gold.

I've added you to my aggregator, so I'll be reading regularly.

Cheers!

PockyPimp | January 22, 2007 04:24 PM

Woo! Well early welcome to Los Angeles. I'm relatively familiar with the UCLA area and there is an In-N-Out within walking distance of the campus. It's over on Gayley Avenue just past Le Conte Avenue. Also that's the start of Westwood Village which has tons of nice places to eat and plenty of movie theaters. While I haven't been a SF reader in a long while I'm happy to hear about your success and hope things continue going up for you!

Steve Buchheit | January 22, 2007 04:24 PM

Congrats on the sales. That's fantastic.

Matt Jarpe | January 22, 2007 04:31 PM

I like to think that my small contribution to the OMW mass market sales pushed you into the coveted #4 position. Now I just have to read it before I find myself empaneled with you at Boskone next month. Are we girding loins for that as well?

Amanda | January 22, 2007 04:50 PM

Woo! Yay for shiny!

Also, question. Double-double? The only thing I can think of is a Tim Horton's coffee with 2 cream and 2 sugars.

That Neil Guy | January 22, 2007 04:56 PM

Maybe you'll get to appear on C-Span's BookTV...

(I know, they mostly do non-fiction, but, hey, you're a non-fiction guy as well as a fiction guy. And the #4 best-selling author in the country...)

John Scalzi | January 22, 2007 04:58 PM

Well, I wouldn't say I'm the #4 bestselling author in the country. I'm the #4 bestselling mass market author at one book wholesaler. Which is, you know, still cool. But I think over all there's probably some other author who is number four overall.

That Neil Guy | January 22, 2007 05:18 PM

No, it's you. #4 overall (on a certain list, blah blah detail detail blah blah blah) which is good enough for me.

Go Number Four!!!!!!!!

Martyn Taylor | January 22, 2007 05:21 PM

Just think, all those people reading your books. Now that must make you feel seriously good. Congratulations.

joelfinkle | January 22, 2007 05:21 PM

On the Wholesale side of things, The Last Colony is the lead-off item in Tor's catalog for Spring. Thought you'd want to know if you didn't already.

Chang who gots flavor | January 22, 2007 05:27 PM

Woooooorrrrrdddddd!!!!

That's awesome. Wish I could be in LA to root you on but alas I am snowed in... Oh, wait, I may be there in April. One never knows.

Ken | January 22, 2007 05:34 PM

Amanda, IN-N OUT is a hamburger chain out west, double-double = two meat + two cheese. They ahve a whole ordering language. You can even get a 4 x 4 animal style! The best burger in the world by the way.

Nathan | January 22, 2007 05:55 PM

Don't know if it's the best burger in the world, but I've always thought it's the best name for a burger joint.

John Scalzi | January 22, 2007 06:09 PM

In-N-Out: There may be stand-alone burger joints that are better, but if you're talking about a burger chain: None better. None. End of story.

Out here in the Midwest, however, I think Culver's is pretty damn good for a chain.

Tania | January 22, 2007 06:12 PM

The In-N-Out secret menu is fun. I've never been, but someday...

JD | January 22, 2007 06:20 PM

I was at a Barnes and Noble this weekend and I noticed that OMW was in the upfront paperback book display. Front side facing the door. And TAD made the Hardcover display table near the door too.

Are you still going to be our friend when that smooth novel money starts flooding in?

Adam Rakunas | January 22, 2007 06:22 PM

Sweet! And people say Los Angeles is lacking for culture.

Any chance of doing a reading elsewhere? Maybe at Dutton's before it goes away?

John Scalzi | January 22, 2007 06:22 PM

JD:

Well, that depends on whether you'll still peel my grapes for me.

Adam: I have no idea what my LA schedule will be like at this time. I'll need to talk to Tor and (presumably) the folks at the LATFoB to find out what I'm doing there before I make any additional plans.

MWT | January 22, 2007 06:29 PM

Hmm... the one time I ate at an In-N-Out, I ended up with massive food poisoning. It meant that I was on my back for all of the last day of a 3-day visit (for a wedding; luckily this was after the wedding had already happened), plus got to throw up on a plane for the first time in my life ever, and meet a nice grandmotherly woman who held my head and thought I was merely motion sick.

But I'm sure that was a fluke. :)

Tatiana | January 22, 2007 06:32 PM

Congratulations, John! As I type, Old Man's War is on the hold shelf at the library, waiting for me to pick it up.

Karen Burnham | January 22, 2007 07:09 PM

Well, that pretty much tips the scales towards my attendance at the Book Festival. I went one year and had a great time. However, the equation usually goes:

"Losing lots of money on great books" vs. "Lots of great books to spend money on."

Now it's the same equation with "+ John Scalzi" on the right side. Heck, who needs groceries?

Carl V. | January 22, 2007 07:36 PM

Congrats, you, and OMW, deserve it. I'm pushing that book on whomever I can!

Ron H | January 22, 2007 07:53 PM

Just completed Old Mans War. Great read!! Going to Amazon to order Ghost Brigades. Keep on keepin on.

Gina Black | January 22, 2007 09:08 PM

Oh cool. I'll make a point of going to whatever you're doing (I assume a panel of some sort?). I luv luv luv the LAT Festival of Books and wear myself out there every year. It's a book orgy!

Chang, father of pangolins | January 22, 2007 09:39 PM

Mrs. Chang says she loves OMW.

However, I am still in the doghouse for the birthday incident of 1995.

SpeakerToManagers | January 22, 2007 11:31 PM

Right on, Scalzi! That's not only an egoboost, it means more money in the kitty for cheese. Now, set your sights on #3, and there'll be no stopping you.


On another note:

Oh great pangolin father, surely you don't refer to that incident in '95, that which shall never be mentioned? Oh, well, say hello to the dog.

Ray | January 23, 2007 08:08 AM

Congrats Scalzi! First America, THEN THE WORLD!! I have you know that your books are impossible to find in Europe (or at least in Austria). I have to order them to my U.S. address and then have my wife ship them to me. So please hurry up and "Rule the world!" ;). My wife would appreciate this rather than have me ask her every 3rd day if she mailed my stuff yet.
Again congrads!!!

Kaytie | January 23, 2007 01:38 PM

The Festival of Books is my favorite holiday! I hope to see you there...

Steve Bainbridge | January 23, 2007 03:14 PM

Very cool that you're coming to LA. I suually duck the Book Festival, because it's always mobbed (putting the lie to the notion that nobody in LA reads), but I'll likely make an exception to come see your panel (or reading or whatever). Kudos!

John Scalzi | January 23, 2007 03:17 PM

Excellent, Steve! See you there.

Alison B. | January 23, 2007 06:18 PM

Very exciting! I've never been able to get a ticket to a panel, but it's lots of fun to walk around, buy books, & meet authors.

FWIW, there's also a Fatburger within walking distance of UCLA, if you'd like to do a comparative tasting in the name of science, or something.

John Scalzi | January 23, 2007 06:28 PM

I am familiar with the works of Fatburger.

Carol Elaine | January 24, 2007 03:08 PM

Excuse me for a bit of mild swearing, but: Damn it! That weekend I'll be in San Diego for the California Democratic Convention, trying to do my bit to influence the party in this neck of the woods.

And thusly I shall, once again, miss an opportunity for easy stalking ('cause I'm too lazy to be a proper stalker). My poor books must still go unsigned! And on the weekend after my birthday, too! Excuse me whilst I weep.

You know what, Scalzi? I think you're doing this on purpose.

Oh, congrats on the #4. Well done.

Mark A. York | January 25, 2007 10:12 PM

It's the best. You're on a panel?

John Scalzi | January 25, 2007 11:06 PM

Don't know yet. All I know is I'm going.