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June 12, 2007
Mainspring's Out; An Open Pimp Thread
Congratulations to Jay Lake, whose Tor debut Mainspring officially hits stores today. I had a chance to read Mainspring when it was in manuscript and was absolutely caught up in the world Jay created, in which the metaphor of god as the "Universal Watchmaker" is made real and Jay has a ball building a story around the consequences of a clockwork universe. This is one of those worlds where you wish you could slip into the book just to wander around and soak up all the world-building the author has done. In short, very cool stuff. Check it out.
Today is also the official release date for Toby Buckell's Ragamuffin, which solidifies his position as king of Carribean-tinged science fiction. Go ahead, just try to depose him. You can't. It's good to be king.
And while I'm in the pimping mood, Ian Randal Strock has asked me to note to people that SFScope.com, a science fiction news site that he and a few others have created, is working very hard to become your number one source for science fiction news and reviews and whatnot. He wants you to check it out. So here's a link. Knock yourself out, you crazy kids!
Thus having achieved three pimps in a single entry, I hereby declare this an open pimp thread, in which I invite all and sundry to pimp the creative works and projects that are currently bringing them joy and/or hopes of personal fame and money. Pimp yourself! Pimp your friends! Pimp people who don't know you exist but whose work you enjoy! Share the love.
(Note: Sometimes comments with links will get dumped into the moderation queue. If yours does, don't panic; I'll free it presently.)
Posted by john at June 12, 2007 11:28 AM
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Comments
Neth | June 12, 2007 11:38 AM
I just finished Mainspring last night, and though it took me a while thinking about it, I liked it a lot. I should get my full review posted later today.
Kate | June 12, 2007 11:59 AM
As always, you can hear my lovely voice on some science fiction podcasts.
The linkage:
Chris Gerrib | June 12, 2007 11:59 AM
Call me many things, but not:
1) late to dinner
2) one to miss a Scalzi self-pimp.
My science fiction novel "The Mars Run" is a damn good read, if I do say so myself. The Hugo award winning Ron Miller agrees. Click my name above to read reviews, the complete novel online, or to buy.
More alt-history then science fiction, Charles Sheehan-Miles just released a great novel called Republic: A Novel of America's Future, which I also recommend highly.
Ian | June 12, 2007 11:59 AM
www.fasterthantheworld.com
It's a conglomeration of bloggers who publish weekly on a variety of topics, enabling us to run an online magazine that refreshes with a new issue each day.
We have everything from the diary of a drag queen to a heavy metal radio host to a pagan witch in Vermont, as well as sports, fashion and Hollywood. I'm currently detailing my quest to get some freelance dollars in the bank.
Stop by, you'll find something that will interest you!
Stephen Granade | June 12, 2007 11:59 AM
Independent musician Andrew Osenga has released an acoustic album for free, asking that people listen and, if they like it, paypal him a couple of bucks.
Eric Berlin | June 12, 2007 12:13 PM
Ah, pimp thread, how we've missed you.
If you (or your kids) like puzzles, check out Winston Breen's puzzle blog: http://www.winstonbreen.com.
JCK | June 12, 2007 12:19 PM
Ingenioustries: Creative Commons licensed serialized short fiction, with a weekly podcast reading.
Edward Willett | June 12, 2007 12:36 PM
I'm in the last stages of rewriting my next novel for DAW, currently titled Marseguro and, last I heard, scheduled for January.
And meanwhile I'm rehearsing the part of Widow Simone for a local ballet production of La Fille mal Gardee (The Badly Guarded Daughter). I'm 6'2" and 210 pounds and I'll be in drag.
Yes, I will post a picture on my blog. Is that an incentive to visit it?
Oh, and for anyone interested in Canadian SF goings-on, I maintain the SF Canada newsblog at news.sfcanada.ca, if you'd care to check it out.
Will Entrekin | June 12, 2007 12:39 PM
Ooooh! Okay, I've been reading for a few weeks, since I saw a write-up on this blog in an old issue of Wired and have been wanting to jump into the comments. Seems as good a time as any.
I'm going to mention my buddy Richard Cox's debut novel, Rift, which I thought was excellent. I thought his second faltered a bit, but Rift is excellent, character-based science fiction about quantum teleportation. It's way cheap on Amazon, and well worth it.
And I'll mention my own collection, too. It's at Lulu.com. I'm a grad student in the MPW program and was a professional editor for three years, so it's not your ordinary oft-rejected-but-published-anyway effort. It got a stellar review over from PODler, and a good reception in the three months it's been available.
Pat Logan | June 12, 2007 12:40 PM
Nothing to pimp today, except I think my blog's pretty cool--especially for newer writers, as I do basic articles on writing from time to time. Site's linked from my name. ;)
Steve Buchheit | June 12, 2007 12:44 PM
Tobias' Ragamuffin is a good read. I'm in the middle of it and having a blast. So I'll give a second pimp to that.
Other than that, I'm up for re-election this November, so i'll pimp myself, Vote for Me(tm).
Tim Pratt | June 12, 2007 12:47 PM
Ragamuffin is very cool, and I'm looking forward to reading Mainspring (it's in my very tall and tottering to-read pile).
Since you asked... I'll pimp the latest from my micropublisher Tropism Press: Heather Shaw's first chapbook, When We Were Six, a collection of six stories, including an original dark fairy tale. There are links to a few of her free stories online on the webpage linked above, if anyone wants to sample her flavor (though what I love about her stories is how different they are from one another, ranging from surreal to romantic to horrifying).
Tim Pratt | June 12, 2007 12:50 PM
Oops -- the link to the chapbook is When We Were Six.
Chang, for rizzle. | June 12, 2007 01:03 PM
Oh, I discovered this guys music the other day. Way cool electronic stuff. I friended him on myspace it was so good, and I only do that with famous people like Scalzi, Darwin and Cobra Commander!
Here's the link to Vostek's Music! Tons of great free stuff there!
Tell him CRT sent you!
Neil Clarke | June 12, 2007 01:08 PM
Tobias Buckell's first short story collection, Tides from the New Worlds, will be published in early 2008 by Wyrm Publishing. We're also publishing signed limited editions of Toast by Charles Stross and Memorare by Gene Wolfe.
www.wyrmpublishing.com
Fred Kiesche | June 12, 2007 01:18 PM
Anything by Alastair Reynolds. A collection of the "Inhibitor" universe short stories is out (Galactic North) and he's got another book in the series out (but only in the U.K., so far). Good stuff.
chang, who is not chang | June 12, 2007 01:25 PM
I will pimp The Occasionally Great Scalzi, as he has failed to promote his latest masterpiece.
This:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scalzi/534961920
may be the finest non-Ghlaghghee picture ever taken.
Bask in the Glory of His Mightiness!
The Official Ghlaghghee Fan Club
Nathan | June 12, 2007 01:25 PM
Ditto the Alastair Reynolds pimp. I just finished "Pushing Ice". Excellent.
Also, stolen from CorbyK's blog...this site is hysterical.
http://noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com/
Paul | June 12, 2007 01:32 PM
I have Ragamuffin on my desk, just begging to be read. Looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.
For pimping purposes, I post a journal-style comic strip fives day a week over here at MyLifeComics. There's no punchlines, but sometimes I do stupid stuff and you can laugh at that until high noon.
Erika Hamerquist | June 12, 2007 01:48 PM
For people who like progressive and very jamming music, and somehow aren't already aware of these artists: Spearhead with Michael Franti (Yell Fire). Kinda ragamuffin reggae rock hip-hop blues all wrapped together in listenable and danceable yumminess. Also check out the rapper "socialist MC," aka Son of Nun.
PixelFish | June 12, 2007 01:53 PM
Hey, I just finished updating my portfolio site. I'm trying to get a job in the Boston area. So, you know if you are in need of a graphic designer and are close to a T stop, check out my stuff. It also features the Flash video I made for Meester Scalzi's latest book. (Look, Scalzi, it now has a LOADING screen! Didn't have time to put one in before.)
Constance B | June 12, 2007 01:53 PM
Today is also the release of David Anthony Durham's Acacia. Epic fantasy with outstanding character development. An excellent read that leaves you thinking about it long after you've finished the book. :)
Cassie | June 12, 2007 01:53 PM
It's not the normal fiction choice for this crowd, but my novel Nino is up on Live Journal, which means you have to start at the bottom and work your way up the links.
Nino is a historical novel set in the time of the early Byzantine Empire (450 AD) in what is now Bulgaria and Georgia.
Comments welcomed.
http://ninonovel.livejournal.com/715.html
Chang, for rizzle. | June 12, 2007 01:54 PM
I JUST FINISHED MY NOVEL!!!
98,000 words! 351 pages!
Ahem. Now I gotta go revise it. Maybe cut out a word or two.
Sean | June 12, 2007 02:04 PM
let the pimping begin:
My site focuses on my fiction (magical realism with a touch of SF) and fiction writing in general: http://www.byseanferrell.com
Jeremiah | June 12, 2007 02:10 PM
Since I haven't been writing consistently, I have nothing personal to pimp. But I wanted to post, since this is a much lighter thread than the other one I am posting to ("Another Good Day For the Rule of Law").
So I'll pimp my brother. heh. He's an artist: www.phillipstudioart.com check it out :)
Adam Rakunas | June 12, 2007 02:22 PM
I'm late to the party, but I just finished Ian McDonald's "Out on Blue Six" and I think it's the first book that actually got me high. Like, wow.
Steve Buchheit | June 12, 2007 02:35 PM
Chang, for rizzle, indeedy. Congrats.
Joe | June 12, 2007 02:35 PM
Pimping my blog: Adventures in Reading and tomorrow's Blog Like It's the End of the World zombie uprising.
Otherwise I write about novels I read (SFF mostly) and short stories and potentially about some other stuff.
Mfitz | June 12, 2007 03:03 PM
Looking for a writing group in Greater Cincinnati?
Check out Cincinnati Writer's Project
http://www.cincinnatiwriters.org/
The website is a work in progress, but the info about the fiction critique group is all good.
C assie | June 12, 2007 03:07 PM
Bravo, Chang! Let the champagne corks pop!
Angelle | June 12, 2007 03:17 PM
Yay, Chang, there is no better feeling!
Boo, my earlier pimping got caught in moderation hell.
Pablo Defendini | June 12, 2007 03:20 PM
Ragamuffin rocked. How can you go wrong when you christen your starships with names like 'Dupy Conqueror' and -my fave- 'Starfunk Ayatollah'? That, and rasta groundations in space, of course.
As for pimping, go check out my prints, posters, and books at www.defendini.com. :)
Oh, and congrats, Chang!
Chris Pasley | June 12, 2007 03:22 PM
Well, the only thing I have to pimp right now is the new game we have at AdultSwim.com. Nine Billion Miles from Earth. It's full of retro 50s B-Movie Live-Action sci-fi goodness.
PixelFish | June 12, 2007 04:24 PM
Oh, and I forgot..... based on the photo essay, What the World Eats a friend and I started a flickr group called A Week of Food. We're tracking a week's worth of food for us or our households, plus sharing recipes and whatnot. :) We've already started but anybody is free to join.
(What the World Eats shows fifteen different families from across the world, and a week's worth of food for them.)
Mark Terry | June 12, 2007 04:29 PM
Who can resist? Not this BSPer.
My second Derek Stillwater thriller, THE SERPENT'S KISS will be out July 1, although it's probably already available at bookstores, brick-and-mortar and/or online right now. For more info, check out my website at:
www.markterrybooks.com
Sean | June 12, 2007 04:44 PM
Thanks for the forum, John.
Movie fans! Your new party/trivia/happy-fun-time game has arrived, and you can play it online!
http://otb-games.com/cineplexity/demo/index.html
Play the Cineplexity demo to find out how much fun it can be alone in your cubicle, then check out the 500-card card deluxe limited edition at your favorite local game store, or otb-games.com, to find out how much fun it can be with your friends. (The 300-card regular edition should be at stores such as Barnes & Noble come the Christmas shopping season.)
Angelle | June 12, 2007 04:53 PM
Okay, trying again.
As all of my projects are in media res (except for my MySpace blog, wherein I link to my hometown military base's plans to build a "gay bomb") (No, I'm not kidding!) I will extend the pimping to one of my husband's projects.
The American Static is a Gem City art-rock octet with a new album, Amour Espace Temps. They're trying to win a contest to play Lollapolooza in Chi-town this summer, so go here to listen to their music, and here to vote for them.
C'mon, the single's called "Love, Space, Time"--how much more sci-fi does it get?
Dr. Phil | June 12, 2007 05:00 PM
I don't remember if in the last self-pimping thread I mentioned that I've sold "Machine" to Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine for their April 2008 issue #35. So I'll mention it here. ASIM is the FINEST Australian SF magazine I've ever subscribed to.
Yesterday I blogged about another sale -- the hard military SF short story "Don't Ask" to Blind Eye Books' lesbian SF/F anthology Tangle XX.
My friend and editor Nikki Kimberling at Blind Eye Books has extended the deadline for submissions to September 1, 2007. Click on the above link for links and details.
That's two short story sales and the year isn't even half over. I even have a Writers of the Future 1st Quarter 2007 Finalist "The Moons of Mercury" which could be included in the anthology next year, so that's still a possible.
Dr. Phil
Nathan E. Lilly | June 12, 2007 05:08 PM
I'm still pimping SpaceWesterns.com
We've hit the very minor milestone of 11 articles (fiction, reviews, interviews) in text and audio formats.
Coming up we have "Time of the Gr'nar" parts 1 & 2, several interviews that were taken at Balticon, and even more fiction beyond that...
Nathan E. Lilly | June 12, 2007 05:13 PM
(sorry for the double post...)
SpaceWesterns.com has also just launched an RSS news feed and podCast/Audio feed for your convenience!
Gillian | June 12, 2007 06:33 PM
The second edition of New Ceres is up at http://www.newceres.com and costs $5 Australian, which is about the price of a decent cup of coffee in the US (or maybe 2 cups - it depends). It includes a story by Jay Lake, so there is a kind of strange euphony in the world. The reason it's strange is because I was the one who started the New Ceres universe and Jay Lake writing a story to fit my odd vision is not something I ever expected. I'm not involved in the project now, BTW, but I love the stories and want everyone to subscribe so that the editor can buy more and run Issue 3.
Cat Vincent | June 12, 2007 06:50 PM
Pimping the first novel by my good friend David Devereux:
http://www.david-devereux.com/books/hunters_moon.html
"My name is unimportant, but you can call me Jack. I'm a musician by choice, a magician by profession, and a bastard by disposition. I'd been doing the magic thing for about five years when they found me. They said I had a talent, that I was smart enough and fit enough and enough of a shit that I could serve my country in a way most people never even get to hear about. And I did want to serve my country, didn't I? I didn't really want to contemplate what might happen if I said no."
Possibly the first occult/militaristic/espionage thriller written by a professional exorcist. Also, a cracking read.
Primate | June 12, 2007 07:02 PM
Today, Rich Burlew made me sad, even though it was that a character I detest died. That deserves a pimping.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html
The first comic of the series is here.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0001.html
Kelson | June 12, 2007 07:20 PM
oort-cloud.org is rockin'. The Whatever is in syndication there, yo.
Scott Wyngarden | June 12, 2007 07:32 PM
My dad is restarting his photography business, and we just put up a website:
http://www.wyngardenphotography.com
(Incidentally, any suggestions regarding site design improvements would be appreciated, directed to this email address)
Scott Wyngarden | June 12, 2007 07:34 PM
My dad is restarting his photography business, and we just put up a website:
http://www.wyngardenphotography.com
(Incidentally, any suggestions regarding site design improvements would be appreciated, directed to this email address)
R | June 12, 2007 07:54 PM
Umm I am in a band. Umm we play songs. Good songs. Link through my name. Enjoy. Plus our website is really good. Made by our Bass Player. So yes they are useful for something. Don't tell him I said that. I am is the drummer. I know all the jokes. Smile.
Fred Kiesche | June 12, 2007 10:33 PM
They ain't SF or F, but may I recommend the Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brian, 20 in number, plus the fragments of the 21st. I've been reading at least one a year since 1995 and now I'm at the point where I've read 6 in this year alone.
Amazing tales, fascinating characters, books written as if they were poured from a quill pen...
Brad Sinor | June 12, 2007 10:34 PM
My newest short story "Moneys Worth" is available in the new DAW anthology PLACES TO BE, PEOPLE TO KILL edited by Martin H Greenberg and Brittiany A Koren. I'll have another one out next month "Are We There Yet?" (written in collaberation with my wife Sue) in HOUSTON, WE GOT BUBBAS coming from Yard Dog Press.
John, thanks for letting me pimp both of them.
Dan | June 12, 2007 11:10 PM
Not much to pimp other than I'm currently hammering out a couple of SciFi short stories. I've never written science fiction before, but I am having a hell of a lot of fun.
As for anything else... well... I've got nothing.
George Lister | June 13, 2007 12:49 AM
Much as I'd love to pimp something of my own, first my agent has to sell it. Or you can look at the situation less charitably and suggest that I just write something good enough to be sold. But I digress...
Instead I choose to pimp what I consider to be the single greatest novel I've ever read:
Vampire$, by John Steakley
No that's not a typo, the dollar sign is part of the title. Since it's about vampire hunters who do the job for a living and charge premium prices it makes sense. And by "greatest" novel I mean the most balls out, ass-kicking, too much fun to believe bit of literature ever printed. Not enough space to go into detail but I've never read a book this cool before or since in my life and I'm a speedreader that goes through two-dozen books a month. And just in case you saw the disgrace that was John Carpenter's movie version? Trust me the book is so different (and by different I mean the only point of commonality is one character's name) and so worthy of new fans.
Tania | June 13, 2007 02:35 AM
I'm going to pimp Sheldon, one of the funnier comics I read. The artist is a SF fan, so there are parts that should appeal to people here.
Cassie - I'll go check it out, I like history and historical fiction.
Go Chang!!!
Anonymous | June 13, 2007 03:12 AM
Our band's second album is now available on iTunes: "Sister Dear" by Imaginary Friend.
Genre's hard to pin down, really, but it's sort of art-folk-indie-pop-ish.
Samples are right there,if you're an iTunes person, if you're not there's a few tracks on our MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/imaginaryfriendtheband
Also available on eMusic and by mail order!
Fred Kiesche | June 13, 2007 07:11 AM
And one more (I just can't stop)! "Balefires" by David Drake. Short stories, mostly older stuff that has been out of print. I hear he writes a pretty good military SF tale as well.
Sam Taylor | June 13, 2007 11:40 AM
Since you said we could... I'll pimp on my current manuscript and the awesomeness I feel as the pages fall to my onslaught. ;)
Here's hoping it brings me the same joy when I edit it for the second draft.
Bruce E. Durocher II | June 13, 2007 12:10 PM
I've been reading posts here awhile and have never posted but I've got to take the opportunity to pimp a friend's website--she's a sculptor, and it never hurts to get the word out wherever you can. She's no longer doing 22 foot dragons in fiberglass, but you'll still see some amazing eye-candy at Kim Graham Studios.
(And while I'm at it, if you like warrior penguins, flying frogs, or any of her other paintings my wife Margaret Organ-Kean has a site that may be feeling lonely and need a visit.
Jeri Merrell | June 13, 2007 01:52 PM
Hey - zombie king - my self pimp post never made it out of your moderation queue. Was it my breath? Is gmail on the deep-six list again? Not something I said about your cat? The fact that I posted while hacked into your wireless network while parked across the street from your compound?
No seriously - I'm NOT a stalker, way too busy and I can't even remember which midwestern state you live in - but I am self pimping my brand new lay-oriented techblog, linked from my name and here:
http://www.ungeekit.com
Conrad | June 13, 2007 03:10 PM
Fantasy: Acacia by D. Durham - excellent character driven epic fantasy debut by a historical novelist
SF: The New Space Opera anthology by Dozois and Strahan
Larry | June 13, 2007 09:54 PM
Pimping my friends works and mine.
Friends: Just finished Steph Swainston's The Modern World (called Dangerous Offspring in the states). My thoughts on it at my web site.
Buzzing through Arthur Rosenfeld's The Cutting Season, will have a note on it when done.
My book: Dusk Before the Dawn, at its self-named web site.
Thanks for the opp John.
Larry
Matt Smit | June 14, 2007 11:38 AM
Well, here's all of my published works, which, uh, consists of two pieces of slipstream fiction, each under 1,000 words in length. But I'd really appreciate any critical review or commentary, so!
Saqib | June 15, 2007 01:27 PM
Hi there,
This will be my first comment on whatever. I am a graduate student doing my M.Sc., they like to run you ragged just to see when you will crack!
In my spare time I write sci fi becuase I have a deep festering need to do so. I Recently finished a manuscript sent it off to yours truly...TOR, hope they like it. Check out my website (click my name, yes its Arabic!)
All Hail The Dictator of Writing!!!
dorid | June 15, 2007 02:46 PM
ok, I'll pimp my shop: Dorid Designs where you can find my coconut eating T-Rex comic t-shirt and other fun stuff.
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T.M. Wagner | June 12, 2007 11:35 AM
Enjoyed Mainspring as well, muchfully. Takes the whole steampunk thing about as far as it can go, and does it with a real sense of high adventure. I hope Jay Lake has a bright future.