The future is almost here, in today’s Scroll.
(1) SFWA will be selling fame at Sasquan.
If you've ever wanted to be Tuckerized, the SFWA auction at Sasquan is going to have some amazing opportunities.
— Cat Rambo (@Catrambo) August 7, 2015
(2) It’s not the accuracy that counts, it’s mainly Jim C. Hines having the idea to cast his thoughts in the form of 10 Hugo Predictions that’s genius.
- At least three puppy nominees won Hugo awards.
Congratulations to the winners, including those who were on the puppy slates. While most of the puppy nominees failed to take home a rocket, I imagine there will be at least three. I’m predicting one will go to my own editor, Sheila Gilbert, who’s made the ballot on her own in previous years, and is (in my biased opinion) utterly deserving of the award. I’m not as sure who the second will be, but I’m guessing Kary English in the short story category. One of the movies on the puppy ballots will also win. Finally, I think there’s a good shot of either Resnick or Brozek taking home a short-form editor Hugo.
- At least one category went to No Award.
No Award didn’t sweep the ballot like some people hoped/feared. It did take the Novella category, though. I think it will probably take Best Related Work as well.
(3) Jason Sanford seems to be expecting a much stronger showing by No Award than Hines, judging by this eulogy for the Puppies.
The problem for the puppies is they miscalculated about the outrage arising from their actions. As record numbers of people turned out to vote in the Hugos, the pups realized they’d overreached. It’s one thing to organize block voting on a preliminary ballot which few people actually take part in. But not being humiliated by a vote of “No Award” when thousands of people are taking part — that’s a much harder accomplishment.
(4) Alex Shvartsman tells how Unidentified Funny Objects got started on the SFWA Blog.
When I thought of the concept of a non-themed humor anthology, I was certain someone must have produced one before. But my research showed that no such thing existed. There were plenty of humor anthologies available: Chicks in Chainmail and Deals with the Devil to name a few, but those were all themed projects. No one seemed to be creating anthologies that would offer a wide variety of humorous voices and styles. It was the sort of book I would want to read, and I was confident many others would like it too. Thus, Unidentified Funny Objects and its parent micro-press, UFO Publishing, were born.
(5) Brad R. Torgersen has a horseshoe theory. No, I’m not cleaning up my language. His theory is completely horseshoe.
At one end of the horseshoe you have the “pulpy” stuff: visceral, action-packed, perhaps even hard-boiled? Emphasis on “doing” versus thinking.
At the other end you have the “literary” stuff: cerebral, theme-intensive, and sometimes abstract. Emphasis on “thinking” versus doing.
There are audiences waiting for you — the author — at both ends of the horseshoe. But there is nothing to say that you can’t combine both. Too much action and not enough contemplation, and your story becomes the tale of the idiot: full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. Too much contemplation and not enough action, and your story becomes the prototypical MFA piece: your main character does very little, thinks about a great deal, and again your story signifies nothing.
In order to hit the “sweet spot” you need to aim for the zone at the top of the horseshoe.
(6) A lawyer defending his client in a lawsuit is demanding trial by combat:
Richard Luthmann, a Staten Island attorney, is demanding that one of the plaintiffs (or their “champion”) in the suit against him face him in a literal battle to the death unless the case is dismissed. He claims that the practice has not been outlawed in the U.S. or New York state and is suggesting it to point out the absurdity of the plaintiffs’ allegations.
He’s gotten the idea from Game of Thrones – although Mack Reynolds wrote a series of stories in the 1960s for Analog about a mercenary who participated in settling corporate disputes by combat.
Here’s the lawyer’s argument why trial by combat can be permitted:
A Staten Island lawyer with a penchant for bowties and closely-cut beards is apparently channeling his inner “Games of Thrones” by asking a judge to sanction a trial by combat to resolve a civil suit in which he’s accused of helping a client commit fraud.
“The allegations made by plaintiffs, aided and abetted by their counsel, border upon the criminal,” Richard A. Luthmann wrote in a brief recently filed in state Supreme Court, St. George. “As such, the undersigned (Luthmann) respectfully requests that the court permit the undersigned to dispatch plaintiffs and their counsel to the Divine Providence of the Maker for Him to exact His divine judgment once the undersigned has released the souls of the plaintiffs and their counsel from their corporeal bodies, personally and or by way of a champion.”
…Over the course of 10 pages, Luthmann discusses the history of trial by combat from Middle-Age England to the founding of the Thirteen Colonies. (Fun fact: One British bishop in 1276 paid a champion an annual retainer fee, with additional stipends and expenses for each fight. Luthmann doesn’t say how much.)
More to the point, an attempt to abolish the practice in the Thirteen Colonies was blocked by Parliament in 1774, nor was it subsequently banned by the Constitution in the United States or by the state of New York, Luthmann contends.
(7) This day in history, courtesy of Phil Nichols and the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies’ Facebook page.
Fifty-eight years ago today, Oliver Hardy died, bringing an end to the decades-long comedy partnership of Laurel and Hardy.
Ray Bradbury adored Laurel and Hardy. When he went to Ireland in the 1950s to write the screenplay for Moby Dick with John Huston, he discovered that they were making a personal appearance in Dublin, so he went to see them on stage.
Later, he wrote three short stories inspired by the duo. “The Laurel and Hardy Love Affair” is probably the best of these, and can be found in Ray’s book The Toynbee Convector. “Another Fine Mess” is in his book Quicker Than The Eye. “The Laurel and Hardy Alpha Centauri Farewell Tour” is in One More For The Road.
Laurel and Hardy
(8) Major League Baseball is getting more eyeballs on its website by speculating “What would the Marvel Cinematic University’s baseball time look like?”
Ant-Man would play shortstop.
Hear us out. With a slick glove and an army of ants ensuring that any grounder would hop into his grasp for an easy out, Ant-Man would also offer surprising pop for the position. Plus, he would enrage pitchers with his ability to get on base thanks to his Pym Particles allowing his strike zone to shrink 12.7x its normal size, rendering him impossible to strike out.
From Ant-Man to Iron Man, these are Earth’s Mightiest Ballplayers.
(9) The Book Wars’ “Top Ten Tuesday” recommendations amount to around 50 titles, lots of YA and fantasy – and also, the reason I’m mentioning the post, one lists includes The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community by Diana Pavlac Glyer.
(10) Mr. Sci FI, Marc Scott Zicree, visits the space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center.
(11) It’s 2015, and Marty McFly’s hoverboard is here:
[Thanks to Morris Keesan, John King Tarpinian and Martin Morse Wooster for some of these stories. Title credit goes to File 770 contributing editor of the day Richard Brandt .]
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@EJ
So maybe there is a visceral horseshoe, were the reader’s emotional response is measured.
Hence the expression “He was born with a horseshoe up his ass.”
And for tomorrow’s roundup, perhaps. Lou Antonelli claims to have
written a letter to Spokane PD warning to them about David Gerrold:
https://www.facebook.com/adamtroycastro/posts/10207286981435379
taking macro photos of bugs in my garden
I’ve been enjoying your bug photos. I don’t generally comment, but I’m really liking some of the shots you’ve gotten. I particularly liked the bee with the pollen.
Cubist: fortunately, you’ve been singing filked Beatles tunes in the shower.
sez Brian Z on August 8, 2015 at 10:25 am:
It’s almost as if BZ managed to miss all the times people have said nice things about such Puppy-produced fiction as JCW’s Golden Age… oh, wait, It’s really just another lie in the subinfinite series thereof BZ continues to disgorge.
@paul. I’m sorry, but WTF? Does Antonelli actually have a sense of proportion?
Here’s one of my favourite shots from this morning’s steam train shoot:
https://flic.kr/p/wMZUxv
@Simon. Given his previous actions? Perhaps not. In the comments, a friend of his confirmed Lou told him he did it:
“Lou J Berger: I asked Lou Antonelli if he really wrote the Spokane PD and he replied:
“I said I thought Gerrold’s on-line comments were so intemperate they were an incitement to violence, which is what I believe. I wanted them to know in case there were any disruptions at the convention.”
When I asked if he truly referred to David as a “dangerous criminal,” he replied:
“No, I just suggested they (the PD) be aware of the controversy and possibility of people getting, uhh, maybe too enthused.””
@simon I like that shot. Nice capture!
@Paul The footbridge at the end of my street is an excellent vantage point. The cutting runs past the back of my home, so lots of wildlife uses it as a green corridor into the city… Hence some of the other photos, including the local parrots!
Paul: Wow.
Up until now, I’ve been saying that as nasty as the Puppies have been, they haven’t necessarily been the worst feuders ever in sf fandom. Nobody tried the slate trick before, but some of the Old Guard vs. New Wave feuding did include voting against particular works and authors, with an intense malice. And of course the very first Worldcon had the forcible exclusion of Futurians.
But this…congratulations, Brian. In my judgment, you really have been defending the worst defacers of sf fandom ever. Escalating to fraudulent, malicious reports to the police is, so nearly as I know, unprecedented. The Old Guard didn’t do that. Throw that on top of Williamson’s persistent threats of violence (which got him banned from Facebook, and let’s remember that’s a very, very high bar – they don’t ban rape advocacy or calls for the mass murder of LGBT people), and Antonelli’s own history of workplace harassment, and Wright’s “Christ-hating Crusaders for Sodom”, and Beale’s enthusiastic defense of mass murder, and attempts to get people fired, and attempts to drag Gamergaters in to help with the abuse and harassment, and now this…
The Puppies leaders suck. Anyone who claims to be interested in sf’s traditions and legacy needs to get the hell away from these people, because they are bad news, and bad news in ways antithetical to sf’s traditions and legacy.
sez Bruce Baugh on August 8, 2015 at 10:59 am:
Betting pool, people! How long before the Pups point to the last paragraph of what Baugh wrote here as ‘confirmation’ that yes, those dirty SJWs do, too call us “wrongfans”! ?
Bruce – Lou Antonelli’s not a Puppy leader, just one of their nominees. And a hyperdefensive lunatic who, like many Puppies, has high standards for those he doesn’t agree with. Apparently, to him, calling someone an asshole on Twitter is a firing offense and David Gerrold is inciting people to violence, but when Puppies actually threaten violence (including when he does it) that’s nothing to be concerned about.
@Paul
Goodness, that’s quite ridiculous from Antonelli. Gerold has left a very measured and dignified response in the comments though.
Weekend Activities……class prep (my university starts on August 24, *aieeeeeeeee*), working on Race and Tolkien Studies essay that may be a bit overdue (but I asked my editors for an extension–to be fair, I came on late when they sent out an appeal for somebody to write about it since their first choice could not), walking dogs as usual despite heat wave (heat index is schedule to be up to 110 F/ 43 C), and planning to see the new movie which has Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg in it (both of whom I adore) (I guess there’s this other guy named Tom something or other–I’ll be ignoring it; I also hear Rebecca Ferguson has a great role in it).
Finished N. K. Jemisin’s Fifth Season which is incredible: has major world-shaking action (LITERALLY–this book is for geology fans), brilliant and mind-twisting narrative style, fantastic style (marking different narrative threads), and did I mention ACTION! (And pirates!). Hit many of my sweet spots! Probably not Torgersen’s!
Now reading The Ragusa Covern which won a mythopoeic novel award — fascinatingly different piece set in contemporary world that without the fact that the magic practiced by the pagan characters apparently works (just started) would be “realism,” but it’s not (and yet it doesn’t quite ‘feel’ like a lot or urban fantasy does, mostly because the “magic” if it is magic is so understated). It’s interesting though luckily for my work plan, it doesn’t grab me and refuse to let go as Jemisin’s work does….
Brian Z: I’ve done worse than that. I gave Kratman’s story a favorable review. You could look it up.
@Kurt, as from my namesake, I think that Antonelli may benefit from a prominent tattoo/ signage stating:
POOR IMPULSE CONTROL
In much pleasanter news: Sense8 Renewed
Y’know, I can beat the other news websites with stories, but I can’t seem to beat my own comments section. I’m working on a post about Antonelli right now. No hurry now — I’ll go get some doughnuts and come back and finish it.
@simon. I have now discovered your flickr feed. Woe to my productivity! 🙂
Nicola Griffith’s updated list of good lesbian science fiction novels!
@Simon Bisson:
Do you in fact spot trains?
@Jim Only the interesting ones that go past my house!
Blame Scalzi, Mike, I got it off his Twitter.
I am actually very glad of all this coming out. I had interacted with Antonelli once or twice in passing on forums, and the fact that he is prone to these dangerous overreactions and sees absolutely nothing odd about his behavior is more than enough reason to give him a wide berth in the future.
I’m sure Spokane PD is taking this very seriously, probably assembling a special task force as we speak.
@Mike
Jim Hines has added a transcript of the section in question
https://m.facebook.com/jimhines/posts/10153555284599283
“I really didn’t know much about [Gerrold] before the Hugo nominations came out. Following his discourse and his level of discourse as a result, I personally wrote a letter addressed to the police chief in Spokane and said I thought the man was insane and a public danger and needs to be watched when the convention’s going on, and I mean it. I attached my business card. I said this guy’s inciting to violence. Somebody—a weak-minded might attack somebody because of his relentless strength of abuse. I think, honestly, I think he belongs in a secure psychiatric facility.”
….that is way worse than I expected. Holy god.
“relentless strength of abuse”?
David friggin’ Gerrold is the source of a “relentless strength of abuse”??
What color is the sky on Lou Antonelli’s planet, and how soon will he return to it?
Lou Antonelli is such a fucknozzle.
Regarding where to start with Neal Stephenson, I disagree with an earlier comment and advise against Zodiac. It’s a perfectly competent near future at the time thriller but only hints of what was soon to come. I’d recommend jumping into Snow Crash with both feet for the full experience of Stephenson dialed up to 11, which you’re very likely to decide you either love or hate within only a few chapters. If you bounce off it, then maybe think about The Diamond Age (can’t hurt too much to read another, IIRC, Hugo winner) or some other entry point.
This weekend: yoga class, library visit, shopping for fruits and vegetables, some to be cooked for dinner tonight and tomorrow, and reading The Grace of Kings, which I’m about 1/3 through. Will probably go for a trail run later in the afternoon and maybe again tomorrow. Some household tidying, beyond the obligatory taking out the garbage, may even take place.
Sorry, Laura, distracted by dangerous idiots. Thank you! I’m glad you like the photos. I’ve been spamming Twitter with bug macro shots and I’m glad some people don’t mind!
@RedWombat
Macro bug shot with added bokeh! https://flic.kr/p/w98NJo
Today, packing and cleaning. Tomorrow leaving for a family reunion in Wisconsin and then Sasquan. Saving the new Donna Andrews mystery for comfort reading on the plane.
@Cubist : Good luck! I sing in Stanford’s Catholic choir, and we’ve occasionally had members who were also in Schola Cantorum.
What I’m doing – just started physical therapy for a broken ankle, so I’ve got all sorts of fun stretches & exercises to do. For somewhat painful definitions of fun.
OK, I loved Snow Crash, and Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon were definite page-turners, but I’ve got the sample of Seveneves and am not yet convinced to buy it – entire pages devoted to infodump-bios of people I already know aren’t going to live, what with the whole 2-year deadline he’s talking about on the very same page. If I had the whole book I feel like I’d be skipping ahead to when that 2 years ends and the story actually starts. Is the setup worth it?
@jamoche Yes. Everyone in the book has a role to play.
I’m (primarily) a lurker, but IIRC, didn’t Antonelli come to File770 a while back and get floored when no one understood how trying to get someone fired for calling him an asshole on twitter was perfectly and completely reasonable? I can’t say I’m surprised by this latest act of perfect and complete reasonability.
Does anyone else think the correct take for the Spokane PD would be to look at the enclosed business card and think “… this guy’s inciting to violence. Somebody—a weak-minded might attack somebody because of his relentless strength of abuse. I think, honestly, I think he belongs in a secure psychiatric facility.”
Fugue: Yes, that was Antonelli, putting his…well, putting a foot forward. We may hope it wasn’t his best.
@redwombat. I don’t think I know your twitter handle. (I wanna see the bug shots!)
@Paul: Find all your bug, bird and barsupial (shut up! alliteration has its imperatives!) news here: https://twitter.com/UrsulaV
Wait. I thought I was following you, Ursula….Fixed that now. Thanks ,Jim!
Fugue: Hey, we can do even better than that. Not only did Antonelli have that discussion on File 770, the guy he tried to get fired has become a regular commenter here too.
Weekend plans: Took the kids to a chess tournament, then working a 10 – hour shift later tonight.
Shorter Antonelli: Look at MEEEEEEEEEEE!
Seriously, he reacts like my son did at age 3.
It is a good place to start but don’t expect the other novels to be anything like it – there is a definite style to Stephenson but all his books seem very different. Even Seveneves isn’t very like Seveneves for about a third of it 🙂
An-an-them! An-an-them! An-an-them!
@ultragotha I lucked out and got the proof of Anathem with the CD of the math chants…
Weekend plan: I am cooking a mighty lamb curry. Sunday it will be eaten.
It is a giant info-dump book on lots of topics. It is heavy going in places but I really enjoyed it. Info dump on characters? Yes but really only on a few very important ones. Potentially you could skip the first two-thirds of the book and read the last third as a very different book with a highly complex back story. I wrote a review here but it has spoilers in it.
I think it is the sort of book that will divide people into two groups (let’s call them red and blue) who either think it is one of his worst or one of his best. I’m heading towards ‘one of his best’ because it is still stuck in my head.
@camerstros It is one of my 2016 nomination bar setting books.
I’ve spent a good part of Saturday (and last weekend) continuing to read Anathem, my first Neal Stephenson! I’m enjoying it. More of the same expected, along with supporting my cold-ridden partner.
Okay, I shouldn’t be listening to puppies on Superversive, but I am amused that John C Wright just pronounced his name “ToreNsen.”
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale,
A tale of an ego trip
That started from this pompous boor
About a rocket ship.
His mate was a midlist selling man,
The yipper sad and mad.
Five travelers set slates that day
For a three year jihad, a three year jihad.
The readers started getting bored,
The rocket ship was rust,
If not for the SJW
The Hugos would be bust, the Hugos would be bust.
The ship broke free of the vote of the uncounted minions vile
With Torgersen
Correia too,
The editor and his Wright,
The Marmot Tank
Williamson and Sarah Hoyt,
all in Torgersen’s aisle.
Regarding Neal Stephenson:
Another voice piping in with my reactions!
I read Zodiac, but I don’t remember much about it.
I *love* and re-read The Diamond Age about every two years or so.
Snow Crash I read and enjoyed, it has been a while since I re-read it, though. I need to be in the right mood.
Cryptonomicon is another I have re-read, but need to be in the right mood for.
I stopped reading Anathem part way through–it is now in the storage unit. Not sure why it didn’t grab me
I’m on page 731 of Seveneves. I expect to finish it this weekend, since I can stay up reading tonight. It gripped me strongly, and it is one of those books that is lurking in the back of my brain, and will lurk there for a while.
Hope this is helpful!