At last! The first of my triptych reviews! Triptych theme: Protagonists = (potentially) romantic couple engaging in near-constant witty repartee. AKA “The Nick & Norah Triptych” Books in this triptych: 1. The Secret Adversary, by Agatha Christie (1922) 2. The Thin Man, by Dashiell Hammett (1934) 3. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, by Rachel Cohn & David … More Witty Repartee Triptych
Less than a week ago, I *finally* finished the first draft of my first complete novel. I’m still feeling a bit ecstatic and can’t quite believe it’s actually done–sort of like I felt those first few weeks of 2009 every time I heard the words “President Obama.” Clocking in at 466 pages (128,000 words), it’s … More First draft of novel complete! How does this revision thing work?
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (co-author of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist) is not a work of speculative fiction. Or so I thought until I turned the first page. Nothing in Boy Meets Boy defies the laws of physics. The novel doesn’t feature any technological advances beyond cell phones and instant messaging. It’s not … More Why It’s Fantasy When Boy Meets Boy
So as to maintain truth in advertising… This is Nur! Newest member of the Ben/Hassan household, and the most adorable puppy in the Local Group of galaxies. Later I may have to do a post about my conversion from curmudgeon to dog-lover.
At long last! By popular demand! Bread and Magic has returned to the intertubes! After several years of living the glamorous jet-setting lifestyle of a nonprofit professional working full-time-plus, I am happily returning to the more leisurely ways of a freelancer/writer. This is good news for you, dear reader, because it means lots of Ben … More And We’re Back–Now with Triptychs!
… though not in the same story. Today is Darwin Day, and in celebration Tangled Bank Press has released the print edition of The Tangled Bank, edited by Chris Lynch, featuring a veritable cornucopia of thought-provoking stories about Darwin and evolution, my “Entropy of Species,” plus great stories by Chris Green, Carlos Hernandez, and many others. … More Charles Darwin and Francophone Snowmen…
I’m writing in Brisbane, Australia, for my “Australia tour” in the lead-up to World Con next week. Been visiting the fabulous Peter Ball and the inimitable Chris Lynch, hatching ideas for gonzo stories about puppet occupations and were-raves and the like. Can’t wait to be reunited with more Clarion South-mates in just a few short days! Just … More World Con Countdown Plus Queer Spec Fic!
Ack! This is the obligatory oh-dear-I-haven’t-posted-for-more-than-a-month post. I’ve been traveling near non-stop for work for the past couple of months, including a few not-fun episodes of being stranded in airports past 4 am. This lifestyle has not been conducive to active participation in the blogosphere. However (seamless transition), it has been conducive to a fair amount … More In Which I am Surprised to Be Reading Several Series
A highly enjoyable flick. Not quite as tight as the first one was, but it definitely didn’t jump the shark. The two-villains thing works fine when one villain is paying the other, rather than a cheesy team-up. And the Black Widow wasn’t so much a love interest as an extra special effect that flirted … More Iron Man 2 Verdict
Siege #4, the last issue of Marvel’s latest crossover, came out yesterday. For those not keeping score, Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, has been the “top cop” in the Marvel Universe for a while now, basically running everything with the help of a secret cabal that included Dr. Doom, Loki, and some other baddies. … More I Already Miss the Bad Guys Being in Charge
Bread & Magic 