2007 Hugo and John W. Campbell Award Finalists

THE Sci Fi and Fantasy awards (Hugo and Campbell) have announced their finalists for 2007. Have a look.

Novel
Michael F. Flynn, Eifelheim (Tor)
Naomi Novik, His Majesty’s Dragon (Del Rey)
Charles Stross, Glasshouse (Ace)
Vernor Vinge, Rainbows End (Tor)
Peter Watts, Blindsight (Tor)

Novella
“The Walls of the Universe” by Paul Melko (Asimov’s, April/May 2006)
“A Billion Eyes” by Robert Reed (Asimov’s, October/November 2006)
“Inclination” by William Shunn (Asimov’s, April/May 2006)
“Lord Weary’s Empire” by Michael Swanwick (Asimov’s, December 2006)
Julian: A Christmas Story by Robert Charles Wilson (PS Publishing)

Novelette
“Yellow Card Man” by Paolo Bacigalupi (Asimov’s, December 2006)
“Dawn, and Sunset, and the Colours of the Earth” by Michael F. Flynn (Asimov’s, December 2006)
“The Djinn’s Wife” by Ian McDonald (Asimov’s, July 2006)
“All the Things You Are” by Mike Resnick (Jim Baen’s Universe, October 2006)
“Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter” by Geoff Ryman (F&SF, October/November 2006)

Short Story
“How to Talk to Girls at Parties” by Neil Gaiman (Fragile Things)
“Kin” by Bruce McAllister (Asimov’s, February 2006)
“Impossible Dreams” by Timothy Pratt (Asimov’s, July 2006)
“Eight Episodes” by Robert Reed (Asimov’s, June 2006)
“The House Beyond Your Sky” by Benjamin Rosenbaum (Strange Horizons, September 2006)

Related Book
Samuel R. Delany, About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews (Wesleyan University Press)
Joseph T. Major, Heinlein’s Children: The Juveniles (Advent)
Julie Phillips, James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice Sheldon (St. Martin’s Press)
John Picacio, Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio (MonkeyBrain Books)
Mike Resnick & Joe Siclari, eds., Worldcon Guest of Honor Speeches (ISFiC Press)

Armageddon Tick Tock

Iraq has dissolved into a vicious civil war. In Afghanistan, the Taliban is basically back in power. The American voters sent a clear message in November, 2006, that they want us to get out of Iraq. The House of Representatives passed its latest war funding bill that will bring the troops home by fall, 2008. The Senate passed a similar bill. Undaunted, Bush is pushing the world toward Armageddon by posturing with Iran and has created a potentiall deadly cauldron including:

A huge naval fleet including two carrier groups, over 100 ships, and four nuclear subs are conducting "exercises" just outside of Iran's waters.

Fifteen British sailors into custody.

Not to mention that Iran has Sizzler missiles, designed to take out a carrier. This is a classic recipe for a Tonkin-esque, false flag operation.

Bush has one direction; straight forward. Straight into the abyss. No diplomacy, just empty,tough guy talk and posturing.

The most frightening element to this disaster in the making is that Bush has been given the green light to use nukes in this theater.

This is the PNAC wet dream. Bush is sticking to the script laid out in Rebuilding America's Defenses. This is madness. This fascist regime must be brought to heal by Congress. We must restore the rule of law. We must restore the dignity and sanctity of the Constitution. Bush must be impeached for war crimes.

Books and Podcasts

Books I've recently read:
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Heavy Weather by Bruce Sterling
Pattern Recognition and All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling

Books I'm currently reading:
Realware by Rudy Rucker
The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter F. Hamilton
This New Ocean by William E. Burrows

Podcasts I'm currently listening to:
Starship Sofa
Security Now
This Week In Tech
Boing Boing
Cranky Geeks
dl.tv MP3 version
Escape Pod
Floss Weekly
NeoFiles with RU Sirius
OpenSource Conversations
The Beautiful Game

My 2003 Toyota Corolla got 50.1 mpg on the last tank

Using techniques espoused by Wayne Gerdes I sucked 50.1 mpg from my straight-off-the-assembly-line 2003 Corolla. Wayne is the KING of high mpg. He gets 59mpg from a six cylinder Accord and 100mpg from a Prius.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

Saturday, March 23, 2007 we went to see the Banff Mountain Film Festival at Appalachian State. Huge crowd. We went with John & Jade, Dave & Saskia, Nate & Milea, and Kim. Great time. Boone was slam packed with people. The weather was absolutely incredible with highs in the low 80's. All the resturants were packed. The vibe was cool and the films were awesome! This has become a fun tradition for us as this was our 3rd year attending!

BMFF

Played Celo Soccer on Sunday. Luke got a breakaway and scored a goal on Gailan! He was totally psyched (he wore his Beckham Real Madrid jersey which is now his 'lucky' jersey!!)

Favorite New Sci Fi Podcast

Got to check out Starship Sofa Kiran and Tony serve up the best sci-fi reviews, insights, antecdotes and enough accent to choke a horse. Loads of in depth knowledge, tie-ins, and laughs. Recent shows on: Neil Gaiman, Gene Wolfe, Samuel R. Delaney, and many, many more.