A Quick Note on My Note on "The Expanse"

By now, Syfy has managed to garner a lot of very positive buzz from reviewers for The Expanse. I don't begrudge them that. I think making the first episode as widely available as they have - not just on their website, but for free on-demand viewing across cable providers, etc. - is both clever marketing and a nice gesture to potential fans.

But to be clear: The pro reviewers have seen (I believe) the entire first season of the show. I'm not one of them. My opinions so far have been based entirely on the only episode I've been able to see - Episode One. As the show progresses the opinion may change, mutate, become more refined, or stay completely the same.

We shall see.

The Expanse on Syfy - I Came, I Saw, I Reviewed

A sigh of relief. The Expanse is worth watching, so far.

This was not a sure thing. Even though it's based on the bestselling (and damned good) space opera by James S.A. Corey, The Expanse could have easily screwed the pooch. Syfy has a history of bad, bad, terminally dumb shows, and they could have found a way to make this one of them.

Instead the visuals, the sound design, the pacing, and the performances are all impressive at best, and convincing at worst. The title sequence is damned good. A lot of the shots (such as those in space) are obviously CGI, but designed well enough so that it doesn't matter.

For those unfamiliar with the books, The Expanse takes place in a future where an efficient fusion drive has put the solar system - but not the stars - in humanity's reach. We've colonized Mars, Luna, the Asteroid Belt, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Earth is home to the majority of humanity; Mars has the greatest military power; and both siphon resources from the Outer Planets. Tensions are building. And then, something happens...

You Snooze, You Lose

Tomorrow, The Wrong Sword goes back to its new normal price of $1,000,000. So get it while you can at $1.99.

Why Time Travel Appeals Most to Under-30 Readers

One of the big classification schemes for books is called BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications Subject Headings). Amazon uses it. It gives us headings like Nonfiction>Law>Agricultural, and Fiction>Christian>Historical.

Did you know that"YA>time-travel" is an actual subject heading on BISAC? BISAC code YAF063000. No kidding. An entire young-adult subgenre devoted to time travel. It's that popular.

So what's the deal, aside from Doctor Who? Why is this as appealing as vampires and zombies?

Because if you're over 30, you've already experienced time travel.
Think about it, my fellow gerontonauts. And welcome to the future.

I Know It's Tedious, But-

- ONLY 24 HOURS LEFT FOR THE WRONG SWORD ON SALE! 

HURRY! HURRY! HURRY!

BUY NOW! BUY NOW! BUY NOW!

This Would Have Surprised Henry Not At All

I'm enjoying this article in the Guardian discussing how the monks of Glastonbury faked - gasp! yes, I said faked! - not just Arthur and Guinevere's resting place, but the Holy Grail and Joseph of Arimathea too. I wouldn't go so far as to draw all the lessons he draws from these episodes, but then, I'm not a writer of op-eds.

If you've read The Wrong Sword (and if you haven't, why not? It's only 99¢ today) you know that my protagonist, Henry the Rat, dabbles in selling the occasional forged relic. What I like about Simon Jenkins' piece is that it illustrates one of the biggest (and not necessarily warranted) assumptions in TWS - that certain aspects of human nature remain unchanged, even after a thousand years.

Today Is the Day!

Today is the start of the 99¢ sale for The Wrong Sword ebook.
Today.
Not tomorrow.
Not Arbor Day.
Not Rosh Hashanah.

Today.

But what if you have already bought the book?
What if you already follow the blog?
What if you have already pre-ordered the sequel and the hit album, Excalibur Drops It Like It's Hot?
Then-
Tell your friends.
Tell your family.
Tell the little girl who lives down the lane.

This cannot be kept a secret!
The world must know!

What Happens When You Send Your Book to the White House?

They send you a nice "thank you" card. It looks like this:

The President and First Lady Thank You

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday! The Big Deal Is Coming! November 24!

Yep, the 99¢ deal on the Kindle edition of The Wrong Sword is coming.
This Tuesday going through next Monday - November 24 through November 30 - the ebook edition of TWS will be available for only 99¢.

Spread the alarm!
Warn the villagers!
The ebook is coming! The ebook is coming!

Free Books, Away!

Yep, the TWS free copies I handed out on Goodreads are now winging their way to their lucky recipients. Oh, you few, you happy few, you band of brothers (and sisters)! What joys await you!