good night

Lovely man, lovely evening.

Buy his new book.



It's much shorter than The Years of Rice and Salt, and even probably the shorter Kim Stanley Robinson books. (That's just to make it less intimidating for you to start a trilogy -- or more -- of books.)

And I just read the first two pages and was completed pulled in. I would suggest though, if you can manage it, not reading the flap copy and just experiencing the book, becaused based on Stan's comments about why he paced it the way he did, you'll enjoy it more that way. (Isn't it a shame that books can't have surprises, big scope-changing surprises, anymore because the promo material gives them away? The last time I managed to avoid being spoiled was Kelley Eskridge's Solitaire, where the whole book just suddenly changes in the most amazing way, from one thing into another -- if I'd read the dust jacket, the surprise would have been ruined.) Anyway, he said he's fascinated by the short novel form right now, so we can probably look forward to more of that. And some very interesting things about how to incorporate different viewpoints into your book by assigning them to characters and on how he can't really write villains because he sympathizes with all the characters like he's their defense attorney.

Excellent reading, excellent evening. More bookstores should have restaurant/bars. I've been of this belief for a long time.

worm: "Chrome," Catherine Wheel

check out: See above.

namecheck: John "Toga" Kessel