A Bare Bodkin

July 2, 2010

I had a recent email from the Romanian translators of The Praxis. It seems that “Sula” is a very rude word in Romanian— the literal meaning is “bodkin,” but the slang meaning is something else again. So my heroine’s Romanian name is now Caroline Sylla. This is fine with me. When I offend foreigners, I […]

Read the full article →

The Folklore of Pasta

July 1, 2010

It occurs to me that pasta seems to be the foodstuff with more folklore and superstition attached to it than any other. My mom, for example, always poured oil into the pasta water in order to keep the pasta from sticking together. It also kept the water from boiling over. When the pasta was cooked, […]

Read the full article →

Mystery Plane (3)

June 30, 2010

Okay, the last Mystery Plane was identified after a mere 32 minutes. Let’s see if this one does better.What is this aircraft? And why is it not what you might think?

Read the full article →

Mystery Plane (2)

June 28, 2010

The last time I was at an air museum, I posted a picture of a mysterious aircraft and challenged you all to solve the puzzle. Diana Rowland came up with the solution in, like, twelve seconds, but now that I’ve been to the Museum of Flight I hope to do better. What is this aircraft? […]

Read the full article →

Back from Seattle

June 28, 2010

So I’m back from Seattle, having had a wonderful time with any number of old friends. And having finally met Ursula K. Leguin, and actually been on a panel with her, as opposed to just looking at her from across the room as she’s mobbed by admirers, which I gather happens to her more or […]

Read the full article →

Away to Seattle

June 23, 2010

I’m leaving for Seattle to help with the induction of Roger Zelazny into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, which will take place on Saturday. I’ll be doing a panel on science fiction on Saturday morning at 10:00, followed by a signing at 11:00. Both will be at the Courtyard Seattle Lake Union hotel, and […]

Read the full article →

News from the Mideast

June 23, 2010

A note on Turkish soft power: I posted a couple years ago about the Turkish telenovela Noor, which turned out to be a huge hit once it was translated into Arabic and marketed in the Arab world. Arab women were stunned and fascinated by the male hero, who openly loved and supported his wife, allegedly […]

Read the full article →

Post Toolbox

June 23, 2010

I am still a bit rocky from the two weeks of Taos Toolbox, and remain very much sleep-deprived. I came down from the comfortable temperatures of the mountains to the 100-degree heat of the Middle Rio Grande Valley, so all I’ve wanted to do is cower under the air conditioner and sleep.

Read the full article →

Ursoid Invasion

June 15, 2010

So here I am at the lodge in Taos Ski Valley and it’s nine-fifteen at night and I’ve just been told that there is a bear in the building. Stay tuned.

Read the full article →

Ra Ra

June 11, 2010

Finnish orc-rock band Turisas, display their dexterity on “Rasputin.” Dig that frenzied Finnish dancing! And dude— heavy metal accordion. Rah. Rah.

Read the full article →

Contact Us | Terms of User | Trademarks | Privacy Statement

Copyright © 2010 WJW. All Rights Reserved.