Ian Tregillis

Could This Be The End For Mr. Calliope?

Fri, 30 May 2008 09:24:00 +0000

I have noted in the past that I occasionally see odd things on my way to, from, and around work. This morning's walk would have been unremarkable (but glorious-- perfect weather and that wide, bright NewMexico sky) if not for the unicycle.

Killer Robots and Their Telepathic Monkey Overlords

Wed, 28 May 2008 02:50:00 +0000

An article in today's New York Times sports the headline, Monkeys Control a Robot Arm With Their Thoughts.

It's Not Supervillainy, But It's Getting There

Fri, 23 May 2008 03:28:00 +0000

Do you yearn to live in your own supervillain lair? And are you tired of waiting for somebody to build a practical seaborne arcology? Then seasteading might be for you!

Contact

Thu, 22 May 2008 03:53:00 +0000

Recent experiments have indicated a problem with the contact form on that page. I'm not receiving missives entered via the contact form, or at least, not receiving some of them. I don't know how long that's been the case... Sorry. So, if you have recently tried to contact me via the form, and haven't received a response, please post a comment below or send an email to ian AT iantregillis (dot) com.

Babylonian Steampunkery

Tue, 20 May 2008 09:11:00 +0000

So, I'm browsing through Google Analytics yesterday in my semi-regular attempt to divine the meaning of the universe by applying kabbalistic numerology to the mountain of statistics compiled by Google's lava-powered mainframe at the center of the earth.

A Sexagesimal Fairy Tale

Mon, 19 May 2008 01:08:00 +0000

I'm back home now, after returning (somewhat reluctantly) from the Taos ski valley and a fantabulous week at the Rio Hondo workshop.

Live from Rio Hondo, 2: No Bear Attacks (Yet)

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:54:00 +0000

Went hiking again today. Our intrepid leader, Walter, took us to another trail. This one didn't lead to aspen meadows. It did, however, wind back and forth across a rushing mountain stream every few hundred feet.

Live from Rio Hondo

Tue, 13 May 2008 02:16:00 +0000

At this moment, as I type this, I am sitting in the large common room at Rio Hondo deep in the Taos ski valley. Outside, snow is falling in a heavy, thundering squall.

They Say They Were Laughing With Me

Sat, 10 May 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Terrific day yesterday. I had dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant with some of my favorite people, and then I did a reading at the monthly meeting of the Albuquerque Science Fiction Society. And-- I was not booed out of the room.

Occupational Hazards of the Writing Life

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:01:00 +0000

I walk to work almost every day. But I frequently use that time to daydream about my various writing projects, so maybe I don't notice my surroundings quite as closely as I should.

Done, With 4 Days to Spare

Thu, 01 May 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Today is my deadline for submitting the manuscript of Bitter Seeds to my editor at Tor. I'm very happy to say that I beat the deadline by four days. Hooray!

Conveyances for a More Civilized Time

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:50:00 +0000

For me, the most refined and civilized mode of travel shall always be the robotic rickshaw.

I'd Be Delighted With Three

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:28:00 +0000

Today -- April 29, 2008 -- is the 100th birthday of the Dean of Science Fiction, Jack Williamson. His writing career touched nine decades.

The Cambist and Lord Iron: A Fairy Tale of Economics

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:23:00 +0000

The best reading I've ever attended was at Bubonicon, two years ago, when Daniel Abraham read his novelette, The Cambist and Lord Iron: A Fairy Tale of Economics.

It's now up for a Hugo award, and deservedly so. Stop what you're doing right now and go read Daniel's story. Seriously. It's that good.

Because Some Things Never Go Out of Style

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Today, while waiting at a traffic light on my way to lunch, I noticed that the guy standing next to me was holding a large hourglass. He wore no wristwatch.

An Alternative History of 1982-Today

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:06:00 +0000

Recently, Richard sent me a photograph of a gizmo that resembles the orrery on this site.

Reasons Why Squirrels Are Smarter Than I Am (Part 2 of N)

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:38:00 +0000

Last week I mentioned my encounter with what appeared to be a literate, angry, union-busting squirrel. But there was a perfectly logical explanation.

Adobe Site of the Day!

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:34:00 +0000

This site has been selected as an official Adobe Site of the Day for April 18, 2008. Hooray! Hello! and thank you! to the folks who have stopped by to check us out. Please feel free to leave a note and say hi down in the comments.

Reasons Why Squirrels are Smarter Than I Am (Part 1 of N)

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:52:00 +0000

I have learned, over the course of many years, that I am less intelligent than the average squirrel on a college campus. Like during that morning many years ago when I was convinced -- convinced -- for a few short minutes that squirrels could read. And that they were politically conservative.

Hello, Deviantartists!

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:26:00 +0000

We're seeing a bump in traffic today, thanks to people who have come from deviantART to check out the wonderful wallpaper that my ultra-talented web designer/visual artist/programmer/jack-of-all-trades friend Richard created as part of this website. Hello, and welcome! Please look around and enjoy your stay. Feel free to leave comments if you'd like to introduce yourselves.

Crimes Against Grammar (Real, Perceived, and Premeditated)

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:58:00 +0000

This comic seemsrelevant, in light of a recent post (rant?) regarding the differences between perfunctory and innovative storytelling. Although in this case it was the post itself, rather than the comments, that demonstrated a wildly-swerving train of thought flirting ever so briefly with coherence.

United States of America v. Approximately 64,695 Pounds of Shark Fins

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:27:00 +0000

That's the official name, listed in court documents, of a recent case decided by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Match it For Pratchett, redux: Watch This Space!

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:07:00 +0000

Something very cool is in the offing for the Match it for Pratchett drive. (Please see my previous blog post for the who, what, when, where, why, and how of this terrific campaign.)

Match It For Pratchett

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:38:00 +0000

No single author has given me more sheer reading pleasure over the past 20 years than Terry Pratchett. Which is why the announcement of his illness made me -- like millions of other fans -- very, very sad. It's also why I'm grateful for the chance to do something about it, to make a gesture to say, "Thank you". Please take a look at Match it for Pratchett and consider making a donation.

Orbital Attack Electromagnets, part II

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:32:00 +0000

For those of us who have been watching the skies and downloading free ebooks (not necessarily in that order), a recent announcement on Making Light sheds some, well, light.

Why Stuff is Boring (A Case Study)

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:52:00 +0000

Because I've seen it before. (Beware: what follows is a long, rambling post, full of inarticulate opinions and ruminations on television.)

Because the Best Shows Explain the Premise in the Theme Song

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:56:00 +0000

Am I the only person on Earth who found Clone High USA utterly brilliant?

Cosmology 101: The Sun is Held in Place by Six Eiffel Towers

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:47:00 +0000

On Friday, I went down to Albuquerque to participate in a plot-breaking session for an incredible new novel that Sage Walker is planning to write. I enjoy plot sessions; the good ones are magical.

Look Out in the Black-Out!

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:06:00 +0000

For a hopeless perfectionist like me, writing a World War II novel can involve a frankly crushing amount of research. Which is why I couldn't have been more delighted when I received a package from my friend Mark Falzini yesterday.

Opulent, Glamorous, & Smelly

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 09:23:00 +0000

The Orrery must be twisting time more violently than I'd anticipated. How is it possible 11 days have passed?! Anyway, lots of news, updates, and meaningless anecdotes to relate.

Free eBooks with a side of Orbital Attack Electromagnets

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:35:00 +0000

My publisher, Tor, is embarking on a new ebook venture. A new free ebook venture. And it appears to be just the beginning of something bigger.

Axis Mundi

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:22:00 +0000

The Orrery has been upgraded...

The Floating Arcology: Breeding Ground for Supervillainy

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:46:00 +0000

Wired has a piece in its gadgets blog about great Science Fiction tech we should have right now but don't. Number 7 on their list? A seaborne arcology...

The Inside Straight Signing: Standing Room Only

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0000

The Inside Straight signing at Page One Books was a smashing success.

On signings, and the importance of chocolate

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:10:00 +0000

I'm going to my first book-launch party this afternoon.Rather, the first book-launch party that actually involves me. Inside Straight has been on shelves for a little under 2 weeks, but today we do the big mass signing at Page One Books down in Albuquerque. And I have no idea what to expect.