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Praise for the
Milkweed Triptych
"A major talent... I can't wait to see more."
—George R. R. Martin
"Mad English warlocks battling twisted Nazi psychics? Yes please, thank you. Tregillis's debut has a white-knuckle plot, beautiful descriptions, and complex characters-- an unstoppable Vickers of a novel."
—Cory Doctorow on Bitter Seeds
"Ian Tregillis triumphantly concludes his astonishing, brilliant, pulse-pounding debut trilogy, The Milkweed Triptych."
—Cory Doctorow on Necessary Evil
"Tregillis' conclusion of the Milkweed Triptych is the pièce de résistance of the series. Necessary Evil is a perfect marriage of science fiction, fantasy and alternate history."
—RT Book Reviews (4.5 stars, Top Pick) on Necessary Evil
"Darkly fascinating…A thoroughly fascinating conclusion to an imaginative tour de force."
—Kirkus on Necessary Evil
"A cross between the devious, character-driven spy fiction of early John le Carré and the mad science fantasy of the X-Men... Despite the jaw-dropping backdrop and oblique plotting, the narrative is driven by character and personal circumstance...
Grim indeed, yet eloquent and utterly compelling."
Grim indeed, yet eloquent and utterly compelling."
—Kirkus on The Coldest War
"The characters come alive via [Tregillis's] imaginative dialogue and his storyline will keep readers spellbound and on the edge of their seats with an intense sci-fi/alternate history thriller plot."
—RT Book Reviews (4.5 stars, Top Pick) on The Coldest War
"Well-drawn characters and a feel for time and place make this an excellent journey into an alternate Britain."
—Library Journal on Bitter Seeds
"Engrossing... Tregillis ably mixes cold war paranoia with his mythology."
—Publishers Weekly on The Coldest War
Close
Petite Lap Giraffe is the Epic Win
Recent Blog Entries:
The End: NECESSARY EVIL Is Out! - 5/1/2013, 10:29 AM Because I Haven't Posted About tDCS In A While - 4/8/2013, 04:07 PM Announcing the NECESSARY EVIL Signing Tour - 4/5/2013, 05:15 PM Nuclear Deterrence in a Blood Magic World - 2/22/2013, 09:41 AM Guest Post #2 at Charlie Stross's Blog - 2/17/2013, 04:41 PM Guest Post at Charlie Stross's Blog - 2/15/2013, 09:17 PM A Conversation with Charlie Stross - 2/8/2013, 11:06 AM NOW OUT in the UK: THE COLDEST WAR - 2/7/2013, 12:22 AM Clarion Is Accepting Applications for the Class of 2013 - 1/27/2013, 06:38 PM Holy Smokes! Cover Art for Something More Than Night - 1/23/2013, 09:44 PM
Show all blog entries
The End: NECESSARY EVIL Is Out! - 5/1/2013, 10:29 AM Because I Haven't Posted About tDCS In A While - 4/8/2013, 04:07 PM Announcing the NECESSARY EVIL Signing Tour - 4/5/2013, 05:15 PM Nuclear Deterrence in a Blood Magic World - 2/22/2013, 09:41 AM Guest Post #2 at Charlie Stross's Blog - 2/17/2013, 04:41 PM Guest Post at Charlie Stross's Blog - 2/15/2013, 09:17 PM A Conversation with Charlie Stross - 2/8/2013, 11:06 AM NOW OUT in the UK: THE COLDEST WAR - 2/7/2013, 12:22 AM Clarion Is Accepting Applications for the Class of 2013 - 1/27/2013, 06:38 PM Holy Smokes! Cover Art for Something More Than Night - 1/23/2013, 09:44 PM
Show all blog entries
Sunday, April 3 2011, 12:12 PM
This has probably been floating around for a while, but I've just discovered that my favorite television commercial now has a sequel.
Why do I get such a kick out of these commercials? Sense of humor, they has it. I like the best. I push to limit, every time.
In related news, I'm now #572,156 on the waiting list for my own petite lap giraffe.
I'm going to have to stock up on bubble bath and bonsai trees, though. Otherwise my PLG will make tears.
I could watch that PetiteLapGiraffeCam all day. Though I do wonder how that fence could possibly enclose a giraffe of either size. They must be very well trained and docile animals.
Close PermalinkComments (13)
untitled -
Steve Halter, Sunday, April 3 2011, 12:45 PM
Those are great commercials! I am now #572,845. I mean, who wouldn't want a PLG.
Those are great commercials! I am now #572,845. I mean, who wouldn't want a PLG.
Re: untitled -
Ian, Sunday, April 3 2011, 12:51 PM
They are great commercials. They are epic win. Much inspirational.
They are great commercials. They are epic win. Much inspirational.
I am epic win as well. -
Adrienne, Sunday, April 3 2011, 12:54 PM
I met Margaret Atwood Thursday. My epic win is more win than yours.
I met Margaret Atwood Thursday. My epic win is more win than yours.
Re: I am epic win as well -
Ian, Sunday, April 3 2011, 01:01 PM
You are epic win for not dying of the pneumonia. (No pain, no pain.) Which I sorta thought you had.
Did you tell Atwood that she has, in fact, written science fiction and to stop being a snob about it? Because that would be the MOST epic win ever.
You are epic win for not dying of the pneumonia. (No pain, no pain.) Which I sorta thought you had.
Did you tell Atwood that she has, in fact, written science fiction and to stop being a snob about it? Because that would be the MOST epic win ever.
Harrumph. -
Adrienne, Sunday, April 3 2011, 02:58 PM
She admitted only to writing speculative fiction under the pretense of cautionary advice. I think she insists on the distinction because her characters are always fully human (ie, no superpowers). It's a very fine line, though, and mostly a subjective one. I hate genre labels--there are so many sub- and alt-categories that it seems now to be completely nonsensical to apply any of them to a book.
Also, yes! I'm not dead. I almost was, though, and in reflection, I think I might be invincible. I nearly die at least once a year, which is a story for another time.
She admitted only to writing speculative fiction under the pretense of cautionary advice. I think she insists on the distinction because her characters are always fully human (ie, no superpowers). It's a very fine line, though, and mostly a subjective one. I hate genre labels--there are so many sub- and alt-categories that it seems now to be completely nonsensical to apply any of them to a book.
Also, yes! I'm not dead. I almost was, though, and in reflection, I think I might be invincible. I nearly die at least once a year, which is a story for another time.
lasers -
Steve Halter, Sunday, April 3 2011, 03:04 PM
Now we know why you were really at the laser meeting--clearly Epic Win needs a really big laser and just might bump you up the PLG list. Well played, sir.
Now we know why you were really at the laser meeting--clearly Epic Win needs a really big laser and just might bump you up the PLG list. Well played, sir.
Re: Harrumph. -
Ian, Sunday, April 3 2011, 03:11 PM
She admitted only to writing speculative fiction under the pretense of cautionary advice. I think she insists on the distinction because her characters are always fully human (ie, no superpowers).
I've never met the lady or spoken with her, so I'll take your word for it. I do know, based on statements by her that I have read, that the insistence on this distinction comes from straight-up genre snobbery. Atwood doesn't write science fiction because she writes literature which is important and about something. And everybody knows that science fiction can't be literature.
Genre labels are very nonsensical. I completely agree. Isn't all fiction speculative? Not much of a concession from Atwood. (Who is, without question, an extremely fine writer.)
My hypothesis is that you're more like The Tick: nigh invulnerable. Or like in that Bruce Willis movie. You're probably impervious to all but one thing. You'll live forever until somebody shoots you with an arrow of mistletoe. My advice? Stay away from archery clubs.
She admitted only to writing speculative fiction under the pretense of cautionary advice. I think she insists on the distinction because her characters are always fully human (ie, no superpowers).
I've never met the lady or spoken with her, so I'll take your word for it. I do know, based on statements by her that I have read, that the insistence on this distinction comes from straight-up genre snobbery. Atwood doesn't write science fiction because she writes literature which is important and about something. And everybody knows that science fiction can't be literature.
Genre labels are very nonsensical. I completely agree. Isn't all fiction speculative? Not much of a concession from Atwood. (Who is, without question, an extremely fine writer.)
My hypothesis is that you're more like The Tick: nigh invulnerable. Or like in that Bruce Willis movie. You're probably impervious to all but one thing. You'll live forever until somebody shoots you with an arrow of mistletoe. My advice? Stay away from archery clubs.
untitled -
Victor Milan, Sunday, April 3 2011, 11:30 PM
I love teh LOLSpeak Russian oligarch! "Opulence - I haz it."
I love teh LOLSpeak Russian oligarch! "Opulence - I haz it."
untitled -
Victor Milan, Sunday, April 3 2011, 11:33 PM
"Petite Lap Giraffe," though, totally sounds like a euphemism. Of course, if it were, who'd want a "petite" one?
"Petite Lap Giraffe," though, totally sounds like a euphemism. Of course, if it were, who'd want a "petite" one?
Re: untitled -
Ian, Monday, April 4 2011, 09:40 AM
I love teh LOLSpeak Russian oligarch!
I guess we could call him a LOLigarch.
I love teh LOLSpeak Russian oligarch!
I guess we could call him a LOLigarch.
untitled -
Dan, Monday, April 4 2011, 06:45 PM
Haha. This brings back a lot of memories from World Fantasy for some reason! First you need to find a petite giraffe that walks on treadmills. This, I'd like to see.
And don't forget Ian, even though science can't be literature, I guess horror can be. Take Justin Cronin's The Passage that came out last year. It's obviously a post-apocalyptic grandson of Stepehen King's The Stand ( and a carbon copy as well, but that's just my opinion) obviously rooted in genre conventions of horror. Yet still, it's marketed as literature?!
Ridiculous.
Haha. This brings back a lot of memories from World Fantasy for some reason! First you need to find a petite giraffe that walks on treadmills. This, I'd like to see.
And don't forget Ian, even though science can't be literature, I guess horror can be. Take Justin Cronin's The Passage that came out last year. It's obviously a post-apocalyptic grandson of Stepehen King's The Stand ( and a carbon copy as well, but that's just my opinion) obviously rooted in genre conventions of horror. Yet still, it's marketed as literature?!
Ridiculous.
Re: untitled -
Ian, Monday, April 4 2011, 09:28 PM
World Fantasy is epic win. It pushes to limit, every time.
First you need to find a petite giraffe that walks on treadmills. This, I'd like to see.
Not just that, but a petite giraffe with a knack for artfully draping a tiny tea towel over its neck during a workout. But when I find that giraffe... I jump in it.
Genre labels are strange things, aren't they? Largely they're marketing tools, and in that capacity, I'm all for them if they help readers find my books. (I mean, Stephen King and Dean Koontz have written a *lot* of science fiction and fantasy over the course of their careers. But it never hurt them much because they've never been labeled as SFF writers, as far as I understand.)
The best explanation of genre labels (aside from the marketing angle) that I've heard comes from either Jo Walton or Teresa Nielsen Hayden: the label tells a reader how to read a book, by letting them know which tropes and shorthands are relevant to the story, and identifies the body of pre-existing writing with which the story is having its conversation.
World Fantasy is epic win. It pushes to limit, every time.
First you need to find a petite giraffe that walks on treadmills. This, I'd like to see.
Not just that, but a petite giraffe with a knack for artfully draping a tiny tea towel over its neck during a workout. But when I find that giraffe... I jump in it.
Genre labels are strange things, aren't they? Largely they're marketing tools, and in that capacity, I'm all for them if they help readers find my books. (I mean, Stephen King and Dean Koontz have written a *lot* of science fiction and fantasy over the course of their careers. But it never hurt them much because they've never been labeled as SFF writers, as far as I understand.)
The best explanation of genre labels (aside from the marketing angle) that I've heard comes from either Jo Walton or Teresa Nielsen Hayden: the label tells a reader how to read a book, by letting them know which tropes and shorthands are relevant to the story, and identifies the body of pre-existing writing with which the story is having its conversation.
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Unwalkers interview [English | French ]
Interview with Speculate! Podcast Interview with Adventures in SciFi Publishing
Ian Tregillis on the Sword and Laser Podcast
Ian Tregillis on John Scalzi's The Big Idea
Interview with Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
Interview with SFRevu
Interview with Mad Hatter Book Review
Interview with Apex Books
Interview at Literary Musings Interview with Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
An interview with the authors of Busted Flush at Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
Interview with Travis Heermann at The Write Line
9-way interview with the contributors to the Wild Cards novel Inside Straight at Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
Interview in the February, 2008 newsletter of the Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
An extended interview with Ian Tregillis by Ty Franck, on www.wildcardsbooks.com.