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Wednesday, May 1 2013, 10:29 AM Monday, April 8 2013, 04:07 PM Friday, April 5 2013, 05:15 PM Friday, February 22 2013, 09:41 AM Sunday, February 17 2013, 04:41 PM Friday, February 15 2013, 09:17 PM Friday, February 8 2013, 11:06 AM Thursday, February 7 2013, 12:22 AM Sunday, January 27 2013, 06:38 PM Wednesday, January 23 2013, 09:44 PM
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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
Another Attempt to Reconnect Leads to an Obituary
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
Monday, May 23 2011, 02:23 PM
Today is the second time in several months that I tried to look up an old friend only to find an obituary where an exciting, ongoing life should be.
This time my friend was younger than me, and passed away two years ago this summer.
Wow.
I'm saddened and shocked. So young. I don't know what happened, or how, but I can't imagine any scenario that isn't horribly tragic.
Of course, I say "friend" but the truth is that I absolutely suck at keeping in touch with people. It's not much of a friendship if I'm not even aware of somebody's passing until a few years later. We hadn't been in touch for years. And now, I guess, it suddenly feels disrespectful, or disingenuous, to say "friend".
But what do you call somebody who used to give you a ride home in the rain? Somebody who was among the first to welcome you back to town after you moved away and came back a few years later? I guess I don't know.
Life is short. I'm starting to appreciate that. And it's so important to keep abreast of the lives that mean something to us, and to let the people we care about know how we feel.
And maybe be a little better about staying in touch with my farflung group of friends.
But at the same time I think I'm also going to stop Googling old friends and acquaintances. I hate what I find.
Close Permalink
Comments (7)
So Sorry -
Melinda, Tuesday, May 24 2011, 08:50 AM
I'm so sorry to read this, Ian. That's always a shock, and it is very hard to keep in touch with people. Distance and life intrude. As Carroll said in Through The Looking Glass -- "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place." There's work and just the physical act of keeping body and soul together. Maybe a little time for fun with near-by friends, and the days just tick by and soon months have passed and then years. I don't know the solution. I wish I did. I'm terrible at keeping in touch too.
I'm so sorry to read this, Ian. That's always a shock, and it is very hard to keep in touch with people. Distance and life intrude. As Carroll said in Through The Looking Glass -- "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place." There's work and just the physical act of keeping body and soul together. Maybe a little time for fun with near-by friends, and the days just tick by and soon months have passed and then years. I don't know the solution. I wish I did. I'm terrible at keeping in touch too.
Re: So Sorry -
Ian, Tuesday, May 24 2011, 10:32 AM
I feel sorry for the family left behind, and for not being there to add my voice to the chorus of condolences. For being so far removed and oblivious from the tragedy, whatever its nature. Makes me feel like a terrible human being.
I feel sorry for the family left behind, and for not being there to add my voice to the chorus of condolences. For being so far removed and oblivious from the tragedy, whatever its nature. Makes me feel like a terrible human being.
Re: So Sorry -
Steve Halter, Tuesday, May 24 2011, 10:40 AM
I'm not real good at keeping track of people either. I've managed to touch bases with a couple of old friends through the internet. I haven't yet had the unfortunate experiences you've just had although the constant wearing of the years makes that more rather than less likely.
Feeling terrible is a natural reaction, but, really you made the attempt to reconnect, so it was a positive action with an unfortunate negative result.
I'm not real good at keeping track of people either. I've managed to touch bases with a couple of old friends through the internet. I haven't yet had the unfortunate experiences you've just had although the constant wearing of the years makes that more rather than less likely.
Feeling terrible is a natural reaction, but, really you made the attempt to reconnect, so it was a positive action with an unfortunate negative result.
Re: So Sorry -
John Murphy, Wednesday, May 25 2011, 03:04 PM
I'm sorry to hear it. I've lost track of a number of friends, and I'm all of a sudden dreading looking them up. We're a pretty far-flung people these days, and the illusion of constant connectivity can set us up for a nasty fall of this sort.
Losing touch, even for good, doesn't make you a terrible human being, it makes you a normal one. But if you would like to do something for your friend's family, you could always write them a letter to let them know you learned of your friend's passing, and maybe share a few stories from happier times.
I'm sorry to hear it. I've lost track of a number of friends, and I'm all of a sudden dreading looking them up. We're a pretty far-flung people these days, and the illusion of constant connectivity can set us up for a nasty fall of this sort.
Losing touch, even for good, doesn't make you a terrible human being, it makes you a normal one. But if you would like to do something for your friend's family, you could always write them a letter to let them know you learned of your friend's passing, and maybe share a few stories from happier times.
Re: So Sorry -
Ian, Wednesday, May 25 2011, 03:12 PM
Steve-- thanks. I guess I can't stop feeling that it was "too little too late".
John-- You know, I've been considering doing exactly that. I don't want to intrude on a private anguish.
Steve-- thanks. I guess I can't stop feeling that it was "too little too late".
John-- You know, I've been considering doing exactly that. I don't want to intrude on a private anguish.
You're not bad... -
Dagny Haug, Wednesday, May 25 2011, 10:56 PM
But I'll be damned if you're going to randomly rediscover *me* through an online obituary. =)
But I'll be damned if you're going to randomly rediscover *me* through an online obituary. =)
Re: You're not bad... -
Ian, Thursday, May 26 2011, 10:44 AM
(...I'm just drawn that way.)
Well, holy cow! Just last night I was drawing up a list of all the folks with whom I'd fallen out of touch (it's a long damn list) and in included one D. Haug. So now you've saved me some detective work!
Hot damn.
(...I'm just drawn that way.)
Well, holy cow! Just last night I was drawing up a list of all the folks with whom I'd fallen out of touch (it's a long damn list) and in included one D. Haug. So now you've saved me some detective work!
Hot damn.
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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.