Over at Omnivoracious, Amazon's book blog, morbid children's author Lemony Snicket has deigned to respond to questions about proper gift etiquette, the giving of coal, and whether or not you actually have to eat mincemeat. Dear Mr. Snicket: Why does it always have to be coal? Why shouldn't a concerned parent give their ill-behaved youngsters [...]
Read MoreMichael Crichton, author of the "Jurassic Park" books as well as many others such as "Congo," "Timeline," and "The Andromeda Strain," died of cancer at age 66, according to a press release from his family. No real details yet, but this was another one of those "What? Who? Really? How old was he?" kind of [...]
Read MoreJohn Hodgman, knowledge-haver, PC, and occasional "Daily Show" correspondent, participated in a live chat at the Washington Post yesterday and expounded on being mean to Jon Stewart, the myth of Chicago, which type of computer he actually uses, and his new book, "MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE." New Orleans: What is the force of a [...]
Read MoreAcclaimed storyteller Neil Gaiman is known, among other things, for posting regular and generous blog entries that allow his readers into his life and his ongoing projects. In a new Premiere interview, he explained why he does it: But I like it! I mean, it's fun. It's weird, I had this conversation with somebody this [...]
Read MoreTony Hillerman, author of 18 novels about Navajo Tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, set in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Arizona, died Sunday of pulmonary failure. The 83-year-old Hillerman had already lived through two heart attacks and surgeries for prostrate and bladder cancer, and was still writing. From the [...]
Read MoreAt mythadventures.net: Robert Asprin (1946-2008) On May 22, 2008, Bob passed away quietly in his home in New Orleans, LA. He had been in good spirits and working on several new projects, and was set to be the Guest of Honor at a major science fiction convention that very weekend. He is survived by his [...]
Read MoreI'm losing a lot of heroes these last few months… Illuminatus! remains one of the books I tackle again every year or so, to see what I missed all those other times, and his other writings are refreshing streams of sanity in an increasingly bizarre world. Not serious, mind you, just sane. His final blog [...]
Read MoreHow many times have you said to yourself, "Boy, I wish I could pick up Dr. Laura Schlessinger and throw her into an open flame"? Well now you can, with this 11" Dr. Laura action doll! Dressed in a smart yellow pantsuit and equipped with 23 different phrases such as "proud mother of an American [...]
Read MoreCareful how you answer. The author of "Fight Club," "Diary, "Survivor," "Invisible Monsters," and other twisted tomes can be described as many things, but boring is not one of them. You might want to stress test your mailbox first, but he's announced that he's taking fall and winter off to answer fan mail and if [...]
Read MoreJust heard that a favorite science fiction writer died over the weekend. John M. Ford didn't like repeating himself (or others) so he wrote science fiction, urban fantasy, thrillers, short stories, a space opera, and more. Plus, his two Star Trek books had a group of Klingons saving the Federation ("The Final Reflection") and a [...]
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