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The 12 Blogs of Christmas: Nine. Giving Them What They Want.
And on the Ninth Day of Christmas, Laurie Pink gave to us...
Okay, so, first up, a bit of festive promotion. The panto written by my old friend (and Dalek operator) Nick Pegg this year is Sleeping Beauty at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch, Essex. Nick has a way of making quality modern fun for adults and children alike, while remaining rooted in panto tradition. 'Magic for young and old,' - Barking and Dagenham Post.
Incidentally, I heard today that I've sold my house, and that Gardner Dozois has asked for my story 'One of Our Bastards is Missing' for the next Year's Best Science Fiction. It's good to be ending this year on so many good points. Please forgive this moment of smugness.
Tomorrow, with any luck, we'll have some exclusive fun fiction from Moxyland author Lauren Beukes. Until then, Cheerio!
Okay, so, first up, a bit of festive promotion. The panto written by my old friend (and Dalek operator) Nick Pegg this year is Sleeping Beauty at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch, Essex. Nick has a way of making quality modern fun for adults and children alike, while remaining rooted in panto tradition. 'Magic for young and old,' - Barking and Dagenham Post.
And a big thank you to Scott Grandison of the Comic Book Outsiders podcast, who paid over a hundred pounds in the Geek Syndicate charity auction for my Captain Britain and MI-13 item. The cash will be going to the family of fellow podcaster Eric Martin, who died earlier this year. The whole auction has raised nearly £2000, which is a cracking effort on the part of the Syndicate. Well done, lads.
Here's something you can help with: SF legend John Brunner's widow, Liyi, has a story, 'Love Never Dies' in the BBC's My Story contest. Why not take a look, and see if you'd like to vote for her? The story can be found here and you can hear more about it from Cheryl Morgan here.
And here's one straggler from the other day, telling us what they're doing this Christmas:
Melinda Snodgrass: I never want to travel at Christmas because the holiday in New Mexico is so magical. Snow on the mountains, and predicted snow for Christmas Eve which will make my annual trek to see the luminarias/firelitos all the more beautiful. They're such simple little things, a brown paper lunch sack with sand and a candle inside, but the candles flicker gently in the breezes, and send a warm glow across the ground and shafts of light up walls. When you add falling snow it's breathtaking. I love New Mexico for bisochitos, they're a Mexican holiday cookie and they are so flaky from lard (they have to be made with lard) that they just explode and then melt in your mouth. The smell of steaming tamales and red chili, and the rich scent of pasole and ham simmering on the stove. I add to this my great-grandfather's homemade egg nog, the company of dear friends, and it's all the gifts I need.
Here's something you can help with: SF legend John Brunner's widow, Liyi, has a story, 'Love Never Dies' in the BBC's My Story contest. Why not take a look, and see if you'd like to vote for her? The story can be found here and you can hear more about it from Cheryl Morgan here.
And here's one straggler from the other day, telling us what they're doing this Christmas:
Melinda Snodgrass: I never want to travel at Christmas because the holiday in New Mexico is so magical. Snow on the mountains, and predicted snow for Christmas Eve which will make my annual trek to see the luminarias/firelitos all the more beautiful. They're such simple little things, a brown paper lunch sack with sand and a candle inside, but the candles flicker gently in the breezes, and send a warm glow across the ground and shafts of light up walls. When you add falling snow it's breathtaking. I love New Mexico for bisochitos, they're a Mexican holiday cookie and they are so flaky from lard (they have to be made with lard) that they just explode and then melt in your mouth. The smell of steaming tamales and red chili, and the rich scent of pasole and ham simmering on the stove. I add to this my great-grandfather's homemade egg nog, the company of dear friends, and it's all the gifts I need.Many thanks, Melinda.
For today's larks, I'm rather (ripping off) following in the footsteps of the Angry Robot website, whose owners decided to take a look at what words people had been entering into search engines to find their site. They, however, were content to simply list those terms. Myself, I think that if someone's come here seeking something, then I'm failing in our mission if we don't at least have a crack at providing it. So, let's see what we can do. All of the following have been genuinely put into a search engine, and led to someone arriving at this site, presumably hoping it could help.
'Weekend off': Well, with Christmas coming up, I don't think you need my help with that now, but since you asked in June, I can but apologise. I hope you got it.
'Nicknames for Paul': At school, I was called 'poof'. Probably because I was interested in girls. Is that any help?
'I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I've enjoyed': I can only hope you remember that being said about this blog.
'Captain Shame': I am seriously going to name a Marvel villain that. How's that for service? Did you find whatever mate that was? What had he done?
'You look lovely': I do say 'lovely' a lot, don't I? You look lovely too! (Again, I'd love to know why that's in a search engine.)
'Paul glad car accident': That's just disturbing. I suppose I am glad to still be here, so, erm, hope that does.
'Tired but happy': Glad to hear it. Nothing much more I can do to help.
'Bobby Shaftoe': Has got people here for the last six months on a regular basis. Why, I have no idea. But we're here to help. Bobby Shafto was an 18th century politician (who moved, like my Dad, from Durham to Wiltshire, which might explain how I knew the song as a child), who had a song written about him which was published in 1805. Initially a rather straightforward chronicle of his life's events, it was adapted into an electioneering song by him, and possibly his son and grandson. (There is some doubt as to which of the three it was written about.) A character named Bobby Shaftoe is also a character in Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. Hope that helps.
'Very kind of you': No, very kind of you to come along.
'What's on in Dublin this weekend?': Racing at Leopardstown, a Titanic exhibition, and Robin Hood at the Olympia Theatre. Next!
'Damn, damn, damn': Hope that got better for you.
'Robin Hood slash': It's not beyond the bounds of possibility, is it? I refer you to the second episode I have a writing credit on, and invite you to speculate far too much.
'This weekend in London': What am I, Google?
'Awkwardness': Sorry, this site must have been a tremendous disappointment to you. Hmm, I don't know, though.
'I'm glad to hear from you': No, we're glad to hear from you.
'Wife with black': ...Well, okay.
'Wife blacked up': Not so much.
'Undeserved': We're at the top of the list for that?
'Anticipation guy': Does he arrive before Scale Guy and say he's on the way?
'Michio Kaku wife': I'm not sure if this charming academic is married. Why the interest? Do I sense a little crush?
'John Clews': John Fletcher Clews Harrison is an English historian. Is that who you were after?
'What-Is-The-Best-Reward-Can-You-Get-From-The-Old-Man-Tang-In-The-Rat-Fangs-Quest-If-You-Are-Lucky-Enough?': Either a Purple Bag, or a Brass Heavy Ring. Which is best is kind of subjective.
'Sunny morning': I think you may be overestimating my powers a tad.
'American actor in the longshot': That might be Paul Sorvino, but that's a bit of an, erm, well -
'Birmingham triumph': I think that first Birmingham would need to invade and subdue something.
'Montreal power': Perhaps Montreal?
'Robert Bowling nickname': How about 'Bob'?
'Blacks do my wife': I'm not even telling him about these now. And... what could you hope to gain from putting this into a search engine? What did he think he might see?
'Bloody mannor': It's next door you want.
'I'm flattered, Raney, but I can't. I'm so, so sorry': I think I may have stumbled on something from Tom Raney's private life, here. But the use of the surname makes it sound like he may have been in a war of some kind. Or is someone writing Doctor Who slash about him?
'Who changed radio?': In general terms, the BBC, in putting pirate broadcasters on a legal footing, and inventing speech radio. If you're staring at a new appliance and seek a solution on the internet, may I suggest that you're haunted? But very nicely. Though I'd hesitate before switching it on.
'Mission: Go to McDonalds wearing all black and ask with a serious face if the ninja convention is meeting today': This is why this was posted so late. 'No,' was the answer, delivered with an equally serious face. But perhaps some sort of secret sign.
'Try that': Not again, thanks.
'Let's try': No, really.
'Hugo for men': That's what feminist critics have been saying for a long time.
'Hugo gaes': And don't get me started on that.
'Men today': Well, indeed.
'I'm going to New York': Good for you.
'I'm from New York': Now you're just boasting.
'All sorts of stuff': I hope you were satisfied by whatever you found.
'Wife in black': You people are obsessed.
Labels:
Bobby Shaftoe,
Comics,
Melinda Snodgrass,
Panto,
Tom Raney,
Wife
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"...Gardner Dozois has asked for my story 'One of Our Bastards is Missing' for the next Year's Best Science Fiction."
Smug bastard. Congrats!!!!
This is my favourite of the twelve blogs so far. Keep up the good work!
Also congrats on your good fortune! Go ahead and be smug!
Thanks, Wendy. And ta, Hip, I enjoyed that one too.
I "lolirl"ed at the various wife / black ones.
The strangest I ever got on my website was "dead baby". I changed the alt text on that screencap from the cable show Jeremiah rather quickly, as you can imagine.
Thanks. Again, you wonder why they were looking for that!
Dear Mr. Cornell,
Thank you for telling people about my story LOVE NEVE DIES published by BBC, I much appreciate it.
You wrote to doctor, it reminded me of my GP who gave me prescriptions for painkillers for my arm and back problems a few months ago, it caused me side effect.
John complained about the drug by his GP and I still feel sad when I saw he has changed into another person after he took it, you might read I have mentioned it in my story. I also heard some local people complained about the same thing.
I don't know why I have lost some English friends within ten years ( most of them were John's friends - writers ) they were not very old and their life were much better than many Chinese in China, some people said that people came to our village are for death and to keep the undertake busy.
Best wishes,
Liyi Brunner
Thanks for writing, Liyi, and thanks for your story.
Hi Paul,
I have read the report on the BBC Chinese about another Paul, copy enclosed below, it's very important for some Chinese to have a right name when the baby came to the world, they believe right name could bring luck and success. The four Pauls I knew including you and Paul French were successful at each's career.
Mr. French published another new book entitled Though The Looking Glass which about journalist's life in China.
Best - Liyi
Paul French - publishing & marketing director
Paul French was writing on Chinese and South East Asian consumer markets for several years, prior to the founding of Access Asia, for many of the leading market research companies in the UK, including Euromonitor, Frost & Sullivan and KeyNote. Paul has also worked as a China analyst for Royal Mail Consulting and a number of other major UK companies. Before concentrating solely on Asia, Paul worked as an Editor for Time Out magazine in London and organized tours to the Soviet Union. As a China specialist he has been quoted in a wide variety of publications including the FT, Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal Asia, the South China Morning Post and the LA Times. Paul studied history & economics in London and also has a M.Phil in Socialist Theories & Economics from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He studied Chinese at the City Literary Institute in London. Now based in Shanghai, Paul continues to write much of the strategic analysis for our reports, whilst having taken on the responsibility for marketing and promoting the work that Access Asia does. Paul is particularly active in organising seminars conferences both in Asia, Europe and North America. He is also the main point of contact for all of our agents across the world. His areas of special interest include consumer goods, retailing and leisure services as well as writing about North Korea. You can reach Paul on paul@accessasia.co.uk.
I've come to quite like my name, it must be said. Cheers.
I received some Christmas cards last yeas, one of them from the SF people, I cannot read the name of the sender, there some words in the envelope:” The SFf C/O F.Avad 49 Tvoyniry Rd, B’ham B30 2XY. I used to send card to this person and others, but I was very ill last year and had no time to do cards.
If any of them knows who sent it to me, please will you send my best wishes to him or her. After the death of John, I am not interested in any festivals and Christmas, John passed away on 25th August 1995, the same number of the day for Christmas, it reminded me of the sadness.
I feel sad when I saw the hole in the right sleeve of John’s cardigan, it must have been caused by his writing.
I have a email from an editor yesterday, he told me he wants to know who owns the rights to the translation for John’s long out of print book THE OVERLORDS OF WAR. I have passed on his inquiry to my British agent, hopefully, you and other people will read this book in the near future.
Reply
The earthquake in Haiti caused countless people to lose their lives and homeless, to show our love and sympathy, Britain,US,China and some countries have sent medicines, men and dogs to rescue, how many are still survivors under the debris is a question.
Compared with the sufferers, I am very lucky. Love or hate, means a lot to the people in Haiti at the moment, my late husband loved people, my story LOVE NEVER DIES tells you love is the most important thing in life. If you love John, you like my story. Hum? Thank you.
I'm glad to hear about the book deal, Liyi, and hope you discover who the letter was from. Maybe a website frequented my more purely an SF crowd would be a place to ask. And thanks for that. Cheers.
Hi Paul,
Re the email from the editor, the librarian of the SF foundation Andy told me he spoke with him quite a bit over email a few years ago, although this was the first time he''d heard from him since then and he like what he's doing. I trust what Andy said and I am happy with the editor's explanation of the book situation.
I said to Andy he was qualified to run a tracing people address free agency world - wide, the film makers, publishers and editor got my address from him firstly.
Glad to see the ten top stories both most read and most liked are including my story on the BBC my story competition, I do not know what the voting works but I have thought a lot....
Best - Liyi
希望灾民平安。 God bless Haiti.