This meant I failed to be properly excited when our visiting bird chick (setting up feederside cameras and so on) caught sight of an English bird that shouldn't have been there at our garden feeders. She was videoing at the time, so was able to prove she didn't imagine it, and was amazed and thrilled and excited. Then she made a few phone calls and discovered that someone in the midwest seems to be breeding them and letting them go, which makes it less likely that the bird in question had been blown across the Atlantic and then had hitchhiked its way to the midwest, and that it may not be counted on the mysterious birding league tables they keep. But it was obviously still one of the coolest things that had happened to her in ages, and I was not properly impressed. At least she had a husband there to react properly.
(Besides feeling a bit under the weather, I also found it hard to get excited about a bird I saw outside my window every day of my life growing up, that's just in the wrong place, and is probably just puzzling about where to find a decent cup of tea, or, more probably, half a coconut.)
In response to "I took the Which SF Writer are You? test at http://paulkienitz.net/skiffy.html -- and was delighted to learn that I am apparently Chip Delany. Who knew?"Well, you knew in 2002 when you took the test!: http://www.neilgaiman.com/journal/2002/12/httpgning.asp
At least you're consistant!
Anyway, the question for this email:
Stardust and American Gods have "Brainstorming" editions listed on amazon. What are they? http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1594970998
Well, as senility begins its slow stranglehold (or possibly I've just been blogging too long) at least I can answer your question. I googled Public Square books, and learned from this press release (http://www.publicsquarebooks.com/PressRelease3.html) that the Brainstorming editions are Spanish Language editions of the books (the Norma Editorial editions) sold into the US.
You'd think that AMAZON or whoever would list them as Spanish language editions, and I expect eventually, they will.
More on Which SF Writer Are You at Making Light -- and a late edit to add:
You've probably heard this from several sources already, but in case you didn't -- I went to take the "Which SF Author Are You" quiz, and apparently Paul has had so many hits he's exceeded his bandwidth and the quiz is down until next month. Bummer.
...
Good luck on opening night to all at the Griffin Theatre production of Stardust (break many legs). The first review I got said,
Neil,
We just saw the Griffin production of "Stardust" in Chicago and wanted to let you know that it's quite well done and a lot of fun. They're suprisingly true to your story. It's a small and intimate space and the production values are quite high. Best of luck with your current projects. We're really looking forward to both "Anansi Boys" and "Mirror Mask".
Best Wishes, Hannah and Amy
Which looks promising. Thank you both.
...
Somebody wrote in suggesting that I should write a short story that I could place in the public domain for people to make films of. I can see a few problems with this --primarily that "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale..." wasn't created to be something that starting out film makers looked at and went "Look, a small cast, two real speaking parts, limited locations, and a solid three act structure in a fifteen minute shape. What a great thing story to try and tell." It just happened that way. I have no idea how it happened, and doubt I could do it intentionally. Things like that -- or to take a possibly more apt example, things like JOHNNY THEREMIN (http://www.johnnytheremin.net/index2.html) -- happen best when you don't set out to make them happen.
Several people wrote to point out various copyright difficulties with the idea of putting out a DVD of different versions of "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale..." and one person wrote with an offer to publish such a DVD. My guess is that if it happened it probably ought to be an all proceeds from this to charity sort of thing, because any other way of doing it would probably lead to lawsuit hell.
Lots of tabs to close so...
Emperor Norton has got onto a coin -- http://www.gaydollarsf.com/
Bob Sheckley's condition is improving (hurrah) -- http://locusmag.blogspot.com/2005/05/impending-news.html#comments
If you accidentally run your iPod through a washing machine, do not try to fix it with a screwdriver, or it may explode (or at least "go pop"). (News story here.) Actually, lots of do nots showing up, like do not wear a dress to your prom, and, if you're from the UK, do not make miserabilist movies.
And now I shall go back to bed (well, I'm typing this in bed, but you know what I mean) leaving you with only some photographs of an abandoned amusement park...