m. c. de marco

It's officially published today. Yes, you can buy it now (if you dare). Despite the bizarre misconceptions held by Amazon's stock tracking database, this is not, in fact, a large print edition; so if you read it on the... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

* Metacrap — why ubiquitous, complete metadata about our surroundings is an impossible dream. (Jacqui Smith take note.) * Related: 10% of records in one HMRC database are incorrect. Money shot: "The frameworks database only contains quite simple information —... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

I can't wait for 2009! The suspense is killing me!... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

It's a question that comes up quite often — back in the 1960s a typical SF novel ran to 60,000 words (130-150 pages); one that topped 80,000 words was considered lengthy. But today, I'm more or less required by contract... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Just to let you know that things here are going to be quiet for a bit. Firstly, I'm putting a lot of blogging energy into a project elsewhere (the folks at Crooked Timber are having an online seminar on my... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

They're coming out just to late to make Christmas stocking-fillers, but I have two books coming out in the USA in the next couple of weeks: Yup! There's a cheap paperback of "The Atrocity Archives" and, for the first time... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Rule 34 specifies that for any conceivable subject, pornography or sexually-related material exists on the internet. However recondite or just plain opaque to the rest of us it may be ... My name is Ulrich Haarburste and I like to... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

(Taps microphone: "is this thing on?") I've been neglecting this blog a little of late. Sorry 'bout that; I've been busy — I'm currently working on my third novel of the year, and though it won't be finished by Hogmanay... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Last minute reminder: I'm reading tonight (Thursday), from 6pm, in the west end branch of Waterstones' on Princes Street here in Edinburgh. Tickets are free at the front desk, and I'll be signing afterwards (before moving on to a pub).... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

I'm trying to figure out The Rules We Are Expected To Live By This Century. So far I'm not having much luck in the internal-consistency department. Let me see if I've got this right: * Child pornography and "extreme" pornography... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

I'm just back from my long weekend in Oxford and London. Not much to see here: London is its usual grimy, over-crowded self, and despite the economy falling off a cliff the centre was just as claustrophobically crammed with shoppers... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez: * This Wednesday the 3rd I will be speaking to the Oxford University SF Society in St Hilda's Vernon Harcourt Room. * The following Thursday the 11th I will be doing a reading and signing at Waterstones... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Over on The Yorkshire Ranter Alex has some interesting insights into last week's events in Mumbai. Notably: it wasn't a suicide mission (high risk, yes: suicidal, no — the attackers were carrying credit cards, money, and false passports), the claim... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

If I was a 20th century super-villain, obviously I'd want to live here, in a data center with 40 centimetre thick blast doors, designed to withstand a nuclear strike. I'd also want one of these as my run-around (with a... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Like most of you, I'm glued to the news from Mumbai right now. Not a huge amount to say, except this: it has all the hallmarks of a huge operation with lots of planning and resources behind it. Just looking... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Don't mind me, I'm just minding a hot scanner — 263 pages scanned, 272 to go — and woolgathering. You're probably reading this because you're hoping for something profound and insightful; a discussion of the likely consequences of the 2.5%... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Yesterday, The Open Rights Group turned three. I'd like to wish a happy birthday and much success over the next year to this campaigning civil rights group, of which I am (needless to say) a member. As ORG's website explains:Politicians... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

One of the perennial questions that I (and every other SF writer) get asked is, "where do you get your ideas?" Harlan Ellison once famously replied, "Poughkeepsie", but the truth is a bit harder to swallow: ideas are all around... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

Been on the road; on the way home: normal service will be resumed in the next day or two.... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/

(Touching base at home for 48 hours; off again for another 5 day trip on Thursday. Blogging's going to be light for a bit.) A reader (thanks, Bill) informs me that a key part of Accelerando has just begun to... Charlie Stross http://www.antipope.org/charlie/