http://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/2402239011 Nice. 🙂
Mark your calenders for the next BOOK BOMB, Partials
This Thursday, March 1st will be my next book bomb. We will be hitting PARTIALS by Dan Wells hard during his release week.
More details to come. I’ve started Partials but haven’t finished it yet. (but only because because I’m editing MHL and you guys will murder my face off if I don’t have it done on time) 🙂 So far, it is awesome.
The Burning Throne, Episode 16: Old Crab, New Tricks
Continued from: http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/the-burning-throne-episode-15-sword-of-penance/
Earlier on in the episode called the Nakado, the semi-barbaric Hida Makoto roped the honorable Ide Todo into being his marriage arranger. The downside is that he believes he is on a mission from the gods to marry a particular girl way way way way above his station. This week’s episode brought to you be Steve Diamond.
Old Crab, New Tricks
Ide Todo rubbed his eyes wondering when he last had been gifted with adequate rest. He let out a long sigh. Truth be told, he wondered if he would ever rest well again.
It was doubtful.
His journal stared back at him, devoid of any writing. This was the first time in years that he had been unable to form his thoughts correctly and put them to paper. The event with the Shamesword, Penance, caused a deep shiver to run through him even now, several days later. It was a dangerous artifact. It needed to be destroyed.
But what if it could actually strike a blow to the Dark Oracle of Fire? What if a person of pure heart were to wield it? The corruption would still come—Kuni Magatsu was clear on that point—but could it be held off long enough to end the war?
Or would the sword simply behave as was its nature and beguile and betray?
Ide Todo shook his head, clearing it of the poisonous thoughts. He needed a distraction. Perhaps a…conversation…with Akimi could—
“Todo-san, may I have a word?”
Hida Makoto. Ide Todo felt an unreasonable spike of fear cascade through his chest. Not because he didn’t trust the Crab. No, Makoto was honorable. Dense, but supremely honorable. He made a mental note to himself to send off a missive to Crab lands and to Hida Kenzan detailing Makoto’s deeds. He deserved the recognition. All the members of the Paper Lanterns did.
The reason for Todo’s fear was more closely tied to the Crab’s propensity for asking for the impossible.
“Makoto,” Ide Todo replied while shutting his journal. “What can I do for you this evening?”
The big man seemed uneasy. “As my nakado, I know that you have much work to do.”
“Yes.” There was that feeling again. Something bad was coming.
“Honestly, Todo-san, I worry that no matter how much work you do in the courts—even such an esteemed Courtier such as yourself—you will never be able to completely win them over yourself. So I need a favor.”
No. Nononononononono…
“I need you to teach me the ways of courtly etiquette.”
I may have better luck with the Yobanjin. “Of course, Makoto.” He kept his expression smooth. Open. It was one of the first lessons his sensei had delivered. “But may I ask you to elaborate your thoughts on the need for etiquette training?”
“I know I will never be the speaker you are,” Makoto said quietly. It was odd to hear such quiet humility from a man so large…and bloodthirsty. “Yet if I am to ever be with Otomo Yuni I will have to spend time in court. Courtiers and all their endless talking pushes me towards insanity. Uh, no offense, Todo-san.”
“None taken,” Todo couldn’t help but grin. “In truth the words of court infuriate me sometimes as well.” The Crab was sincere. It may take years just to instruct the basics, but—as was the case in most quests of epic proportions—there was a lot of traveling. And sitting around. And doing nothing. A man needed some way to pass the time. “Very well, Makoto. Your lesson starts now.”
“Now? Uh, OK.”
“I will be blunt with you Makoto. There are times when you talk out of turn.”
“I am just trying to help, Todo-san,” Makoto said, eyes mirroring the confusion in his voice.
“Easy, friend. I know our intentions are pure and just. It is a fault that the children of the Ide Courtier school tend to share.”
“Children? You are comparing me to a child?”
Todo held out his hand in a placating gesture. “Please, Makoto. This is exactly what I mean. You talk and respond to everything. You interpret words as insults even when they are not. You become defensive, and then you get that dangerous gleam in your eye.”
“What do you mean, Todo-san? I admit I do not understand your words.”
“And there is wisdom, Makoto,” Ide Todo said nodding his head. “Those well versed in the courtly ways will do everything and anything to get under your skin. They will stop at nothing to set themselves above you in the eyes of their companions. In the eyes of Otomo Yuni.”
“What must I do, Todo-san? How can I insult them back without caving their heads in with my tetsubo?”
“By learning when not to talk. When not to respond.” The look of confusion was plain on the Crab’s face.
“I fear I may be asking you to do the impossible, Todo-san.” Makoto sat back, dismayed. His chair creaked alarmingly. “My mind does not work the way yours does.”
No, no it doesn’t. Perhaps… “Makoto, I need you to clear your mind. Like you do before battles.”
“Done.”
“Already?”
“I am schooled in the art of battle preparation, Todo-san. It is second-nature to me.”
Todo nodded, and allowed a smile to slightly curve his lips. “Very good. I’ll let you in on a little secret Makoto. I—as well as those courtiers I consider the best in Rokugan—do the exact same thing before entering court. Tell me, what is the first thing you do upon entering battle? What were you taught?”
“Assess the situation. Keep calm. I personally seek out the target representing the most danger to my companions.”
“Being a courtier is no different, Makoto. Do I not do the same thing when we go to court?”
“Huh. Never thought of it like that.”
“While that thought is in your mind, answer me this. Should a man ever go into battle emotional? Crazed? Leave out the Berserkers for now.”
“Of course not.”
“Why?”
“Because too much emotion makes a warrior sloppy. Too much sloppy makes a warrior dead. Dead is not the best of situations for a warrior.”
“And should a warrior taunt you on the battle-field? What then?”
“Taunts are better left ignored, Todo-san. They never end well. I know from experience.”
“Yes. I remember.” Todo paused for only a moment before moving on. “The point is this, Makoto: the courtly ways are a form of battle. The court is a battle-field. Etiquette is simply one of the ways to make sure you remain calm. Etiquette is your defense against the verbal taunts and metaphorical sword-swings directed your way. This is your first lesson, Makoto, and I want you to watch when I have conversations with people. Listen. Watch. Often times you will notice how little I actually say. Sometimes not saying something is most important thing you can do.” Todo stood. “You will come to me every evening and we will talk. I will ask you to summarize our conversations so that I can gauge your retention. Makoto, this will take a long time.”
Makoto’s eyes had narrowed. Not in a threatening way, but in a manner that bled determination. He is far more willing than I thought. “So what did you learn tonight, Makoto?”
“You are wise, Todo-san. I initially thought you just wanted me to shut-up. But now I see what you are doing. You want me to think before I talk. This will be difficult, Todo-san, but I swear I will not let you down.”
With a nod he stood up quickly. The chair rose with him.
#
Ide Todo shook his head at the ruined mess of his guest-chair. Makoto was learning, but subtlety was going to take a while. The chair had been ripped to pieces when Makoto had pried it from his large frame.
A noise from outside drew Todo’s attention. Is that someone writing?
He walked quickly to the tent opening and threw the flap back in time to see Ikoma Katsu scurrying away.
Oh no. Not again…
#
To be continued at: http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/the-burning-throne-episode-17-gisei-toshi/
How YOU can make a difference (getting me nominated for a Hugo)
Queue plaintive sad background music:
Hello. I’m Larry Correia, and I need your help. You too can tell stuffy literati types to go screw themselves.
Only you can make a real difference in the life of a pulp novelist. Every day, over a thousand writers of explody, action-adventure, gun-nut, monster-killin’, novels are maligned on the internet by stuffy literati critics for not being “real” novelists who write ham-fisted, navel gazing, message-fic about starving polar bears or some crap.
How can you make a difference? By nominating Larry Correia’s Hard Magic for the Hugo award for best novel.
Anyone who attended last year’s WorldCon or who is registered for the next can nominate works, You can make your voice heard by nominating what you think are the best books, TV shows, movies, and related works of the year. Make a critic’s head explode by nominating something awesome today.
I’m Larry Correia, and I approve this message.
Insert incredibly sad photo of Larry Correia here.
Okay, it is that time again. If you attended WorldCon last year, or are registered or a supporting guest for the next, you need to get your Hugo nominations in before the 11th of March. I didn’t realize that you needed to purchase your membership before January 31st, so if you haven’t bought a membership already then I believe it is too late to still do so and nominate.
But if you are part of that tiny group of a couple hundred voters out of several million readers that gets to tell the rest of us what is good or not, I’d like for you to consider my novel Hard Magic.
My biggest regret about being nominated for the Campbell last year was that Hard Magic wasn’t eligible as it wasn’t published until my 3rd year of eligibility. Hard Magic is still my favorite book that I’ve written. Hard Magic is original, different, well researched, yet still filled with teleporting magic ninja fights on top of flaming pirate dirigibles. (but don’t worry, you can nominate up to 5 works for each category, which means you can throw Monster Hunter Alpha in there too if you are feeling generous).
My other best novel noms are going to I Don’t Want To Kill You by Dan Wells, and then I’m torn on the other two and still trying to decide, because I read a lot of good books last year.
For novelettes, I had Tanya, Princess of the Elves, and Detroit Christmas published by Baen, and Son of Fire, Son of Thunder in the Crimson Pact anthology written with Steve Diamond.
For best editor, long form, I think Toni Weisskopf and Jim Minz are deserving, since they are both great editors who take care of huge, wildly diverse stables of talent.
For best editor, short form, I’m nominating Paul Genesse. He is really good.
For the other categories, I am going to nominate Elitist Book Reviews and Writing Excuses for Best Related Work. Elitist Book Reviews really does deserve a nod because I think they are the best review site on the internet, and they deserve some respect. Seriously, take a look at EBR and compare it to the review places that normally win. EBR has more, better reviews, and doesn’t limit themselves nearly as much as some of the “prestigious” (i.e. snooty) places. Meanwhile, the Writing Excuses is the best writing related podcast there is.
For best graphic novel I’m nominating Schlock Mercenary. Schlock has been nominated repeatedly, but has lost to the juggernaut of Girl Genius. Schlock has a decade of continuous, daily, better and better sci-fi and deserves a win.
For the Campbell for best new author, I’d like to suggest Brad Torgersen. Brad is known for his short fiction, and was just nominated for the Nebula award for best novelette for Ray of Light. Brad was also the Analog people’s choice (or whatever that is called) winner for last year. The dude is GOOD. And most importantly, I’d vote for him mostly because since Brad is also a Warrant Officer in the US Army, he’d accept the award in his uniform, which means that he’d refuse to wear that stupid Campbell tiara.
There are also sections for best dramatic presentation, short and long form, as in movies and TV shows, but I really haven’t watched much over the last year.
MHI and Hard Magic both up for Audie awards.
http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/02/in-the-bookroom/apa-announces-audie-award-nominees/
From the Audio Publisher’s Association, these are the awards for best audio books and performances for the year. I’ve got 3 nominations. Monster Hunter International (read by Oliver Wyman) and Hard Magic (read by Bronson Pinchot) are up for best paranormal, with my books taking 2 of the 5 nominations. And Bronson Pinchot has been nominated for best male performance for his work on Hard Magic.
Apparently my stuff translates into dramatic format really well. 🙂
On that same note, Spellbound is out on Audible.com now.