Poised on the threshold of a lifelong dream
I've been thinking about this blog post for a long time, and thinking about the subject for even longer. But as is often the case with such things, a picture gives you the important information faster. :)
And in case that's not clear enough:
I have author copies, they are beautiful, and the book is available on Amazon now, though at the moment there are only 11 5 2! left in stock.
Kiba, as you can see, is quite excited.
Nothing I could say would be even remotely adequate. I have memories of walking through the aisles at Crown Books at ten years old and thinking about how amazing authors were. I remember being midway through a fantasy book once and being suddenly existentially struck by what an amazing thing a book is. That we think of it as a finished object, a thing, but what we don't consciously wrap our minds around while reading is how every word put down is a moment in another person's life, that each page and collection of pages is a chronology of experiences, probably multiple experiences, days and weeks and months of hard work and pure invention.
And now I have one, and, perhaps in part because I work in games I am unusually aware of the number of people that go into this (and yet I'm not as aware as Lou Anders is, who actually works with them all). In Prometheus's case, right around fifty hardworking people who all touch every book at some stage of its production. Which basically multiplies the complex work of the story, refines it, polishes it, makes sure that every moment of your reading experience is a crafted one, carefully considered. They did a hell of a good job.
It's obvious, I think, from my shield-banging about sustainability and organic food and conservation activism that I am a pretty passionate environmentalist. My tax return so attests. And I love technology, and I love what it's doing to the experience of reading. But crafted objects like this, touched by so many people, delivered to you, the reader, are what will keep paper books around, at least for the next while. And though I am biased (ridiculously biased!), this one is a treasure, and I am humbled to have it. If you seek it out (or if I throw it at you -- cough), I hope you enjoy it too. And if you do, or even if you're just interested and haven't taken the plunge yet, I'd love if you'd consider joining the party on the Andovar World Facebook page, where there will be info, links, giveaways, and more. :)
If you want to read more of my thoughts about game design, storytelling, and a bunch of other things, before I was flummoxed by this meteor of awesome, Jeremy Jones was kind enough to interview me for Clarkesworld Magazine. If you take a gander I'd love to know what you think.
And in case that's not clear enough:
I have author copies, they are beautiful, and the book is available on Amazon now, though at the moment there are only 11 5 2! left in stock.
Kiba, as you can see, is quite excited.
Nothing I could say would be even remotely adequate. I have memories of walking through the aisles at Crown Books at ten years old and thinking about how amazing authors were. I remember being midway through a fantasy book once and being suddenly existentially struck by what an amazing thing a book is. That we think of it as a finished object, a thing, but what we don't consciously wrap our minds around while reading is how every word put down is a moment in another person's life, that each page and collection of pages is a chronology of experiences, probably multiple experiences, days and weeks and months of hard work and pure invention.
And now I have one, and, perhaps in part because I work in games I am unusually aware of the number of people that go into this (and yet I'm not as aware as Lou Anders is, who actually works with them all). In Prometheus's case, right around fifty hardworking people who all touch every book at some stage of its production. Which basically multiplies the complex work of the story, refines it, polishes it, makes sure that every moment of your reading experience is a crafted one, carefully considered. They did a hell of a good job.
It's obvious, I think, from my shield-banging about sustainability and organic food and conservation activism that I am a pretty passionate environmentalist. My tax return so attests. And I love technology, and I love what it's doing to the experience of reading. But crafted objects like this, touched by so many people, delivered to you, the reader, are what will keep paper books around, at least for the next while. And though I am biased (ridiculously biased!), this one is a treasure, and I am humbled to have it. If you seek it out (or if I throw it at you -- cough), I hope you enjoy it too. And if you do, or even if you're just interested and haven't taken the plunge yet, I'd love if you'd consider joining the party on the Andovar World Facebook page, where there will be info, links, giveaways, and more. :)
If you want to read more of my thoughts about game design, storytelling, and a bunch of other things, before I was flummoxed by this meteor of awesome, Jeremy Jones was kind enough to interview me for Clarkesworld Magazine. If you take a gander I'd love to know what you think.