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We're Seeing Art

And it’s giving us a lot to think about. Venice continues to be lovely and also at this moment rather warm and sweaty. After a morning of seeing art we’ve retreated back to the air conditioning of our hotel room. We’ll go back out again when we’re not so darn sticky. — JS

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When Life Looks Like a Movie Set

The little island town of Burano, which for all the world looks just like someone set designed the place. Cute tiny colorful homes set next to a canal? Check! You half expect Popeye to show up, singing a sea shanty. But it is, indeed, real. And apparently it’s against the law to change the house colors without permission. The things you learn. We’re still on vacation. It’s still lovely. — JS

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Today in “Look at This Dork”

Someone is a little too excited to be on the Scalzi Bridge, with the Scalzi Church in the background to the left, about to have dinner at the Ai Scalzi restaurant. It was an all Scalzi day yesterday, you see. And it was all lovely, even if the dork pictured above clearly was not at all cool about it. Shine on, silly dork! — JS

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30 Years

I have a lot to say about being married for 30 years — to the same person! — but I’m also on vacation and wandering around Venice, so I think I’ll save a big post on the matter for when I get back. Be that as it may, today is the actual 30th anniversary; on this day in 1995 the two of us said “I do” in front of a bunch of friends and family and haven’t really looked back from that. 30 years and…

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First Dateaversary, 2025

32 years ago today, Krissy and I went on our first date. Today, our most recent date included a gondola ride, because if you’re a tourist in Venice and you don’t have a gondola ride, they will probably kick you out of the city. We didn’t want that. Gondola ride it was. And how was the gondola ride? It was lovely, and it’s also an attraction that leans heavily on the novelty of Venice’s canals. I…

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View From a Hotel Window, 6/15/25

Hello from Venice. We’ll be here for the week. Also, today is the 31st anniversary of me proposing to Krissy. Spoiler: she said yes. All manner of good things followed from there. It’s mid-morning here but my body says it’s, like, 2am, and I’ve been traveling all day. I think I’ll take a nap. — JS

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Vacation Mode = ON

Hey, you know what happens next week? Krissy and I celebrate 30 years of being married. She and I are taking a little vacation to enjoy it together. You may not see me for, uhhhhhhh, a while. If I do show up, it will be pretty brief. Don’t worry, Athena will be around for you, and we have a lot of Big Ideas for you next week too. It’ll be fun. Just mostly without me. Bye! — JS

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A New Cover Song: "God Only Knows"

Obviously, to commemorate the passing of Brian Wilson, one of the great pop songwriters of this or any other era. This cover is a rather pale imitation of many different versions of this song, not withstanding the Beach Boys’ own version, but it is also a perfect song, able to withstand me essaying it. I produced it to sound like what you might hear if it came on a transistor radio, which I think…

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The Great Closet Purge of 2025

Today in Incredibly Mundane Things That Yet Must Be Done, my side of the closet had become untenably crowded with clothes that I currently either can’t or won’t wear, and it was driving Krissy a little batty. So this morning she hauled all my stuff out onto the bed and told me to decide what was going to stay and what was going to go. For an indecisive hoarder such as myself, this ultimatum…

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Strawberry Moon, 6/10/25

Yes, it’s actually pretty much this color in the sky, as it’s hanging low enough in it to pick up coloration by atmospheric refraction. It’s a pretty cool thing to see. If you get a chance to go out and look at it, it’s worth the view. If you can’t (or you have cloud cover), well, at least you got to see it here. — JS

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And Now, a Moment of Flowers

Because they’re pretty, and the US is a mess in ways that will take a lot to essay, and I just got back from travel and apparently caught a bit of con crud in Phoenix and so am kind of low energy at the moment. So: Look! Flowers! I figure the rest of the Internet will catch you up on the rest of it. Here, have a bit of pretty. — JS

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Brief Updates, 6/6/25

A few things that are up with me recently that I have not yet otherwise posted elsewhere: 1. When the Moon Hits Your Eye is one of Amazon’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2025 (So Far), and it’s nice to know that the book has made its mark at this point in the year. And while I recognize that the “so far” lists are just a way for Amazon and other places to double-dip on the marketing around…

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View From a Hotel Window, 6/5/25: Phoenix, AZ

Where it is a brisk and nippy 100 degrees Fahrenheit! Sweater weather here, certainly. I am here for Phoenix Fan Fusion, and I will have panels and signings all weekend long; check the schedule for the details (I also need to check the schedule for the details. I am running slightly behind these days). If you are in the Phoenix area, I hope to see you there. If you’re not in the Phoenix area,…

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Well, CAN You Prove You're a US Citizen?

I can prove I am a US citizen because a) I have all the documentation, b) it's four generations back before you find immigrants in my family, c) I'm well-known enough that my birthplace is public record. But the system isn't designed to help anyone prove anything.nymag.com/intelligence…— John Scalzi (@scalzi.com) 2025-06-03T15:17:58.831Z In New York magazine this week, an article about how US…

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View From a Hotel Balcony, 5/30/25: Claremont, CA

And what a fine view of a parking lot I have today! I’m on the balcony of my hotel room because it’s a nice morning, and it’s going to get up to the 90s today, so I should enjoy being outdoors while I can. Even if the view is of a parking lot. I’m in Claremont because this is where my high school is, and tomorrow the class of 2025 is graduating, and I’ll be giving the commencement speech to…

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Happy Memorial Day

I hope you’re observing it in the manner you believe is the most appropriate for you. For some it’s quiet contemplation, and for others it’s grilling hot dogs, and for some it’s both. And if you’re not in the US, it may just be Monday. Among other things I spend the day thinking about the freedoms and ideals those whom the day commemorates fought for, and how to make sure those freedoms and…

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About That Deal, Ten Years On

Ten years ago today, the New York Times published the story about me getting a 10-year, 13-book contract with Tor Books, along with $3.4 million advance. And as it is, in fact, the tenth anniversary of an ostensibly ten-year contract, I thought it would be useful to check in and see where things are with me, with the contract, and with the future of my writing career. First, for context, the…