The only one of those that I think is absolutely true is "don't explain too much." The more a writer explains what happened, the more chance there is of my thinking, "That couldn't happen."

Also, calling Stirling's books alternate history doesn't gibe with my definition. In his books, something big and unlikely happens right around the present and he writes about what happens afterwards. I'd call that more post-apocalyptic than alternate. I am prejudiced against any author who changes the laws of physics altogether, though. My mind is willing to go along with one or two violations, like flying dragons, but not wholesale rewriting of physics and chemistry.

The only one of those that I think is absolutely true is "don't explain too much."

I agree but I don't think it's limited to historical AUs. Too much exposition can ruin almost any book.

alling Stirling's books alternate history doesn't gibe with my definition. In his books, something big and unlikely happens right around the present and he writes about what happens afterwards.

Yeah, though for some of the later Island in the Sea of Time books, it is more alternate history (for the Dies the Fire series, NSM-very post-apocalypse, which is why I like them!)

Too much exposition can ruin almost any book.

Very true, but I think it's more glaring in sf. Say "warp drive" and I'm good. Try to come up with a complicated reason why FTL works, and you start to lose me.

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is on sale today for 2.99 at both Amazon and B&N.

Also, Twilight is the Kindle Deal of the Day for (I think) 2.99 as well.

Thanks, Dana -- I just bought it!

Oh, man, put something I don't have on sale that's cool, will you?

I just finished Brust's Iorich, and the deleted scenes at the end--Jesus man, you're killing me. They're prefaced by

Various scenes had to be deleted for length or content. I thought some of you might be interested in them. They may appear when I release the Director's Cut of this book. Don't hold your breath. SKZB

He then goes on to include a few short scenes listed by chapter and scene (I need to go back and put them into context). They include: falling into a Tim Powers novel (which I can only conclude is very painful) and then into a John DeChancie, but not Louisa May Alcott like the protagonist wanted, then something about the writer's strike and a sequel, then well, just generally abusing the fourth wall and the dignity of his book and characters in various ways. I don't even know, man. He's on crack.

And I bought Tiassa while out for lunch (I *adore* doing that from the restaurant table), and he thanks Gaiman in the preface, so there you go. Not that I didn't believe Jilli, but it's right *there*. Tiassa looks delightful, because it's finally Devera centric (not a spoiler--it's back cover material). I don't know if that means we'll learn anything, because Brust can talk around stuff a lot, but hopefully.

Of course, it's the sort of book that totally rewards remembering not just the preceding 12, but also the Khaavren books. Which, evidently, he used online resources about his own work to accomplish, since he thanks three websites up front. See, Rowling? Good thing.

Rowling as far a I know does not object to non-commercial websites. She objects to taking a website full of material from her book, putting it into another book, and selling that second book. Which is not to say she is 100% right, but not the same thing.

He's on crack.

I saw him play poker while making up lyrics. He's got a whole set of brains working different channels at the same time. It's a little intimidating.

I love his brains. I want him to write one of everything, just so I can see how he'd do it. For reference. I never dared dream, that when I read my first Vlad Taltos book that he'd still be writing when I was past 40, that the series really would hit one per cycle, with bonus Khaavren.

He's one of those writers I have a fear will turn out to be a sexist douche--not because he's ever given any hint of not being highly sensible. Just because it would make me conflicted about liking his stuff *so* much and wanting to send even his pets through university.