Notices by Scalzi (scalzi@mastodon.social)

IT BEGINS

https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/07/scientists-use-peacock-feathers-to-make-frickin-laser-beams/

Wow, "AI" is doing the thing is absolutely known for doing, which is pulling nonsense straight out of its cybernetic ass, who could have possibly predicted this utterly predictable turn on events

https://gizmodo.com/fdas-new-drug-approval-ai-is-generating-fake-studies-report-2000633153

#uspol

How dare this article describe me so accurately

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/knowing-steam-players-are-hoarders-explains-why-you-give-valve-that-30-percent-analyst-tells-devs-you-get-access-to-a-bunch-of-drunken-sailors-who-spend-money-irresponsibly/

Time to bring back the "Mid-Atlantic" accent because why the fuck not

https://www.theverge.com/openai/686748/chatgpt-linguistic-impact-common-word-usage

This lion has seen some shit, y'all

Love Death + Robots Vol. 4 is now out on Netflix, and I wrote two of its episodes: "The Other Large Thing" and "Smart Appliances, Stupid Owners," both directed by Oscar-winning animator Patrick Osborne. I hope you enjoy both, and the entire terrific new season.

HEY MASTODON: Today is the North American release date for When the Moon Hits Your Eye, my latest novel, and also I am on the road for a two-week US book tour! Please buy my book and/or come to see me on the road! All the details about both are at the link.

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2025/03/25/when-the-moon-hits-your-eye-is-out-today-and-also-hello-i-am-on-book-tour-please-come-see-me/

The problem, aside from the product recalls, the fact you can die inside when it catches fire and the doors lock, the substandard programming and the fact they look like the entire genre of vaporwave shit itself in vehicle form, is the fact that at this point it is known the only people who want one are fascists and/or smug dicks with raging compensation issues. This is the truck you buy when you hate yourself and everyone else.

https://electrek.co/2025/03/20/tesla-confirms-it-cant-sell-the-cybertruck-even-with-tax-credit-and-discounts/

And nothing of value was lost

https://www.theverge.com/news/631053/microsoft-windows-11-update-uninstall-copilot

The best iteration of this in my opinion is "Restrict" on Threads (and, I think, Instagram), which does the same thing as "ignore" here but also universally mutes the restricted person's comments in the comments of any post you make. They don't know they're totally muted and no one else has to be bothered by them. Perfect.

https://www.theverge.com/news/609310/discord-ignore-mute-users-feature-block

Oh no the Chinese are doing the useless thing that gives wrong answers cheaper

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/27/tech/deepseek-stocks-ai-china/index.html

I am frequently asked what is the "best" way for people to buy my work so that the most money gets to me, enough so that I've finally written a primer about it to point people toward, and it also covers my opinions re: libraries, used bookstores and pirating:

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/12/30/acquiring-my-work-a-primer/

One of my books is on this list, and reasonably high up, too

https://www.greghickeywrites.com/best-sci-fi-crime-novels/

We ran this Humble Bundle last year and it was so popular it's been brought back for a three-day encore. If you want to grab a bunch of my novels AND support a nifty charity (First Book, which gives books to kids), come get it!

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/john-scalzis-interdependency-old-mans-war-and-more-tor-books-encore

(Traditional authors, your day was yesterday, and you can still post in yesterday's thread. Just follow the link above, there will be another link to yesterday's thread. Artist/crafters/musicians/others: Your day is tomorrow!)

(Also, post at the link, NOT here, thank you!)

NON-TRAD/INDIE AUTHORS: Today is your day at the 2024 Whatever Holiday Gift Guide! Tell folks about the fantastic work of yours they can give as gifts! Post at the link; all the details on what and how to post are there.

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/12/03/the-2024-whatever-holiday-gift-guide-day-two-non-traditional-books/

(Today is for traditionally published authors; indie and non-trad authors, your day is tomorrow, and artists, musicians, crafters, etc, you're up on Wednesday. There's a day for everyone!

ALSO, post for this gift guide on my site, not here, thank you!)

TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS: Today is your day at the 2024 Whatever Holiday Gift Guide! Tell the site's readers about what books you have available that will make great gifts this holiday season! Click through the link for instructions and to post your book!

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/12/02/the-2024-whatever-holiday-gift-guide-day-one-traditionally-published-books

Every year on my site I do a week-long event where authors/other creators can promote the work they have to sell to my site's readers for the holidays. That starts Monday; today I have a post on which things to promote on which days, so all y'all can prepare:

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2024/11/29/the-2024-whatever-holiday-gift-guide-starts-monday/

In a spot of nice news for me, the first trade review of "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" is in from Kirkus, and it's a starred review (which, for those of you not in publishing, means that it's especially recommended). Note the review has some mild spoilers.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/john-scalzi/when-the-moon-hits-your-eye/