Author Archives: Lawrence Person

About Lawrence Person

Lawrence Person is a science fiction writer living in Austin, Texas. His short fiction has appeared in Asimov's, Analog, Postscripts, Jim Baen's Universe, Fear, and several anthologies. He also edits the Hugo-nominated SF critical magazine Nova Express, and runs the Turkey City Writer's Workshop. His non-fiction has appeared in National Review, Reason, Whole Earth Review, The Freeman, The World & I, Science Fiction Eye, The New York Review of Science Fiction, and Slashdot.org. He owns such a large library (mostly science fiction first editions) he had to buy a two-story house to put it in, and then adopted a golden retriever to drag him out of his house on a regular basis. He also makes a mean batch of salsa.

Siri Says the Darnedest Things (With a side of George Alec Effinger)

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Lawrence Person

This piece on the things Apple’s new voice assistant Siri says in response to various questions is pretty funny, as the Apple programmers have gone out of their way to offer some clever, amusing answers to a surprisingly wide variety … Continue reading →

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Lame Excuse Books October Catalog

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Once again, it’s time for “Lawrence posts the latest Lame Excuse Books Catalog as a big block of text.” Welcome to Lawrence Person’s Lame Excuse for a Book Catalog! Once again there’s lots of great stuff, including new books from … Continue reading →

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Peter Gabriel Friday: “Animal Nation”

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Here’s another Peter Gabriel rarity, a song called “Animal Nation” he evidently played on his 2003 tour.

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Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Now Online

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Though previously announced, it’s nice to see that the long-awaited third edition of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is now online. It also includes a very nice entry on Nova Express.

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The Empire’s Suboptimal Weapons Acquisition Programs

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Evidently bureaucracy is the same wherever you go, even a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away: To be sure, the Death Star is primarily a weapon of intimidation rather than something to be used all willy-nilly. Even … Continue reading →

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Shoegazer Sunday: Asobi Seksu’s “Stay”

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Recently I’ve been getting into the band Asobi Seksu which, despite the name, is based in New York. Their first two albums, the self-titled debut and Citrus, are both worthy of interest. “Stay” is off the first album: The first … Continue reading →

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Actual, Real, Honest to Goodness RAIN

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Lawrence Person

For the first time since it rained about five minutes one night three or four months ago. And before that it might have been another three or four months. A good thing, too, since it’s been so dry here the … Continue reading →

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Steve Wozniak Remembers Steve Jobs

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Here’s Apple co-founder remembering his friend and partner Steve Jobs: “He was lucky to have me in the beginning, but I am incredibly lucky to have him for everything in my life.” I’ve met Woz a couple of times, and … Continue reading →

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Houston Texans in Top Ten in Both Offense and Defense

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Lawrence Person

if you’ve been a Houston Texans fan for any length of time, then you know that no matter how well they do, at the back of you mind is this little nugget of dread that somehow they’re going to blow … Continue reading →

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What is Steve Jobs Greatest Accomplishment?

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Lawrence Person

Given his recent passing, I thought I would put up a poll on what product represents Steve Jobs’ greatest accomplishment: What is the greatest innovation Steve Jobs helped usher into the world? Macintosh NeXTStep Pixar iMac iPod iTunes iPhone iPad … Continue reading →

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