Hello from out here on the Thames Delta, to which I have just returned from London, and from which I leave for York in about 18 hours.

I just did a panel at Convergence Festival in association with Warp Records and which was wonderful because I mostly just listened to Ash Sarkar, Gaika and Mat Dryhurst, and afterwards went drinking with Mat, Gaika and a small group including the artist Rosanna Dean. Just a great night, full of ideas.

(Also you should go drown in Gaika's SPAGHETTO EP right now.)

(Earlier that day., I also got to hang out with Stephen Christian from Warp Records and the artist Mark Leckey, which was an extremely illuminating couple of hours, and I need to thank them for that, too.)

Monday, however, I am going to York, to begin my work as Visiting Professor to the Art, Design & Computer Science School at York St John University. This involves a lecture and then a few hours in seminars talking to student groups. I'll be up there a few times a year to confuse the youth.

An awful sign for the future, isn't it? I left education at 18. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm also a guest tutor at Shadow Channel in AMS later this year, and I believe registration closes at the end of the month. (link) The children are doomed.

This is actually the last public appearance on my board until the autumn, as it currently stands. We'll see what the next few weeks bring. The last month has given me an idea of what people want to talk and hear about right now, and I need to learn more and think more.

Also I am fried, and probably drinking waaaay too much.

(Gloria, if you're reading this, your "coulda shoulda woulda" was the reason I woke up nine parts dead on Saturday.)

OH SHIT HERE COMES PROFESSOR DRINKY

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My good friend, the maestra Colleen Doran, has a Patreon that I urge you to investigate.

Marc Weidenbaum of the long-running and excellent Disquiet blog has launched a podcast called DISQUIETUDE.

Another podcast I want to point you at is NIGHT WHITE SKIES, generally about architecture's future, but very broad in its application of the remit - the episode with synthetic biologist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg was excellent.

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Don't email me about the drinking. I've been making and drinking fresh juices for the last two days. My go-to is three apples, three or four carrots depending on size, the juice of two lemons and a half-inch of ginger. Later in the day I'll juice a bag of kale and a box of black grapes together. This gets my skin, digestion and clarity most of the way back together inside 24 hours.

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And, yes, you will notice that it's just me rambling this week. Had no time to put together anything else, so you're stuck with me. Move over. I'm tired and need to lay down.

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I burned through John Scalzi's new book, THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE, this week. (I've been on a lot of trains) My brain needed a break from the heavy stuff I've been reading and the amount of processing I've been doing, and I don't think John would be sad to hear that his smooth, witty entertainments are very much a warm bath for an overclocked brain that just wants to sink into something fun and resting.

I suspect that this book, the first of his long-term publishing contract, was conceived, written and cued up for Reasons. He wants to come out of the gate fast and big, to justify Tor's faith in him. And what he's delivered is, essentially, Game Of Thrones in space. Complete with Houses, intrigue, multiple plotlines, death, fucking, ghosts and its own "winter is coming" ticking clock. As a commercial act, it's a hell of a performance - clever and knowing, and yet also gleefully, unironically enjoying itself. That's why John's audience is so wide - more conservative, hardcore SF readers can forgive John his snark and the diversity of his characters and intents because he so unashamedly enjoys and venerates the genre. He just rides with it. For me, THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE was a fast citrus sorbet course. Thanks, John.

THE COLLAPSING EMPIRE, John Scalzi (UK) (US)

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Remember two or three weeks ago, when these emails had some structure to them?

I'm charging up devices and washing travel clothes and watching the weather forecasts. I just started turning down jobs because I'm so slammed for time. And let me tell you, even at this advanced age, after twenty-odd years of freelancing, it's STILL hard to turn down work. But I need to calm April down somewhat, and one more thing on my desk will make my head explode. And now, I need to get this off my desk so I can move on to the next thing. Spent too much time on the road this week.

So, you know the drill. Hold on tight. Watch globally, organise locally. Look after yourself and then check the person next to you, not the other way around. I'll see you in a week with a better letter, and I need you in one piece. Take care.

-- W