Once again, the Circus of Pimpage is open.
Here’s the deal, though —
You can’t pimp yourself.
At all.
So put that out of your fool head.
You should try to convince us to check out something by someone else. A book, a film, a YouTube video, a comic, a transmedia sex experience, an undead pterodactyl ride through Satan’s Palace, whatever.
You should pimp one thing, and one thing only.
It can be by a friend or someone you’ve never met.
Long as it’s not you pimping your own thing.
To be clear, you pimping your own thing will summon the Comment Deletion Robots, who will laser your face off. Or, at least, your comment. Because they’re mean like that. Hey, I didn’t program them.
THEY PROGRAMMED THEMSELVES.
Anyway.
I’ll pimp something right here, right now —
I’m reading Seven Wonders, by my pal Adam Christopher.
It’s a comic book in novel form — it is both an homage to early-age comic books and a subversion of them at the same time (many of the “heroes” are kinda dicks).
Ever read the comic book Astro City?
Think that, but in novel form.
You can read more about the book at Adam’s site. And, of course, procure it.
Now, the rest of you — get thee to the pimpery.
DelilahSDawson says:
I just bought a CTHULHU 2012 shirt from this shop: http://thinkbaker.bigcartel.com/category/tees Handmade in Tennessee from a seriously nice dude. If you’re going to vote for ancient evil, I say go big or go home.
September 12, 2012 — 8:02 AM
Dan Thompson says:
I’m going to pimp out the movie PRIMER. it’s the weirdest, most original time travel movie I’ve ever seen.
Whenever I think an idea or genre has already been milked to death, I think of this movie and how it came in at a completely new angle. So even if time travel isn’t your thing, it’s worth seeing how someone can really think out of the box on a particular genre.
September 12, 2012 — 8:29 AM
Travis cole says:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007UC0WNG/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
Dead man’s hand. Takes place in a vivid San Francisco during the earthquake. Will make you give a shit about vampires again.
September 12, 2012 — 8:33 AM
B.E Sanderson says:
Cool. I’ve never seen this before. Here goes:
My friend JB Lynn’s second book in her new series comes out next month: Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman (http://www.jblynn.com/JBL/Home.html). The first book was loads of fun and I expect her next book will be a blast. Go forth and pre-order a copy so the publisher keeps on giving her reasons to write more books.
September 12, 2012 — 8:36 AM
Lisa Bouchard says:
Today’s pimpage: Clean, by Alex Hughes.
The reason I love this book: the protagonist. He’s a mess.He’s got some serious flaws that are made worse by his job as a telepathic investigator for the DeKalb County PD. Through it all, he struggles to do the right thing – the thing that will help others – even when it is bad for him.
Hughes has done a great job creating a noir with a heart.
The book is available online at Amazon.com and BN.com, and can be found in local bookstores as well.
September 12, 2012 — 9:14 AM
Jessica McHugh says:
Call me the Harlot Pimpernel, cuz I’m whoring out Red Tash’s novel “Troll or Derby” today. This book was the most impressed I’ve ever been with a self-published novel. It’s entertaining, original, and hugely re-readable.
Check out my review on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1C7DS3L4OC7UU/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B008BMUKMC) and grab your own copy here: http://www.amazon.com/Troll-Or-Derby-ebook/dp/B008BMUKMC
September 12, 2012 — 9:21 AM
Jen says:
Tales of the Nun and Dragon must definitely be pimped – because what’s not to love about an anthology about nuns and dragons? Available in multiple formats from shiny new UK publisher Fox Spirit – http://www.foxspirit.co.uk (also via Amazon and Wizards Tower Press)
September 12, 2012 — 9:32 AM
Chris Stonebender says:
It’s not out yet, but a buddy of mine is getting reallllllllllllllllllllll-ly close to dropping his first novel, “Nothing is Right” about a kid with undiagnosed autism trying to survive first grade.
There’ll be an announcement on his twitter feed: @mmonjejr
And on his website: http://mmonjejr.blogspot.com/
Which is also where you can read a bunch of other stuff on similar topics.
Here’s a sample short story: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/59122770/Nothing%20is%20Right%20%28final%20draft%29.pdf
Yup. *wipes face* consider that pimped.
September 12, 2012 — 9:34 AM
Chris Stonebender says:
@Dan Thompson: You’re right. That movie is a work of genius. Probably literally.
September 12, 2012 — 9:35 AM
Eric H. says:
My friend Mike Merriam is at the beginning of his career as a novelist. Personally, I found his book “Last Car to Annwn Station” to be an excellent urban fantasy. A little magic, a little horror, a dash of romance that doesn’t drive the main plot. Mix with coffee and ghostly street cars. Shake well.
http://amzn.com/B004XVSXFQ
http://michaelmerriam.net/
September 12, 2012 — 10:19 AM
Beverly Diehl says:
Progressive rock album Electric Forest http://www.gekkoprojekt.com/ by Gekko Projekt. If you like classic Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, you’ll love this album.
September 12, 2012 — 10:20 AM
Tracy says:
Clockworks. Check it: http://shawntionary.com/clockworks/
It’s a webcomic, a developing campaign setting for Savage Worlds, and it’s awesome. Shawn Gaston does great work with both the writing and the arting. Well worth a look.
September 12, 2012 — 10:31 AM
Marla says:
oh no! hopefully they weren’t deleting me?!
September 12, 2012 — 10:36 AM
Mark Matthews says:
Two things.
1. He’s already famous, but Dan Simmon’s novel ‘Carrion Comfort’ has me completely mesmerized.
2. More importantly, the novel “My Dead Friend Sarah,” by Peter Rosch. It’s a trip into the mind of an amazingly untrustworthy narrator. The novel has Stellar (including Kirkus) reviews, a great read, the kind you bring to bed with you before you go to sleep, to the toilet with you before you sit down, and that you will certainly finish with a “damn, that’s good stuff”.
*And upon further inspection (I thought of this novel for this post before even realizing this part) The novel is free on Kindle today.
http://www.amazon.com/My-Dead-Friend-Sarah-ebook/dp/B007RQISJK
September 12, 2012 — 10:52 AM
Kevin Hearne says:
I’m a-gonna pimp MY LIFE AS A WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE by Diana Rowland. Messed-up kid who has to get her shit together when she ceases to be human. Also, stunning cover. Good times.
September 12, 2012 — 11:41 AM
Amy B. says:
Won’t pimp any of DMLA’s authors, ’cause that’s practically pimping myself, but I’ll throw out The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. Best alternate-ancient-Greece-political-intrigue-YA you’ll ever see.
September 12, 2012 — 11:42 AM
Shoshana Kessock says:
I will pimp a few of my favorite things:
1) The Massive by Brian Wood, a comic line from the writer of DMZ. It’s in it’s 4th issue.
2) Night’s Black Agent, a tabletop RPG game from Pelgrame Press by the awesome Kenneth Hite about being a secret agent and fighting a vampire conspiracy. How can you go wrong with that?
3) A great novel about possession, family values and the love of a parent is Seed by Ania Ahlborn. I started reading this in response to my ‘eh’ response to another possession novel, and have loved every second of it. http://www.amazon.com/Seed-ebook/dp/B0073XV3K8
September 12, 2012 — 11:43 AM
Steve Hockensmith says:
Short and sweet: I recently caught Tucker and Dale vs Evil on Netflix Instant and it was hilarious and now I want Eli Craig to have my baby. Or should I be offering to have *his* baby? I’m not sure how this kind of same-sex gushing is supposed to work….
September 12, 2012 — 11:45 AM
Jason L Blair says:
Of the Middle Grade books I’ve read recently, Kim Harrington’s SLEUTH OR DARE series stands tall among them. Great characters, tight plotting and framing, and nice foreshadowing and callback between the books.
http://www.kimharringtonbooks.com/Kim_Harrington_Kids.html
September 12, 2012 — 11:46 AM
Patrick Thunstrom says:
Is family kosher? My cousin, Travis Hanson, is an independent comic creator and artist who has a great style and a pretty good fantasy story going. He’s put out the issue collections all via kickstarter, the third one just finished getting kicked. Check him out here: http://www.beanleafpress.com/
September 12, 2012 — 11:46 AM
Mike Underwood says:
I will refrain from pimping AR/SC authors, since that’s Official Work Stuff.
Instead, I think everyone should read AMONG THIEVES, by Douglas Hulick.
If you read either of Scott Lynch’s GENTLEMEN BASTARDS SEQUENCE books, like fantasy criminals being awesome and shady, or appreciate a good fencing sequence, do yourself a favor and check out AMONG THIEVES. It has some of the best-realized fighting scenes I’ve read in ages, has fun thieves’ cant, and a compelling lead.
September 12, 2012 — 11:48 AM
Joey says:
I’m going to pimp “Turns and Chances” by Juliet McKenna. It’s an e-novella published by a small press, and it’s just smart, unusual, well-thought out fantasy. I glommed my way through it in a single sitting.
http://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/turns-and-chances/
September 12, 2012 — 11:49 AM
Jackie Hames says:
I would like to pimp a college buddy of mine, Nathan Cotter. He’s an actor, musician, improv artist based in Chicago and is pretty damn funny. ( I could be biased.)
You can find him on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvZLXocLrGU&feature=relmfu
And on Twitter: @NathanCotter
Yay for artists supporting artists! Viva la revolution!
September 12, 2012 — 11:54 AM
Kameron Hurley says:
Ian Tregillis’s BITTER SEEDS is a creepy, blood-filled romp through an alternate WWII era Europe featuring a bad-ass Nazi timelord chick and hungry fey who grant tactical war-time wishes in exchange for bodies.
Recommended.
September 12, 2012 — 11:59 AM
Lydia says:
I’m here to pimp FOBBIT, a comic, tragic, smart, horrifying, engaging novel of the Iraq War by David Abrams, who was deployed there. It’s kinda like an episode of The Office, until you realize people are bleeding, at which point it becomes tough to put down.
September 12, 2012 — 12:01 PM
Scott Zachary says:
Ariana Franklin’s “Mistress of the Art of Death” is one of my favorites–right up there with “An Instance of the Fingerpost” and “The Alienist.” It’s a freakishly creepy story, with lots of delicious detail and plenty of nasty bits. Well worth checking out.
But don’t read it at night.
http://www.amazon.com/Mistress-Art-Death-ebook/dp/B000OCXG00/
September 12, 2012 — 12:02 PM
Veronica Giguere says:
The Roundtable Podcast, hosted by Dave Robison and Brion Humphrey, showcases current authors and upcoming writers as they pitch and pick apart new ideas. If you don’t want to hear the workshops, then just check out their “Twenty Minutes With” series that features amazing authors discussing their craft and passions, as well as a redefinition of the twenty minute time frame. http://www.roundtablepodcast.com
September 12, 2012 — 12:06 PM
Flavia Calzecchi Onesti says:
If I were to pimp books, I’d pimp stuff you’ve already pimped here (namely Doyce Testerman’s Hidden Things), so I’ll go for some music-pimpin’.
I present to y’all The Mighty Ya-Ya from the Netherlands!
http://soundcloud.com/the-mighty-ya-ya/sets/the-mighty-ya-ya/
Quoting from their blurb, “What would Black Sabbath have sounded like if Santana had joined them in 1971?”, with a hint of Black Keys, I might add.
Bonus p(o)ints for their humorous description on Soundcloud. Love ’em.
September 12, 2012 — 12:08 PM
Lynne Connolly says:
Uk TV shows to look out for:
“Accused,” a series of 4 by Jimmy McGovern who is one of the best scriptwriters around. You can tell that he wrote much more than appeared on the screen, because the script is sparse, spare and every word counts. Brilliant.
And Sean Bean as a transvestite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSTZ19n4dBo
And Parade’s End – the only thing it has in common with the dreaded Downton Abbey is the era it’s set in. From the book by Ford Maddox Ford, adapted by Sir Tom Stoppard, it’s jaw-droppingly brilliant. It progresses slowly and you have to really watch it, it takes a bit of work. Very rewarding.
September 12, 2012 — 12:10 PM
David Stoddard says:
I’m getting back to reading THE WRITER’S WORKOUT by Christina Katz. If I did everything in the prompts she presents, I would never have time to get around to other writing.. and I guess that is a good thing.
September 12, 2012 — 12:16 PM
Lynne Connolly says:
Oh yes, and don’t forget The Hollow Crown, the four Shakespeare plays, Richrd II, Henry IV parts one and two, and Henry V.
Ben Whishaw, Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston. Oh yes, and Simon Russell-Beale’s Falstaff.
September 12, 2012 — 12:16 PM
Alex Washoe says:
I’m reading “Existence” by David Brin. Awesome novel.
http://www.amazon.com/Existence-David-Brin/dp/0765303612
September 12, 2012 — 12:22 PM
Christopher Meyer says:
http://www.amazon.com/White-Horse-ebook/dp/B005JSV1F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347467035&sr=1-1&keywords=white+horse
WHITE HORSE by Alex Adams.
Excellent post-apocolyptic story with some major twists. The conflict and suspsense will make you want to keep reading and not put the book down. Great story!
September 12, 2012 — 12:26 PM
Lynna Landstreet says:
Most enjoyable book I’ve read lately is Jim C. Hines’ Libriomancer. It’s an awesome read for anyone who’s ever loved a favourite book so much they wished they could reach inside it and bring parts of it out into the real world – because that’s exactly what it’s about, and some of the book-magic scenes really captured that feel. I also appreciated the way that a particular trope from some of the trashier varieties of fantasy (remember, one of the key elements in the story is that things from books can become real – even things from bad books) was examined in a very thoughtful and conscientious way, raising interesting questions about sexuality, consent and free will, but without becoming heavy-handed or preachy.
September 12, 2012 — 1:22 PM
Kristin Centorcelli says:
My pimptastic entry is The Broken Ones by Stephen M. Irwin. It’s just wonderful:)
September 12, 2012 — 1:26 PM
chris lites says:
Music in a Foreign Language by Andrew Crumey. It’s sci-fi by way of philosophy written by a theoretical physicist. Crumey is one of the great unheralded voices in fiction today. Find it. Read it. Live it.
September 12, 2012 — 2:05 PM
Aaron Rosenberg says:
I always encourage anyone who enjoys fun characters and dark, gripping storylines to check out F. Paul Wilson’s Repairman Jack series. Starts with The Tomb and continues on up through The Dark at the End. One of my favorite series ever.
September 12, 2012 — 2:15 PM
Shiri Sondheimer says:
Nocturnal by Scott Sigler — GENUINELY creeped me out, which isn’t easy book wise.
September 12, 2012 — 2:16 PM
Claire says:
I am reading Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan. It’s a gothic with so many twists it’s practically a pretzel. And also funny.
September 12, 2012 — 2:47 PM
Nicki Hill says:
My little brother, Joe, and his best friend are sort of hipstery, and in between band projects and trips to New York, they’ve decided to start their own Facebook radio show wherein they get drunk and discuss the merits and foibles of a particular piece of vinyl. I think of it as sort of a hipster homage to “My Drunk Kitchen” (and, bonus pimpage, if you all aren’t familiar with the riot and a half that is Hannah Hart on the YouTubes, you all are missing out, so…don’t do that). You can find their first (long) show here, at https://www.facebook.com/LandonAndJoeGetDrunkAndPutOnAnAlbum
September 12, 2012 — 2:59 PM
Samantha J Mathis says:
I will forever promote Tristan J. Tarwater (http://www.backthatelfup.com/). She has written and is self-pubbing a series of fantasy novels (The Valley of Ten Crescents) as well as some short stories both related to that series and not. Her website has a sample chapters from the first book, Thieves at Heart. If the title doesn’t give it away, it is about some scoundrely types, particularly a girl finding a mentor in the ways of scoundrelism.
She’s an excellent writer and an awesome person all around, so check it out!
September 12, 2012 — 3:59 PM
Bronson O'Quinn says:
ATTENTION STORY LOVERS!
I’m pimping the StoryWonk Sundays Podcast. In case you aren’t a listener, it’s one of my favorite podcasts and it’s hosted by two bona fide writers. They discuss story structure, tropes, and writing craft as well as riff on pop cultural references. They’ve covered stuff from Buffy to Portal 2 to My Little Pony (clearly, they aren’t afraid to try new things!). It’s obvious that they love story and love talking about it even more.
http://storywonk.com/?cat=8
September 12, 2012 — 4:07 PM
Johann Thorsson says:
I’m currently reading (and really liking) Felix Gilman’s The Half-Made World, which is a crazy mix of steampunk, westerns and fantasy. Get your copy here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Half-Made-World-Felix-Gilman/dp/B005DI8998/
NOW! I want to bring to your attention a story I wrote part of, for charity: http://blog.emilysuess.com/2012/09/10/writers-week-short-story/
All proceeds go to The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (well, part goes to the greedy fuckers over at payPal). Get your copy now! For the kids.
September 12, 2012 — 4:26 PM
Bozo Buttons says:
I want to pimp the best 80’s movie you never saw, Three O’Clock High.
It’s an excellent example of the hero’s quest, if you’re interested in that kind of thing. But, it’s also a darker side of the John Hughes style stereo-types that made the 80’s great. Perhaps the lead character does look a little too old for the role, but he’s great and the casting is excellent all around.
It makes the rounds on cable, but isn’t obscure enough to be a rare DVD. Don’t wait! You really are missing out if you haven’t seen it. If you have seen it, watch it again! It just gets better and better.
btw: It’s an allegory, Ebert. Lighten up.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094138/
September 12, 2012 — 4:58 PM
Sparky says:
I would like to pimp my friend’s blog: GenderFight. It’s just recently accepted to the good men project as they discuss male sex toys, chauvinism, feminism, BDSM, 50 Shades, Talking about Relationships and all sorts of fascinating things. And it’s a wonderfully fresh and surprisingly moderate perspective on feminism and sex positive culture. Go forth, read. Comment. Olivia will likely respond. It rocks.
http://goodmenproject.com/category/gender-fight/
September 12, 2012 — 5:05 PM
Susan Spann says:
I’m totally pimping TWO things (count em! TWO!)
First: my friend Tammy Salyer wrote a fantastic SciFi novel: Contract of Defiance (http://tammysalyer.wordpress.com/contract-of-defiance/) which was nominated for a Best Indie release award this year. Go Tammy – and her novel was really good. She’s doing Indie the right way.
Second: Tammy is also a freelance editor, and very skilled. So – DUAL PIMPAGE! Editing and writing!
September 12, 2012 — 6:32 PM
Sean Riley says:
THE WALKING DEAD game from Telltale is flat out their best game ever. It’s an amazingly well written interactive movie, and goddamn if it doesn’t feel weird to me actually admitting one of those things can be good. But it is. It fucking is, and you should all play it. http://www.telltalegames.com/walkingdead
September 12, 2012 — 7:29 PM
Anthony Elmore says:
My peacock feather is erect with excitement over Alex Hughes’s first novel, Clean.
A telepathic detective hunts a serial killer while jonesing for his next fix. Even worse, he’s seen who’s next to die – himself.
Get Clean, the best SF fix on the street.
http://www.amazon.com/Clean-A-Mindspace-Investigations-Novel/dp/0451464753
September 12, 2012 — 7:37 PM
Paul (@princejvstin) says:
13th Age from Pelgrane Press
Dungeons and Dragons meets story and character focused play, designed by a designer of 3rd Edition (Jonathan Tweet) teaming up with a designer of 4th Edition (Rob Heinsoo)
http://www.pelgranepress.com/?tag=13th-age-2
September 12, 2012 — 7:44 PM
Brenda says:
I’m pimping out my friend and her husband’s webseries, Bar Flies. It catalogs the (mis)adventures of the regulars at your average hole-in-the-wall bar! It’s not safe for work, children, or anyone without a sense of humor. It’s rather rough–they did it on absolutely no budget and the cast comprises of them and their local theater friends–but it definitely has some laughs. You should give it a shot (at least through episode 3) because it would make their day if they got some new vies and some praise or criticism of their work. Oh, and because of the warning on each of their videos:
“Warning: The following program has not been rated by the MPAA, ESRB, FCC, or NIMH. It contains adult language and situations, as well as simulated alcohol use and may not be suitable for persons under the age of 18. Rest assured that had this content been rated, we would have been promptly shot, locked up, shot again, and left for dead. We at Bar Flies did not bear, feed, or raise your children and do not take responsibility for what they find on the internet.
Thank you, and enjoy responsibly”
http://www.youtube.com/user/barfliesshow
September 12, 2012 — 7:54 PM