Comments on: No I haven’t got a bloody ARC of Matter, alright?

By: Friday Photo Blogging: seaside apocalypse | Velcro City Tourist Board

Friday Photo Blogging: seaside apocalypse | Velcro City Tourist Board — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:42:59 +0000

[...] In addition to a glut of fantasy doorsteps and vampire-detective-sex marathons, yesterday’s arrival of Matter, Iain M Banks’ new Culture novel, has made me the envy of a number of fellow sfnal blogospherists. [...]

By: Martin McGrath

Martin McGrath — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:28:43 +0000

James – I was only kidding. Like I say – if I had been fortunate enough to get a copy, I’d certainly have put up the most unbearably smug post yet seen in blogdom (and that’s saying something!)
Jonathan M – I live in a three bedroom/three reception room house and there are whole rooms of the thing I’ve had to bar my daughter from because the risk of her getting crushed under the tumbling of precariously stacked piles of books is too dangerous! It’s not that I need the book… I just want it! Although now you mention it, if getting Matter free and early also meant having people sending me fantasy doorstops… then maybe I am better off in the Conference North!
Gareth D – I promise, if I ever publish a book, I’ll send you a free one!

By: Gareth D Jones

Gareth D Jones — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:29:41 +0000

I get overwhelmed at receiving free copies of small press magazines. I don’t think I could cope with the excitement of receiving a book!

By: neil

neil — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:11:11 +0000

I feel your pain.

By: James

James — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:36:54 +0000

I’m sorry that my post came across as “chest-puffing” I’d rather classify it as “dizzy amazement”, because I still can’t get used to the fact that people send me free stuff.

Surely you need a copy so that you can write an article about the writing style in Focus? (Worth a try anyway.)

By: Jonathan M

Jonathan M — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:23:24 +0000

You say that but there are real downsides to it too. I live in a one bedroom flat and if I’m not careful, it’s very easy indeed to wake up one morning and find oneself knee-deep in books. It’s also quite dispiriting as most of the books I get sent, I can’t possibly cover. Either because I don’t have the time or because the shattered and fly-blown remnants of my sanity simply could not withstand another forced route-march through 500 pages of epic fantasy. That makes me feel slightly guilty… if book publishers weren’t all ultimately owned by huge multinational corporations I’d be angst-ridden by my appalling books received to books reviewed ratio.

By: Ian Sales

Ian Sales — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:21:08 +0000

I don’t have a copy of Matter either, and I’d like to read it as well.