So the doorbell rings. It’s the postman. He has a big box! What could it be?
Hmmmm. "Penguin Group Inc", it says. It’s heavy. Could it be…?
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Why, yes, it could be. It’s a carton full of my books!
W00t!
Hot off the press, too. They’ve been shipping to books stores across this great land of ours, just in time for no one to be able to afford them. Oh well, people love to read about imminent destruction during a recession, right?
Right?
These ones are going to my contributors (advisors in the book) and family. 10 days to go before they’re available to the public. Better get them now, before they get eaten up.
Literally.
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October 10th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
OMG! Your twittering never pointed to this ending! It was SO unexpected!
Oh, yeah, congratulations! For your books and the ones to come!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Will it be available as an unabridged audio book? Or an e-book in various formats?
October 10th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Really nice, Phil!
I was on my nerves looking at all those twitter updates from you. Damn, I knew since the second one this would be the result
Congrats! Let’s see if I can get one of them soon.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Congratulations!
So, now that the book is printed, what is the BA going to do to earn a salary? Live off the royalties?
Good luck with the sales!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
If you want it to become a best-seller, just say you are a psychic and claim the book is about an imminent end-of-the-world scenario… But I know you could not let yourself lower your ethics in this manner, which is why we respect you so much.
Congrats on the book making it to publication! I see amazon.ca has it available for pre-order, for an October 21 shipping date… I’m placing my order right after this post.
Sylvain
October 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
And they obviously smell good, too!
October 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Well Done Phil,
Looking forward to mine arriving from Amazon as soon as released. We dont get most titles in Australian bookshops until about 6 months after there release so I have given up and buy direct from the States now.
Thanks for all the hard work to produce the book – hopefully it was not to bad and you will write and publish many more.
All the best from the land down under and I loved the way you twittered us in on the opening of the box.
Robbyc Australia
October 10th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Now Phil are you going to have a “special edition” with yellow paper once Canis Minor (I think) gets done with them? You could offer them at a increased price due to their rarity and special quality.
Hopefully mine comes in to the book store next week. I know what I’ll be doing for the weekend.
October 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
[to be read with much sidiusness]
Bwahahahaa! Soon, I will have a new book. One far newer and more incredible!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
They kind of look like Wonka Bars in the second picture.
Congrats!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Phil — Which method of purchasing the book (e.g. local bookstore, Amazon, at TAM, etc) puts the most dollars in your pocket?
October 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I will have to delay my gratification in getting the book into half way through November, that is when I have a vacation and get to a book store.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I just preordered your book when I was at Borders earlier today. I’m confused about something though, you said it was out in 10 days but both Borders and Amazon show it as being out on the 16th, so isn’t that in 6 days?
Anyway, this is my very first post here but I wanted to say that I’m looking forward to this book. I quite enjoyed Bad Astronomy (the book).
Good luck with the sales.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I just preordered your book when I was at Borders earlier today. I’m confused about something though, you said it was out in 10 days but both Borders and Amazon show it as being out on the 16th, so isn’t that in 6 days?
Anyway, this is my very first post here but I wanted to say that I’m looking forward to this book. I quite enjoyed Bad Astronomy (the book).
Good luck with the sales.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Sweetness!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Breaking News: Sarah Palin Guilty of Abusing Her Power
HEH!
Click on my name for the BBC News report.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Excellent!!! I want!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
“Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, but oddly exhilarating.”
– Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising”
HAHAHAHHAHA!!!! That is so awesome!!! Now I SUPER can’t wait to read it!!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Congrats Phil!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I think the McCain campaign will be taught in how to shot one in ones foot.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Congrtz! If your writing in the book is the same as here, I will definitely buy a copy.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
My first day as a blog subscriber and BAM! I’m already sucked into a sales pitch. I’ve gotta have one of these. Consider it a sale. Congratulations.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
And for the Canadians out there, get it here.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Hey Phil, any chance you’ll be able to do some signing of the book? Especially for those of us who were super-awesome and pre-ordered the book weeks ago? I’ll totally pay for shipping if you signed my copy.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Methinks I’ll need to obtain a copy for myself. Very exciting
I may take a break in my Master’s Thesis research for some pleasure reading as to how we’re all going to die.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Preordered it!
can’t wait to read it. I bet it’s just as good as your first one.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
WANT!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
“These are the ways the world will end…?”
How long was the debate over the accuracy of the subtitle?
October 10th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
chapeau!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Oh, and I should say, “congratulations”!
October 10th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Oooh, I think one of those is for me!
October 10th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
My Mom totally bought one for my Dad for X-mas! (He’s an amateur astronomer.) Woo.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
And I still have (checks counter) 9 days to wait… You are a tease!
October 10th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I hadz a book for you, but then I ated it.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
WANT!!!1! but no has a muny. i has a evol plan tho. iz ask teh liberry 2 ordr it, k? den iz raed it & wen i gets a muny latr i byz it but watings 2 reedz it? DO NOT WANT! kthxbai.
=^..^=
October 10th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
p.s. There’s nothing in the world like seeing a gazillion copies of something you wrote! (No books from me, just a lot of program booklets and a couple of CD packages. But it’s amazing all the same.) Congratulations!
October 10th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
You gotta come to ATL and do a book signing. Got Bad Astronomy signed by you. If your presentation at Dragon Con is any indication, this is going to be an incredible book.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I must buy this now! *consults with checking account to be sure there won’t be negative consequences* Yep, Pretty sure I can manage this. I’ll also pimp it at work.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
You should send a copy to eager reviewers.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I agree with Lisa. The Big Bad ATL wants to see the BA visit here outside of *Con season, lest you think we dress like that all the time.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I’m waiting for another giveaway contest!
October 10th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Is “canis minor” going to post a review for us. Something like a delicious read.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Congrats Phil!
You are going to have to sign one for me later this month at the Boulder Bookstore.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Hmmm… all the ways the world could end? Yay. Just in time for Christmas!
October 10th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Nice one Phil, Congratulations! Pre-ordered my copy and excited to get it in ten days! Awesomeness. Can’t wait to read about some REAL ways in which the world is going to end, all this prophecy stuff is driving me up the wall!
Cheers, Ian
October 11th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Well, for once I’m ahead of the curve: I already have a copy of DftS! Found it at the used book store on Wednesday. It must be an advanced copy. So far it’s been terrific — great job, Phil!
October 11th, 2008 at 12:51 am
According to Amazon my copy shipped out yesterday, I can’t wait to read it. Congratulations Phil!
October 11th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Phil, I’d finally convinced my boss at our chain bookstore in New Zealand to order in a bunch of these for the store, but there was no means by which to do so on our SAP system. You don’t have a New Zealand distributor, by any chance?
October 11th, 2008 at 1:07 am
[...] Death From The Skies! – Now available on Amazon and fine bookstores everywhere. [...]
October 11th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Phil, what means of purchasing the book benefits you the most? Online, or local bookstore?
October 11th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I think we should find a way to get McCain to bash it during the next debate. Here’s my attempt.
There. I think that should do it.
October 11th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Phil,
When will the book be available for Illegal download? Woops. What I meant to say is, what means of purchasing the book benefits you the least? Wait, I mean most.
October 11th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Dr. Plait, you truly are the master of torture.
October 11th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Eight out of ten dogs would recommend this book.
“I devoured it in a single sitting”…Canis Major.
Congratulations Phil. You must be SO proud. I know we (your faithful minions) are.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Which contributor gets the book with the dog-slobber on it?
October 11th, 2008 at 9:37 am
So when do you get to go on tour an such? Any word on engagements at say Boulder Book store or Tattered Cover? If not can I start sending them letters to say, “no really, you need to book this guy.”
October 11th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I would really love an autographed copy to match my copy of “Bad Astronomy” you signed for me at Tam6. Will you be coming to Phoenix Arizona by any chance? I’d also be willing to special order one.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Better watch it with headlines like that or homeland security will be all over this site
October 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Oh my god, that dog is so adorable. Is it really called Canis Minor? That’s fantastic.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Congratulations on the book, I’m looking forward to picking it up!
Canis Minor, however.. I was certain you kidnapped my dog somehow for that photo, the resemblance is spooky.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Hey, Phil, this is off-topic but I cannot access either of your posts on McCain’s planetarium comments. They both lead to an empty page.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Oh awesome! I pre-ordered mine months ago!
October 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Hey, do some Win A Copy Signed By The Author contests!
October 11th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Keep watching for “Death from the skis!”
October 11th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I have a preorder from Amazon! I’ve often given Bad Astronomy as a present at birthdays and other occasions. It’s good to have another mainstay for the hard-to-buy person!
October 12th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Thanks for the tip,
I’m going to jump over to Amazon and see if I can pre-order one, right now.
rod
October 12th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Congrats on the book! I work at a large bookstore chain and I’m going to make it my staff recommendation and push it hard!
October 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
MINE IS IN THE MAIL!
…go Amazon!
October 13th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Oh, good, more ‘end of the world’ stories. I love end of the world stories.
I’ll put it on my ‘buy book wish list’.
Let me look at the wording, on that sub-title, again.
Yes, it is plural. So, the world ends more than once, then? Well, yes, that follows, because it’s ended more than once, in the past. Well, that’s good, I like serials, too.
Seriously, Congradulations!
I’m a wannabee writer. But, I think you write better, than I do.
October 13th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Congratulations, you also spell better than I do.
October 13th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Phil,
Count another pre-order customer here. The wife and I are avid Amazon purchasers…. we should really buy stock.
Do you get any information about how your books sits as far as pre-orders go?
October 13th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Oh, some of the review snippets at Amazon are great. This one had me laughing for several minutes: “Reading this book is like getting punched in the face by Carl Sagan. Frightening, yet oddly exhilarating.”
—Daniel H. Wilson, author of How to Survive a Robot Uprising
I mean, made of awesome. Really.
October 13th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
“Your Amazon.com order has shipped: Death from the Skies!”
I am anticipationistically anticipating with great anticipatory anticipation!!!11!!1
k
October 17th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Mine arrived today. I ordered it about a month ago. Odd thing is I picked free shipping, which usually delays things about a week. Haven’t read it yet, but tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and I just finished a BIG project (like 15 minutes ago…)