New BABlog contest: win "The Saucer Fleet"!
[Update: my spam filter thinks a lot of the comments being sent in are spam for some reason. If you get a automated note saying your comment is spam, don't worry! I'll make sure it gets in the list.]
It’s been a while since I’ve done a BABlog giveaway, so it’s way overdue. And this time I have another extremely cool (in the geeky sense) book to give away to one BABloggee: The Saucer Fleet, by Jack Hagerty and Jon Rogers (Jack is the author of the also way-cool Spaceship Handbook).
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This book is so incredibly cool: it’s all about flying saucers in movies, including War of the Worlds, Forbidden Planet, This Island Earth, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and many more. It’s lavishly illustrated, phenomenally detailed, and is simply totally awesome. It also has a forward by some astronomer who loves old science fiction movies. Oh wait: it’s me. And there’s more: Jack will autograph the book to the winner, too!
So, you like flying saucer stuff? You want this book. Don’t believe me? Then listen to scifi author Robert Sawyer, or the Hive Overmind blog Science Not Fiction. If you like saucer movies, this book rocks.
So how do you win it? Actually, it’s pretty easy.
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Just post something in the comments below, like "I’m a geek and I want this book!" It doesn’t matter what you post as long as you post something. On Friday, March 20 at noon Mountain time (UTC – 6), I will generate a random number, and the person who leaves that number comment wins the book. I’ll send the winner an email notifying them of their good fortune, and you’ll have until Monday at noon MT to get back to me. I’ll pick another commenter if I don’t hear back by then. That person will have until noon the next day to get back to me, and so one, until a winner is chosen.
Here are some rules for you. READ THESE. Violate them and you’re toast.
1) Leave a comment ONLY ONCE. I trust you folks, but I feel I must make this warning: No matter how tempting it is to followup on someone else’s comment, don’t do it. Anyone caught doing that (or cheating in any way) not only won’t win the book, but your comment will simply be deleted. Be ye fairly warned, says I.
2) Make sure that you enter a valid email address in the form when you leave your comment. If you don’t, you won’t win, since email is how I will contact the winner. I won’t try to figure out your address; if there’s no valid email, I’ll simply pick another winner.
3) Anyone is eligible. However, to be fair, if you’re an actual friend of mine IRL then please don’t leave a comment. I’ll leave it up to your own judgment if you fall in that category or not. I just wouldn’t feel right sending the book to a friend when the contest is open to anyone. Luckily, I have so few friends the odds are low anyway.
4) Once a winner is picked, I’ll forward their email to Jack Hagerty, who will send them a book. You can be anywhere in the world, so no restrictions there. Also, Jack has generously offered to give BABlog readers a 15% discount on the book: just go to Jack’s bookstore to order the book, enter "BABR" (for BABLog Reader) into the promotional code, and voila! A saucer will be on whizzing and whirring its way to your door.
Remember, you have until noon Friday!
This book would be a fine addition to any collection!
Oh what the hell, I’ll give it a shot
It must be mine! (Or maybe not…)
I heard about this book and would really like to read it! I am currently reading your “Death From the Skies” and can’t put it down!
My inner geek feels lucky..
This book looks like it truly rocks. I have been a sci-fi fan since way back (no age given), and the book would be a nice piece for my collection.
The figurines had better be included in the deal!
I’ll throw my kevlar helmet into the ring. Can never have too many books. (Unless a stack topples over and crushes you.)
I wonder if the random number generator has a bias against low numbered posts?
I would like to win this!
Loved Death from the Skies – bought for my 14-year-old son for Christmas this year, and he devoured it!
Mel
Ooh. Pretty colours! *points excitedly*
when writing limericks as a geek
you cannot be overly chic
but by loving sci fi
and hitching your pants up high
into The Saucer Fleet you might take a peek!
I’ve been reading SF (Groff Conklin, anyone?) and watching it in the movies (Ming the Merciless, anyone?) and on TV (Captain Video, anyone?) since before most of you people were born. Therefore I deserve this book the most. Too bad my neediness doesn’t gain me any extra points.
BTW – love the blog. (This is not just gratuitous sucking up.)
you mean “foreword”?
Please, O Random Digit Generator, let it be mine.
Ooh, sounds rad.
(and so pretty, new and shiny!)
I hope it has the George Pal Martian War Machine, I need a good reference to build the scale model I recently purchased.
Count me in, Dr. B.A.
(Why did I just hear “A-Team” music?)
I need this book because I’ve lost the repair manual for my ship.
AWESOME GEEKNESS POWER
Me wants!
Pick me! Pick me! (Oh random number generator)
If you need any help with a ‘seed’ value for your random number generator, I know just the value
OK, so I am a computer geek more than an astronomy geek, I love good SciFi too (and a great blog)!
Ted
I can has sawser buk?!
Free stuff? Count me in!
::sigh:: Reminds me of the old saucer we used for family vacations….
The cover is particularly awesome – reminiscent of old Tom Swift books.
Me want book!
Hey, Mister Spaceman!
Won’t you please take me along?
I won’t do anything wrong!
I’m not a geek and I don’t want this book.
Please, please, please, gimme, gimme, gimme!
Of course I want the book, don’t be silly.
“If you have enough shelf space, I don’t want to talk to you.” -Terry Pratchett
Can I be your friend after I win? Please?
“They came from Outer Space!”
Nice fun contest idea. Great blog here, I’ve really been enjoying reading it.
Klaatu barada nikto
I’m so geeky I suspect this book may be rather too cool for me. I’ll live.
I am not worthy of this prize, but will be happy to accept your most kind and generous offer on behalf of the entire Galactic Community of Astronomy Geeks (GCAG).
If only I had space for another book…guess I’ll need to make room.
Geek doesnt begin to cover it. I have all the star trek EVER on DVD (yes, that INCLUDES the animated series) as well as a damn fine collection of 50′s Sci Fi (even though they were all made 20 years before I was born).
GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE!
gimme, gimme, gimme (© Andersson, Ulvaeus)
I want it too!
Yes I want it
Assimilate me!
(Please be gentle)
Sweeeeeet.
I’d rather have “Death From The Skies!” but I’ll settle for this
I thought your next giveaway would be one of those Galileoscopes. Books are cool too though. :-p
Count me in.
Bad Astronomy Rules!
The really geeky thing to do would be to look at seed values likely to be generated on Friday, and do a large-scale Monte Carlo analysis to see if any numbers have measurably-better-than-average odds of being selected. This I have done, and I have determined that the 17th post has, on average, better odds by 0.0000000001. So that’s why I’m posting now.
… Doh!
There we were, just the two of us, watching night fade into darkness. I was dying, but then you saved me, brought me back, just to say to me, “Whoa, there are asteroids that shine brighter than you ever will. There are humanoids who love money so much that they would kill.”
I am married to someone who would appreciate this book…the person who gave me Death From the Skies! for Christmas…
Pretty, pretty please.
I think I’m gonna win! I’m feelin’ pretty lucky today
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
WANT!!!
OK, I’ll bite. What will the final odds on this be, I wonder?
Mine!
You got me! This is my first post even though I’ve been reading your blog for a good while.
I just loves me an old science fiction movie.
Ooh, shiny.
I love those old cheesy sci-fi films.
I’m feeling lucky today…
Great for reading to the grandkids. Certainly a major step up from Sponge Bob.
The book… I must has it… the precious……….
I’m in Boulder, so if I win, you can save postage costs!
Few things are as cool as what can be seen outside our world when the lights go out.
No probing please, just the book!
gghhhaaaaaaaaaaaaagghhh…
Me want book!
Wait, a random number between 1 and… what number now?
I want! I want! I want!
This is not the first post. Possibly not the last either.
What I really want is an autographed first edition copy of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica..
Or Archie and Jughead #168.
All of my friends who are jealous of my flying saucer will really be jealous if I have this book.
Not if. What is the word…. oh yeah.
WHEN
Have to put something right next to “Death from The Skies” on the bookshelf!
Pick me! [jump] Pick me! [backflip] Meeee! [jump] Pick me!
I’m a goat and I want this book! Please.
I’m pretty sure that I don’t count as a personal friend of Phil Plait…
I’m a geek, and I want this book! I’m also uncreative, but then I’ve been sick, what of it?
So does this “book” thing come with a charger, or a wi-fi adapter?
I like turtles.
Perfect. This will be that last piece in my plan for world domination.
Believe in UFOs? Why, I fly them!
I have a copy of the “Spaceship Handbook” but this one sound even cooler.
Woohoo. Free stuff!
Book
Book
Book
Did it work? I can’t wait to find out if woo works better than random chance.
Whee! Want!
:: Sipping his Coffee, the tall man sat in front of his console as he has been doing it since 2 years ago. Opening his small notebook, he checked the log entries from the previous officer and quickly placed it back over his desk ::
oO Another typical night in the glorious Nevada desert. Oo
:: The something flashing caught his eye. A single and tiny white dot appeared on his screen. The man awaited until another cycle swept the area. The one dot appeared again, but in a different position. Raising an eyebrow, the man put his headsets on and opened a channel ::
OFFICER: Unidentified craft, this is Outpust Delta 2-9. You have entered restricted air space. Identify yourself, over.
:: The unidentified craft did not reply, instead it increased it speed moving directly toward the Outpost. The man tried one more time to get a response from the craft and after having none, he triggered the Alert System. His eyes pop out when suddenly tens of another dots appeared in his screen, following the previous one ::
:: Another officer rushed into the equipment-filled room, breathing rapidly and his face as white as a Scandinavian ::
2nd Officer: You… you… you got to see this!
Officer: What? What is it! :: alarmed ::
2nd Officer: It’s amazing! It’s… It’s THE SAUCER FLEET!
———————
=)
Live long and prosper!
Take me to your leader.
Awesome!
Hey, I’m building one of those. No fair!
Want!
OOOOOO, flying plates, saucers and other china.
[KIRK VOICE] WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT!!![/KIRK VOICE]
Seriously.
Want.
CJSF
Gimme that damn book!
Some day not too far from now, I’m gonna leave everything and endeavor to verify whether this planet of ours is really round and not flat.
I’ll raise my sails and untie my lines and wave goodbye, and set sail to the west through the trade winds.
Below deck, safe inside the lockers, hidden from the salt and wind and waves, there will be a few precious. Very few, as room permit. Among them all, not very far from the other kind, a Fleet of Saucers.
So there.
I’ll wait for them.
Me, too. Thanks!
Oh, definitely sign me up for this contest.
All your book are belong to us!
Does the book talk about the form of propulsion and/or source of energy of the alleged flying saucers? I have the impression the ones from ‘The War of the Worlds’ (with Tom Cruise) used a steam engine!
I want that frakkin’ book.
8b
I’ll be your friend, Phil. I’ll even forego a chance at the book.
pick me, randomizer!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Mr. Bad Astronomer, Mr. Bad Astronomer, pick me! pick me!
This contest is all that’s standing between me and a geekgasm…
I can haz sawzer buk now?
Cool!
So a neutron walks in a bar and sits down. He asks the bartender “How much for a drink?” The bartender turns to him and says “Buddy, for you, no charge.”
Count me in!!
Sign me in!!
the truth is out there,
somewhere beyond the sea,
she’s there watching for me.
if I could fly like birds on high,
then straight to her arms I’d go sailing.
If this was the comment I was going to make would it be the comment I would leave?
69
I poop in bags.
I just got Death From the Skies from the Library, and I’m almost done reading it… Pick me, before the Earth is destroyed!
I wants it. I neeeeds it.
I want me some book!
Fortunately, because computers do not generate truly random numbers, but only pseudo-random numbers, Phil has already given away the game: by simply calculating the random number that will be generated by the PRNG in the typical desktop computer at the draw time, I can calculate which comment I need to post in order to win.
Unfortunately, it turns out it’s the guy above me.
Flying saucers… Do they contain soup?
Looks like a way cool book, which I abviously want. There is still lingering doubt amongst my family members about wether I’m a total geek or not. Having this book will help them get rid of any misconceptions they might have.
I command you to give me that book!
Please everyone, this discussion is over – no more comments!
I’d buy that for a dollar! (but free is always nicer)
Phil Plait:
Err… Phil, that should be then, not “than”.
The term “than” is used in comparative statements to introduce the second element or clause of a comparison of inequality: Gateau is richer than cake.
Whereas “then” means “at that time” or “next in time, space, or order”: I was a lot fitter then; If you want to do it, then tell him.
I’m a geek and I must have this book!
I am using my powers of telepathy to influence Phil’s computer.
Of course, with my powers, I suppose I could just apply for James Randi’s million dollars, and buy myself the book.
But where’s the fun in that?
This would be the perfect companion to the Spaceship Handbook that I gave to my husband for Christmas.
Just a few more books and my library should finally reach critical mass and breech into L-space. Please give generously.
The power of RNG be with me!
I’m a geek and I want this book!
Oh please, oh please.
Ohhh, contests!
I don’t think my geekage can survive NOT winning the book
Sign me up.
Minemineminemineminemine…
I love flying saucers and think the name syfy network is stupid. awesome! I hope I win!
The only thing better than getting that book if it were St. Patricks Day. It is? Hooray!
OMG! A Free book! What will be next? A dinner with the BA himself?
Oh I love me some flying saucer goodness.
Thanks for this offer, Mr. Bad Astronomer sir
I’m in
Pick me Phil!
My astrologer said: “It is time to enter the contest and there will be a winner”
That has to be me right?
My astrologer wouldn’t be obscure or misleading.
That book looks really cool! Me wants!
I want one, too!
(Btw: It has been too long since your last live chat, too….)
In Soviet Russia, saucers fly you (before giving you this awesome book)!
we wants it, precious.
Come on, random number machine!
Shiny.
Can a Facebook friend (bot not IRL) still try to win it, anyways?
Well, I AM a geek, and I WANT this book.
Of course, we all know that computer generated random numbers are hardly random. This is why one should use Random.org, which uses atmospheric noise to create it’s numbers. Or roll a big die… I know you have one!
Let’s see how this goes. What can I say, I have such a bad track record winning things. No matter how good the odds, I always lose. Once, in high school, I was in an auditorium with 60 people (including myself). There was a raffle with 58 prizes. Lucky me, I lost. I’ve only won two raffles in my life, one prize of which was to have my eyebrows waxed. (Sheesh, I’m a dude, dude!)
I, for one, welcome our saucer overlords.
Can relatives IRL play? If so, WANT.
WANT.
That’s all I say
Hoping that the luck of the Irish is with me!
Do want!
that book looks cool.
Oh, I’d love to have this!
Klaatu barada nicto. Micheal Rennie version.
When Worlds Collide. After Worlds Collide.
Beowulf Schaeffer.
Far Centaurus.
Stanley G Weinbaum.
My book. GIMME!
free book? toss me into the random number pile!
Flying space ship book
With bright nebulous colors
See it on my shelf.
I plan on using my long-distance telekinetic powers to influence the random number generator in my favor. I can’t lose!
* drool *
There ARE no random numbers…
the “everywhere in the world” was the last straw…let’s see if Fortuna or the Basic “randomize” command has me in her/its favour…
@IVAN3MAN your grammar comments always crack me up. Esp. since I’m 100% sure Phil knows the difference between “than” and “then”, “it’s” and “its” or “you’re” and “your”.
I wonder when they gonna invent a “spellchecker” for that tho.
Pick Me! Pick Me!
My… birthday present!
… precious…
Doing my best Eddie Haskel imitation:
Why you look lovely today Mr. Plait!
I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book
Are you annoyed yet?
I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book I want this book
… but do the saucers come with teacups?
Klaatu barada nikto
Count me in…….. Booooook….. booooooooook… must have booooook……
Cool sounding book, I want it
There really are NO truly random numbers… just misunderstood ones. 109 is my lucky number… i can feel it.
She saw her saucer deliver the saucier to the five star restaurant.
I would like this book. It seems spiffy. :-]
Want Book.
I’m in!
I haven’t yet bought your book (can you throw one of those in too, if I win?
) but I love free books AND saucers.
The one-post-only rule seems vulnerable to trolling. Will the other posters be able to resist biting? Therefore, I would like to say:
Evolution is an atheistic lie. Where are the transitional fossils? Ooops… haven’t you found them yet?
Vaccines are a form of child abuse. How is injecting a child with mercury and aborted fetuses meant to stop disease? But I suppose you Big Pharma shills won’t be happy until every little child has been poisoned.
Alien spacecraft have been sighted, but you narrow-minded pseudo-skeptics are too stupid and arrogant to accept it. UFOs are real. Get used to it.
My bookshelf will assimilate that book!
Puny Earthman, I demand you give me this book or I shall destroy your world!
Ooh! Ooh! I love wibbly-wobbly spinney-winny saucery stuff!
(Just had a nerdgasm…sorry!)
Do Want!
that book looks sweet
Pick me and I promise I’ll read it before posting here again.
Fantastic!
Pick me, random number generator!
A fine specimen for any collection!
Sounds like an interesting book.
A book browsing mission to the local bookstore is in order.
As a huge nerd, I would love this book!
I’m impressed by the number of bad puns people have pulled off here. I’m not that creative when it’s still AM, so here’s a boring post.
Looks like an amazing book count me in please Phil.
Mark
Oh, WOW! As a longtime fan of vintage science fiction – and a loyal BA fan – I’d love to read this book
Me want book. Gimmie!
Yes I do want this book because I a total geek, and look a Gorn too!
Sounds like a good way to count active readers.
I’m in!
Errrr…. do you ship intercontinentally? I hear some grays run a half-hour intra-planetary courier service for only 300 credits per shipment, regardless of weight, as long as you bribe them with sufficient bovine anuses…
I want this book.
definitely a want, if I do’t win will be adding it to my birthday list!
Shiny! Me want!
Cool. I didn’t know the Gorns flew saucers. But, since we never saw the ship I guess it’s possible.
10.0 on the geek meter
Making comment to win the book.
All I want to know is if this is a book of streetlights.
That looks like a pretty awesome book.
I want this book!
I’m so there!
WANT! WANT! WANT!
Please can I have it?
Puh-Leeeeeezzze?
That book must be mine! Resistance is futile!
I have always fancied myself a geek…but I see from these posts that I pale by comparison.
Thanks for the possibilities!
I want this book, it will go nicely with my tinfoil hat, and sci-fi movie collection. Also this way the next time I get abducted by aliens, I’ll at least know my way around the inside of their ship….
I’m a huge science fiction geek, and it’s my birthday on sunday, so winning this would be just the thing for a hoopy frood.
Cool book. I need it.
Take me to your leader!
As it happens, my flying saucer is in need of repair. This book and its illustrations may be useful as I make repairs.
Does it have the cool Vree saucers from B5?
ooh yes please! I’ve never won anything either though…it’s a good idea giving one away though because the sense of loss will prompt many of us losers to BUY the book!
As i’m a saucer repair person serving aliens from all over the galaxy, i absolutely need this.
I demand that I deserve this book!
The Gorn seems a little disturbed by this deal.
Oh, I’d love to win The saucer fleet!
Ooh. This would look nice next to my Bad Astronomy books.
Keeping my fingers crossed, saying a little prayer
Free stuff??? Yeah, I want this book.
This would look good on the ol’bookshelf! (And maybe to read, too!)
Long live the Saucers!
Oh, that looks cool, really!
Lots and lots of comments by now.
Still, I stand as much chance as anyone else!
*fingers crossed*
I really need this book, i love me some saucers
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/health/17auti.html
Outbreak of autism amongst Somali immigrants in Minneapolis. Is it statistics or something more sinister. Anti vaccine groups have been campaigning hard to reduce vaccination rates in a population that frequently travel back to visit family in Somalia where measles is still killing children.
Expect the first book when the bell tolls one!
Pick Meeeeeeeeeee!
Random chance seems to have operated in our favor
If I win this book I promise to photoraph it in a very very cool place.
One hundred and forty-fifth!
I’m a geek and I want this book!
I’m interested as well.
The LPOD had a reference to another “young adult” book at:
http://www.spudislunarresources.com/Moonwake/mw.htm
It’s a short novel set on the moon that tries to get the backing science right.
I’m not in the target audience, but so far it’s been interesting.
I like any book about milk saucers!
Excellent moment to delurk, I suppose, since there is no other way I could get it in Italy. Ah, Sci-fi…
Fabiano
Long time reader, first time poster. Great site!
I’m still trying to get through a long list of books, hopefully this once contains more illustrations than text!
You can’t win if you don’t play. I’m in.
Pick me, Phil! I’ll even re-read both of your books if I win.
Shiver me timbers.
Oooh, do I see This Island Earth?
NORMAL VIEW. NORMAL VIEWWW. NORMAL VIEWWWWWWWW. NORMAL VIEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!
Billy Meier predicted I will win.
GIMMEGIMMEGIMME!
Ooh, ooh! =D
Acknowledged.
I already own your books, Phil… but I still want this one!
Klaatu Barada Nicto.
I like turtles!
This would look awesome next to my copy of “Death From the Skies”…if my brother ever gives me back my copy.
I honestly thought when I saw the headline you might be giving away a set of dishes. But only small useless ones that go under teacups.
First!
Oh, wait… Two hundred forty third! (Unless someone else posts in the meantime.)
I know Bill Prady and Howard Wolowitz IRL, and you seem to keep running into Bill. But, having never met you anywhere other than here, I guess that doesn’t count.
Come on… Lucky 243!
I was abducted by aliens and I need this as proof!
My geek cred cannot be denied
I own a first-ed Monster Manual and a curly bowtie.
I was soldering b0rked joysticks at the age of 10
And re-memorized Holy Grail time and time again.
I won the title “Computer Geek” in high school,
And beat the chess captain also (*snarf*) isn’t that COOL?
I was internetting in ’92, gopher was the bomb!
I could read BOFH all day long.
If y’all had to look that acronym up,
then you ain’t got the cred I got.. word up!
Me want book.
“A Kerry footballer with an inferiority complex is one who thinks he’s just as good as everybody else.”
- Author John B. Keane
I am an alian and for my journey home in desperate need of a flying saucer.
This book can come in handy in building my own.
PS
Translated from Ghyypoooiu to English with altavista bablefish.
Cool
If I win this book,
I will write a new haiku
saying, “Thank you, Phil!”
Heck yeah I want this.
The powers of the geek make this only possimpobile.
I would absolutely love the book, please randomize me! (Joke, get it trying to force order on random, then again, how good is this random number generator . . . hmmm).
This is for IVAN3MAN:
CANDIDATE FOR A PULLET SURPRISE
I have a spelling checker.
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished inn it’s weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.
A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.
Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.
Bee fore a veiling checkers
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if we’re lacks oar have a laps,
We wood bee maid too wine.
Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know faults with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.
Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped words fare as hear.
To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should bee proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.
Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse
Buy righting want too pleas.
Jerry Zar, 29 June 1992
http://www.bios.niu.edu/zar/zar.shtml
I love winning blog contests! And I love geeky books!
That’s a lot of comments. A lot of entries. Well, let’s see if I have a shot at this.
Oooo! Pick me, pick me!!!!
Yummy, The Sausage Fleet!
Phil is Cool!
/brown-nosing.off
Me too.
This will be great to share with my boys!
I desire this book and wish to smite children with it.
A shot at a free geek book? Thank you for the opportunity!
Wow, this is probably the most commented post ever! We all love free stuff!
My house hasn’t caved in yet from the weight of my book collection. I suppose it would be okay to add just one more thin wafer of a book. Sign me up!
Yep. Please count me in.
I <3 Bad Astronomy.
I would very much like to win!
I am very excited for this contest!
I want this book, I needs this book, I must have this book!
I see the Gorn and the nice book, but what are those other things? Other than the carpet threads, of course.
Hey everyone, just lowering your odds of winning a little.
Tomorrow’s my best friend’s birthday. Not that it matters, because if I win the book, his birthday will be over and he’s not getting it anyway. Just thought I’d mention it.
I need this, so that I can confirm it’s actually Venus that comes to me every second month (together with a bunch of short guys, who perform surgeries on me)
Ooh – pick me!
Me want!
I’m a technerd, and I wanna win! So, Phil, which random number generator are you going to use? So many of them are pseudo-random, relying on a seed or key.
@Zurack, so far, its not even close. We’ve had silly UFO discussions that had over 1,000 posts. But, this could top it.
May the best (and most randomly selected) geek win!
8)
How gracious of Jack Hagerty!
Phil you want to Pick ME (Jedi Mind trick in play)! Does the Jedi Mind trick work on a random number generator…we will see.
Proudly geeky. Gimme da book!
Cool! I must have this book.
I’m a huge geek. May I have the book please?
For St. Patrick’s Day, and Irish blessing:
May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.
Hmm…. didn’t work. I want this book.
Hi , I’m a Romanian reading your blog on an iphone in Austria and I want the book
March 20 is my birthday! It would be an awesome gift for a sci-fi movie geek like me…
Just remember that random numbers are too important to be left to chance
Send it to Spain!
My crucifixes of green shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day will surely win me the book. Bwahaha.
OMG, I’m a saucer nerd. Especially a forbidden planet saucer nerd.
Beautiful! Thanks for the opportunity.
Alex
-Boulder, CO
Wow – late to the party, but I still hope to get the book!
I’m not a friend IRL, but would be happy to be!
Erin Go Bragh! Happy St. Pat’s Day.
Sure and you should be sendin’ me the book now, boyo.
I was tempted to just leave a “.” as my entry.
.
There. I did it.
My psychic powers are telling me that I will not win this book.
So it’s really a win-win. Either I win the book, or I’m proven psychic and I get the million. Yes!
I’d like this book, as I am a geek.
Would also like a signed copy of your, book, too
You will be assimilated by the Borg if you do not give me this book.
I’ve just ordered “Death from the skies” through a friend of mine that is at USA on vacation. That means: a few (more) bucks in your account PLUS this friend will also read the book during the return flight.
And this person is a former Moonhoax believer, who was convinced out of that foolish belief by me, with the aid of Bad Astronomy (and Mythbusters, of course).
Don’t I deserve something in return?
Cool! Thanks!
I hereby slightly worsen the odds for each other contestant.
This book shall be mine. Unless I lose. In which case, I’ll re-read Death.
Even if I don’t win the book, it was worth visiting this post to read “Click to embiggenate”!
Oh yes, it will be mine.
Sounds like a cool book. I’ll toss my name in the hat.
Looks like a fun book. Include me in.
Over here, random number generator!
Looks like a cool book. I’ll probably buy it if i don’t win it.
This book must be mine!
With this advanced tech, I’ll finally be able to take over the world. Or at least zip from here to there in hip fashion.
Sold!! If I don’t win I’ll probably buy a copy anyway…
Smegging hell!
gief book nao!
I think I know what I want for xmas – this one and death from the skies
so hey, gimme an early xmas present kthxplz
I must have this book, please!! Please…..?
Cooool……….
Drool…
I am a geek and so is my girlfriend. If i winn I will winn double.
I LOVE Flying Saucers so much I designed THESE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_WJ-CTt3u8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzXQkTHtAB4
I would totally dig this. Fo’ reals.
Does the winner get the cool action figures as well?
You should send it to Bob Lazar of Area 51 fame for giggles…
Or me.
I’m a geek and I want this book! It’ll give me one more thing to use on my kids viz “When I was your age…”
I’m against books, all fact no heart. i am just going to sell it on ebay.
-Not Really.
I love astronomy and I would adore this book. Thanks Phil!
Gimmie gimmie gimmie!
Ok..I mean please gimmie
Pete
Want it!
Man, I’d really love to have that book!
Already one of 325, but hey, I’d love to have one.
I’ve been interested in astronomy and model rockets for years, and have several models of saucers that actually fly (briefly, at least). Why wouldn’t I want this book?
Right now it looks like my odds are about 1 in 325, but getting worse!
Choose Me! Choose Me!
thank you
I always wanted to have a book about porcelain’s role in aeronautics. But I’d settle for flying saucers, too.
Plus, you’d have to pay for international shipping. [evil] Muahahaha. [/evil]
Well sign me up!
It’s interesting that a skeptical mind can simultaneously see the UFO belief culture as cultural mythology and enthusiastically embrace the fantasy of flying saucers in film and print.
I keep hoping to see an image of Gort on a pancake…
dang… lots of posts in here… hope i win!
I’m from Romania, living in UK and I need that book because in Romania we don’t have flying soucers like in US, we still have MiG fighters
I am a HUGE geek! If you don’t believe me, just ask my wife, or my students, or my co-workers, or… I must have it!
Please
I got a gap on my bookshelf just the right size!
Give me a book!
I want this book added to our school science curriculum.
I’m not trying to double-post, seriously! My internet connection dropped as I posted one a couple of minutes ago, and I’m not seeing it, so here we go again…
I don’t remember any saucers in War of the Worlds. In the book and the 50s movie the Martians were fired out of enormous cannon from Mars and their ships were cylinders.
The war machines in that movie might possible be called saucers but I wouldn’t use that description.
In the last movie, the Martians traveled on some sort of energy beam into the buried war machines. The last movie got the war machines much closer to the book, gigantic mechanical structures lurching on legs.
A flying saucer walks into a bar…
I want this book!
This is when all the fans come out of the woodwork. When people want something, you can’t get them to stay away, but it’s good to know the following this could generate.
Do I need to break the fourth wall? Can you do that in a post to try to win a book? Will the new Star Trek movie be as good as anticipated?
I just saw watchmen and I’m still thinking about it 3 days later. Must go back to see it again. Now I know the Comedian isn’t the most sympathetic character, and yes, he’s got major flaws, you know, as a rapist and cold blooded murderer. Yet, what is it about the character that doesn’t make you hate the guy? It would have been nice to see the younger Silk Spectre naked more often.
Sweet! Hope I win.
That would look good on the living room bookcase! Or the office bookcase, or the bedroom bookcase…
I want to win three times, but I’ll settle for once!
Finland = Winland, can’t lose
Not only do the odds of winning decrease as the posts pile up, there will also be an increasing chance that two exactly identical posts appear. Still, the book looks too awesome enough not to give this a try.
Yey! Book!
Just great Phil, you had to go and quantumly entangle all of us from now until Friday, March 20 at noon Mountain time (UTC – 6). Schrödinger would be proud.
I’m a geek and I want this book!
Send me book please.
winwinwinwinwin!
Sounds fun. I’m in.
What’s better than “This Island Earth”?
The MST3K movie of “This Island Earth”
I actually have two flying saucers in my garage.
Sounds good. I’m in.
I refuse to participate in such a clearly-biased and ridiculous contest!
It must be mine (for my b-day is Saturday and it would rock as a present)
gimmie.
Pick me! Pick me! Ohhhhh, pick me!
I’m in.
I would like to be entered into the drawing for this book, please.
01000100 01100101 01100001 01110100 01101000 00100000 01000110 01110010 01101111 01101101 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01010011 01101011 01101001 01100101 01110011 00100000 01101000 01100001 01100100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101101 01101111 01110011 01110100 00100000 01100101 01101110 01110100 01100101 01110010 01110100 01100001 01101001 01101110 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01100100 01100101 01110011 01100011 01110010 01101001 01110000 01110100 01101001 01101111 01101110 01110011 00100000 01101111 01100110 00100000 01100001 01110000 01101111 01100011 01100001 01101100 01111001 01110000 01110011 01100101 00100000 01001001 00100111 01110110 01100101 00100000 01111001 01100101 01110100 00100000 01110010 01100101 01100001 01100100 00101110 00100000 01010100 01101000 01100001 01101110 01101011 01110011 00100001
I’m meditating with my energy crystals to affect the product of your random number generator. since you don’t believe in that kind of stuff, you’ll never be able to prove I cheated!
BLAWR HAR HAR!
By posting here, I have only a slightly higher probability of winning than if I didn’t post at all.
BOOK BOOK BOOK
Count me in!
I’m a geek and I want this book…
Forbidden Planet is about the coolest flying saucer movie ever, even if you don’t count the essential hotness of Anne Francis- PLEEZ PLEEZ PLEEZ!!!!
When I get this book, it might be the final impetus to get bookcases so I can get all the stray books off the floor.
My litle sister want’s that book! So, give to me!
My religious beliefs prevent me from entering this. But I will gladly accept the book should Xenu not deny me this opportunity.
Contest entered.
I’ve never really liked flying saucers, let’s see if this book will change my mind
I have my casio keyboard ready to welcome any alien visitors
Internationally aware giveaway FTW!
Thanks for mentioning the books. I’ll be reading both of them, I expect, even if I don’t win.
Listen carefully, I will say zis only once!
I wonder if the authors will point out that the Martian war machines in the 1950′s War of the Worlds were actually NOT flying saucers, but were in fact supported by three ‘legs’ of energy? (An upgrade of HG Wells’ tripods, see?) They’re visible in the first few shots of the machines rising up, and throughout the film are implied by the sparks they leave on the ground as they move.
Well, OK, the models used in the film were actually supported by wires from the studio catwalks, but y’all knew what I was getting at.
Here’s hoping they mention that, and that I win this book! (If not, I’ll have to actually BUY the thing!)
Ah, I’ve been awaiting this book ever since my Flying Saucer Overlords left me on this planet.
Maybe I can identify my mothership.
Please and thank you!
I never win these things.
I’m feeling lucky
Nitpick: Isn’t this a lottery rather than a contest?
Love the blog.
Hello! I love free things and I love your blog. Pick me! Pick me!
I’m a geek and I want this book! Is there a 12-step program for this sort of thing?
Well, ya can’t win if you don’t post so here goes.
I too would love to bask in the awesomeness that is that book.
Nearly 400 comments already.
The book does look pretty cool though.
I wish Phil was my best friend, but since we don’t know each other, I guess that makes me eligible, and I really want this book!
I’d love to take a gander at this book. Sounds really cool!
Thank you for the generous offer (to Dr. Plait, Jack Hagerty and Jon Rogers).
“I’m a geek and I want this book!”
Does the book include schematics for how to build the things?
AAAAAAAOOOOOOOAAAAAOOEEEEEEOOOOOOAAAAAAAAHHHHAAAAAAAOOOOOOEEEEEE
Yes, I am willing to spend the keystrokes to acquire objects at no cost.
I would sure like myself some tasty UFO book!
I want to believe.
Wow. Look at all the lurkers coming out of the woodwork!
Oh, yeah…and I’d love a copy of the book!
I already own the Star Trek Technical Manual, so having this wouldn’t make me any more a a dork.
I like to read.
Oh yes, I really would be more than pleased to win. Thanks for the chance.
I’m a science fiction fan and I endorse this message.
Nerd? Big Time!
This would look good on my coffee table next to “The Big Book of Alien Autopsies”.
“Du du du du du du du du.” – UFO
Oh, please, please, please, pick me!
Would like to have it!
add another geek to the list
its my birthday on 18/03 had a bad week so i deserve this book so just give me it NOW !!!!!!!
Chance of winning now 0.25% and falling…
I never win anything, but maybe if i promise to use it in my efforts to geekify my daughters…?
My son (I will not be shamless and promote his autism…oops, I just did!) loves science and sci-fi. Whatever keeps him reading and learning!
Right now, the odds are 1 in 394 of winning; you can’t find better odds of winning something this cool!
cool
are you allowed to post twice?
Pick me! Me me me! Go on, go on, go on.
The Forbidden Planet was one of my favourites and the invisible monster scared me when I was young. When I rewatched it about 10 years ago I was surprised to see Leslie Nielson was the commander. After having seen all those Naked Gun movies and Airplane, I kept expecting him to make some wisecrack, or accidentally fry something or someone with a gun. Made for a bit of a surreal watching.
Oh boy, geek literature! Count me in!
Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! Me! Pick me! Oooh! Oooh!
You bet I want that book. Especially with the cool Jupiter 2 on the bottom cover. What a great flying saucer!
Sounds fun to me!
Darn you, you and your worthwhile prizes! You forced me to comment!
Random chance means I have about as good a shot here as I do in a NCAA pool.
I can only hope that the random number generator picks me. Here’s hoping I get lucky this time.
This book looks awesome!
Whoa! How totally awesome! Count me in!
throw my name in as well
I, for one, welcome our new Saucer Fleet Overlords.
I have the perfect spot for this book–next to the lego flying saucer my son built!
UFO’s aren’t real?
Did I win? Did I? Huh?
nice book, heres the perfect place for it:)
i love flying saucers! i want this book
I would leave a witty comment, but with currently over 400 comments, I doubt anyone will read it. Not even me.
What the hey. I’ll give it a go.
Yarr, here be a comment.
Gimme gimme gimme!
I am a alien from another planet, let’s say Mars. Bring me to your leader or at leat give me that damned book – please
Heres my commment, hope I win. If so random chance will have operated in my favor. In plain non Vulcan English, I will have been lucky!
w00t #426
I wonder if that means anything???
Mine!
ME WANT!!
I NEED that book.
I’m a geek and I want… Oh, you get the idea.
OK yes I’ll be number 442 and this is my only comment.
Here’s hoping the random number generator has a preference for large integers (depending on the number of comments after mine maybe not too large).
I promise not to drool on the book. I’ll wear a bib.
Please pick this number, oh nameless machine!
Want!
kthanksbye
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.
Arnold Lobel
I really need another book I don’t have time to read, but my geekiness will prevail so I will read this one.
Teri
Sounds like an awesome book, I’d love to add it to my collection, sitting next to DEATH! and Bad Astronomy, of course!
Do you think this is the most-commented post on Bad Astronomy yet?
Gimme.
[terminator voice]
Your books. Giff dem to me.
[/terminator voice]
I’m praying to the coding gods that I get randomly picked. Also, who are you calling geek? :p
Are there recipes?
I’ll be using my psychic powers to make sure this post gets picked, woot!
A really fine addition to my collection, lets find all the UFO that I can remember. Thanks
Go get em, Gort!
Im in yr commint thred, ganna win yr bukz.
My husband likes Flying Saucers so much that he posted this pretending to be his own wife. Confused? Maybe he’ll get lucky with this – because he certainly won’t get lucky with me if I find out he’s pretending to be me just to win a stupid book.
(And no, he’s not double-posting – he just decided to pretend to be his wife instead of posting his real name because he vaguely knows Phil – like well enough that Phil would remember him, but not well enough that Phil would let him drive his car. Phil’s car – not his car.)
Me me me !
yup.
I read books.
How very cool to get the master list of geeks.
I’m always tempted to pronounce carbocations “carbokayshuns”. I don’t know why.
I want to go to the moon.
If chosen, O’Mighty Phil, I’ll donate it to my wife’s six grade science class to wonder: “Are there other civilizations out there?”
If not, I’ll purchase one.
Wow 450 comments already! Count me in!
Hmm… I’m a little skeptical due to the involvement of certain trouble-making foreword-writers, but I’d be interested in getting my hands on a copy of that book for my perusal.
OMG! A free book! For MeeEEE? Woo Hoo!
Ooh. Ooh!
Me. Me. Me. Over here!!!
Oh man, where did all these people come from?
I’m a lonely geek and I need this book!
Oooh!!! Me want!
I’m feeling that the number 457 or so is a good lucky one. My alien visitors told me so!
Oh hell yeah! Count me in!
w00t! Pure geekiness!
GEEK! GEEK! GEEK! Want!
I’m a geek! (oh wait you probably figured that already…)
I’d still like a copy of the book.
Randomness rocks. But damn is it crowded in here.
I can’t read but I still want the book. I assume it has lots of pretty pictures.
Nifty looking book. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. If I don’t win, I’ll likely buy a copy.
Worth a try. Can’t win if I don’t play.
MMMM … saucers bring pies … I like pie ….
Please Sir, can I have a book?
Klaatu barada nikto
Want.
Back to lurk mode.
I can’t believe Phil Plait is advocating flying saucers! What next? Images of Mary on a piece of toast?
Gooooooo lucky 47-something!
A book just may encourage me to switch my allegiance in the PZ Myers vs. Phil Plait rivalry. Plus, your tweets are so much more interesting than his…. *twirls curls and bats eyes*
Also, I plan to use it to bean Gary Goodyear in the noggin. Don’t worry; I’ll have read it first and put my name and phone number in crayon on the front inside cover so he’ll know who to return it to. Oh, and if suggesting that I might use that book to, er, ‘lobby’ a politician invalidates me for the contest, then please ignore this entire paragraph.
O Bad Astronomer, I’d love to win
A copy of that book The Saucer Fleet.
It’s partly ’cause of you that I have been
A-pondering these things lately. That sweet
Abduction lamp that is your avatar
Means I’ve got saucers fully on the brain.
Not that I would ever go so far
As to place blame; that would be quite insane!
A churlish way to say “Oh, choose me please!”
I was brought up to better style than that
By the same Mom who hooked by degrees
On science fiction, space and such. No brat
Am I. Consider this, my humble plea:
Will you assign a good number to me?
I like jelly donuts.
Shiny! My son (and I) would love to have that book!
I would love this.
-Derek
Forbidden Planet is on my Top 10 Movies of All Time list! I’d love this book. =]
Also, it’s “a lot” not “alot.”
I’m a geek and I want this book!
I’m a geek and I want this book!
I’d love this book.
Go on then, I’ll have a gander.
If it helps grease the random wheels.. If I get this book I will buy a new copy of “Death from the Skies!” for myself, my wife and my boss.
choisissez-moi!
Vintage science fiction, and the Bad Astronomer a must have for my bookshelf.
Kevin
I want it, as long as owning it doesn’t put me on some sort of government list!
I win! I win! I win!
What?
Oh … Okay … I’ll wait until he draws my number before I celebrate.
Oooh! I will friend you on Facebook if I win! Wait.. already there….
I will follow you on Twitter… wait, already there too (@marquis66)…. Aww, dreck.
I managed to get out to Spacefest, but I couldn’t get away from work to see the BA talk. A snazzy book would be just the thing to balance this injustice.
Mine Mine mine mine….
Cool give-away!
Oooo, shiny!
Well, i am really interested….
I’m a geek and I want this book!
My 13 year old is a geek, too, and I’m sure he’d want it if he were allowed to randomly peruse blogs.
No Whammies, No Whammies, No Whammies … STOP!
It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine…
Does it make me a geek if I wanted the book badly enough to post this comment on my iPhone?
I want I want I need I need! (Please.)
Looks like it would be a fun read and hey, if I win it’s free.
A book on real flying saucers (not those make believe UFO things)… swoon…
here’s hoping – I’m still waiting for “Death from the Skies!” to make it to the bookshops down here in the South Pacific. Heck, even “Bad Astronomy” is a special order in New Zealand.
Hi!
This is an incredibly popular post! Come on lucky #491!
Oh, that would just be cool.
I love the cover art.
Book please! It would have a lovely new home on my bookshelf.
I’m always looking for new reading material.
i feel like my chances of winning are monotonically decreasing…
I am geek.
Me geek! Me want freebie!
Looks like something I’d really enjoy, geek that I am.
I would love this book, and it looks like a lot of other people would too.
I’m a geek, and I want this book! Literal interpretation of the contest.
So hoping I win this. It’d be of great use when brainstorming my next short film!
Also, I’m a nerdgeek, want book, etc, etc.
/lurkoff
Anything for a chance to expand my library of geekery!
/lurkon
Ooooh, shiny. I like shiny.
Want, but would rather be friends with BA IRL!
It would make a fine addition to the collection. Winnah winnah chicken dinnah!
“I’m a geek and I want this book!”
Wanna have
ME WANTIE!!!
Even though my chances are slim to none, my inner geek commands me to attempt to win.
DO NOT WANT! Err… I mean DO WANT! Worth a try to play!
I would love this book. I’ll probably even buy it if I don’t get it for free.
I’ve never won anything. Please Random Number Generator Gods, pick me!
What about the Gorn figure, is that included??? Sign me up!
Okay, gimme a number.
If I win, I’ll drive to your place and pick it up.
Please!
I want in. Thanks for the chance (and the picture of Saturn and 4 moons;-)
Friday happens to be my 60th birthday, so maybe I’ll get lucky. Planning to do a century (100 mile) bike ride over the weekend to celebrate. Keep up the great work.
“If you have enough shelf space, I don’t want to talk to you.” -Terry Pratchett
That is a wonderful line. Now, add my name to the drawing.
Can’t wait to practice my pooor English reading this great book!
I want you to harvest my e-mail for your BASpamBot!
Also, I would like a book on movie flying saucers, please.
Okay, put me down for one raffle ticket for this awesome-looking book. And thanks to you, Phil, and to Jack Hagerty for the wonderful offer!
~David D.G.
Hmmm, I think every possible joke has been used already…..but I still want the book
A dingo stole my alien.
Hell yeah!
Runner, runner, quads… suck it aces full.
MINE!
I’m a bit of a sci-fi geek who never wins anything, I really need that book.
If I were fortunate enough to win this book I would read and admire it before giving it to my brother for his birthday.
This would go great next to my Jayne knitted hat!
With this book I will once and for all prove that I’ve never seen anything like anything in this book.
Looks cool
It must be mine!
me no english good.
Hi, all!
That would *so* look awesome in my collection of Rockets and Rayguns!
Love ya, Phil!
I’m a geek and I want this book!
A post ^_^
Hi Phil!! I’d prefer win a copy of “Death from the Skies”, but this one looks interesting.
That book would be awesome in my collection.
Waves hand…
Let me win
If I had sufficient ability to influence the cosmic rays hitting the randomizing computer, I would be able to influence the entropy generated and so, manipulate the outcome of the random number generator.
Do I have sufficient ability? Time will tell. But my doomsday cosmic ray device is nearing completion. Not even the Bad Astronomer will be able to stop my 10 TeV protons of PAIN! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Hmm, that’s where my repair manual got to. Please give it back so I can fix my craft and get off this wet and smelly rock.
*posts just in case*
I want it! OMG!!111!!!!oneone!
yay ! boooooooks.
I insist that a copy be sent to PZ Myers for examination…
of course the the great BA will get it signed by the authors beside his own John Henry
I love astronomy
Geek me up! Looks like a fun book!
Are UFO real? Of course I want this book! Want want want want want!
Take me to your leader!
And give me that book! :->
Yea! The equinox & Saucers all in one week.
Oooo.. freebies! And a cool one at that!
C’mon, random number generator!
I want it!!
I would love this book! Oh random chance, smile on me, and I will claim it was fate…
I’m hoping this’ll help me build my own saucer…
Oh, and then maybe you can sign it as well at TAM?
PS: I am forcing the RNG to pick me with my awesome psychic powers. When I win, also include JREF check for <Dr. Evil>One million dollars!</Dr. Evil>
hello.
If I win I will sell it on ebay to pay off my mortgage and with the remainder provide an endowment to the local arts.
I like Sci-Fi movies. This book will be handy in keeping track of all the designs from all those yaers ago.
Happy thoughts, happy thoughts!
I have the Spaceship Handbook. This would complete my set.
sweet :crossing figers:
This would be a cool read. Then I could pass it on to somebody else on a contest on my own blog…
I’ll give it a try.
Ooh! Better odds than a regular lottery and way cooler prize.
I hope Phil is going to pick a really big random number and take the result modulo (number of comments). “Otherwise we know he’ll ust pick #7 and then where would we be?
I also hope the comments are renumbered from 0, or that I’m not the last commenter. (No offence to Deepsix)
Actual CNN headline: ‘Making Your Own Luck– A Scientific Approach’ …uh, I didn’t actually read it. Do you think that’s unlucky?
Ooooooh, make a guy from New Zealand very happy and randomly select me!
I for one, welcome the alien armada!
Want.
Yep it is me the one who won.
Make me day. Pretty please.
Oooh, shiny! In more ways than one.
“I’m a geek and I want this book!”
Many thanks to Dr Phil Plait the Bad Astronomer for giving us all this chance!
A superluminous (ie beyond mere brilliant!) idea & much appreciated – even if I don’t win though o’course I hope the long odds do fall in my favour!
8)
Count me in
It would be nice to win this!
Flying sauces… come to me!
I must have this book – PLEASE!!
Yes please!
Oh, please give a cool book to a poor computer scientist!
Yes, please.
I wouldn’t say no to this book
I’m a geek and I like books.
Flying saucers. Awes0me.
This is awesome!! <3
I like free books.
I am soniced up!
Me Want Book.
Gimme, gimme, gimme!
See? That’s all it took to get me to stop lurking.
Want want want want want want…
Very cool. I’m reading your Bad Astronomy book now with Death From The Skies waiting in the wings. A very enjoyable read. Thanks.
¡Moooola! ¡Yo tambien quiero!
Poca gente escribe en español por aquí, parece…
Bad Astronomy rules!
Pretty good odds.
Me. Want. Flying. Saucer. Book. BAD!
Nice!
I’m an alien… I’m searching for my flying saucer… I need this book!
I am also a geek and would totally enjoy that book.
I, for one, welcome the pending e-mail from Nigerian princes.
lets try my luck.
I have “Death” but have not yet read it. That won’t disqualify me will it?
Hooray free geeky stuff!
Consider this a placeholder for some really witty comment that I would have written if I’d had more time.
I like books, me.
I would love this book. Trying my luck!
Let’s se if i am lucky.
I’m having a nerdgasm just thinking about getting that book in my hands!
I can haz book?
I needs me some Saucer Fleet
As dirty Harry says “Do you feel lucky?”
As my lottery friend says “It don’t pay if you don’t play”
Lets see if this roll of the dice works
I guess this is the closest thing to a third Plait book.
me want book, me hungry for saucers nom nom nom!
Count me in!
Gee, sure I’d love a free book about saucers!
Pleeeeeeze!
Ohohohohoh pick me!
If not me, then I hope the limerick writer wins, that’s funny!
I’d like to get it!
That’s a lot of comments. Come on, lucky number six hundred-something!
Heck, I figure if I own War of the Worlds (George Pal version) on LaserDisc, then I am geeky enough to want this book. (Does it come with the toys pictured?)
That sounds awesome. I’ll probably pick this up even if I don’t win.
Free book for me?
…Well, I might as well make a post. The book sounded interesting when you mentioned it in an earlier entry.
I’m curious how you’re going to generate a random number between 1 and 654. Inclusive. So far.
Me likey likey Flying Saucer Book!
I feel kind of dirty making this my first post. Long time reader, but I usually lack the astronomy knowledge to comment. Anyway, do you send the book everywhere, or did I miss the usual “Only Americans and Canadians need apply”?
WOW – I am glad I decided to check out what’s been added to your blog over the last few days… I would have kicked myself if I had read about this too late!
Oooh. I’m glad I decided to check this out. I’ll have to get the companion rocket book sometime, as well. So cool.
I’m already building a new bookshelf just for this one!
A book about flying saucers? I’m interested in filling up bookshelf space with such a read. Though, I would like to know about the book about flying teacups to go along with it.
Beware of bounds errors on your random number algorithm!
Yes! Yes! Yes! please……
Is it a cook book?
I’d love a copy of the book.
Of *course* I want this book!
Dennis
“I want to belive!”
No. Wait… Wrong reference.
I want the book!
637 comments sofar…Damn! A lot of people want this book. Count me in! Sounds like an interesting read…
I’m eligible because I’m not a friend – but I am a big fan! I’d love the book. -Marty
How is babby formed?
J. D.
I am a geek, a friend to cephalopods, and I want to win this book
Phil, you are a (moon)rock star man.
If for no other reason than the fact that it includes “This Island Earth” I want that book.
Sounds like an awesome book. Unfortunately I’m at the mercy of the RNG.
A free book you say.
Oh, yes, random number… pick me!
This book is a perfect example of @BadAstronomy doing good for the world.
Woot!
Please select me as the winner of The Saucer Fleet. If I win I promise to tweet and retweet “Phil Plait is way cooler than Rebecca Watson” (or other way cool skeptic of your choice). I’ll be watching for the UPS guy to arrive. Thanks!
Please sir . . . may I have a book?
Woo hoo! Winning this book would be so cool!
aiz needz da coapy of dis buuk dat iz kurantly in ur poezeshun. kthnxbai.
Since the book cover prominently features United Planets Cruiser C-57D, it’s a must have!
I LOVED these movies as a kid – and still do! I hope I win!!
He plays the violin
He tucks it right under his chin
and he bows, oh he bows
for he knows, how he knows
That it’s hi hi hi diddle diddle
It’s my heart, Tom and his fiddle
My strings are unstrung
Hi hi hiiii
I am undone
i need something to read during my next autopsy.
I’m a huge nerd, I mean sci fi enthusiast and love flying saucers. In fact, I have a flying saucer sitting on my desk at work. A miniature replica of the “Lost In Space” saucer. As a member of The Mars Society, I dream of going to Mars in one. Not only that, I built a ship for my sock puppets. Hows that for undeniable geekdom and intellectual superiority?
Major Sci-Fi and Forbidden Planet fan. Want.
Mars needs more flying saucer instruction manuals!
Would love to have the book!
I need readin’ between shifts at McSwiney’s.
Need… book… please?
Do I feel lucky? Do I?
I have to admit, that I’m interested in the book. Sign me up.
Hey Phil, I just ordered your latest book on Amazon. That should give me a leg up, right?
So, what *do* you do with all the info you collect about your readers with these contests?
Wow, I just read this, and it’s not too late… What are the odds that the last number will be chosen? Oh, the same as any other, that’s good
My birthday is in seven days, and if I can’t get DftS for it, well… Perhaps this works.
Hey Phil, would love to have this book so I can set it on the shelf next to my autographed copy of The Pluto Files!
I am a geek in a geek-less country, Please send this poor South African a small little bit of geek.
Book. Want.
Right now I’m listening to the interview with the authors on The Space Show (www.thespaceshow.com). It runs for almost two hours and is a very entertaining program. I’d love to have this book!
Who what? A contest with no restrictions on country/region/anything? And the prize is an interesting book?
Who could resist?
Mmmm…Saucers….
I’m too old for that sort of thing…
Not!
Oh, please, pick me!
She blinded me with science!
I do not like my chances here.
Oh, I do so hope I win this great book on dinnerware.
The odds are slim now. Maybe if I look up long enough . . . naaaaahhh.
Sure, I’d like the book. My alien masters insist on removing it from circulation.
I want that book… Must be mine…
P(Free Book)->0
This is my super creative entry.
A perfect idea for summer reading. Love the blog.
I love your blog. Very cool stories.
I can always use a free book
Ooo, I need a book about the frisbee armada.
I loves me some flying saucers! And it looks like my odds of winning are about 18000 times better than winning the lottery! Woo hoo.
This book looks awesome, I already have a space on my bookshelves cleared out for it
I am not at all a friend of the Bad Astronomer, but I think we’d get along well in real life if we did know each other. Hopefully the random number generator generates the number which corresponds to this reply!
Sure, why not
Wow a guide book to all those alien crafts whilst watching all those alien crafts.
Anything to increase my library.
The only real flying saucers are in movies (and books), so I really want this book!
Clear skies, Alan
The Saucer people told me to post right here and right now!
I work at a book store, but a free book beats my employee discount.
I like my chances here.
Yayyy, I’m a geek, and a regular reader and commenter, so I may as well throw my name (and valid e-mail address) in the hat!
Does this book contain as many atrocious puns as Death from the Skies? If so, I definitely want it.
I would like that *fictional* book, please.
Here’s to fate.
If truth is stranger than fiction, does that make the author of DftS stranger than these authors?
well, the book looks absolutely sweet, so I’m gonna try and see if I’m lucky
Somehow I missed this blog post, thanks for posting a reminder!
And what Claire said a few comments above =)
I enjoy free books best.
Good relations with the Wookiees, I have.
ffs. wrong thread
Looks like a fun book! I want a copy!!
I’m a saucer nut and would love a copy
Woo. Free stuff! Good luck everyone.
Super karate monkey death car!
I would welcome a chance to read the propaganda of our new alien masters.
I’m entering. As is my custom, I wait until there’s almost no time remaining for a task to be accomplished….
Looks cool!
I’m a geek and I want this book!
Just finished Death, very enjoyable. I need a new book to read.
Me too, I want it.
I’m a winner already! I think.
Yes! I am a geek and I want this book!
Frakkin shiny! Can you throw in a thermin as well for some ethereal mood music to read it by?
Peace
I seem to have missed the original post.
And I think I am really close before the deadline…
Let’s hope!
I love me some free stuff!
May I have some book please?
I am in the Mountain Time zone also. Thank you for your consideration.
WTB Book, PST.
Dear Phil,
You’re a great guy who I will continue to read and learn from in the future, a future only imperceptibly dimmed by my not being likely to win the book.
Robert MacDonald
May I also have the book please?
Sounds like a very interesting book!
I am an ubergeek and I would really really like this book….!!!please Mr BA…!!!
The book looks pretty interesting, I’m game!
Gimme da book if you know what’s good for you. I know where you live.
wow. Someone wrote it in binary
Ahem: quiero el libro.
Cool book. Cool site.
Hi.
I bet some of those would make great scale subjects for my model rocket collection.
I’m in it to win it!
This sure is a long comment thread.
If only I had the algorithm for your pseudorandom number generator, I could be assured of winning this book and keeping my saucer friends’ plans for world domination safe. Ha, ha, ha….Keep it up BA—love the skeptic twist to your posts/emails.
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