tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-218983252024-03-07T22:41:59.814-05:00When You Stop Believing in It, It Doesn't Go AwaySporadically Updated Online Home of Alex IrvineAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.comBlogger679125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-32503189576984133982018-10-31T01:55:00.001-04:002018-10-31T01:55:16.136-04:00New HomeOver the next few days (by which I probably mean weeks) I'm going to be moving away from this blog to a spiffy <a href="http://alex-irvine.com/" target="_blank">new online home</a>. Stop by and say hi, won't you?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-4669212137517337812018-10-11T11:49:00.001-04:002018-10-11T11:49:11.923-04:00October Baseball!Sox-Astros, Dodgers-Brewers. Any combination of those four teams will make for a terrific World Series. Will it be a rematch of last year's Dodgers-Astros thriller...or a rematch of the 1916 tilt between Babe Ruth's Sox and the Brooklyn Robins (also known as Dodgers)? Or will the Brewers finally lift their first World Series trophy in their first appearance since 1982, when they were in the American League?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwb6qtbb142d2LaFNm9BRjInVR62vuRtRpWtr7eJvLU-x7F9js396HktlFzikGyKdSTVMsj9IaT4WaNHinaZ4NJv8gK4fgVmwU6FtIxHboC6iZH9TO1ktRXu0lxTbjkw6GSrkQow/s1600/Screenshot+2018-10-11+11.21.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1356" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwb6qtbb142d2LaFNm9BRjInVR62vuRtRpWtr7eJvLU-x7F9js396HktlFzikGyKdSTVMsj9IaT4WaNHinaZ4NJv8gK4fgVmwU6FtIxHboC6iZH9TO1ktRXu0lxTbjkw6GSrkQow/s320/Screenshot+2018-10-11+11.21.28.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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In honor of the season, the American Booksellers Association has just released its <a href="https://www.bookweb.org/news/october-2018-indie-baseball-bestseller-list-107255" target="_blank">baseball bestseller list</a>, with <i><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780399578946" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i> making the final four. Stop by your local bookstore, or order now and you'll have it in plenty of time for the World Series. (Or plenty of time to stop wondering what you'll get that certain someone for Christmas...)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-25276749814838248462018-08-03T13:04:00.002-04:002018-08-03T13:04:49.456-04:00Roundup: Interviews, New Short StoriesI feel like I've done a lot of talking over the past couple of months, mostly about <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Story-Baseball-History-Making/dp/0399578943/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i>. If you care to listen to some of those conversations, here are links:<br />
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WBUR's "<a href="http://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2018/07/06/comic-book-baseball" target="_blank">Radio Boston</a>," with Anthony Brooks<br />
"<a href="http://baseballbythebook.libsyn.com/episode-150-the-comic-book-story-of-baseball" target="_blank">Baseball by the Book</a>," with Justin McGuire<br />
"<a href="https://radiopublic.com/beyond-the-trope-6rNdNa/ep/s1!c98e9" target="_blank">Beyond the Trope</a>," with Giles Hash (Tomm Coker's on this one too!)<br />
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I also talked about life as a tie-in writer with Minister Faust, on <a href="https://player.fm/series/mf-galaxy/alex-irvine-on-how-not-to-get-jerked-while-writing-tie-in-novels-mf-galaxy-168" target="_blank">MF Galaxy</a>. (Whose novels you should read.)<br />
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On the short fiction front, the new issue of <a href="http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/issues/aug-2018-issue-99/" target="_blank">Lightspeed Magazine</a> contains a new story of mine, "The Atonement Path." Also, if you missed it back at the end of May, my short story <a href="https://www.tor.com/2018/05/30/black-friday-alex-irvine/" target="_blank">"Black Friday"</a> is up at Tor.com.<br />
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And, as always, there's more stuff cooking on the various creative fronts. Stay tuned...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-85327922635683157832018-07-16T10:36:00.000-04:002018-07-16T10:36:39.199-04:00Where I'll Be at SDCC<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's where I'm signing and paneling at San Diego Comic-Con this year. If you happen to be at the show, stop by and say hi at any of these times!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">THURSDAY</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1pm <i>Marvel Games Panel</i>, Hall H</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Get an inside look at the latest and greatest from Marvel Games. Attendees will see exciting sneak peeks of <i>Marvel's Spider-Man</i>, <i>Marvel Powers United VR</i>, and <i>Marvel Battle Lines</i>, with many unannounced surprises and panel exclusives. Host Greg Miller (loudmouth at KindaFunny.com) will be joined by Mike Jones (vice president & executive producer, Marvel Games), Bill Rosemann (executive creative director, Marvel Games), Bryan Intihar (creative director, Insomniac Games, Marvel's Spider-Man), and others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6pm <i>Infectiously Expanding the Universe of Tom Clancy's The Division 2</i>, room 6BCF</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tom Clancy's The Division 2</i> creative director Julian Gerighty and other members of the team take you on a journey through what it takes to bring the post-pandemic world of <i>The Division 2</i> to life in-game. Learn how the Division narrative is constructed with the vision of expanding through comic books, novels, and other entertainment.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">FRIDAY</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10am <i>The Power of the Nonfiction Graphic Novel</i>, room 32AB</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In recent years, the nonfiction genre has given graphic novels a real home in mainstream pop culture. From <em>Maus</em> to <em>Persepolis, Fun Home</em> to <em>March,</em> nonfiction graphic novels are winning awards, being adapted into a multitude of other genres, and getting into the hands of a whole new generation of readers. But what does the future of the nonfiction graphic novel genre look like? What stories still need to be told, and what are creators excited to be working on and sharing right now? Panelists Thi Bui (<em>The Best We Could Do</em>), Abby Howard (<em>Ocean Renegades!</em></span>), Alex Irvine (<em>The Comic Book Story of Baseball</em>), Clifford Johnson (<em>The Dialogues</em>), and Peter Tomasi (<em>The Bridge</em>) answer these questions and more with Travis Langley (<em>Daredevil Psychology</em>).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">11:30am Post-panel signing, Autograph area AA09 -- This is with the rest of the nonfiction GN panelists, but I'm sure we'll all sign other stuff too!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3pm Signing <i>Halo: Collateral Damage</i> (and whatever else you might bring) at the Dark Horse booth, 2615 -- along with Tyler Jeffers, Jody Houser, Jonathan Wayshak, and maybe some others!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">SATURDAY</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fish tacos</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-92104195108727494602018-07-07T12:06:00.000-04:002018-07-07T12:06:13.474-04:00Talking Baseball on WBUR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9780399578946_p0_v1_s550x406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9780399578946_p0_v1_s550x406.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
Yesterday I had the good fortune to appear on WBUR's "Radio Boston" with Anthony Brooks, talking about <i>The Comic Book Story of Baseball</i>. If you missed the show, don't fret! It's archived on <a href="http://www.wbur.org/radioboston/2018/07/06/comic-book-baseball" target="_blank">WBUR's web site</a>.<br />
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And if that conversation whets your appetite for the book, pick it up from <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780399578946" target="_blank">your local bookseller</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Story-Baseball-History-Making/dp/0399578943" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, or <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-comic-book-story-of-baseball-alex-irvine/1126396647?ean=9780399578946#/" target="_blank">B&N</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-54388180923797895422018-05-22T13:05:00.000-04:002018-05-22T13:05:38.712-04:00Things I Wish I Could Have Gotten into the Comic Book Story of Baseball, Part 1Having only 176 pages to work with, I couldn't come close to cramming in every baseball story I wanted to tell. So, to get some of these regrets off my chest, I'll post once in a while about other great baseball-related stuff I ran across while researching <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Story-Baseball-History-Making/dp/0399578943" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i>...but couldn't get into the final book.<br />
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Here are the first three:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4Zk3LVBUC7InI_4X6AUp1fYY3h4jEK8Wb4H-Ljo8IC5x7LrFQCgD0h-5jdhMnaj94NYvDxnKKP1UkQw0b_WgPBYdfOSbwzT_tI0QQ9bNSTxfwuH4BesT3YPgJ-wB5i3WUhuJLg/s1600/largethumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4Zk3LVBUC7InI_4X6AUp1fYY3h4jEK8Wb4H-Ljo8IC5x7LrFQCgD0h-5jdhMnaj94NYvDxnKKP1UkQw0b_WgPBYdfOSbwzT_tI0QQ9bNSTxfwuH4BesT3YPgJ-wB5i3WUhuJLg/s1600/largethumb.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://comicbookplus.com/?dlid=41543" target="_blank">Baseball Comics #1</a>, Will Eisner's sadly ill-fated 1949 attempt to start up an ongoing baseball comic. The story of Rube Rooky and his rough-and-tumble journey from backwoods iceman to the World Series is superb Eisner. (Is there any other kind?)<br />
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<a href="http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Jackie-Mitchell-shaking-hands-with-babe-ruth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Jackie-Mitchell-shaking-hands-with-babe-ruth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The story of <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-woman-who-maybe-struck-out-babe-ruth-and-lou-gehrig-4759182/" target="_blank">Jackie Mitchell</a>, who as a 17-year-old girl struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition while pitching for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. (Although it may have been a publicity stunt.) Two years later, she would sign up for the House of David barnstorming team.<br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Lena_Blackburne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="392" height="298" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Lena_Blackburne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://baseballrubbingmud.com/" target="_blank">Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud</a>, the official mud used to dirty up baseballs before they're used in a game. The exact source of the mud is a secret. It is named after Russell "Lena" Blackburne, a manager and coach for the White Sox and Athletics, who starting applying it to balls in 1938.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-25851877371903549532018-05-14T12:43:00.001-04:002018-05-14T12:43:57.098-04:00Black Friday ArtCheck out this cool <a href="http://kylestecker.com/" target="_blank">Kyle Stecker</a> art for my short story "Black Friday," due to appear May 30 at <a href="http://tor.com/">Tor.com</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9A4ebyCk0NZuXvCovxu7Fb9IsOWOsRubaUzzGPjqpMN1R5LH0FgPwe28AJaRLulGdednyqRzw6ypWS57fcKqKBVgu6r2hJ2nyt2s9JB9IB-g-xRkbbmk9x9EqRLiigNAIsP0_5Q/s1600/BlackFridayart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="825" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9A4ebyCk0NZuXvCovxu7Fb9IsOWOsRubaUzzGPjqpMN1R5LH0FgPwe28AJaRLulGdednyqRzw6ypWS57fcKqKBVgu6r2hJ2nyt2s9JB9IB-g-xRkbbmk9x9EqRLiigNAIsP0_5Q/s320/BlackFridayart.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-62634728521888583732018-05-08T06:03:00.000-04:002018-05-08T06:03:13.489-04:00Play Ball!<i>The Comic Book Story of Baseball</i> is out today! Thanks to Tomm Coker and C.P. Smith for making it look so good, Jason Yarn for his indefatigable agenting, Patrick Barb and Chloe Rawlins for their sharp editorial and design work -- and you for reading.<br />
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What's that, you say? You would like to purchase a copy? Well, here's a way to <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=comic+book+story+of+baseball" target="_blank">find the book at your local independent bookseller via IndieBound</a>.<br />
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Or here's the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Story-Baseball-History-Making/dp/0399578943" target="_blank">Amazon link</a>.<br />
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And if you're going to pick it up at a comic shop (it won't be there until tomorrow), here's a handy <a href="https://www.comicshoplocator.com/storelocator" target="_blank">Comic Shop Locator</a>.<br />
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Need some convincing? Here are a few early reviews...<br />
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“Marvel comics veterans Coker and Smith deliver powerful graphics, tinted lightly with color for a marvelous vintage effect, while Irvine orchestrates a brief, masterly overview of this morale-boosting sport. Fans of any age will love.” -- <i>Library Journal</i><br />
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". . . a lively and accessible chronicle of America’s pastime, with panels that crack and wallop with image and fact." -- <i>Boston Globe</i><br />
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"Heroes, villains, long odds, and tall-tales: baseball history should always be presented in comic book form. <i>The Comic Book Story of Baseball</i> is probably the most accessible history of the game I've ever held in my hands. I'd recommend this little gem to anyone who wants to learn the history of the game and its colorful characters." -- Dirk Hayhurst, former Major League pitcher and author of <i>The Bullpen Gospel</i><br />
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"Two great American art forms collide in <i>The Comic Book Story of Baseball</i>, and the result is a sprawling, comprehensive, tremendously fun look at the national pastime. It’s all here, from the Babe to Buckner, billy goats to Barry Bonds. Writer Alex Irvine and artists Tomm Coker and C.P. Smith exalt baseball’s triumphs while reckoning with its sins, and the result is a rich, thorough history that you’ll return to again and again, just like the grand old game itself." -- Jay Busbee, lead writer for Yahoo SportsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-40405361467537261932018-05-07T11:33:00.000-04:002018-05-07T11:33:45.403-04:00Baseball Countdown NumbersIf you were following along and perhaps wondering who some of the players were in the countdown to <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Story-Baseball-History-Making/dp/0399578943" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i>'s launch, here's a complete list:<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">60<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dallas Keuchel</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">59<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Todd Jones</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">58<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jonathan Papelbon</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">57<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Johan Santana</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">56<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mark Buerhle</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">55<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Orel Hershiser</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">54<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Goose Gossage</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">53<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Don Drysdale</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">52<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>CC Sabathia</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">51<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ichiro Suzuki</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">50<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sid Fernandez</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">49<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ron Guidry</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">48<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Torii Hunter</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">47<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jack Morris</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">46<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lee Smith</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">45<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bob Gibson</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">44<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hank Aaron</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">43<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dennis Eckersley</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">42<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jackie Robinson</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">41<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Tom Seaver</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">40<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oscar Charleston</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">39<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Roy Campanella</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">38<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Curt Schilling</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">37<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Casey Stengel</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">36<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Gaylord Perry</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">35<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rickey Henderson</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">34<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kirby Puckett</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">33<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eddie Murray</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">32<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sandy Koufax</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">31<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dave Winfield</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">30<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Nolan Ryan</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">29<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Toni Stone</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">28<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bert Blyleven</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">27<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Juan Marichal</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">26<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Billy Williams</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">25<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Satchel Paige</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">24<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Willie Mays</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">23<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Kirk Gibson</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">22<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jim Palmer</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">21<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Roberto Clemente</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">20<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Frank Robinson</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">19<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Bob Feller</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">18<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Darryl Strawberry</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">17<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dizzy Dean</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">16<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whitey Ford</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">15<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dick Allen</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">14<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ernie Banks</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">13<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dave Concepcion</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">12<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Roberto Alomar</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">11<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sparky Anderson</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Rusty Staub</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">9<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ted Williams</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">8<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Martin Dihigo</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">7<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mickey Mantle</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stan Musial</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Albert Pujols</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Lou Gehrig</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Babe Ruth</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Buck Leonard</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">1</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Sadaharu Oh</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-71138559651134353702018-04-27T14:17:00.000-04:002018-04-27T14:17:06.145-04:00Walt Whitman and BaseballThis is one of my favorite panels from <i><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=comic+book+story+of+baseball" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i>. (Whitman did say this, and reflected on baseball <a href="https://mlblogsdcdaily.wordpress.com/2006/03/01/3206-walt-whitman-on-baseball/" target="_blank">at other moments as well</a>.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU0xNxduW248fLsEkT8eagRGGpBBRa0ajwq-q0nz6L5G1AZV9YNxOA0E8_IMoO_ybKM-3fHcbpBY2I-QpbiJtU2ekMUAhRBp1tqM1SGXYiT3EwpN-vRpRjrAqjbsC5ecpJaYetA/s1600/waltwhitmanbaseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="455" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU0xNxduW248fLsEkT8eagRGGpBBRa0ajwq-q0nz6L5G1AZV9YNxOA0E8_IMoO_ybKM-3fHcbpBY2I-QpbiJtU2ekMUAhRBp1tqM1SGXYiT3EwpN-vRpRjrAqjbsC5ecpJaYetA/s320/waltwhitmanbaseball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are some more sample spreads at the book's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comic-Book-Story-Baseball-History-Making/dp/0399578943" target="_blank">Amazon page</a>. (But if you can <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=comic+book+story+of+baseball" target="_blank">order local</a>, please do.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-70001239347159543922018-04-16T23:37:00.000-04:002018-04-16T23:37:21.396-04:00Forthcoming Work: Baseball, Halo, StoriesHere's a quick rundown of new stuff I've got coming out in the next few months:<br />
<br />
May 8: <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545463/the-comic-book-story-of-baseball-by-alex-irvine-art-by-tomm-coker-and-c-p-smith/9780399578946/" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i><br />
May 30: "Black Friday," a story on <a href="http://tor.com/">Tor.com</a><br />
June 6: <a href="https://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/3001-926/Halo-Collateral-Damage-1" target="_blank"><i>Halo: Collateral Damage</i> #1</a><br />
July: <i>Halo: Collateral Damage</i> #2<br />
August: <i>Halo: Collateral Damage</i> #3<br />
Sometime in 2018: "The Atonement Path," a story in <i><a href="http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/" target="_blank">Lightspeed</a></i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-42493941425313477422018-03-30T11:16:00.000-04:002018-03-30T11:16:44.370-04:00New Lineup for Yesterday<span style="font-family: inherit;">Inspired by the legendary Ogden Nash doggerel <a href="http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_line.shtml" target="_blank">"Lineup for Yesterday,"</a> and by Opening Day, and by all the research sloshing around in my head from writing <i><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545463/the-comic-book-story-of-baseball-by-alex-irvine-art-by-tomm-coker-and-c-p-smith/9780399578946/" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NEW LINEUP FOR YESTERDAY</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">after Ogden Nash</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A is for Alan, who turned two with Lou</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As well as any pair ever could do.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">B is for Brett, who once hit .390</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But became better known for the pain in his heinie.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">C is for Cabrera, Miguel of renown</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The slowest man ever to win a Triple Crown.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D is for Dewey, whose cannon in right</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Made runners in Fenway hold up out of fright.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">E is for Edgar, DH without peer</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At least until David Ortiz’s career.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">F is for Fernando, the Dodgers’ El Toro</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A legend from Chavez Ravine to Queretaro.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">G is for Gibby, in Detroit and LA</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A World Series hero revered to this day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">H is for Henderson, one of a kind</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As Rickey would tell you, sure, Rickey won’t mind.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I is for Ichiro, needing only one name</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And hit after hit to add to his fame.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">J is for Jeter, despite his numb glove</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Yankee that haters of Yankees could love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">K is for Kid, not Williams but Griffey</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whose hitting was epic and fielding was spiffy.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">L is for Larkin, the Cincy shortstop</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A true model sportsman, the cream of the crop.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">M is for Maddux, and Murray and Manny</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s poetic injustice! The M’s are so many!</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">N is for Nolan, the Ryan Express</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seven no-hitters stand out from the rest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">O is for Ozzie, the Wizard so-called</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whose backflips and dives had spectators enthralled.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">P is for Pedro, the littlest ace</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best pound-for-pound, a terror to face.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Q is for Quisenberry, KC’s submariner</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who piled up saves and kept basepaths cleaner.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">R is for Ripken, the new Iron Horse</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2632’s what he’s known for, of course.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">S is for Steroid, the reason is clear</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Why A-Rod and Barry and Big Mac aren’t here.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T is for Thome, whose bat always thundered</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His number of home runs is north of 600.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">U is for Uecker, not much of a catcher</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But a broadcaster and pitchman of much greater stature.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">V is for Verlander, Tiger fireballer</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Detroit or Houston, a sure-fire Hall’er.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">W is for Wade, who found chicken delicious</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">No other great player was so superstitious.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">X is for Expos, who found Montreal</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A place where no one would watch them play ball.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Y is for Yount, the Rockin’est Robin</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Milwaukee just isn’t the same without him.</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And Z is for Zim, a forgettable player</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But a memorable coach and dugout soothsayer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-73852823829514742442018-03-27T12:05:00.000-04:002018-03-27T12:05:39.906-04:00Out Today<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPajZ905QAZd4qbygEbqqPhBjUFiiExGKKnm7xFe1RR9brvUrFZ63LuZG4AAZcps9dn6X4GqsMaDY5bF3TQyK3UnyMRPompORuUzjOMq0YA2EWR-n2DoXBTD0p-_lj-JNB8E1Giw/s1600/pruprisingcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="975" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPajZ905QAZd4qbygEbqqPhBjUFiiExGKKnm7xFe1RR9brvUrFZ63LuZG4AAZcps9dn6X4GqsMaDY5bF3TQyK3UnyMRPompORuUzjOMq0YA2EWR-n2DoXBTD0p-_lj-JNB8E1Giw/s400/pruprisingcover.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-8610530698128739052017-09-15T19:29:00.000-04:002017-09-15T19:29:09.996-04:00The Comic Book Story of BaseballLook at this beauty of a cover for <i><a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545463/the-comic-book-story-of-baseball-by-alex-irvine-art-by-tomm-coker-and-cp-smith/" target="_blank">The Comic Book Story of Baseball</a></i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9780399578946" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9780399578946" width="224" /></a></div>
<br />
It's a full-length graphic history of the game from stool ball through yesterday's box scores, with art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tommcoker/" target="_blank">Tomm Coker</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cp.smith/" target="_blank">C.P. Smith</a>. I'll share pages as I can, but right now I'm basking in the cover (and wondering if the Indians are ever going to lose).<br />
<br />
The book is out May 8 from Ten Speed Press, but you can <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545463/the-comic-book-story-of-baseball-by-alex-irvine-art-by-tomm-coker-and-cp-smith/" target="_blank">preorder it now</a> through the retailer of your choice via <a href="http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/545463/the-comic-book-story-of-baseball-by-alex-irvine-art-by-tomm-coker-and-cp-smith/" target="_blank">this Penguin Random House page</a>.<br />
<br />
If you are a baseball journalist, broadcaster, player, or marketing person, hit me up on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alexandercirvine" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/alexirvine" target="_blank">@alexirvine</a>) and I'll try to make sure you get a copy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-45277584990891080092017-01-19T22:07:00.000-05:002017-01-19T22:07:07.808-05:00An Inauguration Fiction<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">NEIGHBOR</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">There wasn’t much of a fuss. They came by and took my neighbor in. His name was Abdul, he was from Afghanistan, used to tell me stories about fighting the Soviets. One time he was drunk and showed me some bullet scars. We were talking soccer another time and he said he watched the 1986 World Cup from a Tehran jail, or maybe it was 1990. I never did find out what he was in for. But anyway, they came for him today. I was outside getting the mail and I saw him walking out with the men. Two of them, and two more waiting by the van. Abdul’s wife Courtney stood on the porch. He’s got a kid, Elijah, used to play with my kids but not so much anymore. They have different interests now. For a minute I thought they were going to take Elijah too, but I guess he was still too young.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I thought about saying something, but at the same time, what do you really know? I mean, people say things. It’s all Wikileaks or the Russians or somebody, I mean who knows. It’s all just a temporary thing. I like Abdul. He’s kind of an asshole sometimes—he got a dog one time and then gave it back to the shelter when it wasn’t housebroken soon enough—but he’s a good neighbor. When his dad died we brought him food, and when our younger children were born he and Courtney brought over some really nice baby outfits. A good guy. Always on me to hire his crew to paint my house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Funny thing is Abdul was good friends with the one serious conspiracy kook on the block, Larry. Larry’s got an arsenal in his basement. He and Abdul used to get together and talk guns. Larry's always all taxes this and immigrants that, loud talk radio coming from his garage all the time like he really needs us to know how he feels about things. Ever notice nobody listens to that stuff at a low volume? But he liked Abdul. Just goes to show you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">They let Abdul finish his cigarette. He stood at the end of his driveway regarding the butt. The four men looked everywhere but at Courtney. “Abdul, hey, man,” I called across the street when he caught my eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">“Alex, my friend,” he said. “Everything okay.” They ducked his head into the van. I almost said something. But what would it have been? I mean, we don’t really know what’s happening.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-34878549913793602322016-12-27T10:54:00.000-05:002016-12-27T10:54:08.662-05:00Science Fiction Becomes Reality, Part the ZillionthThis is an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/movies/how-rogue-one-brought-back-grand-moff-tarkin.html?_r=1" target="_blank">interesting article in the New York Times</a> about how Lucasfilm worked through the various issues involved in (SPOILER ALERT) using digitally recreated dead (Peter Cushing) and younger (Carrie Fisher) actors in <i>Rogue One</i>. I thought it was pretty cool to see this for a number of reasons, but one of them was that I wrote about this a few years back in <i>Buyout</i> (<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780345494337" target="_blank">IndieBound</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Buyout-Alexander-Irvine-ebook/dp/B002361NFU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482853380&sr=8-1&keywords=irvine+buyout" target="_blank">Amazon</a>). One of the characters in that book is a movie director who exclusively does weird remakes of classic films using digital recreations of dead people.<br />
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Also recently there was news about Mark Zuckerberg using Morgan Freeman as the voice of his house AI. That too happens in <i>Buyout</i>, where the Kindred household AI has Ian McKellen's voice (as Gandalf) and his car persona is John Wayne. It's always fun to see science-fictional imaginings pop up so specifically in real life a few years later -- although I hope <i>Buyout</i>'s central SF premise never comes to pass.<br />
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(I would be remiss if I did not now inform you that the Kindle version of <i>Buyout</i> is only $2.99, so, you know...)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-78799965205298957772016-12-19T14:27:00.000-05:002016-12-19T14:27:36.002-05:00The Far Side of the Moon -- A Junior Library Guild SelectionVery pleased and proud to announce that THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON has the seal of the Junior Library Guild! Now you have even more reason to preorder it!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-81540394335755847312016-11-17T13:10:00.000-05:002016-11-17T13:10:08.636-05:00Something Has Happened<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d2lzb5v10mb0lj.cloudfront.net/covers/300/29/29498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d2lzb5v10mb0lj.cloudfront.net/covers/300/29/29498.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
Halo fans, if you were curious about what that Flood organism was doing aboard the <i>Spirit of Fire</i> at the end of <i>Halo: Escalation</i>...or if you ever wondered what Serina was referring to when she said, "Something has happened" at the end of <i>Halo Wars</i>...<br />
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You can read my story "Something Has Happened" and find out!<br />
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It's the leadoff piece in this terrific new anthology called <a href="http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/29-498/Halo-Tales-from-Slipspace-HC" target="_blank">Halo: Tales from Slipspace</a>. I got my copies yesterday and read the whole thing last night. The stories are cool, and the extra art in the back of the book is excellent added eye candy.<br />
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Check it out at your LCS!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-16262232751949608722016-10-25T11:52:00.000-04:002016-10-25T11:52:00.414-04:00Now You Can Preorder The Far Side of the MoonAttention teachers, science nerds, and lovers of space. Coming in March 2017 from Tilbury House: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Far-Side-Moon-Story-Apollo/dp/0884484521/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477410217&sr=8-1&keywords=far+side+moon+irvine" target="_blank">THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON: THE STORY OF APOLLO 11'S THIRD MAN</a>, a middle-grade graphic novel biography of Michael Collins. Words by me, art by <a href="http://www.bishart.net/" target="_blank">Ben Bishop</a>.<br />
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Preorders make a big difference, especially with small press books. I've included the Amazon link for convenience, but I encourage you to support your local bookseller.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-20788874921364173432016-09-30T09:01:00.000-04:002016-09-30T09:01:36.590-04:00Avengers Alliance, 3/1/2012 - 9/30/2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RRCN6p2lFOP2IpY3WJCKYriKbvXiDWqE_vScL5MCnBV1U9uisVnjqC08CNayCGzoMSU7OUP10gbueWjrT96fpBAsjxq8vhB7-0KxgEtnecfduJtZNjdejbz7pIZ0lxo7kCaTkA/s1600/coulsongoodbyeMAA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RRCN6p2lFOP2IpY3WJCKYriKbvXiDWqE_vScL5MCnBV1U9uisVnjqC08CNayCGzoMSU7OUP10gbueWjrT96fpBAsjxq8vhB7-0KxgEtnecfduJtZNjdejbz7pIZ0lxo7kCaTkA/s320/coulsongoodbyeMAA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-20692347973348797702016-09-28T23:10:00.000-04:002016-09-28T23:10:08.192-04:00DC Encyclopedia Sample PagesThe new <i>DC Encyclopedia</i> is out on October 25, but to whet your appetite here are a couple of teaser pages, yoinked from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Comics-Encyclopedia-All-New-Matthew-Manning/dp/1465453571" target="_blank">the Amazon listing</a>:<br />
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First, a bit of Wonder Woman. I really loved writing this one.<br />
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And a multi-entry spread. Mera! the Metal Men! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-27249045834124146402016-09-08T21:26:00.001-04:002016-09-08T21:27:37.645-04:00Writing Some ZombiesLots of new projects and possibilities simmering. One that I can talk about: I'm doing some writing for <a href="http://www.thewalkingdead.com/roadtosurvival/" target="_blank">The Walking Dead: Road to Survival</a>. If you haven't played this game, you oughta. It's wicked fun.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-63869348673531114752016-09-01T10:25:00.001-04:002016-09-01T10:25:24.015-04:00So Long, Avengers Alliance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, it's been announced. <i>Marvel Avengers Alliance</i> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/avengersalliance/?fref=nf&pnref=story" target="_blank">is going to live at a farm upstate</a>. I turned in the last scripts almost a month ago, and since then I've been thinking back over the whole experience. I started working on <i>Avengers Alliance</i> in October 2010. Back then it was called <i>Agents of S.H.I.E.LD.</i>. Guess why they changed the name? (Actually it's not what you think. They wanted the game to support the Avengers movie. So even though the player was an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., it became an Avengers game. Then when everyone loved Coulson in the Avengers movie, <i>Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.</i>. reappeared as the show's title. Or at least that's the way I remember it.)<br />
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Nearly six years. That's the longest I've ever done any one thing. A close second is teaching at the University of Maine, and <i>Avengers Alliance</i> was actually what let me leave the university with reasonable confidence that I would be able to pay my mortgage. So I am nothing but grateful to the game, and to the rest of the team, and to Marvel/Disney, and to the 75 million or so players who were really the ones who made the whole thing work as well as it did.<br />
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Some numbers: During the course of <i>Avengers Alliance</i>, I wrote 24 chapter scripts and 36 SpecOps scripts, totaling something like 260 missions. Well over 100 characters have speaking roles. My aggregate script is 39,000 lines of dialogue. That's the equivalent of about 40 movie scripts -- or in game terms, about the same as <i>Mass Effect 3</i> or <i>Fallout 3</i>.<br />
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In other words, a whole lot of story for a browser/mobile game. In that respect, I think <i>Avengers Alliance</i> wasn't just fun; it was genuinely ground-breaking. I'm proud to have been part of it.<br />
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The announcement of <i>Alliance</i>'s end comes right as I'm starting a couple of new things. I'm about to start working on at least one other game, and will be talking more about them as things get finalized.<br />
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Also, as of August 29, I'm teaching at the University of Southern Maine. They want to start a game design program (specifically, they're calling it Gaming and Simulation Development) and they've asked me to help get it up and running. I never meant to go back to teaching when I left Orono, but this was too interesting an opportunity to pass up. So, that's how the circle works. I left university teaching to work mostly on games, and then the experience working on games led to another university teaching job.<br />
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And I'm still working on games.<br />
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And writing books.<br />
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And writing comics.<br />
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Life is great. I can't wait to see what comes next.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-1344804008091485932016-08-18T11:28:00.000-04:002016-08-18T11:28:09.141-04:00Hey, Look: The New DC Comics EncyclopediaIt's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1465453571/" target="_blank">listed on Amazon</a> now, so I guess I can say that Matthew Manning and I wrote a new edition of the <a href="http://www.dk.com/uk/9780241232613-dc-comics-encyclopedia-updated-edition/" target="_blank">DC Comics Encyclopedia</a> (though the book's page on the DK website cleverly omits our names).<br />
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It comes out on October 25!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00475792277039230669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21898325.post-8646466432924768842016-07-12T14:48:00.000-04:002016-07-12T14:48:40.482-04:00New Book Announcement: The Far Side of the Moon, an Apollo 11 StoryVery pleased to announce THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON, a graphic novel for middle-grade readers about Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, coming from Tilbury House in March 2017. Words by me, art by Ben Bishop. Catalog page below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh144gKoyiOzbX3eQf557JE5BmwtzJ-aXsG00oW22paJtEm241H0Ke0BdOa1suV_bio0ntwW2I4lpbrTGkf5DwY2lMmenbUo4Ax1LZKdnY310DzDk5TOlQfADlFjcBC1H4DNvTELg/s1600/Mooncatalogpage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh144gKoyiOzbX3eQf557JE5BmwtzJ-aXsG00oW22paJtEm241H0Ke0BdOa1suV_bio0ntwW2I4lpbrTGkf5DwY2lMmenbUo4Ax1LZKdnY310DzDk5TOlQfADlFjcBC1H4DNvTELg/s640/Mooncatalogpage.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
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