I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

TAGS: 

  • http://twitter.com/nihiofkdi nihi

    We demand to be taken seriously!

  • http://twitter.com/digitalArtform Joseph Francis

    As a kid whenever I went to a public library the first stop was always seven ninety-three point eight.

  • TheKaz1969

    Ok, they convinced me.. and I want to see “real magicians”… but… I have no idea where to go to see them…

  • http://mattdm.org/ Matthew Miller

    The sad music is pretty funny. Also, I’m enjoying blanking out the word “magic” as I listen, to be later filled in with whatever other poor misunderstood thing.

    • http://mattdm.org/ Matthew Miller

      Also, isn’t “the public really doesn’t know what magic is” the entire point of magic for the last 100,000 years or so?

  • Neural Kernel

    Why would a practice based entirely on deception have a PR problem? Deception and secrecy… dig your own way out.

  • http://mattdm.org/ Matthew Miller

    This whole thing is awesomely rife with self-parodying quotes.

    “In general I think there is a sense among, you know, actors and ballet dancers and filmmakers that magicians can buy an act. And, you know, they’re not wrong!”

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/DCHHJTFZNIE3G7UMTQU7ZASSTI Alistair

    i still thrill to a well presented card trick or mind reading, but sawing a lady in half? come on!

  • Edward Brennan

    Watch the woman disappear. Or as a magician never appear. Magic has a problem treating women as either eye candy assistants or, as in this video, completely non-existent. So even a middle aged guy like me, sort of wonders about an art form that seems to have this sort of trouble. It makes it hard to concentrate on the illusion when magicians have the same problem classic clowns do- they, and their tradition, comes across as sexually creepy.

    I love great magic and illusions. I know there are plenty of talented people out there doing it. But the sleazy sexualized magician is the main problem. 

  • Kezaezy Hansen

    Jobe.

  • Jorpho

    Does he quote Seinfeld?

    “I don’t think anything competes with a magic act for humiliating entertainment value. What is the point of the magician? He comes on, he fools you, you feel stupid, show’s over. You never know what’s actually happened. It’s never explained. And that’s kind of the attitude the magician seems to have as he’s performing. It’s like, “Here’s a quarter. Now it’s gone. You’re a jerk.” Sometimes they ask you to blow on it. There’s something mature adults like to do, blow on a deck of cards. I also love that little pretend look of surprise they do when the trick works. Like, “Oh, I didn’t know that was going to happen myself. I even amaze me.”"