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.

  • Grahamers2002

    Watch the news story discussing the controversy and then tell me how you pronounce the work “film.”

    • Metostopholes

       ”Fil-im”, obviously. How else would you pronounce it?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tom-McCann/807745781 Tom McCann

       Nice to hear it pronounced correctly for a change: the way I was taught to pronounce it.

  • http://profiles.google.com/speedracer3gfp Harvey Chapman

    For me and your other non-Irish reader, what’s a LEAVING CERTIFICATE or alternatively, what is this movie about?

    • theophrastvs

      yeah, i had to look that one up m’self (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaving_Certificate_%28Ireland%29 ) i’m sure there is room to quibble (across such vastly disparate cultures), but essentially it’s a high school diploma (and the exams necessary to qualify for it)

      • Tordel Back

        Indeed, formerly the equivalent of a school-leaving diploma, it became a grueling set of exams in 7-9 subjects, the results of which are the sole determinant of whether you can go on to Third Level or not: the college entrance system in Ireland takes no account of any other factor beyond points acquired in these exams, there was no consideration for extra-curricular, for interview, for specific aptitude, virtually no continual assessment (beyond some oral language exams), nothing but a fortnight-or-so of nationally administered exams.  Effectively the sole product of your time from 4/5 to 17/18, and a cause of horrific stress for a lot of kids.  Or at least it was in my happily distant day.  Naturally the whole thing was virtually meaningless measured over the span of your life, but when it’s facing you…

        Love the irony of the Anglo Irish Bank sponsorship, the failed bank that’s ruined all our futures.

        EDIT: Occurs to me that there’s one other major aspect furriners mightn’t pick up on: almost all the adults in the film are played by famous-at-the-time-by-Irish-standards entertainment types: pop-stars, radio dj’s, soap stars and even the late great author Maureen Potter. Some great music too, especially Something Happens’ classic Parachute over the end-credits.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=702056112 Tina King

      I think it’s like the SATS- like you have to pass to graduate highschool

      • Cornan_KotW

        I believe you’re confusing standardized testing with the SATs. You do not have to pass the SAT test in order to graduate from high school. The SAT tests are entrance exams for college. While the tests are often studied for during high school they are not a requirement for graduation.

        Many states DO have standardized testing requirements though, which are functionally similar.

  • euansmith

    I was expecting something like “Dead Man’s Curve”; but rather enjoyed this all the same.