Vox Day publishes book with near-identical cover to John Scalzi’s latest, declares victory

I’m sure there’s an IP lawyer somewhere salivating all over this potential lawsuit.

…What the hell?

I literally ran into “Redshirts” yester-fucking-day at a bookstore and got it because the first five pages interested me and I liked the concept. I actually did a couple double-checks to make sure it was the same John Scalzi.

Not gonna lie, I liked it. Made me think a lot about the nature of fiction and fictional universes. Makes me feel guilty about the numbers of NCR soldiers and other unnamed people I’ve killed across my New Vegas playthroughs. DAMN IT. And then there’s my adoration for Star Trek.

I dunno if I’m going to buy his new book because I’m making a conscious effort to read science fiction written by people using “feminine” pen names (And I’ve had some excellent results there) but he’s a good author.

And there’s nothing more pathetic of a strategy than imitating someone else. Your own terrible ideas should be able to stand on their own – if they can’t, you’re done. You can “claim victory” all you want, but it doesn’t matter if you’re standing on an aircraft carrier with a gigantic “mission accomplished” banner behind you – if you haven’t won, your claim means nothing.

Another book I ran into at the bookstore was a compilation called “Dangerous Women” which was eight new stories supposedly featuring “strong” women characters, with a foreword and starring story written by George R.R. Martin. Yes, that one. Mr. “rape-as-drama” himself. The back blurb really came across as misunderstanding the nature of strength itself in terms of being a fictional character, not to mention how inappropriate it was for arguably any men to be involved in that project (There were three “feminine” pen names, so I’m led to assume there were three women writing in that compilation. I’m probably wrong). It just irritated the hell out of me.

Jokes on Vox Day, i found a new author i want to read.

sooooo… he intentionally set himself up in a perfect position for Scalzi to sue him if he should so desire?
BRILLIANT MANEUVER
Beale doesn’t even have the defense of parody. he’s only attempting to create consumer confusion.
SO RATIONAL

The ways of the Dark Lord Gossage-Vardebedian are too subtle for our mortal minds to comprehend.

That’s what he tells everyone, often, and at length.

It’s often said that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

That’s absolute bullcrap, by the way.

But let’s look at the Amazon description here . . .

Johan Kalsi is Finland’s hottest science fiction author. An accomplished geneticist as well as a 6’3″ ex-Finnish Marine, in CORROSION, Kalsi shows himself to be more Asimovian than Asimov himself. CORROSION marks his English-language debut.

Oh dear, that can’t be good.

One gets the distinct impression that Johan Kalsi doesn’t really exist. For shame: One would at least expect Beale to put effort into making up a Scalzi foil instead of using the same copypasta every other internet Navy SEAL known to man has used since the first message board was regrettably activated.

I’d also bet money that the art assets in the cover are also stolen, as its clear there’s been some Photoshop work. The two planets are actually the same object but with one larger, superimposed upon the other and rotated with some of the lighting adjusted. The two land masses/clouds between the ‘P’ and the ‘I’ of, ‘EMPIRE’ are clearly visible in a different position on the upper planet just above the ‘I’ and ‘N’ of ‘CORRODING’. And before you ask: Yes, yes I did check that out in MS Paint after noticing the similar landmasses. The cover image is attributed to, “Cloud” within the book, which is a rather nebulous credit, and searches of pink nebulae are returning foggy results at best.

Even the most detailed spaceship looks like something lifted from a RTS’ concept art, which reminds me: Must all spaceships look the same? Is there some reason they can’t be more sensibly aligned like with their decks perpendicular to the axis of thrust ala Battletech and The Expanse? Even in the context of freely available artificial gravity, it doesn’t make sense!
Though thinking about it, watching a few Lyran Alliance light lance of Atlases rain down from an Overlord-class DropShip to punish Beale for his asshattery is a most amusing thought. More amusing than this book, I’m sure. Heck, given a week, I could probably write that into a plausible (and lore friendly) novel, which is more time than was probably spent on, “The Corroding Empire” or whatever.

@ Scolar Visari
Finland has been mentioned! Torilla tavataan!

@Sinkable John, @Makroth — and so many of the roofs you can build have holes in them. Has no one noticed that it’s started raining again?

Johan Kalsi is Finland’s hottest science fiction author. An accomplished geneticist as well as a 6’3″ ex-Finnish Marine, in CORROSION, Kalsi shows himself to be more Asimovian than Asimov himself. CORROSION marks his English-language debut.

LOL

“Finland-based” Castalia House lists a couple dozen authors, none of whom seem to be Finnish (although someone might be using a fake name). They claim those authors have been translated (all from English, I presume) into 10 or so languages in total but the Castalia bookstore only shows a fairly limited selection of English language titles.

Also, it was previously mentioned that Castalia House is based in Kouvola, a small traffic junction town best known for having several outgoing railways 🙂

@IgnoreSandra

Another book I ran into at the bookstore was a compilation called “Dangerous Women” which was eight new stories supposedly featuring “strong” women characters, with a foreword and starring story written by George R.R. Martin. Yes, that one. Mr. “rape-as-drama” himself. The back blurb really came across as misunderstanding the nature of strength itself in terms of being a fictional character, not to mention how inappropriate it was for arguably any men to be involved in that project (There were three “feminine” pen names, so I’m led to assume there were three women writing in that compilation. I’m probably wrong). It just irritated the hell out of me.

Eight? The copies I’ve seen have got 21 stories in them, 11 of which are by women. I’d particularly recommend Pat Cadigan and Melinda Snodgrass, the others I’m either not familiar with or not a fan.

Also, lemme know if you want recommendations for sci-fi written by women, I’ve got plenty.

LOL

“Finland-based” Castalia House lists a couple dozen authors, none of whom seem to be Finnish (although someone might be using a fake name). They claim those authors have been translated (all from English, I presume) into 10 or so languages in total but the Castalia bookstore only shows a fairly limited selection of English language titles.

Also, it was previously mentioned that Castalia House is based in Kouvola, a small traffic junction town best known for having several outgoing railways

It’s for tax purposes. Or something.

Trying to understand the Dark Lord Gossage-Vardebedian’s business model is a baffling ordeal and one I suggest avoiding.

Speculation on who Kalsi is serving as the nome de plume for is rampant among Puppy-watchers–a growing consensus is that the name is an umbrella under which several of Castalia House’s resident “talent” have gathered, including quite possibly the Dark Lord Gossage-Vardebedian himself…

@IgnoreSandra

I dismissed the entire thing because of that. Like, it’s hugely inappropriate for him to be involved in anything that portrays itself as feminist.

Oh, not arguing, I was just wondering if there was an abridged edition or something. I haven’t read it for basically that reason, plus a number of the authors are ones whose work I specifically dislike. (including Martin)

I think I would. I’ve read some of Lois McMaster Bujold

I’m a huge fan. Her fantasy is also good.
Tanya Huff’s Confederation of Valor series is good military sf; space marines, laser battles, and Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr kicking ass around the galaxy. Also recommend the Blood* (PI who solves supernatural mysteries in Toronto )books and the sequel series starring some of her friends.

Nnedi Okorafor is good, I particularly liked Lagoon* (Aliens land in Lagos) and Binti, which follows the first member of the Himba people to go yo Galactic university (there’s a sequel but I haven’t read it yet)

Wen Spencer’s Ukiah Oregon* series involvesa young man learning that he’s an alien and the prize in a centuries-old war. Her Elfhome* series is about a teenaged inventor, and her adventures through a near future Pittsburgh which spends most of its time in another universe.

Nalo Hopkinson does great cyberpunk (Brown Girl in the Ring*), and Midnight Robber** is a wonderful mythic sci-fi that I can’t really describe (you can Google a summary but that won’t do it justice) but definitely recommend.

In particular, there was this fantasy book about Sherlock Holmes’ niece that I thought was kinda amazing. What was it? Oh yeah. “A Study in Silks” by Emma Jane Holloway.

Ah, you might like Viola Carr’s Electric Empire series (begins with The Diabolical Miss Hyde); Dr. Eliza Jekyll solves mysteries in an alternate London, struggling with and aided by her bad side.

Everfair* by Nisi Shawl gives a steampunk Congo with the aid of Fabian socialists.

More later if you want

Content notices, and depressed that there’s so many
* CN: sexual assault/rape
**CN: CSA

@IgnoreSandra

Just curious but what do you think is problematic about R.R. Martin’s work is problematic? Honest question, I think he has done rather well ith portraying female characters positively in both traditional and non traditional roles.

Vox Dayvil, literature’s Asylum Movies.