Daniel H. Wilson

Zombies Versus Robots

2012-01-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

Giddyup!

Yes! I finally got to write a graphic novel! Well, part of one, anyway. But at least it's in one of my favorite worlds to read -- ZvR. That's right, zombies versus freaking robots!

Working with Chris Ryall over at IDW, I recently crafted a freaky story for the upcoming ZOMBIES VS. ROBOTS: ANNUAL edition, with art by Ash Wood, Sam Kieth, Drew Moss, Andy Kuhn; and stories by yours truly, as well as Chris Ryall, Kevin Grevioux, and Rio Youers.

My story is called "Spooky Shit" and it's inspired by these images I found of soldiers fighting out of foxholes... Throw in some robots and a heaping helping of zombies and you've got some real spooky shit.

Click here to read Chris Ryall's blog about it.

Best of 2011 Lists

2011-12-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

For me, this was the year of the Robopocalypse. The paperback version will be coming out in April 2012, but this was the year I spent months on the road giving book talks, meeting new authors and readers, and generally having a blast in a way that I never thought of when I decided to study robotics. Now that 2011 is winding down, I'm happy to see Robopocalypse appearing on various "best of" lists. Thank you again to everyone who read the book, loved it, and told someone else!

GoodReads Choice Awards: Best Books of 2011

Barnes & Noble Best Books of 2011

Boston Book Bums Top 10 of '11

Robert Gray Best 5 Books of 2011

Next year, AMPED!

ARMORED, coming April 2012!

2011-12-01T15:06:00.001-08:00

I've got a new short story in the upcoming anthology ARMORED. With the only constraint being that the piece had to involve powered armor, I came up with a super sick story that I love. It's called HELMET and it's pure vengeance, plus it stays away from your typical super-soldier story. I can only imagine how badass the rest of the stories are!

Click here to read more about it!

Library Talk

2011-11-30T09:11:00.001-08:00

I'll be at Portland's Central Library this Saturday at 1pm -- talking about the Robopocalypse. If you've got burning questions about the robot rebellion then come on out and have a listen. After all, it's free. :)

Click here for the details.

Goodreads Choice Awards -- Final Round

2011-11-22T09:05:00.001-08:00

A vote for the robots is a vote for your future!

Robopocalypse has made the final cut for the Goodreads Choice Awards. Only ten books left in every category and the robots need your vote! And of course, you earn my heartfelt thanks from rainy Portland.

Click here to vote, and secure a chance at mercy in the inevitable robot apocalypse.

*If you already voted, you have to vote again now for the new round...
** Happy Thanksgiving!

PLEASE VOTE FOR ROBOPOCALYPSE!

2011-11-14T09:31:00.001-08:00

Do Your Part To Fuel The Robot Advance!

BBC News - Fear of the Bot

2011-11-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

Is it weird that the homo sapien is checking out the robot's caboose?

Why are humans afraid of robots?

I occasionally get asked this question, and every time I answer it seems that a new wrinkle pops up. BBC News recently did a piece on the topic, interviewing quite a few really interesting people. (Anybody who builds thinking robot arms that pick people up and shake them around for fun is interesting in my book.) I also contributed my two cents.

Click here to read the article.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2011

2011-11-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

I just learned that Robopocalypse has been nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Science Fiction of 2011!

Did you like the book, too? Well then head on down to Goodreads and give old Robo your vote. The machines will thank you -- by sparing your life.*

Click here to make your vote!

Some more information from the contest:

Readers have three chances to vote:
Opening Round: October 31 – November 13
Voting open to official nominees (that's you) and write-in votes.
Semifinals: November 14 – November 20
We add the top 5 write-ins as official nominees. Additional write-ins no longer accepted.
Finals: November 21 – November 30
The field narrows to the top 10 books in each category.

ABOUT THE NOMINATIONS
We analyzed statistics from the 87 million books added, rated, and reviewed on the site in 2011 to list 15 books in 22 categories--that's 330 nominations. We did not consult a panel of experts or form a secret committee of publishing insiders. Readers know what's good and what's great. These nominations are based on a book's number of ratings and average rating as pegged by the more than 6 million members on Goodreads. So a nomination is truly an honor because it comes from your readers!

* I can't guarantee this.

Incredible News

2011-09-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

Robopocalypse is a go with DreamWorks and Spielberg! I am feeling very happy and thankful today. Plus, you know you have to count your blessings when you get an email like this from your agent:

"The Linda Chester Literary Agency congratulates client Daniel H. Wilson on his remarkable story of human ingenuity. His New York Times bestselling novel, ROBOPOCALYPSE, is a go at Dreamworks and Fox, with Steven Spielberg directing, and we couldn't be more thrilled."

Deadline New York

Hollywood Reporter
Variety
io9.com

Reuters

Robopocalypse movie has release date!

2011-09-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

DreamWorks announced yesterday that the funding situation and release date were all set for Robopocalypse. So, it looks like the movie is really, really coming together. Words can't express how exciting this is for me. And don't even ask me how I'm going to feel on:

July 4th, 2013

The description at io9.com pretty much has all the info. Also, LOVE the comments section!

Spielberg's Robopocalypse Movie Really Happening

Cranking

2011-09-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Whoa, it's been three months since ROBOPOCALYPSE was released! And about a month since the book tour ended. And a while since I posted to the blog... :P

Thought I'd chime in and let the world know that I'm hard at work on my next novel, called AMPED (yes, the book has had a slight renaming). AMPED is slated to come out summer 2012, so I've got to put the finishing touches on it over the next few weeks. ROBO is still selling great and lately more people have started to check out HOW TO SURVIVE A ROBOT UPRISING, which is wonderful! More survivors, you know?

Okay, back to the grindstone...

Mysterious Galaxy

2011-07-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Martians, Murder, Magic, Mayhem.

While I was at Comic-Con I had the good fortune to sign books for local indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy. So, if you are looking for signed copies of Robopocalypse (or any other book, for that matter), Mysterious Galaxy has an incredible selection of signed first editions on hand. Happy hunting!

Click here to visit Mysterious Galaxy

Want to Survive the Robot Apocalypse?

2011-07-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

He looks friendly enough. Right?

Visit the Wandake blog to check out your required reading. Remember: Survivors come prepared!

Click here to read

Behind the Robopocalypse

2011-07-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

What did you say?

Some nice press for Robopocalypse came in today.

GLOBE AND MAIL

First off, the Canadian Globe and Mail has a piece on "The art of making scary robots." They've got a solid interview with some of the background pieces that went into Robo in order to make it as frightening as possible.

Click here to read the Globe and Mail story.

LA TIMES

Meanwhile, Chris Barton at the LA Times has a (slightly snarky) review of Robopocalypse. He calls me the "heir-apparent" to Michael Crichton, which is nice. But he also says other sci-fi authors must be stabbing voodoo dolls of me with needles, which is not as nice to think about.

“A fast-paced and decidedly cinematic novel with chills mixed in with the thrills. Wilson's war includes darkly comic touches, such as the fastidious robots compulsively clearing away the human remains after every attack, and a murderous elevator communicating with its familiar "ding" as it cheerily lures elderly retirees to their deaths. These details add a richly haunting atmosphere to the robots' tactics. Robopocalypse is a crisply efficient and intermittently chilling summer read”

I have to mention, 1) the robots clear away human remains because the machines are built to operate on flat surfaces; they keep the streets clean so they can move, not because it's somehow funny; and 2) the elevator "ding" is kind of funny, but mostly that detail is because I find that inserting ordinary moments into horrific situations increases the terror because the familiar suddenly becomes grotesque. :)

Click here to read the LA Times review.

BLOGGINGHEADS

And finally, I did an in-depth recorded interview with bloggingheads TV that has aired. It goes into why I think self-driving cars are inevitable, what it feels like to sell something to Mr. Spielberg, and why Asimov's three laws don't have anything to do with robotics!

Click here to watch the bloggingheads show.

Oh, Powell's Books

2011-07-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

I'm on my way out the door to go sign a few books up the street at my neighborhood independent bookstore -- Powell's Books. Just thinking to myself how nice it is to have the City of Books right down the road, and to have Robopocalypse as a staff pick on shelves that are only a couple blocks away from where I wrote the dang thing!

Remember: If you want a signed first edition of Robopocalypse -- Powell's is your best bet!

CITY OF BOOKS!

LA Times Bestseller

2011-07-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Back from my book tour, I'm now having a wonderful time tracking the progress of Robopocalypse. I was too frazzled last week to realize that Robo had debuted on the LA Times Bestseller list at #8! This week is has dipped to #15, but still, how rad is that?

California love.

Click here for the full LA Times Bestseller list

Talking 'Bout the Armageddon

2011-07-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

CNet.com has a Q&A up with me, about some of the details behind Robopocalypse. The interview was conducted with my old friend Tim Hornyak, author of Loving the Machine. Tim was also my go-to research source on life in Tokyo while I was writing.

Click here to check it out...

book tour -- University Bookstore Seattle, WA

2011-06-29T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'll be speaking tonight at 7pm PST at the University Bookstore in lovely Seattle, WA. I lived in Seattle for a few years while working for Intel Research (and my degree), and I love this place. Kind of a rougher version of Portland. Anyway, if you're around please come out and experience the Robopocalypse first hand!

Click here for more details.

Robopocalypse is an Amazon Best Book of 2011 (so far...)

2011-06-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Robots ship your orders from Amazon's warehouses...
and they pick their favorite books for the lists.

Amazon.com has a list of the top ten best books of the year (so far), and Robopocalypse is hanging in there with a steely fortitude. Click here to check out the full list!

BookPage digs Robopocalypse

2011-06-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

The folks at BookPage want to help you find your next great book!

Book Talk Tonight -- Tulsa, Oklahoma!

2011-06-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm giving a book talk tonight in my hometown. We're under a heavy thunderstorm warning right now... ah, Oklahoma -- I missed you!

Peekaboo!

New York Times Best Seller!

2011-06-15T15:46:00.001-07:00

This just in...

...Robopocalypse is officially a New York Times Best Seller!!!

Thanks to everyone for buying the book -- and thanks to those who will soon buy it! :)

The ROBOPOCALYPSE is here!

2011-06-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

Oh, hi!

Wow... my first novel is released today!

ROBOPOCALYPSE tells the story of a group of people trying to survive after technology has turned against us. I've been so lucky to get great press so far, and a great push from Doubleday. And it doesn't hurt that Spielberg plans to direct the movie...

Stephen King called it amazing. The New York Times says it’s “an ingenious, instantly visual story.” And Clive Cussler calls it “a brilliantly conceived thriller that could become horrific reality.”

And today -- finally -- you can buy ROBO from any of these fine retailers!

So please, buy Robopocalypse for yourself, your friends, and any family pets!

Robo is Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi Pick of the Month

2011-06-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks, James!

The science fiction and fantasy expert at Barnes and Noble has chosen Robopocalypse as his top book for the month of June.

"Topping my list of June titles is Daniel H. Wilson's Robopocalypse, a cautionary but -- we can only hope -- not prophetic tale about our reliance on technology. While its themes are well worth pondering, what makes it especially apt for summer reading is the action-packed plot that brings them to life..."

Click here to visit Barnes & Noble.

Goodreads

2011-06-03T21:34:00.000-07:00

Only four days left until Robopocalypse goes out!

In the meantime, I realize that I'm awfully lonely on GoodReads.com. I've got 20 friends and they're the best but... if you're on the site, go ahead and say hello!

Click here to visit my author page on GoodReads

video interview for USA Today

2011-05-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Things are heating up for the June 7th release of Robopocalypse. I just got home to Portland from a three day trip to New York City where I visited Book Expo America and sat down to shoot a video interview for USA Today.

Click here to read the USA Today article.

To hear more about what I'm up to, follow my twitter feed @danielwilsonPDX. Fascinating!

headed to book expo america

2011-05-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

ROBOPOCALYPSE comes out June 7th -- only a couple weeks from now! The madness is already starting. I'm excited to be headed to NYC tomorrow to attend my first BEA. The best part is that lots of other authors are going to be there, including some heroes like Margaret Atwood and Chuck Palahniuk. Can't wait...

Meet your favorite Doubleday authors at BEA!

ROBO Video Contest

2011-05-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Submissions are officially closed for the contest. We received an awesomely wide variety of submissions. I'm listing a few here that are also publicly available on YouTube. Keep in mind, these selections in no way reflect who the winners are because that hasn't been decided yet!

There were live-action clips of people straight up dealing with the Robopocalypse...

... and more formal book trailer type submissions...

... and tons of creative stuff that defies explanation.

All in all, I'm incredibly impressed with the creativity and finesse that went into these submissions. Winners will be announced soon!

Make Your Own Robopocalypse Trailer -- Win Cold Hard Cash.

2011-04-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of all-out ROBOPOCALYPSE, Doubleday is planning to welcome our shiny new metal overlords with an appeasing short video -- and they're willing to pay you to create it.

That's right, it's a Video Contest!

Grand Prize: $750
First Prize: $500
Second Prize: $250

The best part is that Doubleday has made some previously in-house materials available to the public, including:

1) High resolution images of the robot that is on the cover of the book.
2) A top-secret audio interview between me and my editor Jason Kaufman (who also edits Dan Brown, no less).
3) A full two chapter excerpt from the book.
4) The font used on the cover of the book.

Full details (and "Contest Assets") are on the video contest page at Facebook.

Show me what you got, humans!

Retro Robots on the Battlefield

2011-03-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

"Maybe the rainbow pattern will make them think it's friendly?"

I've got a piece up at Lightspeed Magazine about how robots have been fighting our wars for more than half a century -- in the form of drones, smart torpedoes, and, basically, sentient guns. Yet we always flatter ourselves with the idea that we are living through a sea change of technology. Wrong again, humans. :)

robo buzz

2011-03-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

Is there such a thing as too brainy?

USA Today put a bit about ROBOPOCALYPSE into the Book Buzz section. Just three more months before the robot apocalypse hits planet earth like a tidal wave of buzz saws. If you want to stay up to date with this madness, you should probably facebook-ify the architect of humankind's demise --> Archos R-14.

Growing Up With Go-bots.

2011-02-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

Go-bots, aka "Transformers for poor kids."

Collectors Weekly, a website devoted to collectibles of all varieties (including awesome toy robots) is running a featured interview with Yours Truly. The interview is really long and I ramble quite a bit about growing up with Go-bots and why I loved writing A BOY AND HIS BOT. Reading it over now, I'm realizing this interview offers quite a peek into my psyche. So that's how I ended up being a nerdy robot-loving guy!

Click here to read the interview.

A Boy and His Bot Review Roundup!

2011-02-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

It's been about a month since A BOY AND HIS BOT hit bookshelves, and it seems like a good time to take a look around and see what the reviewers are saying. Thankfully, it's a lot of nice things. Without further ado:

"With a goofy sense of humor and plenty of action, Wilson presents a coming-of-age journey with shades of Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"...the climax brings on plenty of large-scale destruction, and fans of underworld odysseys will relish the wink-wink satire."
Kirkus Reviews

"A BOY AND HIS BOT is a winning combination of suspense and fun about a boy who lands in a mechanical Wonderland of robots that would awe even Alice. The perfect mix of reality and fantasy."
Curled Up With a Good Kid's Book Blog

"This book is a great adventure for boys and if you have a reluctant reader this would be a good book for him."

As the Page Turns Blog

"...absolutely one of the better sci-fi books for this age group that does really need them. Worth your time."
The Artolater Blog

Finally, the book has a 4.67 out of 5 stars on Goodreads

My Favorite Five Books About Robots EVAR!

2011-01-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

An interview just went up on The Browser today, in which I discuss my five favorite books about robots and robotics. It was a great interview and I got to talk about a lot of my favorite things, from science fiction to science fact.

Because after you read a book like this, you look at any problem that is out there, and you think to yourself, ‘Oh I can build a machine that can figure this out better than a human, with better accuracy, and more quickly.’ They say that once you have a hammer everything begins to look like a nail. That’s absolutely true, and Machine Learning is one hell of a hammer.

Click here to give it a read!

I'm Confused and Excited About This!

2011-01-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, a book that I co-authored with Dr. Anna C. Long -- THE MAD SCIENTIST HALL OF FAME -- was recently translated into French and released with a brand-new (very cool) cover by the Calmann-Levy publishing house.

Now, it seems that the book has been put on a short list of potential nominees for a French prize for fantasy/sci-fi, called the "Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire." Doesn't that sound impressive? Everything sounds better in French.

Unfortunately, I can't speak or read the language very well (and Google Translate is worse at it than I am). But from what I can gather, there will be another round of cuts and then a final prize announced in March.

Compliments of Google Translate...

GPI, or Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire, is the oldest French prices still in business - since 1974 - and the most prestigious devoted to "Literature of the Imagination." The term "imaginary" covers all of these "wrong kinds" that are science fiction, fantasy, as well as various fusions of these genres and still "transfictions" where, for example, some elements insidiously slip in a literature known as "general."

We're honored just to be pre-nominated. :)

Tulsa World

2011-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

The Tulsa World newspaper (in my hometown) printed a great breakdown of what I've been up to (and will be up to this year), as well as a summary of A BOY AND HIS BOT. Nice!

The day before Wilson sold "Robopocalypse" to his publisher, his manager called from Los Angeles and said, much to Wilson's surprise, "Hey Daniel, we have an offer from Dreamworks for this book."

Click here to read the article.

A BOY AND HIS BOT

2011-01-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

...is released today!

Written for ages nine to twelve, my first middle reader novel explores the fate of a boy who stumbles upon an experimental world built and abandoned by an ancient human civilization. Traveling with a speck sized robot named Peep and a ten-foot-tall atomic slaughterbot named Gary, young Code Lightfall must find a way out of Mekhos, and a way to save the lives of his friends.

The first review is in, over at the Michael Belfiore Blog.

"Drawing from his background as a CMU-trained robotics expert, Wilson creates a world every bit as amazing as Harry Potter’s. Actually, even more amazing, as it doesn’t depend on magic; it all could, conceivably, come true, and therein lies the real magic."

Please check it out!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Borders

Powell's

Publishers Weekly Write-Up

2010-12-22T09:13:00.000-08:00

The folks over at Publishers Weekly called last week and very politely asked me -- now, just where in the hell did you come from? I responded, and they wrote it up into a very flattering little bio.

An avid science fiction fan, Wilson started writing short stories in high school and submitted pieces to a number of SF zines. All the stories were rejected. Without much thought to a career as a writer, he enrolled at the University of Tulsa and got his degree in computer science.

Publishers Weekly

Nice Little Review of Bro-Jitsu

2010-12-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

A fun review of Bro-Jitsu: The Martial Art of Sibling Rivalry has gone up over at Collateral Bloggage. (Plus bonus interview!)

No, this isn't a how-to manual; it's a nostalgia piece, reminding us of what we endured and perpetrated as kids. Particularly funny to me were the tactics for succeeding at sibling irritation while also avoiding detection by Parental Referees, and even better, getting the victim into trouble for something you actually started. Awesome.

SH: In the book, you warn about the dangers involved in trying Bro-Jitsu moves on Only Children. What advice can you give the father who wants to train his Only Child in the ways of Bro-Jitsu?

DW: Sadly, the sacred bond of brother or sisterhood cannot be replicated in an only child. But there is an easy and fun solution: Make another baby immediately. (Agreed.)

AMP sells to Summit and Director Alex Proyas

2010-12-01T18:33:00.000-08:00

After long and difficult negotiations, I have decided to sell film rights to my upcoming novel AMP to Summit Entertainment. Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City, I,Robot, Knowing) is attached to produce and likely direct. Couldn't be more excited about the potential for this project!

Click here to read the scoop at Deadline Hollywood!

Doubleday is getting "AMP"ED!

2010-11-16T10:56:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to report that I've sold my next novel to Doubleday. The novel is called AMP. I'll be working with editor Jason Kaufman once again, and I should be busy for the next 12 to 18 months!

Read the full announcement at Publisher's Weekly.

"Agent Laurie Fox at Linda Chester closed the deal. Wilson wrote the forthcoming Robopocalypse, which Doubleday is publishing in June and which picked up a significant amount of press after it was announced that Steven Spielberg will be adapting the novel for Dreamworks in a planned 2011 feature. Amp is a techno-thriller that, as Fox explained, "explores and expands the definition of what it means to be human." Justin Manask is handling the film rights for the book."

A Boy and His Bot -- Pre-Review

2010-11-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

My next book, a young adult novel called A BOY AND HIS BOT, will be released in January 2011. And let me say, I loved writing this book. So many crazy ideas that couldn't fit into my other "adult" books made it into this one, from feral robots lost in the woods to "infinite" robots that never stop being built. It's a few months until it hits shelves, but for now I'm very excited by this positive-sounding (and accurate, in my opinion) description of the book from Publisher's Weekly:

"Wilson brings the expertise of his adult titles How to Survive a Robot Uprising and How to Build a Robot Army (and a Ph.D. in robotics) to his first middle-grade novel, a campy down-the-robot-hole adventure. Shy sixth-grader Code Lightfall is not a boy of action, but on a field trip, he falls down a hole in Mek Mound, an ancient Oklahoman pyramid where his grandfather disappeared a year earlier. Code finds himself lost in Mekhos, a metallic land of robots ("Mekhos makes no sense!" he complains. "You robots are impossible. Everything is either too small to see or too big to figure out"). When Code discovers that his grandfather is being controlled by the evil Immortalis, who is holding captive the sacred Robonomicon, he teams up with friends Peep, a robot bug, and Gary, a crazed "atomic slaughterbot," and travels through treacherous territory to the Celestial City to prevent the destruction of the robot and human worlds. With a goofy sense of humor and plenty of action, Wilson presents a coming-of-age journey with shades of Alice in Wonderland and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. " --PW

Spielberg officially directing ROBOPOCALYPSE

2010-10-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Uh, hmm. Sort of at a loss for words here. Somebody pinch me?

Deadline Hollywood has the full story.

Savants Fous!

2010-10-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame (which I co-authored with psychologist Anna C. Long) has been translated into French. This is very fitting, considering that several of the best mad scientists ever hail from France -- including Marie Curie and August Piccard. (And Dr. Moreau definitely sounds French!)

Check out the awesomely redesigned cover in this image:

The Father Life

2010-09-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Father Life (the men's magazine for dads -- so you better keep out, ladies!) has reviewed Bro-Jitsu. They liked it and you can click here to read the full text.

But one thing stood out to me about the review. Bathrooms. Here are a couple quotes:

"I enjoyed this text as a very entertaining bathroom read and highly recommend it..."

"I also appreciate the brevity of the text. This helped make it an excellent bathroom reader."

Leading me to ask myself, "How do I feel about the fact that people are dropping the kids off at the pool while reading my book?" Hmm...

I definitely didn't have this reading state in mind while I was writing. There are no special scatalogical references beyond those natural to youth. That said, I do understand the sentiment. Bro-Jitsu is easy to read because it is written in small chunks that are easy to digest and just plop into your head. (Sorry, that was gross.)

Now that I think about it, I'm sort of flattered that people are reading my work while in this very vulnerable state. Also, imagining people giggling while sitting on the toilet kind of cracks me up. And last, the review was written on a web site for fathers. That's what we do as fathers. We're gross. We're honest. We poop.

So, the moral of the story is that if you ever sit on the toilet, you should consider buying Bro-Jitsu.

Forget Zombies, Fear Robots!

2010-09-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

I could never have guessed that Perez Hilton of all people had strong opinions about robots and zombies. Then again, I guess all of his opinions are strong! Yesterday, he weighed in on the possibility of Steven Spielberg directing the movie based on my book, Robopocalypse.

Perez Hilton

ROBOPOCALYPSE

2010-09-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Although I have finished writing ROBOPOCALYPSE (Doubleday releases it in June 2011), the movie is still in the works. There are a lot of unknowns, however. Like... who is directing?

Vulture is wondering!

Errant Parent interview

2010-08-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

I did an extensive Q&A on the Errant Parent blog yesterday in which I share how I accidentally turned my own little brother into a monster.

Q: What sorts of injuries have you sustained over the years?

A: I've never suffered a permanent physical injury, although I still get a tingle when someone stands behind me and my back is exposed. As a 32-year-old man, I should know that my dentist is probably not going to punch me in the kidneys. That's why I count this reaction as a psychological scar.

Click here to read!

guest blog at dadrevolution.com

2010-08-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

Should brothers and sisters bug each other, mess with each other, and kick each others butts? I think so. Here's why!

Click here to find out why!

And here's an excerpt...

The book came out a few months ago and I was excited. When the reviews started coming in, I was, well, I guess I was sort of proud and bemused when The School Library Journal said there was “real potential for damage.” And I was outright confused when Wired’s GeekDad called the book a “potential powder keg in the hands of a twelve-year-old boy.”

Dang.

They make it sound like I wrote some kind of Al Qaeda training manual for children, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only kid who ever body slammed his brother onto the couch. I mean, as the author of Bro-Jitsu, I’m not claiming to have invented goobering around with your siblings. I’m just the messenger, here. The core moves that young humans (and to a lesser extent, young monkeys) have used on each other haven’t changed for millennia: it’s running after your siblings, running away from them, and telling on each other. Offense. Defense. Psychological. That’s the whole thing in a nutshell.

So what are the librarians and geeks so afraid of?

Sci-Fi Movies? Yes, Please.

2010-06-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

The other day I agreed to be a judge for the Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival, sponsored by the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle. My advice to all participants is to use robots, and plenty of 'em. :)

Click here to read about it!

full body defensive fish wiggle

2010-05-08T10:28:00.001-07:00

The Tulsa World is running an expose on my bro-jitsu childhood. You can read it by clicking here.

I think the writer (Matt Gleason) did a great job of capturing the true essence of brotherly love that goes behind every beating, while also mentioning a move that could knock your brother's tooth loose. As brothers and sisters we must walk a fine line, my friend. A very fine line.

Robonaut 2

2010-04-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Should humanoid robots be sent into outer-space with human astronauts? I chime in today on Wired Science.

My New Book is Out! BRO-JITSU!

2010-04-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

My newest book is released today!

You can find it at Amazon.

Or buy online from my favorite neighborhood bookstore: Powell's.

Watch an awesome video by clicking here.

Inspired by growing up with my little brother -- and the physical and mental torture we inflicted on each other -- the book is called BRO-JITSU: The Martial Art of Sibling Smackdown. It categorizes all the mental and physical attacks that siblings use -- offensive, defensive, and psychological -- under a single martial art called Bro-Jitsu. Yes, this includes all the stuff you remember (fondly?) from your own childhood, such as pink bellies, dogpiles, dead arms, bloody knuckles, purple nurples (aka tune in to Tokyo), and the dreaded hanging spit fake.

I've even got the proper technique for chasing your sister with dog poop on the end of a stick. I'm nothing if not thorough, people.

And of course, don't forget the Sacred Vow of Bro-Jitsu -- never in the face.

So if you get the chance, please pick up a copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or your favorite book store. And share this message on to any childhood friends, brothers, sisters, or cousins who you think might be interested!

*** Oh, and just in case you aren't convinced that this is the pinnacle of my writing career, check out this sample text.

OFFENSIVE MOVE (in every sense of the word)

"Pull My Finger "

Extend your index finger and say with a straight face, “Pull my finger.” If by some cruel trick of fate your sister actually pulls your finger, immediately deliver a fart with the intensity of a sub-tropical storm. She should recoil in terror, unsure of whether you just filled your pants. If you aren’t sure either, then congratulations – you pulled this move off perfectly.

Countermove:

Back Away Slowly

When someone announces “Pull my finger,” it should be obvious that you are standing next to a trouser bomb that’s on a hair-trigger and set to explode. Raise your arms, palms out, and back away slowly. If the bomb isn’t triggered, you just might get out of this alive.

incredibly cool t-shirts

2010-03-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

I've got a quick blog post up at a really awesome online t-shirt company called CUPPA T-SHIRTS. The post is introducing a new HOVERBOARD t-shirt and it involves Michael J. Fox making me cry.

Anyway, based on this moon property shirt (pictured), it should be kind of obvious that these are the coolest body-coverings ever, short of a silver spandex unitard.

(And is that Ronald Reagan in the picture?! He's living on the moon with angels, now.)

Book Best Kept Hidden From Parents

2010-02-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

In a funny article, Publisher's Weekly has acknowledged the awesome power that BRO-JITSU will unleash amongst the youth of the world.

Read the article here.

But honestly, I don't think you have to be a kid to execute BRO-JITSU moves. Why, I just visited home and my brother gave me Hot Ears that left me discombobulated.

obituary for spirit rover

2010-01-27T09:58:00.001-08:00

I've got an article up at Popular Mechanics Online lamenting the recent (sort of) death of the Spirit rover that's been trundling around Mars for over half a decade. I modeled the piece directly on the obituaries featured in the New York Times, so it was kind of fun. Sad, sad fun. Adios, Spirit.

Click here to read the article.

uncommon goods, uprising

2010-01-25T10:45:00.001-08:00

I've been busy writing ROBOPOCALYPSE and haven't had a chance to post in a while, but I had to point out this stunning combination of items available at uncommon goods.

It's a plush BUNKBOT doll laser burn to the face, followed by a ROBOT UPRISING chainsaw-arm sucker-punch to the gut. Get some!

me and my exoskeleton

2009-11-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered what it's like to wear an exoskeleton? Well, wonder no more! I've got a post up on Gizmodo today describing "me and my exoskeleton."

And just like the awesome guy in this photo and his exoskeleton, me and my exoskeleton are super best friends. It's exoskeleton party time everybody!

exciting news

2009-11-02T08:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Internet,

Be advised. My robot armies are on the march. I sold a new novel called "Robopocalypse" to Doubleday, and DreamWorks has optioned the film rights. You can read more by clicking on this article in Variety.

Sincerely,

Daniel

PS. For book related inquiries please contact my literary agent, Laurie Fox:
laurieannfox@comcast.net

PPS. For film, television, or dramatic inquiries, please contact my manager, Justin Manask:
justin@literaryadaptation.com

PPPS. For anything related to robots or awesomeness, please contact me:
contactdhw@gmail.com

Bruce Willis + Robots = !!!

2009-09-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

A new movie called Surrogates is coming out, in which pale, dumpy human beings lay around at home, controlling better-looking robot versions of themselves. It's all good fun and it's based on the idea of tele-presence, which is a real technology.

CNN.com interviewed me for an an article about it, so click it and read on...

carnegie science center

2009-09-09T14:07:00.001-07:00

The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, PA is hosting me for a HOW TO BUILD A ROBOT ARMY weekend! Any mad scientist kids who live in Pittsburgh should please come out to the science center THIS WEEKEND to learn all about robots and how to build an army of them. I'm giving a talk on Friday and on Saturday about my experiences with robots and the books I've written on the subject.

Step 1: Learn about robots.
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit (while your massive robot army takes over the world).

Click here to learn the details

i'm at bumbershoot monday, 9/7

2009-09-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

Next Monday, I'll be at Bumbershoot in Seattle to discuss the relative dangers of vampires versus robots with fellow NW author Kevin Emerson. It's going to be some nice vampire on robot action that you don't want to miss.

Seattle Weekly has even deemed it a recommended show!

From the article:

"Quick: In a battle between the mechanical and the eternal, who would prevail? Vampires have sharp teeth, but robots don't bleed. (Also: encased in metal.) Vampires fight (and bite) best at night, but robots have infrared vision. Local author Kevin Emerson (of the Oliver Nocturne YA fiction series) will here debate Daniel Wilson, responsible for How to Build a Robot Army and How to Survive a Robot Uprising (among other robo-centric works)."

robot uprising saves human life

2009-08-27T12:48:00.001-07:00

It finally happened, "How to Survive a Robot Uprising" has saved a human being's life.

"When the robots came, I'll be the first to admit: I was arrogant. I've been in a few fights, I've seen upwards of two Bruce Lee movies, and my blood alcohol content was the stuff of legends, so I figured I'd be immune to pain. However, two stumbling, poorly aimed swings later and it became quite clear: Robots are immune to punches. Nobody warned me about this kind of thing in Robot Fighting School, which was probably all just a fevered hallucination now that I think about it."

Click here to read the full Amazon review.

sacre bleu! mad scientist in french

2009-08-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

I just got word that French rights for "The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame" have sold. Soon, French audiences will be able to read about some french-speaking mad scientists, including Marie Curie (Polish but became a French citizen), Auguste Piccard (Swiss, but probably floated over France in a dangerous balloon of his own design), and the bumbling Professor Cuthbert Calculus from the TinTin comics (written and drawn by Serge, an honest-to-god Frenchman). I'll post the cover once I receive it.

I wonder what the French translation of the subtitle ("Muwahahaha!") will be? Hmm...

Contest Winners Announced

2009-08-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

The results are in on the contest I'm judging over at Tor.com. To summarize the contest:

Last week, in honor of Daniel H. Wilson’s short story “The Nostalgist,” we ran a Robot Overlord contest, which asked our readers to imagine that they were in the midst of a vast robot uprising and persuade our robot overlords why they should be allowed to live.

You can view the results by clicking here.

Here is a snippet from what is probably my favorite entry. This is just the beginning bit of a really funny song:

(Intro, spoken in Barry White voice):
You know it gets awful lonely, wandering the wastelands. And sometimes, while I'm rooting through the wreckage of human civilization for something to eat, I think of the missiles that you launched from your arm-cannons and how they honed in on human brainwaves and killed most everyone I know -- and I won't lie: I get angry. But then I think of your laser-eyes, and how red they shine when inferior entities of flesh challenge your supremacy, and my heart melts just like their faces. Maybe I'm delirious from outrunning hover-sentries for six days straight without sleep, or maybe I'm lonely because I can't remember the last time I saw a human face. But I get this feeling, baby, and there's only one thing to do --

Share Your Story of Robot Survival?

2009-08-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Survivors,

Thanks to all of you who have read my books. Humanity is going to need people like you very soon, when wave after wave of robotic mine-crabs wash up on our beaches and sentient wall-climbing tanks perch themselves on our balconies.

In the meantime, I would like to invite you to share your stories of robot survival in the Amazon reviews of HOW TO SURVIVE A ROBOT UPRISING and HOW TO BUILD A ROBOT ARMY.

I believe that 1) by sharing your harrowing stories of survival you will help inspire your fellow humans to fight and live, and 2) that this would be hilarious.

The following link will take you to my author page, where both books are both available for review:

Click here to share your robot survival story...

I look forward to hearing how the tips in HTSARU and HTBARA have kept human blood inside our bodies where it belongs, instead of coating the snapping pincers of our robot enemy.

Stay frosty,

- Daniel

I, for one, welcome entries to the robot overlord contest

2009-08-05T11:26:00.001-07:00

Over at Tor.com there is an "I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords" contest. I'm judging the poetry, videos, and visual art of contestants who need to express how they'll survive on that fateful day when the metal ones come for us in our sleep.

Visit tor.com to read the contest rules and enter for your chance to win precious books and clever tee shirts!

"Dear Contestants (and Potential Robot Uprising Survivors),

Congratulations! Simply by devoting brainpower to contemplating this contest, you have seriously increased your chances of survival during the inevitable Robot Uprising, and the subsequent Building of a Robot Army! Kudos to you and your surviving family.

Fortunately, I am also able to devote brainpower to considering your entries, due to the fact that I have used my robotics background to largely automate huge swathes of my life, including book writing, cat-sitting for friends, and my marriage as well as its associated duties.

More time to sit in judgement of others means more time for happiness!

To help spur the natural human creativity that lives in the chunk of meat that throbs between your ears, I am sharing a few tips of my own that were cut from my original book. That's right, these are from a section that was axed by an editor before they ever saw the light of day, and probably for good reason. So try to enjoy them if you can, and best of luck with your contest entry!

Sincerely,

Daniel H. Wilson

--- snip ---

Tips for Ingratiating Yourself to New Robot Overlords

DO:
Speak clearly.
Or use a more natural interface, like a binary keyboard.

Be patient.
Robots can take milliseconds to think things through.

Speak logically.
Avoid infinite loops and philosophical ramblings.

DON’T:
Give aesthetic gifts.
Unless it is to an aesthetic gift appreciation machine.

Show fear.
Robots have no emotions – sensing your fear can stir feelings of jealousy, resulting in a white-hot robot rage.

Try seduction.
Unless you are seriously ready to deliver."

my new short story...

2009-07-28T11:00:00.001-07:00

...just appeared on Tor.com!

It's called The Nostalgist, and it's kind of a sad story about an old man living with his grandson in a world where technology lets you see what you want to see.

Click here to read it.

media FRENZY

2009-07-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Quick note: I'll be speaking with Dylan Ratigan on MSNBC's Morning Meeting tomorrow morning (Friday). The topic... ROBOTS. Good? Or hideously EVIL?

Also, catch me talking about moon vacations with Liane Hansen on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

2009 World Technology Summit

2009-07-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

I'll be in nyc next week, checking out the World Technology Summit and giving a little lunch talk to what is apparently a very brainy bunch. Here's the description from the website.

"The World Technology Network (WTN) is a global meeting ground, a virtual think tank, and an elite club whose members are all focused on the business and science of bringing important emerging technologies of all types (from biotech to new materials, from IT to new energy sources) into reality."

Dang!

starships the size of coins

2009-07-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

Today a piece I wrote about interstellar travel appeared on MSNBC.com. Basically, the idea is that in order to explore other star systems our spacecraft will need to go at near-lightspeeds. We routinely accelerate very small particles to those speeds in particle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider. The article explores some ongoing science that could use similar technologies to push tiny little robots all the way to the stars and back -- within a human lifetime.

The piece was spurred by following up some research I did for my book, Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived

Read the article by clicking here.

Seriously, Where's My Jetpack?

2009-05-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody,

CNN.com has an interesting article about jetpacks and the retro-future up today. The writer, John Blake, was nice enough to interview me about the subject, giving me the opportunity to describe the future of drunk jetpacking. Thank goodness I was allowed to share. :)

If you're interested, "Where's My Jetpack" is available at Amazon!

And you can find links to my other books to the left.
<--------

Thanks for reading,

Daniel

robot uprising t-shirts, only $9 bucks

2009-04-17T13:47:00.001-07:00

If pop culture has taught us anything, it is that someday mankind must face and destroy the growing robot menace.

Help ensure the survival of humanity by clicking here to pick out your new "HOW TO SURVIVE A ROBOT UPRISING" t-shirt!

Do it for the babies and kitties. ;)

Flying Cars For Everyone!

2009-04-12T10:12:00.000-07:00

Want to know exactly WHY we don't have flying cars? I spilled the beans in an interview recently. It appeared in the New York Times today. Hint: It has to do with answering the "Yeah, but could my grandma fly it?" question.

Click here to read the article.

To learn more about flying cars, check out my book on the subject: Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Arrived

It's... It's... LiveWire!

2009-04-08T21:10:00.000-07:00

I'm appearing on the LiveWire radio show this Saturday, April 11th! I'll be interviewing the esteemed Dr. Michio Kaku, co-founder of string field theory and author of the book, Physics of the Impossible. Will I shake him by the lapels and demand my jetpack? Maybe, it depends on how full my flask is when I come on. And don't forget that the last time I was on LiveWire, I totally blanked out on my lines and had a little "wore my underwear to school" moment which culminated in a whiskey binge at The Lamp bar next door. Think I might do it again? You'll have to come and see!

The Future is Finally Stylish

2009-03-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

I got a brief quote in a really interesting New York Times article. Apparently, the catwalks are teeming with space-inspired fashion.

Read the article!

the works -- behind the scenes

2009-02-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

My show on History is premiering in Israel this week and it started airing in Latin America recently, so I thought I'd post a link to some really nicely done "Behind the Scenes" videos on the History.com website:

Click here to see behind the scenes of THE WORKS!

Thanks for watching (and thanks also for the nice emails)!

the works premiering in Latin America

2009-01-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to announce that this weekend my tv-show THE WORKS is premiering in Brazil and in Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Venezuela! As a student of Spanish and having grown up traveling to Mexico and Guatemala and Belize -- I'm really excited and weirded out that my show is going to be on television there. Also, I can't wait to watch THE WORKS in another language (like Spanish or Portuguese).

SPEAKING AT BARNES & NOBLE IN VANCOUVER, WA

2008-12-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

Anna and I are giving a book talk about The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame at Barnes and Noble in Vancouver. The talk is in the afternoon, but we'll be hanging out a few hours to sign books and gab with people. Drop on by if you've got the afternoon off! (Or bring the kids by after school!)

What?: Mad Scientist Hall of Fame book talk

When?: Friday, Jan. 9th from 3 to 6 pm

Where?: Barnes and Noble Vancouver, located at 7700 NE Fourth Plain Blvd. (phone 260-3854).

check out bunk bots!

2008-12-28T11:55:00.000-08:00

A new friend of mine has started selling the cutest plush robot toys this side of the asteroid belt. And they aren't just cute, they can be used to turn plush bolts and to fix plush machinery of any kind. Read more about bunk bots here.

IT'S... IT'S... LIVEWIRE!

2008-12-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I'll be appearing briefly on LiveWire, a local radio show here in Portland that is held at the Aladdin Theater. It's always a good time -- with a live audience of hundreds there to see sketch comedy, interviews, and musicians. I'll be telling people about Mad Scientist Hall of Fame: Muwahahahaha!, which needs to be bought for mad scientists young and old in time for Christmas.

As an added bonus, I wrote one of the comedy sketches that is airing.* It involves Mexican Santa Claus and mad scientists, so hope you enjoy it. :)

* I also guest wrote a couple sketches a few months ago and it was great fun. If you remember the one about a wild panda being tattooed from space with messages of love -- that was me.

OTHER TRANSLATIONS

2008-12-14T22:36:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about it, and decided to scan the covers of some of the foreign-language editions of HOW TO SURVIVE A ROBOT UPRISING. These are Chinese, Thai, and Polish -- I think? Anyway, they're all beautiful -- especially the super-sparkle-version of the homicidal cover robot.

(You can click on the images to enlarge them...)

Where's My Jetpack -- now in French

2008-12-10T12:07:00.001-08:00

I just received five or six copies of Where's My Jetpack, only translated into French. I think it looks really nice -- they even translated "Moon Space Available" on the dirigible in the top left!

BIG BRAIN TRUST

2008-12-03T16:26:00.000-08:00

Just about every week, I meet with a group of people who are very talented, smart, and willing-to-help-those-with-less-fortunate-brains-like-myself. When we each put our special rings together, we become the BBT -- the Big Brain Trust. Our secret writer's group has now been outed by the local paper, and I guess I'm okay with that.

Read about it here!

THE WORKS ON HISTORY INTERNATIONAL

2008-12-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

The Works is finished airing on History, and has moved to History International. If you don't get the other channel, then you'll have to buy Mad Scientist Hall of Fame: Muwahahahaha!if you need more Daniel H. Wilson in your life. :)

PS. To find air dates click on History International. Type "The Works" into the search window to find out when!

Design Within Reach

2008-11-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday I'm participating in a panel discussion about the interplay between modern technology and modern design. My co-panelist is a stupendous badass, Mr. Sohrab Vossoughi, founder of ZIBA Design, and the event is moderated by Tim DuRoche (Community Outreach Manager at Portland Center Stage) and architecture-blogger extraordinaire, Brian Libby. Should be fun!

Designs on Portland: Designing Dreams, Engineering Desire
Wednesday, November 19, 6-8pm

What role do design and technology play in how we imagine the future? What role does design play in the manufacturing of desire, in solving complex global issues, or in animating a more open source relationship with everyday objects? In collaboration with Portland Center Stage, DWR brings together a diverse crowd interested in the convergence of shows, books, and exhibitions in Portland this fall. At the Studio, have your questions, comments and ideas ready for a conversation moderated by Portland architecture blogger Brian Libby (www.portlandarchitecture.com), Tim DuRoche of Portland Center Stage, Sohrab Vossoughi of ZIBA Design (www.ziba.com) and Daniel H. Wilson, robotics engineer and author of “Where’s My Jetpack? A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future That Never Arrived.”

This evening is presented in conjunction with “R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe” at Portland Center Stage (www.pcs.org/bucky) through December 7; “Manuf®actured” at the Museum of Contemporary Craft (www.contemporarycrafts.org) through January 4; and Raymond Loewy: Designs for a Consumer Culture at Oregon Historical Society (www.ohs.org) through January 4. Wine and refreshments will be served, provided by Pour Wine Bar (www.pourwinebar.com). Doors open at 6:00pm, program begins at 6:30.

powell's book talk -- this thursday

2008-08-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

My co-author -- Dr. Anna C. Long -- and I will be delivering a rousing book talk at Powell's City of Books this Thursday to introduce the world to the greatest mad scientists of all time. It's just a quick 30 minute talk (max!) and we'll be signing books after. So come on out and bring your favorite mad scientist...

Thursday, August 28th @ 7:30PM Powell's City of Books on Burnside
1005 W Burnside (800) 878-7323

Geek meets chic in The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame (Citadel), Daniel H. Wilson's (How to Survive a Robot Uprising) and Anna C. Long's stylish, informative guide to the most outrageous, brilliant, and fascinating mad scientists — both real and fictional — and their diabolical inventions.

Read about the Top Five Mad Scientists

2008-08-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

Popular Mechanics has excerpted some of my new book and it's available online. So read about the top 5 mad scientists! They aren't really the all time top five, just some of my favorites!

<--- Captain Nemo! Estranged from humanity and totally depressed!

Mad Scientists -- Reviewed!

2008-08-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame was reviewed over at my favorite tech blog -- io9.com! It's a fun book and I'm glad that Annalee (the reviewer) enjoyed getting the dirt on all the best mad scientists -- especially that rocket scientist / occultist / orgy-maestro Jack Parsons. Here's a snippet of the review:

Funny and filled with good, crunchy facts, The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame is like "Behind the Music" for scientists. We learn a little about the scientists' brilliance, and then discover how it all went terribly, terribly wrong. Plus, about half the scientists that Wilson and Long discuss are fictional, which gives the profiles of real-life scientists a delightful, sensationalistic flair.

-----> Read the review here.

My New Book is Out!

2008-08-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

The Mad Scientist Hall of Fame just hit bookstores. It's a psychological breakdown of the greatest mad scientists of all time -- real and fictional. Didja know that Dr. Jekyll was suffering from dissociative identity disorder? Or that Nikola Tesla believed he was speaking to aliens from Venus (just like Lex Luthor)? Captain Nemo was severely depressed and Dr. Evil is a clear-cut case of anti-social personality disorder. Fun!

You should buy it for your favorite mad scientist!

Click here to visit the amazon page.

USA Today

2008-07-18T14:55:00.000-07:00

A nice little article showed up in USA Today about THE WORKS.

Oh, and unlike in this photograph, I'm not really cross-eyed in real life. Just thought, uh, that I'd share that with you.

Click here to read the piece or just click on the photo. ----->

THE WORKS premiers tonight!

2008-07-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Thought I oughta mention that the show is premiering tonight. I'm cleaning my house, having friends over, and getting sauced. My mother bought a 52-inch television "guilt free." And my dad has warned me not to get too excited.

But how can I not be excited when there is so much vital information about garbage that is about to be transmitted via my television show tonight?!

Meanwhile, an early positive review of the show came in from the New York Daily News.

And there's a wonderfully nice article about me and the show in my hometown paper -- the Tulsa World. Thanks Tulsa!

The Works!

2008-07-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

My new TV series for History premiers on Thursday, July 10th!

Visit History.com to learn more about the show.

ROBOT UPRISING IN CHINESE

2008-06-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

A mysterious package arrived a few days ago. Postmarked from Taiwan, the little cardboard box was stuffed with foreign newspapers (mostly manga comics, actually) and deep inside was a solidly-packed cube of eerily familiar books. Turns out, How to Survive a Robot Uprising has been translated into Chinese. And you might notice that the cover has had a seriously marvelous upgrade. Neat!

WIRED Magazine

2008-05-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Got a quick mention in this month's WIRED Magazine. Read for yourself, you delicate bag of water: Robot Overlords at Wired.

I am somehow a TV-show host

2008-04-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Finally, I can share some interesting news! Turns out that I'm hosting a new television show for the History channel. It's called THE WORKS and we've shot several episodes already. Here's an excerpt of the very small press release sent to advertisers:

UPFRONT UPDATE: History

Last night, History brought out a slate of seven new series in production, all focused on a different historical angle:

Evolve -Historical perspective of key innovations over time from Optomen Productions. 13 episodes premiere second quarter 2008.

Extreme Trains -Over 8 episodes this series looks at the most amazing trains in the world with Matt Bown, train conductor as host. Produced by Tiger Aspect Productions the series will steam ahead to the schedule in fourth quarter 2008.

The Works -A "did you know" series that focuses on such diverse items as steel, motorcycles and power tools with Daniel Wilson as host from Powderhouse Productions. 10 episodes premiere in third quarter 2008.

"American Original" Sandhogs -This new version of the American Original franchise shows off New York City from the underground and its tunnels built by Sandhogs. 12 episodes from Eye Pop Productions and Pilgrim Films premieres third quarter 2008.

Surviving History -Take a history lesson with experts as they test artifacts and weapons. 9 episodes from Brainbox Productions set to open second quarter 2008.

What Went Down -Hi-def CGI recreates never-before-seen historical events using eye witness accounts. 6 episodes from Creative Differences opens in 2009.

Battles B.C. -This series profiles ancient heroes and military battles. Produced by Four In Hand Productions with 8 episodes slated for 2009.

Popular Mechanics -- Top 10 Non-Inventions

2008-04-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

I wrote another fun article for Popular Mechanics.

Click here to read about the top ten inventions that we haven't got yet (minus all the usual crap you'd expect from Star Trek, Star Wars, or the Future Past).

Click here to listen to a podcast about it!

urban outfitters

2008-03-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

How to Build a Robot Army has finally assumed its rightful place among all the books about sex, smoking pot, and skateboarding over at Urban Outfitters. Every single time I walk into UO (there's one up the street here in Portland), I think to myself that they have a nice selection of books but they're missing one thing... ROBOTS. I guess I have that thought pretty much wherever I go, but anyway...

Visit geeksugar to vote on whether you think building a robot army is geek chic, or just plain geeky. I'm happy with either answer, honestly. Somehow I've reached a place in my life where I get pissed off if someone claims that I'm not a real geek.

haptics for popular mechanics

2008-03-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

I wrote a new article for Popular Mechanics. It's all about haptics -- the science of touch!

Doesn't this guy look excited to be utilizing next-generation haptics technology?

--------->

Read the article online and catch haptics fever for yourself.

coast to coast am -- Sunday, Feb 10th

2008-02-02T12:14:00.000-08:00

Once again, I'll be holing up wherever I can find a landline so that I can chat on the radio about robots and aliens on my favorite radio show... Coast to Coast AM! Sadly, Art Bell has retired once again, but I'm just as excited to be talking with longtime host Ian Punnett. It's a guaranteed good time.

Also, I learned something new about myself the last time I was on -- I tend to laugh a lot. This drew mixed reactions, as the following snippets from emails will show:

Your laugh is sexy!
-- Nancy

You have the most irritating little laugh. I almost called Art to tell him to tell you off the radio. You MUST drop the laugh.
-- Candy

I liked hearing you laugh during the interview. It was obvious you were enjoying yourself and the subject matter and knew how to not take yourself (or the topic) too seriously
-- Lotus

You said "you know" too many "you know" times.
-- Bruce