Get Yourself Some Thermogenic Buffalo Dogs
Posted August 19th, 2008 by Howard Tayler
While at WorldCon I made the acquaintance of one Lawrence M. Schoen who was wearing a small, plushy buffalo on his shoulder.
This was great marketing on his part. It got me to buy his “Amazing Conroy” series of chapbooks, featuring the alien “Buffalito” critters that eat anything and fart diatomic oxygen.
(If you love Schlock Mercenary I probably had you at the word “fart.” These are not those kinds of stories, though.)
Without spoiling them for you: these stories remind me of everything that first attracted me to science fiction twenty-five years ago. They’re told in the first person from the perspective of an interesting protagonist with a peculiar ability. There are fantastic and equally peculiar aliens, and each story presents us with a puzzle that is a delight to work through with the hero. Three words: Sense of Wonder.
These stories originally appeared in places where you can’t get them anymore. Today they’re being offered in chapbooks - small, staple-bound collections reminiscent of “ashcan” indie comics, only with much, much better writing. I’d only recently been introduced to chapbooks, and wasn’t expecting to be so hugely entertained by these. All three “Buffalo Dog” books were wonderful. Short, yes, but wonderful nonetheless. You can find them all on the chapbook page at SRM Publishing, and the publisher has offered a coupon code, “Buffalito” that’ll save you $2.00 on any purchase made in the next 30 days.
If chapbooks aren’t your thing and you’re willing to read these stories electronically, you can get them through Fictionwise. Dr. Schoen’s entire catalog is here, and the first Buffalito tale is Buffalo Dogs. But don’t read the synopsis. It’s spoileriffic.
Explore posts in the same categories: Reviews, Books
August 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Come to think on it: I don’t ever recall seeing the word “fart” in
the comic before, or anywhere else on the site for that matter….
August 20th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Googleschlock! found three comics containing the word fart. This is the most recent. The other two had someone expecting a fart joke from someone else.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:23 am
How big are chapbooks?
Their price is higher than for a good sized paperback novel.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Amaranthine? If you’re comparison shopping for how much paper and ink is in it, chapbooks are not going to beat out the mass market paperbacks. Economy of scale and all that.
On the other hand, chapbooks are often the only route for some materials. For example, on the SRM site, you’ll find a series of chapbooks with Liaden Universe (r) short stories — and loyal readers have been buying those for years because they really want to read those stories.
Words per penny — mmpb is likely to be the cheapest, aside from the free fiction found here and there on the net. Value per penny and time? Ah, that’s one where the chapbook may beat the mmpb, but your mileage may vary.
And where else can you support a Klingon-speaking author?
August 21st, 2008 at 12:24 am
Sam: I suppose that gives some idea of just how little emphasis is
given to that sort of humor in this comic. (Refreshing, in a way. :) )
August 21st, 2008 at 3:27 am
Lawrence is an awesome guy and a great writer. He’s also had the questionable taste to publish my work more than once.
And btw, it was terrific to meet you guys in Denver. I love, love, love the sketch you did of me. I look like the proper mercenary reprobate now, where once I was but a lowly writer.
Jay
August 21st, 2008 at 6:43 am
And as long as you’re at the SRM page, take the opportunity to keep Steve and Sharon alive and typing.
When Meisha Merlin closed their doors, they took themselves in a truck and snagged every copy of their books out of the MM warehouse, saving them from a trip to the dump.
As a result, the SRM pages are the ONLY place to find paper editions of some of Miller and Lee’s books.
And of course, your buying them is the only hope they have for recouping the royalty payments they never received.
And it’s not like y’all aren’t USED to buying books directly from the author :-)
So, go to SRM and dump some serious cash. Howard only prints a few books… he’s just no where NEAR productive enough to suck up all your spare cash. Go give some of it to Steve and Sharon!!!! The Liaden universe stories are amazing.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:46 am
[fanboy]ZOMG! Jaylakepostedonmyblog![/fanboy].
I’m glad you liked the picture, Jay. It was a pleasure.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:22 am
I went ahead and purchased most of Schoen catalog, (something less than $10 US) downloaded them to my Pilot and am about halfway through _Buffalo Dogs_.
Looks like my productivity in class may take a hit though. It’s not just words per penny, it’s fun per penny that makes these an amazing bargain.
Thanks for the tip.
D.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Howard it was really nice meeting you at Worldcon, and Rose and I really appreciated the sketch of Rose.
I also met Lawrence for the first time (even though we have worked together on a couple of projects for almost two years). He’s fun to be around, as is Valerie–never a dull moment with them.
I’ve published several stories by Lawrence and am proud to say one of them was an Amazing Conroy story (included in the Visual Journeys anthology). I hope to publish more work by him.
Eric
Hadley Rille Books
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 am
[tries to imagine Jay Lake as rendered by Howard Tayler]
I hesitate to ask how he colored-in the shirt…. :)
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:29 am
@ericreynolds: It was nice meeting you, too. I’m glad y’all liked the sketch. I picked up the “Visual Journeys” anthology there at WorldCon, but haven’t gotten to Lawrence’s work. Now I need to find out where my wife carried that book off to…
I just read over on Lawrence’s LJ that Hadley Rille is going to do an Amazing Conroy novel. It sounds like you really DO hope to publish more work by him! Wonderful!
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Howard,
“It sounds like you really DO hope to publish more work by him!”
Yes, a little foreshadowing there. :)
Eric