They were snogging in the corridor in their synthesilk shortees, for the Great Bird’s sake. Diane’s Horta ensign would have noticed the funny smell. And probably asked when to expect geodes.

Will take me some time to read through the rest of this lovely long post, but as a Trekkie who somewhat followed Worf's adventures, this made me giggle. And remember that Mike Ford did actually write Trek novels, didn't he?

Posted April 21, 2007 5:38 PM by Nenya

I seem to have finally got to the point where there is much more pleasure at reading these again than pain at the recognition that what there is now is all that there ever will be.

There is indeed a great deal to be said for brilliant writing, freely and generously shared with any who choose to read. Thank you for posting this sampling of Mike's work.

Posted April 21, 2007 5:59 PM by Julia Jones

[snickering as I read this. Happens every time, for some reason.]

Posted April 21, 2007 6:30 PM by P J Evans

When I read these, I don't know whether to smile or cry.

Posted April 21, 2007 7:10 PM by Fragano Ledgister

Nenya, yes, he did, and whether you love Star Trek or hate it, they are great books.

Fragano, smile. That would've been Mike's preference. Which, okay, makes the smile a bit wistful, but that's okay, too.

Posted April 21, 2007 8:58 PM by will shetterly

I suspect this one will keep hitting me at odd moments for some time, leading to supressed snickers at socially awkward moments:
Julius Caesar has been dining out for a long time now on “‘Et tu, Brute!’ Of all the stand-ins for that particular verb I’ve heard, ‘et’ has got to be the funniest.”

Posted April 21, 2007 9:24 PM by Aconite

will shetterly #5: I expect you're right. That would undoubtedly have been what he would have wanted.

Posted April 21, 2007 10:38 PM by Fragano Ledgister

I've been scooping up Ford novels as they turn up in thrift stores. No luck getting any 'Trek ones yet.

Posted April 21, 2007 11:16 PM by Stefan Jones

It frustrates me to think our paths may have crossed at worldcons and/or NASFiCs, but I never recognized him and never got to thank him for his making me laugh so much.

Posted April 22, 2007 12:51 AM by Serge

Since Mike mentions Tony Robinson, may I recommend The Doomsday Code, should you get the chance to watch it.

Available from the usual suspects...

Posted April 22, 2007 5:27 AM by Dave Bell

We discussed The Last Hot Time at book group yesterday and when I first started rereading it, it was painful. But as I got caught up in it, the pain went away.

Posted April 22, 2007 5:10 PM by Marilee

That response of his to me made me joyfully giddy for a long time. I mean, it's not every day you get to make a Lautreamont/Sade RPS joke on an online forum (even this one), much less get it batted back.

Posted April 22, 2007 7:19 PM by Dan Layman-Kennedy

Nenya #1: Oh, did Mike Ford write Star Trek novels:

The Final Reflection
How Much for Just the Planet?

Amazon and its affiliated horde of used bookstores seem to have plenty of copies.

(And, while we're on the subject, I'd like to thank Jim, Teresa, and the rest of the Boskone charity auction sales force for convincing me to buy my very first Mike Ford book. The Final Reflection was every bit as good as you promised.)

Posted April 23, 2007 12:03 AM by MikeB

Wow. I knew JMF had written ST novels. I had been told the name. It was not until I followed the Amazon link that I realized I had READ The Final Reflection. It, along with another "Things That Happened Before the Five Year Mission" book (a Pike book, marketed as "Spock's First Mission on the U.S.S. Enterprise") were among my favorites in that long-ago time.

Posted April 23, 2007 10:26 AM by BSD

Marilee @ #11:

I read The Last Hot Time for the first time recently, having found a copy at the last convention I attended.

Reading the Library of Congress data in the front of the book, I was amused by the priorities demonstrated by whoever compiled the subject listing.

Posted April 23, 2007 11:43 AM by Paul A.

My Pixel-stained Technopeasant offering is related to Mike.

Posted April 23, 2007 11:07 PM by Marilee

I’ve had three decades of being told that forms I work in can’t possibly do anything that isn’t cliched and juvenile by their nature, and it got old three decades less five minutes ago. Judging an art by its bad examples isn’t criticism; it’s tossing a grenade into the barrel and then complaining that the fish are dead.

I got into this discussion myself about a week and a half ago. That right there sums up about ten minutes of my rambling, and is witty to boot.

Posted April 24, 2007 8:22 AM by Tucker

The awesomest used book store in Providence had its big spring sale today, and I picked up three John M Ford books: The Last Hot Time, Web of Angels, and The Final Reflection. Soon I'll know better why all of you love him so much. I couldn't be more excited.

Also related to ML topics, there was an unbelievable quantity of awful-looking self-published novels in the SF section.

Posted April 28, 2007 10:22 PM by ethan