The 50 greatest fictional weapons of all time. (via Quiddity)

The Independent: “The frustrated efforts of Catherine O’Flynn, a former postwoman who tried and failed 15 times to get her work published, were finally rewarded yesterday when her first book was shortlisted for the £25,000 Costa Book Awards.”

Incidentally, Rupert Thomson made the shortlist too.

(via Keir Graff)

My review of Paula Kamen’s Finding Iris Chang appears in this Sunday’s Los Angeles Times.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am holed up writing like a maniac, trying to meet deadlines and cackling like a misunderstood nymphomaniac. So if it ain’t exactly a snow day, it’s certainly a light blogging day. But I will try to check in later.

Los Angeles City Beat talks with Michael Silverblatt. Surprisingly, Silverblatt comes off not sounding too pompous and even quite gracious. (via Sarah)