Soonish

<< < Comic #4413 (March 6, 2017) > >>

soonish

Title text: The weird thing is we untied Phil two weeks ago, but he refuses to leave.

Votey

Explanation

This explanation is either missing or incomplete.

Transcript

[Narration panel]

Hey everyone! Below is a comic about the new book we're putting up for pre-order today. It's a book about emerging science and technology, and I and Kelly spent the last two years researching and writing it. So we'd really appreciate it if you'd click this image to take a look and consider buying it.

<heart>, Zach

(PS: Click back for today's two new SMBC comics!)

[Zach happily talking to an unimpressed man]

Caption: About two years ago, I was lucky enough to meet an agent interested in representing a book by me. I pitched some ideas.

Zach: It's a kids' book about a bunny grappling with camus' “problem of suicide”.

Book agent: Swing-and-a-miss, Weinersmith.

[Zach on the phone]

Caption: A few weeks on, I had one that he liked.

Zach: It's a guide to future technologies, deeply researched, but with comics and stuff to lighten it up.

Book agent (on the phone): Gimme!

[Zach still on the phone]

Caption: Caveats were stated.

Zach: I'm gonna have Kelly do all of the real work.

Book agent (on the phone): That's probably best for everybody.

[Zach and Kelly, anxious]

Caption: A remarkably short time later, we had a book deal and a firm deadline.

Zach and Kelly in unison: What have we done?

[Zach on a desktop computer, Kelly holding a book out of frame]

Caption: From early 2015 to late 2016, we worked night and day, juggling kids, work, and infinite research.

Kelly: How in God's name do these technical books cost $250?! That's $2 per page.

Zach: If we don't pay, we'll miss something, and be made to feel nerd shame.

[Kelly happily reading a book]

Kelly: So that's how a Josephson junction works!

[Zach talking to Kelly behind her working on a laptop]

Caption: At times, it was weird.

Zach: That one guy we talked to who had a Nobel Prize… He made a pretty strong case for legal organ markets.

Kelly: No selling your kidneys

Zach: You're always holding me back!

[Zach is tired, in front of his computer, while Kelly is behind him eating chinese food in a cardboard box]

Caption: At times, it was painful.

Zach: I've reached a point in my life where I no longer want to learn any more obscure methods for space launch.

Kelly: So what, you're dead?

[Kelly and Zach, Zach is holding his hand, which looks gray and dry]

Caption: At times it was really painful.

Kelly: Why'd you agree to draw 100 comics for this book while also doing SMBC?

Zach: This hand did a lot of bad things. It needs to be punished.

[Zach and Kelly arguing]

Caption: But, at last, we finished the manuscript.

Zach: Can we become alcoholics now?

Kelly: No we have children.

Zach: And they're always holding me back!

[Zach and Kelly look happy and are talking to the audience]

Caption: This book took every skill we had.

Zach: From drawing dirty nerd jokes!

Kelly: To explaining how microRNA can be used to detect cancer.

Zach: And drawing dirty dork jokes!

Kelly: To explaining why scramjets are hard to build!

[Kelly, looking at a laptop, confused. Zach, crying]

Caption: I have always felt fortunate to have readers who are willing to try out something new with me.

Kelly: They're buying single-use monocles?!

Zach: Bless them

[Zach pointing to the book]

Caption: So I'm asking you to come with me on the next adventure and to learn lots of weird science, history, and even some philosophy of technology along the way

Zach: Presenting… "Soonish: ten emerging technologies that'll improve and/or ruin everything".

Arrow pointing to the book: Available for pre-order now! Just click!

[Text-only panel]

Caption: Or, if you think I'm maybe biased because I wrote it (or because I loooove money), here are some nice things people have said about it:

"Basically, think this book is masterpiece. and something wish I'd written myself." - SCOTT AARONSON

"Space elevators, gold asteroids, and fusion-powered toasters - who knew science could be so much fun? And who knew fun could be so scientific? 'Soonish' is hilarious, provocative, and shamelessly informative." - TIM HARFORD

"Playful, yet deep. - GEORGE CHURCH

"I love this book so much 3D printed myself a second heart so I could love it more." - PHIL PLAIT

"Kelly and Zach promised me crystal ball, but what got is both more insightful and far more entertaining than staring into adumb glass orb. Soonish will make you laugh and -- without you even realizing it -- give you insight into the most ambitious technological feats of our time. You should read this book, sooner than soonish." - ALEXIS OHANIAN

[Phil Plait tied down to a chair in a dirty room. Arrows point to Phil Plait and the walls, with labels "Phil Plait!" and "Our basement!"]

Caption: And I promise, only one of them was coerced.

Votey Transcript

[Text-only panel, slightly gothic font]

Go to soonishbook.com for a space elevator of niftyness!

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