It’s strange to think how quickly the internet has become a necessity. I seem to be unable to do anything or go anywhere without checking it online first. While I was off-line, I was unable to download my monthly bank statement and pay my monthly bills, amend my grocery shopping order to include some items I’d forget; order No1 Cat’s medication; submit my essay for university essays; or even apply for a job.
I rang the internet provider to ask about my order, to be told that I would need to supply the last two digits of my bank account before I could be given any information. I bank online, and paperless-ly. I explained that I couldn’t get the numbers without going online. It took the man at the other end of the phone quite a while before the penny dropped, in that I was ringing because I couldn’t get online...
This is probably the beginning of the end. It can only be a matter of time before Skynet becomes self aware and launches that last final attack (yes I know it’s already supposed to have happened!). Then the automata will advance.. oh, wait a minute, I may know a story about that....
So before the world ends, let me remind you that The Front Line launches at Ort Cafe in Birmingham (UK) on 27th July 2013. There will be music (Gladstone, Birthrite & Crimson Clocks) and merriment (Dr When). There will be reading of selected passages from the book by persons august (or me & some others, anyway). There will be purveyors of fine steampunk things...
And everyone will have a jolly fine time.
Tickets are £6.50 available from eventbrite, and you can also join the facebook event here
(PS – if you want some advice, this might be a good time to start collecting books on how to do stuff, for, you know, when Google Goes Bad...)
(PPS – look out for some cheeky pre-launch previews in the next few weeks...)