BoingBoing

In addition to being a leading author, editor and cultural idea-person, Cory Doctorow is a good egg. I'm not saying that just because he's posted a terrific review of "A Fire Story" to boingboing.net, which included phrases like "a deeply moving, beautiful book" and "a touchstone book," but because he's a man of his word.

I ran into Cory a few weeks ago at the L.A. Times Book Festival and began a nice, brief conversation by thanking him for one of the most thoughtful reviews my book "Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow" ever got. As I left, I handed him a postcard advertising "A Fire Story," and he said he'd check it out. I wouldn't have blamed him if he hadn't. "I'll check it out" is social grease for slipping away on friendly terms; I don't check out everything I say I will, and don't expect anyone else to either. But Cory did, then followed up with a review he knew would direct a lot of eyeballs to my book. It means a lot.

At the L.A. Times Book Festival with Cory Doctorow.