# I just got an ARC in the mail **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-an-arc-in-the-mail/811765 "2018-04-04T00:21:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-an-arc-in-the-mail/811765/1 "2018-04-04T00:21:44Z")
I just got an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) for SM Stirling’s next book, which is an alternate history of WWI called _Black Chamber_. It sounds very cool, I must say, and I am really looking forward to reading it. The great mystery is why I have it. [ul] [li]It came directly from the publisher[/li][li]There was no note explaining why it was sent[/li][li]I checked my email and found no explanation there either[/li][li]I do not recall entering any contest for this[/li][li]I still show this book as pre-ordered on Amazon for July[/li][/ul] In a past life, I did review books but those books were never sent directly to me, they always went through the review website. I’m not really sure how it happened, but I’ll gladly share my impressions of the book if anyone wants to know. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-an-arc-in-the-mail/811765/2 "2018-04-04T00:32:54Z")
Cool! I heard Stirling talking about a series of alt-histories featuring Teddy Roosevelt last year - is this one of them? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-an-arc-in-the-mail/811765/3 "2018-04-04T00:38:10Z")
Yes! This looks like the first in the series. I’ve started flipping pages already. 🙂 (I wouldn’t have minded more in the _Peshawar Lancers_ myself, but that’s a whole 'nother thing.) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-an-arc-in-the-mail/811765/4 "2018-04-04T00:42:24Z")
Excellent.