There’s a place in the Pacific Ocean so remote, the closest humans are often aboard the International Space Station. Known as Point Nemo, this eerily empty stretch of ocean is where dead spacecraft go to die—and it sounds exactly like the kind of setting you’d expect in a science fiction novel. In fact, it’s sparked more than a few story ideas already…
Where Spacecraft Go to Die: The Sci-Fi Allure of Point Nemo Read More »
From O’Neill cylinders to ultra-fast pod trains, I’ve always been fascinated by how future technologies might reshape the way we live. Now, with a transpod line planned between Edmonton and Calgary, we’re on the brink of a sci-fi-style shift in how Albertans connect, commute, and imagine their cities.
Star Trek Cities and Supertrains: Alberta’s Leap into the Future Read More »
Who should control space? As satellites multiply and commercial players crowd low Earth orbit, the old question of ownership gives way to something trickier: governance. From traffic control to peacekeeping, enforcing rules in orbit isn’t just hard—it may be impossible in the traditional sense. But if no one can own space, does anyone have the right—or responsibility—to police it? This post explores the real-world state of space management, the challenges of enforcement, and how science fiction—from Star Cops to The Ptolemy Lane Tales—offers unexpected insight into the future of orbital order.
Who Should Control Space? Read More »
So, Worldcon 2025 is making headlines, but not the kind you’d put on the back of a Hugo-winning novel. The organizing committee decided to use ChatGPT to help vet over 1,300 panelist submissions. They intended to streamline the flood of applications, maybe catch a few red flags, keep things moving.
Except it’s not going well.
AI at Worldcon: Friend or Foe? Read More »
The line between dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction has always felt a little blurry, hasn’t it? As someone who loves speculative fiction in all its forms, I often find myself asking: Is this book really dystopian, or is it post-apocalyptic wearing a shiny, Capitol-colored coat?
Dystopia vs. Post-Apocalyptic: What Exactly Is The Hunger Games? Read More »
Under one of my other pen names, I’ve written an entire series set aboard a generation ship on a thousand-year voyage to the Coalsack area of space. So I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it would take to actually pull something like that off. Short answer? It’s not looking good. Not yet.
The Science of Generation Ships: Could We Actually Do It? Read More »
There’s nothing like staring up at a clear night sky to remind you just how tiny—and totally amazing—our little blue marble really is. It’s one thing to read about the vastness of space in a sci-fi novel, but it’s another thing entirely to step outside, look up, and actually see it for yourself. The planets,
Why Every Sci-Fi Fan Should Try Stargazing (and the Apps That Make It Easy) Read More »
The Doomsday Clock just moved forward again. We’re now at 89 seconds to midnight—the closest humanity has ever been to self-inflicted oblivion.
89 Seconds to Midnight: How Close Are We to the End? Read More »
As I’ve mentioned before, Amazing Stories is in the middle of an effort to revive the iconic science fiction magazine. After sharing the news about their commitment-based pre-order model, the team has made progress—but they’re asking for a little extra push to reach their next milestone. Currently, 50 fans have signed on to the program—an
Amazing Stories: Join the Mission to Bring It Back—One Fan at a Time Read More »
“The Galileon Moons” makes me think of swashbuckling science fiction or the old Victorian fantasy fiction, the sort of stories that HG Wells wrote, or the pulp fiction of the 1920s.
The Galilean Moons Read More »