The Weight of the World These days, it feels like the world’s challenges are mounting. From economic uncertainty and environmental crises to the polarization of beliefs and values, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We’re bombarded daily by grim news, leaving many of us searching for a reprieve—a way to escape the harsh realities of life […]
Space Opera: The Genre Dreamers Need Right Now Read More »
Science fiction as we know it owes much to Amazing Stories, the genre’s pioneering magazine. Founded in 1926, it was the first magazine solely dedicated to speculative fiction, helping launch countless authors and igniting imaginations across generations. Now, after decades without active publication, Amazing Stories is gearing up for a triumphant return. The team behind
Amazing Stories: Help Revive a Science Fiction Legacy Read More »
I’ve been a full member of SFWA (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Association — or, as it used to be: Science Fiction Writers of America) for several years. And even I didn’t know about their new release newsletter until just this week. So. SFWA have a New Release Newsletter that anyone can subscribe to. Every
A New Release Newsletter Worth Subscribing To Read More »
I’ve had the English translation of Liu Cixin’s science fiction novel, The Three Body Problem, sitting in my TBR pile for a couple of years. It won the Hugo. I figured that made it a must-read. But I never cracked it open. Why? Because I kept hearing rumours: As much as I love Asimov, his
Three Body Problem has problems. Or does it? Read More »
Short and quick, today. One of Isaac Asimov’s classic and most well-known short stories is “The Last Question,” which can be found in multiple anthologies, including Robot Dreams and Nine Tomorrows, two collections of Asimov’s. If you like listening to audio, you can hear this story read by Leonard Nimoy. 🙂 I found a recording
Spock Reads Asimov Read More »
A couple of years ago, I watched a short video on YouTube that compared the depths of the oceans. I found it again today. It’s quite mind-blowing seeing how puny human efforts are to reach the greater depths. And it’s equally as jaw-dropping to see how truly deep the oceans run. Both times I’ve watched
We Don’t Need Spaceships to Find Strange New Worlds. Read More »
Farnam Street recently posted one of the clearest explanations for why utopias can’t work in real life. Apart from being super interesting reading, the post also made me reflect on utopias in fiction. I don’t like utopian fiction and tend to avoid it. Even before I read the Farnam Street post, I thought most of
Why Utopias Don’t Work…anywhere! Read More »
If it can’t be expressed in figures, it is not science; it is opinion. Robert A. Heinlein – The Notebook of Lazarus Long Say what you will about Robert Heinlein, he does make you pause to think at least once in every book. His The Notebook of Lazarus Long is stuffed full of thinkers. I’ve
The Immoveable Object and The Irresistible Force Read More »
I’ve made a standing joke out of the fact that I don’t speak anything but English, but that I’m fluent in Australian, British, Canadian and American. It really isn’t a joke. As an author of genre fiction, I learned very early on – with my first manuscript, in fact – that I was expected to
American, British, Australian or Canadian, Eh? Read More »
I grew up without a television and in a tiny town with no other kids. So I read. A lot. Keeping this list to just five major influencers was therefore a major challenge. These are in no particular order. Mary Stewart Mary Stewart is primarily known for her Merlin series, which is how I came
My Top 5 Most Influential Authors Read More »