I've recently read the first two books of Jeff Vandermeer's science fiction trilogy, 'The Southern Reach': 'Annihilation' and 'Authority'. The second book was just released, with the third and final book scheduled to be released later this year. The series is about a mysterious area of land that has been cut off from the outside … Continue reading The Southern Reach
Tag: Science fiction
Movie review: Ender’s Game
In his early career, I was enthralled by the works of Orson Scott Card. He had the ability to create vivid phantasmagorical worlds with protagonists in agonizing situations that you couldn't have anything but sympathy for. In college, I was in a science fiction book club, and accidentally received one of his books, 'Wryms'. I … Continue reading Movie review: Ender’s Game
Project Morpheus test flights
If you've ever read in any old time science fiction, you probably encountered a lot of stories where the characters took off vertically in a rocket ship, and later landed in the same rocket ship, vertically. Vertical take off and landing (VTOL) is an old dream. But it's turned out to be brutally difficult in … Continue reading Project Morpheus test flights
Europa Report, a review
Somehow I completely missed the release of this movie. It seems to represent the beginning of something I've hoped to see for a while: small independent productions that make use of the lowering cost of CG technology to make narrow genre films. Most film science fiction is, unfortunately, garbage scientifically. The cost and risk of … Continue reading Europa Report, a review
Leviathan Wakes to be a TV series
I had no idea of this when I read the book or wrote the review, but apparently Leviathan Wakes, along with the rest of the Expanse series, is slated to be a TV series. I agree with IO9 that the story will be well suited to the medium.
Leviathan Wakes, a review
This is a review of James S. A. Corey's science fiction novel 'Leviathan Wakes'. It's the first in a series, although this book contains what seemed like a mostly stand alone and complete story. As the cover mentions, this is good old fashioned space opera. It has lots of action including planets at war, intense … Continue reading Leviathan Wakes, a review
Lawrence Krauss on the relationship between science and science fiction
What is the connection between science and science fiction? Are television shows like "Battlestar Galactica" and "Dr. Who" inspiring the next generation of scientists? Professor Lawrence Krauss explored these issues at the 2014 Annual Meeting in his talk, “Physics of the Future,” which was part of the symposium titled, "Where's My Flying Car? Science, Science … Continue reading Lawrence Krauss on the relationship between science and science fiction
Gravity: a review
I finally watched the movie Gravity last night. Despite a number of flaws, I enjoyed it immensely. I think it sets a new standard for movies set in space (at least I hope it does). The visuals were stunning and the story had me on the edge of my seat. I now really regret not … Continue reading Gravity: a review
They’re Made out of Meat
amanimal clued me in to this sci-fi short story by Terry Bisson, 'They're Made out of Meat', which originally appeared in Omni magazine in 1990, and which is brilliant! A number of video treatments have also been made of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaFZTAOb7IE
Deep history, and deep future?
John Schellenberg has an article up on Aeon noting that, while we seem to have no problem accepting deep time in the past, there isn't much discussion of deep future, that is, the future millions or billions of years in the future. It's an interesting article (aside from an unfortunate plea for us to take Thomas … Continue reading Deep history, and deep future?
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