I have to say that I've wondered about this one myself. via xkcd: Rocket Packs.
Tag: Science fiction
I Was Promised Flying Cars – NYTimes.com
AS an astronomy-obsessed kid in the 1970s, I subsisted on a steady diet of science fiction. It promised a future filled with technological wonders: talking computers, bionic limbs, flying cars. Forty years later, though much of that future has arrived, it’s still missing what I consider its most important ingredient. Sure, we’ve got the iPhone’s … Continue reading I Was Promised Flying Cars – NYTimes.com
The Southern Reach
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
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
