Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you're probably aware that there's a big Star Wars anniversary a-coming. Here's a site that celebrates that fact. I wonder about some of the "scholarship", though. For example:

The targeting grid used for the Millennium Falcon's canon is based on a paperweight Lucas saw on Arthur C. Clarke's desk.

First off...canon is usually spelled cannon...and second...why on earth would Arthur C. Clarke given George Lucas the time of day before SW was filmed...

Anyway, true or not, there are some amusing bits in there.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:55 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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(We're gonna party like's it's 2003!)

E.E. "Doc" Smith is one of my all-time favorite authors in the science fiction sub-genre of "space opera". Very few could do it as well or better--John W. Campbell, Jr., Edmond "World Wrecker" Hamilton and Jack Williamson among a scant few others.

There have been a few folks who have tried to write sequels to the original stories. More are but pale imitations (and forget about that horrid Japanese anime version!). Here is some "fan fiction" set in "Doc's" universe: Doomed Lensman (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and the unwritten sequel!)!!!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:59 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(We're gonna party like's it's 2003!)

A website dedicated to my favorite books as a kid (other than the Robert A. Heinlein young adult books, the Tom Swift series and the Chris Godfrey series).

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(2003 continues to roll along!)

John Brunner was a science fiction writer who, unfortunately, is pretty much forgotten by today's readers. Most active in the 1960's and 1970's, he died, appropriately enough, during the 53rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, Scotland (1995). more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:41 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(Another classic from 2003!)

Robert A. Heinlein still remains one of my favorite authors. Here's a website that quotes bits and pieces of his wit and wisdom. The only downside is that the site is not updated (no changes since June 14, 2000!) and the person running the site does not seem to respond to e-mail. But, keep hitting your "Refresh" button for a stream of comments... more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The list can now be viewed here.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The list can now be viewed here.

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(Yet another recycled entry from 2002!)

Found a copy of JWC's Cloak of Aesir—in hardcover! With an intact dustjacket! First edition, from 1952, in pretty darn good condition. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:22 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(Recycled from 2002. I'll eventually re-post a second entry I did on this book as well.)

The review can now be viewed here.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:17 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(A posting recycled from 2001...but not a Space Odyssey!)

My current reading in SF is mostly firmly set in good old (and new) space opera. Primarily, it has been:

David Weber's "Honor Harrington" series: "Something new" in the litany. Not the greatest things since sliced bread, but a lot of fun. Plus, Baen Books distribution methods (more on that in a separate note) makes it easy to get into the series. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:06 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(Yes, I've mentioned this book before. Yes, this is another recycled posting. Yes, I will be mentioning this book again. And again.)

One of the biggest inspirations to science fiction has been a little book called The World, The Flesh and The Devil by J.D. Bernal. There are a couple of versions available online, this one is pretty good (if you ignore some of the additions).

For a good addition, however, I recommend this posting at Impearls. Michael McNeil got permission to post Freeman Dyson's look back and speculations forward from Bernal's seminal work.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:57 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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One of the most invaluable sites on the web. By the time you work through the Atomic Rockets section, you'll be ready to fly your own spaceship!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Another good non-fiction reference is Borderlands of Science by the late Charles Sheffield. As with the previous book mentioned, Baen Books has an electronic version available. If I could get anywhere near the level of these stories, I'd be a very happy camper.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:51 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Indistinguishable from Magic is a non-fiction book by the late Dr. Robert L. Forward. He takes a look at (what was at the time of the writing) some bleeding-edge science. A good book for reference if you're writing science fiction. And, even better, Baen Books has an electronic version available!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:49 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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One possible setting for a story that I'd like to write is on the Moon, around the time that it starts to get explored again. This work is considered one of the seminal papers on the structure of the Moon.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:46 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(This posting is 100% previously pounded keypads!)

One good source of scenarios for SF stories are the back issues of the newsletter for the L5 Society. They can be found online here. NASA's space settlement studies can be found here and can be found here. A special issue of CoEvolution Quarterly is also online.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:41 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Robert J. Sawyer talks about eight things new writers need to know.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:21 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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One potential setting for a story I would love to write is either the asteroid belt or an asteroid in general. Looking at this site, there seems to be no lack of material for resources!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:17 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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(This entry is 100% previously posted ramblings!)

John Barber (writing at The Space Review) re-explores the concepts of macrolife. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The latest offering in the rapidly overflowing strategy genre is hard evidence that strategy games need a real overhaul, and fast. Chess, a small-scale tactical turn-based strategy game, attempts to adopt the age-old "easy to learn, difficult to master" parameter made popular by Tetris. But the game's cumbersome play mechanics and superficial depth and detail all add up to a game that won't keep you busy for long. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:11 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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