Robert J. Sawyer expounds on Robert A. Heinlein's rules for writers. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 10:54 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Upon the urging of some at SF Signal (although they may deny it), I took a look at the fiction set in the game universe known as Warhammer 40,000 (produced by Games Workshop). Some further research yielded recommendations from science fiction authors such as David Drake (who is going to be writing a "blurb" for one of the upcoming books) and John Lambshead (researcher, game designer, science fiction author who somehow finds time to play the game).

Well...with recommendations like those... more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:33 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I had the extreme good fortune to not only have seven (see if you can figure out what seven) books autographed by Travis S. "Doc" Taylor tonight, but to have dinner and a couple of drinks with him as well. He is a gracious and funny guy, and while he tries hard to project a "one of the guys image", there were more than a couple of times this evening when my jaw was hanging open trying to follow the way his mind jumps around.

Remember Neil Anson Clemons from Warp Speed and Quantum Connection? How about William Weaver from Into the Looking Glass and beyond? Now I feel like I've met them for real!

Let's see...spacecraft design. Child rearing. Detecting extrasolar planets with off-the-shelf equipment. Shrodinger's Cat. Quantum computers. Quantum physics and organic quantum computers. The Monoceros Ring. Roger Penrose. Miguel Alcubierre. Gamma-ray bursters. The Looking Glass books, The Warp Speed books. Other books he is written, has partially written, would like to write... Authors and/or stories that we both like. RoboTech. Star Blazers. Space opera. "Doc" Smith and parallels with Warp Speed and other books. Robert A. Heinlein. Spider Robinson. Lasers. Exotic space propulsion systems. How to get to another star in one person's "career life". Life extension. The wisdom of ordering sushi in a restaurant that is obstensibly Italian in nature.

And a whole lot more.

Folks, he's a fascinating guy. He's a very nice guy. If you get a chance to meet up with him at a convention or a conference, do so! You won't be sorry!

"Doc", it was great meeting you. I appreciate all the autographs! And the fascinating conversation! Is beer the same as coffee for you (hypes you up)?

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 11:45 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Hey, guess who I'm having dinner with tomorrow night if all goes right?

Travis "Doc" Taylor!!!!

Time to be the raving fanboy!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Young Lady has been somewhat indifferent to science fiction and fantasy. There's the amusing time when my wife was flipping through channels, came across Forbidden Planet, and dismissed it as "Oh, that's a Daddy movie" to our daughter's inquiry. On the other hand, some of the things she has read on her own can be termed science fiction or that much-abused term "science fantasy". more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:23 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Recovering from the loss of his Hugo, Dave Langford is back with another issue of Ansible (#254 in a series).

A 19-year winning streak came to its end at last, which frankly was something of a relief....

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:48 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Check out these great advance promo pics for the new season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:

I know I'm married and twice her age13 years older than she is, but I think I'm in love with Summer Glau:

(More below the fold).

more...

Posted by: JohnL at 09:14 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Continuing my interest in all things HALO (even though I've never played the game, just collected some figures, bought some books, and played some music), here is a view of the Master Chief vs. a view of the Master Chief. Remember that history is written by the victor!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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First there was one. Then there was three. Now comes the news that Baen Books has negotiated the rights to the entire Technic Civilization series by Poul Anderson. Seen volumes of crunchy hard science fiction goodness! For the first time since, well ever, we're going to see the entire tale, from beginning to end (with even a story that never made it between book covers!) from one publisher.

All hail Toni Weisskopf (Baen's publisher)! All hail Hank Davis (the Baen editor overseeing the project)!

Feast your peepers on what's in store... more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:31 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A long-lost "classic" of television SF is coming to DVD (can Logan's Run and Max Headroom be far behind? And what of Salvage 1?). Sure hope I can find a better price, though!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:57 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The official Cordwainer Smith site has a new look. "Smith's" daughter is also doing a blog. His Instrumentality of Mankind stories are among my favorites, stop on by and maybe you'll get hooked as well!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 07:00 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The SHADO Moon Hopper. One of my favorite SF vehicles! And...you got to love those purple wigs! SF Babes? That show had SF Babes!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 12:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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"Breen. You've managed to import breen from homeworld. How?"

"It .. isn't actually breen."

"But the smell, the taste..."

"It's an Earth food. They are called Swedish meatballs. It's a strange thing, but every sentient race has its own version of these Swedish meatballs. I suspect it's one of those great universal mysteries which will either never get explained or which will drive you mad if you ever learned the truth."

(Babylon 5, Walkabout)

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 11:29 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Over at Golden Age Comic Stories, Mr. Door Tree (!) recently completed a series of postings about Metropolis.

He put up several entries about an illustrated version of the novel: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven.

He also put up several entries about the film: One. Two. Three. Four. These include some great behind-the-scenes shots.

This follows the recent news that missing footage from the film has been discovered. New DVD coming?

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Star Wars was around a lot longer than we thought. more...

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 10:23 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Robert A. Heinlein (introduction by John Scalzi): Project Moonbase and Others (Subterranean Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-59606-186-6; cover and interior art by Bob Eggleton).

Review found here.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 05:28 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Need advice but find the ramblings of a Jedi Master too straightforward? Ask Kosh!

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 06:30 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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C.L. Moore; Northwest of Earth: The Complete Northwest Smith (Planet Stories/Paizo Publishing; 2008; ISBN 978-1-60125-081-0; cover by Sean Glenn).

Review here (no, I haven't given up my "day job").

Made up of: Introduction: Teaching the World to Dream (C.J. Cherryh); Shambleau; Black Thirst; Scarlet Dream; Dust of Gods; Julhi; Nymph of Darkness (with Forrest J. Ackerman); The Cold Gray God; Yvala; Lost Paradise; The Tree of Life; Quest of the Starstone (with Henry Kuttner); Werewoman; Song in a Minor Key.

Part of the 2008 Year in Shorts.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:29 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The review can now be viewed here.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 09:26 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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The combined review can now be found here.

Posted by: Fred Kiesche at 08:28 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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