The 5 short stories nominated for the Hugo Award are available to be read, for free, and they’re conveniently linked by SF Signal. They are all, with the exception of “Last Contact” by Stephen Baxter, going to be on Escape Pod, too, in the next few weeks (“Tideline” was last week). My calls: “Last Contact” …
Category Archives: Opinion
Science Fiction is Love
Do you like science fiction? I like science fiction. I like science fiction because so much of science fiction is fucking hilarious. For example. John Scalzi. I’ve read this story several times, but I read it again today and I’m sitting here, at my desk, at work, trying not to advertise the fact that my …
We're Doomed!
Scifi Disaster flicks are a staple of the industry. Good Scifi disaster flicks are the minority. It looks like there will be soon a new miniseries to add to the other category. Budgeted at $13 million, the effects-heavy “Impact” chronicles the aftermath of a meteor shower during which a piece of a dwarf star lodges …
"Don't Bore Me" -or- Why I'm not Finishing this Book
I read Kate Elliot’s Manifesto this morning and it has pushed me over the edge to a decision I’ve been edging toward for the past few days. I will not finish Verner Vinge’s A Fire upon the Deep, despite being halfway through. Why? Because it’s boring me to death. I’m finding it to be work …
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Tax Day, 2008
Today is TurboTax’s day of reckoning. Will they burst their servers’ seams like last year or will they weather the storm? We shall see. That is my introduction the day’s topic of discussion: Taxes. As an American who proudly states that I live in one of the best countries in the world1, I really don’t …
The Idiot Plot and Other Things
This man says many things I agree with concerning my reading of novels. No idot plots. Less Deux ex Machina. As I get older, I find myself less and less inclined to read stuff that I used to like. I guess this is me maturing as a critical reader; I demand more out of my …
Flight Check-in Woes
I learned today that Delta is following other airlines’ lead and has started charging for a second checked bag. $25 is the nominal fee. My response? What will this do to check in lines? Honestly, I don’t really object to the airlines charging us more for carrying more luggage. If they need to do that …
On a Personal Note…
Today marked several things, two of which I’ll mention: One, I ran farther than I’ve ever run before (at one time). I mentioned this last fall, but I’m training for another half marathon and today I ran 13.3 miles. Very exciting, for me, at least. Two, we went to see Doomsday at the theater today. …
David Weber Book for Sale
I am a big fan of David Weber’s Honor Harrington Series, which is on book 11, with several side novels* and 4 short story anthologies. To the dismay of his Honor fans, Mr. Weber writes in other worlds than just that one. I think we’re on a two and a half year hiatus (something like …
Harry Potter 7 is to be Two Movies
I saw on the newswire that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be broken up into two movies. “It was born out of purely creative reasons,” producer David Heyman told the Times. “Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book.” I call bullshit. There’s no reason they can’t perform the surgery …