"I define science fiction as the art of the possible. Fantasy is the art of the impossible. Science fiction, again, is the history of ideas, and they are always ideas that work themselves out and become real and happen in the world. And fantasy comes along and says, 'We're going to break all the laws of physics.' Most people don't realize it, but the series of films which have made more money than any other series of films in the history of the universe is the James Bond series. They're all science fiction, too-romantic, adventurous, frivolous, fantastic science fiction!"
-- Ray Bradbury’s definition of science fiction. (See my own article, asking How to Define Science Fiction.)
Hold on for pocket reviews of some of the more interesting, recent Science Fiction novels. But first...
Many
of you are fans of Eric Flint's marvelous "1632" universe. Perhaps
not the most likely alternate history series but by-far the most successful. And
fun. Well, okay, I finally broke down and wrote a little story that explores
the underpinnings while extending it in unexpected directions... and Erik loved
it! My story is the cover-lead in the latest 1632 anthology Ring of Fire IV, along
with admirable stories by Charles E. Gannon, Eric Flint, David Carrico, Robert
Waters and others. When Grantville landed in 1632, what happened to the town whose place it took? Find out in my story "71" -- which you can now read for
free on the Baen Books site!
-- Ray Bradbury’s definition of science fiction. (See my own article, asking How to Define Science Fiction.)
Hold on for pocket reviews of some of the more interesting, recent Science Fiction novels. But first...
Many
of you are fans of Eric Flint's marvelous "1632" universe. Perhaps
not the most likely alternate history series but by-far the most successful. And
fun. Well, okay, I finally broke down and wrote a little story that explores
the underpinnings while extending it in unexpected directions... and Erik loved
it! My story is the cover-lead in the latest 1632 anthology Ring of Fire IV, along
with admirable stories by Charles E. Gannon, Eric Flint, David Carrico, Robert
Waters and others. When Grantville landed in 1632, what happened to the town whose place it took? Find out in my story "71" -- which you can now read for
free on the Baen Books site!
We discuss
this universe in the latest Baen Books podcast, along with other distinguished
and creative authors participating in Ring of Fire IV.
The Economics of Thrones and Starships, a podcast on Imaginary Worlds (hosted by Eric Molinsky), discusses a theme at the root of many science fiction and fantasy stories – the economics of scarcity and abundance. How would the world be different if resources were not limited -- if replicators can make anything appear instantly? Or if advances in technology allow us to meet (or exceed) the needs of people worldwide? A theme Peter H. Diamandis took up in Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think.
== Brief looks at Science Fiction ==
Keep up with the latest news and books from your favorite authors: A list of Science Fiction authors on Twitter.
Scheduled for release June 7: an anthology of The Best Science Fiction of the Year (Volume 1), edited by Neil Clarke, with stories from Nancy Kress, Ian McDonald, Seanan McGuire, Alastair Reynolds, Carrie Vaughn, Ann Leckie, Ken Liu, Aliette de Bodard, Brenda Cooper, Geoff Ryman, Paul McAuley, and...I have an entry: 'The Tumbleweeds of Cleopatra Abyss.' See the full Table of Contents here. Sample some of the best short science fiction from 2015!
From Blastr: a fun list of 12 SciFi/Fantasy novels that channel the flavor of hardboiled noir fiction, including Isaac Asimov's The Caves of Steel, Jonathan Lethem's Gun, with Occasional Music, George Alec Effinger's When Gravity Fails, China Mieville's The City and the City, Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon, and Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. My own Kiln People gets a shout-out here.
Barsk, The Elephant’s Graveyard, by Lawrence M. Schoen, was a finalist for this year's Nebula Awards. In this distant future, humans
no longer exist, but the galaxy is filled with sapient descendants of animals that humans uplifted. This is a tale of the Fant, descended from terrestrial elephants, who have been ostracized to the planet Barsk. Looked down upon by many races, the Fant are the keepers of the powerful drug koph, prized for its ability to allow certain particularly sensitive individuals (Speakers) to communicate with the dead. But other species desperately seek this knowledge, and will stop at nothing to learn the secrets of this drug. Schoen has developed a beautifully detailed world of anthropomorphic animals - in some ways reminiscent of Cordwainer Smith - that will resonate deeply with the reader.
Keep up with the latest news and books from your favorite authors: A list of Science Fiction authors on Twitter.
Scheduled for release June 7: an anthology of The Best Science Fiction of the Year (Volume 1), edited by Neil Clarke, with stories from Nancy Kress, Ian McDonald, Seanan McGuire, Alastair Reynolds, Carrie Vaughn, Ann Leckie, Ken Liu, Aliette de Bodard, Brenda Cooper, Geoff Ryman, Paul McAuley, and...I have an entry: 'The Tumbleweeds of Cleopatra Abyss.' See the full Table of Contents here. Sample some of the best short science fiction from 2015!From Blastr: a fun list of 12 SciFi/Fantasy novels that channel the flavor of hardboiled noir fiction, including Isaac Asimov's The Caves of Steel, Jonathan Lethem's Gun, with Occasional Music, George Alec Effinger's When Gravity Fails, China Mieville's The City and the City, Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon, and Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union. My own Kiln People gets a shout-out here.
Barsk, The Elephant’s Graveyard, by Lawrence M. Schoen, was a finalist for this year's Nebula Awards. In this distant future, humans
no longer exist, but the galaxy is filled with sapient descendants of animals that humans uplifted. This is a tale of the Fant, descended from terrestrial elephants, who have been ostracized to the planet Barsk. Looked down upon by many races, the Fant are the keepers of the powerful drug koph, prized for its ability to allow certain particularly sensitive individuals (Speakers) to communicate with the dead. But other species desperately seek this knowledge, and will stop at nothing to learn the secrets of this drug. Schoen has developed a beautifully detailed world of anthropomorphic animals - in some ways reminiscent of Cordwainer Smith - that will resonate deeply with the reader.
Lagoon, by Nnedi Okorafor, offers an unusual take on First Contact in Africa, written partly in response to the dismal story of District 9. When aliens land in the waters off Lagos, their first act is to purify the polluted ocean and make the sealife bigger and smarter, even into monsters. A targeted tidal wave sweeps three individuals out to sea, down to the alien ship; they re-emerge, along with a shape-shifting alien ambassador in human form, who claims to come in peace, seeking a new home. Many people of the city seek to use the extraterrestrial for their own purposes. Chaos ensues, with riots, fighting, shooting, and looting. With a sonic boom, a hundred more aliens walk out of the rising waters, in the guise of humans. As these agents of change sweep across the land, Nigeria will never be the same…
Transcendental, by James Gunn,
begins a bold new trilogy set in future when a post-Singularity humanity has to
deal with a Galactic Federation that is well intentioned, but too stodgy to
notice that it is in terrible danger. In a fragile post-war peace, a Riley, a war veteran, sets off an interstellar voyage accompanying pilgrims in search of a
machine that promises the fulfillment of transcendence. Along the way, alien
and human passengers have their own Canterbury-like tales to tell. But Riley is
under orders to find (and kill) the mysterious Prophet -- whose promises of enlightenment
are destabilizing the galaxy. The saga continues in the next volume,
Transgalactic. One of the Grand Masters of Science Fiction does it again!
The Book of Strange New Things, by Michel Faber is science fiction by a non-SF author, a tale where
faith meets the alien. Peter, a former junkie, is a Christian missionary who
has been selected by the shadowy megacorporation USIC to travel to the distant
planet Oasis. There he finds the indigenous population already
familiar with Christianity and desperate to hear more from his “book of strange
new things.” As Peter builds his church and attempts to communicate and
minister to alien minds, he begins to question his mission, and who he is
serving. The situation on Earth is rapidly falling apart, with natural
disasters and social upheaval, yet Peter’s connection to Earth becomes ever more
tenuous, even as urgent messages from his wife pull at him. Moving at times, slow at others, the novel ventures into
territory also covered by Mary Doria Russell in The Sparrow and James Blish in A Case of Conscience.
Also, check out Dandelion Seeds, a Collection of Short Stories just released by Steve DeGroof, creator of the always amusing Tree Lobsters webcomic. This started as a response to the Twitter hashtag #FirstLineToMyNovel -- carried out to eighteen science fiction stories, collected here.
Finally... At a recent UCSD filmatic festival, I got to try out “Sonar” - a new VR-immersive 360 degree, 3D experience for the Gear system (using Samsung phones). It takes you down into catacombs beneath the bowels of an asteroid where you finally (SPOILER) encounter alien skeletons.
Um, does anyone else find that familiar? As in precisely a scene from my novel Existence? Except for the (unexplained) ship collapse near the end… is it possible that the creators - Philipp Maas and Dominik Stockhausen – might owe me at least a dinner? Oh, it is well-directed and the music rocks. Still.
Um, does anyone else find that familiar? As in precisely a scene from my novel Existence? Except for the (unexplained) ship collapse near the end… is it possible that the creators - Philipp Maas and Dominik Stockhausen – might owe me at least a dinner? Oh, it is well-directed and the music rocks. Still.
