There’s this video clip currently making the rounds where Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) confronts a crazy-eyed law professor from Berkely and gets called out for, among other things, saying that trans people “don’t exist.” It’s a highly partisan exchange that I’m sure will be used by both sides to rally the base, but it also… Continue reading Do trans people exist?
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Reading Resolution Update: June
My 2022 reading resolution: Read or DNF every novel that has won a Hugo or a Nebula award, and acquire all the good ones. This is the last one of these resolution updates that I’m going to post here on this blog. I’ve only got three books left now: Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold… Continue reading Reading Resolution Update: June
Searching for a routine
Just a quick update post. My parents came over to visit last week, and we’ve all come down with a mild cold, so our family routine has been more or less up-ended. That’s just the nature of routines, though: they work until they’re inevitably disrupted, at which point you need to reassess and adapt to… Continue reading Searching for a routine
Christians: The Most Marginalized and Underrepresented Minority in SF&F (By Design)
So I’m reading The Expanse, and I recently finished the third book in the series, Abaddon’s Gate. Really great book! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of action, lots of adventure, and a very optimistic ending, which is not something you see a lot of in science fiction and fantasy these days. However, there was one… Continue reading Christians: The Most Marginalized and Underrepresented Minority in SF&F (By Design)
Good Morning Planets
I’ve been following Astronomy Picture of the Day longer than any other blog—since 2006, in fact. Usually, the pictures are okay but not all that memorable. This one, however, is amazing. Planets one through six of our solar system, all captured in one amazing shot. Very well done. By the way, if you’re looking for… Continue reading Good Morning Planets
Print vs. Ebook vs. Audiobook: When To Own
In last week’s post, I tried to make a comprehensive list of all the pros and cons associated with the various book formats. The purpose of that exercise was to figure out when to acquire a book in print, in audio, in ebook form, or some combination of all three. It’s long been my goal… Continue reading Print vs. Ebook vs. Audiobook: When To Own
The Generational Cycles of Grimdark vs. Noblebright
A couple of months ago, I was discussing genre trends with my indie publishing mastermind group where we drew some fascinating connections between grimdark fantasy, noblebright fantasy, and Strauss-Howe generational theory. In that discussion, we came up with a theory that predicts when each type of fantasy (grimdark, nobledark, noblebright, and grimbright) will be ascendant,… Continue reading The Generational Cycles of Grimdark vs. Noblebright
“Every age fraught with discord and danger…”
Every age fraught with discord and danger seems to spawn a leader meant only for that age, a political giant whose absence, in retrospect, seems inconceivable when the history of that age is written. Dan Simmons, The Fall of Hyperion.
How SFWA ruined science fiction (and why it needs to die)
There was a time when science fiction was bigger than fantasy. More people read it, more authors wrote it, and more editors demanded it. Would-be fantasy authors were steered toward writing science fiction, because they knew that it would sell better than the stuff they actually wanted to write. Now, the roles are reversed. More… Continue reading How SFWA ruined science fiction (and why it needs to die)
Print vs. Ebook vs. Audiobook: Pros and Cons
Print Pros: A printed book is a hard, physical copy that cannot be altered, edited, deleted, revoked, remotely accessed, or otherwise tampered with by a third party who does not have physical access to the book. The reading experience is totally private. Governments, corporations, and other third parties cannot easily know about what you read… Continue reading Print vs. Ebook vs. Audiobook: Pros and Cons