Neal Stephenson Wins 2018 Robert A. Heinlein Award
Neal Stephenson, science fiction and futurist author, is the 2018 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. The award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space. This award
Cats Sleep on SFF: Tolkien, Riordan, and Vernon
NickPheas’ photos show the rest of the family likes to cozy up to a good book, too. This is Steerpike, not actually sleeping, but sitting with The Fellowship of the Ring. He is Fuschia’s brother, they are 17. Here we
Pixel Scroll 2/10/18 There Must Be Fifty Ways To Scroll Your Pixel
STUDYING TOLKIEN. “The Past, Present, and Future of Tolkien Scholarship” conference will be held November 1-4, 2018 at Valparaiso University in Indiana. This unique conference will examine the totality and comprehensiveness of Tolkien scholarship in three large groups: the
We Need To Do More Than Just Be Upset About Abuse In Fandom
By JJ: I was going to post in a File 770 comment a link to a recent blog post, because I wanted to make a comment about the trend it represents – but then I realized that it would be
Cats Sleep on SFF: Starman Jones and The Menace From Earth
Farah Mendlesohn introduces “My Mews. Lord Miles Vorkosicat rather alert with two Heinleins.” Photos of your felines resting on genre works are welcome. Send to mikeglyer (at) cs (dot) com
Pixel Scroll 2/9/18 Pixel, Pixel, Scrolling Bright, On The Servers Through The Night
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE. Evil Mad Scientist has released downloadable “Evil Mad Scientist Valentines: 2018”. This year’s set features parallel lines, friction, and activation energy: What could be more romantic than telling someone that the second derivative of
Registering for the Draft
By David Doering: Never know what you’ll find online. Here’s two souvenirs from way back — WWII Draft Registration Cards for two of our most famous figures in SF/F. Before he became known as Stan Lee, he registered as — And
Selections Announced for Horton’s 2018 Year’s Best SF & F
Editor Rich Horton has finalized the table of contents for The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, 2018 Edition. He anticipated some questions about the list in a post on Strange at Ecbatan — For those who might have seen
Art On A Lark
By Dann Todd: A link popped up recently over on Reddit for an artist in China. Jian Guo is an artist that has done work inspired by various science fiction and fantasy properties ranging from Lord of the Rings to Star
Cats Sleep on SFF: Bring It On
Alice Bentley’s cat, Brocky, finds Bring It On by Laura Anne Gilman irresistibly relaxing. He lands up sleeping on books quite a lot, as the bed is his favorite place, and I often nod off myself while reading. Photos
New SFF Award: Keystroke Medium Reader’s Choice Awards
By Dann Todd: Keystroke Medium is a collection of authors that lean towards the MilSF subgenre. Last year, Keystroke Medium helped to raise roughly US$5000 in their Covers for a Cause for Parkinson’s research. The guys from KSM are back this
Pixel Scroll 2/8/18 I’ve Got A Plan So Cunning You Could Put A Scroll On It And Call It A Pixel
4SJ. At the Classic Horror Film Board, the webmaster’s reminiscence about Forrest J Ackerman prompted a #MeToo response from Lucy Chase Williams, and since then “Forrest J Ackerman’s #MeToo Moment …” has generated 561 comments.
Speaking of “failures” (!),
Horror Writers Association’s 2017 Specialty Press Award
The Horror Writers Association has named Eraserhead Press and Independent Legions Press as dual recipients of its 2017 Specialty Press Award. HWA’s Specialty Press Award brings recognition to an outstanding publisher of horror, dark fantasy, and weird fiction. Founded in
Cats Sleep on SFF: Jessica Jones
Sir Muccamukk testifies: My wife laid these comics out so she could take a picture of all the lovely David Mack cover art together, and they were immediately occupied by Kaylee. Photos of your felines resting on genre works
Deadpool, Meet Cable
Deadpool 2, in theaters May 18, 2018. After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of
Pixel Scroll 2/7/18 In Space Nobody Can Hear Your Red Tesla’s GPS Scream “Recalculating!”
ABIGAIL NUSSBAUM. Last year’s Best Fan Writer Hugo winner announced that she won’t accept a nomination this year. Third, this is something that I was pretty sure I wanted to do last August, but I gave myself some time
Welcome to Dystopia – Now Go Home: NYSF Readings Spotlight New Anthology of Fearsome Futures
By Mark L. Blackman: On the evening of Tuesday, February 6, at its venue, the Brooklyn Commons Café in less-than-paradisiacal though not-quite dystopian Brooklyn, the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series hosted a cavalcade of readings spotlighting the
2018 Down Under Fan Fund
Down Under Fan Fund co-administrator Paul Weimer has announced the 2018 DUFF ballot is live. There is one candidate, Marlee Jane Ward, who will attend Worldcon 76 in San Jose. Although it is a one-person race, the voting process is
Cats Sleep on SFF: Dune and Dune Messiah
ULTRAGOTHA writes, “Here is Leto Purrrtreides, Son of Meow’d Dib with Dune and Dune Messiah. Our copy of Children of Dune seems to have gone missing.” Photos of your felines resting on genre works are welcome. Send to mikeglyer (at)
2018 Audie Awards Finalists
The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced finalists for the 23rd annual Audie Awards®, recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on May 31 in New York City. Finalists are selected
Pixel Scroll 2/6/18 If Only The Contents Matched The Packaging
WITH ADDED SHARKE. New Shadow Clarke juror Gary K. Wolfe gives his opening statement in “Conversations in a Noisy Room: Introducing Gary K. Wolfe”. I initially came to SF criticism through academia, where matters of grace and clarity are
Semiprozine Eligibility List Updated by Neil Clarke
Neil Clarke announced on Twitter that the Semiprozine Directory has been updated for the benefit of Hugo voters who want to know what’s eligible in the Best Semiprozine category. He also notes — As far as we can tell, no
2018 Prometheus Hall of Fame Award Finalists
The Libertarian Futurist Society has selected five finalists for their 2018 Hall of Fame Award. “As Easy as A.B.C.,” a short story by Rudyard Kipling (first published 1912 in London Magazine) — In the second of his “airship utopia” stories,
Cats Sleep on SFF: Neverwhere
BigelowT says “I took a picture of my cat sitting with, if not sleeping on, Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere.” Photos of other felines resting on genre works are welcome. Send to mikeglyer (at) cs (dot) com
Pixel Scroll 2/5/18 I Get No Pixels From Champagne
CHRIS GARCIA LOOKING FOR MATERIAL. And not for just any old zine — Chris is bringing back The Drink Tank, the 2011 Best Fanzine Hugo winner that he had retired after 400 issues. Here are the themes of his
Philadelphia Eagles Win the Super Bowl
[Frequent contributor Steve Vertlieb accidentally watched the Super Bowl and ended up sharing his hometown’s triumphant moment.] By Steve Vertlieb: In case you were living under a rock in Ecuador and hadn’t heard, The Philadelphia Eagles won The Super Bowl
2017 Bram Stoker Award Finalists
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has announced the finalists for the 2017 Bram Stoker Awards®. Active and Lifetime members of the organization are eligible to vote for the winners in all categories. The Bram Stoker Award winners will be announced
Solo: A Star Wars Story Official Teaser
Solo: A Star Wars Story Official Teaser is the full-length teaser trailer, versus the shorter Super Bowl-aired teaser. Solo: A Star Wars Story is in theaters May 25.
Brave New Words Award 2017 Shortlist
Starburst Magazine has announced the shortlist for its Brave New Words Award: Katie Khan for her novel, Hold Back the Stars (Penguin Random House) Adrian Tchaikovsky for his book Dogs of War (Head of Zeus) Margrét Helgadóttir for her work
For Your Consideration: Disney Story Origin Podcast – The Black Cauldron
By Dann Todd: After a year-long sabbatical motivated by personal health concerns, mystery/thriller author Paul J. Hale is back with episode 10a of The Disney Story Origins Podcast. In this most recent episode, Paul focuses on Disney’s The Black Cauldron
Cats Sleep on SFF: The Cackle of Cthulhu
Mocha sleeping on Laura Resnick’s contributor copies of The Cackle of Cthulhu (ed. Alex Shvartsman). Mocha is a foster cat, available for adoption from https://catadoptionteam.net/. She is currently considering applications from prospective servants who are suitably submissive to her will.
Pixel Scroll 2/4/18 For There Is No Joy In Scrollville, Mighty Pixel Has Struck Out
LEFT AT THE ALTER. Damien Walter, never easy to please anyway, declares “Altered Carbon was always doomed”. Imagine somebody wrote a novel about the cat and the fiddle, and the cow that jumped over the moon. In fact, imagine
