This Week’s News Is Brought To You By –
People and a publication that supports DEI and Transgender individuals: SF Fandom proves that Diversity is a good thing, and no one should be told by the government how to go about living their own best lives, nor should the government be distorting reality in order to create discrimination in the service of their own twisted agenda.
Of Special Note
This week’s news includes items that were scheduled for last week’s news which were interrupted by commentary on the effects of the election on SFnal-related issues.
Other Special Note
An Additional Special Note
Take THAT! MilSF. Romantasy is now the top selling sub-genre
AMAZING PEOPLE NEWS
Noah Chinn cautions that you should never meet your heroes and right now he’s offering one of his latest for free
There’s a Crowdfunder for the making of a film based on John E. Stith’s Manhattan Transfer
The latest issue (119) of Bruce Gillespie’s SF Commentary is available for both screen and print
Scott Edelman shares the passing of Al Sarrantonio
Cory Doctorow shares another essay in his consequences of “enshitification” tour
Fandom
FANAC’s Fan History Zoom will feature Margaret Middleton & Filking on February 22nd.
For members, the First Fandom Foundation is soliciting nominations for the 2025 First Fandom Awards. (FFF is the legacy organization to First Fandom, which was established when the last “First Fan” passed and the then current members voted to keep a re-named organization going. Membership is open to anyone who has been continuously active in science fiction fandom for a period of at least thirty years.)
Space
Steven Barber shares some images and video of a meteorite fall
ANOTHER Asteroid might hit Earth in the future. (What’s up with those asteroids? Is it Earth they don’t like, or are they just trying to remove an unsightly orange stain?)
Science
I strongly suspect that this will NOT be the first time that the Orange Administration runs face first into the fact that reality is not subject to the dictates of Executive Order: Mars plans off schedulue
A new species of poisonous centipede, living in a toxic cave, has been discovered
Industry
Indie Bookstores may soon be able to sell e-books directly to customers
Publisher’s Weekly has an article about what publishers should expect under the new administration. (Paywalled)
The Author’s Guild has filed several lawsuits against book bans
Upcoming Writer’s Workshops for February 2025
Books Inc has Filed for Chapter 11 (Paywalled)
Reviews
Jason Bleckly reviews Outpost Mars by Cyril Judd
Film & TV
Retro
An interview about Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton
Social Commentary
A few months ago, we added a Spanish Language version of the website. A few days ago, the White House took down the Spanish Language version of the White House website. It’s not a fair trade.
This is pretty cool: Prosthetics as works of art, rather than as objects of pity
NEW SECTION! Social Disruption
Not happy with the new administration’s take on “DEI”? You might find this information useful.
(NOT) Just For Fun
Zuckerberg’s thoughts on the coming year
Just For Fun
Damien Walter shares an amusing photo of Ian McKellen and JJ Abrams
Mini Editorial
More calls for a western version of an Industrialized Science Fiction project
In the Future
Monday:
Shaded Sol by Devin Miller – FREE STORY
La columna del invertebrado: ¿Le teme el Oscar al terror?
Tuesday:
Unexpected Questions with Tom Doyle
Excerpt: Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Baskewell
Wednesday:
Near Teegarden’s Star c
Thursday:
Whatever Happened to THE PRISONER?
Friday:
Matt’s Reviews: It’s Real Life: An Alternate History of the Beatles
Featured Image
Promotional image for the Manhattan Transfer fund raiser