This Week’s News Is Brought To You By –
Of Special Note
Astrid Bear has successfully transferred Greg Bear’s papers to San Diego University’s Special Collections department, as well as starting things off with a $5,000 donation. Now she is asking you to help fund the collection. Note: Initial fund raising goal has been met.
Other Special Note
We’ve added a new news category. Resistance. Here’s the first entry –
Resistance
Senator Bisignano (D) delivers a speech in opposition to the passage of a bill
AMAZING PEOPLE NEWS
Space
The recent Lunar eclipse, as seen from Toronto, AND from beyond the Moon
Science
Human brain cells coupled to silicon chips
The Quest for AI Super Intelligence (NYT – paywall)
Industry
AI Gone Bad: Neil Clarke is understandably perturbed by this Google AI’s exposition on Clarkesworld Magazine: “The magazine has been praised for its high-quality content and diverse range of stories, but has also faced criticism for publishing AI-generate stories.” See what happens when some (AI) authors get serially rejected?
Saying goodbye to Diamond Comic Distributors
Reviews
David Agranoff reviews John Brunner’s The Long Result
New Releases
Col. Chris Hadfield’s latest – Final Orbit – has been released
AWARDS
Cheryl Morgan shares a BBC video of the 1979 Hugo Awards ceremony at the Brighton Worldcon
Literature
Elana Gomel tackles the following question in a Substack series: “There is a case to be made that all SF is religious in nature. There is also a case to be made that SF is an atheistic genre par excellence.” (I’d argue for the atheistic side, if only because the scientific method – which is incorporated into the genre’s definition by reference, even if authorial engagement, if not respect, for the concept may seem lacking or absent in many cases – is itself atheistic, at least in the sense of requiring observable, verifiable evidence for any claims made. Clarke’s dictum notwithstanding (as it is often used to blur the lines).
Film & TV
Disaster Is My Muse, an Art Spiegelman documentary, has been released
Peter Dinklage takes the starring role in the remake of The Toxic Avenger (yes, really)
Art
Really cool sculptures of The Outer Limits characters
Social Commentary
Buzz Dixon shares coverage of the now dismissed editor of Stars and Stripes warning to everyone: “It would be helpful if we stopped pretending this terrible chapter in American history won’t close without bloodshed …”
Statistical analysis suggests that swing state voting may have been rigged in Presidential election
Just For Fun
Composer uses Pi to write an Irish Jig for St. Patrick’s Day. (When you listen to it, think back to Sagan’s Contact and the idea in there that there are hidden messages buried deep in fundamental constants….)
Ever seen a jumping spider molt? Now you can.
In the Future
Monday:
On the Tour at Great American by Sheila Hartney – FREE Fiction!
Novedades de Febrero 2
Tuesday:
The Big Idea: Hache Pueyo
Sergio Pistoi & Paul Levinson Discuss The Last Of US & the Post-Apocalyptic Genre
Wednesday:
Paul Levinson interviews David Browne about Talkin’ Greenwich Village
La columna del invertebrado: REC y un recuerdo Found Footage
Thursday:
What Happened to the PROPS from INDIANA JONES and the TEMPLE of DOOM?
Whatever Happened to the TWILIGHT ZONE?
Whatever Happened to CLOSE ENCOUNTERS of the THIRD KIND?
Friday:
Matt’s Reviews: We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker
Featured Image
The cover of a paperback edition of Greg Bear’s Hugo Award Winning novel, Moving Mars
