Alien Parameter Space
I love science fiction stories with aliens. There are some good ones without aliens, but they’d probably be better if they threw in some aliens. OK, maybe not, but I still love aliens. I write […]
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Crossroads: The Importance of Parody to the Speculative Fiction Genre
Last week, we talked about how every piece of humorous speculative fiction inevitably gets compared to Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But as I outlined, Adams’ comedy of the absurd operates very […]
Synthetic Voices #16 – March 2013 Top Picks
This was one of those wonderful, terrible months where there were simply too many good stories to choose from. Buckle up! [powerpress] Discuss on: Jimmy RogersRead My Profile www.scienceismagic.com
Discovering Planet Stories
As a fan of the classic Science Fiction and Fantasy pulp magazines (exemplified by my thrill to be involved here at Amazing Stories), I find myself a bit giddy whenever I stumble upon an old […]
CROSSROADS: Right Place, Time, and Tech – The Hitchhiker’s Guide
Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy (itself spread across five books with a six written by Eoin Colfer), with its friendly, green warning against panic, casts a huge shadow over the field of […]
Review: The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by HP Lovecraft
A supernatural murder mystery is probably the best way to describe “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward“, the short novel by H.P. Lovecraft. Published after Lovecraft’s death in 1941, this tale combines tropes from horror, […]
No. 12 Alfred Elgin van Vogt, Weapons Masters, and The Big Three.
$1995.00. For 15 pages. That’s how much a copy of A. E. van Vogt’s speech, Tomorrow on the March, goes for today. He delivered this speech as the guest of honor at PACIFICON, July 4, 1946. […]
Scide Splitters: Shh! It’s a Secret by Daniel M. Kimmel
First contact stories are among the most fertile ground for science fiction humor. They make excellent vehicles for looking in the mirror for a good laugh. In his first novel, Shh! It’s a Secret, Daniel […]
The Hugo Triple Play
There are only three nominations for short stories on the Hugo ballot this year, Sure a larger selection would be better, but any one of these on the list is worthy of winning.
Science Fiction Wishful Thinking
There are a number of science fiction tropes that might come true at some point, but not necessarily within our lifetimes or near future. They’re extremely common, however, and challenging them can elicit strong emotions […]
ASM Blog Horde Interview with Kristina Grifantini
Welcome to the Amazing Stories BLOG HORDE INTERVIEWS! The ASM Blog Horde is a diverse and wonderful species. I have the privilege of talking with all of them, and I get to share those chats with […]
CROSSROADS: Make ’em Laugh – Humor and Speculative Fiction
Hello, folks! Now that I’m back on my feet, I find that April’s here. A few days ago was April 1st, also known as April Fool’s Day. And while I may not be clever enough […]
The Invisible World
When I walked out to my back patio, I unexpectedly met resistance. My throbbing forehead had crashed against an unseen force. I stepped back to look more closely and noticed a barrier standing between me […]
Thinking Outside the Boiler: A Few Novels Not Always Classified as Steampunk
Taking a short break from science horror to talk some more about steampunk, because our superior mechanical overlords assure me it’s the next big thing. But what exactly is steampunk? Instead of wading into a […]
Stray Thoughts About the Hugo Nominations
It’s not been the best of weeks. Plague and pestilence have swept through the household, hitting everyone except me. How I managed to stay healthy is something of a mystery to me, but I’m not […]
2013 HUGO AWARD NOMINATIONS
Yesterday, the nominations for the 2013 Hugo Awards (which will be presented at LoneStarCon 3 later this year) were announced live at several conventions and posted to to the official Hugo Awards website (where the […]
Lost In Space! Reviews of Unknown or Underappreciated Books Post #5 The Apocalypse Troll by David Weber
Hello and welcome to what will be an occasional feature on my blog! So – what, exactly, do I mean by ‘unknown or under-appreciated’? To put it simply – not everyone is a Kevin J. […]
You Can Still Catch the Runaway Skyscraper
The Runaway Skyscraper is a classic representation of how early twentieth-century Science Fiction was written, and how it should still be done today.
Another Difference Between Real Scientists and Science Fiction Scientists
I was watching an episode of Fringe today and got to see Walter Bishop actually puttering around his lab and whipping up antidotes with seconds to spare. If only science were so exciting on a […]
Buying a Book for its Cover
So you know you’ve done it. I’m sure we all have at one point or another. You know what I’m talking about, right? You walk into a bookstore and there it is… the cover that […]
How Science Fiction Can Save the World
Welcome internet traveler. I will be stockpiling neatly organized bits into a collective known as a blog along this portion of your journey. Do not fear for your personal safety, as I will take great […]
Characters: Ben Reich from The Demolished Man
The Demolished Man is a classic of SF. The story of Lincoln Powell’s faceoff with Ben Reich is worthy of the first Hugo, and is still an entertaining read today. Beyond the well imagined world […]
Review: At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft
While delving into the realm of science horror, I had the goal to read all of HP Lovecraft’s work. Having already read or listened to a significant portion of his fiction, I thought it would […]
No. 11 Ursula Le Guin, Darkness, Exile, Dispossessed, and Human Sexuality.
Dear Miss Kidd, Ursula K. Le Guin writes extremely well, but I’m sorry to have to say that on the basis of that one highly distinguishing quality alone I cannot make you an offer for […]
Book Review: Bowl of Heaven by Gregory Benford and Larry Niven
Bowl of Heaven – Gregory Benford and Larry Niven Tor – 2012 978-0765328410 (Hardbound) This is the first collaboration between two of our major writers, Gregory Benford and Larry Niven. Bowl of Heaven is about […]
Finding Women in Science Fiction
Where are all of the women writers in Science Fiction? Some are among us and we don’t even know it.
Science and Fiction by Springer
I’m on the editorial board, and an acquiring editor for, a new series by the European academic publisher Springer. I’m busy but agreed to participate because I love the intersection of science and fiction and […]
Brother, Can You Spare Ten Copper Jots?
Ridiculously well-thought-out currencies not visible in this cover art. Fantasy money has got more realistic in recent years. But how realistic can a currency get before it starts killing people?
Crossroads: World-building in Westerns and Speculative Fiction
Speculative fiction gives my imagination space to play. Whether it’s a strange, fascinating city, an entire alien world, or a different time/reality, the genre’s ability to transport offers both escapist entertainment and the insight into […]
Review: The Games by Ted Kosmatka
I’m glad I started with The Games by Ted Kosmatka as my first foray into science horror. I don’t think I could pick a better book that seamlessly melded horror and SF tropes. The year is 2044 and […]
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