What Scares You About Science Fiction?

I listened to a podcast entitled Gripping Science Tales Need Not Be Science Fiction on NPR recently. It included interviews with cosmologist Lawrence Krauss, theoretical physicist Brian Greene and novelist Ian McEwan. The discussion was predominantly about the depiction of science in fiction. They clarify that their focus is specifically on fiction stories that happen to include real-life science as opposed to science fiction which, they imply, overhypes and skews science. This position both pleased and irked me at the same time.

It pleased me because there is an obvious enthusiasm about the presence of science elements in fiction. I ...

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When Short Fiction Grows into a Novel

Science fiction writers are often asked where they get their ideas, as if there is some patented and repeatable formula or process. Sadly, that's not the case. Coming up with ideas is not an easy game and there's no real answer to the question. This is why curmudgeonly-but-lovable Harlan Ellison, when asked where he gets his ideas, responds with "Schenectady."

Since story ideas are often hard to come by, it may not be surprising that when an author does come up with one, they may later choose to build upon that story. If the original idea was told ...

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More SF/F Books to Read Before You See Them on Screen

A few weeks back, we looked at books that are being adapted to the big screen. It's a pretty sure bet that these will actually make it to theaters since salaries have been paid, the filming has either wrapped or is in progress, and in-theater premiere dates have been set...all of which means that the movies studios would like to recoup their investments through movie ticket sales. The only way to do that is to actually get them into theaters where (hopefully) millions of moviegoers will hand over their hard-earned money for 90 minutes of escapist entertainment.

Why ...

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Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Picks for May 2013

There are a lot of books published every month. How does a casual science fiction and fantasy reader know which ones to choose? They consult handy lists like this one. Here's a look at some of the more enticing science fiction and fantasy books being published in May. Use this as your starting point for finding captivating reads.

Nebula Awards Showcase 2013 edited by Catherine Asaro

If you want a good overview of what the science fiction and fantasy field currently offers, look no further than Nebula Awards Showcase 2013. This anthology features both Nebula Award-winning and nominated fiction ...

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Speculative Fiction's Love Affair with Sherlock Holmes—It's Not A Mystery (Part 2)

I am an avid reader of science fiction, but that's not the only thing I read. I do like to read the occasional mystery story. I'm a big fan of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe character and his wise-cracking sidekick, Archie Goodwin. I am also fond of Agatha Christie mysteries. But the sleuth that got me started down the road of mystery calls himself Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is the creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who introduced the consulting detective in 1887 in the story “A Study in Scarlet.” Doyle wrote a total of 60 Sherlock Holmes ...

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Speculative Fiction's Love Affair with Sherlock Holmes—It's Not A Mystery (Part 1)

I am an avid reader of science fiction, but that's not the only thing I read. I do like to read the occasional mystery story. I'm a big fan of Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe character and his wise-cracking sidekick, Archie Goodwin. I am also fond of Agatha Christie mysteries. But the sleuth that got me started down the road of mystery calls himself Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is the creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who introduced the consulting detective in 1887 in the story "A Study in Scarlet." Doyle wrote a total of 60 Sherlock Holmes ...

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Read These Science Fiction & Horror Books Now to Prepare For Their Upcoming Film Adaptations

Call me silly, but I love it when speculative fiction books are turned into movies. If it's a book I've read and enjoyed, it validates my love of the book and gives me chance to see how others interpreted the work. If it's a book I didn't enjoy, it makes me think hard about why I didn't like it and what makes it worthy of adaptation. If it's a book I didn't read at all, then it gives me a reason to read the book in the first place. Why? Because I like ...

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Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Books: April 2013 Highlights & Top Picks

Here's a look at some of the science fiction and fantasy book highlights coming your way this month.

SF/F/H With Wide Appeal

Are you a casual reader of science fiction and fantasy? You may want to check out A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar, a literary ghost story about a merchant's son who is haunted by the ghost of a girl. Or, try Guy Gavriel Kay's River of Stars, which takes place four centuries after his acclaimed novel Under Heaven and spins a dramatic tale of world-changing events in the Song Dynasty, a land ...

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More Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Kids Should be Reading in School

Recently, we took a look at Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Kids Should be Reading in School. There were some great reads on that list, but by no means was it complete. In my informal poll to see what sf and fantasy books are being taught in schools today, there were a handful of other science fiction and fantasy titles that are just as worthwhile and just as effective at igniting the imaginations of young readers. And seasoned readers, too! With few exceptions, these are not typically books that are targeted at younger readers. How many of them have you ...

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Suspension of Disbelief in Science Fiction

Reading fiction is a rewarding experience for many reasons—providing a means of escape, examining human nature, provoking thought, etc.—but to make it an enjoyable experience that paves the road to reward, you have to buy into its fictional premise in the first place. Several things need to exist for that to happen. The writers, for their part, must combine all the elements of writing (like characters and plot) to create a story that's coherent and interesting. The reader contributes to this activity with a willingness to listen and understand the world that the author has created. The ...

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Publisher Spotlight: Haffner Press

In the arena of science-fiction publishing, it's easy to overlook the little guy. That's a shame, since some of the smaller publishers are doing exciting things. Case in point: Haffner Press. For the past 14 years, Haffner Press has been producing definitive collections of classic science-fiction stories that originally appeared in the days of pulp magazines. With beautifully produced books that include collections by Jack Williamson (The Collected Stories volumes), Leigh Brackett (Shannach – The Last: Farewell to Mars), Edmond Hamilton (The Collected Captain Future volumes), Henry Kuttner (Thunder in the Void), and Manly Wade Wellman (The Complete John ...

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Steampunk Update, Part 3—Mash-Ups and More

It's been a while since we last took a focused look at steampunk. It's time for an update!

In Part 1, we looked at the continuation of series we first explored in 2011, as well as some short steampunk. In Part 2, we looked at old (reprint) steampunk titles as well as a beginning look at newer steampunk works. Now let's conclude our look at new steampunk books, including steampunk mash-ups.

Steampunk Mash-ups

More often than not, it seems as if authors are trying to take steampunk in new directions by way of the mash-up. Lending credence ...

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Science Fiction & Fantasy Books—March 2013 Highlights

One common lament of readers is that there are so many books they'd like to read and not enough time in which to read them. That could be because they don't have a handy monthly guide like this one to help them whittle down the choices. Don't you feel lucky?

Not so fast! Looking at all the tasty speculative fiction titles coming out in March, I think the scale is still out of balance, with the books I want to read weighing heavier than the books I have time to read. Oh well, I guess there are ...

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Read All About It: Planetary Destruction by Asteroid, Meteor and Comet

Last week, planet Earth said hello to two separate extraterrestrial objects: an asteroid that was the closest near-miss asteroid fly-by on record, and a meteor that exploded over the Ural Mountains in Russia. NASA officials have stated that the fly-by of the asteroid (a small rocky object that orbits the sun) and the explosion of the meteor (an asteroid that enters the earth's atmosphere, appearing as a streak of light) were two completely unrelated events as they were on two different trajectories. With two unrelated events happening so close together, it makes one wonder what would happen if an ...

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Steampunk Update, Part 2—Old & New Cogs in the Steampunk Machine

It's been a while since we last took a focused look at steampunk. It's time for an update!

In Part 1, we looked at the new book entries that were part of the steampunk series we looked at way back in 2011. We also looked at some short fiction steampunk anthologies for readers to snack on between longer reads. This week, let's take a look at both old and new steampunk titles. In this case, "old" means steampunk works that have been recently reprinted, and "new" refers to some of the books released since mid-2011. These new ...

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Steampunk Update, Part 1—Following Up

It's been a while since we last took a focused look at steampunk. It's time for an update!

To refresh your memory, Steampunk is a sub-categorization of science fiction in which the predominant technology is steam-based power. Steampunk stories are usually (but not always) set in the 19th century, and often in Victoria-era London. The predominant driving force behind steampunk is fun, so the stories usually offer less rigorous science than straightforward science fiction.

Steampunk is often labeled as a passing fad, so one might think the subgenre has, well, run out of steam. But one would be ...

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Science Fiction & Fantasy Reads to Look Forward To in February

A new month is just around the corner and that can only mean a whole new batch of science fiction and fantasy books coming to a bookshelf near you. Decisions, decisions! Here’s a look at the best of February’s sf/f lineup to help you decide on the best fit for your particular reading tastes. However, instead of providing a simple list, this article attempts to group books by characteristics that might attract readers to books.

SF/F With Wide Appeal

No genre is devoid of books that offer mainstream appeal. This month, you can expect accessible reads ...

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Free Online References for Science Fiction & Fantasy Readers

The Internet is a wonderful place for science fiction and fantasy readers, isn't it? Just about all the information you'd ever need about the genre is a few simple keystrokes and clicks away. The trick is that you have to know where to look. Sure, you can try your favorite search engine, but they usually return a hodge-podge of scattered results, making it difficult to determine a good starting point. Better are these following websites that serve as useful, organized and well-maintained sources of information about the science fiction and fantasy genres.

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Drawn to the Pages of Doctor Who

One of SciFi's most popular television series is Doctor Who, which features a quirky adventurer who travels through time in a blue police box called the TARDIS. The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who seeks out adventure with the help of companions. Over the course of the long-running television series (which ran from 1963–89 and again beginning in 2005), there have been many actors who have played the Doctor. The in-story explanation for the new faces was simple: As a Time Lord, he could regenerate into a new form, acquiring a new personality as ...

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Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Kids Should be Reading in School

I envy today's students. Modern teachers are more open to the idea of including science fiction and fantasy books as part of their assigned reading. I was fortunate enough in my grade school education to be exposed to some of these books, but there are many more sf/f books being read in schools than when I was a lad.

This is a good thing. Why? Kids and teens usually respond very positively to genre fiction as it ignites the imagination. Ask any avid reader today to cite the books that got them started down the road to reading ...

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