This week, @scalzi was kind enough to let me write an editorial for his Whatever blog about the themes in my new crime technothriller, Red Team Blues; specifically, about the ways that spreadsheets embody the power and the pitfalls of #ScienceFiction at its best and worst:
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
Started working on a new little MagicaCSG hard-surface modeling project.
One of the great things of working with MagicaCSG is that every element is non-destructive, so I can adjust the shapes, creases, colors et cetera at any time.
“As children, we fear the dark. Anything might be out there. The unknown troubles us. There are those who say we should not inquire too closely into who else might be living in that darkness.”...
"Three young scientists travel around the country in the 25th century after the world has been ravaged by pollution. In their hi-tech RV (called Ark II), they study the land and help out those in need."
#WritingWonders 7.9 — What are you good at when it comes to writing?
People have complimented me on my dialogue.
Recently, I've switched from 3rd person to 1st person narrative. That's essentially the MC talking to the reader, which may explain why my writing feels so much more fluid and natural.
I read most everything I write aloud. It has to pass the speech test. Getting tongue-tied is a bad sign.
So...
My answer to this one is what I am doing now. Talking to the reader. What do you think? Does it work for you?
Arthur C. Clarke's A Fall of Moondust (1961), the closest he came to writing a sci-fi thriller. And it's a pretty decent one. The dust cruiser Selene takes tourists on jaunts across the the largest of the lunar dust seas, the Sea of Thirst.
"Star Trek: Strange New Worlds": Niemand will singende Klingonen
Man kann eine Star-Trek-Musical-Folge machen. Ob man das machen sollte, ist eine andere Frage. Eine Rezension der 2. Staffel von Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Gibt es aktuellere (also bitte nicht Isaac Asimov hervorkramen^^) #sciencefiction#Romane die ihr empfehlen könnt, deren Setting aber grundsätzlich positiv ist?
Also ohne (Post-)Apokalypse, Klimakatastrophe, Atomtod, Cyberpunk-Internetkonzernen oder irgendeiner abgefahrenen Künstlichen Intelligenz, die alle versklaven will?
In my recent reading of the #Exapnse series (ongoing) & other #sciencefiction in my (relatively recent) return to the genre, I have noticed a general use of the term the 'gravity well' as a way of describing mostly #Earth (but occasionally other planets/objects with strong gravity)... anyone any idea who first used this term?
Does sci-fi shape the future? Tech billionaires from Bill Gates to Elon Musk have often talked about the impact of novels they read as teens, from Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash" to Iain M. Banks' "Culture" series. Big Think's Namir Khaliq spoke to authors including Andy Weir, Lois McMaster Bujold, @cstross and @pluralistic about how much impact they think science fiction has had, or can have.
I've been trying to #read more #scifi lately. I'm a slow reader so it's slow going, but I've been having fun and exploring both old and new, classics and award winners, authors I know and others I don't. As you might guess, it's a mixed bag, but mostly positive as I've been sticking mainly with highly recommended works. Given this is #October, I've decided to finally read #Frankenstein. That's right, I've never read it all the way through. Maybe this time I'll finish it.
#PennedPossibilities 85 — MC POV: Tell us a quick love story. The story must end badly. CW: Um, frank talk?
I thought he was dead. The only guy who'd ever had a crush on me. My lieutenant from my days in the mob. He'd been bleeding when I'd shoved him through the /Interstellar/ apparition a year ago. When I'd escaped through the same working ten minutes later, the street it was anchored to in Home City was abandoned—but for Praetorian guards too frantic to notice me because Director Rainy Days had roared through only half a minute before, in full battle mode, without any of her guards.
A year later, Rainy Days cornered me. To convince me to stay, she'd baited her trap with him. She'd made him a cadet in her Praetorian guard, and oh my—my—my, did he look good in that uniform. He stepped up to me, no longer blushing or stuttering, not able to say those words that he liked me. No, he stepped up to be, cupped my chin, and kissed me deeply.
My knees nearly gave out, despite my worst enemy standing less than a dozen standards away from me. My heart racing, I returned the kiss, warming up, and letting him put a hand behind my back.
Rainy Days said something like, "She should get a room."
I stepped back, a hand on my lieutenant's chest. I looked at her in complete shock, but I couldn't think of anything sufficiently sarcastic. I flashed her a hand-gesture instead, then grabbed his head and kissed him back until he moaned. I expected that evening would be sweet.
He fought alongside me against Rainy Days, the strongest thaumaturge to ever live. We nearly died.
That night, after lots of events too numerous to enumerate, and me agreeing to work with Rainy Days as her minion (long story), I had to deal with my roommate. She was the first person I'd acknowledged as a friend since childhood. I had used her in a sting operation to catch a crime boss and for various reasons—including that she had never ever gotten laid because of who her mom is—was bummed out.
I "gave" her my boyfriend to cheer her up.
They took me literally. Loudly, I might add. You'd think an ivory tower would have better sound insulation, but you'd be wrong. I left as soon as I could the morning after as they were still at it.
AN INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES STROSS, Hugo and Locus and Prometheus Award winning author and science-fiction visionary. We grill him about the future of our world! His perspective is very distinctive indeed. Don't miss out.
‘3 Body Problem’: Sci-Fi Drama Series From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Creators & Alexander Woo Gets Netflix Premiere Date, First Look Teaser (www.yahoo.com)
“As children, we fear the dark. Anything might be out there. The unknown troubles us. There are those who say we should not inquire too closely into who else might be living in that darkness.”...
[Discussion cinéma] Les pires films de science-fiction selon vous French
[Discussion cinéma] Les pires films de science-fiction selon vous...