Over in LiveJournal land, Sherwood Smith links approvingly to an essay by Tom Simon in response to what are apparently some “logical positivist” evles in Christopher Paolini’s books. I haven’t read the books in question, but it really doesn’t matter, as Simon very quickly spins this off into a larger essay about the nature of… Continue reading Defining “Miracles” Down
Category: Books
Smack Talking, Geek Style
John Scalzi is talking a big game: I was just taking one of those Internet tests to see how much of a geek I am, when I suddenly thought, what the fuck am I doing? I’m a published science fiction writer. Do not pass “go,” do not collect $200, you know? Just go straight to… Continue reading Smack Talking, Geek Style
Career Alternatives for Physics PH.D.’s
Physics World has an interview with Alastair Reynolds, who was trained as an astrophysicist but is now a full-time SF author: How does your physics training help with your writing? Less than people imagine. I think the most important attribute for a science-fiction writer is to be fascinated by science — in all its manifestations.… Continue reading Career Alternatives for Physics PH.D.’s
More Books of the Year
I don’t really want to turn this blog completely over to bitching about the poor representation of science in “Year’s Best” lists of books, but it’s that time of year when every media outlet puts out their lists of favorite books, so it’s hard not to talk about it. Today’s list is from the Washington… Continue reading More Books of the Year
Notable Science of the Recent Past
In comments to my earlier cranky post about the New York Times, Carl Zimmer pointed out that they hadn’t released their “Ten Best Books” list, so there was still an outside chance of a science book turning up. They posted the list today, and there’s nothing on it that wasn’t also on the Notable Books… Continue reading Notable Science of the Recent Past
Science Is Not Notable
Scott Eric Kaufman draws my attention to the fact that the New York Times has posted its Notable Books for 2007 list. The list is divided into “Fiction & Poetry” and “Non-Fiction,” and Scott correctly notes that the “Fiction & Poetry” books all have terrible blurbs, but I’d like to point out a much larger… Continue reading Science Is Not Notable
“Year’s Best” Season Arrives: Amazon’s “Best Books of 2007”
An email from Amazon arrived yesterday announcing their Best Books of 2007 lists. This is an earlier-than usual opening of the “Year’s Best” season, in which every publication in the universe produces a list of the N best Whatever of the past year, but with the Christmas shopping season now starting before Halloween, I suppose… Continue reading “Year’s Best” Season Arrives: Amazon’s “Best Books of 2007”
DonorsChoose Payoff: Malazan Book of the Fallen
Matthew Fisher buys a blog topic: I thought I’d throw in a request for another post on Steven Erikson. Specifically how his Malazan books either conform to, or subvert standard epic fantasy tropes. I’ve been a fan of his for quite awhile, and I’d like to think his stuff is different from Goodkind/Jordan/Eddings stuff (but… Continue reading DonorsChoose Payoff: Malazan Book of the Fallen
Charles Stross, Halting State [Library of Babel]
I really, really did not like Glasshouse, Charlie Stross’s Hugo-nominated novel from last year. I enjoy his “Laundry” books, though (The Atrocity Archives and The Jennifer Morgue), and at Worldcon I had a conversation with Robert Sneddon, who recommended the forthcoming Halting State as closer in tone to those, so I picked it up a… Continue reading Charles Stross, Halting State [Library of Babel]
Literary Poll: Science Fiction Scavenger Hunt!
I realized that last week’s scavenger hunt posts neglected half of my favorite genre fiction, so here’s a post to make up for that: What items should appear on a Science Fiction Novel Scavenger Hunt? Some suggestions to get things started: One Big Dumb Object One improbably brilliant genius scientist who is able to both… Continue reading Literary Poll: Science Fiction Scavenger Hunt!