James Nicoll has a question about pop science: Who today fills the niche of science popularizer once filled by people like Ley or Asimov? That is, who writes essays covering a wide range of the sciences, as opposed to covering one in detail for the public? If you look in the comments, the second plugs… Continue reading Modern Science Popularizers
Category: Books
Worldcon Thoughts
Before it slips too far into the mists of memory, I should probably post some summary thoughts about Nippon 2007, the World SF Convention in Japan that Kate and I attended last week. To some degree, this will be inside-baseball stuff, but if you’re not interested in fannish stuff, rest assured, there is some good,… Continue reading Worldcon Thoughts
Bill Gibson is cooler than you
But he’s not cooler than me. Which is one of the things I thought of several times while reading Spook Country, his new novel. If you don’t want the long version, here’s the gist: it’s decent, he’s still pretty good, buy it in hardcover, move to Vancouver, buy a Powerbook, learn Mandarin, get hooked on… Continue reading Bill Gibson is cooler than you
The Science Fiction of the Gaps
A little while ago, James Nicoll posted about the shifting subject areas of SF: In fact, a fairly consistent pattern in SF is to retreat away from areas that have come under the light of scientific examination. When probes began to visit the planets, SF retreated to the stars (There are very few novels these… Continue reading The Science Fiction of the Gaps
Harry Potter, Susan Cooper, and George Orwell go to the Movies
The New York Times Sunday book review section yesterday had on the cover a review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. “Oh,” I said, “That could be interesting.” Then, I noticed. It’s by Christopher Hitchens. “Well,” I said, “Maybe they just don’t know all that many British people…” It opens with: In March 1940,… Continue reading Harry Potter, Susan Cooper, and George Orwell go to the Movies
The Grand Contraption, by David Park
Some time back, I was offered a review copy of Why the Sky Is Blue by Götz Hoeppe by Princeton University Press. Looking at their web site, I noticed a forthcoming book by an emeritus professor at my alma mater, so I asked if they’d send me a copy of that, too. I’m all about… Continue reading The Grand Contraption, by David Park
Crucial Harry Potter Links
If you’d like to know what hapens in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows without having to read two hundred pages worth of camping-related program activities, there’s a slightly snarky scene-by-scene summary at Gibberish in Neutral: Yaxley: HAI I IZ DEATHEATER NOT APPEARING IN PREVIOUS BOOKS. YOU HAS NEWS? Snape: Of course I have news.… Continue reading Crucial Harry Potter Links
Recommend Some Genre Trash
Next weekend will mark the start of Vacation Season here at Chateau Steelypips. Or, rather, out of Chateau Steelypips, as we’ll be spending four of the next seven weeks in other places. This, of course, will require books for me to read on the various airplane flights needed to reach our vacation destinations. And while… Continue reading Recommend Some Genre Trash
Harry Potter and the Total Loss of Perspective
Everybody is all abuzz about Harry Potter these days, what with the release of the final book coming this weekend. Scott McLemee takes up the really important question, though: what do professional academics think about everybody’s favorite boy wizard? In the years since the author introduced her characters to the public, they have become beloved… Continue reading Harry Potter and the Total Loss of Perspective
My Hugo Ballot
Having finished all of the fiction nominees, I’m now basically ready to submit my votes for the Hugos. Though it occurs to me that I’ve actually seen two of the five movies up for “Best Dramatic Presentation,” so I might Netflix the others, and check off yet another category. At any rate, I’m sure you’re… Continue reading My Hugo Ballot