Tag: science fiction

What’s in a name?

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 31, 2006
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*Sigh*. Attempting to finish the final review of my new SF novel so I can submit it to Sheila Gilbert at DAW Books this week. Just discovered the name of my planet does not mean what I thought it did. Had to change the name of the planet. (It’s now Marseguro, which means “safe sea” …

What does the future hold?

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 27, 2006
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No one knows. But science fiction writer David Brin does an excellent job of summing up the possibilities in “Singularities and Nightmares: Extremes of Optimism and Pessimism about the Human Future.” It’s a long read, but well worth it. (Via Instapundit.)

Which science fiction writer are you?

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 21, 2006
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Well, I’m Edward Willett, of course, but according to the quiz in question, I am: Robert A. Heinlein Beginning with technological action stories and progressing to epics with religious overtones, this take-no-prisoners writer racked up some huge sales numbers. Which science fiction writer are you? Which ain’t bad.

December 20: Deadline!

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 20, 2006
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For those who recall (what? you didn’t take notes?) that today is the deadline for my new novel for DAW to be turned in, and are wondering whether I in fact made the deadline, the answer is…yes and no. Yes, I wrote the book and just this morning reached THE END on the revision. So …

How many novels do you have to write before you sell one?

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 19, 2006
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To find out, SF writer Tobias S. Buckell ran an entirely unscientific but still illuminating poll at his blog, and has posted the results. Here’s the core: 32% wrote one novel13% wrote two11% wrote 38% wrote 49% wrote 53% wrote 613% wrote 7 or more novels6% wrote some short fiction first5% wrote a ton of …

"Researchers demonstrate direct brain control of humanoid robot"

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 15, 2006
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Not only that, the story references science fiction, so I don’t have to. Here’s how it works: The controlling individual – in this case a graduate student in Rao’s lab – wears a cap dotted with 32 electrodes. The electrodes pick up brain signals from the scalp based on a technique called electroencephalography. The person …

If Astana, Kazakhstan, can do it…

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 11, 2006
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…why can’t Regina, Saskatchewan? Heck, if you squint, the two names are practically identical. “It,” in this case, is cover 100,000 square metres of downtown space with a giant, semi-transparent, climate-controlled tent. (Shades of the domed cities so beloved of old-time science fiction writers.) To whit: The Khan Shatyry entertainment centre in Astana will become …

Scientists watch black hole munch star

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 6, 2006
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Did anyone besides me see this story about scientists catching a black hole in the act of munching a star and think of “The Beast Shall Rise from the Pit,” the two-part Dr. Who episode (the first half of which just aired in Canada on Monday night)? Speaking of which, I just learned from The …

The 50 most significant SFF Books, 1953-2002

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 3, 2006
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pI’ve seen the following list of a href=”http://www.louanders.com/2006/11/50-most-significant-sff-books.html”The 50 Most Significant SF F Books/a published between 1953 and 2002, originally from the Science Fiction Book Club, then posted by a href=”http://www.louanders.com/Bio.htm”Lou Anders/a on his a href=”http://www.louanders.com/”blog/a, in various places, but hadn’t gotten around to doing anything with it until I saw it on Amy Nelson-Mile’s …

The 50 most significant SF&F Books, 1953-2002

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 3, 2006
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I’ve seen the following list of The 50 Most Significant SF & F Books published between 1953 and 2002, originally from the Science Fiction Book Club, then posted by Lou Anders on his blog, in various places, but hadn’t gotten around to doing anything with it until I saw it on Amy Nelson-Mile’s Books, Words, …

Old sci-fi movies got it right!

By Edward Willett in Blog
December 1, 2006
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It used to be a staple of B-movie science fiction involving travel in outer space or landing on another planet: the meteor shower, rocks flying through space and threatening our heroes with explosive decompression (see yesterday’s post!) or worse. Turns out, they may have been on to something. A recent episode of The Backyardigans (our …

How long can an unprotected human survive the vacuum of space?

By Edward Willett in Blog
November 30, 2006
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It may not be a question you’ve ever asked yourself, but it’s certainly germane to any number of science fiction writers. Turns out you’ve got about 10 seconds of consciousness, and if air pressure and oxygen are restored within a minute and a half, you can be revived without serious consequences. Beyond that, what with …