Don’t forget to vote for the Hugo Awards!

Last night, I voted for the Hugo awards. You don’t have to be an attending member of the World Science Fiction convention to vote, but you must be at least a supporting member. I thought it was a pretty darn good ballot this year and some of the choices were difficult ones. That said, there [...]

Some Heinlein quotes that seem apropos today

I just finished reading Robert Heinlein’s “Logic of Empire” in the March 1941 Astounding* and there were two quotes that jumped out at me as particularly apropos to current events in the Federal government today. First quote: “I suppose you’re a radical now?” Doc’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Not at all. Radical and conservative are terms for [...]

My latest Wayward Time Traveler column is up at SF Signal

In this week’s installment I discuss the “Hidden History of Science Fiction” and ask if this history has any value for science fiction fans. Head over to SF Signal, check it out, and leave a comment there with your thoughts on the subject.

The return of anxiety dreams

For the first time in quite a while, I had anxiety dreams last night. The were not the ordinary run-of-the-mill anxiety dreams I used to have either. These had one particularly nasty ingredient added to them: they were recursive. Or as the kids today like to say, meta. I used to have two types of [...]

Creating custom short story project templates in Scrivener

Anyone who uses Scrivener for fiction-writing will soon come to discover that all of its wonderful features are geared toward one primary goal: allow you, as the writer, to focus on writing without having to worry about formatting, layout or any of those other troublesome tasks. This simple idea is what sets Scrivener far apart [...]

Congress and diapers at Disney World

Two ridiculous things for a Monday: Congress. I’m reminded of the old joke: if “pro” is the opposite of “con” what is the opposite of “progress”? Kids wearing diapers at Disney World. Kids mind, you, not toddlers. The Little Man is in the very early stages of potty training. So naturally, Kelly was searching online [...]

Apple’s in-app purchase policy

I read today that Amazon finally caved to Apple’s in-app purchase policy. I can understand Apple’s desire to get its cut, but the desire to enforce this policy puts an unnecessary burden on customers and creates usability issues that are extremely annoying. For instance: Right now, if I want to buy a book from the [...]

The quantum(like) effects of e-book shelving

So this guy walks into a bookstore and goes looking for Isaac Asimov’s Caves of Steel. He doesn’t know who Asimov is, but he’s been assured by a good friend that the book is a wonderful mystery story and, being a fan of mysteries, he’ll eat it up.  He makes his way toward the  back [...]

The SF Signal Podcast Episode 68: The Readercon Recap Edition

Last week I was among several folks who participated in the most recent SF Signal podcast. The topic was a kind of recap of Readercon from those who had attended. Several of the SF Signal “irregulars”–myself included–were at Readercon and give our thoughts on the convention. Others in the podcast include: John Ginsberg-Stevens Jeff Patterson [...]

Vacation in the Golden Age, Episode 20: February 1941

When the Golden Age began with the July 1939 (Episode 1) issue of Astounding, spaceflight of any kind, let along human spaceflight was still a dream of science fiction writers and perhaps a few eccentric scientists. It would be some 23 years before the United States put a man in space. Between Episode 19 and [...]

Why the U.S. human spaceflight program won’t be over any time soon

When the human spaceflight program began in the U.S. varies depending on who you are and when you were born. For me, it began with the publication of the July 1939 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Of course, others will say that it began on May 5, 1961 just as others will claim it ended [...]

Harry Potter, Cars 2, and going to the movies

I don’t get to the movies often these days. In the two years since the Little Man was born, I think I’ve been a grand total of three times, two of which have been in the ten months or so. I could say it’s because it is difficult to get away, but that’s not really [...]

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  • Vacation in the Golden Age

    Episode 38 August 1942

    Stories by MacDonald, Clement, Rocklynne, Cartmill, Padgett and Knight

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    Episode 39 coming May 28

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    All Clear
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