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Month: December 2014

What If All the Ice Was Gone?

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Two hundred sixty feet of sea level rise. The number is breathtaking, and yet matter-of-fact: It simply describes how much oceans would rise if all of the planet’s great ice sheets — all of Greenland, all of Antarctica — were to melt entirely and fall into the oceans. Nobody thinks this will happen in our lifetimes. However, if we let global warming rip, and move into a hothouse world with enough heat trapped by atmospheric greenhouse gases, it could someday. After all, the planet has been there before — in the late Cretaceous period, some 80 million years ago, sea … Read more

Announcement: Conjuring the Shroud, by Tim O’Leary

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Today we have a short story from QSFer Tim O’Leary – a free read: CONJURING THE SHROUD is part of the Real Story Safe Sex Project, began by award-winning author Brent Hartinger (Geography Club.) The project called for authors to write short stories, all available for free download, that told fun, hot stories that incorporated safe sex. (And of course I knew mine would have to incorporate elves and wizards in some way.) SHROUD features Adrian, a 17-year-old bisexual punky kid with a geeky obsession – the tabletop role-playing game he and his friends play everyday after school. When he … Read more

Researching Sci Fi

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Today’s topic comes from QSFer LV Lloyd: “That might be a good question for the blog -‘how much research do you do for a sci-fi story?’” Sci fi is unique in that we’re speculating on things yet to come, but based on what we know now. When I write a contemporary story, I can visit the place where it’s set, use a 3d mapping program, to hget a feel for it and how it hangs together, and even see photos from just about anywhere for details. There are apps and sites for transit schedules, people we know who may have … Read more

Announcement: A Likely Story Anthology

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Wayward Ink Press has a new Anthology out that includes our very own LV Lloyd, and has three stories that are fantasies: Suspend rational thought. Leave logic at the door. Be ready to roll your eyes and pick your jaw up from your lap. The tales in A Likely Story donít let truth get in the way of telling a good yarn. They might push your buttons or make you laugh. They may make you scoff or spit out your coffee. You might even scratch your head in disbelief. Whatever your reaction, the one thing they are guaranteed to do … Read more

Writing Characters from Different Classes

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Today’s topic comes from QSFer John Allenson: “Writing and reading Class. We all love stories where the Knight rides away with his Squire or the Prince falls for his Pauper. Or we may have somewhat more sinister tastes for Masters and Slaves. Class barriers are one of the most common tropes in romantic literature going back to the Bennett’s marrying beyond their station. How do we read and write class barriers in LGBT Speculative fiction.” Some of the great stories have explored the differences in class, often withn a stratified upper class and a plucky but less-than-educated lower class. Look … Read more

Happy Kwanzchristmakkah!

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Hey all… No question today – just a wish for a wonderful holiday, whichever you celebrate… and let’s throw in Festivus, the Winter Solstice, and non holiday celebrators too! Stop by and say hello and let us know what your plans are! xoxo –Scott and Mark

Could Religion Survive Contact With Extraterrestrials?

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I’ll be honest with you: I think it’s extremely unlikely that humanity will ever make contact with intelligent life from another planet. I possess no special expertise on the subject. It’s just that my inveterate skepticism tells me that the stupefying vastness of space combined with the relative rarity of evolution producing species capable of interstellar communication — let alone travel — will make such contact extremely unlikely. My skepticism isn’t widely shared. Aside from the UFO industrial complex and the enormous number of science-fiction novels, films, and television franchises that imagine a universe teeming with technologically advanced civilizations, there … Read more

Announcement: A Scout is Brave, by Jay Jordan Hawke

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QSFer Jay Jordan Hawke has a new paranormal book out: In the months following the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, fourteen-year-old Joshua, a half Native American boy, is new to a Boy Scout troop and spending a week camping in northern Wisconsin. The weaker kids in the troop soon realize Joshua is not afraid to stand up to the troop’s ruthless bullies. Joshua’s bravery and kindness is infectious, and the bullied Scouts quickly find their own inner strength. Joshua, however, is plagued by self-doubt as he realizes he has feelings for Cody, the son of the troop’s harsh and puritanical … Read more

What’s Next for the Paranormal?

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Hey all, Given that we’re approaching the end of the year, I thought it would be fun to do a few topics on emerging trends for 2015. Since we haven’t done a paranormal topic in a few days, I’d like you to get out your crystal balls (or magic mirrors or scrying ponds) and tell us what you think will be hot in 2015 and 2016 in paranormal circles. Will Zombies continue their shuffle to world domination? Will Vampires swoop in for another kill? Will werewolves shift the conversation back to themselves? Ar will a new paranormal threat manifest in … Read more

News: Would You Go Shopping Underwater?

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Some retailers believe that it’s important to make their stores easy to find. They’ll even pay a premium for space in popular malls or streets with lots of foot traffic. Sony is taking a different approach with its Xperia Aquatech Store, one that definitely does not value convenience and spits on the concept of foot traffic. For one thing, it’s underwater. For another, you have to scuba to get there. On top of that, you have to be invited. This is a marketing gimmick to drive home the point that Sony makes waterproof devices, but it’s an admirably over-the-top (or, … Read more