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Genres

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

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

Announcement: Talasar’s Elixir, by Hurri Cosmo

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Amber Quill Press has a new fantasy book out from QSFer Hurri Cosmo: Relath Talasar is a wizard, not the scam artist Khat, the local sheriff, thinks he is. Mainly because Khat does not believe in wizards, or dragons, or magic of any kind. Belief in such things can put you in jail and practicing magic can actually get you executed. All Khat is trying to do is force Relath to leave town so he doesn’t have to deal with it. But after coming to LockShire on the heels—or should he say tentacles?—of an evil Angel Walker, Relath has fallen … Read more

News: To Mars in 2035?

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NASA announced its plan to send humans to Mars ahead of the first flight test of the space agency’s next-generation Orion spacecraft. As part of its “Next Giant Leap,” the agency detailed its ambitious timeline, which will include a manned mission to an asteroid in the 2020s followed by the first mission to Mars in the 2030s. On Thursday, Orion will take flight in an uncrewed test, traveling 3,600 miles above Earth (by comparison, the International Space Station orbits around 268 miles above Earth). Orion, developed by Lockheed Martin, will launch atop the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy Rocket … Read more

Announcement: A Paranormal Chipmunk Christmas, by Jackie Nacht

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MLR Press has a new paranormal book out from Jackie Nacht for Christmas: It’s time for the chipmunk brothers to take their bear and wolf home to meet the family for the holidays. A vicious horde of chipmunks? Dallas and Gunner knew that meeting their mate’s family wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. How could it be when they had eighteen brothers and sisters? This bear and wolf are about to be put to the test—surviving this family holiday. Will they be able to escape just the four of them or will they be taking some of … Read more

When is It a Fairy?

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OK, I thought we’d take a little hop into fantasy land today – and no, not the Disney variety. The terms “elf” and “fairy” are often used interchangeably, but they can also be two very different things – think Tolkien’s elves vs. Tinkerbell. So my question today for y’all – is there a difference? If so, what do you think it is? And how did they come to be conflated? Or do you view them as one and the same?

Announcement – Cereus: Rescue

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Torquere has a new paranormal anthology out: Even the strongest paranormal creature can need a rescue, as proven by the three stories in Cereus: Rescue. In Free Demons, by Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga, when demon Bel goes to the Cereus resort, he’s fleeing his father, the king of a demon dimension. When his bodyguard of old shows up, Bel thinks Xerxes is there to take him home, but Xerxes wants them to be free to be together. In Sean Michael’s Spirit Bear, Lightning has been captive for a long time, but the werebear is rescued, and Etu takes him … Read more