SPACE: NASA Proposes “Starshade” to Hunt for Alien Worlds
Starshade exoplanet-hunting missions may be technologically daunting, but they’re not beyond NASA’s reach, recent research suggests. Such a mission would employ a space telescope and a separate craft flying about 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) ahead of it. This latter probe would be equipped with a large, flat, petaled shade designed to block starlight, potentially allowing the telescope to directly image orbiting alien worlds as small as Earth that would otherwise be lost in the glare. (Instruments called coronagraphs, which have been installed on multiple ground-based and space telescopes, work on the same light-blocking principle. But coronagraphs are incorporated into the … Read more
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Demon of Hagermarsh, by Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus
Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus have a new MM fantasy book out: The Demon of Hagermarsh. “The Emperor cares for each and every one of his subjects.” Many consider the catchphrase of the imperial Lotus Knights to be nothing more but well-polished propaganda, but for Yaden, it is a way of life. A young Lotus Knight himself, his first mission in service of the Emperor sends him to the remote village of Hagermarsh, a suspiciously friendly place on a planet known for its inhospitable people. But how to uncover a demonist coven when nothing bad ever happens? Getting to know the … Read more
The Heat Is Coming
When I say, “how about that heat wave,” perhaps you think of the western United States, where temperatures last week soared above 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius), smashing dozens of historical heat records from Oregon to Arizona. Or maybe you think of India — where intense heat has scorched the country for more than a month, killing at least 36 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate their villages — or perhaps Kuwait, where local media recently reported high temperatures of 145 F (63 C), potentially the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth. The point is, the Northern … Read more
ANNOUNCEMENT: Raven, Storm & Shadow, by Nita Round
QSFer Nita Round has a new lesbian steampunk book out in her “A Touch of Truth” series: Raven, Storm and Shadow. In the shadows, treachery and betrayal grow unseen. The state funeral of Princess Olivia at Port Ruth marks the end of the Mistress of the night. Yet, as Lucinda, Magda and Ascara attend this grand ceremony, a storm of secrets and lies emerge from the shadows, and threaten to destroy them all. Even when they make their way home, peace and safety are still not theirs. Malice and betrayal, hidden and out of sight, finds them. The shadows reach … Read more
FOR READERS AND WRITERS: What Happens To Our eBooks When We Die?
FOR READERS & WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth: All of us have online assets we buy or rent from Amazon, Netflix, Apple and the like. But what happens to them when we die? Do we really “own” them at all? Writers: This is a writer chat – you are welcome to share your own book/link, as long as it fits the chat, but please do so as part of a discussion about the topic.
REVIEW: Cleaning House, by Jeanne G’Fellers
Title: Cleaning House Series: Appalachian Elementals Book One Author: Jeanne G’Fellers Genre: Fantasy LGBTQ+ Category: Bi, Non-Binary Publisher: Mountain Gap Books Pages: 285 Reviewer: Siri Get It On Amazon About The Book Centenary Rhodes is an old soul with a well-traveled name, but she doesn’t know this yet. Growing up in southern Appalachia wasn’t easy, so Cent left home as soon as she could, but the post-collegiate happiness she’d expected has never occurred. She can’t find a decent date, much less find that special someone and, after losing her job in a corporate downsize, she’s struggling to meet her most … Read more
ANNOUNCEMENT/GIVEAWAY: They Are The Tide, by Tash McAdam
Tash McAdam has a new sci fi/superhero book out in the Psionics series: They Are The Tide. After escaping from two very different prisons, Toby and Epsilon 17 finally have a chance to live for themselves. Helping to build a new city in the wake of the destruction of the Institute should be all they’re worrying about, but Epsilon 17 has a horrific secret that’s getting harder and harder to hide. Cassandra isn’t dead, she’s locked up in the deepest, darkest corner of E17’s mind. Pushing E17 to the brink of madness, Cassandra is determined to take over E17 entirely … Read more
TV: Netflix Orders Gay Animated Spy Comedy Q-Force
While Bond 25 suffers yet another setback with Daniel Craig’s poorly foot, Netflix have got some much happier news about their very own spy series. The streaming service has ordered an animated series inspired by the iconic secret agent. Q-Force will follow a good-looking gay spy and his team of LGBTQ+ pals, who have to work twice as hard at spying to prove themselves as good as – if not better than – their colleagues. The lead is thought to be taken by Will and Grace actor Sean Hayes, whose production company Hazy Mills is behind the new show. Sean … Read more
Me Me Monday!
Welcome to M3: ME ME MONDAY at our FB discussion group – your chance to pop in and tell us about your latest success. Have a new book or short story coming out? Let us know. Just sell something? Let us know so we can cheer you on. HOW IT WORKS: I’ll pin this topic to the top of our FB discussion page for the day. –Please post your announcement as a separate post so we can comment on yours specifically –Check out the other posts and congratulate and share them too! And congratulations!!!