Category Archives: science fiction

Ian R. MacLeod, “New Light on the Drake Equation”

Posted on Sunday 16 October 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This week’s Sunday novella is “New Light on the Drake Equation” by Ian R. MacLeod. It was first published on the (long-gone) website Sci Fiction on May 2, 2001. (The site, edited by Ellen Datlow, won a Hugo Award in … Continue reading →

Posted in science fiction, Short Fiction | Comments Off on Ian R. MacLeod, “New Light on the Drake Equation”

Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility, and Its Reviews

Posted on Tuesday 11 October 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This is what would be called a “literary science fiction” novel in that it’s clearly SF yet is written by a writer with a “literary” background rather than one in the SF genre, and so whose approach would be expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, science fiction | Comments Off on Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility, and Its Reviews

Ian McDonald, “Tendeléo’s Story”

Posted on Sunday 9 October 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This week’s Sunday novella is “Tendeléo’s Story” by Ian McDonald. It was first published as a chapbook by PS Publishing (in the UK), both in hardcover and paperback, in 2000. Subsequently it’s been published, aside from in the Dozois anthologies … Continue reading →

Posted in science fiction, Short Fiction | Comments Off on Ian McDonald, “Tendeléo’s Story”

Greg Egan, “Oceanic”

Posted on Sunday 2 October 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This week’s Sunday novella is “Oceanic” by Greg Egan. It was first published in the August 1998 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. Subsequently it’s been published, aside from in these Dozois anthologies, in the author’s collections Dark Integers and other … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion, science fiction, Short Fiction | Comments Off on Greg Egan, “Oceanic”

Maureen F. McHugh, “The Cost to Be Wise”

Posted on Sunday 25 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This week’s Sunday novella is “The Cost to be Wise” by Maureen F. McHugh. It was first published in the anthology Starlight 1, published in 1996. Subsequently it’s been published, aside from these Dozois anthologies, in the author’s collection Mothers … Continue reading →

Posted in science fiction, Short Fiction | Comments Off on Maureen F. McHugh, “The Cost to Be Wise”

The Consilience of Science Fiction

Posted on Saturday 24 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s do something different today. What is this blog about, and what am I trying to support, or promote? It’s about the idea that science fiction is a key way of thinking about the world, maybe the best way.

Posted in science fiction | Comments Off on The Consilience of Science Fiction

Ursula K. Le Guin, “Forgiveness Day”

Posted on Sunday 18 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This week’s novella being covered by the Facebook Group that I post about every Sunday is “Forgiveness Day” by Ursula K. Le Guin. It was first published in the November 1994 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, and less than a … Continue reading →

Posted in science fiction, Short Fiction | Comments Off on Ursula K. Le Guin, “Forgiveness Day”

SF Reviews by Spinrad and Tuttle; Political Issues, Trends, Headlines

Posted on Thursday 15 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly
Posted in Conservative Resistance, Politics, science fiction | Comments Off on SF Reviews by Spinrad and Tuttle; Political Issues, Trends, Headlines

Frederik Pohl’s “Outnumbering the Dead”

Posted on Sunday 11 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

This week’s novella covered by the Facebook Group reading Gardner Dozois’s big anthology first discussed here is “Outnumbering the Dead” by Frederik Pohl. Coincidentally, it was first published as a chapbook, in December 1992, in the same UK publisher’s line … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, science fiction, Short Fiction | Comments Off on Frederik Pohl’s “Outnumbering the Dead”

Today’s Features and Headlines, 9 Sept 2022

Posted on Friday 9 September 2022 by Mark R. Kelly

Ursula K. Le Guin, Ian McEwan; that Hunter Biden movie; Republicans taking credit; proof of Trump’s threat; D.C. welcomes immigrants; Doug Mastriano’s personal prophet, who speaks with God.

Posted in Links & Comments, Lunacy, Politics, Religion, science fiction | Comments Off on Today’s Features and Headlines, 9 Sept 2022