Review: Percival Gynt and the Conspiracy of Days by Drew Melbourne

If you liked Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you'll love this witty, suspenseful noir-meets-humor tale of a crime-solving accountant on a mission to save the universe. Drew Melbourne's Percival Gynt and the Conspiracy of Days is a breath of fresh air into the science fiction genre, incorporating high science, expertly placed pop culture references, and a …

Origin Stories: The Rise of True AI

In the 63 years since John McCarthy coined the term "Artificial Intelligence" at a conference at Dartmouth College, the concept has become pervasive in the worlds of computer science, software, and---most importantly to this blog---science fiction. Each of these fields has a very different interpretation of the term than the others, which leaves several important …

“Planetfall” to Be Published In Broken Pencil Spring Edition

Back in December, I put pen to paper (rather, fingers to keys) and brought a story to life that had been brewing in my head for several weeks. It started as an exercise, a way to get myself to write on a deadline: I would submit this story to the Broken Pencil Indie Writers' Deathmatch, a …

Review: Mythicals by Dennis Meredith

Mythicals by Dennis Meredith is a fast-paced, action-packed, and imaginative story that pulls the reader through plot turn after plot turn, barely leaving them time to breathe but keeping them wondering what comes next. What the story lacks in character development and a thorough editing process, it makes up for with unique and creative world …

Review: Ilium by Dan Simmons

Ilium by Dan Simmons is an exciting fusion of Greek mythology and science fiction, written in the rich, smooth style of one of the greatest authors in the genre. The author of the Hyperion Cantos gives us yet another epic adventure which captivates the reader and keeps them on the edge of their reading chairs from start …

Review: Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others is a remarkably enjoyable collection of short stories which give the reader a glimpse into several fantastic yet eerily familiar worlds. Chiang uses expert finesse and imaginative storytelling to tie together physics, mythology, magic, linguistics, and biology in the eight short stories in this book. First published in …

/gɪf/ or /d͡ʒɪf/?

Ever since that fateful evening in 2013, when Steve Wilhite -- inventor of the .gif format -- declared that his format was pronounced "jif," not "gif," nerds across the globe have been at war. Today, in 2018, people from all walks of life defend their use of the "hard G" or "soft G" with a …

Review: Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert's Children of Dune is a refreshing continuation of the series after the cloudy and disjointed interlude of Dune Messiah. The saga resumes its sense of action and adventure with the story of Paul's children and their plot to save the future of humanity. In his typical style, Herbert tackles the huge challenge of setting …

Teaser: An Evening on Artemis

This is an excerpt from the prologue of my sci-fi novel. Stay tuned for more teasers and updates as I get closer to finishing---and publishing---my book! A deep violet sky stretched across the rocky horizon. A violent wind raced across the plains, sweeping down over the cliffs into the abyss below. A horde of flying …

Review: Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert's Dune Messiah is the second part of the six-book Dune Saga, and it has an impossibly tough act to follow. In light of this, I went into reading Dune Messiah with an open mind and a loving heart. I was still slightly disappointed. The book is an excellent transition between Dune and Children …