British science fiction author
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Solid characters, amazing worldbuilding, and an epic plot that will keep you interested all the way through (and that's no mean feat in such a long book). If you've been thinking about trying out Peter F. Hamilton this is the right place to start.As always, no spoilers until the end when we get into the full plot explanation and discussion. This episode is sponsored by The Pythagorean by Alexander Morpheigh, which is available in print or kindle edition here.Join the Hugonauts book club on discord!Or you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoSimilar books we recommend: The Salvation Series, Void Trilogy, and Pandora's Star by Peter F. HamiltonThe Culture Series by Iain M. BanksHouse of Suns by Alastair Reynolds
Leatherhead, Surrey, England writer Andrew Jackson is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning him a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and his winning story will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Andrew Jackson started writing and illustrating since age twelve and never gave up the former but (thankfully for his readers) has stopped the latter! One of his earliest memories is of watching Star Trek with his dad and falling in love with the speeding ships, bizarre aliens, and the diamond glitter of myriad stars in that eternal blackness. Even now, as he explores the strange new worlds of family, fatherhood, and a career in retail, he's never lost his love for the stars. Counting authors such as Stephen King, Iain M. Banks, and Alastair Reynolds amongst his literary influences, he revels both in reading and writing rich, tangible worlds other than our own. Born too late to watch the Apollo missions but too early for interstellar travel he must content himself with dreams and the sad knowledge that he may never know what's out there. Is there anybody out there? Why aren't they talking? Budapest, Hungary artist Ms. Marianna Mester is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and her winning art will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Marianna Mester was born in Hungary and spent her childhood in a small village. From a young age, she was drawn to painting and admired those who could create works of art. Growing up, she didn't have much time to pursue it, but ten years ago, she made a decision to take her painting to a high level and began studying various artistic styles. She practiced relentlessly, experimenting with countless techniques, and now she's able to paint in about nine different styles. Everything Marianna knows, she learned on her own without attending any formal art school, so she's especially proud that people appreciate my work. Her parents started calling her “Manna” and now that has become her artist name with even her friends calling by that name as well. Her goal is to bring beauty into as many lives as possible because, for her, painting is not just art, it's life itself, a true expression of freedom. Savannah, Georgia student Ms. Jordan Smajstrla is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and her winning art will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Jordan is originally from Boerne, Texas and is currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Jordan Smajstrla was born in 2003 in Houston, Texas, and has been drawing for as long as she can remember thanks to the encouragement of her parents. She attributes her admiration of fantasy art in particular to her childhood interests, which included reading any book she could get her hands on,
Luke revisits Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds, and tells Juliane about the four different levels of understanding available to discover and enjoyment to be had. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke on Bluesky: @lukeburrage.bsky.social Discuss this book at […]
For our first episode of 2025, we touch upon novels we've been reading for the new year, including Charles Stross's 13th Laundry novel/collection A Conventional Boy and Ray Nayler's Where the Axe is Buried, as well as the frustrations of reading books on deadlines—as opposed to wallowing in them at leisure, and some non-SF writers we like. Gary then mentions how hard it is to gain perspective on novels of the past year, and suggests looking instead at important books of the entire past quarter-century from the perspective of 2025. We only got partway through his list, which included novels by Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, Octavia Butler, M. John Harrison, Margaret Atwood, Susanna Clarke, Gene Wolfe, Cixin Liu, and Robert Charles Wilson; collections by Kelly Link, Margo Lanagan, and Jeff Ford; anthologies by Sheree R. Thomas and Gardner Dozois—the last of which leads to a discussion of the durability of space opera as a defining SF theme. Plenty of stuff to argue with this week!
For our first episode of 2025, we touch upon novels we've been reading for the new year, including Charles Stross's 13th Laundry novel/collection A Conventional Boy and Ray Nayler's Where the Axe is Buried, as well as the frustrations of reading books on deadlines—as opposed to wallowing in them at leisure, and some non-SF writers we like. Gary then mentions how hard it is to gain perspective on novels of the past year, and suggests looking instead at important books of the entire past quarter-century from the perspective of 2025. We only got partway through his list, which included novels by Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, Octavia Butler, M. John Harrison, Margaret Atwood, Susanna Clarke, Gene Wolfe, Cixin Liu, and Robert Charles Wilson; collections by Kelly Link, Margo Lanagan, and Jeff Ford; anthologies by Sheree R. Thomas and Gardner Dozois—the last of which leads to a discussion of the durability of space opera as a defining SF theme. Plenty of stuff to argue with this week!
Bar Talk (our recommendations):Jessica is reading The September House by Carissa Orlando; drinking pFriem Japanese lager.Damien is reading Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; drinking Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon.Ryan is reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds; drinking Blair Athol 12.If you liked this week's story, check out FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992; dir. Bill Kroyer).Up next: The Voice in the Night by William Hope HodgsonSpecial thank you to Dr Blake Brandes for our Whiskey and the Weird music! Like, rate, and follow! Check us out @whiskeyandtheweird on Instagram, Threads & Facebook, and at whiskeyandtheweird.com
Luke and Juliane discuss why Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds might make it onto a future SFBRP Masterworks List, plus a spoiler section to go deeper into an important plot device. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own […]
In this review we learn about an alien ship that has emerged from a wormhole and into our solar system. A group of cosmonauts are sent to investigate this mysterious vessel and discover what lies within the Matryoshka. We examine Alastair Reynolds science fiction story Troika.
At a hotel with tempting full-sized Aesop shampoos and conditioners, a $50 charge looms if taken, matching the retail price. Meanwhile, the Kill Tony podcast, recorded live in Austin, is surging in popularity since Tony Hinchcliffe's appearance on The Roast of Tom Brady, making tickets nearly unattainable, and there's excitement around Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds, Google Docs' "drawing" feature, and Copywriting Course's exclusive weekly videos that recently boosted on-page time by 75%—join now with Coupon Code LEVELUPQ4 for 50% off!
In this review we follow a cargo ship crew into uncharted space as they discover a remote outpost called Saumlaki Station. We examine Alastair Reynolds science fiction horror story known as Beyond the Aquila Rift.
While Luke waits for Juliane to finish Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds, he checks out the duo of novellas collected in Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat”, “Get […]
[…] Brusquement saisie par la folie des JO, la Salle 101 enfile son maillot pour chroniquer au pas de course diverses choses qui, n’en doutons pas, te raviront : La maison des soleils, roman d’Alastair Reynolds. Le démon de Maître Prosper, novella de K. J. Parker. Groovy Death Trip, bande-dessinée horrifique de Josh Simmons. Alors, […]
Host | Matthew S WilliamsOn ITSPmagazine
Host | Matthew S WilliamsOn ITSPmagazine
[…] Globalement satisfaite de la marche du monde, plutôt à l’aise financièrement, la Salle 101 chronique des trucs en mode feutré, élégant, léger et subtil, la preuve : Central Station, chose de Lavie tidhar. Somnambule, truc de Dan Chaon. De l’espace et du temps, bidule drôle d’Alastair Reynolds. Allez, hop hop hop. « Je ne comprends […]
Luke and Juliane review Machine Vendetta by Alastair Reynolds, a book they mostly enjoyed, but spend the whole podcast trying to work out why there weren't fully satisfied. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding […]
Are you looking for a successful approach to implementing engineering processes and building a culture of innovation? That's what my guest, Steve Massey, is discussing on this episode. Steve is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prewitt Ridge, which creates software tools for engineering. He discusses what he and his team are doing to build new and creative approaches to engineering. Steve has previously worked for two Space Tech companies: SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace. He shares his insights and lessons learned while working for those companies. Steve also talks about engineering processes that tackle difficult problems in deep tech. For example, his team has created an engineering collaboration environment that eases friction when designing, assessing, and managing complex systems. You're going to enjoy this discussion with Steve and get some valuable insights to implement in your own business. "The most important thing is to make sure you're sharing the right information with everyone so that they're able to make the best decision." – Steve Massey Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Innovative approaches to engineering - Managing difficult problems in deep tech - Mob programming and its effectiveness - Automating the approval process to streamline compliance and safety - Project ownership and sprint cycles Book Recommendations: Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds: https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-World-Alastair-Reynolds/dp/0316362298 The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber: https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/0374157359 Connect with Steve Massey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lostorbit/ Website: https://www.prewittridge.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.
Neo Nostromo #65 - Nuestras Mejores Lecturas en 2023. Más vale tarde que nunca: las velocidades relativistas a las que la Neo Nostromo explora el universo del género fantástico hace que para el resto de la humaniad parezca haber pasado más de un mes desde que acabó el 2023, pero para nosotros hace apenas unos segundos. Hoy compartimos con vosotros las lecturas que más nos han hecho disfrutar durante 2023 y... También algunas de las que menos. Esperamos que disfrutéis del programa. Lista de libros mencionados: - La Vieja Sangre, de Álfredo Álamo. - Chainsaw Man, de Tatsuki Fujimoto. - Mónica, de Daniel Clowes. - Tress of the Emerald Sea, de Brandon Sanderson. - The Shards, de Bret Easton Ellis. - The Mountain in the Sea, de Ray Nayler. - El Libro Azul de Nebo, de Manon Steffan Ros. - Palabras del Egeo, de Pedro Olalla. - El Gen. Una Historia Íntima, de Siddhartha Mukherjee. - Eversion, de Alastair Reynolds. - The Blighted Stars, de Megan O'Keefe. - Lost Stars, de Claudia Gray. - Talonsister, de Jenn Williams. - Cuentos de Terramar, de Ursula K. Le Guin. - Gods of the Wyrdwood, de RJ. Barker. - Mañana, y Mañana, y Mañana, de Gabrielle Zevin. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neo-nostromo/message
August 2023 Book Club: This month, we're checking in with the Third Doctor, Jo Grant, and our friends at UNIT - as well as the Master - as we read and review “Harvest of Time,” by Alastair Reynolds. Originally published in June 2013, the book is still available for sale as both an e-Book and as an audiobook, performed by Geoffrey Beevers. Happy reading! Check out Chris's review of the first issue of Titan Comics entry into the “Doom's Day” event at The Horror Tree website. Please help other Doctor Who fans find our show - by leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts or your podcatcher of choice. Submit your comments via email… “who knows,” we may end up reading your feedback on the podcast! Facebook: http://facebook.com/allnewdoctorwhobookclub Twitter: @ANDWBCPodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMIfNF0icWH5VdrM8xVAECA Email: ANDWBCPodcast@gmail.com
In today's episode I'm joined by Evil Jeff of the Minions & Musings Podcast. Together we listen to the entries of the Favorite Hard SciFi Giveaway. At the end I reveal my favorite, and we roll for the winner. The entries: Einstein's Bridge by John Kramer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein's_Bridge_(novel) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot Starships Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers The Forever War by Joe Haldeman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forever_War Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardwired_(novel) The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF edited by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Wonder:_The_Evolution_of_Hard_SF Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_Space 2001 (The Movie) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey The Expanse series James S. A. Corey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(novel_series) Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Fuzzy Risus RPG https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/170294/Risus-The-Anything-RPG Other awesome podcasts: Minions & Musings podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eviljeff/ Cockatrice Nuggets posdcat: Cockatrice Nuggets: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rich-fraser Dungeon Master's Handbook: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedungeonmastershandbook The GMologist presents... https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez Nerd's RPG Variety Cast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Please send feedback using any of these methods: sayhi.chat/dekahedron or podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jpgill/message or email feedback@dekahedron.com or call/text 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278). Joe also has an RPG blog. Cover art logo by DesignKat. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
In this episode, we look at the problem of artificial gravity and a creative solution to the problem. We also have some beach reads for your Summer reading list and our next book of the month. We then travel back to the year 2000 to review Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. This is the first novel of what would become a highly regarded series that helped redefine the scope of just how vast a space opera could be. This series helped shape the genre as we know it today - so be sure to check out the review.Please let us know if there is a book you want us to review or an author you want us to interview on the show. You can always reach us on our social media links below or email us at talesfromthebridgepodcast@gmail.com. You can also find more Tales From The Bridge on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and our website, and you can also find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook below to see what is happening on The Bridge.Check out our many links:Twitter: @BridgeTalesInstagram: @talesfromthebridgeFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/talesfromthebridge/IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17354590/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Website: https://talesfromthebridge.buzzsprout.com/Email: talesfromthebridgepodcast@gmail.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-the-bridge-all-things-sci-fi/id1570902818Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3MQuEYGQ3HD2xTewRag8KGThe Science in the Fiction Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2201157 #origami, #beachreads, #alastairreynolds, #spacestation, #nasa
Neo Nostromo #58 - Eversion y The Wind's Twelve Quarters En este episodio discutimos la notable propuesta que propone Alastair Reynolds con “Eversion” (que alguien la traduzca YA) y recuperamos los primeros relatos de Ursula K Le Guin en “Las Doce Moradas del Viento”. ¡Esperamos que disfrutéis del episodio! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neo-nostromo/message
[…] Dilatée comme jamais, la Salle 101 se lâche un peu et t’explique la vie : Le Marquis de Bolivar, chose géniale de Léo Perutz. Eversion, chose très super d’Alastair Reynolds. Une prière pour les cimes timides, chose très youpiesque de Becky Chambers. Allez, go go go. « Je reviens de l’école des vivants, j’ai appris à slamer […]
For 6 millioner år siden klonede Abigail Gentian 999 kloner af sig selv og sendte disse "Shatterlings" på en uendelig rejse i Mælkevejen. I House of Suns har menneskeheden spredt sig til hele Mælkevejen. Abigails kloner rejser stadig galaksen rundt, men en hemmelighed truer dem alle. Indlægget Ep. 102: Alastair Reynolds, House of Suns blev først udgivet på SCIFI SNAK.
Luke was told not to review Eversion by Alastair Reynolds due to spoilers, so he keeps this episode just short enough to convince Juliane to read it soon. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding […]
In Alastair Reynolds' Eversion (Orbit, 2022), the setting keep changing—the epoch, location, and technology—but the characters remain more or less the same as they carry out an expedition to a mysterious object at the behest of a private investor. The novel starts on a tall ship in the early 1800s in waters in the Arctic, then jumps to a paddle-steamer near the Antarctic, then a dirigible over Antarctica, and eventually concludes in the future on a submarine-like explorer under the ice of Europa, the Jupiter moon. The story is a puzzle, challenging the reader to figure out which if any place and time is real. Adding to the mystery is the reader's dependence on a first-person narrator Silas Coade, the expedition's physician. Is the story a book he is writing, a delusion, a series of alternate realities or something else? Reynolds says his original intention with Eversion was to “recap the entire history of science fiction … We were going to start in a kind of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe mode. And then it was going to go into sort of Jules Verne and then maybe a bit of H.G. Wells, then a sort of early pulp sleuth thing.” That would have been followed by classic space opera and episodes in the styles of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov followed by 1960s and '70s new wave. “But once I started writing the book, I realized that there was no way I could bring sufficient variety to the craft to make those episodes work,” he says. “So I cut it down drastically to four or five episodes for the finished product. Reynolds is a former research fellow at the European Space Agency. He's been writing fiction full-time since 2004 and has 19 novels and more than 70 short stories to show for it. His work has been shortlisted for the Hugo, Arthur C Clarke and Sturgeon awards. He's won the Seiun, Sidewise, European Science Fiction Society and Locus awards, and his stories have been adapted for stage and television. Brenda Noiseux are Rob Wolf are co-hosts of New Books in Science Fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In Alastair Reynolds' Eversion (Orbit, 2022), the setting keep changing—the epoch, location, and technology—but the characters remain more or less the same as they carry out an expedition to a mysterious object at the behest of a private investor. The novel starts on a tall ship in the early 1800s in waters in the Arctic, then jumps to a paddle-steamer near the Antarctic, then a dirigible over Antarctica, and eventually concludes in the future on a submarine-like explorer under the ice of Europa, the Jupiter moon. The story is a puzzle, challenging the reader to figure out which if any place and time is real. Adding to the mystery is the reader's dependence on a first-person narrator Silas Coade, the expedition's physician. Is the story a book he is writing, a delusion, a series of alternate realities or something else? Reynolds says his original intention with Eversion was to “recap the entire history of science fiction … We were going to start in a kind of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe mode. And then it was going to go into sort of Jules Verne and then maybe a bit of H.G. Wells, then a sort of early pulp sleuth thing.” That would have been followed by classic space opera and episodes in the styles of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov followed by 1960s and '70s new wave. “But once I started writing the book, I realized that there was no way I could bring sufficient variety to the craft to make those episodes work,” he says. “So I cut it down drastically to four or five episodes for the finished product. Reynolds is a former research fellow at the European Space Agency. He's been writing fiction full-time since 2004 and has 19 novels and more than 70 short stories to show for it. His work has been shortlisted for the Hugo, Arthur C Clarke and Sturgeon awards. He's won the Seiun, Sidewise, European Science Fiction Society and Locus awards, and his stories have been adapted for stage and television. Brenda Noiseux are Rob Wolf are co-hosts of New Books in Science Fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-fiction
In Alastair Reynolds' Eversion (Orbit, 2022), the setting keep changing—the epoch, location, and technology—but the characters remain more or less the same as they carry out an expedition to a mysterious object at the behest of a private investor. The novel starts on a tall ship in the early 1800s in waters in the Arctic, then jumps to a paddle-steamer near the Antarctic, then a dirigible over Antarctica, and eventually concludes in the future on a submarine-like explorer under the ice of Europa, the Jupiter moon. The story is a puzzle, challenging the reader to figure out which if any place and time is real. Adding to the mystery is the reader's dependence on a first-person narrator Silas Coade, the expedition's physician. Is the story a book he is writing, a delusion, a series of alternate realities or something else? Reynolds says his original intention with Eversion was to “recap the entire history of science fiction … We were going to start in a kind of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe mode. And then it was going to go into sort of Jules Verne and then maybe a bit of H.G. Wells, then a sort of early pulp sleuth thing.” That would have been followed by classic space opera and episodes in the styles of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov followed by 1960s and '70s new wave. “But once I started writing the book, I realized that there was no way I could bring sufficient variety to the craft to make those episodes work,” he says. “So I cut it down drastically to four or five episodes for the finished product. Reynolds is a former research fellow at the European Space Agency. He's been writing fiction full-time since 2004 and has 19 novels and more than 70 short stories to show for it. His work has been shortlisted for the Hugo, Arthur C Clarke and Sturgeon awards. He's won the Seiun, Sidewise, European Science Fiction Society and Locus awards, and his stories have been adapted for stage and television. Brenda Noiseux are Rob Wolf are co-hosts of New Books in Science Fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature
A very special episode. One of the world's greatest living science fiction authors, ALASTAIR REYNOLDS returns to the show! Al riffs with us on a concept he created in his “REVENGER” series: what (the!) if we could communicate our THOUGHTS via RADIO? Al takes us on an incredible, insanely imaginative adventure through a world in which you better be careful what you're thinking when you're “talking” to your friends! What would the details of the technology be like, how would it make you feel, how would society be changed by such an astounding invention? This is a true tour de force of sci-imagination. Alastair Reynolds' most recent book is the gripping, mind-bending adventure novel, “Eversion” https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/alastair-reynolds/eversion/9781668604250/ Learn more about Al on his website: alastairreynolds.com. --- Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at feedback@whattheif.com and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don't miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby
Gentian line is one of the most powerful forces in the galaxy - one of the 'lines' of clones (called shatterlings) who have been traveling the galaxy since the start of the star-faring era six million years ago. The shatterlings of Gentian line travel alone, but they come together for a reunion every 200,000 years to compare what they have seen on their latest circuit around the galaxy.Campian and Purslane are two shatterlings who have fallen in love and are traveling together against the rules of the line. They are running late to the upcoming reunion when they get a terrifying message - someone has attacked the reunion and killed almost all of the Gentians. Now it is up to them to determine who, or what, their enemy is before the entire line is wiped out.This is a book that succeeds because of its incredible world building and engrossing plot. You are slowly but steadily introduced to new mind-bending concepts and mysteries, and learning the answers to those questions over the course of the book is a real pleasure. The scientific concepts and technologies that power the world (which are all rooted in real science) are also incredibly fun to explore, and are one of Reynolds strong suits - perhaps not surprising for a writer with a PhD in astrophysics.That said, if you are looking for dialogue-driven writing or unforgettable characters, this might not be the book for your current moment. It also slows down a bit in the middle of the book, but the final quarter picks up the pace again, and is propulsive, gripping, and answers all the big questions in very satisfying ways. This is a stand-alone novel, which is somewhat rare for space operas. If you want to enjoy a big, galactic adventure without the commitment of a long series, this is definitely up your alley.As always, we also recommend and discuss some similar books if you are looking for more great books to read. This week we recommend:Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge,The Culture series by Iain BanksAnd Hyperion by Dan Simmons If you'd prefer to watch the video version, you can find it at this link.
Bienvenidos a otro Podcast de TERRAESCRIBIENTE. Hoy tenemos un corto de la famosa serie: Love, Death & Robots: "MAS ALLA DE LA GRIETA DE LA AQUILA" Créditos: Netflix, Unit Image. Tras años luz viajando en el rumbo incorrecto, la tripulación de la nave intenta comprender cuánto se han desviado. 1 | ¿Existe en realidad la Grieta de Aquila? Aunque los episodios de Love, Death & Robots se dan muchas libertades a la hora de escribir sus tramas, tienen una fuerte ancla en la realidad, y este no es la excepción, ya que en efecto, la Grieta de Aquila no es obra de la imaginación del autor. La Grieta o Fisura de Serpens-Aquila es una región en el espacio ampliamente conocida por su capacidad de bloquear u ocultar la luz de las estrellas que se encuentran detrás de ella, razón por lo que en la Tierra muy poco se conoce lo que puede haber detrás. La Grieta de Aquila está a unos 1000 años luz del planeta Tierra y es una zona donde se concentra mucha actividad de formación de estrellas. Así que cuando este episodio se titula Más allá de la Grieta de Aquila, es virtualmente un sinónimo de Entrando en lo desconocido, donde cualquier cosa puede suceder. 2 | ¿Quiénes son los protagonistas de la historia y cuál es su objetivo? Los protagonistas de la historia son Thom (Henry Douthwaite), Suzy (Rebecca Banatvala) y Ray (Delroy Brown), la tripulación del Ganso Azul / Blue Goose, una nave cuyo propósito parece ser el de la minería espacial. Thom es el capitán, Ray es el ingeniero de la nave y Suzy es la programadora. Pero… 3 | ¿Por qué el Ganso Azul necesita una programadora? ¿Cuál es la función de Suzy? El tipo de viaje en el que se embarcan Thom, Suzy y Ray no es cualquier tipo de viaje, es un viaje superlumínico, que es la versión científica y fanfarrona de lo que conocemos en el mundo de los mortales como más rápido que la velocidad de la luz. En efecto para llegar a su destino, el Ganso Azul debe volar más rápido que la luz. Para eso aprovecha la tecnología de la red de puntos de salto, tecnología que según el cuento de Alastair Reynolds en el que está basado el episodio, es una especie de descubrimiento accidental de los humanos en sus etapas iniciales de la carrera espacial, tecnología de una especie alienígena desaparecida. En resumen, la red conecta a la nave entre dos de sus puntos proporcionando una ruta – y probablemente un montón de energía – para viaje superlumínico. Para poder indicarle al punto de salto, el destino exacto en el espacio profundo al cual te quieres dirigir debes conocer el lenguaje en el que está programado, su sintaxis y eso es en lo que Suzy es experta. Ella introduce la sintaxis y el punto de salto impulsa la nave a su destino. 4 | ¿Cómo terminó el Ganso Azul más allá de la Grieta de Aquila? Bueno, resulta, pasa y acontece que los puntos de salto de la red en la Burbuja Local que manejan los humanos, no son ni de lejos todos los puntos. En el cuento de Reynolds, se indica que la gran mayoría de esos puntos, están fuera de la Burbuja Local, y por mantenimiento o desuso están fuera de la red. Ahora, cualquier error en la sintaxis de entrada sumado a una desalineación cualquiera de la nave como la que mencionó Ray, puede activar uno de estos puntos perdidos y la nave terminaría muy, pero muy lejos de su destino. Incluso una programadora experta en el código alienígena como Suzy los puede cometer, ya que es muy poco lo que se conoce sobre sus orígenes y funcionamiento. El punto al que llega el Ganso Azul es una especie de centro de escalas, un hub, en el que durante su funcionamiento original, muchas especies llegaban a descansar luego de viajes prolongados. Al estar el hub en desuso, el Ganso Azul no tuvo un punto estable de llegada y terminó averiada. O… 5 | ¿Fue el Ganso Azul guiado hasta el hub más allá de la Grieta de Aquila? O quizás, en el hub había alguien – o algo – interesado en llevar a Thom hasta allí, queriendo decir que la llegada del Ganso Azul no fue accidental. Aquí podemos lanzar una teoría. ¿Qué tal si en realidad Greta (Madeleine Knight) sí se estrelló en el hub, ella sí por error, y lo que sea que allí habita leyó su mente y quedó prendada de Thom? ¿Y si cuando el Ganso Azul cargó sus datos en la red, eso lo reconoció y lo guió a propósito hasta allí para conocerlo? ¿Podría ser? ¿Tú que opinas? 6 | ¿Qué es exactamente Greta? ¿Qué es lo que vive en el hub? Cuando Thom despierta en el hub es recibido nada más y nada menos que por Greta, con quién él tuvo una aventura sexual bastante intensa, y que luego de este reencuentro vuelven el sexo salvaje y heterosexual por el que los pseudo-progresistas están tan indignados. Pero cuando Thom despierta a Suzy, esta le indica que 1) no pudo haber errores en la sintaxis y por tanto el destino no pudo haberse desviado y 2) que Greta no es Greta. A raíz de lo que sucede con Suzy, Thom empieza a sospechar que algo no anda bien y que el fabuloso hub en el que ha estado con la sensual Greta no es tan cierto, y finalmente luego de presionar a «Greta» esta revela que 1) Tom está sumamente delgado y sus dos compañeros están muertos 2) que el hub está en ruinas y 3) que la única criatura que lo acompaña es una araña gigante que le habla con la misma voz de Greta. Lo cual significa que… 7 | ¿Cuál significa el final de Beyond the Aquila Rift? … en realidad todo lo que Thom vio luego de despertar en el hub es producto de una alucinación, inducida por la criatura, por la araña gigantesca que allí habita y que también se quedó atorada allí sin ninguna perspectiva de salir. Lo que vemos del hub es que la araña intergaláctica ha hecho allí su nido y que por alguna razón quiere que Thom admita la realidad de dónde está y con quién – o con qué – está. Para eso usa la imagen de Suzy, que en realidad está muerta. 8 | ¿Qué es lo que quiere la araña gigante en realidad? Al final del episodio vemos que en realidad lo que vive Thom en el hub ha sido repetido una y otra vez, en varias iteraciones. Ahora, la iteración resulta idéntica por lo que parece ser un truco de la mente de Thom inducido por alguna sustancia proveniente de la araña, que quizás quiere doblegar la voluntad de Thom. Y aquí hay dos opciones, la primera que en realidad, debido a la interacción con Thom por tanto tiempo, la araña en realidad está enamorada de él, y la segunda, que creo más plausible, es que la araña haya ya hecho el mismo proceso con Suzy y Ray para alimentarse de algún componente bioquímico cerebral inducido por la desesperación y ahora es el turno de Thom, lo cual explicaría por qué está tan delgado. Al final de cuentas, Thom parece estar bastante limitado de opciones, o es comida de araña o es el consorte de la araña ¿cuál preferirías ser tú? 9 | ¿Qué significan los íconos al inicio del episodio? Los íconos al inicio del episodio son: un corazón invertido, una caja y una calavera dormida que luego parece sorprendida. El primer ícono que es el de amor, cambia a un corazón invertido y extraño, que en definitiva es una alusión a la alucinación sexual de Thom, literalmente el trasero de Greta. El segundo ícono, el de la muerte, cambia a una caja, en definitiva la misma caja en la que despierta Thom que se usa para invernar en los viajes superlumínicos. Caja que finalmente se convirtió en su ataúd. El tercer ícono, el de los robots es el de una calavera primero dormida y luego sorprendida. Aunque este no tiene nada que ver con robots, si hace referencia al proceso en el que Thom ve la alucinación para luego descubrir la realidad. 10 | ¿Cuál es el mensaje de este episodio? Este es el primer episodio de la serie en el que es evidente que se profundiza la premisa inicial, porque más allá de no confíes inmediatamente en lo que ves, también es una invitación a aceptar lo que realmente ves. Es exactamente lo que nos sucede a muchos que exigimos que sean honestos con nosotros, que nos digan la verdad, pero cuando nos la dicen nos enojamos, lo negamos y pensamos que nos están mintiendo. Este episodio nos invita precisamente a eso, a no engañarnos a nosotros mismos y aceptar los hechos por lo que son y no por lo que han parecido ser en nuestra bastante subjetiva mente. Por favor sigue las redes y grupos: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerraEscriba Discord: https://discord.gg/9QMkYuUk También subscríbete a TERRAESCRIBIENTE en IVOOX, ITUNES Y SPOTIFY! Dale me gusta a cada Podcast y coméntalos! Ayuda mucho! Gracias!
Space opera you can use to prop open a door. Join the conversation on the Atoz forum. Support the network and gain access to over fifty bonus episodes by become a patron on Patreon. Want more science fiction in your life? Check out The Gene Wolfe Literary Podcast. Love Neil Gaiman? Join us on Hanging Out With the Dream King: A Neil Gaiman Podcast. Lovecraft? Poe? Check out Elder Sign: A Weird Fiction Podcast. Trekker? Join us on Lower Decks: A Star Trek Podcast. Want to know more about the Middle Ages? Subscribe to Agnus: The Late Antique, Medieval, and Byzantine Podcast.
Luke and Juliane review Inhibitor Phase, the latest Revelation Space novel by Alastair Reynolds. Buy this book at , or discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke blogs at: https://www.lukeburrage.com/blog Follow Luke on twitter: https://twitter.com/lukeburrage Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat”, “Get that rat off my face!” and “The Monster Story Conference”, so […]
Author Mike Thorn returns to the Abyss for a wide-ranging discussion about depression, the perils of social media, and "Havoc," the opening story from his latest collection, Peel Back and See. Before we sink into Mike's story, we talk a bit about Netflix's Squid Game, parenting tips, online petitions to alter art, Alastair Reynolds, Dune (2021), final thoughts on Hunter Shea's Faithless, You Season 3, Hostel, and more! (Recorded Oct. 24, 2021) Follow Staring Into The Abyss on Twitter: @intostaring
We talk a little about cheese, a lot about wine, and too much about the Shrike. Plus lots of good Dune news, and we kick off our read of an Alastair Reynolds novel that may be called The Prefect or Aurora Rising depending on where you buy it.
Franklin Templeton's Sonal Desai, Martin Currie's Alastair Reynolds, and ClearBridge's Pawel Wroblewski join our Kim Catechis to assess the possible investment impacts of major global challenges, including the ongoing pandemic, growing income inequality and climate change.
Luke and Juliane talk about a book VERY full of science fiction goodness: Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds. Buy this book at , or discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke blogs at: https://www.lukeburrage.com/blog Follow Luke on twitter: https://twitter.com/lukeburrage Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat”, “Get that rat off my face!” and “The […]
Hard science: What is it and where does it come from? We explore this completely new topic on this weekend episode. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey (2011) vs Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds (2000).
Alastair Reynolds has a book, Tom needs a bookcrate sub stat, and our wrap-up of The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry.
Our Stephen Dover speaks with Martin Currie's Alastair Reynolds and Franklin Templeton's Andrew Ness on why emerging markets are likely to remain resilient, despite near-term challenges resulting from the COVID-19 Delta variant. Plus, where the biggest growth opportunities may be in China despite the government's recent actions, and thoughts on the inflation debate within emerging markets.
On the 9th episode of BEHOLD!, we dive into the 150+ year history of Little Women, from Louisa May Alcott's seminal novel to Greta Gerwig's brilliantly meta film, and the 20 adaptations in between (including movies, series, anime, plays, opera and even a ballet!) Plus, we discuss Netflix's Yiddish miniseries about a woman fleeing a Hasidic Jewish sect in Unorthodox, Tim Robinson's oddball sketch comedy show I Think You Should Leave, and Alastair Reynolds' hard sci-fi novella Diamond Dogs.
Franz, Bobban och John i bandet Chørnobyl snackar om en annorlunda start, Deny, Myteri, Bombangrepp, Liptones, Mähälium, Slaveriet, Bastards F.C, Affray, P3, Dark Elk, 85-95, Alexander Bard, ett öre, La Belle Époque och Alastair Reynolds. Vidare till brötvröl, Brainwasher, Nyckelharpa, Disfear, Chain of Strength, Doom, Ring Så Vevar Vi, Masken, Gerda, Anatomi-71, Bad Brains, Total Misär och Left Hand Black.
Happy Holidays from WTiF! In honor of the SOLSTICE this week, we present an encore of one of our most popular episodes. Enjoy! --- The incredible Science Fiction author PAUL McAULEY joins us to celebrate episode 100! With a preview of the science behind his upcoming novel, WAR OF THE MAPS, Paul asks: What The IF we could save the Earth from the inevitable death of the Sun! It's gonna be a lotta work! First we've gotta MOVE the Earth outward when the Sun expands into a RED GIANT, then we need to HUDDLE UP close (!) when the Sun shrinks into a WHITE DWARF. Yep, Paul treats us to some EPIC ENGINEERING and ultra vivid SOLAR SCIENCE! PAUL McAULEY is the author of more than twenty books, including novels, short story collections and a film monograph. His latest novel is AUSTRAL https://www.amazon.co.uk/Austral-Paul-McAuley/dp/1473217318 And his latest short story is featured in Wade Roush's exciting anthology TWELVE TOMORROWS from MIT Press, which also features new stories from Elizabeth Bear, SL Huang, Clifford V. Johnson, J. M. Ledgard, Liu Cixin, Ken Liu, Paul McAuley, Nnedi Okorafor, Malka Older, Sarah Pinsker, Alastair Reynolds https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/twelve-tomorrows Also in stores now is EINSTEIN'S WAR by our very own Matt Stanley! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608113/einsteins-war-by-matthew-stanley/9781524745417 REVIEW the show: itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1250517051?mt=2&ls=1 SUBSCRIBE for free: https://pod.link/1250517051 BUY, GIFT, READ Matt Stanley's engrossing new book! EINSTEIN'S WAR: How Relativity Triumphed Amid the Vicious Nationalism of World War I. In bookstores now. Thanks & Keep On IFFin'! -- Philip & Matt
Bone Silence (The Revenger Series, 3) : By - Alastair Reynolds The thrilling finale to the Revenger Trilogy tells a desperate tale of greed, piracy, shadow governments, and ancient secrets that could unravel all of civilization Website : https://gobookmart.com/book-review/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gobookmart-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gobookmart-review/support
A tricky genre to define, Scifi or ‘Science Fiction’ is more than just space ships and aliens. Scifi is a genre that looks at the world that was and imagines a world that can be. Sitting within the family of what is considered to be ‘speculative’ fiction, Scifi entertains, thrills and makes us consider some important questions about ourselves, our world and the universe(s) beyond us. Join Nisa and Rachel as they discuss these books: The Hidden Girl and other stories by Ken Liu. Head of Zeus, 2020 Bone silence by Alastair Reynolds. Hatchette, 2020 The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. (originally published by) William Heinemann, 1898
Daniel and Jorge talk about solar sails, artificial planets and black holes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
I Bought an Idiot Box (TV), The Heat or Watch How I Bask in Global Warming, Destroy Trees Say Network Rail, Alastair Reynolds's Slow Bullets, Ross Armstrong's Head Case, Overblown Faff About Google Duplex
This is a bonus episode, featuring an interview with the British Science Fiction writer Alastair Reynolds. In this interview we discuss Al's advice to aspiring SciFi writers, the state of Science Fiction literature, and why the future doesn't have to end up in the hands of flesh eating zombies.
Dr Karl and Dr Rhod are joined by Alastair Reynolds, a sci fi author and former European Space Agency scientist. Topics under the spotlight are: the science of toenails, how being in space affects astronauts and what's the good of multi-vitamins?
This month on The Writer and the Critic, your valiant hosts, Ian Mond and Kirstyn McDermott, venture forth to the home of their special guest: Galactic Suburbian, Alex Pierce. Having been rewarded with red wine and orange cake, they discuss the origins of Galactic Suburbia as well as the future of its brand new sister podcast, Galactic Chat, then proceed to paddle about in the murky waters of genre and gender. Alex admits a literary crush on Alastair Reynolds. Ian confesses mild paranoia about his reading habits. Kirstyn warns that her inner feminist is pretty much permanently on the loose now. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Galactic Suburbia! Alex has chosen Bold As Love by Gwyneth Jones as her book for this month and so begins a rollicking roundtable on rock stars, romance and revolution. For those wishing to avoid spoilers -- and there are quite a few -- the discussion of this novel begins at 22:30 of the podcast and ends around 45:30. The official podcast books for March are My Name is Will by Jess Winfield, which Ian has recommended (but has a little trouble remembering), and Under the Poppy by Kathe Koja, which Kirstyn has chosen (and may or may not squee about). For your convenience once again, the starting points are 45:30 for My Name is Will and 01:00:00 for Under the Poppy. For a final wrap-up and preview of future podcasting goodness, tune back in by 01:31:30. For next month's podcast, Ian has chosen The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and Kirstyn has picked Liar by Justine Larbalestier. Plus, there will be a third, listener-recommended title: Above/Below by Stephanie Campisi and Ben Peek. And finally, a heads-up for May when Ian and Kirstyn will be discussing the Black Out / All Clear duology by Connie Willis, as recommended by another listener. With over a thousand pages between the two books, your thoughtful hosts decided to let you know well in advance. See, they really are lovely people! *** Just a reminder that The Writer and the Critic adopts a book club approach to its discussion and will assume its listeners have either read the books in question or don't care if they find out that the plucky and generously endowed heroine comes to the realisation that she is simply an avatar trapped within a highly complex but ultimately futile online multi-player gaming system. There will almost certainly be spoilers, so you are encouraged to read the chosen titles ahead of time. It'll be much more fun that way and Ian and Kirstyn won't get near as many death threats! ***