The Eternal Golden Braid (Free subscription) | 11/22/2009
Prepare the Red Matter! So now that it is finally out on DVD, I finally watched the "reboot" of Star Trek . So, Fred, you're a trekkie from way back, what'cha think of it? Sorry, but I am not a trekkie or a trekker. I am a science fiction fan who is a big fan of the original Trek series (but not to the extent that I ever owned a costume or even attended a Trek convention, or even, past a...
The Daily Galaxy: Great Discoveries Channel (Free subscription) | 11/15/2009
'The next great war will start inside us. In the next stage of evolution, mankind is history'. Greg Bear, Darwin's Radio About 95% of the human genome has once been designated as "junk" DNA. While much of this sequence may...
Mad Hatter's Bookshelf & Book Review (Free subscription) | 11/13/2009
This is a little late, but the news have been chafing me a bit. In a surprising move Isaac Asimov's estate has authorized a trilogy of new I, Robot Universe books. This is shocking because Asimov had plenty of time to add to that Universe if he so desired considering the last book in the series was written about a decade before he passed away and he was prolific till the end. Suffice it to say if he...
Slog (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009
There's a lot going on tonight. First up, in the University District, Lorraine McConaghy reads. If you're into war and stuff , the title Warship Under Sail: The USS Decatur in the Pacific West probably means something to you. So you should put down your plastic war-plane model and come to this reading. You can leave the camouflage jacket on; you'll fit right in . Over at the Henry, Gary Hill, who...
Seattle Times (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009
Greg BearThe author will discuss his latest novel, "Mariposa," about an American corporation's plot to destroy federal government and constitutional law. 7 tonight, University Bookstore, 4326 University Way, N.E., Seattle; free (206-634-3400 or Lester R. BrownThe founder and president of Earth Policy Institute will read from and sign copies of his book "Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save...
Free SF Reader : Free Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
"What is valuable is the presence of other writers of your same generation who are doing the same sort of thing you are, and writing the kind of stories that you aspire to write. When “Hardfought” by Greg Bear or “Hive” by Bruce Sterling or “My Brother's Keeper” by Pat Cadigan, or “Black Air” by Kim Stanley Robinson first appeared, they all sent...
The Plashing Vole (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009
So said Shelley. He wasn't being negative. I had a good, satisfying rant yesterday, about my institution's desperation to reduce education to the cold, alienated transmission of commodified facts, tailored to suit the demands of capitalism (because that's working really well, isn't it'). Then yesterday, having finished Greg Bear's rather exciting Darwin's Radio (a gene thriller), I watched Horizon...
Reading with Tequila (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009
Monthly Mixer Mele Hosted by Jen's Book Talk All you have to do is read a book that begins with a letter of each month or read a book that begins with the authors name (first or last name, doesn’t matter). There are 74 letters so you will have to have 74 different books to complete the challenge. Books can however be used to complete other challenges. You don’t have to do the months in...
wordup/index (Free subscription) | 11/01/2009
Changed pages: 2009/greg bear blood music Changed by: adam Commit type: svn Date: 09:23:17 AM 11/02/2009 HASH(0x1a0a920)
Fantasy Book Critic (Free subscription) | 11/01/2009
This month Robert Thompson provided most of the book titles with additions by Cindy Hannikman, Liviu Suciu and Mihir Wanchoo. We are featuring 50 books. The release dates are US unless marked otherwise and the books are first edition unless noted differently. The dates are on a best known basis so they are not guaranteed; same about the edition information. Since information sometimes is out of date...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 10/29/2009
Mickey Zucker Reichert signed to produce new series of Dr Susan Calvin stories Publishing's enthusiasm for the undead – which has already this autumn seen posthumous sequels published to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dracula, Winnie the Pooh and Noddy – is set to bring one of Isaac Asimov's most enduring creations, Dr Susan Calvin, back to life. A new series of authorised sequels...
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Catgirls (Free subscription) | 10/28/2009
Full title; My Life with the Manic Street Preachers by Jenny Watkins-Isnardi A good insight into the bands early days and what it was like to grow up in a small welsh town in the 80's. What is most interesting is how little Richie Edwards appears, from what I'd read previously the 4 of them were a really close knit group. This suggests he was more of an causal acquaintance, and only became part of...
The World in the Satin Bag (Free subscription) | 10/28/2009
There was an enormous book sale here in Gainesville over the last few days and I thought I’d let you all know what I got (a lot of stuff, actually). Next time, in April, I don’t think I will be going quite as all out, mostly because I don’t have as much need for a lot of books anymore. I intentionally went this year trying to find things to use for my research, and now I’m only...
Aliya Whiteley and Neil Ayres (Free subscription) | 10/12/2009
Tim Stretton has recently been keeping quite a detailed record of his wranglings with embarking on writing a new historical fiction. What I've ben interested in is his reading matter. He is digging into his genre, in an effort to find out more about his chosen period, sure, but also as they're the type of books he likes to read. As close observers may know, I am in the throes of writing an SF novel...
Biology in Science Fiction (Free subscription) | 10/08/2009
"What you want is to add and subtract lengths of input DNA easily, and the feedback enzyme arrangement does this. When the feedback arrangement is in place, the molecule will open itself up for transcription much more easily, and more rapidly. Your program will be transcribed onto two strings of RNA. One of the RNA strings will go to a reader - a ribosome - for translation into a protein. Initially,...
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