The latest in SciFi, Fantasy and Comic News and Reviews

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Read George Orwell's 1984... Then go buy it!



1984 was published today in 1949. This book is one of my favourite reads of all time and I would strongly recommend it to anyone and everyone! Penguin are currently have the first chapter online - to read for free! Not to mention several interesting articles about the book and author.

http://theorwellprize.co.uk/george-orwell/by-orwell/nineteen-eighty-four/

Friday 3 June 2011

Your Favourite Authors' - Favourite Books!


Who better to recommend your new book than your favourite authors??

The Guardian had a brilliant Sci-Fi special features on the weekend to promote the British Library's science fiction exhibit. There was a great section which including a number of well know science fiction authors explaining what their favourite novel or who their favourite author of the genre is. It is well worth a read and for all those who missed it - a summary below!

Brian Aldiss
Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon (1937)

Margaret Atwood
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)

Stephen Baxter
Hothouse by Brian Aldiss (1961)

Lauren Beukes
Watchmen by Alan Moore (1986-7)

John Clute
City by Clifford D Simak (1952)

Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Light by M John Harrison (2002)

Andrew Crumey
The Brick Moon by Edward Everett Hale (1870)

William Gibson
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (1957)

Ursula K Le Guin
Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941)

Russell Hoban
HP Lovecraft (1890 – 1937)

Liz Jensen
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham (1951)

Hari Kunzru
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (1972)

Kelly Link
Diana Wynne Jones (1934 – 2011)

Ken Macleod
A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M Miller Jr (1960)

China Mieville
The Island of Doctor Moreau by HG Wells (1896)

Michael Moorcock
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (1956)

Patrick Ness
Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson (2003)

Audrey Niffenegger
Time and Again: An Illustrated Novel by Jack Finney (1970)

Christopher Priest
The Voices of Time by JG Ballard (1960)

Alastair Reynolds
The City and the Stars by Arthur C Clarke (1956)

Adam Roberts
Dune by Frank Herbert (1965)

Kim Stanley Robinson
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin (1968)

Tricia Sullivan
Octavia E Butler (1947-2006)

Scarlett Thomas
Neuromancer by William Golding (1984)

Eliza Dushku returns to Sci-FI


I watched Who Am I? last night - the very Faith centric Buffy Episode so I am very pleased by this news! We need some Eliza Dushku back in our lives!

Eliza Dushku will be starring in an online, animated, Torchwood series scripted by Jane Espenson (Buffy, Dollhouse)
Sounds AWESOME:

Titled Torchwood: Web of Lies, Dushku will be front and center in the short-form story, which will also have voice appearances by Torchwood stars John Barrowman as Capt. Jack Harkness and Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper.

The series, developed by BBC Worldwide Productions, will consist of 10 three-minute videos, a bit like Starz previous online graphic novel animated series for Spartacus. It’s expected to launch before Torchwood premieres July 8, and new installments will go online after each new Miracle Day episode.

Wednesday 1 June 2011

The British Library Goes Out of This World: Science Fiction Exhibition

The British Library science fiction exhibition has been open since 20th May and ends 25th Sept.

The exhibition explores the history of science fiction and examines how sci-fi has influenced scientific discovery and captured our imaginations.

The exhibition is divided into Alien Worlds; Future Worlds; Parallel Worlds; Virtual Worlds; the End of the World and the Perfect World.

A number of events have been arranged as highlights to the exhibit. Talks from well known authors including Iain M Banks, Michael Moorcock and Stephen Baxter. For a full list of events check the official page. .

The exhibition is free so well worth checking out whereas the events have a small admission fee and tickets are already selling out!