Science Roundup
Compiled by Carl Slaughter: (1) Black hole pairs: “Scientist Find Treasure Trove of Giant Black Hole Pairs”. For decades, astronomers have known that Supermassive Black Holes (SMBHs) reside at the center of most massive galaxies. These black holes, which range
Pixel Scroll 10/14/17 We Can Pixel It For You Scrollsale
FIRES SHUTTER FAMOUS MONSTERS CON. The Famous Monsters Halloween Convention scheduled for October 25-27 in San Jose has been officially cancelled due to Northern California wildfires. Senior Manager Philip Kim wrote on the convention website: On Sunday evening, October 8th,
Dr. Yoji Kondo (1933-2017)
Scientist and sf author Dr. Yoji Kondo died September 9 reported his daughter on Facebook. He wrote SF under the name Eric Kotani, coauthoring five novels with John Maddox Roberts, Act of God (1985), The Island Worlds (1987), Between the
Barkley — So Glad You (Didn’t) Ask: A Column of Unsolicited Opinions — #17
Nobels, Guns and Money By Chris M. Barkley NOBELS For several years, literary critics had been putting the Nobel’s Literature committee’s feet to the fire (and I count myself among the match lighters) on their long exclusion of American writers.
Pixel Scroll 10/13/17 Pixel the Thirteenth, Part Scroll
PKD DAUGHTER ACCUSES AMAZON STUDIOS HEAD OF HARASSMENT. The Hollywood Reporter says Isa Hackett, executive producer of two TV series based on the work of her father, Philip K. Dick series, has told the media she was harassed by
Alma Alexander’s Collection Benefits Refugees and Migrants
By Carl Slaughter: Keep watching for Alma Alexander’s new collection, Children of a Different Sky, coming out this Fall. It is a themed fantasy anthology, about migrants and refugees, and it is a charity anthology, with all the profits from
2017 Geffen Award Winners
Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy presented the Geffen Award for the 19th time on October 10. The 2017 winners are: Best Original Short Story “Found & Lost” by Rotem Baruchin (Once Upon a Future 2016) Best Original Novel
2017 Parsec Awards Finalists
The 2017 Parsec Awards finalists were announced October 12. The juried award recognizes excellence in speculative fiction podcasting. The winners will be honored during a ceremony to be livestreamed in November. Best Speculative Fiction Comedy/Parody Podcast Kakos Industries by Conrad Miszuk
Runaways TV Series/Comic Book Roundup
Compiled by Carl Slaughter: (1) Runaways trailer (2) Runaways origins
2017 Prix de l’Uchronie Finalists
The shortlist for the 2017 Prix de l’Uchronie has been released by ActuSF. According to Europa SF: “Uchronia” refers to a hypothetical or fictional time-period of our world, in contrast to altogether fictional lands or worlds. A concept similar to
Pixel Scroll 10/12/17 O, Brave New Scroll, That Has Such Pixels In ‘t!
SECOND BITE OF THE APPLE. Steve Davidson left a comment telling File 770 readers about a turnaround in Amazing Stories’ situation with NBC since yesterday’s social media offensive: Folks, I am officially “in discussions for a resolution” with NBC.
2018 Astrid Lindgren Award Nominees
Neil Gaiman, Ursula K.Le Guin, Judy Blume and Eric Carle are among the nominees for the 2018 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, worth 5 million krona, the world’s largest cash prize for children’s literature. The award is given to authors, illustrators,
A Sense in Which a Genius Can’t Be Wrong
By John Hertz: (reprinted from Vanamonde 1264) Red Pine in Finding Them Gone (2016) visits Chinese poets of the past through their homes, graves, monuments, in a one-month pilgrimage, with photographs, across China by rail, bus, taxicab, foot. He is
2017 Horror Writers Association Scholarships
The Horror Writers Association has named its 2017 scholarship winners. The Horror Writers Association Scholarship The scholarship, open to all horror writers (HWA membership is not required), is worth $2500, which may be spent on approved writing education over the
False Facts Roundup
By Carl Slaughter: (1) False Facts About Lord of the Rings (2) False Facts About Star Wars
Pixel Scroll 10/11/17 A Scrolling, OverCommenting, Tin-Pixeled Fifth-tator With Delusions Of Godstalkhood
WHAT DID HE SAY? Scott Edelman hopes you will eavesdrop on his breakfast with the award-winning Chen Qiufan in Episode 49 of Eating the Fantastic. Chen Qiufan has published more thirty stories in venues such as Science Fiction World,
SFWA Fantasy Storybundle Offered Til 11/2
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) have put together a fantasy-themed storybundle, curated by Cat Rambo. This second bundle of the year draws from SFWA’s fantasy authors, showing a full spectrum of possibilities including magic iPhones, steampunk
Classics of SF at Loscon 44
By John Hertz: We’ll take up three Classics of Science Fiction at Loscon XLIV, one discussion each. Come to as many as you like. You’ll be welcome to join in. Our working definition is “A classic is a work that
2017 MacArthur Genius Grants
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced the 24 fellows who are receiving this year’s “genius grants”, $625,000 disbursed over five years to spend any way they choose. The recipients work in a variety of fields, from computer
Steve Davidson Counters NBC’s Announcement of Amazing Stories TV Revival
Amazing Stories’ Steve Davidson answered media announcements about the revival of a TV series by that name (like the Los Angeles Times’ story “Steven Spielberg will revive ’80s NBC series ‘Amazing Stories’ for Apple”) in a statement for File 770
Trip to Cork, Irish Discworld Con 2017
By James Bacon: Heuston station is one of Dublin’s finest stations, and is the main connection to the west and south of Ireland, the Cork train is a sleek modern machine, propelled by a powerful GM locomotive with a streamlined
Dean Wesley Smith Interviewed About Pulphouse Relaunch
By Carl Slaughter: Dean Wesley Smith is back. Well, Dean has always been here, cranking out stories faster than we can read them. But after 20 years, he is bringing back Pulphouse. CARL SLAUGHTER: What was the original vision for
Pixel Scroll 10/10/17 Eric And The Dread Pixel Scroll
TRAINING COMPLETED. Thanks to you who wished me a good trip to New Mexico for my mother’s 91st birthday celebration. I’d say your wishes were effective, not only because we had a fine reception and dinner, but because my
2017 WSFA Small Press Award
“The Tomato Thief,” by Ursula Vernon, published in Apex Magazine, ed. by Jason Sizemore, (January 2016) is the winner of the 2017 WSFA Small Press Award. Congratulations to Oor Wombat! The Washington Science Fiction Association announced the winner at Capclave
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Trailer
This trailer first aired last night during the football game. Star Wars: The Last Jedi comes to theaters December 15.
F&SF Reveals Cover for Nov-Dec 2017 Issue
Artist Kent Bash’s cover for the November-December 2017 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction is previewed here courtesy of publisher Gordon Van Gelder.
Pixel Scroll 10/9/17 Orwell That Ends Well
Your host is on the road back from New Mexico where he celebrated his mother’s 91st birthday. So it’s up to you, Faithful Reader, to add your wisdom in the comments, along with the links to what should have been
