Life in Lockdown – Day 1
Life in Lockdown - Day 1
Many have been expecting it since the calendar turned to the big 2-0...0-0. Now, twenty years in, and the enemy is finally at the door in a way we weren't prepared for and the UK, like most modern countries, takes the only option left after decades of failing to keep our infrastructure strong and prepared ...
How I’m Restoring My Love Affair with Star Wars After the Sequels
How I'm Restoring My Love Affair with Star Wars After the Sequels
When Disney announced the new Star Wars trilogy, I was thrilled. They'd done such a great job with the Marvel Cinematic Universe that I was certain they would do a great job with the new Star Wars. A few short years later and I was so disheartened that I ...
Life in Lockdown – Day 2
Life in Lockdown - Day 2
It's a new century and a new millenium that has presented humanity with unprecedented growth and opportunity. In the midst of this wonder, we seem to have forgotten that with growth comes greater threats. Now, twenty years in to the new millenium, and there's an enemy that we weren't prepared for knocking at the door. ...
Life in Lockdown – Day 3
Life in Lockdown - Day 3
In the UK, on the evening of Monday, March 23, 2020, a full country quarantine, with home lockdown, was announced by prime minister Borris Johnson of the United Kingdom in an attempt to 'flatten the curve' and slow the rate of spread of CoViD-19.
Now it's up to us to do our part while trying to ...
Life in Lockdown – Day 4
Life in Lockdown - Day 4
On the evening of Monday, March 23, 2020, a full country quarrantine, with home lockdown, was announced by prime minister Borris Johnson of the United Kingdom in an attempt to 'flatten the curve' and slow the rate of spread of CoViD-19.
Now it's up to us to do our part while trying to stay sane as ...
A Road to Artificial General Intelligence
A Road to Artifical General Intelligence
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). It's the stuff of far future science fiction or modern nightmares. Or far future science fiction nightmares.There are a great many people who tell us it can't be done. At least not with the technology we currently have. And many suggest there is no path from where we are now, ...
10 Things that are Rare Now but will be Common by 2030
10 Things that are Rare Now but will be Common by 2030
Technological change is happening faster and faster as an increasing number of countries and companies work to build the next cool 'must-have'. Yet only a small number of advances actually stay the course to become common in our lives. Here are my top ten technologies that are rare now ...
Space Race 2020s: The Old, The New, and The Wildcard
Space Race 2020s: The Old, The New, and The Wildcards
The cold war space race of the 1960s inspired America as few things before, or since, have. People around the world were glued to their televisions as Neil Armstrong touched down on the moon's surface and became the first human to stand on a celestial body beyond Earth's atmosphere. This monumental feat ...
Important Question #54: What are the Best Crew Compositions for Early Trips to Mars?
Important Question #54:
What are the Best Crew Compositions for Early Trips to Mars?
As humanity moves forth in both time and space, there are many very important questions that we will need to answer. The answers to many of these questions almost feel as if they're being taken for granted in the present, but ideology is no substitute for reason when ...
5 Superpowers Humans Will Have by 2050
5 Superpowers Humans Will Have by 2050
What separates humans from animals is the extent of our tool use. We develop tools to make every aspect of our lives easier and more efficient and we're able to teach our use of tools to other humans, allowing for their continued advancement. For the majority of our history, our tools have been used ...
The Importance of Finding Trusted Voices in the New Era
The Importance of Finding Trusted Voicesin the New Era
With more and more channels of communication, and more and more people sharing their voices online, it's only natural that opinions become mixed with fact. As the issues of our world become ever more complex, each and every person has a duty to be as well-informed as they can. But who has ...
6 Ways Self-drive cars will Change Travel for the Better
6 Ways Self-drive Cars will Change Travel for the Better
One of the many coming revolutions will be in road travel. Specifically, the self-drive car is poised to revolutionize ground transportation. There remain some technical and legal bugs to work out but by the end of the 2020s car travel will be noticably different than it is today.
No one alive in ...
Are We Tired of the Future?
Are We Tired of the Future?
On a recent BBC interview, science fiction author William Gibson has recently suggested that we may have 'future fatigue' that's resulted in us not looking forward to the future with hope and excitement. While this might be understandable given all the negativity about the world that is discussed in the press, there might be a ...
5 Technologies that will Change Communication in the 2020s.
5 Technologies that will Change Communication in the 2020s
No one can doubt how much communication has changed in the last ten years. The rise of the smartphone and touch screen technology, greater access to high-speed internet, and social media networks that span the globe have meant we can contact anyone, anywhere, at any time. But this is just the beginning.
When ...
How Technology Changed the World in the 2010s.
A Decade of High-Frequency Change
2020 is a new year and a new decade (if you ignore that entire 'there's no year zero' discussion) and a new time to take stock of how the near future is shaping up. The last ten years were some of the most chaotic years of the world when considering the number and speed of technological ...
Review and Giveaway of Awakening: Rise as the Fall Unfolds by Carissa Andrews
Awakening: Rise as the Fall Unfolds
Carissa Andrews
Publication date: November 12th 2019
Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Urban Fantasy
The final five angels have been located and averting the apocalypse means somehow recreating the birth of Christ.
Morgan never expected total annihilation would come down to the actions of five misfit angels. But as each one’s hidden angelic power unfolds, so does ...
It’s a Land of Confusion… and it always has been.
The modern world is indeed a land of confusion, a frightening place that seems out of control and spiralling into the abyss. We've got teenage activists telling us off for ruining the environment, we have constant attempts to impeach the American president, and fear of a nuclear war in the middle east is growing. There are constant cries of:
"The climate ...
Humanity’s Endgame
On Crossing the Event Horizon
Having crossed the event horizon of the technological singularity we’re beginning to see many social and technological effects of this convergence - some predictable, some not. Increasingly, we see stories of robotics and artificial intelligence as the former becomes more generally practical and the latter increasingly exceeds humans in endeavours from war games to art and ...
Review: Nexus by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay Cummings
Nexus (The Androma Saga #2)
by Sasha Alsberg & Lindsay CummingsPublisher: Harlequin TEENRelease Date: May 7th 2019Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Synopsis:#1 New York Times bestselling authors Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings deliver the dazzling finale to the acclaimed Androma Saga, where stunning betrayals and devastating secrets send an embattled galaxy spiraling into the ultimate nightmare.Her ship ...
7 Areas that Could See Massive Benefits from Artificial Intelligence
There's a lot of discussion regarding the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the consequences for human society. Such concerns hit the media in waves, generally around some new success by AI in the latest human competition. I've covered a few of these recently, including games, biochemical research, and writing. Most of the discussion centres around the negative implications because, ...
Review and Giveaway of Dimension Drift prequel Umbra
Umbra
Christina Bauer
(Dimension Drift Prequels, #2)
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: March 26th 2019
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult
A prequel novella to the new series from USA Today’s ‘must read YA paranormal romance’ author, Christina Bauer.
One day, eighteen-year-old Thorne will be the Emperor of the Omniverse, the single being who rules countless worlds. Trouble is, his father Cole–who’s also the current ...
How Captain Marvel could have been the MCU’s Wonder Woman
To begin with I'd like to state that this critique will not involve any discussion of any of the controversy surrounding the Captain Marvel movie or Brie Larson. I intend this to be solely an exploration of how the rather lackluster movie could have been so much stronger. Frustratingly, I believe this could have been easily achieved by changing the ...
Artificial Intelligence: Wonder Tool or Human Replacement?
As artificial intelligence becomes ever more powerful the fear of whether it will be a tool for good or evil, or even whether it will replace us, becomes increasingly important.
The Issue
Every two years a group of structural biologists (those who study the structure of large biological molecules) have a competition - the Critical Assessment of techniques for protein Structure ...
Artificial Intelligence: A View into the New Future
AI and The World of Tomorrow?
A row of cars wait, orderly and patient, as we reach the school driveway. I head for our family Auto, distinguishable by the customized chromo-flex decal on the hood, currently set to cycle through red and black arrows pointing toward the front. It’s supposed to look dramatic, tough, and it might if dad didn’t keep ...
Artificial Intelligence: Fake News is about to get real (prevalent)
With the coming technological advances and the dearth of investigative journalists in the modern world, fake news is about to explode.
The Issue
Among his many other projects, uber-wealth entrepreneur Elon Musk sponsors OpenAI, a group with the goals of guiding the development of artificial intelligence so that it is 'nice' and representative of peoples and positive ideas from around the world. ...
Artificial Intelligence: boon or bane?
This is the first in a series of posts that discuss the developments, prospects, hopes and fears of Artificial Intelligence in human societies. This is a field of computer science that has been making noticeable strides in recent months and it is therefore important that our societies have a serious and informed conversation about this. So, without further ado, part ...
Apocalypse 5 – Excerpt & Giveaway
Apocalypse Five
Stacey Rourke
(Archive of the Fives, #1)
Publication date: February 12th 2019
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Good luck and have a pleasant apocalypse.
The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can’t agree upon. For decades, Earth’s best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality ...
The TransHuman Project – Giveaway and Review
The Transhuman Project
Erin Rhew
Publication date: January 15th 2019
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
When a video of Molly Richards is taken out of context and goes viral, she’s thrust into the upper echelons of social media stardom and becomes an overnight success in a country where Life Channel ratings reign supreme. As Kadar’s fastest rising celebrity, her life becomes a ...
What Lessons Can We Learn from Deepmind vs the Starcraft II Pros?
What Happened?
Recently (in December, although the results were only just revealed Jan 24), a team of Artificial Intelligence agents created by the group at Deepmind -- the same group that created AIs to beat the Chess and Go world champions -- challenged two Team Liquid Starcraft II pro players (TLO and MaNa) to a 5-game match playing as the Protoss ...
Specular Superhero Novel Giveaway
As someone interested in superhero stories, even to the level of having published the start of my own superhero series online (Echoes of the Past: Altered Destiny), I love to see stories of new and original superheroes. Enter Specular. Published in August 2018, Specular by L.K.Brooks-Simpson, is the origin story of a hero with mental health issues, in an original ...
Mars, the Moon, Lasers, Oh My!
The space race continues to develop in interesting ways, all of which have been considered in science fiction, but not together, as appears to be happening now. We seem to have three strategies being employed by the main players (China, U.S.A., Space X, Virgin Galactic) each concentrating on a different aspect of space development. It could also be considered that ...
An Important Battleline is Being Drawn for the Fate of the World and It May Not Be What You Think
cover image from Alternative Press Review Fall 2000
There are many social issues that are dividing our attention as we enter 2019. From Trump and Brexit to climate change and China to the tearing down of historical statues and statutes to the raising up of minorities, migrants, and the marginalized, we can't escape hearing about one or many of these subjects ...
Waypoint by Deborah Adams and Kimberly Perkins
Waypoint
Deborah Adams & Kimberley Perkins
Publication date: December 1st 2018
Genres: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Thriller, Young Adult
How far will they go to restore the power?
It’s been lights-out for three months and society is already falling into chaos.
Teenage tech-genius Simon Harper and his team of fellow gamers have been searching for the cause of the outage since it went down. Simon and his ...
Sun Scorched by Jen Crane (+ giveaway!)
Sunscorched
Jen Crane
(Subterranean Series, #1)
Publication date: October 23rd 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Young Adult
Death at daylight. Danger at dark.
Life can’t possibly get more treacherous than a violent sun allergy in a solar-blighted world. At least that’s what seventeen-year-old Nori Chisholm thought before news of an impending sunscorch delivered her death sentence.
Desperate to survive the scorch, she’s forced to shelter underground and ...
Confessions of a Government Spyder
Personal-Journal.com
Friday 18 November, 2039
It's not a good sign that I'm writing here again. Seems I only come back when life sucks.
And right now — life sucks.
Okay, that's not completely true. What I mean is that work sucks. But since work is such a big part of life, it's almost the same thing.
Wow I'm rambling. This is why I hate journals. ...
Out Of Sight book review
Out of Sight
Matthew S. Cox
Publication date: August 13th 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Most Citizens hold Outcasts in dim regard, but Sima never expected they’d throw her off the planet.
In 2411, overpopulation has spread a plaque of filthy, congested city to the corners of the Earth. Government has raised corruption to an art form, and no one hears the cries ...
Your chance to win Out Of Sight by Matthew S. Cox
Out of Sight
Matthew S. Cox
Publication date: August 13th 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Most Citizens hold Outcasts in dim regard, but Sima never expected they’d throw her off the planet.
In 2411, overpopulation has spread a plaque of filthy, congested city to the corners of the Earth. Government has raised corruption to an art form, and no one hears the cries ...
First Look! Cover for Jack Jetstark’s Intergalactic Freakshow
Jack Jetstark’s Intergalactic FreakShow
Jennifer Lee Rossman
Publication date: December 4th 2018
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction
Jack Jetstark travels the universe to seek out the descendants of superpowered freaks created long ago by VesCorp scientists. The vibrations encoded in a particular song transform the members of Jack’s crew into a firebreather and an angel, a wildman and telepathic conjoined triplets, so they ...
Book Giveaway! Missing Signal by Seb Doubinsky
Just released! Seb Doubinsky's new Science Fiction novel Missing Signal. Read on to learn more about this book that has been called "a tiny, jeweled puzzle-box of a book" by Tad Williams, and for your chance to win a copy.
Missing Signal
Seb Doubinsky
Publication date: August 28th 2018
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction
“Beneath the entertaining wrapper of science fiction, Missing Signal is ...
Storm of The Gods book review
Newly released Storm of the Gods by Canadian author A.R.Braun! I'm happy to have been given an advanced review copy from Xpresso Book Tours and here is my opinion on this new urban fantasy set in a California filled with newly awakened Greek gods, human scions, and mythological creatures.
Storm of the Gods
Amy Braun
(An Areios Brothers Novel)
Publication date: August 27th ...
Book Giveaway! Storm of The Gods by A.R.Braun
I'm happy to introduce another book by a Canadian Author. Storm of the Gods by A.R.Braun, just released today! Read on for your chance to win a copy and watch for my review tomorrow.
Storm of the Gods
Amy Braun
(An Areios Brothers Novel)
Publication date: August 27th 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy
The first in a brand new urban fantasy series where gods ...
The Devil’s Standoff book review
Part three of three for The Devil's Revolver special this week, my book review for the second story in the series, The Devil's Standoff.
The Devil’s Standoff
V. S. McGrath
(The Devil’s Revolver #2)
Publication date: April 2nd 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Welcome to the birthplace of the Devil’s Revolver, where untold danger lurks for Hettie Alabama and her companions
The Devil's Standoff picks up ...
The Devil’s Standoff book giveaway!
As promised, here is more information on Book 2 in the Devil's Revolver series, The Devil's Standoff. For a chance to win a copy, enter the giveaway at the bottom!
The Devil’s Standoff
V. S. McGrath
(The Devil’s Revolver #2)
Publication date: April 2nd 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Welcome to the birthplace of the Devil’s Revolver, where untold danger lurks for Hettie Alabama and ...
The Devil’s Revolver book review
I have a special three-parter this week featuring the Devil's Revolver series by Canadian author V.S. McGrath. To begin, here's my review of book one. Keep your eyes open for a review and giveaway for book 2!
The Devil’s Revolver
V. S. McGrath
(The Devil’s Revolver #1)
Publication date: Sept. 5th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
She is Hettie Alabama — unlikely, scarred, single-minded, and blood bound ...
Book Blitz: Children of the Fifth Sun
Children of the Fifth Sun: Echelon
Gareth Worthington
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication date: August 14th 2018
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction
***SEQUEL TO THE AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN***
SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS NOTHING STRONGER THAN A MOTHER’S BOND.
SHE WAS WRONG.
Fifteen thousand years ago, the knowledge bringers—an amphibious, non-humanoid species known as the Huahuqui—came after a great global flood, gifting humans with math, ...
Check Out Brent Jones’ New Novel for a Chance to Win
In collaboration with Xpresso Book Tours, I'm happy to present book 2 of an original thriller series by fellow Canadian author Brent Jones. It's a dark, gritty, female-lead series that looks to be well-written. Even better, after reading the excerpt you'll find a Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a free copy!
See You Soon, Afton
Brent Jones
(The Afton ...
Check Out the Cool Cover for Ricochet by David A. Kennedy
Ricochet
David A. Kennedy
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: November 6th 2018
Genres: Adult, Thriller
Brenda Roseberry is young, brilliant, and fearless, but her moral compass is radically skewed. Recruited by the secret government agency Special Crimes Response And Mitigation, she delivers twisted vigilantism to the streets and the corporate boardrooms of America. Her only friend, an MS-13 gangster, manipulates her even as ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episodes 20, 21, & 22
Treachery abounds as the casualties mount in this global game of battleship. Will the Canadian spec-ops team find the generator? Just how damaged is loyalty among the American captains? And is the Japanese fleet really there by fortunate coincidence or is there something sinister afoot?
If you’re new to this co-written serial, you can find Episode 1 here.
Turn: Canada
Incoming Fire:
Miss (USA, ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episodes 17, 18, & 19
The Canadian spec-ops team search for the generator powering the electromagnetic field as Admiral Johnson struggles to keep his fleet in one peace during the resticted fire protocol.
Meanwhile, American Admiral Stone and Dr Greer discuss whether to kill the true source of the EM field should the Canadians discover it.
...and... a new, unexpected player enters the game. Introduced by 'Lala13', ...
After 70 Years, Where Are The Jet Packs? They’re Here!
Ever since The Jetsons, and probably much sooner, science fiction fans have been waiting for their own, personal jetpacks. The 60's came and went and we landed on the moon, but no jetpacks. The 70s and we again explored the moon, but still no jetpacks. The 80s gave us the space shuttle and affordable personal computers, the 90s heralded the ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episodes 15 & 16
The Canadian spec-ops team is almost in place, but will the cover fire orders end up destroying the Canadian fleet?
Has the American admiral figured out the Canadian ploy, and what is the American super-scientist Dr. Greer's secret?
If you’re new to this co-written serial, you can find Episode 1 here.
Turn: Canada
Incoming Fire:
Miss (USA, G-3)
Miss (USA, D-7)
Return Fire:
Attack (USA, A-4)
Attack ...
The Dociles by Valerie Puri
The Dociles
Valerie Puri
Publication date: July 12th 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
Walls are meant to keep the monsters out
Deep in the forest there is a wall where no wall should be. Behind it live the people of the Commune, the last remnant of human kind.
Jennie Caraway has lived behind the wall her entire life, certain that it protects her and ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episodes 13 & 14
Emotions run high as threat levels increase. Shots are all around the ships as the Canadian spec-ops team begins their insertion into the radar opaque zone generated by the American ships.
If you’re new to this story, you can find Episode 1 here.
Turn: Canada
Incoming Fire:
Miss (USA, G-4)
Miss (USA, D-8)
Return Fire:
Attack (USA, B-3)
Attack (USA, J-2)
Attack (USA, F-5) *bonus ...
Star Wars: 8 Examples of Unexplored Potential
Regardless of whether you like or dislike the new Star Wars movies, it seems clear that, with the possible exception of Rogue One, Disney/Lucasfilm has had difficulty coming up with interesting new directions to explore in the franchise. Despite a galaxy-spanning story with a rich backdrop of worlds, cultures, and ideas to draw upon, the newest trilogy has so far been ...
Heart of the Colussus by Nicole Grotepas
Heart of the Colossus
Nicole Grotepas
(A Holly Drake Job Book, #3)
Publication date: July 12th 2018
Genres: Adult, Science Fiction, Steampunk
Save them all or die trying.
Holly Drake and her team have seen the evil lurking behind everything the Shadow Coalition does. The last time they plunged into the heart of the shadow empire, they could only rescue one. Now they’re going ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episodes 11 & 12
The Canadian and American navies play cat and mouse, but amid the deadly game, each is protecting a secret. The Canadian spec ops team is nearing their insertion point, but can they discover the American surprise before it's too late?
If you’re new to this story, you can find Episode 1 here.
Turn: Canada
Incoming Fire:
Miss (USA, E-3)
Miss (USA, B-9)
Return Fire:
Attack ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episode 9 & 10
Admiral Johnson finally gets through to Canadian Naval Command only to learn of a covert operation in progress that he's now become part of.
Meanwhile, Admiral Stone determines the EM field is the only thing keeping the American fleet alive and as it begins to dissipate, they prepare to fire the generator again.
If you’re new to this story, you can find Episode ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episodes 7 & 8
The battle rages on as Admiral Johnson contacts fleet command to find out what's going on. Meanwhile, Neil Larson, a young, aggressive captain desperate to prove himself engages the hidden enemy.
All the while, Admiral Stone admonishes her head of research for creating the electromagnetic field that has so badly damaged their targeting systems, while struggling to find a strategy that ...
Cover Reveal – Island Chaptal: The Ancient Aliens’ Treasure by Camilla Monk
A treat today, I've recently signed on with Xpresso Book Tours, so I can bring you interviews, guest blogs and cover reveals for upcoming books. Today, I've got the cover reveal for Island Chaptal: The Ancient Aliens' Treasure, final book in the Spotless Series by Camilla Monk. I have started reading this series after having just learned of it, and ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episode 6
The battle has been truly joined and the two admirals play a deadly game of chess on the high seas, each putting new players onto the board.
If you’re new to this story, you can find Episode 1 here.
Turn: U.S.A.
Incoming Fire:
Miss (Canada, D-2)
Miss (Canada, G-8)
Miss (Canada, C-6)
Return Fire:
Attack (Canada, L-2)
Attack (Canada, E-11)
Negative impact. We have a negative ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episode 5
The two opposing forces are still feeling each other out. As the electromagnetic field continues to play havoc with their aiming systems, Admiral Ben Johnson searches for other options.
If you’re new to this story, you can find Episode 1 here.
Turn: Canada
Incoming Fire:
Miss (USA, F-6)
Miss (USA, J-10)
Return Fire:
Attack (USA, D-2)
Attack (USA, G-8)
Attack (USA, C-6) *bonus attack for ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episode 4
The first shots have been fired. Were there any casualties? How will the American Naval group, hidden in an electromagnetic field, respond and just what are they doing in Canadian waters anyway?
As this game is designed to feature multiple countries, each turn begins with a response to aggression toward that country, stating miss/hits for each country's shots fired. Aggression is then ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episode 3
The players are in place and the battle is now joined. The first shot is fired by Canada against an unknown, potentially invading, enemy surrounded by an EMP cloud that makes accurate targeting all but impossible.
The game rules were designed for more than two players in a game. Thus, on their turn, the player announces who they attack, then which ...
Battleship: Original Serial Fiction – Episode 2
The episodes featuring the American navy were written by someone I knew only as Rock L. Unfortunately, I can give no more credit than this. So, without further ado, here's the introduction to team 2.
If you're new to this story, you can find Episode 1 here.
Introduction: U.S.A.
The US destroyer Sophia slowly cut its way through the rough ocean. Testing of ...
Losing a Friend
A friend died yesterday.
In many ways he was an alien, but equally, he was also very human. And he was a good friend.
I'm speaking of Tyson, our cat and companion of sixteen years. He came into our lives at the beginning of the journey of my wife and I, and now that he's gone it feels like we've entered an ...
Battleship – Episode 1
Sometime in 2006 or 2007, while I was still a member of Writing.com, I had the idea to create a story around the game Battleship. The idea was that two or more authors would actually play a game of battleship, beginning by putting our ships on a hidden grid just like the board game, and create a story around what ...
It Actually Exists: Transparent Aluminum
There's a famous scene in Star Trek IV (The Voyage Home) where the crew need to build a light, strong aquarium aboard their ship to transport a pair of Humpback whales to the future. As the technology doesn't yet exist in the 1980s, Scotty trades his knowledge of Transparent Aluminum in exchange for the manufacturer giving them a free supply.
For ...
The View to a Future
In honour of VE day and the anniversary of the end of WWII combat in Europe, I'm sharing the first page of an alternate future story I started some time ago. The premise that interested me is that the Nazi Germans were as technologically gifted as they were morally abhorrent. So I was curious to explore the idea of what ...
The Snowman
Here is a short piece I wrote some time ago when pondering the perspective a snowman might have in its short existence. I feel somewhat safe in putting out now, and that I won't be tempting the wrath of the winter gods now that warmer weather appears to be here. (image from J.P.Stephens: Snowman After Dark)
From ice to ice, from ...
Grandpa Joe and The Big One of ’56
This week's fiction offering is from a challenge I did back when I was a member of Writing.com. The goal was to write a 500 word story using only dialog. Here is one of those attempts. A piece of humorous future science fiction. I hope you enjoy.
"Hi, grandpa Joe."
"Whassat?"
"Hi!"
"High? Sure is. A hundred thirty-two floors, bah. What's wrong with livin' ...
What the End of Avengers: Infinity War Means
**SPOILERS**
The finale of a ten year long journey has arrived in Part 1 of the Avengers Infinity War duo (the next is coming May, 2019). While the post-credit scene was met largely with disinterest in the cinema I saw the movie in, the end of Infinity War itself was cause for audible gasps of disbelief from the audience. No one ...
Avengers Infinity War – Phase 3 Commentary
With Avengers: Infinity War upon us, here is my wrap-up of the movies of Phase 3 (the ones so far available). Phase 3, in classic act 3 fashion, was about tearing the Avengers apart. The heroes, original and new, must now come together in a new way to face the greatest threat they've ever known.
Captain America: Civil War
As befits the ...
Road to Liberty
Those of you who know me, know I love playing video games. One of my favourite is Starcraft II, a real-time strategy game made by Blizzard. Occasionally, Blizzard has fan contests either for artwork, map design, or stories. This is my entry for one of those. Unfortunately, while I'm quite happy with how it turned out, I didn't pay enough ...
Avengers Infinity War – Phase 2 Insights
Less than one week until Avengers: Infinity War is upon us and the official end of the first Avengers story begins. I've recently rewatched the Phase 2 movies and, in addition to enjoying them all over again, I been reminded of, or discovered new, questions leading into Infinity War. As we've been assured all lose ends will be wrapped up, ...
Awaken from that Gentle Good Night
The world of 'Awaken' was created by a friend of mine who gave me permission to write a story in it. It has a religious theme, but as you'll see, it's all science fiction. I approached this story by flipping the original on its head, although I can't say more without giving it away. Suffice to say, I enjoyed writing ...
Together Forever
Imagine being trapped in a dream that you're unable to wake from. That might be wonderful if it's a good dream, but a nightmare? Now imagine it was someone else, a loved one, who trapped you there with the best of intentions. It's an idea that chills me to my bones, but that's the premise of Together Forever, a story ...
The Reality of Professional Video Gaming
As part of the MIT Technology Review series on future jobs, they have an article about professional video gaming which is well worth the read. As someone who enjoys gaming, here's my take on the subject.
Western society has never truly concluded the debate over whether competitive Chess should be categorized as a sport. And what about things like Poker? I ...
7 changes to Star Wars: The Last Jedi that would have made it a great movie
Much has been made in the entertainment media about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and if you're a Star Wars fan, you can't help but have heard most of it, both the reasonable and the unreasonable. Like most fans, I have my opinions on the 'why' of what happened and is happening, but for this article I'm putting that aside ...
Can We Colonize Extrasolar Planets?
At the recent Eastercon I had the pleasure of listening to Kim Stanley Robinson speak at a few sessions. While I don't agree with all his ideas, he is clearly someone who bases his views on well thought-through concepts. I found one of the ideas he discussed particularly interesting, namely, he's of the view that the technical and social challenges ...
Avengers Infinity War – Phase 1 Analysis
We're in the final month leading up to the culmination of a decade long story arc told in movie form. The conclusion of an historical event never before attempted in movie history. I speak, of course, of the Avengers story in the Disney Marvel Cinematic Universe, a three act, 22 movie story told over ten years. Like many fans, I'm ...
Eastercon 2018 Wrap-Up
Another Eastercon has come and gone. Ironically, this one, Follycon 2018, seemed less of a capital 'e' event for me because it was in Harrogate, only a 40 minute walk from home. That meant a much lower financial and time investment this year, for which I was grateful in a year of watching both costs. Nevertheless, it was interesting and ...
The Last Time
Perhaps I was coming in to my parenthood at the time I wrote this. Or perhaps I’d just grown up a bit, but I envisioned a dialog between the hard-working, wise, and practical God and his youthful, idealistic son regarding the events of Jesus visit to Earth, and his crucifixion and resurrection. The Last Time was the result.
A big surprise ...
Eastercon 2018: Day 1
Checking in from Follycon (Eastercon 2018: Harrogate). The first day was, as always, slow, but not dull. Registration, getting the lay of the land, checking out what's on in the Art Show and Dealers' Room (shout out to York's own Stairwell Books).
After the opening ceremonies, I saw two interesting panel discussions. The first, moderated by an architectural design tutor from ...
5 Technologies that are more advanced than you thought
Technological advancement is a strange thing. On one hand, it's moving far faster than we're ready for. On the other... where are the flying cars! Amiright?
One thing that seems certain with technology is that regardless of how fast or slow it progresses, we're never ready for the changes it brings and we're largely unable to anticipate how it, and we, ...
What is the technological singularity, and why should you care?
Doesn't it seem that the latest iphone is coming out sooner and sooner? That just a few years ago we had first mainstream digital assistant in Apple's Siri (2010) and now the market is flooded not only with dedicated devices such as Amazon's Echo Dot (2015) and Google Home mini (2016), but a range of similar creations from competitors. And ...
Cheer Up, It’s Not All Bad!
The fall of Rome took 300 years. Our collapse feels like it's occurring over three years. A rise in global challengers to our throne, conflict just outside our borders, massive immigration threatening our fragile infrastructures, increasing conflict between races within our borders, increasing conflict between men and women, increasing uncertainty on what it means to be a man or woman, ...
I’m on the Yorkshire Writer podcast!
Just before Christmas I was interviewed by Promoting Yorkshire Authors member Dan Crow for his Yorkshire Writer podcast. Dan is a wonderful interviewer, relaxed and insightful and we had a great (and long!) conversation about many things. We covered subjects from travel, writing, and the books I'm working on this year to artificial intelligence, multiverse theory, and the surprise writers ...
To Infinity (War) and Beyond!
It's just seventeen weeks until the beginning of the end. That's right, the Disney/Marvel Cinematic Universe's amazingly triumphant experiment in movie story telling, traversing ten years and (by the end) twenty-two movies, is drawing to a close. As the experiment, conceived in the idea of telling a three-act story spread over ten years and almost two-dozen movies, nears its conclusion, ...
Why I didn’t Like Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a movie that could have been good, had all the elements of being good, but then decided to take advice from its Resistance generals and hide from the challenge. Instead of facing head-on the opportunity and striving to be great while acknowledging the risk failure, it chose to preach and stick it's head in ...
The Future of Gender
These day it seems everywhere we turn we are being told about gender identity. Whether it's to highlight fringe behaviours or to suggest that kids be told they can pick their gender from the age they're able to talk, hardly a week goes by without some news story or a talk show appearance that supports a 'non-binary' gender interpretation of ...
The Reality of Electric Cars
Whether you love it or hate it, it's now well known that Europe has committed to the electric car being the only car within 20 years. Possibly within that time frame, or soon after, the richest segments of Asia will follow (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and parts of China). North America, due to its size will take quite a ...
The Right to Offend is the Most Important Right We Have
All over the Western world, we are eroding our free speech in the name of being kind. Or rather, in our desire to legislate our world into being kind by using the carefully named and conceived hate speech laws. Such laws intend to forcibly prevent us from insulting — intentionally or otherwise — Western minorities, sexual minorities, gender minorities, religions, ...
Welcome
Hello and welcome. I'm Edwin H Rydberg, author of Echoes of the Past, first episode of the Altered Destiny series and, coming soon, a number of novels in the Gateway to Eternity saga. I also write children's books and I have a non-fiction series in the works. In addition, I run writing and coding workshops at my local library and ...
Dead but not Forgotten
My Friday quick-write, NaNoWriMo prep. Just under 50 minutes, 1182 words.
Dead but not Forgotten
"I thought someone should tell you that your mother has died."
The line was delivered with such callousness that I thought it must have been a joke.
“What?”
“Your mother has died,” the nurse said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to my duties.”
“But wait! What ...
The Stellar Garden
The Stellar Garden is The Terran Sphere, both the future and the past of humanity in this shared universe spanning 10s of thousands of years of human history. Beginning in the near future and leaping ahead and abroad through time and space, this collection of series and stand-alones follows the development of humanity, and post-humanity, into the far future.
Several books ...
The Light and the Flame
Another NaNoWriMo prep session. A little over an hour this time and 1056 words. Warning, it's a bit political. (image from Shaun of the Dead)
The Light and the Flame
So far, the disease had cropped up in five different towns, today was the sixth. Like all the other cases, the victims here were mobile but unresponsive. I would have called them ...
Fayre is Fair
Second offering for 2017 NaNoWriMo warm-up. This one feels more like a scene than a short story, but here it is anyway (word count: 1249, time 60 minutes)
Fayre is Fair
“If you leave now, you get nothing.”
It was a statement as much as a threat, the words of a demented psychopath bent on destruction of the city.
The Host she called herself. ...
Space Surprise
In an attempt to prepare for the impending NaNoWriMo, I'll be trying to write a short story, inspired by a randomly generated first line, each day. Here is my first one (written in 2 x 25 minutes). It's rough (no edits!), but I'm happy to hear comments.
Space Surprise
by Edwin H Rydberg
It was the trip of a lifetime, until the sound ...
Minder Rising by Carol Van Natta
Minder Rising by Carol Van Natta
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Although I gave this 2 stars, there are some very strong positives in this novel. First, the world-building is great and feels detailed and well-developed. Also, the characters feel real and have detailed histories, right down to the relationships with multiple generations of their families. There's also an interesting mechanic ...
10 Fictional Warnings for Modern Times
“There is a curse.
They say:
May you live in interesting times.”
― Terry Pratchett, Interesting Times
Whether your cancer is Trump's 'anti-immigration' policies or the hypocrisy of Leftist anti-free speech protests, there can be little doubt that we are living in 'interesting' times. But these times are not original in their threats.
Here are ten books that are cautionary must-reads for anyone concerned with ...
What Superpower Would You Choose?
Destiny City, from my new Altered Destiny serial, features superheroes and supervillians with a lot of different powers. Starshyne has flight and energy projection, Black Pariah has heightened reflexes and an alien computer sidekick, Virtue Maroni is an expert marksman and tech genius, Dreadlock is superstrong with limited teleportation, Thixotrope is a futuristic nanite swarm, Neverland Nuance is a fairy, ...
Free Speech, an Author’s Responsibility
Musical Accompaniment: Should I See by Frozen Ghost
Free speech is nothing without the right to offend. That is the only version of free speech that is actually free and it's the only version of free speech that does not lead to oppression.
And yet, all over the Western world, we are eroding our free speech in the name of being nice. ...
Farspace 2
Farspace 2 is a lot darker, more cautionary and less care-free, than Farspace 1. Among others, it features stories about control—by entities that want to harm or protect us, and stories about exploration. Not the happy, “everything is wonderful out there and all will be great if we only go” stories. But rather the “yes it’s dangerous out there, and ...
Assassins’ Canon
Few images evoke a more powerful or frightening reaction than that of the assassin. Silently creeping into your room while you sleep, they plunge a pick deep inside your brain, or fill your snoring nostrils with poisonous vapour. Or perhaps skilled fingers from the shadows strike a vital point during mid-step; the coroners say it was a heart attack. Assassins ...
Echoes of the Past
Charlene Stanfeld, aka Starshyne, has problems. Her parents were killed five years ago in the fireball that started the Hero's Plague and she's been alone ever since. She has a job with no future, a boss with no self-control, and now there's a super-powered gang that has her number.
Ayn Elipso just bought a new house with her fiance Ryan and ...
Electric Bugaloo
Electric Bugaloo is a free anthology of some of my published and unpublished short fiction over the last ten years. It also includes the opening chapter of Echoes of the Past, Episode 1 from my new female-centric superhero series the Altered Destiny Saga, and an excerpt from my Unreal Tournament fan fiction Some Skaarjs Never Heal, available for free with ...
NaNoWriMo and Plot Twists
Ten days in to NaNoWriMo and I'm reminded of all the ups and downs and the general ebb and flow of both the story of my life and of my novels during this marathon of writing. For exmaple, most routines get pushed to the background so that I end up catching up on house-cleaning, laundry, e-mails, and any other life-related ...
Keeping it together for NaNoWriMo
Enter NaNoWriMo, exit all other routines. That's what it seems like. I haven't done a serious NaNoWriMo for a while. Although I started -- and finished -- one last year, the book I chose to work on wasn't a serious one for me, so I put it aside almost immediately after. Not so this year.
The last twelve months have seen ...
Staying Regular
Human nature is a strange beast. So often we look for a magic pill to take us where we want to go - whether that's losing weight, writing a book, becoming known in our field. So many of us are willing to overlook the obviousness of the efficacious truth in favour of wasteful efforts on quick fixes that don't work. ...
Once more unto the breach dear friends!
I've forgotten how many different homepages I've had now. Prior to this one, however, most have been very general, highlighting the wide scope of my, often unfocussed, endeavours. Now that I'm set to start publishing my books with greater determination and regularity, I felt it time my website reflect this changing attitude.
If you're finding this site from my wordpress.com site ...
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