1.
DreamForge: 12-23-2018
“DreamForge,” a new Sci-Fi and Fantasy Magazine, will be available online and as a print version. The magazine’s goal is to publish material that follows the essential principals of “integrity and decency, compassion and creativity, intelligence and inventiveness, the rule of law and liberty under the law, the dignity of the individual, and the power of synergy to unleash the potential of disparate individuals and communities for the betterment of all.” Lofty goals indeed…
More Info Here: DreamForge
2.
Dark Crystal: 12-21-2018
Oh, the Joy. Great article detailing the amazing cast assembled for the “Dark Crystal” prequel. The voice cast will certainly please as it contains names huge in the industry like Mark Hamill, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alicia Vikander, Eddie Izzard, Andy Samberg, Simon Pegg, and Taron Egerton.
Get the full scoop here: “Dark Crystal” Prequel Cast
3.
Anime: 12-20-2018
Fun article that shows familiar scenes from popular Sci-Fi shows first realized in anime productions.
Crunchyroll: Anime Did It First: Sci-Fi
4.
Becky Chambers Interview: 12-17-2018
At Offworlders we love author interviews! Yay! Here is a great one “Locus Magazine” conducted with Rebecca Marie Chambers, author of “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2012);” “A Closed and Common Orbit (2016);” and “Record of a Spaceborn Few (2018).” I read the Angry Planet novel and it was a fun read.
Read the text of the interview here: Becky Chambers: To Be Spaceborn
5.
Cyberpunk News: 12-16-2018
A fascinating article on forces in play that may crush the soul of Cyberpunk as corporations turn it into a commodity and take away its rough edges to make it appeal to a wider audience. At its root cyberpunk dictates we free ourselves and rebel against massive corporations–now large corporations are packaging and selling us cyberpunk.
A Must Read Article: As Cyberpunk Goes Commercial, It Risks Dulling Its Anarchist Edges
“Cyberspace. A consensual hallucination experienced daily by billions of legitimate operators, in every nation, by children being taught mathematical concepts… A graphic representation of data abstracted from banks of every computer in the human system. Unthinkable complexity. Lines of light ranged in the nonspace of the mind, clusters, and constellations of data. Like city lights, receding…” ~ William Gibson, Neuromancer
6.
Chinese Surveillance State: 12-16-2018
The Chinese government has plans to operate a massive surveillance state as a means of social control. In this system, the government will rate your trustworthiness and use collected data to assign you a “citizen score” that will determine where you fit into the society, the speed of your internet access, your creditworthiness, and even if you can get a visa to travel abroad. This is an Orwellian nightmare that may overtake China in the next five years.
Bonus Short Story:
Here is a link to a short story by author Chen Qiufan that explores China’s planned surveillance state: “The Reunion: a new science-fiction story about surveillance in China.”
7.
Sci-Fi Short Film: 12-15-2018
Have I ever told you I love film school films? Well, I do and I just so happen to have one for you. It’s only a little over three minutes so sit back and enjoy!
“The Endless” by ArtFx School.
8.
Nightflyers: 12-13-2018
A must read on George R. R. Martin’s upcoming show “Nightflyers” and the history of Horror in science fiction. Boo!
9.
Conan: 12-11-2018
Conan the Barbarian to Team-up with Marvel’s Avengers. That’s what I am talking about! I never read many comic books growing up as a lad. The only exception to that was Conan the Barbarian. I was a voracious reader of Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories starting in grade school. My mother bought me any book I wanted and I ordered up a ton of Robert E. Howard novels and short story collections. Marvel plans to insert Conan into “Avengers: No Road Home,” starting with the sixth issue, March 2019.
Conan and Marvel: More info here.
10.
Debut Novels: 12-10-2018
This is one of my favorite news links. I am a huge fan of debut novels.
Here are 31 debut novels to add to your must reads: Complete list here.
11.
12-10-2018 to 12-21-2018
The end of the year is a time for holiday celebrations, gifts, self-reflection, and it’s the time of the year the media inundates you with a plethora of “Best Of lists” of everything imaginable! I perused through buckets of these and have provided you with a selection to choose from:
Verge: Our favorite science fiction and fantasy books of 2018
Paste Magazine: The 15 Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comics of 2018
Den of Geek: Best New Science Fiction Books in December 2018
Paste Magazine: The 15 Best Fantasy Novels of 2018
Vulture: The 10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018
The Guardian: The best recent science fiction and fantasy
Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Sci-Fi 2018
Space.com: Best Space Books: Science Fiction 2018
Kirkus Reviews: Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2018
Our recommendation? Read the “Murderbot’ Diaries”–Book 4 was released October 2nd, 2018
That should keep you busy!
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!