Latest Posts
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Six novels take a serious look at alien communication: Part 4, Children of Time book 1
In this series of posts, I review six novels with alien communication as a main plot point: Quick Note: I am writing these reviews so fast that mistakes inevitably crop up. As I spot typos and worse, I will issue… Continue reading
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Alien communication: Part 3, The Mountain in the Sea–and a new quotation for the speculative fiction advent calendar (slightly revised)
In this series of posts, I will review these six novels: The Mountain in the Sea, Ray Nayler (2023) Here’s an enthralling near-future SF novel of contact with another species, and it doesn’t need outer space to do so. Is… Continue reading
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A holiday gift for you
While I am mulling over my third review of novels about alien communication, I have realized today is the start of a festive season. So here is: A speculative fiction advent calendar of quotes: DAY ONE What is it about… Continue reading
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Six novels take a serious look at alien communication: Part 2, Translation State
In this series of posts, I will discuss six novels of alien communication I find convincing and satisfying: Translation State, Ann Leckie (2023)–note: fixed a typo if you are reading the revised post Leckie’s answer to the problem of human/alien… Continue reading
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Six novels take a serious look at alien communication: Part 1, Embassytown (REVISED)
In this series of posts, I will discuss six novels of alien communication I find convincing and satisfying: Embassytown, China Miéville, 2011 Miéville’s take on communicating with an alien species is complex and stunningly detailed, not least because Miéville himself… Continue reading
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Ready to communicate with an alien? SF shows us how it’s done
Communicating human to alien–a lot of SF makes it sound like a snap, when of course it couldn’t possibly be. Here’s an article that explains a little about xenolinguistics. Here’s another. Those communications from NASA on the Pioneer plaque and… Continue reading
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World Fantasy Awards 2025! Congratulations to the Winners!
The winner of the best fantasy novel for 2025 is Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup (Del Rey; Hodderscape). This fascinating fantasy novel also won the 2025 Hugo Award and was short-listed for the Locus Award. Bennett’s novel is a… Continue reading
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Nearly Upon Us: World Fantasy Awards
Who will walk away with this amazing and evocative piece of sculpture? Read about the history of the World Fantasy Award trophy HERE. By now, I have read all the novels short-listed for the 2025 World Fantasy Awards, and I… Continue reading
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A final nominee for the World Fantasy Awards
The decision of the judges for the 2025 World Fantasy Awards will be announced at the World Fantasy Convention, held this year in Brighton UK on Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2025. Coming up fast! Here’s the list once again, and my… Continue reading
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Here’s another World Fantasy Award Nominee
The 2025 World Fantasy Awards will be announced at the World Fantasy Convention, held this year in Brighton UK on Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2025. I’m heading toward the end of my quest to read and review all the novels short-listed… Continue reading
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