On this day in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened, connecting San Francisco to Marin County. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world, at 4200 feet.

fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviews

Wooly Mammoth on the range

Writing, Editing, and Publishing:

I am very sad to say goodbye to one of my favorite writers, the great Tanith Lee, whose fairy-tale adaptations largely made me the reader and writer of fairy tales that I am today. The link above is to her obituary in Locus, but the Guardian also posted a particularly good one.

We are a couple days late for Towel Day, an annual celebration of everything Douglas Adams, but in belated celebration, check out the 42 best lines from Hitchhiker’s Guide.

John Scalzi got some good news this week. He signed a 3.4 million deal with Tor for his next 13 books: 10 adult books, and 3 young adult books.

The nominees for the Aurora Awards, celebrating excellence in speculative fiction written by Canadians, have been announced. Jo Walton, William Gibson, and Charles de Lint all have works on the list.

And the Spectrum Awards for fantastic art (meaning, art that engages in fantasy, not just really great art, although it’s that, too…) have been awarded. Congrats to all the winners!

Neil Gaiman discusses his new Sandman comic series, the prequel to the existing Sandman comics, and discusses his artistic process at the same time.

Um, Helen Oyeyemi interviews Kelly Link? It’s called “Horror Stories are Love Stories”? Just a second while I go devour this LA Book Review interview

Finally, Aiden Moher, writing for Tor.com, presents five books about kickass moms. I think my favorite is Mrs. Murray from Madeleine L’Engle’s TIME QUINTET.

fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviews

Frozen Mammoth

Film and Television:

Claire L. Evans, writing for Grantland, reviews the upcoming George Clooney film Tomorrowlandcomparing its utopian vision to the recent dystopian fare that has been dominating sci-fi.

Yay! There’s a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen reboot coming our way…

Mad Max: Fury Road has been getting some rave reviews. Here’s one from a fan who was delighted with Furiosa’s portrayal.

Internet Stuff:

This…thing…with Will Riker as the main character in his own show is … what is that word that means wonderful and strange and hilarious?

A great crowdfunding opportunity here, for some beautiful art books set in a futuristic Sweden.

NASA revealed 9 instruments which will be on board its mission to Europa, sometime in the 2020s.

fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviews

Lyuba, the best preserved wooly mammoth mummy

Art:

I’ve been researching genetics and cloning lately, reading a fantastic book by Beth Shapiro called How to Clone a Mammoth, so I thought I’d share some mammoths with you today.

Author

  • Kate Lechler

    KATE LECHLER, on our staff from May 2014 to January 2017, resides in Oxford, MS, where she divides her time between teaching early British literature at the University of Mississippi, writing fiction, and throwing the tennis ball for her insatiable terrier, Sam. She loves speculative fiction because of what it tells us about our past, present, and future. She particularly enjoys re-imagined fairy tales and myths, fabulism, magical realism, urban fantasy, and the New Weird. Just as in real life, she has no time for melodramatic protagonists with no sense of humor. The movie she quotes most often is Jurassic Park, and the TV show she obsessively re-watches (much to the chagrin of her husband) is Buffy the Vampire Slayer.