What Makes a Starship Lovable?
The names make you nostalgic. The sight of one stirs dreams of adventure and excitement. Hearing someone talk about them makes you wish you could be a part of the crew, or better yet, have it to yourself, with your friends as your sidekicks. Starships: the iconic...
Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Firefly “Jaynestown”
This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, one of my favorite episodes of Firefly: "Jaynestown." How do you choose just one episode from a series filled with great episodes? Humor. I just found this to be the funniest, laugh-out-loud. (WARNING: Spoilers begin below) Brief...
Who Would Win a Fight Between …
One of the hallmarks of obsessive fandom is the crossover combat "what if" scenario, pitting two iconic characters from different universes against one another. The set ups can vary, but it's generally accepted that you shouldn't presume scenarios that are tailored to...
Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Galaxy Quest
This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, we are watching Galaxy Quest. This is a comedy sci-fi parody, with Star Trek (mainly the original series) firmly planted in its sights. It stars Santa Claus (Tim Allen), an alien exterminating astronaut (Sigourney Weaver), Monk (Tony...
5 Questions for Building Futuristic Societies
A lot of speculative fiction takes place in a futuristic setting. This brings up the issue of needing to create futuristic societies. There is no pre-existing future to base it on. Unlike historical fiction where you can take what is known of Earth history and reshape...
Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Star Trek TNG “Cause and Effect”
This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek The Next Generation: "Cause and Effect," from Season 5, Episode 18. It doesn't involve Klingons, Romulans, Borg, or any mysterious planet or moral dilemma. What classic Star Trek trope does...
Ask an Author: 3 Steps for Marketing Your First Book
The subject of marketing your first book came up again recently, and for some reason people are looking for my opinion on it. Wait ... I've published how many books now? Well, carry on, then. I guess I'm not quite new at this anymore. This isn't a cure-all, a...
Sci-Fi Time Capsule: X-Files “DØd Kalm”
This week in Sci-Fi Time Capsule, we look back at an episode of X-Files that plays on a number of key tropes for the series. There will be spoilers, to say the least, but I plan to keep them below the image, so anyone who wants to check the episode out for the first...
Worldbuilding With Ships
An imagined world will only feel as large as you make it appear. By focusing on a limited part of the world, you make a world feel small and cramped. It's easy at times to forget that the Harry Potter series takes place on Earth, since all you see in the first book is...
Sci-Fi Time Capsule: Star Trek TOS “Arena”
This is the star of a new feature, Sci-Fi Time Capsule, a look back at a classic sci-fi episode. There will be spoilers, to say the least, but I plan to keep them below the image, so anyone who wants to check the episode out for the first time has an opportunity to...