Concept Art Writing Prompt: A Monster Problem In The Swamplands

Some folks out for a drive have gotten themselves into a very unpleasant situation. Is it made better or worse by the creature looming before them? Tell us your story inspired by this scene. “Jozin z Bazin” is by artist Sergey Kolesov and prints are available through inPRNT. As always, we invite you to come…

The dangerous beast known as the “attack novel.” It seizes you and will not let go until it’s been deposited on paper, as Charles Stross explains. If you see one, do not call the authorities.

Read This Engrossing Collection Of The Shortest Science Fiction Stories

We have a collection of very, very short science fiction stories for you to read — ranging from an alternate reality view of where the dwindling bee populations are really going, to how some of the Starship Enterprise’s second-string crewmembers might best extend their life spans. The stories were all written by commenters today, as…

The Haunting, Unearthly Beauty of Nebulae

There’s something incredibly beautiful and poetic about a cloud of dust, moving through space. Made of the concentrated interstellar medium, these are some of the most captivating phenomena in space. Check out some of the loveliest nebulae in the entire cosmos. A reflection nebula, (IC 4592) made up of very fine dust, reflecting the light…

AAAAAAH! Dinosaur Throws Opening Pitch At Baseball Game

Stop what you are doing immediately and watch this!!! Dinosaurs are real and they are playing baseball. This Raptor threw the opening pitch at the Padres game. GAME OVER, ALL OTHER TEAMS. [via Geekologie]

Read The First Chapter Of Jeff VanderMeer’s Authority Right Here!

Authority, the second volume in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy, just came out. Givenhow much Annihilation thrilled us, that’s exciting news. So we’re stoked to be able to bring you the first chapter of Authority, exclusively at io9. 000 In Control’s dreams it is early morning, the sky deep blue with just a twinge of…

What Movie Has The Best Show-Stopping Musical Number Ever?

There is nothing better than singing in a movie. Nothing. But what is the very best, “holy shit my hair is on fire” show-stopping musical number to ever exist on film? “Day-O” – Beetlejuice Ok, we’re obviously going to have a few suggestions for this one. First and foremost, it has to be the “Day-O”…

Kimono-Clad Rick Grimes And Daryl Dixon Pimp Walking Dead In Japan

Rick and Daryl: good at surviving in the zombie apocalypse, bad at pronouncing Japanese. We know this thanks to this completely surreal Walking Dead promo for Fox Japan. I suppose we should count ourselves lucky Michonne didn’t stop by in geisha gear. [Via Warming Glow]

Why Do We Care So Much About What Female Superheroes Wear, Anyway?

It’s no secret that female characters are portrayed in a different way than their male counterparts are in comic art. But in a medium where superhero costumes are already so silly, why do we care so much about how our lady heroes dress? Last month Janelle Asselin wrote a piece for Comic Book Resources criticizing…

This Is What A Speck Of Space Dust Actually Looks Like

Using a specialized facility at the Ames research center, NASA scientists have successfully recreated the cosmic grains that permeate the galaxy and form all planets. Perhaps surprisingly, star-stuff is actually quite complicated. To do so, the scientists used a facility called the Cosmic Simulation Chamber (COSmIC) to simulate the physical processes that occur in the…

We Need A New Literary Movement With A Slightly Ludicrous Name

When I first obsessed about the idea of being a science-fiction writer, I was captivated by the Slipstream movement, which aimed to bust genre boundaries and shatter expectations. And reading about 1975’s science fiction boom makes you realize how great the New Wave was. So maybe it’s time for a new movement with a zany…

Cyclops, Jean Grey And Storm May Get Recast For X-Men: Apocalypse

Director Bryan Singer says he can bring in new, young versions of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and even Storm in the upcoming Days of Future Past sequel X-Men: Apocalypse. But will he? Singer was talking to Scifi Now when he confirmed the possibility of these mutants appearing in X-Men: Apocalypse. Here’s exactly how it went down:…

These Gorgeous Beachside Optical Illusions Will Fool You

These stunning 3D sand designs from New Zealand are simple stunning. Scraping optical illusions into the lovely beaches of Mount Maunganui (and others), the creators from 3DSD certainly know how to trick the eyes. Consisting of the artists Constanza Tagini Nightingale, Jamie Harkins and David Rendu, the artist collective uses the elements to their advantage,…

The Evolution Of Special Effects From 1878 to Today, In Just 3 Minutes

The history of visual effects on film stretches back to the late 19th century… and it’s amazing to appreciate the ingenuity of those early pioneers. But this video also showcases just how far we’ve come since then. [via Huffington Post]

Interactive Map Showing How Income Inequality Has Changed In 100 Years

This interactive map shows just how much the percentage of income made by the top 1 percent of earners around the world has changed over the last 100 years. In the U.S., starting at around the ’80s, the amount of income concentrated among the top 1% starts to really build steam. By the time we’ve…

Man of Steel Collector’s Edition, Dexter, Refurb Xbox Ones

Man of Steel was certainly a polarizing film. I’ll freely admit to liking it, but I can totally understand why lots of people didn’t. If you did, you can pick up the Collector’s Edition 3D Blu-ray set for just $30 today with free shipping. It also includes a DVD copy, a digital copy, and the…

Arrow Reveals Its True Villain At Last!

This season of Arrow has given us a rich stew of villains, with all kinds of different flavors. In this last episode, “Streets of Fire,” the true alpha villain of the series is at last revealed — and it’s a huge surprise. Spoilers ahead… This episode isn’t so much one big story as a lot…

What Common Medieval Fantasy Tropes Have No Basis In Actual History?

Fantasy doesn’t necessarily have to be historically accurate, but some tropes are so entrenched in Medieval-style fantasy that people come to mistake them for historical fact. What is based on real history and what is just a convincing fiction? reddit’s r/AskHistorians subreddit is a particularly fascinating and well moderated forum, where commenters are expected to…

The Weirdest Giant Monster Movies Ever Made

It seems foolish to say that movies about giant bipedal monsters who can shoot atomic rays out of their mouths can ever be considered normal, but it’s true. we’re used to Godzilla, Gamera and King Kong. But some giant monster movies don’t follow the rules, and the results are sometimes entertaining, sometimes awful, but always…

The Absolute Worst Trope In Science Fiction Romance Novels

There’s a lot to celebrate about science fiction romance novels — apart from anything else, they’re one of the fastest-growing areas of the genre, and they’re getting a lot of people reading science fiction. But there’s one trope in the genre that writer C.E. Kilgore finds really repulsive: “dubious consent.” Top image: Manuhell on Deviant…