Most Inappropriate Covers

The Weapon Makers – the sequel to The Hot Pants. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jvk/326… Overlove? Was he shackled for loving too much? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlevar/… “And the last thing the revelers ever saw was 100-yard eldritch dong.” http://www.mondourania.com/urania/u561-58… Incidentally, this isn’t a sci-fi novel. It’s just your average Italian algebra textbook. http://www.mondourania.com/urania/u481-50… The Amazons of Nipslipania take no quarter. http://www.flickr.com/photos/emperor……

What We’ve Learned About Fringe’s Observers

They’ve been lurking in the background for the entire series, and last night, Fringe’s bald Observers finally stepped into the limelight. Here’s what we learned about the mysterious beings who’ve been spying on the Fringe team. They can catch bullets. The ability to catch bullets probably comes in handy when you hop around time observing…

Cheesiest Book Covers

This looks like a Slovakian VHS cover for the Super Mario Brothers movie. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7507708… Alternate Title: The Electric Kurt Russell Acid Test. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlevar/… The Bobsy Twins and The Case of the Lilliputian Saloon Brawl. http://www.mondourania.com/urania/u61-80/… This is why we can never let the Keebler Elves unionize. I feel bad for the guy in the balloon.…

First Clip From Doctor Who’s “End Of Time” Shows David Tennant Putting On A Brave Face

We’re on the edge of our seats for David Tennant‘s final Doctor Who two-parter after the intense and terrifying ending to “The Waters Of Mars.” And the first official clip shows the Tenth Doctor putting up a brave front. BBC America, which posted this clip just now and sent us the above still (click to…

Independent Publishers Who Are Reinventing The Future

Genre publishing has taken some hard hits in recent years — but a slew of independent publishers is still out there, charting the unknown regions of book publishing and keeping your reading lists weird. Here are our favorite indy presses. Tachyon Books This publisher, specializing in short fiction, has been around for close to 15…

Magical Dogs and Detectives Explore Supernatural San Francisco in “Unleashed”

Forthcoming urban fantasy Unleashed (Ace) by John Levitt is the sequel to Dog Days and New Tricks. It follows the exploits of a spell-casting jazz guitarist and his magic doggie. Well, sort of a doggie. The blend of urban fantasy and detective fiction seems like a sure-fire win. We can seen the modern roots of…

Gene Therapy Creates Superstrong Monkeys

It’s not quite a supersoldier serum, but researchers have increased strength and muscle mass in monkeys with a small genetic tweak. And human trials for the technique are just on the horizon. Muscle disease specialists at Ohio State University have been studying myostatin, the protein that regulates and curbs muscle growth. Their research found that…

The Best Places To Find Your Next Free Book Online

You need some science fiction, and you need it now. Unfortunately, you don’t have a ton of money to spend. But as long as you have an internet connection, these resources will help you get free books and stories online. Project Gutenberg Project Gutenberg is the premiere spot for finding free books online, and they’ve…

io9 Book Club, Winter Edition: Jacqueline Carey’s “Santa Olivia”

It’s time for the io9 book club to meet again. Get ready for some swashbuckling justice with Jacqueline Carey‘s Santa Olivia, the near-future story of a half-mutant girl who lives in the militarized border zone between the US and Mexico. For our last book club meeting, we read Paul McAuley’s eco-political epic The Quiet War,…

Join your fellow io9 bookworms in our monthly book club, where we read an interesting work of science fiction and discuss it. Often, the authors of the books drop by to talk too!

Join your fellow io9 book worms in our monthly book club, where we read an interesting work of science fiction and discuss it. Often, the authors of the books drop by to talk too!

Apocalyptic Images We Should Have Seen in 2012

If Roland Emmerich needs ideas for his next film, he should give digital artist Steve McGhee a call. McGhee’s images capture an array of disaster scenarios, from eco-apocalypses and nuclear explosions to tentacled alien monsters firebombing the streets. [Steve McGhee via Super Punch]

Maybe The Best Reason To Write Science Fiction

“Let me tell you why I write. I can watch E.T. or listen to Bob Marley and the Wailers, or eat sashimi with wasabi and soy sauce and that stuff seems to be grated radish, and just be grateful that I frequently have the money to avail myself of them and happen to live in…

Barnes & Noble Ruins Nerd Christmas (For Good PR)

Nobody has any idea if the Nook is actually any good yet, but no matter: It’s a well-placed holiday gift, in theory! Or at least it was, until Barnes & Noble ran out of them. Granted, it’s a little worrisome that Barnes & Noble was taking preorders before letting reviewers have their say, so this…

Paprika Director Has Kid-Friendly Robotic Dreams

Satoshi Kon, the director behind such surreal animated films as Paprika and Perfect Blue is taking a crack at child-friendly fare with his all-robot road movie The Dream Machine. The film’s first images highlight Kon’s strange and lovely robotic creations. The plot of The Dream Machine has yet to be revealed (at least in English),…

Steven Spielberg To Bring Stephen King’s Dome Horror To Life

Last week we learned that Stephen King‘s brand new book Under The Dome, about a town sealed off from the rest of the world, is getting a miniseries. Now Steven Spielberg has stepped in to make sure it’s a success. DreamWorks TV and Spielberg will executive produce the miniseries based on the 1088-page book. And…

How Long Do You Read A Book Before Giving Up On It?

Every book has a go/no-go point. If you’re not enjoying a book by a certain point, you’re never going to get into it. But it’s an individual choice: How long will you read a book for, before you give up? How long do you give a book before giving up on it?(online surveys) Jettison book…

Intel Is Developing Brain Implants So You Can Channel Surf With Your Mind

Chipmaker Intel is throwing a ton of cash into developing brain implants to help people send text messages with their minds. They are also predicting these implants will be the main way you turn on the TV in 10 years. According to Computerworld: Scientists at Intel’s research lab in Pittsburgh are working to find ways…

Missed Connection: Help The Doctor Find Her Companion, Dr. Horrible

From Chapel Hill, NC: “We met at a party just off Franklin Street. You were dressed as Dr. Horrible, and I was the Doctor. We chatted for awhile, but then my friends took off while you were distracted.” [Craigslist] Thanks for the tip Lay, and for letting us use our powers for good.

Rare Dune Concept Art From One Of Space Opera’s Greatest Visionaries

A pirate ship slices through space in concept art from the lost Dune movie of the 1970s. Artist Chris Foss crafted covers for some of science fiction’s greatest books, reshaping how we see spaceships and robots. Check out our gallery. Artist Chris Foss is known for his visionary presentation of future technology and weird vistas.…