Books

Why This Bestselling Author Decided To Start Self-Publishing

Author Karen Traviss has published a slew of successful books, from her own Wess’har Wars series to a number of Star Wars, Halo and Gears of War novels. But for her new techno-thriller Going Grey, she decided to walk away from a mainstream publishing contract and self-publish. She explains why. “Nobody else is going to…

Books & Comics Karen Traviss

Which Science Fiction Or Fantasy Book Do You Wish Went On Forever?

We’ve all experienced the sense of impending loss that comes when you realize a book is almost over — and you’re not ready for it to end. But which science fiction or fantasy novel do you wish would just never end? So you could keep reading it for the rest of your life? Please include…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

An Early Look at XKCD’s Upcoming What If? Book

XKCD’s What If—that extra-special corner of the internet that answers all of our nerdiest, most absurd questions in delightfully extensive detail—is finally being made into a book. And fortunately for all those who just can’t wait, Nerdist has the very first look inside. In his new book, the brilliant mind (and ex-NASA roboticist) behind XKCD,…

Books & Comics Ashley Feinberg

io9 Book Club Reminder: Meeting 9/10 to Discuss The Bees

This month, the io9 Book Club is reading Laline Paull’s The Bees. We’ll meet on September 10 to discuss it. Join us! We’re hoping Paull will join us later that week to talk about the book. What is this io9 Book Club all about? We meet once a month to discuss a book we’ve all…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

7 Deadly Sins Of Talking About Pop Culture

We love to argue about pop culture, because geeking out about movies, books and television makes them even more fun. But sometimes these discussions can go to a terrible place. Here are seven mistakes to avoid when having a spirited debate about entertainment. The following “sins” are things that we’ve encountered in our years of…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

With This Library Cake, You Can Literally Eat Yourself Some Knowledge

Once again, we find a cake that I love too much to eat. On the other hand, does eating cake versions of books make you smarter? Because that sounds like a learning avenue that we should be exploring. Here’s another question: Cake library or bookless library? https://gizmodo.com/the-first-college-in-the-u-s-to-open-without-any-books-1626642445 Here are more images of the cake: [Facebook…

Books & Comics Katharine Trendacosta

Read In the Tub? The Waterproof Kobo Aura H2O Is For You

We love a waterproofed Kindle, and we put one through hell, but that’s an aftermarket mod, not a feature that comes standard. If you want waterproofed reading on the cheap(er), the new Kobo Aura H2O is for you. Offering IP67 certification (waterproof for up to 30 minutes in 3 of water if the port cover…

Gadgets Eric Limer

Why The Maze Runner Celebrates Friendship Instead Of Romance

There’s been a spate of high-profile science fiction romances recently. But in The Maze Runner, it’s friendships that are at the story’s center. Author James Dashner explains to us why — and just why he thought it was important (and realistic) to focus on friendship instead of romantic love. Spoilers ahead! Dashner stopped in today…

Movies Ria Misra

See The Earliest Illustration of Shelley’s Frankenstein For Yourself

Frankenstein’s monster has had many appearances over the decades, from Boris Karloff to… Aaron Eckhart? But the first ever illustration, from 1831, shows a more human-looking creature. And you can see it for yourself. The original illustration featured in the frontpiece of the 1831 edition of Mary Shelley’s influential novel is going on display at…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

What’s Your Favorite Story That Started As A Joke And Became Serious?

Sometimes the coolest ideas start out as just satire, or a prank, and then grow more serious. Case in point: Judge Dredd (pictured above) started out as a straight-up satire on authoritarianism. But what’s your favorite joke or spoof that evolved into something serious? Please include a picture or clip (or book cover, or comics…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Lois Lane Is Finally Getting Her Own YA Novel

A few years back, it seemed that DC Comics wasn’t interested in licensing a YA novel series around Lois Lane, but fortunately, times are a-changing. A Lois Lane novel, titled Fallout, is due out next year. DC Women Kicking Ass broke the news about the new Lois Lane novel. Sadly, it won’t be based on…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

James Dashner Is Here To Answer Your Questions About The Maze Runner!

Author James Dashner is here to answer our questions about his Maze Runner trilogy, its forthcoming movie adaptation, and anything else you want to know! In addition to his bestselling Maze Runner trilogy and its prequel, Dashner is also the author of several other books, including his new series The Mortality Doctrine. The Maze Runner…

Books & Comics Ria Misra

Lock In Is One Of John Scalzi’s Most Accessible (And Relevant) Novels

In the near-future of John Scalzi’s latest novel, Lock In, a pandemic called Haden’s Syndrome sweeps the world. Some of its victims suffer flu-like symptoms, some die, and some experience ‘Lock In’, and are trapped in their own bodies, unable to move. This disease provides a sweeping backdrop for a fast-paced science fiction thriller that…

Books & Comics Andrew Liptak

Proof That Timothy Zahn’s New Book Soulminder Is His Creepiest Work Yet

Timothy Zahn has rocked your world with his Star Wars books and his other space opera adventures. But in his new book Soulminder, he’s exploring questions of near-future medical ethics, and the result is much more disturbing. To prove it, here’s an exclusive excerpt. Soulminder began as a linked series of short stories in Analog…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

The First College in the U.S. to Open Without Any Books in its Library

Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland has just opened, with 550 students attending the first day of classes this week. The newly-built campus has a gorgeous library building, but no plans to stock it with books. Instead, it will be the nation’s first all-digital college library. But it gets weirder than that. It’s a scenario that…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

It’s Ridiculous To Say Science Fiction Books Aren’t Based On Real Life

One of the most annoying fallacies about science fiction and fantasy books is that they’re less connected to reality than “realistic” fiction. In fact, SF and fantasy authors draw on real experiences and facts all the time, as some of the top authors told Jeff VanderMeer. Writing in the L.A. Times, VanderMeer talks to Ann…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

io9 Newsstand: Best Stories for the Week of August 18 – 23

I want to focus on short fiction found in magazines, but the large number of awesome anthologies cannot be discounted and I know you love them. So once a month I’m going to take a tiny break from magazines and call out an anthology I’m enjoying too. image credit: Glyn Lowe, Flickr Letter to Lethe…

Books & Comics K. Tempest Bradford

The Latest Humble Book Bundle Includes Bujold, Gaiman And Harrison

It’s not every day that you get to buy ten books for just $10 and support the incredibly worthy cause of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at the same time. But that’s what the latest Humble Book Bundle will let you do. Including Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, and tons more. There are five basic…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

First Look At Peter Bishop’s Untold Adventure, From Before Fringe

In the first episode of Fringe, we meet Peter Bishop, a shady operator who wants nothing to do with his institutionalized scientist father Walter. But what was Peter really up to before Olivia found him? A new Fringe novel reveals all, and we’ve got the exclusive first look. Here’s the official description of the new…

Television Charlie Jane Anders

This Read-Along Version Of The Thing Is The Best Bedtime Story Ever

Remember Read-Along books? (No, not you, young people.) The books where you also had a record of someone narrating it, and you’d turn the page every time you heard he chime? Well, someone made one for John Carpenter’s The Thing, and it’s awesome. If you’ve actually read/listened to one of these things before, you’ll notice…

Movies Rob Bricken

Why This Bestselling Author Decided To Start Self-Publishing

Which Science Fiction Or Fantasy Book Do You Wish Went On Forever?

An Early Look at XKCD’s Upcoming What If? Book

io9 Book Club Reminder: Meeting 9/10 to Discuss The Bees

7 Deadly Sins Of Talking About Pop Culture

With This Library Cake, You Can Literally Eat Yourself Some Knowledge

Read In the Tub? The Waterproof Kobo Aura H2O Is For You

Why The Maze Runner Celebrates Friendship Instead Of Romance

See The Earliest Illustration of Shelley’s Frankenstein For Yourself

What’s Your Favorite Story That Started As A Joke And Became Serious?

Lois Lane Is Finally Getting Her Own YA Novel

James Dashner Is Here To Answer Your Questions About The Maze Runner!

Lock In Is One Of John Scalzi’s Most Accessible (And Relevant) Novels

Proof That Timothy Zahn’s New Book Soulminder Is His Creepiest Work Yet

The First College in the U.S. to Open Without Any Books in its Library

It’s Ridiculous To Say Science Fiction Books Aren’t Based On Real Life

io9 Newsstand: Best Stories for the Week of August 18 – 23

The Latest Humble Book Bundle Includes Bujold, Gaiman And Harrison

First Look At Peter Bishop’s Untold Adventure, From Before Fringe

This Read-Along Version Of The Thing Is The Best Bedtime Story Ever

Do ‘Disclosure Day’ Prep With a Spielberg Sci-Fi Marathon

How to Watch the F1 Japanese GP 2026 on a Free Channel

Ranking 2016’s Superhero Debuts, 10 Years Later

Fourth Most Populous Country in the World Bans Most Social Media for Kids

How to watch UFC Fight Night Adesanya vs Pyfer live this Saturday

‘Steel Ball Run’ Will Return This Year…Eventually

‘The Mummy 4’ Is Getting the Family Back Together

JD Vance Says UFOs Are Actually Demons

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

Asus ROG’s Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds Might Be Better Than Wearing a Headset

Nintendo’s Talking Flower Is Annoying as Hell. I Love It

Level Lock Pro Review: As Good as a Secret Smart Lock Gets

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