Books

X-Files actress Gillian Anderson is writing a series of scifi novels

Gillian Anderson delighted us for years as the skeptical Agent Scully on The X-Files, and now she wants to return to the genre that made her famous, this time as an author. However, the main character in her upcoming book series sounds tailor-made for Anderson as an actress. Anderson told Entertainment Weekly that she’s working…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

Twelve quotes from authors to remember when starting your first book

When working on your first book, you’re faced with an extremely daunting task. Regardless of whatever training or practice you’ve had in the past, it’s still your first novel. At times it will be a highly enjoyable venture, but much of it will be excruciating. There are moments where you might want to throw in…

Books & Comics Jason Krell

The Emperor’s Blades may be the year’s breakout epic war fantasy

Brian Staveley’s debut novel, The Emperor’s Blades, opens with a chilling scene: a father turns on his daughter, afflicted with Rot. It sets up some disturbing backstory, and pulls us into the complicated world of the Annurian Empire where this story is set. It’s a good opening for a promising fantasy debut. Some spoilers below.…

Books & Comics Andrew Liptak

Ender’s Game sequel could deviate entirely from Orson Scott Card’s books

Ender’s Game didn’t perform very well at the box office, but that’s not going to stop VOD spin offs and potential TV series pitches. Producer Bob Orci even wants to pen an original “teen Ender” spinoff without Orson Scott Card’s help. Spoilery talk ahead. https://gizmodo.com/enders-game-could-live-on-inside-your-television-1460901518 The idea kind of makes sense as the next book,…

Movies Meredith Woerner

The io9 Book Club is in session! Let’s talk about Ancillary Justice

Welcome to the monthly meeting of the io9 Book Club. In December, we read Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice. Jump into comments to get started talking about it! For those unfamiliar with the io9 book club, here’s how it works: You read the book. We create a special book club post on io9 when the meeting…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

How is Google involved in James Frey’s YA book and movie deal?

James Frey, the writer notorious for his not-quite-factual memoir A Million Little Pieces, just landed a $2 million deal with Fox for the movie rights to his upcoming young adult novel, Endgame. But how is Google involved in this Hunger Games-esque project? Deadline reports that Fox nabbed the Endgame film rights for somewhere in the…

io9 Lauren Davis

10 Books That Will Change the Way You Understand the Mind

A new wave of science fiction, from the show Person of Interest to the movie Her, features artificial intelligences whose minds are truly alien. These AIs have plural selves, or many identities running in parallel; they are basically hive minds within one consciousness. But this idea of a hive mind has a long history in…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

Let’s break down the Game of Thrones season 4 trailer, shall we?

Well, of course King Joffrey isn’t excited about Game of Thrones season 4. He’s an asshole. But for the rest of the planet, last night’s trailer was awesome — so awesome that we had to crank up the ol’ screencap machine in order to suss out every single detail. Don’t worry, it’s spoiler free! We…

Television Rob Bricken

First Game of Thrones season 4 trailer shows why Westeros is hell

Here it is — your first real glimpse of Game of Thrones season four, filled with the lovely sound of various characters having their worlds shattered, and the fragments ground into bloody dust. Readers of the books by George R.R. Martin will recognize many scenes in this promo — but there’s plenty of new awesomeness…

Trailers Charlie Jane Anders

What’s the sickest villain introduction of all time?

When a villain comes onto the scene for the first time in a movie, book or TV show, he or she has to do something to make a mark right away. Put an eel in someone’s ear. Murder someone we love. Do something horrible. What’s the darkest, most memorable villain introduction ever? Please include a…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Lavie Tidhar’s Violent Century is like Watchmen on crack

World Fantasy Award-winning author Lavie Tidhar has already gone to some dark, strange places — but in The Violent Century, his brilliant Cold War epic, he does the closest thing we’ve seen to Alan Moore’s Watchmen in book form. And along the way, he questions what it means to be a hero. Some spoilers ahead……

Books & Comics Andrew Liptak

All the Essential Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Coming in 2014

There’s a ton of ambition on display in this year’s science fiction and fantasy books. Bestselling authors are stretching out of their comfort zones, and our favorite authors are pushing the boundaries. Plus David Cronenberg has written a book about sex and weird diseases. Here’s the ultimate guide to this year’s can’t-miss books. Want even…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

An Exclusive First Look at Joe Abercrombie’s Next Novel, Half a King

Joe Abercrombie is in a class of his own when it comes to fantasy novels that kick you in the teeth. And it’s been way, way too long since his last novel, Red Country. So we’re excited to bring you the exclusive first look at the cover of his new novel, Half a King, plus…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Will Your Novel Be a Best Seller? Ask This Super Accurate Algorithm

It’s tough for humans to predict how well a book will sell until after it’s published—it’s something of a gamble. But now, a new algorithmcan tell if a book will be a commercial success or not long before it hits the shelves—with a staggering 84 percent accuracy. A team of researchers from Stony Brook University,…

Books & Comics Jamie Condliffe

How a Science Fiction Book Cover Became a $5.7 Million Painting

What’s the difference between these two images? On the left is a book cover by legendary artist Chris Foss for Asimov’s Stars Like Dust. On the right is a painting by artist Glenn Brown, which just sold at auction for roughly $5.7 million, way more than it sold for in 2002. How did this happen?…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Fox grabs scifi thriller Influx for a movie adaptation

In Daniel Suarez’s upcoming book Influx, someone is imprisoning the world’s technological geniuses to keep technology from advancing too far. It’s an intriguing premise, and clearly Fox agrees, as they’ve optioned it before the book’s release on February 20th. Here’s the book’s official description from Amazon: Are smart phones really humanity’s most significant innovation since…

Movies Rob Bricken

Which science fiction classic is best read before the age of 18?

We try all sorts of things to introduce our children to the books we love. But maybe part of getting your kids into classic science fiction and fantasy is picking the right books. Which science fiction and fantasy books should people read before they turn 18, in order to appreciate them fully? Please include a…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Laura Vandervoort reveals the sexy werewolf secrets of Syfy’s Bitten

Are you tired of watching vampires hump each other’s brains out? Are you ready for a totally different set of horny monsters? Well, wait until you get a load of Syfy’s hot new Bitten series starring the astoundingly gorgeous Laura Vandervoort and a whole pack of hot, bearded wolf men. We got all the details…

Television Meredith Woerner

If you wrote Lemony Snicket fanmail, you’d receive a reply in code

Lemony Snicket, author of A Series of Unfortunate Events, is certainly a clever writer and that cleverness has extended to his interaction with fans. One fan shares a letter she once received from the author, with a hidden message. JS Carter posted these images on her Tumblr blog, explaining that when she was 10, she…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

Eileen Gunn’s strange thought experiments will unravel your mind

Plenty of science fiction and fantasy authors do “thought experiments” — but few of them disregard experimental safety protocols with quite as much gleeful abandon as Eileen Gunn. And now, at long last, Gunn is publishing a second book of demented tales. Gunn’s new book Questionable Practices comes out in March from Small Beer Press,…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

X-Files actress Gillian Anderson is writing a series of scifi novels

Twelve quotes from authors to remember when starting your first book

The Emperor’s Blades may be the year’s breakout epic war fantasy

Ender’s Game sequel could deviate entirely from Orson Scott Card’s books

The io9 Book Club is in session! Let’s talk about Ancillary Justice

How is Google involved in James Frey’s YA book and movie deal?

10 Books That Will Change the Way You Understand the Mind

Let’s break down the Game of Thrones season 4 trailer, shall we?

First Game of Thrones season 4 trailer shows why Westeros is hell

What’s the sickest villain introduction of all time?

Lavie Tidhar’s Violent Century is like Watchmen on crack

All the Essential Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Coming in 2014

An Exclusive First Look at Joe Abercrombie’s Next Novel, Half a King

Will Your Novel Be a Best Seller? Ask This Super Accurate Algorithm

How a Science Fiction Book Cover Became a $5.7 Million Painting

Fox grabs scifi thriller Influx for a movie adaptation

Which science fiction classic is best read before the age of 18?

Laura Vandervoort reveals the sexy werewolf secrets of Syfy’s Bitten

If you wrote Lemony Snicket fanmail, you’d receive a reply in code

Eileen Gunn’s strange thought experiments will unravel your mind

Even the ‘Avatar’ Fighting Game Is Disrespecting ‘Legend of Korra’

Bluesky Has a New App, and It’s All About AI

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor And an Action Figure!

Whatever Just Happened with ‘Fruit Love Island,’ Nobody Won

AMC Puts a Stake in ‘Talamasca’ After One Season

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

2027 Is Shaping Up to Be a Great Year for Big Sci-Fi RPGs

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

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

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Books

X-Files actress Gillian Anderson is writing a series of scifi novels

Twelve quotes from authors to remember when starting your first book

The Emperor’s Blades may be the year’s breakout epic war fantasy

Ender’s Game sequel could deviate entirely from Orson Scott Card’s books

The io9 Book Club is in session! Let’s talk about Ancillary Justice

How is Google involved in James Frey’s YA book and movie deal?

10 Books That Will Change the Way You Understand the Mind

Let’s break down the Game of Thrones season 4 trailer, shall we?

First Game of Thrones season 4 trailer shows why Westeros is hell

What’s the sickest villain introduction of all time?

Lavie Tidhar’s Violent Century is like Watchmen on crack

All the Essential Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Coming in 2014

An Exclusive First Look at Joe Abercrombie’s Next Novel, Half a King

Will Your Novel Be a Best Seller? Ask This Super Accurate Algorithm

How a Science Fiction Book Cover Became a $5.7 Million Painting

Fox grabs scifi thriller Influx for a movie adaptation

Which science fiction classic is best read before the age of 18?

Laura Vandervoort reveals the sexy werewolf secrets of Syfy’s Bitten

If you wrote Lemony Snicket fanmail, you’d receive a reply in code

Eileen Gunn’s strange thought experiments will unravel your mind

Even the ‘Avatar’ Fighting Game Is Disrespecting ‘Legend of Korra’

Bluesky Has a New App, and It’s All About AI

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor *And* an Action Figure!

Whatever Just Happened with ‘Fruit Love Island,’ Nobody Won

AMC Puts a Stake in ‘Talamasca’ After One Season

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

2027 Is Shaping Up to Be a Great Year for Big Sci-Fi RPGs

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

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

Let us help find what you are looking for...

Dammit, Jim, He’s a Doctor And an Action Figure!