David Brin’s Existence will make you think about the future a whole new way
David Brin has created some of the greatest classics of recent science fiction, including Startide Rising, plus the short stories “The Crystal Spheres” and “Thor Meets Captain America,” the latter of which was the basis of the graphic novel The Life Eaters. So Brin’s first novel in a decade is cause for celebration. The other…
Why does magic need so many rules?
We often hear people criticize fantasy books for not having clearly enough defined “systems” of magic. Rules, formulas, strongly defined sets of cause and effect. But why does magic need to be treated like physics? Why does magic need to have rules? asks N.K. Jemisin, author of The Killing Moon and its new sequel, The…
The Best Science Fiction Writer You Didn’t Know You’d Read
Although Fredric Brown’s novels and short story collections have made only intermittent and often obscure appearances in print since his death in 1973, rare is the science fiction fan who hasn’t unwittingly stumbled across his inimitable work at some point. Brown really is the best mid-century science fiction writer you don’t know you’ve read. And…
Great Children’s Books That Look Death in the Eye
Children’s stories have been dealing with death since the days of fairy tales where the Princess doesn’t wake up. And some of the most soulful depictions of death aimed at kids come from the science fiction and fantasy genres. Except, in the ever-optimistic tone of children’s books, death is a mirror for how wonderful life…
Game of Thrones meets Beauty and the Beast: My Vision of Sansa and the Hound
io9 has already featured ‘making of’ posts for my Eddard Stark and Bran Stark artworks for the 2012 George R. R. Martin / A Song of Ice and Fire Calendar. This week, I’m sharing how I created my artwork for Sansa Stark and the Hound. One of the many great things about this job was…