Books

Street Artist Shepard Fairey Convinces Hollywood to make another 1984 movie

Break out your overalls — there’s a new adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 on the horizon. The world’s most famous dystopian narrative is coming back to the big screen. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s production company (Imagine Entertainment) is teaming up with LBI Entertainment to bring back the Ministry of Truth. But the real mastermind…

io9 Meredith Woerner

How does 1Q84 stack up to Haruki Murakami’s classic novels?

For the past few months, everywhere I go in San Francisco, I see young people in cool outfits all reading the same book: Haruki Murakami’s long-awaited 1Q84. Not long ago, I was in a café where three out of the dozen patrons all had identical hardcovers, with the same blank stare gazing upwards from their…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Who’s the bestselling author of all time on the Kindle?

The Hunger Games isn’t just on its way to be a huge new hit movie — it’s also confirming that Suzanne Collins is a huge literary powerhouse in her own right. And in the wake of Hunger Games fever, it’s been revealed that Collins is actually the top selling author of all time on the…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

Fighting Terrorism in the Future

The 1981 book World of Tomorrow: Future War and Weapons by Neil Ardley is (naturally) a little dark for juvenile literature. Space pirates slaughter families while they picnic on space colonies, armies poison each other to create vivid hallucinations, and people on Earth live in underground shelters after a horrifying nuclear war destroys life as…

Tech News Matt Novak

Watch Kurt Vonnegut recall the bombing of Dresden in his final years

In 2005, for the sixtieth anniversary of the Allied bombing of Dresden, the BBC interviewed author Kurt Vonnegut about his experience as a P.O.W. and Dresden survivor. As you may know, Vonnegut would use the bombing as a setting for his 1969 unstuck-from-time classic Slaughterhouse-Five, which had a hell of a time getting off the…

Books & Comics Cyriaque Lamar

The io9 Book Club Is in Session! Let’s talk about Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One

Welcome to the monthly meeting of the io9 Book Club. In February, we read Ernest Cline’s novel Ready Player One. 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…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

Alan Dean Foster’s near-future India novel gets a movie deal… in Hong Kong

Prolific author Alan Dean Foster has sold the movie rights to his novel Sagramanda: A Novel of Near Future India, to the Hong Kong-based Agog Film Productions. According to Filmbiz Asia, Agog plans to start production “immediately,” filming in Hong Kong and India, and the movie will be out in 2014. (So this isn’t just…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

What it’s really like to fight with giant suits of computerized armor

Most of us have dreamed about controlling giant, computerized armor suits like Iron Man does. But what would it really be like to fight inside and alongside these futuristic machines? Or to use them for something other than warfare? Those are the questions posed by the writers collected in John Joseph Adams’ latest anthology, Armored.…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

Is the novelization of Back to the Future a literary masterpiece? Shockingly, no.

Today’s must-read Tumblr is “B to the F: The Novelization of Back to the Future,” in which one intrepid blogger does pretty much a page-by-page analysis of the Back to the Future tie-in novel, which was published before the movie came out. This turns out to be an interesting exercise for a couple of reasons:…

Movies Charlie Jane Anders

What do you do when you find weird racism in old science fiction books?

Over at the Straight Dope messageboard, there’s a fascinating conversation about the perils of reading old books, especially science fiction novels, in which some very off-kilter racism is tossed out casually. The discussion kicks off with Cyril Kornbluth’s “The Marching Morons,” in which the main character just randomly hates Africans and African Americans — and…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

How to grow a biological city of the future

By the middle of this century, nearly two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in cities. If we want their lives to be pleasant, and the resources they use to be sustainable, urban development is going to have to change radically. That’s the thesis of architect Rachel Armstrong, who works with synthetic biology to…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

The Girl Who Was on Fire takes a second look at The Hunger Games

As we’re about to head into the film version of The Hunger Games’ arena, Smart Pop’s The Girl Who Was on Fire invites us to return to the original novels, with essays by 16 young adult authors, exploring the politics, romance, science, and identity issues surrounding Katniss Everdeen, her friends, and her foes. The Hunger…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

The beautiful astronaut book Umberto Eco wrote to teach children about semiotics and tolerance

Umberto Eco is best known for his novels, like Foucault’s Pendulum and The Name of the Rose, but he also wrote a handful of children’s books. In his marvelous book The Three Astronauts, Eco offered children a lesson on tolerance, while also training their brains in basic semiotics. Eco’s collage-based artwork depended on symbols, rather…

Books & Comics Lauren Davis

The Girl Who Was On Fire: The Most Amazing Hunger Games Fan Art

One of the coolest things about Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is the vivid pictures it sears into your mind. And even though we’re excited about the movie coming out a week from now, we still cherish those mental images from the book. That’s why it’s awesome to look at Hunger Games fan art, for…

Movies MaryKate Jasper and Charlie Jane Anders

China Miéville gives us a sneak peek of DC Comics’ weirdest new superhero series

This May, DC Comics will resurrect Dial H For Hero, an old-school comic about a strange dial that can transforms its user into an entire phone book’s worth of superheroes. And who’s helming this new series? Why, it’s none other than Embassytown, Kraken, and The City & the City author China Miéville. io9 recently chatted…

io9 Cyriaque Lamar

The Most Disturbing Hunger Games Merchandise

Most of the Hunger Games tie-in merchandise we’ve come across is a nice mixture of enticing archery-inspired accessories, clever t-shirts and the classic Mockingjay pin. But you can’t have a massive teen franchise without creating a mountain of dreadful, morbid and downright disturbing merchandise. Insanely awful products that will make you wish you were being…

Movies Meredith Woerner

10 Biggest Comebacks in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Science fiction and fantasy are known for their amazing comebacks. Just like the heroes that genre fiction celebrates, many of the best-loved creators of science fiction and fantasy have come back from huge setbacks, or left the genre altogether and then come roaring back. Because we always support our genre heroes. Here are 10 creators…

Movies Ben Vrignon and Jennifer Griffith

Teacher’s Job in Jeopardy for Reading to Kids from Ender’s Game

A middle school teacher who read to his students from Ender’s Game is on “administrative leave” because a parent complained to the school that Orson Scott Card’s classic novel is “pornographic.” The parent also went to the local police, who have not yet pressed criminal charges against the teacher, according to the Aiken, SC Standard.…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Greet our new robot overlords with an anthology co-edited by Daniel H. Wilson!

Still need more hints about surviving that inevitable robot uprising? Robopocalypse author Daniel H. Wilson is here to help — he is putting out an anthology called Robot Uprisings, full of short stories that illustrate just what it’ll take to remain in one piece after our robot overlords have taken over. His co-editor is prolific…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

What if Hunter S. Thompson starred in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis?

In this short animation and sound collage by the folks at Antfood and Buck for the literary charity Good Books International, Kafka’s heartwarming fable of a man transforming into a giant cockroach monster to win his children’s respect replaces Gregor Samsa with Raoul Duke. This should appeal to those of you who enjoyed the fantasy…

Books & Comics Cyriaque Lamar

Street Artist Shepard Fairey Convinces Hollywood to make another 1984 movie

How does 1Q84 stack up to Haruki Murakami’s classic novels?

Who’s the bestselling author of all time on the Kindle?

Fighting Terrorism in the Future

Watch Kurt Vonnegut recall the bombing of Dresden in his final years

The io9 Book Club Is in Session! Let’s talk about Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One

Alan Dean Foster’s near-future India novel gets a movie deal… in Hong Kong

What it’s really like to fight with giant suits of computerized armor

Is the novelization of Back to the Future a literary masterpiece? Shockingly, no.

What do you do when you find weird racism in old science fiction books?

How to grow a biological city of the future

The Girl Who Was on Fire takes a second look at The Hunger Games

The beautiful astronaut book Umberto Eco wrote to teach children about semiotics and tolerance

The Girl Who Was On Fire: The Most Amazing Hunger Games Fan Art

China Miéville gives us a sneak peek of DC Comics’ weirdest new superhero series

The Most Disturbing Hunger Games Merchandise

10 Biggest Comebacks in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Teacher’s Job in Jeopardy for Reading to Kids from Ender’s Game

Greet our new robot overlords with an anthology co-edited by Daniel H. Wilson!

What if Hunter S. Thompson starred in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis?

No More Cheese Grater: The Mac Pro Is Discontinued

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

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

Books

Street Artist Shepard Fairey Convinces Hollywood to make another 1984 movie

How does 1Q84 stack up to Haruki Murakami’s classic novels?

Who’s the bestselling author of all time on the Kindle?

Fighting Terrorism in the Future

Watch Kurt Vonnegut recall the bombing of Dresden in his final years

The io9 Book Club Is in Session! Let’s talk about Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One

Alan Dean Foster’s near-future India novel gets a movie deal… in Hong Kong

What it’s really like to fight with giant suits of computerized armor

Is the novelization of Back to the Future a literary masterpiece? Shockingly, no.

What do you do when you find weird racism in old science fiction books?

How to grow a biological city of the future

The Girl Who Was on Fire takes a second look at The Hunger Games

The beautiful astronaut book Umberto Eco wrote to teach children about semiotics and tolerance

The Girl Who Was On Fire: The Most Amazing Hunger Games Fan Art

China Miéville gives us a sneak peek of DC Comics’ weirdest new superhero series

The Most Disturbing Hunger Games Merchandise

10 Biggest Comebacks in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Teacher’s Job in Jeopardy for Reading to Kids from Ender’s Game

Greet our new robot overlords with an anthology co-edited by Daniel H. Wilson!

What if Hunter S. Thompson starred in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis?

No More Cheese Grater: The Mac Pro Is Discontinued

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

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

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