Books

Karl Schroeder Talks About Futurism vs. Science Fiction

Science fiction writer Karl Schroeder, author of The Sunless Countries (reviewed here), is earning his masters degree in “strategic foresight,” or futurism, at the Ontario College of Art and Design. He told us about how futurism is influencing his work. https://gizmodo.com/crowdsourcing-leads-to-madness-in-the-sunless-countrie-5376577 io9: Tell us about how you got into futurism. Karl Schroeder: Around 2005 the…

io9 Annalee Newitz

The Spine-Tingling Glamour of Hammer Pinup Girls

Just in time for Halloween, Titan Books has released Hammer Glamour, a luscious coffee table book that collects pinup images of beauties featured in iconic Hammer Studios movies of the 1960s and 70s. These ladies helped redefine the horror genre. Hammer was a UK studio whose mid-twentieth century reimaginings of popular monsters like Dracula reinvigorated…

io9 Annalee Newitz

What’s The Difference Between Denouement And Picking At A Scab?

So your space-wizard novel has resolved its epic storyline: Your hero has defeated your villain, or your central mystery’s been solved. But unlike your hero, your work isn’t done: there’s still the denouement, where we find out what happens afterwards. It’s another outing of Free Advice for Struggling Writers, our semi-regular writing advice column, in…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Vampire Care Packages and Disney’s Take on Twilight

In this vampire news update we’ve got details on the Disneyfied Twilight (with sexy ladies), plus a 30 Days of Night 2 tease. Plus, see the warning that comes from Amazon when you order New Moon goodies. A reader sent in this little tidbit above – this is the packaging for the New Moon movie…

io9 Meredith Woerner

When Science Fiction Was Psychedelic

Emanuel Schongut has illustrated book covers for a ton of science fiction, fantasy, and crime classics. This small collection of his 1960s covers perfectly captures the weird, hallucinatory feel of SF from that era. Schongut is still working, providing illustrations for everything from book covers to the New York Times and children’s books. You can…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Before “Paranormal Activity,” There Was “Whisper,” The Original Sleepcam Horror Story

Did the sleepcam in Paranormal Activity freak you out? Then you need to read Ray Vukcevich‘s short story “Whisper,” published by Small Beer Press in 2001. It’s not always a good idea to find out what happens while you sleep. People have suggested that this story might have been the inspiration for Paranormal Activity, but…

io9 Annalee Newitz

When Science Fiction Finally Dies, Science-Fictional Storytelling Will Be Healthier Than Ever

“The walls that defined speculative fiction as a genre are quickly tumbling down. They are being demolished from within by writers such as China Miéville and Jon Courtenay Grimwood, and scaled from the outside by the likes of Michael Chabon and Lev Grossman. And they are being ignored altogether by a growing number of writers…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders

Exclusive: First Photos of Barnes & Noble’s Double Screen E-Reader

Barnes and Noble’s late to e-books. But the company’s new gadget—first seen here—should address the weaknesses of all other readers with screens evoking a Kindle and an iPhone. A source from within reveals. The Barnes and Nobles e-reader project, set to be revealed next week, has been under development for years, with several devices of…

Books & Comics The Anti LumberJack

A New Manual for the Lycanthropic Lifestyle

Halloween brings out the creeps and ghouls, but werewolves attack any time the full moon rises. Recently bitten and don’t know where to turn? The Werewolf’s Guide to Life can help you adjust to a lifetime of fangs and fur. So, you’ve been bitten by a werewolf. What now? Do you run wildly through the…

io9 Lauren Davis

Tripods Movie Gunning For More $$ For More Explosions

Tripod adapter and screenwriter Stuart Hazeldine talked about the current film process for Alex Proyas‘s adaptation of John Christopher‘s hostile alien takeover book series Tripods. And they’re looking for the big money, to afford bigger explosions. In an interview with Digital Spy, Hazeldine explains the movie’s current progress, and it sounds like it’s still in…

io9 Meredith Woerner

Maurice Sendak To Concerned Parents: Go To Hell!

If you’re worried about taking your kids to see Where The Wild Things Are after reports of crying children having to leave screenings of the rough cut, halfway through, then Maurice Sendak has a message for you: “Go to hell.” http://defamer.gawker.com/358585/where-the-wild-things-are-test-screenings-are-making-children-cry A story in the Oct. 19 Newsweek contains this classic exchange: What do you…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

Top 10 Greatest Space Zombies Of All Time!

Pandorum’s space-zombie rampage was a huge letdown, but at least Zombieland reminded us how great zombies can be. Especially in space! Here’s our list of the top 10 space zombies of all time. Possible spoilers ahead… We hadn’t realized quite how many space zombies there are out there — especially if you throw in some…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders

5 Wild Things Clips Take Us Deep Into The Monsters’ Child Minds

We rounded up all of Spike Jonze’s Where The Wild Things Are clips to prep for Friday’s wild rumpus. Sit back and soak in the intriguing mix of child and monster, while Carol introduces us all to his monster family. What Is It? This Is The Family The Sun Will Die I Have No Plans…

io9 Meredith Woerner

Coming Soon: A Supernaturally Horny Murder Mystery Movie

Magical realist murder mysteries are the order of the day in Joe Hill‘s upcoming novel Horns, which has just been optioned for movie adaptation months before its release next year. Is this our new breakout genre? The novel, due for release next February, is the second from Hill, who’s also carved out a comic fanbase…

io9 Graeme McMillan

Get Your Own Coraline Button-Eyed Ghost Children Mobile

Coraline still is one of the spookiest movies to come out this year, and nothing proves it more than this eerie concept art, with a bouncing ghost mobile. Check out the many warped faces of Neil Gaiman‘s Other Mother. These delightful images are from the vastly talented Shannon Tindle’s blog which is stuffed with gorgeous…

io9 Meredith Woerner

Steampunk Zombies of the Seattle Apocalypse

Confederate airships! Mad scientists! Zombies! Goggles! Cherie Priest‘s Boneshaker is a veritable grab bag of subgenre tropes. But, fortunately, it’s far less about clockwork and brass than it is about human adaptability and the shifting nature of the American Dream. Boneshaker takes place in an alternate Washington territory, where the Klondike gold rush ramped up…

io9 Lauren Davis

io9 Book Club: Ask Paul McAuley About “The Quiet War”

The first meeting of the io9 Book Club was a blast. We had a great conversation about Paul McAuley‘s The Quiet War. Now, McAuley is going to drop in and answer your questions. So ask! https://gizmodo.com/io9-book-club-meeting-lets-discuss-the-quiet-war-5377485 If you’re wondering what this whole io9 Book Club thing is all about, you can read our inaugural post…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Join the io9 Book Club Discussion on “The Quiet War”

The first meeting of the io9 Book Club is in session all weekend, and we’re talking about Paul McAuley‘s The Quiet War. If you want to join us, pop over to our book club meeting room. Also, don’t forget that McAuley will be joining us for a discussion so get your questions ready to ask…

Books & Comics Annalee Newitz

Director Emmerich Explains The Character(s) Of Foundation

The movie adaptation of Isaac Asimov‘s Foundation trilogy is gathering momentum, as director Roland Emmerich recently addressed just how his version would condense the massive source material into a manageable movie. The key appears to be shortening the cast list. In an interview with Collider, Emmerich explained how his Foundation adaptation would grapple with the…

Movies Alasdair Wilkins

Barnes & Noble’s eReader Might Come October 20 and Have Person-to-Person Lending

The NYT piles on the B&N eReader rumors with a proposed launch date of October 20, based on a planned event in NY for that day. What’s interesting, besides its rumored Android OS, is the device’s lending feature. https://gizmodo.com/rumor-barnes-nobles-ereader-will-run-android-5377516 The new consumption model grands book purchasers (you) the right to lend a book to their…

Commerce Jason Chen

Karl Schroeder Talks About Futurism vs. Science Fiction

The Spine-Tingling Glamour of Hammer Pinup Girls

What’s The Difference Between Denouement And Picking At A Scab?

Vampire Care Packages and Disney’s Take on Twilight

When Science Fiction Was Psychedelic

Before “Paranormal Activity,” There Was “Whisper,” The Original Sleepcam Horror Story

When Science Fiction Finally Dies, Science-Fictional Storytelling Will Be Healthier Than Ever

Exclusive: First Photos of Barnes & Noble’s Double Screen E-Reader

A New Manual for the Lycanthropic Lifestyle

Tripods Movie Gunning For More $$ For More Explosions

Maurice Sendak To Concerned Parents: Go To Hell!

Top 10 Greatest Space Zombies Of All Time!

5 Wild Things Clips Take Us Deep Into The Monsters’ Child Minds

Coming Soon: A Supernaturally Horny Murder Mystery Movie

Get Your Own Coraline Button-Eyed Ghost Children Mobile

Steampunk Zombies of the Seattle Apocalypse

io9 Book Club: Ask Paul McAuley About “The Quiet War”

Join the io9 Book Club Discussion on “The Quiet War”

Director Emmerich Explains The Character(s) Of Foundation

Barnes & Noble’s eReader Might Come October 20 and Have Person-to-Person Lending

Trump Says He’ll Sign Order to Pay TSA

Deadpool Will Deface ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Classics for a New Secret Lair

Apple’s Siri Isn’t Just Going to Use One Chatbot. It’s Going to Use All of Them

Why ‘For All Mankind’ Season 5 Is the Key to the Rest of the Series

ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-Inch Portable Monitor Is Now Cheaper Than Black Friday in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Early Wildfires Are Surging Across the US—and Trump’s New Fire Agency Isn’t Ready

INIU Brings Another Power Bank to the Spring Sale as SnapGo Keychain Portable Charger Drops to Its Lowest Price

Attorney Hit With Historic Fine for Citing AI-Generated Cases

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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