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FOR READERS: The Title Did It

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Book Titles - pixabay

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Denise Dechene: I have a subject for the bucket-A lot of readers talk about covers. That the reason they picked the book up and read the blurb was because the cover grabbed them. My question is what about the title of the book? Have you picked up and read the blurb on a book because the title grabbed you and you had to know what the book was about? Has a title of a book made you turn away and not want to read the book? Writers: This is a reader chat … Read more

SCIENCE: The Paradox of Earth’s Inner Core

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Earth's core - NASA

Earth’s Inner Core Shouldn’t Technically Exist Earth’s solid inner core formed about one billion years ago. Researchers are getting closer to figuring out how it happened. One day, about a billion years ago, Earth’s inner core had a growth spurt. The molten ball of liquid metal at the center of our planet rapidly crystallized due to lowering temperatures, growing steadily outward until it reached the roughly 760-mile (1,220 kilometers) diameter to which it’s thought to extend today. That’s the conventional story of the inner core’s creation, anyway. But according to a new paper published online this week in the journal … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT/GIVEAWAY: The Connoisseur, by Amy Hoff

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The Connoisseur

QSFer Amy Hoff has a new queer fantasy book out: Loka’i is known for its excesses. The cultural capital of the world is famous for its food, its wine, and its pleasures, but the jewel in the crown of the city are the men of the famed harem of Loka’i, chosen by the Connoisseur. Aiea, a young girl, is chosen as the next Connoisseur of Loka’i. She is immersed in a world of luxury and beauty, with a lingering darkness behind the gilded veneer. The shadow of war threatens to upset everything those in Loka’i hold dear, and the carefree … Read more

FOR WRITERS: Alternate Genders

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stock photo sites - pixabay

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer John Allenson: Have we ever discussed writting gender past male/female binaries? The Andorians in Star Trek have four genders. Alien Nation had three. The Left Hand of Darkness has androgens. How would we write alternate genders? This is a legacy chat. Join the chat Image by chonastock

TV: Black Lightning: Who is Anissa Pierce?

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Black Lightning

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of new Netflix series Black Lightning. Released on a weekly basis, it follows Jefferson Pierce, a retired black superhero, who returns to his former life of vigilantism when crime starts to escalate within his community. Black Lightning – which airs on The CW in the US and Netflix in the UK – has proven to be a hit, with critics and fans describing it as a series that is not only “powerful” and “fresh” but one that has a “strong sense of identity” too.  Lifted straight from the DC … Read more

FOR READERS: Whiz Bang Tech

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Robotech Veritech

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: What kind of sci-fi tech makes you go “OOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”? For a long time, for me it was transforming vehicles. The Veritech’s from “Robotech,” the cars from the short-lived “Pole Position” cartoon, and of course “M.A.S.K.” among others. I think, from a nostalgia perspective, “Mighty Orbots” is my favorite of them all, if only because of the specific mention of matter manipulation tech in the transformation and unity process. Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT/GIVEAWAY: Passion Punched King, by Lisa Oliver

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Passion Punched King

QSFer Lisa Oliver has a new MM fantasy book out: King Zagan, Commander of the legions of the damned and one of the higher echelon in the Underworld, never fancied a mate. Demons weren’t that way inclined. But when Botis met the Archangel Raziel and their relationship actually worked, Zagan was intrigued. Of course, it wasn’t as though he planned on claiming anyone, but tangling in the sheets with a forbidden angel was a vice he could and would enjoy. Or so he thought. Anael has always considered himself the annoying younger brother of angels like Raziel. As the angel … Read more

TECH: Today In Creepy Robots

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Boston Dynamics

We’ve seen Boston Dynamics robots open doors before, but this egress is different. Outfitted with an articulating arm and clamp similar to the one it used to wash dishes in the original video, we see the new SpotMini locate, recognize, and deftly operate a door handle, and then hold the door to let its arm-less sibling march through. It’s a more delicate operation than when the Atlas robot brutishly muscled its way through a push-bar door in 2016, which means we might have to reevaluate our original assessment of the new SpotMini as “slightly less terrifying.” By Joe – Full … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Vampire and the S.A., by J.P. Bowie

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The Vampire and the S.A.

QSFer J.P. Bowie has a new MM paranormal book out: Special Agent Bryan Walker is both excited and apprehensive when the director of the F.B.I.’s paranormal division chooses him to partner with vampire Viktor Karnov on a mission in Russia. Viktor is a legend within the ranks of the F.B.I., a perfectionist and a loner, and unimpressed with Bryan’s lack of field experience. The two don’t exactly hit it off on their first meeting, but after a forced trial run Viktor agrees to partner with Bryan. In Moscow they face a cabal headed by Alexander Krychev that threatens to bring … Read more

FOR WRITERS: Impact Story Ideas

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Impact

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth: It’s just two weeks until the official start of the 2018 Queer Sci Fi flash fiction contest. This year’s theme is “impact”, so I thought we’d have a little fun and brainstorm ways “Impact” could be used in a story. Go! Note that all ideas posted here are free game for folks to use without compensation/recognition. Join the chat