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sci fi

Announcement: Vicious Circle, by Elle E. Ire

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Vicious Circle

QSFer Elle E. Ire has a new FF Sci Fi book out: Kicked out of the Assassins Guild for breach of contract, hunted by its members for killing the Guild Leader, and half-hooked on illegal narcotics, Cor Sandros could use a break. She accepts a freelance job to eliminate Kila T’ral’s brother, Jaren. Kila claims her politically powerful brother has sexually abused her, and Cor has always been a sucker for helping the helpless. The plan doesn’t include Cor falling in love with Kila, but as the pair struggles to reach Kila’s homeworld, pursued by assassins from the Guild, Cor … Read more

News: New Star Trek Series in 2017

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A new “Star Trek” TV series will launch on CBS in 2017, the network announced Monday. Alex Kurtzman will serve as executive producer for the new “Star Trek” TV series. Kurtzman co-wrote and produced the blockbuster films “Star Trek” (2009) with Roberto Orci, and “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013) with Orci and Damon Lindelof. Both films were produced and directed by J.J. Abrams. The series will not be related to the third installment in the franchise, “Star Trek Beyond,” which is scheduled to be distributed by Paramount Pictures in summer 2016. It will instead focus on new characters boldly going … Read more

New Discoveries Day!

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New Discoveries Day

Hey all, Last month we launched New Discoveries Day – a day once a month (usually on the first day of the month) when we discuss recent discoveries that fascinate us and that could spawn plot bunnies (or plot squirrels or plot mongeese – your plot animal of choice). So chime in and let us know about any new discoveries you ran across in the last month – links are always appreciated. Thanks to Freddy MacKay for the great idea! –Scott Come Join the Chat!

Announcement: Chrysalis Corporation, by T.A. Venedicktov

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chrysalis-corporation

QSFer T.A. Venedicktov has a new sci fi book coming out on 11/17: Together, they can change the rules of the galaxy and the definition of humanity. When Damion Hawk is offered an opportunity to escape the destitute life of a miner on Mars and become an elite Alpha Fighter pilot, he jumps at the chance. Within the Chrysalis Corporation, Damion must learn to work with his Core—a man with computerized implants, no human emotions—and no rights. But unlike other Fighters, Damion can’t treat Core 47 as a tool. He sees 47 as more than a machine, and he’ll take … Read more

Announcement: Glacialis, by Pelaam

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Glacialis

QSFer Pelaam has a new sci fi book out: Accepting their company’s assignment as medic and nurse on Glacialis, Shae and Bless find their welcome as frigid as the planet itself. Neither Adair, the mine’s foreman, nor Merag, his head of security make the men feel welcome or wanted. When one of the miners seeks medical attention for an injury he doesn’t want Adair to know about, Shae and Bless quickly find themselves investigating illegal activity at the mine and embroiled in danger. Shae finds himself falling in love with the undercover Ranger sent to investigate the mine, and he … Read more

Announcement: Renovo, by G. Wakeling

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QSF author G. Wakeling has a new sci fi book out: Up to her eyeballs in debt, Dr. Rachel Galliance jumps at the chance of a last-minute rotation on Mars, despite being terrified of hypersleep. This is her last chance to get life back on track, and it’s only one stint on Mars – how bad can it be? When she awakes, her vessel – the Renovo – is eerily quiet; that’s before it begins to disintegrate around her. Fighting for her life and struggling to save her crewmates, Rachel realises something is very wrong. The question’s not will they … Read more

Discussion: Future Virus

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DNA

Last year, we saw some fringe folks blame the Ebola outbreak on the gays in various ways – too much funding/focus on LGBT issues and not enough on Ebola; Ebola is God’s Wrath; etc. We’ve been through this before with HIV/AIDS, when an entire population was demonized because of a virus. Ironically, it also caused the community to get serious, standing up for their own rights, and arguably eventually led to marriage equality. So my question today – what could the next virus look like? And how would it impact the future LGBT community, if at all?

China Joins Search For Alien Civilizations

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China Telescope

China is constructing what will be the world’s largest radio telescope. The Independent reports: Assembly of the five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, began in July and is expected to be completed in 2016. Once finished, the reflector dish of the telescope will be 500 metres in diameter, replacing Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory, only 300 meters in diameter, as the world’s largest. The wider the dish, the more effective the telescope becomes at picking up weak messages from outer space. Nan Rendong, the chief scientist of the FAST project, told the Xinhua news agency: “A radio telescope is like a … Read more

News: Pluto Has a Blue Sky and Water Ice, NASA Announces

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Pluto

Pluto has a blue sky, NASA announced today, offering up more information revealed by the New Horizons probe’s visit to the planet last month: Pluto’s haze layer shows its blue color in this picture taken by the New Horizons Ralph/Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC). The high-altitude haze is thought to be similar in nature to that seen at Saturn’s moon Titan. The source of both hazes likely involves sunlight-initiated chemical reactions of nitrogen and methane, leading to relatively small, soot-like particles (called tholins) that grow as they settle toward the surface. This image was generated by software that combines information … Read more

News: Meet LGBT History Month Icon Samuel Delany

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Samuel Delaney

Samuel “Chip” Delany is a renowned author, literary critic and professor, best known for his science fiction writing. First published at age 20, he has written more than two dozen books. His most celebrated novels include “Babel-17,” “Nova,” “Return to Neveryon,” and “Dhalgren,” which sold more than a million copies. Delany has won four Nebula Awards, two Hugo Awards and a Stonewall Book Award. Among many other honors, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and in 2013 the Science Fiction Writers of America named him its 30th Grand Master. Delany was born and raised … Read more