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The SciPhi Journal: Sci Phi is the journal of Science Fiction and Philosophy. Each quarterly issue contains science fiction short stories with a philosophical theme and popular level philosophy articles with a science fiction theme. The editor of the magazine is long time Sci Phi Show host Jason Rennie. This is available in ebook or print format, and there is a charge, but it is DRM free.

Issue #1 contains work by Jason Pomerantz, Geoffrey Maloney, Michael Spence, Lee Battersby, Stephen Dedman, Ben Goertzel and Stephan Vladamir Bugaj, Ryan Nichols, Matt Wallace and Paul S. Jenkins.

Internet Review of Science Fiction (IRoSF): The IROSF is coming off a several-month hiatus, but I’m thrilled it’s back. It was created with the goal of creating a forum for the serious exploration of the literature of the fantastic. IRoSF publishes intelligent articles, essays, interviews, reviews, and criticism to illuminate the most interesting and important work in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. (Full Disclosure: the most recent issue features a book review by me)

Strange Horizons: a weekly web-based magazine of and about speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy, magic realism, slipstream, and a host of sub-genres. They work under the belief that,

[Speculative fiction is] important to the world. These stories make us think. They critique society. They offer alternatives. They give us a vision of the future—and warn us of the potential dangers therein. They help us understand our past. They are full of beauty, and terror, and delight.

Run by volunteers and a paying marketing entirely funded by donations, Strange Horizons is the epitome of the successful SF ‘zine published online.

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Jim released his novella, Burn, on the Free Reads podcast, but also has podcasted stories, dramatic readings, and his older novel, Look Into The Sun.

…one of the things I continually try to impress on my students (and fellow professionals) is that real writing needs readers. Consider the old philosopher’s chestnut: If a tree falls in the forest and there’s nobody to hear it, does it make a noise? Now tweak it to writing: If a story gets published in a magazine and two years later nobody can put their hands on the magazine, is the story still published?

~ Finish the interview 

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New Favorite: No one actually advised me to read Nathan Lowell’s Quarter Share, but I began hearing people talk about it on Twitter (if you want to follow me on Twitter, I’m mightymur). Once podcaster and editor David Moldawer mentioned that he had never thought he could be so entertained by someone making coffee in space, I knew I had to check it out. As a former barista I love good coffee, and I love good description in general. It’s not something I do a lot of when I write, and when someone writes some deep description involving food, I could read it all day. (Although not open media, if you like horror/SF I recommend Robin McKinley’s Sunshine for good baking porn. And vampires.)

Lowell’s story of a boy named Ishmael whose mother’s untimely death forces him to get a job on a starship instead of going to University is strangely compelling. As I mentioned, his descriptions are engrossing, and his characters are well rounded. I found myself caring for Ishmael and his friend Pip rather quickly, and rooting for them. Unlike most space adventures, this is a trader story that happens in space: no aliens, no space battles, no airlock openings. The book lacks a bit in conflict, and I found myself thinking that Lowell had built a detailed RPG world that I wanted to create my own stories and conflicts within. Still, even without considerable conflict, the characters and the strength of the writing style kept me going through Quarter Share and its sequel, Half Share. Will be listening to the last of the trilogy, Full Share, soon.

Lowell’s Official Site — Quarter Share at Podiobooks.com —

Old Favorite: Tracy Hickman decided to podcast his out of print book, The Immortals, as the 10-year anniversary of its publication. Hickman is best known for his traditional fantasy stories, but The Immortals is a futuristic post-AIDS story where sick citizens are considered “pre-deceased” and put in camps in order to “wait for a
cure.” It’s horrifying and moving and clever and reminds us what actually makes people immortal. It also reminds us that Hickman is a master. Hickman describes this as a “cautionary tale” which makes it all the more frightening. Honestly speaking, a book this powerful is usually not my escapist-loving preference, but it’s incredible and I would recommend it to anyone.

Dragonhearth Productions — The Immortals on Podiobooks.com –

These works are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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