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The Twist in the Tale…
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
Warning: SPOILERS for ‘Dr Who: A Good Man Goes to War’
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Why SF Speaks to All of Us…
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
…was the title of a rather splendid discussion panel, hosted by the British Library, to help launch their sci-fi exhibition ‘Out of this World’.
The panellists were: Erik Davis, China Mieville, Adam Roberts and Tricia Sullivan. Luminaries all.
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The Alien Nextdoor. Mieville, Monsters and Metaphors
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
SPOILER WARNING: (You should definately read the book before this post!)
First things first, this isn’t a review of Embassytown. Other people have written far clearer and smarter assessments of Mieville’s Language/Disaster/Philosophy/Spaceship mashup than I ever could. Suf ( Read more... ) -
When the Kids Aren’t Alright… YA, Dystopia and Rebellion
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
(warning, contains mild spoilers for both Chaos Walking, and The Hunger Games.)
Society is pinned to the dirt by a jackboot, and only our teenagers can save us.
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On Plays, Politics and (yes them again) Polar Bears.
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
So a couple of days ago I went to see Greenland at the National TheatreParts of the UK Press have panned it. I thought it was funny, well-acted and beautifully designed. So who’s right?
Well, me obviously.
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Why I love China Mieville
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
If you’re anything like me, (and by the end of this post you may be throughly grateful that you’re not) you might have have found yourself in nice, relaxing post-work shower, thinking:
“I know I like China Mieville, but what is it about his work that I like?”
Now, there is ( Read more... ) -
Polar Bears and Reality
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
So, in a reply to Thursday’s post, Sumit said
“I’m growing increasingly entrenched in my position that the real genre distinction is between “hard” and “soft” fiction. There are those who write to capture the world, and there are those who write to escape it.”
Which, ( Read more... ) -
Welcome, my friend, to the show that never ends…
Originally published at Tom Pollock. Please leave any comments there.
…and hasn’t really started yet. The site’s still under construction, but in the meantime have this picture of a red panda sleeping. Check back soon to see what happens when he (metaphorically) wakes up!
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Splitting Genres, Splitting Atoms, Splitting Hairs.
How do you tell the difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy?
Well it's obvious, isn't it? It's in the names. Science Fiction's based on science, Fantasy's based on magic, right?
Well, no. Not so much. First up, there ain't much science in a lot of sci-fi, and what there is, isn't generally convincing. Don't believe me?Watch Doctor Who. Do ( Read more... )
