The Seductive Allure of Speculative Fiction

Why do I like speculative fiction? Am I hard-wired that way? Is there a gene? Was I abducted by aliens as a small child and infused with an urge to read about strangers in strange lands? In short, was it nature or nurture? I don't recall any incidents with aliens (although if they used mind-altering … Continue reading The Seductive Allure of Speculative Fiction

Space Elevators in Science Fiction

According to a recent article in New Scientist, an inflatable tower might one day be built to transport us a long way towards orbit. I can't help thinking you'd need one hell of a puncture repair kit to hand, but it's a fascinating addition to the whole space elevator debate. There's an annual competition, I … Continue reading Space Elevators in Science Fiction

A Stormy Night with John Carpenter’s “The Fog”

It's the middle of the eighties, the middle of a winter's afternoon and the middle of one humdinger of a storm. My friend Andy Wicks and I are in the middle of the stalls of the huge Gaumont cinema in Bournemouth. There are maybe six other people in there with us. We're treating ourselves to … Continue reading A Stormy Night with John Carpenter’s “The Fog”

“Little, Big” by John Crowley

Sooner or later I'll take my well-worn copy of John Crowley's sublime fantasy novel Little, Big off my bookshelf and reread it for what will be the fourth or fifth time. Once again I'll try to work out where he's hidden the magic. And once again, I suspect, I'll fail. I've always been a proponent … Continue reading “Little, Big” by John Crowley

Asimov’s “Foundation” and Those Fabulous Chris Foss Spaceships

What's in a cover? Sometimes everything. The first science fiction book I ever bought was the old Granada paperback edition of Isaac Asimov's Foundation, and the thing that made the teenage me pick it up was the fabulous Chris Foss spaceship on the cover. But there was more to it than that, enough to make … Continue reading Asimov’s “Foundation” and Those Fabulous Chris Foss Spaceships

“The Godwhale”

One of the things I thought I'd do on this blog is dredge up a few old memories before they fade forever. I'm not planning to re-read books, or re-view movies, just spill out what's stuck in my head about them. Which will no doubt be utterly subjective and, just possibly, entirely inaccurate. I'll kick … Continue reading “The Godwhale”

“Girl in Pieces” in “The Best Horror of the Year”

Latest news is good, nay great. My fantasy story Girl in Pieces has been selected by Ellen Datlow for her new anthology The Best Horror of the Year Volume One, out in October 2009. Thanks, Ellen! The story first appeared in the recently deceased and even more recently resurrected Realms of Fantasy.