Talk about having some catching up to do. In the past couple weeks I have decided to read the great science fiction authors: Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card, and H.G. Wells.
I'm sure there are others that folks would recommend, and I'd love to hear the suggestions. Whether you're sorting by top 5, top 10, or whatever the above names are bound to be on that list somewhere. I am not ruling out, nor mean no offense/disrespect to other greats like: Robert Heinlein, Douglas Adams, Frank Herbert, Arthur C. Clarke, or even the late great Jules Verne. From what little exposure I have had to reading sci-fi in school my taste simply leans more towards the former list.
I think it was in 8th grade that we read Harrison Bergeron and it just stuck with me. I have some recollection of All Summer in a Day and Farenheit 451 as well. I know some would call it blasphemous to say I loved the movie "I, Robot" although I know it's not the original script for the screenplay. As for Orson Scott Card I have not read any of his stories, but I do have a sci-fi and fantasy writing guide of his and it gives me hope that he writes with much the same thought, voice, and style that I do...that is, on the rare instances that I do anything more than jot notes/ideas on notebook paper.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Mind Blowing Future
Nils from Enderra.com provided several links, one of which was to BBC Future. I have just read several of the articles, watched the videos, and liked them on Facebook.
I had a headache brewing before I read them, and now it is a cemented reality based on the mind blowing possibilities for an ever increasing technological future.
BBC Future: Will Men and Machines Merge?
This one alone is incredibly plain in its statement of how far we've come and how quickly we'll get to where we're going. Watch the video. Be amazed at how simply and calmly Ray Kurzweil explains how computers are leaps and bounds cheaper and more powerful now than they were a couple decades ago. Think of the tablets and iphones that even ten years ago seemed like Gene Roddenberry fiction. And look how mundane and commonplace they are today.
Ray Kurzweil implies that the future will be a peaceful place of free information at the speed of thought. I think the idea of self aware AI and a singularity with humanity is terrifying. But maybe I've just seen I, Robot and Terminator 2 a few too many times.
I had a headache brewing before I read them, and now it is a cemented reality based on the mind blowing possibilities for an ever increasing technological future.
BBC Future: Will Men and Machines Merge?
This one alone is incredibly plain in its statement of how far we've come and how quickly we'll get to where we're going. Watch the video. Be amazed at how simply and calmly Ray Kurzweil explains how computers are leaps and bounds cheaper and more powerful now than they were a couple decades ago. Think of the tablets and iphones that even ten years ago seemed like Gene Roddenberry fiction. And look how mundane and commonplace they are today.
Ray Kurzweil implies that the future will be a peaceful place of free information at the speed of thought. I think the idea of self aware AI and a singularity with humanity is terrifying. But maybe I've just seen I, Robot and Terminator 2 a few too many times.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Destination Exploration
After my last post I figured "Why not just join DeviantART?" So I did. And since I was already browsing sci-fi concepts it only made sense to tag angelitoon's gallery as the first of many favorites to come.
With his permission, I thought I'd give you a taste of what's in store
These are a few pieces I put together in Illustrator because, to me, they felt very relative to one another.
The building concepts (lower left) totally remind me of the Mega City One super towers from the remake of Judge Dredd. I especially like 2, 4, 8, 12, and 13 - I think it's the balconies that intrigue me. As for the upper left concepts, some look like buildings and others looks like huge cruiser ships. D in particular looks like a monstrous battleship that would patrol the skies of the upper atmosphere, hence why I included the color pic. This is almost exactly what I had pictured in my head before I even flipped to that image in his gallery.
The black and white landscape thumbnails help to tie everything together. Imagine which buildings fit in which environment and what crafts occupy the airspace. Is there only one terrestrial planet in the system, or are many worlds inhabited? Based on the landforms, imagine what the atmospheric composition is. Have at it.
Many thanks to angelitoon for graciously sharing!
With his permission, I thought I'd give you a taste of what's in store
These are a few pieces I put together in Illustrator because, to me, they felt very relative to one another.
The building concepts (lower left) totally remind me of the Mega City One super towers from the remake of Judge Dredd. I especially like 2, 4, 8, 12, and 13 - I think it's the balconies that intrigue me. As for the upper left concepts, some look like buildings and others looks like huge cruiser ships. D in particular looks like a monstrous battleship that would patrol the skies of the upper atmosphere, hence why I included the color pic. This is almost exactly what I had pictured in my head before I even flipped to that image in his gallery.
The black and white landscape thumbnails help to tie everything together. Imagine which buildings fit in which environment and what crafts occupy the airspace. Is there only one terrestrial planet in the system, or are many worlds inhabited? Based on the landforms, imagine what the atmospheric composition is. Have at it.
Many thanks to angelitoon for graciously sharing!
Techsmechs
Back in December I linked to conceptships.com
Well here's more from deviantart.com
Deviant Art browse of ships
I love design concepts like this. You just can't help but wonder about the crew and cargo, or the manufacture and missions. For whatever reason I'm drawn more toward the utilitarian ships like cargo transports or refuelers, rather than the cruisers or heavy gunners.
Well here's more from deviantart.com
Deviant Art browse of ships
I love design concepts like this. You just can't help but wonder about the crew and cargo, or the manufacture and missions. For whatever reason I'm drawn more toward the utilitarian ships like cargo transports or refuelers, rather than the cruisers or heavy gunners.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Star Gate(s)
I'm faltering on viewings of Star Trek because I've become spoiled with (for lack of a better word) better sci-fi shows. Series like Star Gate. At present I've only seen the original movie from 1994, and the first several episodes of Star Gate Universe. Why is it that sci-fi shows I love always get cancelled? WHY?!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
"Alien" World(s)?
I've mentioned on my primary blog, Realmwright, that the real world is full of amazing inspiration. If you're ever stuck and need a wealth of ideas spoon-fed to you, just step outside. Sometimes you have to take several steps outside, putting one foot in front of the other, until you wander into a local library.
This particular post Alien Landscapes on Science in my Fiction makes a great point of pointing out how fantastic our own world can be. If you don't see it at first, look closer. Closer. Closer. Sometimes the images from an electron microscope can be quite awe inspiring, but I warn you, don't ever look at your own skin. It will keep you up at night scratching and scrubbing at the thought of all the little nasties that call your epidermis home.
This particular post Alien Landscapes on Science in my Fiction makes a great point of pointing out how fantastic our own world can be. If you don't see it at first, look closer. Closer. Closer. Sometimes the images from an electron microscope can be quite awe inspiring, but I warn you, don't ever look at your own skin. It will keep you up at night scratching and scrubbing at the thought of all the little nasties that call your epidermis home.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Traveller Maps
I've only just begun throwing dice in a fantasy setting, meaning that if I follow a chronological timeline advancing steadily towards space, I'll get there in roughly....1,500+ years.
In the meantime, as I stand on a foreign "earth" and gaze up at the stars trying to read portends from the gods, all you other sci-fi future folks might enjoy these:
Traveller Map
Traveller Hexmap Generator
In the meantime, as I stand on a foreign "earth" and gaze up at the stars trying to read portends from the gods, all you other sci-fi future folks might enjoy these:
Traveller Map
Traveller Hexmap Generator
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