Science Fiction

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My Superpower and Mini-Interview: James Dashner

My Superpower is a regular guest column on the Skiffy and Fanty blog where authors and creators tell us about one weird skill, neat trick, highly specialized cybernetic upgrade, or other superpower they have, and how it helped (or hindered!) their creative process as they built their project. Today we welcome James Dashner to talk about how his power of movie watching relates to The Kill Order. ————————————————- Like any person (at least any nerdy person, which are the only ones I care about), I love superheroes. I love Superman. I love Spiderman. I love the X-Men. I even love Bruce Willis in Unbreakable. I love the dude who invented Mountain Dew and Abraham Lincoln. All superheroes. And yes, I am one myself. I know this may shock you, but it’s true. I, James Dashner, am a superhero. And now I will tell you what my secret power is. Are you ready? I’m really, especially, fantastically good at watching movies. That’s right. Make fun all you want, but I’m much better at it than you are. In fact, no one on the planet of Earth (I can’t vouch for those other planets we keep discovering) is as brilliantly brilliant at watching movies as I am. I can enjoy any movie on any level at any time. My biggest pet peeve in the world is this new thing where all the “smart” people on the Internet rip every single movie

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Recommended Reads: 2013 Post-Holiday Reading List

Recommended Reads is a monthly feature in which the Skiffy and Fanty crew tell you about one thing they recently read that they think you might like too.  This month, we’re sharing our favorite reads for the year in order to convince you to buy a million books during the winter holidays. Here are their picks:

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

185. J.R. Vogt at Worldcon (an Interview of Sorts)

http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode185JRVogtAtWorldcon/SandF%20–%20Episode%20185%20–%20JR%20Vogt%20at%20Worldcon.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSRoleplaying, Pathfinders, and writers, oh my!  Author/blogger J.R. Vogt joins Jen and Shaun at Worldcon to talk about writing, media tie-ins, freelancing, roleplaying games, Worldcon, and much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below): Episode 185 — Download (MP3) Show Notes: Josh’s Website Josh’s Fiction Josh’s Twitter You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible.  Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone. Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0).  Additional music from “Coffin Ships” by (Peter DiPhillips) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 That’s all, folks!  Thanks for listening.  See you next week.

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

182. Wesley Chu (a.k.a. Spymaster 1000) — The Lives of Tao (An Interview)

http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode182InterviewWWesleyChu/SandF%20–%20Episode%20182%20–%20Interview%20w%20Wesley%20Chu.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSAlien wars, symbiosis, and kung fu, oh my!  Wesley Chu joins Shaun, Julia, and Mike to discuss his thrilling science fiction novels, The Lives of Tao and The Deaths of Tao.  We talk genre blending, comedy and writing, injecting one’s personal life into their fiction, and much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below): Episode 182 — Download (MP3) Show Notes: Wesley’s Website Wesley’s Books Wesley’s Twitter You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible.  Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone. Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0).  Additional music from “Coffin Ships” by (Peter DiPhillips) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 That’s all, folks!  Thanks for listening.  See you next week.

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Mining the Genre Asteroid: The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

A mysterious source of energy from another universe and the emergence of particles that should not exist according to principles of modern physics and chemistry. And thus, when they decay, they release free, clean energy. Who cares about the motives of the para-men in the parallel universe who are sending the atoms of impossible Plutonium 186 to us in exchange for atoms of Tungsten 186 (equally unstable in their world), right? The Electron Pump is a benefit to both sides, right? Or is it? Is the Electron Pump really that benign, or is it a devilish energy trap designed to foster dependency on it, or worse, be actively harmful to both humans and aliens alike? Once the Pump is in operation, can a source of limitless free energy that threatens the survival of two civilizations even

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

181. SF/F and Music w/ Peter Orullian and John Anealio

http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode181PeterOrullianAndJohnAnealio/SandF%20–%20Episode%20181%20–%20Peter%20Orullian%20and%20John%20Anealio.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSDeath metal, the fantastic, and ruuuurrrrrrrrr, oh my!  Author Peter Orullian and geekninja musician John Anealio join Paul and Shaun to discuss the intersection of music and science fiction and fantasy, recommendation politics, and much more. We hope you enjoy the episode! Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below): Episode 181 — Download (MP3) Show Notes: Peter Orullian’s Website Peter’s Twitter Peter’s Writing John Anealio’s Website John’s Twitter John’s Music You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible.  Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone. Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0).  Additional music from “Coffin Ships” by (Peter DiPhillips) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 That’s all, folks!  Thanks for listening.  See you next week.

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