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creating the polio vaccine
Oct. 2nd, 2025 02:12 pmOne of Rotary's signature projects is the eradication of polio via vaccination. Herewith, how the vaccines were made: The Polio Vaccine Was a Miracle—and We Must Not Forget It.
On "believe all women"
Sep. 29th, 2025 09:50 amOn another site, I took issue with somebody who disparaged the concept that we should "believe all women" when they make allegations of sexual assault. In part, I thought he took it way too literally. Herewith, my definition of what "believe all women" should be, via an example.
Consider this hypothetical: You're walking out of a store into the parking lot when somebody comes running up to you saying "they're stealing my car!" What do you do? I suspect most of us would immediately whip out our cell phone and dial 911.
Here's what most of us would NOT do. We would not ask:
- are you sure they're not just borrowing it?
- is it being repossessed?
- did you leave the keys in the ignition?
In other words, we'd BELIEVE the person until we had a reason not to believe. We'd also not suggest that it was their fault their car was stolen.
Thus unto allegations of sexual assault. We should take the allegation seriously until we have reason to not take it seriously.
Consider this hypothetical: You're walking out of a store into the parking lot when somebody comes running up to you saying "they're stealing my car!" What do you do? I suspect most of us would immediately whip out our cell phone and dial 911.
Here's what most of us would NOT do. We would not ask:
- are you sure they're not just borrowing it?
- is it being repossessed?
- did you leave the keys in the ignition?
In other words, we'd BELIEVE the person until we had a reason not to believe. We'd also not suggest that it was their fault their car was stolen.
Thus unto allegations of sexual assault. We should take the allegation seriously until we have reason to not take it seriously.
On Free Speech
Sep. 23rd, 2025 10:33 amPosting this here so I can find it later: Free Speech Culture is Killing Free Speech.
A few highlights from the original post:
1) The First Speaker Problem: “Free speech culture” suffers from what I call the First Speaker Problem: it picks a speaker, treats that person’s speech as the speech that should concern us, and then applies a set of cultural norms and questions only to the responses to that speech.
2) The Interests of Dissenters: The flip side of irrationally preferring the First Speaker is irrationally diminishing the speech interests of dissenters.
3) Preferring The Powerful To The Powerless: The multi-millionaire pundit with a column and podcast and network who comes to a university and says some students don’t belong there is the free speech hero; the students in question who protest the pundit and say he or she shouldn’t be there are villains.
4) Moral Sociopathy: In short, “free speech culture” is bad and unserious to the extent it tells us that speech is morally neutral and that we should not make value judgments against it, and that there is no moral component to promoting it. ... Giving [speaker X] a platform to be a bigot is morally distinguishable from saying they should be free to be a bigot.
A few highlights from the original post:
1) The First Speaker Problem: “Free speech culture” suffers from what I call the First Speaker Problem: it picks a speaker, treats that person’s speech as the speech that should concern us, and then applies a set of cultural norms and questions only to the responses to that speech.
2) The Interests of Dissenters: The flip side of irrationally preferring the First Speaker is irrationally diminishing the speech interests of dissenters.
3) Preferring The Powerful To The Powerless: The multi-millionaire pundit with a column and podcast and network who comes to a university and says some students don’t belong there is the free speech hero; the students in question who protest the pundit and say he or she shouldn’t be there are villains.
4) Moral Sociopathy: In short, “free speech culture” is bad and unserious to the extent it tells us that speech is morally neutral and that we should not make value judgments against it, and that there is no moral component to promoting it. ... Giving [speaker X] a platform to be a bigot is morally distinguishable from saying they should be free to be a bigot.
Charlie Kirk
Sep. 11th, 2025 04:05 pmI don't approve of people being shot over what they say. It's morally wrong and as a practical matter ineffective at best, destructive of society at worst.
Having said that, the best defense I can offer for Kirk's speech is a lackluster "he had a right to say it." His opinions were directly hurtful to other people, such as his last rant on transexuals. Many (see my previous sentence) were flat lies. Some of them (such as his flip-flop on immigration) appeared to be sops to popularity, not principled decisions.
I find it irritating that I'm supposed to mourn Charlie Kirk yet not talk about the thousands of kids shot in our schools and churches. To use Kirk's own words, these deaths are "the price we must pay for the 2nd Amendment." I would point out, as have others, that the idea of citizens grabbing their guns and rising up against oppression means everybody gets to decide on their own when to do that and who's the oppressor.
I've been told that Kirk's death will be used as an excuse by MAGA for some kind of crackdown. But they have shown no problem acting on made-up bullshit - I remember the "illegal immigrants are eating cats and dogs" circus of a few months ago. So, I suspect nobody in MAGA needs to wait for mere reality to react to something.
In short, this, the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, is just another day that ends in -y.
Having said that, the best defense I can offer for Kirk's speech is a lackluster "he had a right to say it." His opinions were directly hurtful to other people, such as his last rant on transexuals. Many (see my previous sentence) were flat lies. Some of them (such as his flip-flop on immigration) appeared to be sops to popularity, not principled decisions.
I find it irritating that I'm supposed to mourn Charlie Kirk yet not talk about the thousands of kids shot in our schools and churches. To use Kirk's own words, these deaths are "the price we must pay for the 2nd Amendment." I would point out, as have others, that the idea of citizens grabbing their guns and rising up against oppression means everybody gets to decide on their own when to do that and who's the oppressor.
I've been told that Kirk's death will be used as an excuse by MAGA for some kind of crackdown. But they have shown no problem acting on made-up bullshit - I remember the "illegal immigrants are eating cats and dogs" circus of a few months ago. So, I suspect nobody in MAGA needs to wait for mere reality to react to something.
In short, this, the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, is just another day that ends in -y.
Review of Angel Maker
Sep. 11th, 2025 11:41 am
Angel Maker by Elizabeth BearMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Elizabeth Bear is a prolific writer of fantasy and science fiction. Angel Maker is the third in a series of steampunk / alternate history novels set in the 1870s in an alternate version of Seattle. Don't let the series tag scare you - this book can be read as a standalone novel.
The narrator, Karen Memery, is a former prostitute who, with her girlfriend Priya, has bought a small ranch outside of town. Money is tight, so when the two of them get an opportunity to work as crew on a silent movie, they jump at it. What they don't know is that the movie crew isn't in town for the weather (which is typical Pacific Northwest rainy).
The novel is both a mystery and and action thriller, told by and containing engaging characters. Well worth your time.
View all my reviews
Review of It Was Her House First
Sep. 2nd, 2025 02:43 pm
It Was Her House First by Cherie PriestMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've been a fan of Cherie for a long time, and this book does not disappoint. It's a well-written thriller with compelling characters and a strong sense of place.
View all my reviews
Review of Poor Man's Fight
Aug. 23rd, 2025 12:03 pm
Poor Man's Fight by Elliott KayMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I met the author at a science fiction convention - we were both on the same panel - and the premise of "piracy and student debt" struck me as interesting. Intrigued, I bought the book.
Our hero, Tanner Malone, lives on a human-colonized planet in which students on graduating high school take a test. Based on the test results, they get assigned debt for their education. In part due to some pre-test personal issues and in part to a heavily-hinted-at attempt to cook the books, Tanner ends up with a substantial debt. Desperate, he joins the local Space Force. Unfortunately, said Space Force is running up against a pirate problem.
The book has multiple points of view and covers a broad swath of it's world. I found it highly entertaining, although at a couple of points I felt that Tanner just got too lucky. Overall I recommend it.
View all my reviews
Review of Station in The Sky
Aug. 23rd, 2025 11:55 am
Station in the Sky: a post-apocalyptic journey by Caye MarshMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a mystery novel, which makes reviewing it hard without providing spoilers. It also opens a bit unpromisingly - the narrator wakes up with amnesia. More promisingly, they're in a cage with a girl and are both being held prisoners. The novel then becomes one of discovery - the narrator discovering themselves as we discover our world.
I read this book in one shot while on a long flight back from Victoria, BC, Canada. It was entertaining and gripping, if dark. There are some books where the story is told competently but you're not sure if you agree with the ending. This is one of those stories.
View all my reviews
Worldcon in Seattle
Aug. 15th, 2025 09:28 amAs previously announced, I am in Seattle for Worldcon. I flew in on Tuesday - the last day of a heat wave for them (temps in the low 90s) and today Seattle is back to being Seattle - cool and rainy. More detailed thoughts:
1) The flight here on Southwest was irritating. They have implemented the checked bag fee, which I hate. The flight was an hour late getting out of Midway. First, they "needed to call headquarters but the phones wren't working." Then, 20 minutes later, "we have a weight and balance problem that Dallas is working in." Another 20 minutes later, "we need 4 people to get off of the plane." (They did offer significant compensation for this.) Finally, we left. The person in the aisle seat across from me was extremely nervous to the point of being unable to function - not sure if it was claustrophobia, fear of flying or some other malady.
2) Because I changed my travel plans, I had to spend a night not in the convention hotel. Since I just needed a bed, I picked the La Quinta Seatac. It was the shittiest La Quinta I've stayed at. Their airport shuttle sucked (you go to the La Quinta on a Hampton Inns shuttle), the wifi didn't work and the front desk guy was generally clueless.
3) The first bit of good news was when I got to the Grand Sheraton, which is the convention hotel. Since I arrived at ~9:30 AM, I assumed I'd have to store my bag with the bellhop. Instead, I got lucky and my room was ready.
Since then, panels have been attended, books signed and sold, booze drank, and friends met. More updates as events warrant.
1) The flight here on Southwest was irritating. They have implemented the checked bag fee, which I hate. The flight was an hour late getting out of Midway. First, they "needed to call headquarters but the phones wren't working." Then, 20 minutes later, "we have a weight and balance problem that Dallas is working in." Another 20 minutes later, "we need 4 people to get off of the plane." (They did offer significant compensation for this.) Finally, we left. The person in the aisle seat across from me was extremely nervous to the point of being unable to function - not sure if it was claustrophobia, fear of flying or some other malady.
2) Because I changed my travel plans, I had to spend a night not in the convention hotel. Since I just needed a bed, I picked the La Quinta Seatac. It was the shittiest La Quinta I've stayed at. Their airport shuttle sucked (you go to the La Quinta on a Hampton Inns shuttle), the wifi didn't work and the front desk guy was generally clueless.
3) The first bit of good news was when I got to the Grand Sheraton, which is the convention hotel. Since I arrived at ~9:30 AM, I assumed I'd have to store my bag with the bellhop. Instead, I got lucky and my room was ready.
Since then, panels have been attended, books signed and sold, booze drank, and friends met. More updates as events warrant.
On Fear and Trump's takeover of DC
Aug. 12th, 2025 07:51 amOn the occasion of Trump's takeover of Washington DC policing (which is, like much of what Trump does, over-promised and under-delivered) I have thoughts.
I live in the Chicago suburbs, and during a visit to my parents in downstate and rural Illinois, I was told in all seriousness by a MAGA-ite that I needed a bulletproof vest to go back home. MAGA-ites are scared shitless. To them, every homeless person is waiting to jump up and shiv them, every rowdy teenager walking down the street is a mugger, and anybody just hanging out in public is a gang lookout or worse.
They operate by anecdote not data. If their sister's friend's hairdresser told a story (or posted on Facebook), that's gospel. Facts and statistics are not. (In general, "common sense" trumps fact, where "common sense" is defined as "that which confirms my biases.")
They mostly watch the local TV news, and for every shooting, rather than noting that it's in the same neighborhood as the last five such incidents, they say "those people are just shooting everybody everywhere."
Trump is a very pure incarnation of these traits. He's personally scared, unable to determine between anecdote and data, and an avid consumer of TV news, where "if it bleeds it leads."
I live in the Chicago suburbs, and during a visit to my parents in downstate and rural Illinois, I was told in all seriousness by a MAGA-ite that I needed a bulletproof vest to go back home. MAGA-ites are scared shitless. To them, every homeless person is waiting to jump up and shiv them, every rowdy teenager walking down the street is a mugger, and anybody just hanging out in public is a gang lookout or worse.
They operate by anecdote not data. If their sister's friend's hairdresser told a story (or posted on Facebook), that's gospel. Facts and statistics are not. (In general, "common sense" trumps fact, where "common sense" is defined as "that which confirms my biases.")
They mostly watch the local TV news, and for every shooting, rather than noting that it's in the same neighborhood as the last five such incidents, they say "those people are just shooting everybody everywhere."
Trump is a very pure incarnation of these traits. He's personally scared, unable to determine between anecdote and data, and an avid consumer of TV news, where "if it bleeds it leads."
Review of Cahokia Jazz
Aug. 11th, 2025 10:08 am
Cahokia Jazz by Francis SpuffordMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A friend who reviews science fiction has been recommending this book for some time, so I finally broke down and bought it. It's a fascinating and dense book, full of concepts.
The main conceit is that in an alternate 1920s, the natives in and around Cahokia Mound (a real place in southwestern Illinois, very close to St. Louis MO) have been able survive and thrive against white expansionism. The area was independent for a long time, but during the Civil War joined the Union on the side of the North.
Structurally, the novel is a hard-boiled murder mystery, with Barrow, a "Lost Boy" (he was abandoned at an orphanage as a baby) working as a detective with the city police and investigating the murder. We get all of the tropes of a hard-boiled mystery plus the existence of the former royalty of independent Cahokia, as well as the Klan and Red Scares. It's really a great read.
View all my reviews
Updated Worldcon Schedule
Aug. 3rd, 2025 04:03 pmHerewith is my New and Improved schedule for the Seattle in 2025 World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in famously sunny downtown Seattle August 13 - 17.
Wed 12:00pm-1:00pm
Table Talks 4 (meet-and-greet)
Room 430
Thursday 12:00 -1:00, 1:30 - 2:30
Author signings
Dealer's Room
Thursday 5:30 to 7:30
Afternoon Tea Party with other indie authors
Room TBD
Sat 9:00am-10:00am
War - From Star Trek to the Expanse
Room 445-446
Saturday 1:30 - 2:30
Author signing
Dealer's Room
Sat 4:30pm-5:30pm
Writing to Trend or Writing the Book of Your Heart
Room 347-348
Sunday 10:30 - 11:30
Author signing
Dealer's Room
Sun 1:30pm-2:30pm
Man Versus Extraterrestrial Nature
Room 322
Sunday 3:00 – 4:00pm
Crit Groups – Yea or Nay?
Room 443-443
Wed 12:00pm-1:00pm
Table Talks 4 (meet-and-greet)
Room 430
Thursday 12:00 -1:00, 1:30 - 2:30
Author signings
Dealer's Room
Thursday 5:30 to 7:30
Afternoon Tea Party with other indie authors
Room TBD
Sat 9:00am-10:00am
War - From Star Trek to the Expanse
Room 445-446
Saturday 1:30 - 2:30
Author signing
Dealer's Room
Sat 4:30pm-5:30pm
Writing to Trend or Writing the Book of Your Heart
Room 347-348
Sunday 10:30 - 11:30
Author signing
Dealer's Room
Sun 1:30pm-2:30pm
Man Versus Extraterrestrial Nature
Room 322
Sunday 3:00 – 4:00pm
Crit Groups – Yea or Nay?
Room 443-443
Review of Children of the Revolution
Aug. 1st, 2025 12:26 pm
Children of the Revolution by Joanne E. ZientyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I met the author at a library book fair, purchased the book and let it set far too long on my to-be-read pile. I finally read it and enjoyed it.
The book is dense - full of ideas that feel lived in but which the reader is expected to figure out by themselves. The heroine, who changes names midway through the book, is a real human, not a superhero. There are several plot twists which reveal themselves in the last few chapters.
Overall, I highly recommend this book!
View all my reviews
Art of the Deal, Part Whatever
Jul. 25th, 2025 11:51 amArt of the Deal, Part Whatever
Trump cut a deal to return the ~200 Venezuelans we sent to El Salvador (and supposedly had no control over) for the release of 10 American "hostages" in Venezuela. Comes news today: "One of the 10 American citizens or residents freed by the government of Nicolás Maduro in a recent high-profile prisoner exchange with the United States was a fugitive convicted of a triple murder in Spain, according to reports by Venezuelan and Spanish media outlets."
Trump cut a deal to return the ~200 Venezuelans we sent to El Salvador (and supposedly had no control over) for the release of 10 American "hostages" in Venezuela. Comes news today: "One of the 10 American citizens or residents freed by the government of Nicolás Maduro in a recent high-profile prisoner exchange with the United States was a fugitive convicted of a triple murder in Spain, according to reports by Venezuelan and Spanish media outlets."
Hugo Ballot - 2025
Jul. 17th, 2025 02:01 pmHerewith my Hugo ballot for 2025. Categories not listed are ones in which I didn't vote.
Category: Best Novel
- The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader Press, Sceptre): 1
- The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey, Hodderscape UK): 2
- Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (DAW): 3
- Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Orbit US, Tor UK)): 4
- A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (Tor): 5
- Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tordotcom): 6
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Novella
- The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler (Tordotcom): 1
- The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed (Tordotcom): 2
- What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher (Nightfire): 3
- The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar (Tordotcom): 4
- The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom): 5
- Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard (Tordotcom): 6
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Novelette
- “The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer (Asimov's, September/October 2024): 1
- “Signs of Life” by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 59): 2
- “By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars” by Premee Mohamed (Strange Horizons, Fund Drive 2024): 3
- “The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video” by Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld, May 2024): 4
- “Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 58): 5
- “Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie in Lake of Souls (Orbit): 6
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Short Story
- “Why Don't We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J. Kim (Clarkesworld, February 2024): 1
- “Five Views of the Planet Tartarus” by Rachael K. Jones (Lightspeed Magazine, Jan 2024 (Issue 164)): 2
- “Marginalia” by Mary Robinette Kowal (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 56): 3
- No Award: Unranked
- “Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo (Uncanny Magazine Issue 57): Unranked
- “Three Faces of a Beheading” by Arkady Martine (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 58): Unranked
- “We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read” by Caroline M. Yoachim (Lightspeed Magazine, May 2024 (Issue 168)): Unranked
Category: Best Series
- InCryptid by Seanan McGuire (DAW): 1
- Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga Press): 2
- The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri (Orbit): Unranked
- Southern Reach by Jeff VanderMeer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux): Unranked
- The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson (Tor Books): Unranked
- The Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Ad Astra): Unranked
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Related Work
- “The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel” by Jenny Nicholson (YouTube): 1
- “Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics” by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jones (File 770, February 22, 2024): 2
- Track Changes by Abigail Nussbaum (Briardene Books): 3
- Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll (University of Minnesota Press): 4
- No Award: Unranked
- r/Fantasy's 2024 Bingo Reading Challenge by the r/Fantasy Bingo Team (r/Fantasy on Reddit), presented by the r/Fantasy Bingo team: Alexandra Forrest (happy_book_bee), Lisa Richardson, Amanda E. (Lyrrael), Arka (RuinEleint), Ashley Rollins (oboist73), Christine Sandquist (eriophora), David H. (FarragutCircle), Diana Hufnagl, Pia Matei (Dianthaa), Dylan H. (RAAAImmaSunGod), Dylan Kilby (an_altar_of_plagues), Elsa (ullsi), Emma Surridge (PlantLady32), Gillian Gray (thequeensownfool), Kahlia (cubansombrero), Kevin James, Kopratic, Kristina (Cassandra_sanguine), Lauren Mulcahy (Valkhyrie), Megan, Megan Creemers (Megan_Dawn), Melissa S. (wishforagiraffe), Mike De Palatis (MikeOfThePalace), Para (improperly_paranoid), Sham, The_Real_JS, Abdellah L. (messi1045), AnnTickwittee, Chad Z. (shift_shaper), Emma Smiley (Merle), Rebecca (toughschmidt22), smartflutist661: Unranked
- “The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion” by Chris M. Barkley and Jason Sanford (Genre Grapevine and File770, February 14, 2024): Unranked
Category: Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
- Dune: Part Two, screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, directed by Denis Villeneuve (Legendary Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures): 1
- Flow, screenplay by Gints Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža, directed by Gints Zilbalodis (Dream Well Studio): Unranked
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, screenplay by George Miller and Nick Lathouris, directed by George Miller (Warner Bros. Pictures): Unranked
- I Saw the TV Glow, screenplay by Jane Schoenbrun, directed by Jane Schoenbrun (Fruit Tree / Smudge Films / A24): Unranked
- Wicked, screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, directed by Jon M.Chu (Universal Pictures): Unranked
- The Wild Robot, screenplay by Chris Sanders and Peter Brown, directed by Chris Sanders (DreamWorks Animation): Unranked
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
- Fallout: “The Beginning” written by Gursimran Sandhu, directed by Wayne Che Yip (Amazon Prime Video ): 1
- Star Trek: Lower Decks: “Fissure Quest” created by Mike McMahan and written by Lauren McGuire based on “Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, directed by Brandon Williams (CBS Eye Animation Productions for Paramount+): 2
- Star Trek: Lower Decks: “The New Next Generation” created and written by Mike McMahan, based on “Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, directed by Megan Lloyd (CBS Eye Animation Productions for Paramount+): 3
- Agatha All Along: “Death's Hand in Mine” written by Gia King & Cameron Squires, directed by Jac Schaeffer (Marvel, Disney+): Unranked
- Doctor Who: “Dot and Bubble” written by Russell T Davies, directed by Dylan Holmes Williams (BBC, Disney+): Unranked
- Doctor Who: “73 Yards” written by Russell T Davies, directed by Dylan Holmes Williams (BBC, Disney+): Unranked
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Semiprozine
- Uncanny Magazine, publishers and editors-in-chief: Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas; managing editor Monte Lin; poetry editor Betsy Aoki, podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.: 1
- FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, publisher and executive editor DaVaun Sanders, poetry editor B. Sharise Moore, art director Christian Ivey, acquiring editors Rebecca McGee, Kerine Wint, Egbiameje Omole, Emmalia Harrington, Genine Tyson, Tonya R. Moore, sponsor coordinator Nelson Rolon: 2
- The Deadlands, publisher Sean Markey; editors E. Catherine Tobler, Nicasio Andres Reed, David Gilmore, Laura Blackwell, Annika Barranti Klein; proofreader Josephine Stewart; columnist Amanda Downum; art and design Cory Skerry, Christine M. Scott; social media Felicia Martínez; assistant Shana Du Bois.: Unranked
- Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and Valerie Valdes, assistant editors Premee Mohamed and Kevin Wabaunsee, hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart, producers Summer Brooks and Adam Pracht; and the entire Escape Pod team: Unranked
- khōréō – produced by Zhui Ning Chang, Aleksandra Hill, Danai Christopoulou, Isabella Kestermann, Kanika Agrawal, Sachiko Ragosta, Lian Xia Rose, Jenelle DeCosta, Melissa Ren, Elaine Ho, Ambi Sun, Cyrus Chin, Nivair H. Gabriel, Jeané Ridges, Lilivette Domínguez, Isaree Thatchaichawalit, Jei D. Marcade, M. L. Krishnan, Ysabella Maglanque, Aaron Voigt, Adialyz Del Valle Berríos, Adil Mian, Akilah White, Alexandra Millatmal, Anselma Widha Prihandita, E. Broderick, K. S. Walker, Katarzyna Nowacka, Katie McIvor, Kelsea Yu, Lynn D. Jung, Madeleine Vigneron, Marie Croke, Merulai Femi, Phoebe Low, S. R. Westvik, Sanjna Bhartiya, Sara Messenger, Sophia Uy, Tina Zhu, Yuvashri Harish, Zohar Jacobs: Unranked
- Strange Horizons, by the Strange Horizons Editorial Collective: Unranked
- No Award: Unranked
Category: Best Fan Writer
- Camestros Felapton: 1
- Abigail Nussbaum: 2
- Alasdair Stuart: Unranked
- Jason Sanford: Unranked
- No Award: Unranked
- Roseanna Pendlebury: Unranked
- Örjan Westin: Unranked
Category: Astounding Award for Best New Writer, sponsored by Must Read Magazines (not a Hugo)
- Moniquill Blackgoose (2nd year of eligibility): 1
- Bethany Jacobs (2nd year of eligibility): 2
- Angela Liu (2nd year of eligibility): Unranked
- Hannah Kaner (2nd year of eligibility): Unranked
- Jared Pechaček (1st year of eligibility): Unranked
- No Award: Unranked
- Tia Tashiro (2nd year of eligibility): Unranked
Seattle in 2025 - Worldcon schedule
Jul. 11th, 2025 08:48 amHerewith is my schedule for the Seattle in 2025 World Science Fiction Convention, to be held in famously sunny downtown Seattle August 13 - 17. I don't have room assignments here - visit the link to get that.
Wed 12:00pm-1:00pm
Table Talks 4
basically a meet-and-greet
Sat 9:00am-10:00am
War - From Star Trek to the Expanse
We'll be presenting and discussing many of the great science fiction literature and movie franchises to explore how and why space warfare has evolved and where it is going. We'll look at key advancements and challenges. Especially, what needs to come next. Finally, we'll discuss how to keep stories fresh and contemporary without compromising innovation.
Sat 4:30pm-5:30pm
Writing to Trend or Writing the Book of Your Heart
You may have heard the advice to write to market if you want to be successful. But does that mean you have to ignore the book of your heart? Why not both? We'll talk pros and cons of writing to market vs writing whatever you want, and how to fuse your love of writing with marketability to create a unique work of art that also sells well.
Sun 1:30pm-2:30pm
Man Versus Extraterrestrial Nature
Not every novel needs a villain because the universe is filled with inhospitable environments. From Sands of Mars to Missions of Gravity, planetary environments have provided challenges to science fiction protagonists for decades. How difficult is it to write a believable alien environment? What are some of the best-imagined dangerous worlds?
Wed 12:00pm-1:00pm
Table Talks 4
basically a meet-and-greet
Sat 9:00am-10:00am
War - From Star Trek to the Expanse
We'll be presenting and discussing many of the great science fiction literature and movie franchises to explore how and why space warfare has evolved and where it is going. We'll look at key advancements and challenges. Especially, what needs to come next. Finally, we'll discuss how to keep stories fresh and contemporary without compromising innovation.
Sat 4:30pm-5:30pm
Writing to Trend or Writing the Book of Your Heart
You may have heard the advice to write to market if you want to be successful. But does that mean you have to ignore the book of your heart? Why not both? We'll talk pros and cons of writing to market vs writing whatever you want, and how to fuse your love of writing with marketability to create a unique work of art that also sells well.
Sun 1:30pm-2:30pm
Man Versus Extraterrestrial Nature
Not every novel needs a villain because the universe is filled with inhospitable environments. From Sands of Mars to Missions of Gravity, planetary environments have provided challenges to science fiction protagonists for decades. How difficult is it to write a believable alien environment? What are some of the best-imagined dangerous worlds?
Who Goes MAGA?
Jul. 9th, 2025 11:48 amAn interesting article found here. Money quote: "The pattern is clear once you know what to look for. MAGA appeals to people who need to feel special, who need enemies to blame, who need simple answers to complex problems. It attracts those who mistake confidence for competence, who confuse being loud with being right, who think that admitting uncertainty is weakness."
Three-Day Weekend Update
Jul. 7th, 2025 10:45 amAn update on The Weekend That Was in three parts, as befits a three-day weekend:
1) Parade - I walked in Darien's 4th of July parade with my Rotary club. It was warm and sticky, but the threatened rain didn't happen.
2) Home repair - as mentioned in a previous post, the anti-siphon valve on my outside faucet decided to become a water fountain instead. (One has to have dreams, you know.) I had to order a part which came in on Saturday. The installation from opening the package to done was a five-minute job.
3) Entertainment - back in Ye Olde Dayes of cable, many of us saw parts of movies as we were channel-surfing. In my case, I saw parts of My Cousin Vinnie. Over the weekend, I streamed the full movie, and found that it deserved the hype.
1) Parade - I walked in Darien's 4th of July parade with my Rotary club. It was warm and sticky, but the threatened rain didn't happen.
2) Home repair - as mentioned in a previous post, the anti-siphon valve on my outside faucet decided to become a water fountain instead. (One has to have dreams, you know.) I had to order a part which came in on Saturday. The installation from opening the package to done was a five-minute job.
3) Entertainment - back in Ye Olde Dayes of cable, many of us saw parts of movies as we were channel-surfing. In my case, I saw parts of My Cousin Vinnie. Over the weekend, I streamed the full movie, and found that it deserved the hype.
