November is already upon us and I am making a concerted effort to get back to reading. And so, on my November reading radar... Nothing to See Here by Deckle Edge Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the…
Best Science Fiction Books of 2018!
I read 54 science fiction novels this year. These were my favorites... The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi The Interdependency, humanity’s interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional conduit that makes travel between the stars possible, is disappearing, leaving entire star systems stranded. When it goes, human civilization may go…
July 3, 2017: Dark Matter-like book recommendations!
If you enjoy Dark Matter and are looking for a book that is similar in spirit, might I suggest the following ten scifi novels. Whether it's kickass characters, a shipboard setting, an anti-villain premise, or a sense of humor, Dark Matter shares a little something with each of these amazing titles... The Darwin Elevator (Dire Earth Cycle,…
April 8, 2017: My 5 Favorite Recent Reads!
In a previous blog entry, I ranted about the shit book recommendations put forth by numerous reputable websites. It would seem that, in many cases, the quality of the work is of much less importance than the connections of the author. Well, someone recently directed me to BBC.com's "books" section which offers up a monthly…
July 21, 2013: A 17 (actually, 21) Question Science Fiction Book Meme!
The gang at http://www.sfsignal.com/ have launched another one of those irresistible SF-themed memes, what they're calling a " 17-question science fiction book meme for a lazy Sunday". I wrestled over a few of my responses, struggling with the relative worthiness of some of the titles, and finally decided to solve the problem by adding four extra questions to…
June 5, 2010: Working with John Scalzi! An Incursion-heavy mailbag!
Many of you have asked: "What is it like working with author John Scalzi?". Well, while I can tell you it's been both fun and informative, I can't really offer much in the way of details given the secretive nature of his work. As Stargate: Universe's Creative Consultant, John reads and weighs in on all…
February 21, 2010: Somebody get me those Ghost Hunter guys! Dinner at Lumiere! Nebula Noms!
I fear my house has become a massive cold spot for bizarre, inexplicable occurrences clearly supernatural in nature. It began a few days ago in the form of random manifestations in the various bathrooms that, like crop circles, seemed to contain some sort of otherworldly messages in their design. I provide photo documentation of the…
March 19, 2009: A Taste of the Other Side. With Cheese! And the Hugo Nominations.
I know a guy who spent a month living with an indigenous tribe in South America. Over the course of four weeks, he ate what they ate, drank what they drank, did as they did and, generally, lived as they lived. When I asked him the obvious question - Why? - he informed me that…
January 14, 2009: Scalzi and Stargate, Together At Last
Back in 2006, I read a novel that totally blew me away and single-handedly revived my passion for literary SF: Old Man’s War by author John Scalzi. It was smart, humorous, and unbelievably entertaining. So entertaining, in fact, that I ended up recommending it to anyone and everyone - friends, fans, and family alike. And…
January 13, 2009: Production Developments, Literary Discussion, and A Debacle of Olympic Proportions
Well, just a quick blog entry today as I’m off to have dinner with author John Scalzi and wouldn’t want to besmirch the image of the polite and prompt Canadian. Suffice it to say that today was an interesting day. We walked through Stage 4, the Destiny standing set, and it’s looking mighty impressive. And…
November 9, 2008: My Top Reads for the Month of October and Carl Helps Me With My Travel Plans
First off, I’d like to congratulate everyone who has put forth excellent arguments on both side of the wraith debate. As much as I agree that the wraith are an interesting, multi-faceted species, I would still argue that they are an enemy and should be dealt with as such. The same can be said for…