The Science-Fiction-Create monthly newsletter
In this month's issue:
Welcome | Science-Fiction-Create Recap | More in SciFiNews | The Goods
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Welcome
Hey SciFiFriends. A new month, a new newsletter. I hope your summer is shaping up as well as possible, given the circumstances. I'm missing the summer movie season; taking a break from the heat in a theater is one of my favorite escapes. Hopefully, the situation will improve in the coming months and we can all return to life - and the theaters.
June was a big month for Science-Fiction-Create. In this July edition of SciFiMonthly, I share a recap of content over the last several weeks, introduce you to some noteworthy news in science and science fiction, and share a few new likes of mine in movies, online content, and books.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. Feel free to comment on my posts or send me a message here.
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Science-Fiction-Create Recap
This last month, I spent a lot of time pondering the near future for humanity, from artificial intelligence to alien first contact. Here are a few highlights:
We hear a lot about artificial intelligence (AI) these days. But not some future tech or sci-fi fantasy, AI is here now, in devices like TVs and smartphones. I explored what the near future of AI means for us in this post. Machines might end up being kinder than we are. Will that be good or bad for humanity? It won't be long before we find out.
In a subscriber-only post, I considered how readily we'd recognize an alien if we encountered one. A common trope in sci-fi movies is characters at first mistaking aliens for something familiar. But is this how we'd actually react? Check out this story to find out my thoughts. Not a paid subscriber but still want to read this story? Send me a note, and I will share a link for free!
I continued the theme "aliens" in this post on how big we can expect intelligent aliens to be. Generally, sentient creatures in movies like Star Wars are the same size as us. But biologically, is this what we should expect? There's some real science being used to explore this very question.
Finishing out the month, I focused more on the making side of Science-Fiction-Create. Here, I considered the psychology behind why we make things. Humans are unique creatures - we create to feel whole. It is a defining characteristic of our species, and our world is more colorful, diverse, and tasty as a result.
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More in SciFiNews
It seems like ages ago when Robert Behnken and Doug Hurley blasted off aboard the Space X Crew Dragon capsule (on May 30th). The pair is still up there, circling the Earth in the Internation Space Station (ISS). Today, Wednesday, July 1st, Behnken, along with Chris Cassidy, will conduct a spacewalk outside the ISS to replace some batteries. I gather it's a bit more complicated than changing the AAAs in my TV remote.
The new onscreen adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune is causing quite the buzz in sci-fi circles. David Lynch made an epic film version of the story back in 1984, which garnered mixed reviews (I liked it, but it is long and convoluted - 4 hours!). This time around, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has taken the bold step to shorten and modernize the story for a 21st-century audience. Villeneuve directed both Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 - two of the best sci-fi films in recent years. His talents are well known and give many of us high hopes that Dune will finally get the silver screen treatment it deserves.
Finally, a bit more real science in the search for ET - astronomers have found two Earth-like planets orbiting a "near-by" red dwarf. What makes these worlds so special is how inactive their star is. It does not emit excessive radiation or solar flares, both of which would jeopardize the long-term success of life on its circling planets. A calm star such as this creates a stable environment, enhancing the chances for survival and increasing the time life might have to evolve. Now, all we have to do is go explore them - they are only 10.7 lightyears away. That's 62.3 trillion miles from Earth.
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The Goods
Here are a few of my likes as a fan of science, sci-fi, horror, and creating.
Books - Exhalation (2019), by Ted Chiang. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. From the publisher: "In these nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories, Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity's oldest questions along with new quandaries only he could imagine. Including stories being published for the first time as well as some of his rare and classic uncollected work, Exhalation is Ted Chiang at his best: profound, sympathetic—revelatory." Why I like it: Chiang's reputation for tackling big issues using science fiction is undeniable (he wrote Stories of your life and others - the book adapted into the movie Arrival); he's a master storyteller with a fantastic command of the written word. His style - clear, easy to follow, and accessible - is deceptively simple. The depth of meaning, in what is said and - most importantly - what is left unsaid - speaks volumes. Each short story will leave you pondering for hours and days after. I highly recommend it. Note: A special thanks to Steffani for giving me this book.
Movies - The Vast of Night (2020), directed by Andrew Patterson and starring Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz. Available to stream on Amazon Prime. From Amazon's website: "In the twilight of the 1950s, on one fateful night in New Mexico, a young switchboard operator Fay (Sierra McCormick) and charismatic radio DJ Everett (Jake Horowitz) discover a strange audio frequency that could change their small town and the future forever." Why I like it: For a sci-fi enthusiast and mid-century technophile like me, this movie has it all - radio signals from outer space, cryptic phone calls, conspiracy, cover-up, and loads of spooky ambiance. The dialog between the two young stars is riveting, lightning-fast, and smart. The Vast of Night will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
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That's it for the June SciFiMonthly. Stay tuned this week for my Friday story. I'm continuing the focus on making and will discuss my take on "the right tool for the job."
Be well, and be kind, everyone.