James Howard Kunstler has written insightful analyses of the inefficient and asinine ways we organize our cities, made problematic predictions about disasters which (thus far) have not happened, and widely disseminated the idea we’ve reached Peak oil. He sets the fictional World Made by Hand, published in 2008, in a post-scarcity future.
Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
Alice Sebold’s debut novel sold like, well, every writer wants the debut novel to sell. Peter Jackson’s film adaptation opens this weekend. Both tell the tale of a young victim of a murder-rape who follows the threads of lives that unravel after her death, from her problematic place in the afterworld.
We welcome comments on the book and film here.
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Robert Charles Wilson has established a reputation as one of the age’s finest science-fiction writers, but also as a fine, literary author, whose spin on our possible future reaches a broad and intelligent audience of readers. Julian Comstock, released last summer, may be his finest work to date.
This is a review of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, not the current, long-delayed Hollywood adaptation. However, until we get a review of the movie, it makes an excellent place to discuss both book and film.
Beukes has positioned her brilliant first novel ten years or so in the future, somewhere between the real-world present and nearly any technologically-based dystopia you care to name.
Residents in the following cities are advised to take the necessary precautions which include, but are not limited to: Evacuation, boarding up windows, flamethrowers, and marathon viewing sessions of either Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Blade movies, or any other vampire movie that does not involve SPARKLES.
As the deadline for Hugo voters looms, this voter takes a look at the nominees for best novelette.
I purchased this novel for my wife’s birthday, back in 2003 or 2004, when Niffenegger’s debut first appeared to general acclaim. With the film adaptation arriving later this summer, I decided to read it.1
We’ve reviewed all of the Hugo-nominated novels and many of the dramatic works. I may get to novellas and novelettes in the near future. Meanwhile, I encourage you to read and discuss the short fiction, available online.
This seems to be Hugo’s Year of the Monkey.
In the wake of a near-future terrorist attack, some teens run afoul of the Department of Homeland Security—and become American revolutionaries in the process. Cory Doctorow’s novel, one of three YA books nominated for best novel at this year’s Hugo Awards, also serves as a primer of sorts.