In his introduction to The Strange Sound of Cthulhu: Music Inspired by the Writings of H. P. Lovecraft, S.T. Joshi proclaimed that “[i]t is a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft’s universal appeal that he can elicit praise” and attention from a wide range of sources. “Clearly, different readers draw different types of nourishment from Lovecraft, and this diversity appeal [sic] augurs well for his survival….”
Read MoreThe Improbable, Inevitable Domestication of the Great Old Ones: HP Lovecraft’s Iconic Influence on 21st-Century Fantastic Literature and CultureOne of the great strengths of science fiction is its ability to present philosophical questions like “What does it mean to be human?” and “Where are the boundaries of our perception and reality?” in broader, more interesting terms simply by the function of its form.
Read MoreFive Genre Books that Raise Mind-numbing Philosophical QuestionsUsually, when people start hammering out on the blogosphere about experimental, weird, crazy science fiction and fantasy (or horror) we get the same names and titles popping up every single time. I’ve got nothing against these people (or their works) but you have to wonder if that’s it—if that’s all?
Read MoreThe Top 10 Experimental Books You’ve Never Heard OfDid you know that if you put your ear to the ground during a convention, you can hear the sound of laughter three blocks away? Whether you’re a reader or an author, a pro or an amateur, there’s a lot of fun to be had at a science fiction, fantasy or horror con.
Read MoreGrab Your Badge, Ready, Set, Meet!This year, Apex Publications is celebrating the Nebula nominations of two short stories: “The Green Book” by Amal El-Mohtar, which appeared in Apex Magazine issue 18; and “Ghosts of New York” by Jennifer Pelland, which appeared in the anthology Dark Faith.
Read MoreAn Introductory Guide to the Nebula AwardsFew if any end-of-the-world scenarios can claim a longer history; none has more diverse roots. Depending on where you look, you may find prophecies about 2012 linked to everyone from the ancient Maya, Egyptians, and Hopi to the mysterious prognosticators Nostradamus and Edward Cayce, with helpings of the I Ching, reports from cutting-edge geophysicists and geologists, and various New Age self-realization texts thrown in for good measure.
Read More2012: The Good, the Bad, and the ApocalypticThe world’s history is riddled with inaccuracies, partially because it’s impossible to read or decipher what actually happened, or when it happened. Using a combination of science and intuition, we can guess what may have occurred in history, but a lot of the time we’re not entirely sure.
Read MoreWhen Science Fiction Meets Horror in World BuildingIf you go to your bookshelf and pick up your favorite gaming book, whether it’s from Apophis Consortium or Evil Hat Productions, reread the fiction or flavor text that’s used as chapter breaks or to enhance the setting.
Read MoreGame Fiction: Why It Works (and Why It Doesn’t)