November News

* Overheard at WFC:
"It has been AGES since I knitted you a uterus."

* The 2017 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award Contest is now open to submissions of stories focusing on manned space exploration in the near future of 50-60 years.  There’s no entry fee and you should enter!  Check out full details on themes, length and jury here: http://www.baen.com/baenmemorialaward

* The University of Maine in Orono has endowed a Stephen E. King Chair in Literature; a renewable five-year faculty position.  https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2016/10/19/umaine-created-stephen-king-chair-literature-ap-reports/

* We are sad to hear of the passing of prolific author Sheri S. Tepper.  Her books Grass and The Gate To Women’s Country are considered by many to not only be classics of general science-fiction but feminist science-fiction classics as well.  She will be missed.
http://www.locusmag.com/News/2016/10/sheri-s-tepper-1929-2016/

* The Cubs won the World Series, so one of science fiction's most consistent jokes may be lost!
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/30/13470836/chicago-cubs-science-fiction-world-series-john-scalzi

* A list of the books and movies that inform the conversation about A.I. -- although the list looks a little anemic to us; which classics do you think are missing? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/26/us/robots-science-fiction-movies-books.html

* Leaked video shows that the government, or at least the Pentagon, acknowledges that our future will resemble a science-fiction dystopia.  http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/10/bizarre-leaked-pentagon-video-is-a-science-fiction-story-about-the-future-of-cities/

* An article on how the science-fiction genre is really growing in China (although we wonder if it’s just our awareness of it that’s growing): http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1015141.shtml

* For an example of our growing interest and awareness of Chinese science fiction, check out this review of the bestselling contemporary chinese science-fiction anthology INVISIBLE PLANETS, edited by Ken Liu. http://www.avclub.com/review/invaluable-invisible-planets-introduces-world-chin-244991

* The adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s novel ANNIHILATION has not even hit the screen yet, but his next book has already been optioned as well. http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/20/13344490/borne-jeff-vandermeer-movie-adaptation-paramount-annihilation

* A discussion of the TV series Torchwood: the things it did and the legacy it left behind in SF television.  http://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/torchwood/259365/torchwood-at-10-what-is-its-science-fiction-legacy

* This may not be about science fiction specifically, but it is about the exclusion of genre writing and the ways in which we decide which genres are worthy of attention. http://www.themarysue.com/romance-novels-not-just-love-stories/

* Looking for something to watch?  Why not check this list of 10 underrated TV shows.  (We would add The Dresden Files to the list; the show was also more diverse, in terms of main cast, than most of the shows mentioned here:) http://whatculture.com/tv/10-hugely-underrated-fantasy-tv-shows-from-the-last-decade

* The ways in which Westworld is succeeding and where it’s failing in imagination and awareness: a review of the show in the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/24/the-meta-politics-of-westworld

* Kim Stanley Robinson rips into Elon Musk’s Mars vision.  Basically, if his Mars vision was a book?  No one would buy it.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-17/why-elon-musk-s-mars-vision-needs-some-real-imagination

* A profile of Yasser Bahjatt, an engineer and Tedx host, about his beliefs in the connections between science and science fiction, integrating Arabian culture and science fiction, what it’s like to have his book pulled from shelves in Saudi Arabia and what he did in response.  Great read.  http://scifiaddicts.com/yasser-bahjatt-science-fiction/

* A chatbot that helps you find lesser known science fiction movies to watch?  We're there! http://venturebeat.com/2016/10/13/how-the-and-chill-chatbot-helped-me-find-more-science-fiction-movies/

* An article about Ted Chiang and his interactions with Hollywood.  We can’t wait to see The Arrival, and can think of at least two more stories of his that we wish they would adapt. http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-story-in-sci-fi-writer-ted-chiangs-life-hollywood-1478015805

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Award News
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* The Geffen Awards, given by the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy, have announced their 2016 winners which include Robin Hobb, John Scalzi and more! http://geffen.sf-f.org.il/?page_id=79

* The inaugural Imadjinn Awards, formed to celebrate small press and independently published authors, have been announced.  Check out these titles you may not have heard about! http://www.entertheimaginarium.com/2016/10/14/winners-of-film-festival-and-imadjinn-awards-posted/

* The 2016 Gaylactic Spectrum Award for novel has been awarded to Ian McDonald for LUNA: NEW MOON.  Check out the short and long list of other novel nominees, plus past winners and nominees here: http://www.spectrumawards.org/2016.htm

* The 2016 World Fantasy Awards were announced.  The award for best novel went to Anna Smaill for THE CHIMES.  Winners also included Alyssa Wong for the amazing "Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers," which made her the first Filipina to win a World Fantasy Award.  Check out all the other winners and nominees here: http://www.locusmag.com/News/2016/10/world-fantasy-awards-winners-3/