January News

* The amazing Nalo Hopkinson has been named the 37th recipient of the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award by SFWA: https://locusmag.com/2020/12/hopkinson-named-sfwa-grand-master/

* We regret to report that legendary author and editor Ben Bova has died at age 88:  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/books/ben-bova-dies.html

* Comrade! Come live on this extremely modern Russian cyberfarm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMX0pCs5-n0

* As Scott said, "cute so quickly devolves into terrifying,"; the Boston Dynamics robots dance, and this is completely unrelated to the cyberfarm link above: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3KWM1kuAw&feature=youtu.be

* "Rolling Stone" Magazine (!) talks to Kim Stanley Robinson: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-ministry-for-the-future-interview-kim-stanley-robinson-1101738/

* "Write a sentence as clean as a bone," and other sage advice from genius James Baldwin: https://lithub.com/write-a-sentence-as-clean-as-a-bone-and-other-advice-from-james-baldwin/

* Would you like to be able to create holographs at will? https://mymodernmet.com/looking-glass-portrait-holographic-display/

* The best book covers of 2020, according to 29 professional book cover designers.  Jude and Scott have Opinions; let us know what you think!: https://lithub.com/the-89-best-book-covers-of-2020/

* The mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe, explored: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/still-mysterious-death-edgar-allan-poe-180952936/

* "Time-traveling" comedian Julie Nolke's shorts, explaining current events to her past self, have been helping us keep sane this year through (somewhat bitter) laughter.  Start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms7capx4Cb8

* The ten most popular "National Geographic" stories of 2020 -- (spoiler alert, there are totally Murder Hornets; you'd temporarily forgotten about those because of all the other disasters, right?): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/2020/top-10-most-popular-stories-of-2020/

* The science stories most likely to make headlines in 2021, according to "Science" Magazine: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/science-stories-likely-make-headlines-2021

* Highlights in Radio Astronomy 2020, from Syfy Wire: https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/2020-didnt-completely-suck-here-are-some-cool-radio-astronomy-highlights

* SF Grand Master James Gunn has died at age 97: https://kryptonradio.com/2020/12/23/sf-grandmaster-hugo-winner-james-gunn-dead-at-97/

* The Zodiac Killer's most famous cypher, finally solved: https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/zodiac-340-cipher-solved-solution-code-15795178.php

* Eleven lost cities you can visit: https://www.afar.com/magazine/11-lost-cities-you-can-actually-visit

* We're very sorry to report the death of author John Le Carre, undisputed master of the Cold-War spy thriller: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/books/john-le-carre-dead.html

* The life and death of the fisherman who discovered the Loch Ness Monster: https://narratively.com/the-obsessive-life-and-mysterious-death-of-the-fisherman-who-discovered-the-loch-ness-monster/

* William Gibson discusses his literary influences (& we're so pleased to see Jack Womack's endlessly underrated RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE mentioned!): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/01/william-gibson-i-read-naked-lunch-when-it-was-still-quasi-illicit

* "Serial Killers Should Fear This Algorithm": https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-02-08/serial-killers-should-fear-this-algorithm

* An absolutely mind-boggling 3D model wins 2020's Best Illusion of the Year Contest: https://mymodernmet.com/3d-schroder-staircase/

* Previously unseen Shirley Jackson story to be published: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/dec/17/unseen-shirley-jackson-story-to-be-published-adventure-on-a-bad-night

* Chinese authorities are investigating the suspected poisoning death of wealthy game tycoon (and producer of "The Three-Body Problem" Netflix adaptation) Lin Qi: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/28/games-of-thrones-video-game-tycoon-li-qin-dies-suspected-poisoning

* Can virtual reality change peoples' minds on social issues?  (Please note, this story is from 2017.)  https://narratively.com/can-virtual-reality-change-minds-social-issues/

* Seanan McGuire discusses how "My Little Pony" (or, as she describes it, "Gormenghast with hooves") inspired her (and continues to help her) subvert genre norms: https://www.tor.com/2021/01/04/my-little-pony-taught-me-to-write-fluffy-glittery-violence/#more-626133

* In case you hadn't noticed, nature is weird: https://www.biographic.com/convenient-conveyance/

* R.I.P., artist Jael, who has died at age 83: https://locusmag.com/2021/01/jael-1937-2020/; https://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=jael-brown-ruesch&pid=197183150&fhid=12938