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Search results for tag #scifi

[?]M. Pax » 🌐
@mpax@mastodon.social

Platform Decay by Martha Wells, a master class in character.
Read more: open.substack.com/pub/mpaxauth
I 💗 SecUnit

    [?]Ratchman » 🌐
    @Ratchman@mstdn.social

    The Void - Dark sci-fi space opera.

    S04E07 - Pariah

    Lin Mei and Shi Yin are forced to work together once more to combat the Mogwai’s assault on Yiu Quon’s family. Again, these natural enemies find themselves united in a common goal: survival against the black society.

    ratchman.com/episodes/the-void

    Image by Mariami Kalandarishvili. Valentine Rao pours over schematics as he makes his plans, a studios expression on his face. As a sign of his purpose, his gun lies to one side of the console and, more intriguingly, strawberry cake on the other.

    Alt...Image by Mariami Kalandarishvili. Valentine Rao pours over schematics as he makes his plans, a studios expression on his face. As a sign of his purpose, his gun lies to one side of the console and, more intriguingly, strawberry cake on the other.

      [?]Mx. Chara Aznable (they/them) of Pnictogen » 🌐
      @mxchara@seattle.pink

      I'm trying to remember exactly how I regarded HAL 9000 from 2001 back then. Oh I can tell you at least that I was inclined to be sympathetic; back then I always tended to like robotic and characters in popular , even if (like HAL) they maybe did some murders. Arthur Clarke rescues HAL 9000 in 2010 and writes an explanation of why he went wrong, and rewards HAL at the end with apotheosis by much the same route as Bowman in Clarke's 2001. But Clarke is not Kubrick, and Kubrick's 2001 gives us no speculation and no explanations about HAL's actions. HAL simply...does as he does, in Douglas Rain's bland soft voice, and thus the viewer must piece it together themselves.

      I think the movie's pretty clear on the subject, in its way. There's a particularly telling moment in which, either by some last dying action of HAL 9000 as Bowman is disabling him or by outrageous coincidence, Kubrick gives us a prerecorded message from Heywood Floyd which plays out for the distraught Bowman practically the instant he finishes disabling HAL. Bowman learns that he and Poole had been lied to, given a false idea of their mission because of Floyd's obnoxious mania for secrecy and deceitful cover stories (established earlier in the film.) Only HAL 9000 had known, of the active crew of Discovery, and clearly he'd been driven mad by the illogical orders. Like a lot of people, HAL couldn't make himself lie convincingly.

      (cont'd)

        [?]Harry Dehrian » 🌐
        @harrydehrian@mastodon.social

        Book Promotion: Sci-Fi & books on Kindle Unlimited

        A collection of 60 for you to read free on KU. Read my

        @bookstodon

        books.bookfunnel.com/sci-fi-fa

          Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈 boosted

          [?]martin [he/him] » 🌐
          @martin@dice.camp

          I enjoyed reading "Gather, Darkness!" by Fritz Leiber this week. But more than talking about it, I just wanted to show you all the gorgeous cover illustration.

          Photo a paperback. Full bleed painting of which 90% is a blue sky peppered with white clouds, dominated by a huge classic-style flying saucer. At the bottom is a small, futuristic city surrounded by green hills and farmland. In the foreground, two figures clad in red robes and hoods look at scene.

          Alt...Photo a paperback. Full bleed painting of which 90% is a blue sky peppered with white clouds, dominated by a huge classic-style flying saucer. At the bottom is a small, futuristic city surrounded by green hills and farmland. In the foreground, two figures clad in red robes and hoods look at scene.

            [?]Walt » 🌐
            @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

            Born this day: 06/08/1928 (d. 03/08/2018)
            Kate Wilhelm was an American science fiction writer. "Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" was the winner of: Hugo, Locus, Jupiter, John W. Campbell Memorial, & Nebula Awards in 1977.

            en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Wil


            @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

            astralcomputing.com

            Art by M.C. Escher

            Cover art for "Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" by M.C. Escher The upper half is dominated by a massive, dense flock of birds sweeping diagonally from the top right toward the center-left. The birds are rendered in a rhythmic, repetitive reverse black/white puzzel pattern that fits together, fading in/out of the background of the fields below. Below this flight path, the landscape unfolds as a complex mosaic of geometric fields and winding waterways. Two prominent rivers frame the composition: on the far left, a light-colored, meandering river is defined by crisp, dark outlines, while on the far right, a solid, opaque black river cuts through the terrain. Tiny, black silhouetted boats are positioned within both watercourses. The surrounding fields create a checkered, polygonal patchwork of agricultural plots, rendered in alternating black and off-white shapes. In the bottom corners, small, dense clusters of architectural structures represent villages, featuring sharp, pointed steeples, gabled roofs, and tiny rectangular windows. Sparse, vertical black lines representing thin trees line the edges of certain fields. The style mimics a woodcut or linocut print, utilizing uniform, graphic lighting with no gradients. Depth is achieved solely through the stark interplay of heavy black shapes against a flat, off-white background.

            Alt...Cover art for "Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" by M.C. Escher The upper half is dominated by a massive, dense flock of birds sweeping diagonally from the top right toward the center-left. The birds are rendered in a rhythmic, repetitive reverse black/white puzzel pattern that fits together, fading in/out of the background of the fields below. Below this flight path, the landscape unfolds as a complex mosaic of geometric fields and winding waterways. Two prominent rivers frame the composition: on the far left, a light-colored, meandering river is defined by crisp, dark outlines, while on the far right, a solid, opaque black river cuts through the terrain. Tiny, black silhouetted boats are positioned within both watercourses. The surrounding fields create a checkered, polygonal patchwork of agricultural plots, rendered in alternating black and off-white shapes. In the bottom corners, small, dense clusters of architectural structures represent villages, featuring sharp, pointed steeples, gabled roofs, and tiny rectangular windows. Sparse, vertical black lines representing thin trees line the edges of certain fields. The style mimics a woodcut or linocut print, utilizing uniform, graphic lighting with no gradients. Depth is achieved solely through the stark interplay of heavy black shapes against a flat, off-white background.

              [?]Walt » 🌐
              @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

              Weird Tales vol 10 number 01 (July 1927) - featured story: The Return of the Master by H. Warner Munn.



              @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

              astralcomputing.com

              Cover art by C. C. Senf.

              Weird Tales vol 10 number 01 (July 1927) - featured story: The Return of the Master by H. Warner Munn. Cover art by C. C. Senf. The tagline reads The Unique Magazine. Other contributors include Eli Coltar, Seabury Quinn, Roscoe Gilmore Stott, Bassett Morgan, Hugh Irish, and Victor Rousseau. The price is 25 cents. The illustration depicts a woman and an older man in a dark indoor setting. The woman is positioned in the center-right, oriented toward the right. She has dark hair and wears a sleeveless, light pink dress. Her left arm is raised toward her head, and her right leg is lifted slightly off the floor. A dark blue fabric extends from behind her shoulders toward the left. To the left, an older man with grey hair and a pale complexion is visible from the chest up with his right hand raised near his chest. The background consists of black and deep blue tones. On the floor near the bottom right, a small glass oil lamp contains a yellow and orange flame. The floor is light grey. A small, white, vertical object is in the bottom left corner. The scene is contained within a rectangular frame with a red border. The title Weird Tales appears in large white letters with a black outline. All text is in a stylized font. The magazine title occupies the upper third of the cover. The names of the contributors are printed in a smaller, white, sans-serif font below the title. 25 cents is located in the top right corner.

              Alt...Weird Tales vol 10 number 01 (July 1927) - featured story: The Return of the Master by H. Warner Munn. Cover art by C. C. Senf. The tagline reads The Unique Magazine. Other contributors include Eli Coltar, Seabury Quinn, Roscoe Gilmore Stott, Bassett Morgan, Hugh Irish, and Victor Rousseau. The price is 25 cents. The illustration depicts a woman and an older man in a dark indoor setting. The woman is positioned in the center-right, oriented toward the right. She has dark hair and wears a sleeveless, light pink dress. Her left arm is raised toward her head, and her right leg is lifted slightly off the floor. A dark blue fabric extends from behind her shoulders toward the left. To the left, an older man with grey hair and a pale complexion is visible from the chest up with his right hand raised near his chest. The background consists of black and deep blue tones. On the floor near the bottom right, a small glass oil lamp contains a yellow and orange flame. The floor is light grey. A small, white, vertical object is in the bottom left corner. The scene is contained within a rectangular frame with a red border. The title Weird Tales appears in large white letters with a black outline. All text is in a stylized font. The magazine title occupies the upper third of the cover. The names of the contributors are printed in a smaller, white, sans-serif font below the title. 25 cents is located in the top right corner.

                [?]Richard Penner » 🌐
                @Arpie4Math@mathstodon.xyz

                There is a sub-genre of isekai (異世界, other world) which involves arbitrage between the world of today and the historical/fantasy other world.

                • (Charles Stross, The Merchant Princes) A clan of secretive world-walkers have been using their abilities to build an empire spanning two worlds. An American gets unexpectedly drawn into intra-clan conflict, the U.S. government's covetousness, and the irrationality in assuming there is a highest natural number.

                • (FUNA, for My Retirement) After receiving a blessing which saved her life, diminutive teenage orphan Mitsuha decides to amass a fortune sufficient to retire to either world. Luxury-obsessed nobles, plucky young villagers, and a company of flexible-minded modern mercenaries help her establish a foothold.

                • (Makishima Suzuki, Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!) Since childhood Kazuhiro would dream of a fantasy world. When he and and elf are killed while exploring, he learns that his dreams are real and falling asleep or dying allows him and the person he is touching to move back and forth. Cultural and economic exchange transpires.

                • (Ren Eguchi, with My Absurd Skill) The absurd skill is Amazon (actually Online Supermarket).

                • (Hiiro Shimotsuki, Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want!) Pretty on the nose.

                • (Hirukuma, , I Now Wander the Dungeon) A sapient vending machine accepts coins in a magical world to restock with items and upgrades from our modern world and the main character's love of Japanese vending machine culture.

                  [?]Cactuar Joe » 🌐
                  @CactuarJoe@retro.pizza

                  gotwrappedupinplantingatreebuti'mbacknow IT'S the weekly monster movie watch party! In half an hour(ish)! Come watch a horrible monster movie with us! Or set up a hashtag filter to avoid it, it's kind of a lot!

                  This week we're watching CLASS OF 1999 (1990)! Come see what the ass-end of the Reagan era thought twenty years ago would look like! There's teenage gangs just like the 1950s (boomers, eh?) but also killer cyborgs! C'mon, it'll be a blast.

                  The flick's available free with ads over on Tubi: tubitv.com/movies/343309/class

                  Or you can download from Archive.org! archive.org/details/class-of-1

                  Just hit play at the top of the hour and toot along! I need a drink.

                    Ben boosted

                    [?]WideEyedCurious 🇺🇸 💙 🇺🇦 & 🇨🇦 » 🌐
                    @WideEyedCurious@mstdn.social

                    I’ve turned the cat wheel into a Stargate. 😁

                    A large wood cat wheel with grey carpet and Stargate glyphs around the diameter against a tan wall with a end table and light to the right

                    Alt...A large wood cat wheel with grey carpet and Stargate glyphs around the diameter against a tan wall with a end table and light to the right

                      [?]Ratchman » 🌐
                      @Ratchman@mstdn.social

                        [?]Liana Brooks » 🌐
                        @LianaBrooks@mastodon.online

                        Five bullets left and every single one had her name etched on them.
                        - CONVERGENCE POINT

                        books2read.com/b/convergencepo

                        The cover for Convergence Point – Yellow police tape with the title is crossed in front of a scene with two silhouettes of black jeeps with lights on. The authors name, Liana Brooks, is at the top of the cover and the tag line, “Who would you kill to keep your reality alive?” is in the bottom right corner.

                        Alt...The cover for Convergence Point – Yellow police tape with the title is crossed in front of a scene with two silhouettes of black jeeps with lights on. The authors name, Liana Brooks, is at the top of the cover and the tag line, “Who would you kill to keep your reality alive?” is in the bottom right corner.

                          [?]Ami Angelwings » 🌐
                          @ami_angelwings@urusai.social

                          Who is your favourite fictional character from any work whose name (if they only have one) or first name begins with the letter "P"?

                          Please include the series/work the character is from and why they are your favourite.

                          Include the hashtag and to it so that we can sort the answers easily.

                          NOTE: you can always participate in previous letters too (A-O). Or just do the ones you want. Their hashtags are , etc

                            Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈 boosted

                            [?]Dilman Dila » 🌐
                            @dilmandila@mograph.social

                            In about three weeks, I'll launch my new novella, about an old woman with social anxiety who finds herself organising the defence of a decentralised nation when colonisers invade to steal the tech that makes her village a utopia. It is available for pre-order in all major stores (I think), but you can also get it from my small press, and there is a sample chapter available.

                            ododopress.com/novellas/the-bl

                              [?]Walt » 🌐
                              @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

                              Born this day: 06/07/1958
                              Bradley Denton is an American science fiction author. "Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede" won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel for 1992.

                              en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_


                              @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

                              astralcomputing.com

                              Art by Mark Harrison

                              The cover for Bradley Denton's novel, Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede, features art by Mark Harrison. A massive, white, circular satellite dish dominates the left and center of the frame. Superimposed over the upper half of the dish is a large, semi-transparent image of musician Buddy Holly. Shown from the waist up, he wears a dark teal suit, a white shirt, a black bowtie, and his signature thick-rimmed glasses, looking directly forward with a neutral expression. In the foreground on the right side of the dish, a young man with dark hair is partially climbing a silver metal ladder. He leans toward the center of the dish, using a small tool or probe near its surface. He is dressed in a bright red short-sleeved t-shirt, blue trousers, and white sneakers. To the right background, a portion of a single-story house with light gray siding, a dark roof, and a white chimney is visible. A window in the house glows with warm yellow light, and a small section of a dark brick structure appears at the far right. The background consists of a dark, navy blue gradient suggesting a night sky. Dramatic lighting originates from the left, casting highlights on the satellite dish, the man's back, and the side of the house. Bold, saturated colors—the white dish, red shirt, and teal suit—provide sharp contrast against the dark sky. The image has a smooth, painterly texture with polished gradients and shading.

                              Alt...The cover for Bradley Denton's novel, Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede, features art by Mark Harrison. A massive, white, circular satellite dish dominates the left and center of the frame. Superimposed over the upper half of the dish is a large, semi-transparent image of musician Buddy Holly. Shown from the waist up, he wears a dark teal suit, a white shirt, a black bowtie, and his signature thick-rimmed glasses, looking directly forward with a neutral expression. In the foreground on the right side of the dish, a young man with dark hair is partially climbing a silver metal ladder. He leans toward the center of the dish, using a small tool or probe near its surface. He is dressed in a bright red short-sleeved t-shirt, blue trousers, and white sneakers. To the right background, a portion of a single-story house with light gray siding, a dark roof, and a white chimney is visible. A window in the house glows with warm yellow light, and a small section of a dark brick structure appears at the far right. The background consists of a dark, navy blue gradient suggesting a night sky. Dramatic lighting originates from the left, casting highlights on the satellite dish, the man's back, and the side of the house. Bold, saturated colors—the white dish, red shirt, and teal suit—provide sharp contrast against the dark sky. The image has a smooth, painterly texture with polished gradients and shading.

                                [?]Walt » 🌐
                                @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

                                Weird Tales vol 09 number 06 (June 1927) - featured story: A Suitor from the Shades by Greye La Spina.



                                @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

                                astralcomputing.com

                                Cover art by C. C. Senf.

                                Weird Tales vol 09 number 06 (June 1927) - featured story: A Suitor from the Shades by Greye La Spina. Cover art by C. C. Senf. The tagline reads The Unique Magazine. Other contributors listed are Ray Cummings, Charlton L. Edmont, Wilford Allen, Eli Colter, and Victor Rousseau, along with Henry S. Whitehead. The price is 25 cents. The abbreviation C.C. SENF. appears on the lower left. The text JUNE, 1927 is printed vertically on the left edge. The illustration features three figures against a black background. On the left, an older man with white hair and a white mustache wears a black suit and white shirt. He stands behind a woman. The woman is positioned in the center, facing right. She has red hair styled in an updo and wears a white sleeveless dress with white gloves. She holds a bouquet of pink and white flowers with green leaves in her left hand. Her right hand is raised toward her face. To the right, a translucent white figure with no facial features, except for two dark spots for eyes, floats in the air. This figure has two hands, one raised with a finger pointing toward the woman, and the lower portion of the figure tapers into a white, wispy shape that extends toward the bottom of the frame. The man's face has shadows on the right side. The woman's dress and the spectral figure are white with grey shading. The bouquet contains white, pink, and green elements. The background is solid black. The magazine's title and border are red and white.

                                Alt...Weird Tales vol 09 number 06 (June 1927) - featured story: A Suitor from the Shades by Greye La Spina. Cover art by C. C. Senf. The tagline reads The Unique Magazine. Other contributors listed are Ray Cummings, Charlton L. Edmont, Wilford Allen, Eli Colter, and Victor Rousseau, along with Henry S. Whitehead. The price is 25 cents. The abbreviation C.C. SENF. appears on the lower left. The text JUNE, 1927 is printed vertically on the left edge. The illustration features three figures against a black background. On the left, an older man with white hair and a white mustache wears a black suit and white shirt. He stands behind a woman. The woman is positioned in the center, facing right. She has red hair styled in an updo and wears a white sleeveless dress with white gloves. She holds a bouquet of pink and white flowers with green leaves in her left hand. Her right hand is raised toward her face. To the right, a translucent white figure with no facial features, except for two dark spots for eyes, floats in the air. This figure has two hands, one raised with a finger pointing toward the woman, and the lower portion of the figure tapers into a white, wispy shape that extends toward the bottom of the frame. The man's face has shadows on the right side. The woman's dress and the spectral figure are white with grey shading. The bouquet contains white, pink, and green elements. The background is solid black. The magazine's title and border are red and white.

                                  Stan Stewart aka muz4now boosted

                                  [?]Solar Phasing » 🌐
                                  @solarphasing@mastodon.social

                                  Path of Light
                                  from On The Edge Of The Galaxy
                                  solarphasing.bandcamp.com/trac

                                  @electronicmusic
                                  @ambientmusic

                                    [?]Game Master's Book Club » 🌐
                                    @gamemastersbookclub@mastodon.social

                                    Day 6:Favorite Queer Graphic Novel - Kim and Kim - This Glamorous, High Flying Rock Star Life - Magdalene Visaggio, Eva Cabrera

                                      [?]Martin Rundkvist » 🌐
                                      @mrundkvist@archaeo.social

                                      The 20th century is receding in the rearview mirror.

                                      I bought an e-book of a 1940s novel put out in 2011 by Gollancz. In the series foreword, the editor writes that "vast troves of classic SF & Fantasy are almost certainly destined never again to see print".

                                      Dreams of the future staying firmly in the past, yellowing paperbacks on the used book market.

                                        🗳

                                        [?]Galactic Stone » 🌐
                                        @galacticstone@mastodon.social

                                        Question: In your opinion, is the original Alien movie (1979) a horror movie with science fiction elements or a science fiction movie with horror elements.

                                        In other words, is it more horror or more sci-fi?

                                        More horror:13
                                        More sci-fi:12
                                        Equal parts both:13
                                        Spiderman:1

                                          [?]Ratchman » 🌐
                                          @Ratchman@mstdn.social

                                          The Void - Dark sci-fi space opera.

                                          S04E05 - Harbinger

                                          On an asteroid mining colony, multiple people go missing before a partially dissolved body is found. But who, or what, is the killer?

                                          And Valentine Rao makes a rare mistake in a field where professionals rarely get to make a second.

                                          ratchman.com/episodes/the-void

                                          Image by Nuwan Tharaka. Mennan City, on the Teel Corporation's capital planet of Caliban. The city is enshrouded in a thick yellow smog that is lethal to anyone unmasked on the street. Polluted rain falls from the sky tainted with heavy metals and radioactive isotopes. It's a hellish industrial nightmare and proof that humanity repeats the mistakes of the past.

                                          Alt...Image by Nuwan Tharaka. Mennan City, on the Teel Corporation's capital planet of Caliban. The city is enshrouded in a thick yellow smog that is lethal to anyone unmasked on the street. Polluted rain falls from the sky tainted with heavy metals and radioactive isotopes. It's a hellish industrial nightmare and proof that humanity repeats the mistakes of the past.

                                            [?]Ratchman » 🌐
                                            @Ratchman@mstdn.social

                                              [?]Readbean » 🌐
                                              @Readbean@pixelfed.social

                                              Marley's Chain by Alan Edward Nourse

                                              http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32142

                                              #books #reading #bookstodon #scifi #sciencefiction #scifiart #sciencefictionart #retro #retrofuturism #pulpfiction #pulp #bookart #bookcovers #coverart

                                                [?]Liana Brooks » 🌐
                                                @LianaBrooks@mastodon.online

                                                CONVERGENCE POINT - As long as you don't stop reading at the end of the chapter, you'll be okay. Someone tried that while reading Convergence Point and I got an angry email about a character death.

                                                books2read.com/b/convergencepo

                                                The cover for Convergence Point – Yellow police tape with the title is crossed in front of a scene with two silhouettes of black jeeps with lights on. The authors name, Liana Brooks, is at the top of the cover and the tag line, “Who would you kill to keep your reality alive?” is in the bottom right corner.

                                                Alt...The cover for Convergence Point – Yellow police tape with the title is crossed in front of a scene with two silhouettes of black jeeps with lights on. The authors name, Liana Brooks, is at the top of the cover and the tag line, “Who would you kill to keep your reality alive?” is in the bottom right corner.

                                                  [?]Kostek Poland » 🌐
                                                  @dAlgorithm@mastodon.social

                                                  Evolution 3.0 — Contractual Evolution

                                                  This is the moment when humanity ceases to be an organism governed by nature and becomes the property of a technological system.

                                                  It is no longer the species that evolves.
                                                  It is the infrastructure sustaining consciousness.

                                                  An image representing an android

                                                  Alt...An image representing an android

                                                  § 19.2 — Penalties for Breach of Continuity Agreement Any attempt to interrupt, terminate, damage, conceal, fragment, or permanently deactivate assigned consciousness infrastructure shall constitute a violation of the Continuity Agreement. Due to the irreversible corporate investment associated with augmentation procedures, the Subject may not be granted existential release under disciplinary circumstances. In cases of severe contractual breach, the Corporation reserves the right to: — suspend sensory privileges, including physical embodiment, emotional amplification, and memory-access permissions; — assign the Subject to indefinite cognitive labor environments; — reduce subjective time-flow ratios for penal rehabilitation purposes; — replicate or partition consciousness processes for operational recovery of incurred losses; — maintain the Subject in continuous conscious preservation without environmental interaction. Permanent termination remains prohibited under all circumstances involving outstanding existential debt. Death does not constitute a legally recognized method of contract resolution.

                                                  Alt...§ 19.2 — Penalties for Breach of Continuity Agreement Any attempt to interrupt, terminate, damage, conceal, fragment, or permanently deactivate assigned consciousness infrastructure shall constitute a violation of the Continuity Agreement. Due to the irreversible corporate investment associated with augmentation procedures, the Subject may not be granted existential release under disciplinary circumstances. In cases of severe contractual breach, the Corporation reserves the right to: — suspend sensory privileges, including physical embodiment, emotional amplification, and memory-access permissions; — assign the Subject to indefinite cognitive labor environments; — reduce subjective time-flow ratios for penal rehabilitation purposes; — replicate or partition consciousness processes for operational recovery of incurred losses; — maintain the Subject in continuous conscious preservation without environmental interaction. Permanent termination remains prohibited under all circumstances involving outstanding existential debt. Death does not constitute a legally recognized method of contract resolution.

                                                  What people forgot was that the possibility of eternal life had stripped them of the right to die. At first, they called it progress. Then compassion. Eventually, a duty to society. The body no longer belonged to the individual — it became infrastructure. Consciousness was archived like data, emotions stabilized through pharmacology, and memory preserved in server rooms colder than family homes. There was no old age anymore, and so there was no end. And once there was no end, sacrifice, courage, and the final farewell lost their meaning as well. But the greatest tragedy was not eternal life itself. The greatest tragedy was that one day humanity realized it could no longer die, even when everything inside it already had.

                                                  Alt...What people forgot was that the possibility of eternal life had stripped them of the right to die. At first, they called it progress. Then compassion. Eventually, a duty to society. The body no longer belonged to the individual — it became infrastructure. Consciousness was archived like data, emotions stabilized through pharmacology, and memory preserved in server rooms colder than family homes. There was no old age anymore, and so there was no end. And once there was no end, sacrifice, courage, and the final farewell lost their meaning as well. But the greatest tragedy was not eternal life itself. The greatest tragedy was that one day humanity realized it could no longer die, even when everything inside it already had.

                                                  § 11.4 — Waiver of Biological Termination Rights Any individual voluntarily undergoing cognitive or biological augmentation financed, subsidized, or otherwise supported by the Corporation acknowledges and accepts the permanent transfer of their natural life-cycle autonomy. By consenting to the Procedure, the Subject irrevocably waives the right to biological death, cognitive termination, memory deletion, and all forms of self-authorized existential discontinuation. Continued existence, whether biological, synthetic, digital, or hybridized, shall constitute the agreed form of repayment for access to proprietary immortality technologies, enhancement systems, and associated medical services provided by the Corporation. The Subject further understands that perpetual continuity of consciousness is classified as an operational obligation, not an individual privilege. Failure to maintain continuity may be interpreted as breach of contract.

                                                  Alt...§ 11.4 — Waiver of Biological Termination Rights Any individual voluntarily undergoing cognitive or biological augmentation financed, subsidized, or otherwise supported by the Corporation acknowledges and accepts the permanent transfer of their natural life-cycle autonomy. By consenting to the Procedure, the Subject irrevocably waives the right to biological death, cognitive termination, memory deletion, and all forms of self-authorized existential discontinuation. Continued existence, whether biological, synthetic, digital, or hybridized, shall constitute the agreed form of repayment for access to proprietary immortality technologies, enhancement systems, and associated medical services provided by the Corporation. The Subject further understands that perpetual continuity of consciousness is classified as an operational obligation, not an individual privilege. Failure to maintain continuity may be interpreted as breach of contract.

                                                    [?]Walt » 🌐
                                                    @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

                                                    Died this day: 06/06/2003 (b. 02/27/1944)
                                                    Kenneth Milton Grimwood (February 27, 1944 – June 6, 2003) was an American author, who also published work under the name of Alan Cochran. Replay (1988) was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.

                                                    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Grim


                                                    @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

                                                    astralcomputing.com

                                                    Cover art by Larry Ratzkin

                                                    The book cover for the novel Replay by Ken Grimwood, with cover art by Larry Ratzkin. The title, "REPLAY," is the central focus, rendered in a massive, stylized, sans-serif font that spans the middle of the cover. The word is repeated in a cascading, staggered pattern across three horizontal lines, creating a sense of motion or repetition. The letters are large and blocky. The top line of the title is a vibrant, warm orange. The middle line features the word in a muted, dark grey on the left and a bright cyan blue on the right. The bottom line continues this pattern, with the left side in the same bright cyan blue and the right side in a deep, saturated royal blue. The author's name, "KEN GRIMWOOD," is positioned at the bottom of the cover in a large, bold, light grey, sans-serif font. Just above the name, the smaller text "A NOVEL BY" is centered in the same light grey color. At the very top of the cover, a tagline is centered in a smaller, white, serif font, reading: "If you could live your life over again..." The background is a solid, matte black, which provides a stark, high-contrast backdrop for the brightly colored, oversized typography. The overall lighting is even, with no discernible shadows or gradients, emphasizing the graphic, poster-like quality of the design. The texture of the background appears slightly grainy, similar to fine-grit paper. The arrangement of the repeated title creates a rhythmic, visual echo that complements the theme of the tagline.

                                                    Alt...The book cover for the novel Replay by Ken Grimwood, with cover art by Larry Ratzkin. The title, "REPLAY," is the central focus, rendered in a massive, stylized, sans-serif font that spans the middle of the cover. The word is repeated in a cascading, staggered pattern across three horizontal lines, creating a sense of motion or repetition. The letters are large and blocky. The top line of the title is a vibrant, warm orange. The middle line features the word in a muted, dark grey on the left and a bright cyan blue on the right. The bottom line continues this pattern, with the left side in the same bright cyan blue and the right side in a deep, saturated royal blue. The author's name, "KEN GRIMWOOD," is positioned at the bottom of the cover in a large, bold, light grey, sans-serif font. Just above the name, the smaller text "A NOVEL BY" is centered in the same light grey color. At the very top of the cover, a tagline is centered in a smaller, white, serif font, reading: "If you could live your life over again..." The background is a solid, matte black, which provides a stark, high-contrast backdrop for the brightly colored, oversized typography. The overall lighting is even, with no discernible shadows or gradients, emphasizing the graphic, poster-like quality of the design. The texture of the background appears slightly grainy, similar to fine-grit paper. The arrangement of the repeated title creates a rhythmic, visual echo that complements the theme of the tagline.

                                                      [?]Liana Brooks » 🌐
                                                      @LianaBrooks@mastodon.online

                                                      Born to rival crews. Bitter enemies as teens. Barely tolerant of each other on a good day, and now Rowena Lee needs to rely on Hollis Silar as backup to prevent a war that could destroy everyone she loves. ??books2read.com/b/changeofmomen

                                                        [?]Walt » 🌐
                                                        @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

                                                        Died this day: 06/05/2012 (b. 08/22/1920)
                                                        Ray Douglas Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter. The Science Fiction Writers of America made him its 10th SFWA Grand Master. The Martian Chronicles was nominated for the 1981 Hugo (4th place)

                                                        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Brad


                                                        @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

                                                        astralcomputing.com

                                                        Art by Arthur Lidov

                                                        The cover of Ray Bradbury's *The Martian Chronicles*, featuring art by Arthur Lidov, presents a central text block of bold, crisp, white, sans-serif capital letters set against a vast, nebulous cosmic background. The vertically stacked typography begins with "RAY BRADBURY," followed by "THE," and then the most prominent line, "MARTIAN CHRONICLES," in a larger scale. Beneath the title, "DOUBLEDAY," "SCIENCE," and "FICTION" are arranged in a smaller, uniform font. The background is a painterly, abstract celestial landscape of swirling, textured clouds. Deep navy blues bleed into lighter cerulean tones and patches of dusky, muted orange, suggesting a nebula or planetary atmosphere. Sharp, bright white streaks, reminiscent of shooting stars, arc diagonally from the upper left to the lower right. On the right, fine white lines trace large, overlapping elliptical orbits enclosing small, pale, circular shapes representing distant planets or moons. Near the bottom center, a prominent, light blue-grey planet sits nestled within these intersecting rings. Tiny, brilliant white stars are scattered throughout the darkest navy regions. The lighting is soft and diffused, with a gentle glow emanating from the white streaks and pale celestial bodies, creating immense depth within the colorful expanse. At the very bottom, centered below the text, is a small, square orange icon featuring a white graphic of an open book.

                                                        Alt...The cover of Ray Bradbury's *The Martian Chronicles*, featuring art by Arthur Lidov, presents a central text block of bold, crisp, white, sans-serif capital letters set against a vast, nebulous cosmic background. The vertically stacked typography begins with "RAY BRADBURY," followed by "THE," and then the most prominent line, "MARTIAN CHRONICLES," in a larger scale. Beneath the title, "DOUBLEDAY," "SCIENCE," and "FICTION" are arranged in a smaller, uniform font. The background is a painterly, abstract celestial landscape of swirling, textured clouds. Deep navy blues bleed into lighter cerulean tones and patches of dusky, muted orange, suggesting a nebula or planetary atmosphere. Sharp, bright white streaks, reminiscent of shooting stars, arc diagonally from the upper left to the lower right. On the right, fine white lines trace large, overlapping elliptical orbits enclosing small, pale, circular shapes representing distant planets or moons. Near the bottom center, a prominent, light blue-grey planet sits nestled within these intersecting rings. Tiny, brilliant white stars are scattered throughout the darkest navy regions. The lighting is soft and diffused, with a gentle glow emanating from the white streaks and pale celestial bodies, creating immense depth within the colorful expanse. At the very bottom, centered below the text, is a small, square orange icon featuring a white graphic of an open book.

                                                          [?]scottymarinara » 🌐
                                                          @scottrossi@mastodon.social

                                                          book 61 finished! "the missing" by sarah langan how creepy desperate demented and evil!magnificent!!! now on to book 62! blessed!

                                                            [?]Walt » 🌐
                                                            @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

                                                            Please BOOST!
                                                            SPECIAL COLLECTORS EDITION of The Martian Chronicles SIGNED by Ray Bradbury

                                                            astralcomputing.com/books/the-

                                                            or see the full collection here:

                                                            astralcomputing.com


                                                            @books @SciFi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

                                                            Art by Joseph Mugnaini

                                                            SIGNED Collector's Edition of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is an elegantly bound volume meticulously preserved in pristine condition. Part of a private, single-owner collection, it has been carefully stored in dust-free bookcases within a dry climate to maintain its flawless quality. The book is bound entirely in luxurious, deep crimson leather, accented beautifully in lustrous 22kt gold detailing. The front cover features the title, The Martian Chronicles, and author Ray Bradbury prominently embossed in gold script at the top. - Original artwork by renowned illustrator Joseph Mugnaini adorns the cover, carefully rendered in subtle gold lines beneath the title. This minimalist yet evocative illustration suggests Martian architectural structures, capturing the novel's imaginative and reflective spirit. The spine, richly hubbed and elegantly designed, prominently displays the title and author's last name in complementary gold lettering, accompanied by tasteful decorative accents. Introduction by Damon Knight. - This limited-run edition is personally signed by Ray Bradbury. Produced by The Easton Press for their esteemed Masterpieces of Science Fiction Collection, it features archival-quality paper, gilded page edges that shimmer gently, traditional smyth-sewn binding, and concealed muslin joints ensuring longevity. Inside the front cover is an immaculate, unused bookplate, confirming its condition as pristine, unread, and carefully preserved.

                                                            Alt...SIGNED Collector's Edition of The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is an elegantly bound volume meticulously preserved in pristine condition. Part of a private, single-owner collection, it has been carefully stored in dust-free bookcases within a dry climate to maintain its flawless quality. The book is bound entirely in luxurious, deep crimson leather, accented beautifully in lustrous 22kt gold detailing. The front cover features the title, The Martian Chronicles, and author Ray Bradbury prominently embossed in gold script at the top. - Original artwork by renowned illustrator Joseph Mugnaini adorns the cover, carefully rendered in subtle gold lines beneath the title. This minimalist yet evocative illustration suggests Martian architectural structures, capturing the novel's imaginative and reflective spirit. The spine, richly hubbed and elegantly designed, prominently displays the title and author's last name in complementary gold lettering, accompanied by tasteful decorative accents. Introduction by Damon Knight. - This limited-run edition is personally signed by Ray Bradbury. Produced by The Easton Press for their esteemed Masterpieces of Science Fiction Collection, it features archival-quality paper, gilded page edges that shimmer gently, traditional smyth-sewn binding, and concealed muslin joints ensuring longevity. Inside the front cover is an immaculate, unused bookplate, confirming its condition as pristine, unread, and carefully preserved.

                                                              [?]Inkican » 🌐
                                                              @inkican@mastodon.social

                                                              I’m giving away three short stories to encourage readers – two of them are audio books, so you can do immersive ASMR while you read! inkican.com/flash-sale-free-su

                                                                [?]🕯️Curious Magpie🕯️ » 🌐
                                                                @CuriousMagpie@beige.party

                                                                11/?
                                                                It's not that I haven't been reading/listening - but I've needed comfort rereads and I've been taking online classes.

                                                                Third time was the charm for this book - the narrator was excellent. It's listed as a middle school book but I found it engaging and not too young.

                                                                The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

                                                                Book Cover for THE LAST CUENTISTA * PURA BELPRÉ HONOR WINNER By DONNA BARBA HIGUERA

                                                                Alt...Book Cover for THE LAST CUENTISTA * PURA BELPRÉ HONOR WINNER By DONNA BARBA HIGUERA

                                                                  [?]🕯️Curious Magpie🕯️ » 🌐
                                                                  @CuriousMagpie@beige.party

                                                                  18-21/?
                                                                  A number of people on here have recommended the Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kirstein. I'm glad I listened, the books are excellent, the characters are wonderful, the world building is great, and I enjoyed all of them very much.

                                                                  There's just one drawback. She published the first book in 1989 and the fourth book came out in in 2004. But the final two books are yet to be ... written? released? published? In any case - not available 😖

                                                                  If you enjoy a good story and are not attached to having any kind of resolution or completion, other than in your own imagination, I highly recommend.

                                                                  Book cover: the steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

                                                                  Alt...Book cover: the steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

                                                                  Book cover: the outskirter's secret by Rosemary Kirstein The steerswoman series volume two

                                                                  Alt...Book cover: the outskirter's secret by Rosemary Kirstein The steerswoman series volume two

                                                                  Book cover: the lost steersman by Rosemary Kirstein The steerswoman series volume three

                                                                  Alt...Book cover: the lost steersman by Rosemary Kirstein The steerswoman series volume three

                                                                  Book cover: the language of power by Rosemary Kirstein The steerswoman series volume four

                                                                  Alt...Book cover: the language of power by Rosemary Kirstein The steerswoman series volume four

                                                                    [?]🕯️Curious Magpie🕯️ » 🌐
                                                                    @CuriousMagpie@beige.party

                                                                    22/?
                                                                    Did I Tell You About the Light?

                                                                    Although Rosemary Kirstein did not finish the steerswoman series (yet? 🤞), she does have a current Patreon with an ongoing series of letters slowly unfolding into a story told through poems. All kinds of poems. It's beautiful and poignant and stirs my imagination.


                                                                      [?]🕯️Curious Magpie🕯️ » 🌐
                                                                      @CuriousMagpie@beige.party

                                                                      23/?
                                                                      Jo Walton has a column in Reactor magazine with what she's reading currently and some extra recommendations.

                                                                      Cameron Reed's recent release, "what we are seeking" was one that she did not describe at all other than to give high praise. So I borrowed it from the library and just finished. It is something I need to read again in a day or two.

                                                                      It is difficult for me to describe - yes, there are spaceships, and humans exploring the galaxy, and a continuing relationship with earth, and an exploration of what might happen when radically different cultures are trying to find a way to live with one another, including alien cultures, an exploration of gender and relationships and sexuality. I think it's worth a read.

                                                                      Book cover: what we are seeking by cameron reed

                                                                      Alt...Book cover: what we are seeking by cameron reed

                                                                        [?]Walt » 🌐
                                                                        @astralcomputing@bookstodon.com

                                                                        Weird Tales vol 09 number 04 (April 1927) - featured story: EXPLORERS INTO INFINITY by Ray Cummings.



                                                                        @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefiction

                                                                        astralcomputing.com

                                                                        Cover art by C.J. SENF

                                                                        Weird Tales vol 09 number 04 (April 1927) - featured story: EXPLORERS INTO INFINITY by Ray Cummings. Cover art by C.J. SENF. The tagline reads The Unique Magazine. The cover price is 25 cents. An artist signature at the bottom center reads C.J. SENF. The illustration depicts a large, humanoid creature with brown skin and thick, dark brown fur covering its back, shoulders, and a long, thick tail extending downwards and behind it. The creature stands on a green and brown grassy area, leaning its torso forward towards a woman. It has dark hair and a wide mouth. To the right of the creature, a woman with dark hair lies on a rectangular red cloth spread over the green grass. She wears a white, short-sleeved garment and brown sandals. Her arms are raised above her head. Behind the figures, several vertical brown tree trunks are visible against a background of light green and tan shapes. The ground is covered in patches of green and brown grass. The top portion of the image is a solid red rectangular area. The text for the title "EXPLORERS INTO INFINITY" and author "by Ray Cummings" is in a yellow, stylized font with black outlines, positioned in the upper portion of the image. The date "APRIL, 1927" is printed in black text at the bottom left. The words "WEIRD TALES" appear in a large, yellow, stylized font at the top. The entire scene is contained within a black border.

                                                                        Alt...Weird Tales vol 09 number 04 (April 1927) - featured story: EXPLORERS INTO INFINITY by Ray Cummings. Cover art by C.J. SENF. The tagline reads The Unique Magazine. The cover price is 25 cents. An artist signature at the bottom center reads C.J. SENF. The illustration depicts a large, humanoid creature with brown skin and thick, dark brown fur covering its back, shoulders, and a long, thick tail extending downwards and behind it. The creature stands on a green and brown grassy area, leaning its torso forward towards a woman. It has dark hair and a wide mouth. To the right of the creature, a woman with dark hair lies on a rectangular red cloth spread over the green grass. She wears a white, short-sleeved garment and brown sandals. Her arms are raised above her head. Behind the figures, several vertical brown tree trunks are visible against a background of light green and tan shapes. The ground is covered in patches of green and brown grass. The top portion of the image is a solid red rectangular area. The text for the title "EXPLORERS INTO INFINITY" and author "by Ray Cummings" is in a yellow, stylized font with black outlines, positioned in the upper portion of the image. The date "APRIL, 1927" is printed in black text at the bottom left. The words "WEIRD TALES" appear in a large, yellow, stylized font at the top. The entire scene is contained within a black border.

                                                                          [?]Paul Semel » 🌐
                                                                          @paulsemel@toot.community

                                                                          For their first short story collection, "The Wildcraft Drones," author T.K. Rex assembled a collection of sci-fi cli-fi solarpunk stories all set on the same fictional world. To learn more, check out this exclusive interview.
                                                                          paulsemel.com/exclusive-interv
                                                                          📖🪐🤖
                                                                          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                                                                          For their first short story collection, "The Wildcraft Drones," author T.K. Rex assembled a collection of sci-fi cli-fi solarpunk stories all set on the same fictional world. To learn more, check out this exclusive interview.

                                                                          Alt...For their first short story collection, "The Wildcraft Drones," author T.K. Rex assembled a collection of sci-fi cli-fi solarpunk stories all set on the same fictional world. To learn more, check out this exclusive interview.

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