Michael Mammay Interview
Links: SFRevu Review: Planetside / Author’s Blog

Michael Mammay’s debut novel, Planetside is as much a mystery as a Mil-SF novel, and it’s a great start to what we hope is a productive career. He retired from the Army last year after serving in Desert Storm, Somalia, and Afghanistan, where he used the Kandahaar Air Base as a model for the orbital station in his novel, Planetside. The novel raises the bar for intelligent Mil-SF, but that’s not really a surprise. The author is a graduate of West Point, holds a Masters degree in Military History, was active duty for 25 years, and has been in love with writing since he was a boy. Now he’s gone on to share that love with the next generation by teaching American and British literature at a military academy. The author was happy to give us some insights into his process, love of reading, and what comes next. Continue reading →

For thirty-five years Gardner Dozois helped define not only what the best science fiction of the year was, but what the genre itself was. Every year since I started reading his annual collection (I’m not sure when that was, but the earliest copy on my shelf is from year seven) I’ve looked forward to reading it on vacation and saving it as a special treat.

Since SFRevu began in 1997 I looked forward to the little dopamine hit that I got from seeing this publication mentioned in his annual summary, despite the fact it always (and yes, I did tell him more than once) gave our URL as being hosted by the now-shuttered SFSite.

But, as you no doubt know, shortly before the publication of this year’s edition, Gardner passed away, which was a tremendous loss to the science fiction community. I didn’t know him well enough to say we were friends, but I liked him as well as admired and respected him, and the thought that this is his last collection saddens me.

Will there be a Thirty Sixth annual collection next year with a new editor?

I don’t know, and if not, then editor’s like Neil Clarke, bionic heart and all, and  Jonathan Strahan. will keep the flame alive with their own collections. Just the year before we lost editor David Hartwell, though his Year’s Best SF series seemed to have petered out in 2013.

But more than enough about the past and future. On with the present.

The 35th annual collection has 38 stories in it, as well as the usual insightful summation at the beginning and honorable mentions at the end.

There is no shortage of regulars. Nancy Kress managed to get in twice (DEAR SARAH, CANOE), and names like Bruce Sterling, Michael Swanwick, Harry Turtledove, Alastair Reynolds, Sean McMullen, James S.A. Corey, Greg Eagan, and Tobias S. Buckell promise more of the stuff we know and love.

There are also newcomers, like Indrapramit Das (THE MOON IS NOT A BATTLEFIELD) whom I don’t know but am delighted to read for the first time, which is much of what this is all about. Others, like Linda Ngata (THE MARTIAN OBELISK) are here for the first time (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on that) and I was pleased to see Silvia Moreno-Garcia (PRIME MERIDIAN) which I had just reviewed for this issue on the list.

This collection represents more than each of the stories, it puts a mark down on what Gardner considered worthy. Science fiction goes on, and will always be a genre in flux, but think about that when you read, and enjoy the stories.

Contents:

• SUMMATION: 2017
• THE MOON IS NOT A BATTLEFIELD – Indrapramit Das
• MY ENGLISH NAME – R. S. Benedict
• AN EVENING WITH SEVERYN GRIMES – Rich Larson
• VANGUARD 2.0 – Carter Scholz
• STARLIGHT EXPRESS – Michael Swanwick
• THE MARTIAN OBELISK – Linda Nagata
• WE WHO LIVE IN THE HEART – Kelly Robson
• WINTER TIMESHARE – Ray Nayler
• DEAR SARAH – Nancy Kress
• NIGHT PASSAGE – Alastair Reynolds
• THE DRAGON THAT FLEW OUT OF THE SUN – Aliette de Bodard
• WAITING OUT THE END OF THE WORLD IN PATTY’S PLACE CAFE – Naomi Kritzer
• THE HUNGER AFTER YOU’RE FED – James S. A. Corey
• ASSASSINS – Jack Skillingstead and Burt Courtier
• THE MARTIAN JOB – Jaine Fenn
• THE ROAD TO THE SEA – Lavie Tidhar
• UNCANNY VALLEY – Greg Egan
• THE WORDLESS – Indrapramit Das
• PAN-HUMANISM: HOPE AND PRAGMATICS – Jessica Barber and Sara Saab
• ZIGEUNER – Harry Turtledove
• THE PROVING GROUND – Alec Nevala-Lee
• ZEN AND THE ART OF STARSHIP MAINTENANCE – Tobias S. Buckell
• THE INFLUENCE MACHINE – Sean McMullen
• CANOE – Nancy Kress
• THE HISTORY OF THE INVASION TOLD IN FIVE DOGS – Kelly Jennings
• PRIME MERIDIAN – Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• TRICERATOPS – Ian McHugh
• MINES – Eleanor Arnason
• THERE USED TO BE OLIVE TREES – Rich Larson
• WHENDING MY WAY BACK HOME – Bill Johnson
• DEATH ON MARS – Madeline Ashby
• ELEPHANT ON TABLE – Bruce Sterling
• NUMBER THIRTY-NINE SKINK – Suzanne Palmer
• A SERIES OF STEAKS – Vina Jie-Min Prasad
• THE LAST BOAT-BUILDER IN BALLYVOLOON – Finbarr O’Reilly
• THE RESIDUE OF FIRE – Robert Reed
• SIDEWALKS – Maureen F. McHugh
• NEXUS – Michael F. Flynn
• HONORABLE MENTIONS: 2017

 Tachyon Publications Pub Date 12 Jun 2018

• Netgalley
• Amazon

Publisher’s Description : She believed in the mission with all her heart.
But that was sixty million years ago.

How do you stage a mutiny when you’re only awake one day in a million? How do you conspire when your tiny handful of potential allies changes with each shift? How do you engage an enemy that never sleeps, that sees through your eyes and hears through your ears and relentlessly, honestly, only wants whats best for you?

Sunday Ahzmundin is about to find out.

Continue reading →

MOSF Escape Velocity 2018
May 25-27 \Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Ernest Lilley (Originally published in SFREvu.com 05/28/2018)

Escape Velocity is the Museum of Science Fiction’s annual convention and unlike most sci-fi conventions, either literary or comic-con, it focuses on a mix of sci-fi in media, science and education, and a host of movie props, either actual or reproduced. 2018 is the 50’s anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyessy, so there were plenty of 2001 themed panels and exhibits took center stage, starting with a full-size EVA Pod from the movie, and a wide range of panels, cosplay, science exhibits, and a few Teslas, including a deorbited (not really) Starman. This year’s Media GoH was Greg Nicotero, Executive Producer, Director, and Special FX Make-Up Designer for The Walking Dead, and SF Author Greg Bear was on hand to talk about world-building, while Author and MOSF Advisory Staff Member David Brin came in by remote to hold forth on “The Future According to Him”There were lit panels and anime panels, exhibits with real science and many with movie props, but the prize went to the life-size EVA pod from 2001 built by Greg Nicotero, who meticulously researched the original and gave a terrific talk on its construction.

A Stone’s Throw Away. Just across the Potomac from Alexandria VA, and a few minutes south of DC, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center provided plenty of space for Escape Velocity 2018.

Open the Exhibit Bay Door, Hal. EVA Pod (@2001: A Space Odyssey) – Media GoH Greg Nicotero (Walking Dead) brought a full-size exact reproduction of an EVA Pod from Discovery One. He gave an engaging talk on the process of researching and recreating movie props using 3D printing and source materials.

A Quick Stop on the Way to the Red Planet. Visitors entering the exhibit hall were greeted by Tesla’s Starman in his iconic red roadster. So, who’s really on their way to Mars? Escape Velocity 2018

Fastest Piece of Junk in the Hall. One of the most appreciated features was the full-size Millennium Falcon cockpit, built by Greg Dietrich, Jake Polatty, and a group of fellow Star Wars fans from around the world. Yes, you can sit in the pilot’s seat and engage the hyperdrive, for a small fee. Disney, by the way, is OK with the project. Wired did a feature on the construction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn7u4_iq0YY Escape Velocity 2018

Did you folks misplace a Vulcan? There is a lot of high-quality CosPlay at Escape Velocity 2018, some on a professional level, like the #Ghostbusters Tri-State Division and the Halo Nation / UNSC Capitol groups with booths on the exhibit floor. There were plenty of Star Wars and other (Rocky Horror?) contingents, but this trio caught our eye doing it old school, but with Star Fleet pride. Escape Velocity 2018

It’s Not Easy Being a Fem After The Apocalypse. There were some excellent panels Escape Velocity 2018 including this one on “Female Embodiment in the Post-Apocalyptic Survival Narrative” led by Aisha Matthews, MOSF’s Literary Track Programming Coordinator (far right), The panel notes that in depictions of life after an apocalypse storytellers (and audiences) are more comfortable with watching rape scenes than confronting the reality of menstruation. Hey, if that just made you uncomfortable, they did their job. Lots of other good programming was there, though I spent entirely too much time in the Science Fiction and Anime track with experts like Librarian Sarah Hodge-Wetherbe and the hyperkinetic Justin Coale. Escape Velocity 2018

More Gregs Than We Can Bear. There were some well-known authors on hand, like Hard Science Fiction guru Greg Bear, an alumnus of the Citizens Advisory Council on National Space Policy and author of Blood Music, Darwin’s Radio, and Hull Zero Three. His and his most recent novel, Killing Titan (2015). WIth guest Greg Bear and Nicotero (Walking Dead), and Executive Director Greg Viggiano (MOSF), its a Gaggle of Gregs. Escape Velocity 2018

Through a scanner, brightly? No, that’s not a teleport pad. It’s a full-body scanner at 3D Herdon’s booth in the exhibit hall at Escape Velocity 2018. The impact of #D printing can be seen throughout the event, as more and more props and costumes rely on modeling and the latest tech to get accurate results. While the resulting costumes are stunning, I miss the days of tin cans and aluminum foil, but then again, I miss stop-action special effects.#isleofdogs

What’s a museum without a gallery? Ironically, the Escape Velocity 2018 gallery isn’t very large and is limited to a fairly sparse array of suits, costumes< and weapons. Hopefully MOSF will get a site of their own and be able to build out a serious collection, but for now, the action is really in the exhibit hall. left: Captain Dallas’ EVA suite (Alien) right: Cylon “Toaster” (Battlestar Galactica)

It’s Full of Fans. The 2001 50th anniversary panel was SRO for an expanded group of panelists led by Timothy Logue, and including Robert Godwin (Apogee Space Books), Adam Johnson (author: 2001: The Lost Science parts 1 and 2), Greg Nicotero (Executive Producer, The Walking Dead) and others. Escape Velocity 2018 — at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

Make Stagecraft, not Warcraft. Bat’leth, (or whatever that thing is) not allowed in the workshop on stage fights with staffs. Escape Velocity 2018

Take that, alien scum! Artist Jeremy Wilken saves the day with one of his “Woah Botz” creations. Made from found objects (and surprisingly affordable) Jeremy creates a universe of retro robots, rayguns, and rocket ships. Escape Velocity 2018 Woah-Botz https://www.woah-botz.com/

What did one R2 Unit say to the Other? R2 catches up on droid news with a colleague from the Imperial fleet. You may think these droids are the ones you’re looking for, but they’re not for sale. But don’t worry, the R2D2 Builders club is ready to help you create your own. Escape Velocity 2018

Links / References

• Facebook Album: Escape Velocity 2018 – Ernest Lilley
• Museum of Science Fiction: Prospectus and Program Guide

The singer is a dead man walkin,
and he sounds a little rough, both singing and talkin.