* Overheard in the Store:
[one very stoned visitor to another]: "Star Trek; so it's non-fiction, but cats; so it's fiction."
* R.I.P. Kate Wilhelm, a prolific and talented author of science fiction and mystery, and the cofounder of the Clarion Writing Workshops, who passed away from respiratory illness. https://boingboing.net/2018/03/11/the-sweet-birds-sang.html
* R.I.P. Ahmed Khaled Tawfik; considered the first contemporary Arab writer of science fiction and horror, he has passed away at 55. He leaves behind over 200 novels and fans across the globe. https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/4/4/egyptian-literary-pioneer-ahmed-khaled-tawfik-passes-away
* R.I.P. Stephen Hawking, a complex & brilliant scientist whose lifelong work impacted and inspired so many, and left a lasting mark on our understanding of the universe. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-professor-dies-aged-76
* Worldcon 76's Artist Guest of Honor John Picacio has teamed with authors John Scalzi, Mary Robinette Kowal, Ty Franck, Kate Elliott and more to create The Mexicanx Initiative. They're sponsoring Worldcon Attending Memberships for 50 Mexicanx pros and fans to attend Worldcon in San Jose this summer. Now that they've achieved that goal, they've created The Mexicanx Initiative's Assistance Fund -- a separate, dedicated fund to provide travel and lodging assistance for those 50 Mexicanx invitees, many of whom ail be journeying across the border from Mexico. SFSFC, the host committee for Worldcon 76, is handling the collection of all funds which will be distributed to the Recipients at Worldcon. About $6000 has been collected so far, and the fund's goal is $15,000 before Memorial Day Weekend. If you're able to participate, donate here (see "Mexicanx Initiative Assistance Fund"): https://www.worldcon76.org/faq/donations And here's a short article from the San Antonio Current on John's idea: https://www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2018/03/29/science-fiction-artist-john-picacio-gives-a-lift-to-other-mexicanx-creators
* Amazon has spent $1 billion to adapt Liu Cixin's award-winning novel THE THREE BODY PROBLEM into a three-season TV series. https://winteriscoming.net/2018/03/30/now-amazon-spending-1-billion-science-fiction-show/
* Easter's over, but the idea of resurrection lives on. The Mary Sue share some of their favorite resurrections from fiction. https://www.themarysue.com/easter-resurrections-sff-shows/
* ZOMBIE CAKE TUTORIALS! http://artisancakecompany.com/2015/10/walker-zombie-cake-tutorial/
* Netflix is bringing back "Lost in Space". The original 60's show was a classic, (and the less said about the 90's film, the better). Let's hope this new imagining is closer to the former than the latter. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend/reboot-of-1960s-science-fiction-classic-is-simply-out-of-this-world-36771082.html
* Stephen L. Carter shares his personal 12 Science Fiction Rules for Life, each drawn from a classic quote. Not sure we agree, but they are interesting. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-science-fiction-wisdom-yoda-20180328-story.html
* We would have included Quvenzhane Wallis from "Beasts of the Southern Wild", Noah Hathaway in "The Neverending Story", and some other stunning performances, but this is a pretty good list of great child performances in F/SF: http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/debate-club-top-5-child-performances-in-science-fiction-and-fantasy
* "Black Panther" has finally been dethroned at the box office, (but by another science fiction film with a black lead actor, the gorgeous and talented John Boyega) -- "Pacific Rim: Uprising". http://www.kcra.com/article/black-panther-dethroned-at-box-office-by-science-fiction-movie/19588092
* Last month we mentioned the stabbing of Bangladeshi science fiction author Zafar Iqbal. While he has been recovering, there has been an in-depth investigation into the motives behind the stabbing: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/bangladesh-science-fiction-writer-zafar-iqbal-attacked-180313093958357.html
* A teaser trailer has been released for GRRM's new series "Nightflyers". Even Na'amen, who's not a big horror fan, has found himself anxiously awaiting the release once he heard the description as "Psycho in space": http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2018/03/20/george-r-r-martins-science-fiction-horror-show-nightflyers-gets-first-teaser.html
* The newest featurette from "Incredibles 2" focuses on the genius, the talent, the icon: Miss Edna Mode. http://sciencefiction.com/2018/04/06/new-incredibles-2-featurette-honors-edna-mode/
* Walmart has filed a patent for autonomous robot bees. We've all seen this movie or read this story before, right? Bee-pocalypse in 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . https://stocknews.com/news/wmt-walmart-inc-wmt-goes-science-fiction-by-filing-a-robotic/
* If you feel like dystopias are everywhere, and you're looking for a little fun distraction, why not try one of these 20 works of upbeat science fiction? https://culturess.com/2018/03/17/20-works-of-upbeat-science-fiction-star-trek-hitchhikers-guide-ready-player-one/
* A real life "Jurassic Park", what could POSSIBLY go wrong? (Although it is "The Sun", so take it with at least half of a grain of salt.) https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5995159/woolly-mammoths-clone-scientists-jurassic-park/
* A wonderful profile on the Strugatsky brothers: their writing, their politics and the way Judiasm is present in their work. https://mosaicmagazine.com/observation/2018/03/the-daring-strugatsky-brothers-practitioners-of-outwardly-soviet-covertly-jewish-science-fiction/
* We can only hope the headline of SciFi taking over TV this spring is really true. We're ready. https://nypost.com/2018/04/05/sci-fi-is-taking-over-television-this-spring/
* An in-depth look at what is likely the worst "Star Trek: Voyager" episode: "Threshold", (otherwise known as the one where Paris and Janeway turn into giant lizards and have sex). https://nerdist.com/worst-of-the-best-star-trek-voyager-threshold/
* Syfy gathers a list of the best & worst of the giant monster movies. http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-history-of-hollywoods-best-and-worst-giant-monster-movies
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Award News
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* Congratulations to Victoria Bergin for winning the 2017 Tiptree Award, and also to Charlie Jane Anders, who made the honor list. https://tiptree.org/2018/03/virginia-bergin-wins-2017-tiptree-award-honor-list-and-long-list-announced
* The 2018 Hugo Award nominees have been announced: https://www.tor.com/2018/03/31/2018-hugo-award-finalists-announced/
* The 2018 British Science Fiction Association Award winners have been announced: https://www.bsfa.co.uk/awards/
* The 2017 Aurealis Awards for Australian Speculative winners have been announced: https://aurealisawards.org/2018/03/31/757/
* BANNERLESS by Carrie Vaughn has won the 2018 Philip K. Dick Award! More info here:
http://locusmag.com/2018/04/philip-k-dick-award-announced-2/
* The Ditmar Awards, which celebrate Australian SF, have also announced their 2018 winners:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditmar_Award_results#2018:_Swancon_2018,_Perth
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