The Hugo Awards should be celebrating sci-fi and fantasy literature – but appeasing Chinese authorities appears to have taken precedence.
We only occasionally venture directly into the world of literary reporting on this site, but hecky thump. A lovely awards ceremony celebrating the best science fiction and fantasy writing, the Hugos have been running for over 70 years, recognising the kind of authors who rarely get a sniff at more mainstream prizes. After all, you write genre stuff, and you’re not going to need that many shelves for your gongs. Ask sci-fi filmmakers.
It’s pretty tragic, then, that this year’s Hugo Awards have been overshadowed by behind the scenes irregularities. The awards were given out at the Worldcon convention, this year held at Chengdu in China. All seemed normal-ish when the prizes were bestowed, but things have gone south very quickly.
The basic overview of what happened is that...
We only occasionally venture directly into the world of literary reporting on this site, but hecky thump. A lovely awards ceremony celebrating the best science fiction and fantasy writing, the Hugos have been running for over 70 years, recognising the kind of authors who rarely get a sniff at more mainstream prizes. After all, you write genre stuff, and you’re not going to need that many shelves for your gongs. Ask sci-fi filmmakers.
It’s pretty tragic, then, that this year’s Hugo Awards have been overshadowed by behind the scenes irregularities. The awards were given out at the Worldcon convention, this year held at Chengdu in China. All seemed normal-ish when the prizes were bestowed, but things have gone south very quickly.
The basic overview of what happened is that...
- 2/22/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Why are we fascinated by science fiction? Is it the opportunity to extrapolate technological and sociological trends beyond our current experience? Is it the way it helps us to appreciate our place in a vast and unknowable universe? Is it the way that it gives us a fresh perspective from which to examine the human condition?
No! It’s none of those things. It’s aliens. Aliens are the number one best thing about science fiction, which is why we can objectively and correctly rank large science fiction franchises according to which one has the best aliens.
And out of those franchises, the biggest ones with the most detailed alien cultures are Doctor Who and Star Trek.
To decide, again, objectively and correctly which aliens are better, we must look at a complex lattice of interrelated criteria, scientifically judging each one to objectively determine the best.
The Best-Looking Aliens?
This is,...
No! It’s none of those things. It’s aliens. Aliens are the number one best thing about science fiction, which is why we can objectively and correctly rank large science fiction franchises according to which one has the best aliens.
And out of those franchises, the biggest ones with the most detailed alien cultures are Doctor Who and Star Trek.
To decide, again, objectively and correctly which aliens are better, we must look at a complex lattice of interrelated criteria, scientifically judging each one to objectively determine the best.
The Best-Looking Aliens?
This is,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
From outer space to future Earth, science fiction helps us explore what-ifs and the human heart. Take a look at our top picks for new science fiction books in May 2022.
Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Type: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: May 3
Den of Geek says: Known for his creative aliens and hard science, Tchaikovsky is back with the second in a space opera trilogy. Classic ancient aliens feature in this adventurous installment.
Publisher’s summary: The Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Children of Time brings us the second novel in an extraordinary space opera trilogy about humanity on the brink of extinction, and how one man’s discovery will save or destroy us all. After eighty years of fragile peace, the Architects are back, wreaking havoc as they consume entire planets. In the past, Originator artefacts – vestiges of a long-vanished civilization – could save a world from annihilation.
Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Type: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: May 3
Den of Geek says: Known for his creative aliens and hard science, Tchaikovsky is back with the second in a space opera trilogy. Classic ancient aliens feature in this adventurous installment.
Publisher’s summary: The Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author of Children of Time brings us the second novel in an extraordinary space opera trilogy about humanity on the brink of extinction, and how one man’s discovery will save or destroy us all. After eighty years of fragile peace, the Architects are back, wreaking havoc as they consume entire planets. In the past, Originator artefacts – vestiges of a long-vanished civilization – could save a world from annihilation.
- 5/7/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
Outer space doesn’t feel so far away with these spacefaring adventures, including the newest from the world of The Expanse. Check out our top picks for science fiction books in March 2022.
Memory’s Legion by James S.A. Corey
Type: Anthology
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: March 15
Den of Geek says: For the first time, all of Corey’s stories set in the world of The Expanse are available in one print volume, along with behind-the-scenes notes from the authors.
Publisher’s summary: On Mars, a scientist experiments with a new engine that will one day become the drive that fuels humanity’s journey into the stars.
On an asteroid station, a group of prisoners are oblivious to the catastrophe that awaits them.
On a future Earth beset by overpopulation, pollution, and poverty, a crime boss desperately seeks to find a way off planet.
On an alien world, a human...
Memory’s Legion by James S.A. Corey
Type: Anthology
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: March 15
Den of Geek says: For the first time, all of Corey’s stories set in the world of The Expanse are available in one print volume, along with behind-the-scenes notes from the authors.
Publisher’s summary: On Mars, a scientist experiments with a new engine that will one day become the drive that fuels humanity’s journey into the stars.
On an asteroid station, a group of prisoners are oblivious to the catastrophe that awaits them.
On a future Earth beset by overpopulation, pollution, and poverty, a crime boss desperately seeks to find a way off planet.
On an alien world, a human...
- 3/10/2022
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
From space opera to near-future speculation, science fiction brings us futures beautiful and frightening. Take a look at our top picks for the best new science fiction books to read in August 2021 …
Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Type: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: Aug. 3
Den of Geek says: Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time garnered praise and awards for its alien spiders and exploration of big ideas. The beginning of a new series, Shards of Earth looks like a twist on the classic super soldier drama with a focus on what happens after the war.
Publisher’s summary: Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.
After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris.
Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Type: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: Aug. 3
Den of Geek says: Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time garnered praise and awards for its alien spiders and exploration of big ideas. The beginning of a new series, Shards of Earth looks like a twist on the classic super soldier drama with a focus on what happens after the war.
Publisher’s summary: Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.
After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris.
- 8/1/2021
- by Megan Crouse
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Hulu is in early development on a series based onSimultaneous, a short story by Arrival and Bird Box screenwriter Eric Heisserer. We hear the streaming company struck a six-figure penalty deal in order to pick up the project, which is described as a cerebral detective thriller involving regenerative past lives. Colby Day has been tapped to write the adaptation.
Heisserer and Lawrence Grey, both of whom produced the $148 million worldwide-grossing horror film Lights Out, along with James Wan, will produce Simultaneous for Hulu. Kate Smith and Jordan Helman will oversee the project on behalf of the streamer.
Heisserer is coming off of the success of Netflix’s postapocalyptic thriller Bird Box, which was viewed by more than 45 million accounts over the holiday period. The Oscar-nominated scribe co-wrote the screenplay for Sony’s Bloodshot, the Vin Diesel starrer based on the comic book series, which is due out in 2020. He’s repped by Wme,...
Heisserer and Lawrence Grey, both of whom produced the $148 million worldwide-grossing horror film Lights Out, along with James Wan, will produce Simultaneous for Hulu. Kate Smith and Jordan Helman will oversee the project on behalf of the streamer.
Heisserer is coming off of the success of Netflix’s postapocalyptic thriller Bird Box, which was viewed by more than 45 million accounts over the holiday period. The Oscar-nominated scribe co-wrote the screenplay for Sony’s Bloodshot, the Vin Diesel starrer based on the comic book series, which is due out in 2020. He’s repped by Wme,...
- 1/4/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
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