A science fiction blog featuring science fiction book reviews and with frequent ramblings on fantasy, computers and the web.
In episode 28 of the SF Signal Podcast, Fred Kiesche and Patrick Hester sit down to chat with legendary science fiction and fantasy author, David Drake! Drake has a long and storied career with dozens of novels, multiple short stories, collections, anthologies and collaborations.
Show: The Big Bang Theory
Episode Title: ‘The Thespian Catayst’
Air Date: February 3rd
Network: CBS
When Sheldon fails to connect and engage with students during a guest lecture, he seeks Penny’s help ‘teaching’ him about acting. Meanwhile, Raj has multiple fantasies and daydreams about horribly things happening to Wolowitz, forcing him to step in to ‘take care’ of Bernadette.
Warning: Spoilers ahead…
It’s time. Time to settle, once and for all, which genre shows rule and which ones drool.
Talk to the fans and you will always run into people who feel one show with a premise of x is so much better than that other show based on x.
Today’s Smackdown: Supernatural Vs Kolchak: The Night Stalker
In episode 27 of the SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester, Jeff Patterson and Karen Burnham sit down to chat about politics in Science Fiction and Fantasy:
Q: Has Science Fiction and Fantasy gotten more or less political in the past few decades? Has functional anarchy and corporate super-cultures replaced the empires and federations of the past?
Later, Karen Burnham sits down to chat with Darryl Gregory, author of:
I don’t normally post videos here, but this one amused me too much…
Show: Young Justice 
Episode Title: “Drop Zone”
Air Date: Friday, January 28
Network: Cartoon Network
Looks like the Young Justice team is moving up in the world – they have a real mission handed to them by The Batman! But problems arise when their plans don’t work out and questions over who should lead the team cause bickering and distract them from their mission.
Warning: Spoilers ahead…
Show: Fringe
Episode Title: Reciprocity
Air Date: January 28, 2010
Network: FOX
In the latest episode of Fringe, Arvin Sloane has finally gotten all the pieces of the Rambaldi device… ah, I mean, the giant machine that threatens to destroy two universes has been assembled. The data from Fauxlivia’s laptop has been decoded but is still a massive jumble of information and someone is killing shapeshifters before the team can find them and interrogate them.
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
In episode 26 of the SF Signal Podcast, we have something very special for you. We’ve given our regular panelists the night off so they can recharge and refresh and have asked some very special guests to convene and discuss the future and impact of eBook Publishing:
Our virtual convention panel includes:
Show: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Episode Title: “The Nightsisters Trilogy”
Air Date: Fridays in January
Network: Cartoon Network
This post is chock full of spoilery goodness. Here’s a trailer. If you don’t want to know more, don’t go beyond the trailer…
Show: Young Justice
Episode Title: “Welcome to Happy Harbor”
Air Date: Friday, January 21st
Network: Cartoon Network
Picking up where the one hour pilot left of, this episode of Young Justice proves that just because you cal yourself a team, doesn’t make it so.
Warning: Spoilers abound…
It’s time. Time to settle, once and for all, which genre shows rule and which ones drool.
Talk to the fans and you will always run into people who feel one show with a premise of x is so much better than that other show based on x.
Today’s Smackdown: Batman Vs. The Green Hornet.
In episode 25 of the SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester asks the SF Signal gang:
Q: Should books with controversial or offensive content be changed to make them more palatable to the public?
A revised version of Huckleberry Finn will be released next month that replaces all 219 instances of the racially charged “N-word” with the word “slave.” Is this acceptable? Who gets to decide what is and isn’t offensive? Are we standing on the precipice of a slippery slope where the freedom of speech is trumped by public sentiment?
Later, Patrick Hester & John DeNardo sit down to chat with S. Andrew Swann, author of Forests of the Night, Emperors of the Twilight, Specters of the Dawn, Profiteer, Partisan, Revolutionary, Raven, God’s Dice, The Flesh, the Blood, & the Fire, Teek, Fearful Symmetries, Zimmerman’s Algorithm, The Omega Game, Dragons of the Cuyahoga, The Moreau Omnibus, Stranger Inside, The Hostile Takeover Trilogy, Broken Crescent, Dwarves of Whiskey Island, Blood & Rust, Prophets, Dragons & Dwarves, Wolfbreed, Heretics, and Wolf’s Cross.
Show: Fringe
Episode Title: The Firefly
Air Date: January 21st, 2010
Network: FOX
Fringe is back in the ‘Friday night death slot’ – is this the beginning of the end for one of the best genre shows on television today? I hope not and J.J. Abrams has been quoted as saying it’s a good thing because it frees them up to do just about anything they want… Does he not have Joss Whedon’s number in his speed dial?
In tonight’s episode, the Observers are back to get things ‘back on track’ and restore balance.
Warning – Spoilers Abound!
Book covers have come a long way. In some cases they are more creative, more descriptive, more detailed than ever before. But they’re also trippier, minimalist and in some cases, unhelpful. Are we seeing a new golden age of book covers or are we slipping into a dark age where the artist is replaced by the typographer laying out the title on a blank canvas?
In episode 24 of the SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester asks the SF Signal gang:
Q: Can you judge a book by its cover?
Later, Patrick Hester sits down to chat with Philippa Ballantine, author of Weaver’s Web, Chasing the Bard, Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Weather Child, Digital Magic and Geist.
Fans of The Green Hornet television show – rejoice! SyFy is airing a marathon of the 60′s show all day on Tuesday, January 11th from 10 am Eastern to 11 PM Eastern. Check the schedule on their site for details.
If you are unfamiliar with the character apart from the trailer starring Seth Rogen, you might want to check out the marathon so you know what they screw up and get wrong.
Not that I’m expecting them to get anything wrong. I mean, that’s unheard of, right?
In episode 23 of the SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester asks the SF Signal contributors & irregulars:
Is social media good for the book industry, publishing and authors?
With Twitter and Facebook, publisher, author and fan are more connected than ever before. Is this instant communication good for everyone or has it become a distraction? Are the days of the anonymous author gone forever?
Later, Karen Burnham sits down to talk with Gail Carriger, author of Soulless, Changeless, Blameless & Heartless.
It’s time. Time to settle, once and for all, which genre shows rule and which ones drool.
Talk to the fans and you will always run into people who feel one show with a premise of x is so much better than that other show based on x.
Today’s Smackdown: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Vs. Babylon 5.
In episode 22 of the SF Signal Podcast, Patrick Hester asks SF Signal contributors:
Q: How have the events of the last decade shaped speculative fiction?
9/11, the war on terror, Katrina, the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, the Economy, the shifting American political landscape, the Patriot Act, end of the Space Shuttle program, rejection of NASA’s budget & plans for future manned space exploration (I know I’m being all American in my highlights but you can fill in the blanks) – How have these and other events across the globe shaped genre fiction this decade and what will we see moving forward?
Later, Patrick Hester & John DeNardo sit down to talk with Gregory Benford & George Zebrowski, co-editors of Sentinels: In Honor of Arthur C. Clarke.
Show: Doctor Who
Episode Title: A Christmas carol
Air Date: December 25th, 2010
Network: BBC America
It’s up to the Doctor to save Rory, Amy and four thousand other souls in this extremely clever story based on Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”.
Warning: Spoilers ahead…
In episode 21 of the SF Signal Podcast Patrick Hester asks:
Q: Which new author published in 2010 stands out in your mind?
Everyone has to start somewhere – which genre author published this year stands out as a bright and shining star destined to go on to great things?
Later, Patrick Hester & John DeNardo sit down to talk with prolific science fiction and fantasy author Bud Sparhawk.
