REVIEW SUMMARY:The Hugo Award winner from 2012 comes across as a fun and light listen when combined with the audio talents of Wil Wheaton.

MY RATING:

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Ensign Andrew Dahl, new crewmember on a ship of the Universal Union of Planets, slowly learns that the nature of his reality is stranger than he imagined.

MY REVIEW:
PROS: Humorous writing, breezy dialogue and action married to the perfect narrator for the source material.
CONS: The three codas of the novel really feel like padding; non-Star Trek fans are going to find no purchase here.
BOTTOM LINE: An entertaining novel that really comes across well in audio form.

Andrew Dahl is a new officer on the Universal Union ship Intrepid, the flagship of this far future interstellar polity. He quickly learns that there are strange things going on the ship. Co-workers avoid away missions, and the senior staff of the ship in general, like the plague. A mysterious figure in the bowels of the ship provides cryptic warnings and advice. Dahl, and his new shipmates seem to have a target painted on their back. And just what is that mysterious gadget in Xenobiology, really? The answer to Dahl’s investigations, in the novel Redshirts by John Scalzi, is a metafictional trip down the rabbit hole.

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Today’s SF/F Kindle Deal is Old Man’s War by John Scalzi, which you can pick up for $2.99:

John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife’s grave. Then he joined the army.

The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce-and aliens willing to fight for them are common. The universe, it turns out, is a hostile place.

So: we fight. To defend Earth (a target for our new enemies, should we let them get close enough) and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has gone on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.

Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity’s resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force, which shields the home planet from too much knowledge of the situation. What’s known to everybody is that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don’t want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You’ll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You’ll serve your time at the front. And if you survive, you’ll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.

John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine-and what he will become is far stranger.

Remember, Kindle books can be read on by downloading the Kindle software for computers and smartphones, or directly on a Kindle device.

[UPDATE] Also: this deal is available for this same price today for the Nook and from Apple.

Tor will be trying something new with John Scalzi’s latest novel in the Old Man’s War series, The Human Division. Before the novel sees its hardcover release date in May 2013, Tor will be publishing a series of digital e-book episodes that comprise the book. Each episode will be a complete story and, taken together, there will be a longer story arc.  You can see the cover for Chapter 6 (“The Back Channel”) right here. This episode will be on-sale on Feb 19, 2013.

Here’s the description of The Human Division as a whole:
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[Do you have an idea for a future Mind Meld? Let us know!]

Iain M. Banks’ Consider Phlebas was published in 1987, the first book written of what would come to be known as the Culture sequence (or cycle). Released just this year, The Hydrogen Sonata marks the tenth book in the long running, award winning Space Opera series. But what makes for a good Culture novel, what is the secret to Banks’ longevity?

We asked this week’s panelists…

Here’s what they said…

I’m going to be honest and note that the reason that I read the Culture novels are not for the stories themselves — which are very good, mind you — but because I like wandering around the books like a tourist, gawking at all the cool shit that’s in the Culture. So I suppose what I really want is an “encyclopedia of The Culture” sort of book with pretty pictures and maps and a timeline and crap like that. Which is the exact opposite of a novel. I’m not sure if this makes me a bad reader of Culture novels or just a highly specialized one. What I do know is that I’m always looking out for the next one. So for me, what makes a good Culture novel is that Iain Banks has finished it and his publisher has offered it up for me to buy.
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In this video recorded at ComCon 2012, Sword & Laser’s Veronica and Tom interview John Scalzi.

Scalzi talks about his latest book, Redshirts, and the close-but-intentionally-not-quite similarity to Star Trek. He also talks about electronic publishing and the community at his blog, the Whatever.

Good stuff.
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Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt interview John Scalzi in the latest episode of Sword and Laser.

My favorite part starts at 2:40.
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When John Scalzi stopped in Houston for his book tour, I made a point to see him. In case you haven’t been to see Scalzi on tour, you should; he gives a good performance and makes it more than worth your time.

Witness, for example, this video from Comic Con where John and Pat Rothfuss (and a special guest) gave a reading of a short story aligning with Scalzi’s Redshirts book (which you should totally read, by the way). When I saw it performed, the wonderful Karen Burnham did the Rothfuss part.

My advice: Make time to watch this as soon as you can. Life is a little bit better after you do.
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REVIEW SUMMARY: A book aimed at SciFi fans that respectfully pokes fun at the genre they (and the author) love.

MY RATING:

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: In a Star Trek-like future, ensign Andrew Dahl, newly assigned to the UUC Intrepid, tries to get to the bottom of the strange occurrences that nobody seems to want to talk about.

MY REVIEW:
PROS: Pokes good-natured fun at genre television without disrespecting it; clear and concise writing; humorous without being silly.
CONS: The final “coda” chapters didn’t add all that much and felt like tacked on extras.
BOTTOM LINE: If you like science fiction television (particularly Star Trek) and are looking for a lighthearted read, Redshirts is well worth your time.

Humor is a tough nut to crack within the confines of science fiction, a genre that prides itself on the very unfunny concepts of scientific knowledge and accuracy. To successfully pull it off, it has to avoid the absurd (that is, keep suspending disbelief), not be too over-the-top (lest it fall into the realm of the ridiculous), and — most important of all — actually be funny.
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Zack Parsons is a Chicago-area writer known for his acerbic humor at Something Awful, his non-fiction books like My Tank is Fight! and his contributions to various compilations. His debut sci-fi novelLiminal States, described by author Cory Doctorow as “vivid, and relentless, masterfully plotted,” was released April of 2012.

When I set out to write my genre-spanning debut novel, Liminal States, I wanted to music to shape the outcome of my creative process. Ending with a free downloadable companion soundtrack from my friend, Conelrad, was something I hoped would excite readers and enhance their experience.

Listening to music while writing was vital for me. It allowed me to shut out what was going on, no matter where I was at the time, and depending on the music, it could serve as an inspiration for what I was writing. My obsession with scoring every moment made me curious about how more experienced authors of speculative fiction use music.

So I asked.
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Grab your Spartan Armor, folk! It’s time for another Book Cover Smackdown!

Here are the contenders…

Your Mission (should you choose to accept it): Tell us which cover you like best and why.

Books shown here:

• Echo City by Tim Lebbon (Artist: Kathleen Lynch)
• Halo: Cryptum by Greg Bear (Artist: Sparth)
• Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi (Artist: Vincent Chong)

NOTE: Bigger, better cover art images are available by clicking the images or title links.

REVIEW SUMMARY: Scalzi takes you on a speculative ride that is fast and rewarding.

MY RATING:

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The far future: Man has colonized the stars. And they’re hostile. Our solution: Fight back and fight first. Our recruits: Grandma and Grandpa. But not how you knew them. New and improved, like you’ve never seen or imagined.

MY REVIEW:

PROS: Dialogue, humor, imaginative and well-used technology.

CONS: Lack of detail and jumps in time

BOTTOM LINE: Scalzi’s imagination and military prowess are superb, while working in a touching story that leaves you satisfied. And don’t worry…there is no Viagra.

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Grab your ray guns and pressure suits! It’s time for another Book Cover Smackdown!

Here are the contenders…

Your Mission (should you choose to accept it): Tell us which cover you like best and why.

Books shown here:

• Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (Artist: Daniel Dociu)
• Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi (Artist: Kekai Kotaki)
• Out of the Dark by David Weber (Artist: Stephan Martiniere)

NOTE: Bigger, better cover art images are available by clicking the images or title links.

This week, we turned our attention to SciFi television when we asked our panelists this question:

Here’s how they responded…

I thought long and hard on this one, and with so many great candidates, it wasn’t easy. Manimal? The Night Stalker? Misfits of Science? Century City? Oh, the delightful possibilities. How can one man make such a controversial decision? Well, after much soul searching, meditation, and hours of telepathic communion with my ancient Martian spirit guide (his name is Jack), I can only find one worthy answer.

Darkwing Duck.

How would I update this classic show? Good question. I probably wouldn’t change it much. I’d give it a more action oriented update that wouldn’t lose the humor of the original. Something like Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Fun, retro, and sharp. I’d also expand Darkwing’s universe to include more superheroes and villains. In addition to the classics such as Liquidator, Bushroot, and Megavolt, I’d introduce new characters. And of course, you could never go wrong with a Gizmoduck team up on a fairly regular basis. All of this would inevitably lead to my ultimate spinoff series:

Justice Ducks Unlimited.

But one step at a time…

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• Cool news! Scott Westerfeld‘s Midnighters is coming to NBC. The story “revolves around a group of people born at the stroke of midnight who have access to the 25th hour of each day, which they use to stop crime.” [via SFX]
• Interviews and Profiles:
  • John Scalzi answers Stargate Universe questions.
  • Innsmouth Free Press has a brief interview with Mary Robinette Kowal.
  • 3 Questions with Mindy Klasky at SF Novelists.
  • Jeremy Tolbert and Jeff VanderMeer join host Tony C. Smith in the latest Sofanauts podcast.
  • @Only The Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy: David Gunn.
  • @Sci-Fi Fan Letter: Gail Carriger.
• Frederik Pohl on Fandom. (Part 3)
• Octavia Butler’s Papers Bequeathed to Huntington Library. [via Locus Online]
• Guest-hosting at Tor.com: Cherie Priest, author of the the aesome recent release, Boneshaker.
• The Post-Modernity of Steampunk.
• The Directors of Spectrum announced that Richard Corben is the recipient of the 2009 Grand Master Award.
• The World SF News Blog is now hosted over on WordPress.
• Rare Gene Roddenberry Science Fiction TV Pilots are coming to DVD.
• Lists:
  • Star Wars Lines Improved By Replacing A Word With “Pants”.
  • An Alternate Universe Reading Guide.
  • 10 Insanely Coveted Out of Print Sci Fi Novels.

• Interviews & Profiles:
  • Iain M. Banks is interviewed by Time, The Independent, and the Scotsman.
  • Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf interviews Cherie Priest, author of Boneshaker.
  • The latest episode of Cult Pop features a video interview with Marcus Sakey.
  • Harry Connolly is featured on John Scalzi’s latest Big Idea post.
  • Joseph Mallozzi’s blog readers throw questions at actor Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe).
  • Wanna interview John Scalzi? John Scalzi is fielding questions about his involvement in Stargate Universe.
• Authors reviewing authors:
  • Jo Walton looks at Samuel Delany’s short fiction.
  • Chris Nakashima-Brown reviews The Complete Stories of J.G. Ballard.
• Norilana Books will be publishing 7 Tanith Lee titles, including two reprint trilogies (The Birthgrave Trilogy and The Wars of Vis sequence) an one original sequel.
• Here’s a nice Flickr gallery of vintage sf paperbacks.
• Adaptation of the Day: Stephen King’s “The Colorado Kid”. [via Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine]
• ABC’s FlashForward is making references to Lost. [via SciFi Scanner]
• AMC’s The Prisoner remake gets a start date: Sunday Nov. 15.
• 50 years later, Twilight Zone bridges time: “Rod Serling’s veiled commentary remains as soul-baring today as it did a half-century ago…”
• @SCI FI Wire: 7 years after Firefly: Where are they now?
• Lists:
  • Speaking of Stephen King, Jigsaw’s Lair lists Part 1 of Best Stephen King Adaptations
  • Neatorama reprints 10 Sci-Fi Books That Even Non-Geeks Would Love from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Plunges Into the Universe.
  • @BestScienceFictionStories: 6 Science Fiction Stories Containing Altered Human Bodies
  • There are several genre titles in Topless Robot’s list of The 5 Best and 5 Worst Book & Record Story Sets.
  • Can You guess which classic science fiction novel made Bookstove’s list of 10 Dirty Books You Should Read?

• Interviews and Profiles:
  • Here’s a video interview with Charles Coleman Finlay (The Patriot Witch)
  • @Rescued By Nerds: Jeff Somers (The Eternal Prison).
  • @Fantasy Magazine: Nancy Kress.
  • BLDGBLOG interviews Jeff VanderMeer about Science Fiction and the City.
  • In 2006, Ken Hollings profiled Philip K. Dick on a radio show. The audio recording is now available. [via Boing Boing]
• On September 22 at 9pm Eastern/8pm Central, Baen author Travis S. Taylor will appear on the History Channel special, 10 Ways to Destroy the Earth . [via Baen Books]
• Ellen Datlow has posted photos of the September 16th KGB reading .
• Paul Graham Raven reviews Reading Science Fiction edited by Edited by James Gunn, Marleen S. Barr and Matthew Candelaria.
• John Scalzi Examines SciFi’s Special Extended Director’s Cuts.
• Mary Robinette Kowal says Precogs and Ray Guns Have No Place In True SciFi: “Here are some of the red flags that will let you know you’ve trespassed into the heart of science fantasy turf….”
• This Robot can jump a 25 ft. fence! Looks more like an RC car, though.
• Did you know Law Enforcement Targets come in Zombie flavor? [via Boing Boing]
• Slice of SciFi asks Are 3-D Movies a Victim of Their Own Success?
• Lists:
  • @ScifiSquad: The Top Ten Killer Sci-Fi Chicks.
  • @Innsmouth Free Press: Top 10 Female Vampires.
  • @Topless Robot: The 10 Greatest Time Travel Movies Ever.

• Interviews & Profiles:
  • Here’s a rare an audio interview with author Leigh Brackett, conducted by film reviewer Tony Macklin. [via Marooned]
  • MentatJack interviews Rose Fox and Josh Jasper of Genreville.
  • @The Dragon Page: Alma Alexander.
• Listen to Harlan Ellison’s Dramatic Reading of the Seussified “I Will Not Read Your F***ing Script”. Obviously NSFW. [via Genreville]
• Speaking of asking writers for favors, John Scalzi rants On The Asking of Favors From Established Writers: “It looks like it’s time to do a little more head-knocking regarding the life of a writer, so let’s just start knocking heads, shall we…” Jason Sanford responds: “And the word laughed and proclaimed, ‘It’s nothing personal, but that’s life. There are always going to be distractions, people you’d prefer not to deal with, and things you’d rather not do. If any of that bothers you, simply grow a spine and say no once in a while.’”
• Angry Robot signs John Meaney and Matthew Hughes.
• J.M. McDermott writes in to tell us that Apex Book Publishing has picked up the eBook rights of his well-received debut, Last Dragon.
• Shattersnipe has a theory on Why Paranormal Romance Is No Fad
• The Official Star Wars Blog tells us that a man in Norway named Andreas Jankov has legally changed his name to Julius Andreas Gimli Arn MacGyver Chewbacka Highlander Elessar-Jankov.
• Gary Farber sees parallels between Ronald Regan and Vladimir Lenin…and The Day the Earth Stood Still.
• A new trend? Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. [via MobileRead]
• Alien and Frodo as Garbage Pail Kids. More here.
• Lists:
  • @BestScienceFictionStories: 5 Science Fiction Stories Set On The Ocean.
  @Cinematical: 7 Superheroes Without Costumes.
  • @Newsarama: 10 of Fiction’s Biggest Brains.

• Interviews & Profiles:
  • @Tor.com: Tim Burton (9).
  • @Innsmouth Free Press: Alex Irvine.
  • @SFWA: Ysabeau S. Wilce.
• @Tor.com: What Young Adult Lit is and isn’t.
• Writing advice: Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s Freelancer’s Survival Guide – Setbacks Part 2.
• AMC’s Alex Zalben is making his comic book debut this week with Hulk Team-Up #1. [via SciFi Scanner]
• Here’s a promising new superhero web comic: Kisenja.
• Atomic Fez announces publication of:
  • Twisthorn Bellow by Rhys Hughes
  • The Terror and the Tortoiseshell by John Travis
  • The Beautiful Red by James Cooper
  • Wicked Delights by John Llewellyn Probert.
• Topless Robot deciphers NBC Marketing fluff which shows that NBC Admits Heroes Has Been Sucking. Tell me about it.
• Head on over to the awesome Drivers and Sundry to see George Lucas’s student film, Freiheit.
• Over at Wired, Michael Peck offers A Military Analysis of District 9.
• At AMC, John Scalzi Ranks Star Trek’s Directors.
• Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page & Liv Tyler to star in Super, a superhero comedy written and directed by James Gunn.
• Lists:
  • SCI FI Wire lists 6 things people really hate about our beloved District 9.
  @AMC’s Future of Classic: 6 Great Movies That Are 6th in a Series.
  • Mike Brotherton lists The 10 Best “Silly” Science Fiction Movies.
  • @ScifiSquad: The Top 10 African-American Sci-Fi Characters.
  • @AMC: Mary Robinette Kowal lists Fantasy Films’ Greatest Quest Partners.

• Interviews & Profiles:
  • Ben Bova joins Stephen Euin Cobb on his podcast, The Future And You.
  • Glenn Reynolds has a video interview with John Scalzi.
  • @Stomping on Yeti: Elizabeth Bear.
  • The Independent ran John Clute’s obituary of Charles N. Brown.
• Lev Grossman Responds to Criticism of his Wall Street Journal essay.
• Robert J. Sawyer on the death of science fiction.
• Jeff VanderMeer reviews Mark von Schlegell’s Mercury Station.
• Cheryl Morgan looks at Women & SF: Some Numbers. [via Enter the Octopus]
• @No Fear of the Future, Jess Nevins talks about The Zeppelin Pulps.
• @The World in the Satin Bag, S.M. Duke continues his essay on Punking the Begeezus out of SF/F.
• Norilana Books is reprinting the classic high fantasy Night’s Master by Tanith Lee, the first book in the Tales from the Flat Earth series.
• Angela Slatter on Editing Tips.
• Julian Card writes about SciFi film in his article Science Fiction Throughout the Ages and Into the Future
• AntipodeanSF, #135 now online. [via Beam Me Up]
• It’s time for another installment of…Fantasy or Football?
• I have a hunch you may do well at Young Frankenstein Ultimate Fan Quiz.
• Lists:
  • @Boxwish: Top 10 SciFi Movie Uniforms. [via The Website at the End of the Universe]
  • @Den of Geek: Top 25 fictional ads in sci-fi movies.
  • Rusty at Best Science Fiction Stories 4 Great Science Fiction Stories That Contain Long Walks.
  • For the artistically inclined, check out Speckyboy Design Magazine’s 50 Imaginative Fantasy Art Tutorials for Photoshop.
  • John Scalzi offers 5 Lessons From the SciFi Summer That Was.
  • Presidia Creative has an incredibly cool gallery of 28 Astounding Illustrations by Michael Dashow. Awesome work.

• Adventures in SciFi Publishing podcast-interviews Ken Scholes, author of Lamentation and the upcoming Canticle.
• Sci-Fi Talk has a chat with Director Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Shorts).
• Letter Never Sent looks at Fantasy vs. Science-fiction: “…fantasy is typically regressive and nostalgic. It represents a longing for the child’s world and an escape from reality…Science-fiction is prophetic where fantasy is sentimental. Science-fiction, since it encourages a more broad perspective, is more creative and interesting.”
• Scalzi on Worldbuilding: “…I try to build my worlds at least two questions deep — that is, you make your creations robust enough to stand up to a general question and then a more specific followup question.”
• Greenpunk.net is now live. [via Enter the Octopus]
• Author2Author asks: Do book trailers sell books? [via Enter the Octopus]
• Steampunk Tales #2, emulating the style of the pulp adventure magazines of the 1920s and ’30s, is now available for download on multiple formats.
• I’m really enjoying Scott Edelman’s video posting of the 2000 Nebula Award ceremony. The latest snippet is the Best Novella Category.
• Amazon, Microsoft and Yahoo unite against Google Books “…to act as the collective mouthpiece for all those opposed to Google’s recent $125 million settlement deal with book publishers and authors.”
• MSNBC says Science fiction’s robotics laws need reality check. [via Locus Online]
• AMC explains How a Shot of Bruce Wayne Could Help Calm Your End-of-Summer Jitters
• List:
  • @Brain Plucker: 10 Sensational Sense of Wonder Covers from Vintage Science Magazines.
  • Topless Robot lists The 10 Most Memorable Monsters Encountered by the Red Dwarf Crew.
  • At AMC, Mary Robinette Kowal lists Fantasy’s Top 10 MacGuffins.