Cool Sci-Fi Forums

Of War and Consequence, Book One of the Consortium Chain

HMart — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:12:50 GMT

Greetings! Name's Harrington. Care for some Science Fantasy?

Of War and Consequence
The Consortium Chain, Book One

Science Fantasy/Space Opera/Romance

Over the swamps of Banthyk and the shores of Ornateam, the grip of war is ever-present. The people's hero, Crown Bearer Sha, knows that the fate of his tiny home world, Xarh, hangs in the balance. Challenging traditional theory and navigating murky diplomacy, the denizens of this turbulent world pull at each other from all directions. The mighty city-states must endure or the Pantheona Lords will control the future.

Take a journey to an engaging world where science seems as magic.

A world you’ll not soon forget.

"Tired of the same old Science Fiction and Fantasy concepts? Looking for high adventure, romance, plot twists and turns, or a truly unique epic? You'd be well served by experiencing Book One of the Consortium Chain."
-a wise friend

"This is an exciting book full of action and intrigue. The descriptions are so vivid that I can still visualize the lands and characters. I'm anxiously awaiting Book Two."
- Jim Kosfeld

"If you're a Sci Fi fan you'll love this book; if you're not, you may be converted. Author Harrington Martin has a way with words that unfolds rich imagery with every page turned. "Of War & Consequence" introduces fantastic characters in a layered storyline that surprises and satisfies. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for Book Two in the chain. Of War and Consequence: The Consortium Chain, Book One (Volume 1)"
-J Adair

Paperback Link: http://www.amazon.com/Of-War-Consequ...4012274&sr=1-1

Paperback Link (Non-Amazon): https://www.createspace.com/3788243

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Of-War-Consequ...5353515&sr=1-2

Also, for those of you inclined to follow this new author, go to http://www.emprenbazaar.com/

Much thanks! And happy reading!

-H

NASA: Composite of a Series of Images Taken From Space Aboard the Space Station

Robby — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:43:31 GMT

(click to view the full-size image)

This is a composite of a series of images photographed from a mounted camera on the Earth-orbiting International Space Station, from approximately 240 miles above Earth. Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Don Pettit said of the about photographic techniques used to achieve the images: "My star trail images are made by taking a time exposure of about 10 to 15 minutes. However, with modern digital cameras, 30 seconds is about the longest exposure possible, due to electronic detector noise effectively snowing out the image. To achieve the longer exposures I do what many amateur astronomers do. I take multiple 30-second exposures, then ‘stack’ them using imaging software, thus producing the longer exposure." A total of 18 images photographed by the astronaut-monitored stationary camera were combined to create this composite. Image Credit: NASA (More at NASA Picture Of The Day)

NASA: Opportunity's Traverse Map From Sol 2951

Robby — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:42:27 GMT

(click to view the full-size image)

After spending 19 weeks working in one place while solar power was too low for driving during the Martian winter, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity is on the move again. The winter worksite was on the north slope of an outcrop called Greeley Haven. The rover used its rear hazard-avoidance camera after nearly completing the May 8 drive, capturing this view looking back at the Greeley Haven. Since landing in the Meridiani region of Mars on Jan. 25, 2004, Universal Time and EST (Jan. 24, PST), Opportunity has driven 21.4 miles (34.4 kilometers). This image is of Opportunity's traverse map from Sol 2951 and shows the entirety of the rover's travels to this point. A sol is a Martian day. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell/University of Arizona (More at NASA Picture Of The Day)

Putting an alien baby to sleep

Xig — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:24:57 GMT

How do you put an alien baby to sleep?
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You rocket! :rotflmao:

Asylum's American Warships (2012)

Mauricem — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:52:40 GMT

After all the discussion on the Battleship (2012) knock-off American Battleship (now American Warships) in the other thread I thought I'd start a new one.

Summary: When a fleet of mysterious ships wage war against the Earth, only the crew of the USS Iowa can prevent global armageddon
Produced by: David Michael Latt, David Rimawi, Paul Bales Directed by: Thunder Levin Written by: Thunder Levin Cinematography by: Stuart Brereton
Starring: Mario Van Peebles, Johanna Watts, and Carl Weathers

Trailer

AMERICAN WARSHIPS, starring Mario Van Peebles and Carl Weathers, will premiere on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 9 pm EST only on Syfy.

The film will be released on DVD and VOD on May 22, 2012.

Official page: The Asylum

It sounds hilariously bad. Are you planning to watch this weekend?

NASA: Expedition 31 Prepares for Launch

Robby — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:13:39 GMT

(click to view the full-size image)

The Soyuz rocket is seen in the monitor of a video camera moments before Soyuz Commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineers Joseph Acaba and Sergei Revin arrived to board the rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for their flight to join their crew mates already aboard the International Space Station. The craft successfully launched at 11:01 p.m. EDT, Monday, May 14, 2012. The trio will dock to the station’s Poisk Mini-Research Module at 12:38 a.m. Thursday, bringing Expedition 31 to its full six-member complement. Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls (More at NASA Picture Of The Day)

Space Quest creators are making a new game

pcjtulsa — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:07:41 GMT

The Two Guys from Andromeda, creators of the Space Quest adventure game series (from Sierra in the '80s and '90s), have opened up their Kickstarter campaign for their new space adventure game. And they've got some nice voice talent lined up as well, including:

Gary Owens - Narrator from SQ4 and SQ6, voice of Space Ghost, Laugh-in, and many many others in a long and distinguished career.
Rob Paulsen - Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, Yakko from Animaniacs, Raphael the Ninja Turtle, and multiple characters from Monkey Island among many other characters he has voiced.
Robert Clotworthy – Jim Raynor from StarCraft 1 & 2, Senator Evran & Supreme Chancellor from Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Narrator of The History Channel’s Ancient Aliens series, Big Bang Theory, etc.
Ellen McLain - GLaDOS from Portal 1 & 2, Overwatch from Half-Life 2, Administrator from Team Fortress 2, Witch from Left for Dead 2 and many more.
John Patrick Lowrie - Sniper from Team Fortress 2, Sword Control from Halo Reach, Citizens from Half-Life 2 and author of Dancing with Eternity.

Check out their Kickstarter now at: http://www.tgakick.com

Also be sure to check out their website: http://www.guysfromandromeda.com

NASA: Cygnus-X

Robby — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:43:27 GMT

(click to view the full-size image)

Best known as a swan winging its way across the night, the constellation Cygnus is easily seen in the northern hemisphere's summertime sky. This new view of the Cygnus-X star-forming region by the Herschel Telescope highlights chaotic networks of dust and gas that point to sites of massive star formation. This image combines far-infrared data acquired at 70 micron (corresponding to the blue channel); 160 micron (corresponding to the green channel); and 250 micron (corresponding to the red channel). The observations were made on May 24, 2010, and Dec. 18, 2010. Herschel is a European Space Agency cornerstone mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes and with important participation by NASA. Image Credit: ESA/PACS/SPIRE/Martin Hennemann & Frederique Motte, Laboratoire AIM Paris-Saclay, CEA/Irfu -- CNRS/INSU -- Univ. Paris Diderot, France (More at NASA Picture Of The Day)

Someone, somewhere, is designing very special rucksacks

Tim — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:25:27 GMT

Apocalypse Girl

Europa — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:35:10 GMT

Hello fellow geeks. For several years I've had an idea in my head. Influenced by Mad Max, Soylent Green, Superman and most of the other scifi films that have captured our imaginations as we grew up, I imagined a story about a failed superhero - an alcoholic (better than Hancock - please!), washed up former golden girl who let the world be invaded and consumed by a species of ravenous aliens. The idea was that her addictions and charcter flaws overtook her duties as a hero and she just let the aliens do as they want. Anyone who knows alcoholics or drug addicts will know that this is how they usually deal with the outside world - they don't care. Anyways, such was my obessession with the idea of an 'Apocalypse Girl' I decided to film it. I've never filmed anything before, but I went and did it anyway. it took me 10 months to complete. Its 10minutes long - but here it is - at the link below.

Please feel free to leave feedback and if it's any good pass it round to our fellow geeks. I managed to hire a very sexy actress and beg borrow and steal some special effects. Anyway its at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOGgTFWsAgo

I hope you like it!

Dave

Envoys - short story - available free online

pperrone — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:42:54 GMT

About the Story

Envoys is a futuristic sci-fi short story about the intersection of robots with alien planet life and the relation to humanity on Earth.

About the Author

Paul J. Perrone is a roboticist, author, public speaker, and entrepreneur. He is an author of four technology books, numerous trade publications, and has been featured in print, televised, and film media. He is founder of Perrone Robotics and has developed numerous intelligent robotic applications, including self-driving cars. The short story “Envoys” represents Paul’s first venture into science fiction writing. With a deep and broad understanding of robotics and technology cross-pollinated with his communications experience in published writing and public speaking, Envoys represents a fusion of entertaining story telling with a strong foundation in real-world science.

Download

Download “Envoys” by clicking HERE.

Book Web Site
https://www.perronerobotics.com/envoys/

Aristeia: A Little Rebellion Contest and Release Information

Maarkean — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:33:28 GMT

*Sound trumpets*

Aristea: A Little Rebellion has an official release date! June 1, 2012.

To celebrate the coming release, there are a few things I want to tell you about.

Pre-Orders

Pre-orders will be available May 18th. Get your copy of the book by going to Grey Gecko’s website. If you pre-order, you can get your copy for a reduced price AND get an autographed copy. Also, ordering from GGP’s website ensures you will get a free copy of the ebook if you purchase a physical book.

You can also pick up an early copy of the novel by coming by the GGP booth at Comicpalooza here in Houston. The hardbacks might not be ready in time, but we will definitely have paperbacks. Early copies will be an exclusive benefit to attendees.

Pre-Release Contest

If instead of preordering, you would like to try and get a free copy of the book, from now until June 15th, I have a contest running that will allow you to do just that. I will be giving away the following:

GGP has offered to contribute a signed hardback copy of every book currently in publication (Dying of the Light: End, Aristeia: Revolutionary Right, Aristeia: A Little Rebellion, A Fancy Dinner Party)
A signed hardback copy of both Aristeia: Revolutionary RIght and Aristeia: A Little Rebellion.
A signed hardback copy of Aristeia: A Little Rebellion
A signed paperback copy
An ebook copy
An ebook copy my short stories “Lonesome” and “Peace Meal”

Winners will be chosen via random drawing from among all participants. How can you enter, you ask? There are several ways. For each of the following that you do, you will be entered into the drawing. *You can enter as many times as you like.

Leave a relevant comment on my blog during the remainder of the contest. That’s it, make a comment that contributes to a day’s given blog discussion and you’re entered. (No spam posts you dirty spammers)
Participate in the Aristeia Blog Tour.
Participate in the Pre-Launch Purchase Blitz.
Tweet about the book to your friends on Twitter. Use the hashtag #Aristeia. *(Max 5 Tweets over the contests run per entry, I don’t want to be the cause of Twitter Spam. But you also get one entry per retweet your tweet gets)

NASA: Active Black Hole Squashes Star Formation

Robby — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:45:31 GMT

(click to view the full-size image)

New data from the Herschel Space Observatory shows that galaxies with the most powerful, active, supermassive black holes at their cores produce fewer stars than galaxies with less ones. Supermassive black holes are believed to reside in the hearts of all large galaxies. When gas falls upon these monsters, the materials are accelerated and heated around the black hole, releasing great torrents of energy. In the process, active black holes often generate colossal jets that blast out twin streams of heated matter. Inflows of gas into a galaxy also fuel the formation of new stars. In a new study of distant galaxies, Herschel helped show that star formation and black hole activity increase together, but only up to a point. Astronomers think that if an active black hole flares up too much, it starts spewing radiation that prevents raw material from coalescing into new stars. This artist concept of the local galaxy Arp 220, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, helps illustrate the Herschel results. The bright core of the galaxy, paired with an overlaid artist's impression of jets emanating from it, indicate that the central black hole's activity is intensifying. As the active black hole continues to rev up, the rate of star formation will, in turn, be suppressed in the galaxy. Astronomers want to further study how star formation and black hole activity are intertwined. Herschel is a European Space Agency cornerstone mission, with science instruments provided by consortia of European institutes, with important participation by NASA. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech (More at NASA Picture Of The Day)

The War Against the Rull by A E Van Vogt

Anthony G Williams — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:49:30 GMT

The War Against the Rull by A E Van Vogt

I last read The War Against the Rull in the 1960s and liked it enough to hang on to my ancient copy, so I was pleased to renew my acquaintance with it when it was selected for this month's read by the Classic Science Fiction discussion group. Its origin is a series of five linked stories published between 1940 and 1950, which were tied together into one fix-up novel in 1959. I should add that according to another review there is at least one more story, from 1978, included in later editions of the book, but I haven't read that.

The setting is the far future, when a human galactic empire is engaged in a long-drawn-out war of survival against the empire of a formidable insectoid race called the Rull. The principal character in most of the tales is Trevor Jamieson, a high-powered trouble-shooter for the Galactic Convention and typical of the "competent man", capable of dealing effectively with any situation, who features as the hero in so much SF even to the present day.

Rather surprisingly, the Rull only make an occasional appearance and that mostly towards the end. The most significant is when Jamieson and a Rull leader are trapped together on a sheer-sided mountain top on an uninhabited world in a classic one-on-one climactic battle of wits; interestingly, the viewpoint alternates between the characters. Another is told from the viewpoint of Jamieson's young son, who has to deal with Rull agents on Earth.

Far more time is devoted to Jamieson's problems with the ezwal; terrifyingly large, fast and powerful telepathic beings who are regarded as non-sentient animals by most of humanity and are targeted for destruction since their planet is needed for a strategic base. Jamieson is the only person who is aware of their intelligence and telepathic ability but has a major task to convince them to co-operate with humanity in order to save themselves, and to persuade other people to believe him. The novel immediately plunges the reader into the middle of a critical situation involving an ezwal who crashes with Jamieson on another remote planet, this time in an equally classic "co-operate or die" situation. As with the Rull, in one story the author provides the ezwal's viewpoint.

In assessing this novel it is only right to remember its origins, and the period in which the original stories were written. It has a decidedly disjointed feel without any clear structure. The characterisation is minimal, as is usual for the period, and is as good (or bad) for the Rull and the ezwal as it is for the humans; in fact, providing their viewpoints adds depth and interest to the stories. There are some intriguing SF ideas, as one expects from this author. The one which caught my attention (and the only part of the story I remembered in advance of reading it again) was ability of the Rull to hypnotise humans to carry out certain actions by the use of carefully-designed patterns inscribed on a suitable surface.

Was it worth reading again? Yes, despite its flaws I enjoyed it, but nostalgia played a part in that. Unlike Bester's The Stars My Destination, another classic novel from the same era, it doesn't stand up well today. Don't expect the kind of approach a modern writer like Cherryh would give to a tale of alien races.

(This entry is cross-posted from my science-fiction & fantasy blog.)

Didn't realise Golden Eagles were tool users

Tim — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:34:23 GMT

Maybe she'd just had her nails done?