Sci-Fi, Story Telling, Technology
How to Keep Science Fiction Fresh: Avoiding the Same Old Tropes
Ah, science fiction—the genre of infinite possibilities! The playground of bold new ideas, mind-bending concepts, and… Wait, is that another dystopian future where society is divided into arbitrary factions? Are we really doing the “evil mega-corporation” thing again? Don’t get me wrong. Tropes exist for a reason. They resonate, they work, and when they first… Read More
Sci-Fi
Keeping Sci-Fi Fresh: Because Even the Future Needs an Update
As a sci-fi writer, I spend a lot of time building worlds... …some dark and dystopian, some hopeful and advanced, and at least one where the biggest crisis involves sentient coffee machines staging a rebellion (still working out the details on that one). But whether I’m crafting intergalactic societies, futuristic cities, or alien ecosystems, there’s… Read More
Sci-Fi
Terraforming: Turning Dead Worlds into Living Ones
...yet, humanity has tried its hand at terraforming! If science fiction had a greatest hits album, terraforming would be one of the top tracks. The idea of transforming barren, hostile planets into lush, habitable worlds is one of the most compelling concepts in both sci-fi and real-world space exploration. Whether it’s about saving humanity, expanding… Read More
Sci-Fi
From Deep Freeze to Springtime… on Earth and Beyond
The snow is melting, and I can actually step outside without questioning my survival instincts. Just a few weeks ago, I was staring out my window at a frozen wasteland, bundled under layers of blankets, contemplating my life choices as the temperature outside sat at a soul-crushing -20°F. Now? It’s in the 40s, the snow… Read More
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sci-Fi
The Ethics of A.I. Rights: Will Your Chatbot Demand a Lawyer?
Not a day goes by without another artificial intelligence system making headlines. New chatbots, deep-learning programs, and virtual assistants are popping up like popcorn in a supernova, and every time they do, we get closer to a question that sci-fi has been asking for decades: At what point does an A.I. deserve rights? Right now,… Read More
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sci-Fi
Too Cold for Humanity, Just Right for A.I.?
I'm doing everything I can to avoid stepping outside. As I sit here in Minnesota on what is hopefully the coldest day of the year—because if it gets any worse, I may have to declare hibernation—I’m doing everything I can to avoid stepping outside. It’s -20°F, with a wind chill that makes it feel like… Read More
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