River of Gods reviewed, Tiptree winners and shortlist, bodyhacking, electrical solar sails…

• 1 – River of Gods: “To be human is to transcend the rules.”

  A superb review of Ian Macdonald’s ‘River of Gods’ on the Eve’s Alexandria blog. Reminded me how much I enjoyed reading it myself – which is something I must do again, soon.

  (tags: futurism India Macdonald Ian Gods River review novel book sf scifi fiction science)

• 2 – Surprise: Study Finds Online Users Finish More Stories Than Print Readers

  “…when readers chose to read an online story, they usually read an average of 77% of the story, compared to 62% in broadsheets and 57% in tabloids.” Very interesting results, no?

  (tags: content online consumption stories news reading screen electronic media print)

• 3 – 2007 Tiptree Award

  “The shortlist and winners of the 2007 James Tiptree Jr Award have been announced…” As always, Niall has the full list with added linkage.

  (tags: announcement winners shortlist Award Tiptree sf scifi fiction science)

• 4 – New European Science Fiction Collection

  “Wondrous worlds await U.S. SF fans in this sensitively chosen, impeccably translated anthology of Continental European science fiction stories…” Captain Sterling brings news of a forthcoming anthology of interest.

  (tags: translations European contemporary anthology story sf scifi fiction science)

• 5 – Robert J. Sawyer Interviewed at SciFi Weekly

  “Robert J. Sawyer doesn’t expect to live forever—but that doesn’t stop him from speculating about what life will be like for those who do.”

  (tags: immortality longevity speculation futurism Rollback Sawyer Robert interview writer author sf scifi fiction science)

• 6 – Body Hacking: If You Can’t Open It, You Don’t Own It

  “…cting on yourself, with or without assistance, to enhance the function of your body or your perceptions. Body hacking is, like all other forms of hacking, ultimately a form of violation: the freedom to enact your will upon a system.”

  (tags: control personal cyborg presentation modding augmentation hacking body)

• 7 – Electric Sail Rides the Solar Wind

  “The so-called ‘electric sail’ would use fifty to one hundred 20-kilometer long charged tethers, their voltage maintained by a solar-powered electron gun aboard the vehicle.”

  (tags: futurism technology transportation probe propulsion tether magnetic exploration system sail solar space)

• 8 – Brits pick PSP over textbooks

  “A small pilot program in a school in England provides 30 students with PSPs to access study materials, replacing their textbooks…” Common sense – don’t fight them, work with them. Hope something comes of this.

  (tags: innovation technology PSP Sony devices reader digital textbooks materials lesson education school UK)