Science Fiction and Fantasy
There was a time when the idea of a world-wide system linking people and computers might have been straight out of the pages of the latest science fiction magazine. No surprise then, that science fiction and fantasy fans, writers, editors, artists, and more have taken to the Internet in large numbers from the time of the early bulletin board discussion groups to the instant messaging, blogs, and chat rooms of today. Whether you're new to science fiction and fantasy and want to know more, have a favorite writer you'd like to know more about, are looking for information on actors, movies, and TV shows, or would like to meet people who share the same interests in science fiction and fantasy as you do, the Internet is the perfect place to find out what you need to know.
Over the years, a whole culture has grown up around people's love of and appreciation for fantasy ... read more »
For science fiction and fantasy writers, magazines, whether in print or online, are a place to try ... read more »
Science fiction has been on the screen since television was first born. Classic shows like The ... read more »
Science fiction and fantasy in movies have a huge following. Every summer blockbuster season seems ... read more »
As soon as science fiction and fantasy began to be published, books needed cover art and stories ... read more »
Just because the content you produce will be imaginative and often unreal doesn't mean you don't ... read more »
On their Web sites and blogs, writers use the opportunity to talk about subjects beyond what they say in their books, to share some of their own life, and to interact with fans and readers. Your knowledge of science fiction can only be increased when you learn more about the people who create it. The sites below are a selection of some of the best.
- Writer's blogs are a good way to pick up writing tips. If the blog allows comments, you can use that as a way to strike up a conversation. Mention that you're interested in writing and you'll find that most writers are more than happy to tell you everything they know.
- LiveJournal has become an extremely popular site for writers who want to keep a blog or other kind of Web page on the Internet. LiveJournal works as both a host for blogs and a networking site. Start reading the blogs here and you'll find lots of people responding to each other.
- Group blogs instill a sense of community. Two of the best are listed below.
For some single-author blogs and Web sites ...
They must need bears
is Elizabeth Bears' blog, and it's a witty and irreverent collection of sharp observations and late-night musings on everything from race relations to what music is worth listening to. There's a link that will take you to her official Web site, but as the author herself says, "honestly, nobody visits the Web site." That's because the blog is too darn good.
Neil Gaiman
began his career as a comic-book writer. Since then, he's gone on to fame as a novelist whose reputation goes far beyond the worlds of science fiction and fantasy. His online journal contains thoughts on his life as a writer, and he regularly answers questions from readers and fans.
Ecstatic Days
is the online journal of Jeff Vandermeer, a writer whose work crosses boundaries between fantasy, horror, and science fiction. His blog focuses on his writing, the work of other writers he enthusiastically recommends, and the news of the day, all of it rendered through a truly oblique sense of humor.
Nalo Hopkinson
has been impressing people ever since her first book, Brown Girl in the Ring. Her Web site has links to all her blog posts, where she keeps a running commentary on life as a young writer.
The Mumpsimus
is Matthew Cheney's blog. Cheney is an editor, writer, and reviewer. His views on science fiction and fantasy are thoughtfully presented here, as are comments on travel, music, and other interests.
KurzweilAI.net
is the work of Ray Kurweil, a writer and editor whose Web site chronicles the latest in science and technology, throws in some science fiction, then speculates as to how it might all play out in the real world. If you've ever wondered where science fiction writers get their crazy ideas, look no further. They get them from people like Ray Kurzweil.
For group blogs in fantasy and science fiction ...
BoingBoing: A Directory of Wonderful Things
is what you get when a bunch of young, smart writers get together to write and comment on whatever they want. The conversation covers politics, literature, music, movies and anything else that strikes their combined fancy. Cory Doctorow brings a science fiction writer's perspective.
Making Light
is the blog of the writing and editing team of Teresa and Patrick Nielsen-Hayden and several guest writers. There are two main topics here: politics and science fiction. Dive into the many comments, and you'll find posts by the most well-known names in fiction and fantasy.
Since the Internet began, fantasy and science fiction fans have used e-mail lists, bulletin boards, ... read more »
While you may see some fans dressed up in costumes, the average science fiction or fantasy ... read more »
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