Author Archives: Alex R. Howe

About Alex R. Howe

I'm a full-time astrophysicist and a part-time science fiction writer.

Book Review: Junction by Daniel M. Bensen

Posted on August 11, 2020

This one might need a bit of background. Lately, I’ve been getting interested in something called speculative evolution, which is a branch of science fiction about how life might evolve on other planets—or in the future, or in Earth’s past, … Continue reading →

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#9 – The Dystopia Classic

Posted on August 3, 2020

Dystopian fiction has become a popular subgenre of sci-fi in its own right, but the earliest dystopian novels shared some unique elements in common, inverting the standard tropes of the hero’s journey. In this episode, we explore what has made … Continue reading →

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The Mars Perseverance Launch Is Tomorrow

Posted on July 29, 2020

Space news of the day: NASA’s Perseverance rover (formerly Mars 2020) will launch at 7:50 am EDT tomorrow morning on its mission to Mars. (It was originally supposed to be July 17, but it was delayed due to equipment problems.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Current events, Space exploration, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

#8 – The Dawn of Cinema

Posted on July 20, 2020

At the same time science fiction came into its own as a genre, cinema was doing the same. Here, we see an overview of the most notable sci-fi films of the silent and pre-Code eras, and how they influenced the … Continue reading →

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Book Review: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green

Posted on July 15, 2020

I’ve previously reviewed An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green, a science educator and YouTube host alongside his brother, John (author of The Fault in our Stars). Hank’s debut novel featured a visit by an enigmatic alien robot named Carl, … Continue reading →

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#7 – H. P. Lovecraft and Cosmic Horror

Posted on July 6, 2020

H. P. Lovecraft brought the Gothic horror of the previous century into the modern era with his new genre of cosmic horror, which placed humankind at the mercy of vast and inscrutable alien entities. Despite a tarnished legacy, he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Fiction

Why does the Lagrangian equal T-V?

Posted on July 4, 2020

And here’s one for the category of “Posts where you need a degree in physics to even understand the question.” Okay, there are probably a fair number of you who don’t have a degree in physics who can understand this … Continue reading →

Posted in Physics, Posts where you need a degree in physics to even understand the question., You thought I was joking, didn't you? | Tagged , ,

#6 – Pulp Fiction

Posted on June 22, 2020

The hallmark of early science fiction was the pulp magazines, which continued the tradition of larger-than-life adventure stories. Despite the sometimes silly and over-the-top writing style, this was an important step in the development of the genre. Book recommendation: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Fiction

The Shadow of the Conqueror Film Project

Posted on June 9, 2020

Last year, I reviewed Shadow of the Conqueror, the debut fantasy novel of medieval enthusiast Shad Brooks, also known as Shadiversity. I thought it was pretty good—a little rough around the edges, but with a lot of potential. Well, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Fantasy, Requested | Tagged , , , ,

#5 – H. G. Wells and the Dawn of Science Fiction

Posted on June 8, 2020

H. G. Wells was in many respects the first real science fiction author, where earlier writers wrote more or less in existing genres. This episode is an overview of his work and legacy. Excerpt on Wells’s Law. Book recommendation: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Fiction