Author Archives: Alex R. Howe

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About Alex R. Howe

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

#14 – Robert Heinlein Part I: The Juveniles

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Robert Heinlein was one of the first major authors to write science fiction specifically for children. In this episode, we explore how he did it and what sets him apart from his contemporaries in this area, along with the other … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction | 1 Comment

20020: the Sequel to 17776

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Three years ago, I reviewed a web serial/visual novel called 17776: What Football Will Look Like in the Future created by Jon Bois of the SB Nation blog, an absurdist tale about a far future where humans are immortal, and … Continue reading →

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New Year’s Resolutions Update

Posted on October 4, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

At the end of last year, I made a post talking about my new year’s resolutions for 2020. Throughout 2019, I had discovered that I do much better with my resolutions if, instead of once a year, I revise them … Continue reading →

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#13 – Isaac Asimov Part II: Robots

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

We continue our exploration of the work of Isaac Asimov with a study of his Robot Series and an introduction to robot fiction in general, which he shaped in ways that remain important to this day. Book recommendation: I, Robot … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction | 1 Comment

TV Review: Cosmos: Possible Worlds, Week 1

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

During the previous season of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, I reviewed the series to discuss how it measured up to the original, and I wanted to do the same thing again. Granted, the new season, Possible Worlds, doesn’t exactly lend … Continue reading →

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Cosmos: Possible Worlds Premiers on Fox Tomorrow

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Back in March, I posted about the new season of Cosmos. This is Neil deGrasse Tyson’s second follow-up to Carl Sagan’s classic series. He already did Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey in 2014, which I enjoyed and reviewed extensively at the … Continue reading →

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Life on Venus? Not so fast.

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

The big (and I mean BIG) astronomy news of the day is the announcement of possible (and I mean possible) signs of life on Venus—specifically, the detection of the molecule phosphine (PH3) in the upper atmosphere. The researchers, a large … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, Current events | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

#12 – Isaac Asimov Part I

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Isaac Asimov was own of the most prolific authors of the golden age of sci-fi, especially when it comes to short stories. In this episode, we explore an overview of his work. Book recommendation: The End of Eternity. “The Last … Continue reading →

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Could a Planet-Sized City Work?

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, the planet Trantor is a single, huge city spanning its entire surface (also known as an ecumenopolis), an idea that was famously replicated with Coruscant in Star Wars. As a companion to tomorrow’s podcast on … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science Fiction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

#11 – John W. Campbell and the Golden Age of Sci-Fi

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

John W. Campbell was the controversial longtime editor of Astounding Science Fiction who single-handedly directed the course of science fiction in the 1940s, a time that is not called the “golden age of sci-fi.” However, I argue the golden age … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction | Comments Off on #11 – John W. Campbell and the Golden Age of Sci-Fi