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.

Why does the Lagrangian equal T-V?

Posted on July 4, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

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 →

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#6 – Pulp Fiction

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

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 →

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The Shadow of the Conqueror Film Project

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

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 →

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

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

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 →

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SpaceX’s First Human Spaceflight Is Tomorrow!

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Astronauts have not blasted off to space from American soil in nearly nine years. But tomorrow, that finally changes. SpaceX will launch its first ever crewed mission, Crew Dragon Demo-2, tomorrow at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. The rocket will ferry … Continue reading →

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#4 – The Roots of Sci-Fi in Adventure

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Jules Verne was perhaps the first author to systematically incorporate the latest science into his work, becoming one of the biggest minds behind the idea of science fiction. Yet his focus wasn’t so much on sci-fi as it was on … Continue reading →

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Writing Advice: Scrivener

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Disclaimer: not a sponsored post. I just really like Scrivener. It’s been a long time since I’ve given any proper writing advice on this blog, but I had one thing I wanted to tell you after seeing recent developments in … Continue reading →

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#3 – The Roots of Sci-Fi in Horror

Posted on May 11, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Note: WordPress seems to have a new option for an embedded podcast player, although it still has to be inserted manually. I may continue to tweak the post format once I have a better idea of how it works. Check … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction | 2 Comments

#2 – The Roots of Sci-Fi in Satire

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Several books widely regarded as the first science fiction novels date back as far as the sixteenth century, but most of these weren’t dramatic stories at all, but were satirical instead. In this episode, I explore how satire contributed to … Continue reading →

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#1 – What Is Science Fiction?

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

In this first episode, I explain how I developed the idea of this podcast, what I mean by science fiction, and how this podcast will proceed. A preview for the rest of the series. The cover art is the heart … Continue reading →

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