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.

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Posted on June 4, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

Spider-Man has always had a complicated history, even by comic book standards. Marvel has at several times run multiple Spider-Man comics series simultaneously, and due to the vagaries of the film industry, that has carried over into the movies. But … Continue reading →

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S2E25: Lisa Yaszek Interview

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

In the series finale, I interview Dr. Lisa Yaszek, a sci-fi historian from Georgia Tech, about where we can expect science fiction to go in the future. Dr. Yaszek’s recommendations:Wormwood Trilogy by Tade ThompsonThe Matrix Sunspot Jungle, ed. Bill Campbell … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is (obviously) the latest movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and one of the more highly anticipated ones, up there with No Way Home and Wakanda Forever. We left the Guardians on something of … Continue reading →

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S2E24: Catch-Up Episode #9: Classics Lightning Round

Posted on May 8, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

Okay, not exactly all classics and not exactly lightning either, but in this episode, I discuss four books that I wanted to talk about in Season 1, but never got around to. Book recommendation: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Other … Continue reading →

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S2E23: Space Opera

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

In this episode, I discuss the precise nature of space opera, its origins, and its path through the history of sci-fi up to the current resurgence it’s had in recent years. Book recommendation: The Long Way to a Small, Angry … Continue reading →

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Episode 23 Delayed

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

I’m having computer problems which resulted in me not being able to record today, so I’m postponing Season 2, Episode 23 by one week to April 24. Episode 24 will probably go up on May 1 as scheduled, but that … Continue reading →

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S2E22: Catch-Up Episode #8: Space Sci-Fi

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

Not quite as space-themed as I intended, but these are the latest stories about aliens and comets and such. Movie recommendation: Dune (2021) Other works discussed:GreenlandDon’t Look UpMoonfall (anti-recommended)The Tomorrow WarThe Firefly tie-in novels Check out this episode!

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The Singularity Has Encountered an Exception

Posted on March 28, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

A Short Story The programmers studied the screen in bewilderment. Last night, they had left the company’s newest AI model, DNEPT-7 (short for Definitely Not Evil Pre-Trained Transformer), humming along on its server on its latest project, trying to parse … Continue reading →

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Movie Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

Dungeons & Dragons, the classic role-playing game perhaps most popularized in recent years by Stranger Things, has just released its new movie, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Well, technically, it releases on March 31, but Amazon Prime customers were … Continue reading →

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S2E21: Donna Barba Higuera Interview

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Alex R. Howe

In this episode, I interview Donna Barba Higuera, author of the Newbery winning sci-fi novel, The Last Cuentista (which I’ve previously recommended). Donna’s book recommendation: Reclaim the Stars, edited by Zoraida Córdova Donna’s website Check out this episode!

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