Alex R. Howe
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My blog of science, science fiction, and more.
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Author Archives: Alex R. Howe
S2E8: Techno-Thrillers
Techno-thrillers are a surprisingly fuzzy category that sits at the border of sci-fi and suspense. In this episode, I give an overview of the subgenre and the different ways it can be classified. Book recommendation: Delta-v by Daniel Suarez Sam … Continue reading
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Tagged Daniel Suarez, Delta-v, techno-thrillers
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Book Review: The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
I mentioned The Kaiju Preservation Society in Episode 4 of this season of my podcast as one of the hot new sci-fi books of this year and a rare serious literary treatment of the giant monster trope. This is the … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews
Tagged John Scalzi, Kaiju, The Kaiju Preservation Society
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S2E7: Catch-Up Episode #3: Marvel Movies
As part of my catch-up series, I review the Marvel movies that have come out since the start of the pandemic. Movie recommendation: The New Mutants.(I really think it’s underrated.) Check out this episode!
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Tagged Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The New Mutants
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New Video: What Is the Longest Word in English?
The answer is probably not what you think. There are plenty of examples of “longest words” in various dictionaries, but most of them are curiosities that no one uses in real life. I’m looking for the longest words that are … Continue reading
Posted in language, Video
Tagged descriptivism, Linguistics, longest word
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S2E6: Anime Science Fiction
Experimenting with a new format, my friend Greg and I have a conversation about anime and its place in the science fiction genre. TV recommendation: Cowboy BebopMovie recommendation: Castle in the Sky: Laputa Check out this episode!
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Tagged Anime, Castle in the Sky, Cowboy Bebop, Laputa
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New Video: Radix Economy
This is my entry for the 2nd Summer of Math Exposition contest. Radix economy is often billed as a measure of which number base is most “efficient,” but its answer that base-3 is the best suggests there’s probably something else … Continue reading
S2E5: Paul Frommer Interview
I interview Dr. Paul Frommer, the creator of the Na’vi language from Avatar as well as Barsoomian from Disney’s John Carter. Prospective movie recommendation: Avatar: The Way of Water Dr. Frommer’s blog. Check out this episode!
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Tagged Avatar, Conlangs, Na'vi, Paul Frommer
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S2E4: Catch-Up Episode #2: Monster Movies
In this second catch-up episode, I talk about the most recent monster movies (and one novel) to come out and their place in science fiction as a whole. Movie recommendation: Love and Monsters My YouTube video on the physics of giant … Continue reading
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Tagged Love and Monsters, Monster Movies
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Follow-Up: Languages Mentioned in S2E3
In this week’s episode of A Reader’s History of Science Fiction, I talked about constructed languages, or conlangs. I listed the major ones I discussed in the description, but there were many more that I mentioned in passing, which I … Continue reading
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Follow-Up, language
Tagged Conlangs, Constructed Languages
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S2E3: Constructed Languages in Science Fiction
Science fiction frequently plays with language in different ways to explore the concepts of philosophy, culture, and cognition; and constructed languages (or conlangs) are a big part of that. In this episode, I highlight how conlangs have contributed to the … Continue reading
Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Tagged Conlangs, Constructed Languages, Defiance
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Science Meets Fiction 