Author Archives: Alex R. Howe

About Alex R. Howe

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

Book Review: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

In 2011, Ernest Cline wrote the bestselling book Ready Player One about a boy competing in a high stakes video game contest in the future virtual reality world of the OASIS. In 2045, the OASIS basically is the internet and … Continue reading →

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#17 – Arthur C. Clarke

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Arthur C. Clarke was the fourth of the “Big Four” authors of the golden age of science fiction. In this episode, we explore his work and his unique writing style, especially centered around “sufficiently advanced technology.” Book recommendation: The City … Continue reading →

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#16 – Ray Bradbury

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Ray Bradbury is most famous as the author of Fahrenheit 451, but he was an important and unique figure in science fiction at-large, a master of short fiction with a colorful, Hollywood-centered career. Here, we explore some of his most … Continue reading →

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#15 – Robert Heinlein Part II: Politics, Religion, and Sex

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

Robert Heinlein’s later career went to some unusual places, including books with heavy philosophical and political themes, while still continuing with his classic hard sci-fi rigor. In this episode, we explore the highlights of his later work. Book recommendation: The … Continue reading →

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Graphic Novel Review: First Knife by Simon Roy and Daniel Bensen

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Alex R. Howe

A couple months ago, I reviewed Junction, the debut novel of Daniel Bensen. After I posted it, Mr. Bensen was kind enough to thank me for my review and to discuss our mutual interest in writing. He recently suggested that … Continue reading →

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#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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