Author Archives: Alex R. Howe

Unknown's avatar

About Alex R. Howe

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

Reading Levels and the Surprisingly Recent Stratification of Children’s Books

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Note: this is the second of two three companion posts to Episode 44 of my podcast, Children’s Science Fiction. (I told you, this episode took a lot of research.) For the first post, click here. Today, children’s books—especially fiction books—are … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Episode 44 Delayed

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Hi all. Unfortunately, I need to delay this week’s episode. Production was already running slow because it’s a long episode with a lot of supplemental material, as evidenced by the bonus blog posts. And, frankly, I’ve been a bit distracted … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Episode 44 Delayed

Where Did School Book Fairs Come From?

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Note: in preparing the next episode of my podcast, I had a surprising amount of supplemental material that was kind of off-topic and that I didn’t have time to talk about, so I decided to save it for the blog. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature | Tagged , | 1 Comment

#43 – Solar System Exploration

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Hard sci-fi stories about the exploration of our solar system became more popular beginning in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how these ideas rose to prominence and have developed over the years. Book recommendation: The Martian by Andy Weir. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on #43 – Solar System Exploration

New Video: Exoplanets Review January 2022

Posted on February 4, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

So, I decided to attempt a new video series where I talk about the latest research in the field of exoplanets. I was inspired by the Raptor Chatter channel’s “Paleontology in Review” videos, and I thought there was a niche … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, Planets, Video | 1 Comment

#42 – Blockbuster Films Part II: Superheroes Go Mainstream

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

As Hollywood moved into the twenty-first century, it found a new formula for superhero stories that catapulted them to some of the most popular stories in sci-fi. In this episode, we explore the history of superheroes in film and how … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction | Tagged , | Comments Off on #42 – Blockbuster Films Part II: Superheroes Go Mainstream

Which State Has Produced the Most US Presidents?

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

President Joe Biden has been in office for one year today. But this post isn’t about him—not directly. This post is about all of America’s Presidents. (Yes, even that one. And that one.) On this anniversary, I decided to answer … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Which State Has Produced the Most US Presidents?

#41 – Blockbuster Films Part I: The Rise of CGI

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

In the 1980s and ’90s, blockbuster films became a staple of Hollywood and of science fiction, and their rise went hand in hand with the development of CGI technology. In this episode, we explore the ways CGI has contributed to … Continue reading →

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

Putting My Life Back Together; or, Starting Over on New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Okay, don’t worry. I’m being over-dramatic with that title. My life is about as much in order as it can be in the current mess, and no one actually does their New Year’s resolutions, right? But you know what? I … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal, Writing | Tagged , | 4 Comments

#40 – Michael Crichton

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Michael Crichton was a huge influence on science fiction in the 1990s and 2000s, particularly through the many movie adaptations of his work. In this episode, I given an overview of his writings and his work in Hollywood. Book recommendation: Sphere … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction | Comments Off on #40 – Michael Crichton