Speculating Canada: Canadian Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy

May 4, 2013

Upcoming Interview with James Alan Gardner on Thursday, May 9

On Thursday May 9, Speculating Canada will be interviewing James Alan Gardner. Gardner is the author of The League of People’s Universe novels Expendable, Commitment Hour, Vigilant, Hunted, Ascending, Trapped, and Radiant. I first encountered James Alan Gardner through the recommendation of Alissa Paxton (who has co-hosted several Speculating Canada programmed on Trent Radio). She had recommended Mr. Gardner as...

Interviews Comments: 0

May 3, 2013

Quote – People Who Make Other People Feel Good

“There were people who just made other people feel good. Just being around them, made you feel better, creative, uplifted, happy…. She tried to be, but she was subject to the same bad moods as anybody else, the same impatience with stupidity and ignorance which, parenthetically speaking, were to her mind the prime causes of all the world’s ills.” -Charles...

Quotes Comments: 0

May 1, 2013

Blood on the Starscape

A review of Peter Watts’ Blindsight (Tor, 2006) By Derek Newman-Stille Life itself is strange, odd, and unordinary. We try to create ideas of normalcy to impose order on the world around us and end up limiting our perception and understanding of that world. We categorise, we cut things that we don’t think should belong, and we butcher reality to...

Fiction Book Reviews Comments: 0

April 29, 2013

Interview of Derek Newman-Stille about Speculating Canada on Lynda Williams’ Reality Skimming Blog

I have recently been interviewed by the Reality Skimming Blog, facilitated by the brilliant and wonderful Lynda Williams (author of the Okal Rel Saga). I was asked about what inspired me to create the Speculating Canada site, about the relationship between Canadian SF and mainstream Can Lit, about the role of SF to engage with questions of identity, the role...

Editorials Comments: 0

April 28, 2013

Quote – Humans Taking Things For Granted

“Taking things for granted is a core component of the human experience.” -Corey Redekop – Husk (ECW press, 2012)

Quotes Comments: 0

April 27, 2013

Spec Can made the short list for a Prix Aurora Award

Dear Readers, I have exciting news – Speculating Canada has made the short list for the Prix Aurora Awards. I am excited to see that Speculating Canada has made such an impact and that people are excited about the unique way that Spec Can explores Canadian SF. I want to thank everyone who has participated in various ways in shaping...

Editorials Comments: 2

April 25, 2013

Quote – People Are Part of the Problem, People Need to be Part of the Solution

“The system was people, and I was part of it, part of its problems, and I was going to be part of the solution from now on.” -Cory Doctorow – Homeland (Tor, 2013)

Quotes Comments: 0

April 24, 2013

Fear and Conquest

A review of Duane Burry’s Numbered (In Here Be Monsters: Tongues and Teeth: Issue Seven, 2012) Duane Burry’s Numbered presents humanity with an opportunity for interplanetary communication, a way of bridging the dark, silence of space. For a planet that has not discovered space travel, this is an incredible opportunity to speak to civilisations older and far distant than our...

Fiction Book Reviews Comments: 0

April 22, 2013

Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy – June 7-8

As many of you who have been following Speculating Canada know, I like to support research in Canadian Science Fiction, particularly when it is directed toward public access and public discussions. I have given papers at the Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy (ACCSFF) for the past few years and have enjoyed it both for the amazing quality...

Editorials Comments: 0

April 20, 2013

Quote – Can Bear Anything As Long As There Are Books

“I have books, new books, and I can bear anything as long as there are books.” -Jo Walton – Among Others (TOR, 2010)

Quotes Comments: 0