Author: Anders Monsen (Page 85 of 90)

Enjoyed this lovely quote from Wired magazine about a private company that wants to open a human settlement on Mars:

“Why should people live on Mars? And if it’s going to be done, should a private enterprise engage in what would be one of humanity’s defining moments?”

The article brings up the old UN bombast about space existing for all humanity. Makes me think if the UN had been around a few thousand years ago we’d have this scenario: exploration and use of the oceans shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interest of all countries. End result? Everyone remains in place except for a few connected bureaucrats. We need off this planet, if only to ensure humankind’s survival. The threshold for the technology of mass murder quickly falls year by year. Sows the seeds of humanity outward, and at least some people may escape. Only private enterprise will make it happen other than as a TV moment.

Perhaps the members of Congress should study the Constitution more before madating a Constitution Day. If three-fourths of surveyed students think it’s okay to censor the internet, no doubt the number in Congress is nine-tenth. The same can be said for the Supreme Court, which gutted the Fifth and Ninth Amendments with Kelo. Hey, throw in the Executive Branch, which summoned forth the Category Five State in the wave of Katrina. Yeah, I’m bitter.

Claire Wolfe lists 35 movies in several categories with vote by readers to determine the best libertarian movies. I question some of the choices and omissions–I mean, Minority Report stank–but others are most definitely classics. The most difficult choice for me fell in the Animated category, where three of the movies are in a dead tie. Jon Osborne used to have a great site on movies and liberty, but the last update he posted is dated over a year ago.

Wally Conger emailed to let me know he had purchased a copy today, so my reports a couple of days ago about the delay apparently were incorrect. I picked up all three versions of the new issue, and may post a complete review soon.

L. Neil Smith’s novel (Del Rey, 1984) is available again for sale as an e-book (PDF format) for five bucks. There’s a brief note about this over at The Libertarian Enterprise, an electronic non-fiction newspaper published by Smith since 1995. Artist Scott Bieser’s cover for Tom Paine Maru is, well, interesting. Margaret Atwood might nod her head upon seeing this cover, as if to confirm her own views of science fiction. Bieser, who also did the art for the the graphic novel version of The Probability Broach, recently launched a blog.

Just learned from some browncoat postings on fireflyfans.net that issue 3 of theSerenity comic books has been pushed back from September 9th publication date to September 13. Ah, the agony of the wait! Good news for collectors, though, as it appears the first issue is in it’s third printing, and if you weren’t able to get that John Cassaday cover, now’s your chance.

Speaking of Serenity, the official movie site now is live. Requires Flash for some fancy behind the scenes stuff, and well worth spending a few moments of your time. I like Wash’s statement, “Can I make a suggestion that doesn’t involve violence. Or is this the wrong crowd?” Take a quiz and watch an “exclusive clip.” Uh, no, not really; it’s part of the trailer.

To quote Smith, “might strange bedfellows” he shares in this new sf anthology containing 16 short stories, Future Washington. Publication date is set for October. Kim Stanley Robinson and L. Neil Smith in the same book…

Blogging will be lighter than usual the next couple of weeks, as I am finishing up the print version of the Fall issue of Prometheus, contributing a couple of reviews as well as laying out all the Prometheus Awards reports, speeches, and photos.

From Revolution SF, some brief previews of this Fall’s spate of SF related movies. No doubt this was written prior to the announcement that V for Vendetta‘s release date shifted to the Spring, but nonetheless, a tasty menu awaits.

In “Books That I Have Not Yet Read” Part II, the reason I was led to Stolyarov’s novel was through his review of Noble Vision by Gen LaGreca. Already a nominee for the 2006 Prometheus Award (for best novel published in 2005), the web site calls Noble Vision a “medical suspense novel that delves deeply into the conflict in medicine today between private care and state.” Another review, by Dr. Jonathan Dolhenty also is quite favorable. In addition, the Autonomist also mentions the novel, citing the book’s publisher “Winged Victory Press, a Chicago-based independent press dedicated to publishing works that celebrate the American spirit of individualism.” A second novel is forthcoming by the same publisher. Noble Vision can be purchased through Amazon.com.

A review in the pages of Prometheus is forthcoming this Fall. I corresponded briefly via email with LaGreca in 1998, and I fully intend to read this novel, despite the huge stack of books awaiting my attention.