All posts by Cathy Palmer-Lister

Astronomy News

A STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM IS UNDERWAY

https://spaceweather.com/

A STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM IS UNDERWAY: A G3-class (Strong) geomagnetic storm is underway on April 16th, with a slight chance of intensifying to category G4 (Severe). This is happening because a CME hit Earth’s magnetic field on April 15th. It may have been a Cannibal CME–a pile-up of two closely-spaced CMEs, in which one overtook the other. Cannibal CMEs contain shock waves and enhanced magnetic fields that do a good job sparking auroras.

“The CME delivered!” reports Sebastian Sainio from Finland. “It sparked a great, although not so long-lasting show on the night between the 15th and 16th of April.”

“The scenic landscape on the island of Raippaluoto in western Finland gave extra vibe to the photos,” he says. “The water was also exceptionally calm that night.”

If today’s storm persists at current levels (a big IF), auroras would appear across Canada and some northern-tier US states during the night of April 16-17. Aurora alerts: SMS Text

more images: from Gregory Ash of Ely, Minnesota; from Kristian Eli Eli Zachariasen of the Faroe Islands; from Thierry Garcia of Fishburn, Durham, England; from Jeff Dykstra of Búðardalur, Iceland

Awards, CSFFA / Aurora Award / Hall of Fame, Reading

2025 AURORA AWARDS BALLOT

2025 AURORA AWARDS BALLOT

This ballot is for works originally done in 2024 by Canadians. The Aurora Awards are nominated by members of the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA). The top five nominated works were selected. Additional works were included where there was a tie for fifth place. An online awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, at 5pm EDT, with hosts Mark Leslie Lefebvre and Elizabeth May Anderson. 

BEST NOVEL
Blackheart Man, Nalo Hopkinson, Saga Press
Pale Grey Dot, Don Miasek, Ravenstone
The Siege of Burning Grass, Premee Mohamed, Solaris
The Tapestry of Time, Kate Heartfield, Harper Voyager
Withered, A.G.A. Wilmot, ECW Press

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
The Door in Lake Mallion, S.M. Beiko, ECW Press
Heavenly Tyrant, Xiran Jay Zhao, Tundra Books
The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3, Douglas Smith, Spiral Path Books
Misadventures in Ghosthunting, Melissa Yue, Harper Collins
Spaced!, C.L. Carey, Renaissance

BEST NOVELETTE/NOVELLA
The Butcher of the Forest, Premee Mohamed, Tordotcom
“Carter’s Refugio“, Hayden Trenholm, Analog SF&F, Sept/Oct
Countess, Suzan Palumbo, ECW Press
The Dragonfly Gambit, A.D. Sui, Neon Hemlock Press
“Zebra Meridian“,Geoffrey W. Cole, Zebra Meridian and Other Stories, Stelliform Press

BEST SHORT STORY
“A World of Milk and Promises“, R H Wesley, Clarkesworld, Issue 216
“And When She Shatters“, Kerry C. Byrne, Heartlines Spec, Issue 4
“Blood and Desert Dreams“, Y.M. Pang, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Issue 408
“BUDDY RAYMOND’S NO-BULLSHIT GUIDE TO DRONE HUNTING“, Gillian Secord, Diabolical Plots, #108A
“Desolation Sounds“, Geoffrey W. Cole, Zebra Meridian and Other Stories, Stelliform Press

BEST GRAPHIC NOVEL/COMIC
Cemetery Kids Don’t Die vol. 1 (#1-4), Zac Thompson, illustrated by Daniel Irrizari, Gegé Schall, and Brittany Peer, Oni Press
Into the Goblin Market, Vikki VanSickle, illustrated by Jensine Eckwall, Tundra Books
It Never Rains, Kari Maaren, webcomic
Star Trek Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way, Ryan North, art by Chris Fenoglio, IDW Publishing
Wheetago War: Roth, Richard Van Camp, illustrated by Christopher Shy, Renegade Arts Entertainment
A Witch’s Guide to Burning, Aminder Dhaliwal, Drawn and Quarterly
Zatanna: Bring Down the House, Mariko Tamaki, DC Comics

BEST POEM/SONG
“Angakkuq“, Shantell Powell, On Spec Magazine, Vol 24, Issue 130
“Cthulhu on the Shores of Osaka“, Y.M. Pang, Invitation: A One-shot Anthology of Speculative Fiction
“Her Favourite“, Beth Cato and Rhonda Parrish, Star*Line, Vol 47, Issue 4
“Horizon Events“, J.D. Dresner, Polar Starlight, Issue #15
“A Thirst for Adventure“, Lynne Sargent, Polar Borealis, Issue #28
“Trip Through the Robot“, Carolyn Clink and David Clink, Giant Robot Poems: On Mecha-Human Science, Culture & War

BEST RELATED WORK
Augur Magazine Vol 7, Issues 7.1-7.3, Kerry C. Byrne, Toria Liao, André Geleynse, Frankie Hagg, and Conyer Clayton, Augur Society
Bury Your Gays: An Anthology of Tragic Queer Horror, Sofia Ajram, Ghoulish Books
Northern Nights, Michael Kelly, Undertow Publications
On Spec Magazine, Vol 34, Issues 127-130, Diane L. Walton Managing Editor, The Copper Pig Writers’ Society
Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Two, Stephen Kotowych, Ansible Press

BEST COVER ART/INTERIOR ILLUSTRATION
Augur Magazine, Issue 7.1,  cover art, Martine Nguyen
Augur Magazine Issue 7.2, cover art, Frances Philip
Augur Magazine, Issue 7.3, cover art, Lorna Antoniazzi
Captains of Black and Brass, cover art, James Beveridge, On Spec Magazine, Vol 34, Issue 129
Northern Nights, cover art, Serena Malyon, Undertow Publications

BEST FAN WRITING AND PUBLICATION
Clubhouse Canadian Speculative Fiction reviews, R. Graeme Cameron, Amazing Stories Magazine
James Nicoll Reviews, James Davis Nicoll, online
Polar Starlight Magazine, Issues 13-16, Rhea E. Rose, editor
SF&F Book Reviews, Robert Runté, Ottawa Review of Books
Speculating Canada, Derek Newman-Stille

BEST FAN RELATED WORK
murmurstations, Sonia Urlando, Augur Society, podcast
Scintillation 2024, co-chairs, Jo Walton and René Walling, Montreal
Two Old Farts Talk Sci-Fi Podcast, Troy Harkin and David Clink
Wizards & Spaceships Podcast, Rachel A. Rosen and David L. Clink
The Worldshapers Podcast, Edward Willett

 

Ver 1.0, April 15, 2024

Astronomy News

TWO CMEs ARE HEADING FOR EARTH

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G2): Geomagnetic storms are likely on April 16th when a pair of closely-spaced CMEs is expected to hit Earth’s magnetic field. NOAA forecasters say storm levels could reach category G2 with auroras across Canada and northern-tier US States. The CMEs were hurled toward Earth by a double eruption on the sun; see below. 

A DOUBLE ERUPTION ON THE SUN: Explosions on the sun do *not* require sunspots. Spotless explosions occurred twice over the weekend when these two magnetic filaments lifted off the sun:

Magnetic filaments are tubes of dense plasma held above the sun’s surface by magnetic forces. The two pictured above are about 400,000 km long–longer than the distance between Earth and the Moon. These massive structures can erupt when their magnetic underpinnings become unstable. That happened twice in quick succession on April 12th and 13th–a rare double blast.

Fragments of the exploding filaments ripped through the sun’s atmosphere to produce a pair of closely-spaced CMEs, now heading for Earth. A one-two punch from these CMEs could spark a G2-class geomagnetic storm on April 16th. CME impact alerts: SMS Text.

Fanzines

Fanzine Roundup

Quite a few zines to catch up on.

First, updates from Bill Burns:

New today at https://efanzines.com:

  • Leybl Botwinik’s CyberCozen – March 2025
  • Opuntia #594, edited by Dale Speirs
  • Christopher J. Garcia’s Claims Department #83
  • Garth Spencer’s The Obdurate Eye #49
  • Perry Middlemiss’s Perryscope #52
  • Tom Becker’s Energumdex on Taral Wayne’s Energumen page
  • Octothorpe #131, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line
  • Andy Hooper’s CAPTAIN FLASHBACK #76
  • Nic Farey’s This Here…#85
  • Heath Row’s The Stf Amateur, April 2025 (apazine bundle)
  • Opuntia #595, edited by Dale Speirs

From Africa, Probe – Gorgeous cover!- Gail writes: Please find attached the 203rd issue of PROBE. I have also attached the documents needed to enter the Nova short story competition for 2025. If you wish you may post these to advertise this year’s Nova.

Thank you, Gail Jamieson, Editor PROBE, www.sffsa.org.za

From the N3F :

The latest issue of The National Fantasy Fan is attached. Please NOMINATE for the Laureate Awards. TNFF202503

From Nic Farey, TH 85r 

From Garth Spencer, who writes: Happy Belated April Fool’s Day! ObdurateEye50

 

Books

Locus List of Forthcoming Books

APRIL 2025

  • NEAL ASHER • Dark Diamond • Macmillan/Tor UK, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT • A Drop of Corruption • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT • A Drop of Corruption • Hodder & Stoughton UK/Hodderscape, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Gifted & Talented • Macmillan/Tor UK, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Gifted & Talented • Tor, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • PATRICE CALDWELL • Where Shadows Meet • St. Mar­tin’s/Wednesday Books, Apr 2025 (ya, v, hc, eb)
  • KACEN CALLENDER • Chaos King • Tor Teen, Apr 2025 (ya, hc, eb)
  • VAJRA CHANDRASEKERA • Rakesfall • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Apr 2025 (1st UK, tp, eb)
  • P. DJÈLÍ CLARK • Abeni and the Kingdom of Gold • Tor/Starscape, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • C.S.E. COONEY • Saint Death’s Herald • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Apr 2025 (tp, eb)
  • ISAAC FELLMAN • Notes from a Regicide • Tor, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • DANIEL M. FORD • Advocate • Tor, Apr 2025 (hc, tp, eb)
  • DARYL GREGORY • When We Were Real • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JIM C. HINES • Kitemaster • Arc Manor/Caezik SF & Fantasy, Apr 2025 (tp, eb)
  • TANYA HUFF • Direct Descendant • Astra House/DAW, Apr 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • AI JIANG • A Palace Near the Wind: Natu­ral Engines • Titan Books UK, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • MARK LAWRENCE • The Book That Held Her Heart • Ace, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • SHARON LEE & STEVE MILLER • Diviner’s Bow • Baen, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JEFFREY ALAN LOVE • The Last Battle at the End of the World • Flesk Publications, Apr 2025 (gn, art, tp, hc)
  • NNEDI OKORAFOR • One Way Witch • Astra House/DAW, Apr 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • DANIEL PINKWATER • Jules • Penny, & the Rooster, Tachyon Publications, Apr 2025 (na, ya, tp, eb)
  • NATASHA PULLEY • The Hymn to Dionysus • Orion UK/Gollancz, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • EDEN ROYCE • Psychopomp and Circumstance • Tordotcom, Apr 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • NGHI VO • Don’t Sleep With the Dead • Tor­dotcom, Apr 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • KHAN WONG • Down in the Sea of Angels • Angry Robot UK, Apr 2025 (tp, eb)
  • RITA WOODS • The Edge of Yesterday • Tor/Forge, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
  • TIMOTHY ZAHN • The Icarus Coda • Baen, Apr 2025 (hc, eb)
Tributes

Nancy Kilpatrick 1946 – 2005

Award-winning horror author, Nancy Kilpatrick, has passed away after along battle with lung cancer.  She lived in Montreal and was a frequent guest at Con*Cept. Read her bio on her website is here: https://nancykilpatrick.com/

Her facebook page is collecting tributes from her many friends and fellow authors: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.kilpatrick.31

Dinosaurs

Unique two-clawed dinosaur discovered in the Gobi Desert

Unique two-clawed dinosaur discovered

Tim Dodd, Climate and science reporter

A tall brown dinosaur stands in a forest, its ostrich-like head almost in the tree canopy, grasping trees with hands containing two very large claws and sets of orange feathers on the arms.  The dense rainforest is a dark green mixture of tropical-looking hardwood trees and fern-like plants. Duonychus tsogtbaatari would have been adept at grasping vegetation

Artist’s impression by Masato Hattori

A rare new species of two-clawed dinosaur has been discovered by scientists in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.

The species, named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, was unique within a group of dinosaurs called Therizinosaurs, which stood on their hind legs and usually had three claws.

It was medium-sized, with an estimated weight of approximately 260kg.

Researchers believe the species’ long, curved claws and its ability to strongly flex them would have made it an efficient grasper of vegetation.

Yoshi Kobayashi, Hokkaido University– Researchers believe the dinosaur weighed approximately 260kg

Therizinosaurs were a group of either herbivorous or omnivorous theropod dinosaurs that lived in Asia and North America during the Cretaceous Period, which began 145 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago.

They are exemplified by the massive, long-clawed form Therizinosaurus, featured in the film Jurassic World Dominion, and were “awkward looking”, according to one of the study’s authors Dr Darla Zelenitsky, associate professor at the University of Calgary.

The specimen was recovered from the Bayanshiree formation in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, which dates back to the Late Cretaceous period (between 100.5 to 66 million years ago).

Unesco, the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, calls the Mongolian Gobi Desert the largest dinosaur fossil reservoir in the world.

The region is an especially important source of fossils from the later Cretaceous period, which is the last of the main three periods of the dinosaur age, representing the final phase of dinosaur evolution.

Kobayashi et al —  The claws may also have been used as formidable weapons

At nearly a foot long, the claws themselves were much larger than their underlying bone, the study revealed.

Besides better grasping, the two-fingered hands may have been used for display, digging, or as formidable weapons.

The most famous two-fingered theropods are species within the group tyrannosaurids, which includes Tyrannosaurus rex, but Duonychus evolved its two-fingered hands separately from them and from other two-fingered theropods.

The specimen also preserves the first keratinous sheath of a therizinosaur, an element that covers the claw much like human fingernails, aiding defence, movement, or prey catching.

Astronomy News

Are we on the verge of mining metals from the asteroids above Earth?

Are we on the verge of mining metals from the asteroids above Earth?

BBC, Josh Sims
 

Getty Images An asteroid rock on a starry background (Credit: Getty Images)
Asteroid mining firms say mining for minerals on asteroids is just around the corner now, but not everyone is convinced (Credit: Getty Images)

 

As an asteroid mining start-up’s latest mission goes awry, Josh Sims looks at how close we really are to extracting rare minerals from the many celestial bodies floating above us.

Thirty years ago the seminal BBC science programme Tomorrow’s World made a few predictions about how the world might be by 2025. It was a testament to how hard predicting the technological future is: we would, the programme suggested, have microchip implants to help us deal with ATMs, chat with holographic helpmates in our homes and there would be riots over internet access.

The episode also suggested we would be mining asteroids by now. And while we aren’t there yet, it’s something that some start-ups argue will happen sooner than many imagined.

The founder of the California-based company AstroForge believes it will be the first to get there, and the company has already taken the first tentative steps. On 27 February 2025 it launched its first $6.5m (£5.1m) unmanned spacecraft on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Around nine days later, AstroForge believes the spacecraft – named Odin – likely passed beyond the Moon and into deep space as planned.

Unfortunately, however, AstroForge developed major communications problems with Odin, which it is still trying to rectify at the time of writing. The firm hopes Odin has now entered its nine-month long coast to its mission destination: a fly-by of the carefully pre-selected asteroid 2022 OB5, some eight million km (five million miles) from Earth, which Odin will assess the composition of using its sensors.

“Move fast and break rocks” might be the mantra of Matt Gialich, AstroForge’s ebullient founder with a penchant for swear words, who is not dissuaded by the perhaps unresolvable technical trouble. AstroForge expected nothing less than many hurdles and has, he says, learned much even if contact isn’t made with this spacecraft again. “Yes, there are a lot more baby steps to take,” he concedes. “But we’re going to start to actually do it. You have to try.”

READ MORE

Astronomy News

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH
Space Weather News for March 22, 2025

NOAA forecasters have issued a watch for strong G3-class geomagnetic storms on March 23rd when a CME is expected to hit Earth. The Russell-McPherron effect could amplify the effectiveness of the impact, producing widespread equinox auroras. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.

CME impact alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when CMEs strike Earth.

Above: Equinox auroras over Luosto, Finland, on March 20th. “Thanks to the Russell-McPherron effect, the aurora showed up nicely,” reports photographer Zoltán Kolláth.

Astronomy News

COSMIC RAY SHOWERS CAUSE LIGHTNING

Space Weather News for March 20, 2025
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com

COSMIC RAY SHOWERS CAUSE LIGHTNING:  A new study by researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory links lightning to antimatter in cosmic ray showers. This could solve a centuries-old mystery of what causes electrical outbursts in thunderstorms. Full story @ Spaceweather.com

Above: 3D images of lightning over New Mexico. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory used these data to link lightning to cosmic rays.