MonSFFA Website

Locus List of forthcoming books

Books released this month

OCT 2024

  • HARLAN ELLISON & J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, EDS. • The Last Dangerous Visions • Black­stone Publishing, Oct 2024 (oa, hc, eb)
  • ISABEL CAÑAS • The Vampires of El Norte • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Oct 2024 (1st UK, h, tp, eb)
  • GABINO IGLESIAS • House of Bone and Rain • Titan Books UK, Oct 2024 (1st UK, h, pb, eb)
  • NEAL STEPHENSON • Polostan • HarperCollins/Morrow, Oct 2024 (1st US, hc, eb)
  • INDRAPRAMIT DAS, ED. • Deep Dream: Science Fiction Ex­ploring the Future of Art • MIT Press, Oct 2024 (an, tp, eb)
  • ELLEN DATLOW, ED. • The Best Horror of the Year • Volume Sixteen, Start/Night Shade, Oct 2024 (an, tp, eb)
  • PAULA GURAN, ED. • The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror: Volume 5 • Start/Pyr, Oct 2024 (an, tp, eb)
  • HUGH HOWEY & JOHN JOSEPH ADAMS, EDS. • The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2024 • HarperCollins/Mariner, Oct 2024 (an, tp, eb)
  • ALLAN KASTER, ED. • The Year’s Top Robot and AI Sto­ries: Fifth Annual Collection • Au­dioText/Infinivox, Oct 2024 (an, tp, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Januaries • Macmillan/Tor UK, Oct 2024 (c, hc, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Januaries • Tordotcom, Oct 2024 (c, hc, eb)
  • KATE ELLIOTT • The History of the World Begins in Ice: Stories and Essays from the World of Cold Magic • Fairwood Press, Oct 2024 (c, tp, hc, eb)
  • NALO HOPKINSON • Jamaica Ginger and Other Con­coctions • Tachyon Publications, Oct 2024 (c, tp, eb)
  • JOHN KESSEL • The Presidential Papers • PM Press, Oct 2024 (c, tp, eb)
  • JOE R. LANSDALE • In the Mad Mountains: Stories In­spired by H.P. Lovecraft • Tachyon Publications, Oct 2024 (c, tp, eb)
  • JULIET E. MCKENNA • Polestars 10: Different Times and Other Places • NewCon Press UK, Oct 2024 (c, tp, hc, eb)
  • NUZO ONOH • Where the Dead Brides Gather • Ti­tan Books UK, Oct 2024 (c, h, pb, eb)
  • HARRY TURTLEDOVE • Other People’s Playgrounds • Sub­terranean Press, Oct 2024 (c, hc, eb)
  • JANEEN WEBB • Scorpion Girl • PS Publishing UK, Oct 2024 (c, hc, tp)
  • KEVIN J. ANDERSON • Nether Station • Blackstone Publish­ing, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • KELLEY ARMSTRONG • I’ll Be Waiting • St. Martin’s, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • RICHARD CHIZMAR • Memorials • Simon & Schuster/Gal­lery, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • NICK CUTTER • The Queen • Simon & Schuster/Gal­lery, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • DELILAH S. DAWSON • It Will Only Hurt for a Moment • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • KATHE KOJA • Catherine the Ghost • Clash Books, Oct 2024 (h, tp, eb)
  • KIM NEWMAN • A Christmas Ghost Story • Titan Books UK, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • RIVERS SOLOMON • Model Home • Macmillan/Farrar Straus Giroux/MCD, Oct 2024 (h, hc, eb)
  • STEPHEN BAXTER • Fortress Sol • Orion UK/Gollancz, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • C.J. CHERRYH & JANE S. FANCHER • Alliance Unbound • Astra House/DAW, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • ERIC FLINT & JODY LYNN NYE • 1635: The Weaver’s Code • Baen, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • KIM HARRISON • Demon’s Bluff • Ace, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • KEVIN HEARNE • Candle & Crow • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • FREYA MARSKE • Swordcrossed • Tor/Bramble, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • FREYA MARSKE • Swordcrossed • Macmillan/Tor UK, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • ALAN MOORE • The Great When • Bloomsbury USA, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • ALAN MOORE • The Great When • Bloomsbury UK, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • EHIGBOR OKOSUN • Exiled by Iron • Harper Voyager US, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • EHIGBOR OKOSUN • Exiled by Iron • Harper Voyager UK, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • JEFF VANDERMEER • Absolution • Macmillan/MCD X FSG Originals, Oct 2024 (hc, eb)
  • KELLEY ARMSTRONG • Schemes & Scandals • Subterranean Press, Oct 2024 (na, hc)
  • NGHI VO • The City in Glass • Tordotcom, Oct 2024 (na, hc, eb)
  • MICHAEL KELLY, ED. • Northern Nights • Undertow, Oct 2024 (oa, tp, eb)
  • SUSANNA CLARKE • The Wood at Midwinter • Bloomsbury USA, Oct 2024 (ss, hc, eb)
  • SUSANNA CLARKE • The Wood at Midwinter • Bloomsbury UK, Oct 2024 (ss, hc, eb)
  • BLAKE CROUCH • Run • Penguin Random House/Bal­lantine, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • R.S.A. GARCIA • The Nightward • Harper Voyager US, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • KEVIN HEARNE • Candle & Crow • Orbit UK, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • BETHANY JACOBS • On Vicious Worlds • Orbit US, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • BETHANY JACOBS • On Vicious Worlds • Orbit UK, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • H.G. PARRY • The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door • Orbit US/Redhook, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • H.G. PARRY • The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door • Orbit UK, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • CARRIE VAUGHN • The Naturalist Society • Amazon/47North, Oct 2024 (tp, eb)
  • SARAH PINBOROUGH • Blood • Orion UK/Gollancz, Oct 2024 (v, pb, eb)
  • SARAH PINBOROUGH • Magic • Orion UK/Gollancz, Oct 2024 (v, pb, eb)
  • KENDARE BLAKE • Warrior of Legend • HarperCollins/Quill Tree, Oct 2024 (ya, hc, eb)
Astronomy News

CME: Watch for Aurorae

Space Weather News for Oct. 2, 2024
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com

X7-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: An Earth-facing sunspot exploded on Oct 1st (2220 UT), producing the second-strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25. The X7.1-category blast caused a shortwave radio blackout over Hawaii and hurled a CME into space. The CME could reach Earth and cause geomagnetic storms later this week. Updates @ Spaceweather.com.

CME impact alerts: Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when CMEs hit Earth’s magnetic field.

Above: The extreme ultraviolet flash from yesterday’s X7.1-class solar flare. Credit: NASA/SDO

>

Fanzines

Zines to share!

We have zines to share!

 Update from Bill Burns:

Added today at https://efanzines.com:

  • Octothorpe #118, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line
  • Journey Planet #83 & 84, edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, et al
  • Leybl Botwinik’s CyberCozen – September 2024
  • Opuntia #582, edited by Dale Speirs
  • Alexiad #134 edited by Lisa & Joseph MajorOpuntia #583, edited by Dale SpeirsNic Farey’s This Here…#79
  • Andy Hooper’s CAPTAIN FLASHBACK #70
  • Octothorpe #119, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line 
  • Bill

    From the 3N3F N3FReview202409

Table of Contents:

Novels

2 … Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold … Review by JE Tabor
4 … Bloodsworn by Tej Turner … Review by Chris Nuttall
5 … The Book of Feasts and Seasons by John C. Wright Review by Christopher R. DiNote
10 … Christmas In the Stars by Sarah A. Hoyt … Review by Pat Patterson
11 … Dark Day, Bright Hour by Julie Frost … Review by Declan Finn
13 … Dragonheart by Charles Edward Pogue … Review by Caroline Furlong
15 … Flame by Katie Cross … Review by JR Handley
20 … The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales by George MacDonald
… Review by Christopher R. DiNote
23 … The Lost Fleet Series by Jack Campbell … Review by JR Handley
28 … Odd Magics: Tales for the Lost by Sarah A. Hoyt … Review by Becky Jones
29 … Or All Will Burn Anthology Introduction by Kacey Ezell … Review by Pat Patterson
30 … Pack Dynamics by Julie Frost … Review by Vanessa Landry
32 … Phantom Orbit by David Ignatius … Review by Jason P. Hunt
33 … Queen of the Martian Catacombs by Leigh Brackett … Review by Caroline Furlong
35 … Running Into Time by Cedar Sanderson … Review by Pat Patterson
36 … Savage Wars by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole … Review by Jim McCoy
38 … Scattered, Smothered and Spellbound: They Call Me Tully by Kelly Grayson
… Review by Pat Patterson
38 … Shadowfire by Dean Koontz … Review by Tom Feller
39 … The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix … Review by Tom Feller
39 … Splashdown by Blaine Pardoe … Review by Declan Finn
42 … Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole … Review by Caroline Furlong
44 … The Third Circle by Amanda Quick … Review by Tom Feller
45 … Titan Mage by Edie Skye … Review by JR Handley
48 … To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose … Review by Tom Feller
49 … Unraveller by Francis Hardinge … by Tom Feller
50 … Uplink Squadron by J.N. Chaney and Chris Kennedy … Review by Pat Patterson
51 … White Ops by Declan Finn … Review by JE Tabor

Prose Bono

53 … Interview with Chris Kennedy by Jim McCoy

From Nic Farey: TH 79

From Leybl: CCSep2024-v01

Leybl writes:

Special Announcement

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my and my son Nathaniel’s Sci-Fi novel
“Tragedy of a Shapeshifter” (Available on Amazon).

This book has been in the works for several years and is the by-product of a script for a TV series that we worked on together.

As a bonus, Nathaniel composed original music for several of his songs in the book,
and in honour of the book’s release, uploaded a clip of his song “Still Me” to YouTube.

Hear him sing: https://youtu.be/cP5Nxvlk180?si=074b1U1ocFJRHX7T.

And here is a link to the book “Tragedy of a Shapeshifter” on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fqOLOkk

Astronomy News

Musk’s satellites ‘blocking’ view of the universe

Musk’s satellites ‘blocking’ view of the universe

Georgina Rannard

Science reporter
 By 2030 the number of satellites in orbit is expected to surpass 100,000.
Getty Images The passage of SpaceX Starlink satellites is observed in the skies of Sanliurfa, Turkiye
Getty Images: The passage of SpaceX Starlink satellites is observed in the skies of Sanliurfa, Turkiy

Radio waves from Elon Musk’s growing network of satellites are blocking scientists’ ability to peer into the universe, according to researchers in the Netherlands.

The new generation of Starlink satellites, which provide fast internet around the world, are interfering more with radio telescopes than earlier versions, they say.

The thousands of orbiting satellites are “blinding” radio telescopes and may be hindering astronomical research, according to Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON).

SpaceX, which owns Starlink, has not replied to a request from BBC News for comment.

The satellites provide broadband internet around the world, often to remote places, including challenging environments like Ukraine and Yemen.

They are also used to connect remote areas of the UK to fast internet. In 2022 tests showed that Starlink could deliver internet speeds four times faster than the average, according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

But astronomers say this comes at a cost.

“Every time more of these are launched with these kinds of emission levels, we see less and less of the sky,” Professor Jessica Dempsey, director of ASTRON, told BBC News.

“We’re trying to look at things like the jets, which are emitted from black holes in the centre of galaxies. We also look at some of the earliest galaxies, millions and millions of light years away, as well as exoplanets,” she said, highlighting the areas the satellite radiation is affecting.

Interference from the second generation, or V2, satellites was found by ASTRON to be 32 times stronger than the first generation.

READ MORE

Television

Scientists are trying to build an Impulse Engine

Star Trek continues to inspire science!

Space may be the final frontier, but we can’t go far on rocket fuel. Now, two scientists are working on a device that may one day make the “impulse engine” from Star Trek real.

Watch on Youtube:

For more info on the drive engine:

https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/niac_2018_phii_woodward_macheffects_2_tagged.pdf?emrc=8e4663

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/269207998_Theory_of_a_Mach_Effect_Thruster_I

MonSFFA Website

Only One Month Until the Return of the Super Sci-Fi Book Sale!

Coming Next Month…

THE RETURN OF THE SUPER SCI-FI BOOK SALE!

Attention all SF&F readers! MonSFFA is pleased to announce the post-pandemic re-launch of our popular, fund-raising SF&F used book sale!

In just one month, the club’s Super Sci-Fi Book Sale will return! Mark Saturday, October 19 in your calendars! The sale opens to the public from 12:00PM to 3:30PM!

Tell All of Your Friends!

Amazing prices on thousands of amazing stories by science fiction and fantasy authors from Asimov to Zelazny!

We’ve got plenty of inventory left over from past sales, plus lots of fresh stock, including items from the legacy of our late friend, collector, and club member Sylvain St-Pierre! And we’re clearing it all at our astonishingly low prices!

Piles of Paperbacks! Boxes of Books! An Astounding Assortment Available, Including…

Trade Paperbacks and Hardcovers! Anthologies and Specialty Books! Magazines and Comics! Plus DVDs! UNIMAGINABLE, UNBELIEVEABLE, UNBEATABLE BARGAINS!

Publications en Français Aussi!

The Lowest Prices In the Galaxy! Bulk Book Bargains; the More you Buy, the More you Save!

EVERYTHING! MUST! GO!

Movies

A Tolkien trail: Where to find the real-life Middle-earth

A Tolkien trail: Where to find the real-life Middle-earth

From the BBC
Daniel Stables
Find the article, with gorgeous photographs, here.
Getty Images Aerial view of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand (Credit: Getty Images)Getty Images

While Tolkien’s stories take place in the fictional realm of Middle-earth, the awe-inspiring landscapes of the books, films and TV shows are closer than you might imagine.

The first book in J R R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released 70 years ago, in the summer of 1954. However, that’s not the only recent milestone for Tolkien’s legendarium: the second season of the epic TV series, The Rings of Power, was  released on 29 August 2024.

As befits the ultimate epic fantasy series, the settings are gorgeous, ranging from bucolic, rolling countryside to plunging valleys and desolate deserts. And while Tolkien’s stories take place in the fictional realm of Middle-earth, the awe-inspiring landscapes of the books, films and TV shows are not as otherworldly as you might imagine. Many of them are based on real-world locations and visiting them brings to life both the landscapes themselves and the imaginary worlds they inspired Tolkien to create.

The Tolkien Trail: Lancashire, England

While writing The Lord of the Rings in the 1940s, Tolkien lived for a while at Stonyhurst College, a prestigious boarding school in Lancashire where his son was a teacher. The elder Tolkien was known to walk often through the woodlands and rolling hills of the surrounding Ribble Valley, and is thought to have taken inspiration from the place while creating the Shire, the rural homeland of the hobbits.

Daniel Stables The seven-mile Tolkien Trail reveals how the writer was inspired by Lancashire’s beautiful landscapes (Credit: Daniel Stables)
The seven-mile Tolkien Trail reveals how the writer was inspired by Lancashire’s beautiful landscapes (Credit: Daniel Stables)

Today, fans can explore the area on the Tolkien Trail, which opened in 2002 and takes hikers through the very landscapes that inspired the author. The route starts in the village of Hurst Green at the atmospheric 17th-Century Shireburn Arms pub, where Tolkien was a regular. It then winds for around seven easy miles through undulating farmland, past the grand buildings of Stonyhurst College, and across historic landmarks like Cromwell’s Bridge, an overgrown packhorse bridge once used by Oliver Cromwell in the English Civil War.

See the rest of this story, complete with gorgeous photographs of LotR sites. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240917-a-tolkien-trail-where-to-find-the-real-life-middle-earth

Dinosaurs

Dinosaur remains found in remote B.C. mountains

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6512637

Dinosaur remains found in remote B.C. mountains

Duration1:31

Researchers have found a veritable treasure trove of dinosaur bones high up in the remote mountains of northern British Columbia – and it’s changing the very notion of where dinosaurs once lived.

 

Montreal Science Fiction and Fantasy Association