Episode 018 of the AboutSF Podcast, with T.E.D. Klein, and ConQuest

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:50

A month of podcasting comes to a close, with the latest episode of the AboutSF Podcast found here:

http://aboutsf.podomatic.com/entry/2012-04-27T10_41_03-07_00

This is yet another excellent interview that Film & Media Studies professor John Tibbetts donated to the CSSF. This conversation with T.E.D. Klein is a look at someone who helped shape the horror genre in the 1980s and a man who struggles with something common to every writer I know, writer's block.

In other news, we have two science fiction-related events coming up in May. First, SuperNerdNight returns to the Bottleneck in Lawrence on May 16, with bands The Barnes Bros. and Monzie Leo, Magic: the Gathering tournaments, board games, and AboutSF goodies table. We'll be running a Twitter story-a-thon.

Second, ConQuest is coming up on May 25-27. Guests include authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, editor Gardner Dozois, and author Shannon K. Butcher. The charity auction at ConQuest will benefit AboutSF, so come on out and help support the cause! Read more »

Episode 017: John Tibbetts' Interview with Jack Williamson

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 04/20/2012 - 14:36

Three weeks in a row of podcasts? We're going wild with audio this month!

The latest episode of the AboutSF Podcast can be found here:

http://aboutsf.podomatic.com/entry/2012-04-20T12_21_50-07_00

John Tibbetts donated a collection of his interviews with luminaries in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres over the years. Every time I reach into the box of recordings, I come out holding an interview with someone who helped shaped the genre. This time we have a conversation with Jack Williamson, author of The Humanoids and Legion of Space.

While there's many more podcasts to come, expect to see more news about ConQuest, the Campbell Conference, and Ad Astra in the coming weeks. Read more »

Episode 015 and 016 of the AboutSF Podcast: John Tibbetts' interview with Poul Anderson

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 04/13/2012 - 12:56

In what is approaching the point of being a regular feature, we have two new episodes of the AboutSF Podcast:

http://aboutsf.podomatic.com/entry/2012-04-13T10_37_43-07_00

and

http://aboutsf.podomatic.com/entry/2012-04-13T10_46_11-07_00

Film & Media Studies associate professor John Tibbetts interviewed Poul Anderson in 1993. This two-part interview covers Anderson's career, process, and achievements in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres.

We've barely gotten started with these interviews, so expect to see conversations with other luminaries, such as Jack Williamson and Kim Stanley Robinson in the future. Read more »

Episode 014 of the AboutSF Podcast: John Tibbetts' interview with L. Sprague De Camp

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 04/06/2012 - 15:29

We have a new episode of the AboutSF podcast, for your edification and listening pleasure:

http://aboutsf.podomatic.com/entry/2012-04-06T13_13_52-07_00

This episode is a recorded interview Film & Media Studies associate professor John Tibbetts conducted with L. Sprague De Camp. The interview covers how De Camp got started as a professional writer and the process of creating many of his works.

This interview comes from a treasure trove that's been hidden in plain sight on the AboutSF Coordinator's desk, so expect more of Tibbetts' interviews to appear here and at our PodOmatic site soon.

AboutSF.PodOMatic.com Read more »

Heinlein Society Scholarship and Ad Astra

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 15:34

Our friends at Reading for the Future have shared news about a scholarship offered by the Heinlein Society:

The Heinlein Society is pleased to announce that for the 2012-2013 academic year we will be offering the first of many scholarships. There will be two $500 scholarships awarded to undergraduate students of accredited 4-year colleges and universities majoring in engineering, math, or physical sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry), or in Science Fiction as Literature. Applicants will need to submit a 500-1,000 word essay on one of several available topics.

To apply, fill out the form below and print or email. Deadline is May 15, 2012.
Heinlein Society 2012 Scholarship Application. To apply, download and fill out: http://www.heinleinsociety.org/ths/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Scholarship-email6.pdf.

To see more about the program, visit http://www.heinleinsociety.org/scholarship-program/.

Learn more about Reading for the Future.

*

Also, James Gunn's Ad Astra has one more day left on the deadline to submit stories or articles!

This deadline is for selection to present a paper or read your story at the 2012 Campbell Conference. We will be accepting submissions after this date that will be considered for publication throughout the year, or leading into the 2013 Campbell Conference.

If you've been polishing your stories or your articles, now's the time to send them in: http://adastra.ku.edu/submissions. Read more »

Science Fiction Podcasts!

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 03/09/2012 - 15:52

I've mentioned our YouTube site, where we feature talks with China Mieville, Greg Bear, Forrest J. Ackerman, Frederick Pohl, and Isaac Asimov.

But you should also check out our series of audio podcasts at PodOmatic. Our audio archivist (and all-around swell guy) Ben Cartwright has edited and uploaded several pieces, with more coming in the next few months.

These pieces include these readings:

If you have audio files you'd like to contribute to AboutSF (it doesn't have to be a reading, but it does need to be related to science ficiton!), please email us at aboutsf@gmail.com. Read more »

Science Fiction Talks and Conventions

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 02/24/2012 - 15:55

There are three great talks of interest to all fans of speculative fiction coming up soon, as well as two conventions where you can meet fans of the genre.

  • Next week our own Chris McKitterick will be giving the keynote address, "Science Fiction: Mythologies for a Changing Age," at the University of Central Oklahoma's annual Liberal Arts Symposium XXIV. The Symposium lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on February 29. The symposium is being organized by Young Gunn and Ad Astra Scholarly Editor Professor Mark Silcox.
Read more »

Join Us This Summer for the Writers Workshop

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 02/17/2012 - 14:40

Every summer, Chris McKitterick and Kij Johnson hold their writing workshops for two weeks before the Campbell Conference. Anyone who has been to one (or more) of these workshops can tell you that these are some of the best around. The Young Gunns who participate in these classes not only learn to improve their writing skills, they learn what works and what sells.

Want proof? Well, check out Chuck Von Nordheim's "Magic Enough" at Daily Science Fiction, a story that he workshopped last summer.

This year, the workshops will be held from June 24-July 6.

Chris' workshop focuses on short stories, and information about submitting work can be found on the Science Fiction Writers Workshop page. Applicants will be notified about acceptance in March, so sign up early!

Kij's workshop focuses on novel length works, and is held in the mornings. Kij also offers her "Repeat Offenders" workshop for previous attendees of the workshop, from July 8 to July 15. For information on signing up, visit the Science Fiction Novel Workshop page by April 15. Read more »

Resources for Studying Science Fiction

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 14:14

AboutSF brings together several resources for the study of science fiction, such as our Reading Guides and Course Outlines or podcasts of readings and interviews.

We also offer external links to many resources. Of special interest are our lists of degree programs in science fiction studies, including:

There is also an extensive list of research libraries offering science fiction collections. Of particular note is the collection at the Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas, which has recently added the papers of Theodore Sturgeon.

If you know of other degree programs in our field, library collections, or other resources we should talk about, please email us at aboutsfatgmail [dot] com. Read more »

Super Nerd Nights, Upcoming Works, Ad Astra

Submitted by isaacbell on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 16:40

SuperNerdNights!: Our friends at AstroKitty Comics & More have started up their SuperNerdNight parties at the Bottleneck in Lawrence. There was a kissing booth, live bands, sketch drawings, and AboutSF people selling books from our CSSF library (don't worry, we only sold materials that have multiple copies safe in our archives). A part of the proceeds from the event went to a great charitable cause: AboutSF! We will be using those additional funds to plan convention appearances to present our Teaching Workshop, as well as develop new projects and outreeaches. Thanks for everything, AstroKitty, and we'll look forward to the next one!

Coming Stories: CSSF Directors Chris McKitterick and Kij Johnson both have stories coming out in anthologies this year. Kij's story "The Man Who Bridged the Mist," first seen in Asimov's last year, will be in The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, 2012 Edition this summer. And Chris's story "Surveyor of Mars" will be in Westward Weird in Feburary. Check out both collections — there will be plenty of great stories in both anthologies.

James Gunn's Ad Astra: We've been receiving several submissions for the first edition of our new speculative fiction resource, which will be released in time for the Campbell Conference. If you have a story, poem, or scholarly article that you'd like to submit, send them to us at Ad Astra: Submit Your Work.

See you next week! Read more »

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