Thursday, November 21, 2002

Libertarianism and the Hard SF Renaissance
Eric Raymond: "[H]ard SF has a bias towards valuing the human traits and social conditions that best support scientific inquiry and permit it to result in transformative changes to both individuals and societies. Also, of social equilibria which allow individuals the greatest scope for choice, for satisfying that lust for possibilities. And it is is here that we begin to get the first hints that the strongly-bound traits of SF imply a political stance - because not all political conditions are equally favorable to scientific inquiry and the changes it may bring. Nor to individual choice."

Related discussion thread.
4:00 AM (link)

Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Alibris rebate coupons
For your next purchase at Alibris, get $3 off your next $30 order when you use the code POTTER on checkout or $10 off $100 with the code RINGS on checkout. These codes work through all our Alibris links across SciFan, i.e. you can search or browse our site for books you're interested in and go to Alibris from there (just remember to use the code on checkout.) This offer expires on December 6.
2:53 AM (link)

Thursday, November 07, 2002

Andre Norton is ill
From Mercedes Lackey's site: "After being sworn to secrecy, I have just been permitted to release this information. One of the seminal authors of our field, Andre Norton, is gravely ill. She was admitted to the hospital last Monday for surgery, and is still there. More to the point, her spirits have sunk to a life-threatening low. She needs to know just how highly regarded she is in our community, and she needs to know now."

18/11/02 update:
According to SF Site: "Andre Norton has returned home following her surgery for a laproscopic hernia repair. According to a message from Dr. Rose Wolf, Andre Norton's friend and assistant, she is following the recovery pattern and pace expected for a woman her age and has begun to eat solid food again after two and a half weeks on a liquid diet."
8:44 AM (link)

Wednesday, November 06, 2002

Charles Sheffield died of cancer on November 2
Sheffield's obituary can be found on the SFWA's site.
4:01 AM (link)