Episode 134 – The Future of Sci-Fi Television (with Carrie Cuinn)

On January 29, 2013, in Podcast, by Patrick Hester

In the 134th episode of the Functional Nerds podcast, Patrick, John and Carrie discuss The Future of SciFi Television. Picks of the Week: Lost Girl (Carrie) Fringe (Patrick) Bladerunner Soundtrack by Vangelis (John) Also mentioned in this Episode: Fish Anthology from Dagan Books Alphas Stargate Twin Peaks Lost Mutant X The X-Men Heroes Smallville Misfits [...]

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Book Received: The Clone Sedition

On December 3, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Ace (October 30, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0425258181 Official Description: Earth, A.D. 2519. Less than a year has passed since the clone military of the Enlisted Man’s Empire toppled the government of the Unified Authority. Now the clones rule Earth, but a new enemy has emerged—and set off civil [...]

Book Received: Kris Longknife: Furious

On November 19, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Ace (October 30, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1937007391 Official Description: Having used unorthodox methods to save a world—and every sentient being on it—Lieutenant Commander Kris Longknife is wanted across the galaxy for crimes against humanity. For her own safety, she’s been assigned to a backwater planet where her Fast [...]

Book Received: Collision Course

On November 15, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: NAL Trade (November 6, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0451238079 Official Description: Only the strong will survive. But what does it mean to be strong? The “Smash” has been building for years—runaway national debt, escalating oil prices—but when order finally breaks down, it happens astonishingly fast. Economic collapse. Government in chaos. Gas [...]

Book Received: Seed

On October 5, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 350 pages Publisher: Night Shade Books; Book Club Edition edition (November 8, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 1597803235 Official Description: It”s the dawn of the 22nd century, and the world has fallen apart. Decades of war and resource depletion have toppled governments. The ecosystem has collapsed. A new dust bowl sweeps the American West. The [...]

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Book Received: The Lost Stars

On October 3, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover (October 2, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1937077829 Official Description: Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series delivers “military science fiction at its best”* in every action-packed adventure. Now the New York Times bestselling author puts the Alliance fleet’s enemy in the spotlight as the people of the Syndicate Worlds attempt [...]

Book Received: The Eternal Flame: Orthogonal Vol. 2

On September 28, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 328 pages Publisher: Night Shade Books (August 26, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 159780293X Official Description: Greg Egan’s The Clockwork Rocket introduced readers to an exotic universe where the laws of physics are very different from our own, where the speed of light varies in ways Einstein would never allow, and where intelligent life has [...]

Book Received: Endgame

On September 19, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Ace (August 28, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 193700774X Official Description: Regret nothing. Sirantha Jax has the J-gene, which permits her to “jump” faster-than-light ships through grimspace. She loves nothing more than that rush, but the star roads have to wait… Her final mission takes her to La’heng, a planet [...]

Book Received: Clean by Alex Hughes

On August 29, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Roc (September 4, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0451464753 Release Date: September 4, 2012 Official Description: An unnamed telepathic hero battles bad guys and his addiction to super-drug Satin in this tightly written futuristic detective story set in an alternate Atlanta. After the devastating Tech Wars, Ameri­cans developed a healthy [...]

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Book Received: Heaven’s War

On August 3, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 448 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover; 1 edition (July 3, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441020925 Official Description: When it first appeared, the astronomers named the asteroid Keanu. A Near Earth Object, from a distant constellation, it was headed directly toward our sun. But when we went to meet it, it turned out to be far [...]

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Book Received: Iron Gray Sea

On August 1, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 448 pages Publisher: Roc Hardcover; 1 edition (July 3, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0451464540 Official Description: In Taylor Anderson’s acclaimed Destroyermen series, a parallel universe adds an extraordinary layer to the drama of World War II. Now, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, the crew of USS Walker, and their allies battle an ever-growing host of [...]

Episode 113 – Madeline Ashby

On July 31, 2012, in Podcast, by Patrick Hester

In episode 113 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio welcome Madeline Ashby, author of the new novel, vN. About Madeline Ashby: Madeline Ashby is a science fiction writer, futurist, anime fan, and immigrant. Her debut novel, vN, is available for pre-order now. Her non-fiction has appeared at BoingBoing, io9, WorldChanging, and [...]

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Book Review: vN by Madeline Ashby

On July 30, 2012, in Book Review, Cathy Russell, by Catherine Russell

In vN, Madeline Ashby tells the story of Amy Peterson – an android little girl from a mixed synthetic/organic home. Her mother and herself are Von Neuman androids – self-replicating robots, while her father is human. Despite the differences between her and other children, Amy grows up loved and well cared for – until the [...]

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Book Received: Blue Remembered Earth

On June 27, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 512 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover (June 5, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0441020712 Official Description: With his critically acclaimed Revelation Space novels, Alastair Reynolds confirmed “his place among the leaders of the hard-science space opera renaissance.” (Publishers Weekly) With Blue Remembered Earth, the award-winning author begins a new epic, tracing generations of one family across [...]

Review: Redshirts by John Scalzi

On June 18, 2012, in Book Review, Cathy Russell, by Catherine Russell

Redshirts by John Scalzi takes one of the most beloved science fiction series of all time and mercilessly tears it apart. But in a good way. Andrew Dahl has just been stationed aboard the Intrepid, but as soon as he arrives he notices things are amiss. Crew members mysteriously disappear before certain officers appear in [...]

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Book Received: The Lost Fleet: Invincible

On June 15, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover; 1 edition (May 1, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1937007456 Official Description: New York Times bestselling author Jack Cambell’s space saga hits lightspeed with an action-packed story of interstellar war. Admiral John “Black Jack” Geary earned his rank after being revived from cryogenic sleep to lead the Alliance to victory [...]

Review: The Returning by Bryan Thomas Schmidt

On June 11, 2012, in Book Review, Cathy Russell, by Catherine Russell

If Bryan Thomas Schmidt‘s ‘The Worker Prince’ was Moses in space, than ‘The Returning’ contains the seeds of a new Exodus – blending the background of the original story seamlessly into the sequel. Readers may pick up the thread of the story quickly – whether or not they have read the first book. For decades, [...]

The Chronicler’s Tale: Jeff Salyards’ Scourge of the Betrayer

On June 4, 2012, in Book Review, Paul Weimer, by Paul Weimer

A military unit outside of the boundaries of its Empire, messing around in client kingdoms and bordering polities. A motley group of soldiers and gritty veterans,  more than a bit war-weary. Some of those soldiers are burdened with dark secrets, and a mission and purpose unclear to anyone around them. Standard Sword and sorcery stuff, [...]

Book Received: Triggers

On June 1, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: Ace Hardcover; 1 edition (April 3, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1937007162 Official Description: On the eve of a secret military operation, an assassin’s bullet strikes President Seth Jerrison. He is rushed to the hospital, where surgeons struggle to save his life. At the same hospital, researcher Dr. Ranjip Singh is experimenting [...]

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Book Received: Armored

On May 31, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages Publisher: Baen; Original edition (March 27, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1451638175 Official Description: Armor up for a metal-pounding feast of action, adventure and amazing speculation by topnotch writers (including Nebula-award winner Jack McDevitt, Sean Williams, Dan Abnet, Simon Green, and Jack Campbell) on a future warrior that might very well [...]

Book Received: So You Created a Wormhole

On May 30, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Berkley Trade; Original edition (April 3, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0425245586 Official Description: Welcome, intrepid temporal explorers, to the world’s first and only field manual/survival guide to time travel! DON’T LEAVE THIS TIME PERIOD WITHOUT IT! Humans from H. G. Wells to Albert Einstein to Bill & Ted have been fascinated [...]

Book Received: The Impossible Cube

On May 23, 2012, in Books Received, by Patrick Hester

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Roc (May 1, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0451464508 In an age where fantastic inventions of steam and brass have elevated Britain and China into mighty empires, Alice Michaels faces a future of technological terrors… Once, Gavin Ennock sailed the skies on airships and enchanted listeners with his fiddle music. [...]

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