An Awesome Astronomical Reason to Visit Wyoming…
Thursday, June 30th, 2011Especially if you’re cutting back on carbs. Click the link, see the awesome picture. Share/Bookmark
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »>Spider Star
The human colony on the planet Argo has long explored and exploited the technology left behind by an extinct alien race. But then an archaeology team accidentally activates a terrible weapon...
Read More.Praise for Star Dragon
"Seldom does a storytelling talent come along as potent and fully mature as Mike Brotherton. His complex characters take you on a voyage that is both fiercely credible and astonishingly imaginative. This is Science Fiction."
-- David Brin"Star Dragon is terrific fare, offering readers a fusion of hard science and grand adventure."
-- Locus Magazine"Star Dragon is steeped in cosmology, the physics of interstellar travel, exobiology, artificial intelligence, bioscience. Brotherton, author of many scientific articles in refereed journals, has written a dramatic, provocative, utterly convincing hard science sf novel that includes an ironic twist that fans will love."
-- Booklist starred review"Readers hungry for the thought-provoking extrapolation and rigorous technical detail of old-fashioned hard SF are sure to enjoy astronomer Brotherton's first novel."
-- Publishers Weekly"Mike Brotherton, himself a trained astrophysicist, combines the technical acuity and ingenuity of Robert Forward with the ironic, postmodern stance and style of M. John Harrison. In this, his debut novel, those twin talents unite to produce a work that is involving on any number of levels. It's just about all you could ask for in a hardcore SF adventure."
-- Paul di Fillippo, SCI-FI.COM
Archive for June, 2011
Defending Science and Science Fiction
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011I wanted to point out two great articles standing up for things I think are wonderful and positive. First, John DeNardo of sfsignal.com writes a thoughtful and balanced positive plea to literary types to read science fiction, in particular knocking down a number of misconceptions that might make some pass. This is the kind of [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »>Sunday Night Starlinks
Monday, June 27th, 2011After a month of traveling, both for work and fun, I’m going to stick close to home for a couple of months. Only two weeks to go until Launch Pad, which will keep me pretty busy, but a chance to relax a bit, put in some steady work on some neglected research projects. Lots of [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »>New Book for Fringe Fans: Fringe Science
Friday, June 24th, 2011Fringe Science: Parallel Universe, White Tulips, and Mad Scientists, edited by Leah Wilson and Kevin R. Grazier (Battlestar Galactica science consultant, among other cool things), is coming out later this summer (August 30 is the currently scheduled date). You can also find the book at Amazon, Borders, and Barnes and Noble. So, why am I [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »>Saddest Video I’ve Seen in a Long Time (Miss USA)
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011They’re not all ignoramuses, but most of them are. It’s enough to make a guy skip talking to pretty girls. I wonder if attractive guys the same age would give similar responses, or normal girls, as opposed to would-be beauty queens who may be trained to recognize “controversial” questions and provide a response acknowledging a [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »>Wonder Woman Exists
Friday, June 17th, 2011She swims underwater with whales in below freezing water for ten minutes at a time. Naked. Yes, there are pictures. But that’s the least of it… She’s doing this FOR SCIENCE. We need more scientist heroes of any sex, whether they look good naked or not. I have to say this is one of the [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »>Prepping for Two Upcoming Events
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011First, Saturday University in Jackson this weekend (my first private plane flight up there). Had to update my slides and revise to a slightly shorter length than I usually do. Talking about science in the movies, mostly science fiction movies. Should be fun. Second, I’ve got preliminary grades due Friday for Chandra X-ray Observatory proposals. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »>Late Sunday Starlinks
Monday, June 13th, 2011Back in Laramie for less than a week… An image to go with the notion of dividing the universe by zero. Heh. 10 Scientist Rock Stars…literally. 11 More Hottest Nerd Costumes for Girls (not Princess Leia). Where is Catwoman? Part of me is crying. Summers are going to be hot from now on. We’ll make [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »>Kindlefail
Saturday, June 11th, 2011I love having my choice of dozens of books when I travel, thanks to my kindle, and was especially happy starting the current 26 hour journey as I was reading Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss and enjoying it very much. Until I hit “next” and nothing happened. I pressed “previous” and nothing happened. I [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »>Sense of Wonder, a New Science Fiction Textbook
Friday, June 10th, 2011I’m a contributor on the non-fiction side of this one (“Inventing the Future,” in an appendix aimed at aspiring writers) . The book has got a lot of great stories and writers I really respect, and looks like something I want on my shelf even though I am not planning on teaching a science fiction [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »>The Danger of High Expectations and a Suggestion
Thursday, June 9th, 2011I’ve written a couple of posts recently about X-Men: First Class, a movie I did not have high expectations about. I was pleasantly surprised that it was as good as it was, despite a few flaws. I saw another movie recently, a very good movie, that disappointed me for its flaws, however, given my high [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »>When Fundamentalists Speak about Science, it’s Funny!
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011I want to call these folks idiots, rant about them, and froth at the mouth over their sheer stupidity, but honestly, they’re making me snicker and I fear I will eventually, literally, for real, LOL: and These guys are right up there with Kirk Cameron’s banana. Actually, I think we should have annual awards for [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »>