Reduced ebook lunches

 Liquid Fear 
by Scott Nicholson 
$0.99

Missing Mom 
by Joyce Carol Oates 
$1.99 

The Apex Book of World SF2 
Lavie Tidhar 
$1.99
Today only

The Sands of Mars 
by Arthur C. Clarke 
$1.99 

Stories from the Twilight Zone 
by Rod Serling 
$1.99 

In Love & Trouble: Stories 
by Alice Walker 
$2.99

Modern Masters of Science Fiction -- $2.99 

1. Gregory Benford by George Slusser 
2. John Brunner by Jad Smith
3. Greg Egan by Karen Burnham 
4. William Gibson by Gary Westfahl 

Review: William Gibson by Gary Westfahl

William Gibson Gary Westfahl
University of Illinois Press

This is a scholarly treatment of William Gibson.  Unfortunately, due to technological glitches, the only part of the book I received was an extensive bibliography--handy if not especially interesting.

I did check out the introductory sample from the Amazon website.  It immediately splashes his brash character in a quote that takes down Robert Heinlein.  Gibson, as you can see by the story "The Gernsback Continuum" discussed here, entered the SF scene, kicking down the Heinlein-generation's furniture and setting up a new shop.  However, Westfahl suggests that Gibson and Heinlein share more than they seem to.

Westfahl points out that Gibson, despite claims for him being postmodernist, grew up in the slums of SF, and considers himself from that turf.  To that end, Westfahl renders Gibson's biography.

The introductory analysis makes me lament the technological glitch that gave me only the back pages.  This book may be worth investigating for fans and scholars alike.

Intersections between Science Fact and Fiction

Gary Westfahl on Elysium and the space-station story

"Geoffrey Landis has proposed aerostat habitats followed by floating cities in the atmosphere of Venus."

Editors on Common Misconceptions About Science Fiction Publishing

Pacing:  Make fast events slow down, slow events speed up.

inkscrawl: short SF poems

Cat Rambo on emotional impact in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing

Dark Fuse anthology series submissions

"Medieval Knights on a Treadmill Put Historical Myths to the Test"

Popular Mechanics has been growing on me for some time.  Most get a subscription as funds become available.