Alien Space Bats!
This post begins: I recently heard that ASB is a neologism used by writers of Alternate History Science Fiction. The term refers to an implausible Read More
Category: Space Opera
The Martian Riding Beast & Other Forms of Transport
Writers of the fantastic have had to make peace with an idea that may not sit well with them. That is quite simply, once you Read More
Fan Fury: If You Cut Me, Do I Not Bleed in Four Colors?
I have been spending the last three months on research – that essentially means taking apart scans of Pulps so that I can aggregate the Read More
Good Guys & Better Coffee
The old Pulp magazines offered everything from a gritty back street world of violence to the unimaginable planets of the far stars. Pulp fiction was Read More
V. E. Thiessen & the Leigh Brackett Mystery
In the Winter 1948 issue of Planet Stories, Leigh Brackett published one of her more famous space opera stories, “The Beast-Jewel of Mars”. The tale Read More
Astonishing Stories: Bargain Basement Science Fiction
When you don’t have plenty of money, sometimes you just have to settle for second best. Or you have to be more creative. Certainly this Read More
Leigh Brackett, Queen of Space
Leigh Brackett was one quarter of Space Opera’s Big Four (Edmond Hamilton, Henry Kuttner, C. L. Moore. These four were actually two married couples who Read More
The Fate of Science Fiction According to Barry N. Malzberg
Below is an editorial called “The Malzberg Predictions” from E-Genre Weekly, July 20, 2001. by G. W. Thomas I just finished Barry N. Malzberg’s book, Read More
The Science Fiction of Francis Flagg
Francis Flagg is not a name that falls from the lips when people talk about the early Science Fiction writers like E. E. Smith or Read More
Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Eternal Lion
Frank Frazetta was the perfect artist to capture the danger and majesty of Burroughs’ lion creatures. An author can become identified with certain motifs. This Read More