The Day the Earth Caught Fire– This cerebral mix of conspiracy a-go-go and sci-fi (from 1961) was written and directed by Val Guest. Simultaneous nuclear testing by the U.S. and Soviets triggers an alarmingly rapid shift in the Earth’s climate. As London’s weather turns more tropical by the hour, a Daily Express reporter (Peter Stenning) begins to suspect that the British government is not being 100% forthcoming on the possible fate of the world. Along the way, Stenning has some steamy scenes with his love interest (sexy Janet Munro). The film is more noteworthy for its smart, snappy patter than its run-of-the-mill special effects, but delivers a compelling narrative. Co-starring veteran scene-stealer Leo McKern.
“Any world (that I’m welcome to): 10 Sci-fi favorites” by Dennis Hartley
Category: Critical Mass News
News items which go out to a monthly newsletter
Nicola Griffith
Since publishing her debut novel Ammonite in 1993, Nicola Griffith has won the Otherwise Award (formally the James Tiptree, Jr Award), the World Fantasy Award, the Nebula Award, the Washington State Book Award, and no less than six Lambda Literary Awards, as well as being shortlisted for the BSFA Award, the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the Locus Award. The Bending The Landscape anthologies she edited with Stephen Pagel were landmark works of LGBTQ+ speculative fiction. Griffith’s work spans genres, from near-future speculative fiction to historical fiction and fantasy, from noir-esque detective fiction to space opera. She’s even written the award-winning nonfiction memoir And Now We Are Going to Have a Party: Liner Notes to a Writer’s Early Life (2017).
Griffith’s refusal to stay still is part of what makes her such a compelling writer, yet it can make it difficult to know which one of her books is the best place for a new reader to start.
If you’re interested in space opera, read Ammonite
“And these places you go, the people you find, do you come to care for them? Or do you only study them, like strange shells you might find on the beach?”
Griffith’s debut novel immediately established her as an important new voice in genre fiction, and it’s easy to see why. Ammonite is a key work of feminist SF, the missing link between Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness and Kameron Hurley’s The Stars Are Legion. The novel is an epic adventure set on an alien planet, with enough cool worldbuilding and biological speculation to appeal to any space opera fan. Ammonite tells the story of Marghe, a xenobiologist and linguist sent to study the planet of Jeep by the Company.
Jonathon Thornton, where to begin reading the work of Nicola Griffith, tor.com
Note: her new novella, Spear, has just been published, and is available as an audio book read by Nicola herself.
Dangerous Visions and New Worlds is on the Hugo Ballot!
Chicon’s Hugo shortlist announced for Best Related Work. Congratulations Lucy! Congratulations Iain and Andrew!
On Wednesday 6 April Iain McIntyre spoke to the Nova Mob in a blend of COVID-imposed isolation prepared talk and live-action Zoom Q & A about Dangerous Visions and New Worlds – Radical Science Fiction 1950 – 1985 edited by Andrew Nette and Iain McIntyre.
On Friday 8 April opened an email from Mob member and former WorldCon Chair & Co-chair Perry Middlemiss:
“Congrats Lucy, and well done Murray for getting the timing of Wednesday’s Nova Mob meeting exactly right.”
Chicon have announced the Hugo shortlists and Dangerous Visions and New Worlds – Radical Science Fiction 1950 – 1985 is on the ballot for Best Related Work! Iain said:
“thanks for the call. We were told a few weeks back but sworn to secrecy so I couldn’t mention anything the other night. It is very exciting.”
We can’t really claim credit for the timing because various circumstances did prevent Iain speaking at the Mob sooner. What wonderful recognition for the book, its editors, and its contributors, including Mob member Lucy Sussex! Here’s hoping it wins its category – the scholarship is certainly worthy of a Hugo.
Critical Mass April 27th: Best Short Story
As agreed last time, we would look at the recent winners of Best Short Story for the Hugo, Nebula, Ditmar and BSFA Awards for 2021. (Since the BSFA won’t be declared before easter, we’re looking at the 2020 recipient).
Hugo: “Metal Like Blood in the Dark”, T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
*https://uncannymagazine.com/article/metal-like-blood-in-the-dark/
Nebula: “Open House on Haunted Hill”, John Wiswell
*https://www.diabolicalplots.com/dp-fiction-64a-open-house-on-haunted-hill-by-john-wiswell/
Ditmar: “The Calenture”, Kaaron Warren (Of Gods and Globes II) Kindle ebook AUS$4.84
BSFA: “Infinite Tea in the Demara Cafe”, Ida Keogh (London Centric) ebook AUS$7.71
*= text available online
The Ditmar/BSFA winners are in the collections cited (prices from booko.com.au)
We will meet at 6:30pm at Kappys (unless there is an outbreak, check the website on the day),
or via zoom:
Critical Mass, 6:30 April 27th Adelaide time (7pm Melbourne):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275675259?pwd=UG4rT0RaNFpOOEwyWlJOU0xOcHJ1UT09
Meeting ID: 892 7567 5259
Passcode: CritMass
Here’s the Crit Mass/Nova Mob zine 2022 (If you want a paper version, print on a3 double sided.)
BSFA Awards 2022
The winners of the 2022 BSFA Awards were announced at eastercon:
The British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) have announced the winners of the annual BSFA Awards, for works first published in 2021.
Best Novel Adrian Tchaikovsky, Shards Of Earth
Best Short Fiction Aliette de Bodard, Fireheart Tiger
Best Younger Readers Xiran Jay Zhao, Iron Widow
Best Non Fiction Francesca T Barbini, Worlds Apart: Worldbuilding in Fantasy and Science Fiction
Best Artwork Iain Clarke, Glasgow Green Woman
More Downey Holmes at HBO Max?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, there are two scripted series in the works at HBO Max on the world Robert Downey helped create back in 2009. Downey is on board to executive produce both shows along with Lionel Wigram, who also produced both of the films.
Vanessa Armstrong, https://www.tor.com/2022/04/05/hbo-max-and-robert-downey-jr-are-building-a-sherlock-holmes-universe/
We don’t know much about these scripted series yet—we don’t even know, for example, if Downey will reprise his role of Sherlock in either of them. And we also don’t know if the two shows are inter-connected in any way besides taking place in the same world as the two Holmes movies.
News from the Mob
Murray MacLachlan notes
Surreal mobile tyre shop sighted on Melbourne streets
Mob member Bruce Barnes behind the tyre wheel
Bruce Barnes stars as “Eugene” in a delightful and surreal advertisement for a mobile tyre shop. View it for yourself on YouTube:
“A tyre store that comes to you? That’s a great idea!”
“In our launch TV spot we introduce the idea of a traditional tyre store owner who has (finally) realised that the modern driver deserves genuine value and convenience when fitting new tyres – and that he needs to take his store on the road, complete with its dingy waiting rooms and ageing equipment. You can imagine his reaction when he rounds the bend in his ‘shop on wheels’ to be confronted with the customer (he was hoping to serve) already enjoying the ease and convenience of Mobile Tyre Shop! We think it’s hilarious.”
Agreed. We regret the absence of a Best Dramatic Presentation category in the Ditmars suitable for Bruce’s fantastic “shop on wheels”.
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Ditmars distributed; Athelings allocated
Nova Mob members receive recognition and artefacts
Congratulations to all involved: the Conflux 2021 organisers in Canberra have sent out awards to the winners, even though the convention itself was cancelled. Congratulations to Terry Frost, winner of the William Atheling, Jr. Award for Criticism or Review, for his reviews in Terry Talks Movies.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG3hwNZQ6FyrJVyE50fUqRQ
Also to Bruce Gillespie, winner of the Best Fan Writer Ditmar, for writing in SF Commentary.
Also to LynC for being nominated not once but twice! For Best Fan Writer for their writing in Ethel the Aardvark, and for Best Fan Publication in any Medium, again for Ethel the Aardvark.
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Clunes Booktown
The 2022 festival is on, details at the 2020 web address
Slow Glass Books will be on site at Clunes, 34km north of Ballarat.
For those seeking further fannish face to face interaction, a wonderful weekend browsing the science fictional book stalls at the Clunes Annual Book Festival beckons, where Slow Glass Books will be selling a significant amount of stock. April 30th and May 1st at Clunes, 36km north of Ballarat.
“New, Second-Hand and Rare Books. Along with author talks and panel discussions, festival-goers can discover the largest collection of rare, out-of-print and collectible books in Australia inside heritage buildings and on the main street of Clunes. “
details: http://www.clunesbooktown.com.au/2020/clunes-booktown-festival/
Join the conversation during the first weekend of May in Clunes.
Along with author talks and panel discussions, festival-goers can discover the largest collection of rare, out-of-print and collectable books in Australia, go inside heritage buildings, listen to live music, watch street performers, enjoy local wines and produce while meeting and interacting with literature lovers from far and wide.
Ticket releases and program updated are announced via their email newsletter (sign up HERE).Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest news and festival updates.
See you on the 30th of April + 1st May 2022 for an amazing Clunes Booktown Festival!”
Tickets went on sale on 22 March for formal ticketed events such as talks.
Nova Mob: April 6th: Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985
Murray from Nova Mob writes
A reminder that on Wednesday April 6th our guest speaker Iain McIntyre will be talking about his and Andrew Nette’s (eds) newly-published book Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985. It’s a feast of pulp, countercultural, and radical perspectives on a period of massive social and cultural change.
Iain will be speaking to us over a Zoom link, so you have two options for the evening:
● Join the Zoom session from your home. You’ll see Iain and other Mob members, and view Iain’s presentation, however to buy Iain and Andrew’s books you’ll have to place an order and collect them at a later date.
● Join the gathering at the Kensington Town Hall (“KTH”). Iain won’t be there due to a COVID-enforced isolation of a household member but he and his presentation will be on the big screen, or on your laptop if you bring one along. Iain has kindly provided signed copies of all three titles which will be available for purchase, as per the photo below. You can also join a pre-Mob pub and meal gathering, as usual there’s a table booked at the Doutta Galla Hotel under the name “Nova Mob”. Also possibly relevant to your decision is that the Kensington Town Hall’s broadband connection continues to be almost but not quite the right size, so there’s a small chance of technical difficulties at KTH; these will not affect the wider broadcast.
Dangerous Visions and New Worlds – Radical Science Fiction 1950 – 1985
Edited by Andrew Nette and Iain McIntyre
Kensington Town Hall
You are invited to a gathering that is part of a Nova Mob Zoom meeting at:
Wednesday 6 April
8.00pm – 9.30 pm or so, first floor Conference Room (Melbourne time)
Kensington Town Hall
30 – 34 Bellair St
Kensington Melbourne VIC 3031
COVID-19 protocols apply. Please don’t attend if you feel unwell, or if you are not fully vaccinated.
By Zoom – Iain McIntyre from his home
You are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting
Wednesday 6 April
8.00pm – 9.30 pm Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney time
7.30pm – 9.00pm Adelaide time
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4177583193?pwd=VjdPL1BhSTBNclN2YnRsejN3Y1hlUT09
Passcode: nova
Meeting ID: 417 758 3193
Locus recommends
Each february, the writers/reviewers from Locus magazine publish their recommended reading list.
NOVELLAS
A Blessing of Unicorns, Elizabeth Bear (Audible Originals 10/20; Asimov’s 9-10/21)
The full list is at https://locusmag.com/2022/02/2021-recommended-reading-list/
A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Becky Chambers (Tordotcom)
“Arisudan”, Rimi B. Chatterjee (Mithila Review 3/22/21)
Defekt, Nino Cipri (Tordotcom)
Fireheart Tiger, Aliette de Bodard (Tordotcom)
“Sleep and the Soul“, Greg Egan (Asimov’s 9-10/21)
Lagoonfire, Francesca Forrest (Annorlunda)
“Philia, Eros, Storge, Agápe, Pragma”, R.S.A Garcia (Clarkesworld 1/21)
The Album of Dr. Moreau, Daryl Gregory (Tordotcom)
A Spindle Splintered, Alix E. Harrow (Tordotcom)
& This is How to Stay Alive, Shingai Njeri Kagunda (Neon Hemlock)
“The Dark Ride”, John Kessel (F&SF 1-2/21)
In the Watchful City, S. Qiouyi Lu (Tordotcom)
And What Can We Offer You Tonight, Premee Mohamed (Neon Hemlock)
The Annual Migration of Clouds, Premee Mohamed (ECW)
The Return of the Sorceress, Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Subterranean)
“A Rocket for Dimitrios“, Ray Nayler (Asimov’s 1-2/21)
Remote Control, Nnedi Okorafor (Tordotcom)
“The Abomination”, Nuzo Onoh (F&SF 9-10/21)
“Submergence”, Arula Ratnakar (Clarkesworld 3/21)
Flowers for the Sea, Zin E. Rocklyn (Tordotcom)
The Necessity of Stars, E. Catherine Tobler (Neon Hemlock)
“The Giants of the Violet Sea”, Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 9-10/21)
Comfort Me With Apples, Catherynne M. Valente (Tordotcom)
The Past is Red, Catherynne M. Valente (Tordotcom)
The Secret Skin, Wendy N. Wagner (Neon Hemlock)
Fugitive Telemetry, Martha Wells (Tordotcom)
“A Canticle for Lost Girls”, Isabel Yap (Never Have I Ever)
City Lights symposium: Dangerous Visions & New Worlds
Earlier this month, City Lights Bookstore organised a two day symposium around the new collection of essays which will be discussed at the April Nova Mob meeting.
Videos of the sessions are now available on youtube, starting with the introductory session:
The Nova Mob meeting on April 6th will feature a discussion on the work with Iain McIntyre
The Adelaide Fan Review 
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