More Words, Deeper Hole

The Starship Century Symposium is the inaugural event at the new Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UC San Diego, Tuesday Wednesday, May 21–22.

The finalists are:

Anderson, Kevin J. and Steve Savile. Tau Ceti. Arc Manor, 2011.
Benford, Gregory and Larry Niven. Bowl of Heaven. Tor, 2012.
Bishop, Michael. “Twenty Lights to `The Land of Snow’” from the anthology Going Interstellar, Baen, 2012.
Bova, Ben. “A Country for Old Men” from the anthology Going Interstellar, Baen, 2012.
McDevitt, Jack. “Lucy” from the anthology Going Interstellar, Baen, 2012.
Reynolds, Alastair. Blue Remembered Earth. Ace, 2012.
Santos, Domingo (translated by Stanley Schmidt). “The First Day of Eternity.” Analog, January-February 2011.

Arctic Rising, by Tobias Buckell (TOR Books) is about a near future in which global warming has made the Arctic region livable and allowed an economic boom based on its nearly ice-free ocean. The treatment of the effects of global warming appears realistic, showing some of the benefits, and that even the negative effects are not the total disaster that supposed authorities are presently using to scare us into giving up freedom. While the protagonist works for the UN Polar Guard, which enforces what little law exists in this mostly ungoverned region, the novel depicts government organizations as either corrupt or completely ineffective. The story shows (a little too briefly) many ways to organize society on a voluntary basis. Buckell makes this potential pro-government authority setting into a very libertarian story.

The Unincorporated Future , by Dani and Eytan Kollin (TOR Books) covers a fateful fight for liberty and the tragic consequences of tyranny and war, with casualties on a staggering scale, marks the sobering conclusion of this suspenseful and intricate four-novel series about a solar-system-wide war between statist Earth and the more libertarian human traders (and A.I. intelligences) in the asteroid belt and outer planets.

Pirate Cinema, by Cory Doctorow (TOR Books) educates the audience on current issues of copyright and government surveillance; advocates for a change in policies and attitudes toward transformative works; and explain ways in which the next generation can work around current obstacles and agitate for change. In a young adult novel that's unapologetically optimistic and political, Doctorow gives his characters, led by the young pirate filmmaker "Cecil B. DeVille," the opportunity to make a difference and fight back against entrenched interests and outdated forms of control. Audiences have been given a particular view of art and intellectual property day-in and day-out for many years from the government, and the media industry; in Pirate Cinema, Doctorow spins an often charming and compelling story around a different perspective, and in doing so he offers a challenge to all lovers of personal expression and artistic freedom.

Darkship Renegades, by Sarah Hoyt (Baen Books) is an enjoyable sequel to the fascinating story begun with Darkship Thieves, involving a virtually government-free society, Eden, hidden among the asteroids from tyrannical Earth. When an unexpected problem erupts in the small community on Eden, a heroic foursome flees coercive forces on Eden to seek data on Earth that can reduce the power wielded by the cabal running Eden. Well-drawn, interesting characters and lots of clever plotting keep the reader turning pages.

Kill Decision, by Daniel Suarez (Dutton - Penguin) delivers an international, multi-ethnic thriller that's remarkably relevant to current developments in technology and policy, and well grounded in compelling science - not just about unmanned, weaponized drones and what they might mean for future warfare, but also about key characteristics of ant behavior (and how they might be used as a basis for warrior drones). In so doing, Suarez acknowledges that contemporary governmental power ultimately rests on coercive force and discusses how modern technology undermines and skews the democratic dialogue and process. Kill Decision stands as an action-packed adventure of particular interest to those interested in potential threats to human liberty that are disguised as protection and defense.

Modern Masters of Science Fiction is devoted to books that survey the work of individual authors who continue to inspire and advance science fiction.