Bruce Sterling's Blog, page 631

Science Fiction and Fantasy from Finland

*It may be those long cold winters, but when it comes to fantastic writing the Finns are on top of their game.

New science fiction and fantasy from Finland in English



Here's some links and such about new Finnish SF and fantasy in books and 
in the net - in English.



Hannu Rajaniemi, a Finnish writer who has been living in Scotland, made 
a major three book deal with British Gollancz about a year and a half 
ago. The first book, "The Quantum Thief", will be out in September.


http...

CTHEORY Digital Inflections

*Roasting theoretical marshmallows on the bonfire of the vanities…

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CTHEORY:         THEORY, TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE      VOL 33, NOS 1-2

       *** Visit CTHEORY Online: http://www.ctheory.net ***

Announcement     06/011/2010     Editors: Arthur and Marilouise Kroker

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                         DIGITAL INFLECTIONS

  ...

Science Fiction Romance novels

*One would think that demographic and economic changes in the consumer base would make this subgenre thrive nowadays. One wonders why SF romances lack the colossal commercial punch of paranormal romance novels. Maybe because "Happy Ever After" is inherently unscientific?

*Maybe a science-fiction romance novel could based entirely on sociobiological mating theories and the genetic imperative. There must be a couple of those around.

*Not a single male author on this list. It's got a...

Latest RE/SEARCH Newsletter

*This issue of the SF.CA counterculture classic arrived in my emailbox so munged and squinchy that I am posting it on my weblog so that I can read it myself. It reads like DADA, FUTURISM, VORTICISM, CONSTRUCTIVISM, SURREALISM, SITUATIONISM, FLUXUS, SEMINA, FUNK, PUNK, and STREET ART all jumped up on down on it personally.

WELCOME TO V. VALE's RE/SEARCH NEWSLETTER #94, JUNE 2010
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RE/SEARCH | 20 Romolo #B | San Francisco CA 94133 ...

Heartfelt confessions about 13 failed software products

*Stories of this kind are very valuable and very rare. It's like watching a guy in an SUV frankly admit to melting polar bears.

http://successfulsoftware.net/2010/05/27/learning-lessons-from-13-failed-software-products/

(…)

Case #8: nBinder

Contributor

Boghiu Andrei.

The product

nBinder, packs multiple files into a stand alone executable with over 50 advanced output and file unpack options, conditional run and commands.

Why it was judged a commercial failure
It was the first product I began...

Significant Objects, the Fantagraphics book

*Weird effort there. I was in it. Couldn't resist the design-fiction aspects.

http://significantobjects.com/2009/07/31/metal-boot/

 

For Immediate Release: 

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF SIGNIFICANT OBJECTS STORY COLLECTION

SEATTLE, WA, JUNE 14, 2010 — Since its debut, Significant Objects [ http://www.significantobjects.com ], the bold online inquiry into the relationship between narrative and the value of everyday objects, has been the subject of speculation by everyone...

Augmented Reality: AR as military recruitment tool

For Immediate Release

 

U.S. ARMY, AIR FORCE ENLIST AUGMENTED REALITY FROM

TOTAL IMMERSION TO ATTRACT, ENGAGE NEW RECRUITS

 

Experiential Marketing Campaigns at NASCAR, Indy 500, Other High Profile Events             

Drive Home the Power of AR to Enlighten — and Even Train

 

LOS ANGELES (June 8, 2010) – G.I. Joe has nothing on the real thing.  Especially when the armed forces go reality one better.

Taking their recruiting efforts to a new level via two distinct experimental marketing...

Augmented Reality: LuminAR

"Most computers as we know them today are prison-houses for pixels."

Augmented Reality: Total Immersion 2010

*They've got a right to strut their stuff. Total Immersion is on top of the game.

*Call me an artsy novelist, but I think you need this as a chaser:

Augmented Shadow_document from Joon Y Moon on Vimeo.

http://www.fastcompany.com/1658142/a-shadowy-fantasy-land-comes-to-life-via-augmented-reality

Richard Clarke is telling the truth about computer security

*Suppose that Richard Clarke had written a somewhat speculative book about security in 1998, and he said that, at the cost of a few airplanes and two and one-fifth buildings, Arab terrorists could bog down the USA in the longest and most expensive wars the US ever had. You think people would have sized him up as an alarmist? As an ambitious defense contractor?

*This stuff Clarke says about Microsoft is obviously factual. He's saying things everyone knows. Maybe SCADA attacks are indeed...