Tag Archives: Science Fiction

CFP: “Gardeners of the Galaxies: How Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One” by Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson (Academic Deadline Extended to May 30th)

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

I am about to talk about gardening while my own garden is suffering from busy-related neglect. Even my little seedlings, planted with plenty of time for our last frost day (usually about June 10th in Prince Edward Island) have not … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Original Research | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, CliFi, climate fiction, Dune, ecocriticism, ecology, fantasy, Gardeners of the Galaxies, Imaginary Worlds, J.R.R. Tolkien, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Sorina Higgins, speculative fiction, Theology of Culture, Ursula K. Le Guin | 5 Comments

“Gardeners of the Galaxies” Discussion with Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson on Inkling Folk Fellowship (Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 4pm Eastern)

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

“Gardeners of the Galaxies? How Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One”: A discussion with Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson on Inkling Folk Fellowship (Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 4pm Eastern) In many parts of the northern hemisphere, all … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged creation care, ecocriticism, fantasy, Gardeners of the Galaxies, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mythopoeia, Science Fiction, SF, Sorina Higgins, speculative fiction, The Inklings, theology and literature | 3 Comments

CFP: Gardeners of the Galaxies: How Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One by Drs. Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

Hello dear readers! I am super pleased to announce that I am co-editing an academic book with my long-time friend and scholar, Dr. Sørina Higgins (of The Oddest Inkling fame, with edited volumes like the Mythopoeic Award-nominated Charles Williams play, … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Original Research | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, CliFi, climate fiction, Dune, ecocriticism, ecology, fantasy, Gardeners of the Galaxies, Imaginary Worlds, J.R.R. Tolkien, Other Worlds, Sørina Higgins, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, Theology of Culture, Ursula K. Le Guin | 15 Comments

“Reading Lewis’ Ransom Cycle” a Short Course with Dr. Sørina Higgins and the Signum SPACE Program

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

For some time, I have been wanting to highlight Signum University’s SPACE program. This is Signum’s new, innovative, popular, adult education program. “Academically serious but fun” is how they describe this affordable program that focuses “purely on the love of … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Ransom Cycle, Sørina Higgins, Science Fiction, Signum University | 4 Comments

The Heroic Gideon and Harrowing Features of Living in the Ninth: Thoughts on Tamsyn Muir’s Necromantic Dream Vision (Blogging the Hugos 2021)

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

In our 2020 Hugo Award roundtable, I was tasked with presenting Alix E. Harrow’s gorgeous gateway fantasy, The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Though I chose the book simply for its name and cover design, I came to love the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged Alix E. Harrow, allegory, apocalyptic literature, Gene Wolfe, Gideon the Ninth, Harrow The Ninth, Hugo Awards, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, Tamsyn Muir, Ten Thousand Doors of January | 2 Comments

Hugo Award 2021: Best Novel Signum Roundtable (Sat, Dec 18th, 6pm Eastern)

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

As I announced in my “Blogging the Hugos 2021” series launch, I am once again joining Signum University’s Hugo Award Best Novel Roundtable. In a gala zoom event that no doubt will rival the Worldcon ceremony in DC, I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged Alix E. Harrow, allegory, apocalyptic literature, Gideon the Ninth, Harrow The Ninth, he Ten Thousand Doors of January, Hugo Awards, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Martha Wells, N.K. Jemisin, Network Effect, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, Susanna Clarke, Tamsyn Muir, The City We Became, urban fantasy, Ursula K. Le Guin | 11 Comments

N.K. Jemisin’s Super Strange Urban Apocalypse in The City We Became: Part 2: The City I Can’t Become (Blogging the Hugos 2021)

Posted on December 9, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

N.K. Jemisin is clearly one of the science fiction greats of the generation. Time will tell if she will stand with the all-time greats, like H.G. Wells, Robert A. Heinlein, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Ursula … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged allegory, apocalyptic literature, Frank Herbert, H.G. Wells, Hugo Awards, Isaac Asimov, N.K. Jemisin, New York City, Octavia E. Butler, Philip K. Dick, Postcolonial literature, racism, Ray Bradbury, Robert A. Heinlein, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, The City We Became, urban fantasy, Ursula K. Le Guin, William Gibson | 12 Comments

N.K. Jemisin’s Super Strange Urban Apocalypse in The City We Became: Part 1: The Allegory That is Born (Blogging the Hugos 2021)

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

I first encountered N.K. Jemisin’s “Great City” series in her bracing, breakneck-speed short story, “The City Born Great,” which (in an edited form) is the prologue to The City We Became. Jemisin is one of this generation’s great speculative fiction … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged allegory, apocalypse, apocalyptic literature, Hugo Awards, N.K. Jemisin, New York City, Postcolonial literature, racism, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, The City Born Great, The City We Became, urban fantasy | 6 Comments

Blogging the Hugos 2021 (Series Launch)

Posted on November 8, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

It isn’t often that I get a popular novel as it first finds its way into the world. I’m usually years behind in my TBR and motivated to find new books by book clubs and upcoming classes and film adaptations. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged Black Sun, Canadian literature, Eye of the World, George R.R. Martin, Gideon the Ninth, Harrow The Ninth, Lady Astronaut Universe, Margaret Atwood, Mark Sampson, Martha Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, N.K. Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, Network Effect, Piranesi, Rebecca Roanhorse, Rebecca Rosenblum, Robert Jordan, Science Fiction, Susanna Clarke, Tamsyn Muir, The City We Became, The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments, Wheel of Time | 4 Comments

The 2021 Mythopoeic Awards Winners

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

At the virtual Mythcon 51 earlier in the fall, there was a good bit of buzz about the Mythopoeic Awards. As readers will know, I pay attention to the awards–so much so that this year they have stimulated a limited … Continue reading →