Tag Archives: speculative fiction

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 | 8 Comments

A Time to Listen: Rebecca Roanhorse’s Astonishing Novel Black Sun (Blogging the Hugos 2021)

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

As part of my “Blogging the Hugos” series, I have just finished Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. Normally as I am reading a book, a theme or image or idea emerges that gives me a chance to write a review … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging the Hugos, Fictional Worlds, News & Links, Reviews | Tagged Black Sun, Epic Fantasy, fantasy, Hugo Awards, Indigenous Authors, Mesoamerican Culture, Postcolonial literature, Rebecca Roanhorse, Robert Jordan, speculative fiction, Wheel of Time | 12 Comments

Ursula K. Le Guin’s Manifesto Against Genre Snobbery

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

One of our greatest speculative fiction writers, Ursula K. Le Guin, has never been one to turn down a fight. A genius in two of my favourite genres, science fiction and fantasy–especially planetary SciFi and magic-world fantasy–Le Guin has also … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, Memorable Quotes, On Writing, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged fantasy, Frankenstein, genre, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, Madeleine L'Engle, Margaret Atwood, Science Fiction, SF, speculative fiction, The Birthday of the World, The Hainish Cycle, The Lord of the Rings, Ursula K. Le Guin | 33 Comments

Your Invitation to Epic Fantasy in Everyday Living: Ursula K. Le Guin: Worldbuilder by Signum University’s Bronwyn Rivera (Reblog)

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

I am pleased to announce that I am part of a team delivering a course at Signum University this fall on Ursula K. Le Guin: Worldbuilder. Prof. Kris Swank, PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow, is delivering a series … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged Signum University, speculative fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin, world-building | 4 Comments

Mythmoot VIII: The World Ahead! (June 24-27, 2021 Live-Online Hybrid)

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Brenton Dickieson

“Home is behind, the world ahead / And there are many paths to tread” — J. R. R. Tolkien Although Signum University is a completely online school, offering a global-leading MA programme in imaginative literature and Germanic languages, we do … Continue reading →