A to Z Challenge – Interactive Map, Jump Drive, Knowledge Engine, Light Sail, Moon Walk, and Neutron Disruption Blaster! Plus New Releases

A to Z Challenge!

My theme - Origins of Science Fiction Terms and More!

The term, its meaning (definitions from Technovelgy), and first book appearance / a movie that features this term / a blogger buddy who reminds me of that term.

I’m also the guinea pig for an experiment – A to Z Lite. I get between 100-170 comments per post in April during the Challenge. And it has just become too much to return that many every day, six days a week. The other A to Z Admins agreed to an A to Z Lite trial run. A to Z Lite means I will just be posting a handful of times this month and multiple letters at a time. I also won’t be visiting every single person every single day, although I will return all comments. Hope everyone understands.

Interactive Map
A small book with a 'touch-screen' paper interactive map.

First appeared in Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem in 1961.

When it comes to an interactive map, I think 3D. A recent example would be 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy and the battle scene where the Nova Prime is watching the attack on Xandar via a 3D map of the city. Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper, the sequel to this incredibly fun movie is due out in 2017.

Lexa Cain is just as interactive! This author maps out the book world and brings us the details, and freebies, every week.

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Jump Drive
A means of propulsion used on spacecraft that allows a ship to travel from point to distant point without actually needing to traverse the space in between.

A jump drive first appeared in 1963 in Harry Harrison’s story, Ethical Engineer.

A great example of a jump drive is 1997’s Event Horizon. In the movie, the ship has folded space, jumped to a new location, and returned. (With dire consequences.) A creepy and disturbing science fiction film, it starred Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, and Joely Richardson.

Susan Gourley is no stranger to jump drives. This science fiction author explores many worlds beyond our own. And it’s always a fun ride!

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Knowledge Engine
The first reference to a machine that could create sentences or write books.

Found in Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, written in 1726.

Since this is the earliest known reference to a computer, I decided to feature a movie with another early computer – 1983’s WarGames. The WOPR computer is a massive beast and programmed to continuously run military simulations and learn over time. Starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, Dabney Coleman, and John Wood. Shall we play a game?

Shady Dell from Shady Dell Music & Memories is all about the games! Want some music history? He is your knowledge engine. And you can even play along…

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Light Sail (or Solar Sail)
A form of propulsion for spacecraft; a sheet of lightweight material reflects light from the sun or other light source.

Originally appeared in Sail 25 by Jack Vance, published in Amazing Stories in 1962. Also known as Gateway to Strangeness and Dust of Far Suns.

And what comes to mind the moment you hear light or solar sail? 2010’s Tron:Legacy! The sequel to 1982’s Tron (which was ineligible for Best Special Effects because it used a computer!) was a visual feast with a great soundtrack by Daft Punk. (And those who criticized this film as an inept sequel really need to watch Tron again – it’s BAD.) The film starred Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, and Michael Sheen.

Want to sail lightly through the writing waters? Nicola at Burggraf's Blog takes us on a gentle journey that enlightens!

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Moon Walk
Very early realistic depiction of walking on the moon in low gravity.

First appeared in Brigands of the Moon by Ray Cummings, published in 1930.

One of the best movies depicting our first moon walk is the underrated film, The Dish, released in 2000. Set in 1969, it depicts the true story of an Australian satellite dish’s role in our first steps on the moon. Sweet, funny, and not lacking for sheep, it starred Sam Neil, Billy Mitchell, Roz Hammond, and Patrick Warburton.

And of course, I can’t mention moon walk without including Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out! The boys head to the moon in a homemade rocket to sample cheese.

We can’t mention moon and cheese without thinking about author M. Pax. Her stories aren’t cheesy – they are out of this world. But she often reviews those cheesy movies so we don’t have to…

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Neutron Disruption Blaster
Beam pistol which splits neutrons into protons and electrons, releasing enormous energy.

This appeared in a short story by H. Beam Piper, The Complete Paratime, published by Astounding Fiction in 1951.

Marvin the Martian! While that’s not exactly one of the devices he used, it’s probably in his arsenal. Marvin’s most recent big screen appearance was 1996’s Space Jam, staring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle, Bill Murray, and a slew of Loony Tunes characters and basketball stars. Now, what happened to the earth-shattering kaboom?

Stephen Hayes at the Chubby Chatterbox is still waiting for that kaboom. And if it doesn’t happen soon, he just might instigate it. In an artistic way, of course…

New Releases

Choose A Way Auckland by Rhonda Albom
An interactive city guide by local travel writer and photographer Rhonda Albom.
Find it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble,Kobo, and Choose A Way

Martinis with the Devil by Alexia Chamberlynn
Find it at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Smashwords

Fan of Guardians of the Galaxy? Did you know knowledge engine (basically a computer) was that old of a term? Think there might be a movie or two that used the term Moon Walk before it appeared in a story? Following those awesome bloggers? Picking up some new books? Or are you still waiting for the earth-shattering kaboom…?

Insecure Writer’s Support Group! A to Z Challenge – Ether-wall, Force Field, Genetic Engineering, and Hive Mind

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

My awesome co-hosts today are Megan Morgan, Chris Votey, Viola Fury, Christine Rains, Madeline Mora-Summonte, L.G. Keltner, Rachna Chhabria, and Patricia Lynne!

They say write every day. Since we are in the middle of the Challenge, I really hope blog comments count. I know a lot of writing and research went into my Challenge posts. Plus my posts at the IWSG site and A to Z Blog this month.

Once April has ended, my plans are to work more on my next story outline and write another article for Area of Effect. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve written for Geekdom House and would like to continue.

And since we’re in the middle of the Challenge, I’m keeping this short! Be sure to visit other Insecure Writer’s Support Group members!

My A to Z Challenge theme - Origins of Science Fiction Terms and More! The term, its meaning (definitions from Technovelgy), and first book appearance / a movie that features this term / a blogger buddy who reminds me of that term.

I’m also the guinea pig for an experiment – A to Z Lite. I get between 100-170 comments per post in April during the Challenge. And it has just become too much to return that many every day, six days a week. The other A to Z Admins agreed to an A to Z Lite trial run. A to Z Lite means I will just be posting a handful of times this month and multiple letters at a time. I also won’t be visiting every single person every single day, although I will return all comments. Hope everyone understands.

Ether-Wall
An invisibility field.

First appeared in E.E. ‘Doc’ Smith’s Triplanetary, which appeared in Amazing Stories in 1934

One of the funniest examples of an invisibility field is found in Erik the Viking. Princess Aud gives Erik a tiny cloak of invisibility, but it only seems to work on her father. Obviously, he thinks it works all the time. Released in 1989, it stars Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Terry Jones, Imogen Stubbs, and John Cleese.

Kim at This Writer’s Growing might be a bit invisible to most of the blogging community. But she’s there and in the thick of it. For some really interesting news about the world around us, check out her weekly posts.

Force Field
A barrier to objects, created by projected forces.

Believe it or not, the term first appeared in a 1920 report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. In science fiction, it appeared in John W. Campbell’s book Islands of Space in 1931.

One of the many examples of a force field can be found in the movie Independence Day. When our ships attack the alien vessel, they meet a force field they cannot penetrate. Starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirch, Randy Quaid, and Adam Baldwin.

Another force to be reckoned with is The Blue Grumpster. He’ll come at you full force, with truths and nonsense all the way, and you’ll never know what hit you!

Genetic Engineering
Direct manipulation of genetic material.

First appeared in Jack Williamson’s novel, Dragon’s Island in 1951.

You can’t mention genetic engineering without thinking of Jurassic Park! Released in 1993, it stunned us with the most realistic dinosaurs we’d ever seen. Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Sir Richard Attenborough, and Samuel L. Jackson – who has been in almost every huge movie since!

EE Giorgi at CHIMERAS is on top of this subject. She’s a scientist! If you want facts not fluff from your authors, you need to tune into her posts.

Hive Mind
A collective alien intelligence.

The term first appeared in James H. Schmitz’s short story Second Night of Summer in 1950.

The perfect example of a hive mind is the Borg in Star Trek First Contact. Released in 1996, the seventh installment of the Star Trek series starred Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Alfre Woodard, James Cromwell, and Alice Krige.

The Amazing Elizabeth Spann Craig hosts a site that is definitely a collective – the Writer’s Knowledge Base.
Even more eerie – its web address is hiveworld.com…

What’s your writer insecurity this month? Saving your writing time for May? Where have you seen an invisibility field used? If you’ve seen Independence Day, are you ready for the sequel? Know of any genetic manipulation gone wild? Fan of the Borg? Following those excellent bloggers?

And do you think I’ll survive this IWSG/Challenge overlap…?

A to Z Challenge – Cyberspace and Dystopia! Plus Question of the Month, Monday Music, and Ninja News

My theme - Origins of Science Fiction Terms and More! The term, its meaning (definitions from Technovelgy), and first book appearance / a movie that features this term / a blogger buddy who reminds me of that term.

I’m also the guinea pig for an experiment – A to Z Lite. I get between 100-170 comments per post in April during the Challenge. And it has just become too much to return that many every day, six days a week. The other A to Z Admins agreed to an A to Z Lite trial run. A to Z Lite means I will just be posting a handful of times this month and multiple letters at a time. I also won’t be visiting every single person every single day, although I will return all comments. Hope everyone understands.

Cyberspace
A computer technology that allowed people to see a computer network as an internal experience

Cyberspace originally appeared in William Gibson’s short story, Burning Chrome, in 1982. Yes, it’s a fairly recent term, and it caught on fast.



You can’t discuss cyberspace without including The Matrix. Now that’s cyberspace on a massive scale! Released in 1999, it introduced the world to amazing bullet time effects and starred Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburn, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving.

Spacerguy at Star Trek - Sci Fi Blog knows a lot about cyberspace. He lives there! If you want the latest on Star Trek and other cyberspace realms, you better follow him…

Dystopia


First used by Thomas More for his work of political philosophy in 1516 and again in a speech by John Stuart Mill in 1868.

A somber look at dystopia is shown in the movie Equilibrium. Staring Christian Bale, Sean Bean, William Fichtner, and Taye Diggs, it portrays a Fascist future where feelings are illegal.

Murees Dupé sees our world a little bit differently, but it’s a good thing. We might do well to share her vision!

Question of the month

Hosted by Michael at A Life Examined.

“What’s your favourite thing that begins with C?”

I really like the letter C since my last name begins with a C.
Plus all three of my Cassa series books begin with a C – CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.
My favorite though would be Christ, my Lord and Savior.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Hosted by Xmas Dolly.

Today I’m going with a video with cool animation from the latest Megadeth album. And the song fits so well – Dystopia!

Ninja News

Don’t forget Wednesday is post day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We also have a newsletter now and you can sign up HERE.

Volume 1.4 of Six Strings is now available!

Pick up your copy at the Six Strings site.




And special thanks to Michelle Wallace - she featured one of my books for her C post!

Did you know where cyberspace and dystopia came from? Ever seen Equilibrium? Following Spacerguy and Murees? What music moves you today? And what is your favorite thing that begins with a C?

A to Z Challenge! Science Fiction Terms Origins - Android and Blaster

Welcome to the A to Z Challenge!

My theme - Origins of Science Fiction Terms and More! The term, its meaning (definitions from Technovelgy), and its first book appearance – a movie that features this term – and a blogger buddy who reminds me of that term.

I’m also the guinea pig for an experiment – A to Z Lite.

I get between 100-170 comments per post in April during the Challenge. And it has just become too much to return that many every day, six days a week. I’m unable to visit anyone new and my entire day is spent blogging. The A to Z Team agreed to an A to Z Lite trial run. Otherwise, there was just no way I could do the Challenge this year. I’ve participated since the very first year and the Challenge means a lot to me.

A to Z Lite means I will just be posting a handful of times this month and multiple letters at a time. So, I will be keeping them short! I also won’t be visiting every single person every single day. Hope everyone understands.

Android
A synthetic being having the form of a human being.

Ephraim Chambers coined the term in 1728, paring the Greek prefix of ‘man’ with the suffix of ‘likeness of’ – andr-oid. He used it to describe a legendary mechanical head, build by Saint Albertus Magnus, that could answer questions.

Android first appeared in Jack Williamson’s The Cometeers. Originally serialized in Astounding Magazine in 1936, the two stories were later released under the title The Cometeers in book form in 1950.

1982’s Blade Runner featured androids as part of the main storyline. Are they are real person? Should they be allowed to live as a human? Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, and Brion James. Most haunting line – Time to die…

Everyone accuses me of having clones. But at least I’m still human!
We’re not sure about Pat Hatt at It's Rhyme Time. The dude is beyond clones and Ninjas – he’s a blogging android! Just try keeping up with him. Or the Cat who can rhyme with such style…

Blaster
A device that shoots a beam of energy

Its first appearance in literature was in Nictzin Dyalhis’ short story, When the Green Star Waned. Published in Weird Tales in 1925, the gun was referred to as a blastor.

In 1977’s Star Wars (and the entire first trilogy), there are numerous weapons referred to as blasters – SC X-30 Blaster Pistol, Blas Tech A295 Blaster Rifle, etc. Also starring Harrison Ford! And yes, Han Solo shot first…

You want a blast? Try Heather M. Gardner at The Waiting is the Hardest Part!

She shoots from the hip and if she doesn’t get you, Stormy the Weather Gnome will.

And believe me, she shot first…

Don’t forget next Wednesday is post day for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

We also have a newsletter now and you can sign up HERE.

Fan of Blade Runner and Star Wars? Following Pat and Heather? Read either of the short stories? And is it cool with you guys that I do A to Z Lite this month?