Goodbye 2017! Hello Books of 2018!

Hello all!  It’s been a great year writing-wise for me!

First off, I’m excited to announce that I’ve sold a flash story, “Discard the Sun for It has Failed Us” to Uncanny Magazine!  It’s my first time in Uncanny, and “Discard the Sun” couldn’t have found a better home.

In 2017 I sold a few short stories, wrote lots of new words, and turned in the edits for Noumenon: Infinity (scheduled for release in August 2018!).  But the biggest writing event for me, by far, was the release of my debut novel, Noumenon.  I am so pleased with its reception, and am very honored that so many people have connected with it.

Noumenon has made three major best-of lists:

Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi Fantasy blog’s

Kirkus Reviews’

Publishers Weekly’s

Which, according to this Kirkus article, makes it one of the best of the best sci-fi books of the year.  I’m happy to see my little sci-fi novel touch so many people, and I want to thank everyone who has worked on it, read it, reviewed it, and recommended it!  It would be just another manuscript on my hard drive without all of you.

It was also a great year for me reading-wise. I have read some fantastic books this year. Here are some of my favorites:

The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden

An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard

Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor

Breath of Earth by Beth Cato (Note: this book was published in 2016. Its sequel, Call of Fire, came out in 2017.)

 

My to-be-read pile once again grew faster than my read pile, but I’m looking forward to reading these books soon:

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

The Genius Plague by David Walton

Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng

Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

 

Hope you all found something amazing to read this year; here’s wishing you more happy reading in 2018!  And remember, if you like a book, leave a review or tell a friend!  It’s the best gift you can give an author, after buying their book.  🙂

~Marina

 

Oregon, I am Here!

 

Oregonians, I am in your state–my home state!  And I have two signings this week in Southern Oregon:

Thursday (today!), October 19th at 7pm, I will be at Bloomsbury Books in Ashland, Oregon, which can be found at 290 E. Main Street.
http://bloomsburyashland.com/

Saturday, October 21st at 2pm I will be at the Barnes & Noble in Medford, Oregon, located at 1400 Biddle Rd.
https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/2771

Come chat with me about Noumenon, sci-fi, books, and life in Southern Oregon!

See you soon!

~Marina

Alternate Yous

I’ve got an article up on the HarperVoyager UK blog, entitled Alternate Yous, wherein I discuss our long-standing fascination with fictional clones, as well as our unending obsession with nature vs. nurture.

Here’s a breif excerpt:

In Noumenon, I explore the concept of clones as a ‘fix.’  Early in the novel, clones are thought to be the best way to ensure an interstellar convoy’s success.  The mission planners believe if they take genetic information from well-vetted sources that it will give them more control over the many variables that could shift in the mission over the centuries.

But does it offer more control?  Would populating generation ships with genetically identical crews over and over actually create stability? Our experiences are part of who we are, and an Earth-based mission-control cannot regulate every incident aboard such a convoy.

It’s the classic nature vs. nurture argument: do our genes make us who we are, or do our experiences?

If you’d like to read the whole thing, head on over here!

Happy reading!

~Marina

Noumenon is Out!

Today is the official US release of Noumenon!  I couldn’t be more excited!  Shana DuBois of Barnes and Noble gave it an absolutely awesome review yesterday, and said:

The plot is a swift-moving ocean current that will sweep you up, envelop you, and not let you go until you’ve reached the end, finally tossing you ashore, rattled from the experience. I read it in one sitting, because I had to know: what this clone society would find when they reached that distant star, and what terrible sins they would commit along the way. I had to know it all.

Read the rest of the review here.

 

If that peaked your interest, I hope you’ll pop on over to Barnes and Noble, or Amazon, or your local book store and give Noumenon a try!

And, if you’re in the Northwest Arkansas area, I hope you’ll join me from 5-7pm today at Nightbird Books on Dickson Street.  Come eat some cupcakes and enjoy a reading from the book!

~Marina

Two Weeks ’til Party Time

Dear everyone, this is not a drill!

NOUMENON’s US release is just two weeks away! The UK release is even closer!

   

*cue the screaming*

There is still time to preorder, and I will love you forever if you do! The above images are linked to Amazon US and Amazon UK respectively, and here is your Barnes and Noble linkage.  Or, you can preorder it direct from your local book store, if you want to support your local businesses.

Also, if you live in the Northwest Arkansas area, I want you to come join me for the launch party! There will be cupcakes, door prizes, my face, story time…lots of cool stuff and even cooler people if you’re there!

The party is walk in, 5-7pm, at Nightbird Books on Dickson St. in Fayetteville.

You see this?

It is your official invitation! There are hard copies of these flyers scattered around Fayetteville (in your favorite game stores, Nightbird Books, and at the Retro Arcade). If you happen to find one you will notice that there’s a door prize ticket attached. You’ll get another at the party, but don’t forget to bring your flier with the attached ticket to double your chances!

Everyone is welcome at the party, so bring friends, bring family, bring that coworker you’ve been trying to get to know better.

But most importantly, bring book lovers!

See you there!

Happy reading.

~Marina

From Robby to Roomba: Article up at Tor.com!

Hello, all! Happy Earth Day! Do not fear the singularity, meaty Earth inhabitants!

In honor of Earth Day, Nicky Drayden (Author of THE PREY OF GODS) and I teamed up to do a roundtable interview with futurists and AI specialists to bring you a science-based look at our favorite sci-fi staple: artificial intelligence.

Our amazing participants include Felix Yuan (twitter), an AI engineer and sci-fi author; Ross Goodwin (twitter), an artist and technologist; and Martin Ford ( twitter), a futurist and non-fiction author.

Here’s a taste:

What are some common misconceptions about the current state of Artificial Intelligence?

ROSS: That AI should and will be human shaped, and that it will destroy us all. These are both wonderful fictional elements that have made many stories about AI the ones we know and love today, but they’re not healthy slices of reality. Real design requires real thought and consideration. (For example, ask yourself the following question: which robot makes more sense in real life: C3PO or R2D2? The answer should be obvious.)

MARTIN: Many people both under- and overestimate where we are regarding AI. They tend to underestimate the potential for specialized AI to have enormous impacts on society—in terms of white-collar jobs being automated, as well as in areas like privacy and so forth. On the other hand, many people overestimate how close we are to the true human-level AI you see in science fiction movies.

FELIX: I think the biggest misconception of AI is what AI actually is. I think there’s a grand expectation that AI is going to manifest itself as some sort of high level intelligence that is, if not human-like, will compete at the level of humanity or surpass it. The reality is that AI is already among us in way more mundane ways from playing ancient board games all the way to driving cars. It’s much more limited than the public perception of it, which makes it all the more fascinating.

Read the rest here!

You can look for more Earth Day science brought to you by Harper Voyager authors by following the #HVsciencefair hashtag on twitter.

As always, happy reading!

~Marina (author of NOUMENON…  😉 )

 

 

Happy Busting Out of Your Unwitting Host Day!

 

Since Xenomorphs don’t have birthdays, it seems wrong to wish Aliens: Bug Hunt a happy book birthday.  So, happy Chest-Bursting day, book!

I am so excited to have a story (co-written with Mike Resnick) in this anthology!  In case you didn’t know, I’m in love with the ALIENS franchise.  Like, really.  I have a Xenomorph Queen hanging in my office.  See:

Oh, and I own a Xenophone:

If you’re like me, and the idea of a space station overrun with hundreds and hundreds of facehuggers fills you with glee, then our story is for you!

You can get Aliens: Bug Hunt at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever terrifying books are sold.

Happy Reading…Mwahahaha!

~Marina

 

 

Spark VIII is out!

It’s been a long time coming, but my story, The Stem, is out in Spark VIII.  Look at that awesome cover, guys (not to mention all those great names)!

 

 

Here’s an excerpt from The Stem, which is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk:

The Hoarders were a generation of intellectual censors. Gran’s grandparents had been amongst them. They turned off the lights, and shut down the transports, and cut their colony off from the others. They hoarded all knowledge. Everything they knew about science, industry, history–they took it all to their graves.

Graves Jacqueline spit on every chance she got.

With Rose and Snow–the two largest moons–dipping below the horizon, Jacquie slipped out her bedroom window and into the chilly pre-dawn air. She tied her short, black hair under a work-scarf, double checked that the power module and bento box were safe in her oversized pockets, then headed down the road.

As she walked, the sun’s rays slowly crept over the mountains, then down the Stem’s shaft as though they were using it to reach the planet’s surface.

The Stem’s petals–up at its top–were invisible now. Only at night could they be seen, as a dark set of blots blocking out the stars. The single exception was when the sun slipped directly over head and they caught the city in a small eclipse–a possessive shadow that always gave Jacquie the willies.

 

If you like badass, female electrical engineers, generational mysteries, and creepy space monsters, I hope you’ll take a look!

Happy reading!

~Marina

 

 

Bye Bye 2016

Like sand through the hour glass, so are the days of 2016.  But this year, I’d say it doesn’t serve us to simply turn the glass over and start again.  We need new ingredients.  New sands.  New Magics.  More science.

Here’s wishing everyone a wondrous 2017.  Keep fighting, keep growing, keep achieving, keep dreaming, and keep reading.  We can all be better people tomorrow than we were yesterday.

So long, 2016.

And if you’re looking for one more hit of feels out of this year, consider reading my story You are Not a Metaphor, published in Flash Fiction Online this year.  (That’s my subtle way of saying it’s award-eligible.)

~Marina

 

Places to Give Love and Support

Back when I failed the ALS ice-bucket challenge (because ice-cold water + head = crippling migraine), I donated to the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/) and spent a little while drawing your attention to other worthy establishments.

If you are in the giving mood right now, for whatever reason–needing to spread joy, needing to help ensure safety, needing to effect change, what have you–please consider the following.

 

RAINN (https://rainn.org/): This is the nation’s largest anit-sexual violence organization.

From their ‘about’ page: “RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

 

The National Suicide Prevention Life Line (http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/): This is run by The Mental Health Association of New York City, with support from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and others.

From their ‘about’ page: “The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 160 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices.”

 

NWA Women’s Shelter (http://nwaws.org/ ): This is my local women’s shelter, serving all of Northwest Arkansas.

From their ‘about’ page: “The Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter provides free emergency shelter, food, and clothing to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. We provide a free 24-hour crisis phone line and services to clients. We also offer court advocacy, Spanish bilingual services, children’s advocacy and programming, community education, support groups, counseling, and a volunteer program.

“Domestic violence does not discriminate; therefore, our clients are from across all demographics in terms of age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and educational background. We assist any person who meets the criteria for emergency intervention and assistance due to domestic violence or sexual assault.”

 

The NWA Food Bank (http://www.nwafoodbank.org/): This is my local food bank.

From their ‘about’ page:

“The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank was founded in 1988 as a 501(c)(3) non profit organization to serve four Northwest Arkansas counties by providing an affordable and credible food source to our partner agencies serving the hungry.

The NWA Food Bank currently has about 180 partner agencies ranging from food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and many more. Since 1988, the NWA Food Bank has grown to serve 180 partner agencies and distributed 8.2 million pounds of food in 2016.”

 

If you’d like to help shelters and food banks in your own community, a simple google search should heed results, or you can take a look at a handy dandy in-network map like the one provided by Feeding America: http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/.

 

Thank you.

<3Marina

 

Sign up for the: