history

London, England – January 19, 2011: Portobello Road, Notting Hill. A man walking in front of George Orwell House. The blue plaque on the top says: “George Orwell 1903 – 1950 novelist and a political essayist lived here”.   Blue plaques are found right across Greater London, showing us where important people in history have […]

Five great heroines from history.

    ‘Where Silverberg goes today, the rest of science fiction will follow tomorrow’ Isaac Asimov   Reflections is a regular column by multi-award-winning SFWA Grandmaster Robert Silverberg, in which he will offer his thoughts on science fiction, literature and the world at large. This month: ‘Thinking About Homer’ Homer? Homer? Why write about Homer […]

This article is in response to Dr Jonathan Brown’s article, which can be read here.   I fear that Dr Brown is being rather disingenuous in this posting!   He must know in his heart of hearts that the reason he and I disagree as to the likely origin of the 5 daily prayers owes […]

Not for the first time, we are indebted to the Hugo-winning Encyclopedia of Science Fiction for pointing out – via its excellent On This Day function – that the first Worldcon began seventy-five years ago today in New York City. This major event began in 1939 and (following an early hiatus caused by war, from […]

On October 4th, 1957, the Space Race burst into life, with early honours for the Soviet Union. The launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, was a landmark in our species’ history – and it’s probably fair to say it took a few people by surprise . . .   What it also did […]