SCI FI EYE
For two years I wrote a science fiction column for the UK’s Engineer magazine. The column, “SciFi Eye”, was part of a new look for the mag, and saw me speculate on how recent engineering news might inspire science fiction.
I worked at an engineering institution at the time, where I developed a great respect for all things engineer (A structural engineer advised me on the super structure in my second novel, Steeple). Engineers have always, it seems to me, been the ones to make science fiction reality.
It was an absolute pleasure to write – the comments were always a hoot. Below are the complete range of columns.
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Manipulating the weather creates perfect conditions for scifi
Many of our earliest stories were shaped by the weather, as the…Continue ReadingManipulating the weather creates perfect conditions for scifi
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Trains in SciFi: transport through war, revolution and time
For an invention getting on for 200 years old, rail transport has…Continue ReadingTrains in SciFi: transport through war, revolution and time
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How money in SciFi helps sell motives, characters and worlds
Money is a simple method by which scifi writers establish the world…Continue ReadingHow money in SciFi helps sell motives, characters and worlds
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The distrubing future of autonomous weapons
What exactly is it that we find so unnerving about the proliferation…Continue ReadingThe distrubing future of autonomous weapons
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The humbling of the world’s great navies
Ever since HG Wells’ The War of the Worlds, in which HMS…Continue ReadingThe humbling of the world’s great navies
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The enormous threat of the asteroid
Perhaps more than any other apocalyptic scenario, the asteroid strike holds the…Continue ReadingThe enormous threat of the asteroid
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Tunnels are portals to future worlds
To the 21st century citizen, the tunnel is one of those engineering…Continue ReadingTunnels are portals to future worlds
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Implants and the ‘transhuman’ in science fiction
Last month, The Engineer reported on progress towards bionic eye implants. An…Continue ReadingImplants and the ‘transhuman’ in science fiction
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Robot tales: breaking and cherishing our programming
There’s nothing quite like a robot to help spin a good story.…Continue ReadingRobot tales: breaking and cherishing our programming
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Flying cars: Expect queues at your showroom
For decades the idea of the flying car has helped shape our…Continue ReadingFlying cars: Expect queues at your showroom
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Mars: the mythic arena
One might have expected the science fiction fan to have given up…Continue ReadingMars: the mythic arena
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The super soldier of the future
Super soldiers are not the easiest subject matter for the science fiction…Continue ReadingThe super soldier of the future
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The shape of things to come – Mr HG Wells
Mr HG Wells, author of popular scientific romance The Time Machine, turns…Continue ReadingThe shape of things to come – Mr HG Wells
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Where are driverless cars taking us?
Since Mr Benz unveiled his patented motor-wagen, the car has helped define…Continue ReadingWhere are driverless cars taking us?
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Something new under the sun
Our star suffers from a rather reduced role in science fiction. Strange,…Continue ReadingSomething new under the sun
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The nanotech swarm
Legions of microscopic robots fascinate scifi writers, from Star Trek’s Borg nanoprobes…Continue ReadingThe nanotech swarm
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Bacteria: making the most of the microbes in SciFi
Ah, microorganisms. Is there anything they can’t do? Microbiological agents such as…Continue ReadingBacteria: making the most of the microbes in SciFi
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Picturing a future of human invisibility
Last month The Engineer featured news about that enduring love of science…Continue ReadingPicturing a future of human invisibility
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Robotic limbs: the future in our grasp
This month, The Engineer reported on A-Gear, robotic arm supports developed by…Continue ReadingRobotic limbs: the future in our grasp
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Bugs and SciFi: Imagining the new beetlemania
Insects can get something of a bad rap in science fiction. From…Continue ReadingBugs and SciFi: Imagining the new beetlemania
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‘Smart Dressings’: All dressed up and nowhere to go
For many science fiction writers the human form, and man’s attempt to…Continue Reading‘Smart Dressings’: All dressed up and nowhere to go
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New engineering column coming in 2016!
Delighted to announce that from 2016 I’ll be contributing a science fiction column to…Continue ReadingNew engineering column coming in 2016!