The Science of Desert Planets

By Alex Acks I’ve been reading science fiction and fantasy almost as long as I’ve been able to read, and I’m normally very good at suspending my disbelief. Unfortunately, seven years of university schooling and two degrees have now placed some suspension limits on certain areas—namely geology, landforms, and maps. I tend to notice little things like […]

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Farewell, Ursula K. Le Guin

One of my favourite authors, and personal heroines, died on Monday. I am grieving, as I’m sure many of her fans are, and I’d like to send out my deepest condolences to her friends and family.  The world has lost a great light.  But what is remembered, lives, so here’s a tribute I put together […]

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Why Do Elves Have Pointed Ears?

By Morgan Daimler It’s generally assumed in Western culture today that elves, and more widely many types of fairies, have pointed ears and the image has become so ingrained in popular culture as to be a trope. Yet why do we picture elves and fairies with pointed ears, when most descriptions from European folklore^ emphasize […]

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‘Game of Thrones’ Climate Simulator Explains Crazy Weather of Westeros

By Doris Elin Salazar If you’ve ever wondered what kind of weather Jon Snow faces as he fights against White Walkers in the hit television fantasy series “Game of Thrones,” the conditions are about the same as they are in Fairbanks, Alaska, according to a new climate simulation of the fictitious realm. Plus, dragons scorching up Westeros […]

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