The Surreal World

Inside the head of science fiction writer and critic Derek Austin Johnson.

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“My philosophy of life is that the meek shall inherit nothing but debasement, frustration and ignoble deaths; that there is security in personal strength; that you can fight City Hall and win; that any action is better than no action, even if it’s the wrong action; that you never reach glory or self-fulfillment unless you’re willing to risk everything, dare anything, put yourself dead on the line every time; and that once one becomes strong or rich or potent or powerful it is the responsibility of the strong to help the weak become strong.”

— Harlan Ellison

My own work has nothing in common with Star Wars or Star Trek, and not much, in a real sense, with written American science fiction, which has veered away into out-and-out escapist fantasy. I don’t bring “Good News.

—J.G. Ballard on Science Fiction (via sciencefiction)

sciencefiction:

These are fictional magazine covers from Blade Runner. They were created by production illustrator Tom Southwell in 1980-1981 and appeared in the background on a magazine stand in the city streets. (!!!!)

Washington Post

Somebody’s read The Boys from Brazil one too many times.

The Stone: Philip K. Dick, Sci-Fi Philosopher, Part 1

He was one of the most influential science fiction writers of the 20th century, but few people consider him a thinker. That would be a mistake.

“The fact is that after Dick experienced the events of what he came to call ‘2-3-74’ (the events of February and March of that year), he devoted the rest of his life to trying to understand what had happened to him. For Dick, understanding meant writing.”

The Hugvie is a pillow-like robot shaped in a minimal, genderless human form designed to give users a feeling of interaction and touch when chatting on the phone to friends and family.

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A ‘cuddly’ robot phone that hugs you back

Heavy Cronenberg territory here.