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The next time you’re on a flight and the seat-belt sign clicks off, glance out the window. Six miles below, the landscape looks peaceful and small. Now picture a single rock—silent, ancient—so massive it could stretch from the ground up to that cruising altitude. That was the size of the asteroid that ended the dinosaurs’ reign.

That kind of disaster isn’t just ancient history. Every couple of weeks, something big enough to flash across the sky as a brilliant fireball—astronomers call it a “...

Here are my 42 favorite quotes. Why 42? The number 42 holds special significance for me because I’ve always been a fan of Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. And there, 42 is the answer a supercomputer provides to “the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.”

So, here we go!

“Reality is a crutch for people who can’t handle science fiction.” ― Gene Wolfe

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“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” — Robert...

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Hi Alexa! Thanks so much for taking the time to conduct these interviews!

I’ve had several jobs over the years. Navy officer. Field geologist. Bookstore owner. AP Physics teacher. Now, when away from my writing desk, I train sled dogs, tend my honeybee sanctuary, and enjoy public outreach astronomy. I attended the University of Colorado (Boulder) and Oregon State University (Corvallis). I live in southeast Wisconsin, and my wife and I recently celebrated...

Going as far back as 1951’s The Day the Earth Stood Still, here are my favorite characters from some science-fiction films. The links lead to each movie’s IMDb page. When writing science fiction, I often ask what these heroes might do in a sticky situation.

• Commander Adams, Forbidden Planet (Leslie Nielsen). Commander John Adams from Forbidden Planet is a classic science fiction leader, embodying the qualities of bravery, intellect, and responsibility while navigating the dangers of an...

I wish I could list ALL my favorite characters from TV, but here are a few. Most links lead to each actor’s IMDb link.

• Lyta Alexander, Babylon 5 (Patricia Tallman). Lyta Alexander is one of Babylon 5’s most tragic and powerful figures, evolving from a hopeful, principled telepath into a hardened, almost messianic force. Her journey is one of exploitation and self-discovery, as she struggles against the Psi Corps, the Vorlons, and the immense power she gains at great personal cost. Unlike...

I’d love to tell you about my short story and novel writing, but this isn’t about me. It’s about you. That is, if you ever intend to write science fiction, read a book, or watch a movie ... or a TV show.

Repeat after me: “Holy cow! I need to drop everything and tune into this right now!”

Whether you are a writer or a reader, every story must revolve around character and character change. That’s what helps us understand ourselves and what it means to be human. Now, for this to be super useful, I...