Saturday, June 7, 2025

'The Boy, The Cube, and the Elf'- A gripping novel by Brent Golembiewski.

About a month ago, while I was still in the hospital after having surgery on both knees(TKR) , I received this novel by Brent Golembiewski, a retired USAF helicopter pilot, for review. 

Now that I am back home, though I am still not comfortable enough, I have a quick look at this novel. 

Brent Golembiewski has been using his military experiences to write engaging stories for young readers. In the novel under review, he tells the story of a boy living on a space station who navigates danger and mystery to find his missing parents. 

In the gripping story of "The Boy, the Cube, and the Elf," young Niko, raised on a space station, is suddenly thrust into a world of unexpected mystery and danger. His parents have inexplicably disappeared. And a cryptic girl arrives with an urgent and important request for her missing father, but a dangerous bounty hunter is hot on his trail. Now Niko must travel through dangerous terrain to find his missing father, trusting the enigmatic girl and dodging the stalker as he pursues clues that will lead him to his missing parents. 

The story is full of adventure, trust and thrilling accounts of discovery that will keep readers hooked until the end. The novel is available on Amazon at the link given below. The author also has a website where one can get acquainted with his creative world.
Amazon link : https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Cube-Central-Fire-Book-ebook/dp/B0DN9FRSTB 

Author's website : https://authorbrentg.com/ 


Reviewd by - Arvind Mishra, Secretary, Indian Science Fiction Writers's Association

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Top 100 Science Fiction Blogs selected by panelists of FeedSpot

 



I am happy to share with you that Founder of FeedSpot Mr Anuj Agarwal has notified that my blog Science Fiction in India Blog has been selected by his panelist as one of the Top 100 Science Fiction Blogs on the Web and it's rank is 68th. Clarkesworld Magazine ranks first. Entire list could be accessed here - 


https://bloggers.feedspot.com/science_fiction_blogs/

You can check the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Science Fiction Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to be part of this!

This comprehensive list of science fiction blogs as given and at one place would be of great help to researchers of the genre and SF aficionados world over. 

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Peering into Future: Indian Science Fiction, Artificial Intelligence and Society.

The prestigious Ramlal Anand College of Delhi University organised an event on science fiction on 19th March 2025 . Professor Urvashi Kuhad was the organizer of the entire event and also the convener of the discussion session.


The topic of the discussion was "Peering into Future: Indian Science Fiction, Artificial Intelligence and Society"! That is, peeking into the future of the interrelationship between Indian science fiction literature, artificial intelligence and society. It was a panel discussion in which the discussion took place between  Indian science fiction experts. Audience also participated enthusiastically in this discussion in an open session that followed. 




I initiated discussion by introducing the audience to this genre of literature in the language of common understanding. I cleared the common misunderstandings about science fiction. I told that science fiction is not a genre of science but of literature which introduces you to a parallel reality different from your known world.  This is usually the future in which the condition of human society, both at the micro and macro level, is depicted which may emerge due to fast pace of technological changes.



In a way, the science fiction writer also warns people about the dangers caused by technology through the story by making relevant predictions. He is said to possess a "prophetic vision". However, it is not necessary that all his predictions come true. They may or may not come true.



Subsequently, the speakers Sami Ahmad Khan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Archana Mirajkar, renowned English and Marathi writer and Pragya Gautam, renowned Hindi science fiction writer and Urvashi Kuhad, professor RLM college, Delhi University concluded and also expressed her reservations on artificial intelligence in the perspective of science fiction literature. All the experts then also participated in a discussion organized in the college's radio community center Tarang.

On this occasion, Vigyan Katha Kosh published under the chief editorship of India's renowned science fiction writer Harish Goyal was also unveiled, which is the first ever praiseworthy Indian effort to compile succinctly the entire literature of Hindi science fiction. This will also inspire speakers of other science fiction languages. 



This event has taken another big initiative towards removing the fog surrounding science fiction literature in India.

Live event Broadcast :

(Ubiquitous - Literary Society of Ram Lal Anand College) 

Link for availablilty of the encyclopedia - 
[20/03, 18:18] Arvind Mishra: Indian Science Fiction Encyclopedia (of Hindi Writers) 


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दिनांक 19 मार्च 2025 को दिल्ली में मेरा प्रवास यादगार बन गया। वहां दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के रामलाल आनंद कालेज के अंग्रेजी विभाग में यूबीक्युटस लिटेरेरी सोसाईटी द्वारा आयोजित विज्ञान कथा विषयक एक कार्यक्रम में हिस्सा लिया। पूरे आयोजन की कर्ता धरता और चर्चा सत्र की संयोजक थीं प्रोफेसर Urvashi Kuhad।

चर्चा का विषय था " Peering into Future : Indian Science Fiction, Artificial Intelligence and Society"! यानि भारतीय विज्ञान कथा साहित्य, कृत्रिम बुद्धिमत्ता और समाज के अंतर्संबंधों के भविष्य में झांकना। यह एक पैनेल डिस्कशन था जिसमें भारतीय विज्ञान कथा के दिग्गजों के बीच चर्चा हुई और श्रोता दर्शकों ने भी इस चर्चा में उत्साहपूर्वक प्रतिभाग किया।

मैंने चर्चा की शुरुआत करते हुये साहित्य की इस विधा से आम समझ की भाषा में श्रोता - दर्शकों का परिचय कराया। साईंस फिक्शन को लेकर आम गलतफहमियों को दूर किया। बताया कि विज्ञान कथा विज्ञान की नहीं साहित्य की एक विधा है जो आपकी जानी पहचानी अपनी दुनिया से पृथक एक समांतर यथार्थ से परिचय कराती है। यह प्रायः भविष्य होता है जिसमें प्रौद्योगिकी बदलावों से संभावित मनाव समाज, व्यष्टि और समष्टि दोनों स्तरों की दशा दुर्दशा का चित्रण होता है।

एक दृष्टि से विज्ञान कथाकार पूर्वानुमान करके कहानी के माध्यम से लोगों को प्रौद्योगिकी जनित खतरों से आगाह भी करता है। उसका एक "प्रोफेटिक विज़न" होता है। हलांकि कोई जरुरी नहीं कि उसकी सभी भविष्यवाणियां सच ही साबित हों। वे सच हो सकती हैं और नहीं भी।

तदनंतर वक्ताओं Sami Ahmad Khan ,जवाहर लाल नेहरु विश्वविद्यालय, Archana Mirajkar, अंग्रेजी और मराठी की ख्यातिलब्ध साहित्यकार तथा Pragya Gautam, प्रतिष्ठित हिन्दी विज्ञान कथाकार और उर्वशी कुहाड़ ने कृत्रिम बुद्धि को विज्ञान कथा साहित्य के परिप्रेक्ष्य में विवेचित किया। सभी विशेषज्ञों ने तदनंतर कालेज के रेडियो कम्युनिटी सेंटर तरंग में भी नियोजित एक परिचर्चा में भाग लिया।

इस अवसर पर भारत के शीर्षस्थ विज्ञान कथाकार Harish Goyal जी के मुख्य संपादन में प्रकाशित विज्ञान कथा कोष का भी अनावरण किया गया जो हिन्दी विज्ञान कथा के समग्र साहित्य को संकलित करने का एक पहला स्तुत्य भारतीय प्रयास है। जिससे अन्य विज्ञान कथा के भाषा भाषियों को भी प्रेरणा मिलेगी। 

इस आयोजन ने भारत में विज्ञान कथा साहित्य को लेकर छाये कुहांसे को हटाने की दिशा में एक और बड़ी पहल है। 
Arvind Mishra 
Secretary, Indian Science Fiction Writers'  Association 

Monday, March 17, 2025

Announcing An Event: Peering into the Future: ISF, AI & Society!





Ubiquitous, the English Literary Society of Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi is organising a panel discussion titled "Peering into the Future: ISF, AI & Society."

The discussion aims to explore the evolving role of Indian Science Fiction (ISF), Artificial Intelligence, and their societal implications through the perspectives of esteemed experts. The event is scheduled for the 19th of March 2025, from 10:00 AM onwards at the Amphitheatre, Ground Floor, Ram Lal Anand College.



Sunday, March 16, 2025

All The Time : An amazing story of time travel

This novel is written keeping in mind the teenagers and young readers of science fiction. It is based on the theme of time travel - going to the past. The protagonist Carter tries to go back in time to meet his dying mother. But unexpectedly he reaches many years before his birth. Apart from his car, a bag of clothes and iPhone, he has nothing. Now trapped in the past, Carter is faced with an impossible question - how did he reach there and more importantly, how will he return? An interesting plot continues to draw the next events.

Along with explaining time, this novel also tells the story of love and separation. It tells about the delicate, ephemeral nature of time. Carter is such a hero with whom the readers easily connect. Those moments are very touching which show his desperation to return to his mother. How he struggles with the storm of emotions.

Every page of the novel makes us aware of Carter's difficult time journey, his pain and burden. The emotional depth of the novel leaves a deep impression on the mind. The writing style is such that the reader will also feel Carter's devotion and love for his mother. The novel brings out with intensity the idea of ​​a child trying to reach his parents before it is too late.

'All the Time' is not just a story of time travel. It is a story of eternal love - a story in which the unbreakable bond of love negates distances, a story that is full of nostalgia. It's available on the Amazon India too. 

Author Lincoln James website : https://thelincolnjames.com/

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यह उपन्यास विज्ञान कथा के किशोरों और युवा पाठकों को ध्यान में रखकर लिखा गया है। यह समय यात्रा - अतीत गमन के थीम पर है। मुख्य कथा पात्र कार्टर अपनी मरती हुई माँ से मिलने फिर से अतीत में जाने की कोशिश करता है। मगर अप्रत्याशित तौर से वह अपने जन्म से भी कई साल पहले पहुंच जाता है । अपनी कार, कपड़ों का एक बैग और iPhone के अतिरिक्त उसके पास कुछ भी नहीं है अतीत में फँसे कार्टर के सामने अब एक असंभव सा है सवाल है कि वह वहां कैसे पहुँच गया और उससे बढ़कर कि वह वापस कैसे होगा ? एक रोचक कथानक अगले घटनाक्रमों को उकेरता चलता है। 

समय को व्याख्यायित करने के साथ ही यह उपन्यास प्रेम, विछोह की भी कथा कहता है।  समय की नाजुक, क्षणभंगुर प्रकृति के बारे में बताता है। कार्टर एक ऐसा नायक है जिससे पाठक सहज ही कनेक्ट हो जाते हैं। वे क्षण बहुत मर्मस्पर्शी हैं जो अपनी माँ के पास लौटने की उसकी बेताबी को दर्शाते हैं। कैसे वह भावनाओं के झंझावात से जूझता है। 

उपन्यास का हर पन्ना कार्टर की बोझिल समय यात्रा, उसकी पीड़ा से अवगत कराता है बोझ से रुबरु कराता है। उपन्यास की भावनात्मक गहराई मन पर गहरा छाप छोड़ती है । लेखकीय शैली ऐसी है कि माँ के प्रति कार्टर का समर्पण और प्रेम पाठक खुद भी महसूस करेगा । एक बच्चे का अपने माता-पिता तक पहुँचने की कोशिश करने का विचार, इससे पहले कि बहुत देर हो जाए, के अहसास को उपन्यास शिद्दत के साथ उभारता है। 

'ऑल द टाइम' मात्र समय-यात्रा की ही कहानी नहीं है।  यह शाश्वत प्रेम की कहानी है - एक ऐसी कहानी जिसमें प्रेम का अटूट बंधन  दूरियों को नकारता है, एक ऐसी कहानी जो भरपूर नोस्टाल्जिक है।

-Arvind Mishra