Flying taxis could be carrying passengers in 2025, but hurdles remain

The aircraft—known as “electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL—lift off the ground like a helicopter. When he was still a boy making long, tedious trips between his school and his woodsy home in the mountains during the 1980s, JoeBen Bevirt began fantasizing about flying cars that could whisk him to his destination in a matter of minutes.As CEO of Joby Aviation, Bevirt is getting closer to turning his boyhood flights of fancy into a dream come true as he and latter-day versions of the Wright Brothers launch a new class of electric-powered aircraft vying to become taxis in the sky.The aircraft—known as “electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL—lift off the ground like a helicopter before flying at speeds up to 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour) with a range of about 100 miles (161 kilometers). And these craft do it without filling the air with excessive noise caused by fuel-powered helicopters and small airplanes.“We are just a few steps from the finish line. We want to turn what are now one- and two-hour trips into five-minute trips,” Bevirt, 51, told the Associated Press before a Joby air taxi took off on a test flight in Marina, California—located about 40 miles south from where he grew up in the mountains.Archer Aviation, a Silicon Valley company backed by automaker Stellantis and United Airlines, has been testing its own eTVOLs over farmland in Salinas, California, where a prototype called “Midnight” could be seen gliding... Continue reading at 'Fast Company'

[ Fast Company | 2025-01-08 15:38:34 UTC ]

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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas 2024

You send a command from your smartphone and your house automatically decorates itself with a holographic Christmas tree complete with decorations and a suitably conifer-like smell. Sound like science fiction? Maybe, but this is among the predictions by the authors of a new book that looks at how... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ursula K Le Guin's speech at National Book Awards: 'Books aren't just commodities'

In a passionate speech, writer takes aim at publishers who put profit before artUrsula Le Guin cries freedom as she is honoured for contribution to literatureTo the givers of this beautiful reward, my thanks, from the heart. My family, my agents, my editors, know that my being here is their... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Vice Launching Sci-Fi Site

Terraform, Brooklyn-based Vice Media Group's first standalone literary platform, will be dedicated to original pieces of science fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Crowdsourcing Program Gets a Name

Kindle Scout is now taking submissions for titles in romance, mystery and thriller, and science fiction and fantasy genres. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reading Rainbow Host LeVar Burton Binge-Watched Game of Thrones Before He Read the Books

Specs Who LeVar Burton Age 57 Claim to fame Emmy-winning actor (Roots, Star Trek: The Next Generation); host and producer of Reading Rainbow; author of the children’s book The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (available Oct. 7) Base Los Angeles Twitter @levarburton What’s the first information you... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ann Leckie wins top sci-fi award for debut novel 'Ancillary Justice'

'Ancillary Justice' is the first novel ever to win the science fiction 'triple crown' – the Hugo, the Nebula, and the Arthur C. Clarke awards – all in the same year. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Baen Beams at 30

With integrity and vision as its publishing cornerstones since 1984, Baen Books, the second largest publisher of science fiction and fantasy and #1 in space opera and military science fiction, is pleased to be celebrating its 30th anniversary with special events, author signings, and giveaways... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mad Men’s Harry Hamlin Compares Ray Donovan to Sex

Specs Who Harry Hamlin Age 62 Accomplishments Emmy-nominated actor on AMC’s Mad Men (Sundays at 10/9c); appearing in the upcoming film Shiva and May Base Los Angeles What’s the first information you consume in the morning? I am really old school. The first thing I do is read the Los Angeles... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HMH Adds SF & Fantasy to 'Best American' Series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's popular, long-running Best American Series is adding a volume on science fiction and fantasy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rakuten to buy Internet messaging app Viber for $900 million

Japan’s Rakuten will acquire instant messaging and calling app developer Viber Media for US$900 million, the e-commerce giant said Friday, highlighting its moves to penetrate new markets.Rakuten’s purchase of the messaging and VoIP company follows its acquisitions of Canada’s ebook platform... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kensington Buys Digital Pub, Lyrical Press

Kensington Publishing has acquired the ebook house, Lyrical Press. Lyrical, which was founded in 2007, and specializes in contemporary, paranormal and erotic romance; thrillers; and science fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Science Fiction Bestows Freedom on North Korean Writers

Science fiction has a long tradition in North Korea and SF authors enjoy greater freedom to explore edgy subjects, such as crime and violence, than their counterparts. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Broadcast Music Inc. pumps up volume

Broadcast Music Inc., No. 24 on Crain's list of the top privately held companies, will have a big year in 2014. The music-rights management company will celebrate its 75th anniversary, and its president of nearly 10 years, Del Bryant, who climbed the ranks from artist liaison in 1972, will step... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nicola Griffith discusses 'Hild,' the girl who would be saint

Nicola Griffith's radical departure from her previous fiction results in the 7th century epic 'Hild.'Author Nicola Griffith is as unpredictable and fascinating as one of her heroines. Her first two novels, "Ammonite" and "Slow River" (which won a Nebula Award), were science fiction. And from... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Back To The (Sustainable) Future: The Year 2050 In Words And Pictures

It's 2050. Somehow we haven't joined the dinosaurs in extinction, succumbed to the Secret Society of Super Villains, or been raptured up to the clouds. And the robots are friendly, not evil. Futurologist and environmentalist Sir Jonathan Porritt's The World We Made: Alex McKay's Story from 2050,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random House Launches SF/Fantasy Writing Community

Suvudu, Random House's online destination for science fiction and fantasy fans, launched Suvudu Universe, an online community for SF and fantasy bloggers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jack Vance, prolific, prize-winning pulp author, dies at 96

Jack Vance, prolific author of science fiction, mystery and epic fantasy, died Sunday at 96, his son John told the Associated Press. He had written more than 60 books during his long life.Jack Vance, prolific author of science fiction, mystery and epic fantasy, died Sunday at 96, his son John... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Building a Sci-Fi and Fantasy Publishing House from Scratch

Science fiction and fantasy publisher Angry Robot, part of the Osprey Group, is the creation of one man and many minds working in tandem across the UK and the Atlantic. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling is 'Casual,' yet not

Her first post-Harry Potter book is a work of adult fiction, but its release follows an earlier playbook: It's been kept from prying eyes. Mystery ensues.J.K. Rowling wrote "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" as a single mum on the dole. Seven books, 4,100 pages and a blockbuster film... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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San Diego Comic-Con: Bigger, Still Better

Even with attendance capped at 130,000 by the fire marshal, the San Diego Comic-Con International remains the granddaddy of all comics conventions. It’s the biggest pop culture event in North America—comics are the core of an event that also showcases movies, toys, video games, science fiction,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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