The online virtual reality experience that almost every tech giant today wishes to commercially exploit may not catch onIn the 1992 sci-fi dystopia Snow Crash, the author Neal Stephenson imagined a bleak 21st century where the collapse of the global economy had seen governments fall and their power replaced by a few giant businesses. The book is notable for prescience, anticipating the adoption of what was then seen as outlandish technologies like the wireless internet, cryptocurrencies and smartphones, as well as the rise of the gig economy. But it is the book’s prophetic vision of “the metaverse” that has revived interest in the work.That is because Stephenson described the online virtual reality experience that almost every tech giant today wishes to commercially exploit. Last October, Microsoft announced that users of its Teams online meetings app would be able to turn themselves into avatars – the term Stephenson popularised in Snow Crash – to encourage users into virtual interaction. Days later Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder, rebranded his company as Meta, with a focus on the potential for virtual worlds. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2022-02-07 19:11:48 UTC ]
Says his condemnation of Paris attack was to support freedom of expression but sees ‘tricky calculus’ in countries where that’s restrictedFacebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has defended his decision to condemn the recent terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine on free speech... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The End of Power' – a respected, though modestly-selling, nonfiction book – has now been launched to a global audience thanks to Mark Zuckerberg. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zuckerberg wrote that he's resolved to read more new books and is inviting Facebook users to join in. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's going to be tough for Mark Zuckerberg to break his New Year's resolution this year. He's got more than 130,000 people to keep him accountable. The post Mark Zuckerberg’s New Year’s Resolution: Start a Worldwide Book Club appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2015-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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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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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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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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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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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'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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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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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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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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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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Did Time magazine pick Pope Francis as its Person of the Year because he'll sell more magazines than Edward Snowden? That's what some media outlets and Twitter users suggested Wednesday after the new pontiff beat out Mr. Snowden for the recognition.Business Insider, for instance, wrote:"Snowden,... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2013-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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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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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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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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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The social network announces it is seeing huge mobile success, even on non-smartphones. That great mobile push launched by Mark Zuckerberg six months ago is starting to bear fruit. Yesterday Facebook published a blog post claiming 100 million users sign into the social network via its... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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