The Guardian view on social media’s metaverse: it may remain science fiction | Editorial

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 ]
News tagged with: #global economy #wireless internet #gig economy #microsoft announced #mark zuckerberg #virtual worlds #science fiction

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Today in cool internet passion projects: the Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.

If you’re on the hunt for new literary rabbit holes, today is your lucky day. The Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction, created by lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower (a former editor of both the OED and Random House Dictionaries) is “a comprehensive quotation-based dictionary of the language of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-27 16:14:09 UTC ]
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Brand safety is a social media issue - and it always will be

Our latest research confirms that the general public can tell the difference between an unsafe platform and a quality news publisher - so why can’t our industry? Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2021-01-21 11:38:36 UTC ]
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Guardian Media Group hires new advertising chief

Claire Blunt has been chief financial, operations and data officer for Hearst Europe. Continue reading at Media Week

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Let’s talk about fantasy and science fiction books that have fallen off the radar

“Vellum” by Hal Duncan, “Mockingbird,” by Walter Tevis, the works of Tanith Lee and more. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-13 14:00:00 UTC ]
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Should social media companies alone have the power to ban Donald Trump?

Should the public be represented if digital media has created a new public square? Continue reading at Media Week

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10 Under-the-Radar Fantasy and Science Fiction Books From 2020

From talking tigers to automaton dragons and UFOs, find some of the best 2020 under the radar SFF books you may have missed, including Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters. Continue reading at Book Riot

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The perfect science fiction, fantasy and genre-bending tales for the chilly days ahead

Winter takes center stage in books by George R.R. Martin, Peter Hoeg, Tove Jannson, Tanya Tagaq and more Continue reading at The Washington Post

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Ben Bova, Science Fiction Editor and Author, Is Dead at 88

As editor of the magazines Analog and Omni, he was a champion of a new generation of authors, including George R.R. Martin. Continue reading at The New York Times

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Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham on Social Media, Black Futurity, and the Archive

Writers Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham have edited and brought forth to the world Black Futures, a visually-stunning mixed-media anthology that threads together different facets of Black culture and thought by some of today’s most esteemed poets, artists, academics, and creatives. At its heart,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

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A gift guide for the fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror books in your life

Anthologies like “The Big Book of Modern Fantasy” cover a lot of ground. Illustrated books like “Flyway” offer something special. Continue reading at The Washington Post

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Bradbury Noir: The Crimes of a Science Fiction Master

THE SKELETONS IN Ray Bradbury’s closet are out in Killer, Come Back to Me, a career-spanning collection of the science fictioneer’s crime stories. These 300 pages present a new side to readers who only know Bradbury from such classics as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and Fahrenheit 451 (1953).... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

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Best science fiction, fantasy and horror books of 2020

Dystopias, adventures and new worlds in books by Stephen Graham Jones, Zen Cho and more. Continue reading at The Washington Post

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Can Science Fiction Help Us Govern for the Future?

Authors Kim Stanley Robinson and Malka Older discuss how storytelling can help us govern for the future. Continue reading at Slate

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Frisco social media network raises angel funding from Austin investor

A Frisco startup is looking to cut through the noise of other social media apps and give digital content creators a way to reach more fans. TUBBR, an invite-only social network, announced landing Angel Funding from Global Ascent Partners that it plans to use for its upcoming beta launch.... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2020-10-24 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Dealmakers and Wanderers: New Science Fiction and Fantasy

Recent releases include “The Midnight Bargain,” “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” and “Piranesi.” Continue reading at The New York Times

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The Study of Economics Could Learn a Lot From Science Fiction

Mainstream economics is suffering an identity crisis, which began with The Great Recession and has reemerged during the current pandemic. In response, a growing collection of voices has advocated looking beyond the field—in particular, to science fiction—as a way to imagine it anew. Although... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

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8 Science Fiction Novels by Authors of Color for the End Times

Are these the end times? Who knows! Settle into this current quasi-dystopian reality with recent books by American writers of color. Continue reading at Book Riot

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Keep up 'authentic' social media engagement, says Carrie Hope Fletcher

West End performer and author Carrie Hope Fletcher has advised industry professionals to mobilise their social media platforms and create "engaging, authentic" content to increase audiences.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Havas Media launches social equity marketplace in UK

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Spanish-speaking writers are producing ambitious science fiction and fantasy. Let these books be your introduction.

As diverse as Spanish genre fiction is, most of it is hidden from the English-language world. Thankfully, enthusiasts and small publishers are filling the void. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-09-21 12:00:00 UTC ]
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