Classic SF with Andy Johnson
@andyjohnson.xyz
Exploring classic science fiction, with a focus on the 1950s to the 1990s. Weekly articles and podcast at andyjohnson.xyz
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I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
This week's essay is up: continuing my look at Iain M. Banks' Culture novels with Matter (2008). Podcast version to follow shortly.
Spheres within spheres: Matter (2008) by Iain M. Banks
Should the Culture intervene in the struggle for a shellworld?
www.andyjohnson.xyz
February 12, 2026 at 8:16 PM
This week's essay is up: continuing my look at Iain M. Banks' Culture novels with Matter (2008). Podcast version to follow shortly.
For my first @official.entertainium.co article of the year, I've previewed the retro FPS Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, which will come out, exclamation mark in tow, next month.
Preview: Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! Will Make You Want To Know More – Entertainium
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, from the makers of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, is not yet quite at that high level.
entertainium.co
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 PM
For my first @official.entertainium.co article of the year, I've previewed the retro FPS Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, which will come out, exclamation mark in tow, next month.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
ICYMI, this week's essay is about Ice and Iron (1974), a late and little-known novel by Wilson Tucker - the writer, critic and fan who coined the term "space opera".
The big freeze: Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker
Confronting a time mystery as a new ice age looms
www.andyjohnson.xyz
February 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
ICYMI, this week's essay is about Ice and Iron (1974), a late and little-known novel by Wilson Tucker - the writer, critic and fan who coined the term "space opera".
On this day in 1992, Manic Street Preachers released their debut album Generation Terrorists. In MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG, read my assessment of "one of the most spectacularly over-ambitious debut albums ever made." More info and preorders at andyjohnson.xyz/manics
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM
On this day in 1992, Manic Street Preachers released their debut album Generation Terrorists. In MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG, read my assessment of "one of the most spectacularly over-ambitious debut albums ever made." More info and preorders at andyjohnson.xyz/manics
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Secured some local print coverage for the book this week ✅ If you know of any kind of publication which would cover or talk to me about #manicstreetpreachers Song by Song, I'd be very interested to know!
I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
February 9, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Secured some local print coverage for the book this week ✅ If you know of any kind of publication which would cover or talk to me about #manicstreetpreachers Song by Song, I'd be very interested to know!
Secured some local print coverage for the book this week ✅ If you know of any kind of publication which would cover or talk to me about #manicstreetpreachers Song by Song, I'd be very interested to know!
I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
February 9, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Secured some local print coverage for the book this week ✅ If you know of any kind of publication which would cover or talk to me about #manicstreetpreachers Song by Song, I'd be very interested to know!
Arch-conspirator (2023) by Veronica Roth ✅ - Sophocles' play Antigone in very thin science fictional clothes. Solidly delivered, but made little impact on me.
February 8, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Arch-conspirator (2023) by Veronica Roth ✅ - Sophocles' play Antigone in very thin science fictional clothes. Solidly delivered, but made little impact on me.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Nearly 70,000 words, over 300 songs covered, 15 album essays - and only 3 weeks until MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is out. More info and preorder links at andyjohnson.xyz/manics
February 7, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Nearly 70,000 words, over 300 songs covered, 15 album essays - and only 3 weeks until MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is out. More info and preorder links at andyjohnson.xyz/manics
I've always felt that the A-format paperback is the ultimate delivery system for science fiction. B-format, which has long since supplanted it in the UK, is so unwieldy by comparison.
The mass market paperback, light in the hand and on the wallet, once filled airport bookstores and supermarket media aisles. You may never buy a new one again.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/b...
So Long to Cheap Books You Could Fit in Your Pocket
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I've always felt that the A-format paperback is the ultimate delivery system for science fiction. B-format, which has long since supplanted it in the UK, is so unwieldy by comparison.
Nearly 70,000 words, over 300 songs covered, 15 album essays - and only 3 weeks until MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is out. More info and preorder links at andyjohnson.xyz/manics
February 7, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Nearly 70,000 words, over 300 songs covered, 15 album essays - and only 3 weeks until MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is out. More info and preorder links at andyjohnson.xyz/manics
ICYMI, this week's essay is about Ice and Iron (1974), a late and little-known novel by Wilson Tucker - the writer, critic and fan who coined the term "space opera".
The big freeze: Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker
Confronting a time mystery as a new ice age looms
www.andyjohnson.xyz
February 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
ICYMI, this week's essay is about Ice and Iron (1974), a late and little-known novel by Wilson Tucker - the writer, critic and fan who coined the term "space opera".
One SF acquisition today: New Model Army (2010) by Adam Roberts. Now up to four of his without yet having read any...
February 6, 2026 at 6:46 PM
One SF acquisition today: New Model Army (2010) by Adam Roberts. Now up to four of his without yet having read any...
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
In a change to the scheduled programming, this week's essay and podcast ep are on Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker. Why are bricks and corpses falling from the sky as a new ice age looms?
The big freeze: Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker
Confronting a time mystery as a new ice age looms
www.andyjohnson.xyz
February 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
In a change to the scheduled programming, this week's essay and podcast ep are on Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker. Why are bricks and corpses falling from the sky as a new ice age looms?
In a change to the scheduled programming, this week's essay and podcast ep are on Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker. Why are bricks and corpses falling from the sky as a new ice age looms?
The big freeze: Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker
Confronting a time mystery as a new ice age looms
www.andyjohnson.xyz
February 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
In a change to the scheduled programming, this week's essay and podcast ep are on Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker. Why are bricks and corpses falling from the sky as a new ice age looms?
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Russell Hoban (1925-2011) was born on this day. Bibliography: www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.c...
L, Hannah Firmin, 1982; R, Rowena Morrill, 1984
#scifi #sciencefiction #books #literature
L, Hannah Firmin, 1982; R, Rowena Morrill, 1984
#scifi #sciencefiction #books #literature
February 4, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Russell Hoban (1925-2011) was born on this day. Bibliography: www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.c...
L, Hannah Firmin, 1982; R, Rowena Morrill, 1984
#scifi #sciencefiction #books #literature
L, Hannah Firmin, 1982; R, Rowena Morrill, 1984
#scifi #sciencefiction #books #literature
In case you missed them, a January roundup. My first piece of the year was on Poul Anderson's brisk early novel of sudden superintelligence, Brain Wave (1954).
Think fast: Brain Wave (1954) by Poul Anderson
The influential classic of enhanced intelligence with a breakneck pace
www.andyjohnson.xyz
February 3, 2026 at 5:39 PM
In case you missed them, a January roundup. My first piece of the year was on Poul Anderson's brisk early novel of sudden superintelligence, Brain Wave (1954).
Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker ✅ - raced through this, having only bought it on Friday. Quite a curious novel. A new ice age is beginning, and researchers on the edge of what used to be Canada try to make sense of objects and corpses that fell from the sky nearby.
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Ice and Iron (1974) by Wilson Tucker ✅ - raced through this, having only bought it on Friday. Quite a curious novel. A new ice age is beginning, and researchers on the edge of what used to be Canada try to make sense of objects and corpses that fell from the sky nearby.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
Thomas M. Disch (1940-2008) was born on this day. Bibliography: www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.c...
L, Richard Powers, 1965; R, uncredited, 1973
#scifi #sciencefiction #books
L, Richard Powers, 1965; R, uncredited, 1973
#scifi #sciencefiction #books
February 2, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Thomas M. Disch (1940-2008) was born on this day. Bibliography: www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.c...
L, Richard Powers, 1965; R, uncredited, 1973
#scifi #sciencefiction #books
L, Richard Powers, 1965; R, uncredited, 1973
#scifi #sciencefiction #books
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
January 31, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
[Not SF] The Sins of the Fathers (1976) by Lawrence Block ✅ - first of the long-running Matt Scudder mystery series. The kind of lean and mean crime novel I like - enough for me to promptly order more.
February 1, 2026 at 8:48 AM
[Not SF] The Sins of the Fathers (1976) by Lawrence Block ✅ - first of the long-running Matt Scudder mystery series. The kind of lean and mean crime novel I like - enough for me to promptly order more.
I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
January 31, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I have a book coming out and would really appreciate you spreading the word! MANIC STREET PREACHERS: SONG BY SONG is published by Fonthill Media and out on 28 February. A complete, concise guide to every song from 1988 to 2025.
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
More info and preorder: www.andyjohnson.xyz/manicssongby...
From yesterday: this week's essay on The Müller-Fokker Effect (1970) by John Sladek, in which a man's mind is saved onto four tapes, setting off a madcap scramble to acquire them.
From corporate man to non-corporeal man: a look at John Sladek's second manic SF satire The Müller-Fokker Effect (1970). This week's essay may interest @joachimboaz.bsky.social and @joebankswriter.bsky.social
Caught on tape: The Müller-Fokker Effect (1970) by John Sladek
Another comic inferno from another stupid timeline
www.andyjohnson.xyz
January 30, 2026 at 10:07 PM
From yesterday: this week's essay on The Müller-Fokker Effect (1970) by John Sladek, in which a man's mind is saved onto four tapes, setting off a madcap scramble to acquire them.
Newly acquired: the 1977 Arrow edition of one of Wilson Tucker's last novels, Ice and Iron (1974).
January 30, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Newly acquired: the 1977 Arrow edition of one of Wilson Tucker's last novels, Ice and Iron (1974).
Matter (2008) by Iain M. Banks ✅ - the longest Culture novel yet is rather circuitous, but another joy to read. At times, it reads like Inversions nested inside Use of Weapons. Ambitious, baroque and charming.
January 30, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Matter (2008) by Iain M. Banks ✅ - the longest Culture novel yet is rather circuitous, but another joy to read. At times, it reads like Inversions nested inside Use of Weapons. Ambitious, baroque and charming.
Reposted by Classic SF with Andy Johnson
The cover of New Worlds magazine for February, 1969, edited by Michael Moorcock. On the cover, "Jeremiad", a Jerry Cornelius story by the late James Sallis; inside there's one of Thomas Pynchon's earliest short stories plus JG Ballard on Salvador Dalí, and Moorcock's obituary for Mervyn Peake.
January 30, 2026 at 12:09 PM
The cover of New Worlds magazine for February, 1969, edited by Michael Moorcock. On the cover, "Jeremiad", a Jerry Cornelius story by the late James Sallis; inside there's one of Thomas Pynchon's earliest short stories plus JG Ballard on Salvador Dalí, and Moorcock's obituary for Mervyn Peake.