s the iPod craze spreads and people become more accustomed to listening to highly customized audio libraries, the demand for original digital programming builds. For SF fans, one of the best sources for news, fiction and humor—not to mention a host of indescribably quirky features—is the SciFi Podcast Network.
A growing archive of downloadable files aimed at iPod owners (but usable by anyone with a decent computer and an Internet connection), TSFPN has a declared agenda of providing the world "with the best SF-related podcasts in the universe." To that end, they offer a range of nonfiction programs. A quick browse reveals a weekly series called "The Secrets," hosted by author Michael A. Stackpole, which focuses on writing tips for new authors. For Star Wars fans there's "The Force.Net"; meanwhile, others might prefer "Geek Fu Action Grip," which is about (among other things) successfully raising a geek child. TSFPN features abundant fictional content, too, of course—everything from author readings of SF stories and novels to old-fashioned radio shows like The Adventures of Doctor Floyd.
Podcasting is the latest, greatest mutation of what used to be radio, and sites like TSFPN allow visitors to fine-tune every facet of their entertainment library. Like everything else on the Web, the experience has become interactive: listener ratings are provided by the site to warn fans when a podcast might not be worksafe or child-friendly, while the discussion forums allow users to review shows and suggest other possible podcast offerings.
With a strong core of interesting, regular shows to keep listeners coming back and a commitment to finding the best SF podcasts available, The SciFi Podcast Network stands a good chance of becoming one of the genre's most visited sites.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—July 11, 2005
lying cars, moving sidewalks and battles with Martians—surprisingly little time has passed since many believed the near future might be a glittering, high-tech utopia ... or the scene of an interplanetary war. At Tales of Future Past, these dreams and the SF art that informed them are lovingly examined, curated into a sort of electronic museum for anyone wanting to indulge a bit of nostalgia for the innocent future view that pervaded the Golden Age of the genre.
The brainchild of pop-culture commentator David Zondy, this site does not try to comprehensively archive all the pulp art of the early 20th century. Instead, representative samples of magazine and book covers are divided into themes, like atomic power, future cars and
robots. The images illustrate short essays on Zondy's chosen themes: Sketches from the 1927 Fritz Lang film Metropolis adorn the article on future cities, while in the discussion of life on other planets, demonic aliens caper in the harsh environment of their Venusian homeworld.
It is always a pleasure to find a site that combines good writing with a balanced selection of well-chosen images. By mining the sometimes cheesy but always delightful pulp-art scene of the 1930s and subsequent decades, Tales of Future Past provides a genuine feast for both the eyes and the mind, a sincere and thoughtful celebration of SF's rich artistic and imaginative heritage.
—A.M. Dellamonica
Site of the Week—July 6, 2005
illing itself as a fandom lifestyles 'zine and offering no shortage of attitude as it enters the Web equivalent of middle age, MarsDust celebrates its third birthday this July. Brash, articulate and wide-ranging in its interests, this site challenges readers to define and explore what it means to be a fan in the 21st century.
But what, precisely, is a fandom lifestyles 'zine? A look to the MarsDust forums reveals the answer. Where other communities focus on the SF books, TV offerings and movies they adore, MarsDust's discussions tend to center around cultural and philosophical concerns: relationships in fandom, optimum "lair" design and ways for self-professed geeks to identify and pursue a dream career.
For visitors uninterested in mixing it up in the forums, Marsdust offers convention news, interviews and fan polls, as well as a newly launched op-ed blog irreverently named The Finger. Its feature articles make especially good reading: Recent entries cover the history and influence of Fangoria magazine and the work of filk artist Tom Smith. The site also aspires to a review section, though at present this area has almost no content.
The Detroit-based creators of Marsdust profess a dedication to the idea of forging new paths for SF fandom ... and in this site they have certainly created a comfortable gathering place for like-minded Web surfers. However, this community (like many other ambitious and intriguing SF Web sites) has yet to reach critical mass. If MarsDust can attract more repeat visitors and increase its pool of writers and frequent forum posters, it could shake up the online SF community. Whether the site can realize this potential, though, has yet to be seen.
—A.M. Dellamonica
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