Author blogs are everywhere, and I for one am glad about it.
Like any other medium, the blogosphere is full of both greatness and garbage — everything from social commentary to book reviews to “Hey, look at these pictures of my cat.”
Some say the art form of blogging is a dinosaur, that it peaked in the late 90s, or early 2000s, before social media reduced our attention spans and stole away our desire to express our passions, replacing it with a desire to argue about grammar and meme about those two ladies who fight with the cat.
If you’re like me though, you probably still have one or two favorite authors who blog on a semi-regular basis, or used to (Neil Gaiman, I’m looking at you). The well-known and respected authors who occasionally blog are great, and they bring joy when they comment and extrapolate and share, and there’s a reason we visit their sites on the regular, hoping for some new tidbit of wisdom.
Recently I decided to wade through the blogosphere and see what I could find, specifically in this world of sci-fi writing, and bring my treasured discoveries to you. There are quality writers out there still blogging, still passionate about the power of story, and who deserve at least a modicum of our attention. Essentially, I wanted to see if I could locate some blogs from authors you may or may not know, perhaps famous or on the cusp thereof, who post more regularly and who stay relevant to our world.
Here are five author blogs that I think are worth your time, each giving something slightly different than the others, with most catering to the world of science fiction and fantasy.
AUTHOR BLOGS #1: WHATEVER
John Scalzi, the Hugo Award-winning author, gives us “Whatever: Furiously Reasonable,” which for my money is the author blog that stands tallest among the sci-fi community. His books are eclectic and excellent (Check out The Collapsing Empire), and Scalzi’s blog offers a mix of personal musings, writing advice, and social commentary. He has an ongoing post series of “Views from a Hotel Window,” which is exactly what it sounds like and is a unique look at the world of the traveling author. He shares book reviews, interviews, and his own clever thoughts. He also works the site alongside his daughter, Athena, which, speaking as a dad, is wonderful to see. I love this blog because it is constantly and consistently engaging and opens my eyes to new and exciting books to read. (And now for something completely different, check out his Canonical Bacon section: https://whatever.scalzi.com/about/the-canonical-bacon-page).
AUTHOR BLOGS #2: THE MARGINALIAN (formerly BrainPickings)
Maria Popova asks the question we all ask ourselves at some point in life: “What is all this?” From this framework, Popova curates The Marginalian, “a one-woman labor of love.” And I, for one, love it as well. She gives us book reviews and social commentary, plus the site is littered with lovely photographs, artwork, videos, and stories. While not exclusively geared to science fiction or fantasy, her insights into the human condition are simultaneously unique and universal. Plus, she provides a free weekly newsletter that includes “the week’s most mind-broadening and heart-lifting reflections spanning art, science, poetry, philosophy, and other tendrils of our search for truth, beauty, meaning, and creative vitality.” Her site is one on which to linger, to take in when you have time to slow down — which her site will lovingly force you to do, in the best possible way.
AUTHOR BLOGS #3 DAN’S SCI-FI & FANTASY BLOG
I confess to only recently discovering this site, and I immediately became a fan. Writer Dan Rice has a site that offers up plenty of reviews of everything in the genre — books, movies, TV, and so forth. I must give him credit for putting me on to the show Alice in Borderland, which I think Dan accurately described as “stranger and better than Squid Game, which is saying something.” I didn’t know about Dan’s own work — Dragons Walk Among Us, and I’ve just picked up a copy. This is one of the best things about blogs, particularly in the science fiction and fantasy community: We can find authors that we might otherwise have overlooked.
AUTHOR BLOGS #4: NEAL ASHER
Neal Asher, the renowned British science fiction author, welcomes readers into his universe through his blog. Asher’s author blog stands out for its remarkable blend of personal anecdotes, (check out his recent post about his journey through healthy eating and weight loss: https://www.nealasher.co.uk/low-carb-and-all-that). He also gives us behind-the-scenes glimpses into his writing process, (the man is prolific — start with The Owner Series Book One: The Departure), and thought-provoking articles exploring various aspects of science fiction. What I like best about his blog is that it is probably the most personal and intimate one I’ve seen in some time. His openness and honesty about his health journey, as well as his exploration of his own writings, make for a unique and compelling site. Unlike some of the other blogs I have mentioned, you won’t find book reviews of other authors’ work. Neal likes Neal. And that’s OK, because he allows us into his world in such a way that makes us decide we like him as well.
AUTHOR BLOGS #5: CONTRARY BRIN
David Brin is a renowned author and influential scientist. He is a best-selling, award-winning novelist, has a Ph.D. in Physics, and contributed groundbreaking research in the field of optics and cometary nuclei. In other words, the dude’s done some stuff. Somehow, he also finds the time to write a thought-provoking blog, Contrary Brin. Since its inception in 2004, Brin has used his author blog as a platform to discuss a wide range of topics, including science, technology, science fiction, books, and the future. He shies away from nothing. (Check out his latest post: https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-core-goal-of-tyrants-red-caesar.html) I wanted to include his blog here because it shows how influential an author can be beyond the scope of their books and stories. He is an intellectual, so some of his blogs may at first seem academic, but he is also a writer and his talents in this field come through when he is sharing his opinions on the volatile world in which we live. Put your thinking cap on, grab a double espresso, and sink your teeth into the contrarian known as Contrary Brin.
Special mention — FILE 770
No list of blogs about the sci-fi world would be complete without discussing FILE 770. This site, lovingly maintained by Mike Glyer, has long been regarded as the cornerstone of science fiction fandom. Since its inception as a mimeographed fanzine in 1978, to its blogosphere version that began in 2008, File 770 has always been the fan’s go-to source for all things science fiction and fantasy. Mike covers a wide range of topics, from breaking news in the sci-fi world to convention reports and literary awards coverage. With its extensive community engagement, File 770 fosters a sense of inclusivity and encourages lively discussions among readers. Glyer’s dedication to promoting sci-fi events and amplifying diverse voices within the community makes File 770 an essential resource for anyone passionate about the genre. He is a legend in the genre, having won the Hugo Award 12 times in two categories— Best Fanzine and Best Fan Writer. It is not an exaggeration to say that every single sci-fi fan blogging today owes a debt of gratitude to Mike Glyer.
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you some exciting new blogs to follow and authors to read. And if you yourself are an author blogger, I hope you get the chance to share your passion for the genre with all of us, and that — more importantly than anything else — you have a good time doing so.
(Editor’s Note: Share your favorites in the comments below and we might feature them sometime in the future!)
