Here you go: the official cover reveal for my new novel Forty Million Summers, due next May. Maybe I should be jaded after forty years in the business, but I have to say I’m especially proud of this big, far-ranging book and pleased that it found such a good home.

Forty Million Summers - Tachyon Publications

“I can’t think of another science fiction writer who understands the strengths of the genre so well.” —The New York Times An inexplicable ecological disaster is rapidly making the Earth uninhabitable...

tachyonpublications.com

Another instalment in my Substack series looking at Library of America’s collection of science fiction novels of the 1950s. This time it’s Leigh Brackett’s The Long Tomorrow.

Against Nostalgia: Reading Library of America's Science Fiction Novels of the 1950s

Part Four: The Long Tomorrow

robertcharleswilson.substack.com

So this happened last week: Canadian production company Skywild announcing the acquisition of rights to three novels, including one of mine. It’s only an option, so nothing is guaranteed, but it’s super nice to be included here.

Tom Ryan’s Murder Mystery ‘The Treasure Hunters Club’ Optioned for TV Adaptation (Exclusive)

Skywild Pictures has also picked up rights to two other novels, ‘Our Little Secret’ and ‘The Affinities,’ for similar page-to-TV treatments.

hollywoodreporter.com

Just posted: part three of my Substack series on Library of America’s SF novels of the 1950s. This time around it’s Theodore Sturgeon’s More Than Human. This was fun to write but hard to boil down to a readable length—there’s so much more I could have said.

Against Nostalgia: Reading Library of America's Science Fiction Novels of the 1950s

Part Three: More Than Human

robertcharleswilson.substack.com

The latest instalment of my series about Library of America’s collection of science fiction novels of the 1950s is up at Substack. This time I take a look at The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth. robertcharleswilson.substack.com/p/against-no...

Against Nostalgia: Reading Library of America’s Science Fiction Novels of the 1950s

Part Two: The Space Merchants

robertcharleswilson.substack.com

The latest issue of the French magazine Bifrost is a tribute to the long and fascinating history of Amazing magazine, but they found room for my little micro-story “Homage to Pandora,” ably translated by Gilles Goulet.

Here’s my new Substack post: some thoughts about my forthcoming novel Forty Million Summers, plus Loren Eiseley and Ray Bradbury. Still free to read and subscribe, no paywall.

Forty Million Summers and Other Books

Loren Eiseley, Ray Bradbury, and the Paleontology of Words on Paper

robertcharleswilson.substack.com

I’ve posted so sporadically here that I’m not sure who’s listening, but for those of you who might be interested, my first new novel in ten years is called Forty Million Summers and it’s been acquired by Tachyon Publications. So I’m doing my happy dance today.

One of the first rules of professional writing I learned was “Never give away anything for free.” But I’m old enough to break the rules if the spirit moves me. This is a tiny little brand-new science fiction story, which I hope might make you laugh…or not, depending on the mood you’re in.

Homage to Pandora

A Tiny Little Short Story

open.substack.com

This might have been more appropriate for Halloween, but, like a pumpkin-spice latte on a hot September day, it arrived before its time.

Why We Don't Ask Why

Close Encounters, The Exorcist, And The Questions We Don't Ask

robertcharleswilson.substack.com

I haven’t been active here for a while, and I apologize to anyone who follows me. Part of the reason is that I’ve been busy setting up a Substack newsletter. This is the latest post—witches, beatniks, the Lavender Scare, and a movie I watch every Christmas. (Subscriptions are currently free.)

Zodiac Carousel

Bell, Book and Candle and the Hinges of American Culture

robertcharleswilson.substack.com

Extremely interesting, if far from conclusive. K2-18 wouldn’t be a comfortable place for human beings—more than twice as large as Earth and nine times as massive, orbiting a red dwarf star—but it’s fun to imagine a big watery world teeming with sentient seaweed or philosophically-minded jellyfish.

Scientists hail ‘strongest evidence’ so far for life beyond our solar system

Astrophysics team say observation of chemical compounds may be ‘tipping point’ in search for extraterrestrial life

theguardian.com

If you want to support something reliably Canadian instead of products tainted by their connection to the US, choose: —Laura Secord, not Hershey’s —Maple Leaf, not Oscar Mayer —Mark Carney, not Pierre Poilievre

Real Americans are all-in for our great neighbor Canada.

Mark Carney@mark-carney.bsky.social · last yr.

Elbows up, Canada.

The more I see of Mark Carney, the better I like him. He’s smart, knowledgeable, at ease at the podium, and a perfect foil for the attacks on Canada’s sovereignty emanating from south of the border. The opposite of Poilievre, whose shallow sloganeering is instantly tiresome.

Best analysis I’ve seen yet, at least from a source outside Canada.

Blame Canada

Our warmongering, drugged-out conspiracy theory

snyder.substack.com

I’d kinda forgotten that this is the book’s 20th anniversary. Without question, the most popular and most commercially successful of all my novels.

BlueSky BryGuy@thebryguy.bsky.social · last yr.

My favorite novel Spin by @wilsonspin.bsky.social was published 20 years ago today!

Taking a little time for some vintage science fiction, especially the work of John Christopher, whose opus I somehow neglected. (I did read and enjoy his Tripod trilogy many years ago, and I’m looking forward to No Blade of Grass, The Long Winter, and The Ragged Edge.)

A Publishers Weekly article about the near-death of the mass market paperback, and you can spot a copy of my novel Spin in the photo that illustrates it. Sort of like coming across your own name on a tombstone.

Fellow Canadians! 🇨🇦 Consider signing the petition below asking the Prime Minister to consider revoking Elon Musk’s dual citizen status and revoke his passport immediately. www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...

It's Nice To Be Disliked (By One Of Those)

Celebrating Flag Day today—and reclaiming the flag from the “convoy” quislings, at a time when we face an unprecedented threat from south of the border. (Also bracing for the winter storm heading for southern Ontario!)

An American draft resisters crew, Toronto. 4th from left is Mary M from Georgia. She was a spirit guide to my wife and I. 3rd is Phillip from Texas. He taught me to be a carpenter. During Vietnam many young Americans came here, built lives, changed our politics. Maybe we need that influx again.

Trump has backed down…for now, in exchange for some fairly trivial gestures from Ottawa. But we still have a gun pointed at us—the US administration is still hostile and shockingly authoritarian—and I’ll be buying Canadian and boycotting US products until that changes.

Pierre Poilievre is currently on the CBC trying to promote himself by lending credence to Trump’s ludicrous rationale for tariffs. “Tariffs are wrong, but…” But nothing. Quisling.

Trump’s “reasons” for imposing tariffs on Canada are so implausible that he obviously has a different motive—presumably to crush Canadian independence, economically or politically or both. Buy Canadian, boycott American. True north strong and free.

We’re shopping more carefully now that Canada is under economic threat—postponing big purchases, planning more plain-&-basic meals, avoiding US products, buying Canadian wherever possible. This country is worth any sacrifice we might have to make. Canadians have done it before & we can do it again.

Best thing I’ve seen yet about Trump’s threats to Canada.

Why America Can’t Conquer Canada - Macleans.ca

Donald Trump’s nonsensical threats are an attempt to distract from his own country’s self-destruction

macleans.ca