The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

I'm always fascinated by articles related to the future of space exploration. NASA is testing "flying saucers" in Hawaii to see the potential of landing on Mars. Looks great, really hope it works.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/sci...

Cool. Thanks.

I tend to follow via NASA and newspapers. I only occasionally read non-fiction and this is when someone recommends it or buys it for me. I like the books of the planets where you have lots of photographs from space. I've also enjoyed the photos the astronauts have been tweeting from the space-station, they have been amazing.

Has anyone else read Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach? She does a great look into the space program & has an excellent sense of humor.

I find Roaches' humor to be the draw. No, she isn't a scientist, but neither am I. Thankfully, she does a good job of researching & explaining things of interest. With that said, it's important to realize that's the point of her books - points of interest. She doesn't pretend to cover every aspect of a topic. I'm sure most of us don't want to know them, either. I was quite content anyway.

I got after her about not including the gall bladder in Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal & she said she just couldn't find a good narrative for it. It really does seem to be the unwanted step child of our digestive system. Caused my wife no end of issues.

Did you read Space by James A. Michener? I was disappointed with it. What was there was pretty good, but it left out so much. Interesting to read about the men & politics behind the space program.

A new and interesting article at National Geographic:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ma...
Well-written and up to date. Nice to read that SETI is active again, and that the Starwisp interstellar-probe idea is alive. Great art too. Good resource for SF writers, as well as readers. Highly recommended: 5 star article!

Thanks for reviving an old topic! Many countries (and private companies) are now heading into space. Kind-of exciting. But I also fear the day when giant billboards will fill the sky. Even just being able to look up and see something man-made on the moon would make me feel even more strongly the overcrowding and disconnection from nature. (I'm becoming ever more of a curmudgeon in my dotage!)