Categories: ComicsMovies / Video / TheaterScience Fiction / Fantasy

Space Force!

Back in June, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to create a sixth branch of the armed forces, to be called Space Force. The idea has been lampooned by politicians and technologists alike.

One might have expected those of the geeky, nerdish persuasion to applaud any program that gets more people into space, but most voices either protested that this proposed Space Force was stepping on NASA’s toes, the Air Force’s toes (which already has a Space Command, founded 36 years ago) or feared that President Trump would be as successful with this venture as he had been with steaks, his airline, his university, his casinos, and his first two marriages. Both media and literary SF turned to the traditional weapon against the powerful: mockery.

Media SF

Netflix has announced a new comedy, starring and created by Steve Carrell, about the men and women of this proposed Space Force as they attempt to accomplish their poorly defined mission.

Steve Carrell’s science fiction credits are limited to voicing Gru in the Despicable Me cartoons and video games, however, his comedy resume is well established as a writer, producer, and actor. Space Force is co-created by Steve Carrell and Greg Daniels, who worked together on The Office. Daniels will be executive producer of the new show.

Literary SF

B Cubed Press OPEN CALL

B Cubed Press, the politically subversive independent publishing company that produced the best selling Alternative Truths and the critically acclaimed Alternative Theology has announced an open call for submissions to a new anthology to be called Tales from the Space Force.

“What to do we want? Camp? Satire? Bug Eyed Monsters. All good. We’ll do serious stories too. Mostly we want good stories. And if I am to confess, we want campy stories. We want the golden age of pulp to live again.
Political bends are allowed.”

[su_note note_color=”#fcfbbd” radius=”17″]The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and may or may not reflect the views SCIFI.radio, its parent company Krypton Media Group or its business partners.[/su_note]

Pay is 2¢ a word and royalties for stories. For very short fiction, poems, and nursery rhymes, they’re offering an option of a flat $25 to the writer. Payment is on publication Although the price per word is only at semi-pro rate, (SFWA, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, considers 8¢ a word to be professional rates for writers) most of B Cubed Press’ anthologies have sold well enough to pay royalties. The deadline is
April 15, 2019.

Disclaimer: In addition to being a Staff Writer for SCIFI.radio I have also had a story in Alternative Truths and a filksong in More Alternative Truths.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.

Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.