ooo, pretty

Here in north Manchester, we are currently experiencing a rather spectacular sunset, as practically the entire sky cycles through assorted pinks, oranges and reds.

(no subject)

Martin Wisse points to an interesting article on sfrevu.com in which David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer discuss the checkered history of the term "Space Opera", from its origins as a term of derision to its present status as the name of a popular sub-genre:

Many readers and writers and nearly all media fans who entered SF after 1975 have never understood the origin of space opera as a pejorative and some may be surprised to learn of it. Thus the term space opera reentered the serious discourse on contemporary SF in the 1980s with a completely altered meaning

Martin's comment is worth reading, too (the opening quote alone is worth price of entry)