Author: Joe Vasicek

Joe Vasicek is the author of more than twenty science fiction books, including the Star Wanderers and Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic and traveled across the Middle East and the Caucasus. He claims Utah as his home.

Happy Easter!

For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

How I would vote now: 1953 Hugo (Best Novel)

The Nominees The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester The Actual Results How I Would Have Voted Explanation I didn’t hate this book—I did finish it, after all—but I had some issues with it, especially the ending. It’s basically a futuristic murder mystery / true crime piece, where the protagonist is a telepathic detective who figures… Continue reading How I would vote now: 1953 Hugo (Best Novel)

Our world makes a lot more sense…

…when you realize that the internet is a factory for creating cults, and that social media and smart devices are force multipliers for this effect. Before the internet, your “community” was a geographically bound group of people, who were diverse enough (that’s “diverse” with a lower-case d) to give you an interesting variety of perspectives… Continue reading Our world makes a lot more sense…

Writing and Publishing Plans moving forward

Over the past few months, I’ve been spending a lot of time experimenting with AI writing and finding ways to incorporate it into my writing process. The goal so far has been twofold: I’ve accomplished both of those things, but I can’t hit them consistently without burning out. Writing with AI has proven key to… Continue reading Writing and Publishing Plans moving forward

How I would vote now: 2022 Hugo Award (Best Novel)

The Nominees Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Actual Results How I Would Have Voted… Continue reading How I would vote now: 2022 Hugo Award (Best Novel)

Why Nick Cave is wrong about human creativity and generative AI

First of all, I don’t think that Nick Cave is entirely wrong. Laying aside how ChatGPT is just one of the many LLMs that are publicly available, and that using it as a stand-in for all of generative AI is like saying “AOL Online” when you mean “the internet,” he does make a fair point… Continue reading Why Nick Cave is wrong about human creativity and generative AI