Fanspeak: The Lingo of Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fandom
Jeff Prucher looks at words coined by science fiction and fantasy fans.
How Did Your Garden Grow?
Gardening the Seventeenth-Century Way
OUP UK Publicity Manager Juliet Evans snags some bargains at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and looks to 17th century gardener John Evelyn for some tips on how to make the most of them.
Neil Gaiman is for Readers on Both Sides of the Divide
In the spirit of breaking genre walls, Michelle talks about what she learned from SFF writer Neil Gaiman.
Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
Cassie shares her favorite parts of the Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam for National Poetry Month.
First Contact
How would you communicate with an alien? A look at how Science Fiction authors tackled the problem.
Planet Narnia: A Fully Worked Out Idea
An excerpt from ‘Planet Narnia’ by Michael Ward, the basis for the recent BBC documentary ‘The Narnia Code’.
Being the Perfect Feminist
Michelle remembers reading Eve Sedgwick. She discusses the “erotic triangle” in Shakespeare’s Sonnets and the pressure to be the perfect feminist today.
Top 10 Grimoires
Owen Davies chooses his Top 10 grimoires.
On Love Letters Past and Present
In honor of Poetry Month, Michelle talks about the love letters of poet Edna St.Vincent Millay and how they compare to courtship in an online era.
Discovering the Narnia Code
Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia, on discovering the Narnia Code.
Marcus Daniel On Backstory
An audio excerpt from Daniel’s Backstory interview.
Nine words you might think came from science but which are really from science fiction
We were pretty excited when ‘Brave New Words’ won the Hugo Award. Now that ‘Brave New Words’ is available in paperback we asked Jeff Prucher, freelance lexicographer and editor for the Oxford English Dictionary’s science fiction project, to revisit the blog. Below are Prucher’s picks of words.
10 Literary Terms You Might Not Know
The top 10 hard-to-define literary terms.
War of the Thesauri
Do thesauruses fight?
Explore Africa: Top Africa Blogs
Check out our selection of some of the best Africa-focused blogs.
Directions for the Gardiner: On Moles and Worms
Maggie Campell-Culver gives some 17th century tips on keeping your garden mole-free.