We’ve got a no book review policy at Meme Therapy (conflict of interest, plentiful excellent review sites already out there) but that doesn’t preclude us from shining the ocassional spotlight on some writer’s work that could use more attention. So this week we’re covering underrated writers. These are the people whose work you love but whom none of your friends seem to have read.

If you had the power to ressurect a space program that was cancelled or never got off the ground which one would you choose?

My own answer is a bit sheepish and boring. All the space science missions that are currently being rolled back to pay for cost overruns in the manned space program.

The question this week is on technologies with underated potential. I’ve asked a number of SF authors, scientists and bloggers to pick a technology that exsists today that has the most underrated potential. I’ve got a variety of very interesting answers but first I’m going to begin with my cautiously optimistic but very boring pic: solar power.

I was scratching my head for a way to introduce this Brain Parade when I came across a “Sex Slave Cult” story on the BBC. The “cult” (calling it a cult might be a bit much) is apparently based on the Gor books, a series of science fiction novels from the 60s. You can read the story here (link).

It’s probably a sign that I’m obsessive about science fiction (hard to believe I know) but there have been times when I as a reader have considered what I would have done in the protagonists shoes. Not that I necessarily want to be in those shoes, given the sick imaginations of some authors, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder.

We start this week off with an interview with Karl Schroeder a fellow Canadian that has made a big splash in the past few years. His latest book is Lady of Mazes.