'Science-into-Fiction' (not Science Fiction)

Since 2008 Comma has been coordinating a series of unique science-inspired short story anthologies, wherein authors are asked to consider examples of scientific thinking (theories, new areas of research, moments in science history) and write new fictions or semi-fictions about them. This project began with the prototype anthology, The New Uncanny, where authors were asked to select items from Freud's famous list of uncanny phenomena, and then write stories that updated them, found examples of them in modern contexts.
This was followed by three anthologies that actively paired scientists and writers together and commissioned them to collaborate in the composition of both theory-accurate stories (by the auithors) and short, accompanying afterwords (by the consulting scientists) that explained more of the science behind them for the lay reader.
     Comma has also commissioned a series of stories, essays and appreciations to celebrate the science-driven visions of Stanislaw Lem. Comma is currently working on a host of other science-into-fiction projects, using the above consultation format.

Bio-Punk: Stories from the Far Side of Research

Featuring: Sara Maitland, Toby Litt, Jane Feaver, Simon Ings, Adam Marek, Gregory Norminton, Sean O’Brien, Justina Robson, Dilys Rose, Simon Van Booy and many more...
A unique collaboration between authors, bio-medical researchers and bio-ethicists to explore some of the more unexpected side-effects of current research.
'Fascinating reading' - Financial Times
More >>

Litmus: Short Stories from Modern Science

Selected for The Observer's Best Books of the 2011 list.
'Exquisite... delectable' - New Scientist.
BOOK OF THE WEEK: 'Works brilliantly... ingenious... unfailingly interesting.' - The Independent.
Listen to author Sarah Hall and editor Ra Page discuss the science-into-fiction project on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on iPLayer
More about Litmus.

Also available on Kindle.

When It Changed

Science Into Fiction
Ed. by Geoff Ryman
A literary 'experiment' in the scientific sense.
*Featuring Sara Maitland's 'Moss Witch' - Runner Up in the BBC National Short Story Prize 2009*
'Stunning' – New Scientist, 5 Dec 09.
More about When It Changed .
Also available on Kindle.

Other books featuring scientific ideas...

The New Uncanny

Ed. by Sarah Eyre & Ra Page
Featuring:
A.S. Byatt, Christopher Priest, Ramsey Campbell, Etgar Keret, Hanif Kureishi, Sara Maitland, Alison Macleod, Jane Rogers, Gerard Woodward, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Nicholas Royle, Ian Duhig, Matthew Holness, and Adam Marek.
*WINNER of the Shirley Jackson Award*
'A masterclass in understated creepiness.'
- Book of the Week, Time Out, 12 Jan.

>>More

Lemistry: A Celebration of the Work of Stanislaw Lem

Edited by Ra Page and Magda Raczynska
Featuring previously untranslated stories by the Polish SF master himself (author of Solaris, The Cyberiad, etc), plus short stories, essays and pseudo-essays celebrating the influence of this unsung hero of speculative fiction, by the likes of Brian Aldiss, Toby Litt, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Ian Watson, Jacek Dukaj, Piotr Szulkin, Adam Roberts, artist Mike Nelson, and many, many others.
More about Lemistry.
Also available on Kindle

For a sample of the press coverage for this series click here

SCIENCE AND THE SHORT STORY
An on-going project commissioning writers to work with scientists, working across various disciplines, including:
>> Physics
>> Chemistry
>> Psychology and Neuroscience
>> Bio-Medicine

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