#ben bova

[tomoleary]

Boris Vallejo "Voyagers II: The Alien Within" by Ben Bova Paperback Cover Painting Original Art (Tor Books, 1985) Source

[retroscifiart]

Art by John Harris for Mercury by Ben Bova (2006)

[bitterkarella]

Midnight Pals: SIGMA

[at the White House] Donald Trump: so as i was saying we're putting tariffs on the moon Trump: i know people like the moon Trump: it's a beautiful moon Trump: but it's not pulling its weight Trump: it's gotta go

Trump: some people on the radical left are saying Trump: the tides! what about the tides! Trump: why are you whining about the tides? Trump: i don't take responsibility for the tides

Trump: it's the biggest moon, some say its the best moon- Larry Niven: never fear, mr president! SIGMA is here! narrator: SIGMA is the secret code name for a think tank of costumed science fiction writers dedicated to advising the president on just whatever and stuff

Trump: what's this Larry Niven: we're SIGMA Niven: a think tank of costumed science fiction writers dedicated to advising the president on issues of our expertise Niven: like if you happen to need advice on how to make a dyson sphere Niven: do you need advice on how to make a dyson sphere by the way?

Niven: since the dawn of time, we've advised every US president on important matters of state Niven: for obvious security reasons, of course, we must keep our identities secret- Greg Bear: i'm Greg Bear Niven: Ben Bova: greg bear just said Niven: yes i heard Bear: I'm Greg Bear Niven: Greg could you wait in the hallway Bear: I'm Greg Bear Niven: go talk to Don Jr Donald Trump Jr: i'm donald trump jr Bear: i'm greg bear Trump Jr: i'm donald trump jr Bear: i'm greg bear

Niven: as i was saying Niven: since the dawn of time, we've advised every US president Niven: if you need some really wild ideas, just absolutely unhinged crazy ideas that no sane person would ever consider Niven: you come to SIGMA Trump: no thanks, i'm covered Trump: [into intercom] security

Niven: just give us a moment of your time, mr president! Niven: here, let me give you an example of the sort of great idea that SIGMA can provide to you Niven: so you know how healthcare is so expensive? Niven: ok so what if Niven: what if we spread rumors among the Latino community that hospitals steal your organs, so that they're too scared to seek medical treatment? Niven: eh? eh? Niven: pretty good eh? Trump: you're thinking small, larry

Trump: you're thinking small, larry Trump: way too small Trump: we're not playing passive necropolitics anymore Trump: we're playing active necropolitics now Trump: more and more people are saying it Trump: [on intercom] security we have 3 in here for disappearing Trump: bah bye

Niven: haha you wouldn't disappear us Niven: i mean c'mon Niven: we're white Trump: oh no we're disappearing white people too now Trump: it's a whole new grid

Niven: don't worry, Mr President, SIGMA's got plenty of other wild ideas to share! Niven: what if you made robots that could kill protesters? Trump: you're late to the game, larry

[wouldyourecognizethisperson-poll]

Would you have recognized this person if you had seen them in public when they were alive?

Yes, I know who this is and I feel confident that I would have recognized them

I know who this is but I’m not sure I would have recognized them in person

They look familiar but I’m not sure who they are

I have no idea who this is

Nuanced answer

Voting ended onOct 2, 2025

[butididnottried]

You're not gonna believe this, but i read/listened to some book, unbelievable.

Stephen King "Salem's Lot"

Ben Bova "Mars Life"

Marta Kisiel "Pierwsze słowo" (First word)

B. Herbert and K.J. Anderson "Dune: The Butlerian Jihad"

Anna Kańtoch "Trzecia osoba" (The third person)

Stanisław Lem "Obłok Magellana" (The Magellanic Cloud)

Olga Tokarczuk "Empuzjon"

Stephen King Dark Tower series vol. 1 - 3

Ewa Woydyłło "Droga do siebie" (Way to yourself)

Voting ended onJan 13

[science70]

Ben Bova, The Duelling Machine (Puffin edition, 1977).

Cover art: Peter Goodfellow

[xinu1941-1966]

illustration：真鍋博　hiroshi MANABE 天候改造オペレーション 創元推理文庫 1972 Ben Bova　The Weathermakers 1967

#真鍋博　#hiroshi MANABE　#真鍋博　#hiroshi MANABE　#illustration #創元推理文庫　#SF　#science fiction　#Ben Bova

#The Weathermakers

[70sscifiart]

1985 Boris Vallejo cover art for ‘Voyagers II: The Alien Within,’ by Ben Bova