Author Archives: nathanielwms

Ad Astra Blog on Mark Twain

Posted on January 30, 2023 by nathanielwms

I wrote something about Mark Twain’s place in science fiction for the new Ad Astra Center for Science Fiction & the Speculative Imagination at my alma mater, the University of Kansas. The Ad Astra Center is doing some fantastic things … Continue reading →

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2023 Quarry Farm Symposium: Twain and Sci-Fi Theme

Posted on January 26, 2023 by nathanielwms

I’m chairing the annual Quarry Farm Symposium at Elmira College, October 6-8, 2023, and we’re looking for folks to come talk about early science fiction, steampunk, basically any science/literature overlaps during Mark Twain’s lifetime (1835-1910). If you’re reading this and … Continue reading →

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Proposing Stuff: An Essential Part of the Process

Posted on November 1, 2022 by nathanielwms

In the past three months, I have written one non-fiction book proposal, proposed two papers at conferences, and written a Call for Papers for a soon-to-be-announced conference that I’m running next fall. This is, of course, one of the toughest … Continue reading →

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August 2022 Updates

Posted on August 23, 2022 by nathanielwms

I had a great time at the Ninth International Conference on the State of Mark Twain Studies (aka the Elmira Quadrennial) earlier this month. Smoked a cigar on the hilltop where Twain wrote most of his major works while a … Continue reading →

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Talking Twain at Truman (Virtually)

Posted on April 12, 2022 by nathanielwms

At the end of this month, I’ll be giving a Zoom lecture called “Mark Twain and American Science Fiction’s Legacy” at part of Truman State University’s Folklore Minor Colloquium Series. This is a version of the talk I gave last … Continue reading →

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Conference Acceptances

Posted on March 18, 2022 by nathanielwms

Quick update: I’ll be presenting at the SFRA online conference and the State of Mark Twain Studies conference later this year. The SFRA paper will be based on work I did during my first-year seminar class on crime and prisons … Continue reading →

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Crime and Prisons in Science Fiction: First-Year Seminar

Posted on January 12, 2022 by nathanielwms

This winter, I’m teaching a new seminar for first-year students at UC Davis. It’s called “Crime and Prisons in Science Fiction.” (I couldn’t fit the word “Rehabilitation” into the course title without the online display cutting it off, and “Rehab” … Continue reading →

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What I Read & Stuff I’ve Enjoyed: 2021

Posted on January 4, 2022 by nathanielwms

I’m posting what I read last year along with a short list of a few things I enjoyed. General Stuff I Enjoyed in 2021 The single “Let’s Do It Again” by the Reigning Sound, which is really this year’s theme … Continue reading →

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New Mark Twain Article

Posted on January 3, 2022 by nathanielwms

Before putting 2021 behind me, I want to be sure to mention my article that came out in the Mark Twain Annual at the end of the year. It might interest anyone who wants to know more about Twain and … Continue reading →

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Call for Papers: Long Shadows of Pulp Modernism

Posted on November 29, 2021 by nathanielwms

This may be of interest to SF, SF-adjacent , and fan theory folks. I’m seeking 20-minute papers with innovative approaches to pulp fiction for a prospective panel at the American Literature Association conference in Chicago, May 26-29, 2022. See below: Long Shadows: Pulp Heroes … Continue reading →

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Fact Check: Did Dylan Quote Star Trek?

Posted on October 24, 2021 by nathanielwms

A few years ago, I wrote a post about Bob Dylan’s 1985 single “Tight Connection to My Heart” and the origins of two lines that appeared to come from the Star Trek episode “The Squire of Gothos.” At that time, … Continue reading →

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The Best of The Destroyer (Author’s Choice): Revisiting Remo and Chuin

Posted on September 24, 2021 by nathanielwms

I’ve been working on a project that plays with 80s action-adventure tropes. To refresh my memories, I thought I’d re-read a series that I’d enjoyed in middle school: The Destroyer by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir. Reading all 100+ novels … Continue reading →

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At Twain Museum for Big River Steampunk Fest

Posted on September 3, 2021 by nathanielwms

As I’ve noted before, Hannibal, Missouri hosts one of the biggest outdoor steampunk festivals in the Midwest. This year, I am coincidentally driving cross-country and will be in Hannibal for the event. So, on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 1pm, I’ll … Continue reading →

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Gears and God Reviewed in American Literature 93.2

Posted on August 5, 2021 by nathanielwms

I learned from University of Alabama Press that Gears and God: Technocratic Fiction, Faith, and Empire in Mark Twain’s America will be reviewed in the September 2021 issue of American Literature. It is part of Carol Colatrella’s group review on … Continue reading →

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Last Half of May Updates

Posted on May 30, 2021 by nathanielwms

Two short stories sent out. Three short book reviews for The Mark Twain Annual written. Forty-eight tech writing student proposals graded.

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Science Fiction Studies New Issue: Nostalgia & Reviews

Posted on March 8, 2021 by nathanielwms

The new issue of Science Fiction Studies came out this month. I’m calling attention to it for two reasons: First, it’s a special issue focused on nostalgia in SF, a topic near to my heart and mind. Guest editors Aris … Continue reading →

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Discussing The Mandalorian and Mark Twain on American Vandal Podcast

Posted on February 24, 2021 by nathanielwms

I’m part of this week’s edition of The American Vandal podcast from Elmira College’s Center for Mark Twain Studies. I discuss connections between Twain and The Mandalorian TV series (and Star Wars in general) with host Dr. Matt Seybold and … Continue reading →

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Updates for Early 2021

Posted on February 12, 2021 by nathanielwms

I haven’t posted for a few months for fairly simple reasons.* Yes, teaching 3 college classes remotely while overseeing two elementary schoolers’ online education is hard. Props to all the others out there doing something similar. I haven’t sold any … Continue reading →

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Gears and God Discount

Posted on November 4, 2020 by nathanielwms

University of Alabama Press has given me permission to share the 30% off price reduction code we set up for the C19 conference with the public. That means anyone can buy Gears and God: Technocratic Fiction, Faith and Empire in … Continue reading →

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C19: Teaching the Weird Nineteenth Century

Posted on October 16, 2020 by nathanielwms

I’ll be on the “Teaching the Weird Nineteenth Century” panel, organized by Erin Pearson and hosted by Duncan Faherty, at #virtualC19 this week. The panel is at 10:30 a.m. PST. I’m linking to where you can see the program. Presenters … Continue reading →

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Essay from Worlds of Steampunk Exhibition

Posted on September 28, 2020 by nathanielwms

NOTE: UC Davis Librarian Roberto Delgadillo asked me to write this essay for Shields Library’s exhibition Worlds of Steampunk: Fiction, Art, Fashion and Culture in 2012. The online display has been taken down, so I’m reprinting it here before the … Continue reading →

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Strange Stars Book Review in SFRA Review

Posted on September 4, 2020 by nathanielwms

My review of Jason Heller’s exceptionally great book, Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded, is finally available online in the new issue of SFRA Review. If you haven’t seen the new layout for the Science … Continue reading →

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Celebration of Authors at C19 Conference

Posted on September 2, 2020 by nathanielwms

I’ll be participating at the “Celebration of Authors” event for the all-online C19: Society of Nineteenth-Century Americanists conference this October. My book came out over a year ago, but it’s a biennial conference and the book wasn’t available last time … Continue reading →

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Americana Music in Sci-Fi Games

Posted on August 13, 2020 by nathanielwms

There’s a fascinating video on Polygon from last week that begins by asking “Why is there so much banjo music in science fiction video games today?” (I’m not a gamer, so I wasn’t up on this trend–but I’m obsessed with … Continue reading →

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Gears and God Reviewed in Extrapolation

Posted on August 2, 2020 by nathanielwms

My book on 19th-century American science fiction was reviewed in the journal Extrapolation. I’m linking to the review’s first page, although the rest of it is behind an academic paywall that will prevent most folks from reading the whole thing. … Continue reading →

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