Hello all. What can I say about me? Well, I’m a space/astronomy journalist and a science communicator. And I also enjoy reading and writing hard science fiction. It’s not just because of my day job, it’s also something I’ve been enthused about since I was young. By the time I was seventeen, I began writing my own fiction and eventually decided it was something I wanted to pursue.
Aside from writing about things that are ground in real science, I prefer the kind of SF that tackles the most fundamental questions of existence. Like “Who are we? Where are we going? Are we alone in the Universe?” In any case, that’s what I have always striven for: to write stories that address these questions, and the kind of books that people are similarly interested in them would want to read.
Over the years, I have written many short stories and three full-length novels, all which take place within the same fictional universe. In addition, I have written over a thousand articles for a number of publications on the subjects of science, technology, astronomy, history, cosmology, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).
They have been featured in publications like Business Insider, Phys.org, Real Clear Science, Science Alert!, Futurism, and Knowridge Science Report. My articles can be found here:
Universe Today
Stardom Space
Interesting Engineering
HeroX
Muckrack
My first trilogy, which consists of The Cronian Incident, The Jovian Manifesto, and The Frost Line Fracture (all published by Castrum Press) can be purchased on Amazon.com, or Castrum Press, or click here to read an excerpt of the books. They are also available as audiobooks through Audible.com.
Stories by Williams 
Woooooohooooo – hi Matt!
I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award!
http://tousledapostle.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/you-like-me-you-really-like-me/
No Way! Thanks!
Hey Matt do you think i could interview for a school project.(:
I suppose. What’s the subject, what’s the topic, etc.?
So? What’s the interview about?
Thanks for visiting Clip Snark!
Hello – You are a recipient of the Versatile Blogger Award. It’s an award that’s been going around. I think the idea is that it helps bring new readers to other blog sites, and I do love your blog. My post is on my home page: http://abcicconemysterywriter.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/ive-won-an-award-2/
The requirements of the award are as follows:
1. Thank the award-givers and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.
When you are ready, grab the icon from my page and post your own award announcement on your blog. I can see it’s the second time you’ve got one so keep up the good work, people really appreciate your blog! Congratulations and I hope you have some fun with it!
Thanks, but I’ve already been nominated for one of these. Is there a limit on this sort of thing or is it annual, etc?
I believe that it is unlimited, it’s more of a “meme” where you pick a blog and they pass it on to another blog owner. The gist is to alert other people of blogs you may find interesting.
Ah, so no prize then? Damn!
Hi,
I’ve nominated you for a blogger award!
http://theroadtomarathon.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/i-won-something/
Here are the rules for receiving the award: (1) thank the blogger who nominated you (2) include the links to their blogs, (3) include the award image in your post, (4) copy the award image to your site, (5) give seven random facts about yourself, (6) nominate 15 other bloggers for the award, (7) when nominating other bloggers include the links to their sites, and (7) let those bloggers know they’ve been nominated.
G’day! Great blog you have here. I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. If you accept, please follow this link: http://richardleonard.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/versatile-blogger-award/
Hello, Matt. Thanks for dropping by my blog. I’m a Sci-fi fan too but I’m probably more like the masses — Star Wars, Star Trek, Alien, Terminator, etc. I am curious though, if you’ll be blogging about Prometheus. I haven’t seen it yet. I’m still jet lagged from a recent trip to Asia. I want to enjoy the movie when I do watch it.
Absolutely! I will be catching this weekend if all goes well. I wanted to see it last night, but my woman dragged me to the Avengers instead. It-was-awesome!
Well, I’ll be looking out for it!
Loved the Avengers! I’m a Marvel Superheroes fan too!
I’m posting about both the Prometheus ship and the Avenger’s helicarrier in just a moment. Feel free to check that out too 😉
I just realized your name was Matt. Oops. In any case, I, too, have nominated you for a blogger award. The Beautiful Blogger award that is. Feel free to check out the details on my page, or just go about your merry day. Looks like you’ve gotten a few nominations recently, so I hope this isn’t overkill.
I can’t accept, sorry. I’ve been nominated five times now and I’m running out stuff to say about myself. Not to mention people to nominate. Thanks for the consideration though!
Yeah I don’t blame you. I was noticing the same thing on your about page.
Hi, Matt — I appreciate your Like on my post about Daisy Merrick. I’m discovering writers like you who are self-publishing and it’s inspiring. All the best to you with your work.
Well get ready for me to follow you too. Let me know if you ever want to talk to a sci-fi geek 😉
I don’t usually read sci-fi, but this year I broke down to challenge myself. I re-read Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles (I thought I’d be safe since it was written so long ago) and I loved it, mainly for his writing style, but also for the story, which I thought was amazing.
I am a Star Wars fan (thanks to my son) and a Marvel superheroes fan (thanks to my three brothers — we read the comics in our youth), but I’m not really drawn to the sci-fi genre. BUT one of my characters in a future novel might be, so it’s always good to know a little about a lot. Thanks for the follow.
That’s a coincidence. My writing group and I are producing an anthology about colonization that was inspired by Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles. At least that was my inspiration, they probably have their own 🙂
I would like to nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award!
Here’s some information:
http://ripleyconnor.com/2012/08/01/one-lovely-blog-award/
Continued success to you!
You had me at “zombies”. Wow…there is a lot of material here for me to work through…and I’m going to love doing so! Great site!!!
Cheers,
EC
http://www.macrocritters.wordpress.com
Thanks for showing interest in what I put out. I sincerely hope you
continue to find my works entertaining & pleasurable. Please invite
others too. Be safe, be fair, be good.
I’ve never gone through and “liked” all of your chapter posts, but I enjoy the format and the time-dealy release schedule. I’ve been working on my own sci-fi novel and have been toying with the idea of releasing it bit by bit as you do.
Could we e-mail correspond or some other method a bit about this meothod. I would be honored to pick your brain just a bit.
-Dr. Sci-fi
Sure thing. I like swapping ideas and brainstorming. And if you want the benefit of others opinions, you should check out the writer’s group of which I am a part.
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/65828
Hey, not sure if I ever got back to you about this. My email is on the front page. Drop me a line and we can liaise. I’d love to see what you’re working on.
You did, I just put it on my giant backburner project. I’ll shoot you a message later this week. Thanks.
Dear Sir,
I wish to converse with you in private – here is my email addy:
darc.nina@gmail.com
Most kindly,
The Dark Angel ;}
aka Nina
Yes, I’m LMAO – give me a shout, I would like to run something by you. 🙂
Hello Matt. I’ve just nominated your very cool blog for A Lovely Blog Award. Enjoy
Hey Matt, please accept a STAR… 🙂
http://abcofspiritalk.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/lifes-little-pleasures/
Thanks, and know that I’ve already been nominated. Hey, can I do a two-fer when it comes to acknowledgments? That would reaaaaal good on my front page?
Thanks for all the “likes” on my blöog “Pit’s Musings and Ramblings from a Big Country”. Just in case you prefer reading things in English, I post in English, too, in my “A German Expat’s Life in Texas” [http://pitstexasexpatblog.wordpress.com/].
My best wishes for 2013,
Pit
Yeah, I follow that one too. Go figure!
I’ve nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Continued success! http://ripleyconnor.com/2013/01/04/four-very-inspiring-blogger-awards/
Hi. Wanted to thank you for all your likes and comments. I truly appreciate someone taking the time to dive into my archives. Really enjoy your blog. 🙂
Thank you for following my blog! I’m actually moving to a new URL this week, so I really hope you’ll continue to follow me there. (And I’m hosting a giveaway for homemade cookies to celebrate, so check it out if you like desserts! :])
I love the questions about existence that you’re trying to address through your writing — they’re some of the most basic and yet hardest to answer!
Oh why thank you. I do take request, you know 😉 In fact, I have been looking for some new angles, since I’ve been kind of holding court on the whole new tech, zombies and insane clowns lately.
Hmm, well chemistry is near and dear to my heart. It might be a bit too far towards the science end of the spectrum, but it’d definitely be different from zombies and clowns!
Chemistry… I’ll see what I can do 😉
Sounds good!
Hi there! I just nominated you. Check it out: http://wp.me/pYeWf-1BM
The professor has always been more Sci-Fi than Fantasy. I admire that you can write the former! Isn’t it tricky?
Why yes, but in truth, I have more difficulty coming up with some fantasy-based. I’ve tried, thanks to the inspiration I received from Tolkien, Martin, and the Elder Scrolls games. But dammit, can’t invent anything consistent or complete.
If you can make a go of it, I’d like to see what you’ve done.
Oh, I’m sure your fantasy is better than you give it credit for. What do you think of Rowling’s stuff?
Well, my blog is the PL which is my fantasy. (But it’s very real.) Love for you to stop by and look around. I even make skits of the PL.
I’ve never actually read any of Rowlings work, but I have seem the movie adaptations and respect her ability to spin a yarn. She’s clearly an English teacher by profession because she knows how to create plot, characterization, and tie things together. That being said, she’s a bit YA for my taste.
One thing, what does PL mean?
Have you tried Margaret Atwood’s trilogy starting with Oryx and Crake? One of my favorite sci-fis. Atwood is so clever it’s scary!
Not at this time, though my mother was a big fan and definitely read the first one. What were the sequels called?
After the Flood and her latest is MacAddams. Sounds to me like these would be right up your alley 🙂
Hello!! I am thrilled to tell you that I have nominated you for the 2013 Blog of the Year!! I really like your blog site and I think that your blog is one of the best that I have seen. You can see it on my page “Good Time Stories” http://goodtimestories.wordpress.com/
Once again, Congratulations my friend!! Have an AWESOME day!!!
Why thank you! I’ll be right by and be sure to do a thank you and acceptance post!
Hello. Came across your site after following some dead links (whilst looking for Dystopian movies) at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/839203-favorite-dystopian-movies
Anyway, I tried the Search function when I went to your home page – it returns a 404 Page Not Found error whenever I enter a term and click the magnifying glass or hit Enter. (I was searching for ‘Stross’ and ‘Rucker’) Sorry to advise via comment, but couldn’t see any other way.
Glad to see sci-fi fans running sites discussing such topics..
Really? I checked those links a couple times and they seem to be working. If you like, I can point you to the proper posts. I do hope you’d find them to your liking 🙂
Congratulations, Matthew!
I have nominated your blog for the Real Neat Blog Award.
More about this nomination is at
https://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/real-neat-blog-award-congratulations/
Hi! I saw your post about “The Fate of Humanity” and was wondering if I could have explicit permission to use one of the photos for my video project. It’s a video for the E4U3 contest through the National Academy of Engineering. If there’s a certain way you want me to cite it, just let me know. Thanks!
Hi! I saw your post about “The Fate of Humanity” and was wondering if I could have explicit permission to use one of the photos for my video project. It’s a video for the E4U3 contest through the National Academy of Engineering. If there’s a certain way you want me to cite it, just let me know. Thanks!
Which image were you hoping to use?
Hi Matt, I wanted to leave a contact in case I can be of help…I’m a retired biochemist with some interest in prebiotic chemistry. Hence I am Coacervate Droplet – ala Alexander Oparin’s “The Origin of Life On Earth” circa 1930’s. Best wishes
Did we talk on UT recently?
Yes, regarding terraforming and “bioforming”.
cambria at xtra dot co dot nz
NOTE: My first attempt to comment was lost when the system did not return me to here after logging in.
I just found your articles on terraforming while researching my ISDC presentation on Mars bases and landing site choices. Terraforming is a logical progression beyond Mars colonies. You have some useful links in them.
The thinking about how to deal with Mars atmosphere has progressed.
By putting perfluorocarbons into the air, which have no chlorine atoms, the damage to ozone, which would appear once there was oxygen in the atmosphere, is avoided. In addition, the ozone protects the bulk of the perfluorocarbon molecules from photolysis, since they are below the ozone layer! This can develop into a neat synergistic system.
In addition, it would be much easier to create an artificial magnetosphere for Mars, powered by solar electricity than to constantly replenish parts of it.
In my book I am also covering terraforming of extra-solar planets, since there are few good candidates in this solar system except Mars and Venus, for which reasonable solutions have been proposed.
John Strickland
member NSS board of directors
http://www.nss.org/about/bios/strickland.html
Are you referring to things I’ve published here, or my terraforming articles at Universe Today?
What is the name of this book you’re working on?
Hi William. I would just like to ask how do you make sure that your featured images fits perfectly? We’re using the same theme. Please reply. Thanks. Awesome stories, btw!
As a rule, I generally make sure the pictures are large (more than 800 pixels wide) and they then fit automatically. If not, I will resize them, or just center them to make sure they aren’t off to one side.
Omg. Thanks for the fast response! Uhm, I’ve actually tried resizing them (1400 x 600) given that it was the suggested size mentioned by the “publisher” yet still, it wouldn’t fit exactly. You can check my blog to see what I’m trying to explain. Thanks William!
Yeah, sometimes the editing feature on WordPress won’t work. In cases like these, you need to resize them using a different application – I use Office Paint, or Windows Photo Viewer
Yay! Thanks will go ahead and try your suggestion. Will notify you if I have questions still. Thanks much, William!
Hey, call e Matt. Mr. Williams is my father’s name 🙂
Haha. Sorry Matt. Nice to meet you. I’m a newbie here in wordpress and was so fortunate that I was able to find your blog in a few clicks. Great content, by the way.
Not sure if you have heard of the Voices of Humanity Kickstarter, but it might make for a good sci-fy short story! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1793003507/voices-of-humanity-the-worlds-space-time-capsule
What a coincidence! I’ve actually talked to your colleague as part of my work for Universe Today.
Great!
Matt, I left you a note about SpinLaunch and upcoming news about MadeIn Space and Asteroid Institute. Can you contact me?
You’re with Aquarius PR?
Hi Matt
I have something I would like to inquire about on your website.
could you send me a email so I can ask away?
Thank you
Kind regards
Carl
I’ll need an email address first. You can find me at houseofwilliams@yahoo.ca