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Why “Semiosis?”

Here’s a definition: “Semiosis (from the Greek verb sēmeiô, ‘to mark’) is any form of activity, conduct, or process that involves signs, including the production of meaning; an action or process involving the establishment of a relationship between a sign and its object and meaning.” Semiosis encompasses more than semantics, which focuses on language. It can include both human and nonhuman systems that use chemical, auditory, visual, or tactile signs to pass on information.

That is, Semiosis is about communication.

Why the name “Stevland”?

Stevland took his name from Stevland Jamil Barr, the first to die on the voyage to the planet Pax. Colonists agreed that the planet’s most important life form would be named after him.

Stevland Jamil Barr got his first name from the musician Stevie Wonder, whose full name is Stevland Hardaway Morris.

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About the Book

Is the poop plant real? Yes
Review: “Recognize Fascism” an anthology edited by Crystal M. Huff
When Plants Kill (the article that gave birth to “Semiosis”)
Celebrate International Translation Day, September 30
Maps for Chapters 1 and 2 of “Semiosis”
My next novel: “Immunity Index”
Exactly where is the Planet Pax?
Writing advice: a moment of panic
Short story: “Think Kindly on Our Fossils”
Short story: “Zero Hour”
The Tully monster: Illinois’ scary official fossil
Plantpot dapperlings!
Goodreads review of “Station Eleven”
My votes for the 2019 Hugo Best Novelette Award
On sale today!
My votes in the Hugo Award Best Short Story category
My Goodreads review of “Rosewater”
The source of the Constitution of Pax
Dead tree art
How to review a book: a few considerations
Blarney, bees, and bare behinds: a true story about my father
Virtual events June 11 and June 13
The Prairie Ecologist spots what looks like a bumble bee…
Hear the river
“Princess Magpie: Chapter 1” at Decameron Project
My new favorite plant from Mom – one year later
A podcast interview, the Semiosis Wikipedia page, and a couple of things I wrote
Face masks, or calling a bluff
My future bonsai: Step four
Ideal readers and ideal characters
Three quotes about the purpose of fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin
The importance of an “insomnia book”
Goodreads review: “Rogue Moon” by Algis Budrys
Goodreads review: “All Things Huge and Hideous”
Cancelled
I’ll be reading from “Francine” at the Spring Deep Dish Reading March 14
Goodreads review: “Dying Earths”
Links about language, literature, and me
Prisoners in the poison garden
How to avoid me at Capricon
2020: International Year of Plant Health
‘Semiosis’ is the Community Read at Longwood Gardens
The full lyrics to “Grief Evergreen” (Higgins’s Song)
Do Your Neglected Houseplants Want Revenge?
Reading at Tangelo on January 9
The ‘Dying Earths’ anthology – exploring a big idea
Trees of Knowledge
Baucus and Philemon, or two trees in love
“Tongues in trees, and good in everything”
Fippokats in space!
My new favorite plant: a progress report
Giveaway reminder and updates for ‘Interference’
Excerpt from ‘Interference’: the opening of Chapter 6, by Stevland
“Interference” book launch – with free plants!
Giveaway of “Interference” at Goodreads!
Science fiction vs. literary fiction: Losing control
September sale
“Interference” has a surprise for my husband
I’ll be at two Volumes Bookcafe events in Chicago in October
Lucky Bamboo part II: The Rewilding
Lucky Bamboo part I: The Joy of Dirt
Trees in deadly battle
“Semiosis” is now available in French
The fun of an Irish Worldcon
“Semiosis” is on sale!
Excerpt from “Interference”
Where to find me at Worldcon
Stranger than Sci-Fi: Talking Plants – on BBC Radio 4
Plants that explode!
If I had won…