Category: Article

Ocean Polymetallic Nodules are Essential for Sustained Technological Development on Earth

My series, The Rise of Oceania, takes place in the 2130s as people are settling and working the ocean floors. On the surface, countries are dealing with rapid climate change, including drought, famine, rising waters, flooding, interrupted shipping, refugee crises, wars, and dictatorships. Nations have decided to expand their reach to the oceans to extract valuable and much-needed resources like fish, crops (kelp), and minerals. This colonization has triggered a cold war, full of espionage, spycraft, and outright fighting. It is a rich and exciting setting for me to write my TechnoThrillers. But what type of minerals do the oceans offer us? Where are they located, and what are their values? Could their locations and existence really cause global conflict? And shouldn’t we be looking to outer space, the Moon, asteroids, and comets instead?

Stopping Climate Change Should Not Be Our Goal

February 24, 2025 • 0 Comments

Stopping Climate Change Should Not Be Our Goal

Photo Credit: London Free Press 2020

by Timothy S. Johnston

On Global Warming and Climate Change: Fallacy or Fact?

October 8, 2024 • 0 Comments

On Global Warming and Climate Change: Fallacy or Fact?

The title is a little misleading. After all, very few scientists deny that it’s happening. In the past decade we’ve experienced the ten warmest years since 1850. I want to be 100% clear about the purpose of this article right from the outset: Human beings have accelerated climate change. The rate of temperature increase is astonishing and utterly unique in the paleoclimatology record. There’s no doubt at all. Even from a passive observer’s opinion, the winters are vastly warmer than several decades ago. Things have indeed changed, and my point is that you don’t have to be a scientist to see that it’s happening/happened.

Why Underwater? Ten Important Reasons I wrote The Rise of Oceania, and a Message for the Future

June 26, 2023 • 0 Comments

Why Underwater? Ten Important Reasons I wrote The Rise of Oceania, and a Message for the Future

(Note: I watched the events involving the submersible Titan in the Atlantic closely over the past week. It was a tragic and yet avoidable disaster. James Cameron, on CNN, spoke about how similar it was to the Titanic sinking in 1912. He couldn’t have been more correct. Despite warnings, the captain pressed on to the inevitable end. I am saddened by the loss of five lives and it is a sign to explorers everywhere that the ocean is merciless. Pressure is inexorable. Engineering needs to be perfect to descend to depth, and if problems appear, there is often very little time (or none at all) to solve problems on the spot. Since I began writing The Rise of Oceania, events have tended to mirror my predictions. The increasing tensions with China, for example, the growing climate crisis on the surface, and more. I wrote the below article only days before Titan went silent. I’ve added this note to acknowledge the dangers and the loss of life last Sunday. — TSJ, 26 June 2023)

But What Are They Eating?

June 6, 2021 • 0 Comments

But What Are They Eating? New Article by TSJ at Bookfare’s Blog

Check out my new article at Bookfare. Shelley, who runs the blog, asked if I’d like to contribute a post about the topic “But What Are They Eating?” since the setting in my current series is so unique.

John Carpenter’s Contribution to Speculative and Science Fiction Redux

May 8, 2021 • 0 Comments

John Carpenter’s Contribution to Speculative and Science Fiction Redux*

John Carpenter is my favorite director.

I think that’s pretty obvious if you’re familiar with my blog, Life After Gateway. My post “The Greatest Trifectas in Film History” made it clear that I believe him to be a visionary director whose massive appeal in the SF genre is on par with Cameron, Spielberg, and Abrams.

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

December 21, 2020 • 1 Comment

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

This is an argument that has cavitated through every holiday season since 1988. I am hoping to put it to rest here, although obviously I realize there are always those out there who will continue to hold out and deny reality.

TSJ Featured in The Big Thrill Magazine

December 1, 2020 • 0 Comments

TSJ Featured in THE BIG THRILL

The magazine devoted to writers of thrillers, The Big Thrill, featured The Savage Deeps and yours truly back in January. In case you missed it, here is the article, written by David Healey. Enjoy!

“While the futuristic vision of the resources-challenged world is one thing, the action and adventure is another. Fans of submarine movies and fiction will enjoy the highly atmospheric tension and sheer claustrophobia of operating at great depths in what are essentially ocean-going spaceships.”

CTV News Article on Timothy S. Johnston

November 16, 2020 • 0 Comments

CTV News Article on Timothy S. Johnston

Last week, CTV News ran an article about me and my love for the Science Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense genres and how they inspire me to write.

Newspaper Article on TSJ and THE SAVAGE DEEPS

June 7, 2020 • 0 Comments

Newspaper Article on TSJ

There was a wonderful article on my writing and books yesterday in The London Free Press. The topics focused on my writing philosophy, mission, inspirations, and important themes in my new series The Rise of Oceania: resource exploitation, climate change, and the legacy our fathers leave for us, for good or for bad. I hope you enjoy the article (link below). Thanks to entertainment reporter Joe Belanger.