Photo credit S. Ercoli.
I write and teach about the history of science and astronomy. My research has appeared in Journal for the History of Astronomy, Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences, Mercury, Endeavour, and Annals of Science. My book latest book, Creatures of Reason: John Herschel and the Invention of Science (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2024) examines the career of the most important astronomer and natural philosopher of the nineteenth century. I am co-editor of the Cambridge Companion to John Herschel (2024) and have also written for Physics Today.
I also write fiction, which has appeared in Asimov’s, Analog, Clarkesworld, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, and elsewhere. My first collection of short stories, Trees & Other Wonders, is available on Amazon. I’m the author of a science fiction novel, First Fleet, published by Axiomatic Publishing.
I review history of astronomy texts and popular astronomy books as well as works of science fiction and fantasy. My reviews have appeared in Journal for the History of Astronomy, Isis, The Planetarian, Strange Horizons, and Black Gate. If you have a work you would like me to consider for review, please contact me.
Here you’ll find some of my book reviews, photography, and writings on various projects. All images and words, unless otherwise noted, are copyright Stephen Case 2025. Feel free to use the photographs or repost or quote the reviews, as long as credit is given.
Stephen Reid Case 
Mr Case,
My name is Dave Sincere and I’m part of a new storytelling podcast focusing on SF/Fantasy/Fantastical/Dystopian stories. While i was researching on the “Daily Science Fiction” I came to your story, “Apotheosis”. I love it.
We would love to use your story as a spoken word piece for our podcast. We will treat “Apotheosis” with respect.
Please refer any questions and concerns to this email. Look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Dave Sincere
Really enjoyed your book Making Stars Physical, and your recent article on the naming of satellites by Sir John.
Well done
Best
Bill Sheehan
Dear Stephen Thank you for your essay in Aeon on loving monsters refering to wind turbines. I really follow your point. We as state advisors in the Netherlands made already in 2007 a same narrative as an advice about the upcoming megaturbines. We analysed the reception of wind energy in society compared to other new technology. Finally in analogy to the research of technology philosofer Martijntje Smits we found 4 ways of domestication of the monters. Her theory is described in her Phd and: (PDF) Taming monsters: The cultural domestication of new technology (researchgate.net)
In our proces we even made updates of famous Dutch landscape paintings enriched with windturbines. I remain curious about other feedback you get on your essay.
Regards
Niek Hazendonk
Thanks for the note! I’ve gotten good feedback so far, which is encouraging as I hoped the essay would generate discussion. I was not aware of Dr. Smits’ dissertation, so I appreciate that resource!