Manitoba flower business blooms out of a restored 1958 truck - CTV News

One of science fiction’s oldest themes is its insistence that the future isn’t inevitable. Few contemporary authors embody that idea more than Becky Chambers, whose stories imagine alternative futures—not through grand revolutions or galaxy-spanning battles but through ordinary people trying to care for one another. As a defining voice of the “hopepunk” genre, Chambers has built a reputation for science fiction that prizes empathy as much as imagination. Her latest novel, As You Wake, Break the Shell, brings us to the hostile, unpredictable world of Fortune, where acid rain falls and billowing volcanoes shroud the horizon. The story follows a reclusive botanist and a spacefaring pilot across alternating timelines as they search for connection and purpose, attempting to navigate a life where Fortune has never favored the bold. We caught up with Chambers to discuss a toxic planet’s world-building, scientific accuracy in storytelling and the motivational merits of unrelenting spite. On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing.

TorontoPublished: October 17, 2026 at 2:31p.m. EDTThe next Lotto Max draw is on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. The largest lottery prize ever offered in Canada is still up for grabs after there were no winners for Friday’s Lotto Max draw. The winning numbers were 01, 11, 13, 36, 41, 43, 51. The next draw for the $90 million Lotto Max will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The jackpot is unchanged, as $90 million is the cap. While no one claimed the jackpot on Friday, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation said four Maxmillion tickets worth $1 million each were sold in Ontario. Fourteen other tickets won $100,000 each, including seven in the Greater Toronto Area. Tuesday’s draw will also feature 20 Maxmillions prizes worth $1 million each and at least 90 Maxplus prizes worth $100,000 each. How to set CP24 as your preferred source on GoogleHow to set CTV News as your preferred source on Google