
About Sylvia


Newsletter
I'm 55 years old and five foot tall and my knee aches when it rains. I write about embarrassment and passion and anger. I write about conflict. Sometimes that conflict is not wanting to overpay for garlic, other times it's trying to enter a foreign country without any paperwork.
Social media
LibraryThing
Goodreads
Press Kit
Recently read
News
SFRA/GfF: Disruptive Imaginations
13 November 2023
I'm very pleased that my report on Disruptive Imaginations, the joint annual conference of the Science Fiction Research Association & the Gesellschaft für Fantastikforschung Joint Annual Conference was published in the November issue of Locus magazine.
Report on the Disruptive Imaginations Conference
There remains a story I didn't tell, about going hiking in a nightgown, but that will have to wait for another day.
October Publications
31 October 2023
These are the articles and essays that I finished in October:
Descending into Illusion: The Black Hole Effect (Fear of Landing) – this is a breakdown of a specific pilot illusion that I wanted to write separately from any specific crash, so that I could refer back to it with other pieces. I’m quite pleased with it.
The Illusion of a Perfect Landing (Fear of Landing) Of course, I had to start with an example of the Black Hole effect but I found one with a happy ending.
I am not OK: Horizon Air flight 2059 (Fear of Landing) in which a jump seat pilot pulled the red handles in an apparent attempt to disable the engines. I interviewed a lawyer friend of mine to add some legal detail to the aviation information.
20 grams of holy water (Accidents and Incidents) I’m told it is old fashioned to use caps-case in headlines these days but I’m struggling with this, I have to admit
I met a man on a steam train (Accidents and Incidents) My first essay about the Axalp Air Show which ended up not being about the airshow at all.
Heading to Switzerland
22 September 2023
I’m going to be attending the AXALP ’23 Air Force display next month! This is a flight display and live-firing exercise run by the Swiss Air Force every year. The spectator areas are 2,200 metres amsl (7,200 feet) and although there’s a shuttle taking me from Briez to Axalp, I’ll be hiking the final 708 metres (2,320 feet). I cannot tell you how excited I am about this.
If you are interested in more detail, please read my newsletter post about it here: Wheels Up for Raclette
Cyberjunk
17 August 2023
I’m thrilled to have another story in Nature Futures! I have to admit, this one has an author’s note that’s longer than the story.
“Don’t be mean, Paul. We’ve never had to live through data scarcity.” I cleared last week’s menu, as if that helped. Paul was right, Mom was getting worse. There was nothing so trivial that she wouldn’t save it to the cloud and then make a back-up.
You can read the entire story and author's note at Nature.
Exploring AI, Ethics and Snarky Conversation
14 August 2023
I’m pleased to be presenting at Disruptive Imaginations, the Joint Annual Conference of the SFRA and the GFF in Dresden. I’ll be speaking on the subject of Murderbot and AI on Thursday morning in room ABS/114. I hope to see you there!
13 November 2023
SFRA/GfF: Disruptive Imaginations31 October 2023
October Publications22 September 2023
Heading to Switzerland17 August 2023
Cyberjunk14 August 2023
Exploring AI, Ethics and Snarky ConversationSylvia's Books










Pilot Error
Buckle up for an exhilarating ride through the world of aviation mishaps in Pilot Error! Aviation expert Sylvia Wrigley provides an eye-opening exposé of mistakes made in the cockpit, ranging from comical blunders to catastrophic consequences.
Read more…
Without a Trace 1970-2017
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in 2014 is considered the greatest aviation mystery of our time but it does not stand alone. How could a military pilot chasing a glowing unidentified object disappear from radar in an instant? How did India's military misplace five fighter jets? Did a young Australian pilot flying over the Australian coast really get abducted by aliens? These questions and more are explored in Volume 2 of Without a Trace.
Read more…
Without a Trace 1881-1968
For many, aviation still brings with it an air of mystery, a century-long magic trick. Though most of us will board an aircraft at some point in our lives, we know little about how they work and the procedures surrounding their operation. It is that mystery that makes these losses, such as the vanishing of Malaysia Airlines flight 370, so terrifying.
Read more…
Why Planes Crash — Case Files: 2003
Why Planes Crash Case Files: 2003 follows eleven aircraft disasters from 2003, detailing how the accidents happened and how they might have been avoided. This "CSI for aviation enthusiasts" series examines both the history and the current climate of aviation to unravel the instigating events which led to these catastrophes.
Read more…
Domnall and the Borrowed Child
The best and bravest faeries fell in the war against the Sluagh, and now the Council is packed with idiots and cowards. Domnall is old, aching and as cranky as they come but, as much as he'd like to retire, he's the best scout the Sithein court has left.
Read more…
The Mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
In this age of constant surveillance, it shouldn't be possible to lose a Boeing 777 carrying 239 passengers. It's inconceivable that the aircraft flew for seven hours without anyone noticing that it was up there, completely off track. Yet, that's exactly what happened.
Read more…
Why Planes Crash — Case Files: 2002
The second book in the Why Planes Crash series covers incidents and accidents in 2002, including two in-flight suicides, the Sknyliv airshow disaster, how to write off a Saab 2000, an aircraft collision over the runway, a dramatic river landing, Air China 129’s flight into a Korean mountain, and finally, an in-depth view of the Überlingen mid-air collision.
Read more…
Why Planes Crash — Case Files: 2001
This, the first of the series, deconstructs eleven of the most interesting incidents that the world saw in the year 2001. These include a detailed analysis of the disastrous runway incursion at Linate, the passenger interference leading to the Avjet Aspen Crash and why an Airbus A300 disintegrated over Queens.
Read more…
You Fly Like a Woman
Getting a pilot's licence was the furthest thing from her mind – until an ex-RAF instructor suggested that she wasn't competent to do so. The thing is, he could be right. Sylvia has just a few weeks to prove that she can fly as well as any man.
Read more…Aviation
Melting Windows
24 November 2023
Axalp Fliegerschiessen Demonstration 2023
17 November 2023
Unravelling the 2010 Widerøe incident at Svolvær
10 November 2023
Archie League Medal of Safety – President’s Award 2023
3 November 2023
I am not OK: Horizon Air flight 2059
27 October 2023
Air Crash Confidential, Seasons 2 and 3
Discovery Channel (2012, 2018)
«Центральное телевидение» с Вадимом Такменёвым НТВ
Central Television: NTV.ru (28 March 2015)
MALAYSIA AIRLINES Disparition du vol MH370
Channel M6 - France (7 March 2015)
Спасатели снова изменили зону поиска пропавших малайзийских самолетов
Channel 1 News - Russia (30 March 2014)
Events
Oct 2023
AXALP '23 Flugvorführungen der Schweizer LuftwaffeMar 2024
Old School Hrísey Residency7 to 11 May 2024
Transitions (SFRA annual conference)17 to 19 October 2023
AXALP '23 Flugvorführungen der Schweizer Luftwaffe
Axalp, Switzerland
1 to 31 March 2024
Old School Hrísey Residency
Hrísey, Iceland
7 to 11 May 2024
Transitions (SFRA annual conference)
Tartu, Estonia
15 to 19 August 2023
Disruptive Imaginations Joint Annual Conference
Dresden, Germany
15 August 18:00-19:30
Chair: "Future Work"
ABS/114
17 August 09:30-11:00
PresenterMurderbot: Exploring AI, Ethics, and Snarky Conversations
ABS/114
17 August 11:15-12:45
Chair: "Human-Machine Disruptions"
ABS/214
18 August 13:45-15:15
Roundtable discussion: "Disruptors to full!"
Main auditorium
21 to 23 July 2023
Estcon 2022
Udu Farm, Jõgevamaa, Estonia
monthly 2022-2023
Tell Me A Story
Heldeke! Tallinn, Estonia
5 February 2023
Narrative, Creative, Lyrical Flash
Rambo Academy for Wayword Writers
5 February 2023 9:30-11:30 Pacific
Instructor
7 to 8 January 2023
Coffee and Cigarettes Improv Comedy
Tallinn, Estonia
11 to 13 December 2021
Iceswim festival
Noblessner Harbour, Tallinn, Estonia
11 December 2021 17:10 (UTC+2)
Swimmer: Men vs. Women relay race
12 December 2021
Swimmer: 25 metre breast stroke
3 December 2021
Tell Me A Story
Heldeke! Tallinn, Estonia
3 December 2021 19:00 to 21:00 (UTC+2)
Storyteller
16 to 18 July 2021
Estcon 2021
Udu Farm, Jõgevamaa, Estonia
22 to 24 June 2021
Gender and Age/Aging in Popular Culture
University of Graz, Austria (virtual)
24 June 2021 11:30 - 12:45 (UTC+2)
Presenter: Old Age and Aging as Represented in Star Trek
2 to 4 October 2020
Futuricon (EuroCon 2020)
Rijeka, Croatia (virtual)
3 October 2020 13:20 - 13:55 (UTC+2)
Presenter: To Oldly Go
17 to 19 July 2020
Estcon 2020
Udu Farm, Jõgevamaa, Estonia
18 August 2020
Presenter: To Oldly Go
22 to 25 August 2019
TitanCon (EuroCon 2019)
Belfast, UK
24 August 2019 10:50 - 11:30
Presenter: Throw Grandma out the Airlock
Lagan A, Hilton Belfast
23 August 2019 16:00 - 17:00
Moderator: Game of Thrones series retrospective
15 to 19 August 2019
Worldcon 77
Dublin, Ireland
15 August 2019 13:30 - 14:20
Presenter: Pushing Grandma out the Airlock
Odeon 5 (Point Square, Dublin)
17 August 2019 12:00 - 12:50
Moderator: Invisible Work: Mothers and Caretakers in SFF
Wicklow Hall 1 (CCD)
19 August 2019 10:00 - 10:50
Panellist: Anniversary: Alcock and Brown
ECOCEM Room (CCD)
19 August 2019 13:00 - 13:50
Autographing
Level 4 Foyer (CCD)
19 to 21 July 2019
Estcon 2019
Udu Farm, Jõgevamaa, Estonia
21 July 2019 13:00 - 14:00
Presenter:Vanaemad ulmes (Grandmothers in SF)
5 to 7 July 2019
Finncon
Jyväskylä, Finland
6 July 2019 15:00 - 16:00
Presenter:Gender, race, and humanity in speculative fiction
Old Women in Science Fiction
6 to 8 December 2018
Worlding SF
University of Graz, Austria
6 December 15:30 - 17:00
Chair:B4: Sex and Gender
8 December 16:00 - 17:30
Presenter:G3: Age and Aging
Throw Grandma out the Airlock
The Representation of Old Women in Science Fiction
13 to 15 July 2018
Estcon 2018
Udu Farm, Jõgevamaa, Estonia
9 to 13 August 2017
Worldcon 75
Helsinki, Finland
9 August 16:00
Book Signing
Signing Area
10 August 15:00
Moderator: Motivation Methods
Room 206
10 August 19:00
Flash Fiction Online
Room 206
12 August 17:00
Moderator: Building You Own Writing Retreat
Room 215
14 to 18 August 2014
Worldcon 72
London, UK
16 August 16:30
Moderator: From Indie to AAA
Capital Suite 16
17 August 11:00
Lizard Wizards in Space
Capital Suite 1
6 to 9 April 2012
Eastercon
Heathrow, UK
9 April 17:00 - 18:00
Social Media in SF
Royal A+C
Other Publications