It's time for the weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Black Panther, Annihilation, Star Trek Discovery and The Orville, A Wrinkle in Time, the woes of the DC cinematic universe, sexual harassment in the children's and YA publishing industry as well as the usual mix of awards news, writing advice, interviews, reviews, con reports, crowdfunding campaigns, science articles, free online fiction and much more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Amal El-Mohtar recommends new science fiction and fantasy books.
- For Women in Horror month, Roh Morgon takes a look at women writers of vampire fiction and women writers of urban fantasy.
- Matthew Cheney, Carmen Maria Machado, Rosalind Palermo Stevenson and Sofia Samatar discuss speculative memoirs.
- Nicholas Whyte shares a list of some Hispanic authors of science fiction.
- Mimi Mondal shares a short history of South Asian speculative fiction.
- Tochi Onyebuchi explains how Afrofuturism bridges the past, the present and the future.
- Emily Asher-Perrin declares that all robot love stories are conversations about consent.
- Gareth L. Powell shares his ten favourite spaceships in fiction.
- Camestros Felapton takes a look at the popularity of futuristic junkyards in science fiction.
- Mitch Silver wonders what if we are living in an alternate history novel.
- T.W. O'Brien praises N.K. Jemisin's use of point-of-view in her Broken Earth trilogy.
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1929 science fiction novel Armageddon 2419 AD by Philip Francis Nowlan, the novel which introduced Buck Rogers to the world.
- Kim Pruett takes a look at A.E. van Vogt's early stories for True Confessions magazines.
- Tadiana Jones revisits Roger Zelazny's 1979 novel Roadmarks.
- Leigh Butler shares her top five moments in the Wheel of Time cycle by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.
- William Meikle shares his five favourite horror short stories.
- Jeff Somers shares twelve essential science fiction and fantasy film novelisations.
- Camestros Felapton revisits the 1998 science fiction movie Soldier.
- Zoe Williams says that season 2 of Jessica Jones comes at exactly the right time, given the #MeToo debate.
- Actress and director Jodie Foster slams superhero movies, which she believes ruin the viewing habits of US and worldwide audiences.
- Director James Gunn responds to Jodie Foster and calls her views old-fashioned.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore reports that some older Academy members are dismissing the Oscar nominated horror film Get Out without even watching it.
- Peter White reports that the BBC is planning to make a fantasy crime series called The Watch, based on some of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.
- James Whitbrook reports that The Last Jedi is the first Star Wars film that doesn't include the so-called Wilhelm scream.
- Beth Elderkin report about a conflict between fantasy writer Terry Goodkind and his cover artist Bastien Lecouffe Deharme.
- Writer Jennifer Egan has been named president of PEN America.
- British director Lewis Gilbert, who directed three James Bond films among many others, had died aged 97.
- Benjamin Melniker, producer of many comic book adaptations including every screen version of Batman since 1989, has died aged 104.
Comments on Black Panther:
- Simon Abrams and Steven Boone, a superhero fan and superhero sceptic, debate the merits of Black Panther.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore declares that the mightiest heroes of Black Panther are black women.
- Alexa Grave also shares her appreciation for the strong women of Black Panther.
- Shoshana Kessock compares the feminism of Black Panther to the feminism of Wonder Woman.
- Adam Serwer talks about the tragedy of Black Panther's tragic antagonist Erik Killmonger.
- Alan Jenkins discusses the global significance of Black Panther.
- Zoah Hedges-Stocks shares the touching reactions of African viewers to Black Panther.
- Actor Will Smith declares that Black Panther has shattered false Hollywood assumptions.
- Marc Bernardin wonders why after the success of Get Out, Girls Trip and Black Panther, films with a majority African American cast and crew are still treated like unicorns.
- Christopher Lebron declares that Black Panther is not the movie that viewers deserve.
- Benjamin Dixon tackles the most important moment in Black Panther that no one is talking about.
- Brandon O'Brien talks about Black Panther and the politics of belonging.
- Adrienne Keene talks about Black Panther and indigenous futurisms.
- Justin Carter wonders how Black Panther can change science fiction now that the comic has branched out into space opera territory.
- Casey Haughin explains what museum professionals can learn from Black Panther.
- Julie Muncy reports that a teacher in Chicago has developed a Wakanda curriculum to help teachers discuss Black Panther with their students.
- Spencer Perry reports Disney will donate one million US-dollar to open a STEM center in Oakland, California, following the success of Black Panther.
- Justina Ireland reports that Marvel is branding itself as a producer of blockbusters with a social consciousness with the success of Thor Ragnarok and Black Panther.
- Ta-Nehisi Coates interviews Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong'o, two of the stars of Black Panther.
- Meredith Woerner interviews Letitia Wright who plays Shuri in Black Panther.
- Gwynne Watkins interviews Ruth E. Carter, costume designer for Black Panther.
- Carolyn Hinds also interviews Ruth E. Carter.
- Aisha Harris interviews Beth McGuire, the dialect coach responsible for the distinctive African accents in Black Wakanda.
- Brandon Staley reports that Black Panther had the highest grossing first week of any Marvel movie.
- Brent Lang reports that US theatre owners are asking for more diverse movies following the huge success of Black Panther.
Comments on Annihilation:
- Tasha Robinson calls Annihilation, the film adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's eponymous novel, the most thoughtful science fiction film since Arrival.
- Caryn James declares that Annihilation is as intelligent as science fiction film making can get these days.
- A.A. Dowd calls Annihilation weirder, wilder and much scarier than the director's previous film Ex Machina.
- Alex Acks calls Annihilation gorgeous, creepy and intellectual.
- Manohla Dargis calls Annihilation a mythic story full of dread, but lacking soul.
- Leah Schnelbach has mixed feelings about Annihilation, but declares that the film captures tone and uncanny of the novel surprisingly well.
- Leah Schnelbach also discusses how Annihilation handles the issues of depression and suicide.
- Germain Lussier declares that Annihilation has everything a moviegoer could possibly want.
- Germain Lussier also traces the development of Annihilation from novel to book.
- Eliza Berman discusses accusations of whitewashing against Annihilation and how the director and stars of the film responded.
- Ignatiy Vishnevetsky explains what Annihilation learned from Andrei Tarkovsky's Soviet science fiction movies.
- Julie Muncy explains how one of the creatures in Annihilation got its name.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore shares the horrifying story behind Annihilation's most terrifying creature.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore also sees a warning about the dangers of Pokemon in Annihilation.
- Bryan Bishop interviews Alex Garland, director of Annihilation.
- V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell interview Jeff VanderMeer, author of the novel on which Annihilation is based.
- Jill Gutowitz praises the khaki pants worn by the cast of Annihilation.
Comments on Star Trek Discovery (and The Orville):
- Chris M. Barkley shares his thoughts about season 1 of Star Trek Discovery.
- Liz Bourke looks back at season 1 of Star Trek Discovery and particularly focusses on the portrayal of LGBT characters and relationships.
- Crude Reviews shares six things to love about Star Trek Discovery.
- Eleanor Tremeer shares her appreciation for the classic Star Trek show Deep Space Nine and how it upset the status quo.
- Cora Buhlert shares her thoughts on the first two episodes of The Orville and also compares it to Star Trek Discovery.
Comments on A Wrinkle in Time:
- Jamie Broadnax explains why A Wrinkle in Time is the movie girls of colour need.
- Germain
Lussier reports that comedian Mindy Kaling is a huge SFF fan and was
finally able to appear in her favourite genre in the upcoming film
adpation of A Wrinkle in Time.
Discussion of the problems of the DC cinematic universe:
- Borys Kit reports that Joss Whedon has left DC's planned Batgirl movie, because he did not feel that he had a story to tell.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore declares that DC needs to listen to the many women clamouring to make a Batgirl movie.
- Ben Child also declares that Batgirl needs a female director.
- Sonny Bunch actually laments the departure of Zack Snyder from the DC cinematic universe.
- Justin Carter declares that DC should top swiping villains from its TV shows for its less successful movies.
- Mark Millar believes that the reason why DC's movie work so much less well than Marvel's might be because DC's superheroes are more old-fashioned and less cinematic than Marvel's.
Discussion of sexual harrassment in children's and YA publishing:
- Janci Patterson talks about sexual harrassment, apologies and forgiveness.
- Dan Wells responds to the sexual harrassment debate.
Awards:
- The winners of the 2017 Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer's Choice Awards have been announced.
- The nominees for the 2018 Compton Crook Awards have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2018 Asimov's Readers' Awards have been announced.
- The nominees for the 2017 Ursa Major Awards have been announced.
- The shortlist for the 2018 Tähtivaeltaja Awards has been announced.
- The winners of the 2018 Phoenix, Rebel and Rubble Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2018 Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival have been announced.
- The winners of the 2018 Berlin film festival have been announced with Wes Anderson winning the best director award for Isle of Dogs.
- The winners of the 2018 D.I.C.E. Video Games Awards have been announced.
- The animal rights organisation PETA has honoured The Last Jedi and Jumanji for being animal-friendly.
- File 770 shares a link to the awards eligibility posts of various short fiction venues.
- Cheryl Morgan attempts to dispell the myth that you need to read exhaustively in order to nominate for the Hugos.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Kameron Hurley talks about goals and motivation.
- Lauren Sapala explains what even experienced writers can learn from the newbie writer mindset.
- Helen Lowe talks about the magic of beginnings.
- Mary Robinette Kowal and Cady Coleman shares some science fiction writing advice.
- Gareth L. Powell discusses how he worked out the mechanics of interstellar traffic for his space opera Embers of War.
- Damonza explains what makes a good author bio.
- SciFi & Scary talks about the pros and cons of small press publishing.
- C.J. Archer explains how to reach readers on Kobo.
Interviews:
- Menno Gutfeld and Koort van Mensvoort interview Bruce Sterling.
- Hannah Flint interviews Mark Millar.
- Joel Cunningham interviews Brian McClellan.
- Joel Cunningham also interviews Ram V.
- The Qwillery interviews Robert Ashcroft.
Reviews:
- Liz Bourke reviews The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard.
- Liz Bourke also reviews Vallista by Steven Brust.
- Liz Bourke also reviews Starfire: Memory's Blade by Spencer Ellsworth.
- Martin Cahill reviews Starfire: Memory's Blade by Spencer Ellsworth.
- Paul Di Filippo reviews Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell.
- Paul Weimer reviews the Binti trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor.
- Marion Deeds reviews Seven Surrenders by Ada Palmer.
- Ana Grilo reviews Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman.
- Bill Capossere also reviews Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman.
- The Fantasy Café reviews The Lost Plot by Genevieve Cogman.
- Stefan Dziemianowicz reviews Strange Weather by Joe Hill.
- Ceridwen Christensen reviews Autonomous by Annalee Newitz.
- Amy Goldschlager reviews An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King.
- Daniel Haeusser reviews The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller.
- Jamie Sugah reviews Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.
- Mark Yon reviews Blood of Assassins by R.J. Barker.
- John Langan reviews The Murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson.
- Farid Ul-Haq reviews The Tombs by Deborah Schaumberg.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Widow's Point by Richard and Billy Chizmar.
- Colleen Mondor reviews Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford.
- Paul Di Filippo reviews How to Stop Time by Matt Haig.
Crowdfunding:
- The Kugali Anthology of African comic stories is looking for funding.
- Kristina A. Bishoff and Madelyne Shayne are looking for funding for a soundtrack album and art book inspired by Kristen Britain's fantasy novel Green Rider.
- Michael Lowrey, better known in SFF fandom as Orange Mike, is looking for funding to attend a march to honour Dr. Martin Luther King on the 50th anniversary of his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.
Con reports:
- Mike Glyer reports that Kathryn Cramer has asked Readercon in Boston, Massachusetts, to investigate alleged age discrimination at the convention.
- WorldCon 76 in San José, California, has published its second progress report.
- Jeremiah Tolbert shares his experiences at Planet ComicCon in Kansas City, Missouri, and points out that cons are much more fun with children.
- Jeb Kinnison reports about the Life, The Universe and Everything symposium in Provo, Utah, and shares some photos.
- Ellen Datlow shares some photos of the Fantastic Fiction reading at the KGB Bar in New York City, featuring Cassandra Khaw and Peternelle van Arsdale.
- Mysty Vander shares her experiences of sexism at an unnamed gaming convention.
- Sky discusses some issues with the accidental leaking of real world identities of furries due to the faulty registration software used by several furry conventions.
Science and technology:
- Eric Mack reports that astronomers have picked up signals from shortly after the Big Bang, that could shed new light on the early days of our universe.
- Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer reports about a new planned Chinese hypersonic jet.
- George Dvorsky reports about a new theory regarding the origin of our moon.
- Ethan Siegel explains that Pluto's surface changes much faster than Earth due to a subsurface ocean.
- Ethan Siegel points out that mass extinction events occur at random and cannot be accurately predicted.
Free online fiction:
- "Breakwater" by Simon Bestwick at Tor.com.
- "Umbernight" by Carolyn Ives Gilman in Clarkesworld.
- "The Independence Patch" by Bryan Camp in Lightspeed.
- "The Dreamers of Alamoi" by Jeremiah Tolbert in Lightspeed.
- "He Dies Where I Die" by Michael Harris Cohen in The Dark.
- "A Question of Faith" by Tonya Liburd at The Book Smugglers.
- "Ingredients" by Craig DeLancey in Spectacle.
- "Debris" by Vanessa Kittle at Akashic Books.
- "The Meek" by Jedah Mayberry at Akashic Books.
Odds and ends:
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