It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with the many iterations of Star Trek, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, The Nevers, Mortal Kombat, Sasquatch and much more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Alice Nuttall shares eleven thoughtful, low action science fiction reads.
- Gerald L. Coleman shares a beginner's guide to black science fiction and fantasy.
- J.S. Dewes talks about platonic love in SFF.
- James Davis Nicoll points out that the science fiction of yesteryear was not so joyful and optimistic as many claim.
- James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction novels that use wormholes to plug plot holes.
- James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction novels set in asteroid belts.
- Nina Munteanu shares ten ecological science fiction novels.
- Ken Lizzi wonders why so many SFF protagonists work as mercenaries at some point in their career..
- Emmet Asher-Perrin declares that 1999 was the year that geek culture took over the world.
- James S. Murray shares five pulpy modern horror novels.
- Mindy McGinnis notes that the timeless horrors of Edgar Allan Poe translate quite well to a modern YA setting.
- G.W. Thomas takes a look at the vampire stories of Clark Ashton Smith.
- Dorothy Bennett compares Madeleine L'Engle's Meg Murray and Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching.
- Olivia Rutigliano reports that Arthur Conan Doyle's The Sign of the Four and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray were commissioned at the same dinner party.
Comics:
Film and TV:
- Charles Pulliam-Moore calls the new Kung Fu shining, if not exactly subtle.
- Mike D'Angelo calls Stowaway an engaging deep-space survival movie.
- Steve Rose calls Red Moon Tide a haunting and poetic tale from Spain.
- Katie Rife calls Jacob's Wife an uneven and pulpy horror movie, but praises the performance of Barbara Crampton.
- Steve Rose calls Forget Everything and Run a scenic zombie adventure that lacks bite.
- Leslie Felperin calls Cranston Academy: Monster Zone a colourful, if derivative animated movie.
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on The Irregulars.
- Leslie Felperin shares her thoughts on the horror movie The Seventh Day.
- Caroline Siede shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Supergirl.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Debris.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of For All Mankind.
- Benjamin Lee calls The Mitchells vs. the Machines a frantic animated adventure.
- Andrew Pulver calls Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies a heartfelt tribute to Alan Ladd Jr, who greenlit Star Wars, Alien and many other genre classics as head of 20th Century Fox.
- Jason Okundaye is worried that horror films and TV shows focussed on black characters like Them are descending into black trauma porn.
- E. Alex Jung interviews Mads Mikkelsen, star of Rogue One, Hannibal, Casino Royale, Doctor Strange and many others.
- Cheryl Eddy interviews Ben Wheatley, director of In the Earth.
- Marah Eakin interviews Mike Mitchell and Drew Massey, co-creaors of The Barbarian and the Troll.
- Cheryl Eddy interviews Christina Lee, Alissa Nutting and Stephanie Laing, the creative team behind Made for Love.
- Nosheen Iqbal interviews Daniel Kaluuya, star of Get Out and Judah and the Black Messiah.
- Sandy Ferber revisits the original Twilight Zone.
- Stuart Heritage interviews Jessie Mei Li, star of Shadow and Bone.
- Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1966 science fiction movie Women of the Prehistoric Planet.
- Erik Adams revisits the 1979 science fiction movie The Black Hole.
- Craig D. Lindsay revisits the 1992 movie Batman Returns and the 2012 movie The Dark Knight Rises.
- A.A. Dowd revisits the 2007 science fiction movie Sunshine.
- Tom Breihan revisits the 2009 science fiction movie Avatar.
- Jesse Hassenger revisits the 2015 science fiction movie Ex Machina.
- Graeme Virtue revisits Game of Thrones for its tenth anniversary.
- Lloyd's Beware the Blog takes a look at the sword and sandal movies of the 1950s and 1960s.
- Ben Child reports that after the success of the so-called "Snyder cut" of Justice League, fans are hoping for a new Batman movie starring Ben Affleck.
- Ryan Parker reports that Tim Curry, Frank N. Furter himself, was once thrown out of a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening.
- Actor and stuntman Felix Silla, who appeared in many genre movies and TV shows, has died aged 84.
- Actress Helen McCrory, best known for her roles in Peaky Blinders, the James Bond movie Skyfall and the Harry Potter films, has died only 52.
- Mark Lawson remembers Helen McCrory.
Comments on Star Trek in general:
- Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the Star Trek Voyager episodes "Equinox, Part II" and "Survival Instinct".
- Zorana Ivcevic Pringle shares some leadership lessons from Captain Kathryn Janeway of Star Trek Voyager.
- James Whitbrook shares several facts about the Star Trek fan favourite character Q.
- Robert Fletcher, costume designer for the Star Trek movies, has died aged 98.
Comments on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general (spoilers):
- Andy Welch shares his thoughts on "Truth", the latest episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Sulagna Misra shares her thoughts on "Truth".
- Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on "Truth".
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on "Truth".
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on "Truth".
- Cora Buhlert shares her thoughts on "Truth".
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw shares her thoughts on "Truth".
- James Whitbrook shares some background information on the character played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in "Truth".
- Joanna Robinson wonders whether Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character will play a bigger role in the future.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw takes a look at the character of Joaquin Torres in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw explains that some of the issues with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier may be due to a deleted subplot.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw declares that Captain America's shield is the Marvel Cinematic Universe's best MacGuffin.
- James Whitbrook reports that the success that Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Frank D'Aramata and Randy Gentle, who created the character of the Winter Soldier for Marvel Comics, barely profit from the success of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
- Brian Kahn points out how WandaVision illuminates the many problems with US suburbs.
Comments on The Nevers:
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the first episode of The Nevers.
- Roxana Hadadi shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Nevers.
- Marah Eakin interviews Ben Chaplin and Amy Manson, two of the stars of The Nevers.
- Marah Eakin interviews Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn and Kiran Sonia Sawar, three more stars of The Nevers.
- Marah Eakin interviews Eleanor Tomlinson, Elizabeth Berrington, and Ella Smith, yet three more stars of The Nevers.
Comments on Mortal Kombat:
Comments on Sasquatch:
Awards:
- The finalists for the 2021 Ignyte Awards have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2021 Sir Julius Vogel Awards have been announced.
- The winner of the 2021 Tähtivaeltaja Award have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2021 Vivian Awards, replacements for the Rita Awards, have been announced.
- The winners of the 2021 Ray Bradbury Prize and the other Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have been announced.
- The winner of the 2021 Jamie Bishop Memorial Award has been announced.
- The winners of the 2020 and 2021 Zsoldos Péter Awards have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2020 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off have been announced.
- The 2021 inductees into the Filk Hall of Fame have been announced.
- The winners of the 2021 Annie Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2021 Golden Reel Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2021 D.I.C.E. Awards have been announced.
- The shortlist for the 2021 International Booker Prize has been announced.
- The first ever Octavia E. Butler Fellowship was awarded to Alyssa Collins.
- Alison Flood reports that Richard Dawkins has lost the Humanist of the Year title for making transphobic comments.
- D.J. Palmer shares the four enduring elements to writing enduring fiction.
- C.S. Harris declares that the characters are the secret to keeping a long-running series fresh.
- Andrew Hoe explains how to write better alien and robot fights.
- D.J. Palmer shares some tips for writing about mental illness.
- Carole Johnstone discusses the Georgian mansion which inspired her novel Mirrorland.
- Andrew Liptak reports that four-time Hugo winner N.K. Jemisin will be teaching an online MasterClass in writing science fiction and fantasy.
- Lincoln Michel explains why novels are the length they are.
- The Author's Guild has released a model book contract and a model literary translation contract.
- Adam Whitehead reports that Disney are about to come to an agreement with Alan Dean Foster regarding unpaid royalties.
- Mike Glyer reports that Devi Pillai has been promoted to President and Publisher of Tom Doherty Associates.
- Alison Flood reports that book sales have increased by a third after bookshops were allowed to reopen in the UK.
- Christina Goldbaum and Kimon de Greef report about a devastating wildfire in South Africa which destroyed the library of the University of Cape Town and its unique collection of African movies and books.
- Mike Glyer offers an update on the state of the Uncle Hugo's and Uncle Edgar's bookstores which burned down during the riots in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the death of George Floyd due to police brutality last year.
Interviews:
Reviews:
- Adri Joy reviews The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers.
- Vanessa Armstrong reviews The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers.
- Paul Weimer reviews Machinehood by S.B. Divya.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Extracurricular Activities by Yoon Ha Lee.
- A.A. Freeman reviews This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
- The Eloquent Page reviews The Best Thing You Can Steal by Simon R. Green.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard.
- Liz Bourke reviews Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher.
- Rob Bedford reviews The Unbroken by C.L. Clark.
- Martin Cahill reviews The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter.
- Liz Bourke reviews The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews The Snow Chanter by Linda Nagata.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Saffron Alley by A.J. Demas.
- Joanna Z. Weston reviews Queens of Noise by Leigh Harlen.
- Liz Bourke reviews Water Horse by Melissa Scott.
- Alex Brown reviews In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens
- Tobias Carroll reviews Floodpath by Emily B. Martin.
- Colleen Mondor reviews The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore.
- Alex Brown reviews Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart.
- Katharine Coldiron reviews The Memory Collectors by Kim Neville.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Whisper Down the Lane by Clay McLeod Chapman.
- Beth Kanell reviews The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex.
- Arley Sorg reviews Spider King by Justin C. Key.
- Tadiana Jones and Jana Nyman review Finna by Nino Cipri.
- Sean Dowie reviews Defekt by Nino Cipri.
- The Eloquent Page reviews The Fall of Koli by M.R. Carey.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline.
- Michael Donkor reviews This One Sky Day by Leone Ross.
- Kat Hooper reviews A Question of Navigation by Kevin Hearne.
- Fantasy Faction reviews Voice of War by Zack Argyle.
- Henry Moulder reviews Worlds Beyond Worlds: The Collected Works of John R. Fultz by John R. Fultz.
- Gabino Iglesias reviews Fishing for Dinosaurs and Other Stories by Joe Lansdale
- Arturo Serrano reviews Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, edited by Zelda Knight and Oghenechovwe Ekpeki Donald.
- The Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog reviews True Believer: The Rise And Fall Of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman.
Classics reviews:
- The Leeds Library Heritage Blog revisits the 1922 fantasy novel The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison.
- Cthulery reviews the 1932 horror story "People of the Dark" by Robert E. Howard.
- James Malizewski revisits the 1933 fantasy story "The City of Singing Flame" by Clark Ashton Smith.
- Steve J. Wright revisits the October 1942 issue of Unknown.
- Steve J. Wright revisits the December 1942 issue of Unknown.
- Joachim Boaz revisits the 1958 science fiction story "The Hated" by Frederik Pohl.
- Kat Hooper revisits the 1960 science fiction novel The Sioux Spaceman by Andre Norton.
- Kat Hooper revisits the 1962 science fiction novel Eye of the Monster by Andre Norton.
- Kat Hooper revisits the 1965 science fiction novel The X-Factor by Andre Norton.
- Gideon Marcus revisits the May 1966 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
- Jason Sacks revisits the 1966 science fiction novels Rocannon's World by Ursula K. Le Guin and The Kar-Chee Reign by Avram Davidson.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1971 science fiction novel The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin.
- Alison Flood revisits the 1971 fantasy novel The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett.
Con and event reports:
- Chicon 8, the 2022 Worldcon in Chicago, Illinois, issues its first progress report.
- William Patrick Maynard looks ahead at Pulp Adventurecon in Dania Beach, Florida.
- Rob Bricken reports that New York Comic Con in New York City is planning for an in-person event in October.
- E.J. Dickson reports that the Brony subculture of male My Little Pony fans might have a Nazi problem.
- Alison Flood reports about an uproar regarding the exhibtion at the Jane Austen House in Chawton, UK, being updated to discuss the Austen family's links to colonialism and the slave trade.
- Josh Weiss takes a look at the Harry Potter store opening soon in New York City.
Crowdfunding:
Science and technology:
- Isaac Schultz reports that NASA's Ingenuity helicopter has flown on Mars.
- Jay Gallentine reminds us that the first flight on another world happened not Mars but on Venus in 1985.
- George Dvorsky reports that the Mars rover Perseverance has managed to generate a small amount of oxygen on Mars.
- Morgan McFall Johnsen reports that NASA's InSight Mars lander has gone into hibernation to preserve its batteries.
- Kaye Dee discusses the latest space exploration news from 1966.
- Lauren Aratani reports that some leaked photos of alleged UFOs have been confirmed by the Pentagon as genuine.
- George Dvorsky reports that the remnants of several Tyrannosauri Rex were found close together in Utah, confirming suspicions that they hunted in packs.
- Kate Summerscale talks about spiritualist hoaxes and fraud in the 1930s.
Free online fiction:
- "Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory" by Martha Wells at Tor.com.
- "Hello" by Ai Jiang in The Dark.
- "A Stranger Goes Ashore" by Adam R. Shannon in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "Traces" by A.E. Decker in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "Selection" by Ken Poyner in Daily Science Fiction.
- "Stepsister" by Mari Ness in Daily Science Fiction.
- "Magic Rules Zero Through Four" by Sue Burke in Daily Science Fiction.
- "The Giving One, Part II" by Ashok K. Banker in Lightspeed.
- "The Ocean Between the Leaves" by Ray Hayler in Lightspeed.
- "Paradise Retouched" by Marc Laidlaw in Nightmare Magazine.
- "So Fucking Metal" by Shane Halbach in Fantasy Magazine.
- "Deadlock" by Aimee Ogden in Fireside Magazine.
- "The Blinded God" by Greta Hayer in Luna Station Quarterly.
- "Men in Cars" by Lisa M. Bradley in Anathema Magazine.
- "No Ordinary People" by Kingsley Alumona in Omenana.
- "Catching the K Beast" by Chen Qian, translated by Carmen Yiling Yan in Clarkesworld.
- "Dunyon" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
Trailers and videos:
- Watch a trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
- Watch a trailer for M.O.D.O.K.
- Watch a trailer for Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness.
- Watch a trailer for volume 2 of Love, Death + Robots.
- Watch a trailer for Oxygen.
- Watch a trailer for Werewolves Within.
- Watch a trailer for The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
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