Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for December 6, 2024

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with the best SFF books of 2024, Star Trek Lower Decks and Star Trek in general, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general, season 7 of Outlander, Dune Prophecy, What We Do in the Shadows, Moana 2, Wicked, Superman and Lois and the end of the so-called Arrowverse, Creature Commandos and the DC Cinematic and TV Universe in general, the new Nosferatu, Get Away, The Return, Secret Level and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Cheryl Eddy shares new science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in December. 
• Grimdark Magazine share dark fantasy, science fiction and horror books they're looking forward to in 2025. 
  
• Alex Brown shares recent must-read short speculative fiction. 
• Alex Brown shares their most anticipated young adult SFF for November and December 2024. 
• Ratika Deshpande shares seven SFF stories with unexpected endings.
  
• Moid Moidelhoff shares science fiction books about nuclear war. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction stories about rebuilding after a cataclysmic event.
  
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction stories by writers clearly alarmed by the post-WWII baby boom.
  
• Sharna Jackson recommends ten books to get kids reading. 
• Jo Walton shares her reading list for November 2024. 
• Jess Armstrong talks about embracing the mystery of the gothic. 
• Alex Brown shares five underrated books about witches.
  
• Adam Hamdy shares his favourite literary antiheroes you hate to love. 
  
• Kevin Beckett recounts the history of Red Sonja.
• Jonathan Freedland recounts how he made sure that the 1940 fairytale King Winter’s Birthday by German Jewish writer Ulrich Boschwitz finally saw publication after more than eighty years. 
• SFF writer Trent Zelazny died aged 48. 
  
• SFF writer and fan Linda Bushyager has died aged 77.
  

 

Best of 2024:

• Kristi Chadwick, Melissa DeWild and Marlene Harris share their favourite science fiction and fantasy books of 2024.
  
• Adam Roberts shares his favourite science fiction books of 2024. 
• She Reads shares their favourite science fiction books of 2024. 
• She Reads shares their favourite fantasy books of 2024.  
• She Reads shares their favourite romantasy books of 2024. 
• She Reads shares their favourite horror books of 2024. 
  
• Melissa DeWild and Becky Spratford share their favourite horror books of 2024.
• AudioFile share their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror audiobooks of 2024.
  
• James Smart shares his favourite graphic novels of 2024.
  

 

Comics and Art:

• George Marston shares his 25 favourite Marvel Comics covers of all time.
• Robin Marx reviews issue 5 of The Savage Sword of Conan.
  
• Rachel Cooke reviews Madame Choi and the Monsters by Patrick Spät and Sheree Domingo 
• Eammon Jacobs profiles comic writer Tom King and his past as a CIA officer. 
• Leah Thomas shares her appreciation for the work of manga artist Shigeru Mizuki and his legacy.
  
• Arley Sorg interviews Donato Giancola.
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about a John Le Carré advent calendar.
  

 

Film and TV:

• Kathryn Porter declares that Arcane’s second season is as beautiful as it is imperfect
  
• Ann Michelle Harris calls the anime Dandadan strange but addictive storytelling wrapped in stunning animation   
• Jenna Scherer calls Jentry Chau Vs. The Underworld is a quippy, gripping animated gem
  
• Nathan Rubin calls Joker: Folie À Deux a sequel devoted to punishing its adoring audiences - subversive in theory, but unwatchable in practice.
  
• Jacob Oller calls the post-apocalyptic musical The End an off-key parody song performed before humanity’s curtain call.
• Brianna Zigler calls Y2K a shallow horror comedy. 
• Jacob Oller declares that the animated film That Christmas barely stuffs enough hokum in its stocking to make it as holiday background noise.
• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
  
• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the time travel film Aporia. 
  
• Diego Hadis notes that particular movies and TV shows aimed at children feature several adorable robots.
• Anthony Breznican shares a preview of season 2 of Severance.
  
• Melody McCune interviews Morfydd Clark and Charlie Vickers, who play Galadriel and Sauron in The Rings of Power.  
• Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the British 1960 Pathfinders science fiction TV serials and how they paved the way for Doctor Who.  
• Kali Wallace revisits the 1960 science fiction horror film Village of the Damned. 
  
• Alasdair Stuart revisits the 1972 science fiction film Silent Running.
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1995 Babylon 5 episode “All Alone in the Night” 
• Germain Lussier revisits the 1999 science fiction comedy Galaxy Quest.
  
• William Hughes lists ten movies which were only made to preserve the rights. 
• Neil Baker revisits some pretty bad shark movies. 
• Kate Lloyd interviews actors who appeared in international remakes of popular British or American TV shows. 
  
• Screenwriter Marshall Brickman, who wrote for The Muppets Show and frequently collaborated with Woody Allen, has died aged 85. 
  
• Ryan Gilbey shares an obituary for Jim Abrahams. 
  

 

Comments on Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek in general:

• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on “'Upper Decks”, the latest episode of Star Trek Lower Decks.
  
• Avery Kaplan shares her thoughts on "Upper Decks”, the latest episode of Star Trek Lower Decks.
• Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on “Upper Decks”, the latest episode of Star Trek Lower Decks.
• Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on “Fully Dilated”, the previous episode of Star Trek Lower Decks.
• Avery Kaplan shares her seven favourite Star Trek episodes featuring Data.
  

 

Comments on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general: 

• Germain Lussier calls Star Wars: Skeleton Crew a whimsical Star Wars adventure with tons of potential 
  
• Rafael Motamayor calls Star Wars: Skeleton Crew an entertaining, Amblin-inspired adventure 
• Garrett Martin shares his thoughts on the premiere of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on the premiere of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
  
• Germain Lussier points out that the first big twist of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is hiding in plain sight.
  
• James Whitbrook interviews Jude Law who plays Jod Na Nawood in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
• Paul Chi interviews Lee Jung-jae, best known for his roles in The Acolyte and Squid Game.  
• Germain Lussier shares his appreciation for the character of Neel in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
  

 

Comments on the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general:

• Ben Child wonders whether Sam Wilson will be hamstrung by his lack of superpowers, when he takes over the mantal of Captain America.
• Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on Deadpool and Wolverine.
  
• Benjamin VanHoose reports about a raunchy Mickey Mouse joke cut from the script of Deadpool and Wolverine.
  

 

Comments on Superman and Lois and the end of the so-called Arrowverse: 

• James Whitbrook talks about the ending of Superman and Lois.
  
• Charlie Jane Anders calls the so-called Arrowverse the best attempt to capture the feel of superhero comics in love action and how we will never see its like again.
• Rick Porter looks back on the Arrowverse era and its impressive record.
  
• Joshua M. Patton declares that Superman & Lois gave us a more mature version of the familiar characters.
  

 

Comments on season 7 of Outlander: 

• Hunter Ingram shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
  

 

Comments on What We Do in the Shadows: 

• William Hughes shares his thoughts on the latest episode of What We Do In the Shadows.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of What We Do In the Shadows.
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Doug Jones who plays Baron Afanas in What We Do in the Shadows. 
• Melody McCune shares her appreciation for the character Nadja of Antipaxos in What We Do In the Shadows.
  

 

Comments on Creature Commandos and the DC Cinematic and TV Universe in general:

• Jarrod Jones calls Creature Commandos a violent, profane and horny monster mash 
• Isaiah Colbert calls Creature Commandos a refreshing re-introduction to the DC Universe 
• Adam B. Vary interviews James Gunn, showrunner of Creature Commandos and head of DC Studios.  
• Josh Horowitz also interviews James Gunn.
  

 Comments on Dune Prophecy and Dune in general:

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on the latest episode of Dune Prophecy.
• Brian Tallerico shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Dune Prophecy.
• Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Dune Prophecy. 
• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Dune Prophecy.
  

 

Comments on the new Nosferatu: 

• Peter Bradshaw calls the new Nosferatu a respectful homage to a vampire horror classic
• Katie Rife calls the new Nosferatu the movie Robert Eggers has been building towards his whole career, for better and worse.
  
• Jesse Hassenger declares that the new Nosferatu lurks in the shadows between colour and monochrome  
• Nick Romano reports about the reaction of the rest of the cast to seeing Bill Skarsgård, who plays the vampire Count Orlock in Nosferatu, in costume for the first time.
  
• Antonia Blyth interviews Robert Eggers, writer and director of the new Nosferatu, as well as stars Lily-Rose Depp and Nicholas Hoult
  

 

Comments on Moana 2: 

• Jesse Hassenger declares that Moana 2 reveals the catchphrase-laden secret to Disney sucking at sequels 
• Arturo Serrano declares that sequelitis strikes back with Moana 2.
• Kimberly Pierce shares her thoughts on Moana 2.
  
• The Guardian reports that Moana 2 is at the top of the US box office and responsible for a record-breaking Thanksgiving weekend at the box office together with Wicked and Gladiator II. 
• Pamela McClintock reports that Moana 2 has broken several box office records.
  
• Ben Cohen reports that the original Moana is now the most-streamed movie of all time, eight years after it first came out.
  

 

 Comments on Wicked: 

• Kate Maltby declares that Wicked would be fun and forgettable but for the alt-right waging dark arts against it
  
• Adrian Horton explains what audiences can expect in part 2 of Wicked. 
• Micaela Zee reports that actress Marissa Bode, who plays Nessarose a.k.a. the future Wicked Witch of the East in Wicked, has been subjected to ableist harassment due to being a wheelchair user.
  
• Andrew Pulver reports that Wicked star Cynthia Erivo is fine with audiences singing along
  

 

Comments on Secret Level: 

• William Hughes declares that Secret Level boils the rich universe of gaming down to guns and sludge
• Elijah Gonzales declares that Secret Level could have used a few extra lives 
• Justin Carter interviews Dave Wilson and Tim Miller, creators of Secret Level.
  

 

Comments on Get Away: 

• Jim Vorel calls Get Away a dour horror comedy saved by its bonkers conclusion 
• Natalia Keogan calls Get Away a grating horror comedy.
  

 

Comments on The Return: 

• Lacy Baugher Milas calls The Return a bare-bones retelling of The Odyssey
• Elijah Gonzales calls The Return a grimdark take on The Odyssey’s end that barely finds its way home.
  

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced.
  
• The finalists for the 2024 Saturn Awards have been announced.
  
• The winner of the 2024 Rotsler Award has been announced.  
• The winner of the 2024 2024 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting has been announced.
• The finalists for the 2025 Kidscreen Awards have been announced.
  

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Daniel Aleman talks about writing and storytelling as catharsis.
  
• Cary Groner explains how to write about spirituality while crafting a dynamic narrative
  
• Kelly Jensen shares tips for preparing your library for a potential increase in book bans once Donald Trump takes office in January.
  
• Ella Creamer reports that a study of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education has found a significant drop of characters of colour in children's books over the past year.
• Porter Andersen reports that the Association of American Publishers is celebrating the outcome of their lawsuit against the Internet Archive.
  

 

Interviews:

• Seamas O'Reilly interviews Alan Moore.
• John Valeri interviews Alex Segura.
• BBC Outlook interviews Nuzo Onoh.
• Runalong the Shelves interviews Verity Holloway  
• Runalong the Shelves interviews Marian Womack.
  
• Arley Sorg interviews Erin K. Wagner. 
• Mark Barsotti interviews Paul Di Filippo in three parts.
  

 

Reviews:

• Paul Weimer reviews Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan 
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan 
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Interstellar Megachef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan 
• Ian Mond reviews City of Dancing Gargoyles by Tara Campbell
  
• Bonnie McDaniel reviews The Bound Worlds by Megan E. O'Keefe
  
• Bonnie McDaniel reviews Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• Publishers Weekly reviews Alter Ego by Alex Segura  
• Natalie Zutter reviews Swordcrossed by Freya Marske 
  
• Bonnie McDaniel reviews A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan 
• John Mauro reviews Blacklight Born by Alexander Darwin
  
• BOLO Books reviews Voyage of the Damned by Frances White 
• Mahvesh Murad reviews The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami. 
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews The Tapestry of Time by Kate Heartfield
  
• Colleen Mondor reviews A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
  
• Carla Schantz reviews The Witch is Back by Angela M. Sanders. 
• Molly Templeton reviews The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by H.G. Parry.
  
• John Self reviews Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo
  
• BOLO Books reviews The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui by K.B. Jackson.
• Tobias Carroll reviews Masquerade by Mike Fu.
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Dragonfired by J. Zachary Pike
  
• Paul Haggerty reviews Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
  
• Daisy Hildyard reviews Hum by Helen Phillips 
• Rob Bedford reviews The Book of Witching by C.K. Cooke.
  
• Mark Yon reviews A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman. 
• Alexandra Pierce reviews The Year’s Top Tales of Space and Time 4, edited by Allan Kaster 
  
• Dave Hook reviews The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2024, edited by Hugh Howey and John Joseph Adams.
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Winona Menezes revisits the 1959 humorous science fiction novel The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1962 ghost story anthology Alfred Hitchcock’s Ghostly Gallery, edited by Alfred Hitchcock. 
• Brian Collins revisits the 1963 science fiction novella "Code Three" by Rick Raphael.
  
• Anthony Aycock revisits the 1967 science fiction anthology Dangerous Visions and its 1972 sequel Again Dangerous Visions, both edited by Harlan Ellison.
  
• Erica Frank revisits the science fiction stories published in Playboy in 1969.
  
• Gideon Marcus revisits the December 1969 issue of Analog. 
• David Levinson revisits the January 1970 issue of If: Worlds of Science Fiction.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1975 YA science fiction book Crisis on Conshelf Ten by Monica Hughes. 
• Sam Reader revisits the 1979 horror story “Mackintosh Willy” by Ramsey Campbell 
• Alissa Burger revisits the 1990 YA horror novel Witch by Christopher Pike.
  
• Kat Hooper and Marion Deeds revisit the 1997 fantasy novel Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 2006 post-apocalyptic novel The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
   
  

Con and event reports:

• The 2025 Worldcon in Seattle, Washington, has announced that the annual WSFS Business Meeting will take the form of four virtual meeting before the convention to make it easier for everybody to attend. 
  
• Joachim Boaz shares Clifford D. Simak's Guest of Honor speech at the 1971 Worldcon in Boston, Massachusetts. 
• Judy Newton shares her experiences at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland.  
• Maggie Shannon and N. Kirkpatrick report about the Twin Mask LARP event in Eastvale, California.  
• Jade Cuttle shares her experience as a woman of colour who is a historical reenactor.
  
• Christopher Reynolds reports about the famous Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada. 
  
• Sabina Graves lists some holiday experiences at US-based theme parks.
  

 

Science and technology:

• Will Dunham wonders if Venus ever had oceans.
  
• Isaac Schultz reports that 1.5-million-year-old fossil footprints found in a lakebed in Kenya show two ancient human relatives cohabitating in the same environment
• Alexa Robles-Gill reports that  a 65000-year-old hearth dscovered in Gibraltar reveals evidence that Neanderthals produced tar used to make weapons and tools.
  

 

Gaming: 

• Aidan Moher explains what makes a good console RPG story. 
• Roseanna Pendlebury reviews the videogame Dragon Age: the Veilguard 
  
• Joe DelFranco reviews the videogame Dead Space Remake by Motive Games 
• James Whitbrook declares that every moment you’re playing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle feels like torture
  
• Keza MacDonald asks how Sony could reclaim handheld gaming from Nintendo and the smartphone
• Ian Conway reports that the tabletop gaming company Games Workshop is about to join the British FTSE 100 stock index.
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• For Eternia reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection Man-e-Faces 
• Still a Big Kid reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse New Eternia Horde Trooper
  
• James Whitbrook shares a look at LEGO sets coming up in December.  
• James Whitbrook shares a look at some Captain America: Brave New World inspired Funko Pops.
  
• The Battle Ram Blog shares five quick facts about the Masters of the Universe Battle Ram vehicle.
  
• Rebecca Rubin reports that a woman from South Carolina has launched a class action lawsuit against Mattel over accidentally putting the URL of an erotica site rather than the official movie site on the packaging of Wicked dolls.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "Amelia’s Story" by Adam-Troy Castro in Nightmare Magazine.  
• "On the Water Its Crystal Teeth" by Marissa Lingen in Uncanny Magazine 
  
• "Stranger Seas Than These" by L Chan in Clarkesworld. 
• "From Across Time" by Chisom Umeh in Clarkesworld.
• "The Last Great Beautiful Leap" by Haden Cross in The Deadlands.
  
• "The Eighth God" by Matthew Ilseman in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
• "Ol’ Big Head" by Melissa A.Watkins in Lightspeed.  
  
• "A Little Bit of What Killed Auntie" by R.L. Summerling in The Dark.
• "And You and I" by Jenna Hanchey in The Sunday Morning Transport.
• "There Is Love in São Paulo" by H. Pueyo in Interzone Digital.
  
• "Vulkanization" by Nisi Shawl in Reactor.
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special.
  
• Watch a trailer for The Bad Guys 2.
• Watch a trailer for Disney's Snow White.