Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for December 20, 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 works of 2024, Star Trek Lower Decks and Star Trek in general, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general, the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, Masters of the Universe in general, season 7 of Outlander, Dune Prophecy and Dune in general, What We Do in the Shadows, The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim, Silo, Wicked, Kraven the Hunter, Squid Game, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Mufasa: The Lion King, Sonic the Hudgehog 3, Secret Level, tributes to John Marsden and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Tansy Rayner Roberts offers an introduction to romantasy.
  
• Silvana Reyes Lopez shares eight cozy fantasy romances to enjoy this winter. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fictional murder mysteries set in space.
  
• Jonathan Olfert talks about maps in sword and sorcery fiction.
• Ratika Deshpande shares six SFF jobs for teens looking to get some work experience 
• Molly Templeton talks about the art of buying books for other people.
  
• James Davis Nicoll discusses Judith Merril's approach to assembling her Year's Best anthologies.
  
• Hailey Reissman and Ran Wang explain how Chinese fanfiction communities cope with censorship. 
• Locus remembers Trent Zelazny. 
• Children's book writer and illustrator Jean Adamson has died aged 96.
  

 

Tributes to John Marsden:

• John Marsden, Australian author of YA SFF, has died aged 74. 
• Sian Cain shares an obituary for John Marsden. 
• Alice Pung remembers John Marsden.
  

 

Best of 2024:

• Molly Odintz shares her favourite horror novels of 2024.
• Alex Brown shares their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror of 2024.
• Molly Odintz shares her favourite YA mystery, crime and horror novels. 
  
• Molly Odintz shares her favourite SFF crime novels of 2024. 
  
• Paste Magazine share their ten favourite animated shows of 2024.
• The io9 writers share their favourite SFF characters of 2024.
  
• The Reactor reviewers share the things that brought them nerdy joy in 2024.
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Robin Marx reviews Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone #3 by Jim Zub and Jonas Scharf.
• Marina E. Franco interviews SFF illustrator Micaela Alcaino.
• Locus interviews artist Christine Mitzuk.
  
• Hannah Frishberg profiles sculptor Joseph Reginella, who creates memorials and monuments to events that never happened. 
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about Christmas at the minimalist bookstore.
  

 

Film and TV:

• Emmet Asher-Perrin declares that the final season of The Dragon Prince is more beginning than end 
• Isaiah Colbert calls Dan Da Dan a lovey-dovey, madcap science fiction anime about finding your balls
  
• Haley Zapal calls The Return a visually stunning retelling of the final chapters of Odysseus' return home to Ithaca  
• Arturo Serrano declares that a faithful adaptation of a revered classic such as One Hundred Years of Solitude may not be enough. 
• Chloe Laws declares that the real horror of Nightbitch is weaponised incompetence 
  
• Diana Keng shares her thoughts on Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld. 
• Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on Dream Productions.
  
• Cath Clarke calls Dolphin Boy an incoherent animated fable.
  
• Phil Hoad calls the documentary Nosferatu: The Real Story an insightful probe into a vampire classic 
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Kier-La Janisse, creator of The Haunted Season.
  
• Lynette Rice interviews teenaged transgender voice actress Chanel Stewart, whose storyline about a transgender teen has been abruptly cut from the animated TV series Win or Lose by Pixar-Disney  
• Joy Press reports about the broken promises of Hollywood's attempts to be more inclusive. 
  
• Cora Buhlert revisits the 1960 time travel movie The Time Machine.
• Max Gladstone revisits the 1993 fantasy film The Nightmare Before Christmas and wonders if it's a Halloween or a Christmas film. 
• Leah Schnelbach revisits the 1994 The Tick holiday episode, “The Tick Loves Santa!”. 
  
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1995 Babylon 5 episode “Hunter, Prey”
  
• Judith Tarr revisits the 1995 fantasy film Magic in the Water.
• Jim Vorel revisits the 1999 fantasy crime movie The Green Mile. 
• Alex Reid celebrates the 35th anniversary of The Simpsons.
  
• Mia Sato reports that the social media account Muppet History has been embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal. 
  

 

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

• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on “The New Next Generation”, the series finale of Star Trek Lower Decks.
  
• Avery Kaplan shares her thoughts on “The New Next Generation”, the series finale of Star Trek Lower Decks.
• Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on “The New Next Generation”, the series finale of Star Trek Lower Decks.
• Avery Kaplan offers an introduction to the bridge crew of the USS Anaximander.
• Avery Kaplan shares her ten favourite Star Trek episodes of 2024.
  
• Ryan Britt interviews Garrett Wang, who plays Emsign Harry Kim in Star Trek Voyager and Lower Decks. 
• Haley Miller reports that wrestler Becky Lynch has been cast in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
  

 

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

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on ““Can’t Say I Remember No At Attin””, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Rafael Motomayor shares his thoughts on “Can't Say I Remember No At Attin”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.  
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on “Can't Say I Remember No At Attin”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.   
• James Whitbrook notes that Star Wars found itself at a crossroads in 2024.
  

 

Comments on the Masters of the Universe in general:

• For Eternia takes a look back on what happened with Masters of the Universe in 2024.
  
• The Masters Cast discusses the characters of Skeletor and Hordak.
  
• James Eatock discusses that the appearance of the Sorceress in the Filmation cartoon bears a striking resemblance to an unproduced 1979 Filmation cartoon and Mattel toyline called the Guardian Goddesses.
  

 

Comments on the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general: 

• Ben Child wonders whether the Russo Brothers and Kevin Feige can find a good reason to bring back Chris Evans.
  
• Anna Govert revisits the 2021 superhero holiday show Hawkeye. 
• Watch a trailer for Captain America: Brave New World. 
  

 

Comments on season 7 of Outlander: 

• Hunter Ingram shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
• Melody McCune shares her 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 series finale of What We Do In the Shadows.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the series finale of What We Do In the Shadows.
• Melody McCune discusses various Easter eggs in the series finale of What We Do in the Shadows. 
• Cheryl Eddy reports that the series finale of What We Do in the Shadows has several secret alternate endings and how to view them.
  
• Saloni Gajjar interviews Kayvan Novak and Kristen Schaal, who play Nandor and The Guide in What We Do In the Shadows.
  

 

Comments on The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim:

• Thijs Porck talks about Old English songs in The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim 
  
• Dirk Libbey reports that The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim was only made to retain the rights for a new live action Lord of the Rings duology helmed by Peter Jackson and that Warner Bros does not care if it makes money.
  

 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.
• Charles Bramesco revisits David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Dune.
  

 

Comments on Kraven the Hunter: 

• Lorinda Donovan shares a spoilerish review of Kraven the Hunter.
  
• Justin Carter reports that Kraven the Hunter and Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim have failed to break the box office dominance of Moana 2 and Wicked.
  

 

 Comments on Wicked: 

• Matt Schimkowitz reports that Kristin Chenoweth who played Glinda in the stage version of Wicked on Broadway has spoken out against homophobic attacks against the movie Wicked by a Christian conservative group called One Million Moms.
  

 

Comments on Silo:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
• Melody McCune shares her appreciation for the character of Shirley Campbell in Silo
  
• Molly Templeton reports that Silo has been renewed for two more seasons.
  

 

Comments on season 2 of Squid Game:

• Cheryl Eddy interviews Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of Squid Game.
  
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Lee Jung-jae, star of Squid Game and The Acolyte. 
• Cheryl Eddy interviews the cast of series 2 of Squid Game.
  

 

 Comments on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: 

• Peter Bradshaw calls Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl an unmissable, ingenious Christmas treat
• Jacob Oller calls Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl as funny and exciting as ever.
  
• Tim Jonze shares a look behind the scenes at Aardman Animation, creators of Wallace and Gromit. 
  

 

Comments on Mufasa: The Lion King: 

• Jesse Hassenger calls Mufasa: The Lion King a VR-animal void 
• Ignatiy Vishnevetsky calls Mufasa: The Lion King a taxidermised IP, though better than Disney's previous live action Lion King movie.
  
• Peter Bradshaw calls Mufasa: The Lion King a heartfelt prequel. 
  

 

Comments on Secret Level:

• Adrian Collins calls Secret Level a masterpiece of an anthology series.
  
• Cassie Holguin shares episode by episode reviews of Secret Level.
• Vanessa Armstrong reports that Secret Level is getting a second season.
  

 

Comments on Sonic The Hedgehog 3:

• Sabina Graves calls Sonic The Hedgehog 3 a fast and furry-ous ride
  
• Matt Donato calls Sonic The Hedgehog 3 the best film in the series yet.
• Andrew Pulver declares that Jim Carrey's Dr. Robotnik is the best thing about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 
• James Whitbrook reports that a fourth installment of Sonic the Hedgehog is already planned.
  

 

Awards:

• The finalists for the 2024 Japan Science Fiction Grand Prize have been announced.
  
• The winners of the 2024 Game Awards have been announced.
• The film nominations for the 2025 Critics Choice Awards have been announced. 
• The winners of the 2024 African American Film Critics Association Awards have been annouced.
• The finalists for the 2025 Costume Designer Guild Awards have been announced. 
  

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• D.M. Rowell talks about rhythm in storytelling. 
• M.W. Craven talks about the difficulties of writing a novel set in the US as an English person. 
• Jane Corry shares her experience teaching writing in Wormwood Scrubs prison in London, UK.
  
• Olivia Snaije reports about the impact of the war with Israel on publishing in Lebanon.
  

 

Interviews:

• Paul Graham Raven interviews Bruce Sterling.
  
• Justine Hordan interviews Alan Garner
  

 

Reviews:

• Runalong the Shelves reviews Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard
• Paul Weimer reviews Last Stop by Django Wexler 
  
• Natalie Zutter reviews This World is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa.
• Melissa A. Watkinds reviews Mechanize My Hands to War by Erin K. Wagner  
• Marlene Harris reviews Mechanize My Hands to War by Erin K. Wagner 
• Liz Bourke reviews Demon Daughter by Lois McMaster Bujold
  
• Liz Bourke reviews The Nightward by R.S.A. Garcia
  
• Colleen Mondor reviews The Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly Murashige 
• Colleen Mondor reviews Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune  
• Sasha Bonkowsky reviews The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters by Genoveva Dimova
  
• Sean Dowie reviews Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-il Kim
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Sound the Gong by Joan He 
• Marion Deeds reviews The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Dead as a Dodo by Hailey Edwards
  
• Paul Weimer reviews Sargassa by Sophie Burnham 
• Adam Roberts reviews Polostan by Neal Stephenson 
  
• Jake Casella Brookins reviews An Earthquake Is a Shaking of the Surface of the Earth by Anna Moschovakis 
• Maya Gittelman reviews Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews. 
• Mahvesh Murad reviews Coup de Grâce by Sofia Ajram
  
• Ian Mond reviews Good Night, Sleep Tight by Brian Evenson 
• Tobias Carroll reviews The Coiled Serpent by Camilla Grudova.
  
• Mark Yon reviews Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld by Paul Kidby. 
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Sam Reader revisits the 1908 horror story "The Jolly Corner" by Henry James.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1954 post-apocalyptic novel Tomorrow! by Philip Wylie  
• Gideon Marcus revisits the 1969 science fiction novels Earthrim by Nick Kamin and Phoenix Ship by Leigh and Walt Richmond, Jason Sacks revisits the 1969 YA science fiction novel Lord of the Stars by Jean and Jeff Sutton, Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1969 science fiction novels The Rakehells of Heaven by John Boyd and The Black Corridor by Michael Moorcock and Brian Collins revisits the 1969 science fiction novel The Asylum World by John Jakes
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1984 alternate history novel Circumpolar!  by Richard A. Lupoff.
  
• Alissa Burger revisits the 1995 YA horror novel The Voice in the Mirror by Diane Hoh.
  
• Runalong the Shelves revisits the 1999 science fiction novel Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds
  

 

Con and event reports:

•  Francesca Myman and Liza Groen Trombi report about the 2024 World Fantasy Convention in Niagara Falls, New York.
• Texas A&M University reports about an author event featuring alumna Martha Wells on their campus in College Station, Texas.
  
• Gabriel San Román reports that Disney has agreed to a large settlement in a lawsuit about flaunting California minimum wage laws at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
  
• Sabina Graves shares some news from the Universal Studios theme parks.
  

 

Science and technology:

• Passant Rabie reports that the launch of the Japanese Kairos rocket failed with the rocket self-destructing.
  
• Cora Buhlert reports about the launch of Azur, West Germany's first satellite, in 1969.
• Edd Gent reports that a team of engineers has developed a shapeshifting antenna, inspired by The Expanse. 
• Stephen Burgen discusses the popularity of balcony solar panels.
  
• Esther Addley reports that a pile of human bones found in a pit in Somerset, UK, belong to the victims of a massacre and cannibalism during the bronze age. 
• Margherita Bassi also reports about the bronze age massacre and cannibalism in Somerset and wonders what happened.
  

 

Gaming: 

• James Whitbrook shares all of the science fiction, fantasy and horror videogame trailers shown during the Game Awards broadcast.
•  Rai Furniss-Greasley shares their first impressions on Path of Exil 2.
• Justin Carter talks about 2024 Game of the Year winner Astro Bot.
  
• Isaiah Colbert interviews Marc Merrill, co-founder of Riot Media. 
• Derrick Bryson Taylor reports that Fortnite players are getting refunds after supposedly being tricked into making in-game purchases.
  
• Czarinna Andres reports that a gaming lounge has opened at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City.
• The Brooklyn Eagle reports about a GamerGate related harassment and defamation lawsuit brought by videogame reviewer Alyssa Mercante against YouTuber Jeff Tarzia.
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Germain Lussier looks back at the novelty popcorn bucket craze and shares the most notable examples of 2024.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "What Happens When a Planet Falls From the Sky?" by Danny Cherry Jr. in Apex Magazine. 
• "What We Plan to Do with You" by Adam-Troy Castro in Lightspeed. 
• "The Godhood of Ima Day" by Cressida Blake Roe in Lightspeed.
  
• "Ancestor Heart" by Naomi Day in Uncanny Magazine.
  
• "Lucie Loves Neutrons and the Good Samarium" by Thoraiya Dyer in Clarkesworld.
• "Driver" by Sameem Siddiqui in Clarkesworld. 
• "Spear and Talon" by Eric Williams in Swords and Sorcery Magazine. 
  
• "A Healing at the Triple B Trophy Lodge" by Scott Sherman in Future Tense Fiction. 
• "To Drive the Cold Winter Away" by E. Catherine Tobler in Strange Horizons. 
• "Gravediggers" by Nat Nguyen in The Deadlands.
  
• "Before and After" by Steve Rasnic Tem in Nightmare Magazine.  
  
• "Jill" by Rob Costello in The Dark. 
  
• "Live to Eat" by Marie Vibbert and Kaya Joan in Adi Magazine.
• "Chains" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
  
• "Trigger Snowflake and the Business Meeting" by Ingvar in File 770.
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Superman.
  
• Watch a trailer for "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special.
• Watch a trailer for Death of a Unicorn.
  
• Watch a trailer for the animated reconstruction of the Doctor Who serial "The Savages".
• Watch a trailer for Common Side Effects.