It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek in general, news from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general, Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, Superman, season 3 of Foundation, Together, all the news from San Diego Comic Con and much
more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Gabino Iglesias shares several new horror novels.
- James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction stories featuring jetpacks or other personal flying devices
- James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF takes on sending kids off to summer camp.
- Ratika Deshpande shares five fantasy stories about bones and bone magic
- Rebecca Danzenbaker shares five YA SFF books for fans of Pride and Prejudice.
- Daniel Kalla explains how deepfakes and AI function in crime fiction?
- Jennifer Givhan talks about writing Mexicali magical realism
- Lara Feigel talks about the rise of explicit sex in literary fiction.
- Camestros Felapton takes a look at the robotic companiosn of Edmond Hamilton's Captain Future.
- Science fiction fan Alan Huff died aged 78.
- British children's book author Allan Ahlberg has died aged 87
Film and TV:
- Petrana Radulovic shares all the SFF movies coming out in August.
- Leah Schnelbach discusses the use of the in-story series Rise and Fall of the Sanctuary Moon in Murderbot.
- Jesse Hassenger explains how KPop Demon Hunters became the surprise Netflix smash hit of the summer
- Ann Michelle Harris calls the anime Lazarus a unique, quirky, jazz-infused puzzle box series
- Phil Hoad calls Summer Wars a thriller-cum-family drama that is a cut above genre anime with narrative complexity, bravura imagery and a meta-commentary on the unfolding online catastrophe
- Isaiah Colbert discusses the depiction of food in Dan Da Dan and other anime.
- Jim Vorel calls Sketch a startlingly creative fantasy film.
- Philip Oltermann wonders whether Hollywood has distorted the Smurfs’ communist roots?
- Trent Moore calls season 2 of Twisted Metal a goofier, bloodier, funnier death race (with heart)
- Germain Lussier calls Weapons a terrifying, fascinating, excellent, character-driven horror movie
- Cath Clarke calls 40 Acres a post-apocalyptic home-invasion horror film
- Phil Hoad calls the Australian folk horror film The Banished a shrewdly splintered tale of a city girl returning to her roots where chthonic menace awaits
- Peter Bradshaw calls Bring Her Back a horror twist on a custody battle.
- Matt Donato declares that the animatred The Bad Guys 2 is an even better gateway heist movie than the original
- Peter Bradshaw calls Savages a stop-motion animated film with an environmental message.
- Rai Furniss-Gresley shares his thoughts on Predator: Killer of Killers
- Monita Roy Mohan shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Nautilus.
- Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Revival.
- Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Resident Alien.
- Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Librarians: The Next Chapter.
- Mallory Yu, Scott Detrow and Regina K. Barber wonders what it takes to get time travel right in movies.
- James Hibberd interviews Tim Burton and Jenna Ortega, director and star of Wednesday.
- Grame Virtue interviews Noah Hawley, writer and director of Alien: Earth.
- Ann Lee interviews several surviving cast members of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- Lacy Baugher Milas interviews Allan Heinberg, showrunner of The Sandman.
- Jim Vorel interviews legendary horror director Chuck Russell
- Jude Rogers interviews Athina Rachel Tsangari, director of Harvest.
- Trevor Hogg interviews Stephen James, visual effects supervisor for The Last of Us.
- Fiona Moore revisits the 1970 horror film Cry of the Banshee and George Pritchard revisits the 1970 mythological film Dionysus in ‘69
- Dan Larsen revisits the 1980 post-apocalyptic cartoon Thundarr the Barbarian.
- Germain Lussier revisits the 1985 nerd comedies Real Genius, Weird Science and My Science Project.
- Emily Steer revisits the 1986 science fiction horror film Aliens.
- Kali Wallace revisits the 1987 science fiction parody Spaceballs.
- Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1996 Babylon 5 episode “Grey 17 Is Missing”
- Cheryl Eddy revisits the 1998 horror film Urban Legend.
- Justin Carter reports that the animated fantasy series The Dragon Prince will be receiving a sequel called The Dragon King.
Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:
- Perri Nemiroff interviews Alison Brie who plays Evil-Lyn in the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie.
- For Eternia wonders whether the display of the Power Sword and Havoc Staff props from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie at San Diego Comic Con also showed a glimpse of the appearance of Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain in the movie.
- Watch a video featuring the logo of the upcoming live action Masters of the Universe movie in multiple languages.
Comments on season 3 of Foundation:
Comments on Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general:
- Emmet Asher-Perrin declares that Fantastic Four: First Steps seems intent on proving that you can’t make a good Fantastic Four movie
- Emmet Asher-Perrin also notes that the rest of humanity comes across as an undifferentiated mass who inevitably have the same opinion in Fantastic Four: First Steps and wonders whether the Fantastic Four are leading a planet-wide cult in their universe?
- Ben Child shares a spoilerish review of Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Germain Lussier discusses the post-credits scene of Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Matt Schimkowitz also discusses the post-credits scene of Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Erik Eisenberg explains why the post-credits scenes of Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four: First Steps don't line up.
- Joe George notes that the tribute to Jack Kirby at the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps remains a hollow gesture, until comic creators are fairly paid for the use of the characters and storylines they created in movies.
- Matthew Jackson notes that Fantastic Four: First Steps may have introduced one of the most powerful and important characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Caroline Siede notes that a pregnant Sue Storm is The Fantastic Four: First Steps' boldest choice
- Matthew Byrd discusses how Franklin Richards’ powers made him Marvel’s “Baby Ex Machina”
- Steve Weintraub interviews Matt Shakman, director of Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Jesse Hassenger notes that Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps have shown signs of life in the superhero genre once again, but wonders whether Marvel and DC can avoid making the same mistakes again.
- Justin Carter notes that superhero movies have stopped obsessing over origin stories.
- Dennis Perkins calls Eyes Of Wakanda thought-provoking, entertaining and strikingly animated
- Rodrigo Perez interviews Jake Schreier, director of Thunderbolts*
- McKinley Franklin interviews Rebecca Romijn about returning to the role of Mystique for Avengers: Doomsday.
- Justin Carter reports that Fantastic Four: First Steps has had a solid first box office weekend.
- Watch a trailer for Eyes of Wakanda
Comments on Superman:
Comments on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek in general:
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on "A Space Adventure Hour”, the latest episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on "A Space Adventure Hour”, the latest episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Caroline Siede shares her thoughts on "A Space Adventure Hour”, the latest episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Avery Kaplan shares her thoughts on "A Space Adventure Hour”, the latest episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Melody McCune shares her favourite quotes from “A Space Adventure Hour”, the latest episode of season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Vanessa Armstrong interviews Babs Olusanmokun who plays Dr. M'Benga in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Avery Kaplan lists five spooky Star Trek episodes.
- Nick Romano shares an early look at the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy TV show.
- Chris Lough shares an Easter egg spotted in some of the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy still photos.
- Molly Templeton takes a detailed look at all the Star Trek Easter eggs found on the wall of honour seen in the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy photos.
- Watch a trailer for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
- Watch a trailer for Star Trek: Khan.
- Watch a teaser for season 4 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Comments on Together:
Awards:
- The finalists for the 2025 Sidewise Awards for Alternate History have been announced.
- The winners of the 2025 Seiun Awards have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2025 Mike Resnick Memorial Award have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2025 Lambda Literary Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2025 Dream Foundry Art and Writing Contest have been announced.
- The winners of the 2025 Colorado Book Awards have been announced.
- The winner of the 2025 DAG Prize for Literature has been announced.
- The winners of the 2025 Eisner Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2025 Inkpot Awards have been announced
- The shortlist for the 2025 Diana Jones Award has been announced.
- The longlist for the 2025 Booker Prize has been announced.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Hazell Ward talks about the rules for writing a mystery.
- Juliet Blackwell talks about incorporating supernatural elements into mystery stories
- Ellen Byron shares her experiences as a screenwriter for sitcoms.
- Victoria Strauss talks about the ongoing contract issues with Must Read Magazines, the new publishers of Asimov’s Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine
- Ken Schneyer shares tips for negotiating contracts.
- Anna Aslanyan talks about the ever increasing censorship in Russia.
Interviews:
Reviews:
- Arturo Serrano reviews Arkhangelsk by Elizabeth H. Bonesteel
- Bill Capossere reviews The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
- Alexandra Pierce reviews Starstrike by Yoon Ha Lee
- Alexandra Pierce reviews Volatile Memory by Seth Haddon
- Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Bounty Inc by Adam Holcombe
- Grimdark Magazine reviews Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer
- Adrienne Martini reviews Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
- Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble’s Braids by Michael McClung
- Kat Hooper reviews Masquerade in Lodi by Lois McMaster Bujold
- Colleen Mondor reviews On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres
- J.C. Kang reviews Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle
- Lesa Holstine reviews Throwing Shade by Deborah Wilde
- Paul Weimer reviews The Mercy Makers by Tessa Gratton
- Paul Weimer reviews A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde
- Rob Bedford reviews A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde
- James Davis Nicoll reviews The Whisperer in White by Y. R. Liu
- Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews In Solitude’s Shadow by David Green
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews The Unkillable Frank Lightning by Josh Rountree
- Bill Capossere reviews The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai
- Maura Krause reviews Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan.
- Jenny Hamilton reviews We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon
- Runalong the Shelves reviews The Needfire by M K Hardy
- Martin Cahill reviews A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
- Liz Bourke reviews That Devil, Ambition by Linsey Miller.
- Roseanna Pendlebury reviews No Such Thing As Duty by Lara Elena Donnelly
- Paul Di Filippo reviews Metallic Realms by Lincoln Michel
- Xan Brooks reviews Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
- Ian Mond reviews Black Brane by Michael Cisco
- Doreen Sheridan reviews One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford
- Will McClelland reviews Crypt of the Moon Spider by Nathan Ballingrud
- Marion Deeds reviews All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter
Classics reviews:
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1910 lost world novel The Golden Centipede by Louise Gerard
- Camestros Felapton revisits the 1939 science fiction courtroom drama "I, Robot" by Eando Binder.
- Brian Collins revisits the 1966 science fiction story “The Body Builders” by Keith Laumer
- Brian Collins revisits the 1968 science fiction story “Eeeetz Ch” by H. H. Hollis
- Sam Reader revisits the 1970 horror story “The Asian Shore” by Thomas M. Disch
- Gideon Marcus revisitss the August 1970 issue of Analog.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1977 science fiction collection Starshadows by Pamela Sargent
- Joachim Boaz revisits the 1979 dystopian novel Benefits by Zoë Fairbairns.
- Judith Tarr revisits the 1983 science fiction novel Startide Rising by David Brin.
- Christopher Lockett revisits the 1989 Discworld fantasy novel Pyramids by Terry Pratchett.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1989 science fiction novel Angel Station by Walter Jon Williams
- Z.B. Steele revisits the 2006 fantasy novel The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson
- Z.B. Steele revisits the 2011 grimdark fantasy novel The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie.
Comments about the 2025 San Diego Comic Con:
- James Whitbrook shares a round-up of all the news from the 2025 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California.
- Pixel Dan shares his adventures at the 2025 San Diego Comic Con.
- io9 lists ten winners and four losers from the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con.
- Sabina Graves shares her favourite cosplay from the first day of the 2025 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California.
- Sabina Graves shares her favourite cosplay from the seond day of the 2025 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California.
- Sabina Graves shares her favourite cosplay from the third day of the 2025 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California.
- Sabina Graves shares her favourite cosplay from the fourth day of the 2025 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California.
- The Guardian shares their favourite cosplay from the 2025 San Diego Comic Con.
- Anthony D'Alessandro reports about George Lucas' first ever appearance at San Diego Comic Con to promote the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, California..
- Matt Schimkowitz also reports about George Lucas' first ever appearance at San Diego Comic Con.
- Sabina Graves also reports about George Lucas' first ever appearance at San Diego Comic Con.
- Melody McCune reports about the Star Trek panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Cheryl Eddy reports about the Star Trek panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Project Hail Mary panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Justin Carter reports about the Marvel Comics panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Justin Carter reports about the DC Comics panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Isaiah Colbert reports about the Peacemaker panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Anthony D'Alessandro reports about the Peacemaker panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Matthew Byrd reports about the Peacemaker panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Justin Carter reports about the Peacefest Peacemaker event at San Diego Comic Con, which included a live performance of the theme tune.
- Melody McCune reports about the Gen V panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Justin Carter reports about the Gen V panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Tron Ares panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Alien Earth panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Alien Earth experience at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Predator: Badlands panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Predator: Badlands experience at San Diego Comic Con.
- Cheryl Eddy reports about the It: Welcome to Derry panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Melody McCune reports about the Anne Rice Immortal Universe panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Sabina Graves reports about The Vampire Lestat panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Sabina Graves reports about the Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- William Hughes reports about the Coyote vs. Acme panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Justin Carter reports about the Coyote vs. Acme panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Anthony D'Alessandro reports about the Coyote vs. Acme panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Cheryl Eddy reports about the Toxic Avenger panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Germain Lussier reports about a Twisted Metal exhibition at San Diego Comic Con.
- Cheryl Eddy reports about the Clown in a Cornfield experience at San Diego Comic Con.
- Cheryl Eddy reports about the Solar Opposites panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Cheryl Eddy reports about the Bob's Burgers panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Melody McCune reports about the Family Guy panel at San Diego Comic Con.
- Mega Jay Retro shares a look at the Mattel booth at San Diego Comic Con.
Other con and event reports:
- The BBC reports about the Six of One Prisoner convention in Portmeirion, Wales.
- Mike Glyer shares a summary of the latest session of the virtual 2025 WSFS Business Meeting.
- Octothorpe discusses the virtual 2025 Business Meeting.
- Martin Edwards reports about the Ilkley Book Fair in Ilkey, Yorkshire.
- Stephen Beale reports about the 2025 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California.
- Locus reports that the inaugural Aspen Literary Festival in Aspen, Colorado, will have SFF programming.
- Alex Weprin reports about the performance of The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, a spherical theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Science and technology:
- Mark Neyrinck talks about the cosmic web.
- Indranil Banik reports that the distorted sound of the early universe suggests that we are living in a giant void
- David Appell wonders what the lifetime of a Dyson megaswarm might be.
- Nobuyo Tsuboyama-Kasaoka and Takeshi Nikawa explain why space foods aren't just for space.
- Josseph Dragovich remembers when NASA became caught up in the struggle between Coca Cola and Pepsi over which softdrink to take to space in 1985.
- Botagoz Marabai reports that the decomissioned parts of the Soviet Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, are being converted into campground and museums.
- Rachel Hall and Ian Sample report that the planetary scientist Michele Dougherty has been named first female UK astronomer royal
- A.J. Dellinger reports that a man in Argentina was awarded 12500 US-dollars after Google Street View accidentally photographed his naked backside.
- Jessica Dickinson Goodman reports about early pride protests in 1970.
- Laura Baisas reports that engineers have restored the clockwork mechanism of a 1775 mechanical painting depicting an eruption of Mount Vesuvius
- CBS Evening News reports about restorator Sheila Lehman who restored the iconic Bob's Big Boy statues from the Bob's Big Boy burger restaurant in Burbank, California.
Toys and collectibles:
- Pixel Dan shares a video about the crowdfunded Masters of the Universe Origins Snake Lair playset.
- Toy Habits reviews the Super7 ThunderCats Ultimates Astral Projection Lion-O action figure
- James Whitbrook shares a look at the Nacelle Star Trek Original Series action figures.
- Germain Lussier shares a look at the Hasbro Star Wars Black Series The Stranger action figure from The Acolyte.
- James Whitbrook shares the coolest Hasbro Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series reveals of San Diego Comic-Con 2025
- James Whitbrook shares a look at the Hasbro Marvel Legends Deadpool & Wolverine Wolverine roleplay mask
- Sabina Graves reports about two new statues featuring characters from the Disney Parks' Haunted Mansion ride and interviews designer Steve Thompson.
- Adam McCombs takes a look at some variants in the Masters of the Universe Classics toyline.
- Scott Neitlich reports that adult toy collectors are now officially the largest segment of action figure buyers.
- Val Staples notes that the mystery of the so-called Wonder Bread He-Man, a mysterious promotional Masters of the Universe action figure, has finally been solved after more than forty years.
- Shunsaku Tamiya, Japanese designer of plastic model kits, has died aged 90.
Free online fiction:
- "Mothman and Eli Visit the Cryptid Museum" by Izzy Wasserstein in The Sunday Morning Transport.
- "What the Crab Apple Tree Near Miranda Spaceport Saw" by Elijah J. Mears in Apex Magazine.
- "Hunter Harvester" by Bam Bruin in Clarkesworld.
- "The Best Way to Survive a Tiger Attack" by A. W. Prihandita in Uncanny Magazine
- "Thirteen Swords That Made a Prince: Highlights from the Arms & Armory Collection" by Sharang Biswas in Strange Horizons.
- "Resurrections" by Emet North in Strange Horizons.
- "Little Layti’s Labyrinth" by Liba Kivi in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
- "Shorted" by Alex Irvine in Reactor.
- "Astounding Stories" by Robert Pinsky in The New Yorker.
Trailers and videos:
- Watch a trailer for season 8 of Outlander.
- Watch a clip from Outlander: Blood of my Blood
- Watch another clip from Outlander: Blood of my Blood
- Watch a trailer for Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires.
- Watch a trailer for season 2 of Peacemaker.
- Watch a trailer for season 2 of Gen V.
- Watch a trailer for Iyanu: Age of Wonders.
- Watch a trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
- Watch a trailer for Talamasca: The Secret Order
- Watch a trailer for It: Welcome to Derry,
- Watch a trailer for The Long Walk.
- Watch a trailer for season 3 of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
- Watch a trailer for Weapons.
- Watch a trailer for Eternity.
- Watch a trailer for The Conjuring: Last Rites
- Watch a trailer for Zootopia 2.
- Watch a trailer for Goat.
- Watch a trailer for season 6 of Solar Opposites.
- Watch a clip celebrating thirty years of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.
- Watch a brhind the scenes video of The Vampire Lestat.
- Watch a trailer for Silent Night, Deadly Night.
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