Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for April 17, 2026

 

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film and Masters of the Universe in general, season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again and the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general, The Testaments, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars in general, Lee Cronin's The Miniature Wife, the 2026 CinemaCon and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Lisa Tuttle shares her favourite recent science fiction, fantasy and horror books.
• Jo Walton shares her reading list for March 2026. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five vintage SF works about traveling to the Moon 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction stories about what happens after we get to the Moon 
• Jim McLeod implores readers to stop skipping prologues and epilogues. 
• Nightmare Magazine asks why we like the Weird. 
• Candice Wuehle finds some unexpected parallels between the spooky mansions of gothic fiction and modern day celebrity compouns. 
• Lorna Wallace shares five horror stories that humanize zombies  
• Kathleen Rhodes talks about the long and irreverent tradition of religious satire in horror fiction 
• Kat Cho pairs five young adult SFF books with K-Pop songs 
• Angela Boord talks about the pleasures of discovering gaps in your reading  
• Michael Hoskin talks about speculative fiction authors and their literary afterlives  
• Eden Gordon discusses the tragic real-life inspiration behind Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. 
• Science fiction writer Pat Cadigan announces that she is cancer free. 

   

Comics and Art:

• Dean Simons interviews graphic novelist Brian Fries. 
• Dalya Alberge reports that E.H. Shepard's sketches for original Winnie-the-Pooh book have been shared for the first time 
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about the manosphere

 

Film and TV:

• Arturo Serrano declares that The Miniature Wife takes full advantage of its outlandish premise to shed literal and metaphorical light on the ways even a modern, educated, independent career woman can be made to feel small in her marriage. 
• Isaiah Colbert calls Sentenced to Be a Hero and Clevatess two dark fantasy anime series that just so happen to be about accidentally adopting a child.  
• Isaiah Colbert explains why fans are calling Apocalypse Hotel the real anime of the year  
• Catherine Bray declares that the animated film Time Hoppers: The Silk Road offers more educational value than entertainment value 
• Catherine Bray calls Itch! a low budget body horror film. 
• William Hughes shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Invincible. 
• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Boys. 
• Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on Redux Redux. 
• Chris Garcia shares his thoughts on the short film It’s Hard Not to be Romantic About Time Travel  
• Cheryl Eddy notes that Paula, the wicked stepmother of The Testaments is so much fun to hate    
• Laura Kuensberg interviews Peter Capaldi who played the Twelfth Doctor in Doctor Who. 
• Josh Du interviews Becky Clements, executive producer of the live action One Piece as well as co-showrunner Joe Tracz and writer Ian Stokes 
• Isaiah Colbert shares sixteen underrated anime that deserve your love  
• Cheryl Eddy lists horror films set on islands and in coastal towns.  
• Marco Vito Oddo lists seven unsolved TV show mysteries that still haunt us years later  
• Amber Dubin revisits the 1971 Night Gallery episodes "Make Me Laugh" and "Clean Kills and Other Trophies" 
• Martin Edwards revisits the 1971 folk horror film Blood on Satan's Claw
• Tyler Dean revisits the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth.
• Martin Edwards revisits the 1989 Ian Fleming biopic Goldeneye.  
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1998 Babylon 5 episode “Secrets of the Soul” 
• James Whitbrook recounts how badly Avatar: The Last Airbender has been treated by studios over the years in spite of being a much beloved property. 
• Catherine Shoard reports that more than 1000 film and TV industry professionals have signed an open letter protesting against Paramount’s pending acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery 
• Sid Krofft, producer and creator of  H.R. Pufnstuf and Land of the Lost, has died aged 96 

 

Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:

• Gerrad Hall interviews Travis Knight, director of the upcoming Masters of the Universe live ation movie, as well as Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes and Idris Elba, who plays Prince Adam/He-Man, Teela and Duncan/Man-at-Arms respectively. 
• Nischelle Turner interviews Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes. 
• Jay Glatfelter talks about some footage from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie that was shown off at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
• Jim Vejvoda also discusses the footage from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie that was shown off at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
• B.J. Colangelo also discusses the footage from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie that was shown off at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada.  
• Pixel Dan also discusses the footage from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie that was shown off at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada.  
• Germain Lussier also discusses the footage from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie that was shown off at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada.   
• He-Mania.com also discusses the footage from the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie that was shown off at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada.    
• Alan Smith interviews Alex Davison who plays Komodo in the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie.
• James Eatock explains why He-Man never used the shield which came with the action figure in the Filmation cartoon. 

  

Comments on season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again and the Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe in general:

• Felipe Rangel calls season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again the show Marvel fans have been waiting for 
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on “The Grand Design”, the latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again.
• Jarrod Jones shares his thoughts on “The Grand Design”, the latest episode of Daredevil: Born Again.
• Germain Lussier reports that a full scene from Spider-Man: Brand New Day was shown at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Germain Lussier reports about some footage from Avengers: Doomsday that was shown at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
• Rich Johnston reports that Marvel Studios has been hit hard by recent lay-offs at Disney. 
• James Whitbrook also reports that Marvel Studios has been hit hard by recent lay-offs at Disney. 
• William Hughes reports that Disney has just laid off the team responsible for giving the Marvel Cinematic Universe its shared visual identity 

 

Comments on Star Wars: Maul: Shadow Lord, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars in general: 

• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on Star Wars: Maul: Shadow Lord
• James Whitbrook interviews Brad Rau, producer of Maul: Shadow Lord. 
• Germain Lussier reports about some footage from The Mandalorian and Grogu that was shown at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
• Germain Lussier interviews Jon Favreau, director and co-writer of The Mandalorian and Grogu. 
• Germain Lussier shares some theories about The Mandalorian and Grogu based on the opening credits. 
• Germain Lussier notes that an obscure Star Wars toy vehicle from the 1980s can be spotted in The Mandalorian and Grogu poster. 
• Watch a trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu. 

 

Comments on Lee Cronin's The Mummy: 

• Simon Abrams declares that Lee Cronin's The Mummy rises from its sarcophagus to curse those expecting quality 
• Benjamin Lee declares that in Lee Cronin's The Mummy a classic monster gets dug up for unravelling resurrection  
• Cheryl Eddy declares that Lee Cronin’s The Mummy should be called "Lee Cronin’s The Exorcist". 
• The AV-Club wonders if  Lee Cronin's The Mummy is even a mummy movie.
• Justin Carter shares early reactions to Lee Cronin’s The Mummy.

 

Awards:

• The finalists for the 2026 Locus Awards have been announced. 
• The winner of the 2026 Compton Crook Award has been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2025 Cóyotl Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2026 Ditmar Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2026 Tähtifantasia Award have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2026 Prometheus Award have been announced. 
• The winner of the 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award has been announced. 
• The winners of the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award have been announced.
• The recipient of the 2026 Infinity Award has been announced. 
• The Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog take a look at the 1991 Hugo Award finalists for Best Dramatic Presentation. 

 

 

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Alexandra Alter discusses how AI affects readers, writers and publishers.
• SFWA shares an FAQ regarding the Anthropic AI settlement. 
• Jason Sanford weighs in on the Anthropic AI settlement. 
• Jim Milliot reports that a recent survey has found that readers still prefer print books
• Matthew Weaver reports that the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, UK, censored an exhibition catalogue after the Chinese government demanded changes via the Chinese printer. 
• Molly Templeton points out that the book news isn't all bad. 

 

Interviews:

• Locus interviews John Chu. 
• Rai Furniss-Greasley interviews Stephen Graham Jones.
• Scott Simon interviews V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke 
• Will McCelland interviews A.S. Tamaki. 

 

Reviews: 

• Paul Di Filippo reviews Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• Camestros Felapton reviews Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky 
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Fleet Champions by Rob J. Hayes 
• Elizabeth Tabler reviews The Many by Sylvain Neuvel 
• Blue Book Balloon reviews The People's Republic of Love by Heather Child
• Rob Bedford reviews This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews.  
• Maya Gittelman reviews Apparently Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Strothers 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Sword Garden by Peadar O Guilin  
• Marlene Harris reviews Double Shadow by Andrew Ludington  
• Eric Ballein reviews Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell 
• Jim McLeod reviews The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Philip A. Suggars 
• Eddie Clark reviews The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Philip A. Suggars  
• Jenny Hamilton reviews Cabaret in Flames by Hache Pueyo.  
• Ian Mond reviews Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman 
• Vanessa Armstrong review The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst  
• Marlene Harris reviews The Museum of Unusual Occurrence by Erica Wright
• Lesa Holstine reviews Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell 
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss 
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon 
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Sleepless by Jen Williams 
• Stewart Hotston reviews When There Are Wolves Again by E.J. Swift 
• Paul Di Filippo reviews The Body Builders by Albertine Clarke 
• Mark Yon reviews Paradox of Douglas and Aletheia Preston. 
• Russell Letson reviews The Regicide Report by Charles Stross 
• Sasha Bonkowsky reviews Dead First by Johnny Compton. 
• Ian Mond reviews What the Bones Know by Kirstyn McDermott 
• Colleen Mondor reviews They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours
• Marion Deeds reviews The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig 
• Blue Book Balloon reviews A Forest, Darkly by A.G. Slatter    
• Adrian Collins reviews Abyss by Nicholas Binge 
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar   
• Bill Capossere reviews Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar  
• Marlene Harris reviews Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar 
• Arley Sorg reviews Sauúti Terrors, edited by Eugen Bacon, Stephen Embleton and Cheryl S. Ntumy 

 

Classics reviews:

• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1953 science fiction novel More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon  
• John Boston revisits the May 1971 issue of Amazing.
• George Pritchard revisits the 1971 dystopian novel The Fall of New York by Miles Donis and the 1971time travel novel Beware the God Who Smiles by Larry Townsend, Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the 1971 dystopian novel The Insane City by Kenneth Bulmer and the 1971 post-apocalyptic novel Out There by Adrien Stoutenberg and David Levinson revisits the 1971 post-apocalyptic novel Survival World by Frank Belknap Long
• Alan Brown revisits the 1986 military science fiction novel War World by William C. Dietz 
• Judith Tarr revisits the 1995 YA fantasy novel Sabriel by Garth Nix. 

 

Con and event reports:

• Christian Holub announces that a new comic convention will be launched in Brooklyn, New York. 
• Germain Lussier shares a round-up of movie footage and trailers shown at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
• Jennifer Maas looks ahead at the 2026 BookCon in New York City. 
• Malia Mendez reports that the new Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center in Los Angeles, California, has finished construction.  

 

Crowdfunding:

• Ancillary Review of Books is looking for funding to pay their writers and staff.

 

Science and technology:

• The New York Times shares photos from the Artemis II mission. 
• Matthew Byrd shares the best moments from the Artemis II mission 
• Flynn Coleman declares that last week saw humanity at its worst and that Artemis II told the opposite story 
• Elizabeth Howell recounts how Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman chose to rescue the zero gravity indicator/mission mascot Rise against NASA regulations.  
• Molly Crabapple asks if AI is the greatest art heist in history
• You Xiaoying reports that the world's largest wind turbine is being assembled in China. 
• Jason P. Burnham talks about antiobiotics in post-apocalyptic worlds. 

 

Gaming: 

• Eric Ballein reviews the video game Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon 
• Keza MacDonald explains what so-called "unc" games are.

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Adam McCombs reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Chronicles King Grayskull action figure.
• D Amazing reviews the Cosmic Legions AhgCha action figure from Four Horsemen Studios.
• James Whitbrook shares a look at some upcoming Hasbro Marvel Legends Marvel Rivals action figures. 
• James Whitbrook takes a look at LEGO Star Wars set of Din Djarin's  N-1 Starfighter from The Mandalorian. 
• Adam McCombs shares a look at novelty popcorn buckets and other merchandise for the live action Masters of the Universe movie. 
• Greg Gately also takes a look at the novelty popcorn buckets and cups and other merchandise for the live action Masters of the Universe movie. 
• Scott Neitlich points out that the bid advantage of the live action Masters of the Universe movie is that there will be a lot of merchandise released. 

 

Free online fiction: 

• "The Day-Blind Stars" by Christopher Rowe in Reactor. 
• "The Long Weeping Arms of the Parasitic Horde" by Bee Hyland in Beneath Ceaseless Skies. 
• "In The Blood" by Alex Irvine in Beneath Ceaseless Skies. 
• "The City of Plagues" by Joshua Turner in Swords and Sorcery Magazine. 
• "Shelter" by Nadia W. Aldsen in Clarkesworld. 
• "Human Studies 401" by Abby Nicole Yee in Clarkesworld.  
• "The Spiders You Swallow in Your Sleep" by Wendy Nikel in Nightmare Magazine.  
• "The Tale’s in the Telling" by Angela Slatter in The Dark.
• "Dad Died on Discord" by Andrew Dana Hudson in Lightspeed.  
• "Six-Gun Vixen and the Machinist of Doom Valley [Part 1]" by Ashok K. Banker in Lightspeed.  

 

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Godzilla Minus Zero. 
• Watch a trailer for the finale of Good Omens. 
• Watch a trailer for season 2 of Outlander: Blood of My Blood. 
• Watch a trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise of the Reaping. 
• Watch a trailer for The Terror: Devil in Silver 
• Watch a trailer for Street Fighter. 
• Watch a trailer for The Boroughs.
• Watch a trailer for Passenger. 
• Watch a teaser for Ice Cream Man.