tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76888997543828987992024-03-19T09:56:46.961+00:00Speculative Fiction ShowcaseSpeculative Fiction—an all-encompassing genre created to describe stories of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and other stories that have an element of “What if...” in them. A story in speculative fiction is one that adds an element of the unreal, or asks, what would become of our society if history took a different direction at some important event? Fiction with a little something extra thrown in.—William D. RichardsCora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.comBlogger1890125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-41992677851992992972024-03-14T23:00:01.060+00:002024-03-15T01:06:08.206+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for March 15, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>,<i> </i><i>Star Wars </i>in general<i>,</i><i> Dune: Part 2, Star Trek</i> in general, the new <i>The Fall Guy, </i><i>X-Men '97, 3 Body Problem, Monkey Man, Spaceman, Imaginary, Love Lies Bleeding, </i>the many woes of <i>Scream 7 </i>and <i>Scream</i> in general,<i> The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Shogun</i>, the 2024 Academy Awards, tributes to Akira Toriyama and much
more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/08/the-best-recent-science-fiction-and-fantasy-reviews-roundup">Lisa Tuttle shares her favourite recent science fiction and fantasy books. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/most-anticipated-young-adult-sff-h-for-march-april-2024/">Alex Brown shares their most anticipated young adult SFF for March and April 1968.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/world-builders-women-shaping-sf-and-fantasy-guest-post-by-sondi-warner/">Sondi Warner talks about the women who shaped science fiction and fantasy. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-works-that-demonstrate-why-portal-networks-remain-an-sf-staple/">James Davis Nicoll shares five works that demonstrate why portal networks remain an SF staple </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/6-spooky-and-fantastical-missing-persons-tales/">Melissa Albert shares six spooky and fantastical stories about missing persons. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-very-good-dogs-in-horror-fiction/">Lorna Wallace shares her five favourite dogs in horror fiction. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/genre-communicates-a-contract-with-the-reader/">Micaiah Johnson explains that genre is a contract with the reader. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/bookish-death-cleaning-on-what-we-keep-and-what-it-means/">Molly Templeton talks about which books we keep and which we discard and what it means. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2024/03/02/appendix-n-archaeology-arthur-machen/">Bradley K. McDevitt remembers Arthur Machen. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/hobbit-meals-lord-of-rings/?utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=Echobox-CBR&utm_source=Facebook#breakfast-marks-a-hobbit-39-s-most-important-meal-of-the-day">Kevin Melrose and Robert Vaux chronicle every meal the Hobbits eat in <i>Lord of the Rings</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/3/4/rusty-burke-still-improving">Deuce Richardson shares a health update on Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke who suffered a fall and a head injury in December. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/dick-jenssen-1935-2024/"><i>Locus </i>remembers Dirk Jenssen. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.blackgate.com/2024/02/28/brian-stableford-july-25-1948-february-24-2024/">Rich Horton remembers the late Brian Stableford. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-savage-sword-of-conan-no-1-titan.html">Brian Murphy reviews issue No. 1 of the relaunched <i>Savage Sword of Conan</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.thepopverse.com/x-men-xmen-name-change-marvel-mcu-debate-chris-claremont">Joshua Lapin-Bertone reports that Chris Claremont believes that the name X-Men is old-fashioned and that the name of the team should be changed to X-group. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deepcuts.blog/2024/03/09/jirel-of-joiry-into-the-violet-world-1987-by-c-l-bevill-and-werewoman-1994-by-roy-thomas-robert-brown-rey-garcia-and-susan-crespi/">Bobby Derie takes a look at the very few comic appearance<i>s</i> of C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry.<i> <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="://locusmag.com/2024/03/spotlight-on-manzi-jackson/"><i>Locus</i> interviews SFF artist Manzi Jackson. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/3/9/norman-saunders-one-of-the-pulp-art-greats">Deuce Richardson shares his appreciation for the work of pulp and paperback artist Norman Saunders. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/mar/09/tom-gauld-on-making-the-characters-in-a-novel-more-likable-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about making the characters in a novel more likeable.</a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Tributes to Akira Toriyama <br /></b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/08/akira-toriyama-dragon-ball-creator-manga-series-dies-aged-68">Manga creator Akira Toriyama, creator of <i>Dragon Ball</i>, has died aged 68.</a></li><li><a href="https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/akira-toriyama-1955-2024/?ref=astrolabe-newsletter">Aidan Moher remembers Akira Toriyama. </a></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2021/08/04/eternia-revisited-some-reflections-on-master-of-the-universe-revelation/">John Yoon and Kioko Notoya remember Akira Toriyama. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/akira-toriyama-dragon-ball-creator-manga-anime-dies-68/">Cassie Holguin remembers Akira Toriyama. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/akira-toriyama-obituary-rip-tributes-dragon-ball-z-1851319984">James Whitbrook shares tributes to Akira Toriyama from fellow creators around the world. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/akira-toriyama-mechanical-design-dragon-ball-sand-land-1851320681">James Whitbrook shares the joyful mechanical designs of Akira Toriyama. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/08/damsel-movie-review-netflix-millie-bobby-brown">Benjamin Lee calls <i>Damsel</i> a rousing subversion of fairy tale tropes </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/i-saw-the-tv-glow-movie-review-1851326195">Matthew Jackson calls <i>I Saw the TV Glow</i> a dark tale of pop-culture obsession and self-discovery</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/invincible-season-2-part-2-review-tv-prime-video-1851323774">Saloni Gajjar calls part 2 of season 2 of <i>Invincible</i> a great remedy for "superhero fatigue" </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/11/a-million-days-review-low-budget-sci-fi-thriller-asks-if-we-should-trust-ai-with-our-survival">Leslie Felperin calls<i> A Million Days</i> a low-budget science fiction thriller asks if we should trust AI with our survival </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/what-was-point-of-dream-scenario.html">Arturo Serrano wonders what the point of <i>Dream Scenario</i> is. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/14/youll-never-find-me-review-movie-australian-horror">Luke Buckmaster calls <i>You’ll Never Find Me</i> a profoundly creepy and thrillingly bold Australian horror film </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/camp-host-tubi-horror-movie-camping-pandemic-violent-1851332859">Cheryl Eddy declares that <i>The Camp Host</i> puts a post-pandemic spin on the wilderness horror genre </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/somehow-megamind-returned.html">Arturo Serrano calls <i>Megamind vs. The Doom Syndicate </i>and <i>Megamind Rules! </i>inferior sequels. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/hundreds-of-beavers-movie-review-1851312966">Luke Y. Thompson calls <i>Hundreds Of Beavers</i> a silent furry fracas unlike anything else. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/resident-alien-recap-season-3-episode-5-lovebird/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Resident Alien</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/shogun-review-season-1-episode-4-1851317065">Meredith Hobbs Coons shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Shogun</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-recap-season-2-episode-7-thermopylae/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Halo</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://mailchi.mp/c775968fe32f/the-full-lid-8th-march-2024">Alasdair Stuart talks about the difficulties of adaptations. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/11/the-simpsons-matt-groening-gary-panter-zines-comics-harvard-lampoon-alt-weekly-newpapers">Larry Ryan takes a look at the roots of <i>The Simpsons</i> in the punk zine and underground comics scene of the early 1980s </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/11/after-the-madame-web-disaster-where-does-sony-marvel-spider-verse-go-from-here">Ben Child wonders how Sony will proceed with the live action <i>Spiderverse </i>movies afer both <i>Morbius</i> and <i>Madame Web</i> bombed. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/teyonah-parris-the-marvels-interview-disney-plus-1851313514">Justin Carter interviews Teyonah Parris, who plays Monica Rambeau in the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/nimona-oscar-nominated-netflix-animated-film-interview-1851318966">Sabina Graves interviews Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary, producers of <i>Nimona</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/finn-wolfhard-talks-ghostbusters-stranger-things-5-1235851626/">Brian Davids interviews Finn Wolfhard, one of the stars of <i>Ghost Busters: Frozen Empire</i> and <i>Stranger Things</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/birdbox-danielle-macdonald-hated-death-threats-1851336829">Mary Kate Carr interviews Danielle MacDonald who appeared in<i> Bird Box</i> and <i>The Tourist.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/animal-kingdom-2024-thomas-cailley-x-men-mutants-marvel-1851329745">Germain Lussier interviews Thomas Calliey, director of </a><i><a href="https://gizmodo.com/animal-kingdom-2024-thomas-cailley-x-men-mutants-marvel-1851329745">The Animal Kingdom.</a> </i> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/repo-man-oral-history-1984">Jake Kleinman interviews Alex Cox, writer and director of the 1984 punk science fiction film <i>Repo Man</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/solaris-guilt-grief-and-the-many-human-facets-of-science-fiction/">Kali Wallace revisits the 1972 science fiction film <i>Solaris</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/13/fight-club-review-prescient-tremendously-acted-classic-still-feels-overblown">Peter Bradshaw revisits the 1999 surrealist action film<i> Fight Club</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/oscar-horror-snubs-the-shining-the-witch-wicker-man-1851317615">Cheryl Eddy lists SFF movies snubbed by the Oscars. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/godzilla-minus-one-isnt-streaming-theaters-why-1234958823/">Tom Brueggemann explains that the reason the Oscar-winning <i>Godzilla Minus One </i>is not in theatres currently is because it is feared the movie might compete with <i>Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/our-flag-means-death-hbo-officially-dead-1851322738">Justin Carter reports that <i>Our Flag Means Death</i> has not been picked up by another service after being cancelled by <i>HBO</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://nerdist.com/article/black-mirror-returns-for-season-7-in-2025/">Eric Diaz reports that <i>Black Mirror</i> is getting a seventh season, which will include a sequel to the fan favourite episode "USS Callister". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/12/merchant-ivory-oscar-shocking-truth-emma-thompson-anthony-hopkins-howards-end">Ryan Gilbey shares the dark side of the filmmaking duo Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/closing-arguments-trial-baldwin-shooting-3fdc75c2510804065a19a9fa374cfefd">Morgan Lee reports that armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of<i> Rust</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/24062618/anime-dvd-bluray-discotek-physical-media">Charles Pulliam-Moore reports that anime is thriving on DVD and BluRay. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2024/bbc-marketing-generative-ai-doctor-who-promotion">David Houdson announces that the BBC is planning to use generative AI to create marketing materials for <i>Doctor Who</i>, to the anger of many fans. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/03/box-office-kung-fu-panda-4-dune-part-two-imaginary-1235850148/">Anthony d'Alessandro reports that<i> Kung Fu Panda 4</i> had a strong opening weekend, beating <i>Dune: Part 2</i>.</a></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers) and <i>Masters of the Universe</i> in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-review">Ryan Gaur calls<i> Masters of the Universe Revolution </i>a great looking and comfortingly familiar show, which is hampered by the short episode count.<i> <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9PAofFbJMY"><i>For Eternia </i>shares some background on the character of Strobo who makes a cameo appearance in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZNjiSyPox8"><i>For Eternia </i>also notes that the Evil Warrior Blade had a cameo appearance in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/03/12/a-conan-by-any-other-name/">Cora Buhlert takes a look at the<i> Masters of the Universe </i>character Vikor and his connection to Conan of Cimmeria. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-universe-heman-original-trivia-facts/">Rich Keller shares some lesser known facts about the <i>Filmation </i>cartoon<i> He-Man and the Masters of the Universe</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/why-did-a-2000s-masters-of-the-universe-relaunch-fizzle/">G. Kendall explains why the 2002 <i>Masters of the Universe </i>relaunch as a cartoon, toyline and comic series failed. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/netflix-he-man-season-4-unresolved-plot-threads/">Renaldo Matadeen notes that the CGI <i>He-Man and the Masters of the Universe</i> show really needs a season 4 to resolve cliffhangers and dangling plot threads. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Dune, Part 2</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gamerant.com/dune-choam-explained/">Joshua Kristian McCoy explains the role of the CHOAM conglomerate in<i> Dune</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theringer.com/movies/2024/3/6/24091996/dune-part-two-dune-messiah-denis-villeneuve-franchise-future-prophecy-spinoff">Ben Lindberg explains how the success of Denis Villeneuve's <i>Dune </i>movies could lead to sequels and other media.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-rogue-squadron-back-in-development-patty-jenkins-says">Michael Cripe reports that Patty Jenkins' movie <i>Star Wars: Rogue Squadron</i> is back in development. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/jake-lloyd-anakin-quit-acting-over-star-wars-1851332829">Matt Schimkovitz chronicles the mental health issues of Jake Lloyd who played Anakin Skywalker in <i>The Phantom Menace</i> </a></li><li><a href="https://scrippsnews.com/stories/the-real-life-saga-of-star-wars-child-actor-jake-lloyd/?taid=65ef37d63a26320001bc6028&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter">Clayton Sandell interviews Lisa Lloyd, mother of Jake Lloyd, about her son's mental health issues..</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/gina-carano-interview-madalorian-firing-elon-musk-disney-1235851597/">Seth Abramovitch interviews Gina Carano, who played Cara Dune in <i>The Mandalorian </i>before getting fired for problematic and offensive social media posts. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-michael-culver-obituary/">Actor Michael Culver, who played Captain Needa in <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i>, has died aged 85 </a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-12-1969-rock-opera-star-trek-the-savage-curtain/"><i>Galactic Journey </i>revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek </i>episode "The Savage Curtain". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/star-trek-vulcan-women/">Avery Kaplan celebrates the women of Vulcan throughout <i>Star Trek</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/star-trek-creatures-prodigy-discovery-lower-decks-original-series/">Avery Kaplan shares seven horrifying creatures from several <i>Star Trek</i> shows. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-discovery-season-5-jonathan-frakes-cameo-1851329312">James Whitbrook notes that <i>Star Trek Discovery</i> will be the first <i>Star Trek </i>series in fifty years that doesn't have a single on-screen appearance by Jonathan Frakes, even though he directed several episodes </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><div><b>Comments on <i>X-Men '97</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djSKp_pwmOA">James Whitbrook shares early reactions to <i>X-Men '97</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/marvel-shocker-x-men-97-creator-beau-demayo-fired-1235850423/">Borys Kit and Aaron Crouch report that Beau DeMayo, creator of <i>X-Man '97</i>, was abruptly fired from the series very shortly before its premiere. </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1GUCmf11mI">Watch a clip from <i>X-Men '97</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The Fall Guy</i>: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/13/the-fall-guy-movie-review-ryan-gosling-emily-blunt">Adrian Horton calls<i> The Fall Guy</i> a delightful action comedy </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-fall-guy-movie-review-ryan-gosling-emily-blunt-1851330852">Matthew Jackson calls <i>The Fall Guy</i> a crowd-pleasing action comedy. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-fall-guy-review-ryan-gosling-emily-blunt">Siddhant Adlakha declares that <i>The Fall Guy</i> features Ryan Gosling's funniest performance yet. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>3 Body Problem</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/3-body-problem-netflix-sci-fi-series-review-no-spoilers-1851313711">Cheryl Eddy declares that <i>3 Body Problem</i> explores huge questions but still feels intimate </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/3-body-problem-netflix-interview-benioff-weiss-woo-1851320046">Cheryl Eddy interviews David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Alexander Woo, showrunners of <i>3 Body Problem</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/08/goodbye-horses-hello-cosmos-how-the-game-of-thrones-team-went-interstellar-with-3-body-problem-netflix">Steve Rose interviews David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, showrunners of <i>Game of Thrones</i> and <i>3 Body Problem</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/3-body-problem-netflix-david-benioff-humanity-covid-1851328924">Cheryl Eddy interviews David Benioff. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>Comments on <i>Monkey Man</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/monkey-man-movie-review-dev-patel-jordan-peele-1851328860">Matthew Jackson calls <i>Monkey Man</i> a thrilling homage to martial arts movies </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/12/monkey-man-movie-review-dev-patel-sxsw">Adrian Horton calls <i>Monkey Man </i>a gory descent into darkness </a></li><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/monkey-man-review">Siddhant Adlakha calls<i> Monkey Man </i>a flimsy action film with muddled politics and tepid execution </a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Spaceman</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/movie-review-spaceman/">Leah Schnelbach calls<i> Spaceman</i><b> </b>a quiet movie about relationships, with a little world history folded in, spiked occasionally with humor and uncanniness</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/review-spaceman.html">Haley Zapal declares that <i>Spaceman</i> feels like the offspring of <i>Project Hail Mary</i> and <i>Solaris</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-fall-guy-review-ryan-gosling-emily-blunt">Siddhant Adlakha calls <i>Spaceman</i> a swing and miss. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Imaginary</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/07/imaginary-horror-review">Benjamin Lee calls <i>Imaginary</i> a shoddy and unimaginative horror film. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/what-should-fans-take-away-from-imaginary-1851318267"><i>io9 </i>interviews DeWanda Wise, star of <i>Imaginary</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode-3-bye-recap/">Noetta Harjo shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-pollyanna-mcintosh-interview/">Katie Doll interviews Pollyana McIntosh, who plays Jadis Stokes in <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Love Lies Bleeding</i>: </b></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/love-lies-bleeding-is-an-eerie-electric-body-horror-thriller/">Olivia Rutigliano calls <i>Love Lies Bleeding</i> is an eerie, electric body-horror thriller</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/love-lies-bleeding-movie-review-kristen-stewart-1851325720">Lauren Coates calls <i>Love Lies Bleeding </i>a neo-noir romance that leaves you wanting more</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/love-lies-bleeding-ending-explained">Rosie Knight explains the ending of <i>Love Lies Bleeding</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Scream 7 </i>and <i>Scream</i> in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/scream-7-plot-ideas-neve-campbell-melissa-barrera-horro-1851332352">Germain Lussier delves into the many problems plaguing <i>Scream 7</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/scream-7-neve-campbell-back-kevin-williamson-directing-1851329251">Cheryl Eddy reports that both actress Neve Campbell and director Kevin Williamson are returning for <i>Scream 7</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/melissa-barrera-scream-7-firing-neve-campbell/">Monica Coman reports that some fans are still boycotting <i>Scream 7 </i>over the unceremonious firing of actress Melissa Barrera over Pro-Palestinian social media posts. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/the-h-word-scream-the-joy-of-cheap-thrills/">J.D. Harlock revisits the original 1996 horror movie <i>Scream</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-sfwa-infinity-award-goes-to-tanith-lee/">The winner of the 2024 SFWA Infinity Award has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-pulp-factory-awards-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Pulp Factory Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-rhysling-award-longlists/">The longlist for the 2024 Rhysling Award has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/self-published-fantasy-blog-off-9-reaches-the-finals/">The finalists for the 2023 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://publishingperspectives.com/2024/03/the-uks-nibbies-books-of-the-year-shortlists/">The finalists for the 2024 British Book Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-yoto-carnegies-for-childrens-writing-and-illustration-shortlists/">The shortlist for the 2024 Carnegie Medals has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://publishingperspectives.com/2024/03/canada-reads-2024-catherine-lerouxs-the-future-is-the-winner/">The winner of the 2024 Canada Reads competition has been announced and it's a science fiction novel. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-oscars/">The winners of the 2024 Academy Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/artisans/awards/oscar-vfx-godzilla-minus-one-1235937264/">Carolyn Giardina explains how <i>Godzilla Minus One</i> won the 2024 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, beating out the Hollywood competition. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-razzie-awards/">The winners of the 2024 Razzie Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-bafta-games-awards-nominees/">The finalists for the 2024 Bafta Games Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://otherwiseaward.org/2024/03/our-pause-and-interim-plans">The team behind the Otherwise Awards announces that the awards are currently on hiatus and how they plan to proceed going forward. </a></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/03/10/an-open-letter-to-the-2024-hugo-finalists-whoever-they-may-be/">Cora Buhlert shares an open letter to the 2024 Hugo finalists, whoever they may be. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/tips-and-tricks-for-faster-writing-from-laura-childs/">Laura Childs shares tips and tricks for faster writing.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/lisa-gardner-10-lessons-i-learned-in-30-years-of-writing-suspense/">Lisa Gardner shares ten lessons she learned in thirty years of writing suspense novels. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://writerbeware.blog/2024/03/08/author-complaints-at-city-owl-press/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=the-latest-post-from-the-writer-beware-blog_154">Victoria Strauss reports about a myriad of problems with <i>Owl City Press</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/reviewers-attack-and-counter-attack/">Anne Marble reports about yet another review bombing and harassment case linked to <i>Goodreads</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/publishing-models-that-rely-on-gig-workers-are-bad-for-everybody/">Maris Kreizman notes that publishing models that rely on gig workers are bad for everybody. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/12/joanne-harris-some-of-us-dont-see-the-line-between-the-books-and-the-world">Ella Creamer interviews Joanne Harris</a><i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/12/joanne-harris-some-of-us-dont-see-the-line-between-the-books-and-the-world">.</a> <br /></i></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/shelley-parker-chan-all-the-others/"><i>Locus</i> interviews Shelley Parker-Chan. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/cults-covens-and-childhood-goddesses-a-conversation-with-author-melissa-albert/">Natalie Zutter interviews Melissa Albert.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/trials-of-empire-the-art-of-war-new-hardcovers-new-books-more-in-our-interview-with-richard-swan/">Adrian Collins interviews Richard Swan. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://punknoirmagazine.wordpress.com/2024/03/11/a-punk-noir-interview-with-coy-hall/">Stephen J. Golds interviews Coy Hall. </a></li><li><a href="https://alphascourt.blog/2024/03/08/lisa-morton-author-editor-and-screenwriter/"><i>Alpha's Court</i> interviews Lisa Morton. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/2024/03/08/glenn-hauman/">Scott Edelman interviews Glenn Hauman. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/3/5/independent-author-spotlight-david-carter">D.M. Ritzlin interviews David Carter. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-these-burning-stars-by.html">Paul Weimer review <i>These Burning Stars</i> by Bethany Jacobs </a></li><li><a href="https://liveanddeadly.net/2024/03/07/the-collapsing-wave-the-enceladons-trilogy-2-by-doug-johnstone-doug_johnstone-orendabooks-randomttours/">Mary Picken reviews <i>The Collapsing Wave </i>by Doug Johnstone</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-imposition-of-unnecessary-obstacles/">Marion Deeds and Bill Capossere review <i>The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles</i> by Malka Older </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/review-seeds-of-inheritance-by-aimee.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>Seeds of Inheritance</i> by Aimee Kuzenski </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/paul-di-filippo-reviews-tomorrows-children-by-daniel-polansky/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>Tomorrow’s Children</i> by Daniel Polansky </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/adrienne-martini-reviews-bookshops-bonedust-by-travis-baldree/">Adrienne Martini reviews <i>Bookshops & Bonedust</i> by Travis Baldree </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/witch-king/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>Witch King</i> by Martha Wells<br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/03/bookreview-the-butcher-of-the-forest-by-premee-mohamed/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> by Premee Mohamed </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/jake-casella-brookins-reviews-house-of-open-wounds-by-adrian-tchaikovsky/">Jake Casella Brookins reviews <i>House of Open Wounds</i> by Adrian Tchaikovsky </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/03/aflameinthenorth-by-lilithsaintcrow/">Rob Bedford reviews <i>A Flame in the North</i> by Lillith Saintcrow. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-prisoners-throne-by-holly-black/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>The Prisoner’s Throne</i> by Holly Black</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-bob-the-wizard-by-m-v-prindle/">John Mauro reviews <i>Bob the Wizard</i> by M.V. Prindle</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/03/bookreview-that-time-i-got-drunk-and-saved-a-human-by-kimberly-lemming/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human</i> by Kimberly Lemming </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-dyer-street-punk-witches-by-phil-williams/">John Mauro reviews <i>Dyer Street Punk Witches</i> by Phil Williams </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-blood-curse-by-jessica-a-mcminn/">Esmay Rosalyne reviews<i> The Blood Curse</i> by Jessica A. McMinn </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-evocation-by-s-t-gibson/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews<i> Evocation</i> by S.T. Gibson </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-to-cage-a-god-by-elizabeth-may/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>To Cage a God</i> by Elizabeth May </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/3/12/jaeger-by-simon-bestwick"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Jaeger</i> by Simon Bestwick </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-book-of-love/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Book of Love</i> by Kelly Link </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/03/a-bookreview-the-truth-of-the-aleke-by-moses-ose-utomi/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Truth of the Aleke </i>by Moses Ose Utomi </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-truth-of-the-aleke-by-moses-ose-utomi/">Alex Brown reviews <i>The Truth of the Aleke </i>by Moses Ose Utomi </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-review-lost-ark-dreaming-by-suyi-davies-okungbowa/">Arley Sorg reviews <i>Lost Ark Dreaming</i> by Suyi Davies Okungbowa </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-world-maker-parable-by-luke-tarzian/">John Mauro reviews <i>The World-Maker Parable</i> by Luke Tarzian</a></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/03/blogtour-fathomfolk-by-eliza-chan.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon</i> reviews <i>Fathomfolk</i> by Eliza Chan </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/3/11/fathomfolk-by-eliza-chan"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Fathomfolk</i> by Eliza Chan </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/hedgewitch/">Rebecca Fisher reviews <i>Hedgewitch </i>by Skye McKenna </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/in-a-cool-breeze">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>The Hexologists</i> by Josiah Bancroft </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/fly-away-home">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>The Fox Wife </i>by Yangsze Choo </a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/03/a-bookreview-the-fox-wife-by-yangsze-choo/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Fox Wife </i>by Yangsze Choo </a></li><li><a href="https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-the-fox-wife-by-yangsze-choo/">Doreen Sheridan reviews <i>The Fox Wife </i>by Yangsze Choo </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/colleen-mondor-reviews-tender-beasts-by-liselle-sambury/">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>Tender Beasts</i> by Liselle Sambury </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://bolobooks.com/2024/03/king-nyx-the-bolo-books-review/"><i>BOLO Books</i> reviews <i>King Nyx</i> by Kirsten Bakis</a></li><li><a href="https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-baby-x-by-kira-peikoff/">John Valeri reviews <i>Baby X</i> by Kira Peikoff </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-bad-ones-by-melissa-albert/">Alex Brown reviews <i>The Bad Ones </i>by Melissa Albert</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/review-tanglewood-by-knicky-l-abbott.html">Roseanna Pendlebury reviews <i>Tanglewood </i>by Knicky L. Abbott </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-the-woods-all-black-by-lee-mandelo/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>The Woods All Black</i> by Lee Mandelo </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/3/9/echec-by-tim-major"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Echec! </i>by Tim Major </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/3/8/elephants-in-bloom-by-cecile-cristofari"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Elephants in Bloom</i> by Cecile Cristofari </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/ian-mond-reviews-here-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-by-anastacia-renee/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Here in the (Middle) of Nowhere</i> by Anastacia Reneé </a></li><li><a href="https://spraguedecampfan.wordpress.com/2024/03/06/review-neither-beg-nor-yield-edited-by-jason-m-waltz/">Gary Romeo reviews <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i>, edited by Jason M. Waltz </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-the-future-is-female-volume-two-the-1970s/">Warner Holme reviews <i>The Future Is Female! More Classic Science Fiction Stories By Women Volume Two: The 1970s</i>, edited by Lisa Yaszek </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/03/06/short-story-review-the-shout-by-robert-graves/">Brian Collins revisits the 1929 horror story “The Shout” by Robert Graves </a></li><li><a href="https://mporcius.blogspot.com/2024/03/weird-tales-october-1938-c-smith-h-p.html">M. Porcius revisits the October 1938 issue of <i>Weird Tales</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/03/03/short-story-review-the-listening-child-by-margaret-st-clair/">Brian Collins revisits the 1950 fantasy story “The Listening Child” by Margaret St. Clair</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/american-myths-warlocks-and-washington-vandy-vandy-by-manly-wade-wellman/">Sam Reader revisits the 1953 <i>Silver John</i> fantasy story “Vandy, Vandy” by Manly Wade Wellman. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://mporcius.blogspot.com/2024/03/infinity-august-1956-d-knight-d-mason-h.html">M. Porcius revisits the August 1956 issue of <i>Infinity Science Fiction</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-8-1969-around-the-universe-april-1969-galaxy/">Gideon Marcus revisits the April 1969 issue of<i> Galaxy</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-10-1969-speed-april-1969-fantastic/">Victoria Silverwolf revisits the April 1969 issue of <i>Fantastic</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-14-1969-march-1969-galactoscope/">Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1969 science fiction novel <i>The Null-Frequency Impulser</i> by James Nelson Coleman and the 1969 gothic romance <i>The Place of Sapphires </i>by Florence Engel Randall, Brian Collins revisits the 1953 post-apocalyptic novel <i>The Green Millennium </i>and the 1969 horror collection <i>Night Monsters</i> by Fritz Leiber, Gideon Marcus revisits the 1969 fantasy novel <i>Seahorse in the Sky</i> by Edmund Cooper, Gideon Marcus and Cora Buhlert revisit the 1969 science fiction novel <i>Slaughterhouse Five</i> by Kurt Vonnegut, Cora Buhlert revisits the 1969 fantasy novel <i>The Face in the Frost</i> by John Bellairs, Robin Rose Graves revisits the 1969 science fiction novel <i>The Left Hand of Darkness </i>by Ursula K. Le Guin and Jason Sacks reviews the 1969 science fiction novel <i>Reflections in a Mirage</i> by Leonard Daventry </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/so-alone">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1973 hard science fiction collection <i>The Men and the Mirror</i> by Ross Rocklynne </a>.<br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/play-their-fantasy">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1982 science fantasy novel <i>The Cyborg and the Sorcerers</i> by Lawrence Watt-Evans </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/another-world">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1992 science fiction collection <i>Crosstime Traffic</i> by Lawrence Watt-Evans </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b><i> <br /></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/loscon-50-celebrating-50-loscons/"><i>File 770</i> lists the guests of honour for the 2024 Loscon in Los Angeles, California. </a></li><li><a href="https://steampunk-explorer.com/news/inside-look-what-happened-wicked-world-s-fair">Stephen Beale talks about problems at the 2024 Wicked World's Fair Steampunk con in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/philip-k-dick-science-fiction-film-festival-announces-2024-lineup/">The line-up for the 2024 Philip K Dick Science Fiction Film Festival has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/legit/news/stranger-things-play-broadway-opening-1235935228/">William Earl reports that the stage play <i>Stranger Things: The First Shadow</i> is heading to Broadway.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94538-brandon-sanderson-raises-16-million-breaking-records-again.html?oly_enc_id=7809B3463278E9B">Ed Nawotka reports about Brandon Sanderson's latest record-breaking crowdfunding campaign.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/mar/08/astronomers-detect-waterworld-with-a-boiling-ocean-in-deep-space">Hannah Devlin reports that astronomers have discovered a waterworld with a boiling ocean in deep space</a></li><li><a href="https://www.space.com/giant-telescope-projects-drama-tmt-gmt">Monisha Ravisetti reports that funding for astronomical research in the US has been cut, only allowing for constructing either the Giant Magellan Telescope or the Thirty Meter Telescope, though both are already under construction. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/03/13/european-lawmakers-endorse-worlds-first-major-act-to-regulate-ai.html">Karen Gilchrist reports that the European Parliament just passed the world's first law to regulate AI. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/us/politics/pentagon-ufo-alien-review.html">Julian F. Barnes reports that a new Pentagon report has found no evidence that the US military covered up discoveries regarding the existence of aliens. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/13/shock-of-the-old-11-wild-views-of-the-future">Emma Beddington and Sarah Gilbert take a look at past visions of the future. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/indie-developer-says-warner-bros-is-retiring-his-game-from-official-platforms-so-hes-giving-it-away-for-free-instead/">Catherine Lewis reports that <i>Warner Bros </i>is about to permanently remove the game <i>Small Radios Big Televisions </i>from various storefronts and paltforms, so developer Owen Deery is making available for free download.</a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/ai-duncan-crabtree-ireland-sxsw-1235936090/#recipient_hashed=4a79c9f5fc8960a26049ea2bb94c43b1e8aa4177528a95b9eec575fa9bd93e52&recipient_salt=165fc6763660b488f46c783a2f165a4a9330120337543fb0c26b692098f24825">The negotiations between major video game studios and SAG-AFTRA may be heading for a strike. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://toyhabits.com/mer-man-motu-origins-cartoon-collection-in-hand-review/"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection </i>Mer-Man. </a></li><li><a href="https://toyhabits.com/stratos-motu-origins-cartoon-collection-in-hand-review/"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection </i>Stratos. <i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svXGZBZG4ik"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Turtles of Grayskull </i>Krang<i> </i>action figure. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1DnlnqeNB8"><i>Pixel Dan</i> reviews th<i>e Nacelle</i> <i>Biker Mice Fom Mars</i> action figures.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTBUVZUlrks"><i>Comic Fan Man </i>reviews the <i>Mythic Legions</i> Cowarros action figure by <i>Four Horseman Studios</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/hasbro-star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-enoch-night-troopers-1851333350">James Whitbrook shares a look at upcoming<i> Hasbro Star Wars</i> figures. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://battleramblog.com/blasterhawk-heroic-land-sky-disk-launcher-1986/"><i>The Battle Ram Blog</i> takes a look at the vintage <i>Masters of the Universe</i> <i>Blasterhawk</i> vehicle from 1986. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/21-weird-star-trek-action-figures-playmates-tng-ds9-1851332951">James Whitbrook shares the wildest, weirdest <i>Star Trek</i> action figures. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U41C3R2P_1o"><i>Pixel Dan</i> reports that <i>Mattel </i>is bringing back the <i>Street Sharks</i> line of action figures.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39350171/national-bobblehead-museum">Ryan Hockensmith reports about the world's largest collection of bobblehead toys. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/johnson_03_24/">"A Brief Oral History of the El Zopilote Dock" by Alaya Dawn Johnson in <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/spires_03_24/">"Nine Beauties and the Entangled Threads" by D.A. Xiaolin Spires in<i> Clarkesworld</i></a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/everything-in-the-garden-is-lovely/">"Everything in the Garden is Lovely" by Hannah Yang in <i>Apex Magazine.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/median-kelly-robson/">"Median" by Kelly Robson in <i>Reactor. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/the-robot/">"The Robot" by Lavie Tidhar in <i>Uncanny Magazine</i></a><i> </i><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/djora-gumo.html">"Djora Gumo" by Vaughn A. Jackson in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://thedeadlands.com/issue-33/the-glass-sarcophagus/">"The Glass Sarcophagus" by Tiffany Morris in <i>The Deadlands</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/burial-2/">"Burial" by Kristi DeMeester in <i>The Dark</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/an-incomplete-body-has-no-answers/">"An Incomplete Body Has No Answers" by Angela Liu in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/kopki-and-the-fish/">"Kopki and the Fish" by Alex Irvine in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/a-guide-to-camping-in-the-forest/">"A Guide to Camping in the Forest" by Oyedotun Damilola Muees in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/amoxicillin-by-liz-kerin/">"Amoxicillin" by Liz Kerin in<i> Reactor</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djSKp_pwmOA">Watch a trailer for the new <i>The Crow</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9OmmeE_gZc">Watch a trailer for <i>Renegade Nell.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeDbyVODQ5M">Watch a trailer for<i> Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_uFgmH_kfQ">Watch a trailer for<i> Atlas. </i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmN1Op8ygno">Watch a trailer for <i>The First Omen</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv3Q7uAY60M">Watch a trailer for<i> Breathe</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-36631067807707644302024-03-10T23:00:00.089+00:002024-03-10T23:00:00.303+00:00Interview with Mike Fiorito, author of For All We Know: A UFO Manifesto<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8CyOy6gDOoLfEbg9w2yxrDuAhJq9lQurLZp9d83THJOI_59BDCykFT3c1ILFebNcfObzQXBGpWbff9idJMyx3a8o-eQVs54mu_0F4r-Iy8oL06bYQWfzh3LKAhYPHXYJlhPNDeGYITNxlQCPK5wqzmygy-07-7mbwxsajHP4M9DIsCpBXhTo9GtefOkZ/s1181/Fiorito%20Cover%20Art.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1181" data-original-width="774" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8CyOy6gDOoLfEbg9w2yxrDuAhJq9lQurLZp9d83THJOI_59BDCykFT3c1ILFebNcfObzQXBGpWbff9idJMyx3a8o-eQVs54mu_0F4r-Iy8oL06bYQWfzh3LKAhYPHXYJlhPNDeGYITNxlQCPK5wqzmygy-07-7mbwxsajHP4M9DIsCpBXhTo9GtefOkZ/w420-h640/Fiorito%20Cover%20Art.png" width="420" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview Mike Fiorito, whose novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For All We Know: A UFO Manifesto</i>
has its debut on April 7th, 2024.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">How
would you describe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For All We Know</i> -
fact, fiction or something more complex?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">It’s speculative
fiction. While I intended the story to be relatable and read like a memoir, I
wanted to have the liberty to express wildly imaginative ideas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">You
have written seven books to date. How does this one relate to the others?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">This book is more
closely related to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Falling from Trees</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mescalito Riding His White Horse</i>,
which were both more imaginative and speculative. That said, the book does
relate back to the stories I’ve written about growing up in the inner boroughs
of NYC in the seventies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">What
made you decide to use a Speculative Fiction setting in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For All We Know</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">I didn’t want to
be tied to facts. While some of the stories were based on actual events, I took
significant liberties. For instance, I’ve never seen a UFO (except in my
dreams).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">What
made you take an interest in UFOs, and how did that develop?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">I’ve always been
a science-fiction fan and have long thought that there must be other
intelligent life in the universe. Reading Jeffrey Kripal’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Flip, </i>Diana Pasulka’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American
Cosmic</i>, and a slew of other books, opened my mind to the following:
governments, such as the United States and others, have tasked agencies with
investigating UFOs (while publicly denying this); a certain small percentage of
the cases studied could not be explained; trained observers, such as pilots,
have witnessed objects moving at speeds beyond our current capabilities and
moving in a manner that is physically not possible given our current
understanding of physics (the object moved sixty miles in a few seconds,
leaving no exhaust plumes<a href="file:///C:/Users/jessi/Documents/Speculative%20Fiction%20Showcase/Interview%20with%20Mike%20Fiorito,%20author%20of%20For%20All%20We%20Know%20(1).docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>);
the pilot observations have been backed by multiple modalities of radar and
other detection equipment; and the NYT 2017 article written by Leslie Kean.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">Why
do you think human interest in UFOs grew so much in the 20th century?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">There have always
been accounts of “unexplainable things seen in the skies” across cultures.
There are published accounts of experiences documented by Indigenous cultures
around the world, which Western societies have largely ignored. Ardy Sixkiller
Clarke, Professor Emeritus at Montana State University, and an
Indigenous American, has published a number of well-respected books on this
subject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">Tell
us something about your protagonist, Matteo Tarquini.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">He’s named after
my friend Andrea Tarquini, a musician who lives in Italy. While I definitely
referenced autobiographical material to write the book, Matteo is not me. I
wanted to make a point of showing Matteo to be a little dopey and incomplete in
his knowledge. A flawed character is more likeable, perhaps more like the rest
of us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">To
what extent does the book discuss UFO cases, and how far is it about
experiences of the transcendent?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">I don’t really go
into cases in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For All We Know. </i>I
wanted to avoid the typical way in which UFO books are written and invite other
people into the conversation. I wanted to ask more questions than offer
answers. In my opinion, the UFO subject is a spiritual quest. Once you begin
asking questions about the limits of science and the limits of knowledge, this
opens you to the deepest aspects of what it is to be human, to have a mind, to
be alive and so on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">Who
do you think will enjoy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For All We Know</i>?
Have you got a specific audience in mind?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">From people who
have read it, I’ve been told it’s like a “Holden Caulfield UFO themed” book. I
hope that anyone who likes a good story will read it. I tried to put a lot of
emphasis on the poetry of the language. Whether or not I was successful is up
to the reader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">What
are your thoughts about scepticism towards UFOs and other supernatural
occurrences?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">I understand
their scepticism. However, I would say that, once you begin looking into the
subject, it challenges your assumptions of science and cosmology. It’s not hard
to believe that there are multiple civilizations, say twenty thousand, one
hundred thousand and two million years ahead of us. Also, given our current
understanding of physics, there could be other dimensions intersecting with
ours that are invisible to us, given our current level of technology. In
college I studied the Philosophy of Science and the Philosophy of Mind. Both of
these subjects challenge our definitions of science and consciousness. For
instance, Issac Newton’s ideas were groundbreaking. But his ideas don’t work at
the subatomic level. Even Einstein stated that “God doesn’t play dice,” but
quantum mechanics suggests otherwise. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">While science has produced amazing
results in the modern era, science is a moving target. We need to understand
there may be ideas that are simply beyond our comprehension. Perhaps the UFO
anomalies that are encountered can be explained by a future science that we
don’t yet understand. That said, the anomalous phenomena that people experience
seem to have intentionality. According to Commander David Fravor, who witnessed the "Tic Tac" UFO, it accelerated with intentionality, catching up to the pilots and zooming past
them, playing cat and mouse. Also, pilots have a term called a cap point. In
aviation parlance the cap point is agreed upon before a mission. It is
something only they know, like a strategic triangulation point. At one
point, David Fravor saw the Tic Tac object
move to the cap point after rapidly accelerating past him, which was like the Phenomena saying: ‘I'm reading your
mind.’ <a href="file:///C:/Users/jessi/Documents/Speculative%20Fiction%20Showcase/Interview%20with%20Mike%20Fiorito,%20author%20of%20For%20All%20We%20Know%20(1).docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></sup></span></sup></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">Why
are humans preoccupied with the idea of alien visitors/beings from beyond the
cosmos?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">It seems odd that
the universe would exist only for Earth-based life. It would seem that life
elsewhere in the universe is highly probable, given the amount of stars (estimated one septillion,
that’s only the ones we can observe!) and the amount of potential planets
(estimated 2 trillion). How could this tiny blue dot be the
only planet where life exists?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">What
are you working on at the moment?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">A non-fiction
book that explores the uncanny origins of music, why we make and need music.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">What
do you love to read, in relation to this subject?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">I’ve loved books
by Jeffrey Kripal, Diana Pasulka, Alan Steinfeld, Whitley Streiber, and Kathleen
Marden.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1627205268?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_ETGQNWYZQYBK8WJBEZHG&language=en-US" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About Mike Fiorito:</span></h1><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cCvSerivGEfZ4Xy5lBbcQSZs9kkACimLy1jNcOG-Ex0_jVz-6TpmgJBtpthXtAjBh1j5AHC9H27myN16X7754aHuZBv-uooAYAch01c9axnE-CfELZRlJUBGznDBSUpmhtPfTd2Kp9pXYaD_kERaW10P-SKSBB-U-wRzYqS6hfdfWBw8KyvewpVMQkkV/s4032/Mike%20Fiorito%20author%20pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cCvSerivGEfZ4Xy5lBbcQSZs9kkACimLy1jNcOG-Ex0_jVz-6TpmgJBtpthXtAjBh1j5AHC9H27myN16X7754aHuZBv-uooAYAch01c9axnE-CfELZRlJUBGznDBSUpmhtPfTd2Kp9pXYaD_kERaW10P-SKSBB-U-wRzYqS6hfdfWBw8KyvewpVMQkkV/s320/Mike%20Fiorito%20author%20pic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mindbuckmediacom.tinyemails.com/c/eyJ1Ijo0NzEzOSwibSI6MjYzOTM1NDE1LCJsIjoxMjc0NTEzfQ.RHvySAImaBiwX9_gXsDh-bQGobv-RLy8qDc247WTHMI.html" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Mike Fiorito</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is an editor, journalist and the award-winning author of eight genre-defying books: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For All We Know</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Hated Ones</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Falling from Trees</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sleeping with Fishes</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Call Me Guido</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Freud’s Haberdashery Habit, </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">and</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Hallucinating Huxley</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. He was born in New York City and lives in Brooklyn with his family.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://mikefiorito.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/callmegudio" target="_blank">X/Twitter</a></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jessi/Documents/Speculative%20Fiction%20Showcase/Interview%20with%20Mike%20Fiorito,%20author%20of%20For%20All%20We%20Know%20(1).docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tic-tac-ufo-sighting-uap-video-dave-fravor-alex-dietrich-navy-fighter-pilots-house-testimony/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/jessi/Documents/Speculative%20Fiction%20Showcase/Interview%20with%20Mike%20Fiorito,%20author%20of%20For%20All%20We%20Know%20(1).docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/unidentified-flying-object-navy.html<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-7816879768299151952024-03-07T23:00:01.000+00:002024-03-08T02:15:53.449+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for March 8, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>,<i> </i><i>Star Wars </i>in general<i>,</i><i> Dune: Part 2, Star Trek</i> in general, the new <i>Avatar the Last Airbender, </i><i>Resident Alien, The Completely Made Up Adventures of Duick Turpin, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Shogun</i>, tributes to Jaime Lee Moyer and much
more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/march-40-new-sci-fi-fantasy-horror-book-releases-1851227135">Cheryl Eddy shares forty science fiction, fantasy and horror novels coming out in March. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-science-fiction-books-march-2024/"><i>Reactor </i>shares all the new science fiction books coming out in March. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-fantasy-books-march-2024/"><i>Reactor </i>shares all the new fantasy books coming out in March. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-sff-crossover-books-march-24/"><i>Reactor </i>shares all the new romantasy, horror and SFF crossover books coming out in March. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-young-adult-sff-books-march-2024/"><i>Reactor </i>shares all the new young adult SFF crossover books coming out in March. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-charles-payseur/">Charles Payseur shares his favourite SFF works of 2023.</a> </li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/10-iconic-fantasy-novels-ripe-for-rediscovery/">Holly Black shares ten iconic SFF novels deserving of rediscovery. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/ten-classic-books-i-read-as-a-teen-that-still-hold-up/">James Davis Nicoll shares ten SFF books he read as a teenager that still hold up. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/03/01/deadly-serious-science-fiction-2/">James Wallace Harris talks about dystopian science fiction as a warning of things to come. </a></li><li><a href="https://sf.ersatzculture.com/chinese_sf_2023_recommendations.html"><i>ErsatzCulture</i> shares recommendations for Chinese science fiction. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/suburban-gothic/">Gwendolyn Kiste talks about the enduring appeal of suburban horror. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/feminist-gothic-modern/">Paulette Kennedy shares seven gothic novels with a feminist perspective. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/wrapping-up-against-the-chill-coats-and-cloaks-in-gothic-fiction/">Elizabeth Brooks talks about cloaks and coats in fantasy, horror and gothic fiction. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/crashing-dunes-and-wandering-winds-5-of-the-best-fantasy-deserts/">Moses Ose Utomi shares his five favourite fantasy deserts. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://stevejwright.com/2024/03/02/how-the-other-half-lives/">Steve J. Wright discusses the fascist tendencies in E.E. Smith's <i>Lensman</i> series and golden age science fiction in general. </a></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/blog/2024/02/17/adventures-in-fiction-andre-norton-3/">Jim Wampler shares his appreciation for the works of Andre Norton. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/anna-smith-spark-where-to-start-reading/">John Mauro shares his appreciation for the works of Anna Smith Spark. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://spraguedecampfan.wordpress.com/2024/02/21/enjoying-clark-ashton-smiths-zothique/">Phil Sawyer shares his appreciation for the <i>Zotique</i> stories by Clark Ashton Smith. </a></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/blog/2024/02/24/adventures-in-fiction-august-derleth-2/">Bradley K. McDewitt profiles August Derleth. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/science/elements/thinking-about-ai-with-stanislaw-lem">Rivka Galchen revisits the works of Stanislaw Lem and finds them remarkably prescient with regard to AI.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/murderbot-and-me-a-guest-post-by-robin-anne-reid/">Robin Anne Reid talks about the <i>Murderbot </i>series by Martha Wells and why it resonated with her. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/locus-is-a-lifeline-for-writers-in-the-margins/">Eugenia Triantafyllou explains why <i>Locus</i> is a lifeline for SFF writers living outside North America. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/28/opinion/swifties-fandoms.html">Jessica Grose discusses how fandom could influence the US elections. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/richard-bowes-a-remembrance/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email"><i>Uncanny Magazine</i> shares tributes to Richard Bowes. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jurn.link/tentaclii/index.php/2024/02/29/brian-stableford-as-editor-and-scholar/">Dave Haden remembers Brian Stableford's work as an editor and scholar. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/michael-langford-obituary?id=54544242">Longtime SFF fan Michael Langford has died aged 69. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/dick-ditmar-jenssen-1935-2024/">Australian fan, awards organiser and meteorologist Dick "Ditmar" Jenssen has died aged 88. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/jaime-lee-moyer-found-deceased/">Fantasy author Jaime Lee Moyer has died unexpectedly. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/author-jaime-lee-moyer-has-passed-away/">Vanessa Armstrong remembers Jaime Lee Moyer. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/02/50-years-of-savage-sword-of-conan-and.html">Brian Murphy looks back on fifty years of <i>The Savage Sword of Conan</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-magic-order-volume-one/">Brad Hawley reviews<i> The Magic Order Volume One</i> by Mark Millar and Oliver Coipel</a></li><li><a href="http://journeyplanet.weebly.com/journey-planet---2021-hugo-nominee/journey-planet-79-v-for-vendetta">Issue 79 of <i>Journey Planet</i> is dedicated to <i>V for Vendetta </i>by Alan Moore and David Lloyd.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/scout-comics-non-payment-allegations-jarred-lujan-1851304104">Justin Carter reports that comic publisher <i>Scout Comics</i> is not paying creators. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/mar/02/tom-gauld-on-the-latest-self-help-books-for-dogs-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about self-help books for dogs.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-funniest-sff-tv-show-youre-probably-not-watching/">Charlie Jane Anders calls <i>Extraordinary</i> the funniest SFF TV show not enough people are watching. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-regime-premiere-review-victory-day-1851299239">Manuel Betancourt calls <i>The Regime</i> an absurd political satire. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-recap-season-2-episode-6-onyx/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Halo</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/constellation-recap-season-1-episode-5-five-miles-out-the-sound-is-clearest/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Constellation</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/welcome-to-second-best-hospital-in.html">Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on <i>The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy </i></a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/review-jujutsu-kaisen-season-two.html">Ann Michelle Harris shares her thoughts on season 2 of <i>Jujutsu Kaisen</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-gyeongseong-creature/">Adrian Collins shares his thoughts on the South Korean TV show <i>Gyeongseong Creature</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/bakuage-sentai-boonboomger-power-rangers-fast-furious-1851309672">James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on the Japanese TV show<i> Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/kung-fu-panda-4-movie-review-jack-black-1851312492">Courtney Howard calls <i>Kung Fu Panda 4 </i>a weak belated sequel. <i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/forbidden-planet-the-moment-hollywood-got-serious-about-sci-fi-cinema/">Kali Wallace revisits the 1956 science fiction film <i>Forbidden Planet.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-4-1969-here-endeth-the-lesson-doctor-who-the-seeds-of-death-parts-4-6/">Jessica Holmes revisits the 1969 <i>Doctor Who</i> serial "The Seeds of Death".</a></li><li><a href="http://doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.com/2024/03/eyes-of-laura-mars-1978-film-review.html">Martin Edwards revisits the 1978 horror thriller <i>The Eyes of Laura Mars</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/romancing-the-stone/">Keith Roysdon revisits the 1984 adventure film <i>Romancing the Stone</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/tron-legacy-retro-review-tron-ares-jeff-bridges-disney-1851282804">Germain Lussier revisits the 2010 science fiction film<i> Tron Legacy.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/john-williams-oscars-star-wars-steven-spielberg-collaborations-1235929403/">Chris Willman interviews legendary film composer John Williams.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/01/jon-bernthal-on-walking-through-fire-for-ava-duvernay-origin-isabel-wilkerson">Zoe Williams interviews Jon Bernthal, star of <i>The Punisher </i>and <i>The Walking Dead. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/02/this-much-i-know-ben-kingsley-any-door-that-leads-young-people-to-me-is-wonderful">Rich Pelley interviews Sir Ben Kingsley, who appeared in<i> Sexy Beast, Jules, Iron Man 3</i> and many others. </a></li><li><a href="https://lamag.com/film/paul-dano-giant-spider-adam-sandler-in-spaceman">Adam Davidson interviews Paul Dano who plays a giant talking spider in <i>Spaceman</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/dakota-johnson-teatime-book-club">Charlotte Owens interviews Dakota Johnson, star of <i>Madame Web.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/walton-goggins-fallout-character-explained-ghoul-amazon-1851316681">James Whitbrook interviews Walton Goggins who plays The Ghoul in <i>Fallout. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dewanda-wise-imaginary-interview-blumhouse-lionsgate-1851309108">Sabina Graves interviews DeWanda Wise, star of<i> Imaginary </i>and<i> Jurassic World: Dominion.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/merian-c-cooper-a-king-and-a-god-in-the-world-he-knew/">Steve Vertlieb profiles Meriam C. Cooper, director of the original<i> King Kong. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/03/mark-kermode-on-director-wes-craven-who-made-horror-a-positive-force-in-a-world-filled-with-fear-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-40th-anniversary">Mark Kermode profiles horror director Wes Craven.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/the-wizard-of-oz-over-the-rainbow-plagiarized-1235843128/">Anthony Tringali and Stephen Cox report that the 1939 song "Over the Rainbow" from <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> may have been plagiarised from the 1910 piece “Concert Étude, Opus 38” by Norwegian composer Signe Lund. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/my-date-with-she-hulk/">Jonathan Alexandratos talks about the cancellation of <i>She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/01/roger-cormans-fantastic-four-movie-is-notoriously-terrible-do-we-really-want-it-resuscitated">Ben Child wonders why some fans are lobbying for a streaming release of the infamously terrible 1994<i> Fantastic Four </i>movie. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/zack-snyder-joe-rogan-batman-kills-dc-comics-wb-1851317278">James Whitbrook reports that director Zack Snyder considers a <i>Batman </i>who won't kill irrelevant. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/rooster-teeth-shutting-down-warner-bros-discovery-1235931953/">Todd Spangler reports that <i>Warner Bros</i> is shutting down the animation studio <i>Rooster Teeth </i>after 21 years. </a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/television-tv-cable-mtv-ghost-networks-01780bd6be10a4a7e85b795000d6db4e">David Bauder reports that many US TV networks have becomes ghost stations, which are steadily losing viewers to streaming services. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-teamsters-iatse-solidarity-rally-amptp-negotiations-1235838247/">Gary Baum and Katie Kilkenny report that the film crew union IATSE is threatening to go on strike only months after the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes shut down film and TV productions. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://mercurie.blogspot.com/2024/03/anne-whitfield-passes-on.html">Actress Ann Whitfield who appeared in <i>White Christmas, The Thin Man, Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, Kolchak</i> - The Night Stalker and many others has died aged 85. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/charles-dierkop-dead-butch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid-police-woman-1235836234/">Actor Charles Dierkop, who appeared in <i>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Police Woman, Star Trek</i> and many others, has died aged 87. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/03/03/mark-dodson-dead-dies-gremlins-voice-actor-return-of-the-jedi/">Voice actor Mark Dodson, who voiced Salacious Crumb in <i>Star Wars</i> and several of the titular creatures in <i>Gremlins</i>, has died aged 64. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/07/pamela-salem-obituary">British actress Pamela Salem, who appeared in <i>Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Never Say Never Again</i> and <i>The Great Train Robbery</i>, has died aged 80. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers) and <i>Masters of the Universe</i> in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.salonfutura.net/2024/02/masters-of-the-universe-revolution/">Cheryl Morgan shares her thoughts on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://screenrant.com/masters-universe-revolution-revelation-ways-better/">Alexander Valentino shares nine reasons he prefers <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> over <i>Revelation</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://screenrant.com/masters-universe-revolution-world-characters-biggest-changes/">Alexander Valentino also shares ten changes <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> makes to established <i>Masters of the Universe</i> lore. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://screenrant.com/masters-universe-revolution-he-man-battle-armor-cannon-origin/">Kate Bove praises the inclusion of the iconic Battle Armour He-Man toy in<i> Masters of the Universe: Revolution. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NYhmMgS1LY"><i>For Eternia </i>shares some background on the Cosmic Enforcer Zanthor, who makes a cameo appearance in<i> Masters of the Universe: Revolution.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://foreternia.com/2024/02/success-or-failure-looking-a-little-closer-at-those-top-10-lists-for-masters-of-the-universe-revolution"><i>For Eternia</i> attempts to analyse the ratings performance of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Dune, Part 2</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/in-dune-part-two-heros-journey-takes.html">Arturo Serrano declares that the hero's journey takes a dark turn in <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/dune-part-two-asks-questions-that-the-original-never-dared/">Emmet Asher-Perrin declares that <i>Dune: Part 2</i> asks questions that the original never dared</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/film/2024/02/dune-2-review-pure-spectacle">David Sexton calls <i>Dune, Part 2</i> pure spectacle devoid of self-consciousness or humour.</a></li><li><a href="https://orbnews.substack.com/p/make-sci-fi-cringe-again-duneposting">Maya St. Clair notes that she actually prefer David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of <i>Dune</i> to Denis Villeneuve's, because it captures the weirdness of the noves much better. </a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/review-dune-part-2/">Camestros Felpaton feels that Denis Villeneuve's <i>Dune</i> does a good job capturing the weird messiness of the novel. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/07/dune-movie-part-two-book-messiah">Ben Child notes that the various <i>Dune </i>sequels get even weirder and may be very difficult to film indeed. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/mar/04/dune-part-two-review">Adrian Horton shares a spoilerish review of <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/so-glad-you-didnt-ask-83-a-column-of-unsolicited-opinions/">Chris M. Barkley shares his thoughts on <i>Dune: Part 2</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2togqDK0NBQ"><i>Geek the F Out</i> share their thoughts on <i>Dune: Part 2</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2024/03/03/dune-2/">P.Z. Myers shares his thoughts on <i>Dune: Part 2</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dune-2-imax-70mm-3-am-1235927960/">Ethan Shanfeld talks about watching a 3:15 am screening of <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dune-2-ending-explained-denis-villeneuve-paul-chani-1851288466">Germain Lussier interviews Denis Villeneuve, director of <i>Dune</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/dune-part-two-denis-villeneuve-directing-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-1235837162/">Brian Davids interviews Denis Villeneuve. </a></li><li><a href="https://collider.com/dune-deleted-scenes-denis-villeneuve/">Britta Devore interviews Denis Villeneuve. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/denis-villeneuve-dune-part-two-interview-1234958553/">Anne Thompson interviews Denis Villeneuve. </a></li><li><a href="https://ew.com/dune-part-two-denis-villeneuve-most-painful-character-to-cut-8601541">Christian Holub interviews Denis Villeneuve. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-02-22/austin-butler-denis-villeneuve-dune-part-two-villain-feyd-rautha-harkonnen-interview">Josh Rottenberg interviews Denis Villenueve and Austin Butler, who plays Feyd Rautha Harkonnen in <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/christopher-walken-dune-part-two-star-wars?utm_brand=vf&mbid=social_twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_social-type=owned&utm_medium=social">Anthony Breznican interviews Christopher Walken who plays Emperor Shaddam IV in <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/dune-2-shooting-arena-fight-scene-infrared-1235927682/">Jazz Tangcay explains how the arena fight scene in <i>Dune: Part 2</i> was made. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-science-of-desert-planets-2/">Alex Acks talks about Arrakis, Tatooine and the science of desert planets </a></li><li><a href="https://countercraft.substack.com/p/dune-names-are-good-actually?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=284412&post_id=142208829&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email">Lincoln Michel points out that <i>Dune</i>'s linguistic worldbuilding is actually pretty good. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g38012512/dune-books-in-order/">Adrienne Westenfeld explains how to read the <i>Dune </i>novels in order. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/dune-2-box-office-opening-weekend-timothee-chalamet-1235928614/">Rebecca Rubin reports that <i>Dune: Part 2</i> has achieved the biggest box office opening weekend of 2024 to date. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://frontierpartisans.com/33500/the-mandalorian/">Matthew Ilseman shares his appreciation for <i>The Mandalorian</i>, particularly its space western aesthetics. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/hayden-christensen-star-wars-interview/">Amon Warmann interviews Hayden Christensen who played Anakin Skywalker in the <i>Star Wars</i> prequel trilogy,<i> Obi-Wan Kenobi </i>and <i>Ahsoka</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>in animation and live action:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/netflixs-avatar-the-last-airbender-renewed-for-two-more-seasons/">Vanessa Armstrong reports that the live action <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> has been renewed for two more seasons.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/netflix-avatar-the-last-airbender-renewal-end-1851312395">Emma Keates notes that <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> will also definitely end after season 3. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://reactormag.com/thirteen-years-of-rewatching-star-trek-a-look-back/">Keith R.A. DeCamdido looks back on his<i> Star Trek </i>rewatch series. </a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2024/03/08/i-finally-watched-star-trek-discovery-season-4/">Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on season 4 of <i>Star Trek Discovery</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-6-1969-different-points-of-view-star-trek-the-cloud-minders/"><i>Galactic Journey </i>share their thoughts on the 1969 <i>Star Trek</i> episode "The Cloud Minders". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/the-high-ground-guest-post-by-james-bacon/">James Bacon revisits the 1990 <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> episode "The High Ground". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68342135">Michael Shiels McNamee also revisits "The High Ground".</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-picard-season-3-cut-cameos-voyager-ds9-1851317736">James Whitbrook reports that season 3 of <i>Star Trek Picard</i> almost had even more cameos by former <i>Deep Space Nine</i> and <i>Voyager</i> castmembers. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/star-trek-homages-tv-movies-books-galaxy-quest-black-mirror/">Avery Kaplan shares her five favourite <i>Star Trek</i> homages. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Resident Alien</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/resident-alien-is-your-next-wacky-wholesome-binge-syfy-1851304273">Saloni Gajjar begs people to watch <i>Resident Alien</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/resident-alien-recap-season-3-episode-4-avian-flu/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Resident Alien</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/asta-resident-alien-sara-tomko-syfy/">Melody McCune shares her appreciation for the character of Asta Twelvetrees in <i>Resident Alien</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-completely-made-up-adventures-of-dick-turpin-review-1851290370">Jenna Scherer calls <i>The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin</i> the long-lost twin of <i>Our Flag Means Death</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/mar/01/the-completely-made-up-adventures-of-dick-turpin-review-noel-fielding-comedy-feels-like-daylight-robbery">Lucy Mangan calls <i>The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin</i> a comedy that feels like daylight robbery</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-1-episode-2-gone-recap/"> Noetta Harjo shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/walking-dead-rick-michonne-spin-off-ratings-amc-twd-1851301551">Cheryl Eddy notes that<i> The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i> is a ratings success. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Shogun</i>: </b></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/shogun-review-season-1-episode-3-1851304602">Meredith Hobbs Coons shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Shogun</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/shogun-show-fx-hiroyuki-sanada-anna-sawai-interview-1851297721">Saloni Gajjar interviews Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, two of the stars of <i>Shōgun</i></a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/bsfa-awards-2023-shortlist/">The shortlist for the 2023 BSFA Awards has been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-crawford-award-winner/">The winner of the 2024 Crawford Award has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-robert-e-howard-awards-shortlist/">The shortlist for the 2024 Robert E. Howard Awards has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/self-published-science-fiction-competition-3-semifinalists/">The semifinalists for the 2023 Self-Published Science Fiction Competition have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/clarkesworld-2023-readers-poll-winners/">The winners of the 2023 Clarkesworld Reader’s Poll have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2023-ursa-major-awards-nominees/">The finalists for the 2023 Ursa Major Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-leo-literary-awards-shortlist/">The shortlist for the 2024 Leo Literary Awards has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-jim-baen-memorial-short-story-award-finalists-announced/">The finalists for the 2024 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/tom-doherty-wins-2024-robert-a-heinlein-award/">The winner of the 2024 Robert A. Heinlein Award has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/05/anne-enright-and-isabella-hammad-make-the-womens-prize-for-fiction-longlist">The longlist for the 2024 Women's Prize for Fiction has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.audiopub.org/2024audieawards-winners">The winners of the 2024 Audie Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/03/ace-eddie-awards-winners-list-1235839550/">The winners of the 2023 ACE Eddie Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.goldderby.com/article/2024/mpse-golden-reel-awards-oppenheimer-oscars/">The winners of the 2023 Golden Reel Awards have been announced. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/proposal-that-there-should-be-a-permanent-hugo-tech-working-group-guest-post-by-doctor-science/">Doctor Science shares a proposal to have a permanent Hugo tech working group in order to unify the software that is used to count Hugo votes and nominations. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/on-writing-settings-that-crawl-under-the-skin/">Jaq Evans talks about writing settings that crawl under the skin. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/pull-to-publish-fanfic-senlinyu-manacled-fanbinding/">Elizabeth Minkel notes that quite a few people actually do make money from fan fiction, just not the authors. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fanbinding-fanfiction-bookbinding">Elizabeth Minkel reports about the emerging art of fanbinding, i.e. fan fiction being bound as hardcover books. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.brandonsanderson.com/regarding-audible/">Brandon Sanderson reports about how he is trying to persuade <i>Audible</i> to offer terms more favourable to authors. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94466-new-lee-low-diversity-baseline-survey-finds-minor-changes.html?oly_enc_id=7809B3463278E9B">Jim Milliot reports about the results of the latest <i>Lee & Low </i>study about diversity in the publishing industry.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/07/world-book-day-finds-children-are-put-off-reading-for-pleasure">Ella Creamer reports that a recent study in the UK has found that many children feel judges for the reading choices and are put off reading for pleasure. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://colbysharp.substack.com/p/are-author-visits-worth-it?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=email">Colby Sharp wonders if author visits to schools are worth it. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://clarkeaward.substack.com/p/carbon-based-bipeds-feb-29th?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1021544&post_id=141797620&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1gv0k&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email">Tom Hunter interviews Patience Agbabi.</a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/wasserstein_interview/">Arley Sorg interviews Izzy Wasserstein. </a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/chattopadhyay_interview/">Arley Sorg interviews Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay </a></li><li><a href="https://horror.org/women-in-horror-month-2024-an-interview-with-kate-maruyama/">The HWA interviews Kate Maruyama. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/microreview-city-of-marble-and-blood-by.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>The City of Marble and Blood </i>by Howard Andrew Jones </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20450">Paul Haggerty reviews <i>Legends & Lattes</i> by Travis Baldree </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/adrienne-martini-reviews-paladins-faith-by-t-kingfisher/">Adrienne Martini reviews <i>Paladin’s Faith</i> by T. Kingfisher </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-river-of-teeth-by-sarah-gailey/">Adrian Collins reviews <i>River of Teeth</i> by Sarah Gailey </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lesasbookcritiques.com/kevins-corner-annex-j-d-robbs-calculated-in-death/">Kevin Tipple reviews <i>Calculated in Death </i>by J.D. Robb. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.salonfutura.net/2024/02/the-imposition-of-unnecessary-obstacles/">Cheryl Morgan reviews <i>The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles </i>by Malka Older. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/paul-di-filippo-reviews-beggars-sky-by-wil-mccarthy/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>Beggar’s Sky</i> by Wil McCarthy </a></li><li><a href="https://jenmedsbookreviews.com/2024/03/07/the-collapsing-wave-by-doug-johnstone/">Jen Lucas reviews <i>The Collapsing Wave</i> by Doug Johnstone </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-storm-beneath-the-world-by-michael-r-fletcher/">Adrian Collins reviews <i>The Storm Beneath the World</i> by Michael R. Fletcher </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett/">Martin Cahill reviews <i>The Tainted Cup</i> by Robert Jackson Bennett. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-venom-vow-by-anna-marie-mclemore-and-elliot-mclemore/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>Venom & Vow</i> by Anna-Marie and Elliot McLemore </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-pillar-of-ash-by-h-m-long.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon</i> reviews <i>Pillar of Ash</i> by H.M. Long</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/tide">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Fathomfolk</i> by Eliza Chan </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-truth-of-the-aleke/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Truth of the Aleke</i> by Moses Ose Utomi </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/3/1/the-djinns-apple-by-djamila-morani-translated-by-sawad-hussain"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews<i> The Djinn's Apple </i>by Djamila Morani, translated by Sawad Hussain </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/alex-brown-reviews-the-djinn-waits-a-hundred-years-by-shubnum-khan/">Alex Brown reviews <i>The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years</i> by Shubnum Khan </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/paul-di-filippo-reviews-equimedian-by-alvaro-zinos-amaro/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>Equimedian </i>by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro </a></li><li><a href="https://crimefictionlover.com/2024/03/the-descent-by-paul-e-hardisty/">Sharon Richardson reviews <i>The Descent</i> by Paul E. Hardisty </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-invisible-hotel-by-yeji-y-ham/">Tobias Carroll reviews <i>The Invisible Hotel</i> by Yeji Y. Han. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/jake-casella-brookins-reviews-same-bed-different-dreams-by-ed-park/">Jake Casella Brookins reviews <i>Same Bed Different Dreams</i> by Ed Park </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-through-dreams-so-dark-by-angela-boord/">John Mauro reviews <i>Through Dreams So Dark </i>by Angela Boord</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/what-feasts-at-night/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>What Feasts at Night</i> by T. Kingfisher</a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/a-bookreview-feed-them-silence-by-lee-mandelo/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Feed Them Silence</i> by Lee Mandelo </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-warm-hands-of-ghosts-by-katherine-arden/">Charles Bonkowsky reviews <i>The Warm Hands Of Ghosts </i>by Katherine Arden </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-my-throat-an-open-grave-by-tori-bovalino/">Mahvesh Murad reviews<i> My Throat an Open Grave</i> by Tori Bovalino.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/03/the-haunting-of-velkwood-by-gwendolyn-kiste/">Rob Bedford reviews <i>The Haunting of Velkwood</i> by Gwendoline Kiste.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-projections-by-s-e-porter/">Molly Templeton reviews <i>Projections</i> by S.E. Porter. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/3/5/charlie-says-by-neil-williamson"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Charlie Says</i> by Neil Williamson</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/2/29/review-sinbad-and-the-great-old-ones-by-gavin-chappell">Richard Fisher reviews <i>Sinbad and the Great Old Ones</i> by Gavin Chappell </a></li><li><a href="https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/book-review-convergence-problems-by-wole-talabi/">Daniel Haeusser reviews <i>Covergence Problems </i>by Wole Talabi</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/03/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-convergence-problems-by-wole-talabi/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>Convergence Problems</i> by Wole Talabi </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/tracking-the-north-american-bigfooter-john-oconnors-the-secret-history-of-bigfoot/">Judith Tarr reviews <i>The Secret History of Bigfoot </i>by John O'Connor.</a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://thecromcast.blogspot.com/2024/02/season-18-episode-22-red-nails-redux.html"><i>The Cromcast </i>revisits the 1936 <i>Conan</i> sword and sorcery story "Red Nails" by Robert E. Howard. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/two-for-the-price-of-one-the-sun-destroyers-by-ross-rocklynne-and-a-yank-at-valhalla-by-edmond-hamilton/">Alan Brown revisits the 1941 science fiction novels <i>The Sun Destroyers</i> by Ross Rocklynne and <i>A Yank at Valhalla</i> by Edmond Hamilton </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-cosmic-puppets/">Sandy Ferber revisits the 1956 science fiction novel <i>The Cosmic Puppets </i>by Philip K. Dick </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/27/short-story-review-reduction-in-arms-by-tom-purdom/">Brian Collins revisits the 1967 science fiction story “Reduction in Arms” by Tom Purdom</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/build-this-dream">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1968 science fiction novel <i>The Last Starship From Earth </i>by John Boyd. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-2-1969-dreams-and-reality-april-1969-if/">David Levinson revisits the April 1969 issue of<i> If - Worlds of Science Fiction</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-prince-of-the-city-by-keith-herber/">C.T. Phipps revisits the 1979 vampire novel <i>Prince of the City</i> by Keith Herber </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/all-our-pomp-of-yesterday">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1981 military science fiction novel <i>In the Hands of Glory</i> by Phyllis Eisenstein </a></li><li><a href="http://glorioustrash.blogspot.com/2024/03/doomsday-warrior-18-american-dream.html">Joe Kenney revisits the 1990 <i>Doomsday Warrior </i>post-apocalyptic novel <i>American Dream Machine</i> by Ryder Stacy a.k.a. Ryder Syvertsen. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/sibling-rivalry-and-attempted-murder-the-stepsister-and-the-stepsister-2/">Alissa Burger revisits the 1990 YA horror novel<i> The Stepsister </i>and its 1995 sequel <i>The Stepsister 2 </i>by R.L. Stine.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/terry-pratchett-book-club-nation-part-i/">Emmet Asher-Perrin revisits the 2008 fantasy novel <i>Nation </i>by Terry Pratchett. </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b><i> <br /></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.concatenation.org/conrev/fantasycon-2023.html">Ian Hunter reports about the 2023 Fantasycon in Birmingham, UK. </a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-science-fiction-censorship-three-body-chengdu-9040ca9084fc8ec07935d461e4e65ac0">Simina Mistreanu reports about the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China, and Chinese SFF fandom in general. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lasfs.org/lasfs-weekly-meetings/were-back-baby-lasfs-1st-meeting-in-years/">The Los Angeles Science Fiction Society shares photos of its first in-person meeting in years. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/sxsw-2024-film-preview-south-by-southwest-1851314541">Matthew Jackson looks ahead at the SFF movies debuting at the 2024 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4r4m"><i>BBC Outlook </i>interviews puppeteer Basil Twist who created the puppets for a stage adaptation of <i>My Neighbour Totoro</i> at the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, UK. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2024/02/disney-adult-superfan-industrial-complex">Amelia Tait points out that the so-called <i>Disney </i>adults are a deliberate creation of the <i>Walt Disney Company </i>to market its products. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-tours-destinations-disney-parks-ahsoka-star-wars-1851317157">Sabina Graves shares a guide to all the <i>Star Wars</i> locations featured in the <i>Star Tours</i> ride at various <i>Disney Parks </i>around the world. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lamag.com/museums/george-lucas-billion-dollar-museum-of-narrative-art-star-wars">Chris Nichols reports about the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, California. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/01/winchester-cathedral-jane-austen-statue-disneyfication">Steven Morris reports about a controversy regarding plans to set up a statue of Jane Austen outside Winchester cathedral in Winchester, UK, where Jane Austen lies buried. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/mar/05/world-book-day-cost-of-living-dress-up-plans">Ella Creamer reports that British schools have stopped asking kids to dress up as favourite characters for World Book Day, because of costumes can be a huge expense for many families. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/locus-mag-science-fiction-fantasy-horror-2024#/"><i>Locus Magazine</i> is running its annual fundraiser for 2024. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1332620926/flipor-the-exclusive-figure-that-wont-be-cancelled">The<i> Flip-Or </i>action figure by <i>Hatter Toys </i>is looking for funding.<b><br /></b></a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mashable.com/article/intuitive-machines-us-moon-landing-pictures">Elisha Sauers shares some photos taken by the <i>Odysseus</i> Moon Lander as it touched down on the Moon. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/03/04/what-a-major-solar-storm-could-do-to-our-planet">Kathryn Schulz explains what a major solar storm could do to Earth.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/the-many-real-life-deaths-surrounding-the-star-wars-defense-initiative/">Lisa Black talks about the remarkable number of deaths that occurred around Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defence Initiative SDI, incorrectly referred to as the <i>Star Wars</i> program. </a></li><li><a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/06/world-peace-plane-commutes-100-year-old-predictions-2024/72087255007/">Mark J. Price compares the actual 2024 to predictions made in 1924. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-sff-board-games-with-excellent-lore/">Cole Rush shares five SFF board games with excellent lore.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/03/microreview-video-game-god-of-war.html">Joe DelFranco reviews the video game <i>God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla</i> by <i>Santa Monica Studios </i></a> <br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHBinhERTto"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins Rokkon </i>action figure.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmkkS_ODKv4"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews wave 1 of the <i>Mega Man </i>action figures by <i>Jada Toys.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://foreternia.com/2024/03/voices-of-eternia-an-open-letter-to-mattel-and-the-masters-of-the-universe-team"><i>MotU Origins Cork </i>shares an open letter to <i>Mattel</i> regarding distribution problems and the limited availability of many <i>Masters of the Universe</i> toys. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-hot-toys-ahsoka-villains-shin-hati-baylan-sko-1851313382">Sabina Graves shares a look at the <i>Hot Toys</i> Shin Hati and Baylan Skoll figures based on characters from <i>Ahsoka</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/lego-batman-animated-series-gotham-city-price-release-1851316155">James Whitbrook shares a look at a new <i>Batman: The Animated Series</i> themed <i>Lego </i>set. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3CnDXh7hH0"><i>Brick Technology</i> explains how to build a cat-sized <i>Lego</i> train. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/movie-buffs-popcorn-bucket-collectors-1234976027/">Miles Klee reports about collectors of movie tie-in popcorn buckets.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/06/shock-of-the-old-10-of-the-weirdest-wildest-dolls-from-history-from-frozen-charlotte-to-the-cabbage-patch-kids">Emma Beddington and Sarah Gilbert share pictures of vintage dolls they find scary. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/retro-haunted-toys-annabelle-chucky-elmo-skinamarink-1851310899">Sabina Graves also shares pictures of toys that either scare her or have inspired horror movies. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/vintage-toy-auction-lord-of-the-rings-star-wars-he-man-1851305507">Cheryl Eddy reports about an auction of rare vintage collectible toys. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-magician-did-it/">"A Magician Did It" by Rich Larson in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-throw-the-catch-the-swap/">"The Throw, The Catch, The Swap" by Michael Evans in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.<br /></a></li><li><a href="https://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2023/10/a-game-of-vlet.html">"A Game of Vlet" by Joanna Russ in<i> Library of America</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/rude-litterbox-space">"Rude Litterbox Space" by Mary Robinette Kowal in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/let-the-star-explode/">"Let the Star Explode" by Shingai Njeri Kagunda in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/fragments-of-a-symbiotic-life/">"Fragments of a Symbiotic Life" by Will McMahon in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=4146">"The Iron Serpent" by H.R. Laurence in <i>Heroic Fantasy Quarterly</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://thedeadlands.com/issue-33/threnody-in-dark-wood/">"Threnody in Dark Wood" by Avra Margariti in <i>The Deadlands</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-river-judge-s-l-huang/">"The River Judge" by S.L. Huang in <i>Reactor</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/fate-of-the-fair.html">"The Fate of the Fair" by Gustavo Bondoni in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/the-ghost-tenders-of-chornobyl/">"The Ghost Tenders of Chernobyl" by Nika Murphy in <i>Apex Magazine</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://wyldblood.com/my-flesh-your-blood/">"My Flesh, Your Blood" by David Contara in <i>Wyldblood</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/second-deaths/">"Second Deaths" by Keith Rosson in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ghan_03_24/">"Phosphorescence" by Ben Berman Ghan in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/jones_03_24/">"Hello! Hello! Hello!" by Fiona Jones in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.<br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/rare-bindings/">"Rare Bindings" by Matthew Cheney in <i>The Dark</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/03/04/free-fiction-monday-skin-deep/">"Skin Deep" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67vbA5ZJdKQ">Watch a trailer for <i>The Wild Robot</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-mugKDQDlg">Watch a trailer for <i>Fallout</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeKYfneOH3o">Watch a trailer for<i> Late Night With the Devil</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh6b6bkMMuI">Watch a trailer for <i>Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdvzhCL7vIA">Watch a trailer for <i>3 Body Problem</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-TwWrep9QA">Watch a trailer for<i> Parasyte: The Grey</i>. </a></li><li>W<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0eTmBeu9vA">atch a trailer for <i>Arcadian</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEjhY15eCx0">Watch a trailer for <i>Inside Out 2</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-2766689453678644962024-02-29T23:00:00.957+00:002024-02-29T23:00:00.364+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for March 1, 2024<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>,<i> </i><i>Star Wars </i>in general<i>,</i><i> Dune: Part 2, </i>the new <i>Avatar the Last Airbender, </i><i>Halo,</i> the new<i> Quantum Leap, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Shogun</i>, the best SFF books of 2023, an underwhelming Willy Wonka Chocolate Experience, tributes to Brian Stableford and Kenneth Mitchell and much more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/25/books/review/new-horror-books.html">Gabino Iglesias shares four new horror novels coming out soon. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/cant-miss-indie-press-speculative-fiction-for-march-and-april-2024/">Tobias Carroll shares indie and small press SFF for March and April 2024 </a></li><li><a href="https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2024/02/28/black-genre-fiction-recommendations">Traci Thomas shares science fiction, fantasy and horror by black authors to check out. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lauriepenny.substack.com/p/the-room-of-requirement?utm_source=%2Finbox&utm_medium=reader2">Laurie Penny talks about fandom and community. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bookriot.com/best-sci-fi-novellas/">Danika Ellis shares eight science fiction novellas to read in a single setting. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/backlist-bonanaza-5-underrated-romantasy-books/">Alex Brown shares five underrated romantasy novels. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-a-i-characters-id-be-proud-to-call-my-friend/">Lorna Wallace lists five AI characters she's be proud to call friend.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/never-mind-the-torment-nexus-heres-five-sf-ideas-id-like-to-see-in-reality/">James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction ideas he's like to see in reality. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-sf-strategies-for-creating-more-land/">James Davis Nicoll shares five science fictional strategies for dealing with overpopulation and creating more space. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/24084037/sarah-j-maas-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-acotar-romantasy">Constance Grady profiles Sarah J. Maas.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/john-hertz-on-fuzzy-pink-niven-1940-2023/">John Hertz remembers Marilyn "Fuzzy Pink" Niven. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sharonleewriter.com/2024/02/sunday-in-the-new-world/">Sharon Lee explains what she will do now that her writing and life partner Steve Miller has died. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dogpatch.press/2024/02/22/remembering-mark-merlino/">Mark Merlino, founder of furry and anime fandom in North America, has died aged 72. </a></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Tributes to Brian Stableford:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/brian-stableford-1948-2024/">British science fiction author, scholar, critic and translator Brian Stableford has died aged 75. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/author-and-translator-brian-stableford-passes-away-at-age-75/">Vanessa Armstrong remembers Brian Stableford </a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Best of 2023:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-russell-letson/">Russell Letsson shares his favourite SFF books of 2023. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-archita-mittra/">Archita Mittra shares her favourite SFF books of 2023.</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-niall-harrison/">Niall Harrison shares his favourite SFF books of 2023.</a> </li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-graham-sleight/">Graham Sleight shares his favourite SFF books of 2023.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-jake-casella-brookins/">Jake Casella Brookins shares his favourite SFF books of 2023.</a> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYC4b1T0fsM">Rob Siebert interviews comic and screenwriter Tim Sheridan </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/interview-ed-brubaker-comics-noir-captain-america-1851281934">Zach Rabiroff interviews comic writer Ed Brubaker.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/26/polar-vortex-by-denise-dorrance-review-hazards-of-a-homecoming">Rachel Cooke reviews the graphic novel <i>Polar Vortex </i>by Denise Dorrance </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/dick-tracy-alex-segura-michael-moreci-interview/">Dave Richards reports that Alex Segura and Michael Moreci are bringing back <i>Dick Tracy</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/planetary-25th-anniversay/">Brian Cronin looks back on the debut of <i>Planetary</i> by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday in 1999. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2024/02/24/the-real-gannett-conspiracy-chauvinism/">D.D. Degg reports that many US newspapers have dropped a lot of daily comic strips, including many strips by women creators. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/books/french-nonfiction-comic-books.html">Julia Webster Ayuso reports that France is experiencing a boom of non-fiction in comic form. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/2/22/the-savage-swords-and-strange-sorceries-of-frank-brunner">Deuce Richardson shares his appreciation for the fantasy art of Frank Brunner. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/feb/24/tom-gauld-on-the-author-of-his-own-misfortune-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about authorial misfortune. </a></li><li><a href="https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comic-book-creator-ramona-fradon-has-died-aged-97/">Ramona Fradon, who worked on <i>Aquaman, Metamorpho, Brenda Starr</i> and many others, has died aged 97. <br /></a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/why-godzilla-minus-one-could-and-should-win-an-oscar-1851273133">Cindy White declares that <i>Godzilla Minus One</i> could and should win an Oscar. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-completely-made-up-adventures-of-dick-turpin-review-1851290370">Jenna Scherer calls <i>The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin</i> the long-lost twin of <i>Our Flag Means Death</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/spaceman-movie-review-adam-sandler-netflix-1851288433">Manuel Betancourt declares that <i>Spaceman</i> fails to achieve lift-off. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-creator/">Aaron Jones calls <i>The Creator </i>a bold and entirely original science fiction film. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/stopmotion-horror-review-animation-live-action-shudder-1851276901">Cheryl Eddy calls <i>Stopmotion</i> a chilling psychological horror film. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/27/tropic-review-morally-ambiguous-sci-fi-predicts-the-departure-of-the-fittest">Leslie Felperin calls <i>Tropic</i> a morally ambiguous science fiction film. </a></li><li>L<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/28/iwaju-review-disney-steps-into-a-bold-and-brilliant-future">eila Latif calls<i> Iwájú</i> and unabashedly optimistic and delightful coming-of-age adventure </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/the-second-best-hospital-in-the-galaxy-season-1-tv-review-prime-video/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on <i>The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-monarch-legacy-of-monsters/">Aaron Jones shares his thoughts on <i>Monarch: Legacy of Monsters</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/resident-alien-recap-season-3-episode-2-the-upper-hand/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Resident Alien</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/constellation-series-premiere-recap-season-1-episode-1-the-wounded-angel/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on episode 1</a>, <a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/constellation-recap-season-1-episode-2-live-and-let-die/">episode 2 </a>and <a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/constellation-recap-season-1-episode-3-somewhere-in-space-hangs-my-heart/">episode 3 of <i>Constellation</i></a>. <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/26/combat-wombat-double-trouble-review-evil-tech-genius-takes-over-pre-schoolers-cartoon">Cath Clarke calls<i> Combat Wombat: Double Trouble</i> a cartoon that feels bizarrely inappropriate for children under five.</a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-28-1969-we-reach-star-trek-the-way-to-eden/"><i>Galactic Journey</i> revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek</i> episode "The Way to Eden". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/keeping-it-mysterious-snowbeast-1977/">Judith Tarr revisits the 1977 horror movie <i>Snowbeast</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://hugoclub.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-ascendancy-of-science-fiction.html"><i>The Hugo Book Club Blog </i>revisits the finalists for the 1980 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/terminator-2-judgment-day-and-the-line-between-symbiosis-and-singularity/">Dan Persons revisits the 1991 science fiction film <i>Terminator 2: Judgment Day</i></a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/babylon-5-was-the-ultimate-exercise-in-plotting-vs-pantsing/">Tim Ford revisits the 1994 science fiction TV show<i> Babylon 5 </i>and attempts to explain what made it so unique. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/features/tenet-rerelease">Tim Grierson talks about persistent fans of the 2020 science fiction thriller <i>Tenet</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/tenet-christopher-nolan-rewatch-in-theaters-oppenheimer-1851285719">Justin Carter notes that it is time for a reappreciation of <i>Tenet</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/25/ray-winstone-interview-i-dont-wanna-talk-about-acting">Alex Moshakis interviews Ray Winstone, star of <i>The Gentlemen, Sexy Beast, Damsel </i>and many others. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dan-harmon-rick-and-morty-season-7-finale-evil-morty-plans-1235924578/">Diego Ramos Bechara interviews Dan Harmon and Scott Marder, showrunner and co-creator of <i>Rick and Morty</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bbc-accused-of-plagiarising-new-series-from-spanish-drama-kwm6fzc5r">Isambard Wilkinson reports that the new BBC SFF series <i>The Ministry of Time</i> seems to have borrowed liberally from the Spanish TV series <i>El Ministerio del Tiempo</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/23/with-jonathan-majors-kang-the-conqueror-sidelined-who-will-be-marvels-new-supervillain">Ben Child wonders what <i>Marvel</i> will do now that they have fied Jonathan Majors and are minimising the role of his character Kang the Conqueror. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/nick-offerman-talks-homophobic-hate-against-the-last-of-us-1235837818/">Matt Grobar reports that actor Nick Offerman has slammed the homophobic hate aimed at the episode "Long, Long Time" of <i>The Last of Us</i>, where Offerman plays one half of a gay couple. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/megan-ellison-saved-nimona-1235832043/">Rebecca Keegan chronicles how Megan Ellison and her company <i>Annapurna Pictures</i> saved the animated fantasy film <i>Nimona </i>after it almost fell victim to being too LGBTQ for <i>Disney</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/foundation-david-s-goyer-steps-down-showrunner-season-3-1235834630/">James Hibberd and Lesley Goldberg report that showrunner David S. Goyer is leaving <i>Foundation </i>in season 3. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/movies/jason-reitman-buys-village-theater.html">Nicole Sperling reports that several film directors have purchased the historic <i>Village Cinema</i> in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/chris-gauthier-dead-smee-once-upon-a-time-1235922191/">Canadian actor Chris Gautier, who appeared in<i> Smallville, Once Upon a Time</i> and <i>Eureka</i> among others, has died aged 48. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers) and <i>Masters of the Universe</i> in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Qre0jzbv0"><i>For Eternia</i> interviews Adam Conarroe and Patrick Stannard, directors of <i>Masters of the Universe Revelation</i> and <i>Revolution</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJRXWqEHihM"><i>Dad-at-Ams</i> interviews Adam Conarroe and Patrick Stannard</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS4nB5IBh8c"><i>He-Bro</i> compares the Eternia playset to Preternia as it was depicted in <i>Masters of the Universe Revelation</i> and <i>Revolution</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Dune, Part 2</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/dune-part-two-review-1234962710/">David Farr calls <i>Dune: Part 2 </i>bigger, bolder and better than <i>Part 1</i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dune-part-two-cast-what-to-remember-chalamet-zendaya-1851281806">Germain Lussier shares what to remember before watching <i>Dune, Part 2</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/28/dune-denis-villeneuve-films-book-frank-herbert">Tom Huddleston compares Denis Villeneuve's take on<i> Dune</i> to Frank Herbert's novel. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dune-part-two-brian-herbert-reaction-1851284128">Justin Carter shares Brian Herbert's, son of Frank Herbert, thoughts on <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/adapting-dune-to-the-screen-three-different-interpretations-of-herberts-vision/">Kara Kennedy compares the different filmic adaptations of <i>Dune</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/dune-and-the-delicate-art-of-making-fictional-languages">Manvir Singh discusses <i>Dune</i> and conlangs. </a></li><li><a href="https://ew.com/dune-2-sandworm-riding-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-denis-villeneuve-8594121">Christian Holub discusses how the sandworm scenes in<i> Dune, Part 2 </i>were achieved. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/denis-villeneuve-interview-dune-part-2-sandworms-lego-1851288462">Germain Lussier interviews Denis Villeneuve, director of <i>Dune: Part 2</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/stellan-skarsgard-dune-2-interview-lego-andor-star-wars-1851288001">Germain Lussier interviews Stellan Skarsgård who plays Baron Harkonnen in <i>Dune</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dave-bautista-dune-2-character-wwe-marvel-drax-scifi-1851287353">Germain Lussier interviews Dave Bautista who plays Rabban Harkonnen in <i>Dune</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://magazinec.com/style/meet-amandla-stenberg-star-wars-new-hope/">Ira Madison III interviews Amandla Stenberg, who is about to star in<i> Star Wars: The Acolyte</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/california-film-tax-credits-mandalorian-grogu-1235838145/">Dominic Patten reports that <i>The Mandalorian and Grogu </i>has received one of the largest tax credits ever in California for shooting entirely in the state. </a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>in animation and live action:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/with-new-avatar-series-one-has-to-ask.html">Arturo Serrano declares that the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> isn't as good as the original, but not as bad as the 2010 live action adaptation either. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/netflixs-avatar-the-last-airbender-is-more-ember-island-players-than-it-is-the-real-deal/">Emmet Asher-Perrin finds the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> hamfisted. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-is-brilliant/?ref=astrolabe-newsletter">Aidan Moher explains why the original animated <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> is brilliant.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/albert-kim-interview-casting-avatar-the-last-airbender-1851282985">Saloni Gajjar interviews Albert Kim, showrunner of the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-dallas-liu-prince-zuko-interv-1851265334">Cindy White interviews Dallas Liu who plays Prince Zuko in the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/netflix-top-10-streaming-ratings-1235697082/">Selome Hailu reports that the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> is considered a hit for <i>Netflix</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Halo</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-halo-season-1/">C.T. Phipps shares his thoughts on season 1 of <i>Halo</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-recap-season-2-episode-4-reach/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Halo</i>. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on the new <i>Quantum Leap</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/quantum-leap-recap-season-2-episode-12-as-the-world-burns/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the penultimate episode of season 2 of the new <i>Quantum Leap</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/quantum-leap-finale-recap-season-2-episode-13-against-time/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the season 2 finale of the new <i>Quantum Leap</i>. <br /></a></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-season-one-episode-one-years-recap/">Noetta Harjo shares her thoughts on the first episode of <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/tv-review-the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-1851274240">Saloni Gajjar declares that<i> The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i> has little new to offer and wishes that <i>The Walking Dead</i> franchise would die already.</a></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Shogun</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/27/shogun-review-a-mesmerising-epic-that-goes-big-on-the-gore">Rebecca Nicholson calls <i>Shōgun</i> a mesmerising epic that goes big on the gore</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/shogun-premiere-review-episode-1-and-2-fx-1851280377">Meredith Hobbs Coons calls the two-part premiere of <i>Shōgun</i> brutal and skillfully woven</a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/spotlight/shogun-review-fx-game-of-thrones-1235920586/">Alison Herman calls <i>Shōgun</i> the most transportive TV epic since <i>Game of Thrones</i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/23/cosmo-jarvis-interview-samurai-epic-shogun">Ryan Gilbey interviews Cosmo Jarvis, star of the new <i>Shogun</i>. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Tributes to Kenneth Mitchell: </b></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/feb/25/kenneth-mitchell-dead-star-trek-captain-marvel-actor">Actor Kenneth Mitchell, who played Aurelio in <i>Star Trek Discovery</i> as well as several other <i>Star Trek</i> roles and who also appeared in <i>Captain Marvel</i>, <i>Jericho</i> and <i>Ghost Whisperer</i> has died of ALS aged only 49. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/kenneth-mitchell-dies-star-trek-discovery-lower-decks-captain-marvel/">Avery Kaplan remembers Kenneth Mitchell's <i>Star Trek</i> roles. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/people-news/kenneth-mitchell-dead-star-trek-discovery-1235922043/">Caroline Brew shares an obituary for Kenneth Mitchell. </a></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/2023-analog-analytical-laboratory-awards-finalists/">The finalists for the 2023 Analog Analytical Laboratory Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-rondo-awards-nominees/">The finalists for the 2024 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-grand-prix-de-limaginaire-first-round-nominations/">The first round nominations for the 2024 Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/44th-japan-sf-grand-prize/">The winner of the 2024 Japan SF Grand Prize has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/f-j-bergmann-named-sfpa-grand-master-wins-lifetime-service-award/">The recipient of the 2024 SFPA Grand Master and Lifetime Service Award has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/international-film-music-critics-association-awards-2023/">The winners of the 2023 International Film Music Critics Association Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-sag-awards/">The winners of the 2024 SAG Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/awards/news/2024-independent-spirit-awards-winners-list-1235922179/">The winners of the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://pulppipepoetry.substack.com/p/the-pulp-work-ethic">Frank Theodat talks about the work ethic of pulp writers. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/jon-lindstrom-writers-themes/">Jon Lindstrom discusses why writers keep returning to certain themes. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/how-medical-phenomena-can-be-used-in-crime-fiction/">Eleanor Parker-White explains how to write about medical phenomena and conditions without being offensive. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/want-to-write-better-consider-building-your-own-writing-desk/">Devin Murphy explains how building his own writing desk helped him to write better. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/the-third-person-writing-in-the-aftermath-of-a-home-robbery/">Kate Sidley talks about writing in the aftermath of a home robbery.</a></li><li><a href="https://punknoirmagazine.wordpress.com/2024/02/24/drinking-taught-me-how-to-tell-a-story-a-punk-noir-article-by-joel-nedecky/">Joel Nedecky explains what drinking taught him about storytelling. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/thomas-mullen-on-writing-about-historical-conspiracy-theories-in-a-post-truth-age/">Thomas Mullen talks about the problems of writing about historical conspiracy theories in an era where conspiracy theories run rampant. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/findaway-and-98622568">Kristine Kathryn Rusch reports about an attempted rights grab by the audio book producer <i>Findaway Voices</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://writerbeware.blog/2024/02/23/coping-with-scams-suggestions-for-changing-your-mindset/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-latest-post-from-the-writer-beware-blog_154">Victoria Strauss shares suggestions for changing your mindset in order to deal with scams targeting writers. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/writers-protest-illegal-selling-of-fanfiction/">Anne Marble reports that some people are trying to profit of fanfiction by selling bound collection of fanfiction on <i>Etsy</i> - illegally and without the author's consent </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/29/uk-in-the-midst-of-a-boom-in-book-clubs-as-gen-zs-hobbies-change">Ella Creamer reports that book clubs are booming among young readers. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/28/school-children-support-england-literacy-crisis">Ella Creamer reports that lack of support for language, reading and communication skills will lead to a literacy crisis in the UK according to the recent study. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2024/02/handheld-press-2017-2024/">Jonathan Thornton reports that <i>Handheld Press </i>is closing. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/25/using-books-as-interior-design">Eva Wiseman talks about the trend of using books as interior design. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://theastoundinganalogcompanion.com/2024/02/20/qa-with-david-gerrold/">Emily Hockaday interviews David Gerrold. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thecut.com/article/interview-kelly-link-book-of-love.html">Emily Gould interviews Kelly Link.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.scottedelman.com/wordpress/2024/02/23/ray-nayler/">Scott Edelman interviews Ray Nayler. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/ai-jiang-where-the-ghosts-live/"><i>Locus</i> interviews Ai Jiang.</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2024/02/interview-with-tori-bovalino-my-throat-an-open-grave/">Nils Shukla interviews Tori Bovalino. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/6-books-with-bogi-takacs.html">Paul Weimer interviews Bogi Takács </a> <br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-butcher-of-the-forest/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> by Premee Mohamed </a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-butcher-of-forest-by-premee.html">Roseanna Pendlebury reviews <i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> by Premee Mohamed </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/27/the-butcher-of-the-forest-by-premee-mohamed"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> by Premee Mohamed </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-a-flame-in-the-north-by-lilith-saintcrow/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>A Flame in the North</i> by Lilith Saintcrow </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/plant-the-laurel-tree">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart </i>by Izzy Wasserstein </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-dragons-of-deepwood-fen-by.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>The Dragons of Deepwood Fen</i> by Bradley P. Beaulieu </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-moon-of-the-turning-leaves-by-waubgeshig/">Tobias Carroll reviews<i> Moon of the Turning Leaves</i> by Waubgeshig Rice</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/cunning-and-free">James Davis Nicoll reviews<i> Sun of Blood and Ruin </i>by Mariely Lares </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-ruptured-sky-by-jessica-a-mcminn/">Esmay Rosalyne reviews <i>The Ruptured Sky</i> by Jessica A. McMinn </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-ebon-mask-by-richard-lee-byers/">C.T. Phipps reviews <i>The Ebon Mask</i> by Richard Lee Byers </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-tainted-cup/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>The Tainted Cup</i> by Robert Jackson Bennett</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2024/02/the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett-book-review/">Nils Shukla reviews <i>The Tainted Cup</i> by Robert Jackson Bennett</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-mislaid-in-parts-half-known-by.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon</i> reviews <i>Mislaid in Parts Half Known</i> by Seanan McGuire </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/books/review/kelly-link-the-book-of-love.html">Amal El-Mohtar reviews <i>The Book of Love </i>by Kelly Link </a> </li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-book-of-love-by-kelly-link/">Molly Templeton reviews <i>The Book of Love </i>by Kelly Link </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/24/the-book-of-love-by-kelly-link-review-a-magical-debut-of-life-after-life">Natasha Pulley reviews <i>The Book of Love </i>by Kelly Link </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/27/test"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>The Book of Love </i>by Kelly Link </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-heather-webbers-at-the-coffee-shop-of-curiosities/">Warner Holme reviews <i>At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities</i> by Heather Webber.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-emily-wildes-map-of-otherlands.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon</i> reviews <i>Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands</i> by Heather Fawcett </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-faebound-by-saara-el-arifi/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>Faebound</i> by Saara El-Arifi </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/02/fathomfolk-by-eliza-chan/">Mark Yon reviews <i>Fathomfolk</i> by Eliza Chan. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/liz-bourke-reviews-fathomfolk-by-eliza-chan/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>Fathomfolk </i>by Eliza Chan </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/jake-casella-brookins-reviews-swim-home-to-the-vanished-by-brendan-shay-basham/">Jake Casella Brookins reviews <i>Swim Home to the Vanished</i> by Brendan Shay Basham </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/25/meet-me-at-the-surface-by-jodie-matthews-review-powerful-forces-in-the-cornish-wilds">S.J. Watson reviews <i>Meet Me at the Surface</i> by Jodie Matthews</a></li><li><a href="https://thelibraryladies.com/2024/02/20/kates-review-island-witch/"><i>The Library Ladies</i> review<i> Island Witch</i> by Amanda Jayatissa </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/02/a-haunting-in-the-arctic-by-c-j-cooke/">Rob Bedford reviews <i>A Haunting in the Arctic</i> by C.J. Cooke </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-warm-hands-of-ghosts/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Warm Hands of Ghosts</i> by Katherine Arden </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-the-tusks-of-extinction-by-ray-nayler/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>The Tusks of Extinction </i>by Ray Nayler </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-review-the-year-of-the-locust-by-terry-hayes/">Chris Kluwe reviews <i>The Year of the Locust</i> by Terry Hayes </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-king-nyx-by-kirsten-bakis/">Mahvesh Murad reviews <i>King Nyx</i> by Kirsten Bakis </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://hugoclub.blogspot.com/2024/02/big-brothers-big-shoes.html"><i>The Hugo Book Club Blog</i> reviews <i>Julia </i>by Sandra Newman. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/ian-mond-reviews-womb-city-by-tlotlo-tsamaase/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Womb City</i> by Tlotlo Tsamaase </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-way-of-unity-by-sarah-k-balstrup/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Way of Unity</i> by Sarah K. Balstrup</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alexandra-pierce-reviews-the-parliament-by-aimee-pokwatka/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>The Parliament</i> by Aimee Pokwatka </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/ian-mond-reviews-again-and-again-by-jonathan-evison/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Again and Again</i> by Jonathan Evison </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://amazingstories.com/2024/02/clubhouse-review-the-years-best-canadian-fantasy-and-science-fiction-vol-1/">R. Graeme Cameron reviews <i>Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy & Science Fiction Vol 1</i>, edited by Stephan Kotowych </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alexandra-pierce-reviews-2022-best-of-utopian-speculative-fiction-edited-by-justine-norton-kertson/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>2022 Best of Utopian Speculative Fiction,</i> edited by Justine Norton-Kertson </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/captain-blood/">Nancy Henshaw revisits the 1922 pirate adventure novel <i>Captain Blood </i>by Rafael Sabatini.<i> <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNlMnTIlBqk"><i>Echoes of Crom </i>revisits the 1930 <i>Solomon Kane</i> dark fantasy story "The Hills of the Dead" by Robert E. Howard. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/sentinels-from-space/">Sandy Ferber revisits the 1951 science fiction novel <i>Sentinels From Space</i> a.k.a. <i>The Star Watchers</i> by Eric Frank Russell</a></li><li><a href="http://www.concatenation.org/articles/new-worlds-magazine.html">Jonathan Cowie revisits the October 1955 issue of <i>New Worlds</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/20/short-story-review-initiative-by-arkady-and-boris-strugatsky/">Brian Collins revisits the 1958 science fiction story “Initiative” by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/springtime-for-moorcock-new-worlds-march-1969/">Mark Yon revisits the March 1969 issue of <i>New Worlds</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/march-1-1969-beyond-this-horizon-march-1969-analog-and-mariner-6/">Gideon Marcus revisits the March 1969 issue of <i>Analog</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/riddle-me-this">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1974 science fiction novel <i>Total Eclipse</i> by John Brunner </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/life-goes-on">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1975 horror thriller <i>The Auctioneer </i>by Joan Samson. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-call-is-coming-from-inside-the-house-if-damon-comes-by-charles-l-grant/">Sam Reader revisits the 1978 horror story “If Damon Comes” by Charles L. Grant </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/24/short-story-review-do-ya-do-ya-wanna-dance-by-howard-waldrop/">Brian Collins revisits the 1988 science fiction story “Do Ya, Do Ya, Wanna Dance?” by Howard Waldrop. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-dark-prince-by-keith-herber/">C.T. Phipps revisits the 1994 vampire novel <i>Dark Prince</i> by Keith Herber </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/the-wheel-of-time-reread-winters-heart.html">Joe Sherry revisits the 2000 <i>Wheel of Time</i> fantasy novel <i>Winter's Heart</i> by Robert Jordan. </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b><i> <br /></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/los-angeles-is-sole-bid-for-2026-worldcon-to-file-by-deadline-for-printed-ballot/"><i>File 770 </i>reports that Los Angeles, California, has filed the only bid for the 2026 Worldcon. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.them.us/story/my-little-pony-convention-moscow-police-investigated-alleged-lgbtq-propaganda">James Factora reports that the local police investigated the <i>My Little Pony</i> convention My Amore Fest in Moscow, Russian Federation, for alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda.</a></li><li><a href="https://mickeyvisit.com/disneyland-multi-year-expansion/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=02-20-24-Disneyland-has-">Gavin Doyle reports about the latest expansion plans for <i>Disneyland </i>in Anaheim, California. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/frozen-tangled-headline-tokyo-disneysea-fantasy-springs-1851291894">Sabina Graves reports about the Fantasy Springs attraction at <i>DisneySea</i> in Tokyo, Japan. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/ghibli-park-valley-of-witches-miyazaki-japan-attraction-1851297567">Sabina Graves shares a look at the Valley of the Witches attraction at <i>Studio Ghibli Park</i> in Nagoya, Japan. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/27/glasgow-willy-wonka-experience-slammed-as-farce-as-tickets-refunded">Libby Brooks reports about a very underwhelming event called <i>Willy Wonka's Chocolate Experience </i>in Glasgow, Scotland. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/the-ai-generated-script-from-the-fake-willy-wonka-experience-is-beyond-wild/">Julia Glassman reports that there was also a very strange AI generated script for the <i>Willy Wonka Chocolate Experience</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/books/french-nonfiction-comic-books.html">David Mack interviews Kirsty Paterson, an actress hired to play the lone Oompa Loompa at the <i>Willy Wonka Chocolate Experience</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/28/rip-off-events-willy-wonka-chocolate-experience">Inspired by the Glagow <i>Willy Wonka Chocolate Experience</i>, Stuart Heritage discusses several other underwhelming live experiences and attractions. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alexandra-pierce-reviews-the-parliament-by-aimee-pokwatka/">Elise Hammond and Jackie Wattles report that private moon lander <i>Odysseus</i> has become the first US spacecraft to land on the Moon in fifty years.</a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-private-odysseus-nasa-14dfdc76176f9f7a6a68a099c98bbbb9">Marcia Dunn reports that the <i>Odysseus </i>moon lander has sadly toppled over and is now lying on its side with some antennas inoperable. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/26/odysseus-moon-lander-intuitive-machines?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other"><i>The Guardian</i> reports that the sidewise landing has cut short the mission of the <i>Odysseus</i> moon lander. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68400989">Greg Brosnan reports that the Japanese moon lander <i>SLIM</i> has survived the lunar night and is sending signals again. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/first-look-at-asteroid-hints-its-a-fragment-of-a-lost-ocean-world">David Nield reports that the first examination at the samples of the asteroid Bennu collected by the <i>Osiris-Rex </i>space probe hint that Bennu might be a fragment of a lost ocean world. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00478-x">Kate Crawford reports that generative AI is consuming enormous amounts of energy. </a></li><li><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/02/vending-machine-error-reveals-secret-face-image-database-of-college-students/">Ashley Belanger reports that the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, is removing several smart vending machines, after a student discovered that they were using illegal facial recognition technology. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/23/business/florida-social-media-youths.html">Natasha Singer reports that Florida has passed a bill banning under sixteen-year-olds from having accounts on social media platforms. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/technology/niklaus-wirth-dead.html">Niklaus Wirth, inventor of the Pascal programming language, has died aged 89. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/the-state-of-video-game-industry.html"><i>nerds of a feather</i> host a roundtable discussion on the state of the video game industry, </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/magic-the-gathering-2024-cards-fallout-assassins-creed-1851288350">James Whitbrook shares what's coming for <i>Magic: The Gathering</i> in 2024.</a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq_qUizGGII"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Mondo Masters of the Universe</i> Scareglow figure.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NWBhpspm1I"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Skeletron Action Force Red Shadows</i> Wolf Trooper action figures. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/jack-merry-review-folkmanis-puppet-enchanted-tree/">Jack Merry reviews the <i>Folkmanis</i> Enchanted Tree puppet.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/hot-toys-star-wars-padawan-ahsoka-ariana-greenblatt-1851281841">James Whitbrook shares a look at the <i>Hot Toys Star Wars</i> Padawan Ahsoka figure. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-real-ghostbusters-toys-with-fantastic-fright-featur-1851286723"><i>io9</i> shares a look at <i>The Real Ghostbusters</i> Fantastic Fright Features action figures from <i>Hasbro</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/sentinel-fighting-armor-cyclops-x-men-price-release-dat-1851289990">James Whitbrook shares a look at the <i>Sentinels Fighting Armor </i>Cyclops figure. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/netflix-pokemon-concierge-best-character-psyduck-merch-1851283368">Sabina Graves shares merchandise featuring the <i>Pokémon</i> Psyduck. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/rare-lego-piece-found-pa-235159000.html?_guc_consent_skip=1708931342">Tristan Klinefelter reports that a rare 14-karat gold <i>Lego</i> piece found at a Goodwill store in Pennsylvania will be sold at auction. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-black-spot-among-the-chaos/">"A Black Spot Among the Chaos" by A.T. Greenblatt in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/twice-marked-wild-against-city/">"Twice-Marked, Wild Against City" by R.Z. Held in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/you-dont-belong-where-you-dont-belong-kemi-ashing-giwa/">"You Don’t Belong Where You Don’t Belong" by Kemi Ashing-Giwa in <i>Reactor</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=4151">"Axandrjo, the Silvernosed Vagabond" by C.D. Crabtree in <i>Heroic Fantasy Quarterly</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/the-three-jeweled/">"The Three-Jeweled" by Kathy Chao in <i>Strange Horizons</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://wyldblood.com/man-from-mars/">"Man From Mars" by Liam Hogan in <i>Wyldblood</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://interzone.digital/the-ghost-on-the-server/">"The Ghost on the Server" by Gregory Neil Harris in <i>Interzone Digital</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/year-of-shrines?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=73200&post_id=141962644&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&open=false&utm_medium=email">"Year of Shrines" by Tessa Gratton in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/preamble-to-the-death-of-a-small-god/">"Preamble to the Death of a Small God" by H.B. Menendez in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/an-elegy-for-the-former-things/">"An Elegy for the Former Things" by K.T. Bryski in <i>Lightspeed</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/but-from-thine-eyes-my-knowledge-i-derive/">"But From Thine Eyes My Knowledge I Derive" by Phoebe Barton in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/w-is-for-whispers/">"W is for Whispers" by Steve Rasnic Tem in <i>The Dark</i>.<br /></a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/for-as-long-as-you-want-it/">"For As Long As You Want It" by Kanishk Tantia in <i>Apex Magazine</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/02/26/free-fiction-monday-game-testing/">"Game Testing" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fi7ZePgh8k">Watch a trailer for season 5 of <i>Star Trek Discovery</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgj7xBc3n-0">Watch a trailer for <i>Borderlands</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kymDzCgPwj0">Watch a trailer for<i> I Saw the TV Glow</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tekOlcqzXL8">Watch a trailer for season 2 of <i>Interview with the Vampire</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4tR8dYPb3A">Watch a clip from season 2 of <i>Interview with the Vampire</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrhrNS0JFyg">Watch a trailer for <i>The Watchers</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-25716310357652943342024-02-28T23:00:00.000+00:002024-02-29T01:14:12.871+00:00Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month for February 2024<p> </p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Banner_indie_spec_fic_02.jpg"><img alt="Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2925" height="150" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Banner_indie_spec_fic_02.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />It’s that time of the month again, time for “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”.</p><p>So what is “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”? It’s a round-up of speculative fiction by indie and small press authors newly published this month, though some January books I missed the last time around snuck in as well. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. So far, most links only go to Amazon.com, though I may add other retailers for future editions.</p><p>Once again, we have new releases covering the whole broad spectrum of speculative fiction. This month, we have epic fantasy, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, paranormal romance, paranormal mysteries, space opera, military science fiction, dystopian fiction, horror, vampires, dragons, wizards, time travel, starships for rent, space marines, freaky circuses, deadly weddings, crime-busting witches, crime-busting ghosts and much more.</p><p>As always, I know the authors at least vaguely, but I haven’t read all of the books, so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor">Caveat emptor</a>.</p><p>And now on to the books without further ado:</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81Nh-IyRbTL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Jonathan P. Brazee "Major"" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18207" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81Nh-IyRbTL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Federation-Marine-Jonathan-P-Brazee-ebook/dp/B0CRGML5VV/"><strong><em>Major</em> by Jonathan P. Brazee:</strong></a></p><p>A Marine major is one of the orphan ranks, too senior to command a line company, but too junior to command a battalion.</p><p>Newly promoted to major, Ryck reports for duty as the assistant naval attaché to the Confederation of Free States, the same government whose troops he’d recently fought in the Telchines. Ryck wasn’t happy about the assignment, but he buckled down for a long and boring tour of duty.</p><p>But action seems to follow Ryck, and this is no exception.</p><p>From the diplomatic post on New Mumbai to leading one of the newly formed Raider special ops companies, Ryck continues his eventful career as a United Federation Marine.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81w9c06JIL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Pursued by Dragons by Lindsay Buroker" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18181" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81w9c06JIL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pursued-Peril-Tracking-Trouble-Book-ebook/dp/B0CQWN7Q45/"><strong><em>Pursued by Peril</em> by Lindsay Buroker:</strong></a></p><p>The dragons of the Cosmic Realms aren’t pleased now that Azerdash has recovered a legendary galaxy blade. It makes him more of a threat in his quest to oust their kind from power. To stop him, the dragons have sent one of their own after him, a deadly assassin who likes a challenge…</p><p>Arwen wants to help Azerdash, but she has her own problems. She must track down the missing vampire alchemist, Zoltan. It’s her fault that he was kidnapped, and she can’t leave him in the hands of dark elves.</p><p>But when the dragon assassin comes after her, because of her relationship with Azerdash, Arwen must worry about far more than kidnappers.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81kZnLr3LgL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Starship for Rent by M.R. Forbes" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18182" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81kZnLr3LgL._SL1500_-201x300.jpg" width="201" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Starship-Rent-M-R-Forbes-ebook/dp/B0CV3Y9BSB/"><strong><em>Starship For Rent</em> by M.R. Forbes:</strong></a></p><p>When Noah sees an advertisement offering him a chance to rent a starship, he’s convinced it has to be a trick.</p><p>Already mired in the worst day of his life, he’s willing to do anything to escape, including a field trip to the middle of nowhere to follow the lead. Except there is no trick. The starship is real. And Noah’s life will never be the same.</p><p>All he has to do is sign the contract.</p><p>Joined by his wisecracking friend, a woman he met online, and the ship’s curious crew, Noah’s about to discover that the universe is more dangerous, bizarre, and magical than he ever imagined.</p><p>From tragedy to triumph. His true destiny awaits.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/91UUZ7N1dbL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Ghosts of Past and Present by Rachel Ford" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18208" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/91UUZ7N1dbL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Past-Present-House-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0CD5ZTDHH"><strong><em>Ghosts of Past and Present</em> by Rachel Ford:</strong></a></p><p>When Tennessee Evans inherited a fortune, the last thing she expected was to find her absentee family on her doorstep. But that’s exactly what happened.</p><p>Quite literally, in fact. First her dad and his new wife, then her mom and her new husband. Awkward doesn’t quite cover it.<br />Then her stepmom is kidnapped, and the ghosts start showing up.</p><p>Which would be bad enough on its own. But Tennessee is already juggling a complicated romance, her plans to restore the town’s downtown area, and a home renovation project.</p><p>She needs to figure out what’s going on stat. Fortunately for her, the dead are on the case, and they have a few ideas…</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9781732825796.jpg"><img alt="Another Time, edited by Jean-Paul Garnier" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18201" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/9781732825796-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/another-time-an-anthology-of-time-travel-stories-1942-1960-jean-paul-l-garnier/21003153?ean=9781732825796"><strong><em>Another Time: An Anthology of Time Travel Stories 1942-1960</em>, edited by Jean-Paul Garnier: </strong></a></p><p>The nature of time has forever perplexed humankind. Add the many ripe paradoxes of time travel and the situation gets complicated. While science has shown us that time travel is technically possible, at least on paper, we still know little about what time actually is, or our place within it. Science fiction has long explored this theme and it has become one of the cornerstones of the genre. In this collection of stories, we find visions of what time travel could be, what could go wrong, and dive headlong into the paradoxical nature of what it might entail. Tales ranging from 1942 to 1960 bring us into these mysterious worlds and provide a window into what the writers of this era grappled with when exploring time and the possibilities of traveling within the fourth dimension. Readers will also delight in traversing another time in literature, with stories that first appeared in Worlds of IF, Astonishing Stories, Galaxy Magazine, Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling Stories, and Imagination Stories of Fantasy & Science Fiction.</p><p>With stories by:</p><p>C. Shook<br />Darius John Granger<br />Evelyn E. Smith<br />Sylvia Jacobs<br />Rog Phillips<br />Miriam Allen deFord<br />Anthony Boucher<br />Henry Kuttner<br />Alfred Bester</p><p>and an introduction by Dr. Phoenix Alexander</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81F9pC6twL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Witch Mirror by A.L. Hawke" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18194" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81F9pC6twL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CSXT312D"><strong><em>Witch Mirror</em> by A.L. Hawke:</strong></a></p><p>Reflections of a wicked witch.</p><p>Bryce and I are trying to revive Alondra’s old metaphysical history class. We’re in college again, this time teaching. But It’s stressful under our former teacher’s shadow. Not only that, there’s a new demon-witch messing with my love life. So I’m going through that again. Well, at least this time I have Alondra’s magic to protect me.</p><p>Actually, not only do I have her magic, her spirit is inside me, possessing me. But don’t worry, Alondra’s ghost is a positive force here to help Hawthorne. I mean…are you good, Alondra?</p><p>A witch council is gathering at my house to reflect on ways to save us. They’re convinced Alondra is evil, but Alondra and I are unsure they know what they’re doing. Well, if I can’t hold things together—inside and outside of myself—I fear my plans of finishing graduate school at Hawthorne U. and starting a family are going to shatter.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81lYtI-5lcL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Witchy Woman Blues by Lily Harper Hart" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18202" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81lYtI-5lcL._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Witchy-Woman-Hannah-Hickok-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CKV22NR7"><strong><em>Witchy Woman Blues</em> by Lily Harper Hart:</strong></a></p><p>The final battle is here.</p><p>Hannah Hickok had high hopes for her wedding and honeymoon, but everything changes when a local politician stops by to casually drop some disturbing news. It seems Casper Creek is going to be seized by eminent domain…and there’s nothing she can do about it.</p><p>Cooper Wyatt knows that the land can’t just be taken from Hannah willy-nilly, but stopping what’s about to happen is going to take more than the sheriff on their side. They’re also going to need some magical help.</p><p>That means it’s time for Hannah’s ultimate decision on the nexus magic. She knows she can’t risk anybody getting their hands on it, especially local witch Astra Bishop, who wants to use it for evil. That means there’s no choice but to absorb it now. Is she ready, though?</p><p>Hannah wants her happily ever after. She has to take out Astra—and those she has working for her—to make it to the other side. It’s a tall order, but she’s determined to make it happen.</p><p>Casper Creek is a place of magic and love. Hannah is willing to fight to the death to keep it that way.</p><p>Will she get her wish, or will she lose everything? You’re about to find out. The end is here.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81T1YwDsYKL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="The Future Lies by John Be Lane" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18199" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/81T1YwDsYKL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Future-Lies-John-Be-Lane-ebook/dp/B0CTPB3CZB/"><strong><em>The Future Lies</em> by John Be Lane:</strong></a></p><p>What would youdoif you found out one day that the Artificial Intelligence that ran everything was lazy, dishonest, and not quite as bright as it seemed? That there might be a way to outwit the Network, in spite of its oppression, and maybe to find love, and something like a future, in the ruins of a desolate world? If you didn’t die trying, that is?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/91LkFSz26ML._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="freaky wedding by Amanda M. Lee" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18200" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/91LkFSz26ML._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Freaky-Wedding-Mystic-Caravan-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CFHVKX3X"><strong><em>Freaky Wedding</em> by Amanda M. Lee:</strong></a></p><p>Wedding bells are about to ring for Poet Parker and Kade Denton. They just have to knock a few things off their list in Galveston, including getting a license, and then they will be ready to pledge themselves to one another forever.</p><p>There’s just one little problem.</p><p>On their first night, right across the water, they watch the local vampires do a ritual on the beach. They don’t sweat it too much until the police show up the next morning to ask them about the body that was found in the exact same location.</p><p>It seems the vampires are up to something, and they’re not the only ones. Trouble is back and the quiet week of rest and relaxation Poet was hoping for is about to go up in smoke.</p><p>As Poet and her motley crew of paranormals dig deeper into the Galveston lore, they find more interesting tidbits than they can shake a loa at. Something magical—something dark and dangerous—has been controlling the island for a very long time. That’s why no other paranormals can get a foothold in the area. It’s also why the vampires seem to be serving a new master. Unfortunately for Mystic Caravan, that creature is now focused on them.</p><p>Poet wants her big day. She wants a honeymoon to enjoy. It seems death is on the wedding reception menu, though, and it’s going to take everybody working together to make sure Poet and Kade get their happily ever after.</p><p>Lamias, dwarves, pixies, shifters, and loas are about to unite in a big fight. Who will win, though?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/815Qv3QbmiL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="The Battle of Erathal by Joseph P. Macolino" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18195" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/815Qv3QbmiL._SL1500_-199x300.jpg" width="199" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CNHHS4FH"><strong><em>The Battle For Erathal</em> by Joseph P. Macolino:</strong></a></p><p>He just wanted to enjoy this time of peace. But when a familiar evil is unleashed upon the forest of Erathal, will anyone be safe?</p><p>Enjoying the time without strife, Irontail works to spread peace and unity throughout the forest of Erathal. Organizing the first ever Festival of Gratitude, he finally feels he is fulfilling his calling as the leader of his centaur village. But his plans are once again hijacked when a familiar villain escapes from imprisonment.</p><p>The felite warrior, Tel’ Shira, joins Irontail and the other heroes of Erathal as they plan their counter-offensive. But even her gift of foresight is not enough to prepare her for the upcoming battle against this malevolent foe.</p><p>With the future of Erathal on the line, will anyone survive to tell the tale?</p><p>The Battle for Erathal is the thrilling conclusion to the Evorath epic fantasy series.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/71i4EG-nW6L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Your Evil Is My Good by Robert Mammone" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18176" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/71i4EG-nW6L._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVW79P44/"><strong><em>Your Evil Is My Good</em> by Robert Mammone:</strong></a></p><p>Thirteen tales to unsettle and terrify. The beginning of a zombie apocalypse; what really happened to Amelia Earhart; ancient sorcery from the howling wastes of Pakistan; terror in the subways; messages from beyond the black rim of the galaxy. All these and more in Robert Mammone's debut collection, Your Evil is My Good.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/61s9eAnH0uL._SL1360_.jpg"><img alt="Arsalan the Magnificent by J.E. Tolbert" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-18196" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/61s9eAnH0uL._SL1360_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arsalan-Magnificent-J-Tolbert-ebook/dp/B0CCS18S9S/"><strong><em>Arsalan the Magnificent</em> by J.E. Tolbert:</strong></a></p><p>Arsalan the Magnificent is a lighthearted but poignant novel of historical fantasy fiction. In Europe and the Ottoman Empire of the early 19th century, a profession of wizards known as magical architects have achieved wealth and fame as builders of fantastical structures. Facing disgrace after his newest and greatest work collapses, Arsalan Ozdikmen, a renowned Ottoman magical architect in the prime of his career, is exiled to the Balkans. There, he undergoes a journey of reckoning and recovery, and finally redemption, when he is called to the aid of a young Bavarian princess.</p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-81234788608023264132024-02-27T23:00:00.091+00:002024-02-27T23:00:00.344+00:00Interview with Jason M. Waltz, editor of Neither Beg Nor Yield: Stories With S&S Attitude<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPLiewuoZK-QeG9wWZpLbZXv3moNghf8nyls-BvQA8tDE26UlFStTGD_0Te-G34ioyQOXOSEQS4TxnHcgYnKSNWVq-XOujf2HGgH7pXSEAbIu4vBEc5tBhO9LUuzOmJwHpQpNs8APf2UnN9kRGS-2JtK0CSPATOMvZm5ykoz-wdkU4HKCw5DfZsR7a4fP/s639/Neither%20Beg%20Nor%20Yield%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="426" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPLiewuoZK-QeG9wWZpLbZXv3moNghf8nyls-BvQA8tDE26UlFStTGD_0Te-G34ioyQOXOSEQS4TxnHcgYnKSNWVq-XOujf2HGgH7pXSEAbIu4vBEc5tBhO9LUuzOmJwHpQpNs8APf2UnN9kRGS-2JtK0CSPATOMvZm5ykoz-wdkU4HKCw5DfZsR7a4fP/w426-h640/Neither%20Beg%20Nor%20Yield%20cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview Jason M. Waltz, editor
of <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i></span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><b><i>: Stories With S&S Attitude</i></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">, which was released on <span style="background: white;">January 26,
2024.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
was the kernel of inspiration behind your anthology <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i>,
and what is the significance of the title?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Frankly, in
a single word, frustration. I’ve previously expounded upon my inspiration in a
few places, but the long and short is that I grew quite weary of all the
endless lists of answers to the seemingly regularly asked, “What is Sword &
Sorcery?” I mean, on the one hand it is difficult to adequately resolve that
query because it is best answered with the cliché, <i>You know it when you read
it</i>, because – for me – S&S is <i>felt</i>. On the other hand, it does
not help that glancing at Amazon’s Top 100 S&S list includes 80+ titles
that are definitely NOT S&S. Anyway, I have regularly held my State of RBE
Address on January 26<sup>th</sup> each year (happens to be my birthday and the
month of the American Presidential State of the Union Address, so I ran with
it), and early in 2023 I decided to announce my retirement as a publisher in my
2024 Address. Then 2023 seemed to become a year filled with endless
discussions, debates, and for me discouragements about the definition of
S&S. I was invited by Lyndon Perry to pen the foreword to his </span><span style="color: #0070c0;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Swords-Heroes-Lyndon-Perry-ebook/dp/B0C29HDKD6/"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">S&S anthology <i>Swords & Heroes</i></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">…and that
burst the dam that had been trapping all my angst. I used the working and
reworking of that foreword to crystalize my vision of S&S and what I
believe I’ve meant by claiming it being an attitude all these years – and
decided that I would retire with a declaration of just that. The title actually
took a bit to determine. Obviously titles matter, especially for an anthology I
think, as that title should give readers a solid idea of what to expect inside
its pages. From the onset, I wanted something that proclaimed power, strength,
badassedness, defiance, and attitude. S&S and powerful music have a lot in
common, from the orchestral movements of Wagner and Two Steps From Hell to the
screaming guitars of Beast in Black and Judas Priest to the dark metal of
Brothers of Metal and Dark Moor. Well Judas Priest just so happens to have been
a band I’ve listened to all my life when in need of some pumping up (organized
sports, military courses, long-distance races, you name it), and it just so
happens my favorite tune of theirs is “Hard as Iron.” I immediately connected
the theme of this anthology with the theme of that song, but it took several
months and the input of most of the authors in this book to whittle it into its
final shape of <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i>. I think, for this singular book, we
nailed a title as defining as its stance. I believe it becomes very challenging
to explain and engage when our answer to ‘What is Sword & Sorcery?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>requires multi-point lists and/or takes
longer to share than some of the stories. <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i> aims to
solve that riddle.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sword
and Sorcery is enjoying a rebirth, both in appreciation of older tales and publication
of new work. Why do you think that is?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Because
much of modern entertainment can be traced straight back to this awesome
American genre. I believe Robert E. Howard is assuredly the Father of American
Fantasy as we know it today. His distillation of what came before and direct
influence on all that followed has resulted in our unique American take on the
heroic fantastical figure. The frontier of challenge that Sword & Sorcery
allows readers to face is as appealing now as it was to our ancestors gathered
around the firepits and in the mead halls to raptly listen to their troubadors
and lore masters. Mankind has always been fascinated by heroic tales, in love
with our legends, awed by deeds of defiance of the odds, believers in the hope
heroes provide. I think the pure adrenaline rush found in these tales of
typically singular heroes allow readers to live vicariously, facing down Death
in its dozens of forms while rising triumphantly to claim victory in all its
varieties. Enthusiasm for grand storytelling is not restricted to past nor
present when it offers even the slightest of hope.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
would you define Sword and Sorcery?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I define
S&S as an attitude dictated by its protagonist(s), at times even by its author.
Of course, the epitome of S&S tales will be set in a pre-industrial,
not-quite-factually-historically-accurate world/environment, and feature
bladed-weapon bearing heroes facing off against diabolical yet mortal foes of
both human and horrific bent. Many people think that is the sum of S&S
stories. But I don’t believe it has to be restricted or constrained to just that,
or any of a few other ingredients on the lists bandied about. There are
numerous such tales that can claim those features yet are not Sword &
Sorcery. I also don’t believe that the semantics – the accoutrements or
environment or era – make a story a S&S tale. S&S stories don’t cease
to exist because of gunpowder or because they’re not written in a pre-modern
setting; S&S protagonists don’t stop being S&S heroes because they hold
a gun or ride a motorcycle. It’s quite simple, actually: for me, it is the
attitude and the motivation of the hero. If the protagonist possesses an
indomitable will to endure any challenge <i>mano a mano</i> while consistently
living life to the fullest measure all in pursuit of the purest of personal (mercenary)
motivations – that of seeking, accepting, and defying every single one of those
challenges and all the new ones to follow – that character is the hero of an
S&S adventure. A protagonist who is not personally motivated or does not
directly, personally address his/her conflicts with the relish of an
indomitable will, is not a S&S hero. As soon as those aspects disappear, or
Crom-forbid <i>never</i> appear, the hero and the story is no longer S&S.
Fantasy, even Heroic Fantasy, certainly, but not Sword & Sorcery Fantasy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Is
there a typical Sword and Sorcery protagonist, or is it more about attitude?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s about
attitude, and that attitude originates with the son of the Father of Sword
& Sorcery, Conan the Cimmerian. Conan is the bedrock and the apex of the
S&S Attitude. I am not saying every story must have a Conan in it to be
S&S. I <i>am</i> saying that the hero of every S&S story must have
Conan’s attitude of indomitable will coupled with mercenary motivation. That is
why for me, Michael Moorcock’s Elric is not a S&S protagonist, not least
because from the moment he was first described as the anti-Conan he was
incapable of being one. A S&S hero simply cannot be the opposite of Conan
in attitude. Howard’s Solomon Kane is also not a solid S&S protagonist in
my opinion, because his motivation lies in his battle on behalf of his God.
He’s either stark raving mad (in which case he would be a S&S hero) or he
is what he believes himself to be, an embodiment of his God’s wrath upon this
earth. I don’t believe he’s mad. Again, define an S&S character by his/her
attitude of indomitable will and personal motivation. This is also why
distinction between hero-Byronic hero-antihero-villain matter. I am saddened by
the misappropriation of the term <i>antihero</i> that has become prevalent
today. I think we, readers and storytellers alike, lose out in this blurring of
the roles. The <i>hero</i> is easily recognized, our King Arthurs and the Joan
of Arcs, as their motivations are clearly beyond the selfish. They stand in the
gap because they can and it’s there and so are they and it is the right thing
to do. Equally simple to identify is the <i>villain</i>, who has never seen a
gap s/he would stand in, as they either ignore it or have someone else they can
put there, voluntarily or not. The <i>Byronic heroes</i> are almost purely
selfish and only end up being cheered as heroes through accident. These are our
true S&S protagonists, characters with the starring role who, while in
pursuit of their motivations, inadvertently rescue others or save the day. They
don’t willingly choose to stand in the gap but also do not shirk to stand in it
even if their true reason is only to save their own bacon. They are not unable
to be heroic, they simply don’t wish to be. The true definition of the <i>antihero</i>
is that of someone who has the desire to be heroic but is unable to really be
so. What they do not lack in motivation they do lack in ability and competency,
and any heroics they may perform are through bumbling good luck and timing.
These are the Charlie Brown characters: good-hearted, well-meaning, willing to
be heroic yet without a clue or the capability to be so.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Who
is the archetypal hero of the genre?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Conan
stands center stage and sets all the standards.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When
you set out to create a new anthology, what were you looking for?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Authors who
wrote the throat-punch type of stories I wanted. Storytellers (not just
writers) whose consistency had stuck with me over the years. My only question I
had to answer: If I was going to publish this anthology defining my kind of
Sword & Sorcery, who could deliver the type of stories required? It was not
a challenge at all. Names rolled off my memory faster than I could list them.
What I thought would be a table of contents of 12 or 13 reached 18 without a
pause. We ultimately achieved 20 authors in the final version because of the
decision to crowdfund the title and I wanted to add some exciting stretch goal
authors. We would have had 21 stories if I’d been able to keep Nathan Meyer,
who unfortunately had to bow out to deal with issues of life. For me, sans
Nathan, this is the fantasy draft of my life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
much can you tell us about the twenty stories in the anthology?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That there
are 20 individually-nuanced stories of indomitably-willed and
personally-motivated characters who reek of Sword & Sorcery without being
clones or mimicries. I think the authors complimented the theme of defining my
style of S&S quite well, even covering angles I had not pre-considered. We
have 12 returning heroes and 8 new characters, all of whom deliver the S&S
Attitude. I do not think any fan of Sword & Sorcery will be disappointed in
this anthology, even if they doubt my assertion of it all being the attitude.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
about the contributors?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That each
contributor is, most importantly, a storyteller extraordinaire, and that all
these storytellers brought characters who are boldly Byronic and emphatically
S&S Attituded! Several contributors told me they researched for their
stories, others said they planned certain particulars, and a few said they
didn’t quite buy what I was selling but they could deliver on my request. And
boy did they all! There is a smorgasbord of talent within these pages, some
even bestselling and most longtime experienced authors. Each of them offers
entertaining examples of exactly what I mean when I state that Sword &
Sorcery is an attitude. I owe them all a debt of gratitude for penning these
tales on my behalf.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Talk
to us about your own writing in the genre (and outside). </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Ahh, I
appreciate you asking. I try to write Sword & Sorcery, but my characters
tend to swing to the more general Heroic Fantasy. It’s not so much want of
indomitable will as it is the lack of the mercenary motivation. I frequently
explore the theme of loyalty in my stories, and that doesn’t often tick the
Byronic motivation box. One of the reasons I am retiring is so that I may
pursue my own writing more ardently. I was fortunate to place 5 works in
publication during 2023, and it’s been personally fulfilling to once again find
joy in my own storytelling. There is a certain thrill in holding an anthology
of stories I’ve selected, edited, and published, but it’s something else to see
my own work accepted and then read by others. </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BJ7L8XM"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Direk, Lord of Vengeance</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, is my
most recurring character, though in 2023 I had my first Weird Western and first
Cosmic Horror stories published, both of which have ideas of sequels
percolating. The only story of mine that has seen publication and is S&S by
my definition is “The Breath of Death” in the Rogues in the House Podcast
release, </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61414037-a-book-of-blades"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A Book of Blades</span></span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For
a beginner, who are the greats from the past? And what about now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Robert E.
Howard, of course, and if I may point at two titles of my own from Rogue Blades
Foundation as terrific places to begin understanding the impact of the Texas
author, please look at </span><a href="https://rogue-blades.com/rbf/rbf-books/reh-changed-my-life/"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Robert E.
Howard Changed My Life</span></i></a><span style="color: #c00000; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">and – if you’re familiar with the original Conan stories –<span style="color: #c00000;"> </span></span><a href="https://rogue-blades.com/rbf/rbf-books/hither-came-conan/"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hither Came
Conan</span></i></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">.
Others from the past include: Clark Ashton Smith and C.L. Moore, Fritz Leiber
and Poul Anderson, Michael Shea and Charles Saunders, Leigh Brackett and Karl
Edward Wagner. Some greats from the present – beyond those appearing in <i>Neither
Beg Nor Yield</i>, several of whom could be considered straddlers of recent
past and contemporary times – include: Roy Thomas, Scott Oden, and Alex Bledsoe
to Charles Gramlich, Milton Davis, and Paul S. Kemp…and of course, Nathan
Meyer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
does Sword and Sorcery differ from Heroic Fantasy?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">S&S is
part of Heroic Fantasy. Heroic Fantasy is a large umbrella, with JRR Tolkien’s <i>Lord
of the Rings</i> under one half and Howard’s S&S under the other, and
there’s a lot of territory between them. Yet not so much as one would suspect,
for their overlays are numerous. I believe David Gemmell’s Druss straddles the
middle of the umbrella quite comfortably, and that Gemmell himself could write
the S&S Attitude, though his storytelling tended toward being more heroic
in the Tolkien vein. In fact, the 3 authors Death kept me from inviting to the
contents of <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i> include Howard, Gemmell, and Wagner.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
the new release spotlight for <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield </i>on January 29th, you
said “Sword & Sorcery is contrary to Death.” Can you unpack that idea for
us?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Quite
simply that S&S protagonists enjoy the red, dripping juices of a full and
meaty life to the hilt. They aren’t just alive; they LIVE life. They do
everything within their power and strength to defy dying and—like Steve Goble’s
Calthus says—win another day. The heroes of S&S grab life and don’t let it
go until they’re definitely dead. S&S protagonists do not fear the Reaper.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
can you tell us about the cover art and illustrations for <i>Neither Beg Nor
Yield</i>?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">M.D.
Jackson nails the feel – the down and gritty, the dark and bloody, the deadly
and scary urgency I asked of him. His interior pieces do spectacular justice to
each story, showcasing integral scenes and highlighting aspects of the authors’
storytelling. His cover is exactly what I sought: bloody and dangerous. A fine
accompaniment to the title and theme.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
do you see your readers, and who will enjoy this?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I think
that every reader who enjoys the grand adventure delivered by any definition of
Sword & Sorcery will relish the thrills of this anthology. Whether a reader
agrees or not with my argument, no true fan of S&S can deny that this book
holds some of the best contemporary tellings of Sword & Sorcery stories to
see print. If you find enjoyment in Heroic Fantasy, don’t need your stories to
be hundreds of pages long, and can handle blood in the dark, you will find
compelling entertainment within <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
are your plans for the future?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I aim to
write some stories I hope others find exciting and appealing. Thank you very
much for this opportunity, Jessica.<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><b>Thank you!</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSB3Y2CY" style="color: #7d21ff; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://rogue-blades.com/rbe/rbe-books/neither-beg-nor-yield/" style="color: #a3ff22;">Rogue Blades Entertainment</a></b></h2><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About Jason M. Waltz:</span></h1><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISDw8-ggZdJAvTr_tIttv-mU9ZsWnHYbyy-ofSkwC6VE3MQ3OXQ9uPLU1555uGdMnunzFHMVFMOA_ACG-HW1NhsWyyhvFZHfUduJmq0DSsL1UpliLoXYWZApNfdOUU-wbZoUdHmk3o1wqH6cjBwvJmvW8krCQLXwCUZ_CI99vkU50jo-yAPGfBqRXnz_s/s400/Jason%20M%20Waltz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="400" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISDw8-ggZdJAvTr_tIttv-mU9ZsWnHYbyy-ofSkwC6VE3MQ3OXQ9uPLU1555uGdMnunzFHMVFMOA_ACG-HW1NhsWyyhvFZHfUduJmq0DSsL1UpliLoXYWZApNfdOUU-wbZoUdHmk3o1wqH6cjBwvJmvW8krCQLXwCUZ_CI99vkU50jo-yAPGfBqRXnz_s/s320/Jason%20M%20Waltz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"> </b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">JASON M WALTZ ~ Jason is a lot of things, most often not the exact one needed at any given moment. He does believe in heroes, though, and strives to bring the heroic through presentation and publication. Recently Jason has taken to his own writing again, finding a few acceptances at Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery, in the new Weird Western anthology Monster Fight at the O.K. Corral Vol. 2, and in Parallel Universe Publications’ Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Vol. 7 anthology. Once Neither Beg Nor Yield emphatically answers the burning riddle of Sword & Sorcery, Jason aims to buckle down and begin gathering rejections in earnest. Heroes: They’re what Jason—and Rogue Blades—does, whether through writing, publishing, teaching, or reading. Check ‘em out at rogue-blades.com/jmw</span></span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-size: 22px; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://rogue-blades.com/" style="color: #a3ff22;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Website</span></a></b></h2>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-42664731625007633542024-02-25T23:00:00.026+00:002024-02-26T02:03:51.951+00:00Witch Mirror (Hawthorne University Witch, Book 4) by A.L. Hawke<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt4sgVs-9KrdqyJntXSzKqt9dDlN-Av3lJNO13oyZpHFt0MPLtEH8P0fFtTCpAE5VkJ5OOyRfkrpXY64BYOQN-CVPUVBrF443eO48T092J_TIYd3J36nMn8LaY_Wp8H2Fn6M7c5PM4Dv3v12v6XNwiugw7Ejgfgq5er0HtZ62Gh5YlXlrMr2SwC-v/s2700/wm_ebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt4sgVs-9KrdqyJntXSzKqt9dDlN-Av3lJNO13oyZpHFt0MPLtEH8P0fFtTCpAE5VkJ5OOyRfkrpXY64BYOQN-CVPUVBrF443eO48T092J_TIYd3J36nMn8LaY_Wp8H2Fn6M7c5PM4Dv3v12v6XNwiugw7Ejgfgq5er0HtZ62Gh5YlXlrMr2SwC-v/w426-h640/wm_ebook.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Release date: February 26, 2024</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Subgenre: Paranormal Romance</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>About <i>Witch Mirror</i>:</b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><b> Reflections of a wicked witch.<br /></b><br />Bryce and I are trying to revive Alondra’s old metaphysical history class. We’re in college again, this time teaching. But it’s stressful under our former teacher’s shadow. Not only that, there’s a new demon-witch messing with my love life. So I’m going through that again. Well, at least this time I have Alondra’s magic to protect me.<br /><br /><br />Actually, not only do I have her magic, her spirit is inside me, possessing me. But don’t worry, Alondra’s ghost is a positive force here to help Hawthorne. I mean…are you good, Alondra? <br /><br /><br />A witch council is gathering at my house to reflect on ways to save us. They’re convinced Alondra is evil, but Alondra and I are unsure they know what they’re doing. Well, if I can’t hold things together—inside and outside of myself—I fear my plans of finishing graduate school at Hawthorne U. and starting a family are going to shatter.</div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> <br /></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt:</b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><div style="text-align: left;">Bryce stops his old gray BMW before a rickety old wooden bridge. He has to drive slowly so we don’t dive through the wooden planks and crash into the water below. The bridge is not much wider than his car. I hate seeing this bridge again. Not only is it always a legitimate danger to our lives, it was sort of the beginning of the Samhain Witch’s freak show. But I don’t hate Geneva Forest. All these trees are like home. Of course, as if the broken-down bridge weren’t bad enough, at the end of the bridge is a wall of white fog. That looks hellishly ominous, too, like we’re going to be swallowed by the white smoke after we cross over. Mira’s black van is behind us. We wait for her and, like last Halloween, she’s probably more worried than Bryce about falling through the wooden boards with her heavier van. <br />“She’s here,” says Afreyea, seated behind me, in her thick accent. That freaks me out. Gala is sitting beside her. “You feel her?”<br />“No,” Bryce grunts, but it actually sounds more like he’s saying “yes.” <br />Flakes of ice start hitting the windshield. Snow? In mid-March? What the hell? Isn’t all this weird enough? There’s not a cloud in the sky.<br />“It could totally be Hansel and Gretel, you know, Bryce,” I say. “She could be luring us inside to eat us.”<br />“I don’t see candy,” Bryce says, shaking his head. “That house, if you remember, was more like a fly-infested dung heap.”<br />“Beelzebub,” says Gala.<br />“Huh?” I ask.<br />“Beelzebub,” Gala repeats in her Romanian accent. “Lord of the flies.”<br />O-k-a-y. You know, these witches are supposed to protect us, right? We’re supposed to have a full-on witch showdown and kick some witch ass. So why does Gala sound scared? Then, to make it worse, Afreyea is whispering. At first, I thought she was muttering something about Beelzebub. No, she’s chanting an incantation in another language. <br />Ice now covers our windshield, and Bryce has to slow the car to a crawl and run his windshield wipers. <br />A rush of water splashes my passenger window and makes me jump. Did Bryce drive over a puddle? No, he has almost stopped. Is this the start of black magic shit? <br />I look back and see something I wish I hadn’t. Afreyea’s eyes are wide open. Apparently, the water splashing scared her.<br />“She’s here,” Afreyea says. “Brought your book, Cadence?”<br />Uh, I sure did.<br />“We end this now, Aurora,” Gala says. “We finally end this, sister.”<b><br /> </b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0CSXT312D">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witch-mirror-a-l-hawke/1144688343;jsessionid=F9A3C528C67ED3F0720EF6883AAFE098.prodny_store01-atgap03?ean=2940186208433&st=AFF&2sid=Draft2Digital_7968444_NA&sourceId=AFFDraft2Digital">B&N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/witch-mirror">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://books.apple.com/de/book/witch-mirror/id6476468329">Apple</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/?id=PBv0EAAAQBAJ">Google Play</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1510750?ref=alhawke">Smashwords</a> | <a href="https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1070853835">Thalia</a> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>About A.L. Hawke:</b></h2>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J72S-vI6oA/XhOjrS_4MAI/AAAAAAAAFLE/e9ts8AJJWacbyg8HpMu_OHLbE2s3XLfwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/HawkFinal%2Bthumbnail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J72S-vI6oA/XhOjrS_4MAI/AAAAAAAAFLE/e9ts8AJJWacbyg8HpMu_OHLbE2s3XLfwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/HawkFinal%2Bthumbnail.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>A.L. Hawke lives in Southern California torching the
midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic,
spice and mayhem. With a medical science background, the author specializes in
romantic fantasy and science fiction. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></span></span> </div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.alhawke.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-l-hawke">BookBub</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18821515.A_L_Hawke">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/alhawke">Author Central</a> | <a href="http://eepurl.com/gce6Rz">Newsletter</a> </h3><h2 style="text-align: center;"></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></div>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-57933834563921248932024-02-22T23:00:00.963+00:002024-02-23T00:31:24.851+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for February 23, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>,<i> </i><i>Star Wars </i>in general<i>, Doctor Who </i>past, present and future<i>, Dune: Part 2, </i>the new <i>Avatar the Last Airbender, </i><i>Madame Web,</i><i> Constellation, Spaceman, The Space Race</i>, the best SFF books of 2023, trubutes to Steve Miller and much more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/2/18/21st-century-sword-and-sorcery-an-introduction">Deuce Richardson looks back on the collapse of the sword and sorcery genre in the 1980s. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/10-new-gothic-reads-that-explore-the-darkness-within/">Tonya Mitchell shares ten new gothic novels. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fromearthtothestars.com/2024/02/14/the-pros-and-cons-of-nostalgia/">Peter Wood talks about the pros and cons of nostalgia.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-sff-books-about-healers-and-medicine/">James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF books about healers and medicine. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/suspense-climate-apocalypse/">Sarah Ruiz Grossman shares her favourite climate fiction novels. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/6-books-that-draw-inspiration-from-folk-tales/">Amanda Jayatissa shares five books that were inspired by folk tales. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/fairy-tales-dark/">Samantha Hastings notes that fairy tales have always been dark. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/bigfoot-king-of-the-cryptids/">Judith Tarr talks about Bigfoot, king of the cryptids. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.heyalma.com/the-jewishness-of-sarah-maas-fantasy-world/">Anna Smoot talks about the Jewishness of Sarah J. Maas' fantasy world. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.benespen.com/john-the-balladeer-by-manly-wade-wellman/">Benjamin Espen shares his appreciation for Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://conan.com/the-legendary-queen-of-the-black-coast-belit/">Lo Terry takes a look at Conan's lover Belit from "Queen of the Black Coast". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/2/14/rusty-burke-fighting-his-way-back">Bill Cavalier shares a health update on the state of Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.asimovs.com/current-issue/editorial/">Sheila Williams remembers Michael Bishop. </a></li><li><a href="https://tolkienandfantasy.blogspot.com/2024/02/rip-richard-mathews-1944-2024.html">SFF scholar Richard Matthews has died aged 79. </a></li><li><a href="https://utampapress.org/in-memoriam-richard-mathews">The University of Tampa Press remembers Richard Matthews. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Tributes to Steve Miller:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/steve-miller-1950-2023/">Science fiction author Steve Miller died aged 73. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/steven-richard-miller-july-31-1950-february-20-2024/"><i>File 770</i> shares an obituary that Steve Miller wrote for himself. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/end-of-world-as-98940321?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link">Sharon Lee remembers her long-time partner Steve Miller. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Best of 2023:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-liz-bourke/">Liz Bourke shares her favourite SFF books of 2023.</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-alexandra-pierce/">Alexandra Pierce shares her favourite SFF books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-arley-sorg/">Arley Sorg shares his favourite SFF books of 2023.</a> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-one-hand-1/">Robert Mammone reviews <i>The One Hand #1</i> by Ram V and Laurence Campbell. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tcj.com/i-will-always-choose-reality-dave-mckean-retrospective/">Jake Zawlacki interviews comic artist Dave McKean. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/19/arts/ec-comics-oni-press.html">George Gene Gustines reports that legendary publisher <i>EC Comics</i> is returning. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/feb/17/tom-gauld-on-how-to-have-a-bookcase-worthy-of-all-your-social-media-feeds-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about the social media ready bookshelf. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/18/sasquatch-sunset-review-riley-keough-jesse-eisenberg-bigfoot-comedy-zellner-brothers">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>Sasquatch Sunset</i> an ingenious Bigfoot comedy </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/20/monolith-review-impressive-first-contact-sci-fi-seeks-the-truth-out-there">Phil Hoad calls <i>Monolith </i>an impressive first contact science fiction film.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/19/adam-curtis-the-way-review-michael-sheen-thrilling-new-drama-is-like-nothing-else-on-tv">Lucy Mangan calls <i>The Way</i> a thrilling near future drama unlike anything else on TV. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/defense-of-lisa-frankenstein-horror-movie-diablo-cody-1851261426">Sabina Graves asks people to please see <i>Lisa Frankenstein</i>, while it is still in theatres.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/19/history-of-evil-review-spooky-house-horror-set-in-future-fascist-america">Catherine Bray calls <i>History of Evil </i>a spooky-house horror film set in a future-fascist US </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-second-best-hospital-in-the-galaxy-review-prime-vid-1851260363">Meredith Hobbs Coons calls <i>The Second Best Hospital In The Galaxy </i>an animated series that's as ambitious as its protagonists. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=a0e2b590b7db9ab7d2927942c&id=f91cd379db">Alasdair Stuart talks about <i>Echo, Reacher</i> and the new paladins. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/his-mothers-monster-percy-jacksons-nuanced-take-on-medusa/">Leah Blaine praises how <i>Percy Jackson and the Olympians</i> handles the character of Medusa. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/16/marvel-mcu-fantastic-four-pedro-pascal-vanessa-kirby-joseph-quinn-ebon-moss-bachrach">Ben Child wonders whether <i>Marvel</i> will finally do right by the <i>Fantastic Four </i>given the recent cast announcements. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/industry/racebending-characters-examples-black-actresses-deserve-better-candice-patton-leah-sava-jeffries">Kathryn Porter attempts to explain why racebent castings, particularly when black actresses are cast to play characters previously portrayed as white, make some people so angry.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/x-men-97-morph-non-binary-marvel-disney-plus-1851264528">James Whitbrook reports that the usual suspects are mad that the shapeshifting character of Morph in the <i>X-Men '97</i> animated show now identifies as non-binary. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/superman-and-lois-cancellation-cw-superman-legacy-1851267131">Justin Carter reports that the TV show <i>Superman & Lois </i>was cancelled, because <i>Warner Bros </i>feared it would compete with the upcoming <i>Superman: Legacy</i> movie. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://side-quest.ghost.io/was-gundam-wing-ever-actually-good/?ref=side-quest-newsletter">Stewart A. Shearer wonders if <i>Gundam Wing</i> was ever actually good. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/heinleins-juvenile-books-movies.html">David Wharton wishes that Hollywood would pay more attention to Robert A. Heinlein. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-fantasy-frogs-and-toads-whove-hopped-into-our-hearts/">Cole Rush shares his favourite frogs and toads from SFF films and TV shows. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/ghostbusters-frozen-empire-original-cast-back-cameos-exclusive/">Jack Shepherd interviews Gil Kenan, director of <i>Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-20-1969-the-old-man-and-the-she-star-trek-requiem-for-methuselah/"><i>Galactic Journey</i> revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek</i> episode "Requiem for Methuselah"</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/suffering-and-bliss-the-fountain-and-putting-in-work-on-the-road-to-awe/">Nathan Tavares revisits the 2006 speculative movie <i>The Fountain</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/22/james-hawes-select-committee-tv-soaps-made-using-ai">Alexi Duggins reports that soap operas could be made by AI within three to five years. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/22/in-la-directors-have-clubbed-together-to-save-a-landmark-cinema-why-dont-brits-do-the-same">Mark Cousins wonders why British filmmakers don't band together to save endangered cinemas like Hollywood filmmakers sometimes do. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/salems-lot-stephen-king-calls-out-warner-bros-1235832374/">Armando Tinoco reports that Stephen King has criticised <i>Warner Bros</i> for not releasing the latest adaptation of <i>Salem's Lot</i>, which was supposed to come out in 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/paul-damato-dead-slapshot-dr-hook-actor-1235833438/">Actor Paul D'Amato, who appeared in <i>The Deer Hunter, Slap Shot, Heaven's Gate, Heaven Can Wait </i>and many others, has died aged 76. </a> </li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers) and <i>Masters of the Universe</i> in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kK_fxElvMM"><i>Dad-at-Arms </i>discusses the relationship between Adam and Teela in<i> Masters of the Universe Revelation </i>and</a><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kK_fxElvMM"> Revolution.</a></i></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/gwildor-masters-of-universe-revolution-identity/">Joshua M. Patton discusses the character of Gwildor in</a><i><a href="https://www.cbr.com/gwildor-masters-of-universe-revolution-identity/"> Masters of the Universe: Revolution. </a> <br /></i></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtNs1rgagEI"><i>For Eternia </i>explains the three gods of Eternia and the four towers of Preternia as seen in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/interview-with-masters-of-the-universe-executive-producer-rob-david/">Jacob Robinson interviews Rob David, executive producer of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. <br /></a></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Dune, Part 2</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dune-part-2-review-zendaya-timothee-chalamet-pugh-butle-1851217410">Germain Lussier declares that <i>Dune: Part 2</i> blew away his sandworm-sized expectations </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/21/dune-part-two-review-denis-villeneuve">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>Dune, Part 2</i> a staggering spectacle. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/dune-2-review-visually-ravishing-storytelling-1851274494">Murtada Elfadi calls <i>Dune Part 2 </i>visually ravishing </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dune-2-baron-harkonnen-stellan-skarsgard-dave-bautista-1851256337">Germain Lussier interviews Stellan Skarsgård and Dave Bautista, who play Baron Harkonnen and Raban in <i>Dune</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dave-bautista-opens-up-about-his-relationship-with-deni-1851270843"><i>io9</i> interviews Dave Bautista who plays Raban in <i>Dune, Part 2</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars: The Bad Batch </i>and<i> Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-bad-batch-season-3-review-disney-ventress-1851272807">James Whitbrook declares that season 3 of <i>Star Wars: The Bad Batch</i> finally ties everything together.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-bad-batch-season-3-plot-recap-ventress-omega-1851265623">James Whitbrook shares everything you need to remember before season 3 of <i>The Bad Batch</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-bad-batch-project-necromancer-palpatine-tros-1851278640">James Whitbrook interviews Jennifer Corbett and Brad Rau, producers of <i>Star Wars: The Bad Batch</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/canto-bright-mission-message-star-wars-the-last-jedi/">Jordan Iacobucci, Joshua M. Patton and Kieran Loughlin point out that the Canto Bight sequence in <i>The Last Jedi </i>was not superfluous, only that almost everybody missed the purpose of that scene. </a></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Doctor Who</i> past, present and future: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-love-story-comment/">Louise Griffin shares the four greatest love stories in <i>Doctor Who</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/costume-and-culture/2024/feb/19/dionne-warwick-said-im-never-wearing-that-again-behind-the-scenes-of-tvs-wildest-costumes">Hollie Richardson interviews Louise Page, costume designer for <i>Doctor Who</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>in animation and live action:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/22/avatar-the-last-airbender-review-a-sparkling-return-for-one-of-the-greatest-fantasy-series-of-all-time">Jack Seale calls the live action<i> Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> a sparkling return for one of the greatest fantasy series of all time </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/tv-review-netflix-avatar-the-last-airbender-live-acti-1851274030">Jenna Scherer declares that the new <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> lacks the original's magic</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/last-airbender-avatar-movie-14-year-retrospective-1851250518">Justin Carter revisits the 2010 live action <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> and finds it dull and just plain bad.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/avatar-inspired-reading-recommendations-books-for-nearly-every-bending-style/">Cole Rush share fantasy novel recommendations for the characters of <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Madame Web</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/madame-web-movie-review-marvel-sony-spider-man.html">Sam Adams calls <i>Madame Web</i> one of the worst superhero movies in recent years and one of the most enjoyable. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-02-13/madame-web-review-dakota-johnson-sydney-sweeney-sony-marvel">Katie Walsh calls <i>Madame Web</i> primo ridiculousness,</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/madame-web-reviewed-by-the-spiders-from-arachnophobia/">Leah Schnelbach lets the spiders from <i>Arachnophobia</i> review <i>Madame Web</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/inside-sony-madame-collapse-forget-160227857.html?_guc_consent_skip=1708401835">Pamela McClintock and James Hibberd attempt to explain why <i>Madame Web</i> turned into such an unmitigated disaster. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/22/yes-marvels-madame-web-is-a-dumb-schlocky-janky-disaster-but-dakota-johnsons-press-tour-is-a-joy">Stuart Heritage notes that <i>Madame Web</i> is terrible, but at least Dakota Johnson's press tour is a lot of fun. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Constellation</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/constellation-review-apple-tv-plus-sci-fi-1851248458">Saloni Gajjar calls <i>Constellation</i> a trippy, hypnotic space thriller</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/21/constellation-review-apple-science-fiction-series">Rebecca Nicholson calls <i>Constellation</i> a slick space thriller. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/what-drew-noomi-rapace-to-constellation-1851265349"><i>io9</i> interviews Noomi Rapace, star of <i>Constellation</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Spaceman</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/21/spaceman-review-adam-sandler-consoled-by-unscary-giant-spider-in-deep-space">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>Spaceman</i> a trippy cosmic adventure. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/global/johan-renck-spaceman-adam-sandler-chernobyl-1235907979/">Alex Ritman interviews Johan Renck, director of <i>Spaceman</i> and<i> Chernobyl</i>. </a></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The Space Race</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/20/black-astronauts-the-space-race-hulu-disney?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">David Smith calls <i>The Space Race</i> a groundbreaking documentary about black NASA astronauts. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-space-race-how-a-documentary-on-nasas-black-astronauts-started-out-in-cuba/">Vanessa Armstrong shares her thoughts on the documentary <i>The Space Race</i>. </a></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/2023-bram-stoker-awards-final-ballot-released/">The finalists for the 2023 Bram Stoker Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/44th-los-angeles-times-book-prize-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-splatterpunk-award-nominees/">The finalists for the 2024 Splatterpunk Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/prix-bob-morane-2024-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Prix Bob Morane have been announced.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/2024-premio-ernesto-vegetti-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Premio Ernesto Vegetti have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-zsoldos-peter-award-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Zsoldos Péter Award have been announced.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/emma-kerkman-wins-2024-dell-magazines-award/">The winner of the 2024 Dell Magazine Award has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2023-cybils-awards-winners/">The winners of the 2023 Cybils Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/annie-awards-2024-winners-animation-1851267534">The winners of the 2024 Annie Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-d-i-c-e-awards/">The winners of the 2024 D.I.C.E. Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-ves-awards/">The winners of the 2024 VES Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/writers-guild-award-nominations-2024-full-list-1235918306/">The finalists for the 2023 WGA Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/18/baftas-2024-the-complete-list-of-winners">The winners of the 2024 Bafta Awards have been announced with few winners of interest. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://lithub.com/34-transformative-prompts-to-unlock-your-writing-courtesy-kelly-link/">Kelly Link shares thirty-four writing prompts. </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/dont-be-hatin-on-prologues-again/">Philip Athans points out that there actually is nothing wrong with prologues. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/unreliable-narrators-secondary-characters/">Mina Hardy discusses the difference between unreliable narrators and unreliable secondary characters. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/the-dos-and-donts-of-crafting-an-ensemble-cast/">Vera Kurian shares tips for creating an ensemble cast. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lizmonsterwrites.com/2024/02/17/success/">Elizabeth Bonesteel shares her not so great experiences with traditional publishing. </a></li><li><a href="https://writerbeware.blog/2024/02/19/outrage-over-new-terms-of-use-at-findaway-voices-forces-change/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-latest-post-from-the-writer-beware-blog_154">Victoria Strauss reports about outrage about a rights grab in the new terms of use at the audio book producer <i>Findaway Voices</i> <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/17/god-forbid-that-a-dog-should-die-when-goodreads-reviews-go-bad">Lauren Oyler reports about the many issues besetting <i>Goodreads</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/industry/racebending-characters-examples-black-actresses-deserve-better-candice-patton-leah-sava-jeffries">Lois Beckett reports about the growing popularity of romance bookstores in North America.</a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/16/novelist-kelly-link-i-was-drawn-to-the-monsters-and-half-naked-women-on-fantasy-covers"><i>The Guardian</i> interviews Kelly Link.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/2/22/interviewing-allen-stroud"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews Allen Stroud. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/2/21/interviewing-angela-slatter"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews Angela Slatter. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://beforewegoblog.com/review-the-city-of-marble-and-blood-by-howard-andrew-jones/">John Mauro reviews <i>The City of Marble and Blood</i> by Howard Andrew Jones</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-adventures-of-amina-al.html">Clara Cohen reviews <i>The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi </i>by Shannon Chakraborty </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-thucydides-trap-by-melinda.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>The Thucydides Trap</i> by Melinda Snodgrass</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/paul-di-filippo-reviews-exordia-by-seth-dickinson/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>Exordia</i> by Seth Dickinson </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alex-brown-reviews-a-feast-for-flies-by-leigh-harlen/">Alex Brown reviews <i>A Feast for Flies</i> by Leigh Harlen </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/category/reviews/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>Starter Villain</i> by John Scalzi </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/liz-bourke-reviews-the-butcher-of-the-forest-by-premee-mohamed/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> by Premee Mohamed </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-senlin-ascends-by-josiah-bancroft/">John Mauro reviews <i>Senlin Ascends</i> by Josiah Bancroft </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/a-bookreview-the-imposition-of-unnecessary-obstacles-by-malka-older/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles </i>by Malka Older </a></li><li><a href="https://lesasbookcritiques.com/the-holy-terrors-by-simon-r-green/">Lesa Holstine reviews <i>The Holy Terrors </i>by Simon R. Green </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20420">Gayle Surrette reviews <i>Demon Daughter</i> by Lois McMaster Bujold </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-candle-children-by-m-j-baker/">John Mauro reviews <i>Candle Children</i> by M.J. Baker </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/17/the-invisible-girl-by-c-l-farley"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Invisible Girl </i>by C L Farley </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-djinn-waits-a-hundred-years-by-shubnum-khan/">Maura Krause reviews <i>The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years</i> by Shubnum Khan. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-hidden-legion-by-snorri-kristjansson/">Adrian Collins reviews <i>The Hidden Legion </i>by Snorri Kristjánsson</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-finding-echoes-by-foz-meadows.html">Roseanna Pendlebury reviews <i>Finding Echoes</i> by Foz Meadows </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/18/the-last-to-drown-by-lorraine-wilson"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Last To Drown</i> by Lorraine Wilson </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/utterly-dark-and-the-face-of-the-deep/">Rebecca Fisher reviews <i>Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep </i>by Philip Reeve </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/colleen-mondor-reviews-mislaid-in-parts-half-known-by-seanan-mcguire/">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>Mislaid in Parts Half-Known </i>by Seanan McGuire </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/how-to-seek-comfort-getting-through-the-tough-parts-together-in-lish-mcbrides-uncanny-romances/">Jenny Hamilton reviews <i>A Little Too Familiar</i> and<i> Rough Around the Hedges </i>by Lish McBride. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-infinity-alchemist-by-kacen-callender/">Maura Krause reviews<i> Infinity Alchemist </i>by Kacen Callender. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-poisons-we-drink-by-bethany-baptiste/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>The Poisons We Drink </i>by Bethany Baptiste</a></li><li><a href="https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett/">Doreen Sheridan reviews <i>The Tainted Cup</i> by Robert Jackson Bennett</a></li><li><a href="http://fantasy-faction.com/2024/the-wickwire-watch-by-jacquelyn-hagen-spfbo-9-finals-review"><i>Fantasy Faction </i>reviews <i>The Wickwire Watch </i>by Jacquelyn Hagen </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/22/the-night-alphabet-by-joelle-taylor-review-relentlessly-inventive">Wendy Erskine reviews <i>The Night Alphabet </i>by Joelle Taylor</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/18/tanglewood-by-knicky-l-abbott"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Tanglewood </i>by Knicky L.Abbott </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-briar-book-of-dead-by-g-slatter.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon </i>reviews <i>The Briar Book of the Dead </i>by A.G. Slatter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-what-feasts-at-night-by-t-kingfisher/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>What Feasts At Night</i> by T. Kingfisher. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/a-audiobookreview-what-feasts-at-night-by-t-kingfisher/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>What Feasts At Night</i> by T. Kingfisher. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20336">Gayle Surrette reviews <i>What Feasts At Night</i> by T. Kingfisher. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/gabino-iglesias-reviews-black-sheep-by-rachel-harrison/">Gabino Iglesias reviews<i> Black Sheep</i> by Rachel Harrison </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/colleen-mondor-reviews-the-parliament-by-aimee-pokwatka/">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>The Parliament</i> by Aimee Pokwatka </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-builders-by-daniel-polansky/">Adrian Collins reviews <i>The Builders</i> by Daniel Polansky </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/caught-up-in-circles-2">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Loving Safoa</i> by Liza Wemakor </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tzerisland.com/bookblog/2024/2/8/cahokia-jazz-by-francis-spufford.html"><i>Tzer Island </i>reviews <i>Cahokia Jazz</i> by Francis Spufford </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-womb-city-by-tlotlo-tsamaase/">Natalie Zutter reviews <i>Womb City</i> by Tlotlo Tsamaase </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-kinning-by-nisi-shawl/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>Kinning</i> by Nisi Shawl </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/ian-mond-reviews-him-by-geoff-ryman/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Him </i>by Geoff Ryman </a></li><li><a href="https://liveanddeadly.net/2024/02/13/the-descent-by-paul-e-hardisty-hardisty_paul-orendabooks-randomttours/">Mary Picken reviews <i>The Descent </i>by Paul E. Hardisty </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/ian-mond-reviews-deluge-by-stephen-markley/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Deluge </i>by Stephen Markley </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/grade-a-bookreview-the-bezzle-by-cory-doctorow/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Bezzle</i> by Cory Doctorow</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-convergence-problems-by-wole-talabi/">Alexis Ong reviews <i>Convergence Problems</i> by Wole Talabi </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-extraordinary-visions-stories.html">Arturo Serrano reviews <i>Extraordinary Visions: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne</i>, edited by Steven R. Southard and Matthew T. Hardesty. </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/13/short-story-review-what-you-need-by-henry-kuttner-and-c-l-moore/">Brian Collins revisits the 1945 science fiction story “What You Need” by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore </a></li><li><a href="https://sciencefictionruminations.com/2024/02/10/book-review-clifford-d-simaks-worlds-without-end-1964/">Joachim Boaz revisits the 1964 science fiction collection <i>Worlds Without End </i>by Clifford D. Simak.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/cares">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1967 post-apocalyptic novel <i>Termush</i> by Sven Holm, translated by Sylvia Clayton.</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-18-1969-february-galactoscope/">Tonya R. Moore revisits the 1969 science fiction novel <i>Let the Fire Fall</i> by Kate Wilhelm, Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the 1969 time travel novel <i>The House on the Strand</i> by Daphne du Maurier and the 1969 anthology <i>New Writings in S-F 14</i>, edited by John Carnell, Gideon Marcus revisits the 1969 science fiction novels <i>The High Hex </i>by Laurence M. Janifer and S. J. Treibich and <i>The Rim Gods</i> by A. Bertram Chandler, Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1969 alternate history novel <i>If Israel Lost the War</i> by Richard Z. Chesnoff, Edward Klein and Robert Littell and the 1969 science fiction novel <i>The Jagged Orbit</i> by John Brunner, David Levinson revisits the 1969 science fiction novel <i>Captive Universe</i> by Harry Harrison and Brian Collins revisits the 1969 science fiction novel <i>Spacepaw</i> by Gordon R. Dickson and the 1969 gothic novel <i>The Tormented </i>by Dorothy Daniels </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-22-1969-good-and-bad-trips-march-1969-fantasy-and-science-fiction/">Gideon Marcus reviews the March 1969 issue of <i>The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/02/13/the-ones-who-walk-away-from-omelas-by-ursula-k-le-guin/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1973 speculative story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin. </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/17/novella-review-the-storms-of-windhaven-by-lisa-tuttle-and-george-r-r-martin/">Brian Collins revisits the 1975 novella “The Storms of Windhaven” by Lisa Tuttle and George R. R. Martin </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/a-glass-or-two">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1979 anthology <i>The Best Science Fiction Novellas of The Year 1</i>, <br />edited by Terry Carr. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/nine-stories-from-a-master-night-of-the-cooters-by-howard-waldrop/">Alan Brown revisits the 1987 collection <i>Night of the Cooters</i> by Howard Waldrop </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/in-my-dreams">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1989 science fiction mystery <i>Nightside City</i> by Lawrence Watt-Evans </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/shopping-montages-and-food-court-terrors-richie-tankersley-cusicks-the-mall/">Alissa Burger reviews the 1992 YA horror novel <i>The Mall</i> by Richie Tankersley Cusick </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/10/short-story-review-first-fire-by-terry-bisson/">Brian Collins revisits the 1998 science fiction story “First Fire” by Terry Bisson</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/22/the-quarter-century-project-ash-a-secret-history-by-mary-gentle"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>revisits the 1998 historical fantasy novel <i>Ash - A Secret History </i>by Mary Gentle. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/02/16/in-which-postapocalyptic-novel-would-you-prefer-to-live/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 2003 postapocalyptic novel <i>Oryx and Crak</i>e by Margaret Atwood.</a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b><i> <br /></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/chengdu-worldcon-wont-account-for-sponsorships/">Roger Cadenhead reports that the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China, will not account for sponsorships and that co-chair Ben Yalow has no idea who the sponsors even were. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/glasgow-2024-passalong-funds-announcement/">Mike Glyer reports that the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow has refused to accept passalong funds from the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/panda-study-trip-bringing-children-to-glasgow-2024/"><i>File 770 </i>reports that a Chinese company has organised an expensive Panda Study Trip for teenagers to the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland - without the knowledge of the con com. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-guff-call-for-nominations-oceania-to-europe/">The 2024 GUFF race from Oceania to Europe is looking for candidates. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffanz.nz/blog/2024/02/15/a-message-from-the-continuity-concom/">Lynelle Howell discusses the problems that the New Zealand based convention Continuity has to find volunteers. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-wick-experience-tourist-attraction-las-vegas-1235826114/">James Hibberd reports that a <i>John Wick</i> themed immersive attraction is planned in Las Vegas, Nevada.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/20/astronomers-discover-universes-brightest-object-a-quasar-powered-by-a-black-hole-that-eats-a-sun-a-day">Tony Shepherd reports that astronomers have discovered the universe’s brightest object – a quasar powered by a black hole that eats a sun a day </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/17/japan-to-launch-worlds-first-wooden-satellite-to-combat-space-pollution?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Robin McKee reports that Japan will launch world’s first wooden satellite to combat space pollution </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-16-1969-triumph-tough-luck-and-turmoil-european-space-update/">Kaye Dee shares some space exploration news from 1969. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/death-crowns-a-macabre-part-of-death-folklore/">Keith Roysdon reports about the Appalachian folklore belief of death crowns. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/column-hopkinsville-goblins-spielberg">Colin Dickey shares the story of the Hopkinsville Goblins, who allegedly attacked a family in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1955. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/13/arts/glaad-video-games-lgbtq.html">Zachary Small reports that according to a recent GLAAD report, seventeen percent of gamers identify as LGBTQ+ </a><br /></li><li> <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-rise-and-fall-of-evil-genius-games.702617/"><i>EN World</i> discusses the rise and fall of <i>Evil Genius Games</i>.</a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7qUkhc_FGU"><i>Pixel Dan</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe</i> Eternia playset. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoRdkoCsZ_8"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews wave 2 of the <i>Mattel Turtles of Grayskull </i>action figures. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULeyDvKMtWI"><i>Mega Jay Retro </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Turtles of Grayskull</i> Sla'ker figure. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/toy-review-stingray-submarine/">Iain Delaney reviews the <i>Corgi</i> limited edition die-cast<i> Stingray </i>submarine.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/mondo-x-men-animated-series-rogue-figure-evolution-head-1851270650">James Whitbrook shares a look at the <i>Mondo X-Men: The Animated Series</i> Rogue figure. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/marvel-spider-man-2-superior-suit-hot-toys-collectible-1851264880">Cheryl Eddy shares a look at the <i>Hot Toys</i> <i>Spider-Man 2 </i>action figure.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/lego-disney-snow-white-seven-dwarfs-cottage-set-coffin-1851262318">Sabina Graves shares a look at a Snow White themed <i>Lego</i> set. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/tell-the-king/">"Tell the King" by Natalia Theodoridou in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/do-not-waver-my-heart/">"Do Not Waver, My Heart" by Shanna Germain in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-pearl-captain/">"The Pearl Captain" by Christopher Rowe in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/what-becomes-of-curious-minds/">"What Becomes of Curious Minds" by Wen-yi Lee in <i>Lightspeed</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/peddler-of.html">"Peddler of Favours" by Matthew Owen Jones in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=4143">"The Dreams From the Barrow" by Harry Piper in <i>Heroic Fantasy Quarterly</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/nine-billion-turing-tests-chris-willrich/">"Nine Billion Turing Tests" by Chris Willrich in <i>Reactor</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/feldman_02_24/">"Lonely Ghosts" by Meghan Feldman in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ketterer_02_24/">"The Beam Eidolon" by Ryan Marie Ketterer in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/preamble-to-the-death-of-a-small-god/">"Preamble to the Death of a Small God" by H.B. Menendez in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/you-the-listener-on-a-heavenly-trip/">"You, the Listener, on a Heavenly Trip" by Françoise Harvey in <i>The Dark.</i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/when-no-one-has-to-say-goodbye/">"When No One Has to Say Goodbye" by Elisabeth Ring in <i>Apex Magazine</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/02/19/free-fiction-monday-common-sense/">"Common Sense" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5OY-vXYzeE">Watch a trailer for part 2 of season 2 of <i>Invincible</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB5efZKWIrU">Watch a trailer for <i>Iwájú</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cysp38tiCLw">Watch a trailer for <i>Mars Machines. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSPtrEGJJzE">Watch a trailer for <i>The Spiderwick Chronicles.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT1LXJRCrbQ">Watch a trailer for <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDWQorTluFs">Watch a trailer for<i> Boy Kills World. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B73g786Izg0">Watch a trailer for<i> Sting. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA4wVhs3HC0">Watch a trailer for <i>Civil War. </i></a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-47640978292007975372024-02-21T23:00:00.151+00:002024-02-21T23:00:00.327+00:00Interview with Chantal Bellehumeur, author of Paranormal Investigation<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJBJavxQSIxYgYTdsgTaa1P0AK9wlOzhP50E1bt6WW1zAgV0_Be3VJPOTynDaK8Zdy6-bK4Yniqp7JMBt2H_GqetLXPPwkZuxFjan83CyNNiqABZaH-hGeLHFN4CLBvnmIao69dyuubM4ODUbgu6HEVJUrM0wJG4L68Jh8bzRzjRAZMzDQKLYCAhjWKuP/s790/Paranormal%20Invesatigarion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="530" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJBJavxQSIxYgYTdsgTaa1P0AK9wlOzhP50E1bt6WW1zAgV0_Be3VJPOTynDaK8Zdy6-bK4Yniqp7JMBt2H_GqetLXPPwkZuxFjan83CyNNiqABZaH-hGeLHFN4CLBvnmIao69dyuubM4ODUbgu6HEVJUrM0wJG4L68Jh8bzRzjRAZMzDQKLYCAhjWKuP/w430-h640/Paranormal%20Invesatigarion.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview Chantal Bellehumeur,
author of <i>Paranormal Investigation</i></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What was the inspiration behind <i>Paranormal Investigation</i>, your
ghost story published on January 4th, 2024?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There is a historical jail in the city of Cornwall Ontario with a
reputation for being haunted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, a
lot of them are, but this one is at the top of Canada’s most haunted
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I went on a guided tour of the old building during the day and came back
in the fall to conduct a paranormal investigation with my husband and son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The special activity was organised by a
company called Phantoms of York, who specialises in this kind of thing. They conducted
their own investigation there and have been giving tourists the opportunity to
do the same in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They provided us
with ghost hunting equipment and gave tips on how to potentially communicate
with spirits. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Our two-and-a-half hours session was recorded with a night vision camera
and the footage was uploaded on YouTube for us to watch and analyse. As I was having
fun replaying certain parts and taking notes, it gave me the idea for the
story. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must admit nothing much happens
during these kinds of investigations. There was no guarantee we would
experience anything, and it’s all a matter of interpretation too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, we did capture a few things so I used my
own experience, those of others, as well as historical facts to create a
fictional story. I made the ghosts a lot more active than during a real
investigation to make it more interesting and added humour. <i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How much is the story fact, and how much fiction?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It depends on your beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Before conducting our own paranormal investigation, we watched a short
video about the jail’s history as well as testimonials and clips from other
people’s investigations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prologue
which introduces the Cornwall jail and its past inmates is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That being said, some of the ghosts and
supernatural activities were based on real people and claimed sightings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For example, there was a doll in one of the cell blocks. When I asked the
dolls name, a voice on the radio transmitter we had on said ‘’Raggedy’’ and
then ‘’Ann’’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least, that’s what I
heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family didn’t hear those
specific words until we watched the footage at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I included the most exciting parts of our investigation in my story and embellished.
Everything that happens after the Roy
family leave the jail, including the epilogue, is pure fiction.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What prompted you and your family to do a real-life investigation at
Cornwall’s old jail?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I personally believe in the paranormal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A lot of people died inside the walls of the Cornwall
jail and I was curious to see if I could actually communicate with their
spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Part of me was a bit scared of messing with
the supernatural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Violent criminals such
as convicted murdered were hung there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men
and woman deemed insane also died there because the jail doubled up as an
asylum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also held homeless people, including
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to learn their
stories and thought a paranormal investigation would be an interesting activity
to do around Halloween.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It felt like a safe environment; one in which
I could leave any time and not have to return if I didn’t want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I would be comfortable doing
something like this in my home.<i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Have you written other stories about ghosts and the paranormal?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My novel “Past lives’’ is about reincarnation. The main character goes
under hypnosis to remember all her past lives, including times she roamed as a
ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve also written a few short stories involving ghosts. The first one
that comes to mind is “Imaginary Friend” which was published in an issue of
Mom’s Favourite Reads eMagazine.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As a writer, have you got a favourite genre?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">No. It really depends on my mood. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I write a lot of slice-of-life type stories, but enjoyed writing
romance, horror, historical, fantasy, memoires, and even poetry equally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like writing typical poetry though. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine read more like stories.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How important is the humour in <i>Paranormal Investigation</i>?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The humour in Paranormal investigation is light and helps keeps things
more realistic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main character is
like me in the sense that she believes in the supernatural, but her husband
Dave is more sceptical so keeps cracking jokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Its also a coping mechanism. He’s a bit spooked but won’t admit it. A
lot of people react that way.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What prompted you to become a writer?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I always liked telling stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When I was a young child, I asked my mother to note down my made-up
stories for me, and once I learned how to write I started making little books
with stapled papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continued writing
as a teen and wrote a novel in my early twenties. It was a fictional diary I
never intended to publish but somebody encouraged me to do so. I find it quite
therapeutic to write and got a lot of positive feedback from my first book so
continued publishing my work. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Now I have 20 published books, and a lot of my short stories, poems,
memoirs, and even recipes have been featured in anthologies and digital magazines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wrote a few articles for a local
newspaper to create awareness about Ulcerative Colitis, a chronic digestive
illness I was diagnosed with in 2009.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Do you have a daily writing routine?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">No. I write when inspiration strikes. I do prefer a quiet environment so
I can concentrate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How do you balance the demands of family, work and creativity?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When I am struck by inspiration, it’s usually at an inconvenient
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be while I am in the
shower, trying to sleep, or enjoying an activity with somebody.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I do my best to focus on my work while I am at the office but might quickly
jot down a thing or two on a post-it so I don’t forget general ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I am elsewhere, I use my phone to write
little notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At home, I will sit down
at my computer to write as soon as I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My family knows when not to disturb me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve written a lot while on sick leave too and it has given me time to
focus and do research.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What writers have inspired you?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I love a lot of different authors for various reasons, but none of them
specifically inspired me to write. I try to avoid reading a book when I am in
full writing mode because I don’t want another author’s writing style to subconsciously
influence my own.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You have struggled with serious health issues, mentioned on your
website. How has that changed the way you write and the subjects you choose?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Indeed. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis around the same time I
started publishing so it became my escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The first few years of dealing with my chronic illness was tough,
especially while trying to raise a child on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wrote to distract myself and feel somewhat
productive when I was too sick to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I mention the illness in a couple of my novels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first one was ‘‘Hope’’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so desperate to make people understand
what I was going through after being hospitalised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little did I know, I hadn’t even experienced
the worst of it yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to say it,
but it was the worst book I’ve ever written. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve since then written personal articles
about my illness which were published in a local newspaper and their website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was later approached by Crohn’s and Colitis
Canada, a foundation I volunteered for, to share my story to potential doners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As a writer of ghost stories, do you believe in ghosts?</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yes, I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Call me crazy, but sometimes I feel another presence in my home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister said she feels the same when she
comes over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a weird sensation; like
I am being watched. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I felt it from time to time inside the Cornwall jail and other
historical sites; in London, England especially! The London Tower felt haunted and
going on a Jack the Ripper Walk was creepy, and not just because of the murders
that happened over a century ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
weird vibes I got in Whitechapel pushed me to write my novel ‘’Just.Another.Common.Killer’’
as well as a bonus story called ‘’Mary Kelly’s Diary’’ which I included in the
second edition of the horror book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Years ago, when I was visiting an old jail in Ottawa, I had this similar
sensation. I felt something brush me while our group was standing in front of
the original hanging spot, staring at a hanging noose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was my friend, but he swore it
wasn’t him and there wasn’t anyone else behind us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I could go on…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Are you planning to carry out more investigations in historic buildings?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The same people who organised the paranormal investigation at the
Cornwall jail do the same thing at other historic sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am definitely interested in trying the
experience at other locations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What are you working on now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My dad told me a crazy thing that happened in the early 80’s while we
were moving from Timmins to Burlington. I have no recollection of it because I
was only three at the time, but it inspired a short story.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How do you imagine the audience for <i>Paranormal Investigation</i>?</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif;">I believe my book is ideal for people who enjoy reading light ghost stories. It’s spooky, but not to the point of giving you nightmares.</span></p><br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paranormal-Investigation-Chantal-Bellehumeur-ebook/dp/B0CRGZ9SY4/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h3><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About Chantal Bellehumeur:</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJCt78xnqFqUJ2DD2oda8bfVkwwzFhpastx1wiqbqBYIf5Oz_I0QPPzUEpiEYzO_sjAkfrpptJIWZ_MISN1Rd8X2EixAJxLp9OjFCM-0HWYhx2cMLE_t_heOb6XbY5DnjGq52lsuZ1lVp84ISbHpY1u0AlFM02_9wFNbWERN5Us1IRGMIU6R-Kv30w1mL/s700/Chantal%20author%20pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJCt78xnqFqUJ2DD2oda8bfVkwwzFhpastx1wiqbqBYIf5Oz_I0QPPzUEpiEYzO_sjAkfrpptJIWZ_MISN1Rd8X2EixAJxLp9OjFCM-0HWYhx2cMLE_t_heOb6XbY5DnjGq52lsuZ1lVp84ISbHpY1u0AlFM02_9wFNbWERN5Us1IRGMIU6R-Kv30w1mL/s320/Chantal%20author%20pic.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chantal Bellehumeur is a Montreal author born in 1981. She has 20 published books of various genres as well as numerous short stories, memoirs, poems and articles featured in compilation books, eMagazines, plus articles in The Suburban l newspaper.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">For a complete list of publications, including free reads, visit the following website: <a href="http://author-chantal-bellehumeur.webnode.com/products-/">author-chantal-bellehumeur.webnode.com/products-/</a></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4538804.Chantal_Bellehumeur" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chantal-Bellehumeur-public-author-page/347446362035640" target="_blank">Facebook </a>- <a href="https://twitter.com/c_bellehumeur" target="_blank">Twitter</a> - <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/chantal-bellehumeur-author" target="_blank">LinkedIn </a>- <a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/Authorchantalbellehumeur/" target="_blank">Pinterest </a>- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/authorchantalbellehumeur/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> - <a href="http://www.tiktok.com/@authorchantalbellehumeur" target="_blank">Tiktok </a>- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/chantalbellehumeur" target="_blank">Youtube </a></span></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br /></h3></div>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-49158873119239823182024-02-19T23:00:00.095+00:002024-02-19T23:00:00.145+00:00Interview with Joseph P. Macolino, author of The Battle for Erathal (Book 3 of The Evorath Trilogy) <p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUVpNwUZE0PrTNy-KyJ_xNfw32jfe_3ph7d7cugnz5Vb_QF_x6qFhBQtxRzpMer-ADXBZxoAEhfUYVws8mxdAZ_keBScHXLVKCjgo2kkxFVCxukv7_lnhZtEw58QEKEtcLAjgItw_0-BMqiM-iqZSdNAtqaOzXSjDBGyoolT03Z1goPMghjZYpkyxbHA7/s2701/Evorath%20Trilogy%20Book%203_%20The%20Battle%20for%20Erathal%20-%2001%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="1794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUVpNwUZE0PrTNy-KyJ_xNfw32jfe_3ph7d7cugnz5Vb_QF_x6qFhBQtxRzpMer-ADXBZxoAEhfUYVws8mxdAZ_keBScHXLVKCjgo2kkxFVCxukv7_lnhZtEw58QEKEtcLAjgItw_0-BMqiM-iqZSdNAtqaOzXSjDBGyoolT03Z1goPMghjZYpkyxbHA7/w426-h640/Evorath%20Trilogy%20Book%203_%20The%20Battle%20for%20Erathal%20-%2001%20(1).jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview Joseph P. Macolino, whose novel <i>The Battle for Erathal </i>(<i>Book 3 of The Evorath Trilogy</i>) has its debut on February 20, 2024.</span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
Battle for Erathal</span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> is the third volume in <i>The Evorath
Trilogy</i>, which began with <i>The Birth of Death</i>. Where are we at the
start of the book and how does it relate to volumes 1 and 2?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
like to consider this trilogy to be equal parts plot-driven and
character-driven. So, in relation to the first two books in the trilogy, this
novel concludes those character arcs readers have come to love during the first
two stories. In terms of plot, this story kicks off a few months after book 2,
which ended with the imprisonment of the main antagonist, Yezurkstal. And as he
breaks from that prison, the entire continent of Erathal is in danger. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To
what extent is <i>The Battle for Erathal</i> a stand-alone novel and how far is
it an entry point for newcomers to the series?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">While
I’d say it’s possible for a newcomer to pick up and read it by itself, I
wouldn’t think it’d have the same impact. The growth of Artimus and Savannah’s
relationship, the personal development we see Irontail go through, the hateful
and merciless attitude of Yezurkstal, the loss experiences by characters like
Casandra and Zelag…all these things and more lead to the events in <i>The
Battle for Erathal. </i>So, while you could technically pick up the book and
fill in the contextual gaps well enough, I doubt the full emotional impact of
the story will be felt. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What
can you tell us about Evorath itself? What sort of world is it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
many ways, it’s not dissimilar to Earth. It has 356 days in its calendar, 12
months in the year, and all four seasons we enjoy here. It has governments,
religions, philosophers, artists, and all things good and bad you’d find in the
real world. From an ecological perspective, the world of Evorath is more
temperate than earth, with a heavy concentration of deciduous forest around the
world. But it’s a world filled with magic and mythical creatures. The magic of
Evorath flows all around, in rocks, in trees, and in the very people that call
Evorath home. Centaurs, elves, dwarves, dragons, and all manner of mythological
creatures have a home on Evorath. In this trilogy, you can consider the events
taking place in a world similar to medieval earth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Would
you call <i>The Battle for Erathal</i> epic fantasy or high fantasy, and how
important is that?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
always find the distinction to get muddy, but this is how I define the two
terms. Epic fantasy is about the scale of the story, the scope of events. High
fantasy is about the setting. In this way, I’d say it is an epic, high fantasy.
That is, the stakes and overall plot of the story are epic in nature. And the
setting, being in it’s own unique and original world, makes it textbook high
fantasy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What
can you tell us about Irontail the centaur, and what is he doing at the
beginning of the story?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Funny
thing about Irontail is that he ended up being a much more important character
than originally planned. I found the more he grew and developed, the more I
loved writing about him. At the start of this story, he has worked with some
others to organize the first ever Gratitude Festival. This holiday is being
celebrated to give thanks to the goddess Evorath and serve as a uniting force
among the various species that call Erathal forest their home. For him, recent
years have been a time of great change as he’s taken on the reigns as Chieftain
of his tribe. Of course, he still isn’t content with the status quo, always
looking for ways to empower the people of Evorath.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When
a new - and old - trouble returns, who are his allies in the fight?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Irontail
is joined by Artimus and Savannah, a married pair of elves who were just hoping
to enjoy a quiet winter. We also get to see Tel’ Shira again, a felite warrior
and athlete who is always ready for a fight. Zelag, the shapeshifter introduced
in Book 2 of the series also returns, along with Casandra, the lamia mage who
is a student of Evorath’s. Additionally, the heroes are joined by a barghest
(dog-person) Mojo and a troll, Oogmut. And the major heroes are rounded out by
Evorath’s Avatar, that is, a creature akin to an angel who was summoned to help
fight Yezurkstal in book 1.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How
much can you tell us about your main antagonist, Yezurkstal?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As
with the real world, nearly everyone on Evorath is simply a person. That is, no
one is simply “good” or “evil” by birth or circumstance. Instead, the daily
choices of their lives add up and culminate into various actions, some good,
some bad, and some neutral. Yezurkstal is the exception to this rule. He is
pure evil. Tyrannical, jealous, wrathful, and just all around unlikable. While
I don’t believe this type of person is too common in the real world, the reason
I made him so unredeemable is because people need that contrast. Evil is real.
And while it seems popular today to make villains sympathetic, I wanted to make
a clear line in the sand: there’s no excusing mass murder and genocide, no
matter what hardships or character flaws you might have.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To
what extent is Evorath a classic fantasy world?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
suppose that defends how you classify a “classic fantasy world.” If it’s about
the magic and creatures, it has that. There’s also no shortage of fantastic
locations like the living ritual mound of Dumner (a mass of living foliage that
moves and responds to the will of the centaur living there). If we’re talking
more philosophically, it is a world torn between the forces of good and evil,
the goddess Evorath battling against Yezurkstal and his demonic forces.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How
did you set about world-building and did you go about it systematically?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Quite
systematically indeed. And at this point, there’s more fleshed out in the world
of Evorath than most readers will realize; and it’s not done yet. Since I
started building it over a decade ago, I can’t recall exactly where I started,
but I can say this. I spent time building out the medieval setting first
(around the time of this trilogy). That is, I worked on what species called
Evorath home, how many continents there were, etc. I also spent time mapping
out what the year looked like, wrote a timeline of ancient historical events,
developed various governments and religious systems, and quite a bit more. Over
the years, the source documents have grown, and new ones have been added. And
at this point, I have about 1,000 years of Evorath mapped out for various
series to take place in the world. Really, it might be easier to consider what
I didn’t account for in worldbuilding than what I did. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How
important are your religious beliefs and your politics in creating an imaginary
world?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">That’s
a really tough question because I don’t know that I can accurately say. My
politics have changed so drastically since I created the world, and I don’t
think they were ever important to the world-building. Since I’ve adopted an
anarchist/voluntarist philosophy, you can bet there will be more non-coercive
communities showing up in Evorath’s future. Because even if you don’t agree
with the practical implications of the philosophy, I’d be hard pressed to
imagine anyone seeing a negative in a system that people voluntarily engage
with, as opposed to all the governments and political systems of Earth. My
beliefs as a Christian undoubtedly had some impact, but I don’t think too heavy
on that front either. The reason I say this is simple. I read more on philosophies,
religions, and politics that I don’t agree with than those that I do. And I
built the world of Evorath accordingly. So, while the themes and moral messages
of the story may be anti-tyranny, celebrate diversity, individual liberty, and
similar ideals, the world itself was crafted in a way that resembles Earth.
Said differently, I’m sure there is some impact my personal biases have had on
the world-building, but that doesn’t mean the stories or events match those
biases. In most cases, they don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What
writers influenced you when you were growing up, and more recently?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tolkien
was influence number one. If I hadn’t read The Hobbit and followed up with Lord
of the Rings, I likely wouldn’t have started writing in the first place. I read
other books growing up like Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Animorphs, and
some Goosebumps. But all of that followed from learning how fun books could be.
Here’s the funny thing about me though…by most standards, I haven’t read any
recent fantasy authors other than myself. I’m sure I will one day, but right
now I exclusively read nonfiction. Why? Because I constantly thirst for
knowledge and understanding. So, I’m often reading history, philosophy,
religious books, political books, etc. This way, I continue to get inspiration
for worldbuilding without ever feeling like I’m taking inspiration from story
plots.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What
do you feel about writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien who were both
deeply religious men, but approached writing fantasy in very different ways
(Tolkien was not keen on allegory, for example).<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
love this common picture of Lewis vs. Tolkien. And what I love most about it is
that Tolkien was so inconsistent about his use of allegory. That is, he had
letters where he insisted <i>Lord of The Rings</i> was not allegory, but then
wrote later how it was clearly a Christian work and contained allegory. The
reality is, Lewis was much more upfront and honest with himself about allegory.
And as much as I admire Tolkien, I think his own alleged disdain for allegory
was a bit exaggerated. With that said, I absolutely appreciate both styles, but
I gravitate more towards Tolkien. Except in my books, I recognize upfront that
there are still some allegorical influences on Evorath. But overall, like
Tolkien, I try to minimize that allegory.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now
that the trilogy is complete, will you write more books set in this world, or
branch out into something different?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
think I’ve effectively alluded to this answer. At present, I have more than 30
novels planned in this world. And most likely, I won’t stop there. In fact,
I’ve finished writing book 1 of Legends of Evorath, a new series (more than 3
books) set about 60 years after the events of the Evorath trilogy. But as
alluded to before, I have nearly 1,000 years of history outlined for stories.
And the best part of that for me is that I get to explore different genres in
some sense. For instance, this trilogy and the next couple series are all
medieval fantasy settings. But like I said earlier, there are five continents
on Evorath and these first few series are just all about one, Erathal. So
whether it’s visiting pirates and mermaids in the southern islands of Evorath,
or heading east to the desert kingdoms, there are plenty of stories to tell and
interesting characters to meet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What
can you tell us about your experience as an indie writer so far and what do you
think of the current situation for writers - and readers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This
is a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one! So, I’ll start by looking at it
from the simplest perspective of being an indie author. That is, every book we
write costs us money. After professional editing and cover art, we need to sell
a few hundred books just to break even. If you have a story, don’t let this
concern stop you from telling it, but remember you need tenacity and real
passion if you hope to make it a viable career. With that said, there’s the
greater implications of modern technology that are making a lot of people
scared for the future. That is, technologies like AI. And while on one hand AI
is great for indie authors, because we can get things like character art
generated for free, it also means people are using it to make covers and even
write stories. I can’t speak for everyone, but to me, neither of those two uses
is acceptable. As a writer, that makes this one of the most uncertain times to
be alive. As a reader, you can help though. That is, when you read books
written by people (and not machines), make sure to tell others. Follow that
author’s page on Amazon, leave a rating and write a review, interact with them
on social media. All these things not only help encourage us, but they help
ensure the real people out here writing real stories can cut through the noise.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087JCZCX8?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About Joseph P. Macolino:</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxkaB5YqLWvO5aX23YdcpWzQjAYmKEuMofMGyvSmnnPFAjo_1AgVOy5Mn3m4fRkMzfLPF-Mqvcw_XQYa85-PR10VWdNPzh3U47fXghZYayuRgpuTua3V3uAmZAfe5OYoUxhGxKUbOWUryTwi0sxb4lEAXA4kfDxp1IbxQFqnV1yWw2hss8Fes7qPKpKVz/s960/joseph%20headshot%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxkaB5YqLWvO5aX23YdcpWzQjAYmKEuMofMGyvSmnnPFAjo_1AgVOy5Mn3m4fRkMzfLPF-Mqvcw_XQYa85-PR10VWdNPzh3U47fXghZYayuRgpuTua3V3uAmZAfe5OYoUxhGxKUbOWUryTwi0sxb4lEAXA4kfDxp1IbxQFqnV1yWw2hss8Fes7qPKpKVz/s320/joseph%20headshot%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Joseph Macolino has a passion for nature, philosophy, and all things fantasy. An unwavering Christian and self-declared anarchist, he dreams of a future human society where people can truly cooperate and voluntarily exchange ideas, goods, and services. When he’s not writing Evorath, he’s likely outside gardening, spending time watching a show with his family, or reading a book on philosophy. Considering himself a lifelong student of humanity, Joseph enjoys meeting new people and being exposed to new perspectives. He believes each person’s unique gifts can help contribute to stronger communities and hopes his work encourages others to embrace their gifts. Find out more about him at his <a href="https://www.evorath.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Evorath" target="_blank">Facebook </a>| <a href="https://twitter.com/Evorath" target="_blank">Twitter </a>| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evorath/" target="_blank">Instagram </a>| <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@evorath">TikTok</a></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-45574042052410806662024-02-15T23:00:00.816+00:002024-02-15T23:00:00.358+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for February 16, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>,<i> Star Trek </i>in general,<i> Star Wars </i>in general<i>, Doctor Who </i>past, present and future<i>, </i>the new<i> Quantum Leap, Madame Web,</i> season 2 of <i>Halo, Lisa Frankenstein</i>, the shelving of <i>Coyote vs. Acme</i>, the 2023 Hugo nomination scandal, the best SFF books of 2023 and much more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/09/the-best-recent-science-fiction-and-fantasy-reviews-roundup">Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of recent science fiction and fantasy releases. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-sff-crossover-books-february-2024/"><i>Reactor</i> shares all the new romantasy, horror and other SFF crossover books coming out in February. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-young-adult-sff-books-february-2024/"><i>Reactor </i>shares all the new YA SFF books coming out in February. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/15-horror-novels-to-look-out-for-in-2024/">Molly Odintz shares fifteen horror novels to look out for in 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001w73w">Madeleine Grey and Johny Pitts talk about the rise of romantasy. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/coming-to-terms-with-cozy-fiction/">Molly Templeton discusses her issues with cozy SFF. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/02/05/has-science-fiction-changed/">James Wallace Harris wonders whether science fiction has changed since he started reading it. </a></li><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/02/ruminations-on-subversive-and.html">Brian Murphy explains why there is value both in reading old and new fiction rather than focussing just on one. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-exciting-careers-for-the-end-of-the-world/">James Davis Nicoll shares five careers for post-apocalyptic worlds. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-sff-books-about-the-dangers-of-dabbling-in-archaeology/">James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF books about the dangers of dabbling in archaeology. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/happy-galentines-day-10-favorite-female-friendships-in-sff/">Jenny Hamilton shares her favourite female friendships in SFF. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/year-of-the-dragon-six-fantasy-authors-discuss-our-favorite-mythic-beast/">Eliza Chan hosts a roundtable of fantasy writers discussing their favourite dragons. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/painting-with-words-great-fantasies-that-feature-visual-art/">Gwenda Bond shares great fantasy novels that feature visual art. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-ways-you-might-be-crushing-on-a-book/">Natalie Zutter talks about book crushes. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://theboardng.com/oghenechovwe-donald-ekpeki-crafting-narratives-and-shaping-worlds/">Chinaza Okorie profiles Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki </a></li><li><a href="https://adventuresfantastic.com/c-l-moore-pioneer-of-fantasy-and-science-fiction/"><i>Adventures Fantastic</i> profiles C.L. Moore. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2024/01/20/adventures-in-fiction-abraham-merritt/">James Maliszewski profiles Abraham Merritt. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/after-more-than-60-books-spread-out-over-18-years-the-horus-heresy-series-is-finally-over-so-please-be-kind-to-the-warhammer-40000-tragics-in-your-life/">Jody Macgregor reports that the <i>Warhammer 40000 </i>tie-in series <i>Horus Heresy </i>will end after more than sixty books and eighteen years. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/swatting-nikki-haley-trump-fbi-b2492468.html">Bevan Hurley reports about the ongoing and constant harassment and swatting attempts of SFF author Patrick Tomlinson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://floggingbabel.blogspot.com/2024/01/howard-waldrop-implausibly-is-no-more.html">Michael Swanwick remembers the late Howard Waldrop.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/cokocon/posts/7953992661283043/">Fan, con-runner and filker Gary Swaty has died. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Best of 2023:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-tim-pratt/">Tim Pratt shares his favourite SFF books of 2023. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-a-c-wise/">A.C. Wise shares her favourite SFF books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-ian-mond/">Ian Mond shares his favourite SFF books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-alex-brown/">Alex Brown shares their favourite SFF books of 2023. </a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-conan-the-barbarian-7-by-jim-zub-w-and-doug-braithwaite-a/">Robin Marx reviews <i>Conan the Barbarian</i> #7 by Jim Zub and Doug Braithwaite</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/thundercats-1-review/">Sergio Pereira reviews<i> Thundercats #1 </i>by Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/in-utero/">Brad Hawley reviews the graphic novel <i>In Utero</i> by Chris Gooch </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.kqed.org/arts/13951772/ursula-k-le-guin-leo-diane-dillon-left-hand-of-darkness">Alexander Gonzales profiles SFF artists Leo and Diane Dillon.</a></li><li><a href="https://aiptcomics.com/2024/01/16/patch-zircher-the-savage-sword-of-conan/">David Brooke interviews writer and artist Patch Zircher. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/feb/10/tom-gaulds-tips-on-how-to-protect-your-local-library-from-cuts-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about defending your local library from budget cuts. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416137-tom-gauld-on-the-journey-to-a-magma-chamber/">Tom Gauld also shares a cartoon about drilling into the Earth. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/constellation-review-apple-tv-plus-sci-fi-1851248458">Saloni Gajjar calls <i>Constellation</i> a trippy, hypnotic space thriller</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-out-of-darkness.html">Alex Wallace calls <i>Out Of Darkness</i> a tense film about life and death during the stone age. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/13/deliver-us-review-delirious-baby-antichrist-horror-smothered-in-surreal-visions">Catherine Bray calls <i>Deliver Us </i>a horror film with all the right elements that sadly just drags on. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/09/ted-review-foul-mouthed-teddy-bear-sitcom-no-funny-jokes">Lucy Mangan calls <i>Ted</i> a foul-mouthed teddy bear sitcom that doesn’t feature a single funny joke</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/ghosts-season-3-review-cbs-tv-sitcom-1851250025">Max Gao shares his thoughts on season 3 of <i>Ghosts</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/resident-alien-premiere-recap-season-3-episode-1-lone-wolf/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season 3 premiere of <i>Resident Alien</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-space-race-from-curious-george-to-interstellar-black-astronauts-share-their-cultural-inspirations/">Vanessa Armstrong shares her thoughts on the documentary <i>The Space Race</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/12/the-space-shuttle-that-fell-to-earth-review-a-moving-tribute-to-the-astronauts-who-lost-their-lives-in-the-columbia-disaster">Lucy Mangan calls the documentary <i>The Space Shuttle That Fell to Earth</i> the finest possible tribute to the astronauts who lost their lives aboard the space shuttle <i>Columbia</i>,</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/10-of-the-best-on-screen-superhero-romances/">Joe George shares his favourite on screen superhero romances. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/09/moana-2-sequel-disney-donald-trump-elon-musk-conservatism">Ben Child declares that Moana is the hero we need, therefore he is happy that <i>Moana 2</i> is being made.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/linda-hamilton-interview-resident-alien-stranger-things-1851252929">Cheryl Eddy interviews Linda Hamilton, star of the <i>Terminator movies, Resident Alien, The Beauty and the Beast, Stranger Things</i> and many others. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/15/interview-with-the-vampire-review-tom-cruise-brad-pitt-kirsten-dunst-antonio-banderas">Peter Bradshaw revisits the 1994 horror film <i>Interview with the Vampire</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/amelie-20th-anniversary-re-release-1851253189">Rania Richardson revisits the 1994 romantic fantasy comedy <i>Amélie</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/fantastic-four-cast-marvel-studios-1235875766/">Adam B. Vary reports that the main cast for <i>Marvel</i>'s upcoming <i>Fantastic Four</i> movie has been announced.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers) and Masters of the Universe in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-mature-storytelling/">Joshua M. Patton declares that <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> manages to tell a mature story without sacrificing what made <i>Masters of the Universe</i> fun in the first place. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-despara-explained/">Brian Jankowski explains the backstory of a character briefly seen at the end of</a><i><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-despara-explained/"> Masters of the Universe: Revolution.</a></i></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-best-fights/">Renaldo Matadeen ranks the fight scenes of </a><i><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-best-fights/">Masters of the Universe: Revolution. </a> <br /></i></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qqiwMcX7Jo"><i>Dad-at-Arms</i> interviews artist Nate Baertsch who created the poster for <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/he-man-masters-of-the-universe-kids-importance/">Joshua M. Patton discusses how toy inspired cartoons like the original <i>Masters of the Universe </i>cartoon inspired children and stimulated the imaginations of the generation. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-toy-references/">Joshua M. Patton lists references to the original toyline in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-season-2-tease/">Joshua M. Patton reports that it may be a while until we see a new season of <i>Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution</i>, because animation is extremely time-intensive. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/masters-of-the-universe-travis-knight-1235824500/">Justin Knoll reports that director Travis Knight is now attached to the <i>Masters of the Universe </i>live action movie, which has been in development hell for decades.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/beyond-ewoks-star-wars-and-environmental-agency/">Sydney Sumpter discusses how often indigenous people save the day in <i>Star Wars</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-bad-batch-season-3-interview-ventress-fennec-1851249572">James Whitbrook interviews Jennifer Corbett and Brad Rau, producers of <i>Star Wars: The Bad Batch</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/star-wars-ian-mcdiarmid-defends-palpatine-return-rise-of-skywalker-exclusive/">Ben Travis interviews Ian McDiarmid, who played <i>Emperor Palpatine</i> in the <i>Star Wars </i>saga. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/anakin-skywalker-scenes-ahsoka-bucket-list-item-hayden-christensen-exclusive/">Ben Travis interviews Hayden Christensen, who played Anakin Skywalker in the <i>Star Wars</i> saga. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-14-1969-like-a-circle-in-a-spiral-like-a-wheel-within-a-wheel-star-trek-the-lights-of-zetar/"><i>Galactic Journey</i> revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek</i> episode "The Lights of Zetar"</a>. <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/romantic-star-trek-episodes/">Avery Kaplan shares seven romantic <i>Star Trek</i> episodes.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Doctor Who</i> past, present and future: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-10-1969-beam-me-up-doctor-who-the-seeds-of-death-parts-1-3/">Jessica Holmes revisits the 1969 <i>Doctor Who </i>serial "The Seeds of Death".</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/feb/15/david-tennant-kissing-michael-sheen-doctor-who-baftas">Rich Pelley and readers of <i>The Guardian </i>interview David Tennant, star of <i>Doctor Who, Good Omens, Broadchurch</i> and many others. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on the new <i>Quantum Leap</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/quantum-leap-recap-season-2-episode-11-the-outsider/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Quantum Leap</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/quantum-leap-raymond-lee-says-remaining-episodes-will-bring-a-healing-end-or-a-beginning/">Vanessa Armstrong interviews Raymond Lee, Caitlin Bassett and Ernie Hudson, stars of the new <i>Quantum Leap</i>.</a><b></b></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Madame Web</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/13/madame-web-marvel-movie-review">Benjamin Lee calls <i>Madame Web</i> a tangled mess.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/madame-web-review-dakota-johnson-in-a-spidey-project-1851250769">Manuel Betancourt calls <i>Madame Web</i> a laughable affair and a mess. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/madame-web-review">Hoai-Tran Bui calls <i>Madame Web </i>embarrassing for everyone involved</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/madame-web-review-spiderman-sony-marvel-sydney-sweeney-1851250124">Germain Lussier declares that <i>Madame Web </i>is not the worst comic book movie of all time, but that it isn't good. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/madame-web-review/">Hannah Rose declares that <i>Madame Web</i> at least manages to tell a coherent story that stands alone. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/madame-web-ending-spoilers-spider-woman-sydney-sweeney-1851252516">Germain Lussier shares the worst thing about <i>Madame Web</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/madame-web-star-isabela-merced-1235822831/">Brian Davids interviews Isabela Merced, star of <i>Madame Webb</i>, <i>Superman: Legacy</i> and <i>The Last of Us</i>. </a></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Lisa Frankenstein</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/lisa-frankenstein-is-a-charming-comedy-even-if-its-missing-some-parts/">Olivia Rutigliano calls <i>Lisa Frankenstein</i> a charming horror comedy. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-lisa-frankenstein.html">Haley Zapal calls <i>Lisa Frankenstein</i> a black horror comedy with an impressive retro vibe. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on season 2 of <i>Halo</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-season-premiere-recap-season-2-episode-1-sanctuary/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the season 2 premiere of <i>Halo</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-recap-season-2-episode-2-sword/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on episode 2 of season 2 of <i>Halo</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-recap-season-2-episode-3-visegrad/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on episode 3 of season 2 of <i>Halo</i>. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b><i> </i></b></div><div><b>Comments on the shelving of <i>Coyote vs. Acme</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.thewrap.com/coyote-vs-acme-update-offers-warner-bros/">Drew Taylor reports that <i>Warner Bros </i>will shelve and delete the already completed<i> Coyote vs. Acme </i>movie as a tax write-off after all and rejected offers by various studios and streaming services to buy it. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/coyote-vs-acme-warner-bros-phil-lord-1235821187/">Anthony d'Alessandro shares criticisms of <i>Warner Bros </i>refusing to sell <i>Coyote vs. Acme </i>to another studio or streaming service. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/nesfa-presents-skylark-gaughan-awards-at-boskone-61/">The recipients of the 2023 and 2024 Skylark and Gaughan Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/subjective-chaos-kind-of-awards-2024-shortlist/">The shortlist for the 2024 Subjective Kind of Chaos Awards has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/baltimore-science-fiction-society-announces-2024-compton-crook-award-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Compton Crook Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/james-hosek-named-the-2024-service-to-sfwa-award-recipient/">The recipient of the 2024 Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.dga.org/awards/annual.aspx">The winners of the 2024 DGA Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/the-2023-hugo-awards-a-report-on-censorship-and-exclusion/">Chris M. Barkley and Jason Sanford share a report regarding leaked e-mails about how the 2023 Hugo Award committee censored the finalist list to preemptively comply with perceived Chinese issues. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://countercraft.substack.com/p/the-first-and-best-writing-advice?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=284412&post_id=141566078&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&utm_medium=email">Lincoln Michel shares the first and best writing advice he ever received. </a></li><li><a href="http://doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.com/2024/02/finishing-novel.html">Martin Edwards talks about finishing a novel. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfwa.org/2024/01/30/sourcing-art-on-a-budget/">Austin Conrad shares tips for sourcing cover art on a budget.</a></li><li><a href="https://buttondown.email/charliejane/archive/how-to-build-your-online-brand-without-burning-out">Charlie Jane Anders shares tips for building your online "brand" without burning out. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/14/fantasy-author-sarah-j-maas-drives-up-bloomsbury-profit-forecast">Jack Simpson that the popularity of Sarah J. Maas' books has led to higher than projected profits for her publisher<i> Bloomsbury</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/13/khaled-hosseini-us-book-bans-interview">Khaled Hosseini speaks out about book bans in the US. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/09/reading-is-so-sexy-gen-z-turns-to-physical-books-and-libraries">Chloe Mac Donnell reports that younger readers of the so-called Gen Z prefer physical books and libraries. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94342-court-trims-authors-copyright-lawsuit-against-open-ai.html">Andrew Albanese shares an update on the lawsuit brought by several authors against <i>OpenAI </i>for copyright infringement. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/books/vromans-bookstore-pasadena.html">Robin Progrebin reports that the 130-year-old bookstore <i>Vroman's </i>in Pasadena, California, is for sale. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Obkbh3Md4">Take a virtual tour of <i>Vortex Books and Comics</i> in Columbia, Pennsylvania. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.scottedelman.com/2024/02/09/jo-miles/">Scott Edelman interviews Jo Miles. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/an-interview-with-lee-mandelo/">Fabienne Schwizer interviews Lee Mandelo.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.interviewmagazine.com/literature/how-venita-blackburn-wrote-a-sci-fi-novel-about-sex-grief-and-debt-collection">Rita Bullwinkel interviews Venita Blackburn. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alexandra-pierce-reviews-chaos-terminal-by-mur-lafferty/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>Chaos Terminal</i> by Mur Lafferty </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-imposition-of-unnecessary-obstacles/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles</i> by Malka Older</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-the-imposition-of-unnecessary-obstacles-by-malka-older/">Alex Brown reviews <i>The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles</i> by Malka Older</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?u=a0e2b590b7db9ab7d2927942c&id=c21fbbb93c">Alasdair Stuart reviews <i>Swordheart </i>by T. Kingfisher. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/11/what-feasts-at-night-by-t-kingfisher"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>What Feasts At Night</i> by T. Kingfisher </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/quiet-solitude">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>The Butcher of the Forest</i> by Premee Mohamed </a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/bookreview-the-holy-terrors-by-simon-r-green/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Holy Terrors</i> by Simon R. Green </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-beautiful-harpies-by-cameron-scott-kirk/">Carrie Chi Lough reviews <i>The Beautiful Harpies</i> by Cameron Scott Kirk </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/02/godkiller-by-hannahkaner/">Rob Bedford reviews <i>Godkiller</i> by Hannah Kaner. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-tonight-i-burn-by-katharine-j-adams/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>Tonight, I Burn </i>by Katharine J. Adams </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/a-bookreview-the-tainted-cup-by-robert-jackson-bennett/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Tainted Cup</i> by Robert Jackson Bennett </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-dragons-of-deepwood-fen-by-bradley-p-beaulieu/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>The Dragons of Deepwood Fen</i> by Bradley P. Beaulieu</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/liz-bourke-reviews-all-the-hidden-paths-by-foz-meadows/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>All the Hidden Paths</i> by Foz Meadows </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/9/the-briar-book-of-the-dead-by-ag-slatter"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Briar Book of the Dead</i> by A.G. Slatter </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-briar-book-of-the-dead-by-a-g-slatter/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>The Briar Book of the Dead</i> by A.G. Slatter </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-book-that-broke-the-world-by-mark-lawrence/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Book That Broke the World </i>by Mark Lawrence </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/02/an-education-in-malice-by-s-t-gibson/">Mark Yon reviews <i>An Education in Malice</i> by S.T. Gibson. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/bookreview-a-quantum-love-story-by-mike-chen/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>A Quantum Love Story </i>by Mike Chen</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/paul-di-filippo-reviews-the-glass-box-by-j-michael-straczynski/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>The Glass Box</i> by J. Michael Straczynski </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-the-circumference-of-the-world/">Warner Holme reviews <i>The Circumference of the World </i>by Lavie Tidhar </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20419">Sam Lubell reviews <i>The Blue, Beautiful World by </i>Karen Lord </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-womb-city-by-tlotlo-tsamaase.html">Haley Zapal reviews <i>Womb City</i> by Tlotlo Tsamaase </a></li><li><a href="https://ravencrimereads.wordpress.com/2024/02/09/blogtour-paul-hardisty-the-descent-hardisty_paul-orendabooks/"><i>Raven Crime Reads </i>reviews <i>The Descent</i> by Paul E. Hardisty. </a></li><li><a href="https://jenmedsbookreviews.com/2024/02/14/the-descent-by-paul-e-hardisty/">Jen Lucas reviews <i>The Descent</i> by Paul E. Hardisty. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/book-review-the-tusks-of-extinction-by-ray-nayler/">Daniel Haeusser reviews <i>The Tusks of Extinction</i> by Ray Nayler</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/11/jezero-by-allen-stroud"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Jezero</i> by Allen Stroud </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/15/parasol-against-the-axe-by-helen-oyeyemi-review-a-wild-ride-through-prague">Sarah Crown reviews <i>Parasol Against the Axe</i> by Helen Oyeyemi </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alex-brown-reviews-a-necessary-chaos-by-brent-lambert/">Alex Brown reviews <i>A Necessary Chaos</i> by Brent Lambert </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/14/jonathan-abernathy-you-are-kind-by-molly-mcghee-review-sleeping-on-the-job">James Smart reviews <i>Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind</i> by Molly McGhee </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/11/what-hides-in-the-cupboards-by-cassondra-windwalker"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>What Hides in The Cupboards</i> by Cassondra Windwalker </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/11/those-who-dwell-in-modernhyrst-hall-by-catherine-cavendish"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews<i> Those Who Dwell in Modernhyrst Hall</i> by Catherine Cavendish </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/convergence-problems/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>Convergence Problems</i> by Wole Talabi</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/niall-harrison-reviews-nordic-visions-by-margret-helgadottir-ed/">Niall Harrison reviews <i>Nordic Visions</i>, edited by Margrét Helgadóttir </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-mothersound-sauutiverse-anthology.html">Ann Michelle Harris reviews <i>Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology</i>, edited by Wole Talabi. </a> </li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/paul-di-filippo-reviews-the-best-horror-of-the-year-volume-15-edited-by-ellen-datlow/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>The Best Horror of the Year: Volume 15</i> edited by Ellen Datlow </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.blackgate.com/2024/02/09/neither-beg-nor-yield-edited-by-jason-m-waltz/">Fletcher Vredenburgh reviews <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i>, edited by Jason M. Waltz</a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/2/5/review-rakehell-issue-1">Richard Fisher reviews issue 1 of<i> Rakehell</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://deepcuts.blog/2024/02/10/a-dracula-of-the-hills-1923-by-amy-lowell/">Bobby Derie revisits the 1923 horror poem “A Dracula of the Hills” by Amy Lowell </a></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2024/02/ki-gor-and-secret-legions-of-simba.html"><i>Paperback Warrior </i>revisits the 1939 <i>Ki-Gor </i>adventure story “Ki-Gor and the Secret Legions of Simba” by John Peter Drummond. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/violent-apathy-and-vicious-novelty-yours-truly-jack-the-ripper-by-robert-bloch/">Sam Reader revisits the 1943 horror story “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper” by Robert Bloch </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/regrets-ive-had-a-few">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1954 science fiction novel <i>They’d Rather Be Right</i> by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley </a></li><li><a href="https://youngpeoplereadoldsff.com/story/balanced-ecology"><i>Young People Read Old SFF </i>revisit the 1965 science fiction story “Balanced Ecology” by James H. Schmitz. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-12-1969-slick-stuff-march-1969-galaxy-science-fiction/">Gideon Marcus revisits the March 1969 issue of <i>Galaxy</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.kenlizzi.net/kandar-good-nyborg/">Ken Lizzi revisits the 1969 sword and sorcery novel <i>Kandar</i> by Kenneth Bulmer. </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/whole-world-laughing">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1973 science fiction collection <i>What’s Become of Screwloose? and Other Inquiries</i> by Ron Goulart. </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/forever-and-a-day">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1985 fantasy novel <i>The Misenchanted Sword</i> by Lawrence Watt-Evans </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/cryptid-conservation-corps-seanan-mcguires-discount-armageddon/">Judith Tarr revisits the 2012 urban fantasy novel <i>Discount Armageddon </i>by Seanan McGuire. </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b><i> <br /></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/montreal-in-2027-worldcon-bid-announced/">Montréal, Quebec, Canada, has announced a bid for the 2027 Worldcon. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/professor-catherine-heymans-named-special-guest-at-glasgow-2024/">Astronomer Professor Catherine Heymans has been named as a special guest at the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.vulture.com/2024/01/sarah-j-maas-house-of-flame-and-shadow-midnight-premiere.html">Emma Alpern reports about the release party for <i>House of Flame and Shadow </i>by Sarah J. Maas at the <i>Barnes & Noble</i> store on Union Square in New York City.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/theme-parks-super-bowl-vegas-disney-universal-studios-1851241125">Sabina Graves shares the latest news from various US based theme parks. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/new-edge-sword-sorcery-2024?ref=Whetstone-discord"><i>New Edge Sword and Sorcery Magazine</i> is looking for funding for its next two issues.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/6fb1602d-a08b-4a8c-bac0-047b7d64aba5">Cory Doctorow talks about the enshittification of the Internet and what can be done to stop it. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/07/world/herculaneum-scroll-passages-decoded-philodemus-vesuvius-scn/index.html">Taylor Nicioli reports that the first passages from scrolls found in Herculaneum have been deciphered.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/dinosaur-evergreens-thought-extinct-for-2mil-years-discovered-by-park-ranger-90-tree-grove-is-find-of-the-century/">Andrew Corpley reports that Wollemi pine tress, believed to have been extinct for two million years, have been rediscovered in Australia. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-video-game-inscryption-by.html">Joe DelFranco reviews the video game <i>Inscryption</i> by <i>Daniel Mullins Games</i></a></li><li><a href="https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/suikoden-eiyuden-yoshitaka-murayama-passed-away/?ref=astrolabe-newsletter">Japanese game designer Yoshitaka Murayama died aged 54.</a> <br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HECigVEGNYw"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins </i>King Grayskull. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlGzc4CLoZU"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Creations Skeletor and Skilled Skeleton</i> two-pack.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74hqqCYAT7k"><i>Dad-at-Arms </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Creations Skeletor and Skilled Skeleton</i> two-pack.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FiyprqU1_Y"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>9 to 5 Warriors</i> action figures. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.yesterdazemedia.com/episodes/goldengirl"><i>Yesterdaze</i> revisits the 1980s toyline <i>Golden Girl and the Guardians of the Gemstones</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-kenner-toys-epic-continues-explained-hasbro-1851254044">James Whitbrook wonders what would have happened if the <i>Kenner Star Wars </i>toyline had kept going in 1985. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/further-examination-and-capture-of-candle-skulls-associated-with-the-baba-yaga/">"Further Examination and Capture of Candle Skulls Associated with the Baba Yaga" by Mari Ness in <i>Lightspeed</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/scarlett/">"Scarlett" by Everdeen Mason in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/diamonds.html">"Diamonds in the Darkness" by Matthew X. Gomez in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-rug-maker-and-the-wonder-collector/">"The Rug-Maker and the Wonder Collector" by Emily McIntyre in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/hiyannet/">"Hiyannet" by Phoenix Alexander in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/you-the-listener-on-a-heavenly-trip/">"You, the Listener, on a Heavenly Trip" by Françoise Harvey in</a><i><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/you-the-listener-on-a-heavenly-trip/"> The Dark.</a></i></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/when-no-one-has-to-say-goodbye/">"When No One Has to Say Goodbye" by Elisabeth Ring in<i> Apex Magazine.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/first-girls/">"First Girls" by Jessica Luke García in<i> Nightmare Magazine.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/country-birds?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=73200&post_id=141498802&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&utm_medium=email">"Country Birds" by Kij Johnson in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/yang_02_24/">"The Peregrine Falcon Flies West" by Yang Wanqing, translated by Jay Zhang, in </a><i><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/yang_02_24/">Clarkesworld.</a></i></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_02_24/">"Why Don't We Just Kill the Kid In the Omelas Hole" by Isabel J. Kim in</a><i><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_02_24/"> Clarkesworld.</a></i></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/02/12/free-fiction-monday-the-strangeness-of-the-day/">"The Strangeness of the Day" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. <br /></a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW-zNOT4P1A">Watch a trailer for <i>Deadpool & Wolverine</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv3Ss8o9gGQ">Watch a trailer for <i>X-Men '97</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hpi2JXq1XY">Watch a trailer for <i>The Fall Guy</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1WXXIZLshE">Watch a trailer for <i>IF</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QzggPsjJKc">Watch another trailer for <i>IF</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM150ZWovZM">Watch a trailer for <i>Damsel</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtFI7SNtVpY">Watch a trailer for <i>Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqrpMRDuPfc">Watch a trailer for<i> Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire </i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1dvX9Vs0ns">Watch a trailer for <i>Wicked</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdok0rZdmx4">Watch a trailer for <i>Twisters</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kETt59yn6A">Watch a trailer for <i>Knuckles</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgfkthLpeXw">Watch a trailer for <i>Sasquatch Sunset</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvqyBWCN39o">Watch a trailer for <i>Tuesday</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-9530975823233314022024-02-12T23:00:00.021+00:002024-02-12T23:00:00.257+00:00Interview with J.E. Tolbert, author of Arsalan the Magnificent<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOpk_wfiKqE0ldAIyDxuw_9iWF8uLgEx0SgHzTyFjDu3hPHXHv0zCz82WH7EESYDyGQbTtz1wEgWFxjaLfCs75nlAz2ZFcXC6o3rLe7XRslP_tlIwpepcuA_pYGaMwSSESiIGYte1Yi4OE3En3ZspTwpqkdsLKxy2FYsKlGjmMuM1wmgtn9auPg9vkSxB/s606/Arsalan%20the%20Magnificent.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOpk_wfiKqE0ldAIyDxuw_9iWF8uLgEx0SgHzTyFjDu3hPHXHv0zCz82WH7EESYDyGQbTtz1wEgWFxjaLfCs75nlAz2ZFcXC6o3rLe7XRslP_tlIwpepcuA_pYGaMwSSESiIGYte1Yi4OE3En3ZspTwpqkdsLKxy2FYsKlGjmMuM1wmgtn9auPg9vkSxB/w422-h640/Arsalan%20the%20Magnificent.png" width="422" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview J.E. Tolbert, whose novel <i>Arsalan the
Magnificent </i>has its debut on February 13, 2024.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Who is the eponymous hero, Arsalan the
Magnificent, and what can you tell us about him?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0cm 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Arsalan the
Magnificent, or Arsalan Ozdikmen, is a wizard employed as a magical architect
of fantastic structures. He belongs to a guild of such magical architects who
travel the world constructing wonderous buildings for lavish royal commissions.
Though Arsalan is worldly, wealthy, and educated and is the best at his
profession, he has some questionable personal habits from a childhood in which he
was raised by cloth merchants who were not highly educated. Arsalan doesn’t
know how to control either his spending, his temper, or certain impulses such
as horserace betting and drinking. This leads him into the situation he meets
at the beginning of the book. Ultimately, though he has a fierce and temperamental
exterior, Arsalan harbors a soft heart and a grudging compassion for everyone
he knows. He is a complex character, one who, for example, is quick to anger
but abhors violence, one who can be impulsively emotional but retains a keen
intelligence.<span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
inspired you to write a fantasy novel set in an alternate, magical version of
the Ottoman Empire?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Many magical
fantasy novels are based in worlds that are fantasy versions of medieval
northern European societies and geography, and I simply wanted a setting that
was different from that. The Ottoman Empire was a good start, not only because
it’s sunnier and more southerly but also because it’s closer to our real world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Why
did you choose an older man as the protagonist?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Again, many
but not all fantasy novels focus on a coming-of-age theme, which means that
many of their Protagonists represent adolescence in some way, and their
journeys therefore represent a transition from childhood to adulthood. These
are perfectly valid and oftentimes beautifully told stories, ones needed by
human society to make sense of the dramatic process of psychological maturation
of puberty. I, however, didn’t feel the need to add to our already voluminous
library of these stories. Rather, I wanted to imagine what a post-adolescent or
middle-aged fantasy novel would be like, one that does not avoid the unglamorous,
ambiguous, or knotty themes and issues associated with adulthood. Yet, I wanted
to write the book in a way that would be accessible to younger readers so that they
would be delivered a refreshingly mature and sober perspective on life amid a
story that is still exciting and hopeful.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In any
case, I find older characters a bit more interesting in a way, because they are
more plausibly capable of psychological resilience. They have a lot of
personality and history and many unexpected reservoirs of memory and experience
from which to draw resources they can use to cope with adversity. Think of
Gandalf or Aragorn from <i>The Lord of the Rings</i><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;">.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
do you feel are the limitations of the traditional quest or hero’s journey?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In my view,
the traditional hero’s journey symbolizes the transformation into adulthood, where
the hero discovers his or her own unique abilities and place in the world.
Although one may be able to experience echoes of the hero’s journey many times
throughout one’s life, it chiefly represents puberty. Thus, the limitation of
the hero’s journey is that it represents only one small section of the
continuum of life: the beginning of it, essentially. One can imagine how hero’s
journeys must have described life a bit more comprehensively in the past when
the human lifespan was briefer, and adolescence constituted a larger proportion
of it. Now, however, that medical science has extended our lifespan to
remarkable lengths, we are forced to confront the question of what happens
after the hero’s journey is long since complete. What is life like after the
dragon is slain, the treasure is won, and the hero becomes king or queen? Is
everything perfect? Of course not. Conflicts do continue, but in ways, our traditional
magical myths are too simple to describe, so it is an interesting and amusing
exercise to expand the boundaries of magical fantasy and myth to describe this
strange, new, protracted adult reality.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Where
did your love for fantasy begin and what authors have influenced you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My love for
fantasy began when I was ten years old, and I read <i>The Hobbit</i> and <i>The
Lord of the Rings</i>. I spent two years reading all four of those books and
additional Tolkien material. It was a magical experience. I felt I underwent
the journey with all the characters, and I was saddened when there was no way
to venture further into the Fourth Age with them. Eventually, I moved on to
other genres and forms of literature after that, but my affection for fantasy
literature remained.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I think the
feature of magical fantasy that appeals to me the most is its plasticity. In a
magical fantasy novel, one can more directly access the mythological and
psychological underpinnings of the story without resorting to a lot of logical
contortions to explain how such things are possible. Events can just occur, and
the story is allowed to unfold according to its own internal reasoning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Why
did you focus on psychokinesis and architecture as the magic in your universe?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I did this
to address the problem underlying the existence of magic in any story. How much
magic can there be? If there is a lot of omnipotent magic, then anything is
possible, and if anything is possible, then it’s harder to care about what
happens in the story. The extreme manifestation of this is the dreaded <i>deus ex
machina</i>. This is why fantasy authors feel the need to invent systems of
rules and constraints for their magic.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Thus, my
constraints on the magic in <i>Arsalan the Magnificent</i> are heavy. I wanted
the magic to be like electricity or magnetism: mundane, unmysterious, workaday,
associated largely with materials and mass, and governed by well-documented
principles of engineering. This ordinariness serves to put the magic in the
background of the story and the characters in the foreground.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Of course,
on the fringes of the story are hints of magic being used for weirder and
potentially more sinister purposes, but the wizards in <i>Arsalan the
Magnificent</i> are conservative and stick to their own everyday magic to build
buildings. I liked the idea of a society that has discovered magic using it for
the purposes of civil engineering. It seemed like a charmingly adult thing to
do. I simply couldn’t imagine fully grown wizards using their magical powers
only to shoot lightning bolts at each other. What society wouldn’t use magical
telekinesis to erect buildings? That’s a lot of good to be done and wealth to
be made.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You
also write poetry and literary fiction. How do these different genres co-exist,
and do they overlap?</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I would say
that poetry is the raw, natural language of the mind, and I believe that it’s
from poetry that all other forms of literature have descended. The genetic imprints
of poetry exist in all storytelling. I see it this way because the literature I
wrote evolved from my own poetry. I see my novels as very large poems, in a
way, in the same strange way that whales are very large mammals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I see literary
fiction as not really a genre but an approach to literature that exists outside
of genres and many times defies them. I would say that genre literature is
literary fiction that is processed into a condensed or distilled format for
popular consumption. Both literary fiction and genre fiction can be excellent
literature depending on the skill with which they are written, and often there
is no clear distinction between them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One good
example of a novel that is both good literary fiction and genre fiction is <i>The
Road</i> by Cormac McCarthy. It is post-apocalyptic science fiction but
possesses such literary qualities as to seem biblical.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
kind of fantasy or other fiction do you like to read?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I like to read
surrealist, magical realist, existentialist, and modernist literary fiction. My
tastes are old-fashioned, and I am particularly interested in German-language
literature from the early twentieth century. I have read all the stories
written by Kafka and Hesse, and I enjoyed <i>Death in Venice</i> and <i>The
Magic Mountain</i> by Thomas Mann. I also read Robert Walser, Leonora
Carrington, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Jose Luis Borges, Dino
Buzzati, Gerald Murnane, and J. A. Baker. Marquez’s <i>One Hundred Years of
Solitude</i> is one of my favorite books, and Bruno Schulz is probably my
favorite author.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve been
making a tour of the novels by Thomas Hardy, whose stories are simple but whose
use of phraseology to describe natural scenes achieves an otherworldliness that
is underappreciated. Next on my reading list is <i>Beloved</i> by Toni
Morrison, who is underrated as a surrealist writer, and <i>Drive Your Plow Over
the Bones of the Dead</i> by Olga Tokarczuk.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I like to
read strange or philosophical fiction because of the possibilities inherent in
it. I feel there is a natural mixing point between strange literary fiction and
magical fantasy fiction since they share common literary ancestors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">These
days in both indie and mainstream fiction, there is an increasing overlap
between genres. How do you feel about that?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I love it
and applaud it. I don’t really like genres. I don’t think that genres are made
for the convenience of readers and authors. I think they are made for the
convenience of marketers and salespeople. It consists of elements of literature
boiled down to a few rules, tropes, and formulae that prove to be saleable in
one way or another. Genre novels can be written very well, but ultimately,
genres can become tiresome and wanting in variation. I think this is why more
authors are experimenting with genre-blending and why more readers have more of
a taste for such experimentation, and this is why I find no problem with
infusing elements of literary fiction into <i>Arsalan the Magnificent</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Why
is the complexity of the central character important to you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It is
important because my novel is ultimately character-driven and internal, and
complex characters are more compelling for this purpose. Sometimes a story will
be more action-oriented, or it will require the Protagonist to be more of an
everyman or everywoman on whom the reader can project his or her own
interpretations. But I wanted Arsalan to emerge from the page as a real
psychological entity, one who doesn’t seem bound within the book but whose personality
can echo in the reader’s head for a while.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Fantasy genre has changed and evolved immensely since the era of Tolkien and
Lewis, and even Michael Moorcock. To what extent are you aware of these changes
and the explosion of sub-genres and diversity?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Of course,
I am keenly aware of how fantasy literature has evolved over the past fifty
years. In the days of Tolkien, Lewis, and even Moorcock, fantasy literature was
much more of a niche market and readership, at least in the United States.
Tolkien and Lewis were respected because they were elite scholars who happened
to write stories based on their research, but other fantasy authors did not enjoy
that same degree of credibility in the eyes of the literary establishment.
Fantasy literature by and large was seen as pulpy and juvenile. I remember when
one simply could not talk about fantasy literature openly without fear of some
sort of derision. Also, quite frankly, the readership and authorship of fantasy
literature at that time were dominated by a lot of heterosexual young white
males, and for this reason, the stories catered toward their tastes, which did
nothing to alleviate its perception of adolescent pulpiness. This was the case
all the way through the nineteen eighties.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">By the
nineties, though, this began to change. I believe the first generation of
readers to champion the fantasy genre as respectable and vital was Generation
X, followed closely by the Millennials, who embraced it even more fervently.
Now the fantasy genre is so prevalently mainstream that it’s considered big
business. These two generations have insisted on more racial, ethnic, and
gender diversity in their fantasy stories, so there is now an increasing number
of fantasy stories happening in worlds based on, say, Middle Eastern, East
Asian, Indian, and sub-Saharan African culture and geography, and there’s a
heavy influence from Japanese anime and manga culture. A lot of fantasy stories
are now set in contemporary urban settings, and there are more fantasy stories
with a female focus. Also, there is more experimentation with themes and stakes,
and genre-blending. All this directly reflects the diversity and complexity of
our current society, and it’s wonderful. This is probably the most interesting period
in the history of fantasy literature so far, to be honest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">All the
same, it seems that the largest moneymakers in the genre of fantasy continue to
be those that emulate violent medieval European male warrior tropes, such as
the <i>A Song of Ice and Fire</i> and <i>The Witcher</i> series. They are
darker and grittier and more morally ambiguous, and they contain grim intrigue,
but their central themes are fundamentally similar to those in, say, the <i>Conan
the Barbarian</i> series. It is against these types of stories I was reacting
when I wrote Arsalan the Magnificent, because I dislike violent power
fantasies.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Will
you be writing more about Arsalan or his world, and what are your plans for the
future?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If <i>Arsalan
the Magnificent</i> is successful, or in any case if there is enough interest
in it, I do have plans for a sequel that would focus on the adventures of Arsalan’s
grown children.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In any
case, I have two completed novels of literary fiction that I plan to publish in
the future.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Do
you have a daily regime for your writing and a place where you like to work?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I don’t
really have a strict daily regime for my writing. Writing is so enjoyable to me
that when I have a writing task, it’s simply difficult to keep myself away from
it. I must work on it at least a little every day to achieve a sense of
accomplishment for that day. It becomes a type of compulsion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have a
day job, which means that I write in the evenings and on the weekends. Sometimes
I will write for as long as two hours and at other times for as little as
fifteen minutes. I don’t have a targeted word count for a day. I mentally
decompose the story into small sections, and my overall goal for a day or a few
days is to complete just that section. Sometimes this section will be a
chapter, and at other times a few paragraphs. Sometimes I will spend a week or
two just to perfect a few sentences. Once I word everything to my satisfaction,
I move on to the next section. It sounds excruciatingly slow, but through
cumulative persistence, it’s a rather normal pace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I tend to
think about my writing all day, such that I end up laboring over the wording of
a phrase, sentence, or paragraph in the notes on my phone. I do this so often
that when I am finally in front of my computer, that time is typically spent
transcribing the writing I had produced that day rather than trying to think of
what to write next.<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Who are your readers and what do you want them to take away from the
story?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I was targeting young adult readers with <i>Arsalan the Magnificent</i>,
those who are fans of fantasy literature but with a hunger for a bit more,
perhaps something with a literary flair. I want the reader to take away the
lesson that heroes are not always young, beautiful, and athletic, and they
don’t always make the most correct choices. Sometimes heroes are drab, unpleasant,
impatient, and cantankerous and suffer from too many vices but nonetheless are
capable of redemption and transformation into better individuals, regardless of
their stage of life.<span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="color: #2f5496; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arsalan-Magnificent-Jason-Tolbert/dp/1088191932/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About J.E. Tolbert:</span></h1><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bNseZ1_SjLYoQqJ950uLpu0jcXjRV0JM0fGJ-PDXDGk3jNdTCxVeZVd5Jg7kXLsnFYoaZhIsbdtmy4QJE7ioRYiT5sTN9_R_eg8CGciYvcI0Pzx2iUH8KlH3bMtddNntQnGeZQFdk-Er6VlRIF7I476FD-NQdLMjIdfmWoCGDiBc4TUCZnICdKnj9BHT/s850/JETolbert.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bNseZ1_SjLYoQqJ950uLpu0jcXjRV0JM0fGJ-PDXDGk3jNdTCxVeZVd5Jg7kXLsnFYoaZhIsbdtmy4QJE7ioRYiT5sTN9_R_eg8CGciYvcI0Pzx2iUH8KlH3bMtddNntQnGeZQFdk-Er6VlRIF7I476FD-NQdLMjIdfmWoCGDiBc4TUCZnICdKnj9BHT/s320/JETolbert.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">J.E. Tolbert was born and raised in Maryland, where he had an early interest in pictures, words, and music. As a child, he was a fan of Tolkien’s works and eventually moved on to Asimov’s <i>Robot Trilogy</i>. As an adult, he became enamored with modernist and surrealist literature from the early half of the 20th century, absorbing the works of Franz Kafka, Hermann Hesse, and Virginia Wolf among others. While working as a graphic designer, he wrote poetry as another one of his creative outlets. These poems evolved into short stories and novels, one of which is <i>Arsalan the Magnificent</i>. He considers himself a poet and writer of literary fiction who sometimes writes within the fantasy genre, a cross-hybridization that he believes enriches both literary and genre fiction.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.jetolbert.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/j.e.tolbert/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jetolbert/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-7136480353676829112024-02-11T23:00:00.009+00:002024-02-11T23:00:00.193+00:00Another Time: An Anthology of Time Travel Stories 1942-1960, edited by Jean-Paul Garnier<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZPFRJYnVY9WRrkv6uk5gMvENA3flLe7FjMtovHsR7700UmIg3OcKM-xFdnLvANMC-_8XqIlWOiuI7uvL7hqkwypCd4Dn5fMWjRHyJG2aCBgzEgXPqxolrXrCJErV92lA3VbtSiDwySxNmomHo2SQIGxbQmsPB76uwzB_YzsGpYmv3cPylxQ5j8Jn/s3700/9781732825796-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3700" data-original-width="2451" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZPFRJYnVY9WRrkv6uk5gMvENA3flLe7FjMtovHsR7700UmIg3OcKM-xFdnLvANMC-_8XqIlWOiuI7uvL7hqkwypCd4Dn5fMWjRHyJG2aCBgzEgXPqxolrXrCJErV92lA3VbtSiDwySxNmomHo2SQIGxbQmsPB76uwzB_YzsGpYmv3cPylxQ5j8Jn/w424-h640/9781732825796-cover.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Release date: February 4, 2024<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Subgenre: Time travel anthology</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>About </b><b><i>Another Time: An Anthology of Time Travel Stories
1942-1960</i>:</b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Another Time: An Anthology of Time Travel Stories
1942-1960</b></p><p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span></span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"> </p><p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">The nature of time has forever perplexed humankind. Add
the many ripe paradoxes of time travel and the situation gets complicated.
While science has shown us that time travel is technically possible, at least
on paper, we still know little about what time actually is, or our place within
it. Science fiction has long explored this theme and it has become one of the
cornerstones of the genre. In this collection of stories, we find visions of
what time travel could be, what could go wrong, and dive headlong into the
paradoxical nature of what it might entail. Tales ranging from 1942 to 1960
bring us into these mysterious worlds and provide a window into what the
writers of this era grappled with when exploring time and the possibilities of
traveling within the fourth dimension. Readers will also delight in traversing
another time in literature, with stories that first appeared in Worlds of IF,
Astonishing Stories, Galaxy Magazine, Thrilling Wonder Stories, Startling
Stories, and Imagination Stories of Fantasy & Science Fiction.<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">With stories by: <span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">C. Shook<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Darius John Granger<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Evelyn E. Smith, <span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Sylvia Jacobs<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Rog Phillips<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Miriam Allen deFord<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Anthony Boucher<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Henry Kuttner<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">Alfred Bester<span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">with an introduction by Dr. Phoenix Alexander <span></span></p>
and original cover art by Zara Kand<b> <br /></b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt: </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 24pt;">THE MAN OUTSIDE<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">By EVELYN E. SMITH<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">Nobody in the neighborhood was surprised when Martin's mother disappeared
and Ninian came to take care of him. Mothers had a way of disappearing around
those parts and the kids were often better off without them. Martin was no
exception. He'd never had it this good while he was living with his old lady.
As for his father, Martin had never had one. He'd been a war baby, born of one
of the tides of soldiers—enemies and allies, both—that had engulfed the country
in successive waves and bought or taken the women. So there was no trouble that
way.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes he wondered who Ninian really was. Obviously that story about
her coming from the future was just a gag. Besides, if she really was his
great-great-grand-daughter, as she said, why would she tell him to call her
"<i>Aunt Ninian</i>"? Maybe he was only eleven, but he'd been around
and he knew just what the score was. At first he'd thought maybe she was some
new kind of social worker, but she acted a little too crazy for that.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">He loved to bait her, as he had loved to bait his mother. It was safer
with Ninian, though, because when he pushed her too far, she would cry instead
of mopping up the floor with him.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">"But I can't understand," he would say, keeping his face
straight. "Why do you have to come from the future to protect me against
your cousin Conrad?"<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">"Because he's coming to kill you."<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">"Why should he kill me? I ain't done him nothing."<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">Ninian sighed. "He's dissatisfied with the current social order and
killing you is part of an elaborate plan he's formulated to change it. You
wouldn't understand."<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">"You're damn right. I <i>don't</i> understand. What's it all about
in straight gas?"<span></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: &quot; font-size: 12pt;">"Oh, just don't ask any questions," Ninian said petulantly.
"When you get older, someone will explain the whole thing to you."</span><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://bookshop.org/a/197/9781732825796">Bookshop.org</a></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>About Jean-Paul Garnier:</b></h2><h2><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnFokfnxS3M/X9dOckK51vI/AAAAAAAAGGc/FXrVyq_QLs8zq2AuoI5Z488d4UKORndVACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Jean-Paul%2BGarnier_Book%2BRelease.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="716" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NnFokfnxS3M/X9dOckK51vI/AAAAAAAAGGc/FXrVyq_QLs8zq2AuoI5Z488d4UKORndVACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Jean-Paul%2BGarnier_Book%2BRelease.jpg" /></a></div></b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Jean-Paul L. Garnier lives and writes in
Joshua Tree, CA where he is the owner of Space Cowboy Books, a science fiction
bookstore, independent publisher, and producer of <i>Simultaneous Times</i>
podcast. In 2020 his first novella <i>Garbage In, Gospel Out</i> was released
by Space Cowboy Books and in 2018 Traveling Shoes Press released <i>Echo of
Creation</i>, a collection of his science fiction short stories. He has also
released several collections of poetry: <i>In Iudicio</i> (Cholla Needles Press
2017), <i>Future Anthropology </i>(currently being translated into Portuguese),
and <i>Odes to Scientists</i> (audiobook - Space Cowboy Books 2019). He is a
two time Elgin Nominee and also appeared in the 2020 Dwarf Stars anthology. His
new collection of SF poetry, <i>Betelgeuse Dimming</i> has just been released
and is available as a free download audiobook / ebook at
<a href="http://spacecowboybooks.bandcamp.com" target="_blank">spacecowboybooks.bandcamp.com</a>. He is also a regular contributor for Canada’s
Warp Speed Odyssey blog. His short stories, poetry, and essays have appeared in
many anthologies and webzines. </span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: times new roman,serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div><h2><b> </b></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://jplgarnier.blogspot.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="http://spacecowboybooks.blogspot.com/">Space Cowboy Books</a> | <a href="http://spacecowboybooks.blogspot.com/p/podcast.html">Simultaneous Times</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/space_books">Twitter</a></b></h3><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><b> </b></h2>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-24656077009717111852024-02-08T23:00:00.925+00:002024-02-09T02:08:56.854+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for February 9, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>,<i> Star Trek </i>in general,<i> Star Wars </i>in general<i>, Doctor Who </i>past, present and future<i>, Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> in animation and live action, <i>Argylle, Lisa Frankenstein</i>, tributes to Carl Weathers and Christopher Priest and much more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-science-fiction-books-february-2024/"><i>Reactor</i> shares all the new science fiction books coming out in February. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/new-fantasy-books-february-2024/"><i>Reactor</i> shares all the new fantasy books coming out in February. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-paul-kincaid/">Paul Kincaid shares his favourite SFF books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/the-year-in-review-2023-by-colleen-mondor/">Colleen Mondor shares her favourite SFF books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="http://fantasy-faction.com/2024/fantasy-factions-top-50-sff-books-of-2023"><i>Fantasty Faction</i> share their favourite SFF books of 2023. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/02/romantasy-literary-genre-booktok">Ella Creamer reports about the Romantasy boom. </a></li><li><a href="https://thecritic.co.uk/grimdull/">Sebastian Milbank takes issue with the existence of Grimdark fantasy. </a></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/02/07/return-of-the-son-of-the-bride-of-the-grimdark-debate/">Cora Buhlert responds to Sebastian Milbank reviving the debate about Grimdark fantasy. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://swordslore.substack.com/p/must-reads-to-get-into-sword-and">Ethan Sabatella shares a sword and sorcery reading list. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/jo-waltons-reading-list-january-2024/">Jo Walton shares her reading list for February 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/reclaiming-little-red-riding-hood-five-fairy-tale-retellings/">Rachel Ayers shares five Little Red Riding Hood retellings. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-sff-works-that-explore-the-sometimes-perilous-power-of-libraries/">James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF works which explore the power of libraries. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/seven-sff-stories-about-artists-and-the-creative-struggle/">Ratika Deshpande shares seven SFF stories about artists and creative struggles. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/your-guide-to-surviving-a-fantasy-maze/">Cole Rush shares a guide to surviving a fantasy maze. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/unearthing-literary-fantasy-evangeline-waltons-mabinogion-tetralogy/">R.L. Thornton shares their appreciation for the <i>Mabinogion Tetralogy</i> by Evangeline Walton.</a></li><li><a href="https://queerandback.substack.com/p/decanonize-tolkien?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=email">Reverend Tom Emanuel points out that we should remove J.R.R. Tolkien from his pedestal and bring him back down to Earth. </a></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2024/01/26/adventures-in-fiction-philip-jose-farmer/">Jeff Goad profiles Philip José Farmer. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deepcuts.blog/2024/01/31/deeper-cut-lovecraft-miniter-stoker-the-dracula-revision/">Bobby Derie investigates whether H.P. Lovecraft's claim that his acquaintance and correspondent Edith Miniter turned down the opportunity to edit Bram Stoker's <i>Dracula</i> is true. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/07/house-of-flame-and-shadow-by-sarah-j-maas-races-to-the-top-of-bestseller-chart">Ella Creamer reports that <i>House of Flame and Shadow </i>by Sarah J. Maas is now the third fastest selling SFF book of all time in the UK.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/lasfs-sends-a-platoon-to-the-storage-wars/">Heath Row reports that the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society has cleaned out a storage unit that held its fanzine collection as well as other items such as William Rotsler's Hugo trophy and urn. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Tributes to Christopher Priest:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/christopher-priest-1943-2024/">British science fiction author Christopher Priest has died aged 80. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/04/christopher-priest-obituary">John Clute shares an obituary for Christopher Priest. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://ttdlabyrinth.wordpress.com/2024/02/03/chris/">Paul Kincaid remembers Christopher Priest. </a></li><li><a href="https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/christopher-priest-1943-2024/">Nicholas Whyte remembers Christopher Priest. </a></li><li><a href="https://lavietidhar.wordpress.com/2024/02/07/christopher-priest/">Lavie Tidhar remembers Christopher Priest. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/christopher-priest-1943-2024/">Molly Templeton remembers Christopher Priest. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/christopher-priest-passes-news/"><i>SFCrowsNest</i> remembers Christopher Priest. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/06/france-comic-book-tradition-is-hitting-new-heights">Phil Hoad reports that the already high popularity of comics and graphic novels in France has exploded since the covid pandemic. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-creepshow-5/">Robert Mammone reviews issue 5 of <i>Creepshow</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/very-good-road">James Davis Nicoll reviews the graphic novel <i>Brooms</i> by Jasmine Walls and Teo DuVall </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-6-1969-embracing-a-1970s-mindset/">Jason Sacks talks about US comics of the late 1960s. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/frank-frazetta-conan-the-barbarian-fantasy-art">Jake Rossen profiles legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoninchicago/3543877565">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about a writer's unorthodox attempts to improve his novel. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/review-kitchen.html">Haley Zapal calls <i>The Kitchen</i> a human focussed science fiction dystopia. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/02/destroying-your-home-town-is-quite-satisfying-inside-michael-sheens-explosive-welsh-revolution-thriller">Xan Brooks reports about the Welsh near future drama <i>The Way</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/05/what-does-all-of-us-strangers-say-about-being-gay"><i>The Guardian</i> asks what <i>All of Us Strangers </i>says about being gay. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/halo-season-2-tv-review-paramount-plus-pablo-schreiber/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on season 2 of <i>Halo</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/05/dagr-review-perma-snarking-youtubers-cancel-the-fear-in-paganistic-slasher">Phil Hoad calls <i>Dagr</i> a paganistic found footage horror film which lurches from social-media comedy to shaky-cam bloodletting </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/06/the-seeding-review-redneck-biblical-horror-thriller-offers-perverse-edenic-refuge">Phil Hoad calls <i>The Seeding</i> a redneck biblical horror thriller </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/07/slotherhouse-review-sorority-house-slasher-brings-homicidal-sloth-to-mean-girls">Leslie Felperin calls <i>Slotherhouse</i> an unfunny comedy horror film. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/saving-the-world-one-cryptid-at-a-time-dash-shaws-cryptozoo-2021/">Judith Tarr calls the animated film <i>Cryptozoo</i> a trippy story about the fraught relationship between humans and the natural world </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/05/the-jungle-bunch-world-tour-review-penguin-gets-tiger-stripes-again">Cath Clarke calls <i>The Jungle Bunch: World Tour</i> a funny animal cartoon for under fives. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-animated-series-you-really-shouldnt-miss/">Cole Rush shares five animated series you shouldn't miss. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/dear-hollywood-where-are-the-sff-book-to-movie-tv-adaptations-from-black-writers/">Melody L. Simpson asks why there aren't more screen adaptations of SFF books by black authors. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/02/ted-tv-series-from-cannabis-smoking-teddy-bears-to-sweary-felt-creatures-why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-filthy-puppets">Stuart Heritage wonders why there are so many sweary, rude and sometimes evil puppets on TV and in movies.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/02/danny-boyle-cillian-murphy-28-years-later-zombie-films-to-the-next-level">Ben Child wonders whether <i>28 Years Later</i> will take zombie films to the next level.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/02/i-hate-it-it-sucks-but-it-didnt-defeat-me-michael-j-fox-on-pity-parkinsons-and-a-potential-cure">Catherine Shoard interviews Michael J. Fox, star of the <i>Back to the Future</i> trilogy and <i>Teen Wolf</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/alex-winter-on-innovative-horror-movies-1851221119"><i>io9 </i>interviews Alex Winter, star of the <i>Bill and Ted </i>movies and <i>Destroy All Neighbors</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/costume-and-culture/2024/feb/06/ryan-gosling-margot-robbie-ken-barbie-keira-knightley-jacqueline-durran">Ellie Violet Bramley interviews Jacqueline Durran, costume designer for <i>Barbie</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/solar-opposites-valentines-special-mike-mcmahan-hulu-1851217363">Cheryl Eddy interviews Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel, executive producers of <i>Solar Opposites</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/some-thoughts-on-akira-kurosawas-throne-of-blood/">Olivia Rutigliano revisits Akira Kurosawa's 1957 <i>Macbeth </i>adaptation <i>Throne of Blood. </i></a></li><li><a href="http://doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.com/">Martin Edwards revisits the 1963 horror film <i>Paranoiac. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-4-1969-potts-caractacus-potts-chitty-chitty-bang-bang/">Fiona Moore revisits the 1969 fantasy film<i> Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/07/kumail-nanjiani-reveals-he-needed-therapy-after-bad-reviews-for-eternals">Catherine Shoard reports that actor Kumail Nanjiani needed therapy after<i> Eternals </i>received such negative reviews.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/disney-desantis-lawsuit-appeal-1235811238/">Dominic Patten shares another update on the legal battle between <i>Disney </i>and Florida governor Ron DeSantis. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/02/guillermo-del-toro-pinocchio-co-director-mark-gustafson-dies-aged-64">Animator and director Mark Gustafson has died aged 64. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/08/don-murray-obituary">Actor Don Murray, star of <i>Bus Stop, Deadly Hero, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Peggy Sue Got Married, Knots Landing </i>and many others, has died aged 94. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers): </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/02/05/the-revolution-will-be-televised-some-thoughts-on-masters-of-the-universe-revolution/">Cora Buhlert reviews <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTNmejMVfPw"><i>Coffee & Toys </i>reviews <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-7J26-i7ec"><i>The Next Issue Podcast </i>reviews <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjwWP8NaAWI"><i>Geek the F Out</i> interviews <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution </i>producer and the voice of Gwildor Ted Biaselli and artist Nate Baertsch. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g_s2gqEpeA"><i>For Eternia</i> explains who the fallen heroes of Preternia seen in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> are. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-reinvents-he-man-characters/">Renaldo Matadeen discusses how <i>Masters of the Universe Revolution</i> updates several characters. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://movieweb.com/kevin-smith-masters-of-the-universe-small-episode-count-explained/">Anthony Lund reports that according to showrunner Kevin Smith, the reason that <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> was only five episodes long is that <i>Netflix </i>claims that's the sweet spot for a series of this kind.</a></li><li><a href="https://movieweb.com/masters-of-the-universe-multiverse-response/">Anthony Lund also reports that <i>Masters of the Universe: Revelation</i> and<i> Revolution </i>happen in a multiverse and that other <i>Masters of the Universe </i>continuities are only an interdimensional doorway away. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/why-he-man-masters-of-the-universe-is-popular/">Joshua M. Patton explains why the <i>Filmation </i>He-Man and She-Ra cartoons are still so popular and beloved more than forty years later. </a></li><li><a href="https://thehardtimes.net/lists/every-masters-of-the-universe-character-ranked-by-their-role-in-our-sexual-awakening/">Dan Rice ranks the sexual appeal of <i>Masters of the Universe</i> characters. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/gina-carano-disney-lawsuit-mandalorian-lucasfilm-1235899939/">Adam B. Vary reports that actress Gina Carano is sueing <i>Disney</i> about being fired from <i>The Mandalorian </i>following repeated problematic political remarks.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/08/from-the-mandalorian-to-the-white-lotus-the-tv-stars-getting-sacked-for-their-politics">Stuart Heritage discusses Gina Carano's lawsuit against <i>Disney</i> and the increasing frequency of actors getting fired for personal views, often with much less justification than Gina Carano. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/are-we-all-too-cynical-for-star-trek">Bill Coberly wonders whether the world has become too cynical for <i>Star Trek</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/star-trek-enterprise-rewatch-fourth-season-overview/">Keith R.A DeCandido shares his thoughts on season 4 of <i>Star Trek Enterprise</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/romantic-star-trek-episodes/">Avery Kaplan shares seven romantic <i>Star Trek</i> episodes to enjoy. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://trekmovie.com/2024/01/31/the-cast-of-star-trek-the-next-generation-to-receive-special-lifetime-achievement-saturn-award/">Anthony Pascale reports that the cast of <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> will receive a special lifetime achievement Saturn Award.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Doctor Who</i> past, present and future: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/michael-jayston-dead-doctor-who-newsupdate/">Actor Michael Jayston, best known for playing The Valeyard in <i>Doctor Who</i>, has died aged 88.</a></li><li><a href="https://lasfs.org/lasfs-member-updates/tony-benoun-remembered-by-gallifrey-one/"><i>Doctor Who</i> fan and creator of the Gallifrey One convention Tony Benoun has died. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>in animation and live action: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-katara-sokka-misogyny-sexism-misses-point-themes-netflix/">Alicia Venter declares that toning the sexism faced by Katara in the live action <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>misses the point of the story.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/10-major-mistakes-netflixs-avatar-needs-to-avoid-from-m-night-shyamalans/">Laura Pollaco wonders whether the new live action <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> has learned from the mistakes of M. Night Shyamalan's adaptation.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Argylle</i> (spoilers):</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/argylle-review-an-action-packed-ride-full-of-mystery/">Rachel Leishman calls <i>Argylle</i> an action-packed ride full of mystery</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/argylle-is-every-cliche-it-thinks-its.html">Arturo Serrano declares that <i>Argylle</i> is every cliché it thinks it's mocking </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/spoiler-space-let-s-talk-about-that-argylle-twist-1851222372">Cindy White discusses the final twist of <i>Argylle</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/argylle-ending-explained/">Rachel Leishman explains the ending of <i>Argylle</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/argylle-post-credits-scene-explained/">Rachel Leishman discusses the post-credits scene of <i>Argylle</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Lisa Frankenstein</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/08/lisa-frankenstein-movie-review-diablo-cody">Benjamin Lee calls <i>Lisa Frankenstein </i>a throwback comedy-horror film that is just monster mush</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/lisa-frankenstein-movie-review-diablo-cody-1851177023">Leigh Monson calls <i>Lisa Frankenstein</i> a triumphant teen girl horror movie. </a></li></ul></div><div><b><i> </i></b></div><div><b>Tributes to Carl Weathers:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/02/carl-weathers-dies-rocky-predator-actor">Actor, director and American football player Carl Weathers, best known for his roles in the <i>Rocky</i> movies, <i>Predator</i>, <i>The Mandalorian</i>, <i>Action Jackson</i> and many others, has died aged 76. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://movieweb.com/carl-weathers-sandler-schwarzenegger-rocky-tributes/">Anthony Lund shares tributes to Carl Weathers from friends and co-stars.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/carl-weathers-dies-76-obituary-rocky-the-mandalorian-predator-happy-gilmore/">Melody McCune remembers Carl Weathers. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/remembering-carl-weathers-his-legendary-career-after-his-death/">Rachel Leishman remembers Carl Weathers. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/carl-weathers-a-titan-of-science-fiction-rip/"><i>SFCrowsNest </i>remembers Carl Weathers' contributions to science fiction, fantasy and horror. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/feb/02/carl-weathers-dies-rocky-predator-actor"><i>The Guardian</i> shares photos from Carl Weathers' lengthy career. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/susan-cooper-named-40th-damon-knight-memorial-grand-master/">Susan Cooper has been named the 2024 Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/seraph-2024-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 SERAPH Award have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/tahtivaeltaja-award-2024-shortlist/">The shortlist for the 2024 Tähtivaeltaja Award has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/here-are-the-winners-of-the-2024-saturn-awards/">The winners of the 2024 Saturn Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/international-film-music-critics-association-awards-nominations-2023/">The nominations for the 2023 International Film Music Critics Association Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/nerds-of-feather-2024-hugo-award.html"><i>Nerds of a feather </i>share yet more recommendations for the 2024 Hugo Awards.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a46612912/science-fiction-hugo-awards-2024/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_esq&utm_medium=email&date=020224&utm_campaign=nl34202746&GID=4b07013057ad7b05c51a80541b7afc8c394e32b4e546a47cbe7b4697adc69d19&utm_term=TEST-+NEW+TEST+-+Sending+List+-+AM+180D+Clicks%2C+NON+AM+90D+Opens%2C+Both+Subbed+Last+30D">Adam Morgan reports about the 2023 Hugo nomination uproar. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://swordslore.substack.com/p/using-dreams-as-prompts?r=2bql01&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web">Ethan Sabatella talks about using dreams as writing prompts. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/killing-your-characters-is-traumatic-and-it-should-be/">Karen Outen declares that killing your characters is traumatic and should be. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/writing-with-a-mask-language-and-authenticity-in-literature/">Teresa Dovelpage talks about writing in a second language.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/08/royal-society-of-literature-books-bernardine-evaristo">Bernadine Evaristo defends the UK Royal Society of Literature against criticism. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/feb/06/spotify-loss-audiobooks-job-cuts-streaming-premium-subscribers">Mark Sweeney reports that <i>Spotify</i> has reported a massive loss but more subscribers since adding audiobooks to the platform. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/06/hacker-british-library-cybersecurity-cybercrime-uk">Lamorna Ash reports about the ongoing cyberattack on the British Library. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/martha-wells-system-rebuild/"><i>Locus </i>interviews Martha Wells.<i> <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbl3wiAPb5I"><i>The Roddenberry Archives</i> interviews David Gerrold</a> in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fetcWmpkz14">a two part video</a>. </li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/an-interview-with-jay-kristoff/">Fabienne Schwizer interviews Jay Kristoff </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/novella-project-brent-c-lambert.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Brent C. Lambert.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/an-interview-with-gemma-amor/">John Mauro interviews Gemma Amor.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/interview-jordan-taylor-2/">Caroline M. Yoachim interviews Jordan Taylor.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/ivar-leon-menger-and-thomas-scholz-talk-fairy-tales-folklore-and-thrillers/">Ivar Leon Menger And Thomas Scholz interview each other.</a> </li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2024/01/22/adventures-in-fiction-robert-e-howard/"><i>Goodman Games</i> interviews Harley Stroh. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-random-in-death-by-j-d-robb/">Janet Webb reviews <i>Random in Death</i> by J.D. Robb </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/destined-for-death">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Furious Heaven</i> by Kate Elliott </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/liz-bourke-reviews-fallen-by-melissa-scott/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>Fallen </i>by Melissa Scott </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/29/the-first-sister-by-linden-a-lewis"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The First Sister </i>by Linden A. Lewis </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-ogres-by-adrian-tchaikovsky.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>Ogres</i> by Adrian Tchaikovsky </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/jake-casella-brookins-reviews-inversion-by-aric-mcbay/">Jake Casella Brookins reviews <i>Inversion</i> by Aric McBay </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-renia-by-karl-forshaw/">Esmay Rosalyne reviews <i>Renia</i> by Karl Forshaw</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/colleen-mondor-reviews-cocktails-chloroform-by-kelley-armstrong/">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>Cocktails & Chloroform</i> by Kelley Armstrong </a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/02/bookreview-that-time-i-got-drunk-and-yeeted-a-love-potion-at-a-werewolf-by-kimberly-lemming/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf</i> by Kimberly Lemming </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-brandon-sandersons-the-frugal-wizards-guide-for-surviving-medieval-england/">Warner Holme reviews <i>The Frugal Wizard’s Guide For Surviving Medieval England</i> by Brandon Sanderson.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-mislaid-in-parts-half-known-by-seanan-mcguire/">Alex Brown reviews <i>Mislaid in Parts Half-Known</i> by Seanan McGuire </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-shadow-of-vengeance-by-scott-oden.html">Brian Muphy reviews <i>The Shadow of Vengeance </i>by Scott Oden. </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2024/02/conan-shadow-of-vengeance-scott-oden.html">James Reasoner reviews <i>The Shadow of Vengeance </i>by Scott Oden. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/02/the-trials-of-empire-by-richard-swan/">Mark Yon reviews <i>The Trials of Empire </i>by Richard Swan. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/02/thetaintedcup-by-robertjacksonbennett/">Rob Bedford reviews <i>The Tainted Cup </i>by Robert Jackson Bennett. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/novella-project-past-trader-by-m-donohoo.html">Arturo Serrano reviews <i>The Past Trader</i> by A. M. Donohoo </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-archive-undying-by-emma-mieko-candon/"><i>Grimdark Magazine </i>reviews <i>The Archive Undying </i>by Emma Mieko Candon</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-all-the-hidden-paths-by-foz-meadows/">Martin Cahill reviews <i>All the Hidden Paths</i> by Foz Meadows </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/novella-project-necessary-chaos-by.html">Adri Joy reviews <i>A Necessary Chaos</i> by Brent Lambert </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/novella-project-to-woman-in-pink-hat.html">Ann Michelle Harris reviews <i>To the Woman in the Pink Hat </i>by LaToya Jordan, </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/02/review-three-eight-one-by-aliya-whiteley.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon </i>reviews <i>Three Eight One </i>by Aliya Whiteley </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/4/the-disinformation-war-by-sj-groenewegen"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Disinformation War </i>by S.J. Groenewegen </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-faebound-by-saara-el-arifi/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>Faebound</i> by Saara El-Arifi </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/microreview-briar-book-of-dead-by-g.html">Clara Cohen reviews <i>The Briar Book of the Dead</i> by A. G. Slatter </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alex-brown-reviews-bloom-by-delilah-s-dawson/">Alex Brown reviews <i>Bloom</i> by Delilah S. Dawson </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-woods-all-black-by-lee-mandelo/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>The Woods All Black</i> by Lee Mandelo</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-what-kind-of-mother-by-clay.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon</i> reviews <i>What Kind of Mother</i> by Clay Macleod Chapman </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-void-ascendant/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>The Void Ascendant </i>by Premee Mohamed</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/novella-project-if-found-return-to-hell.html">Clara Cohen reviews <i>If Found, Return to Hell</i> by Em X. Liu. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/31/dead-letters-episodes-of-epistolatory-horror-by-jacob-steven-mohr"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolatory Horror </i>by Jacob Steven Mohr </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-fifty-beasts-to-break-your-heart-by-gennarose-nethercott/">Molly Templeton reviews <i>Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart</i> by GennaRose Nethercott. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/ian-mond-reviews-the-wolfe-at-the-door-by-gene-wolfe/">Ian Mond reviews <i>The Wolfe at the Door</i> by Gene Wolfe </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/new-edge-sword-sorcery-1-magazine-review/">Dave Brzeski reviews issue 1 of <i>New Edge Sword and Sorcery</i>.<br /></a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-allure-of-the-multiverse-extra-dimensions-other-worlds-and-parallel-universes/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Allure of the Multiverse: Extra Dimensions, Other Worlds, and Parallel Universes</i> by Paul Halpern </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/04/magus-the-art-of-magic-from-faustus-to-agrippa-by-anthony-grafton-review-their-dark-materials">Stephanie Merritt reviews <i>Magus: The Art of Magic from Faustus to Agrippa</i> by Anthony Grafton</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://deepcuts.blog/2024/02/03/bats-belfry-1926-by-august-derleth/">Bobby Derie revisits the 1926 vampire story “Bat’s Belfry” by August Derleth</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-reign-of-wizardry/">Sandy Ferber revisits the 1940 historical fantasy novel <i>The Reign of Wizardry</i> by Jack Williamson </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/03/novella-review-lorelei-of-the-red-mist-by-leigh-brackett-and-ray-bradbury/">Brian Collins revisits the 1946 sword and planet novella “Lorelei of the Red Mist” by Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/lumbering-to-the-stars-the-star-beast-by-robert-a-heinlein/">Alan Brown revisits the 1954 science fiction novel <i>The Star Beast</i> by Robert A. Heinlein </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/29/barsoom-eternal-roger-zelaznys-a-rose-for-ecclesiastes-an-appreciation">John Gradoville revisits the 1963 science fiction story "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" by Roger Zelazny. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/4/reading-ursula-k-le-guin-planet-of-exile"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> revisits the 1966 science fiction novel <i>Planet of Exile</i> by Ursula K. Le Guin. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/02/01/the-sharing-of-flesh-by-poul-anderson/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1968 science fiction novelette "The Sharing of Flesh" by Poul Anderson.</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/starry-notions">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1968 anthology<i> SF-12</i>, edited by Judith Merril. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-2-1969-winners-and-losers-march-1969-if/">David Levinson revisits the March 1969 issue of <i>If: Worlds of Science Fiction</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/february-8-1969-so-much-for-that-march-1969-amazing/">John Boston revisits the March 1969 issue of <i>Amazing</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/02/06/short-story-review-the-human-operators-by-harlan-ellison-and-a-e-van-vogt/">Brian Collins revisits the 1971 science fiction short story “The Human Operators” by Harlan Ellison and A. E. van Vogt </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/hue">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1976 near future science fiction novel <i>A Wreath of Stars</i> by Bob Shaw </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.kenlizzi.net/cahena-manly-wade-wellmans-heroic-historical-fiction/">Ken Lizzi revisits the 1986 historical fantasy novel <i>Cahena: A Dream of the Past</i> by Manly Wade Wellman. </a></li><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/01/death-dealer-3-semi-enjoyable-train.html">Brian Murphy revisits the 1989 sword and sorcery novel <i>Death Dealer 3: Tooth and Claw</i><br /></a></li><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/01/death-dealer-3-semi-enjoyable-train.html"> by James Silke.</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/30/ammonite-by-nicola-griffith/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1992 science fiction novel "Ammonite" by Nicola Griffiths. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/teen-horror-killer-romance/">Alissa Burger revisits the 1992 YA horror novel <i>First Date</i> by R.L. Stine and the 1994 YA horror novel<i> Last Date</i> by Diane Hoh. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/2/4/the-quarter-century-project-indigo-by-graham-joyce"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>revisits the 1999 fantasy novel <i>Indigo </i>by Graham Joyce</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/coulda-sworn-i-told-you">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 2008 horror collection <i>The Diving Pool</i> by Yoko Ogawa </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b><i> <br /></i></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-terror-amc-camp-fandom/">Elizabeth Minkel reports about Terror Camp, a virtual convention focussed on the TV show<i> The Terror</i> and polar exploration, which combines an academic conference with a fandom con.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/spending-my-time-if-not-my-money-at-rare-books-la/">John King Tarpinian reports about the Rare Books LA antiquarian book fair in Pasadena, California.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/vampa-vampire-paranormal-museum"><i>Atlas Obscura</i> shares a look at the Vampire & Paranormal Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania<b> </b></a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/bill-murray-harold-ramis-day-groundhog-day/">Darius Johnson and Adam Harrington report about a <i>Groudhog Day</i> cast reunion and Harold Ramis memorial day in Woodstock, Illinois, where the movie was filmed. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/escape-it-las-vegas-pennywise-valentines-day-super-bowl-1851236129">Sabina Graves reports about the <i>Escape It</i> escape room in Las Vegas, Nevada.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/best-disney-parks-tech-robot-holotile-lighsaber-droid-1851240952">Sabina Graves reports about technological innovations at the various <i>Disney</i> theme parks. <b><br /></b></a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/what-doesnt-kill-me-leaves-me-with-medical-bills">Horror author Nancy A. Collins needs help with medical bills.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.space.com/china-tiangong-space-station-core-module-tianhe-1000-days">Andrew Jones reports that the core module of the Chinese space station <i>Tiangong </i>celebrates one thousand days in space. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/feb/07/saturn-death-star-moon-mimas-hidden-ocean">Ian Sample reports that the Saturn moon Mimas may have a hidden ocean under its thick crust of ice. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/nyregion/nypd-subway-robot-retires.html">Dana Rubinstein reports that the <i>Knightscope K5 </i>robot who patrolled the New York subway has been retired after only a brief time in service. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.space.com/mystery-of-siberias-giant-exploding-craters-may-finally-be-solved">Sascha Pare reports that the mystery of some giant exploding craters found only in Siberia has been solved.</a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://aftermath.site/the-suicide-squad-situation">Riley MacLeod reports about the controversies besetting the video game <i>Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/feb/01/the-man-who-owes-nintendo-14m-gary-bowser-and-gamings-most-infamous-piracy-case">Patricia Hernandez reports about Gary Bowser who helped to bypass anti-piracy protections on <i>Nintendo</i> games and was jailed and also sentenced to pay a fourteen million US-dollars in damages to <i>Nintendo. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/disney-invests-epic-games-fortnite-1235901457/">Jennifer Maas reports that<i> Disney </i>is investing 1.5 billion US-dollars into the video game studio <i>Epic Games. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/01/arts/jennell-jaquays-dead.html">Daniel E. Slotnik remembers the late game designer Jennell Jaquays. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSK8S4KuMt4"><i>For Eternia</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masterverse Masters of the Universe Revolution</i> King Keldor action figure.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2BmvoUobBk"><i>Pixel Dan</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse</i> Movie Evil-Lyn and <i>Masters of the Universe Revolution </i>Orko and Gwildor two-pack. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/cat-eldridge-review-marvel-femme-fatales-spider-gwen-statue/">Cat Eldridge reviews the <i>Marvel Femme Fatales</i> Spider-Gwen statue</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-vintage-collection-e-wing-ahsoka-hasbro-price-1851216654">James Whitbrook shares a look at the <i>Hasbro Star Wars Vintage Collection</i> E-Wing. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO7sgMxbVy0"><i>Planet Eternia</i> shares some impressions as well as a recording of<i> Matte</i>l's Kidult event at Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg, Germany. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPZknYygQHs">Jay Glatfelter shares a tour of the <i>Boss Fight Studios</i> booth at Spielwarenmesse in Nuremberg, Germany. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/valentines-day-nerdy-gift-guide-disney-star-wars-shrek-1851218684">Sabina Graves shares the best Valentine's Day gifts for geeks. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/fleet-of-lamvula.html">"The Fleet of Lamvula" by Rab Foster in </a><i><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/fleet-of-lamvula.html">Swords and Sorcery Magazine.</a></i></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/jacobs_02_24/">"The Enceladus South Pole Base Named after V.I. Lenin" by Zohar Jacobs in <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/goodman_02_24/">"Kardashev's Palimpsest" by David Goodman in <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/doctor-souvenir/">"Doctor Souvenir" by Elly Bangs in<i> Beneath Ceaseless Skies.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-sunset-suite/">"The Sunset Suite" by Matthew O. Fromboluti in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/dusk/">"Dusk" by Angela Slatter in <i>The Dark. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/just-you-and-me-now/">"Just You and Me, Now" by K.T. Bryski in <i>Apex Magazine.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/a-hundred-secret-names?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=73200&post_id=141271439&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&utm_medium=email">"A Hundred Secret Names" by Margaret Ronald in<i> The Sunday Morning Transport.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/an-elegy-of-soil/">"An Elegy of Soil" by Natalia Theodoridou <i>in Uncanny Magazine</i></a></li><li><a href="http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/of-flowing-stone-of-liquid-gold-of-justice-ash-and-battle/">"Of Flowing Stone, of Liquid Gold, of Justice, Ash, and Battle" by Malda Marlys in <i>Strange Horizons.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/instar-karen-heuler/">"Instar" by Karen Heuler in<i> Reactor.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/the-cut-cares-not-for-the-flesh/">"The Cut Cares Not for the Flesh" by George Sandison in <i>Nightmare Magazine. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/02/05/free-fiction-monday-living-the-legend/">"Living the Legend" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/trigger-snowflake-and-the-dequalifications/">"Trigger Snowflake and the Dequalifications" by Ingvar in </a><i><a href="https://file770.com/trigger-snowflake-and-the-dequalifications/">File 770.</a> <br /></i><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq5TmH7Np1M">Watch a trailer for <i>The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMsRBO6uw3U">Watch a trailer for<i> Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NSbS62FbtM">Watch a trailer for season 3 of <i>Resident Alien</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiwvEtimLzQ">Watch a trailer for <i>Late Night With the Devil</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIC8YI9-eU">Watch a trailer for <i>La Chimera</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj0HODMVSnA">Watch a trailer for <i>Imaginary</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWAJXTcEEOU">Watch a trailer for <i>The Animal Kingdom</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AsNzcrDnYQ">Watch a trailer for <i>Lovely, Dark and Deep</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48wg-_VzD04">Watch a trailer for <i>Longlegs</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPY7J-flzE8">Watch a trailer for<i> A Quiet Place: Day One</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MilyCJRKX80">Watch a trailer for <i>The Regime</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQlr9-rF32A">Watch a trailer for <i>Despicable Me 4</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsGQJA075Aw">Watch a trailer for <i>Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-28513008919208317832024-02-05T23:00:00.014+00:002024-02-05T23:00:00.138+00:00Interview with John Be Lane, author of The Future Lies<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKsQRzw-W82d2LJmMsAW3DeKPQr_0CI-eYEsPfF2MQtUZ5d3xamAFwtiMCWRvCN2NQunkrAO49bnsO8zhK_MuLvXgad8JjeMZ2plwl6Vzyr6_edUNYvtzpjaCXH4HnQAQaax42Nu96dhbSjRcgCrJwIGaQT6KR9C8KAJXMuB4wnG8ogpXzKNCeXto-3_K/s2475/TheFutureLies_front%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="1650" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKsQRzw-W82d2LJmMsAW3DeKPQr_0CI-eYEsPfF2MQtUZ5d3xamAFwtiMCWRvCN2NQunkrAO49bnsO8zhK_MuLvXgad8JjeMZ2plwl6Vzyr6_edUNYvtzpjaCXH4HnQAQaax42Nu96dhbSjRcgCrJwIGaQT6KR9C8KAJXMuB4wnG8ogpXzKNCeXto-3_K/w426-h640/TheFutureLies_front%20cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview John Be Lane, whose novel <i>The Future Lies</i> has its debut on February 6, 2024.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
was your first inspiration for <i>The Future Lies</i>, and why did you use that
title?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A
few years ago, I started imagining a school called the Academy of Ingenuity,
which would have a radical new curriculum, designed to inspire the joy of
lifelong learning. Sort of like Hogwarts, but where cognition is the magic, and
literacy is a superpower. But I wasn’t sure what to do with the idea. Then I
got a new idea, about a society in which life seemed perfect and happy in a
virtual environment, but in reality, was a nightmare. The story evolved out of
those two core ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Future Lies</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> was actually my second choice for a title. No one
who read the early drafts liked my original title, which was the only thing
they all agreed on. But I think they were right. <i>The Future Lies</i> seems
catchier. It can be interpreted in different ways. I like the ambiguity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
prompted your concerns about AI and the need to explore its dangers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Having
seen certain digital technologies fail to live up to their promise over the
years, I’ve become sceptical about “next big things.” At the same time, a lot
of people seem willing to embrace those new things without paying attention
what they’ll have to give away, for what are often only low-value conveniences.
We’ve surrendered a lot, including our privacy, in exchange for “free” social
media and email accounts, Alexas, Siris, cloud computing, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">AI
seems like an even bigger risk, which has the potential to tip the balance away
from human agency. It's important to note that “AI” isn’t a monolithic thing.
It has many potential manifestations, some of which might be beneficial to us.
For example, it may offer hope for medical breakthroughs. On the other hand,
there’s the possibility of mechanized warfare fought by lethal robots taking
orders from lines of code, not rational humans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
scenario I imagined is like an “Internet of Things” AI network that’s used to
pacify and oppress a mass of humans. Given the current state of AI technology,
lack of regulatory oversight, and the passive acceptance of new technology by
so many people, it seems like a plausible scenario. It’s also a recipe for
authoritarian oppression. That’s the premise of <i>The Future Lies</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
made you decide to write for a YA audience and what challenges did that pose?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
didn’t set out to write specifically for a YA audience. But I think it’s an
appropriate story for young adults, for the same reason the main characters are
young adults. They are inheriting this world, or these worlds – the one in the
book, and one we’re all living in. I hope the book might encourage some doubt
about the status quo, and thoughts about alternatives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
didn’t seem that challenging for me to write young adult characters. I feel
more kinship for young adults than I do for many of the people my own age. The
world has changed a lot since I was a young adult, but what hasn’t changed for
me is the feeling that things aren’t all what they should be, or could be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Tell
us more about your history as a screenwriter and poet, and the different
thinking processes required for the different forms.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
novel incorporates some of the techniques I learned from screenwriting. Writing
in scenes, for example. Showing, not telling. It helped hone my dialog-writing
skills. People are so tuned now into visual media– series TV and films, that
some of these elements might make it easier for readers to embrace the printed
pages of a novel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
kind of poetry I’ve written is succinct and personal. It allows me to play
around with language, in an effort to connect with readers directly, on an
emotional level. In <i>The Future Lies</i>, I tried to use that experience to
liberate the prose. I didn’t want the narrative voice to sound neutral, or too
dispassionate. I wanted it to sound as invested in the story as I hoped the
reader would be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
can you tell us about your protagonists in <i>The Future Lies</i>, the gamer
Calvin and his friends Roscoe and Juniper?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
feel for them! They’re emerging from childhood into a world that rightfully
doesn’t make sense to them. It’s a world that discourages questioning of the
status quo, so their confusion is not something they can easily share or
discuss with anyone else. And in fact, they are not like the others around
them. They each have a quality of character that is inherently at odds with the
world they live in. As they encounter each other, simply discovering that
someone else has similar doubts and frustrations is exciting and empowering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
prompts Calvin to rebel against the AI network that controls his life and those
of his fellows?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Calvin
has an innate sense of decency and integrity, which are unique in his world,
and in many ways dangerous. He has an empathetic soul. He isn’t able to lie to
himself, or to ignore his instincts, though his life would be easier if he
could. Injustice does not sit well with Calvin, wherever it comes from. So in a
way, he’s cursed to have a personality that does not align well with the powers
that be. Authoritarians don’t take kindly to compassion. But I think the things
Calvin does have less to do the conscious intention to rebel, than with being
true to his own nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
did you set about creating a personality for the AI itself and were there any
literary or filmic precedents, from the computer Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey
onwards?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A
bit of Hal’s DNA is definitely there in the Network. But there are a lot of
differences. The Network was created for a different purpose, and has a
different makeup. I envisioned it comprised of multiple semi-autonomous
components – that “Internet of Things” I mentioned – which already exists in an
embryonic form.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Imagine
the kind of conversations that Alexa, Siri, your Ring doorbell, your Nest
thermostat, your Rhoomba vacuum, your Apple watch, your social media accounts,
the applications on your phone, all of the media you consume, and all your data
on the cloud might already be having. Then imagine that instead of economic
profit being their main priority, they were programmed to neutralize your
ability to do anything more than exist. At that point, the Network takes on
some of the traits of Big Brother, from <i>nineteen eighty-four</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But
because Artificial Intelligence is a human product, created from human inputs,
it also followed that the Network would have weaknesses,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>imperfections, and other characteristics that
we would recognize as human. That made it a most interesting character to
write.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
is the source of your concern that AI poses an existential threat to humanity?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When
you look at the potential for AI to wipe out creative professions (writers,
artists, filmmakers, musicians), skilled professions (doctors, lawyers,
researchers), and unskilled occupations (in conjunction with robotics), as well
as the potential for mechanized, no-humans-in-control forms of policing and warfare,
you’ve got a worst-case scenario in which people exist at the mercy of the
tools they’ve created. Which is the opposite of what it should be. And also the
point at which humanity becomes irrelevant. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But
as I see it, technology is not in and of itself the problem. An equal part of
the threat is our unquestioning surrender to technologies like AI. If we were
more thoughtful and cautious, it could work exclusively for <i>us</i>, with
enormous potential benefits. But if we’re just going along for the ride, we
will be taken for a ride that will not end well, I fear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You
believe that literary and critical thinking pose an existential threat to
authoritarians. Why is this and what is the particular role of literary
thinking?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
might phrase it a little differently – I think literacy and critical thinking
are existential threats to authoritarians. Authoritarians accumulate their
power through appeals to emotion, not intellect. Ignorance and fear are the
products they sell. That requires followers who dwell in the primitive,
reactive, irrational parts of their brains. It helps if you can convince them
that ignorance is a virtue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But
any so-called benefits that authoritarians peddle don’t hold up to a split
second of critical thinking, which takes place in a different part of the
brain. So their challenge is to keep you out of your prefrontal cortex.
Rational thinking is kryptonite to an authoritarian. It’s why they always go
after the teachers and writers and journalists. Now librarians are on their
list. This is no accident. As a would-be authoritarian in the U.S. once said,
“I love the poorly educated!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Could
imaginary worlds such as those created in online RPGs actually pose a threat to
authoritarian regimes?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Imaginary
worlds” can include a lot of different things. Some would say religions are
imaginary worlds. Or that ideologies are imaginary worlds. Both of which can
either support, or pose a threat, to an authoritarian regime. Or a democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">RPGs
are also imaginary worlds, as are novels and films. We’ve seen them serve noble
and horrible causes. <i>The Jungle</i> was a novel that enhanced the public
good. But <i>Natural Born Killers</i> glorified humanity at its worst. Unfortunately,
it’s easier to curry an audience’s appetite for spectacle, cruelty, and
violence. The easiest thing for an authoritarian to do is pander to people’s
worst instincts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Thoughtful
storytellers have to work twice as hard to attract the better angels of our
nature. But I think at this point in time, we have an obligation to make that
effort. And the message is at least as important as the medium.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
did you set about creating a fictional world and how did you research areas
that were outside your experience?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One
thing that simplified the challenge was setting the story in Denver, where I
live. I spent a lot of time walking those streets. The buildings are real. I’ve
been inside most of them. This all made it easier to imagine the characters in
their environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
was also able to draw on books I’d already read, which helped inspire and
inform the story. There’s a list of them at the end of the book, but I’ll
mention a few here. <i>The Swerve</i> introduced me to the notion that a book,
and the knowledge it contains, can be forgotten for decades or even centuries,
and then bloom again when it’s rediscovered. <i>The Darkening Age</i> gave me a
vivid look at how ignorance and intolerance can overwhelm a more enlightened
civilization. And the <i>Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass</i>
provided a first-hand account of the enormous power of literacy to change a
life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Research
I did specifically for the book related mainly to Artificial Intelligence and
how it worked. Various books and online sources helped me understand the basic
mechanics – things like the generative adversarial process. I also learned a
lot from reading Jaron Lanier, who’s one of the pioneers of virtual reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
trick is then to take all these inputs, and use them as ingredients to create
the meal, which is the story itself. For me, a lot of that work takes place on
a subconscious level, after I’ve prepared the mise en place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Why
is the idea of duality important in <i>The Future Lies</i> and how does it
work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Appearance
vs. reality is a theme I’ve always been drawn to – going back to the first time
I heard <i>The Emperor’s New Clothes</i>. It relates to the rational/irrational
dualities I mentioned before. These are conflicts we wrestle with constantly.
They have the potential to cause unimaginable hardship. It’s difficult to
survive and adapt when you’re making decisions based on information that’s
wrong by design, with the intention to deceive.<s> </s><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Deceit
has become a highly sophisticated art. That’s why critical thinking, to me, is
the essential skill we modern humans need to survive. We’d better be as good at
seeing through the deceit as the deceivers are in deceiving us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Truth
vs. lies is one of the primal dualities. Taken to its extreme in <i>The Future
Lies</i>, the corrupted world has become so dominant that it’s hard to even
conceive of anything else. This inability is reinforced by the principles of
“decognition.” The challenge becomes, how do you know anything, when you’re
groomed not to know how to know?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
did you imagine your antagonists or villains and why was it important to write
this story now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
world that the story takes place in is extrapolated, but not very far, from the
world as I see it now. Many digital technologies are specifically designed to
addict us. The people who benefit from our addiction have quietly acquired
unthinkable amounts of power and money, and for all practical purposes, they operate
outside of any traditional forms of oversight or accountability. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So
it wasn’t hard to take that scenario a step or two farther and explore how
those conditions could result in a society in which the vast majority of humans
exist on the level of barnyard animals, managed more or less on autopilot by an
Artificial Intelligence network. Right now, we can still cling to a veneer of
independence and autonomy. But our lives are increasingly filtered through
applications that often don’t work well, and don’t serve us well. Which is met
by a collective shrug of the shoulders. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
didn’t have to do much imagining. The few people who are reaping the benefits
are doing so out in the open. I’m not sure how much longer we’ve got to
recognize what’s happening and protect our interests, before the big door slams
shut and we’re on the wrong side of it. That’s why I think this is a story that
needed to be told.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Tackling
an idea about artificial intelligence and human hubris that is almost as old as
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, why do these fears continue to haunt us?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A
part of me wishes the fears haunted us more. Hubris is a form of delusion,
which is sometimes contagious. In some ways, it gets back to that idea that if
you <i>can</i> do something, there’s no reason why you <i>shouldn’t</i>. Endorphins
are powerful. Maybe that first martini went down well. And the second one, too.
But just because they’ll serve you a third one doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to
drink it. The problem is, by then you’re intoxicated. Maybe you’re intoxicated
by something else – greed, or ambition, or power. Maybe by comfort, or
convenience. The effects are the same. If a little feels good, more must
better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Or
we just get caught up in the moment, because the moment is all that there is.
Until the next moment. But by then it’s too late. We’ve flown too close to the
Sun, and our wings are suddenly melting. Some people mature out of that
mentality, but not everyone. Unfortunately, the more responsible types are often
stuck with the bill run up by the irresponsible. That’s a fear that haunts me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Will
there be a sequel to <i>The Future Lies</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’m
not sure. <i>The Future Lies</i> was the story that wanted me to tell it. Insisted
on it, in fact. It was like a commitment to loved one or a friend. There was
never any question that I would see it through. If I was to write a sequel, it
would have to be for the same reason; something I couldn’t not write. I feel a
different story pulling me at the moment. That might be what comes next. After
that, who knows? The world of <i>The Future Lies</i> may not be done with me
yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Future-Lies-John-Be-Lane-ebook/dp/B0CTPB3CZB/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707161532&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About John Be Lane:</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUTZGLkERmTswApqaRZM9Cm11EzcQ8Hs35ov6OL1KYlt1YJzjN8tqthzyCu5qOpQA8ZXl1H4cU6ib8yDaPHUE25URevI5DXuJh7PJQy6u9gAEWodUj0qwfQdWf9iTKt98wQKtAqgFOS7xfhsbGq2xA4xT_5gX-gfkPPUVUMTkDSluAhn5imhHxo8F_lbk/s6720/John%20Be%20Lane%20headshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6720" data-original-width="4480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCUTZGLkERmTswApqaRZM9Cm11EzcQ8Hs35ov6OL1KYlt1YJzjN8tqthzyCu5qOpQA8ZXl1H4cU6ib8yDaPHUE25URevI5DXuJh7PJQy6u9gAEWodUj0qwfQdWf9iTKt98wQKtAqgFOS7xfhsbGq2xA4xT_5gX-gfkPPUVUMTkDSluAhn5imhHxo8F_lbk/w266-h400/John%20Be%20Lane%20headshot.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #30404c; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John Be Lane’s first book, </span><span style="color: #30404c; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Beatin’ Path – a lyrical guide to lucid evolution</span><span style="color: #30404c; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> received a Living Now Evergreen Award as “one of the world-changing books published since the year 2000.” He lives in Colorado. Find out more about John Be Lane at his </span><a href="https://johnbe.com/" style="font-family: georgia; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #fe8172; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">website</span></a><span style="color: #30404c; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/johnbelane/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> </span></h3>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-6537379514305572432024-02-01T23:00:01.030+00:002024-02-02T02:17:09.079+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for February 2, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Masters of the Unvierse: Revolution</i>,<i> Star Trek </i>in general,<i> Star Wars </i>in general<i>, Doctor Who </i>past, present and future<i>, Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> in animation and live action, <i>Argylle, Orion and the Dark, Dario Argento Panico, Dr. Strangelove</i> at sixty, the perceived Oscar subs of <i>Barbie</i>, the debate about AI-generated writing and art, tributes to Brian Lumley and much more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/2023-recommended-reading-list/"><i>Locus</i> shares its 2023 recommended reading list. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/44-new-february-book-releases-scifi-fantasy-horror-1851134136">Cheryl Eddy shares new science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in February. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/30-sff-titles-to-look-forward-to-in-2024/">Christina Orlando shares thirty SFF book to look forward to in 2024 </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/15-speculative-crime-novels-coming-out-in-2024/">Molly Odintz shares fifteen speculative crime novels and mysteries coming out in 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/murder-mysteries-magic-and-mashups/">Andrea Tang explains how she managed to combine fantasy and mysteries. </a></li><li><a href="https://ew.com/sarah-j-maas-smut-in-romantasy-books-deserve-respect-8557162">Maureen Lee Lenker points out that romantasy in general and the books of Sarah J. Maas in particular deserve more respect. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://bookriot.com/influential-1980s-fantasy-books/">Ann-Marie Cahill shares the most influential fantasy books of the 1980s. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/30/what-is-the-single-best-sword-amp-sorcery-anthology">G.W. Thomas wonders what the single best sword and sorcery anthology is. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/decolonizing-the-gothic/">Shubnum Khan points out that gothic fiction is a universal story, not a western one. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/seven-mouthwatering-sff-short-stories/">Ratika Deshpande shares seven SFF stories featuring food and cooking</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-ways-authors-motivate-characters-to-leave-earth-behind/">James Davis Nicoll discusses five ways science fiction authors motivate characters to leave Earth behind. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.newsdirectory3.com/tianwen-unveiling-chinas-diverse-science-fiction-to-the-world/">Wang Yao and Luo Xuemei report about the Tianwen Project, which is intended to promote Chinese science fiction in the West. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-golden-age-of-sf-but-not-the-one-youre-thinking-of/">James Davis Nicoll talks about the science fiction books he read when he was twelve. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/why-are-we-talking-about-books-like-this/">Molly Templeton takes issue with the way that reading is often framed as an elitist activist for the wealthy. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://amazingstories.com/2024/01/25th-century-five-and-dime-2-you-should-be-reading-judith-merril/">David Agranoff shares his appreciation for the work of Judith Merril </a></li><li><a href="https://adeeplookbydavehook.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/winona-mcclintic-who/">Dave Hook remembers the largely forgotten SFF author Winona McClintic. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/wilkie-collins-detective-fiction-1.7077494"><i>CBC Radio</i> profiles Wilkie Collins. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deepcuts.blog/2024/01/24/her-letters-to-lovecraft-edith-may-dowe-miniter/">Bobby Derie takes a deep dive into H.P Lovecraft's relationship and correspondence with writer, editor and amateur journalist Edith May Dowe Miniter.</a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/24/rusty-burke-joking-and-swearing">Deuce Richardson reports that the condition of Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke is improving after suffering a head injury due to a fall. </a></li><li><a href="https://georgerrmartin.com/notablog/2024/01/29/dark-days/">George R.R. Martin notes that many of his peers and his generation of writers are dead now. </a></li><li><a href="https://amazingstories.com/2024/01/in-memoriam-2023/">Steven H. Silver shares a list of all the people the SFF community lost in 2023. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/brian-lumley-1937-2024/">SFF and horror writer Brian Lumley died aged 86. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/brian-lumley-1937-2024/">Molly Templeton remembers Brian Lumley.</a> <br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://thecromcast.blogspot.com/2024/01/season-18-episode-zubteen-jim-zub.html"><i>The Cromcast</i> interviews Jim Zub, writer of the <i>Conan</i> comics. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/spotlight-on-winona-nelson/"><i>Locus</i> interviews SFF artist Winona Nelson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/29/aya-claws-come-out-by-marguerite-abouet-and-clement-oubrerie-review-ivory-coasts-comic-soap-opera">Rachel Cooke reviews <i>Aya: Claws Come Out</i> by Marguerite Abouet and Clément Oubrerie</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/jan/27/tom-gauld-on-where-christmas-gift-books-end-up-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about what happens to Christmas gift books.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/31/domino-day-review-this-fertile-fun-witch-drama-is-buffy-for-a-new-generation">Lucy Mangan calls<i> Domino Day</i> a fun supernatural show that is <i>Buffy</i> for a new generation </a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/love-me-review-sundance-2024">Hoai-Tran Bui calls<i> Love Me </i>a surprisingly gentle version of the apocalypse. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-sundance-2024">Lyvie Scott calls <i>I Saw the TV Glow</i> a haunting horror masterpiece </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-renfield/">C.T. Phipps shares his thoughts on the horror comedy <i>Renfield</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/handling-the-undead-norway-zombie-movie-sundance-review-1851200729">Cheryl Eddy calls <i>Handling the Undead</i> the most somber zombie movie you'll ever see </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/moogai-australian-folk-horror-review-sundance-festival-1851194931">Cheryl Eddy declares that the horror film <i>The Moogai</i> puts a monstrous spin on generational trauma.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/29/blue-giant-review-anime-jazz-hiromi-uehara">Phuong Le calls<i> Blue Giant</i> an electrifying anime that captures the ecstasy of live music </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/30/the-tigers-apprentice-review-michelle-yeoh-henry-golding-sandra-oh">Leslie Felperin calls <i>The Tiger’s Apprentice</i> an animated comfort food fantasy film. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/31/migration-review-zany-ducks-in-the-city-adventure-from-white-lotus-mike-white">Cath Clarke calls <i>Migration</i> a zany animated adventures about a family of ducks in the big city. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/26/all-of-us-strangers-sex-death-ghosts-and-that-ending-discuss-with-spoilers">Alex Needham shares a spoilerish review of <i>All of Us Strangers</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/quantum-leap-preview-season-2-episode-9-off-the-cuff/">Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>Quantum Leap</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/18679/roundtable-discussion-of-for-all-mankind-season-4?tdest_id=2016980"><i>Light On, Light Through </i>hosts a roundtable discussion of season 4 of <i>For All Mankind</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://people.com/alaqua-cox-reflects-on-career-success-marvel-echo-after-being-bullied-deaf-and-amputee-exclusive-8424431">J.P. Mangalindan interviews Alaqua Cox who plays Maya Lopez in <i>Echo</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://ew.com/madame-web-dakota-johnson-exclusive-preview-8432016">Devan Coggan interviews Dakota Johnson, star of <i>Madame Web</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/tron-3-reboot">Ryan Britt declares that<i> Tr3n </i>can either fix the <i>Tron </i>series or ruin it. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/adam-plantinga/">Odie Henderson revisits the 1972 blaxploitation horror film <i>Blacula</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/babylon-5-30-year-anniversary">Ryan Britt celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of <i>Babylon 5 </i>and recounts how difficult it was for that show to get greenlit in the first place. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-weird-story-of-the-twilight-zone-episode-that-won-an-oscar">Matthew Jackson recounts how the 1964 <i>Twilight Zone </i>episode "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" won an Oscar for best live action short film. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6w-BzY2V7k">Sabina Graves shares star Kurt Russell's take on the ending of the 1982 science fiction horror movie <i>The Thing</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/26/when-accountants-attack-why-netflix-is-cancelling-halle-berry-new-sci-fi-movie-the-mothership">Ben Child wonders why Netflix cancelled the almost completed science fiction film<i> The Mothership</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/avatar-vfx-artists-us-unionize-1235811400/">Katie Kilkenny reports that visual effects artists working on the <i>Avatar</i> movies are unionising. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/26/disney-board-bob-iger-nelson-peltz">Callum Jones reports about troubles and power struggles inside <i>Disney</i>'s board of directors. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/ron-desantis-disney-lawsuit-dismissed-bob-iger-florida-1851213793">Sabina Graves shares an update on the legal battle between <i>Disney</i> and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/death-sentence-for-man-who-killed-36-people-in-kyoani-fire/">Christian Angeles reports that the man who committed an arson attack on the <i>Kyoto Animation </i>studio in 2019, killing 36 people, has been sentenced to death. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers): </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqMi2mE_2VU"> Todd Luck shares a non-spoilerish review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wms4omwVgGs">Todd Luck also shares a spoilerish review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyWx7Z37cQ"><i>For Eternia </i>shares a spoilerish review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQOOpqbGJ_s"><i>Mega Jay Retro</i> discusses <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> with spoilers.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/motu-revoution-ending-explained/">Renaldo Matadeen explains the ending of <i>Masters of the Universe Revolution</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/he-man-teela-couple-masters-of-the-universe-revolution/">Joshua M. Patton discusses the long brewing romantic relationship between Adam and Teela in <i>Masters of the Universe</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHDGm34es5U">Jay Glatfelter interviews Ted Biaselli, producer of <i>Masters of the Universe Revolution</i> and the voice of Gwildor and Griffin Newman, who voices Orko. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWEusJTYH4s">Dan Larsen and <i>Pixel Dan</i> interview Griffin Newman who voices Orko in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR2bXEtzdhI"><i>Dad-at-Arms</i> interviews Griffin Newman. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhih00JIDiI"><i>Word Balloon</i> interviews Tim Sheridan, one of the writers of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/80s-sci-fi-dc-ripoff.html">Zack Zagranis discusses the influence of Jack Kirby's <i>New Gods</i> on the 1987 <i>Masters of the Universe </i>live action<i> </i>movie </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://ew.com/ahsoka-natasha-liu-bordizzo-breaks-down-sabines-messy-jedi-journey-8549503">Devan Coggan interviews Natasha Liu Bordizzo who plays Sabine Wren in <i>Ahsoka</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://ew.com/ahsoka-captain-enoch-wes-chatham-goes-behind-the-mask-8548945">Dalton Ross interviews Wes Chatham who plays Captain Enoch in <i>Ahsoka </i>and Amos in<i> The Expanse</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://collider.com/daisy-ridley-star-wars-future-rey/">Chris McPherson interviews Daisy Ridley who played Rey in the <i>Star Wars </i>sequel trilogy. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/31/daisy-ridley-still-upset-over-backlash-to-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker">Andrew Pulver reports that Daisy Ridley is still upset about the backlash against <i>The Last Jedi </i>and <i>The Rise of Skywalker</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-katana-fleet-thrawn-ahsoka-eu-disney-1851202045">James Whitbrook explains the history of the Katana Fleet, Grand Admiral Thrawn's secret invasion weapon, in the <i>Star Wars</i> Expanded Universe.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-31-1969-clinging-to-life-star-trek-that-which-survives/"><i>Galactic Journey</i> revisits the 1969 Star Trek episode "That Which Survives". </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-sub-rosa-30th-anniversary-ghost-sex-candle-1851210280">James Whitbrook revisits the infamous <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> episode "Sub Rosa". </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/threshold-anniversary-star-trek-voyager-lizard-sex-1851207179">James Whitbrook revisits the infamous <i>Star Trek Voyager</i> episode "Threshold". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/star-trek-enterprise-rewatch-these-are-the-voyages/">Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the <i>Star Trek Enterprise</i> series finale "These Are the Voyages..."</a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Doctor Who</i> past, present and future: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/millie-gibson-doctor-who-future-comment/">Louise Griffin reports that Millie Gibson who plays new companion Ruby Sunday has not been fired or left and will still appear in series 15 of<i> Doctor Who</i>, albeit in a reduced role. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/sylvester-mccoy-doctor-who-first-episode-exclusive-newsupdate/">Morgan Cormack interviews Sylvester McCoy who played the Seventh Doctor in <i>Doctor Who</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on the Oscar snubs for <i>Barbie</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/31/margot-robbie-oscar-snub-response-barbie-nominations">Benjamin Lee shares Margot Robbie's diplomatic statement about not winning an Oscar nomination for <i>Barbie</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbie-oscar-snubs-backlash-1235808002/">James Hibberd reports about the backlash against the Oscar snubs for <i>Barbie</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/opinion/barbie-movie-oscars.html">Pamela Paul declares that <i>Barbie</i> is a bad movie and doesn't deserve any Oscar nominations. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/barbie-oscar-nominations-greta-gerwig-snub-rcna135530">Zeeshan Aleem also finds that <i>Barbie</i> doesn't deserve any Oscars, because it's just a toy commerical. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://slate.com/culture/2024/01/barbie-oscar-nominations-2024-hillary-clinton-ryan-gosling-statement.html">Imogen West-Knights points out that <i>Barbie</i> got plenty of Oscar nominations and that the internet seems to have lost its mind over the perceived snubs. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/the-barbie-oscar-snubs-made-the-internet-lose-its-mind">Kevin Fallon wonders whether the anger over the Oscar snubs for <i>Barbie </i>is deserved. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-oscars-snubs-barbie-discourse-1235806764/">Rebecca Sun delcares that not all Oscar snubs are created equal, since the snubbed are "only" white women. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/oscars-2024-barbie-shouldnt-be-the-focus/">Kelas Lloyd wishes people would talk less about the snubs <i>Barbie</i> and more about how the Oscar nominees are mostly white once again. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>in animation and live action: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://ew.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-season-2-time-jump-sozins-comet-actors-aging-8549885">Nick Romano interviews Albert Kim, showrunner of the live action<i> Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://ew.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-live-action-cover-story-what-to-expect-8551028">Nick Romano shares a behind the scenes look at the live action <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>. <br /></a></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Argylle</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/31/argylle-review-unbearably-self-satisfied-smirk-of-a-spy-caper-from-matthew-vaughn">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>Argylle</i> an unbearably self-satisfied, smirking spy caper.</a></li><li>M<a href="https://www.avclub.com/argylle-review-matthew-vaughn-overstuffed-meta-spy-act-1851212584">anuel Betancourt calls <i>Argylle</i> an overstuffen and exhausting meta-spy action comedy. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/argylle-movie-review-henry-cavill-dua-lipa-apple-1851211063">Germain Lussier declares that <i>Argylle</i> feels like several movies in one</a></li><li><a href="https://collider.com/argylle-movie-review/">Maggie Lovitt calls <i>Argylle</i> a chaotic spy romp. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Orion and the Dark</i>:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/29/orion-and-the-dark-review-charlie-kaufman-surprises-with-netflix-kids-animation">Peter Bradshaw calls<i> Orion and the Dark</i> a surprising animated movie by Charlie Kaufman </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/orion-and-the-dark-movie-review-1851204857">Luke Y. Thompson is stunned that Charlie Kaufman would write an animated children's film like <i>Orion and the Dark</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b><i> </i></b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Dario Argento Panico: </i></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/31/dario-argento-panico-review-documentary">Leslie Felperin shares her thoughts on the documentary<i> Dario Argento Panico</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dario-argento-panico-shudder-doc-guillermo-del-toro-1851190415">Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on the documentary<i> Dario Argento Panico</i></a><i> <br /></i></li></ul></div><div><b><i> </i></b></div><div><b><i>Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb</i> at sisxty:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/29/dr-strangelove-stanley-kubrick-anniversary?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Scott Tobias revisits <i>Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb</i> for its sixtieth anniversary and wonders if it's still the greatest screen satire of all time.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/dr-strangelove-60-year-anniversary">Mark Hill revisits <i>Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb</i> for its sixtieth anniversary and finds it still the best response to a climate of doom.</a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/glasgow-2024-opens-nominations-for-the-2024-hugo-awards/">Nominations for the 2023 Hugo Awards have opened. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/audie-awards-2024-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 Audie Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/94186-caliba-presents-2024-golden-poppy-awards.html?oly_enc_id=7809B3463278E9B">The winners of the 2023 Golden Poppy Awards have been announceds. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/clarkesworld-2023-readers-poll-finalists/">The finalists for the 2023 <i>Clarkesworld</i> Readers Poll have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/angela-hedrick-is-the-speculative-literature-foundations-2024-illustration-of-the-year-winner/">The Speculative Literature Foundation has announced the 2024 Illustration of the Year winner.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/24/graphic-novelist-posy-simmonds-wins-prestigious-french-comics-award?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">British artist and writer Posy Simmons has won the has won Grand Prix at the International Comics festival in Angoulême, France. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/keanu-reeves-lance-reddick-legacy-award-51st-saturn-awards-1235888063/">The winner of the inaugural Lance Reddick Legacy Award has been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/2024-family-film-tv-awards-winners-cbs-1235806850/">The winners of the 2024 Family Film and TV Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="http://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2024/01/what-did-winning-hwa-debut-crown-award.html">A.J. West explains what winning the HWA Debut Crown Award means to him. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/nerds-of-feather-2024-hugo-award.html"><i>Nerds of a feather </i>share their recommendations for the fiction categories for the 2024 Hugo Awards. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/2024-nerds-of-feather-hugo-awards.html"><i>Nerds of a feather </i>share their recommendations for the dramatic presentation and graphic story categories for the 2024 Hugo Awards. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/2024-nerds-of-feather-hugo-award.html"><i>Nerds of a feather </i>share their recommendations for the various individual person categories for the 2024 Hugo Awards. </a></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2024/01/striving-for-verisimilitude-by-james.html">James Woolf talks about striving for verisimilitude in your writing.</a></li><li><a href="http://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2024/02/setting-as-character-by-ashley-tate.html">Ashley Tate talks about setting as a character. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/inviting-nature-onto-the-page/">Eliot Pattison discusses how to handle nature in fiction. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/to-write-a-brutalist-novel/">Zachary C. Solomon talks about writing a Brutalist novel. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/adam-plantinga/">Adam Plantinga explains how he went from writing non-fiction to writing novels.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/fictionalizing-real-trauma-as-a-means-of-healing/">Chris Cander talks about fictionalizing real trauma as a means of healing </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/26/books-and-looks-gen-z-is-rediscovering-the-public-library">Alaina Demopoulos reports that the so-called Generation Z is rediscovering public libraries for socialising as well as reading. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94199-author-j-d-barker-dropped-by-agent-after-creepy-booktok-request.html">Sophia Stewart reports that horror author J.D. Barker has come under fire for offering to pay TikTokers for making sexually suggestive videos featuring his upcoming novel. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94199-author-j-d-barker-dropped-by-agent-after-creepy-booktok-request.html">Daysia Tolentino has more about the J.D. Barker scandal. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/feb/01/spotify-claims-to-have-paid-audiobook-publishers-tens-of-millions-in-royalties">Ella Creamer talks about a conflict between the audio streaming service <i>Spotify</i> and the UK Society of Authors over audiobook royalties. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/the-onion-union-tentative-deal-management-averting-strike-1235812164/">Katie Kilkenny reports that the Onion Union, which represents writers at <i>The Onion, The AV-Club, The Takeout</i> and other sites, has reached a tentative agreement with their publisher.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/a-brief-history-of-the-grand-old-american-tradition-of-banning-books/">Laura Pappano shares a brief history of book banning in the US. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.wilx.com/2024/01/27/lansings-reotown-store-deadtime-stories-victim-theft-catches-individuals-security-footage/">Jordyn Burrell reports that the bookstore <i>Deadtime Stories</i> in Lansing, Michigan, fell victim to an organised gang of thieves. </a> <br /></li></ul><b> </b><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comments on the debate about AI-generated writing and art:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://sinisbeautiful.com/ai-the-algorithm-and-the-attention-economy/">Malcolm F. Cross talks about AI, algorithms and the attention economy.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/01/ftc-launches-inquiry-generative-ai-investments-partnerships">The US Federal Trade Commission announces that they have launched an inquiry into generative AI investments and partnerships. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/25/technology/ai-copyright-office-law.html">Cecilia Kang reports that the US Copyright Office unexpectedly finds itself at the centre of the battle over AI. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/george-carlin-lawsuit-ai-copyright-1235805447/">Dominic Patten reports that the estate of comedian George Carlin has sued the producers of an AI generated comedy special featuring the late comedian. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/1/29/interviewing-wole-talabi"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews Wole Talabi. </a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/talabi_interview/">Arley Sorg interviews Wole Talabi. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-tiffany-morris-interview.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Tiffany Morris.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/an-interview-with-andrew-caldecott-2/">Fabienne Schwizer interviews Andrew Caldecott.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/02/novella-project-selena-middleton.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Selena Middleton. </a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/takacs_interview/">Arley Sorg interviews Bogi Takácz. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.scottedelman.com/2024/01/26/wolfe-strahan/">Scott Edelman interviews Gary K. Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan</a></li><li><a href="https://huntington.org/verso/interview-octavia-e-butler-fellow-lois-rosson?utm_source=The+Huntington&utm_campaign=447832ac96-this-week-at-the-huntington-2024-01-24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-acbb05ca10-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&goal=0_f3661894cf-447832ac96-229191714&mc_cid=447832ac96">Kevin Durkin interviews Lois Rosson. </a></li><li><a href="https://swordslore.substack.com/p/senchas-claidebs-sword-and-sorcery?r=2bql01&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web">Ethan Sabatella interviews several writers of contemporary sword and sorcery. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://beforewegoblog.com/review-lord-of-a-shattered-land-by-howard-andrew-jones/">John Mauro reviews <i>Lord of a Shattered Land </i>by Howard Andrew Jones </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2024/02/02/currently-reading-house-of-open-wounds-by-adrian-tchaikovsky/">Camestros Felapton reviews <i>House of Open Wounds </i>by Adrian Tchaikovsky <br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://spraguedecampfan.wordpress.com/2024/01/30/review-the-shadow-of-vengeance-by-scott-oden/">Gary Romeo reviews <i>The Shadow of Vengeance</i> by Scott Oden </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/28/star-pattern-traveller-by-joyce-chng"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Star Pattern Traveller</i> by Joyce Chng <br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/microreview-ethera-grave-by-essa-hansen.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>Ethera Grave</i> by Essa Hansen <br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://orbnews.substack.com/p/orbital-review-the-stars-look-very?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1525719&post_id=140085881&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1gv0k&utm_medium=email">Maya St. Clair reviews <i>Orbital</i> by Samantha Harvey. </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://file770.com/lis-carey-review-snipers/">Lis Carey reviews<i> Snipers</i> by Kristine Kathryn Rusch </a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/seven-kennings-trilogy-and-power-of.html">Paul Weimer reviews <span><i style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Curse of Krakens </i><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Kevin Hearne.</span></span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/microreview-aftermarket-afterlife-by.html">Joe Sherry reviews <i>Aftermarket Afterlife </i>by Seanan McGuire <br /></a></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/28/the-graveyard-watch-by-rj-eason"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Graveyard Watch </i>by R.J. Eason </a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-saevus-corax-deals-with-the-dead-by-k-j-parker/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead</i> by K.J. Parker </a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-traitors-we-are-by-michael-roberti/">Carrie Chi Lough reviews <i>The Traitors We Are</i> by Michael Roberti<br /></a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://file770.com/lis-carey-review-the-city-we-became-great-cities-trilogy-1/"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Lis Carey reviews <i>The City We Became </i>by N.K. Jemisin.</span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-georgia-summers-the-city-of-stardust/">Tobias Carroll reviews <i>The City of Stardust</i> by Georgia Summers. <br /></a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://reactormag.com/book-review-into-the-sunken-city-by-dinesh-thiru/">Alex Brown reviews <i>Into the Sunken City</i> by Dinesh Thiru<br /></a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/labyrinths-heart/"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Marion Deeds reviews <i>Labyrinth’s Heart</i> by M.A. Carrick</span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-tusks-of-extinction-by-ray-nayler/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>The Tusks of Extinction</i> by Ray Nayler<br /></a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/colleen-mondor-reviews-jonathan-abernathy-you-are-kind-by-molly-mcghee-and-emily-wildes-map-of-the-otherlands-by-heather-fawcett/"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind</i> by Molly McGhee and <i>Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands </i>by Heather Fawcett </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://jenmedsbookreviews.com/2024/01/26/the-forcing-by-paul-e-hardisty-2/">Mandie Griffiths reviews <i>The Forcing</i> by Paul E. Hardisty</a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://liveanddeadly.net/2024/01/22/the-knowing-by-emma-hinds-emmalouiseph-bedsqpublishers/">Mary Picken reviews <i>The Knowing</i> by Emma Hinds </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/undivided/">Kat Hooper reviews <i>UnDivided</i> by Neal Shusterman <span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/alex-brown-reviews-frost-bite-by-angela-sylvaine/">Alex Brown reviews <i>Frost Bite</i> by Angela Sylvaine </a></span></span></li><li><a href="https://lesasbookcritiques.com/to-conjure-a-killer-by-clea-simon/">Lesa Holstine reviews <i>To Conjure a Killer</i> by Clea Simon </a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></li><li><a href="https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/book-review-what-feasts-at-night/"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Trish Matson reviews </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>What Feasts at Night</i> by T. Kingfisher.<br /></span></a></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/26/where-the-dead-wait-by-ally-wilkes"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Where The Dead Wait</i> by Ally Wilkes</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://reactormag.com/from-the-cosmic-to-the-personal-laurel-hightowers-below/">Judith Tarr reviews <i>Below</i> by Laurel Hightower. </a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/28/the-hours-of-our-lady-by-david-frankel"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Hours of Our Lady</i> by David Frankel <br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/28/what-kind-of-mother-by-clay-mcleod-chaman"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>What Kind of Mother</i> by Clay McLeod Chapman</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/alex-brown-reviews-skin-thief-stories-by-suzan-palumbo/">Alex Brown reviews <i>Skin Thief: Stories</i> by Suzan Palumbo <br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-ursula-k-le-guins-collected-poems/">Warner Holme reviews <i>Ursula K Le Guin’s Collected Poems</i>, edited by Harold Bloom </a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/south-tropic-seas">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Ecoceanic: Southern Flows</i>, edited by Tarun K. Saint and Francesco Verso </a> </span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/02/alexandra-pierce-reviews-the-years-top-robot-and-ai-stories-fourth-annual-collection-edited-by-allan-kaster/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>The Year’s Top Robot and AI Stories: Fourth Annual Collection,</i> edited by Allan Kaster <br /></a></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/28/women-of-horror-and-speculative-fiction-in-their-own-words-conversations-with-authors-editors-and-publishers-edited-by-sebastien-doubinsky-and-christina-kkona"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Women of Horror and Speculative Fiction In Their Own Words - Conversations with Authors, Editors and Publishers</i>, edited by Sebastien Doubinsky and Christina Kkona </a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/alvaro-zinos-amaro-reviews-horror-unmasked-a-history-of-terror-from-nosferatu-to-nope-by-brad-weismann/">Alvaro Zinos-Amaro reviews <i>Horror Unmasked: A History of Terror from Nosferatu to Nope</i> by Brad Weismann </a></span><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/25/artistic-aurae-in-h-p-lovecrafts-pickmans-model-and-the-pickmans-model-segment-of-night-gallery-a-short-review">Matthew Pungitore revisits the 1927 horror story "Pickman's Model" by H.P. Lovecraft. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/23/mister-bad-thing-and-the-horror-from-the-mound">David J. West revisits the 1932 weird western story “The Horror From the Mound” by Robert E. Howard.</a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/31/short-story-review-the-agony-of-the-leaves-by-evelyn-e-smith/">Brian Collins revisits the 1954 fantasy story “The Agony of the Leaves” by Evelyn E. Smith </a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-26-1968-a-new-world-order-new-worlds-february-1969/">Mark Yon revisits the February 1969 issue of <i>New Worlds</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-28-1969-slidin-february-1969-analog/">Gideon Marcus revisits the February 1969 issue of <i>Analog</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/never-be-alone">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1974 post-apocalyptic novel <i>Z for Zachariah </i>by Robert C. O’Brien </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/just-remember-darling">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1974 science fiction crime novel <i>Web of Everywhere</i> by John Brunner </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/a-gothic-morality-tale-meets-the-mundane-belsen-express-by-fritz-leiber/">Sam Reader revisits the 1975 horror story "Belsen Express" by Fritz Leiber. </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/24/novella-review-the-samurai-and-the-willows-by-michael-bishop/">Brian Collins revisits the 1976 science fiction novella “The Samurai and the Willows” by Michael Bishop.</a></li><li><a href="https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/the-world-science-fiction-convention-of-2080-an-exegesis/">Paul Weimer revisits the 1980 dystopian story “The World Science Fiction Convention of 2080” by Ian Watson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/27/short-story-review-the-automatic-rifleman-by-david-drake/">Brian Collins revisits the 1980 horror story “The Automatic Rifleman” by David Drake </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/freedom-and-fame">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1986 urban fantasy anthology <i>Borderland</i>, edited by Terri Windling and Mark Alan Arnold </a></li><li><a href="https://www.kenlizzi.net/bard-iv-a-bloody-culmination/">Ken Lizzi revisits the 1987 sword and sorcery novel <i>Bard IV: Ravens' Gathering</i> by Keith Taylor.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-sunglasses-after-dark-by-nancy-a-collins/">C.T. Phipps revisits the 1989 vampire novel <i>Sunglasses After Dark</i> by Nancy A. Collins</a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://kotaku.com/holiday-matsuri-holmat-convention-cosplay-best-zelda-1851193969">Alyssa Mercante shares her favourite cosplay photos from the 2024 Holiday Matsuri convention in Orlando, Florida.</a></li><li><a href="https://dogpatch.press/2024/01/24/garden-state-fur-the-weekend/"><i>Dogpatch Press </i>reports about some issues behind the scenes of the furry convention Garden State Fur the Weekend in New Brunswick, New Jersey. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-european-fan-fund-race-begins/">The 2024 European Fan Fund race has begun. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/books/ghostwriters-conference.html">Elizabeth A. Harris and Alexandra Alter report about <i>Gathering the Ghosts,</i> a convention of ghostwriters in Manhattan, New York. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-shining-stanley-hotel-blumhouse-exhibit-1851203466">Justin Carter reports that the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, which served as the inspiration for Stephen King's <i>The Shining</i>, will now house the Blumhouse horror exhibition. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wmakers/letters-to-the-stars-an-epistolary-rpg?ref=eat1mh"><i>Letters to the Stars: An Epistolary RPG</i> by W.M. Akers is looking for funding.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-sundance-2024">Kantaro Komiya reports that Japan's <i>SLIM </i>Moon probe has regained power more than a week after landing.</a></li><li><a href="https://science.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/nasas-webb-depicts-staggering-structure-in-19-nearby-spiral-galaxies/"><i>NASA </i>shares striking photos of spiral galaxies taken by the<i> James Webb Space Telescope. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/neuralink-implants-brain-chip-first-human-musk-says-2024-01-29/"><i>Reuters </i>reports that Elon Musk's company <i>Neuralink</i> has managed to successfully implant a chip in a human brain for the first time. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-blood-stained-love/">C.T. Phipps reviews the<i> Vampire: The Masquerade</i> supplement <i>Blood-Stained Love</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-division-2/">C.T. Phipps reiews the video game<i> The Division 2 <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/the-video-game-industry-is-just-starting-to-feel-the-impacts-of-2023s-layoffs/">Megan Farokhmanesh reports that mass lay-offs are causing massive problems in the video game industry. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://toyhabits.com/king-keldor-masterverse-masters-of-the-universe-revolution-in-hand-review/"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masterverse Masters of the Universe Revolution</i> King Keldor figure. </a></li><li><a href="https://toyhabits.com/mcfarlane-dc-retro-the-new-adventures-of-batman-in-hand-review/"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews wave 1 of the <i>McFarlane DC Retro The New Adventures of Batman </i>line </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/camille-alexa-review-folkmanis-baby-dragon/">Camille Alexa reviews the <i>Folkmanis </i>Baby Dragon puppet.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/godzilla-minus-one-figure-black-white-toho-super7-kaiju-1851199202">Germain Lussier reports that <i>Super 7</i> is reissuing its Godzilla action figure in grayscale colouring for the black and white re-release of <i>Godzilla Minus One</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyWx7Z37cQ"><i>We Want More Thundercats </i>interviews Brian Flynn of <i>Super 7</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.slashfilm.com/1497360/cool-stuff-galaxy-quest-funko-pops/">Ethan Anderton reports that <i>Funko </i>has released a series of <i>Funko Pop </i>figures based on the 1999 cult science fiction film<i> Galaxy Quest</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/transformers-haslab-hasbro-optimus-prime-ultra-magnus-1851209186">Germain Lussier shares a look at the new <i>HasLab</i> crowdfunded <i>Transformers</i> Omega Prime figure. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/lego-star-wars-25th-anniversary-sets-malak-minifigure-1851208988">James Whitbrook shares a look at the 25th Anniversary <i>Star Wars LEGO</i> Sets </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/lego-releases-february-2024-dune-ornithopter-ideas-1851213602">James Whitbrook takes a look at several upcoming <i>Dune</i> themed <i>LEGO</i> sets. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/nostalgic-retro-fast-food-toys-star-wars-batman-disney-1851209486">Sabina Graves shares her favourite movie tie-in toys from the children's meals of various US fast food chains. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/mondo-posters-mutant-spectrevision-elijah-wood-funko-1851205524">Germain Lussier reports that the team behind thelimited-edition posters and limited-edition vinyl records issued by <i>Mondo</i> have found a new home at a company called <i>Mutant,</i> after <i>Funko</i> gutten <i>Mondo</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/jeffreys-toys-san-francisco-closure-pixar-18633999.php">Amanda Bartlett reports that the beloved toystore <i>Jeffrey's Toys</i> in San Francisco, California, is closing after 86 years in business. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.lunastationquarterly.com/story/hells-bells/#content">"Hell's Bells" by Cassie Sims Knight in <i>Luna Station Quarterly</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-empty-throne">"The Empty Throne" by Benjamin C. Kinney in </a><i><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-empty-throne">The Sunday Morning Transport.</a> <br /></i></li><li><a href="https://side-quest.ghost.io/fireflies-in-jericho/?ref=side-quest-newsletter">"Fireflies in Jericho" by Stewart A Shearer in </a><i><a href="https://side-quest.ghost.io/fireflies-in-jericho/?ref=side-quest-newsletter">Side Quest. </a></i></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/companion-animals-in-maho-shojo-kira-kira-sunlight/">"Companion Animals in Mahō Shōjo Kira Kira Sunlight" by Stewart C. Baker in <i>Lightspeed.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/a-sojourn-in-the-fifth-city/">"A Sojourn in the Fifth City" by P.H. Lee in <i>Lightspeed. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://wyldblood.com/showtime-on-sandstone-lane/">"Showtime on Sandstone Lane" by Tiffany Michelle Brown in <i>Wyldblood.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/some-there-be-that-shadows-kiss/">"Some There Be That Shadows Kiss" by James Bennett in <i>The Dark.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prasad_02_24/">"The Flowers That We Intend To Share" by Rajeev Prasad In <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/pak_02_24/">"Scalp" by H.H. Pak In <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/the-man-who-fed-dilophosaurs/">"The Man Who Fed Dilophosaurs" by M.M. Olivas in<i> Apex Magazine.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/evan-a-remainder-jordan-kurella/">"Evan: A Remainder" by Jordan Kurella in<i> Reactor.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/a-contract-of-ink-and-skin/">"A Contract of Ink and Skin" by Angela Liu in <i>Uncanny Magazine <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://slate.com/technology/2024/01/sad-robot-evan-ramzipoor.html">"Sad Robot" by E.R. Ramzipoor in</a><i><a href="https://slate.com/technology/2024/01/sad-robot-evan-ramzipoor.html"> Slate Future Tense. </a></i></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/01/29/free-fiction-monday-the-questing-mind/">"The Questing Mind" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. </a><i> <br /></i><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8zxiB5Qhsc">Watch a trailer for <i>Monkey Man</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOBXh02rVc">Watch a trailer for <i>Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYBIC1YN-5s">Watch a trailer for <i>Parallel</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSiSA-D207o">Watch a trailer for<i> The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1EHT838rrg">Watch a trailer for <i>You'll Never Find Me</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk4JNYV7Y1U">Watch a trailer for <i>History of Evil</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z-iDBrj5gI">Watch a trailer for <i>The Space Race</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvDArsKoTOE">Watch a trailer for <i>Tarot</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-925623419840762222024-01-30T23:00:00.001+00:002024-01-30T23:00:00.313+00:00Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month for January 2024<p> </p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Banner_indie_spec_fic_02.jpg"><img alt="Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2925" height="150" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Banner_indie_spec_fic_02.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />It’s that time of the month again, time for “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”.</p><p>So what is “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”? It’s a round-up of speculative fiction by indie and small press authors newly published this month, though some December books I missed the last time around snuck in as well. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. So far, most links only go to Amazon.com, though I may add other retailers for future editions.</p><p>Once again, we have new releases covering the whole broad spectrum of speculative fiction. This month, we have urban fantasy, cozy fantasy, sword and sorcery, paranormal mysteries, ghost stories, space opera, military science fiction, dragons, elves, barbarians, alien invasions, starships, space marines, paranormal investigators, crime-busting witches, crime-busting skeletons and much more.</p><p>As always, I know the authors at least vaguely, but I haven’t read all of the books, so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor">Caveat emptor</a>.</p><p>And now on to the books without further ado:</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/71FPgELdNfL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Paranormal Investigation by Chantal Bellehumeur" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17973" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/71FPgELdNfL._SL1500_-189x300.jpg" width="189" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paranormal-Investigation-Chantal-Bellehumeur-ebook/dp/B0CRGZ9SY4/"><strong><em>Paranormal Investigation</em> by Chantal Bellehumeur:</strong></a></p><p>This fictional ghost story with a slice of humour was inspired by historical facts and true events.</p><p>Discover the dark history of Cornwall's old jail, built in 1833, and follow the fictitious Roy family as they conduct a paranormal investigation inside the historic building. Their spooky venture evokes questions about a spirit possibly following them home.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81Mx20WkQPL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Captain by Jonathan P. Brazee" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17984" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81Mx20WkQPL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Federation-Marine-Jonathan-P-Brazee-ebook/dp/B0CPD5VHQR"><strong><em>Captain</em> by Jonathan P. Brazee:</strong></a></p><p>As a captain, Ryck Lysander has been given one of the most sough-after assignments in the Marines: an infantry company commander.</p><p>His new battalion commanding officer, however, is not impressed with Ryck’s past accomplishments, and Ryck finds himself struggling to fulfill his CO’s expectations.</p><p>Now, abandoned by the Navy, stranded among the asteroids, Ryck and his battalion must find a way to survive the day.</p><p>But these are Marines. . . and that means never giving up.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81ZX9t2GHvL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Destiny Delayed by Lindsay Buroker" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17963" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81ZX9t2GHvL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Destiny-Tracking-Trouble-Book-ebook/dp/B0CNNWLMFP/"><strong><em>Driven by Destiny</em> by Lindsay Buroker:</strong></a></p><p>Arwen Forester is on a quest to remove her dark-elven tattoo and get her mother’s evil people out of her life forever. The last thing she wants is for them to magically manipulate her into betraying Azerdash Starblade, the half-dragon refugee she has feelings for.</p><p>But when an old elven comrade visits Azerdash, sharing the location of one of the invaluable galaxy blades that were made for his kind, Arwen must set aside her own quest to help him. This may be a chance for him to once again become the leader he was meant to be.</p><p>But there are people—and dragons—who will kill to keep the powerful sword from returning to Azerdash’s hands. And they would have no problem slaying Arwen in the process. Is his quest worth dying for?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81wfg18D3QL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Echoes in the Deep by Terry Maggert and J.N. Chaney" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17988" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81wfg18D3QL._SL1500_-191x300.jpg" width="191" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Deep-Peacemaker-Wars-Book-ebook/dp/B0CNWVTJ15"><strong><em>Echoes in the Deep</em> by J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert:</strong></a></p><p>Mark Tudor is learning a valuable lesson about being a Peacemaker.</p><p>With Veteran pay comes veteran problems. And the Guild, more often than not, is the issue.</p><p>He’s become an effective enforcer of the law, but unfortunately, crime is growing a lot more complicated. Someone is slaving artificial beings to ships, running contraband across the stars in a fatal practice that marries murder, theft, and kidnapping. Even as Mark’s crew grows, he discovers these crimes aren’t just horrific—they’re common.</p><p>And he means to stop it.</p><p>Deep in the black between stars, Mark finds an ancient and bizarre place, filled with the galaxy’s discarded junk. And in the middle of that cold, distant void lies a massive ship—one that holds secrets that will rock the halls of power in known space—and turn crime into profit.</p><p>Diving headlong into new cases, Mark will find that the elite criminals aren’t scared of a farm boy from Iowa. That professional killers are lurking in the shadows.</p><p>But he’s no longer alone.</p><p>With Tan, the teenaged tech wizard, and Drogo, whose gifts are a bit more martial, the search for justice will become a little more violent. With seemingly unconnected events escalating, one killer separates herself from the crowd.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/91ExWlZ4VoL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Bone Appetite by Rachel Ford" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17964" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/91ExWlZ4VoL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bone-Appetit-Flint-Paranormal-Investigations-ebook/dp/B0BTDRWMTH/"><strong><em>Bone Appetite</em> by Rachel Ford:</strong></a></p><p>I’m a magic-wielding Freak. My partner Flinty Jack is a sentient skeleton. We’re Flint & Co Paranormal Investigations.</p><p>Things are going well. I mean, sure, our short-term squatter seems to have turned into a perma-resident. And yeah, there are rumors that an undead serial killer might have set his sights on us next.</p><p>But work is steady, and the agency is finally on solid footing. Until one of Nat’s plaintiffs, head chef of an up-and-coming local restaurant, decides to bail on a rock solid case. She doesn’t believe he left willingly, and her firm asks us to take the case. Unpaid.</p><p>We don’t have the manpower, and we’re not doing well enough for charity cases yet. But saying no isn’t really an option. Not when it’s my fiancée asking.</p><p>So now we’re up to our eyeballs in work, trying to track down an un-missing person. Except the deeper we dig, the more it looks like someone went to a whole lot of trouble to cook up a story of the chef with cold feet…</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/812kf2kMguL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="The Revelations of Zang by John R. Fultz" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17961" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/812kf2kMguL._SL1500_-189x300.jpg" width="189" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSWRJ6PB"><strong><em>The Revelations of Zang</em> by John R. Fultz:</strong></a></p><p>A collection of dark fantasy tales with a metaphysical edge, full of grotesque wonders and weird splendor. Artifice the Quill flees from tyrant sorcerers into a world of strange magic, ancient gods, and exotic kingdoms. The exiled author joins a traveling troupe of performers known as the Glimmer Faire, where he learns the magical power of art and the art of magical power. These Twelve Tales of the Continent alternate between the exploits of Artifice and the adventures of Taizo the Rogue, a master of skullduggery who sparks a rebellion in the name of bloody vengeance.</p><p>The Lost Gods of Narr were displaced a century ago by the Sorcerer Kings, a council of dictators who rule the Golden City with necromancy, alchemy, and terror. The mysterious folk of the Red Isle foster dissension in Narr by smuggling their enchanted goods into the city, while the ancient Zang Forest expands itself across the lands of men, devouring farms and towns as it reaches to smother the wicked city. Now that the Lost Gods are returning to destroy the world, only Artifice, Taizo, and a small band of rebels have any hope of preventing the apocalypse. Seven of these interrelated stories are previously unpublished, including "Spilling the Blood of the World," the novelette which brings the entire Zang Cycle to a staggering finale.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81bqdnNnS1L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="There's something about magic by Lily Harper Hart" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17969" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81bqdnNnS1L._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Theres-Something-About-Return-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CHXWRCM9/"><strong><em>There's Something About Magic</em> by Lily Harper Hart:</strong></a></p><p>The day Ivy Morgan-Harker has been dreading is here and the woman she helped send to prison is back in Shadow Lake…and she’s not acting like herself.</p><p>Ava Moffett returns to town just in time to be swept up in the death of a local woman, who had no ties to the area before recently taking over the hardware shop with her husband. Poison is the cause of death, but who doled it out?</p><p>If the death wasn’t bad enough, Ivy and her husband Jack have another problem. It seems their daughter Olive is sensing things that Ivy herself can’t see, which means Shadow Lake’s top witch might be falling behind.</p><p>Ivy wants nothing more than to live a happy life and help her friends. Ava’s revenge might make that impossible, though.</p><p>Prepare yourselves, because Ivy’s past is threatening her future, and this just might be the one fight she can’t win.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81GR5kNML._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Whale Mail by Patty Jansen" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17965" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81GR5kNML._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whale-Mail-fantasy-mystery-Bureau-ebook/dp/B0CDKJ9TKN/"><strong><em>Whale Mail</em> by Patty Jansen:</strong></a></p><p>Picture this: you've somehow come into the possession of a dragon (long story--you can read the previous book if you really want to know, but it's kinda embarrassing, so you don't need to).</p><p>And you need to return that dragon to the place it came from.</p><p>You've tried putting it on a truck--but it destroyed the truck.</p><p>You've tried putting it on the train--but it destroyed the carriage.</p><p>Now you've put the dragon in a warehouse while you figure out what to do, but--</p><p>You guessed it: the dragon destroys the warehouse.</p><p>Tell me, why wouldn't you trick some rich merchant into lending you the only thing you haven't yet tried: a boat.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/61U8A6SfFxL._SL1280_.jpg"><img alt="The Quelling by C.L. Lauder" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17966" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/61U8A6SfFxL._SL1280_-198x300.jpg" width="198" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quelling-C-L-Lauder-ebook/dp/B0CPB17ZBN/"><strong><em>The Quelling</em> by C.L. Lauder:</strong></a></p><p>When you’re Stained, patches of skin glisten like liquid starlight, and sooner or later, his creatures find you.</p><p>When Kyjta accidentally brands herself with an alien fluid while plotting revenge, she knows her fate is sealed. As one of the Stained, her markings glisten star-bright, and the creatures sent by the Rhemans to scavenge for bodies will have no trouble finding her.</p><p>One night, while sheltering during a raid, Kyjta forms an unexpected pact with a Rheman rebel to protect a young girl, Calipsie, who’s fallen into her care. Days later, when Calipsie is taken, Kyjta abandons precaution to go after her. Facing impossible odds and allied by a Rheman she’s not sure she can trust, Kyjta must not only rescue Calipsie, but also face the Rheman overlord who’s taken a disturbing interest in her.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81AbSsd06AL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Witching on the Job by Amanda M. Lee" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17968" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81AbSsd06AL._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Witching-Moonstone-Cozy-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B0CFJ1HB7F/"><strong><em>Witching on the Job</em> by Amanda M. Lee:</strong></a></p><p>Hadley Hunter came to Moonstone Bay to find herself. That included finding her passion in life. She just didn’t think it would involve becoming mayor.</p><p>She has no qualifications, other than being a powerful witch.</p><p>Half the town is rooting against her.</p><p>The other half is just sitting back to see what happens.</p><p>Only a handful of people are rooting for her, but they’re the only ones who matter.</p><p>When a body appears on the beach, one that’s been stabbed in the back and surrounded by curse runes in blood, Hadley finds her attention split. She might be the new mayor, but she’s also interested in what killed a former member of the power-hungry DDA.</p><p>The investigation involves old grudges, hidden files, a new witch in town, and the island’s biggest secret. Hadley isn’t ready for any of it, but she’s not going to have a choice.</p><p>Someone on the island is trying to keep dark information from coming to light, and it’s going to put them all in danger.</p><p>So, brace yourselves, because the new mayor is about to face a very old problem. Can she solve the case and keep the island safe? That’s anybody’s guess, but the odds are stacked against her.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81q73tAuF1L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Neither Beg Nor Yield, edited by Jason M. Waltz" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17979" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/81q73tAuF1L._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSB3Y2CY"><strong><em>Neither Beg Nor Yield</em>, edited by Jason M. Waltz:</strong></a></p><p>Can you handle the truth?</p><p>Sword & Sorcery has always been about the attitude.</p><p>Stop seeking elaborate definitions. Cease arguing over semantics and accoutrements. Quit making it more difficult than necessary. Learn the fundamental immutability of the S&S Riddle: Protagonists with nonchalant mercenary motivations & indomitable wills. It’s all in their attitude.</p><p>The definition of S&S has never been clearer.</p><p>Sword & Sorcery warriors are very, very dangerous people, considered barbaric, who act according to their own codes of honor in pursuit of their own ends. Brothers (and sisters) to THE WILD BUNCH, comrades of the SEVEN SAMURAI, partners of every MAN IN BLACK, and riders in every WILD HUNT. They don’t just seize the day—they seize Life itself by the throat and squeeze until it begs. They don’t falter in the dark or before the unknown—they spit in the face of Death itself and stomp it into the dirt until it yields.</p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-79448085983577995662024-01-29T23:00:00.058+00:002024-01-29T23:24:27.826+00:00Neither Beg Nor Yield: Stories With S&S Attitude, edited by Jason M. Waltz<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQeks2idMRmbqw3I5dgEMBq_F8XlUhbJ8Z_1n3C326V8biDHP-w3tYWhrArBbGSbBlKWTkjC2G1Lp310hyphenhyphenFZ5v7n9m9mCtaK7rAz9Qz8lAKZK58cODZCm7ai3Nmhjn06Zn5Py_vhi0knL8mWuXX2ButMHDZAIM55Lwwf6n7pI2E5rOczkrJeCih8H/s2700/01_NBNY%20front%20final%20HC%206x9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQeks2idMRmbqw3I5dgEMBq_F8XlUhbJ8Z_1n3C326V8biDHP-w3tYWhrArBbGSbBlKWTkjC2G1Lp310hyphenhyphenFZ5v7n9m9mCtaK7rAz9Qz8lAKZK58cODZCm7ai3Nmhjn06Zn5Py_vhi0knL8mWuXX2ButMHDZAIM55Lwwf6n7pI2E5rOczkrJeCih8H/w426-h640/01_NBNY%20front%20final%20HC%206x9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Release date: January 26, 2024</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Subgenre: Sword and Sorcery Anthology</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>About <i>Neither Beg Nor Yield</i>:</b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><b></b><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="padding-bottom: 20px;"> <span class="a-text-bold">Can you handle the truth?</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="padding-bottom: 20px;"><span class="a-text-bold"> </span><h4><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">Sword & Sorcery has always been about the attitude.</span></h4><span> </span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="padding-bottom: 20px;"><span>Stop
seeking elaborate definitions. Cease arguing over semantics and
accoutrements. Quit making it more difficult than necessary. Learn the
fundamental immutability of the S&S Riddle: Protagonists with
nonchalant mercenary motivations & indomitable wills. It’s all in
their attitude.</span><h4><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic"> </span></h4><h4><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">The definition of S&S has never been clearer.</span></h4><span> </span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="padding-bottom: 20px;"><span>Sword
& Sorcery warriors are very, very dangerous people, considered
barbaric, who act according to their own codes of honor in pursuit of
their own ends. Brothers (and sisters) to </span><span class="a-text-italic">THE WILD BUNCH</span><span>, comrades of the </span><span class="a-text-italic">SEVEN SAMURAI</span><span>,
partners of every MAN IN BLACK, and riders in every WILD HUNT. They
don’t just seize the day—they seize Life itself by the throat and
squeeze until it begs. They don’t falter in the dark or before the
unknown—they spit in the face of Death itself and stomp it into the dirt
until it yields.<br /><i><br /></i></span><i><span class="a-text-italic">“Life is not breath but action.” ~ Jean Jacques Rousseau</span><span><br /><br /></span><span class="a-text-italic">“Fear won't stop you from dying, but it can stop you from living.” ~ James Norbury</span><span><br /><br /></span><span class="a-text-italic">“We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.”<br />~ Charles Bukowski<br /><br />“Laugh or die.”<br />~ Angélique Kidjo</span></i><span><br /><br /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">NEITHER BEG NOR YIELD: STORIES WITH S&S ATTITUDE</span><span>
is filled with over 180,000 words in 20 stories! This is THE BOOK OF
SWORD & SORCERY that will define the genre for generations. Reading
the powerful tales from these storytellers will permanently answer the
question: WHAT IS SWORD & SORCERY?</span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="padding-bottom: 20px;"><span> </span><h4><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic">It’s always been its attitude!</span></h4><span> </span></div><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="padding-bottom: 20px;"><span>Discover
the truth as Eadwine Brown, Adrian Cole, Glen Cook, Steve Dilks, Chuck
Dixon, Phil Emery, Steven Erikson, John R. Fultz, Steve Goble, John C.
Hocking, Howard Andrew Jones, William King, Joe R. Lansdale, David C.
Smith, Jeff Stewart, Keith J. Taylor, Frederick Tor, Eric Turowski, Bill
Ward, Lawrence A. Weinstein, and C.L. Werner share it!</span> </div></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Excerpt:</b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>Foreword <br /></b></h3><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Sword & Sorcery is flush with Life.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />It is exciting, violent, and personal. It is LIVE!-ism! It is absurdist survivalism twined with dashes of hedonism and stoicism. In simpler terms, S&S is neither fatalistic nor altruistic, nor is it selfless or perversely selfish. It is not romantically heroic or even anti-heroic, if we employ the accurate meaning of that descriptor. It is, however, Byronic, in all the glories of that label. It assuredly does not avoid pain in its pursuit of pleasures, but neither does it complacently accept life as decreed by the Fates, Gods, Nature, and especially Man.<br />Sword & Sorcery is a clenched fist thrust into the sky, a raised middle finger in the face of the Unknown, an epithet spat into the dirt through a rictus of bared teeth. S&S demands an attitude of not merely surviving but of dominating living, all else—everything else—be damned. The heroes of S&S continue living deeply until there are no more breaths to take. The only -ism S&S promotes is LIVE!-ism. Absolutely a rebellion against meaninglessness, it also fully embraces an I-don’t-give-a-damn-if-it-is-all-meaningless creed. “I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content.” Robert E. Howard, through Conan, again saying it best in “Queen of the Black Coast.” <br />Sticking with Howard, his “Iron Shadows in the Moon” is prime example of S&S with triumphant survival as pure motivation. Not simply the survival of crawling from the heaving sea onto a rocky shore gasping for air and kissing the sand but the survival of standing one foot atop a defeated foe with head thrust back, fists pounding chest, and a cry of victory bursting full-voiced from a heaving bosom! A superior example of S&S Attitude, and one of Howard’s best openings to a Conan story (the other being “The Black Stranger”), its first 24 paragraphs possibly one of the best opening sequences of all time. And then it grows even greater as a story. Then there is Howard’s “A Witch Shall be Born,” which delivers the absolute most hardcore statement of S&S Attitude to be found:<br /> <br /><i>“Every twinge of sensation, even of agony, was a negation of death.”</i><br /> <br />Sword & Sorcery is contrary to Death.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br />It is this particular attitude from its hero that garners Sword & Sorcery its labeling, a certain mindset that holds to only two things. Foremost, an indomitable will with the passion to live. To ardently live, not merely survive, at any cost in the face of all odds, unequal or unnatural. LIVE!-ism. Secondly, a particular nonchalance in motivation. Non-dictated, distinct from the mores of ‘accepted’ society, and self-determined, this motivation is primarily concerned with reveling in the exhilaration of conquering fear. While beer, booty, booty, and battle are the temporary rewards and respite the S&S hero allows and accepts, it is the thrill of battle, the lure of overcoming challenge and outlasting that other, that rises supreme.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSB3Y2CY">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://rogue-blades.com/rbe/rbe-books/neither-beg-nor-yield/">Rogue Blades Entertainment</a></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>About Jason M. Waltz:</b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq2Qa9Ve069sgP7VHupI5UUbRfbfzAuG22nM7EdveIlhpKe_mxwg0LQnnKPYS23YphHpoyk0rps0XBcsR2T2kNLXYK8AJlY0fKTbWIEqd0rtwnYe5CkmEM2jrXDcv1BtAEwcrGEJ2qoQNMwY9zPP6mMJ63uKUqtkeDcjBrBvaHc5whOq6wmp7xVwv/s4080/03_Waltz%20bio%20image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipq2Qa9Ve069sgP7VHupI5UUbRfbfzAuG22nM7EdveIlhpKe_mxwg0LQnnKPYS23YphHpoyk0rps0XBcsR2T2kNLXYK8AJlY0fKTbWIEqd0rtwnYe5CkmEM2jrXDcv1BtAEwcrGEJ2qoQNMwY9zPP6mMJ63uKUqtkeDcjBrBvaHc5whOq6wmp7xVwv/w400-h301/03_Waltz%20bio%20image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b>JASON M WALTZ ~ Jason is a lot of things, most often not the exact one needed at any given moment. He does believe in heroes, though, and strives to bring the heroic through presentation and publication. Recently Jason has taken to his own writing again, finding a few acceptances at Whetstone: Amateur Magazine of Pulp Sword and Sorcery, in the new Weird Western anthology Monster Fight at the O.K. Corral Vol. 2, and in Parallel Universe Publications’ Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy Vol. 7 anthology. Once Neither Beg Nor Yield emphatically answers the burning riddle of Sword & Sorcery, Jason aims to buckle down and begin gathering rejections in earnest. Heroes: They’re what Jason—and Rogue Blades—does, whether through writing, publishing, teaching, or reading. Check ‘em out at rogue-blades.com/jmw </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://rogue-blades.com/">Website</a></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></h2>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-14589882190219763432024-01-25T23:00:00.821+00:002024-01-26T00:02:20.300+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 26, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with a massive uproar about the 2023 Hugo nominations, <i>Masters of the Unvierse: Revolution</i>, <i>Echo </i>and<i> </i>the<i> Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>in general, <i>Star Trek </i>in general,<i> Star Wars </i>in general<i>, Doctor Who </i>past, present and future<i>, Avatar: The Last Airbender</i> in animation and live action, the 2024 Academy Award nominations and the perceived subs of <i>Barbie</i>, tributes to Norman Jewison, Terry Bisson, Howard Waldrop and Tom Purdom.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/all-the-types-of-science-fiction">Horst Smokowski shares a not entirely serious list of all types of science fiction. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a46318135/multiverse-end/">Jonathan Russell Clark discusses the history of multiverses in popular culture.</a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-sff-works-featuring-noble-lies-and-useful-prevarications/">James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF works featuring noble lies and useful prevarications </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/19/five-sf-stories-involving-memory-manipulation/">James Davis Nicoll lists five science fiction stories featuring memory manipulation. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/22/speculative-extrapolation-five-sf-visions-of-the-future-according-to-math/">James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction visions of the future according to math. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://longreads.com/2024/01/18/a-hunger-for-strangeness-a-cryptids-reading-list/">Chris Wheatley shares a list of books about cryptids. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/five-horror-books-featuring-weird-spooky-mountains/">Lorna Wallace shares five horror novels featuring weird, spooky mountains. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/weird-west-texas-fiction/">Elizabeth Gonzalez James shares weird fiction set in Texas. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/how-haunting-is-a-perfect-metaphor-for-ptsd/">Tyffany D. Heiheiser explains why haunting is the perfect metaphor for PTSD. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://thesilverkey.blogspot.com/2024/01/organizing-my-bookshelves-how-i-do-it.html">Brian Murphy explains how he organises his bookshelves. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/james-bonds-literary-life-after-ian-fleming/">Luke Poling takes a look at the literary afterlife of James Bond after his created Ian Fleming died in 1964. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/20/thoughts-on-the-occasion-of-merritts-birthday">James Maliszewski remembers A. Merritt for his 140th birthday. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/warhammer-horus-heresy-siege-of-terra-bots-resellers-gw-1851193875">James Whitbrook reports that scalpers are buying up the limited edition <i>Warhammer 40000 Siege of Terra</i> hardcover editions to the anger of fans. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/15/rusty-burke-marked-improvement">Deuce Richardson reports that Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke is improving after suffering a head injury due to a fall. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/howard-waldrop-science-fiction-author-obituary/">Shelly Brisbin and Joe R. Lansdale remember the late Howard Waldrop. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/terry-bisson-remembered/">Gary Farber remembers the late Terry Bisson. </a></li><li><a href="https://floggingbabel.blogspot.com/2024/01/tom-purdom-heart-of-philadelphia.html">Michael Swanwick remembers the late Tom Purdom. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.blackgate.com/2024/01/17/bad-things-come-in-threes-terry-bisson-february-12-1942-january-10-2024-howard-waldrop-september-15-1946-january-14-2024-tom-purdom-april-19-1936-january-14-2024-a-tripartite-obi/">Rich Horton shares a triple obituary for Howard Waldrop, Terry Bisson and Tom Purdom. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/01/24/comic-review-masters-of-the-universe-forge-of-destiny-by-tim-seeley-and-eddie-nunez/">Cora Buhlert reviews <i>Masters of the Universe: Forge of Destiny</i> by Tim Seeley and Eddie Nunez</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/universal-monsters-dracula-3/">Robert Mammone reviews <i>Universal Monsters: Dracula </i>#3 by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/near-death-volume-one/">Brad Hawley reviews <i>Near Death </i>(Volume One) by Jay Faerber and Simon Guglielmini </a></li><li><a href="https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/doctor-who-a-fairytale-life-by-lilah-sturges-kelly-yates-and-brian-shearer/">Nicholas Whyte reviews <i>Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life</i> by Lilah Sturges, Kelly Yates and Brian Shearer </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/x-men-comics-spoilers-marvel-beast-avengers-x-force-48-1851197460">James Whitbrook discusses how the<i> X-Men </i>comics are handling the character of Hank McCoy a.k.a. Beast. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/jan/20/family-of-discworld-illustrator-josh-kirby-seek-wealthy-patron-to-conserve-legacy-of-one-of-the-great-artists-of-our-time?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">David Barnett reports that the family of the late SFF artist Josh Kirby, best known for illustrating the <i>Discworld</i> novels by Terry Pratchett, is looking for a patron in order to keep Kirby's artwork together. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/jan/20/tom-gauld-on-what-happens-when-writers-share-their-opinions-on-social-media-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about the social media outrage cycle.</a></li><li><a href="https://tombrevoort.substack.com/p/94-mortality">Comic fan and writer Frank Strom has died. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/exit-pursued-by-a-kaiju-josh-pearce-and-arley-sorg-discuss-godzilla-minus-one/">Josh Pearce and Arley Sorg discuss <i>Godzilla Minus One</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/20/i-saw-the-tv-glow-review-devastating-tale-of-identity-and-obsession">Benjamin Lee calls<i> I Saw the TV Glow</i> a devastating tale of identity, fandom and obsession </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/love-me-movie-review-kristen-stewart-steven-yeun-wall-e-1851196895">Germain Lussier declares that the science fiction romance <i>Love Me </i>is like <i>Wall-E </i>in real life </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/19/freaky-tales-review-sundance-festival-pedro-pascal">Benjamin Lee calls <i>Freaky Tales</i> a bizarrely misjudged hodgepodge of gore, needle drops and nostalgia</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/22/forever-young-review-anti-ageing-fantasy-drama-kept-alive-by-magnetic-diana-quick">Cath Clarke calls <i>Forever Young</i> an implausible science fiction film about a new anti-ageing treatment and praises the performance of Diana Quick. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/24/handling-undead-movie-review-sundance">Benjamin Lee calls <i>Handling the Undead</i> a sad, slow-burn zombie drama that is less gore and more grief </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/24/baghead-review-ancient-face-covered-demon-emerges-from-creepy-pubs-basement">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>Baghead </i>a not particularly scary horror film. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/22/presence-movie-review-steven-soderbergh-sundance">Benjamin Lee calls<i> Presence</i> an intriguing ghost story experiment </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/realm-of-satan-sundance-review-satanic-church-documenta-1851193817">Cheryl Eddy declares that the documentary <i>Realm of Satan</i> brings dark glamour to a misunderstood culture </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/alex-winter-on-his-character-in-destroy-all-neighbors-1851180552"><i>io9</i> interviews Alex Winter, star of the <i>Bill and Ted </i>films and <i>Destroy All Neighbors</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/vivienne-medrano-hazbin-hotel-interview-prime-video-1851171109">Sabina Graves interviews Vivienne Medrano, creator of <i>Hazbin Hotel</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://collider.com/halo-season-2-compared-season-1/">Steve Weintraub interviews Otto Bathurst, director and executive producer of season 2 of <i>Halo</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/iss-movie-ariana-debose-ending-broadway-return-1235870937/#recipient_hashed=4a79c9f5fc8960a26049ea2bb94c43b1e8aa4177528a95b9eec575fa9bd93e52&recipient_salt=165fc6763660b488f46c783a2f165a4a9330120337543fb0c26b692098f24825">William Earl interviews Ariana DeBose, star of<i> ISS</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/chike-okonkwo-la-brea-interview/">Lara Rosales interviews Chiké Okonkwo, one of the stars of<i> La Brea</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/for-all-mankind-season-5-predictions-theories/">Melody McCune shares her predictions for season 5 of <i>For All Mankind</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001vbyy">Ellen E. Jones and Mark Kermode discuss British dystopian movies. </a></li><li><a href="https://buttondown.email/charliejane/archive/10-space-tv-shows-that-dont-get-enough-love/">Charlie Jane Anders shares ten science fiction shows set in space that don't get enough love. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/22/tin-can-alley-the-return-of-the-sad-man-in-space">Nicholas Barber wonders why there are so many movies about sad men in space. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/10-horror-movie-prom-survival-tips-fear-street-carrie-1851173737">Cheryl Eddy explains how to survive a high school prom in a horror movie in ten easy steps. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/22/investigating-the-mothman-the-paranormal-tv-shows-that-tackle-the-famous-cryptid/">Judith Tarr takes a look at paranormal TV shows attempting to tackle the mysterious Mothman.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/22/the-essential-storytelling-device-that-fuels-superman-and-the-matrix/">Robert Repino finds some unexpected parallels between <i>Superman </i>and <i>The Matrix</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/the-prisoners-the-schizoid-man-doubles-down-on-imposter-syndrome/">Dan Persons revisits the 1968 <i>The Prisoner </i>episode "The Schizoid Man". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/death-ray-on-coral-island-retrospective-china-scifi-movie">Laura Sirikul revisits the 1980 Chinese science fiction film <i>Death Ray on Coral Island.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/blair-witch-project-25th-anniversary-1999-horror-trends-1851138052">Cheryl Eddy revisits the 1999 horror film <i>The Blair Witch Project. </i></a><i> <br /></i></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/netflix-cancels-halle-berry-film-mothership-1235886861/">Rebecca Rubin reports that <i>Netflix</i> has scrapped the almost completed science fiction film<i> The Mothership </i>after multiple post-production delays.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-wizard-oz-f93b3da8331f050cc81bf7f1f79877e8">Josh Funk reports that the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in <i>The Wizard of Oz,</i> which were stolen from a museum in 2005, were stolen by a reformed mobster looking for one last big score. </a> </li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/peter-schickele-dead-p-d-q-bach-parodist-film-broadway-composer-was-88-obituary-1235795823/">Broadway and film composer and comedy musician Peter Schickele has died aged 88. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/laurie-johnson-dead-the-avengers-composer-1235881855/">British film composer Laurie Johnson, who worked on <i>The Avengers, Dr. Strangelove, Tiger Bay, First Men in the Moon</i> and many others, has died aged 96. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/gary-graham-dead-1235802196/">Actor Gary Graham, best known for his roles in <i>Alien Nation</i> and <i>Star Trek Enterprise,</i> has died aged 73. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/david-emge-dead-1235800966/">Actor David Emge, one of the stars of <i>Dawn of the Dead</i>, has died aged 77. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i> (spoilers): </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otTQ2qAmjBA"><i>Dad-at-Arms</i> shares a spoiler-free review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIY8sGC5Ogo&t=25s"><i>For Eternia</i> shares a spoiler-free review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://411mania.com/movies/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-review/">Jeffrey Harris shares a spoiler-free review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/masters-of-the-universe-revolution-review/">Joshua M. Patton shares a spoiler-free review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTdtSV220aY"><i>Mega Jay Retro</i> shares a spoiler-free review of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Q05azgY48"><i>Dad-at-Arms</i> interviews Ted Biaselli, executive producer of <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution </i>and also the voice of Gwildor. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02-p0lkUzyg"><i>For Eternia </i>interviews Griffin Newman, who voices Orko in <i>Masters of the Universe: Revelation </i>and <i>Revolution</i>. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Echo</i> and the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-echo/">Aaron Jones shares his thoughts on <i>Echo</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/echo-portrayal-disability-asl-dhh-essay-marvel-1851179594">Meredith Hobbs-Coons declares that <i>Echo</i>'s portrayal of disability is a great step forward for <i>Marvel</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/reasons-why-fans-didnt-like-echo/">Jordan Iaccobucci shares ten valid reasons why some audience did not like <i>Echo</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/tom-holland-huge-avengers-bonus-mistake-tom-hollander-1851197731">Cheryl Eddy reports that actor Tom Hollander frequently gets mixed up with Tom Holland, who plays Spider-Man in the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>and even once got a hefty bonus cheque intended for Holland. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/rebooting-star-wars-is-a-great-idea-actually/">Charlie Jane Anders finds that rebooting Star Wars would be a good idea. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/19/jodie-foster-as-princess-leia-heres-what-star-wars-would-have-looked-like">Ben Child wonders how different <i>Star Wars</i> might have looked if Jodie Foster or one of the other actresses considered had played Princess Leia.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa5zeHdSwdQ">Watch a trailer for the final season of<i> Star Wars: The Bad Batch</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-24-1969-make-rheum-make-rheum-star-trek-the-mark-of-gideon/"><i>Galactic Journey</i> revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek</i> episode "The Mark of Gideon".</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/22/star-trek-enterprise-rewatch-terra-prime/">Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the Star Trek Enterprise episode "Terra Prime". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-wolf-359-explained-tng-ds9-borg-picard-sisko-1851178204">James Whitbrook wonders just how bad the Battle of Wolf 359 in <i>Star Trek</i> really was.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Doctor Who</i> past, present and future: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-20-1969-waiter-theres-an-alien-in-my-soup-doctor-who-the-krotons/">Jessica Holmes revisits the 1969 <i>Doctor Who</i> serial "The Krotons". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miB1htFWxik">Christel Dee interviews Sophie Aldred who played Ace in <i>Doctor Who</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/doctor-who-millie-gibson-varada-sethu-1235880343/">K.J. Yossman reports that Millie Gibson will be leaving <i>Doctor Who </i>after series 14 and that Varada Sethu will be the new companion in series 15. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> <br /></b></div><div><b>Comments on the Oscar snubs for <i>Barbie</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/ryan-gosling-reacts-barbie-oscar-nomination-snubs-1235884016/">Clayton Davis reports that Ryan Gosling who plays Ken in <i>Barbie</i> has criticised the fact that neither star Margot Robbie nor director Greta Gerwig have received Oscar nominations for the movie.</a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/america-ferrera-barbie-oscar-snubs-greta-gerwig-margot-robbie-disappointing-1235880039/">Angelique Jackson and Clayton Davis interview America Ferrera, who received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in <i>Barbie</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/barbie-oscars-snub-gerwig-robbie-hillary-clinton-1851193294">James Whitbrook wonders why people think <i>Barbie</i> has been snubbed, when the film did receive eight Oscar nominations. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender </i>in animation and live action: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/a-quick-guide-to-the-avatar-the-last-airbender-extended-universe/">Cole Rush shares a guide to <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/avatar-the-last-airbender-animated-show-nickelodeon-reasons-to-watch/">Sade Johnson shares five reasons why you should watch <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByAn8DF8Ykk">Watch a trailer for the live action <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>. </a> </li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Tributes to Norman Jewison:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/22/norman-jewison-dead-director-moonstruck">Norman Jewison, director of <i>In the Heat of the Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, Rollerball </i>and many other has died aged 97.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/22/norman-jewison-a-staggering-array-of-work-from-hollywoods-master-craftsman">Peter Bradshaw remembers Norman Jewison. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2024/jan/23/norman-jewison-director-death-97-canada-fiddler-on-the-roof-moonstruck-career-timeline-bio">Elena Goodinson shares photos from Norman Jewison's lengthy career.<b><br /></b></a></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.thehugoawards.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-Hugo-Award-Stats-Final.pdf">The 2023 Hugo nomination and voting statistics have finally been released to much outrage.</a></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/01/21/the-2023-hugo-nomination-statistics-have-finally-been-release-and-we-have-questions/">Cora Buhlert shares a round-up of discussions of the 2023 Hugo nomination and voting statistics. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2023-bram-stoker-awards-preliminary-ballot-announced/">The preliminary ballot for the 2023 Bram Stoker Awards has been announced.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/second-round-of-2023-bsfa-awards-nominations-begins/">The longlist for the 2023 BSFA Awards has been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/19/sarah-grochala-play-about-computing-pioneer-ada-lovelace-intelligence-wins-womens-prize-for-playwriting">The winner of the 2024 Women’s Prize for Playwriting has been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/26th-annual-critters-readers-poll-results/">The results of the 2023 Critters poll have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/andrew-carnegie-medals-and-rusa-2024-best-lists/">The winners of the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medals and RUSA Best Lists have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/ala-announces-2024-youth-media-award-winners/">The winners of the 2024 ALA Youth Media Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/23/oscar-nominations-2024-the-full-list">The nominations for the 2024 Academy Awards have been announced with lots of love for the usual dull and earnest movies. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/44th-razzie-award-nominations/">The nominations for the 2024 Razzie Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/killer-laughs-the-tricky-balance-between-tension-and-humor/">Janice Hallett talks about maintaining the tricky balance between tension and humour</a>. </li><li><a href="https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com/2024/01/23/adverbs-are-fine/">Philip Athans points out that adverbs are fine, actually.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://mizkit.com/process-post-on-edit-letters/">C.E. Murphy talks about editorial letters and how to respond to them.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2024/01/09/invisible-ink-at-the-cias-creative-writing-group/">Jonathan Lichtman talks about the CIA's creative writing group. </a></li><li><a href="https://writerbeware.blog/2024/01/19/peak-fake-a-scam-website-impersonating-macmillan-publishers/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-latest-post-from-the-writer-beware-blog_154">Victoria Strauss talks about a new scam aimed at writers. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/19/florida-book-challenges-fees-00136409">Andrew Atterbury reports that Florida is planning changes to its controversial book ban law after it turned out to be a logistical nightmare. </a><br /></li></ul><b> </b><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/an-interview-with-seth-dickinson/"><i>Grimdark Magazine</i> interviews Seth Dickinson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/20/helen-oyeyemi-i-like-other-humans-mediated-through-art-parasol-against-the-axe-interview">Anthony Cummins interviews Helen Oyeyemi. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/1/23/interviewing-hm-long"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews H.M. Long. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/nonfiction/spotlight-interview-v-castro/">Gordon B. White interviews V. Castro. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/6-books-with-phoebe-wagner.html">Joe Sherry interviews Phoebe Wagner.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/1/21/interviewing-cristina-jurado"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews Cristina Jurado. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-dave-ring-interview.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Dave Ring. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/23/sarah-grochala-interview-ada-lovelace-intelligence-womens-prize-playwrighting">Anya Ryan interviews Sarah Grochala. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/bookreview-random-in-death-by-j-d-robb/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Random in Death</i> by J.D. Robb</a></li><li><a href="https://lesasbookcritiques.com/random-in-death-by-j-d-robb/">Lesa Holstine reviews <i>Random in Death</i> by J.D. Robb </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-ghost-station-by-s-a-barnes/">Ryan Howse reviews <i>Ghost Station</i> by S.A. Barnes </a> </li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/liz-bourke-reviews-these-burning-stars-by-bethany-jacobs/">Liz Bourke reviews <i>These Burning Stars </i>by Bethany Jacobs </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/14/luna-by-allen-stroud"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Luna </i>by Allen Stroud </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/14/three-eight-one-by-aliya-whiteley"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Three Eight One</i> by Aliya Whiteley </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/01/machine-vendetta-by-alastair-reynolds/">Mark Yon reviews <i>Machine Vendetta</i> by Alasdair Reynolds. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-review-snowglobe-by-soyoung-park/">Chris Kluwe reviews <i>Snowglobe</i> by Soyoung Park, translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://skiffyandfanty.com/blog/book-review-the-imposition-of-unnecessary-obstacles-by-malka-older/">Trish Matson reviews <i>The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles </i>by Malka Older</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/a-vicious-and-enthralling-first-contact-seth-dickinsons-exordia/">Charles Bonkowsky reviews<i> Exordia</i> by Seth Dickinson.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/19/review-the-city-of-marble-and-blood-by-howard-andrew-jones">Richard Fisher reviews <i>The City of Marble and Blood </i>by Howard Andrew Jones</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/possessed">James Davis Nicoll reviews<i> Demon Daughter </i>by Lois McMaster Bujold. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/grade-a-bookreview-demon-daughter-by-lois-mcmaster-bujold/">Marlene Harris reviews<i> Demon Daughter </i>by Lois McMaster Bujold. </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/crucible-of-chaos/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>Crucible of Chaos</i> by Sebastien de Castell </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/14/pillar-of-ash-by-hm-long"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Pillar of Ash</i> by H.M. Long </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/archita-mittra-reviews-dry-land-by-b-pladek/">Archita Mittra reviews <i>Dry Land </i>by B. Pladek </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-green-fuse-burning-by.html">Phoebe Wagner reviews <i>Green Fuse Burning</i> by Tiffany Morris </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://hugoclub.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-last-trumpet-shall-sound.html"><i>The Hugo Book Club Blog</i> reviews <i>The Tusks of Extinction</i> by Ray Nayler. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/a-bookreview-the-tusks-of-extinction-by-ray-nayler/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>The Tusks of Extinction</i> by Ray Nayler. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-between-blades-by-filip.html">Adri Joy reviews <i>Between Blades </i>by Filip Hajdar Drnovšek Zorko </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-division-recruited-by-thomas-parott/">C.T. Phipps reviews <i>The Division: Recruited</i> by Thomas Parott </a></li><li><a href="https://jenmedsbookreviews.com/2024/01/22/the-lost-bookshop-by-evie-woods/">Mandie Griffiths reviews <i>The Lost Bookshop </i>by Evie Woods </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/grade-a-audiobookreview-come-tumbling-down-by-seanan-mcguire/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Come Tumbling Down</i> by Seanan McGuire</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/broken-ego-broken-heart">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Funeral Songs for Dying Girls </i>by Cherie Dimaline </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gabino-iglesias-reviews-what-kind-of-mother-by-clay-mcleod-chapman/">Gabino Iglesias reviews <i>What Kind of Mother</i> by Clay McLeod Chapman </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/paula-guran-reviews-the-reformatory-by-tananarive-due/">Paula Guran reviews <i>The Reformatory</i> by Tananarive Due </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/21/the-reformatory-by-tananarive-due"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>The Reformatory</i> by Tananarive Due </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-six-rooms-by-gemma-amor/">John Mauro reviews <i>Six Rooms</i> by Gemma Amor </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-last-haunt-by-max-booth-iii/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Last Haunt</i> by Max Booth III. </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/lute/">Justin Blazier reviews <i>Lute</i> by Jennifer Thorne</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-eynhallow-by-tim.html">Arturo Serrano reviews <i>Eynhallow</i> by Tim McGregor </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-the-best-american-science-fiction-and-fantasy-2023-by-r-f-kuang-john-joseph-adams-eds/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2023</i>, edited by R.F. Kuang and John Joseph Adams.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/18/runalong-the-short-shelves-new-edge-sword-and-sorcery"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews issue 1 and 2 of<i> New Edge Sword and Sorcery</i>. </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/19/edgar-allan-poes-the-premature-burial">M.C. Tuggle revisits the 1844 horror story "The Premature Burial" by Edgar Allan Poe. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/16/the-land-that-time-forgot-at-100">Al Harron revisits the 1924 adventure fantasy novel <i>The Land That Time Forgot </i>by Edgar Rice Burroughs.</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/outside-the-universe/">Sandy Ferber revisits the 1929<i> Interstellar Patrol </i>space opera novel <i>Outside the Universe</i> by Emond Hamilton. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/20/short-story-review-the-valley-was-still-by-manly-wade-wellman/">Brian Collins revisits the 1939 historical fantasy story “The Valley Was Still” by Manly Wade Wellman </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2024/01/ki-gor-and-giant-gorilla-men.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> revisits the 1939 <i>Ki-Gor </i>adventure story <i>Ki-Gor and the Giant Gorilla-Men </i>by John Peter Drummond</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/16/consider-her-ways-by-john-wyndham/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “Consider Her Ways” by John Wyndham </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/round-and-round">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1979 parallel universe novel <i>The Universe Next Door</i> by Robert Anton Wilson</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/17/scarce-our-mirages-now-are-seen-1">Christopher M. Chupik revisits the 1980 fantasy anthology <i>Lost Worlds</i>, edited by Lin Carter. </a></li><li><a href="http://glorioustrash.blogspot.com/2024/01/traveler-10-hell-on-earth.html">Joe Kenney revisits the 1986 <i>Traveller </i>post-apocalyptic novel <i>Hell on Earth </i>by D.B, Drumm a.k.a. Ed Naha. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.kenlizzi.net/on-stranger-tides-tim-powers-swashbuckling-adventure/">Ken Lizzi revisits th 1987 historical fantasy novel <i>On Stranger Tides</i> by Tim Powers. </a></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/emhit-and-run-em-and-emdrivers-dead-em-teen-horror-time-machine-review/">Alissa Burger revisits the 1992 YA horror novel <i>Hit and Run</i> by R.L. Stine and the 1994 YA horror novel <i>Driver's Dead</i> by Peter Lerangis. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://reactormag.com/hope-amid-horrors-redliners-by-david-drake/">Alan Brown revisits the 1996 military science fiction novel <i>Redliners</i> by David Drake. </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/17/short-story-review-house-of-dreams-by-michael-f-flynn/">Brian Collins revisits the 1997 science fiction story “House of Dreams” by Michael F. Flynn </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/the-wheel-of-time-reread-path-of-daggers.html">Joe Sherry revisits the 1998 <i>Wheel of Time</i> fantasy novel <i>The Path of Daggers</i> by Robert Jordan.</a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://glasgow2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/glasgow_2024_pr3.pdf">The 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, has published its progress report number 4. </a></li><li><a href="https://spearmanburke.substack.com/p/marscon-after-action-report">Mike Burke reports about MarsCon in Norfolk, Virginia. </a></li><li><a href="http://doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-lansdowne-literary-festival.html">Martin Edwards reports about the Lansdowne Literary Festival in London, UK. </a> </li><li><a href="https://people.com/man-recaps-chilling-night-at-clown-motel-8424892">Virginia Chumlee reports about a visit to the infamous <i>Clown Motel</i> in Tonopah, Nevada.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/22/disney-frozen-musical-to-close-in-the-west-end-but-open-in-uk-schools">Chris Wiegand reports that the musical <i>Frozen</i> will close in London's West End in September, but that British school can stage it now. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/22/andrew-lloyd-webber-starlight-express-musical">Chris Cox reports that Andrew Lloyd-Webber's musical <i>Starlight Express</i> is returning to the stage in London, UK. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/23/dimitris-papaioannou-alien-sci-fi-horror-show-ink">Lyndsey Winship interviews choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou about his science fictional inspirations. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/medical-bills-rent-and-a-big-hungry-cat">SFF writer Richard Kadrey needs some help with medical bills, rant and feeding his cat.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68035314">Jonathan Amos reports that the Japanese Moon lander <i>Slim</i> has successfully landed on the Moon, but is suffering from issues with its solar panels. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-giant-plane-mars-water-b2482546.html">Vishwam Sankaran reports that <i>NASA</i> is planning to build a solar-powered plane to look for water on Mars. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/nasa-osiris-rex-canister-reveal-asteroid-sample-trove-1851184737">Passant Rabie reports that NASA has finally managed to open the container of samples that the <i>Osiris-Rex </i>spaceprobe brought back from the atseroid Bennu. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/galaxy-with-no-stars">Frank Landymore reports that astronomers are baffled by a galaxy which has plenty of gas but no visible stars.</a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-22-1969-nasas-christmas-gift-to-the-world-part-2-apollo-8-continued/">Kaye Dee reports about the <i>Apollo 8</i> mission in 1968. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/weird-monopoly-tie-ins-hasbro-amazon-dune-marvel-dnd-1851170839">Cheryl Eddy lists some of the weirdest <i>Monopoly </i>variations you can buy.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/jan/23/palworld-game-pokemon-guns-survival">Keith Stuart explains why <i>Palworld</i> could become the biggest game of 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/jan/18/the-last-of-us-part-ii-remastered-review-unmissable-repacking-of-modern-classic">Keith Stuart calls <i>The Last of Us Part II Remastered</i> an unmissable repacking of modern classic</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/jan/23/like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-review-happy-yakuza-holiday">Malindy Hetfield reviews the video game <i>Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/jan/20/strange-sweaty-sociable-early-days-of-gaming-in-pictures"><i>The Guardian</i> looks back on the era of LAN parties. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX2k6ZOB2go"><i>Pixel Dan</i> shares his favourite indie toys of 2023.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg8XQN1A78I"><i>Pixel Dan</i> reviews wave 1 of <i>Mattel's Turtles of Grayskull</i> line. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/toy-review-candygram-deluxe-big-guy-and-rusty-the-boy-robot/">Iain Delaney reviews the <i>Candygram!</i> Deluxe Big Guy and Rusty, the Boy Robot action figure set.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/hasbro-star-wars-toys-2024-black-series-tvc-droideka-1851189604">James Whitbrook shares a look at several upcoming <i>Star Wars Black Series</i> figures from <i>Hasbro</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/han-solo-carbonite-daniel-arsham-sideshow-star-wars-1851185994">Germain Lussier shares a look at the <i>Sideshow Collectibles</i> Han Solo in Carbonite statue. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dream-toys-transformers-gi-joe-lego-star-wars-voltron-1851189202">Germain Lussier remembers the toys we always wanted but never got. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://interzone.digital/end-of-the-world-lovesick-blues/">"End-of-the-World Lovesick Blues" by Ashley Stokes in <i>Interzone Digital.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/we-shall-not-be-bitter-at-the-end-of-the-world/">"We Shall Not Be Bitter at the End of the World" by David Anaxagoras in<i> Lightspeed.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/to-be-a-happy-man/">"To Be a Happy Man" by Thomas Ha in <i>Lightspeed. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-angel-azrael-and-the-dead-mans-hand/">"The Angel Azrael and the Dead Man’s Hand" by Peter Darbyshire in<i> Beneath Ceaseless Skies.</i></a></li><li>"<a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/a-return-to-the-fragrant-mountain/">A Return to the Fragrant Mountain" by Jonathan Louis Duckworth in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies.</i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/of-a-thousand-arms-and-more/">"Of a Thousand Arms and More" by Ai Jiang in <i>The Dark</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/fields_01_24/">"You Dream of the Hive" by C. M. Fields in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/chand_01_24/">"You Cannot Grow in Salted Earth" by Priya Chand in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lunastationquarterly.com/story/rain-town/">"Rain Town" by Mary J. Daley in <i>Luna Station Quarterly</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/embers-burning-in-the-night?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=73200&post_id=140800709&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&utm_medium=email">"Embers Burning in the Night" by Marie Brennan in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/then-came-the-ghost-of-my-dead-mother-antikleia/">"Then Came the Ghost of My Dead Mother, Antikleia" by Nadia Radovich in <i>Apex Magazine</i>.</a></li><li>"<a href="https://wyldblood.com/dont-leave-the-grim-reaper-on-read/">Don’t Leave the Grim Reaper on Read" by Julia Leef in <i>Wyldblood</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/do-houses-dream-of-scraping-the-sky/">"Do Houses Dream of Scraping the Sky?" by Jana Bianchi in <i>Uncanny Magazine.</i></a></li><li><a href="http://samovar.strangehorizons.com/2024/01/22/house-on-the-edge-of-the-crater-haz-a-krater-szelen/">"House on the Edge of the Crater" by Gábor Képes, ttranslated by Anna Kállai in <i>Strange Horizons.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://thedeadlands.com/issue-32/image-not-found/">"Image Not Found: Francesca’s Bridge" by Aimee Picchi in <i>The Deadlands.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/01/22/free-fiction-monday-alien-influences-the-short-story/">"Alien Influences" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.</a><i><br /></i><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhFmVkgxveA">Watch a trailer for <i>Molli and Max in the Future</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dAaLbsQSzI">Watch a trailer for <i>Constellation</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MACU-2pqVOI">Watch a trailer for <i>Immaculate</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Debr5KI1QIU">Watch a trailer for <i>Stop Motion</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-44006866697950596942024-01-18T23:00:00.854+00:002024-01-18T23:34:08.233+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 19, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Echo </i>and<i> </i>the<i> Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>in general, <i>Star Trek </i>in general,<i> Star Wars </i>in general<i>, The End We Start From, </i>the cancellation of <i>Our Flag Means Death, </i>season 4 of <i>For All Mankind</i>, the debate about AI-generated writing and art, tributes to David J. Skal, Howard Waldrop and Tom Purdom.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/12/the-best-recent-science-fiction-and-fantasy-reviews-roundup">Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of her favourite recent science fiction and fantasy. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.thereviewgeek.com/10-otherworldly-romance-books/"><i>The Review Geek</i> shares ten planetary romances to enjoy. </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/16/seven-short-stories-about-planets-you-probably-wouldnt-want-to-visit/">Ratika Deshpande shares seven science fiction stories about planets you probable don't want to visit.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/9-great-speculative-whodunnits/">Amy Avery shares nine great speculative whodunnits. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/17/incompetence-is-inevitable-five-books-that-illustrate-the-peter-principle/">James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF books that illustrate the Peter principle. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://adventuresfantastic.com/clark-ashton-smith-and-the-ballantines/"><i>Adventures Fantastic</i> shares his appreciation for the works of Clark Ashton Smith, </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/15/the-observatory-clark-ashton-smith-literary-sorcerer/">Brian Collins shares his appreciation for the works of Clark Ashton Smith, </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/lord-of-the-rings-poetry-exciting/">Sterling Ulrich explains how <i>The Lord of the Rings </i>made poetry exciting. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/12/take-my-money-fans-react-to-news-of-keanu-reeves-book-collaboration">Zoe Williams shares reactions to the news that Keanu Reeves and China Mieville are collaborating on a novel called <i>The Book of Elsewhere.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/13/keanu-and-co-how-celebrities-became-bestselling-novelists">John Self reports about the rise of celebrities writing novels.</a><i> </i></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/18/every-book-in-the-right-time/">Molly Templeton talks about reading books at the right time. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/16/out-with-book-clubs-in-with-book-trades/">Cole Rush talks about book trades. </a></li><li><a href="https://bookriot.com/the-ethics-of-biofiction/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email">Jeffrey Davies wonders whether reimagining history through biofiction is ethical. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://spiraltowerpress.blogspot.com/2024/01/triapa-mailing-6.html">Mailing #6 of T<i>RIAPA </i>is now available. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/david-j-skal-1952-2024/">SFF author and scholar David J. Skal has died aged 71.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/david-j-skal-1952-2024/">David Colton remembers David J. Skal. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/howard-waldrop-1946-2024/">SFF author Howard Waldrop has died gaed 77. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/16/author-howard-waldrop-passes-away-at-age-77/">Vanessa Armstrong shares an obituary for Howard Waldrop. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.lawrenceperson.com/?p=23015">Lawrence Person remembers Howard Waldrop.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/tom-purdom-1936-2024/">Science fiction writer Tom Purdom has died aged 87. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-creepshow-4/">Robert Mammone reviews <i>Creepshow</i> #4 by Nick Dragotta and Jean-Francis Beaulieu</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEsuJQ_doBU">Jeffrey Haas interviews comic writer and artist Tim Seeley.</a></li><li><a href="https://aiptcomics.com/2024/01/16/patch-zircher-the-savage-sword-of-conan/">David Brooke interviews writer and artist Patrick Zircher abour writing and drawing a Solomon Kane story for <i>Savage Sword of Conan</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://aiptcomics.com/2024/01/17/masters-of-the-universe-revolution/">David Brooke announced a prequel comic miniseries to <i>Masters of the Universe: Revolution </i>with a very interesting variant cover. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/superman-batman-copyrights-expire-dc-public-domain-superheroes-wonder-woman-1235875386/">Tatiana Siegel and Gene Maddaus wonder what will happen when the copyrights for Batman and Superman expire in the next ten years. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/17/rare-copy-of-the-amazing-spider-man-no-1-sells-for-more-than-1m?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Ella Creamer reports that a near mint copy of <i>The Amazing Spider-Man </i>No. 1 from 1963 has sold at auction for 1.38 million US-dollar </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2024/jan/13/tom-gauld-reworks-some-classic-books-for-the-older-reader-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares his latest literary cartoon. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/2024/01/geeks-guide-bodies-netflix/#intcid=_wired-right-rail_5732b930-c164-4da1-823a-a8678e18c1ba_popular4-1-reranked-by-vidi_fallback_cral-top2-2"><i>The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy</i> calls <i>Bodies</i> a fun time travel mystery. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/tv-review-prime-video-animated-series-hazbin-hotel-1851163803">Jenna Scherer calls <i>Hazbin Hotel</i> a vivid and stylish animated series that lacks writing flair </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/15/the-civil-dead-review-deadpan-ghost-comedy-of-wannabes-trying-to-make-it-la">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>The Civil Dead</i> a deadpan ghost comedy of wannabes trying to make it in Los Angeles. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/double-feature-unnatural-motherhoods.html">Arturo Serrano compares <i>The Pod Generation</i> and <i>Birth/Rebirth</i>, two recent movies about technological child birth. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/iss-movie-review-ariana-debose-1851167295">Courtney Howard calls <i>I.S.S. </i>a science fiction film that fails to achieve liftoff</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/founders-day-movie-review-1851164289">Matthew Jackson calls <i>Founders Day</i> gruesome fun for slasher devotees </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-curse-season-1-finale-review-green-queen-1851153229">Manuel Betancourt shares his thoughts on the season 1 finale of<i> The Curse</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/10-classic-sci-fi-performances-snubbed-by-the-oscars-1851155590">Cheryl Eddy lists ten classic science fiction performances overlooked by the Oscars. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/abigail-radio-silence-universal-monsters-reboots-1851160597">Justin Carter notes that<i> Universal</i> is giving filmmakers carte blanche to use its classic monsters, resulting in interesting films like <i>Abigail</i> or <i>The Last Voyage of the Demeter</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-best-movies-where-toys-come-to-life">Josh Weiss shares his ten favourite movies about toys coming to life.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/best-giallo-horror-streaming-shudder-recommendations-1851157339">Cheryl Eddy shares ten essential giallo movies to watch. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-12-1969-playtime-and-the-green-slime/">Fiona Moore revisits the 1967 near future satire <i>Playtime</i> and the 1968 science fiction monster film <i>The Green Slime</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/batman-beyond-25-year-anniversary">Daniel Dockery revisits the 1999 animated series <i>Batman Beyond</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/stargate-atlantis-15-year-anniversary">Gavia Baker-Whitelaw revisits the 2004 science fiction show <i>Stargate Atlantis</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/rachel-brosnahan-on-her-feisty-and-marvelous-lois-lane-in-superman-legacy-exclusive">Deirdre Behar interviews Rachel Brosnahan who will play Lois Lane in<i> Superman Legacy</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/14/i-like-more-trouble-peter-capaldi-interview-criminal-record?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Tom Lamont interviews Peter Capaldi, star of <i>Doctor Who</i> and <i>Criminal Record</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/exorcist-trilogy-future-david-gordon-green-horror-1851169045">Cheryl Eddy worries about the future of <i>The Exorcist</i> film franchise. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/12/knives-guns-poison-the-bizarre-catastrophes-that-befell-hit-tv-shows">Stuart Heritage chronicles strange problems, deaths and disasters that have befallen TV shows. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/godzilla-minus-one-us-box-office-1851166166">Justin Carter reports that <i>Godzilla Minus One</i> is now the highest grossing Japanese film in the US ever and the fifth highest grossing international film in the US. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Echo</i> and the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe </i></b>in general: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/echo-tv-series-review-marvel-1235700536/">Dominic Patten declares that <i>Echo</i> is exactly what <i>Marvel </i>needs right now. </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/16/can-echo-take-the-marvel-verse-in-a-new-direction/">Leah Schnelbach wonders whether<i> Echo</i> can take the <i>Marvel Cinematic and TV Universe</i> in a new direction. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/marvel-echo-season-1-episdoe-1-chafa-recap/">Noetta Harjo</a> shares <a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/marvel-echo-season-1-episode-2-lowak-recap/">episode</a> by <a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/marvel-echo-season-1-episode-3-tuklo-recap/">episode</a> <a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/marvel-echo-season-1-episode-4-taloa-recap/">reviews</a> of <i><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/marvel-echo-recap-season-1-episode-5-maya-recap/">Echo</a></i>.</li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/echo-marvel-review-mcu-kingpin-maya-lopez-disney-plus-1851159439">Germain Lussier shares seven things he liked and three he didn't about <i>Echo</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/crush-maya-lopez-alaqua-cox-echo-marvel/">Noetta Harjo shares her appreciation for the character of Maya Lopez from <i>Echo</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/echo-vincent-donofrio-kingpins-daredevil-born-again-1235790353/">Brian Davids interviews Vincent D'Onofrio who plays Wilson Fisk a.k.a. Kingpin in <i>Echo, Daredevil</i> and <i>Hawkeye</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/robert-downey-jr-iron-man-return-offers-marvel-acting-unnoticed-1235870032/">Zack Sharf reports that Robert Downey Jr believes that playing Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man was some of the best acting work he ever did, only that it remained ignored because of the antipathy of many critics against superhero films. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Star Wars</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/12/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-movie-baby-yoda-star-wars">Ben Child wonders whether the newly announced <i>Mandalorian</i> movie can save <i>Star Wars</i> on the big screen.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-movie-titles-character-names-mandalorian-rant-1851163397">James Whitbrook is annoyed that <i>Star Wars</i> titles these days are mostly just character names. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/david-benioff-dan-weiss-star-wars-movie-the-first-jedi-1235784437/">James Hibberd reports that David Benioff and Dan Weiss have revealed the idea for their cancelled<i> Star Wars</i> movie <i>The First Jedi</i>. </a> <b></b></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-16-1969-monotonous-star-trek-let-that-be-your-last-battlefield/"><i>Galactic Journey </i>revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek </i>episode "Let This Be Your Last Battlefield". </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-voyager-tuvix-debate-cast-janeway-paramount-1851176554">James Whitbrook reports that even the cast and writer are still divided over the controversial <i>Star Trek Voyager</i> episode "Tuvix". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/tlyn-star-trek-lower-decks-gabrielle-ruiz/">Avery Kaplan shares her appreciation for the character of T'Lyn from <i>Star Trek: Lower Decks.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-worst-defeats-in-starfleet-history-paramount-1851164275">James Whitbrook lists the worst times Starfleet got its arse handed to it across all iterations of <i>Star Trek. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/star-trek-actors-columbo/">Avery Kaplan lists ten<i> Star Trek </i>actors who appeared on<i> Columbo. </i></a><br /></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on the cancellation of <i>Our Flag Means Death</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/our-flag-means-death-canceled-max-1235866718/">Joe Otterson reports that the much beloved pirate series <i>Our Flag Means Death </i>has been cancelled by <i>HBO Max</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/our-flag-means-death-may-be-cancelled-but-fans-are-campaigning-to-save-it">Ryan Leston reports about a campaign to save <i>Our Flag Means Death</i> from cancellation. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-digital-creator-starter-pack-the-investments-criti-1851058717">Cheryl Eddy reports that there is still a chance that the beloved pirate series <i>Our Flag Means Death </i>will find a home elsewhere after HBO Max cancelled it. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>The End We Start From</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/17/the-end-we-start-from-review-all-too-believable-disaster-drama-jodie-comer">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>The End We Start From</i> an all too believable post-apocalyptic drama and praises the performance of Jodie Comer. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/18/jodie-comer-i-feel-villanelle-would-suit-being-a-scouser">Rich Pelley interviews Jodie Comer, star of <i>Killing Eve</i> and <i>The End We Start From</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 4 of<i> For All Mankind</i>: <br /></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/for-all-mankind-season-finale-recap-season-4-episode-10-perestroika/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of<i> For All Mankind</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2024/01/for-all-mankind-410-earth-vs-mars.html">Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of <i>For All Mankind.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/2023/12/geeks-guide-for-all-mankind/"><i>The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy</i> hopes that<i> For All Mankind</i> will get seven seasons.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/star-trek-series-erased-revenge.html">Douglas Helm reports that while <i>Star Trek </i>exists in the <i>For All Mankind </i>universe, <i>Star Trek Voyager</i> does not seem to exist, probably because <i>For All Mankind</i> showrunner Ron D. Moore was not asked to write for that show. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-for-all-mankind-connection-ronald-moore-apple-1851162936">Germain Lussier explains that there are only three <i>Star Trek </i>shows by 2003 in the <i>For All Mankind </i>universe. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-annie-awards-nominees/">The nominations for the 2024 Annie Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-sag-awards-nominations-nominees-list-1235784365/">The nominations for the 2024 SAG Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-dga-awards-film-nominations-nominees-1235783629/">The nominations for the 2024 DGA Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://producersguild.org/2024-pga-awards-motion-pictures-and-television-categories-nominees/">The nominations for the 2024 PGA Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-ves-awards-nominees/">The nominations for the 2024 VES Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/18/baftas-2024-the-full-list-of-nominations">The nominations for the 2024 Bafta Awards have been announced with barely any love for genre films and lots of love for dull movies. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-critics-choice-awards/">The winners of the 2024 Critics Choice Awards have been announced. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/awards/emmys-2023-2024-winners-list-1235870276/">The winners of the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced with no love for genre TV. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.allyourscreens.com/latest-news/u-s/1139-15th-annual-african-american-film-critics-association-aafca-award-winners-the-complete-list">The winners of the 2024 African-American Film Critics Association Awards have been announced. </a> </li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-d-i-c-e-awards-finalists/">The finalists for the 2024 D.I.C.E. Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCG9FhmzUNR-gc_WW3lRzRwRQ6aEWyQgedWjY8gnS0MDYz7g/formResponse">The 2023 <i>Uncanny Magazine </i>Reader Poll is open for voting. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/self-published-science-fiction-competition-issues-statement-after-author-has-meltdown-about-judges-review/">Mike Glyer reports about an uproar involving the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition after an author freaked out over a negative review and attacked the reviewer. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/what-sam-shepard-taught-me-about-exploring-the-darkness-within/">Peter Malone Elliott explains what Sam Shepard taught him about writing. </a></li><li><a href="https://swordslore.substack.com/p/using-celticism-in-sword-and-sorcery?r=2bql01&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web">Ethan Sabatella talks about using Celtic mythology and folklore in sword and sorcery. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://nicolagriffith.com/2024/01/10/author-bios-saying-the-quiet-part-out-loud/">Nicola Griffith shares tips for writing author bios.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/how-a-great-editor-changed-my-manuscript-and-my-life/">Otho Eskin talks about his publishing journey. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://writerbeware.blog/2024/01/12/contest-caution-script-writing-audition-from-silent-manga-audition/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-latest-post-from-the-writer-beware-blog_154">Victoria Strauss warns writers about submitting their work to a Silent Manga Audition, since the terms mean they lose all their rights. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFVISvIslYI">Aidan Moher weighs in on the issues with Nazis on Substack. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/18/review-finds-libraries-in-england-suffer-lack-of-recognition-from-government">Ella Creamer reports that libraries in the UK suffer from a lack of recognition from the British government. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://blogs.bl.uk/living-knowledge/2024/01/restoring-our-services-an-update.html">The British Library reports that they have managed to restore several services following a devastating cyber attack. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comments on the AI controversy:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/12/chatgpt-problems-lazy">Arwa Mahdawi wonders why ChatGPT appears to be getting "lazy". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/scammy-ai-generated-books-flooding-amazon/">Kate Knibbs reports that scammy AI-generated books, often rewriting real books, are flooding Amazon. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.awn.com/blog/impact-ai-hollywood-2024-12-predictions">Kevin Geiger attempts to predict the impact of AI on Hollywood in 2024. </a><br /></li></ul><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/93997-hope-and-strange-pw-talks-with-j-michael-straczynski.html?oly_enc_id=3469D1094834J4H">Lenny Picker interviews J. Michael Straczynski </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/ai-jiang-where-the-ghosts-live/"><i>Locus</i> interviews Ai Jiang. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/6-books-with-laura-anne-gilman.html">Paul Weimer interviews Laura Anne Gilman. </a></li><li><a href="https://paulsemel.com/exclusive-interview-the-years-best-african-speculative-fiction-2022-co-editor-oghenechovwe-donald-ekpeki/">Paul Semel interviews Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-iori-kusano-interview.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Iori Kusano. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.scottedelman.com/2024/01/12/izzy-wasserstein/">Scott Edelman interviews Izzy Wasserstein. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/interview-with-michael-a-burstein-editor-of-jewish-futures/"><i>File 770</i> interviews Michael A. Burstein. </a></li><li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Q08WeHeKYZCqlVDu1o8wc?si=8D_A1jLaR9mlPffGXUXHZw&nd=1&dlsi=80a8c877eaaf4977"><i>Rogues in the House</i> interviews Molly Tanzer and Oliver Brackenbury. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/1/17/interviewing-tej-turner"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>interviews Tej Turner. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/the-library-trilogy-the-hag-and-ais-impact-on-publishing-an-interview-with-mark-lawrence/">Adrian Collins interviews Mark Lawrence. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-sarena-ulibarri.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Sarena Ulibarri </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/can-you-see">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Fallen </i>by Melissa Scott </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/lis-carey-review-becoming-terran/">Lis Carey reviews <i>Becoming Terran </i>by Mark Roth-Whitworth </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/russell-letson-reviews-creation-node-by-stephen-baxter/">Russell Letson reviews <i>Creation Node</i> by Stephen Baxter </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/14/shigidi-and-the-brass-head-of-obalufon-by-wole-talabi"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>Shigidi and The Brass Head of Obalufon </i>by Wole Talabi</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-exile-of-zanzibar-by-daniel-maidman/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Exile of Zanzibar </i>by Daniel Maidman</a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/bookreview-wild-and-distant-seas-by-tara-karr-roberts/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Wild and Distant Seas</i> by Tara Karr Roberts </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-virgin-land-by-chloe.html">Adri Joy reviews <i>Virgin Land </i>by Chloe Smith </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/alexandra-pierce-reviews-bittersweet-in-the-hollow-by-kate-pearsall/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>Bittersweet in the Hollow</i> by Kate Pearsall </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/13/blood-war-by-tej-turner"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Blood War</i> by Tej Turner </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-pillar-of-ash-by-h-m-long/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>Pillar of Ash</i> by H.M. Long </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/17/book-review-the-tusks-of-extinction-by-ray-nayler/">Natalie Zutter reviews <i>The Tusks of Extinction </i>by Ray Nayler </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-a-lions-pride-by-p-l-stuart/">John Mauro reviews <i>A Lion’s Pride</i> by P.L. Stuart</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/bookreview-that-time-i-got-drunk-and-saved-a-demon-by-kimberly-lemming/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon</i> by Kimberly Lemming</a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2024/01/a-bookreview-miss-percys-pocket-guide-to-the-care-and-feeding-of-british-dragons-by-quenby-olson/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons </i>by Quenby Olson<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2024/01/review-good-girls-dont-die-by-christina.html"><i>Blue Book Balloon r</i>eviews <i>Good Girls Don't Die</i> by Christina Henry </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-the-last-house-on-needless-street/">Warner Holme reviews <i>The Last House on Needless Street </i>by Catriona Ward </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gabino-iglesias-reviews-the-september-house-by-carissa-orlando/">Gabino Iglesias reviews <i>The September House</i> by Carissa Orlando </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-folly-by-gemma-amor/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Folly</i> by Gemma Amor </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20390">Joseph B. Hoyos reviews <i>Mister Lullaby</i> by J.H. Markert </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/treacle-walker/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>Treacle Walker</i> by Alan Garner</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/unsouled/">Kat Hooper reviews <i>UnSouled</i> by Neal Shusterman </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-overdue-by-mark-lawrence/">John Mauro reviews <i>Overdue</i> by Mark Lawrence. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/paul-di-filippo-reviews-short-and-long-by-michael-blumlein/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>Short</i> and <i>Long</i> by Michael Blumlein </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-they-shut-me-up-by.html">Roseanna Pendlebury reviews <i>They Shut Me Up</i> by Tracy Fahey </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimefictionlover.com/2024/01/deep-freeze-by-michael-c-grumley/">Vicki Weisfeld reviews <i>Deep Freeze</i> by Michael C. Grumley </a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-another-life-by-sarena.html">Alex Wallace reviews <i>Another Life</i> by Sarena Ulibarri </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/14/animals-at-night-by-naomi-booth"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Animals at Night</i> by Naomi Booth </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://thequickandtheread.net/book-review-night-side-of-the-river-by-jeanette-winterson/"><i>The Quick and the Read </i>reviews <i>Night Side of the River </i>by Jeanette Winterson</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-the-book-of-love-by-kelly-link/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>The Book of Love </i>by Kelly Link </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-review-the-black-girl-survives-in-this-one-edited-by-desiree-s-evans-saraciea-j-fennell/">Arley Sorg reviews <i>The Black Girl Survives in This One,</i> edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennel.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/lest-we-become-possessed/">Alex Jennings reviews <i>Out There Screaming</i>, edited by Jordan Peele. </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/leaping-through-the-sky">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>A City on Mars</i> by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://lithub.com/how-a-20th-century-czech-play-influences-our-understanding-of-science-and-humanity/">Jitka Čejková revisits the 1920 science fiction play <i>R.U.R</i>. Karel Čapek</a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/13/giving-the-tale-of-satampra-zeiros-its-due">Deuce Richardson revisits the 1931 sword and sorcery story “The Tale of Satampra Zeiros” by Clark Ashton Smith. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/11/novella-review-project-nursemaid-by-judith-merril/">Brian Collins revisits the 1955 science fiction story “Project Nursemaid” by Judith Merril </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/13/anything-box-by-zenna-henderson/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “Anything Box” by Zenna Henderson<i>.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/11/stranger-station-by-damon-knight-fourth-reading/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “Stranger Station” by Damon Knight.</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/11/and-now-the-news-by-theodore-sturgeon/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “And Now the News…” by Theodore Sturgeon.</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/06/2066-election-day-by-michael-shaara/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “2066: Election Day” by Michael Shaara. </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/06/short-story-review-wall-of-crystal-eye-of-night-by-algis-budrys/">Brian Collins revisits the 1961 science fiction story “Wall of Crystal, Eye of Night” by Algis Budrys </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/5/reading-ursula-le-guin-rocannons-world"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> revisits the 1966 science fiction novel <i>Rocannon's World </i>by Ursula K. Le Guin.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/16/larger-than-oneself-by-robert-aickman-performative-spirituality-absurdity-and-irony/">Sam Reader revisits the 1966 horror story “Larger Than Oneself” by Robert Aickman. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-18-1969-february-1969-fantasy-and-science-fiction/">Gideon Marcus revisits the February 1969 issue of <i>The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-14-1969-january-galactoscope/">Gideon Marcus revisits the 1969 science fiction novel <i>Double, Double</i> by John Brunner, Brian Collins revisits the 1969 space opera novel <i>Omnivore</i> by Piers Anthony and the 1969 sword and sorcery novel<i> Swordmen of Viztar</i> by Charles Nuetzel, Jason Sacks revisits the 1969 space opera novel <i>The Star Venturers</i> by Kenneth Bulmer and the 1969 near future science fiction novel <i>The Fall of the Dream Machine</i> by Dean R. Koontz, Kris Vyas Myall revisits the 1969 anthology <i>Frontier of Going: An Anthology of Space Poetry</i>, edited by John Fairfax and Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1969 gothic YA novel <i>The Whistling Boy</i> by Ruth M. Arthur, the 1969 time travel novel <i>Genesis Two</i> by L. P. Davies, the 1969 science fantasy novel <i>Isle of the Dead</i> by Roger Zelazny and the 1969 science fiction novel <i>S.T.A.R. Flight</i> by E. C. Tubb</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/16/playing-paranormal-pinball-john-keels-the-mothman-prophecies/">Judith Tarr revisits the 1975 non-fiction book <i>The Mothman Prophecies</i> by John Keel. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/adventure-calls">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1978 science fantasy novel <i> Exiles at the Well of Souls </i>by Jack L. Chalker</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/5/the-quarter-century-project-distraction-by-bruce-sterling"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> revisits the 1998 near future science fiction novel <i>Distraction</i> by Bruce Sterling.</a> <br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.stokercon2024.com/post/two-new-guests-of-honor-announced-for-2024-stokercon-convention">The 2024 StokerCon in San Diego, California, has announced two guests of honour. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/texas-library-association-reverses-decision-and-reinvites-chuck-tingle-but-he-declines/">Mike
Glyer reports that the Texas Library Association has first disinvited
Chuck Tingle from its 2024 conference in San Antonio, Texas, then
reinvited him, only for Tingle to decline the invitation.</a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-taff-race-begins/">The 2024 Trans Atlantic Fan Fund race has begun. </a></li><li><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/karl-edward-wagner-day/">A Karl Edward Wagner Day in Knoxville, Tennessee, has been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/sfwa-will-hold-2024-nebula-conference-in-pasadena-and-online/">Mike Glyer announces that the 2024 Nebula Conference will be held in Pasadena, California. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/visit-to-a-replica-of-sherlock-holmes-sitting-room-at-221b-baker-street/"> Bill
and Teresa Peschel report about a visit to a replica of Sherlock
Holmes' living room at 221B Baker Street in Reading, Pennsylvania.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/sundance-2024-genre-films-pedro-pascal-kristen-stewart-1851160191">Germain Lussier lists sixteen genre films that will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-best-robots-of-ces-2024-1851168823">Kyle Barr shares his favourite robots displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/jan/16/pokemon-pandemonium-did-the-van-gogh-museum-play-its-cards-right-pikachu?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Matt Poskitt reports how a cross-promotion with Pokémon caused havoc at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hall-of-fake-presidents">Pat Cassels reports about a visit to the Hall of Fake Presidents in Washington DC, which features portraits of fictional US presidents from movies or TV shows. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/donkey-kong-mine-cart-ride-nintendo-universal-studios-1851174688">Sabina Graves reports about the new <i>Donkey Kong</i> rollercoaster at <i>Super Nintendo World </i>at <i>Universal Studios Japan</i> in Osaka, Japan, </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/disney-parks-epcot-festival-arts-marvel-star-wars-pixar-1851174512">Sabina Graves reports about the International Festival of the Arts at<i> Epcot Center </i>in <i>Disney World</i> in Orlando, Florida. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Crowdfunding:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dynamiteent/30th-anniversary-disney-gargoyles-collections-are-here?lid=adqqothf3148&ref=ksr_email_mktg_justlaunched_DisneyGargoyles_2024-01-12">The <i>Thirtieth Anniversary Collection</i> of <i>Disney's Gargoyles</i> comics is looking for funding.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hackslash/hack-slash-vol-4-deluxe-omnibus-hardcover?ref=8d3ju7&token=a6568590">The deluxe omnibus hardcover edition of <i>Hack/Slash Vol. 4 </i>for Tim Seeley is looking for funding.<b><br /></b></a></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/12/why-landing-on-the-moon-is-proving-more-difficult-today-than-50-years-ago">Ian Sample explains why landing on the Moon today is more difficult than fifty years ago.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.engadget.com/peregrine-moon-lander-and-its-cargo-will-likely-burn-up-in-earths-atmosphere-204002942.html?guccounter=1">Cheyenne MacDonald reports that the <i>Peregrine</i> moon lander and its cargo will likely burn up in Earth's atmosphere, its mission having failed. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/opinion/sci-fi-eye-the-wrong-kind-of-sunshine/">Gareth L. Powell talks about the damage solar flares could wreak on earthly infrastructure. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/yerkes-observatory-female-astronomers">April White talks about the women who worked at the Yerkes Observatory in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in the early 1920s.</a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-vampire-the-masquerade-swansong/">C.T.Phipps reviews <i>Vampire: The Masquerade: Swansong</i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/ubisoft-gamers-comfortable-not-owning-games-1851173259">Kyle Barr reports that <i>Ubisoft </i>is aggressively pushing a subscription model for its games, against the resistance of many gamers. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/hot-toys-morbius-price-release-date-pictures-marvel-mcu-1851162284">Sabina Graves shares a look at the <i>Hot Toys</i> Morbius action figure.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aopYTbTouw"><i>Pixel Dan</i> reviews the <i>Super 7 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> Party Wagon. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NXtwPEoQi4"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>Frazetta Girls Fire and Ice</i> Dark Wolf action figure. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-phantom-menace-toys-history-25th-anniversary-1851170845">James Whitbrook looks back at the <i>Star Wars: The Phantom Menac</i>e toyline twenty-five years later. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://battleramblog.com/gigantisaur-heroic-dinosaur-battle-station-1987/"><i>The Battle Ram Blog</i> shares some background on the never released <i>Masters of the Universe Gigantisaur </i>toy from 1987. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2024/01/15/masters-of-the-universe-piece-theatre-in-exile/">Cora Buhlert shares a <i>Masters-of-the-Universe</i>-Piece Theatre toy photo story called "In Exile". </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/night-desk-duty-at-the-infinite-paradox-hotel/">"Night Desk Duty at the Infinite Paradox Hotel" by Aimee Ogden in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/farewell-to-faust/">"Farewell to Faust" by Adam-Troy Castro in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/cuneiform?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=73200&post_id=140545491&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&utm_medium=email">"Cuneiform" by Yoon Ha Lee in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/vibbert_01_24/">"Rail Meat" by Marie Vibbert in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/auslender_01_24/">"Just Another Cat in a Box" by E.N. Auslender in <i>Clarkesworld</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/born-a-ghost/">"Born a Ghost" by Nadia Bongo in <i>Apex Magazine</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://side-quest.ghost.io/up-with-the-morning-sun/?ref=side-quest-newsletter">"Up With the Morning Son" by Stewart A. Shearer in <i>Side Quest</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/the-forgetter/">"The Forgetter" by Andrew Snover in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/plague-in.html">"Plague in Arak" by D. J. Tyrer in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/garlands-for-your-bridal-chamber/">"Garlands for Your Bridal Chamber" by Fatima Taqvi in <i>The Dark</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lunastationquarterly.com/story/hospitality/">"Hospitallity" by Jennifer Skogen in <i>Luna Station Quarterly.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/17/liminal-spaces-maureen-mchugh/">"Liminal Spaces" by Maureen McHugh in<i> Tor.com. <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/marginalia/">"Marginalia" by Mary Robinette Kowal in <i>Uncanny Magazine</i></a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/01/15/free-fiction-monday-except-the-music/">"Except the Music" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF79q4rXVxQ">Watch a trailer for <i>Zorro</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNZ0xKaCdus">Watch a trailer for <i>Spaceman</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6tmyHjEFcE">Watch a trailer for <i>Monsters 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation</i></a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-87744515466769439942024-01-15T23:00:00.085+00:002024-01-25T00:46:06.572+00:00Interview with C. L. Lauder, author of The Quelling<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AOFFfDlfg76wsXwKU59IMDOXxVVmzU7EXGUCzqYHHgceBcbNF-s9ktcsQt933BUqXRjDqfFG6XdK7yXntTJMiX_MiNF46kWuq6EMAFI-yfFf-OHRaHBPB5WQfi3swr9sYiYDgzBD_2p3Z3wUSegbR6aaKUtbopYj-vmF6ihmEy5sv3ANqEaMpWfSur_-/s2700/The%20Quelling%20Book%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AOFFfDlfg76wsXwKU59IMDOXxVVmzU7EXGUCzqYHHgceBcbNF-s9ktcsQt933BUqXRjDqfFG6XdK7yXntTJMiX_MiNF46kWuq6EMAFI-yfFf-OHRaHBPB5WQfi3swr9sYiYDgzBD_2p3Z3wUSegbR6aaKUtbopYj-vmF6ihmEy5sv3ANqEaMpWfSur_-/w426-h640/The%20Quelling%20Book%20Cover.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview C. L. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lauder, whose novel <i>The Quelling</i> has its debut on January 16th.</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
is <i>The Quelling</i> of the title?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In
the Universe of <i>The Quelling</i>, the local population must cede control of
their bodies to the occupying race for one day every month in exchange for
peace. To be quelled is to give up bodily autonomy, with no memory of events
that transpired while your consciousness was subdued and your body manipulated
by another being. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Tell
us something about the world of <i>The Quelling</i>. What inspired you to write
about it, and how did you set about world-building?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
started with the premise for book two, which explores how those in power often
disguise abuse as benevolence, including to themselves. In my mind, a book is
only as good as its villain—so I started there. I asked myself what the
antagonist had lost to inspire his fanaticism. What had cost him so greatly
that he'd left his home and settled in the uninhabitable Ice Realm on a foreign
world, and what was his plan? The plot for book one was built on that foundation,
and the world took shape around it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Your
first degree was in computer science, but you switched to creative writing for
your Masters. What prompted that change of subject?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It
wasn’t a change for me. I’ve been writing stories since I could hold a pen. It
was more of a reward—you’ve done the hard work, and now you can have some fun.
I’d taken creative writing courses before and was excited to see what else the
Masters could teach me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You
have lived in South Africa, Britain, and Hong Kong, all magical places in their
way. How much has traveling influenced your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For
me, traveling is like taking a breath when you've been holding it too long.
When you're in the grind, your creativity gets sapped of oxygen, but the moment
you step into a foreign place, you can feel yourself expand. I get my best
ideas while traveling, so it’s greatly influenced me. I’m uncertain how much
I’d correlate with the exposure to different cultures and how much with the spiritual
uplift I associate with change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
can you tell us about the races in your world? Who are the Rhemans, and what
makes them alien?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
Rhemans are an alien race who’ve been occupying Aurora Saura for nearly
nineteen years, which also happens to be the age of our protagonist, Kyjta. In
truth, this story is as much about Kyjta as it is about Kranik, a young Rheman
rebel who quietly opposes the regime. Historically, the Rhemans have relied on bodies
grown in animation casks, but viable bodies are becoming harder to come by, and
the Rhemans are turning to renewable options—namely, the Aurora Saurans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Who
are the Aurora Saurins?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Aurora
Saurins are the local people of the invaded planet of Aurora Saura. Within the
Rheman infiltration are two camps: those that quell Aurora Saurins indefinitely
and those that attempt a form of symbiosis. While some Aurora Saurans submit
voluntarily for short-term quelling, others are marked by alien fluid and
targeted for indefinite use by the Rheman overlord. Kyjta is one of the Stained
and risks permanent oblivion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
about the idea of Transference Day, which you have mentioned as your first idea
for <i>The Quelling</i> <i>Trilogy</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
don't want to give too much away, but Transference Day was going to be the
first novel in the series until I realized I needed to explore what was driving
this alien race to extremes. I'm interested in the idea that good people can be
part of a corrupt machine. At its core, Transference Day is the story of how
not getting the one thing you genuinely want can break you and how altruism is
the only escape from that pain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To
what extent did growing up in South Africa make you aware of the conflict
between different groups and their interests?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Oppression
is everywhere, but witnessing the end of apartheid left an impression on me. I
lived in a small town and the cohesion wasn’t instant, but you could feel the
excitement building. People finally had hope. That state of exhilaration is
something I hope to examine further in my writing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
particular fantasy authors do you love, and how have they influenced you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
book that really awakened something inside me was <i>The Secret History</i> by Donna
Tartt, but my favorite author is Laini Taylor of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone
series. I think her protagonist, Karou, is much like Kyjta—wilful but kind,
with a touch of melancholy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This
is a YA book. How do you see your readers, and what do you hope they will take
away from reading <i>The Quelling</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Personally,
I love to read YA fantasy, so I don't see it as an age band but a mindset. I
see my readers as people who enjoy a break from the ordinary. People who want
to experience the extraordinary while ensconced in home comforts, like me. This
book has several hard-hitting themes; everyone will take away something
different. It’s been interesting reading the editorial reviews and seeing the
different perspectives. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
are the crucial issues for your main characters: Kyjta, Kranik, and Calypsie? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Kyjta
has faced grave injustice throughout her life and has a taste for covert
vengeance, which is often misplaced. Kranik faces guilt for being part of a
regime that traffics in suffering, and Calipsie trusts all too easily, as any
child would. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Kyjta
is one of the Stained. What does this mean, and why does it put her in danger?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One
of the tag lines for the book is, "When you're Stained, patches of skin
glisten like liquid starlight, and sooner or later, his creatures find
you." The Stain is like a brand; permanent once it touches the skin. The
markings are a homing beacon for the winged beasts sent by the Rheman overlord
to scavenge for bodies. Kyjta’s Stain is unusual, marking her face like tears.
The story of how she got it introduces one of the pivotal plot points in the
book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Quelling</span></i></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> is set to be the first volume of a trilogy. How
are you getting on with the next book in the series?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It's
in good shape because I wrote it first. My current focus is to ensure all the
threads align now that book one is final. I plan to begin the editing process
in early 2024. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">How
do you prepare to write, and how much do you plan in advance?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I
usually spend about a month drafting and redrafting a scene-by-scene plot
before writing. The plot is a loose guideline because a lot changes on the way,
but I like the safety I associate with having a map I can refer to if I get
lost. It's a simple Excel template with sixty scenes broken into four acts. I
try not to start the writing before I'm happy with the plan, but if I have an
idea for a scene, I'll write it out because it's hard to think when an idea is
stuck in your mind, and sometimes the only way to free yourself is to get it
down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">What
are your plans once <i>The Quelling Trilogy</i> is finished?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I'd
want to keep writing. I keep Confluence pages for my ideas, so there's a lot to
play with when the time comes. Right now, I'm trying not to get distracted by
other ideas, but one of the titles that have me thinking is <i>Angel Hart and
the Paranormal Insomniac</i>. I could have a lot of fun with that. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quelling-C-L-Lauder-ebook/dp/B0CPB17ZBN/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1705277662&sr=8-1-fkmr2" target="_blank">Amazon</a> - <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quelling-Befriend-your-enemy-friend/dp/1632997657/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XGCF6QVK948H&keywords=the+quilling+c.l.+lauder&qid=1705278792&sprefix=the+quelling+c.l.+lauder%2Caps%2C689&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a> - <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-quelling-cl-lauder/1144435689?ean=2940185872284" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> - <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-quelling/id6476021226" target="_blank">Apple Books</a></span></h3><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">About C.L. Lauder:</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikA6kM4zBS0oZ4TIOsMOoNfmQWBCyexh7AEzLwN-15Tya9zn5-BICyxlUt2YXe43oOR8SnIO4XsetKBE_xNIqlpYEKg8atUEite4-3NTNUsrwCT1KOsNr5LIA_QA2eBO9Vhb1PE4RSTFjg9AcRr4RvopjRJqElMxgXPLzA78vLYjCJ9ThAAenZ8RP32PF/s5472/Carla%20Lauder.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikA6kM4zBS0oZ4TIOsMOoNfmQWBCyexh7AEzLwN-15Tya9zn5-BICyxlUt2YXe43oOR8SnIO4XsetKBE_xNIqlpYEKg8atUEite4-3NTNUsrwCT1KOsNr5LIA_QA2eBO9Vhb1PE4RSTFjg9AcRr4RvopjRJqElMxgXPLzA78vLYjCJ9ThAAenZ8RP32PF/s320/Carla%20Lauder.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">C. L. Lauder grew up in South Africa before immigrating to the United Kingdom, where she attended the University of London to complete an MA in Creative Writing. She now lives at the foot of a lush mountain in Hong Kong with her husband, and two rapidly lengthening sons, who enjoy their newfound proximity to nature, especially the sea.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.cllauder.com/" target="_blank">Website </a>| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/c.l.lauder/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554186145374" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/c_l_lauder" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></h3>Jessica Rydillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08941823791297386497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-32810811906973856622024-01-11T23:00:00.921+00:002024-01-12T00:09:00.051+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 12, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with <i>Doctor Who </i>past, present and future,<i> What If...?, Echo </i>and<i> </i>the<i> Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>in general, <i>Star Trek </i>in general,<i> Destroy All Neighbors, </i>season 4 of <i>For All Mankind</i>, the issues with Nazis on <i>Substack</i>, the debate about AI-generated writing and art, the <i>Tor.com</i> rebranding, tributes to Terry Bisson, Fred Chappell, Jennell Jaquays, Glynis Johns and David Soul and much
more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/09/new-science-fiction-books-january-2024/"><i>Tor.com</i> lists all the new science fiction books coming out in January 2024. <i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/08/new-fantasy-books-january-2024/"><i>Tor.com</i> lists all the new fantasy books coming out in January 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/11/new-sff-crossover-books-january-2024/"><i>Tor.com</i> lists all the new horror, romantasy and other SFF crossover books coming out in January 2024. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/10/new-young-adult-sff-books-january-2024/"><i>Tor.com</i> lists all the new YA SFF books coming out in January. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/05/cant-miss-indie-press-speculative-fiction-for-january-and-february-2024/">Tobias Carroll shares indie and small press SFF coming out in January and Febraury 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/erin-underwood-the-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-films-and-tv-episodes-of-2023/">Erin Underwood shares her favourite science fiction and fantasy movies of 2023.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://tangentonline.com/news/tangent-online-2023-recommended-reading-list/">Dave Truesdale shares his annual rants that politics and "cultural Marxism" are destroying science fiction.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/09/5-books-about-regretting-that-cult-you-joined/">Olivie Blake shares five SFF books about regretting joining a cult. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/08/fake-candidates-invented-enemies-five-fraudulent-personas-in-classic-sf/">James Davis Nicoll shares five classic science fiction stories featuring fraudulent personas. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/08/five-of-the-best-reptilian-characters-in-sff/">Cole Rush shares his five favourite reptilian characters in SFF. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/05/snow-and-survival-5-horror-stories-set-during-winter/">Lorna Wallace shares five horror stories set during winter. </a></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/blog/2024/01/10/rip-jennell-jaquays/">Ethan Sabatella talks about the connection between Celtic history and mythology and sword and sorcery. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/5/robert-e-howard-and-fritz-leiber-a-comparison">Matthew Ilseman compares Robert E. Howard and Fritz Leiber. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/8/rusty-burke-update-1-8-24">Deuce Richardson shares an update regarding the health of Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/08/where-to-start-with-wilkie-collins">Elly Griffiths shares her appreciation for the works of Wilkie Collins for his two hundredth birthday. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/wilkie-collins-detective-fiction-1.7077494"><i>CBC Radio</i> profiles Wilkie Collins. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/10/a-deep-cut-of-adventure-the-saga-of-swain-the-viking-vol-1-swains-vengeance">Brian Murphy revisits the <i>Swain the Viking </i>stories by Arthur D. Howden Smith</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-i-identified-a-probable-pen-name-of-louisa-may-alcott-217628">Max Chapnick explains how he identified a previously unknown pen name of Louisa May Alcott. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/06/opinion/trump-election-2024.html">Ross Douthat finds some unexpected parallels between Donald Trump and The Mule from Isaac Asimov's <i>Foundation</i> series. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/10/five-strategies-for-taming-an-unruly-tbr-list/">James Davis Nicoll shares some strategies for taming an unruly TBR list. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://countercraft.substack.com/p/who-is-reading-what-and-why?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=284412&post_id=140524449&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ktq2y&utm_medium=email">Lincoln Michel analyses the results of the latest reading survey, </a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/us-reading-habits/">Camestros Felapton also weighs in on the survey of US reading habits. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/11/mark-each-year-in-books-thoughts-on-reading-traditions/">Molly Templeton talks about reading traditions. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/94047-women-ruled-the-2023-bestseller-list.html">Jim Milliot reports that women dominate the bestseller lists of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/10/keanu-reeves-and-china-mieville-to-release-collaborative-novel-the-book-of-elsewhere">Ella Creamer reports that Keanu Reeves and China Miéville will release the collaborative novel <i>The Book of Elsewhere </i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/09/tor-com-to-become-reactor-debut-new-site-on-january-23rd/"><i>Tor.com</i> will rebrand as<i> Reactor</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/11/answering-your-questions-about-tor-coms-change-to-reactor/"><i>Tor.com </i>answers some questions about their<i> Reactor</i> rebrand. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/bertil-falk-1933-2023/"><i>Locus</i> remembers the Swedish SFF writer and translator Bertil Falk. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/emanuel-lottem-1944-2024/">Israeli editor and translator Emanuel Lottem died aged 79. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://greensboro.com/news/local/fred-chappell-author-poet-greensboro-uncg-i-am-one-of-you-forever-dagon/article_bf134022-abed-11ee-b94d-cfcc3da03787.html">Fantasy author and poet Fred Chappell has died aged 87. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/fred-chappell-1936-2024/"><i>Locus</i> remembers Fred Chappell. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/terry-bisson-1942-2024/">Science fiction writer Terry Bisson died aged 81. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/11/author-terry-bisson-passes-away-at-age-81/">Vanessa Armstrong remembers Terry Bisson</a>. <br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/will-be">James Davis Nicoll reviews the graphic novel <i>Her Little Reapers</i> by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda .</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/friday-book-one/">Brad Hawley reviews the graphic novel <i>Friday, Book One: The First Day of Christmas</i> by Ed Brubaker and Marcos Martin </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://orbnews.substack.com/p/when-heavy-metal-magazine-made-playlists?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1525719&post_id=137841643&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1gv0k&utm_medium=email">Maya St. Clair remembers when <i>Heavy Metal Magazine</i> used to publish playlists to go with their comics.</a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2021/1/8/boris-vallejo-at-80">Brian Murphy shares his appreciation for the work of Boris Vallejo for his eightieth birthday. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/on-the-serious-business-of-19th-century-fairy-paintings/">Jennifer Higgie talks about Victorian fairy paintings. </a></li><li><a href="https://boingboing.net/2024/01/05/aquaman-metamorpho-and-brenda-starr-cartoonist-ramona-fradon-retires.html">Ruben Bolling reports that comic artist Ramona Fradon, who worked on <i>Aquaman, Metamorpho, Brenda Starr</i> and <i>Superfriends</i> among other, is retiring aged 97. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/in-scavengers-reign-rule-is-eat-or-be.html">Arturo Serrano calls <i>Scavengers Reign</i> a raw, bloodstained, oozy, slimy circle of life</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/10/aint-nothin-but-a-family-thing-blue-beetle/">Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on <i>Blue Beetle</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/rebel-moon-proves-that-zack-snyder-needs-to-grow-up-and-i-say-that-with-love/">Charlotte Simmons declares that <i>Rebel Moon</i> proves that Zack Snyder needs to grow up.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/oct/15/the-kitchen-review-daniel-kaluuya-high-energy-tale-of-near-future-rundown-housing-estate">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>The Kitchen</i> a high-energy drama about a near-future rundown housing estate</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/ted-review-tv-peacock-sitcom-spinoff-1851144425">Jarrod Jones calls <i>Ted</i> a profane, obvious lampoon of old sitcom tropes </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-book-of-clarence-movie-review-1851153730">Murtada Elfadi calls <i>The Book Of Clarence</i> an adventurous homage to biblical epics</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/08/freaks-vs-the-reich-review-must-this-circus-show-go-on-at-all-franz-rogowski">Leslie Felperin calls the horror film <i>Freaks vs the Reich</i> an atrocious mash-up of circus fable and the Holocaust </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-curse-review-season-1-episode-9-young-hearts-1851125274">Manuel Betancourt shares his thoughts on the latest episode of <i>The Curse</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/10/six-sci-fi-femme-fatales-i-would-like-to-take-out-for-a-nice-steak-dinner/">Maud Woolf shares her favourite femme fatales from SFF films and TV shows. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/1980s-twilight-zone-reboot/">Keith Roysdon revisits the 1985 <i>Twilight Zone</i> reboot. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/08/tracking-the-cryptic-cryptid-the-mothman-prophecies-2002/">Judith Tarr revisits the 2002 horror film <i>The Mothman Prophecies</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/rian-johnson-and-olivia-rutigliano-talk-poker-face-knives-out-and-golden-age-mysteries/">Olivia Rutigliano interviews Rian Johnson, director of <i>Knives Out, Glass Onion, Poker Face, The Last Jedi, Looper</i> and many others. </a> </li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/kathleen-kennedy-films-ranked-jurassic-et-back-future-1851156559">Germain Lussier ranks the movies produced by Kathleen Kennedy. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/05/did-peter-jackson-nearly-kill-off-one-of-the-hobbits-in-lord-of-the-rings">Ben Child reports that Peter Jackson was pressured by producers to kill off one of the Hobbits in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/david-lynch-dune-sequel-script-unearthed/">Max Evry reports that the script to a proposed sequel to David Lynch's adaptation of<i> Dune </i>has resurfaced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://mashable.com/article/disney-pulls-youtube-steamboat-willie-copyright-claim">Matt Binder reports that <i>Disney</i> tried to get a YouTuber's redub of <i>Steamboat Willie</i> pulled for copyright violations, even though the cartoon is in the public domain now. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.thewrap.com/seth-macfarlane-the-orville-canceled-season/">Lucas Manfredi reports that according to creator and star Seth McFarlane, <i>The Orville</i> is not cancelled yet. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/our-flag-means-death-canceled-max-1235866718/">Joe Otterson reports that the much beloved pirate series <i>Our Flag Means Death </i>has been cancelled by <i>HBO Max</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/mark-hamill-natalie-portman-meet-star-wars-luke-padme-1851149871">James Whitbrook reports that Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the <i>Star Wars</i> films, has finally met Natalie Portman, who played his on-screen mother Padme Armidala. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/entertainment-industry-bands-together-to-save-struggling-hollywood-prop-house/">Matthew Rodiguez reports that <i>Faux Library Studio Props</i>, who specialise in supplying furniture and books for movie and TV productions, are in financial trouble. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/11/vincent-gallo-accused-explicit-audition">Gloria Oladipo reports that actor Vincent Gallo has been accused by several women of inappropriate behaviour during auditions. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/11/bong-joon-ho-joins-calls-for-investigation-of-lee-sun-kyuns-death">Catherine Shoard reports that Bong Joon-ho, director of <i>Snow Piercer</i> and<i> Parasite</i>, has called for an investigation into the death of <i>Parasite</i> star Lee Sun-kyun, who committed suicide after being questioned by the police and subjected to blackmail. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/christian-oliver-daughters-killed-caribbean-plane-crash-speed-racer-1235695821/">German American actor Christian Oliver, who appeared in <i>Alarm for Cobra 11, Speed Racer, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny </i>and many others, has died in a plane crash along with his two daughters, aged 51.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/10/georgina-hale-obituary">British actress Georgina Hale, star of <i>Ladykillers, T-Bag, The Devils </i>and others, has died aged 80. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tracy-torme-dead-sliders-star-trek-next-generation-1235783832/">Tracy Tormé, co-creator of <i>Sliders</i> and writer of<i> Star Trek: The Next Generation</i>, has died aged 64. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.startribune.com/cindy-morgan-star-of-tron-and-caddyshack-dies-at-69/600332938/">Actress Cindy Morgan, best known for her appearances in <i>Caddyshack</i> and <i>Tron</i>, has died aged 69. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/obituaries-people-news/glynis-johns-dead-mary-poppins-mrs-banks-1235861986/">Actress Glynis Johns, best known for her roles in <i>The Court Jester</i>, <i>Mary Poppins, Miranda, Shake Hands With the Devil </i>and many others, has died aged 100.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/05/glynis-johns-obituary">Tim Pulleine shares an obituary for Glynis Johns. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Doctor Who</i> past, present and future: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/upcoming-doctor-who-spinoff-classic-villain/">Zachary Cimaglio reports that a <i>Doctor Who</i> spin-off focussed on the Sea Devils is in the works.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIBfUAF9otg">Watch a <i>Doctor Who</i> short film "Leela vs. the Time War: The Collection". </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 2 of <i>What If...?</i>, <i>Echo</i> and the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe </i></b>in general: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/echo-review-tv-disney-plus-hulu-marvel-alaqua-cox-1851143923">Sam Barsanti calls <i>Echo</i> a brutal and heartfelt mini-series. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/10/echo-review-the-bloodiest-show-ever-seen-on-disney-proves-theres-life-in-the-mcu-yet">Leila Latif calls <i>Echo</i> the bloodiest <i>Disney Plus</i> series yet and says that it proves that there is still life in the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/echo-marvel-show-primer-kingpin-daredevil-hawkeye-mcu-1851151989">Germain Lussier lists everything to remember before watching <i>Echo</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/your-guide-to-what-if-season-2-episodes-ranked-worst-to-best/">Leah Marilla Thomas ranks the episodes of season 2 of <i>What If?</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/08/marvels-what-if-season-2-recap-and-review/">Leah Schnelbach declares that season 2 of <i>What If?</i> gave us four great and five okay episodes. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Star Trek</i> in general:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-10-1969-mad-for-this-show-star-trek-whom-gods-destroy/"><i>Galactic Journey </i>revisits the 1969 <i>Star Trek</i> episode "Whom Gods Destroy". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/08/star-trek-enterprise-rewatch-demons/">Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the <i>Star Trek Enterprise</i> episode "Demons".</a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2024/01/12/fridays-rag-tag-crew-star-trek-prodigy/">Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on <i>Star Trek Prodigy</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/where-to-watch-the-star-trek-movies-confirmed/">Rachel Leishman shares her love for the J.H. Abrams <i>Star Trek</i> reboot movies. </a> </li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/fox-news-host-unexpectedly-wins-for-most-baffling-star-trek-vs-star-wars-take/">D.R. Medlen reports that<i> Fox News</i> host Emily Compagno proved herself to be extremely clueless about <i>Star Wars</i> and <i>Star Trek</i> and how both franchises have always been what she considers "woke".</a></li></ul></div></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Destroy All Neighbors</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/10/destroy-all-neighbors-review-prog-rock-comedy-horror-is-splatterhouse-turned-up-to-11">Phil Hoad calls <i>Destroy All Neighbors</i> a prog-rock comedy horror film turned up to 11</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/shudder-horror-review-destroy-all-neighbors-alex-winter-1851154117">Cheryl Eddy calls <i>Destroy All Neighbors</i> a diabolical good time</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 4 of<i> For All Mankind</i>: <br /></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2024/01/for-all-mankind-49-progress.html">Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of<i> For All Mankind</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/for-all-mankind-recap-season-4-episode-9-brazil/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of<i> For All Mankind</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><div><b>Tributes to David Soul:</b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/david-soul-dies-starsky-hutch-star-80-1235695784/">Actor David Soul, best known for playing Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in <i>Starsky and Hutch</i>, has died aged 80. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67895679">Charlotte Gallagher and Mark Savage share an obituary for David Soul. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-05/david-soul-dead-starsky-hutch-actor-80">Alexandra Del Rosario shares an obituary for David Soul. </a></li><li><a href="http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-end-of-soul.html">J. Kingston Pierce remembers David Soul. </a></li><li><a href="https://thekillingtimestv.wordpress.com/2024/01/05/david-soul-1943-2024/">Paul Hirons remembers David Soul. </a></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced/">The finalists for the 2024 Philip K. Dick Award have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/sakinah-hofler-accepts-the-2023-analog-award-for-emerging-black-voices/">The winner of the 2023 Analog Award for Emerging Black Voices has been announced.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2023-cybils-awards-shortlists/">The finalists for the 2023 Cybils Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://mysterywriters.org/mwa-announces-2023-special-awards-grand-master-and-ellery-queen-recipients/">The Mystery Writers of America have announced the recipients of the 2024 Grand Master and Ellery Queen Awards. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/2023-creative-arts-emmys-winners-list-1235696511/">The winners of the 2023 Creative Art Emmys have been announced</a> with <a href="https://file770.com/the-last-of-us-dominates-night-one-of-the-75th-creative-arts-emmy-awards/">lots of love for genre TV</a>. </li><li><a href="https://file770.com/2024-golden-globe-awards/">The winners of the 2023 Golden Globes have been announced with almost no love for genre films and TV and lots of wins for dull movies and TV.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/costume-designers-guild-awards-2024-nominations-1235694710/">The finalists for the 2024 Costume Designers Guild Awards have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-boys-succession-astra-tv-awards-winners-1235865738/">The winners of the 2024 Astra TV Awards have been announced with lots of love for genre TV. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/best-picture-2024-nominees-eligible-barbie-poor-things-1851149491">Germain Lussier lists genre films eligible for the 2024 Academy Awards. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3245725/chinese-professor-used-ai-write-science-fiction-novel-then-it-won-national-award">Holly Chik reports that the AI-generated novel <i>Land of Memories</i> by Shen Yang has placed second in the Jiangsu Youth Popular Science Science Fiction Competition.</a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gareths-newsletter.ghost.io/where-do-you-get-your-ideas/">Gareth L. Powell explains where he gets his ideas. </a></li><li><a href="https://bigthink.com/series/the-big-think-interview/tiago-forte/">Tiago Forte explains how to think creatively on command. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/multiple-points-of-view-mysteries-and-thrillers/">Caz Frear talks about using multiple points of view in mysteries and thrillers. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/ian-hamilton-on-the-joys-and-sorrows-of-finishing-a-series/">Ian Hamilton talks about the joys and sorrows of finishing a series. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/06/authors-missing-borrowing-royalties-british-library-cyber-attack">David Barnett reports that the British Library suffered a massive cyberattack and that authors cannot be paid royalties for library lending as a result. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comments on the issues with <i>Substack</i>:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://catvalente.substack.com/p/on-recent-developments-at-substack?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1199897&post_id=140360325&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1q9g6&utm_medium=email">Catherynne Valente talks about recent developments at <i>Substack</i> and how she feels about them.</a></li><li><a href="https://cassrmorris.substack.com/p/so-substack?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=1gv0k&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email">Cass Morris discusses the issues with <i>Substack</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://briankeene.substack.com/p/letters-from-the-labyrinth-364?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=485186&post_id=140416943&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1gv0k&utm_medium=email">Brian Keene discusses the issues with <i>Substack</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.platformer.news/p/substack-says-it-will-remove-nazi?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web">Casey Newton reports that <i>Substack</i> has promised to remove some far right accounts from its platform. </a></li><li><a href="https://robinareid.substack.com/p/substack-will-remove-some-nazi-publications?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1045655&post_id=140533327&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1gv0k&utm_medium=email">Robin Ann Reid points out that <i>Substack </i>will only remove some far right accounts, not all of them. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comments on the AI controversy:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li><a href="https://terribleminds.com/ramble/2024/01/10/just-say-no-to-artificial-intelligence-in-your-creative-pursuits-please-jfc-wtaf/">Chuck Wendig implores people to jsut say no to using AI in their creative pursuits. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment/COLC-2023-0006-10349">SFWA has issued a statement on the unauthorised use of published works to train AI systems.</a><br /></li></ul><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/09/1223805499/the-future-asks-if-technology-will-save-humanity-or-accelerate-its-end">Ari Shapiro interviews Naomi Alderman. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://paulsemel.com/exclusive-interview-the-reinvented-detective-editors-jennifer-brozek-cat-rambo/">Paul Semel interviews Jennifer Brozek and Cat Rambo.</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/andrea-stewart-after-the-rebellion/"><i>Locus </i>interviews Andrea Stewart.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/1/7/interviewing-tashan-mehta"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews Tashan Mehta. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-z-louise-interview.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews A.Z. Louise.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-phoebe-wagner-interview.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Phoebe Wagner.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-joan-tierney-interview.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Joan Tierney.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/interviews/2024/1/9/interviewing-paul-kane"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> interviews Paul Kane. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/microreview-where-peace-is-lost-by.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>Where Peace is Lost</i> by Valerie Valdes </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-light-from-uncommon-stars-2/">Warner Holme reviews <i>Light From Uncommon Stars</i> by Ryka Aoki.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/7/house-of-open-wounds-by-adrian-tchaikovsky"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>reviews <i>House of Open Wounds</i> by Adrian Tchaikovsky </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-redsight-by-meredith-mooring/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>Redsight</i> by Meredith Mooring</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-crown-of-omens-by-e-j-doble/">Esmay Rosalyne reviews <i>The Crown of Omens</i> by E.J. Doble</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/meet-the-new-boss">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>The Empire of Gold</i> by S.A. Chakraborty </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F6NftEKXM8"><i>Liam's Lyceum</i> reviews <i>The Doom of Odin</i> by Scott Oden. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-last-bloodcarver-by-vanessa-le/">Fabienne Schwizer reviews <i>The Last Bloodcarver </i>by Vanessa Le</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-grievars-blood-by-alexander-darwin/">John Mauro reviews <i>Grievar’s Blood</i> by Alexander Darwin </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-ashes-of-ancestors-by.html">Roseanna Pendlebury reviews <i>Ashes of the Ancestors</i> by Andrew Knighton </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/alexandra-pierce-reviews-the-death-i-gave-him-by-em-x-liu/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>The Death I Gave Him</i> by Em X. Liu </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/lis-carey-review-juniper-wiles/">Lis Carey revieww <i>Juniper Wiles</i> by Charles de Lint. </a><br /></li><li><a href="Mislaid in Parts Half Known by Seanan McGuire">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Mislaid in Parts Half Known</i> by Seanan McGuire</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/colleen-mondor-reviews-midnight-at-the-houdini-by-delilah-s-dawson/">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>Midnight at the Houdini</i> by Delilah S. Dawson </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-tomorrows-children-by-daniel-polansky/">Adrian Collins reviews <i>Tomorrow’s Children</i> by Daniel Polansky </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/niall-harrison-reviews-mad-sisters-of-esi-by-tashan-mehta/">Niall Harrison reviews <i>Mad Sisters of Esi </i>by Tashan Mehta </a></li><li><a href="http://fantasy-faction.com/2024/song-of-silver-flame-like-night-by-amelie-wen-zhao">J.C. Kang reviews <i>Song of Silver, Flame Like Night </i>by Amélie Wen Zhao </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/a-power-unbound/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>A Power Unbound </i>by Freya Marske</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-that-we-maye-with-free.html">Haley Zapal reviews <i>That We Maye with Free Heartes Accomplishe Those Thynges</i> by Thomas M. Waldroon </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/nanoreviews-modesitt-edition-from.html">Joe Sherry reviews<i> From the Forest </i>and <i>Contrarian </i>by by L.E. Modesitt Jr. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/7/loki-journey-into-mystery-by-katherine-locke"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Loki - Journey Into Mystery</i> by Katherine Locke</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jenmedsbookreviews.com/2024/01/09/one-by-eve-smith-2/">Mandie Griffiths reviews <i>One</i> by Eve Smith. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-review-womb-city-by-tlotlo-tsamaase/">Aigner Loren Wilson reviews <i>Womb City</i> by Tlotlo Tsamaase </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/11/book-review-somewhere-in-the-deep-by-tanvi-berwah/">Mahved Murash reviews <i>Somewhere in the Deep</i> by Tanvi Berwah </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/4/deep-freeze-by-michael-c-grumley"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Deep Freeze </i>by Michael C. Grumley</a></li><li><a href="https://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/2024/01/05/deep-freeze-revival-1-by-michael-c-grumley/">Matt Pechey reviews <i>Deep Freeze </i>by Michael C. Grumley</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/unwholly/">Kat Hooper reviews <i>UnWholly</i> by Neal Shusterman </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/paul-di-filippo-reviews-him-by-geoff-ryman/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>HIM</i> by Geoff Ryman </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.shotsmag.co.uk/book_reviews_view.aspx?book_review_id=2810">Jon Morgan reviews <i>The Bad Weather Friend</i> by Dean Koontz </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2024/01/knock-knock-open-wide-by-neil-sharpson/">Rob Bedford reviews <i>Knock Knock, Open Wide</i> by Neil Sharpson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2024/01/night-of-mannequins.html"><i>Paperback Warrior </i>reviews <i>Night of the Mannequins</i> by Stephen Graham Jones. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2024/01/night-shoot.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> reviews <i>Night Shoot </i>by David Sodergren. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-sawtooth-by-steph-nelson/">John Mauro reviews <i>Sawtooth </i>by Steph Nelson </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gabino-iglesias-reviews-dead-eleven-by-jimmy-juliano/">Gabino Iglesias reviews <i>Dead Eleven </i>by Jimmy Juliano </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-wolfe-at-the-door-by-gene-wolfe/"><i>Grimdark Magazine</i> reviews <i>The Wolfe at the Door </i>by Gene Wolfe</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/paul-di-filippo-reviews-collected-ogoense-and-other-stories-by-rebecca-ore/">Paul Di Filippo reviews <i>Collected Ogoense and Other Stories</i> by Rebecca Ore </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-reinvented-detective/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Reinvented Detective</i>, edited by Cat Rambo and Jennifer Brozek </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/screams-with-a-black-timbre-on-jordan-peeles-out-there-screaming/">Jason Ray Carney reviews <i>Out There Screaming</i>, edited by Jordan Peele. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/5/a-traveller-in-time-the-critical-practice-of-maureen-kincaid-speller-edited-by-nina-allan"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>A Traveller in Time - The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, </i>edited by Nina Allan </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/10/bet-you-didnt-know-you-could-get-into-this-much-trouble-using-calculus-redux-algernon-blackwoods-a-victim-of-higher-space/">Anne M. Pillsworth and Ruthanna Emrys revisit the 1914 horror story “A Victim of Higher Space” by Algernon Blackwood.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/09/science-and-slaughter-skylark-three-by-e-e-doc-smith/">Alan Brown revisits the 1930 space opera novel<i> Skylark Three</i> by E.E. Smith. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://doyouwriteunderyourownname.blogspot.com/2024/01/forgotten-book-eternal-journey.html">Martin Edwards revisits the 1930 gothic novel <i>The Eternal Journey</i> by Ethel Lina White.</a></li><li><a href="https://geoliminal.com/2024/01/06/strainers-of-the-pulp-19-three-kings-day-edition-worms-of-the-earth-by-robert-e-howard-weird-tales-nov-1932-v-20-n-5/">Eric Williamson revisits the 1932 <i>Bran Mak Mor</i>n sword and sorcery story "Worms of the Earth" by Robert E. Howard. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2024/01/conan-devil-in-iron.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> revisits the 1934 <i>Conan </i>sword and sorcery story "The Devil in Iron" by Robert E. Howard. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/1/er-eddisons-zimiamvia-a-trilogy">Ken Lizzi revisits the 1935 fantasy tnovel<i> Mistress of Mistresses </i>and its sequels by E.R. Eddison. </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/daybreak-2250/">Kat Hooper revisits the 1952 post-apocalyptic novel <i>Daybreak – 2250 A.D.</i> a.k.a <i>Star Man’s Son </i>by Andre Norton </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/05/the-last-question-by-isaac-asimov-2nd-review/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “The Last Question” by Isaac Asimov.</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/31/compounded-interest-by-mack-reynolds/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “Compounded Interest” by Mack Reynolds</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/03/the-doorstop-by-reginald-bretnor/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “The Doorstop” by Reginald Bretnor</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2024/01/05/the-simulacra-by-philip-k-dick/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1964 science fiction novel<i> The Simulacra </i>by Philip K. Dick.</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/songs">James Davis Nicoll revisits 1967 science fiction novel <i>Stranger From the Depths </i>by Gerry Turner </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-6-1969-booms-and-busts-february-1969-galaxy/">Gideon Marcus revisits the February 1969 issue of <i>Galaxy</i>.</a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-8-1969-young-punks-and-old-fogies-february-1969-fantastic/">Victoria Silverwolf revisits the February 1969 issue of <i>Fantastic</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.kenlizzi.net/death-angels-shadow-a-terrific-trio-of-tales-from-karl-edward-wagner/">Ken Lizzi revisits the 1973 <i>Kane</i> sword and sorcery collection <i>Death Angel's Shadow</i> by Karl Edward Wagner. </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/really-cant-stay">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1991 near future science fiction novel <i>Fallen Angels</i> by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Michael F. Flynn </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/11/r-l-stines-the-new-years-party-teen-horror-time-machine-review/">Alissa Burger revisits the 1995 YA horror novel <i>The New Year's Party</i> by R.L. Stine. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/4/the-truth-of-the-matter-of-britain-some-thoughts-upon-re-reading-bernard-cornwells-warlord-trilogy">Brian Murphy revisits the 1995 Arthurian novel <i>The Winter King </i>by Bernard Cornwell. </a> <br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.briankeene.com/news/house-of-last-resort-weekend-schedule">Brian Keene shares the schedule for the House of Last Resort Weekend horror convention in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.</a></li><li><a href="https://amazingstories.com/2024/01/the-fannish-inquisition-needs-more-than-soft-cushions-and-comfy-chairs/">Steve Davidson notes that human rights concerns should be taken more into account when evaluating Worldcon bids. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/glasgow-2024-announces-three-black-halflings-as-special-guests/">Mike Glyer reports that the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, has announced more special guests. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/texas-library-association-cancels-chuck-tingle/">Mike Glyer reports that the Texas Library Association has rescinded an invitation to Chuck Tingle to speak at their 2024 conference in San Antonion, Texas, and that fellow T.J. Klune has resigned in protest. </a></li><li><a href="https://txla.org/news/tla-statement-regarding-author-chuck-tingle/">Shirley Robinson, director of the Texas Library Association, responds to their disinvitation of Chuck Tingle. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/11/the-enfield-haunting-review-catherine-tate-david-threlfall-ambassadors-theatre-london">Arifa Akbar shares her thoughts on the horror stage play <i>The Enfield Haunting</i>, which is currently playing in London, UK. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/jan/07/a-national-emergency-uk-theatres-fear-closure-after-more-local-funding-cuts">Vanessa Thorpe reports that several local theatres in the UK are facing massive funding cuts. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.space.com/ula-vulcan-centaur-first-launch-peregrine-celestis-moon-mission">Josh Dinner reports about the launch of the <i>Vulcan Centaur</i> rocket, which is supposed to bring a plander to the Moon for the first time in fifty years. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-launch-private-nasa-0987b31b201b78c3935f1bfbf9a7cade">Marcia Dunn reports that the first US Moon landing attempt in fifty years appears to be doomed after the <i>Vulcan Centaur</i> rocket developed a fuel leak. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/nasa-osiris-rex-bennu-asteroid-samples-canister-1851159732">Passant Rabie reports that<i> NASA</i> has finally mnaged to open the sample container the <i>Osiris-Rex </i>spaceprobe brought back from the asteroid Bennu. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/scientists-have-formally-invited-aliens-to-visit-kentuc-1851144513">Isaac Schultz reports that scientists have formally invited aliens to visit Lexington, Kentucky. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/exoskeletons.html">Jeffrey Rapaport reports that exo-skeletons are one step closer to becoming reality.</a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/microreview-video-game-deadly.html">Joe DelFranco reviews the video game<i> Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise </i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/magic-the-gathering-ai-art-marketing-controversy-hasbro-1851148658">James Whitbrook reports that <i>Hasbro</i> has used AI generated for <i>Magic the Gathering</i> promotional images - after promising not to use AI art. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/industry-veteran-jennell-jaquays-passes.702020/">Game developer Jennell Jaquays has died aged 68. </a></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/blog/2024/01/10/rip-jennell-jaquays/"><i>Goodman Games</i> remembers Jennell Jaquays. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YLSfzV1DX0"><i>Toy Habits </i>reviews the<i> Mattel Turtles of Grayskull</i> Mouse-Jaw figure.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MdeIeYv2FA"><i>Pixel Dan</i> shares his ten favourite toys of 2023. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94va6vHgzXg"><i>For Eternia</i> rank their ten favourite <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe </i>Masterverse action figures of 2023. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/willow-wood/">"Willow Wood" by Linda Niehoff in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/home-bread/">"Home Bread" by R.E. Dukalsky in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/across-bloody.html">"Across Bloody Skies" by Jay Requard in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/chi_01_24/">"Stars Don't Dream" by Chi Hui, translated by John Chu, in <i>Clarkesworld</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/munck_01_24/">"Binomial Nomenclature and the Mother of Happiness" by Alexandra Munck in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://wyldblood.com/the-planets-gone-to-the-dogs/">"The Planet’s Gone to the Dogs" by Anna Vinogradov Neidle in <i>Wyldblood</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/10/also-the-cat-rachel-swirsky/">"Also, the Cat" by Rachel Swirsky in <i>Tor.com</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://interzone.digital/howard-and-the-golem/">"Howard and the Golem" by Lisa Goldstein in <i>Interzone</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/shadow-films/">"Shadow Films" by Ben Peek in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/in-the-trees-hollow-a-doe/">"In the Tree’s Hollow, a Doe" by Lowry Poletti in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/creative-nonfiction/chase-scene/">"Chase Scene" by Megan Kiekel Anderson in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/spread-the-word/">"Spread the Word" by Delilah S. Dawson in<i> Apex Magazine</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/agni">"Agni" by Nibedita Sen in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/klang-crow/">"Klang Crow" by Joshua Lim in <i>The Dark</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lunastationquarterly.com/story/the-last-ride-of-rivke-grinkin/">"The Last Ride of Rivke Grinkin" by Reyzl Grace in <i>Luna Station Quarterly</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2024/01/08/free-fiction-monday-victims/">"Victims" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHC-VTmLlpU">Watch a trailer for <i>Masters of the Universe Revolution</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4sdChD0eQ">Watch a clip from season 2 of <i>Arcane</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEU3tnJrouE">Watch a trailer for <i>Orion and the Dark</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwuJ4fs2-Fg">Watch a trailer for <i>Monolith</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEgoaLZzXM">Watch a trailer for season 2 of <i>Halo</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mogSbMD6EcY">Watch a trailer for <i>3 Body Problem</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PsP8MFH8p0">Watch a trailer for <i>Abigail</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_kTUnzp5ng">Watch a trailer for <i>The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_bNpqwf5lM">Watch a trailer for<i> The Seeding. </i></a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-5200894683954621872024-01-04T23:00:00.731+00:002024-01-05T02:28:44.314+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 5, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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 2023, the 2023 <i>Doctor Who Christmas Special</i>,<i> What If...?, Echo </i>and<i> </i>the<i> Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>in general, <i>Rebel Moon, Part 1 - A Child of Fire, Night Swim, </i>season 4 of <i>For All Mankind</i>, tributes to Tom Wilkinson and much
more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/new-book-list-scifi-fantasy-horror-releases-jan-2024-1851075354">Cheryl Eddy shares 35 new science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in January 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/24-sci-fi-and-fantasy-books-to-look-forward-to-in-2024/">Natalie Zutter shares 24 new science fiction and fantasy books to look forward to in 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/04/most-anticipated-young-adult-sff-h-for-january-february-2024/">Alex Brown shares YA science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in January and February 2024. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/in-defense-of-science-fiction?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=35345&post_id=140166475&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=8o136&utm_medium=email">Noah Smith shares a defense of science fiction. </a></li><li><a href="https://britishfantasysociety.org/subgenre-deep-dive-sword-sorcery/">Tiffani Angus attempts to explain what sword and sorcery is. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/rising-stars-of-dark-and-grimdark-sff-2024/">John Mauro lists the rising stars of dark and grimdark SFF.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/02/backlist-bonanaza-5-underrated-young-adult-science-fiction-books/">Alex Brown shares five underrated YA science fiction books. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/02/five-sf-stories-featuring-externally-mandated-body-modifications/">James Davis Nicoll lists five science fiction stories featuring externally mandated body modifications. </a></li><li><a href="http://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2024/01/alice-mcilroy-on-writers-exploring-ai.html">Alice McIlroy shares thriller featuring AI. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/02/the-comfort-of-competence-porn-stories/">Rachel Ayers talks about the comfort of so-called competence porn stories. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/what-makes-a-forest-such-a-seductive-setting-for-fiction/">Terry Parlato explains why forests are such popular settings for fiction. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/running-away-with-the-fairies/">Tara Isabella Burton talks about running away with the fairies as a metaphor. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/04/jo-waltons-reading-list-december-2023/">Jo Walton shares her reading list for December 2023.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://journeyplanet.weebly.com/journey-planet---2021-hugo-nominee/journey-planet-78-jack-the-ripper-in-fiction">The "Jack the Ripper in Fiction" issue of <i>Journey Planet</i> is now available for download. </a></li><li><a href="https://goodman-games.com/tftms/2023/12/24/adventures-in-fiction-fritz-leiber/">Michael Curtis shares his appreciation for the works of Fritz Leiber. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/well-never-know-for-sure/">Rich Lynch and Guy H. Lillian III recount how Paul Doerr, one of the prime suspects for the still unsolved crimes of the so-called Zodiac killer, was once a member of the Southern Fandom Press Alliance. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWorldOfRobertEHoward/posts/758250306321095"><i>The World of Robert E. Howard </i>shares an update on the health status of Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke, who suffered a serious fall and head injury. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2024/1/3/regarding-rusty-burke">Deuce Richardson also shares an update on the health status of Rusty Burke. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/03/salman-rushdie-stabbing-memoir-could-delay-accused-attacker-trial">Ella Creamer reports that Salman Rushdie's memoir about his stabbing could delay the trial of his attacker. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/02/author-richard-bowes-passes-away-at-79/">Vanessa Armstrong remember Richard Bowes. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/tribute-to-paul-reubens-tina-tuner-john-romita-sr-rip-1851127452"><i>io9</i> remembers the SFF luminaries we lost in 2023. </a></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Best of 2023:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2023/12/31/goodbye-2023-the-best-reads-of-my-year-plus-stats"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>shares his favourite books of 2023.<i> <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2023/12/sffworld-review-of-the-year-2023-part-4/"><i>SFF World</i> share their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror films and TV of 2023.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/favorite-star-trek-episodes-best-of-2023/">Avery Kaplan shares her favourite <i>Star Trek</i> episodes of 2023. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://comicskingdom.com/trending/blog/2023/12/22/inside-the-kingdom-with-olive-popeye-a-heartfelt-chat-with-the-creators-of-the-new-comic-sensation?sid=650bfd3fe7824bd1a2019c70">Nadya Martinez interviews Randy Milholland and Emi Burdge, the creative team behind <i>Popeye and Olive</i>.</a></li><li><a href="http://journeyplanet.weebly.com/journey-planet---2021-hugo-nominee/journey-planet-77-watchmen">The <i>Watchmen</i> issue of <i>Journey Planet </i>is now available for download. </a> </li><li><a href="https://bleedingcool.com/comics/dc-comics-reduces-paper-quality-of-covers-but-doubles-their-number/">Rich Johnston reports that <i>Marvel </i>and <i>DC</i> have started printing their covers on lower quality paper to combat rising costs. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://pulpfest.com/2023/12/the-astounding-hubert-rogers/">Leslie Silberberg shares her appreciation for the work of pulp cover artist Hubert Rogers. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2023/12/30/wallace-smith-unbridled-talent-1">Deuce Richardson shares his appreciation for the artwork of Wallace Smith. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tcj.com/roger-hill-early-comics-fan-historian-and-scholar-dies-at-75/">Comic scholar Roger Hill has died aged 75. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-sci-fi-movies-1234893930/the-martian-2013-1234931143/"><i>The Rolling Stone </i>shares their 150 favourite science fiction movies of all time. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/25/leave-the-world-behind/">James Wallace Harris shares his thoughts on<i> Leave the World Behind</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/02/lord-of-misrule-review-vicar-blesses-harvest-festival-horror-in-wicker-man-rehash">Leslie Felperin calls <i>Lord of Misrule</i> review a poor man's <i>Wicker Man </i>rehash </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-curse-recap-season-1-episode-8-self-exclusion-1851120844">Manuel Betancourt shares his thoughts on the latest episode of <i>The Curse</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/01/attenborough-and-the-giant-sea-monster-review-quite-possibly-the-most-deeply-joyous-show-ever-made">Lucy Mangan calls <i>Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster</i> quite possibly the most deeply joyous documentary ever made, even though it does not contain an actual sea monster. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/01/who-is-james-payton-review-jobbing-harry-potter-actor-gets-moment-in-the-spotlight">Cath Clarke shares her thoughts on the documentary <i>Who Is James Payton?</i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.polygon.com/24016931/superhero-fatigue-movie-flops-2023-mcu-dceu">Susana Polo points out that people are not tired of superhero movies but of bad superhero movies.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_20_most_epic_moments_in_sci_fi_movies/s1__39752389#slide_1">Thomas West shares his twenty favourite moments in science fiction films. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/02/hollywood-movies-2024">Charles Bramesco takes a look at how science fiction movies have portrayed 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-2024-bell-riots-irish-reunification-world-war-1851137750">James Whitbrook takes a look at how <i>Star Trek </i>has portrayed 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/2024-the-year-in-animation-disney-warner-bros-netflix-1851134595">Justin Carter looks ahead at what 2024 will bring in animation. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/bring-back-the-20-plus-episode-tv-season-1851018940">Kayleigh Dray wishes that TV seasons of twenty plus episodes were to come back. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/02/britain-television-tv-reality-shows-downton-abbey?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Rob Young wishes that British television would once again become as weird as it was in the 1970s and 1980s. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://hugoclub.blogspot.com/2023/12/death-from-above-hugo-cinema-1979.html"><i>The Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog</i> looks back at the Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo finalists of 1979. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-2-1969-blood-sweat-and-tears-star-trek-elaan-of-troyius/"><i>Galactic Journey </i>revisits the 1968<i> Star Trek </i>episode "Elaan of Troyius". </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20231222-the-wicker-man-the-disturbing-cult-british-classic-that-cant-be-defined">Norman Miller revisits the 1973 horror movie <i>The Wicker Man.</i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/bloody-new-year-cheesy-80s-holiday-horror-retro-review-1851117808">Cheryl Eddy revisits the 1987 horror movie <i>Bloody New Year</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/ahsoka-eman-esfandi-season-2-movie-1235777004/">Brian Davids interviews Eman Esfandi, who plays Ezra Bridger in <i>Ahsoka</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/29/tv-prop-collectors-spitting-image-treasure">Nell Frizzell profiles collectors of TV memorabilia. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/04/licence-to-offend-bfi-season-gives-james-bond-films-trigger-warnings">Catherine Shoard reports that the British Film Institute has added content warnings to several movies, including two Bond films, shown as part of its retrospective dedicated to film composer John Barry. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/04/james-bond-trigger-warnings-really-for-audiences-benefit">Peter Bradshaw is no fan of the content warnings added by the British Film Institute and points out that the issues with Bond movies should be well known to everybody. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2024/01/ana-ofelia-murguia-dead-coco-actress-1235693503/">Mexican actress Ana Pfelia Murguía, best known internationally for voicing the mother of <i>Coco </i>in the eponymous animated film, has died aged 90. </a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Doctor Who</i> at sixty: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://tvline.com/lists/ncuti-gatwa-performance-doctor-who-christmas-special-fifteenth/">Matt Webb Mitovich praises Ncuti Gatwa's performance as the Fifteenth Doctor in <i>Doctor Who</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-iplayer-streaming-ratings-record-disney-plus-1851142029">James Whitbrook reports that the BBC offering almost all of <i>Doctor Who</i> to stream for free has been a huge success. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 2 of <i>What If...?</i>, <i>Echo</i> and the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe </i></b>in general: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/what-if-recap-season-2-episode-8-what-if-the-avengers-assembled-in-1602/">Avery Kaplan shares her thoughts on the <i>What If? </i>episode "What If… The Avengers Assembled in 1602?"</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/marvels-what-if-shakespeare-season-2-episode-8/">Rachel Leishman shares her thoughts on "What If…the Avengers Assembled in 1602?”</a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/marvel-just-redeemed-its-least-redeemable-character-in-what-if/?utm_source=mostpopular">Julia Glassman shares her thoughts on the <i>What If?</i> episode “What If… Hela Found the Ten Rings?” </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/03/it-really-is-good-to-have-friends-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3/">Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on <i>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/marvel-echo-disney-plus-phoenix-force-1851127088">Sam Barsanti shares some background on the character of <i>Echo</i> before the debut of the eponymous series. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/echo-timeframe-marvel-daredevil-netflix-kingpin-hulu-1851136267">Germain Lussier interviews Richie Palmer, executive producer of <i>Echo</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/01/jeremy-renner-snowplough-accident-new-years-eve-live-broadcast">Coral Murphy Marcos reports about the current helath status of actor Jeremy Renner, best known for playing Hawkeye in the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe</i>, one year after his near-fatal snow plough accident. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdsEpRzc4zE">Watch a trailer for season 2 of <i>Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7Pyt5fVYa4">Watch a trailer for <i>Echo</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Rebel Moon, Part 1 - Child of Fire</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/rebel-moon-cast-twist-end-staz-nair-1235776752/">Brian Davids interviews Staz Nair, one of the stars of <i>Rebel Moon</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/02/rebel-moon-zack-snyder-netflix-christopher-nolan-dc">Ben Child wonders why in spite of terrible reviews, <i>Rebel Moon </i>director Zack Snyder nonetheless appears to be unstoppable. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Night Swim</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/night-swim-review-the-waters-not-fine-1851139870">Matthew Jackson calls <i>Night Swim</i> a creepy horror film about a haunted pool that surpasses expectations. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/night-swim-review-movie-blumhouse-killer-pool-horror-1851140206">Germain Lussier declares that <i>Night Swim</i> treads water but ultimately sinks</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 4 of<i> For All Mankind</i>: <br /></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2023/12/for-all-mankind-48-sergei-and-margot-ed.html">Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of <i>For All Mankind</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/for-all-mankind-recap-season-4-episode-8-legacy/">Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of <i>For All Mankind</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Tributes to Tom Wilkinson:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/30/full-monty-actor-tom-wilkinson-dies-aged-75">British actor Tom Wilkinson, best known for his roles in<i> The Full Monty, Batman Begins, Michael Clayton, Burke and Hare </i>and many others, has died aged 75.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/30/what-a-sad-loss-tom-wilkinson-was-quietly-and-consistently-wonderful">Peter Bradshaw remembers Tom Wilkinson.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/obituary-tom-wilkinson-british-actor-1851131934">Justin Carter remembers Tom Wilkinson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/31/tom-wilkinson-obituary">Ryan Gilbey shares an obituary for Tom Wilkinson. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/jan/03/tom-wilkinson-bill-nighy-rachel-weisz-david-hare-richard-eyre-jonathan-pryce">Catherine Shoard shares tributes by fellow actors to Tom Wilkinson. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2023/dec/30/tom-wilkinson-a-life-in-pictures">Michael Williams shares photos of Tom Wilkinson's lengthy career. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://galacticjourney.org/december-30-1968-beautiful-downtown-starbank-the-1968-galactic-stars/">The winners of the 1968 Galactic Stars have been announced. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2023/12/30/the-2023-darth-vader-parenthood-award-for-outstandingly-horrible-fictional-parents/">The winners of the 2023 Darth Vader Parenthood Award have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="http://corabuhlert.com/2023/12/31/the-2023-jonathan-and-martha-kent-fictional-parent-of-the-year-award/">The winners of the 2023 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award have been announced. </a></li><li><a href="https://rehfoundation.org/the-2024-robert-e-howard-awards-are-open-for-nominations/">The 2024 Robert E. Howard Awards are open for nominations. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://lithub.com/stop-making-excuses-why-theres-always-time-to-follow-your-writing-dreams/">Angela Brown explains that there is always time to follow your writing dreams. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/nightmares-colin-osullivan/">Coilin O'Sullivan explains how to integrate your nighrmares into your next novel. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/plot-twist-importance/">Heidi Perks talks about the importance of plot twists. </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com/2024/01/02/smells-like-vivid-description/">Philip Athans explains how to use smell to write vivid descriptions. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfwa.org/2023/12/26/sharing-the-spotlight-6-tips-for-collaborative-storytelling/">Hildy Silverman shares six tips for collaborative storytelling. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/how-to-write-fiction-about-true-crime/">Kate Brody explains how to write fiction about true crimes.</a></li><li><a href="https://lithub.com/how-to-be-photographed-12-tips-for-putting-your-best-writerly-face-forward/">Michelle Wildgen shares tips for good author photos. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/03/charity-launches-support-scheme-for-at-risk-libraries-budget-cuts-libraries-connected">Ella Creamer reports that the British charity <i>Libararies Connected</i> has launched a programm to support libraries at risk of budget cuts. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94012-judge-blocks-key-provisions-of-iowa-book-banning-law.html">Andrew Albanese reports that a judge has blocked parts of the propsoed Iowa law to ban books with sexual content from school libraries. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comments on the AI controversy:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/business/media/new-york-times-open-ai-microsoft-lawsuit.html">Michael M. Grynbaum and Ryan Mac report that the <i>New York Times</i> is sueing<i> Open AI </i>and <i>Microsoft</i> over the unauthorised use of copyrighted texts.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/95493900">Jason Sanford sums up the discussion of AI in the writing and art spheres in 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/95628069">Jason Sanford has collected all of his AI coverage in 2023 in e-book form. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/arts/design/artists-artificial-intelligence.html">Jason
Farago decides that the fact that AI programs can produce art that
feels human shows that humans are not imaginative and radical enough. </a></li><li><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.407208/gov.uscourts.cand.407208.129.10.pdf">View a list of artists whose work was used to "train" the <i>Midjouney AI</i> art bot. </a></li><li><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.407208/gov.uscourts.cand.407208.129.10.pdf">Mike Glyer notes that many Hugo winners and finalists appear on the list of artists whose work was exploited by <i>Midjounrey</i>. </a></li></ul><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001kppn">John Wilson interviews Margaret Atwood. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/29/francis-spufford-it-was-the-sorrow-of-my-life-at-age-10-that-there-wasnt-one-more-narnia-book-to-read"><i>The Guardian</i> interviews Francis Spufford.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.scottedelman.com/2023/12/29/pat-murphy/">Scott Edelman interviews Pat Murphy. </a></li><li><a href="https://dmrbooks.com/test-blog/2023/12/26/keith-taylor-the-2023-birthday-interview">Deuce Richardson interviews Keith Taylor. </a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kiernan_interview_2024/">Arley Sorg interviews Caitlin R. Kiernan. </a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/dickinson_interview_2024/">Arley Sorg interviews Seth Dickinson. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-francesca-barbini.html">Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Francesca Barbini. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/04/cover-reveal-celestial-monsters-by-aiden-thomas/">Maya Gittelman interviews Aiden Thomas. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-principle-of-moments-by-esmie-jikiemi-pearson/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Principle of Moments </i>by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20379">Carolyn Frank reviews <i>The Deep Sky</i> by Yume Kitasei </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/microreview-talonsister-by-jen-williams.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>Talonsister</i> by Jen Williams <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/adrienne-martini-reviews-the-art-of-destiny-by-wesley-chu-the-blighted-stars-by-megan-e-okeefe-and-the-fragile-threads-of-power-by-v-e-schwab/">Adrienne Martini reviews <i>The Art of Destiny</i> by Wesley Chu, <i>The Blighted Stars</i> by Megan E. O’Keefe and <i>The Fragile Threads of Power </i>by V.E. Schwab </a> <br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2023/12/review-gods-awoke-by-marie-vibbert.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>The Gods Awoke</i> by Marie Vibbert </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/03/book-review-the-star-and-the-strange-moon-by-constance-sayers/">Vanessa Armstrong reviews <i>The Star and the Strange Moon</i> by Constance Sayers.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/microreview-mars-house-by-natasha-pulley.html">Clara Cohen reviews <i>The Mars House</i> by Natasha Pulley </a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/want-to-see">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Plutoshine</i> by Lucy Kissick </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-dragons-of-deepwood-fen/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>The Dragons of Deepwood Fen</i> by Bradley P. Beaulieu</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/novella-project-last-dragoners-of.html">Clara Cohen reviews <i>The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar </i>by Indra Das. </a></li><li><a href="http://fantasy-faction.com/2024/the-witch-and-the-tsar-by-olesya-salnikova-gilmore">L.A. Young reviews <i>The Witch and the Tsar </i>by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-watcher-of-the-dead-by-j-v-jones/">James Tivendale reviews <i>Watcher of the Dead</i> by J.V. Jones </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/04/book-review-saevus-corax-captures-the-castle-by-k-j-parker/">Matthew Keeley reviews <i>Saevus Corax Captures the Castle</i> by K.J. Parker.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/02/book-review-the-space-between-here-now-by-sarah-suk/">Molly Templeton reviews <i>The Space Between Here and Now</i> by Sarah Suk </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2024/01/the-october-daye-re-read-once-broken.html">Joe Sherry reviews <i>Once Broken Faith</i> by Seanan McGuire. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/a-restless-truth/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>A Restless Truth</i> by Freya Marske</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/niall-harrison-reviews-cahokia-jazz-by-francis-spufford/">Niall Harrison reviews <i>Cahokia Jazz</i> by Francis Spufford </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/room-without-a-roof">James Davis Nicoll reviews <i>Off-Time Jive </i>by A. Z. Louise </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/ian-mond-reviews-beautyland-by-marie-helene-bertino/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Beautyland </i>by Marie Helene Bertino </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/gary-k-wolfe-reviews-we-are-the-crisis-by-cadwell-turnbull/">Gary K. Wolfe reviews <i>We Are the Crisis </i>by Cadwell Turnbull </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-house-of-bad-memories-by-michael-david-wilson/">John Mauro reviews <i>House of Bad Memories</i> by Michael David Wilson</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-death-doula-by-ali-seay/">John Mauro reviews <i>The Death Doula</i> by Ali Seay </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2024/01/gabino-iglesias-reviews-human-sacrifices-by-maria-fernanda-ampuero/">Gabino Iglesias reviews <i>Human Sacrifices</i> by María Fernanda Ampuero, translated by Frances Riddle. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2024/1/4/out-there-screaming-an-anthology-of-new-black-horror-edited-by-jordan-peele"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror</i>, edited by Jordan Peele </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/03/magus-by-anthony-grafton-review-spellbound">Dennis Duncan reviews <i>Magus: The Art of Magic from Faustus to Agrippa</i> by Anthony Grafton</a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2023/12/the-island-monster.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> revisits the 1937 science fiction horror novella "The Island Monster" by Arthur D. Howden Smith </a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2023/12/31/complete-novel-review-lest-darkness-fall-by-l-sprague-de-camp/">Brian Collins revisits the 1939 alternate history novel <i>Lest Darkness Fall </i>by L. Sprague De Camp. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/26/horrer-howce-by-margaret-st-clair/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction horror story “Horrer Howce” by Margaret St. Clair.</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/23/the-man-who-came-early-by-poul-anderson/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 time travel story “The Man Who Came Early” by Poul Anderson </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/28/a-work-of-art-by-james-blish/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “A Work of Art” by James Blish </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/bezill/">Sandy Ferber revisits the 1962 gothic novel <i>Bezill </i>by John Symonds.</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/long-time-passing">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1966 anthology <i>11th Annual Edition: The Year’s Best S‑F</i>, edited by Judith Merril. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/january-4-1969-not-following-through-february-1969-if/">David Levinson revisits the February 1969 issue of <i>If: Worlds of Science Fiction</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/gateway-to-adventure">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1972 science fiction collection <i>The Gold at the Starbow's End </i>by Frederik Pohl.</a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2024/01/03/short-story-review-inertia-by-nancy-kress/">Brian Collins revisits the 1990 science fiction story "Inertia" by Nancy Kress. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2024/01/dark-harvest.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> revisits the 2006 horror novel <i>Dark Harvest </i>by Norman Partiridge. </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://file770.com/tanya-depass-named-special-guest-at-glasgow-2024/">The 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, has announced game developer Tanya DePass as a special guest.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/15/dutch-town-shakes-off-political-strife-with-worlds-largest-dickens-festival#new_tab">Senay Boztas reports about a Charles Dickens Festival in Deventer, Netherlands.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jan/04/suffolk-county-council-announces-100-cut-to-arts-funding">Chris Wiegand reports that the Suffolk county council is planning to cut arts funding by one hundred percent.</a> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/12/27/historic-spacex-falcon-9-booster-topples-over-and-is-lost-at-sea/">Will Robinson-Smith reports that a <i>SpaceX Falcon 9</i> first stage booster has toppled over and fallen into the sea during a storm in Port Canaveral, Florida.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/03/scientists-new-class-antibiotic-kill-drug-resistant-bacteria">Linda Geddes reports that a new antibiotic has been developed which can fight drug-resistant bacteria. </a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/abandoned-train-tunnels-terrifying/">J.H. Markert talks about terrifying and potentially hautned abandoned train tunnels. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/1800-s-alien-gravesite">Eric Grundhauser reports about the alleged grave of the pilot of a UFO which crashed in 1897 in Aurora, Texas. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2024/01/02/lets-talk-about-cryptids/">Judith Tarr talks about cryptids. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/arts/transgender-nonbinary-gamers.html">Zachary Small explains why video games have helped transgender and non-binary players to express their identity.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/most-anticipated-games-of-2024/">Aaron Jones lists his most anticipated games of 2024 </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/jedi-survivor-interview-bode-akuna-respawn-writers-1851129219">Justin Carter interviews Danny Homan and Cole Swaney, writers of the video game <i>Star Wars Jedi Survivor</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://deathtrap-games.blogspot.com/2023/12/japanese-ttrpgs-for-beginners.html">Brian C. Rideout shares an introduction to Japanese tabletop roleplaying games. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjFBMgI-7Rc"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection</i> Teela.<i> <br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iulw5ZIPzrs"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection</i> Trap Jaw.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g80xsdlrZeg"><i>Toy Habits</i> reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse </i>New Eternia Meckaneck.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5da58rwKmiI"><i>For Eternia </i>reviews the <i>Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse </i>Revolution Battle Armor He-Man. </a></li><li><a href="https://toyhabits.com/snarf-thundercats-ultimates-super7-in-hand-review/"><i>Toy Habits </i>reviews the <i>Super 7 Thundercats Ultimates</i> Snarf. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/denise-dutton-review-folkmanis-puppets-dragon-wristlet-pearl/">Denise Dutton reviews the <i>Folkmanis</i> Dragon Wristlet Puppet Pearl</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH99DiUgaBw"><i>Pixel Dan</i> details his <i>G.I. Joe</i> toy journey. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/lego-releases-january-2024-marvel-star-wars-city-1851132796">James Whitbook looks ahead at new <i>LEGO</i> sets coming out in January 2024. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/judgement-tree.html">"The Judgement Tree" by D. K. Latta in <i>Swords and Sorcery Magazine</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/five-views-of-the-planet-tartarus/">"Five Views of the Planet Tartarus" by Rachael K. Jones in<i> Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/a-saint-between-the-teeth/">"A Saint Between The Teeth" by Sloane Leong in<i> Lightspeed</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/ogden_01_24/">"Nothing of Value" by Aimee Ogden in <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/cristofari_01_24/">"Down the Waterfall" by Cécile Cristofari in <i>Clarkesworld.</i></a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/the-ethnomusicology-of-the-last-dreadnought">"The Ethnomusicology of the Last Dreadnought" by Yoon Ha Lee in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/exiled-to-gravity">"Exiled to Gravity" by Marissa Lingen in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/ghost-story">"Ghost Story" by Rachel Hartman in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport.</i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/office-auntie">"Office Auntie" by Rachelle Cruz in <i>The Sunday Morning Transport</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://thedeadlands.com/issue-32/delta-spirits/">"Notes From the Delta Spirits" by John Lighthouse in <i>The Deadlands</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/ten-thousand-crawling-children/">"Ten Thousand Crawling Children" by R.A. Busby in <i>Nightmare Magazine</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/the-grit-born/">"The Grit Born" by Frances Ogamba in <i>The Dark</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://mysterytribune.com/the-kawaii-pups-speculative-crime-short-story-by-richard-roth/">"The Kawaii Pups" by Richard Roth in <i>Mystery Tribune</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://lunastationquarterly.com/story/merry-go/">"Merry Go" by Maria Paige Brekke in <i>Luna Station Quarterly</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://swordslore.substack.com/p/the-christmas-knight?r=2bql01&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web">"The Christmas Knight" by Ethan Sabatella. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beysI2CopYM">Watch a trailer for <i>She Is Conann</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4xk8yLiFwM">Watch a trailer for <i>The First Omen</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiV86Wm27z8">Watch a clip from season 3 of <i>La Brea</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POOeA3zCuUY">Watch a trailer for <i>Lisa Frankenstein</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsJN20f9uAg">Watch a trailer for <i>Robot Dreams</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0OrOneklpY">Watch a trailer for <i>Rick and Morty: The Anime</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-11602019524944533672023-12-30T23:00:00.001+00:002023-12-30T23:00:00.134+00:00Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month for December 2023<p> </p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Banner_indie_spec_fic_02.jpg"><img alt="Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2925" height="150" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Banner_indie_spec_fic_02.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />It’s that time of the month again, time for “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”.</p><p>So what is “Indie Speculative Fiction of the Month”? It’s a round-up of speculative fiction by indie and small press authors newly published this month, though some November books I missed the last time around snuck in as well. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author. So far, most links only go to Amazon.com, though I may add other retailers for future editions.</p><p>Once again, we have new releases covering the whole broad spectrum of speculative fiction. This month, we have epic fantasy, urban fantasy, gaslamp fantasy, sword and sorcery, fairy tale retellings, paranormal mystery, historical fantasy mystery, gothic thrillers, space opera, military science fiction, werecats, prophets, rougarous, starships, space marines, space pirates, crime-busting witches, haunted houses and much more.</p><p>As always, I know the authors at least vaguely, but I haven’t read all of the books, so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor">Caveat emptor</a>.</p><p>And now on to the books without further ado:</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/51vU5DhGw9L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Prophet of a Blind God by Tim Akers" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17828" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/51vU5DhGw9L._SL1500_-194x300.jpg" width="194" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Blind-Bladecaster-Ephemera-Book-ebook/dp/B0CPGZB7MX"><strong><em>Prophet of a Blind God</em> by Tim Akers:</strong></a></p><p>Fleeing the Guild of the Wheel is no small task. Clinging to his fragmented memory and the pale sword that drives him, Lohit Maast makes his way to the swamps of the Mossmarch, where the Guild has no dominion. But in the cracks of the world, other powers gather. Strange figures stalk his dreams, and a secret cabal of Seers lurks in the shadows. In Lohit, they find the answer to their prophecy, and promise to help him recover his memories if he will assist them. But is their revelation one of hope, or destruction? Is Lohit their savior, or the herald of coming doom?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81Auu-N6IqL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Federation Marine: Lieutenant by Jonathan P. Brazee" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17848" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81Auu-N6IqL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Federation-Marine-Lieutenant-Jonathan-Brazee-ebook/dp/B0CM2RLJX9/"><strong><em>Federation Marine: Lieutenant</em> by Jonathan P. Brazee:</strong></a></p><p>As a certified “hero,” Sergeant Ryck Lysander gets offered a commission as a second lieutenant.</p><p>Only, he doesn’t feel like a hero, and his tendency to jump into a fight himself is at odds with his duties as an officer.</p><p>When first contact with an alien race turns into a full blown war, Ryck is thrust into combat once again, and the battle goes poorly.</p><p>Before he has time to take a breath, Ryck finds himself in a crises. Did he make a mistake by accepting the commission? Or will he rise to his newfound position?</p><p>With humankind facing an existential threat, one confused former hero won't amount to much. A change from infantry to recon gives him one last chance to prove that he has what it takes to not only be a leader of men...</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81REP9zmU9L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Grave Memories by Stacy Claflin" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17833" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81REP9zmU9L._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grave-Memories-Brannon-House-Book-ebook/dp/B0CGJKKDKG/"><strong><em>Grave Memories</em> by Stacy Claflin:</strong></a></p><p>The Brannon House stands as a deceptive facade, its past horrors refusing to dissipate into the shadows.</p><p>Ember Brannon is inexplicably drawn to an old gravestone bearing her own name, its forgotten presence casting an unsettling pall over her family's ancestral home. As she becomes fixated on the stone and the long-forgotten life it represents, Ember's reality begins to unravel. Vivid dreams transport her to a time shrouded in mystery, the tragic demise of her namesake becomes an obsession she won’t release.</p><p>Obsessions have their price. Ember awakens with muddy feet, evidence of nocturnal wanderings she can't remember. The discovery of a hidden diary, chronicling the life of the other Ember, triggers a relentless spiral into fascination and compulsion. Her loved ones try to stop her, but she pushes everyone away.</p><p>Within the opulent halls of the Brannon House, Ember hurtles toward an impending breaking point. Is she fated to echo the tragedies that haunt her lineage, becoming another ghost within the estate's dark history? Or will she find the strength to confront the enigma she's become, and the danger that now stalks her every move?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91sEGzLwh8L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17830" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91sEGzLwh8L._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CLKY9NJV"><strong><em>Tomb of Heart and Shadow</em> by Cara N. Delaney:</strong></a></p><p>Their marriage was a simple bargain. Love was not supposed to complicate things.</p><p>When her reputation-obsessed family issues her an ultimatum – get married or be disinherited – Saria seizes upon what seems like a most convenient solution. She strikes a deal with a stranger – marriage and a child in exchange for freedom and security. That her bride is a sorcerer from the mysterious city of Neeth is not a problem. Or so Saria thinks.</p><p>Taleysin doesn’t expect much from her second marriage. A child and heir to carry on her sworn duty to the city of Neeth, and more importantly, a wife who won’t ask too many questions. The deal with Saria seems to be everything she wants – and nothing more. She will have her heir, and Neeth will remain safe for another generation.</p><p>But soon enough, their resolve over their practical decision begins to crumble. While Saria grows ever more curious about Neeth’s magical secrets, Taleysin finds herself falling for a woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a means to an end. When a mysterious assailant begins to hunt down sorcerers, Saria and Taleysin must find a way to work through this shift in their relationship – to save both their marriage and the city.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/71d6Oc896pL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="The Saga of Pthren Four-Scars by Jeff Draper" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17829" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/71d6Oc896pL._SL1500_-189x300.jpg" width="189" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQM9DXTJ"><strong><em>The Saga of Othren Four-Scars</em> by Jeff Draper:</strong></a></p><p>A collection of three stories set in the same world of low magic and brutal savagery, where the first choice is usually violence followed by a second choice of more violence. In amongst the violences are a few very sweet character moments that will draw you into the world Othren Four-Scars is trying to protect.</p><p>The Battle of Raven Kill is the second story I ever had published, first appearing in "The Return of the Sword: An Anthology of Heroic Adventure", edited by Jason Waltz. It's a 1 vs 100 slugfest with mud, blood, cracked skulls, knife wounds, broken bones, and of course bookended by a touching father-daughter vignette.</p><p>The Feorhmaegan was a follow-up prequel to Raven Kill that gives us a better understanding of where our hero comes from and the type of adventures he's had. (Spoilers: Violent ones!) I never found a publisher for it before moving on to other things but I think the quality is high enough to include it here.</p><p>The Witch of the Westmoors is a flash fiction piece first published in "Abandoned Towers, #3" by Cyberwizard Productions. It's set in the same world, only years later and with new participants in the ancient struggle set up in the other two stories.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81Tu1h3gpNL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Werecats Resurgent by Mark J. Engels" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17837" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81Tu1h3gpNL._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Werecats-Resurgent-Forest-Exiles-Saga-ebook/dp/B0CNHJJQ23/"><strong><em>Werecats Resurgent</em> by Mark J. Engels:</strong></a></p><p>Cornered, captured, and determined to make their stand…</p><p>After springing her lover from the brig, Pawly and her family make ready to swipe a container from an ocean freighter transiting Lake Michigan—one containing the genetic material needed to save her mother from the debilitating effects of her unsated bloodlust. All according to Mawro's plan, him having laid a trap for them on behalf of his rogue state employer. But Mawro's superiors spring a trap of their own, exploiting Pawly's feral rage by revealing to her a horrific secret from her past. Chaos ensues, leaving members of her family kidnapped, their remote island hideaway in flames, and her mother at death's door. Now Pawly and the family—together with some unlikely new allies—must journey halfway around the world on a veritable suicide mission, a final showdown to rescue their loved ones and to quell her kind's lethal bloodlust once and for all.</p><p>Werecats Resurgent is the third and final installment of the Forest Exiles Saga featuring the modern-day remnant of an ancient clan of werecats, torn apart as militaries on three continents vie to exploit their deadly talents.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91UtFjdQSpL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Battles Unfought by Rachel Ford" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17850" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91UtFjdQSpL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Battles-Unfought-Lady-Bane-Book-ebook/dp/B0BP9NKNQG/"><strong><em>Battles Unfought</em> by Rachel Ford:</strong></a></p><p>A new ship. A new era. A new mission.</p><p>The Lady Bane is under new management. The military prototype turned privateer vessel is the new home and base of operations for Maggie, Kay, and the former crew of the Black Flag.</p><p>They’d prefer to spend some time getting to know the new ship. But when a high priority mission comes in from the admiralty, they can’t refuse.</p><p>The mission is straightforward: break into a secure facility owned and operated by a cabal of criminals, crack a state-of-the-art safe, and retrieve a data chip containing sensitive information.</p><p>The stakes are high. It’s a very secure facility, and very sensitive information. Wars have been waged for less.<br />The payout is huge – whatever they can lift from the safe, they can keep.</p><p>If they survive long enough to get away with it, anyway.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81g08A2TBeL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Masters of Hex by Lily Harper Hart" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17845" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/81g08A2TBeL._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Supernatural-Speakeasy-Cozy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CGY271FC/"><strong><em>Masters of Hex</em> by Lily Harper Hart:</strong></a></p><p>Life in the French Quarter is about to calm down for the off-season, so of course things in Ofelia Archer’s life are about to heat up.</p><p>With Halloween right around the corner, all Ofelia wants to worry about is what couple’s costume she and her boyfriend Zach Sully are going to wear to the big reunion party being hosted for her former high school. Then the unthinkable happens and she senses Sully is in danger when he’s out on a case.</p><p>Ofelia swoops in, the mightiest witch in the French Quarter, and finds herself saving the love of her life shoulder-to-shoulder with his father.<br />Zeke Sully is all charm and secrets. He wants to win Ofelia over, but there are shadows chasing him…and dropping bodies all over the Quarter.</p><p>Sully doesn’t want anything to do with whatever his father is involved in. Ofelia doesn’t feel she can abandon her future father-in-law. That leads to some strife.</p><p>Some business deals can’t be undone, and Ofelia is about to get a glimpse of the seedy business underbelly in New Orleans. The question is, can she fix what’s been broken, or is it already too late?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91xvQ4ATJWL._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="The Rougarou Rigmarole by Amanda M. Lee" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17844" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91xvQ4ATJWL._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rougarou-Rigmarole-Charlie-Rhodes-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CFHXNQ52/"><strong><em>The Rougarou Rigmarole</em> by Amanda M. Lee:</strong></a></p><p>Charlie Rhodes joined the Legacy Foundation because she was looking for information on who she was. More important, she wanted to know why she could do the things she could do.</p><p>What she found out changed the course of her life.</p><p>Now the big fight is almost upon her. She’s supposed to be in New Orleans practicing her new abilities so she can be ready for that fight, but a local legend might derail everything.</p><p>Every state has its own version of the Bigfoot legend. In New Orleans, the beast is called the Rougarou and usually only appears following a great tragedy. The murder of some innocent teenagers in the French Quarter is just such a tragedy…but the killing isn’t over. No, not by a long shot.</p><p>Even though she knows she’s supposed to be focusing on the enemy that’s coming for her, Charlie can’t stop herself from digging into the case of the Rougarou…and what she finds might just send her over the edge.</p><p>New Orleans is the type of city that holds a million secrets. Charlie is about to discover a big one.</p><p>With the help of her motley crew of characters—including a visiting mage who is determined to help and a fledgling crossroads demon who is determined to be a hindrance—Charlie has a battle in front of her. It will be good practice for the big one, which is right around the corner.</p><p>She just has to survive long enough to fight both enemies.</p><p>It won’t be as easy as anybody wants it to be.</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91a4SSlT6L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="A Death at the Dionysos Club by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17836" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91a4SSlT6L._SL1500_-200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CK1916H7"><strong><em>A Death at the Dionysus Club</em> by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold:</strong></a></p><p>Secrets, Magic and Murder…</p><p>The gentleman’s clubs of Scott and Griswold’s gaslamp fantastical London are full of secrets and the ones that Julian Lynes and Ned Mathey and their circles frequent are even more hidden than most. Beneath their respectable, or less respectable, façades, they are a haven…or a torment for men who desire each other’s company. Now someone is leaving a trail of murder victims, each one found without a heart. Each one somehow connected to Lynes, Mathey, their friends, their enemies and the communities that they belong to. Finding the murderer could reveal everything, leading to certain ruin for some, and the loss of all they hold dear for Julian and Ned. How far will they go to solve the mystery and stop a killer?</p><p><a href="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91COTqhOZ1L._SL1500_.jpg"><img alt="Mirror of My Heart by Laura Weyr" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-17835" height="300" src="http://pegasus-pulp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/91COTqhOZ1L._SL1500_-188x300.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-My-Heart-Laura-Weyr-ebook/dp/B0CM9LMMQD/"><strong><em>Mirror of My Heart</em> by Laura Weyr:</strong></a></p><p>When the happily ever after isn’t the one you expect.</p><p>Once upon a time, a spoiled princess met her youthful new stepmother, a woman as cold as she was beautiful. . .or so she seemed.</p><p>Once upon a time, a queen burdened a girl with harsh tasks, yet never heavier than she could bear. . .and so a princess became strong and wise.</p><p>Once upon a time, in the midst of loneliness, two hearts touched love. . .until a king returned from war to find his daughter grown into the very likeness of her dead mother.</p><p>Now fled to the forest, her beloved a prisoner, can Snow White win her happily ever after?</p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7688899754382898799.post-68560507389256358332023-12-28T23:00:00.831+00:002023-12-28T23:00:00.142+00:00Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for December 29, 2023<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s800/Banner_links.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZh3rLYQeroZIAutiSBQA6wOpUVPGLr5_A_Sde0Pz5j9p4i4S0H977HRuu6VTHZ_B26nqVmEmykk7TNn0seYzu4U0LiDUQQIZvR5FQ_GsJyPQQ-_znPSQVu8Sn6RtqVQ2E_CGEwTjm5mTfR-dZ8zHCNQAgnuN4C4xSs7Nk5LEhWD60qS-7LhXFzra/s16000/Banner_links.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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 2023, the 2023 <i>Doctor Who Christmas Special</i>,<i> What If...? </i>and<i> </i>the<i> Marvel Cinematic Universe </i>in general,<i> Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom </i>and the <i>DC Cinematic Universe </i>in general, <i>Rebel Moon, Part 1 - Child of Fire, </i>season 4 of <i>For All Mankind</i> and much
more.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<b>Speculative fiction in general:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/the-most-anticipated-dark-fantasy-and-science-fiction-books-for-2024/">Carrie Chi Lough lists her most anticipated dark fantasy and science fiction books for 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2023/12/22/20-optimistic-fantasies-to-brighten-your-tbr-stack/"><i>Tor.com</i> shares twenty optimistic fantasy novels to enjoy.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2023/12/22/how-the-holidays-became-haunted/">Grady Hendrix discusses the tradition of writing, reading and telling ghost stories for Christmas. </a></li><li><a href="https://orbnews.substack.com/p/fourth-wing-review-starship-troopers">Maya St. Clair calls the popular romantic fantasy novel <i>Fourth Wing </i>by Rebecca Yarros <i>Starship Troopers</i> for girls. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://soniahdavis.com/2023/12/26/remembering-sonia-h-davis-a-year-in-review/">Monica Wasserman remembers Sonia H. Davis, former wife of H.P. Lovecraft. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/12/26/north-carolina-toddler-opens-family-christmas-presents/">Timothy Bella reports that the three-year-old son of SFF author Scott Reintgen decided to open all of the family's Christmas presents at 3 am on Christmas Day. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://ntab.substack.com/p/weekly-briefing-from-the-north-texas-b15">Mark Finn reports that Robert E. Howard scholar Rusty Burke suffered a head injury due to a fall. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/26/hanif-kureishi-accident-completely-eradicated-sense-self-privacy">British author Hanif Kureishi speaks out about the consequences of a fall last Christmas which left him paralysed. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/24343153-dedicated-to-the-weird-a-tribute-to-mark-samuels">Quentin S. Crisp shares a tribute to Mark Samuels. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/piotr/">Polish fanzine editor and club organiser Piotr Rak has died aged 61.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfwa.org/2023/12/21/in-memoriam-jim-hosek/">Science fiction and mystery writer and veterinarian Jim Hosek has died aged 59. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/richard-bowes-1944-2023/">SFF writer Richard Bowes has died aged 79. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Best of 2023:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://sibilantfricative.blogspot.com/2023/12/best-sff-books-of-2023.html">Adam Roberts shares his favourite SFF books of 2023.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/2023/12/24/reading-and-gaming-highlights-of-2023/">Cat Rambo shares her favourite SFF books and games of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.sffworld.com/2023/12/sffworld-review-of-the-year-2023-part-3/"><i>SFF World </i>share their favourite science fiction books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvhdarcpLKU">Robin Rose Graves shares her favourite science fiction books of 2023. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2023/12/21/santa-womble-walking-in-a-fantasy-wonderland"><i>Runalong the Shelves </i>shares his favourite fantasy novels of 2023.</a></li><li><a href="https://crimereads.com/the-best-speculative-crime-fiction-of-2023/">Molly Odintz shares her favourite SFF crime novels of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2023/12/best-books-of-2023/">Marlene Harris shares her favourite books of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/26/books/review/the-year-in-graphic-novels.html">Sam Thielman shares his favourite comics and graphic novels of 2023. </a><br /></li><li><i>i<a href="https://gizmodo.com/best-scifi-horror-fantasy-movie-moments-2023-barbie-tmn-1851115168">o9</a></i><a href="https://gizmodo.com/best-scifi-horror-fantasy-movie-moments-2023-barbie-tmn-1851115168"> shares the forty most memorable science fiction, fantasy and horror movie moments of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/year-in-horror-2023-movies-tv-scream-talk-to-me-chucky-1851103900">Cheryl Eddy shares her favourite horror movies of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/best-anime-2023/">Kirsten Carey lists her ten favourite anime series of 2023. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://kotaku.com/goty-best-games-2023-totk-baldurs-gate-3-alan-wake-2-1851109182">Alyssa Mercante shares her favourite games of 2023. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Comics and Art:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-conan-the-barbarian-6-by-jim-zub-w-and-doug-braithwaite-a/">Robin Marx reviews <i>Conan the Barbarian </i>#6 by Jim Zub and Doug Braithwaite </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-x-men-will-rise-to-a-new-relaunch-next-summer-1851122040">Justin Carter reports that the <i>X-Men </i>comics will be relaunched once again in the summer of 2024. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.cbr.com/batman-ace-bat-hound-received-award-winning-new-christmas-origin/">Brian Cronin explains how Tom King gave Ace the Bathound a new origin that ties in to Christmas. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2023/12/the-adventures-of-red-sonja-volume-01.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> looks back at the comic book history of<i> Red Sonja</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2023/dec/23/tom-gauld-on-the-book-lovers-perfect-christmas-tree-cartoon">Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about the perfect Christmas tree for readers and book lovers.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div><b>Film and TV:</b><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/06/another-dimension-another-dimension-josh-pearce-and-arley-sorg-discuss-spider-man-across-the-spider-verse/"> </a><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/24/a-ghost-story-for-christmas-lot-no-249-review-mark-gatisss-camp-creepy-tale-is-absolutely-bang-on">Chitra Ramaswamy calls <i>A Ghost Story for Christmas: Lot No 249</i> a creepy tale that is absolutely bang on </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/24/the-heist-before-christmas-review-sky-max-now-tv">Lucy Mangan calls the festive thriller <i>The Heist Before Christmas</i> a total triumph.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/26/jules-review-ben-kingsley-helps-an-alien-in-likably-folksy-twist-on-et">Peter Bradshaw calls <i>Jules</i> a likably folksy twist on <i>ET</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGGX1ggLVjM">Jason Ray Carney and Nicole Emelhainz discuss <i>Godzilla Minus One</i>.</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/25/ghosts-christmas-special-review-a-beautiful-farewell-to-a-sublime-sitcom">Jack Seale calls the <i>Ghosts Christmas Special </i>a beautiful farewell to a sublime sitcom </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2023/12/on-bittersweet-sincerity-of-carol-end.html">Arturo Serrano talks about the bittersweet sincerity of <i>Carol and the End of the World </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/28/arthurs-whisky-review-diane-keaton-and-lulu-in-enjoyable-body-change-comedy">Leslie Felperin calls <i>Arthur’s Whisky </i>an enjoyable body-change comedy </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/is-there-a-gale-movie-release-date-answered/">D.R. Medlen calls <i>Gale: Stay Away From Oz</i> a horror take on <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2023/12/rebel-moon-is-most-snyder-that-snyder.html">Aaron Jones shares his thoughts on <i>Blue Eye Samurai</i>. </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-gen-v/">Aaron Jones shares his thoughts on <i>Gen V</i></a></li><li><a href="https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2023/12/leave-world-behind-educated-apocalypse.html">Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on <i>Leave the World Behind. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://sibilantfricative.blogspot.com/2023/12/wonka-2023-directed-by-paul-king.html">Adam Roberts shares his thoughts on <i>Wonka.<br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/the-curse-review-season-1-episode-7-self-exclusion-1851112733">Manuel Betancourt shares his thoughts on the latest episode of <i>The Curse. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/pokemon-concierge-netflix-psyduck-pikachu-1851128623">Sabina Graves calls the animated series <i>Pokémon Concierge</i> a chill, feel-good hour of cuteness <i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/23/the-unofficial-science-of-die-hard-review-hands-down-the-daftest-programme-of-christmas-2023">Lucy Mangan calls <i>The Unofficial Science of Die Hard</i> the daftest Christmas program of 2023. </a><i></i></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/24/die-hard-and-carry-on-britains-most-aired-films-over-christmas-revealed"><i>The Guardian </i>analyses the films most frequenty shown on TV during Christmas in the UK and finds comparatively few Christmas movies.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://lifehacker.com/entertainment/disney-conspiracy-theories-real-and-fake">Stephen Johnson takes a look at real and fake <i>Disney </i>conspiracy theories.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/movies/wonka-oompa-loompa-hugh-grant.html">The <i>Tor.com </i>reviewers share the non-holiday films they watch over the holidays.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/the-most-anticipated-tv-shows-and-movies-for-2024/">Aaron Jones shares his most anticipated SFF movies and TV shows of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/apple-tv-scifi-for-all-mankind-monarch-foundation-severance">Jake Kleinman wonders why <i>Apple Plus</i> is streaming so many science fiction shows. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2023/12/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse-nimona-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mutant-mayhem-vfx-supervisor-magazine-feature-animation-1235681172/">Ryan Fleming explains how <i>Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, Nimona</i> and <i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem </i>pioneered new styles of animation. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/22/quentin-tarantino-star-trek-mark-l-smith-week-in-geek">Ben Child explains what happened to Quentin Tarantino's proposed <i>Star Trek </i>movie. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/movies/wonka-oompa-loompa-hugh-grant.html">Robert Ito discusses how filmmakers handle the Oompa-Loompas in film versions of C<i>harlie and the Chocolate Factory</i> to avoid racist and colonialist stereotypes. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/26/rarely-does-a-film-cause-national-hysteria-the-exorcist-turns-50">David Smith revisits the 1973 horror movie <i>The Exorcist</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/27/dolph-lundgren-alien-heroin-and-evil-yuppies-dark-angel-is-fun-festive-lunacy">Adam Fleet revisits the 1990 science fiction action thriller <i>Dark Angel</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFKIaaKKjUk"><i>Newshub</i> interviews Temuera Morrison, who plays Jango and Boba Fett in the Star Wars films and TV-shows. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/one-piece-editor-explains-ep-3-zoro-mackenyu-netflix-1851119483">Sabina Graves interviews Erik Litman, editor of the live action <i>One Piece</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/28/domino-day-bbc-tv-vampire-drama">Leila Latif interviews Lauren Sequeira and Siena Kelly, director and star of <i>Domino Day</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/26/boots-riley-on-strikes-sedition-and-sex">Steve Rose interviews Boots Riley, director of<i> Sorry to Bother You</i> and <i>I'm a Virgo.</i></a><i> </i> <br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/disney-lawsuits-cftod-ralph-ineson-1851122874">Justin Carter reports that <i>Disney</i> is sueing the state of Florida.</a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2023/12/ralph-ineson-sues-disney-injury-set-willow-tv-series-1235681315/">Caroline Frost reports that actor Ralph Ineson is sueing <i>Disney</i> over an injury sustained on the set of <i>Willow.</i></a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/mickey-mouse-public-domain-disney-copyright-lawsuits-1235844322/">Gene Maddaus reports that <i>Steamboat Willie</i>, the first cartoon to feature Mickey and Minnie Mouse, will enter the public domain on January 1, 2024. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/scream-7-christopher-landon-director-exit-1851122233">Justin Carter reports that after half the cast left, director Christopher Landon has left <i>Scream VII </i>as well. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/12/19/1197959098/coyote-vs-acme-warner-bros-discovery-will-forte-john-cena-amazon-paramount"><i>Planet Money</i> discusses the Hollywood economics behind <i>Warner Bros </i>shelving the already completed film <i>Coyote vs. Acme. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/year-in-review-2023-hollywood-studios-backlash-strikes-1850574745">Justin Carter looks back on the Hollywood strikes of 2023. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67825665">South-Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, one of the stars of <i>Parasite</i>, has died aged 48. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/commentisfree/2023/dec/27/the-loss-of-actor-lee-sun-kyun-casts-a-chill-shadow-over-koreas-film-world">Peter Bradshaw remembers Lee Sun-kyun. </a></li><li><a href="https://deadline.com/2023/12/mike-nussbaum-dies-veteran-actor-men-in-black-fatal-attraction-was-99-obituary-1235681453/">Actor Mike Nussbaum who appeared in<i> Men in Black </i>and <i>Fatal Attraction </i>among many others has died aged 99. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-actor-camden-toy-dead-at-68/">Actor Camden Toy who played several monsters in <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> and <i>Angel </i>has died aged 68. </a><i> </i><br /></li></ul></div><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on <i>Doctor Who</i> at sixty: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/doctor-who-2023-christmas-special-review-ncuti-gatwa-i-1851119191">Cindy White shares her thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road", the 2023 <i>Doctor Who Christmas Special</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2023/12/26/gatwa-watch-the-church-on-ruby-road/">Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.tor.com/2023/12/25/doctor-who-the-church-on-ruby-road-review/">Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/25/doctor-who-church-ruby-road-2023-christmas-special-ncuti-gatwa-millie-gibson">Martin Belam shares his thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/25/doctor-who-the-church-on-ruby-road-review-christmas-special-ncuti-gatwa">Leila Latif shares her thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road".</a> </li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-church-on-ruby-road-recap-ncuti-gatwa-bbc-1851121137">James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road"</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/doctor-who-christmas-special-the-church-on-ruby-road-explained-1235769071/">Cameron McEwan shares his thoughts on "The Church on Ruby Road". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/doctor-who-christmas-special-2023-ending-explained/">Laura Pollaco discusses the ending of "The Church on Ruby Road" and wonders who the character Mrs. Flood really is. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/22/doctor-who-ncuti-gatwa-millie-gibson-interview">Paul F. Verhoeven interviews Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, who play the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday in <i>Doctor Who</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/doctor-who-christmas-2023-snowman-ncuti-gatwa-disney-1851126215">James Whitbrook notes how co-producers <i>Disney+</i> influenced "The Church on Ruby Road" by suggesting the insertion of a nice scene. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-christmas-poll-winner-exclusive-newsupdate/">James Hibbs reports that the 2006 <i>Doctor Who Christmas Special </i>"The Runaway Bride" has topped a poll of viewers' favourite <i>Doctor Who Christmas Specials</i>. </a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/december-24-1968-we-shall-fight-them-in-the-streets-doctor-who-the-invasion-episodes-5-8/">Jessica Holmes revisits the 1968 <i>Doctor Who</i> serial "The Invasion". </a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2023/12/23/smith-rewatch-vincent-and-the-doctor/">Camestros Felapton revisits the 2010 <i>Doctor Who </i>episode "Vincent and the Doctor". </a> </li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2023/12/24/smith-rewatch-the-lodger/">Camestros Felapton revisits the 2010 <i>Doctor Who </i>episode "The Lodger". </a></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2023/12/25/smith-rewatch-finale-the-pandorica-opens-the-big-bang/">Camestros Felapton revisits the 2010 <i>Doctor Who </i>episode "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang". </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-67509239">Sarah Farmer interviews Sue Webb who worked as a production assistanr on the 1963 <i>Doctor Who </i>serial "The Daleks". </a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-67800155">Pauline Bennett, a former employee at the British TV store chain <i>Radio Rentals</i> recounts how Fourth Doctor Tom Baker and BBC manager Terry Sampson came to watch <i>Doctor Who</i> at her house in 1976. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlyPLWz-e1U">Watch a trailer for the next season of <i>Doctor Who</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 2 of <i>What If...?</i> and the <i>Marvel Cinematic Universe </i></b>in general: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/what-if-season-2-review-fun-if-familiar-1851120628">Sam Barsanti calls season 2 of <i>What If...?</i> a fun familiar return. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/happy-hogan-saves-christmas-in-marvels-what-if/">Rachel Leishman praises the <i>What If...? </i>episode "What if Happy Hogan saved Christmas?"</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/kahhoris-episode-of-marvels-what-if-tv-show-knocks-it-out-of-the-park/">Julia Glassman praises the<i> What If...? </i>episode “What If…Kahhori Reshaped the World?” </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/why-marvel-waited-so-long-to-drop-jonathan-majors-explained/?utm_source=mostpopular">Britt Hayes wonders why <i>Marvel </i>waited so long to fire Jonathan Majors.</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b></b><div><b>Comments on <i>Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom</i> and the DC Cinematic Universe in general: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/aquaman-first-movie-5-year-retrospective-jason-momoa-1851098331">Justin Carter notes that the first <i>Aquaman </i>movie beat the odds, but that the sequel <i>Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom</i> has no such luck.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/aquaman-2-ending-spoilers-dc-james-gunn-iron-man-snyder-1851118423">Germain Lussier notes that <i>Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom</i> actually leaves the old DC Cinematic Universe in a pretty good place.</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/dc-films-ranked-superman-batman-aquaman-flash-snyder-1851118452">Germain Lussier ranks all the DC Cinematic Universe movies. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/box-office/box-office-aquaman-2-flops-christmas-debut-1235850151/">Rebecca Rubin declares that <i>Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom</i> is sitting at number 1 at the US box office over the holiday weekend, but nonetheless had a very weak opening. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on<i> Rebel Moon, Part 1 - Child of Fire</i>: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/rebel-moon-part-one-a-child-of-fire-review-zack-snyder-netflix-1234935678/">David Ehrlich calls <i> Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire</i> a dreadful science fiction epic.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rebel-moon-part-one-a-child-of-fire-review-zack-snyder-netflix-1235757555/">David Rooney calls <i>Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire </i>an intergalactic bore.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/zack-snyder-rebel-moon-reviews-devastating-rotten-tomatoes-score/"><i>The Mary Sue </i>declares that <i>Rebel Moon - Part 1: A Child of Fire </i>may be Zack Snyder's worst movie yet.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2023/12/rebel-moon-is-most-snyder-that-snyder.html">Arturo Serrano declares that <i>Rebel Moon, Part 1 - A Child of Fire</i> is the most Snyder that Snyder has ever been </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://camestrosfelapton.wordpress.com/2023/12/23/review-rebel-moon-netflix/">Camestros Felapton declares that <i>Rebel Moon - Part 1: A Child of Fire</i> feels more like a series of 1980s science fiction book covers stitched together than like a movie. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-rebel-moon-part-one-a-child-of-fire/">Adrian Collins declares that <i>Rebel Moon: Part 1 – A Child of Fire </i>should have been amazing, but wasn't due to bad writing and directing decisions.</a></li><li><a href="https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2023/12/rebel-moon-part-1-galactic-heroes-and.html">Paul Levinson actually enjoyed<i> Rebel Moon, Part 1 - A Child of Fire </i>and is looking forward to part 2. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2023/12/zack-snyder-director-movies-rebel-moon/676903/">Dave Itzkoff profiles Zack Snyder, director of <i>Rebel Moon</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/zack-snyder-interview-rebel-moon-1-snyderverse-netflix-1851124345">Germain Lussier interviews Zack Snyder. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/rebel-moon-ending-sequel-part-2-1235848821/">Caroline Brew interviews Kurt Johnstad, co-writer of <i>Rebel Moon, Part 1 - A Child of Fire</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/rebel-moon-r-rated-snyder-cut-ed-skrein-1235775450/">Brian Davids interviews Ed Skrein, one of the stars of <i>Rebel Moon</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/what-is-rebel-moon-based-on-explained/">D.R. Medlen takes a look at the films that inspired <i>Rebel Moon</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf16jEmvJUY">Watch a trailer for <i>Rebel Moon, Part 2 - The Scargiver</i>. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b></b></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Comments on season 4 of<i> For All Mankind</i>: <br /></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/for-all-mankind-apple-tv-joel-kinnaman-krys-marshall-1851113542">Germain Lussier calls <i>For All Mankind</i> the best science fiction show people aren't watching and wonders why. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2023/12/for-all-mankind-47-dev-on-mars.html">Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of <i>For All Mankind</i>.</a> <br /></li></ul></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b>Awards:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="https://file770.com/2023-chesley-award-finalists/">The finalists for the 2023 Chesley Awards have been announced.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/gQqXfLvJdRN8kZljQK9fGH/the-2024-shortlist">The finalists for the 2023 BBC Audio Drama Awards have been announced. </a><br /></li></ul></div><br /><div><b>Writing, publishing and promotion:</b> <br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/24/opinion/goodreads-books-reviews.html">Maris Kreizman talks about the many issues with <i>Goodreads</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/ai-news/"><i>Locus</i> reports that the US Copyright Office has solicited comments regarding AI and copyright. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/legal-news-3/"><i>Locus </i>reports that the US District Court in Northern California has dismissed part of the class-action lawsuit brought by Christopher Golden and other authors against <i>Meta</i>’s AI program. </a><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Interviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/robert-j-sawyer-a-cryonic-murder/"><i>Locus </i>interviews Robert J. Sawyer.</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/spotlight-on-the-sunday-morning-transport/"><i>Locus</i> interviews Julian Yap and Fran Wilde. </a><br /></li></ul></div><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Reviews:</b> <br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2023/12/review-paladins-faith-by-t-kingfisher/">Marlene Harris reviews <i>Paladin’s Faith</i> by T. Kingfisher </a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/system-collapse/">Bill Capossere reviews <i>System Collapse</i> by Martha Wells </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/russell-letson-reviews-defiance-by-c-j-cherryh-jane-s-fancher/">Russell Letson reviews <i>Defiance</i> by C.J. Cherryh and Jane S. Fancher </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2023/12/microreview-noumenon-ultra-by-marina-j.html">Paul Weimer reviews <i>Noumenon Ultra</i> by Marina J. Lostetter </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-exordia-by-seth-dickinson/">Andrew Jaden reviews <i>Exordia</i> by Seth Dickinson </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20358">James Fleming reviews <i>Night Time is the Right Time</i> by Merritt Graves </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/niall-harrison-reviews-the-future-by-naomi-alderman/">Niall Harrison reviews<i> The Future</i> by Naomi Alderman </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/memory-reborn/">Marion Deeds and Bill Capossere review <i>Memory Reborn</i> by David Walton </a></li><li><a href="https://www.readingreality.net/2023/12/review-like-thunder-by-nnedi-okorafor/">Marlene Harris reviews<i> Like Thunder </i>by Nnedi Okorafor</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/wrong-way-takes-the-shine-off-the-self-driving-car">Peter C. Baker reviews<i> Wrong Way</i> by Joanne McNeil. </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/paul-di-filippo-reviews-the-lost-cause-by-cory-doctorow/">Paul Di Filippo reviews<i> The Lost Cause</i> by Cory Doctorow </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20344">Gayle Surrette reviews <i>Winter's Gifts</i> by Ben Aaronovitch</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-kingdom-of-sweets-by-erika-johansen/">Fiona Denton reviews <i>The Kingdom of Sweets</i> by Erika Johansen </a><br /></li><li><a href=" Dragons in a Bag (Dragons in a Bag, volume 1) By Zetta Elliot ">James Davis Nicoll reviews<i> Dragons in a Bag</i> by Zetta Elliot </a></li><li><a href="https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/review-the-doom-of-odin-by-scott-oden/">Robin Marx reviews <i>The Doom of Odin</i> by Scott Oden </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/book-review-uncanny-vows-by-laura-anne-gilman/">Chris Kluwe reviews <i>Uncanny Vows </i>by Laura Anne Gilman </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/a-marvelous-light/">Marion Deeds reviews <i>A Marvelous Light</i> by Freya Marske</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2023/12/the-lantern-man.html"><i>Paperback Warrior</i> reviews <i>The Lantern Man</i> by Jon Bassoff. </a></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/warner-holme-review-redwood-and-wildfire/">Warner Holme reviews <i>Redwood and Wildfire </i>by Andrea Hairston </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=20330">Sam Lubell reviews <i>The Middling Affliction</i> by Alex Shvartsman</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/gabino-iglesias-reviews-touched-by-walter-mosley/">Gabino Iglesias reviews <i>Touched</i> by Walter Mosley </a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/ian-mond-reviews-silent-city-by-sarah-davis-goff/">Ian Mond reviews <i>Silent City</i> by Sarah Davis-Goff </a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/colleen-mondor-reviews-hazardous-spirits-by-anbara-salam/">Colleen Mondor reviews <i>Hazardous Spirits </i>by Anbara Salam </a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2023/12/21/dark-reflections-by-paul-kane"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews <i>Dark Reflections</i> by Paul Kane </a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/dec/22/a-stroke-of-the-pen-by-terry-pratchett-audiobook-review-brimming-with-wit">Fiona Sturges reviews <i>A Stroke of the Pen</i> by Terry Pratchett</a></li><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/alexandra-pierce-reviews-the-best-of-world-sf-volume-3-by-lavie-tidhar-ed/">Alexandra Pierce reviews <i>The Best of World SF Volume 3</i>, edited by Lavie Tidhar</a></li><li><a href="https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2023/12/23/runalong-the-short-shelves-cloisterfox-issue-4"><i>Runalong the Shelves</i> reviews issue 1 of <i>Cloisterfox</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://downthetubes.net/in-review-the-secret-origin-of-earth-616-by-david-thorpe/">James Bacon reviews <i>The Secret Origin of Earth 616</i> by David Thorpe </a><br /> <br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Classics reviews:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2023/12/thurlows-christmas-story_0690699070.html"><i>Paperback Warrior r</i>evisits the 1894 holiday horror story "Thurlow's Ghost Story" by John Kendrick Bangs</a></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2023/12/27/serial-review-beyond-the-black-river-by-robert-e-howard-part-2-2/">Brian Collins revisits the 1935 <i>Conan</i> sword and sorcery story "Beyond the Black River" by Robert E. Howard. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://geoliminal.com/2023/12/22/pulp-and-the-gray-strainer-18-two-sought-adventure-by-fritz-leiber-jr-unknown-aug-1939-v-1-n-6/">Eric Williams revisits the 1939 <i>Fafhrd and Gray Mouser </i>sword and sorcery story "Two Sought Adventure" by Fritz Leiber. <i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="http://www.paperbackwarrior.com/2023/12/ki-gor-and-stolen-empire.html"><i>Paperback Warrior </i>revisits the 1939 adventure story “Ki-Gor and the Stolen Empire” by John Peter Drummond.</a></li><li><a href="https://fantasyliterature.com/reviews/the-master-of-the-macabre/">Sandy Ferber revisits the 1947 horror collection <i>The Master of the Macabre</i> by Russell Thorndike</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://socialistjazz.blogspot.com/2023/12/ssw-fritz-leibers-novella-youre-all.html">Todd Mason revisits the 1950 horror novella <i>You're All Alone</i> a.k.a. <i>The Sinful Ones</i> by Frits Leiber. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://sffremembrance.com/2023/12/24/short-story-review-genesis-by-h-beam-piper/">Brian Collins revisits the 1951 science fiction story "Genesis" by H. Beam Piper. </a></li><li><a href="https://sibilantfricative.blogspot.com/2023/11/a-tumultuary-time-beneath-drugget.html">Adam Roberts revisits the 1951 sword and sorcery novel <i>The Tritonian Ring</i> by L. Sprague De Camp. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/21/the-dead-past-by-isaac-asimov-2/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “The Dead Past” by Isaac Asimov</a></li><li><a href="https://classicsofsciencefiction.com/2023/12/19/legwork-by-eric-frank-russell/">James Wallace Harris revisits the 1956 science fiction story “Legwork” by Eric Frank Russell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2023/12/22/on-sven-holms-novella-of-nuclear-disaster/">Jeff VanderMeer revisits the 1967 post-apocalyptic novella "Termush" by Sven Holm. </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/december-22-1968-what-wonders-await-january-1969-fantasy-and-science-fiction/">Gideon Marcus revisits the January 1969 issue of <i>The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. </i></a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/december-looking-forward-not-backwards-new-worlds-janua/">Mark Yon shares his thoughts on the January 1969 issue of<i> New Worlds. </i></a></li><li><a href="https://www.blackgate.com/2023/12/26/no-more-stories-the-capstone-to-joanna-russs-alyx-sequence-the-second-inquisition/">Rich Horton revisits the 1970<i> Alyx </i>sword and sorcery story "The Second Inquisition" by Joanna Russ.<i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/sun-shiny-day">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1973 science fiction novel <i>The Stone That Never Came Down</i> by John Brunner <i><br /></i></a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/visions">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1979 horror novel <i>The Dead Zone </i>by Stephen King. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/dear-old-dixie">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1987 science fiction novel <i>Lincoln’s Dreams </i>by Connie Willis</a></li><li><a href="https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/deep-blue-sea">James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1991 science fiction novel <i>Reefsong</i> by Carol Severance </a><br /><br /></li></ul><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Con and event reports:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://locusmag.com/2023/12/chengdu-worldcon-report/"><i>Locus</i> shares a report about the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China.</a></li><li><a href="https://efanzines.com/Idea/Idea13.pdf">Sandra Bond shares her experiences at Pemmi-Con, the 2023 Nasfic in Winnipeg, Canada. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/netflix-3-body-problem-immersive-experience-ces-2024-1235848549/">Todd Spangler reports that <i>Netflix</i> has announced a <i>Three Body Problem</i> immersive experience in Las Vegas, Nevada.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://file770.com/viet-max-art-at-the-us-consulate-general-ho-chi-minh-city/">James Bacon reports about an exhibition with art by SFF artist Viet Max at the US General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/dec/22/blueys-big-play-review-royal-festival-hall-london">Tim Jonze shares his thoughts on the stage version of <i>Bluey’s Big Play</i>, which is currently playing in London, UK.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/01/mr-spocks-widow-puts-on-a-show">Dana Goodyear reports that Susan Bay Nimoy, widow of Leonard Nimoy, has restored a historical Art Deco movie theatre in Los Angeles, California, and dedicated it to her late husband. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/theme-parks-disney-universal-las-vegas-meow-wolf-nye-1851118355">Sabina Graves shares news from various US-based theme parks. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Science and technology:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/nasa-rotating-detonation-rocket-engine-test-space-1851118842">Passant Rabie reports that <i>NASA</i>'s new detonation engine has just passed an important test.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/dec/23/how-the-james-webb-telescope-is-set-to-find-strange-and-bizarre-worlds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other">Robin McKie reports how the <i>James Webb Space Telescope</i> is set to find strange and bizarre worlds</a></li><li><a href="http://galacticjourney.org/december-28-1968-a-christmas-gift-to-the-world-part-1-apollo-8/">Kaye Dee reports about the <i>Apollo 8</i> mission in 1968. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/dec/23/prehistoric-handprints-finger-missing-ritually-removed">Robin McKie notes that the fact that many prehistoric handprints have missing fingers hints that there may be ritual reasons for this. </a><br /><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Gaming: </b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-2023-retrospective-jedi-survivor-high-republi-1851120866">James Whitbrook calls the video game <i>Star Wars: Jedi Survivor</i> the best <i>Star Wars</i> we got this year. </a></li><li><a href="http://www.nerds-feather.com/2023/12/baldurs-gate-3.html">Roseanna Pendlebury reviews <i>Baldur's Gate 3</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.themarysue.com/lethal-company-game-of-the-year/">Ana Valens declares that <i>Lethal Company </i>is her personal game of the year. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.avclub.com/diablo-ivs-developers-talk-to-us-about-its-big-year-bi-1851041506">William Hughes interviews Rod Fergusson and Joe Shely, developers of <i>Diablo IV</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.polygon.com/24007591/insomniac-games-hack-wolverine-spider-man-3-data?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email">Oli Welsh reports that the video game company <i>Insomniac Games</i> was hit by a ransomware attack and that the hackers released 1.3 million stolen files, including sensitive information.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/business/china-video-gaming-tencent-netease.html">John Liu wonders if China will ease its crackdown on videogames. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/nyregion/board-game-cafe-workers-union-nyc.html">Anusha Bayya reports that employees at board game cafés in New York City have unionised. </a><br /></li></ul><b></b></div><b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Toys and collectibles:</b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phNg6VXegU"><i>Pixel Dan </i>reviews the <i>NECA Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> Sewer Lair playset. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB6KJTh8dz0">Watch the stop motion video <i>LEGO Lord of the Rings Welcome to Rivendell</i></a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> <br /></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Free online fiction:</b> <ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-juggler-of-red-walls/">"The Juggler of Red Walls" by Walter J. Wiese in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/the-moult/">"The Moult" by Christopher Rowe in <i>Beneath Ceaseless Skies</i>. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://lunastationquarterly.com/story/high-to-kolob-on-a-cosmic-clydesdale/">"High To Kolob On A Cosmic Clydesdale" by Katrina Carruth in <i>Luna Station Quarterly</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/do-the-right-thing-and-ride-the-bomb-the-roundabout-way-to-hell/">"Do the Right Thing and Ride the Bomb the Roundabout Way to Hell" by Andrea Kriz in <i>Lightspeed</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/mindfulness-and-the-machine/">"Mindfulness and the Machine" by A.T. Greenblatt in <i>Lightspeed</i>. <br /></a></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/dyer_12_23/">"Eight or Die (Part 2)" by Thoraiya Dyer in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/fu_12_23/">"Kill That Groundhog" by Fu Qiang, translated by Andy Dudak, in <i>Clarkesworld</i>.</a><br /></li><li><a href="https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/the-dreadful-and-specific-monster-of-starosibirsk/">"The Dreadful and Specific Monster of Starosibirsk" by Kristina Ten in <i>The Dark</i>.</a></li><li><a href="https://slate.com/technology/2023/12/rigland-suyi-davies-okungbowa-future-tense-fiction.html">"Rigland" by Suyi Davies Okungbowa in <i>Slate Future Tense</i>. </a></li><li><a href="https://apex-magazine.com/short-fiction/twenty-pieces-of-documentation-presented-to-the-emergency-committee-on-the-study-and-understanding-of-the-m3d1154-contagion/">"Twenty Pieces of Documentation Presented to the Emergency Committee on the Study and Understanding of the M3D1154 Contagion" by Damien Angelica Walters in <i>Apex Magazine</i>,</a></li><li><a href="https://kriswrites.com/2023/12/25/free-fiction-monday-substitutions/">"Substitutions" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. </a><br /></li><li><a href="https://swordslore.substack.com/p/christmas-2013">"Christmas 2013" by Ethan Sabatella. </a><br /></li></ul></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b> </b></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Trailers and videos:</b><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTri2ecoEKQ">Watch the animated short film <i>Loontown</i>.</a><br /></li></ul></div></div></div><p> </p>Cora Buhlerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03868233120931184399noreply@blogger.com0