Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 17, 2025

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general, Masters of the Universe in general, Star Trek in general, the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, season 5 of Harley Quinn, season 2 of Silo, Wolf Man, season 2 of Severance, season 2 of Squid Game, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, the latest sexual abuse allegations against Neil Gaiman, the British government's new AI copyright legislation, tributes to David Lynch and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of recent science fiction, fantasy and horror books. 
• Reactor lists all the new science fiction books arriving in January 2025 
  
• Reactor lists all the new fantasy books arriving in January 2025 
• Reactor lists all the new romantasy, horror and genre hybrid books arriving in January 2025 
  
• Reactor lists all the young adult SFF books arriving in January 2025  
• Wole Talabi shares his favourite African speculative fiction stories of 2024.
  
• Alex Brown shares their favourite speculative short fiction from December 2024. 
• Jo Walton shares her reading list for December 2024.
  
• James Davis Nicoll discusses how subgenres wax and wane in popularity. 
• Brandon O'Brien explains what speculative poetry is.
  
• James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF stories about fighting fate. 
• Sara Sligar shares techno thrillers rooted in the ever-mounting tensions between technology and human nature.
• Layne Fargo shares nine books combining the gothic and the glamorous.
  
• James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF works about rivers 
  
• Ratika Deshpande shares five beguiling SFF stories about merchants and shopkeepers
  
• Cole Rush lists five fantasy bookstores and libraries he’d love to explore 
  
• Rachel Cordasco takes a look at Perry Rhodan.
• Rachel Cordasco profiles French SFF writer Nathalie Henneberg. 
• Alexandra Alter profiles Nnedi Okorafor.
  
• Mark Roth-Whitworth shares his appreciation for C.J. Cherryh's Alliance-Union universe.
  
• John Grayshaw wonders what will happen to the remaining orphan stories from The Last Dangerous Visions, which were not included in the much belated publication of the anthology last year. 
• Jacob Simmons reports about the mutual admiration between Ray Bradbury and Steven Spielberg.
  
• Bobby Derie discusses the correspondence between August Derleth and Weird Tales editor Dorothy McIlwraith and how they shaped the Cthulhu Mythos. 
• Kameron Hurley explains why art connects people across space and time.
  
• Daniel Dern shares a round-up of tributes to the late Barry Malzberg.
  

 

Discussion of the latest sexual abuse allegations against Neil Gaiman:

• Lila Shapiro has a detailed exposé about the sexual abuse allegations against Neil Gaiman (warning: graphic descriptions). 
• Dominic Patten reports that J.K. Rowling, herself no stranger to controversy, has compared Neil Gaiman to Harvey Weinstein. 
• Neil Gaiman responds to the allegations against him.
• Lucy Knight reports that Neil Gaiman's current wife (for now) Amanda Palmer has claimed that she is disturbed by the allegations against Gaiman, but refuses to say anything more due to ongoing divorce proceedings. 
• Sophia Stewart traces how Neil Gaiman's publishers have responded to the allegations against him.
  
• The Bookseller notes that Neil Gaiman's publishers have remained silent regarding the allegations against him.
  
• Matthew Boroson finds parallels between Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics and Tanith Lee's Flat Earth series, even though Gaiman never acknowledged Lee as an inspiration. 
  

 

 Comics and Art:

• Michael Whelan recounts how he broke into professional cover illustration in 1975.
• Jim Milliot reports that Diamond Comic Distributors have filed for bankruptcy. 
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon offering an alternate ending to Sleeping Beauty.
  
  

Film and TV:

• Germain Lussier looks ahead at science fiction, fantasy and horror films coming out in 2025.
• Isaiah Colbert calls season 2 of Castlevania: Nocturne bloody brilliant
  
• Gavia Baker Whitelaw talks about the lackluster eroticism of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu
  
• Ann Michelle Harris calls Dead Boy Detectives an entertaining horror comedy which packs a lot of emotion into a short series. 
• Arturo Serrano calls Creature Commandos a raunchy, visceral, uncompromising statement of intention 
• Nathan Rabin notes that Shazam! Fury Of The Gods lacked most of what made the first Shazam! movie so compelling and probably would have flopped, even if star Zachary Levi had not felt the need to utter his controversial political views.
  
• Keith R.A. DeCandido declares that Hellboy: The Crooked Man does not live up to the previous movies or the original comic.  
• Leslie Felperin calls Werewolves a post-apocalyptic lupine horror film.
• Peter Bradshaw calls the latest adaptation of William Tell an enjoyably daft action epic 
  
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Mayfair Witches.
  
• Leslie Felperin shares her thoughts on the animated film Panda Bear in Africa  
• Emine Saner interviews Lucy Liu, star of Kill Bill, Charlie's Angels, Elementary and many others. 
• Isaiah Colbert interviews Fuga Yamashiro, director of Dan Da Dan. 
  
• Steve Vertlieb shares his appreciation for the work of Brian De Palma. 
• Peter Bradshaw revisits the 1974 historical horror film Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter 
  
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1995 Babylon 5 episode “And Now for a Word” 
• Kali Wallace revisits the 2007 Spanish time travel film Timecrimes. 
• Matthew Jackson shares ten underrated werewolf movies.
  
• Kali Wallace shares a selection of amazing South Korean dramas about monsters, mayhem and murder
  
• Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen recounts how the bestselling Australian picture book Magic Beach by Alison Lester became an animated film.
• Matt Schimkowitz reports that according to director Andy Muschietti, The Flash failed because audience don't care about the character and don't know who he is, in spite of a successful ten season TV series devoted to the same character. 
  
• Actors Austin St, John and Walter Jones explain how they were exploited on the set of the original Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers and earned very little money in spite of the show's huge success. 
• Ryan Coleman reports that Disney has been sued for copyright infringement about Moana and its sequel. 
• Amelia Tait traces the sound effect of a meowing cat that has been used in dozens of films.
  
• William Earl reports that the directors of the horror movie It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This plan never to release their movie on DVD or streaming but only theatrically, thus drumming up interest in the film  
• Alex Whitman reports that actor Warwick Davis will receive a BAFTA fellowship. 
• Brooks Barnes reports that Hollywood filmmaking continues in spite of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, since very few films and TV shows are actually shot in Los Angeles these days. 
• Actor Paul Danan, best known for his role in the British soap opera Hollyoaks, has died aged 46.
  
• Cinematagrapher Roger Pratt, who worked on Brazil, Batman, 12 Monkeys, two Harry Potter movies and many others, has died aged 77. 
• Animator Mike Toth who worked on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, Bravestarr, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Beauty and the Beast and many others, had died.
  

 

Tributes to David Lynch:

• David Lynch, director of Twin Peaks, Eraserhead, Dune, Lost Highway, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Mulholland Drive and many others, has died aged 78.
• Erik Pedersen and Anthony D'Alessandro share an obituary for David Lynch.
  
• Peter Bradshaw remembers David Lynch.
• Pete Hammond shares a tribute to David Lynch. 
• Jim Vorel remembers David Lynch. 
• Cheryl Eddy remembers David Lynch.
  
• Benjamin Lee shares tributes to David Lynch from fellow actors and directors. 
• Kyle MacLaghlan, star of Twin Peaks, Dune and Blue Velvet, remembers David Lynch.
  
• Nicholas Cage, star of Wild at Heart, remembers David Lynch. 
• Naomi Watts, star of Mulholland Drive, remembers David Lynch. 
• Laura Haring, star of Mulholland Drive, remembers David Lynch. 
• Patricia Arquette, star of Lost Highway, remembers David Lynch.
• Lara Flynn Boyle, who played Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks, remembers David Lynch.
• Mädchen Amick, who played Shelly Johnson in Twin Peaks, remembers David Lynch.
  
• Mark Frost, co-creator of Twin Peaks, remembers David Lynch. 
• Gary Levine, executive producer of Twin Peaks, remembers David Lynch. 
• Disney CEO Bob Iger remembers David Lynch.
  
• Matt Fidler shares photos from David Lynch's lengthy career. 
• E.C. Flamming ranks every movie David Lynch ever made.
  

 

Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:

• Project Reylo shares a summary of what we know about the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film as well as some speculation. 
• Joey Paur finds some parallels between the suspected plot of the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action film and 2012 John Carter movie.
  
• James Eatock notes that voice actress Melendy Britt based the voice of Castaspella in She-Ra: Princess of Power on Catherine Hepburn.
• Allison Troy remembers the obscure She-Ra: Princess of Power villain Colonel Blast and explains his connection to the popular Masters of the Universe character Rio Blast.
  

 

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

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on “The Real Good Guys”, the season finale of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Rafael Motomayor shares his thoughts on ,“The Real Good Guys”, the season finale of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.  
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on “The Real Good Guys”, the season finale of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.   
• Haley Zapal calls Star Wars: Skeleton Crew a fun romp through the Star Wars universe with kids, pirates, aliens, robots, and a gigantic homage to The Goonies
• Germain Lussier shares all the questions he has after season 1 of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
  
• Germain Lussier wonders about the future and ultimate fate of the character of Jod Na Nawood in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Dalton Ross interviews Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, showrunners of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.
  
• James Whitbrook wonders what we actually know about the Old Republic in the Star Wars universe.
  

 

Comments on the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general: 

• Saloni Gajjar discusses how Marvel's TV offerings have evolved over the years. 
• Ben Child discusses rumours that Marvel is planning to recast T'Challa a.k.a. Black Panther after Chadwick Boseman's untimely death. 
• Ben Travis interviews Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of several Marvel movies. 
• Watch a trailer for Daredevil: Born Again.
  

 

Comments on Star Trek in general:

• Avery Kaplan shares five reasons people should watch Star Trek: Lower Decks. 
• James Whitbrook shares his favourite moment in the Star Trek Voyager premiere "The Caretaker".
  

 

Comments on Harley Quinn:  

• Jarrod Jones declares that Harley Quinn still warms the heart and grates the nerves 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season 5 premiere of Harley Quinn.
  

 

Comments on Silo:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.

 

Comments on season 2 of Squid Game:

• Sara Merican interviews Wi Ha-jun, who plays Hwang Jun-ho in Squid Game.
• William Hughes reports that Netflix is now claiming that Squid Game season 2 is its third-most-watched season of TV of all time, after the show's first season (and Wednesday), though there is no way to check.
  

 

Comments on Wolf-Man:

• Peter Bradshaw calls Wolf Man a fear-free update of the werewolf myth that lacks bite and believability
• Andy Crump declares that Wolf Man does right by the wolf, but lets down the man
  
• Jacob Oller calls Wolf Man a werewolf tale full of modern anxiety.  
• Sabina Graves calls Wolf Man a taut thriller that cleverly recontextualizes its monster  
• Cheryl Eddy offers an overview of the cinematic history of the Wolf Man.
  

 

Comments on season 2 of Severance: 

• Cheryl Eddy shares everything to remember about season 2 of Severance.
  
• Rebecca Nicholson calls season 2 of Severance a gorgeously odd return for this surreal drama, if you can work out what’s happening
• Lucy Mangan calls season 2 of Severance a weird, wild show that is impossibly mesmerising 
  
• Ben Travers calls season 2 of Severance deeper, darker and worth the wait
  
• Kathryn VanArendonk declares that season 2 of Severance was worth the wait.
  
• Diana Keng shares her thoughts on season 2 of Severance. 
• Jake Kleinman interviews Dan Erickson, creator of Severance.
  
• Germain Lussier interviews Tramell Tillman and Patricia Arquette, two of the stars of Severance.
  

 

Comments on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: 

• James Whitbrook explains how Aardman Animation made the non-speaking villain Feathers McGraw work in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
  

 

Awards:

• The finalists for the 2024 Philip K. Dick Award have been announced.
• The winners of the Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors short story contest have been announced 
• The winners of the 2024 Nero Book Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2025 WGA Awards have been announced.
• The finalists for the 2025 PGA Awards have been announced. 
  
• The finalists for the 2025 VES Awards have been announced.
  
• The finalists for the 2025 Art Directors Guild Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2025 D.I.C.E. Awards have been announced. 
  

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Mackenzie Reid explains how she went from writing songs to writing novels.
• Sandra Chwialkowska explains how to tell whether your idea works best as a novel or a screenplay. 
• Jessie Garcia shares six tips for pulling off a really good plot twist.
  
• Jason Sanford shares his latest genre grapevine column. 
• Locus reports that Fantasy Magazine will relaunch in June 2025 
• Jim Milliot reports that a new government report cites ongoing concern over pirate sites
  
• Robert Booth reports how several British writers, artists and musicians have criticised the British government's plan to allow AI companies to use copyrighted works as training data for their systems without compensating the artists. 
• Ed Newton-Rex declares that the British government's AI plan could be good for the British people – except the creatives it will throw under the bus 
  
• Nathalie op de Beeck and Claire Kirch recount how the Los Angeles wildfires have affected bookstore and publishers in Los Angeles.
  

 

Interviews:

• Matthew Jackson interviews Grady Hendrix.
  
• The Guardian interviews Stuart Turton.
• The Hugo, Girl! podcast interviews Ann Michelle Harris. 
• Locus interviews Tobi Ogundiran.
  

 

Reviews:

• Ian Mond reviews Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan 
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Titanchild by Jen Williams 
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  
• Paul di Filippo reviews Mechanize My Hands to War by Erin K. Wagner
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews We Lived on the Horizon by Erika Swyler 
• Clara Cohen reviews Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan 
  
• Bill Capossere reviews An Instruction in Shadow by Benedict Jacka  
  
• Gabino Iglesias reviews Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman 
• Colleen Mondor reviews The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
  
• Blue Book Balloon reviews The Scholar and the Last Fairy Door by H.G. Parry 
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee  
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Bloodwoven by G.J. Terral 
• Adrian Collins reviews Tomorrow, The Killing by Daniel Polansky
  
• Alexandra Pierce reviews Vilest Things by Chloe Gong
  
• Lesa Holstine reviews Lights! Camera! Mayhem! by Jodi Taylor
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Free as a Bird by Hailey Edwards
  
• Alex Brown reviews Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Stones of Landane by Catherine Cavendish
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Fourth Island by Sarah Tolmie
  
• Marion Deeds reviews The Spite House by Johnny Compton 
• Colleen Mondor reviews Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber
  
• Fiona Denton reviews The Crimson Road by A.G. Slatter
  
• Paul Weimer reviews Miserere by T. Frohock 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. 
  
• Rob Bedford reviews Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix.
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Queen by Nick Cutter 
• Ian Mond reviews The Way by Cary Groner
  
• Rai Furniss-Greasley reviews Symbiote by Michael Nayak
  
• Blue Book Balloon reviews A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross 
• Arley Sorg reviews Bestiary of Blood: Modern Fables and Dark Tales, edited by Jamal Hodge
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Sam Reader revisits the 1941 horror story “Smoke Ghost” by Fritz Leiber
  
• Dave Hook revisits the 1943 anthology The Pocket Book of Science-Fiction, edited by Donald A. Wollheim.
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1969 science fiction novella “The Organleggers” by Larry Niven
• Cora Buhlert revisits the 1969 science fiction crime anthology Crime Prevention in the 30th Century, edited by Hans Stefan Santesson, and the 1970 science fiction thriller Drug of Choice by John Lange a.k.a. Michael Crichton.
  
• Victoria Silverwolf revisits the February 1970 issue of Fantastic.  
• David Levinson revisits the February 1970 issue of Venture. 
• Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the February 1970 issue of Vision of Tomorrow and the 1970 anthology New Writings in SF-16, edited by John Carnell.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1972 anthology Again, Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1985 Conan sword and sorcery novel Conan the Valorous by John Maddox Roberts 
• Sandy Ferber revisits the 1987 horror collection Dark Feasts by Ramsey Campbell
  
• Bogi Takács revisits the 1998 gay horror novella The Route of Ice and Salt by José Luis Zárate, translated by David Bowles
  

 

Con and event reports:

• Leadie Flowers reports about Erasmuscon, the 2024 Eurocon in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  
• Cora Buhlert shares her adventures at the Church of Eternia Masters of the Universe holiday event in Hanau, Hesse, Germany.
  
• Teresa Peschel reports about a visit to Vortex Books and Comics in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
  
• Manny Moreno reports that the building and archives of the Theosophical Society in Altadena, California, including a collection of paintings, have been completely destroyed by wildfires.
• Sam Lubbell reports about the many historically and architecturally important buildings destroyed by the Los Angeles wildfires, including the former homes of western writer Zane Grey, western star Will Rogers and map tyconn Rand McNally. 
  

 

Science and technology:

• Danny Fullbrook shares new photos of Mercury captured by ESA's BepiColombo spaceprobe.
• Kenneth Chang reports that the Blue Origin New Glenn rocket will finally lift off this week. 
• Eric Berger reports that the New Glenn rocket has successfully reached orbit. 
• George Wright reposts that the latest test of SpaceX's Starship rocket has failed and the rocket exploded after launch.
  
• Margharita Bassi reports that NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Deep Space Mission Control in Pasadena, California, had to be evacuated due to the Los Angeles wildfires. 
• Zachary Small reports that the World Monuments Fund have put the Moon on their list of at-risk site due to the potential dangers of unregulated space tourism and billionaires treating space travel as their private toy.
  

 

Gaming: 

• Keith Stuart calls the video game Grunn part gardening sim, part survival horror thriller 
• Simon Parkin calls the video game Ballionaire an addictive, pinball-inspired strategy game
  
• Keith Stuart celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Resident Evil 4.
• Justin Carter also celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Resident Evil 4.
• C.T. Phipps revisits the 2015 video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain 
  
• Keza MacDonald explains that replaying video games from her past with her children has been a surreal and transformative experience.  
• James Whitbrook interviews Wes Schneider, principle game designer for Dungeons & Dragons.
  
• Stewart A. Shearer shares a Little D&D adventure entitled "The Forst Giant's Storm".
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Pixel Dan reviews several recent Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse New Eternia action figures.
• For Eternia share their ten favourite Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse action figures of 2024.
• Scott Neitlich shares his ten favourite Hasbro Marvel Legends figures of 2024. 
• Sir Dork shares his favourite action figures of 2024. 
• Germain Lussier takes a look at the Batman Forever action figures by Spin Masters
• James Whitbrook shares a look at the Cullen House Lego set from Twilight.
  
• Sabina Graves shares a look at some Nightmare Before Christmas themed merchandise. 
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "The Iron Bells of Xylinthia" by Jeffery Scott Sims in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
• "Wolf Moon, Antler Moon" by A.C. Wise in Reactor.
• "Kaiju Agonistes" by Scott Lynch in Uncanny Magazine  
• "The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe" by Tia Tashiro in Clarkesworld.
• "Bone and Marrow, Woven into Song" by Neon Yang in Lightspeed.  
• "The Exquisite Pull of Relentless Desire" by Will McMahon in Lightspeed.
  
• "One by One" by Lindz McLeod in Apex Magazine.
  
• "Lost You Again" by Ian Rogers in The Dark.
  
• "Prévoyance" by Tariro Ndoro in Omenana. 
• "They Bought a House" by Osahon Ize-Iyamu in Nightmare Magazine. 
• "Sole Survivor" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for season 2 of Castlevania Nocturne.
• Watch a trailer for The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. 
• Watch a trailer for Outlander: Blood of My Blood.
  
• Watch a trailer for The Woman in the Yard.
  
• Watch a trailer for Presence. 
• Watch a trailer for The Monkey. 
• Watch a trailer for Until Dawn.
  

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 10, 2025

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general, Masters of the Universe in general, season 7 of Outlander, season 2 of Silo, season 2 of Mayfair Witches, Creature Commandos, season 2 of Severance, season 2 of Squid Game, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Alex Brown shares YA science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in January and February 2025.
  
• Alex Brown shares five YA SFF books about revolutions and rebellions. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction books about aliens attempting to govern humans 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction novels that dabble in environmental determinism 
  
• Ratika Deshpande shares six SFF stories about the power of words. 
• Cat Eldridge asks several people about their favourite work by J.R.R. Tolkien.
  
• Julie Phillips talks about the quiet power of Ursula K. Le Guin’s political activism  
• Renay Williams talks about the decline of SFF review blogs and the possible reasons for it. 
• Katy Waldman reports about a plagiarism scandal in the romantasy genre involving Tracy Wolff's novel Crave. 
• Molly Templeton wonders what escapist fiction means.
  
• Isa Arsèn asks why the same stories are being told and adapted over and over again. 
  
• BBC Radio 4 laments the death of cultural originality.
  
• Iszi Lawrence discusses the rise of fandom.
  
• Elizabeth Minkel reports that in 2024, lots of companies tried to profit of fanfiction, usually unethically.
• Paul Grondahl shares an obituary for George Zebrowski. 
• Steve Holland shares an obituary for Barry Malzberg.
  
• Science fiction fan and con-runner Julianne Brandes Owings has died aged 80.
  
• Thriller and horror author Andrew Pyper has died aged 56. 
• Locus remembers Andrew Pyper.
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Robin Marx reviews Conan the Barbarian: Battle of the Black Stone #4 by Jim Zub and Jonas Scharf
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews "Inferno", volume 8 of Monstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda 
• Warner Holme reviews The Glass Scientists by S.H. Cotucno
  
• Archita Mittra reviews Dream Machine: A Portrait of Artificial Intelligence by Appupen and Laurent Daudet
  
• Sam Wicks and Michael Dulaney profile Scott Wilson, creator of the Aboriginal superhero Dark Heart.
• Scott Edelman interviews Martha Thomases, journalist and publicist at DC Comics.
  
  

Film and TV:

• Olivia Rutigliano wonders what it means to remake Nosferatu instead of simply Dracula?
• Leah Schnelbach shares her thoughts on the final season of What If...? 
• Andrew Osmond notes that the animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is actually a success in Japan.
• Isaiah Colbert calls Zenshu a surprisingly refreshing anime about the anime industry. 
• Keith R.A. DeCandido calls Joker: Folie à Deux a disappointing slog that fails on multiple levels.
  
• Rafael Motamayor calls Goosebumps: The Vanishing a fun gateway horror
  
• Cath Clarke calls Get Away a ridiculous folk horror comedy.
  
• Catherine Bray calls The Damned an atmospheric period horror film from Iceland.  
• Leslie Felperin calls Street Trash a dull horror remake.
  
• Jim Vorel looks ahead at the most anticipated horror movies of 2025.
• Witney Seibold shares eight classic and not so classic science fiction movies set in 2025,
  
• Diana Keng shares her appreciation for the character of Jentry Chau from Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld. 
  
• Janice Newman looks back on the debut of Sesame Street in 1969, 
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1995 Babylon 5 episode “There All the Honor Lies” 
• Haley Zapal revisits the 1955 historical action film Seven Samurai.
  
• Kali Wallace revisits the 2014 science fiction film Edge of Tomorrow.
  
• Ben Child reports that actor Jesse Eisenberg claims his turn as Lex Luthor derailed his career. 
• Toby Hadoke shares an In Memoriam video of all the people involved with Doctor Who whom we lost in 2024. 
• Film editor and producer George Folsey Jr., who worked on The Blues Brothers, Twilight Zone: The Movie and the Thriller music video among many others, has died aged 85.
  
• Britt Allcroft, producer of Thomas the Tank Engine, has died aged 81.
• Musician Peter Yarrow, the Peter of Peter, Paul and Mary and composer of "Puff, the Magic Dragon" has died aged 86.
  

 

Comments on Masters of the Universe in general:

• Danielle Directo-Meston interviews Nicholas Galitzine who has been cast as Prince Adam a.k.a. He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe live action movie. 
• Cora Buhlert takes a look at the character of Geldor from Masters of the Universe and why his action figure looks different than his comic appearance.
  

 

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

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on  “We’re Gonna Be In So Much Trouble”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Rafael Motomayor shares his thoughts on “We’re Gonna Be In So Much Trouble”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.  
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on “We’re Gonna Be In So Much Trouble”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.   
• Liz Declan calls Skeleton Crew the best Star Wars TV series since Andor.
• Germain Lussier notes that Skeleton Crew not only destroyed a spaceship, but also made several merchandise articles obsolete in the process.
  
• Clayton Sandell interviews Jake Lloyd who played the young Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace.
  

 

Comments on season 7 of Outlander: 

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

 

Comments on Creature Commandos: 

• Isaiah Colbert shares three things he liked and three things he didn't about season 1 of Creature Commandos.
  
• Isaiah Colbert interviews Maria Bakalova who voices Princess Ilana in Creature Commandos.
  

 

Comments on Silo:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.

 

Comments on season 2 of Squid Game:

• Josh Wigler interviews Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of Squid Game.
• Cheryl Eddy shares eight things she'd like to see in season 3 of Squid Game. 
• Watch a Making of for season 2 of Squid Game.
  

 

Comments on season 2 of Mayfair Witches:

• Lacy Baugher Milas declares that season 2 of Mayfair Witches favours plot twists over character depth
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season 2 premiere of Mayfair Witches.
  

 

Comments on season 2 of Severance: 

• Elijah Gonzales declares that season 2 of Severance works overtime to deliver striking imagery and sharp commentary
• Germain Lussier declares that season 2 of Severance is just as awesome as fans were hoping
  
• Germain Lussier interviews Adam Scott, star of Severance. 
• Germain Lussier interviews Dan Erickson, showrunner of Severance.
  

 

Comments on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: 

• Arturo Serrano calls Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl a most welcome return.
• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on Wallace & Gromit, Vengeance Most Fowl
  
• Anna McKibbin declares that with Wallace & Gromit and its other stop-motion animated films, Aardman Animations presents a quietly subversive vision of England
• James Whitbrook declares that Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl cannot beat The Wrong Trousers‘ chase scene—and it doesn’t need to 
  

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2025 Golden Globes have been announced.
• The finalists for the 2025 SAG Awards have been announced.
  
• The finalists for the 2025 DGA Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2025 2025 MPSE Golden Reel Awards have been announced. 
• Nicholas Whyte talks about his involvement with the Hugo Awards.
  

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Charlie Jane Anders asks whether unreliable narrators have to be arseholes. 
• Ira Nayman talks about the professional writer/editor relationship. 
• Alafair Burke explains how social media helped her become her true self.
  
• Gareth Rubin notes that writers are expected to work for love, but no one would ever expect that of a dentist.
  
• Victoria Strauss reports that the people behind the scam operations PageTurner Press and Media have been arrested in California.
  
• Phoebe Zhang reports that the Chinese police is cracking down on writers of gay erotica.
• Matt Vasilogambros reports that librarians are gaining legal protections in some US states as book bans soar.
  

 

Interviews:

• Locus interviews Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee.
• Joachim Boaz interviews Jordan S. Carroll.
  

 

Reviews:

• Grab This Book reviews Glory in Death by J.D. Robb   
• Liz Bourke reviews Countess by Suzan Palumbo
  
• Paul Weimer reviews Coyote Run by Lilith Saintcrow
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto
  
• Anneke Schwob reviews The Fortunate Fall by Cameron Reed 
• Fantasy Faction reviews Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Pilgrim Machines by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
  
• Paul Weimer reviews The Cost of Power: Return by Joyce Reynolds-Ward 
• Clara Cohen reviews Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy  
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Hessians and Hellhounds by Tilly Wallace
  
• Colleen Mondor reviews Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith 
• Rob Bedford reviews The Hidden Queen by Peter V. Brett. 
• Liz Bourke reviews The Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel
  
• Liz Bourke reviews The Republic of Salt by Ariel Kaplan
  
• Gabino Iglesias reviews The Midnight Club by Margot Harrison
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Gingerbread Men by Joanna Corrance
  
• T.O. Munro reviews Blood Brothers Beyond by Rob J. Hayes 
• Rai Furniss-Greasley reviews Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill
  
• Abergale Shep reviews Stay in the Light by A.M. Shine
• Ian Mond reviews Remember You Will Die by Eden Robins 
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay Mcleod Chapman  
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
  
• Marion Deeds reviews The Militia House by John Milas 
• Tobias Carroll reviews Dogs and Monsters by Mark Haddon.
  
• Karen Haber reviews The Kwaidan Collection by Lafcadio Hearn 
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Muse from the Orb revisits the 1928 horror story "The Ghost Table" by Elliot O'Donnell 
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1957 science fiction novel Eye in the Sky by Philip K. Dick. 
• Brian Collins revisits the 1957 science fiction novel Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein.
  
• Gideon Marcus revisits the February 1970 issue of Galaxy.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1976 planetary romance Brothers of Earth by C. J. Cherryh 
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the spring 1977 issue of Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine.
• Alan Brown revisits the 1978 science fiction collection The Best of Raymond Z. Gallun, edited by J.J. Pierce 
• Brian Collins revisits the 1980 horror story “Strata” by Edward Bryant  
• Alissa Burger revisits the 1989 YA horror novel The New Girl and its 1994 sequel The New Boy by R.L. Stine.
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1992 science fiction novel Hard Landing by Algis Budrys.
  
• Clara Cohen revisits the 1995 fantasy novel Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb.  
• Kat Hooper revisits the 2006 urban fantasy novel Wolf Who Rules by Wen Spencer
  

 

Con and event reports:

• Mark Evanier recounts a story about a Robert A. Heinlein panel at a convention where it turned out that neither the moderator nor the panelists nor the audience were familiar with Heinlein and his work.
  
• Mark Sweeney reports that stage producer Cameron Mackintosh, who operates several theatres and successful show in London's West End, has reported a dip in profits amidst rising costs in 2024.
  

 

Crowdfunding:

• The speculative flash fiction magazine The Cosmic Background is looking for funding for its second year.
• Wave 1 of The Cursed Dead horror action figure line from Toy DNA is looking for funding.
  

 

Science and technology:

• Ryan Britt reports that solar sails might be the future of space travel.
• Business Daily interviews astronaut Chris Hadfield. 
• Jason Sanford talks about AI and the enshittification of life.
  
• Victoria Lucas reports about the establishment of ARPANET
  

 

Gaming: 

• Tom Regan looks ahead at the French RPG videogame Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 
• Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics reports that Hasbro is launching a Dungeons and Dragons themed slot machine game to great controversy.
• Keza MacDonald reports that sales of boxed videogames have collapsed in the UK. 
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Pixel Dan reviews wave 2 of the Mattel Street Sharks action figures.
  
• Chloe Hamilton reports that the popularity of Jellycat stuffed toys has inspired a wave of shoplifting.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "Our Echoes Drifting Through the Marsh" by Marie Croke in Beneath Ceaseless Skies. 
• "Half Drowned" by S.L. Harris in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
  
• "A Heap of Petrified Gods" by Adelehin Ijasan in Lightspeed
• "Tell Them a Story to Teach Them Kindness" by B. Pladek in Lightspeed.  
  
• "A Blackened Shield" by Jay Requard in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
• "In the Blue Room" by Orrin Grey in The Dark.
  
• "The Morning Room" by Katharine Tyndall in Nightmare Magazine.  
• "Never Eaten Vegetables" by H.H. Pak in Clarkesworld.
  
• "Let Her Collect Stamps" by Juniper White in Apex Magazine.
  
• " I Will Get Her Back" by A.T. Sayre in The Cosmic Background.
• "How the End Begins" by Gabrielle Emem Harry in Omenana.
  
• "Six People to Revise You" by J.R. Dawson in Uncanny Magazine 
  
• "Strange Creatures" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for season 2 of The Last of Us.
  
• Watch a trailer for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
• Watch a trailer for Cassandra. 
• Watch a trailer for season 4 of Mythic Quest.
  
• Watch a trailer for Into the Lost Lands.
  
• Watch a trailer for Heart Eyes.
  

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 3, 2025

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with the best SFF works of 2024, Star Trek Lower Decks and Star Trek in general, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general, the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special, season 7 of Outlander, season 2 of Silo, Nosferatu, Squid Game, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, tributes to Olivia Hussey and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Cheryl Eddy shares 42 new science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in January 2025.
• Natalie Zutter shares twenty science fiction and fantasy books to look forward to in 2025.
• Every Book a Doorway looks ahead at their most anticipated science nfiction and fantasy books of 2025.
  
• Lauren Salerno points out that science fiction has always been a space for queer expression.
  
• Curtis Evans profiles Fredric Brown and his affinity for circusses.
• Dave Hook shares his appreciation for the work of Julian May.
  
• Doris V. Sutherland shares her appreciation for the work of Naomi Kritzer. 
• Annie Reneau shares Gregory Maguire's inspiration for his fantasy novel Wicked, which became the basis for the eponymous stage musical and movie. 
• io9 remembers the science fiction, fantasy and horror luminaries who died in 2024.
  

 

Best of 2024:

•  Marlene Harris shares her favourite science fiction and fantasy books of 2024.
• Fantasy Faction share their favourite science fiction and fantasy books of 2024. 
• The Toronto Star shares their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror books of 2024.
  
• SFF World share their favourite science fiction books of 2024. 
  
• SFF World share their favourite horror books of 2024. 
• SFF World share their favourite SFF films and TV shows of 2024.
• Geek Girl Authority share their favourite butt-kicking TV heroines of 2024. 
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Mandy Sun reviews Dorohedoro Vol. 1 by Q. Hayashida
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about hibernation.
  

 

Film and TV:

• C.T. Phipps calls The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim a fine, but not great animated movie. 
• Kenneth Lowe declares that the Willow TV show did everything right and got cancelled anyway 
• Haley Zapal shares her thoughts on Dune Prophecy. 
• Lacey Baugher Milas calls season 2 of Mayfair Witches rushed.
  
• Leslie Felperin calls the horror movie Beezel a little unoriginal but delivered with toxic wit
  
• Justin Carter shares his appreciation for the animated series Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld and Invincible Fight Girl 
  
• Isaiah Colbert looks back on what happened in the animation world in 2024. 
• Aaron Jones lists his most anticipated science fiction and fantasy movies and TV shows of 2025. 
• io9 lists their most anticipated science fiction, fantasy and horror movies and TV shows of 2025.  
• Jesse Hassenger takes a look at 2025 according to various science fiction films.
  
• Derrick Bryson Taylor revisits the first filmic adaptation of Peter Pan from 1924. 
  
• Fiona Moore revisits the 1969 historical science fiction movie Captain Nemo and the Underwater City and Jason Sacks revisits the 1969 science fiction movie Marooned. 
• Greg Cwik revisits the 1974 horror movies Black Christmas and Deathdream. 
  
• Brian VanHooker shares twenty-five trivia tidbits for the twenty-fifth anniversary of Galaxy Quest.
• Ryan Gajewski interviews several Pixar employees about Disney cutting a trans subplot from the animated film Win or Lose. 
• Andrew Pulver interviews Aaron Taylor-Johnson, star of Kraven the Hunter.
  
• C.T. Phipps interviews Sevier Crespo, producer of Werewolves
  
• Will Tavlin talks about the rise and fall of Netflix and why so many of its movies and TV shows feel so generic. 
• Olivia Hussey, star of Death on the Nile, Romeo and Juliet and Black Christmas, has died aged 73. 
• David Thompson shares an obituary for Olivia Hussey.
  

 

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

• Avery Kaplan shares an ode to Star Trek: Lower Decks.
  
• Tom Nichols discusses how the original Star Trek series was full of Cold War analogies.
  

 

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

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on  “Zero Friends Again”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Rafael Motomayor shares his thoughts on “Zero Friends Again”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.  
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on  “Zero Friends Again”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.   
• Kristin Baver explains how the trash monster Tet'niss in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew came to be.
  

 

Comments on the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special: 

• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special. 
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special. 
• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on the colourised version of 1969 Doctor Who serial "The War Games" and some changes and additions. 

 

Comments on season 7 of Outlander: 

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

 

Comments on Nosferatu: 

• Rachel Leishman calls Nosferatu a hyper sexualized, breathtaking take on a story we know oh so well 
  
• Haley Zapal calls Nosferatu a terrifying, graphic, and atmospheric take on the classic vampire tale 
• Leah Schnelbach notes that Nosferatu asks whether evil lurks without, or within? 
• Steve Vertlieb shares his thoughts on Nosferatu.
  
• Director Robert Eggers explains how folklore fueled his take on Nosferatu.
• William Earl interviews David White, prosthetic makeup effects designer on Nosferatu
• Rebecca Rubin reports that Nosferatu had a good opening weekend, even though it was beaten at the box office by Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King.
  

 

Comments on Silo:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.

 

Comments on season 2 of Squid Game:

• William Hughes shares episode by episode reviews of season 2 of Squid Game.
• Jennifer Maas shares a guide to the new characters of season 2 of Squid Game.
  
• Jennifer Maas interviews Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of Squid Game. 
  
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Lee Byung-hun, who plays the Front Man in Squid Game. 
• Emma Keates reports that season 2 of Squid Game supposedly broke several viewership records on Netflix.
  

 

 Comments on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: 

• Jim Vorel calls Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl a triumphant return.
• Rich Johnson reports about a visit to the set of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl 
• James Whitbrook explains how American Netflix executives were confused by a specific British expression in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
  

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2024 Darth Vader Parenthood Award for Oustandingly Horrible Fictional Parents have been announced.
• The winner of the 2024 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award has been announced.
• The shortlists for the 2024 Cybils Awards have been announced.
  
• Mike Glyer reports that several scientists, writers and actors of SFF-nal interest are on King Charles III's new year honours list.
  

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Alexandra Alter reports about the fashion for elaborately designed deluxe hardcover editions of romantasy books.
• Alec Scott profiles bookbinder Dominic Riley.
  

 

Interviews:

• Seamas O'Reilly interviews Alan Moore.
• Alana Joli Abbott interviews Thea Guanzon.
  
• Arley Sorg interviews LaShawn M. Wanak. 
• Arley Sorg interviews Diana M. Pho.
  
• Authors on the Air interviews Andromeda Romano-Lax 
  

 

Reviews:

• Paul Weimer reviews The Unkillable Princess by Taran Hunt 
• Liz Bourke reviews Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis  
• Adrian Collins reviews Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri 
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow 
• Fiona Denton reviews The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke 
• Paul Di Filippo reviews The Final Orchard by C. J. Rivera
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Blood Jade by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Pennyblade by J.L. Worrad 
• Matt Pechey reviews Schemes & Scandals by Kelley Armstrong
  
• Paul Haggerty reviews The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
  
• Liz Bourke reviews Sargassa by Sophie Burnham
• Robin Marx reviews Contra Amatores Mundi by Graham Thomas Wilcox
  
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews Lightfall by Ed Crocker 
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Hell in Haven by David Green
• Niall Harrison reviews We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson
  
• Roseanna Pendlebury reviews Private Rites by Julia Armfield, Orbital by Samantha Harvey and Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley
• Zak Black reviews Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Sherlock Holmes And The Twelve Thefts of Christmas by Tim Major
  
• Russell Letson reviews A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross 
• Paul Di Filippo reviews Suite 13 by David J. Schow 
• Karen Haber reviews Thalamus: The Art of Dave McKean by Dave McKean
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1936 horror story “Black Hound of Death” by Robert E. Howard.  
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1936 horror story "Isle of the Undead" by Lloyd A. Eshbach.
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1954 science fiction story “Skulking Permit” by Robert Sheckley 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1955 Conan sword and sorcery novella "The Flame Knife" by L. Sprague De Camp.
  
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1966 post-apocalyptic novel The Crystal World by J.G. Ballard. 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1967 YA science fiction novel The Beyond by Jeff and Jean Sutton. 
• Gideon Marcus revisits the January 1970 issue of Analog. 
• David Levinson revisits the February 1970 issue of If: Worlds of Science Fiction.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1978 science fiction novel The Man Who Used The Universe by Alan Dean Foster
  
• Sandy Ferber revisits the 1986 horror collection A Nest of Nightmares by Lisa Tuttle
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1990 horror novel Nightmare Child  by Daniel Ransom a.k.a. Ed Gorman.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 2013 horror collection The Man Who Was Secrett and Other Stories by John Brunner
   
  

Con and event reports:

• Ehud Maimon reports about the 2024 ICon in Tel Aviv, Israel.
  
• Andrew Porter shares videos and photos of the Ninth Annual City Tech Science Fiction Symposium on SF, Artificial Intelligence, and Generative AI in New York City.
• The candidates for the 2025 Transatlatnic Fan Fund TAFF have been announced. 
• Camestros Felapton reports about the exhibition "My City is Yours" by Chinese artist Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
  

 

Science and technology:

• Sharmila Kuthunur reports that NASA's Parker Solar Probe has survived its fly-by of the Sun and is still active.
  
• Brett Tingley shares some photos of snow-covered Martian landscapes taken by ESA's Mars Express Orbiter and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter 
• Meagan Chappell reports about the unique visual challenges facing astronauts at the Moon's south pole.
  
• Glenn Swanson profiles Colonel Jack L. Hartley, inventor of a dentistry kit for astronauts and noted Star Trek fan. 
  
• Manvir Singh wonders how much language influences our thinking.
• The NHS will begin the world's first trial of an AI tool to identify the risk for diabetes type 2. 
• Pioneering computer engineer Donald Bitzer has died aged 90. 
• Azeem Azhar reports about the immense energy hunger of AI systems and how the US power grid cannot handle this.
• Caroline Davis reports about the prediction of the future that Professor Archibald Montgomery Low made in 1924, many of which turned out to be surprisingly accurate.

 

Gaming: 

• Marc Normandin calls Indiana Jones and the Great Circle the first great Indiana Jones action game.
• Crossexamining Crime reviews the Death in Paradise jigsaw puzzle. 
• Marc Tracy reports about some rule changes in Dungeons & Dragons.
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Lisa Young reports about the "Lego lost at sea" project, which tracks the more than 4.7 million Lego pieces which were swept over board in a shipping container from the freighter Tokio Express off the coast of Cornwall in 1997.
• James Whitbrook looks ahead at new Lego sets coming out in January 2025.
  
• Sabina Graves looks at the weirdest tie.in merchandise of 2024. 
• Watch a Lego version of the Superman trailer
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "The Legend of the Echo Well" by Stephen Embleton in Omenana
  
• "A Ritual of Thieves" by Malcom North in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
  
• "Their Wings as Powdery as Bones" by Avra Margariti in Apex Magazine.
• "Ceasing to Be" by Garrett Ashley in Apex Magazine. 
• "Child of the Mountain" by Gunnar De Winter in Clarkesworld. 
• "When There Are Two of You: A Documentary" by Zun Yu Tan in Clarkesworld. 
• "Four Questions with Something Like God" by Carlie St. George in The Dark.
  
• "Theatrical Revival" by Kristine Kathryn Rush.
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Love Me.