Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for July 26, 2024

 

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award, attempted voting fraud at the 2024 Hugo Awards, Star Wars: The Acolyte and Star Wars in general, season 2 of House of the Dragon, season 4 of The Boys, Deadpool and Wolverine, Masters of the Universe in general, Star Trek in general, the new Time Bandits, Twisters, Longlegs, the 2024 San Diego Comic Con and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Adrian Collins shares his favourite dark science fiction and fantasy books of 2024 so far. 
  
• James Wallace Harris wonders if science fiction is dead. 
• N.K. Jemisin explains why we need speculative fiction more than ever now.
  
• R. Nassor attempts to define romantasy and shares their favourite examples.
  
• Amanda Mullen lists eight SFF trilogies where the second book is the best. 
• Yoon Ha Lee shares five SFF books that push the boundaries of physics.
  
• Molly Odintz shares eight thrillers and horror novels set in terrible summer camps. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF stories driven by soul-crushing debt. 
• Alex Brown shares five weird books for weird girls.
  
• RiverFlow talks about Chinese science fiction fandom and uniting fans around the world. 
• Mike Glyer reports that the Chinese Science Fiction Database has launched the platform Xanadu to provide information about and promote Chinese science fiction.
  
• Peng Shepard talks about writing a choose your own adventure speculative mystery.
  
• Christian Haines shares his appreciation for the works of Adrian Tchaikovsky. 
• Mark Oprea profiles science fiction writer and NASA engineer Geoffrey Landis.
• Brian Collins takes a look at the mad scientists portrayed in Nathaniel Hawthorne's fiction. 
  
• Annabel Ross shares more background on the sexual assault allegations against Neil Gaiman.
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Tiffany Babb interviews comic writer and artist Zoe Thorogood.
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about exoskeletons for writers.
  

 

Film and TV:

• Charlie Jane Anders shares eleven hot takes about Doctor Who.
  
• Peter Bradshaw calls I Saw the TV Glow weirdly wonderful and a future classic.
  
• Melis Noah Amber declares that the TV show Wynonna Earp is an allegory for the prison industrial complex.
  
• Alasdair Stuart shares his thoughts on the shark monster movie Under Paris.
• Matt Schimkowitz calls Starve Acre a traditionally slow-burn folk horror film.
  
• C.T. Phipps calls Abigail an enjoyable slasher movie, though the twist is sadly spoiled by the trailer. 
• The AV Club calls Shelby Oaks a horror film composed of mixed messages, tones and reference points
  
• Michele Jordan calls the animated film Azur and Asmar: The Princes’ Quest a fairy tale for every age group 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season 4 premiere of Snowpiercer. 
• Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Orphan Black: Echoes. 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Lazarus Project.
  
• Mike Bedard lists the ten coolest motorcycles from science fiction films and TV shows. 
• Cindy White ranks her ten favourite natural disaster movies. 
• Anne Billson ranks her favourite Arnold Schwarzenegger movies 
  
• Ben Lindberg and Rob Arthur wonder whether franchises can save or doom Hollywood.
• Nick Romano interviews Matt Reeves, writer and director of The Batman and The Penguin. 
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Christine Lahti, one of the stars of Evil.
  
• Lorelei Esther revisits the 1969 Godzilla film Destroy All Monsters.
  
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1994 Babylon 5 episode "Eyes". 
• Leah Schnelbach revisits the 2002 horror movie Signs. 
• Kali Wallace revisits the 2006 South Korean monster movie The Host.
  
• Judith Tarr revisits the 2011 Supernatural episode “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters.”
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 2013 superhero movie Captain Battle: Legacy War
• Catherine Shoard reports that Australian actor George Lazenby, best known for playing James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, is retiring from acting at age 84. 
  
• Mary Kate Carr reports that Inside Out 2 is now the highest grossing animated film in history.
  
• Lucas Shaw reports that Apple+ TV will spend less money on their streaming shows due to the streaming failing to make a profit. 

  

Comments on Deadpool and Wolverine and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general: 

• Germain Lussier calls Deadpool and Wolverine everything a Marvel fan could want, for better or worse 
• Dirk Libby calls Deadpool And Wolverine the ultimate Deadpool movie.
  
• Peter Bradshaw calls Deadpool and Wolverine a snarky gagathon that mocks the Marvel Cinematic Universe back to life  
• Jesse Hassenger declares that Deadpool and Wolverine battle superhero bullshit to a stalemate
  
• Germain Lussier shares early reactions to Deadpool and Wolverine.
  
• Rebecca Rubin interviews Shawn Levy, director of Deadpool and Wolverine, as well as stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
• Nick Romano interviews Dafne Keen who plays Laura a.k.a. X-23 in Deadpool and Wolverine. 
• Germain Lussier interviews Emma Corrin who plays Cassandra Nova in Deadpool and Wolverine.
  
• Zack Sharf reports that Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy personally approached Madonna about using her song "Like a Prayer" in Deadpool and Wolverine.
  
• Germain Lussier interviews Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios.
• Andrew J. Salazar interviews Kevin Feige. 
• Adam B. Vary interviews Kevin Feige.
  
• Germain Lussier interviews Wendy Jacobson, producer of Deadpool and Wolverine and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. 
• Nathan Rabin revisits Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania and finds it not the worst superhero movie ever, but also far from the best.
• Ben Child reports that Joe and Anthony Russo will direct the next two Avengers movie and wonders whether they can revive Marvel's flagging fortunes. 
• Sabina Graves reports that Ike Perlmutter, former chairman of Marvel Entertainment has sold his shares in the Walt Disney Company, following a failed takeover bid
   
  

Comments on Star Wars: The Acolyte and Star Wars in general: 

• Haley Zapal shares her thoughts on "The Aoclyte", the season 1 finale of The Acolyte. 
• Arturo Serrano shares his thoughts on season 1 of The Acolyte. 
  
• Lyvie Scott interviews Leslye Headland, showrunner of The Acolyte.
• James Whitbrook interviews Amandla Stenberg who plays Osha and Mae in The Acolyte. 
• James Whitbrook discusses the memory wiping ability seen in The Acolyte. 
• Gordon Jackson reports that actress Gina Carano's lawsuit against Disney, after she was fired from The Mandalorian, is going to court. 
  

 

Comments on season 2 of House of the Dragon: 

• Tyler Dean shares his thoughts on "Smallfolk", the latest episode of House of the Dragon. 
• Tom Huddleston shares his thoughts on "Smallfolk"
• Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on "Smallfolk" 
  
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on "Smallfolk" 
• Melody McCune shares her favourite moments from "Smallfolk"  
• Jennifer Maas interviews Emma D’Arcy and Sonoya Mizuno who play Rhaenyra and Mysaria in House of the Dragon.
• C.T. Phipps shares his thoughts on the House of the Dragon episode "Rhaenyra the Cruel".
  

 

Comments on Star Trek in general:

• Joe Otterson calls Star Trek Prodigy the perfect show for Star Trek fans and laments that many don't watch it.
• Avery Kaplan shares a brief history of the Cetacean Ops division in Star Trek.
• Mick Joest discusses the possibility of a Star Trek spin-off focussed on the character of Wesley Crusher.
  

 

Comments on Masters of the Universe in general: 

• Dad-at-Arms interviews Masters of the Universe artist Simon Eckert.
• Jenna Anderson interviews Rob David and Tim Seeley about the mini-comic that comes with the upcoming Mondo Scare-Mare figure, the demonic horse of Scareglow.
  
• James Eatock takes a look at an idea for a fascinating episode of She-Ra: Princess of Power that was never produced. 
• James Eatock takes a look at the little in-jokes and Easter eggs that Filmation's storyboard artists inserted into the storyboards for the He-Man and She-Ra cartoons. 
  

 

Comments on the new Time Bandits:

• Lucy Mangan calls the new Time Bandits the gloriously fun return of a fantasy classic
• Cheryl Eddy calls the new Time Bandits fun, but a little too familiar  
• Diana Keng shares her thoughts on season 1 of the new Time Bandits.
• Diana Keng also offers individual reviews of episodes 1 and 2 of the new Time Bandits.
  

 

Comments on season 4 of The Boys:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the season 4 finale of The Boys.
• Melody McCune shares her eight favourite episodes of The Boys.
  

 

Comments on Twisters: 

• Adrian Horton declares that Twisters has everything a blockbuster movie needs - except for the kiss between the leads. 
• William Hughes wonders why Twisters keeps referencing Frankenstein.
  
• Guy Lodge profiles Glen Powell, one of the stars of Twisters.
• Steve Weintraub interviews Twisters stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos
  
• Inspired by Twisters, David Smith wonders why Hollywood movies are so reluctant to tackle climate change. 
• Pamela McClintock and Aaron Couch report that Twisters is set to have a very good opening weekend. 
• Rebecca Rubin reports that Twisters' opening weekend was even better than expected.
  

 

Comments on Longlegs:

• Haley Zapal calls Longlegs the scariest movie of the year.
  
• Jordan Moreau interviews Osgood Perkins, director of Longlegs.
  

 

Awards:

• The 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, has released a statement that they were forced to disqualify 377 fraudulent Hugo ballots  
• The winner of the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award has been announced.
• The finalists for the 2024 Ignyte Awards have been announced.
• The finalists for the 2024 WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction have been announced.  
  
• The winners of the 2024 Imadjinn Awards have been announced.
  
• The shortlist for the 2024 Prix Utopiales has been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2024 Silver Falchion Awards have been announced.  
• The winner of the 2024 Tähtifantasia Award has been announced.
  
• The winner of the 2024 Australian Fairy Tale Society Award has been announced.
  
• The winner of the 2024 Frank R. Paul Award has been announced.
• The finalists for the 2024 Ringo Awards have been announced.
  
• Octothorpe discusses the 2024 Hugo finalists.
• Nerds of a Feather discuss the shortlist for the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award. 
• Runalong the Shelves discusses the shortlist for the 2024 Arthur C. Clarke Award.
  
• Roseanna Pendlebury discusses the 2024 Ignyte Award shortlist.
  

Writing, publishing and promotion:

• Sharmaine Lovegrove, Elizabeth Day, Nelle Andrew and Sara Collins share writing tips. 
• Connie Berry discusses how to use history in your fiction.
  
• Dave Dobson shares his experiences with a BookBub free featured deal.
• William Meikle reports about problems with the small press horror publisher Dark Regions Press.
  
• Courtney Shapiro reports about a new TikTok craze for sprayed and decorated book edges.
• Ashley Stimpson reports about the problem of toxic dyes used in vintage book covers.
  
• Ella Creamer reports that more than a third of all adults in the UK have given up reading for pleasure.
• Locus reports that romance writer Christine DeMaio a.k.a. C.D. Reiss has launched a class action lawsuit against Amazon due to their nigh monopoly on audiobook sales.
  

 

Interviews:

• The Science in the Fiction interviews David Brin.
  
• Sam Leith interviews Keanu Reeves and China Miéville
  

 

Reviews:

• Marlene Harris reviews Earthlight by J. Michael Straczynski
• Niall Harrison reviews In Universes by Emet North
• Russell Letson reviews Beyond the Light Horizon by Ken MacLeod  
• Colleen Mondor reviews Twice Lived by Joma West 
  
• Fabienne Schwizer reviews The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark 
• The Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog reviews The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed.
  
• Marlene Harris reviews The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee, translated by Sandy Joosun Lee
• Ian Mond reviews The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to The Wastelands by Sarah Brooks  
• Kerstin Hall reviews The Ragpicker by Joel Dane
  
• Clara Cohen reviews Dark City Rising by C. L. Jarvis  
• Chris Kluwe reviews Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-il Kim, translated by Anton Hur
  
• Fabienne Schwizer reviews Gilgamesh by Emily H. Wilson
  
• James Tivendale reviews Arthur by Giles Kristian
  
• John Mauro reviews The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Linghun by Ai Jiang  
• Mandie Griffiths reviews The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin
• Rob Bedford reviews The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill. 
• Fiona Denton reviews Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
  
• Sasha Bonkowsky reviews In The Hour of Crows by Dana Elmendorf
  
• Adam Roberts reviews The Book of Elsewhere by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville 
• Marion Deeds reviews Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
  
• Niall Harrison reviews Shanghailanders by Juli Min
  
• Wole Talabi reviews Ghostroots by ’Pemi Aguda
  
• Warner Holme reviews Firsts & Lasts, edited by Laura Silverman
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Spec Fic for Newbies: A Beginner’s Guide to Writing More Sub-Genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror by Tiffani Angus and Val Nolan.
     
  

Classics reviews:

• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1899 lost world novel The Lost Continent by C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne 
• Alan Brown revisits the 1913 Barsoom planetary romance The Gods of Mars and its 1914 sequel The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
  
• Sandy Ferber revisits the 1925 lost world novel The Isle of Forgotten People by Thompson Cross 
• Grammaticus Books revisits the August 1958 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1963 post-apocalyptic novel Farnham’s Freehold by Robert A. Heinlein.  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1964 science fiction story “Cynosure” by Kit Reed
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1965 science fiction story “Uncollected Works” by Lin Carter
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1967 horror story “Balgrummo’s Hell” by Russell Kirk
  
• Gideon Marcus revisits the August 1969 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction .
• Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the 1969 science fiction collection The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World by Harlan Ellison and the 1969 science fiction anthology New Writings in SF-15, edited by John Carnell
• Alissa Burger revisits the 1994 YA horror novel One Evil Summer by R.L. Stine.
  
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 2006 science fantasy story “Another Word for Map is Faith” by Christopher Rowe
  

 

Crowdfunding:

• The Masters of the Universe fan film Fall of Grayskull: Rise of the Horde is looking for funding.
  

 

Con and event reports:

• The 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, has released the agenda for the WSFS Business Meeting,
• Mike Glyer points out that two resolutions, though submitted to the Business Meeting and to be read out there, are not included in the Business Meeting agenda due to potential conflicts with Scottish libel law.  
• Locus reports about the 2024 StokerCon in San Diego, California.
  
• Rich Lynch shares photos of the 2024 NASFIC in Buffalo, New York. 
• Rich Lynch shares even more photos of the 2024 NASFIC in Buffalo, New York. 
• Rich Lynch shares yet more photos of the 2024 NASFIC in Buffalo, New York.   
• The 2025 Worldcon in Seattle, Washington, has named Brandon O'Brien their official poet laureate. 
• Mike Glyer reports that Larry Niven will be the guest of honour at the 2024 Loscon in Los Angeles, California.
  
• Heidi MacDonald looks ahead at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California, and shares some programming highlights. 
• Germain Lussier shares the fifteen coolest things he saw at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con.
  
• Germain Lussier shares some things he is sad won't be presented at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. 
• Matt Schimkowitz reports about the Transformers One panel at San Diego Comic Con. 
• Justin Carter reports about the DC Absolute Comics panel at San Diego Comic Con. 
  
• Cheryl Eddy reports about some pop-up activities at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con.
  
• Lewis Gordon reports about the Glasgow Independent Game Festival in Glasgow, Scotland.
  
• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on a stage adaptation of Dracula playing in Sydney, Australia. 
• Christine Howey reports about a musical version of the movie Groundhog Day by Tim Minchin, which is currently playing in Cleveland, Ohio. 
• Steven H. Silver reports about a performance of  The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale in Chicago, Illinois.
  
• Jake Kanter reports about TERF, a play by Joshua Kaplan about the transphobia views of J.K. Rowling that will debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.
  

 

Science and technology:

• Michelle Starr reports that the Curiosity Mars Rover has cracked open a Martian rock and found sulphur crystals inside. 
• Margherita Bassi reports that astronomers have proposed new criteria for classifying planets, but that these will not reinstate Pluto.
• Kerry Breen reports that NASA has shared some never before seen images of the so-called peacock galaxy, taken by the Chandra-X observatory. 
• Elizabeth Rayne reports about an exo-planet that was initially assumed to be a gas giant, but turned out to be a frozen super-Earth. 
• Jacob Wilde has a possible explanation for the Fermi Paradox.
  
• Nicola Davis reports that the UK Space Agency has given 300000 GBP in funding to ten companies attempting to develop a way to generate clean water on the Moon. 
• Jacek Krywko reports about the quest to build a nuclear-powered spaceship. 
• Marcia Dunn reports that there is no return date yet for the Boeing Starliner capsule and the astronauts stranded at the International Space Station.
  
• Tiernan P. Doyle reports that NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, will name a building after mathematician Dorothy Vaughan. 
• Carey Gillam reports that weeding robots might eventually make pesticides unnnecessary.
  
• Scott Detrow reports about a newly discovered dinosaur species found in Utah. 
• John Otis reports that cocaine has been found in sharks off the coast of Brazil.
  
• Simon Hattenstone talks about the Robertson family who were shipwrecked in the Pacific for 38 days in 1971. 
• Emine Saner interviews Gaynor Madgwick who survived the Aberfan disaster in Aberfan, Wales, in 1966 at the age of eight.
  

 

Gaming: 

• Joe DelFranco is not impressed with Concord by Firewalk Studios
• James Whitbrook interviews Thomas Marrone and James Swallow, art director and writer of Star Trek Online. 
  
• Gordon Jackson reports that employee of Blizzard, the company behind World of Warcraft, have formed a union.
• James Whitbrook reports that SAG-AFTRA has announced that video game actors will be going on strike.
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Pixel Dan reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection Two-Bad action figure set and finds that a character in the enclosed mini-comic has been named after him.. 
  
• Pixel Dan reviews the Mattel Street Sharks Ripster, Slash and Jab action figures.
• Scott Neitlich shares some background on the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Ceratus action figure. 
• James Whitbrook shares his favourite exclusive toys and collectibles for sale at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. 
• Pixel Dan shares a video of the Mattel booth at San Diego Comic Con with new Masters of the Universe Origins, Masterverse, Cartoon Collection and Turtles of Grayskull figures revealed. 
• Pixel Dan shares another video of the Mattel booth at San Diego Comic Con with new Masters of the Universe Origins, Masterverse, Cartoon Collection and Turtles of Grayskull figures revealed. 
  
• Pixel Dan shares a video of the crowdfunded Mattel Masters of the Universe Snake Lair playset 
  
• Pixel Dan shares a video of newly revealed Hasbro Marvel Legends figures at San Diego Comic Con. 
• James Whitbrook shares a look at LEGO's Dungeons & Dragons mini-figures.
  
• Scott Neitlich reports that his YouTube channel is having copyright problems again, this time involving royalty free music used in his videos.
  
• For Eternia reports that toymaker Hasbro may be trying to purchase its rival Mattel.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "The Aliens Said They Wanted to Party" by Joel W. D. Buxton in Lightspeed. 
• "A Guide on How to Meet the Deity of Many Faces" by Oyedotun Damilola Muees in Lightspeed. 
• "This Unintelligible World" by Samuel Chapman in Beneath Ceaseless Skies
• "God’s Breath" by W.A. Hamilton in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
  
• "Born Outside" by Polenth Blake in Clarkesworld. 
• "The Happiness Institute" by AnaMaria Curtis in Clarkesworld. 
• "The Midnight Spa" by Sunwoo Jeong in Uncanny Magazine
  
• "Growing Swirling Clouds" by T.K. Rex in Apex Magazine.
• "The Angel's Share" by Martin Cahill in Reactor.
  
• "Father Ash" by Rachel Hartman in The Sunday Morning Transport. 
• "Phantom Taste of Apricot on My Tongue" by Richard Leis in Nightmare Magazine. 
  
• "Solivagant" by Angela Slatter in The Dark.
  

 

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Transformers One.
  
• Watch a trailer for The Becomers.
• Watch a trailer for Doctor Jekyll. 
• Watch a teaser for Wynonna Earp: Vengeance. 
• Watch a trailer for Kaos.
  
• Watch a trailer for Joker: Folie A Deux. 
• Watch a trailer for Citadel Diana. 
• Watch a trailer for Speak No Evil.
  
• Watch a trailer for Cuckoo. 
• Watch a trailer for Terrifier 3. 
• Watch a trailer for Shine On - The Forgotten Shining Location
  

 

 

Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for July 19, 2024

 

 

It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Star Wars: The Acolyte and Star Wars in general, season 2 of House of the Dragon, season 4 of The Boys, season 4 of Evil, Deadpool and Wolverine, The Lazarus Project, Twisters, Longlegs MaXXXine, Fly Me to the Moon, tributes to Shannen Doherty and Shelley Duval and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Chrsitina Orlando shares thirty SFF books to look forward to in 2024.
  
• Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of recent science fiction and fantasy books.
• Reactor shares all the new horror, romantasy and SFF crossover books coming out in July 2024.
• Adrienne Westenfeld shares her seventy-five favourite science fiction novels of all time.  
• Minsoo Kang explains why so many immigrant writers are drawn to science fiction and fantasy.
  
• John Mauro talks about defining grimdark fantasy and making the genre more inclusive.
  
• A.K. Blackmore discusses how female writers are reinventing horror fiction. 
• Alisa Alering explains how gothic romances helped her escape her miserable small town adolescence in rural Pennsylvania. 
• Monika Kim shares her five favourite body horror novels.
  
• Anton Hur shares five works of South Korean SFF in translation.
  
• James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF books featuring frigid icy worlds. 
• James Davis Nicoll shares five SFF works with middle-aged protagonists.
  
• Ryan Berger shares his appreciation for the works of J.G. Ballard. 
• Lauren Pelley reports about the devastating impact a tick bite had on Charles DeLint and his partner MaryAnn Harris.
  
• Bookseller and publisher Doug Lewis has died aged 69.
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Robin Marx reviews Conan the Barbarian #12 by Jim Zub and Roberto De La Torre
• Rachel Cooke reviews The Wendy Award by Walter Scott  
• Gordon Jackson looks ahead at the new  Batman & Robin: Year One 12-issue miniseries by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee
• Gordon Jackson reports about DC's new Absolute Universe.
  
• Dad-at-Arms interviews fantasy artist Simon Eckert.
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about beach reads.

 

Film and TV:

• Max Goldbart takes a look at the latest season of Doctor Who and whether the gamble to partner with Disney+ paid off.
  
• Jenna Scherer calls Kite Man: Hell Yeah! a delightful treat for DC Comics fans 
• Jarrod Jones declares that Hit-Monkey is more in tune with its emotions in season 2 
• Matthew Jackson calls Oddity a ferociously entertaining, beautifully orchestrated thrill ride 
• Cheryl Eddy calls Starve Acre a gloomy folk horror film.
• Arturo Serrano calls Fantasmas a loud, cheerful satire of the roles the world demands we play 
• Robert P. Crease wonders if Constellation and Dark Matter could change your view of quantum mechanics
  
• Meredith Hobbs Coons calls Sausage Party: Foodtopia a stale, unimaginative sequel series 
• Diana Keng shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Orphan Black: Echoes. 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season 2 premiere of The Ark.
  
• Leah Thomas shares her thoughts on the anime Chainsaw Man.
  
• Phuong Le calls Uncanny Me and exploration of cloning tech fraught with moral and ethical questions 
• Stuart Heritage wonders what will happen in season 5 of Stranger Things. 
• Gordon Jackson notes that the rather obscure Ghoulies horror franchise of the 1980s and 1990s seems to be experiencing a renaissance.
  
• Lorna Wallace lists five science fiction and horror films that take place inside an apartment building. 
• Writers of the Guardian share their favourite disaster movies 
  
• Emine Saner interviews Natalie Portman, star of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the Thor movies, Leon the Professional, Black Swan, Lady in the Lake and many others.
• Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the 1994 Babylon 5 episode "Grail". 
• Peter Bradshaw revisits the 1994 alternate history film Forrest Gump. 
• Kali Wallace revisits the 2010 monster movie Trollhunter. 
• Avery Kaplan takes a look at notable Star Trek guest star Kirk Thatcher who played the punk on the bus in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and has repeated that role a few times since then.
  
• Dani Anguiano reports that the trial against actor Alec Baldwin for the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust has been dismissed over the prosecution withholding evidence.
  

  

Comments on Deadpool and Wolverine: 

• Ben Child notes that Deadpool and Wolverine promises to be a snarky satire on Marvel’s multiverse 
• Sabina Graves believes that Deadpool and Wolverine is the superpowered parody that can save the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 
• Germain Lussier declares that the first forty minutes of Deadpool & Wolverine show great potential. 
  
• Kyle Buchanan interviews Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman who plays the titular characters in Deadpool and Wolverine.
• Catherine Shoard interviews Rob Delaney who plays Pete in Deadpool and Wolverine.
   
  

Comments on Star Wars: The Acolyte and Star Wars in general: 

• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on season 1 of The Acolyte.
  
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "The Acolyte", the season finale of The Acolyte. 
• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on "The Acolyte"
  
• Haley Zapal shares her thoughts on "Choice", the seventh episode of The Acolyte. 
• Jarrod Jones notes that The Acolyte would have made a great Star Wars movie, but feels padded as a TV series.
  
• Jordan Maison discusses how The Acolyte draws fascinating parallels between Jedi recruitment practices and colonialism. 
• James Whitbrook interviews Manny Jacinto who plays Qimir in The Acolyte.
  
• Kristin Baver interviews Jennifer Bryan, costume designer for The Acolyte. 
• James Whitbrook discusses a cameo in the season 1 finale of The Acolyte.
  
• Jeremy Urquart ranks every Star Wars movie poster. 
  

 

Comments on season 2 of House of the Dragon: 

• Tyler Dean shares his thoughts on "Regent", the latest episode of House of the Dragon. 
• Tom Huddleston shares his thoughts on "Regent"
• Kayleigh Dray shares her thoughts on "Regent" 
• Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on "Regent" 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on "Regent" 
• Melody McCune shares her five favourite moments from "Regent"  
• Jacob Kline interviews Clare Kilner, director of "Regent". 
  
• Saloni Gajjar interviews Tom Glynn-Carney, who plays Aegon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. 
• Tom Huddleston interviews Abubakar Salim and Clinton Liberty, who play Alyn of Hull and Addam the shipwright in House of the Dragon. 
• Cheryl Eddy praises the wise women of House of the Dragon. 
• George R.R. Martin takes some issue with the portrayal of dragons in House of the Dragon.
• Michelle Jaworski laments the destruction of the model of Old Valyria seen in House of the Dragon.
  

 

Comments on season 4 of Evil:

• Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Evil. 
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Andrea Martin who plays sister Andrew in Evil.
  

 

Comments on season 4 of The Boys:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Boys.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Boys.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season finale of The Boys.
  
• Adrian Cole shares his thoughts on sason 4 of The Boys as a whole.  
• Gordon Jackson reports that the season 4 finale of The Boys received a title change as well as a content warning due to being too reminiscent of recent real life events.
  

 

Comments on Twisters: 

• David Ehrlich calls Twisters one of the most satisfying movies of the summer
• Germain Lussier declares that Twisters features awesome action and surprising heart 
• Matt Schimkowitz notes that Twisters works best when it's not trying to copy the original. 
  
• Alexandra Witze discusses what Twisters gets right and wrong about tornados.
  

 

Comments on Longlegs:

• Leah Schnelbach wonders if Longlegs is the best horror film of the year.
  
• Nick Romano interviews Osgood Perkins and Nicholas Cage, star and director of Longlegs.
  
• Ryan Lattanzio interviews Osgood Perkins, director of Longlegs.
• Charles Bramesco explains how director Osgood Perkins processes his personal childhood traumata and the tragic loss of both his parents in Longlegs. 
• Anthony D'Alessandro reports that Longlegs has a very strong opening for an independent horror movie.
  

 

Comments on MaXXXine:

• Haley Zapal calls MaXXXine an '80s-soaked spectacular with nods to classic Hollywood and horror films with absolutely immaculate vibes,
  
• Emma Keates report that an extra is sueing because actress Mia Goth allegedly physically and verbally assaulted him on the set of MaXXXine.
  

 

Comments on The Lazarus Project: 

• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of The Lazarus Project. 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Lazarus Project. 
  

 

Comments on Fly Me To the Moon:

• Damon Wise calls Fly Me To the Moon a screwy space race romantic comedy.
• In response to Fly Me to the Moon, Ryan Britt points out that the Moon landing was not faked. 
• Maureen Dowd interviews Scarlett Johansson, star of Fly Me to the Moon.
  

 

Tributes to Shannen Doherty:

• Actress Shannen Doherty, best known for her roles in Charmed, Beverly Hills 90210, Heathers Mallrats, The Secret of NIMH and many others, has died of cancer aged 53
• Rob Sheffield shares a tribute to Shannen Doherty. 
• Veronica Esposito shares a tribute to Shannen Doherty.
  
• Justin Carter remembers Shannen Doherty. 
• Ted Johnson remembers Shannen Doherty. 
• Bruce Haring shares tributes to Shannen Doherty from fellow actors, directors and producers. 
• Nellie Andreeva shares tributes to Shannen Doherty from her Charmed co-stars. 
• The Guardian shares photos from Shannen Doherty's career.
  

 

Tributes to Shelley Duval:

• Ryan Gilbey shares an obituary for Shelley Duval.
  
• The Guardian shares tributes to Shelley Duval from former co-stars.
  

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2023 Shirley Jackson Awards have been announced.  
• The finalists for the 2024 Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award have been announced. 
• The winner of the 2024 Manly Wade Wellman Award has been announced.
  
• The shortlist for the 2024 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction has been announced. 
  
• The finalists for the 2023 Sidewise Awards have been announced.
• The finalists for the 2024 Scribe Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2024 Mike Resnick Memorial Award for Short Fiction have been announced.
  
• The winners of the 2024 TCA Awards have been announced. 
• The finalists for the 2024 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award have been announced
• The winners of the 2024 Collision Awards habe been announced.
  
• The nominations for the 2024 Emmy Awards have been announced with very little love for SFF TV.
  
• Bowen Greenwood talks about entering the Self-published Science Fiction Competition 
  

Writing, publishing and promotion:

• Sarah Pearse talks about crafting atmospheric suspense
  
• Delia Pitts explains how her career as a diplomat helped her to become a mystery writer. 
  
• Geoff Brumfiel reports about an experiment whether AI can boost creativity.
• Michael Castleman profiles Jason Epstein who created the trade paperback.
  

 

Interviews:

• Paul Weimer interviews Gareth L. Powell.
  
• Scott Edelman interviews Ai Jiang.
• Paul Weimer interviews Suzan Palumbo. 
• The Guardian interviews Cressida Cowell.
  
• Eight Light Minutes interviews Wang Jinkang.
• Eight Light Minutes interviews Han Song.
• Eight Light Minutes interviews He Xi.
• Eight Light Minutes interviews Baoshu. 
• Eight Light Minutes interviews Gu Shi and Emily Xueni Jin
• Anthony Cummins interviews C. Pam Zhang. 

 

Reviews:

• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
• Liz Bourke reviews The Knife and the Serpent by Tim Pratt
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei  
• Paul Di Filippo reviews Echo of Worlds by M.R. Carey 
• Niall Harrison reviews Beyond the Light Horizon by Ken MacLeod  
• John Mauro reviews Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts
• James Davis Nicoll reviews Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang, translated by Ken Liu
  
• John Mauro reviews Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington
  
• Gayle Surrette reviews Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs
• Marlene Harris reviews Penric and the Bandit by Lois McMaster Bujold  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Master of Samar by Melissa Scott
  
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker 
  
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews Sundered Moon by Zammar Ahmer  
• Alex Brown reviews Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse 
  
• John Mauro reviews Arm of the Sphinx by Josiah Bancroft
  
• Marlene Harris reviews The Price of Redemption by Shawn Carpenter
• Adrian Collins reviews The Last Shield by Cameron Johnston
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Daughters of Olympus by Hannah M. Lynn 
• Bill Capossere reviews The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North 
• Aigner Loren Wilson reviews The Melancholy of Untold History by Minsoo Kang 
  
• Marlene Harris reviews This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour
• Gabino Iglesias reviews Baby X by Kira Peikoff  
  
• David Hayden reviews Napalm in the Heart by Pol Guasch, translated by Mara Faye Lethem. 
  
• Marion Deeds reviews Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews That Which Stands Outside by Mark Morris
  
• Colleen Mondor reviews Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo  
• Marion Deeds reviews The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
  
• Doreen Sheridan reviews One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon 
• Melissa Harrison reviews The Echoes by Evie Wyld  
  
• Crossexamining Crime reviews Shady Hollow by Juneau Black.
     
  

Classics reviews:

• Sam Reader revisits the 1892 horror story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 
  
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1928 Solomon Kane historical fantasy story "Red Shadows" by Robert E. Howard.
  
• Joachim Boaz revisits the 1951 science fiction story “‘You’ll Never Go Home Again!'”, the 1953 science fiction story “Retrograde Evolution” and the 1960 science fiction story “Conditions of Employment” by Clifford D. Simak. 
• Brian Collins revisits the 1962 science fiction story “Subcommittee” by Zenna Henderson
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1963 horror story “The Voyage of the ‘Deborah Pratt’” by Miriam Allen deFord
• Runalong the Shelves revisits the 1968 fantasy novel A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin 
• Brian Collins revisits the 1969 sword and planet novels When the Star Kings Die and The Planet Wizard by John Jakes, Victoria Silverwolf revisits the 1969 science fiction novels Escape Into Space by E.C. Tubb and Secret of a Sunless World by C.C. MacApp, Tonya Moore revisits the 1969 science fiction novel The Palace of Eternity by Bob Shaw, Jason Sacks revisits the 1969 science fiction novels Rockets in Ursa Major by Fred and Geoffrey Hoyle and Timescoop by John Brunner and George Pritchard revisits the 1969 science fiction novel Light a Last Candle by Vincent King 
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1973 SFF collection Good Neighbors and Other Strangers by Edgar Pangborn 
  
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1974 post-apocalyptic novel The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing
  
• Runalong the Shelves revisits the 1977 dystopian novel Them by Kay Dick. 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1978 Raven sword and sorcery novel A Time of Ghosts by Richard Kirk.
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1985 horror novel The Tea Party by Charles L. Grant.
  
• Clara Cohen revisits the 2006 Lost Fleet military science fiction novel Dauntless by Jack Campbell.
  

 

Crowdfunding:

• Realm Toys is looking for funding for its Brutal Realm line of highly articulated action figures.
  

 

Con and event reports:

• George R.R. Martin explains that he will attend the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, but that he will not be on programming.
• Dan Selcke wonders why George R.R. Martin was not put on programming at the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland. 
• Alasdair Ferguson also reports that George R.R. Martin will not be on programming at the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland. 
• Libby Brooks also reports that George R.R. Martin will not be on programming at the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland, due to failing to fill out the program participation form. 
• Camestros Felapton responds to Libby Brooks with a parody piece. 
• Mike Glyer reports that Ben Yalow and Dave McCarty will not be allowed to attend the 2024 Worldcon in Glasgow, following their involvement with the Chengdu Hugo scandal.
  
• Peculiar Monster shares her experiences at the 2024 Readercon in Quincy, Massachussetts. 
• Rich Lynch shares photos from the 2024 NASFIC in Buffalo, New York.
  
• Germain Lussier shares the panels he is most excited about at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con at San Diego, California. 
• Adam B. Vary also shares panels he is most excited about at the 2024 San Diego Comic Con. 
• San Diego Comic Con shares the full programming schedule.
  
• Mega Jay Retro looks ahead at Masters of the Universe related panels at San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California. 
• Germain Lussier reports that Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, will also appear on a Marvel Comics panel at San Diego Comic Con in addition to the Marvel movie panel.  
• Adam B. Vary reports that Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davis and Star Trek showrunner Alex Kurtzman will appear on a panel together at San Diego Comic Con. 
• Avery Kaplan shares an overview of Star Trek related programming at San Diego Comic Con,
  
• Ellen Datlow shares photos from the latest fantastic fiction reading at the KGB Bar in New York City, featuring A.T. Sayre and Nat Cassidy 
  
• Catherine Shoard reports about a promotional event for Deadpool and Wolverine, featuring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, in London, UK. 
• Hannah Al-Othman reports that the historic Oldham Coliseum theatre in Oldham, UK, has been saved from closing. 
• Benedict Smith reports that the drunken bear Liver Lips McGrowl has been removed from the Country Bear Jamboree attraction at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, after being deemed potentially offensive. 
• Sabina Graves shares a round-up of news from US-based theme parks and other immersive experiences. 
  

 

Science and technology:

• Victor Tangerman reports that NASA has hired SpaceX to build a vehicle to destroy the International Space Station ISS, much to the horror of former NASA and ESA heads. 
• Hannah Devlin reports that scientists have found evidence of phosphine and ammonia on Venus, which might indicate the presence of life.
  
• Hannah Devlin reports that scientists have designed a space suit that can turn urine into drinking water. 
• Brett Tingley reports that NASA has cancelled the Viper Moon rover due to budget concerns.
  
• Kaye Dee reports about the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in 1969.
  
• Gwyn Conaway profiles futuristic fashion designer Paco Rabanne.
  

 

Gaming: 

• Keza MacDonald calls Flock a chill creature-collecting flying game that is shear bliss 
  
• Keza MacDonald declares that video game subscription services are simply too complicated
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Pixel Dan reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection Collector vehicle, Prince Adam and Cringer two-pack and Evil-Lyn and Webstor action figures.
• Still a Big Kid reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse Sorceress Teela action figure.
• James Whitbrook offers a look at Hasbro's latest Transformers Optimus Prime figure. 
• Sabina Graves looks head at the new Halloween yard ornament collection from Home Depot.
  
• Grace Snelling reports that Mattel is planning to use generative AI programs, when designing toy packaging. 
• Erum Salam reports about the growing black market for collectible Lego sets, which leads to increasing theft. 
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "The Museum of Cosmic Retribution" by Megan Chee in Nightmare Magazine.
  
• "Love’s Red Blossom" by Luana Saitta in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
• "The Red Queen’s Heart" by Vanessa Fogg in Lightspeed. 
• "The Heist for the Soul of Humanity" by Filip Hajdar Drnovšek Zorko in Lightspeed. 
  
• "In the Moon's House" by Mary Robinette Howal in Reactor.
  
• "Aktis Aeliou, or The Machine of Margot's Destruction" by Natalia Theodoridou in Clarkesworld. 
• "The Worms that Ate the Universe" by Megan Chee in Uncanny Magazine
• "What is Conjured Shall Vanish" by Akis Linardos in Apex Magazine.
  
• "The Debt I Owe" by Alex Sobel in The Dark.
• "The Look of Seconds" by Melissa Ren in Wyldblood.
  
• "Shimmer" by Offer Kuban in Punk Noir Magazine
  

 

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Captain America: Brave New World.
• Watch a trailer for season 6 of The Dragon Prince: Mystery of Aaravos. 
• Watch a trailer for Terminator Zero. 
• Watch a trailer for Dune: Prophecy.
• Watch a trailer for Alien: Romulus. 
• Watch a trailer for Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. 
• Watch a trailer for Meanwhile On Earth.