Here is our weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Guardians of the Galaxy, The Handmaid's Tale, American Gods, Alien Covenant, Sense8, The Fifth Element at twenty, the many problems of Marvel Comics as well as the usual mix of awards news, writing advice, interviews, reviews, awards news, a whole lot of con reports, crowdfunding projects, science articles and free online fiction.
Speculative fiction in general:
- James Davis Nicoll shares twenty SFF novels about traders every fan should have on their bookshelves.
- Geoff Ryman continues his series on African science fiction by taking a look at the science fiction scene in Malawi.
- Elaine Yang and Kitten Wang report about the international success of Chinese science fiction.
- John Dugdale shares eight reasons to celebrate Thomas Pynchon's 80th birthday.
- Beth Elderkin revisits The Host by Stephenie Meyer.
- Judith Tarr shares her appreciation for Warlock of the Witch World by Andre Norton.
- Joachim Boaz shares his appreciation for Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper.
- Fletcher Vredenburgh shares his appreciation for Trader to the Stars by Poul Anderson.
- Ryan Britt explains how ghostwriting the novelisation of the original Star Wars and penning the sequel Splinter of the Mind's Eye made Alan Dean Foster rich.
- Camestros Felapton refutes the latest claims that Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a Mary Sue.
- Emily Asher Perrin revisits the two Ewok Adventures movies from the 1980s.
- Ben Child revisits Luc Besson's science fiction movie The Fifth Element on its twentieth anniversary.
- Emily Asher-Perrin also revisits The Fifth Element on its twentieth anniversary.
- Jefferson Grubbs has more background regarding the subplot involving a pulp SF writer in the latest season of Fargo.
- Emily Asher-Perrin calls Colossal a dismantling of the inherent sexism of romantic comedies.
- Germain Lussier declares that King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a lot better than anybody expected.
- James Whitbrook shares everything you need to know about the upcoming Inhumans TV series.
- Sarah Gailey explains why she does not trust Batman.
- Actress and singer Daliah Lavi, who starred in several spy and technothrillers in the 1960s, died aged 74.
- Ronald Bergan shares an obituary for Daliah Lavi.
- Stanley Weston, the man who invented G.I. Joe and co-created Thundercats, has died aged 84.
- Actor Michael Parks, who appeared in a number of genre roles, died aged 77.
Comments about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2:
- Renaldo Matadeen discusses eight things about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 that worked and seven things that didn't.
- Kirk Hamilton and Mark Fahey share what they loved and didn't love about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Germain Lussier finds some parallels between Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, and The Empire Strikes Back.
- Ciara Wardlow talks about Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 and the shift that is redefining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Stephanie Wilson praises Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 for its female characters and found family theme.
- Charlie Jane Anders declares that toxic fathers are the main theme of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Michael Cavna reports how director James Gunn's difficult childhood influenced Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Brian Comin explains the background of the character of Ego, the Living Planet from Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Jon Arvedon declares that Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 sets the standard for Marvel villains.
- Germain Lussier breaks down the five post-credits scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Ross Johnson shares a spoiler-filled guide to all the Easter eggs in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Patrick Shanley interviews Michael Rooker who plays Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Aaron Crouch interviews Sean Gunn who plays Kraglin in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Aaron Crouch also interviews Henry Braham, cinematographer of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Kevin Melrose shares the reactions of the cast and crew of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 to a characters death in the movie (spoilers, obviously).
- Michael Cavna reports how the special effects team managed to deage Kurt Russell for a flashback scene in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
- Matt Atchity and director James Gunn share Baby Groot's five favourite movies.
Comments about The Handmaid's Tale:
- Thea James discusses how the adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale lives up to Margaret Atwood's novel.
- Beth Elderkin discusses ten real-life laws straight out of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Cheryl Eddy shares ten further works of feminist science fiction to check out for those who love The Handmaid's Tale.
Comments about American Gods:
- David Cranmer takes a look at the second episode of American Gods and compares it to Neil Gaiman's novel.
- Kelly Anderson and Meghan Bell discuss the second episode of American Gods.
- Paul MacInnes offers a recap of episode two of American Gods.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore interviews Orlando Jones who plays Mr. Nancy a.k.a. Ananzi in American Gods.
- Sarah Hughes profiles Yetide Badaki who plays the goddes Bilquis in American Gods.
- Martin Cahill shares 32 books fans of American Gods would enjoy.
- Leah Schnelbach reports that American Gods has been renewed for a second season.
Comments about Alien: Covenant:
- Robbie Collin calls Alien: Covenant "terror on a towering scale".
- Germain Lussier declares that Alien: Covenant may be the biggest disappointment of the summer.
- Todd McCarthy says Alien: Covenant revives the franchise and is on a level with the best films of the series.
- Kristy Puchko declares that Alien: Covenant is not what fans expect and manages to be both vexing and compelling.
- Peter Bradshaw calls Alien: Covenant all too familiar.
- Terry Staunton calls Alien: Covenant a retread of former glories.
- Nicholas Barber asks if Alien: Covenant is as good as the original.
- Clarisse Loughrey says Alien: Covenant is everything fans could want from an Alien movie.
- Tim Lewis interviews Ridley Scott, director of Alien, Blade Runner and other genre classics.
- Germain Lussier reports that Ridley Scott admitted that the backlash about Prometheus influenced Alien: Covenant.
- Meanwhile, Charles Dean shares eight reasons why the 1986 movie Aliens is the best movie of the series and seven why it is the worst.
Comments about season 2 of Sense8:
- Alex Cranz declares that season 2 of Sense8 offers fewer orgies, but more answers.
- Paul Levinson reviews season 2 of Sense8.
- Jacob Stolworthy interviews actor Max Riemelt, one of the stars of Sense8.
Comments about Secret Empire and Captain America now being evil:
- Jessica Plummer declares that Marvel readers and Captain America fans are out of patience and no longer want to wait for the story to unfold.
- Charles Pulliam-Moore wonders how on Earth the now evil Captain America is still able to lift Thor's hammer.
- Sigrid Ellis reports that a protester carrying a Captain America shield was spotted at a real-life white supremacist rally in Minnesota.
Awards:
- The winner of the 2017 Compton Crook Award has been announced.
- The nominees for the 2016 Shirley Jackson Awards have been announced.
- The nominees for the 2017 Scribe Awards have been announced.
- The winner of the 2017 Prix Jacques Broussard has been announced.
- The winners of the 2017 Prix Aurora Boreal have been announced.
- The longlist for the 2017 James White Award has been announced.
- The D. Franklin Defying Doomsday Award is open for nominations.
- Kay Taylor Rea shares her verdict about the finalists for the 2017 best novel Hugo Award.
- The Shadow Clarke Jury discusses the official Arthur C. Clarke Award shortlist.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Chris Winkle shares ten ways to switch up your sentences.
- Chris Winkle also shares some tips for depicting internal conflict.
- Kathy Hepinstall shares the best things about mother/daughter bonds in writing.
- Nick Kolakowski shares some tips for writing a literary gunfight.
- Sherwood Smith talks about collaboration and when it works.
- Robyn Bennis talks about her path to publication.
- Andrea Johnson shares a trick for writing book reviews.
Interviews:
- Sam Briger interviews Neil Gaiman.
- Carolyn Cox interviews Becky Chambers.
- Carl Slaughter interviews Linda Nagata.
- Jana Nyman interviews Gwenda Bond.
- Flyover Fandom interviews Walter Jon Williams.
- Locus interviews Paul Tremblay.
- Eden Royce interviews Linda D. Addison.
- Andrea Johnson interviews Robert J. Sawyer.
- Joel Cunningham interviews Andy Weir.
- Ardi Alspach interviews Mishell Baker.
- Carl Slaughter interviews Edward M. Lerner.
- Sean McLaghlan interviews Mohammed Rabie.
- The Qwillery intervews Andrew Lane and Nigel Foster.
Reviews:
- Corrina Lawson reviews Borrowed Souls by Chelsea Mueller.
- Liz Bourke reviews A Tyranny of Queens by Foz Meadows.
- Meghan Ball reviews The Guns Above by Robyn Bennis.
- Natalie Luhrs reviews All Systems Red by Martha Wells.
- Greg Hullender reviews All Systems Red by Martha Wells.
- Charlie Hopkins reviews Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel.
- Mieneke van der Salm reviews The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin.
- Aaron Pound reviews Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire.
- Aaron Pound reviews Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey.
- Rob Bedford reviews Conspiracy of Ravens by Lila Bowen.
- Nicole Hill reviews Food of the Gods by Cassandra Khaw.
- Ana Grilo reviews Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys.
- Paul Weimer reviews Of Sand and Malice Made by Bradley P. Beaulieu.
- Smart Bitches, Trashy Books review Hunted by Meagan Spooner.
- Frank Michael Errington reviews Beautiful Sorrows by Mercedes M. Yardley.
- Ross Johnson reviews Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn.
- Charles Payseur reviews Infinity Engine by Neal Asher.
- Rob Latham reviews The People's Police by Norman Spinrad.
Crowdfunding:
- Sweet Dreams Cthulhu, a Lovecraftian bedtime story book by Jason Ciaramella, illustrated by Greg Murphy, is looking for funding.
- Phoenix, the latest book in the Beatrix Rose series by Mark Dawson, is available for preorder and all proceeds will go towards paying for the cancer treatment of Emma Johns.
- You can also donate directly for the cancer treatment of Emma Johns.
- Author Christina Garner needs some help to pay the legal fees involved with sueing a scammy book promoter.
Con reports:
- Cecilia Tan reports about Smashwords founder Mark Coker's panel at RT Booklovers con in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Casey Shreve reports about Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Missouri, and shares plenty of photos.
- Teresa Wickersham reports about a Supernatural panel featuring actor Jim Beaver at Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Missouri.
- The Geekiary reports about Ice and Fire Con in Pembroke, Virginia, and shares some photos.
- Ellen Datlow shares some photos of Stokercon 2017 in Long Beach, California.
- Trae Dorn reports that Space City Comic Con in Houston, texas, is rebranding under a new name following a myriad of issues.
- Mike Glyer also reports about the Space City Comic Con issue.
- Bryan Thao Worra reports about the multicultural discussion "Science Fiction is for Everyone" at the LA Harbor College in Los Angeles, California.
- Rebecca Watson responds to Jay Maynard's complaints about Penguincon in Southfield, Michigan.
Science and technology:
- India is planning a mission to Venus and is looking for experiments to include on board.
- The potential dangers of sexbots.
- How cyborg insects could help the fight against terrorism.
- A dinosaur skeleton that bears a striking resemblance to Zuul from Ghostbusters has been found.
Free online fiction:
- "Sun, Moon, Dust" by Ursula Vernon in Uncanny Magazine.
- "Hexagrammaton" by Hanus Seiner, translated by Julia Nováková, at Tor.com.
- "How Lovely Is the Silence of Growing Things" by Jason Sizemore in Apex Magazine.
- "Primitive Area" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
- "A Lover and a Fighter" by Evan Pickering.
- "The High Risk Pool" by Alexandra Petri in The Washington Post.
Odds and ends:
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