Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for May 18, 2018

It's time for the weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Avengers: Infinity War (spoilers mostly marked, but reader beware), The Handmaid's Tale, Deadpool 2, Solo: A Star Wars Story, various TV show cancellations, tributes to Margot Kidder, an uproar involving Origins Game Fair as well as the usual mix of awards news, writing advice, interviews, reviews, con reports, crowdfunding campaigns, science articles, free online fiction and much more. 

Speculative fiction in general:

• James Davis Nicoll shares yet more forgotten and about to be forgotten women SFF authors of the 1970s.
  
• Starship Library shares a list of science fiction novellas with lesbian protagonists.
• Gordon Van Gelder talks about the popularity of repopulation stories in 1950s and 1970s science fiction and their eventual decline.
• Joe Sherry revisits the 1992 science fiction novel Ammonite by Nicola Griffith. 
• Rob Bedford revisits Julie E. Czerneda's 1998 science fiction novel Beholder's Eye.
• Leah Schnelbach revisits Deus Irae, a 1976 post-apocalyptic novel by Philip K. Dick and Roger Zelazny. 
• Sandy Ferber revisits the 1934 planetary romance The Outlaws of Mars by Otis Adalbert Kline. 
• A.C. Wise, Bogi Takács, Brandon O'Brien, Vanessa Fogg and Bridget McKinney discuss their short fiction reading habits.
• Emma Newman shares five science fiction books that find an interesting use for asteroids that does not involve destroying the world. 
• Sam Reader shares six terrifying digital plagues from science fiction.
• Camestros Felapton discusses the mind transfer trope in science fiction, as exemplified by Jordan Peele's horror film Get Out! and Mur Lafferty's nove Six Wakes.  
• Melanie R. Meadors discusses the appeal of dark fantasy.
• Emily Asher-Perrin discusses the use of pop culture to tackle the unknown in The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Farscape. 
• Phil Nichols shares his thoughts on the new TV adaptation of Ray Bradbury's classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451.
• Stuart Heritage wonders why the TV seris Lost is undergoing a reappreciation eight years after it finished.  
• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of The Crossing.
• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the season finale of Timeless.
• Sarah Gailey revisits the 1992 science fiction comedy Death Becomes Her.
• Anne Billson explains how the fantasy film Revenge redefines the rape revenge drama subgenre.
• Ben Allen reports how much upcoming Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker enjoys filming Doctor Who.  
• Jonathan Alexandratos talks about the toys briefly glimpsed in the Star Wars movies.
• Strawberry Gatts talks about the use of holograms in the 1976 science fiction film Logan's Run.
• Zack Sharf reports that the original Iron Man suit used in the first Iron Man film has been stolen.

Comments on Avengers: Infinity War:

• Steve Vernon explains why Avengers: Infinity War rocked his world.
• Harrison Blackmann complains about the manipulative storytelling of Avengers: Infinity War. 
• Brandon O'Brien addresses Marvel's Gamora problem.
• Nicholas Grossman ranks all the deaths in Avengers: Infinity War (spoilers, obviously) 
• Steven M. Moore shares his musing on the Mavrel Cinematic Universe and Avengers: Infinity War. 
• Charles Pulliam Moore attempts to answer the question whether Thanos is hot.
• Ian Cardona claims to have found a Fantastic Four Easter egg in Avengers: Infinity War.
  

Comments on season 2 of The Handmaid's Tale:

• Arielle Bernstein discusses the problematic feminism of The Handmaid'd Tale. 
• Sophie Gilbert wonders whether the relentless depiction of the suffering of women in season 2 of The Handmaid's Tale becomes exploitative. 
• Lisa Miller also feels that the relentless torture and violence in The Handmaid's Tale is becoming exploitative. 
• Laura Hudson, Tasha Robinson, Devon Maloney, Adi Robertson and Megan Farokhmanesh wonder whether The Handmaid's Tale is still worth the agony of watching it.
• Hannah Rose Yee discusses a sex scene between June and Nick in The Handmaid's Tale.  
• Natalie Zutter shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale.
• Allison Shoemaker shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale.
• Cheryl Eddy shares her thoughts on the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale.
• Danette Chavez, Laura Adamczyk and Caitlyn Penzey Moog have a roundtable discussion about the latest episode of The Handmaid's Tale.
• Jane Mulkerrins visits the set of The Handmaid's Tale and interviews several members of crew and cast.
• Laura Bradley profiles actress Sydney Sweeney who plays Eden in The Handmaid's Tale.
• Emma Gray interviews Bruce Miller, showrunner of The Handmaid's Tale.
• Meanwhile, Nancy Jane Moore revisits Margaret Atwood's original novel and finds the racial implications problematic.
  

Comments on Solo: A Star Wars Story: 

• Peter Bradshaw calls Solo: A Star Wars Story a boisterous bromance and rollicking adventure.
• Michael Rechtshaffen calls Solo: A Star Wars Story an engaging throwback origin story. 
• Robbie Collin calls Solo: A Star Wars Story a thrilling adventure that enriches the Star Wars universe.
• Jesse Hassenger declares that Solo: A Star Wars Story is entertaining, though not really necessary.  
• Glen Weldon declares that Solo: A Star Wars Story is not necessary to understanding anything that happens in the other Star Wars movies, but that it is enjoyable in its own right.
• Meg Downey declares that Solo: A Star Wars Story shoots first, but totally misses the target.
• Bill Bradley reports that according to screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan, Lando Calrissian is pansexual in Solo: A Star Wars Story and beyond.
  

Comments on Deadpool 2:

• John DeFore calls Deadpool 2, just as funny as its predecessor, if less surprising. 
• Brian Truitt declares that Deadpool 2 raises the bar, compared to the original.
• Peter Travers calls Deadpool 2 a superior sequel. 
• Hugh Armitage declares that Deadpool 2 has struck gold again. 
• Ignatiy Vishnevetsky calls Deadpool 2 smarter, sillier and uneven.
• John Nugent calls Deadpool 2 refreshing and as entertaining as ever.
• Jen Yamato overall enjoyed Deadpool 2, but feels that it's more of the same. 
• Alonso Duralde feels that Deadpool 2 is not as funny and entertaining the second time around.
• Meg Downey declares that Deadpool 2 feels like just another superhero movie. 
• Andrew Barker declares that Deadpool 2 throws everything at the wall and is not overly concerned about what sticks. 
• Fionnuala Halligan enjoyed the humor of Deadpool 2, but found the plot somewhat overstuffed and underdeveloped.
• Glen Weldon is somewhat annoyed by the many references to other movies in Deadpool 2. 
• A.O. Scott enjoyed the many references to other movies in Deadpool 2, but felt that the film maybe tried a little too hard.
• Steve Rose enjoyed Deadpool 2, but is bothered by some of the ethnic stereotypes deployed.
• Helen O'Hara calls Deadpool 2 a sequel strictly for fans. 
• Shawn Cooke declares that Deadpool 2 can fuck right off and generally expresses his dislike for superhero movies.
• Kevin Melrose answers the question if Deadpool 2 has a postcredit scene. 
• Amanda Dillon reports that Rob Liefeld, creator of Deadpool, Cable, Domino and Shatterstar, cried at the end of Deadpool 2.
• James Whitbrook takes a look at the comic origins of the various X-Force members in Deadpool 2.
• James Whitbrook shares five great Deadpool stories from the comics that are about more than humor. 
• Ross Johnson shares eight essential Deadpool comics.
• Watch a tongue in cheek look at ten years of the Deadpool movie universe.  
• Watch a video of Ryan Reynolds, star of Deadpool 2, sing "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie on South Korean TV, while dressed as a unicorn, and watch a video of the reactions upon Reymolds unmasking.
  

Tributes to Margot Kidder:

• Actress Morgot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the Christopher Reeve Superman films of the 1970s and 1980s, has died aged 69.
• Evan Narcisse remembers Margot Kidder.
• Kevin Melrose remembers Margot Kidder.
• Lisa Respers France remembers Margot Kidder.

Comments on various TV show cancellations:

• Nellie Andreeva reports that The Expanse has been cancelled by Syfy after season 3, but that the production company is seeking a new home for the show. 
• Beth Elderkin reports that Lucifer and The Exorcist as well as the non-SFF shows The Mick and Brooklyn Nine-Nine have also been cancelled.
• The cast and crew of Lucifer are disappointed and angry that the show has been cancelled, especially since the last season ends on a big cliffhanger.
• Ian Cardona reports that Neil Gaiman, co-creator of the character, has urged Fox to renew Lucifer. 
• Dino Ray Ramos interviews Joe Henderson and Ildy Modrovich, showrunners of Lucifer, about their plans for the new cancelled fourth season.
• To nobody's great surprise, Marvel's Inhumans has been cancelled as well.  
• James Whitbrook reports that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been renewed for a sixth season.
• Nicole Sabon reports that the fate of Gotham hinges on whether the TV show Lethal Weapon can find a new lead actor quickly, after star Clayne Crawford was fired for bad behavious on set.   
• Matt Webb Mitovich reports that Gotham has been renewed for its fifth and final season and that Lethal Weapon has found a new star as well.
• Liz Shannon Miller reports that the fans of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, including many celebrities, are mourning the cancellation of the show.   
• Nicole Sobon reports that Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been saved and was picked up by NBC.
• Josef Adalian explains why the decision to rescue Brooklyn Nine-Nine makes business sense. 
• Sam Stone reports that The X-Files will definitely not be returning for a 12th season. 
• Gillian Anderson, who plays Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files, shares her thoughts on the lack of renewal.
• Kirsten Thompson reports that the proposed Supernatural spin-off Wayward Sisters will not happen.   
• Denise Petski reports that the mermaid show Siren has been renewed for a second season.
• Angel Wilson cannot help but notice that the TV cancellations overwhelmingly hit shows with diverse casts and characters as well as many popular genre shows. 
• Erik Pedersen offers an overview of all the TV shows that have been cancelled so far.

Awards:

• The nominees for the 2018 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards have been announced and one of Cora's stories is a finalist.  
• The winners of the 2018 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards in Speculative Fiction have been announced. 
• The shortlist for the 2018 Deutscher Phantastik Preis has been announced.
• The nominees for the 2018 Premio Ignotus have been announced.
• The 2018 finalists for the Premios Kelvin 505 have been announced.
• The shortlist for the 2018 Tähtifantasia Awards has been announced.
  

Writing, publishing and promotion:

• Wendy van Camp talks about her novel reference journal.
• Marie Brennan talks about weapons and worldbuilding. 
• Tyler Whitesides recalls how meeting his idol Terry Brooks inspired him as a young fan.
• Nathan Bransford shares some tips for pitching and blurb writing.
• M.L. Humphrey shares a quick and dirty guide to AMS ads for authors.
  

Interviews:

• Pallavi Varma interviews Hugo finalist Mimi Mondal.
• Joel Cunningham interviews Elizabeth Bear. 
• Megan Leigh interviews Martha Wells.
• Howard Andrew Jones interviews Ilana C. Myer. 
• Jonathan Thornton interviews Ruthanna Emrys.
• Jonathan Thornton interviews Nina Allan.
• The Qwillery interviews Tyler Whitesides.
• Dennis Chekalov interviews Steven M. Moore. 

Reviews:

• Paul Weimer reviews Artificial Condition by Martha Wells. 
• Tadiana Jones reviews All Systems Red by Martha Wells.
• Jana Nyman reviews By Fire Above by Robyn Bennis.
  
• Ceridwen Christensen reviews Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. 
• Ceridwen Christensen reviews Jade City by Fonda Lee.
• Ceridwen Christensen reviews Armistice by Lara Elena Donnelly.
• Liz Bourke reviews Armistice by Lara Elena Donnelly. 
• Katie Burton reviews Barry's Deal by Lawrence M. Schoen. 
• Tobias Carroll reviews The Pisces by Melissa Broder. 
• Jo Niederhoff reviews Jagannath by Karin Tidbeck. 
• Jana Nyman reviews The Queen of Sorrows by Sarah Beth Durst. 
• J.C. Kang reviews Nightblade by Ryan Kirk.
• Jamie Garwood reviews Rose Gold by Dave Barker. 
• The Quiet Knitter also reviews Rose Gold by Dave Barker. 
• Susan Forest reviews Typhoon Time by Ron S. Friedman.
• Terrie Farley Moran reviews Charmed Bones by Carolyn Haines.
• Geoff Matthews reviews Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe.
• Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Terror Is Our Business: Dana Roberts' Casebook of Horrors by Joe R. and Kasey Lansdale.
• Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Aetherchrist by Kirk Jones.
  

Crowdfunding:

• We Shall Be Monsters, an anthology of stories from marginalized authors edited by Derek Newman-Stille and intended to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, is looking for funding. 
• Crossing, a paranormal comic by Enrica Jang and Alex Cormack is looking for funding to publish two new issues.
• The Future of Books is Female: The Second Shelf Quarterly, a rare book catalogue cum literary magazine issued by The Second Shelf bookshop, which focusses on forgotten works by women authors, is looking for funding.
• Andy Blinston is looking for funding to cover the editing costs for his new fantasy novel Oblivion.
• Mary on the Green, a campaign to put up a statue of Mary Wollstonecraft, author of A Vindication of the Rights of Women and mother of Mary Shelley, is looking for funding.
  

Con reports:

• Jamie Sugah shares a beginner's guide to New York Comic Con in New York City.
• Trae Dorn reports that Dark Carnival Games Con in Denver, Colorado, has been cancelled by the hotel mid event due to safety concerns.
• Mike Glyer reports that Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, first invited controversial author Larry Correia as Guest of Honour and then disinvited him following protests on social media.
• Camestros Felapton shares some reactions to the disinvitation of Larry Correia. 
• Camestros Felapton also uses the case of Larry Correia as an example to talk about personal brands, private and public personas and how they can become toxic. 
• Ken Stone reports that comic vendor Bud Plant will no longer attend San Diego Comic-Con in San Diego, California, for the first time in 48 years.
• Alisa Krassnostein shares the results of her survey of Australian science fiction conventions, their codes of conduct and their enforcement.
  

Science and technology:

• Mary Halton reports that carbon and other minerals have been discovered on a transplutonian asteroid in the Kuiper Belt. 
• The BBC reports that NASA is planning the send a helicopter to Mars to engage in a flight test.
• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books profile astronaut Stephanie Wilson in their "Kickass Women in History" series.
• Sandi Doughton reports that ravens are messing up an experiment carried out at the LIGO observatory in Hanford, Washington.
  

Free online fiction:

• "Umbernight" by Carolyn Ives Gilman in Clarkesworld. 
• "In Blue Lily's Wake" by Aliette de Bodard in Uncanny Magazine.
• "Be a Thunder, Release a Roar" by Osahon Ize-Iyamu in Robot Dinosaur Fiction.
• "Discard the Sun, for It Has Failed Us" by Marina J. Lostetter in Uncanny Magazine. 
• "Lava Cake for the Apocalypse" by Wendy Nikel in nature.
• "Sactuary" by Wendy van Camp in Medium. 
• "Our Side of the Door" by Kodiak Julian in Lightspeed.
• "Grace's Family" by James Patrick Kelly at Tor.com.
• "Red" by Naomi Muse.
• "Regarding Your Application Status" by John Scalzi at Whatever.
  

Odds and ends: 

• Watch a trailer for Occupation. 
• Watch a trailer for Mission Impossible - Fallout.
• Watch a trailer for Tremors - The Series.
• Watch a trailer for Sense8: The Series Finale.
• Watch a trailer for season 3 of Humans. 
• Watch a trailer for the new version of Charmed. 
• Watch a sizzle reel for the fall TV season on The CW, including lots of clips from SFF shows. 
• Watch a video of a clockwork dragon catching fire during the daily parade at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.