It's time for the weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with tributes to Steve Ditko and Harlan Ellison, Ant-Man and the Wasp, the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale 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 continues his overview of women SFF writers of the 1970s.
- Matt Staggs shares ten fantasy novels that bibliophiles will love.
- Yin Yijun attempts to explain why Chinese science fiction still struggles.
- Joel Cunningham muses about magic in fantasy.
- Seanan McGuire talks about the allure of gothic horror.
- Joel Cunningham shares five must-read George R.R. Martin books that are not Game of Thrones.
- Bogi Takács revisits the 1989 fantasy novel Unquenchable Fire by Rachel Pollack.
- Jaime Green shares her appreciation for the character of Aunt Beast in Madeleine L'Engle's classic YA science fiction novel A Wrinkle in Time.
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on episodes 9 to 13 of season 2 of Luke Cage.
- Josh Bell declares that the new fantasy TV series The Outpost already hits rock bottom in its first episode.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the series finale of 12 Monkeys.
- Erik Adams declares that the Stephen King based TV series Castle Rock is full of references to King's oevre, but unfortunately has none of his storytelling abilities.
- Peter Bradshaw shares his thoughts on the new Mary Shelley biopic.
- Director James Gunn responds to toxic Star Wars fans.
- Paul Goldberger traces the fight to build the George Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts.
- Allison Flood reports that YA fantasy author Philip Pullman has attacked the English education system with its focus on tests and exams as monstrous.
- Chris M. Barkley remembers Harlan Ellison.
- Irish actor Derrick O'Connor, who appeared in several genre films and TV shows, has died aged 77.
Tributes to Steve Ditko:
- Legendary comic artist, who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange among others, has died aged 90.
- Anthony Cuoto shares Twitter tributes to Steve Ditko.
- Jeet Heer remembers Steve Ditko.
- Glen Weldon remembers Steve Ditko.
- Sam Thielman shares a tribute to Steve Ditko.
Comments on Ant-Man and the Wasp:
- Germain Lussier calls Ant-Man and the Wasp a generational superhero story that adds a new layer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Max Covill calls Ant-Man and the Wasp a pleasant and funny, if lightweight sequel.
- Beth Elderkin wishes that Ant-Man and the Wasp would have paid more attention to the relationship between Hope and Janet Van Dyne.
- Renaldo Matadeen explains Janet Van Dyne's powers in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
- Alex Abad-Santos explains the post credits scenes of Ant-Man and the Wasp.
- Germain Lussier also discusses the post credits scenes of Ant-Man and the Wasp.
- John DiLillo is annoyed by Ant-Man and the Wasp's post credits scene, because he feels that it undermines the movie.
- Alex McLevy interviews Peyton Reed, director of Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Comments on the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale:
- Natalie Zutter shares her thoughts on the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Allison Shoemaker is frustrated with the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Linda Holmes is not happy with the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Gwen Ihnat, Caitlin Penzey-Moog and Laura Adamczyk discuss the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Beth Elderkin, Jill Pantozzi and Cheryl Eddy discuss the season 2 finale of The Handmaid's Tale.
- Meanwhile, Allison Shoemaker is upset about some supremely clueless Handmaid's Tale tie-in merchandise.
- Halle Kiefer reports that The Handmaid's Tale tie-in wine has already been pulled.
Awards:
- The nominations for the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced.
- The shortlist for the 2018 British Fantasy Awards has been announced.
- The winners of the 2018 Prometheus and Prometheus Hall of Fame Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the inaugural Leo Awards have been announced.
- The finalists for the 2018 Endeavour Award have been announced.
- The shortlist for the 2018 Prix Rosny Aîné has been announced.
- The nominations for the 2018 ESFS Awards has been announced.
- The longlist for the 2018 James White Award has been announced.
- The nominations for the 2018 PRISM Awards have been announced.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Svani Parekh shares ten surefire ways for writing a story a week that publishers will accept.
- Felicia C. Sullivan shares some tips for writing a full length novel when you have a full time life.
- A. Maguire talks about the art of description in storytelling.
- Shaunta Grimes talks about allies, enemies and tests for your protagonist.
- Anne E. Hiller talks about literary theory versus the craft of writing.
- Oren Ashkenazi shares five story elements that work in one story, but not in another.
- Damien Walter claims that you can be creative or productive, but not both.
- Raymond Larose explains how writing in a coffee shop can enhance your creativity.
- Svani Parekh shares ten teps to turn a first draft into a published piece.
Interviews:
- Alasdair Stuart interviews Mary Robinette Kowal.
- The Qwillery interviews Christopher Ruocchio.
- Gautham Shenoy interviews Adam Roberts.
- Audie Cornish interviews actress Thandie Newton who appeared in Westworld and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Reviews:
- Corrina Lawson reviews Space Unicorn Blues by T.J. Berry.
- Kat Hooper reviews Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire.
- Adrienne Martini reviews The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal.
- Bookworm Blues reviews Starless by Jacqueline Carey.
- Thea James and Ana Grilo reviews Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
- Kelly Chiu reviews Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.
- Tadiana Jones reviews Frogkisser by Garth Nix.
- Taya Okerlund reviews Dawn of Wonder by Jonathan Renshaw.
- Paul Weimer reviews City of Lies by Sam Hawke.
- Rob Bedford reviews Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio.
- Theresa DeLucci reviews The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews The Switch House by Tim Meyer.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Darkness on the Edge of Town by Brian Keene.
- Ceridwen Christensen reviews European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss.
- Liz Bourke reviews Deep Roots by Ruthanna Emrys.
- Liz Bourke reviews The Descent of Monsters by J.Y. Yang.
- Liz Bourke reviews Black Chamber by S.M. Stirling.
- Marion Deeds reviews Noir by Christopher Moore.
- Sam Reader reviews Metamorphica by Zachary Mason.
Crowdfunding:
Con reports:
- Eric Wong and Greg Hullender share their experiences at LibertyCon 31 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Peter Chiykowski reports about a gang of thieves that has targetted vendors booths at Montreal Comic Con in Montreal, Canada.
- Jon Arvedon reports that Vertigo comic writer Eric M. Esquivel has received death threats ahead of an appearance at San Diego Comic Con.
- Sam McIntosh reports about the unveiling of a statue of Captain James T. Kirk in Riverside, Iowa, the supposed birthplace of the character.
- Michael Swanwick shares some photos of the memorial for the late editor Gardner Dozois in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Science and technology:
- Ethan Siegel stresses the importance in investing in NASA's research missions, even if the outcome is uncertain.
- The BBC reports that an Israeli space probe will land on the moon in 2019.
- Annalee Newitz talks about sex robots and their impact on relationships.
- The current heatwave in the UK has uncovered ancient hillforts and Roman settlements in Wales.
Free online fiction:
- "Speak Easy, Suicide Selkies" by E. Catherine Tobler in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "The Last Banquet of Temporary Confections" by Tina Connolly at Tor.com.
- "The Chariots, the Horsemen" by Stephanie Malia Morris in Apex Magazine.
- "Bride Before You" by Stephanie Malia Morris in Nightmare Magazine.
- "Perchance to Dream" by Forrest Brazeal in Daily Science Fiction.
- "Your Multicolored Life" by Xing He, translated by Andy Dudak, in Clarkesworld.
- "Aberration" by Genevieve Valentine in Lightspeed.
- "Waterbirds" by G.V. Anderson in Lightspeed.
- "The Scrimshandler" by Damien Krsteski in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
Odds and ends:
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