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 novels of 2019, The Mandalorian and Star Wars in general, Short Treks and Star Trek in general, His Dark Materials, Watchmen, Terminator: Dark Fate, Little Monsters, season 4 of The Man in the High Castle, Joker, Frozen II, more about the problems at ChiZine Publications and much more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Adam Roberts discusses the history and continuing impact of the fix-up novel.
- Professor Explorer expplains why the death of Steampunk was premature.
- Erika Harlitz-Kern wonders why the "great man" theory of historical change still persists in speculative fiction, even though it has been discredited in the real world.
- Howard Andrew Jones and Todd McAulty share their appreciation for the five classic fantasy authors who taught them how to write.
- Malka Older shares six speculative fiction novels about migration.
- Isaac Butler explains why the work of SFF author John M. Ford disappeared after his death and why it is about to come back into print.
- Harry Lee Poe shares ten things you probably didn't know about C.S. Lewis.
- Alan Brown revisits the Tom Swift books from the early 20th century.
- Claire Legrand shares five SFF books about girls who do not care what people think about them.
- Beau L'Amour, son of western and adventure fiction and occasional weird fiction writer Louis L'Amour, looks back on his father's writing career.
- Kelly Jensen reports about a recent study according to which readers are happier and more satisfied with their lives than non-readers.
- Lila Shapiro reports about a controversy that erupted when a student at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, called the books of YA author Sarah Dessen fine for teen girls, but maybe not appropriate reading for college students.
- Alison Flood reports that comics legend Alan Moore has started to champion Labour for the upcoming UK general election after being an anarchist for most of his life.
Best of 2019:
- The Tor.com reviewers shares their favourite SFF books of 2019.
- Library Journal shares its favourite science fiction and fantasy novels of 2019.
- Library Journal shares its favourite horror novels of 2019.
Film and TV:
- Rebecca Nicholson calls the latest adaptation of The War of the Worlds a thrilling apocalyptic tale mixed with a typical BBC period drama.
- Marion Deeds shares her thoughts on the science fiction series Emergence.
- Carrie Vaughn shares her thoughts on Ad Astra.
- Cath Clarke calls I Lost My Body a tenderly brilliant animated movie.
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on Avengers: Infinity War.
- Anthony Breznican interviews Christopher Marcus and Stephen McFeely, screenwriters of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
- Jessica Holmes revisits the 1964 Doctor Who serial "Planet of Giants".
- Jesse Pasternak argues that Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Psycho invented the spoiler alert as we know it.
- Scott Tobias revisits the 1946 Disney movie Song of the South, which will not be shown on the Disney+ streaming service due to its problematic depiction of the Old South.
- Amy Nicholson interviews Kevin Smith, director of Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
- Rachel Aroesti interviews Mati Diop, director of Atlantics.
- Lanre Bakare reports that new rules for on-screen sex scenes have been handed out to British directors.
- Nellie Andreeva reports that the Marvel show Runaways will end after season 3.
- Actress Virginia Leith, star of The Brain That Wouldn't Die, has died aged 94.
Comments on The Mandalorian and Star Wars in general (warning: spoilers):
- Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on episode 1 and episode 2 of The Mandalorian.
- Dave Trumbore shares his thoughts on episode 1 and episode 2 of The Mandalorian.
- Emily Asher-Perrin shares her thoughts on episode 2 of The Mandalorian.
- Katie Rife shares her thoughts on episode 2 of The Mandalorian.
- Dean S. Richards shares his thoughts on The Mandalorian.
- Liz Shannon Millers enjoyed The Mandalorian so far, but wishes that there were more female characters.
- Kevin Melrose reports that episode 2 of The Mandalorian confirms certain suspicions about a certain character.
- Andrew Liptak shares the reaction of Werner Herzog, who plays the Client in The Mandalorian, to a certain character.
- The Mandalorian showrunner Jon Favreau shares some concept art for a fan favourite character.
- Corey Plante wonders whether a certain fan favourite character from The Mandalorian will have a role to play in the upcoming Star Wars movie The Rise of Skywalker.
- Renaldo Matadeen declares that The Mandalorian continues the Star Wars series most enduring theme.
- Marissa Martinelli shares a guide to The Mandalorian for casual Star Wars fans.
- Anthony Gramuglia lists the Star Wars Easter eggs found in The Mandalorian.
- Craig Elvy declares that The Mandalorian answers some questions Star Wars fans have had since the original trilogy.
- Ryan Britt declares that The Mandalorian is definitely not Boba Fett.
- Reid McCarter shares Internet reactions to the appearance of a certain character in The Mandalorian.
- Thomas Bacon shares everything we know about Yoda's species.
- Andrew Liptak reports that The Mandalorian has already been renewed for season 2.
- Meredith Woerner reports that Jon Favreau, showrunner of The Mandalorian, has expressed interest in doing another Star Wars Holiday Special, the first since 1978.
- Emily Asher-Perrin shares her thoughts on seaon 2 of the animated Star Wars: Resistance series.
- Tor.com shares nine Star Wars tie-in books for every fandom need.
Comments on His Dark Materials:
- Lisa Weidenfeld shares her thoughts on the latest episode of His Dark Materials.
- Myles McNutt shares his thoughts on the latest episode of His Dark Materials.
- Tyler Dean shares his thoughts on the latest episode of His Dark Materials.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of His Dark Materials.
- Tyler Dean talks about childhood and the burden of knowledge in His Dark Materials.
Comments on the latest version of Watchmen:
- Charles Pulliam-Moore shares his thoughts on the latest epiode of Watchmen.
- Leah Schnelbach shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Watchmen.
- Joelle Monique shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Watchmen.
- Phoebe Wagner shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Watchmen.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Watchmen.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Watchmen.
- Adam Chitwood asks Watchmen showrunner Damon Lindelof about the fate of Adrian Veidt.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw shares the best Easter eggs in Watchmen.
Comments on Terminator: Dark Fate (potential spoilers):
- Alex Acks and Trish Matson discuss Terminator. Dark Fate.
- Germain Lussier interviews the cast of Terminator: Dark Fate.
Comments on season 4 of The Man in the High Castle:
- Scott von Doviak declares that the final season of The Man in the High Castle is also the best.
- Paul Levinson declares that The Man in the High Castle is highly relevant for our times, even though it is an alternate history series.
- Dave Trumbore is not happy with the ending of The Man in the High Castle.
Comments on Little Monsters:
- Charlotte O'Sullivan calls Little Monsters a funny, sweet and life-affirming zombie film and praises the performance of Lupita Nyong'o.
- Peter Bradshaw calls Little Monsters an enjoyably silly zombie comedy.
Comments on Short Treks and Star Trek in general:
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on "Ask Not", the latest episode of Star Trek Short Treks.
- Watch a trailer for the two animated Star Treks: Short Treks episodes.
- Rosanna Greenstreet interviews George Takei, who is best known for playing Lieutenant Sulu in Star Trek.
- Carmen Maria Machado explains how the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-parter "Chains of Command" relates to domestic violence.
- Mike Fleming Jr. reports that Noah Hawley, showrunner of Fargo and Legion, will direct the planned fourth Star Trek movie in the 2009 reboot universe.
Comments on Joker:
- Noah Dominguez reports that Joker is now the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time.
- Tatiana Siegel reports that Joker is getting a sequel.
- Mike Fleming reports that while a Joker sequel is likely, there are no firm commitments yet.
- Zack Sharf reports that Joker director Todd Phillips has debunked any rumours about a sequel.
Comments on Frozen II:
- Nicholas Barber calls Frozen II an avalanche of half-baked ideas.
- Peter Bradshaw calls Frozen II a funny, likeable but underpowered sequel.
- Kevin Maher declares that Frozen II is not quite cheap and shameless exploitation, but close.
- Richard Lawson calls Frozen II a cynical sequel that cannot recapture the magic of the original.
- Robbie Collin calls Frozen II a resonant, rafter-shaking sequel.
- Charlotte O'Sullivan calls Frozen II a mix of Broadway glitter and quiet weirdness.
- Molly Freeman declares that Frozen II does not quite reach the heights of the first film, but still has plenty of magic.
- Ben Travis calls Frozen II bigger, bolder and more epic than the original.
- Glen Weldon is not impressed by Frozen II.
- Marah Eeakin interviews the writer, director and producer of Frozen II.
Awards:
- The finalists for the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Dream Foundry Writing and Art Contest have been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Philip K. Dick European Film Festival have been announced.
- The winner of the 2019 Royal Society's Young People's Book Prize has been announced.
- The winners of the 2019 Golden Joystick Award have been announced.
- Nominations are open for the 2019 Nebula Awards.
- Nominations are open for the 2020 Dragon Awards.
- Gregory Wakeman reports that Disney is giving both Avengers: Endgame as well as several of its stars a big push for the Oscar nominations.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Jack Smith shares science fiction and fantasy writing tips from several SFF authors.
- Edward Trimnell attempts to answer the question whether to outline your novel or not.
- Edward M. Lerner muses about the ideal length of science fiction stories and if there is such a thing.
- Summer H. Paulus shares her experiences doing NaNoWriMo.
- W.L. Goodwater talks about the joys and risks of blending genre elements.
- Heather Rose Jones talks about writing historical fantasy that centers women.
- Julie Mayhew explains how Tarot cards can help writers.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch talks about time management for writers.
- Damien Walter proclaims the death of the novel and blames indie authors.
- Brian Keene discusses the issues with ChiZine Publications.
- Victoria Strauss offers a round-up regarding the ChiZine Publications situation.
- Locus reports about some new changes to the New York Times bestseller lists.
Interviews:
- Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Lavie Tidhar interview each other.
- Kitty McIntosh intervies Heather Rose Jones.
- Elise Dumpleton interviews Howard Andrew Jones.
- Locus interviews Kel Kade.
- Arley Sorg interviews Susan Palwick.
- Joel Cunningham interviews C.L. Polk and Sarah Guan.
- Debra L. Martin interviews Annette Marie.
- The New York Times interviews Randall Munroe.
Reviews:
- Adri Joy reviews The Forbidden Stars by Tim Pratt.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Moon-Sitting by E.M. Harding.
- Liz Bourke and Amy Goldschlager review This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
- Cory Doctorow reviews Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer.
- Ellen Cheeseman-Meyer reviews Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer.
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews The Ten-Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow.
- Adrienne Martini reviews Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher.
- Liz Bourke reviews Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri.
- Mark Yon reviews Legacy of Ash by Matthew Ward.
- Bill Capossere reviews The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons.
- Tadiana Jones reviews Made Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain.
- Kitty McIntosh reviews Floodtide by Heather Rose Jones.
- Meghan Schuler reviews A Sanctuary of Spirits by Leanna Renee Hieber.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews The Pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North.
- Alex Brown reviews Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Mapping Winter by Marta Randall.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Skein Island by Aliya Whiteley
- Publishers Weekly interviews The Poet King by Ilana C. Myer.
- Leticia Urieta reviews Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson.
- Colleen Mondor reviews The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson.
- Jason Heller review Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender.
- Ross Johnson reviews Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender.
- Lee Mandelo reviews The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black.
- Paul Weimer reviews Upon the Flight of the Queen by Howard Andrew Jones.
- Bill Capossere reviews Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade.
- Adri Joy reviews Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron.
- Paul Weimer reviews Knight of the Silver Circle by Duncan Hamilton.
- Ian Mond reviews The Old Lie by Claire G. Coleman.
- Paul Di Filippo reviews World Engines: Destroyer by Stephen Baxter.
- Tadiana Jones reviews Supernova Era by Liu Cixin.
- Liz Bourke reviews Gamechanger by L.X. Beckett.
- For Winter Nights reviews Body Tourists by Jane Rogers.
- Ian Mond reviews Last Ones Left Alive by Sarah Davis-Goff.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Dead Sky by Weston Ochse.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews In the Heart of the Fire by Dean R. Koontz.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Clowns vs. Spiders by Jeff Strand.
- Natalie Zutter reviews Star Wars: Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Star Wars: Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse.
- Don Oldenburg reviews The Andromeda Evolution by Daniel H. Wilson and Michael Crichton.
- Maria Haskins reviews The New Voices of Science Fiction, edited by HannuRajaniemi and Jacob Weisman.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation, edited by Ken Liu.
- Joe Kenney reviews Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded by Jason Heller.
- Angie Barry reviews Making the Monster: The Science Behind Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Kathryn Harkup.
Classics reviews:
- Jason MacGregor revisits the 1955 science fiction novel The Dragon in the Sea a.k.a. Under Pressure by Frank Herbert.
- Gideon Marcus revisits the December 1964 issue of Galaxy.
- Gideon Marcus revisits the December 1964 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
- Matthew J. Constantine revisits the 1964 fantasy novel The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander.
- Judith Tarr revisits Ice Crown, a 1970 science fantasy novel by Andre Norton.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits To Your Scattered Bodies Go, book 1 in the Riverworld science fantasy series by Philip José Farmer.
- David Barnett revisits the 1979 dystopian novella Blade Runner: A Movie by William S. Burroughs, which has nothing to do with the movie of the same name.
- Annalee Newitz revisits the 1980 science fiction novel Wizard by John Varley.
- Joe Kenney revisits Tech Strike Force, a 1987 novel in the C.A.D.S. post-apocalyptic adventure series by John Sievert a.k.a. Ryder Syvertsen.
- Paul Weimer revisits the 1999 Hugo finalists for Best Novel.
Con and event reports:
- James Bacon reports about a trip of Lisbon, Portugal, to meet with local fans and scout out the location for a future Smofcon.
- Chris M. Barkley shares his fan guest of honour speech for Windycon 2019 in Lombard, Illinois.
- Mike Glyer reports that the 2021 World Fantasy Convention will take place in Montreal, Canada.
- Edward M. Lerner shares his experiences at Capclave in Washington, DC.
- Trae Dorn reports about scam allegations against It Came From the 80s Weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona.
- Michael Billington praises a stage adaptation of Mary Poppins in London, UK.
- Steve McIntosh discusses the issues of adapting Mary Poppins for the stage.
Crowdfunding:
Science and technology:
- David Nield reports that NASA has detected strange orbital movements from two of Neptune's moons.
- Lawrence Peter reports about problems with the Vostochny Space Centre project in Russia.
- Dave Lee reports that drone manufacturer DJI has created an app that can identify rogue drones and locate their pilots.
- The BBC remembers Welsh NASA engineer Tecwyn Roberts.
- David Robson discusses polymaths.
- Helen Briggs shares the secrets of the largest ape that ever lived.
- Neil Gaiman interviews space archaeologist Sarah Parchak.
Free online fiction:
- "Overburden" by Genevieve Valentine in Lightspeed.
- "Knee Deep in the Sea" by Melissa Marr in Lightspeed.
- "Swimming Apart" by R.Z. Held in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "The Forge" by Andrew Dykstal in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "The Eight People Who Murdered Me (Excerpt from Lucy Westenra's Diary)" by Gwendolyn Kiste in Nightmare Magazine.
- "Precious Little Things" by Adrian Tchaikovsky at Tor.com.
- "Perfect Gun" by Elizabeth Bear in Clarkesworld.
- "Logic Puzzles" by Vaishnavi Patel in The Dark.
- "The Return of the Queen" by Ali Abbas in Crimson Streets.
- "Once on the Blue Moon" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
- "Elizabeth Warren Is an Existential Danger to Our Democracy, by Alexander 'Lex' Luthor" by Jeremy Chao in McSweeney's Internet Tendency.
- Excerpt from Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Odds and ends:
- Watch a trailer for season 4 of The Expanse.
- Watch a trailer for season 3 of Runaways.
- Watch a trailer for Avenue 5.
- Watch a trailer for Antebellum.
- Watch an ad for the UK general election featuring the Joker schooling Batman on tax issues.
- Watch a steampunky Christmas ad for Sainsbury's.
- Watch a Christmas ad for British retailer Joules featuring Wallace and Gromit.
- Watch an animated Christmas ad for British clothing manufacturer Barbour.
- Watch a science fictional safety video for Starlux Airlines.
- Watch a trailer for Servant.
- Watch a trailer for Cats.
- Watch a video of Kelly Clarkson's children River and Remy interviewing Jason Momoa a.k.a. Aquaman.
- Watch a trailer for Spies in Disguise.
- Watch a trailer for The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run.
- Listen to an audio drama based on The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing.
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