It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with Star Trek: Picard, season 5 of Outlander, season 3 of Westworld, The Mandalorian and Star Wars in general, The Letter for the King, The Plot Against America, tributes to Albert Uderzo, the latest convention cancellations due to the corona virus and much more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- The participants of the latest Mind Meld offer suggestions for good introductory SFF books and as well as for SFF books for more experienced readers.
- Liz Bourke shares some comforting SFF books to read during the corona virus crisis.
- James Davis Nicoll shares five massive SFF books and series to read while self-distancing.
- Andrea Johnson shares some SFF comfort reads.
- Jo Walton shares books in which no bad things happen.
- James Davis Nicoll shares books featuring space travel without rockets.
- Stephen Cass shares the ten best science fiction planets.
- Tor.com shares eleven instances of telepathy used as a plot point in SFF.
- Katie M. Flynn talks about ambivalence and artificial intelligence.
- Eric Smith talks about young adult SFF that deals with adoption.
- Erika Harlitz-Kern talks about the use of footnotes in fantasy storytelling.
- Teo Bileta shares a beginner's guide to Slavic fantasy in translation.
- Kali Wallace shares her appreciation for the Books of Raksura series by Martha Wells.
- Lori Feather profiles Emily St. John Mandel.
- Sam Jordison compares the 1966 dystopian novel Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison to the 1973 film adaptation Soylent Green.
- Cora Buhlert offers a preliminary post-mortem on the Retro Science Fiction Reviews project.
- Sheldon Teitelbaum profiles Gideon Marcus and Galactic Journey.
- Winnie Lee talks about Soviet space art.
- Victoria Helen Stone explains how to get into audiobooks.
Tributes to Albert Uderzo:
- French comic artist and creator of Asterix Albert Uderzo has died aged 92.
- Tom Holland remembers Albert Uderzo.
- Nicholas Lezard remember Albert Uderzo.
- George Szalai remembers Albert Uderzo.
- The Guardian shares a gallery of Albert Uderzo's art.
Film and TV:
- Paul Levinson enjoyed season 2 of Altered Carbon more than season 1.
- Benjamin Lee calls The Platform a fiendish dystopian thriller.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw declares that The Hunt already feels embarrassingly dated.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the time travel movie Yesterday.
- Jean Noh looks ahead at the South Korean horror movie Peninsula.
- Martin Edwards shares his thoughts on the 2013 science fiction horror movie Under the Skin.
- Tom Breihan revisits the 1982 science fiction movie E.T.
- Mike D'Angelo revisits the 1953 science fiction movie It Came From Outer Space.
- Ammar Kalia watches the 1979 horror movie The Shining for the very first time.
- A.A. Dowd revisits the 1993 science fiction movie Fire in the Sky.
- William Hughes revisits James Gunn's 2006 B-horror movie Slither.
- Ignatiy Vishnevestky revisits the 1964 horror movie The Earth Dies Screaming.
- Jessica Holmes revisits the 1965 Doctor Who serial "The Web Planet".
- Matt Charlton finds some messages for our time in the 1967 TV series The Prisoner.
- Ada Palmer shares manga and anime in which no bad things happen.
- Rebecca Rubin reports that the release of Wonder Woman 1984 and several other movies has been delayed due to the corona virus.
- The BBC reports that the season 10 finale of The Walking Dead will be delayed because of the corona virus.
- Katie Rife and A.A. Dowd discuss how the corona virus will impact the film industry.
- Ben Child wonders how the corona virus pandemic will influence blockbuster cinema.
- The TV Guide lists every TV show or movie delayed because of the corona virus.
- Stuart Gordon, director of Re-Animator, From Beyond and Fortress among others, has died aged 72.
Comments on Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek in general (warning, spoilers):
- Zack Handlen shares his thoughts on "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1", the latest episode of Star Trek Picard.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw shares her thoughts on "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1".
- Camestros Felapton shares hisn thoughts on "Et in Arcadai Ego, Part 1".
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1"
- Font Folly shares his thoughts on "Et in Acadia Ego, Part 1".
- Cora Buhlert shares her thoughts on "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1"
- Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the Star Trek Voyager episodes "Initiations" and "Projections".
- Camestros Felapton revisits the 1994 movie Star Trek Generations.
- Emmet Asher-Perrin explains what Mr. Spock meant to his twelve-year-old self.
- Tadeo D'Oria, Bernd Schneider and Jörg Hillebrand identify various commercially manufacturered designer chairs seen in the various Star Trek series.
- Tor.com reports that US viewers will be able to watch Star Trek Picard, Star Trek Discovery and Star Trek Short Treks for free on CBS All Access until April.
Comments on The Mandalorian and Star Wars in general:
- Jack Seale calls The Mandalorian too cool to resist.
- Chris Agar reports that film composer John Williams has a cameo in The Rise of Skywalker.
- Andrew Liptak shares some casting news for season 2 of The Mandalorian.
- Aaron Couch shares some more casting news for season 2 of The Mandalorian.
- Cameron Scheetz interviews Anthony Daniels, who plays C-3PO in the Star Wars movies.
- Steve Rose discusses how Disney swallowed up all of popular culture.
Comments on season 5 of Outlander:
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
- Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
Comments on season 3 of Westworld:
- Angel Wilson shares her thoughts on "The Winter Line", the latest episode of Westworld.
- Rob Bricken shares his thoughts on "The Winter Line".
- Zack Handlen shares his thoughts on "The Winter Line".
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on "The Winter Line".
- Paul MacInnes shares his thoughts on "The Winter Line".
- Dean E.S. Richard shares his thoughts on "The Winter Line".
- Adam B. Vary interviews Westworld showrunners Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan.
Comments on The Letter for the King:
- Jack Seale calls The Letter for the King a fantasy epic that's low on magic.
- Gwen Ihnat declares that The Letter for the King takes too long to fulfill its ambitious quest.
Comments on The Plot Against America:
- James Poniewozik shares his thoughts on The Plot Against America.
- Noel Murray shares his thoughts on the latest episode of The Plot Against America.
- Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of The Plot Against America.
- Marah Eakin reviews the showrunner and stars of The Plot Against America.
- Noel Murray profiles David Simon, showrunner of The Plot Against America, The Wire and The Deuce.
Awards:
- The finalists for the 2020 Aurealis Awards have been announced.
- The shortlist for the 2020 Deutscher Science Fiction Preis has been announced.
- The winner of the 2020 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award has been announced.
- Jake Kanter reports that the BAFTA Television Awards have been postponed due to the corona virus.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Jenn Lyons shares tips for using a bullet journal to plot your novel.
- David Barnett reports that many people are apparently using the time spent self-isolating to write a novel.
- Clarion West now offers online workshops.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch talks about priorities and time management for writers.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch also explains how to steer your business through hard times.
- Alison Flood reports that booksales are apparently surging during the corona virus epidemic, but only of classics and bestsellers.
- Graeme McMillan reports that Eric Stephenson, publisher of Image Comics has asked his fellow comic publishers to institute some relief measures to protect comic stores.
- Rich Johnston reports that Diamond Comic Distributors will no longer be shipping new comics from next week on due to the corona virus.
- Steve Geppi, CEO of Diamond Comic Distributors, explains the decision to stop shipping new comics due to the corona virus.
Interviews:
- Locus interviews Gareth L. Powell.
- Andrew Liptak interviews Jim Butcher and Priscilla Spencer.
- Christian Holub interviews N.K. Jemisin.
- Natalie Zutter interviews Ilana C. Myer.
- The Qwillery interviews Rachel Harrison.
- Andrea Johnson interviews Corry L. Lee.
- Runalong the Shelves interviews G.M. White.
- Paul Weimer interviews Rob J. Hayes.
- Tom Vitale interviews William Gibson.
Reviews:
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Phosphorus by Liz Williams.
- For Winter Nights reviews Light of Impossible Stars by Gareth L. Powell.
- Camestros Felapton reviews A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.
- Tadiana Jones reviews Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs.
- Adrienne Martini reviews Turning Darkness into Light by Marie Brennan and Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes.
- Adri Joy reviews The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper by A.J. Fitzwater, The Nine Lands by Marie Brennan and Radicalized by Cory Doctorow.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee.
- Amal El-Mohtar reviews The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin.
- Tochi Onyebuchi reviews The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews What the Wind Brings by Matthew Hughes.
- Rob Bedford reviews The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood.
- Kat Hooper reviews Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
- Cassie Schulz reviews Havenfall by Sara Holland.
- Bill Capossere reviews Val Hall: The Even Years by Alma Alexander.
- Kat Hooper reviews A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane.
- Rebecca Fisher reviews Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas.
- Maya Gittelman reviews The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo.
- Paul Weimer reviews Servant of the Crown by Duncan M. Hamilton.
- Jason Heller reviews Hearts of Oak by Eddie Robson.
- Jonathan Thornton reviews Dark River by Rym Kechacha.
- Mark Yon reviews Echo Cycle by Patrick Edwards.
- Em Nordling reviews The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel.
- Anna Mundow reviews The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel.
- Ana Grilo reviews The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel.
- Katharine Coldiron reviews Trinity Sight by Jennifer Givhan.
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
- Kat Hooper reviews King of the Dogs, Queen of the Cats by James Patrick Kelly.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Incomplete Solutions by Wole Talabi.
- Ian Mond reviews ...And Other Disasters by Malka Older.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews All Flowers Bloom by Kawika Guillermo.
- Colleen Mondor reviews I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi
- Marion Deeds reviews Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias.
- Tadiana Jones reviews The Institute by Stephen King.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Castaways by Brian Keene.
- Michael Patrick Hicks reviews Earthworm Gods by Brian Keene.
Classics reviews:
- Alan Brown revisits the 1939 alternate history novel Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague De Camp.
- Kris Vyas-Myall revisits the February 1965 issue of Gamma as well as the 1965 science fiction novel City of a Thousand Suns by Samuel R. Delany.
- Victoria Silverwolf revisits the April 1965 issue of Fantastic Stories of Imagination.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1972 science fiction novel The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin.
- Jason MacGregor revisits the 1974 science fiction collection Born with the Dead by Robert Silverberg.
- Ryan Skardal revisits the 1987 horror thriller Misery by Stephen King.
- Katie Burton and Rebecca Fisher revisits the 1993 YA fantasy novel Winter of Fire.
- Rebecca Fisher revisits the 1995 fantasy novel Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman.
Con and event reports:
- CoNZealand, the 2020 Worldcon in Wellington, New Zealand, has announced that they are going virtual in response to the corona virus.
- ConTamination 2020 is surveying interest in a virtual online convention, now that more and more physical ones are getting cancelled.
- Mike Glyer reports that the 2020 Nebula Conference will be online/virtual only because of the corona virus.
- Wiscon 44 in Madison, Wisconsin, has been cancelled due to the corona virus.
- LepreCon 46 in Chandler, Arizona, has been cancelled due to the corona virus.
- The 2020 Robert E. Howard Days in Cross Plains, Texas, have been cancelled due to the corona virus.
- LibertyCon in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is still going ahead in spite of the corona virus.
- Laffcon 5 in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, has been postponed due to the corona virus.
- Shelf Awareness reports that Book Expo and BookCon in New York City are being postponed due to the corona virus.
- Locus offers a list of all SFF events cancelled due to the corona virus.
Crowdfunding:
- Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire, an anthology edited by Nicole Givens Kurtz, is looking for funding.
- Star Cat Books in Bradford, Vermont, needs some help to save their bookstore during the corona virus crisis.
- Ben and Ireland Hatcher, husband and daughter of the late Kate Hatcher, need some help.
Science and technology:
- Charlie Wood reports that NASA has finally gotten its Mars InSight lander to dig, using somewhat unorthodox methods.
- Jonathan Amos reports that NASA's planned Moon mission is suffering production delays due to the corona virus.
- Adrienne Murray reports about robots that zap hospital viruses with ultraviolet light.
- The BBC reports about the rather disgusting way in which vampire bats form bonds.
- Kaye Dee and Gideon Marcus report about the latest developments in space exploration in 1965.
Free online fiction:
- "Skylight" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
- "Reliable People" by Charlie Jane Anders in Lightspeed.
- "Love and Marriage in the Hexasun Lands" by Tahmeed Shafiq in Lightspeed.
- "The Best Horses Are Found in the Sea, and Other Horse Tales to Emerge Since the Rise" by Beth Cato in Daily Science Fiction.
- "Grayer Than Lead, Heavier Tha Snow" by Yukimi Ogawa in Clarkesworld.
- "There and Back Again" by Carmen Maria Machado in Nightmare Magazine.
- "Star Bound" by Devon Widmer in Luna Station Quarterly.
- "The Stars That Bore Us" by Jonathan Edelstein at Haibane.
- "Casualty of Peace" by David Tallerman in The Dark.
- "Things She Thought While Falling" by Chris Chibnall at the BBC.
- "Trigger Snowflake and the Catchy Thing" by Ingvar at File 770.
Odds and ends:
- Watch a trailer for Peace Talks by Jim Butcher.
- Watch a video showing how the opening fight scene of The Witcher was shot.
- Watch a public service announcement regarding the corona virus from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost from Shaun of the Dead.
- Check out this free Elfquest colouring book.
- Check out this science fiction themed colouring book.
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