It's time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting links about speculative fiction from around the web, this week with more on the discussion surrounding the rise of AI writing and art bots, Star Trek Picard and Star Trek in general, The Mandalorian and Star Wars in general, Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, Renfield, The Power, The Pope's Exorcist, the new Super Mario Bros movie, season 2 of Yellowjackets, tributes to Rachel Pollack, Al Jaffee and Joseph Wrzos and much more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Lisa Tuttle shares a round-up of her favourite recent science fiction and fantasy novels.
- Leah Rachel von Essen shares eleven fantasy and science fiction books coming out in April 2023.
- Cheryl Eddy lists ten science fiction, fantasy and horror books to read before their upcoming film or TV adaptations.
- Jo Walton shares her reading list for March 2023.
- Chris M. Arnone shares his twenty-two favourite Cyberpunk novels.
- Thomas Mullen shares eight novels that blur the line between crime and science fiction.
- J.S. Dewes shares five science fiction novels filled with existential anxiety.
- Kelly Jennings talks about the gendercide subgenre.
- James Davis Nicoll shares five vintage comedic fantasy novels.
- Hester Fox shares five fantasy novels featuring fantastical libraries and bookstores.
- Maya Deane explains how embracing fantasy means embracing freedom.
- Vida Cruz-Borja talks about new myths and the people who tell them.
- Brian Murphy wonders if we are in the middle of a sword and sorcery renaissance.
- Robin Reid talks about racism and J.R.R. Tolkien.
- Cassandra Rose Clarke shares five SFF books about dark lords and devils.
- M.K. Lobb shares five YA fantasy novels with dual points of view.
- Bridget McGovern lists 23 bunnies and rabbit-like creatures in SFF.
- Suzanne Young wishes for more bloodthirsty women in horror and crime fiction.
- Molly Templeton shares eleven ways to start a new reading adventure this spring.
- Bill Ward shares his appreciation for the work of Jack Vance.
- Ngo Vinh-Hoi profiles Stanley G. Weinbaum.
- Jonathan Thornton shares his appreciation for the works of Isabel Allende.
- Michael R. Brown shares his appreciation for Robert E. Howard's Kull of Atlantis.
- Nell Frizell takes a look at popular UFO podcasts.
- Terrence E. Hanley remembers John Jakes.
- Fashion designer Mary Quant, credited with inventing the miniskirt, has died aged 93.
- Joseph Wrzos a.k.a. Joseph Ross, former editor for Amazing Stories and Fantastic, has died aged 93.
- Locus remember Joseph Wrzos a.k.a. Joseph Ross.
Tributes to Rachel Pollack and Al Jaffee:
Comics and Art:
- Beth Kanell reviews the graphic novel adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes story The Final Problem by Hannes Binder.
- Bobby Derie revisits the 1971 sword and sorcery comic Wolff by Luis Gasca and Esteban Maroto
- Brian Hibbs shares his thoughts on the BookScan numbers for graphic novels for 2022.
- io9 interviews Edgardo Miranda-Rodiguez, creator of La Borinqueña
- Cora Buhlert interviews comics scholar Glen Cadigan.
- Anime News Network reports that manga creator Rumiko Takhashi has been named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Film and TV:
- Arturo Serrano calls Hello Tomorrow an American nightmare about the 1950s as they never happened, but wish they did.
- Phil Hoad calls Linoleum a wacky science fiction film that will flip your expectations.
- Cathy Reay praises the British children's TV show A Kind of Spark for not just portraying neurodivergent characters, but also hiring neurodivergent actors and writers for the show.
- Sarah Welch-Larson explains how the horror film Skinamarink taps into her religiously inspired childhood fears of the so-called rapture.
- Jason Ray Carney shares his thoughts on season 1 of the anime series Vinland Saga.
- The Guardian shares their 1933 review of the original King Kong.
- Miles Reid-Lobatto revisits the 1970 post-apocalyptic movie No Blade of Grass.
- Cheryl Eddy revisits the 1979 monster movie Bog.
- Meagan Jennett shares eight horror films to watch to become a better writer.
- Cheryl Eddy shares ten pregnancy horror movies.
- Jimmy Kimmel interviews Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Dad-at-Arms interviews Ted Biaselli, producer of Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Revolution.
- Meredith Hobbs Coons interviews Stephen Root, who appeared in Barry, The Book of Boba Fett, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Pushing Daisies, Get Out!, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, No Country For Old Men and many others.
- io9 interviews Ben Barnes, one of the stars of Shadow and Bone.
- James Whitbrook interviews Go Miyasaki, producer of Chibi Godzilla Raids Again,
- Ben Child wonders whether the upcoming Joker musical or James Gunn's Superman movie can save the world from superhero fatigue.
- Justin Carter points out that not every media franchise or property is worth reviving.
- Kyle MacNeill explains why the Teletubbies are experiencing an unlikely renaissance.
- Stuart Heritage explains why people should stop spoiling TV shows.
- Catherine Shoard reports that thirteen women have accused French actor Gérard Depardieu of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
- Ted Johnson and Jill Goldsmith report that several members of the US Congress have urged an investigation of the Warner Bros Discovery merger and particularly the many cancellations of Tv shows and movies in its wake.
- Canadian actress Sharon Acker, who appeared in Point Blank, Perry Mason and the original Star Trek among many others, has died aged 87.
- Actor Michael Lerner, who appeared in Barton Fink, Godzilla, Elf, X-Men: Days of Future Past and many others has died aged 81.
- Animator Leo D. Sullivan, who worked on The Incredible Hulk, Flash Gordon, BraveStarr, Scooby-Doo, My Little Pony and Transformers and who created the iconic opening of the music program Soul Train, has died aged 82.
Comments on Star Trek Picard and Star Trek in general (spoilers):
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thoughts on "Surrender", the latest episode of Star Trek Picard.
- James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on "Surrender".
- Vanessa Armstrong interviews Erin MacDonald, science advisor for the various Star Trek shows.
- Camestros Felapton talks about Star Trek and fascism.
- Camestros Felapton wonders if Star Trek could do a show like Andor.
- Chana Porter discusses the portrayal of food and cooking in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the Star Trek Enterprise episode "Chosen Realm".
Comments on season 3 of The Mandalorian and Star Wars in general:
- Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "The Spies", the latest episode of The Mandalorian.
- Sam Barsanti shares his thoughts on "The Spies".
- Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on "The Spies".
- Haley Zapal shares her thoughts on The Mandalorian episode "Guns for Hire".
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on "Guns for Hire".
- Justin Carter wonders what's up with season 3 of The Mandalorian.
- James Whitmore notes that The Mandalorian's relationship with droids is completely messed up.
- James Whitbrook explains the significance of the character Captain Pellaeon in "The Spies".
- Ben Child discusses Star Wars' return to the big screen.
- Justin Carter wonders whether the newly announced Star Wars movies will finally treat Finn right.
- Gavia Baker-Whitelaw explains why fans of the various animated Star Wars shows have concerns about the live ac tion Ahsoka.
- James Whitbrook shares all the Star Wars and Indiana Jones toys unveiled at Star Wars Celebration Europe in London, UK.
- Norman Reynolds, production designer on the original Star Wars trilogy as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark, has died aged 89.
- Watch a trailer for Volume 2 of Star Wars Visions.
- Watch a trailer for Ahsoka.
Comments on Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves:
- Miles Reid-Lobatto declares that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was the most fun he had watching a sword and sorcery movie since Hawk the Slayer back in 1980.
- Josh Pearce and Arley Sorg call Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves a lot of fun and worth a watch.
- Camestros Felapton calls Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves a breezy romp.
Comments on The Pope's Exorcist:
- Mike McCahill calls The Pope's Exorcist a papal potboiler that remarks the 1973 horror movie The Exorcist as a TikTok video.
- Clark Collis interviews Russell Crowe, star of The Pope's Exorcist.
- Tamlin Magee reports that the real-life International Association of Exorcists have denounced The Pope's Exorcist as an unreliable splatter film without even having watched the whole thing.
Comments on Renfield:
Comments on season 2 of Yellowjackets:
Comments on The Power:
Comments on the new Super Mario Bros Movie:
- Jack Coyle calls the new Super Mario Bros Movie okey-dokey, but no masterpiece.
- io9 readers share their thoughts on the new Super Mario Bros Movie.
- Anthony D'Alessandro reports that the new Super Mario Bros Movie has had the highest grossing opening weekend of any animated movie ever.
- Anthony D'Alessandro also attempts to explain why the new Super Mario Bros movie is breaking box office records, while the 1993 one failed.
- Ethan Shanfeld reports how the 1993 live action Super Mario Bros movie ruined the careers of directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel.
Awards:
- The winners of the 2022 BSFA Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2023 Philip K. Dick Awards have been announced.
- The winner of the 2023 Compton Crook Award has been announced.
- The winner of the 2022 Endeavour Award has been announced.
- The winner of the 2023 Doc Weir Award has been announced.
- The longlist for the 2023 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction has been announced.
- The winner of the 2023 SFPA President’s Lifetime Service Award has been announced.
- The winners of the 2023 Bafta Game Awards have been announced.
- The 2023 Filk Hall of Fame inductees have been announced.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- Charlie Jane Anders explains why you shouldn't say that characters lack agency.
- Jonathan Fredrick discusses how writers insert truth into fiction.
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch explains how success can destroy writing careers.
- Maggie Tokuda-Hall shares how the publisher Scholastic wanted her to edit the author's note of her children's book Love in the Library to remove any references to racism or Japanese internment camps in WWII.
- Natalie op de Beek reports about the case of Scholastic trying to force Maggie Tokuda-Hall to remove references to racism from her books.
- Harlan Coben shares tips for book tours.
- Lincoln Michel responds to the idiotic claim that not reviewing an ARC one has received is theft.
- Brian Keene shares an open letter to Peter Kahle, publisher of the horror small press Bloodshot Books, and accuses him of not paying royalties due and ghosting his authors.
- Joe Mynhart of Crystal Lake Publishing is offering the author and books orphaned by Bloodshot Books shutting down a home at Crystal Lake, if they so wish.
- Deuce Richardson points out that Edgar Rice Burroughs was a self-publishing pioneer.
- Kate Ly Johnston reports that the Missouri House of Representatives has voted to defund all public libraries in the entire state for fear that they might carry LGBTQ books.
- Literary agent Valerie Smith has died aged 70.
Interviews:
Reviews:
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Descendant Machine by Gareth L. Powell.
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews The Iron Children by Rebecca Fraimow.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
- Paul Di Filippo reviews Infinity Gate by M. R. Carey
- Linda Codega reviews Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee.
- Bill Capossere reviews Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee.
- Blue Book Balloon reviews The Faithless by C.L. Clark.
- Andrew Jaden reviews The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain.
- Elizabeth Fitzgerald reviews Death by Silver by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold
- James Davis Nicoll reviews Hybrid Heart by Iori Kusano.
- The Middle Shelf reviews City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky.
- Ian Mond reviews Hopeland by Ian McDonald
- Mark Yon reviews For the First Time, Again by Sylvain Neuvel
- Clara Cohen reviews Unraveller by Frances Hardinge.
- Caren Gussoff Sumption reviews Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey
- Marion Deeds reviews The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
- Mike Parker reviews Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen.
- Mary Picken reviews Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen.
- Tzer Island reviews Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen.
- Publishers Weekly reviews Sunset Empire by Josh Weiss.
- Judith Tarr reviews Summer in Orcus by T. Kingfisher.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews The Dust of the Red Rose Knight by James Bennett
- James Tivendale reviews The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan.
- Marlene Harris reviews The Cleaving by Juliet E. McKenna.
- S.E. Lindberg reviews Nightborn: Coldfire Rising by C.S. Friedman.
- Alex Brown reviews Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker.
- Andrew Jaden reviews The Liar's Knot by M.A. Carrick.
- Fiona Denton reviews Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.
- Alex Brown reviews Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith.
- Chris Kluwe reviews The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
- Colleen Mondor reviews Dream to Me by Megan Paasch
- Alexandra Pierce reviews Scale by Greg Egan
- Paul Di Filippo reviews A Brief History of Living Forever by Jaroslav Kalfař
- Melissa Harrison reviews The Memoriy of Animals by Claire Fuller.
- Ian Mond reviews The Thing in the Snow by Sean Adams
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Linghun by Ai Jiang.
- Gabino Iglesias reviews Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
- Nerds of a Feather review River Kings: A New History of the Vikings From Scandinavia to the Silk Road by Cat Jarman.
- Jonathan Cowie reviews I Am The Law - How Judge Dredd Predicted Our Future by Michael Molcher.
Classics reviews:
- Paperback Warrior revisits the 1934 Conan sword and sorcery story "Queen of the Black Coast" by Robert E. Howard.
- James Maliszewski revisits the 1934 dark fantasy story "The Tomb-Spawn" by Clark Ashton Smith.
- Adventures Fantastic revisits the 1937 dark fantasy story "The Jest of Droom-Avista" by Henry Kuttner.
- Gary Romeo revisits the 1946 sword and planet story "Lorelei of the Red Mist" by Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury.
- Kim Sherwood revisits the 1953 James Bond spy novel Casino Royal by Ian Fleming.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1967 dystopian novel Camp Concentration by Thomas M. Disch.
- John Boston shares his thoughts on the April 1968 issue of Amazing
- Victoria Silverwolf shares her thoughts on the May 1968 issue of Fantastic.
- Paperback Warrior revisits the 1970 sword and sorcery novel Phoenix in Obsidian a.k.a. The Silver Warriors by Michael Moorcock.
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1971 science fiction novel The Shores of Another Sea by Chad Oliver.
- We Learn By Writing revisits the 1983 horror collection In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner.
- James Maliszewski revisits the October 1985 issue of White Dwarf.
- Richard Fisher revisits the 1987 historical fantasy novel Starkadder by Bernard King.
- Alissa Burger revisits the 1990 YA horror novel The Sleepwalker by R.L. Stine and the 1994 YA horror novel The Night Walker by Diane Hoh.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1996 space opera Night Sky Mine by Melissa Scott.
Con and event reports:
- Mike Glyer reports that Reconnect, the 2025 Eastercon, will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Marcin Klak reports about the 2023 Corflu in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- The winner of the 2023 European Fan Fund race has been announced.
- Molly Templeton shares new about various Star Wars TV series from Star Wars Celebration Europe in London, UK.
- Molly Templeton shares news about upcoming Star Wars movies from Star Wars Celebration.
- Rob Bricken shares all the announcements made at Star Wars Celebration Europe.
- Germain Lussier reports about the Return of the Jedi fortieth anniversary panel at Star Wars Celebration Europe.
- Sabina Graves and Justin Carter share the best cosplay photos from Star Wars Celebration Europe.
- Zoe Sottile reports that someone in Boston, Massachussetts, called the police after spotting a Boba Fett cosplayer carrying a replica rifle outside Anime Boston.
- Trent Rhea reports about a visit to the Robert E. Howard Home museum in Cross Plains, Texas.
- Keith Stuart reports that the 2023 E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles, California, has been cancelled and may be finished for good.
- Arifa Akbar calls Lisa Langseth's play The Woman Who Turned Into a Tree, which is currently playing in London, UK, a horror fable about a divided self.
- Sophie Zeldin-O'Neill reports that a performance of the stage version of the 1992 romantic suspense movie Bodyguard in Manchester, UK, had to be stopped due to disruptive audience members.
- Rachael Healy reports that theatre audiences in the UK are getting steadily more disruptive.
Gaming:
- Ana Diaz explains how playing Pokémon has influenced the brain development of children who grew up playing the games.
- Tom Regan interviews John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, creator of Ingress and Pokémon Go.
- Sabina Graves interviews creative director Mike Bithell and producer Heidy Vargas about the new videogame Tron: Identity.
Science and technology:
- David Nield reports that scientists have found an ancient ocean floor wrapped around the core of the Earth.
- Kaye Dee reports that latest space news of 1968.
- Chris Moran reports that the public menace that is ChatGPT has been making up fake Guardian articles that don't exist.
- Jason Koebler reports what happened when some idiot asked an AI bot about the best way to destroy humanity.
- Gene Marks reports about a scam using deep fake voice impersonations of co-workers and family members to request money.
- Emma Roth reports that the NYPD is returning Spot, the robot dog, to service after pulling him following backlash in 2021.
Free online fiction:
- "The Chosen One's Choice" by Jamie Lackey in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
- "Your Wings a Bridge Across the Stars" by Michelle Denham in Apex Magazine.
- "In Time, a Weed May Break Stone" by Valerie Valdes in Uncanny Magazine.
- "Lament of a Specialist in Interspecies Relations" by Amy Johnson in Lightspeed.
- "Artist in Residence" by Anna Ziegelhof in Luna Station Quarterly.
- "Keeper of the Code" by Nick Thomas in Clarkesworld.
- "Children of Earth" by K.A. Wiggins in Fantasy Magazine.
- "Rake the Leaves" by R.T. Ester in Clarkesworld.
- "Salt Water" by Eugenia Triantafyllou in Tor.com
- "Anglerfish in Love" by Zoe Skoti in Pyre Magazine.
- "Fish Scales" by Steve Rasnic Tem in The Dark.
- "Delicate Webbing" by Beatrice Winifred Iker in Nightmare Magazine.
- "The Gate: A Before the Safari Story" by Milton J. Davis.
- "Say Hello to My Little Friend" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
Trailers and videos:
- Watch a trailer for The Marvels.
- Watch a trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
- Watch a trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
- Watch a trailer for Silo.
- Watch a trailer for Peter Pan & Wendy.
- Watch a trailer for Mulligan.
- Watch a trailer for The Lazarus Project.
- Watch a trailer for The Last Voyage of the Demeter.
- Watch a trailer for The Muppets Mayhem.
- Watch a trailer for Talk To Me.
- Watch a trailler for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
- Watch a trailer for The Penguin.
- Watch a trailer for The Continental.
- Watch a trailer for the final episodes of Manifest.
Odds and ends:
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